Xi addresses conference marking 70th anniversary of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Xinhua) 09:04, June 29, 2024 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) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) Letter from China: A prosperous Xinjiang, a blessing to the world Xinhua) 09:39, June 29, 2024 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." (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) (Photo : Unsplash/Lesly Juarez) According to the annual United Nations World Happiness Report, Finland has yet again proved that it is the happiest country in the world, having won the title for seven consecutive years. Denmark is second. The secret to a happy life is simple, and Finns mainly attribute it to four fundamental elements: a strong bond with nature, a grounded lifestyle, fresh and wholesome food, and a commitment to sustainability. According to Finns themselves, the key to happiness is a set of skills that can be learned rather than a closely guarded mystery, Good News Network reported. CNBC Make It consulted a panel of Finnish and Danish business leaders and psychologists to explore key sayings that encourage optimistic thinking, particularly during challenging times. Incorporating these three phrases into your vocabulary can enhance your overall happiness, these experts said: Things You Leave Behind Will Only Haunt You Everyone encounters problems in life or at work, but addressing them as soon they show up can prevent them from happening again. Finland believes that neglecting an issue can only lead to larger problems down the line, which is why it is very important to address it upfront to avoid further escalation, said Anni Hallila, head of people and culture at Framery, a Finnish manufacturing company. READ ALSO: Careers You Should Pursue If You Want To Be Rich And Happy At The Same Time "Pyt Med Det" Americans face numerous external stressors beyond their control, with 27% reporting daily inability to function due to stress, per an American Psychological Association poll. People in Denmark use a three-word phrase to avoid this stress every day. Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, wrote "Pyt med det" on CNBC Make It. "Pyt med det" is a frequently used phrase in Denmark that translates to "It doesn't matter" or "Don't worry about it." While it was initially used as a swear word meaning "hell," its modern usage embodies a deep acceptance and letting go of worry. It represents a gentle exhale amidst life's challenges, reassuring that things will be okay, even if they do not seem to be. Wiking added that "Pyt med det" fosters a mindset of shrugging off negativity and progressing with grace and resilience. While Some Have Happiness, Everyone Has Summer Most of us agree that we tend to feel self-conscious or envious when we see other people sharing their highlights on Social Media. It would help if you were not because what we perceive is only a meticulously curated image they choose to present. We are currently in an era of perfectionism that kills, where the pressure to meet impossible standards in our personal lives, the quest for an ideal body, or the relentless drive for career success fosters a toxic psychological environment. Will Storr's book "Selfie: How We Became So Self Obsessed and What It's Doing to Us" reads. Finnish psychologist Frank Martela wrote for Make It in March that Finnish people rely on the century-old phrase, "Some have happiness, everyone has summer," which signifies that better days are on the horizon regardless of current challenges. Life has its ups and downs, with challenges for some today and joys for others tomorrow. Finns are certain that, despite circumstances, "summer will come to us all." Martela added. RELATED ARTICLE: Five Phrases for a Happy, Fulfilled, and Engaged Workforce, From the World's Happiest Country 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. At a party I attended a while ago, a friend of mine, self-admitted doting dad, was having his daily phone conversation with his daughter, currently studying in the US. (Funded entirely by him, of course.) Yes, sweetie, no, sugar, my friend went, giving the soon-to-be-laid-out dessert section a complex. Choochie pies, puppy dolls, babykins and honey boo boos were flying like missiles, as our Father of the Year took large sips of his Scotch. Meanwhile, a small-made girl from the north-eastern part of our great land (shame on me for categorising her thus, I ought to have known which state she was from), of about twenty, twenty-two, stood by with a large platter of chicken something-or-the-other. Quietly, somewhat fearfully, worried she might drop the platter. Our friend, still in the throes of long-distance filial love, selected a couple of minutely examined pieces and put them on his plate. The girl took this as a cue to leave. Friend snapped his fingers and pointed at his plate. Because, you see, if he spoke to the young waitress, it would mean breaking his conversation for a second. And he couldnt do that, could he? What would his Princess Rasagulla Poopins in distant California think if he wasnt giving her his complete attention? But he needed a third piece of chicken, too, obviously. For his opening gambit, snack-wise, was always three pieces. His wife knew it. I knew it. Everyone knew it. It was written in stone. And it was as good a time as any to let the waitress know what to do when she brought the next platter. The young woman took the piece our friend had magisterially pointed at with his fork and served it to him. Her hand trembled. Friend nodded his head to say he was done. For now. He would be beckoning her soon enough with raised hand or finger snap obviously, when his next requisition needed to be dealt with on a war footing. Well, my friend said, a minute later, his conversation with Butter Bonbon done, his mouth full of poultry. Whats the news, man? The irony of his darling daughter being the exact same age as the young waitress seemed to have whooshed past him like an outswinger. I stuck my hand out and shook his. What? he said. I think were officially ready for the robots, man, I said. You do say the strangest of things, you know, he said, laughing. Personally, as a nation, I think well adapt only too easily to robots. Because certain humans dont exist for us at all except for their utility value. We consider their feelings about as much as we consider the feelings of, say, microwaves, hairdryers or bottle openers. The one issue with robots I do foresee, though, is that mistreating them that quintessentially Indian need of needs may not give us the same amount of pleasure as mistreating a warm-blooded human seems to. But Im sure our tech guys will figure out a way to make robots feel pain and humiliation soon enough. The recent conviction of the Hindujas by Swiss authorities for the treatment they meted out to their domestic help, sadly, didnt shock (or even surprise) me one bit. Because its just one more example of how most of us view those who help us with our daily lives. For every headline-making Hinduja or Khobragade, theres the friend who makes his driver stay up Saturday nights as he bar-hops, the neighbour who makes the caregiver of her octogenarian father bring her own tiffin carrier, the colleague whose nanny waits in the lobby as the family dines at an exclusive restaurant or the sibling who has his gofer take off his shoes when he returns from work. We are, after all, the nation that individually abandoned our domestic help during lockdown by abruptly cutting off their salaries, and betrayed our guest workforce collectively as we watched them walk hundreds of kilometres, back to the homes they had left behind. On a slightly upbeat note, for nearly ten years, weve been the grateful beneficiaries of this kind, patient and forever-jovial woman who cooks for us. A couple of days ago, her daughter came by to assist us with some proofing/indexing work on a book we are putting together. (I hasten to add that we cant take any credit for young womans current position as a freelance editor. Her path to a better life was the result of her mothers resilience and foresight long before she met us, and the education that was put in place by our earlier leaders, who we are being told did nothing for us.) You would think this was justice, right? It is a step in the right direction perhaps. But justice it isnt. Justice is when my kid works for her kid. Or better still, if Im employed by her. Soon. Tomorrow. As for poetic justice, that would be the father of the young waitress, now the CEO of an international hotel chain, being served hors doeuvre by my friends daughter, currently laid off from the job Daddys connections got her. History tells us that geo-strategic transitions are never easy. They are always accompanied by uncertainty, fear, insecurity and bloodshed not necessarily in that order. However, what every transition brings with itself are certain conceptual constructs that then underpin the strategic landscape over the next decade or even centuries that usher in an era of sustainable tranquility that is usually accompanied by prosperity, the forward march of the human race and above all stability and a modicum of happiness. If one takes a deep dive into history, the Thirty Year War that commenced in 1618 between the Roman Catholics and Protestants devastated much of Central Europe. Out of the ashes of that destruction that attained quietus with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, a new principle emerged that underpinned European statecraft for a century or more. It is called called raison detat. Coined by a prince of the church Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu, First Minister of France from 1624-1642, it was practised by most European powers for an epoch thereafter. Raison detat was premised on the fact that security and primacy of a nation state warranted the deployment of all means essential to preserve, protect and promote it. It envisaged that supreme national interest must eschew all archaic notions of universal morality. Raison detat, therefore, was predicated on a convoluted hypothesis that every nation state while pursuing its own selfish and narrow interests would in some manner underwrite the collective safety and progress of all the others. However, by the 18th century, Great Britan had articulated the concept of balance of power that then dominated European diplomacy for the next two hundred years. It had its genesis in the British desire to prevent any one single European power from dominating the European continent. In pursuit of maintaining an equilibrium it required Great Britan to throw its weight behind the vulnerable or the more feebler side in any conflict. The concept of balance of power was utilised by Prince Von Metternich of Austria and other European statespersons to construct the concert of Europe at the Congress of Vienna in September 1814. It ensured that no war at all took place among the Great Powers for 40 years and after the Crimean War of 1854 there was no general war for another 60, thereby ensuring a century of relative peace that helped Europe to materially, culturally and imperially flourish. Unfortunately, a subsequent German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck disassembled the Concert of Europe and recast European high statecraft into a ruthless pursuit of power politics a-la realpolitik. The reason I have chosen to enunciate these three principles, namely, raison detat, balance of power and realpolitik, is because many centuries after they were conceptualised and applied by statespersons of that era, they still continue to operate, albeit under different nomenclatures, as the world faces perhaps its biggest challenge to collective peace after the Second World War in the form of active conflicts across three continents. In the case of the Russia-Ukraine conflict or the Russian aggression on Ukraine, both the classical concepts of raison detat and balance of power are at play. A concerned or even overly distrustful Russia at the ostensibly eastward expansion of Nato decided to put its narrow national interest above everything else, thereby violating the sovergnity of Ukraine. While that fulfills the first part of the the raison detat postulate, as far as the second leg of that hypothesis is concerned, i.e., it should underwrite the collective safety of others, if it would lead to the reordering of the security architecture of Europe, thereby bringing back sustainable peace in Europe, remains to be seen. The jury would be out on that for quite a while. Conversely, in this very conflict, you also have the template of the balance of power at play. Nato has weighed in squarely on Ukraines side as have other democratic nations around the world. Given that Ukraine is the weaker power, the balance of power in Europe has to be maintained. The desire to maintain this European equilibrium has in fact impelled both Finland and Sweden to become members of Nato. Something both refrained from doing after the devastating Second World War. In the Israel-Hamas conflict, you see the first postulate of the raison detat squarely at play with Israel deploying elevated levels of violence to neutralise the Hamas threat even if it involves the bombing of hospitals and the wanton killing of innocent men, women and children. This, by no means, should be construed as any justification of the horrific terror attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli civilians or the taking of hostages, the argument simply being that the Israeli response, disproportionate in every sense of the word, is predicated upon the fact that security and primacy of the nation state justifies the employment of every imperative howsoever iniquitous considered essential to defend it. Paradoxically, you do not have the balance of power paradigm at play in the Israel-Hamas conflict for no nation state of any consequence in the greater Middle East has even attempted to weigh in on the side of Hamas, leaving aside Iran and Syria that both support the Hamas and Hezbollah. However, that hardly qualifies as any substantive balancing of power in the purely classical sense of the term. Coming to the Chinese power play on the Line of Actual Control qua India and its belligerence in the larger Indo-Pacific region, both ruthless realpolitik and raison detat are at play insofar as China is concerned. Fuelled by three-and-a-half decades of unprecedented economic growth, China has established a power differential across the board qua its neighbors. Even though its economy is slowing down now the legacy buoyancy that translated into hefty military spending is now being leveraged by China to reclaim its mythical status as the Middle Kingdom that, in its estimation, was disrupted by the century of humiliation in 1839-1949. Apposite to that, the principle of balance of power is also operating in the Indo-Pacific, with the QUAD, AUKUS, ASEAN Regional Forum and various other groupings and quasi-alliances being energised to ensure that the Chinese influence, malefic that it is, does not become toxic to the extent that it leads to an eminently avoidable conflict. As the adage goes, the more things change the more they remain the same. Situations may change, times may move on, but grundnorm concepts endure. The unprecedented misbehaviour of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel with Rajya Sabha MP M. Mohammed Abdulla on June 18 has led to his lodging a complaint with vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Chairman of the Upper House. He was questioned by the CISF personnel about his purpose of visit to Parliament. The incident has deeply affected me, the MP said. Last month, another DMK MP, Tiruchi Siva, was asked to show his ID thrice inside Parliament. Reports of misbehaviour by CISF personnel have been reported in the past, but no severe action seems to have been taken against those responsible, to be a deterrent to others. On June 6, CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur slapped actor-MP Kangana Ranaut at Chandigarh airport before she was to board a flight for Delhi. Kulwinder nurtured a grouse against the actor for her unpalatable comments on the farmers agitation from November 2021 to December 2022 on the Delhi Haryana and Delhi-UP borders. The actor had said women agitators had been paid Rs 100-200 each for participation. Kulwinder Kaurs mother and brother were among the agitators, with the latter spearheading the agitation as secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti. In August 2020, a CISF officer had the temerity to ask DMK MP Kanimozhi at Chennai airport how she could claim to be an Indian when she couldnt speak in Hindi. Though Ms Kanimozhi walked away and showed maturity by not engaging in a fracas with the CISF man, she took to Twitter to express her annoyance, which drew media attention. Hindi imposition on South Indians became the subject of a media debate. On December 12 last, Sharmila Rajasekaran, an engineer, was mocked at by a CISF lady officer for not knowing Hindi at Dabolim airport. At the security check, she was asked to pick up a tray, but she didnt understand Hindi. To this, the CISF officer asked her if Tamil Nadu was in India, and if so, she should learn Hindi as it was the national language. Ms Sharmila corrected her, saying that it was official language. She googled to prove her point. In her complaint to the CISF head at the airport, she said the way she was treated was inhuman and culturally insensitive. Condemning the incident, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin said that non-Hindi speaking air passengers often face such harassment by CISF personnel. The extent of insensitivity of CISF personnel can be gauged from another incident at Kolkata airport in January this year, when Arushi Singh, a wheelchair-bound passenger, was asked thrice to stand and walk two steps despite her explaining about the disability from birth. Following the breach of security in the Parliament building on December 13 last year, when two men jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors gallery and lobbed smoke cannisters they managed to smuggle in, by placing them in cavities of shoes, a thorough survey was done on the security of Parliament by a team led by CRPF director-general Anish Dayal Singh. While Parliaments security falls within the domain of responsibilities of The Lok Sabha Speaker, the Union home ministry replaced the Delhi police, CRPF and even the Parliament Security Staff (PSS) with the CISF. This despite the fact that the CRPF and the PSS acquitted themselves exceedingly well. A daring attack on Parliament House on December 13, 2001, by five heavily-armed terrorists was effectively warded off by alert personnel of the CRPF and who prevented them from entering the main building. They were all shot dead by CRPF personnel, who were manning various gates. While taking on the terrorists, Lady Constable Kamlesh Kumari was fatally hit by bullets. For her derring-do, she was awarded the highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra. Five other CRPF personnel were awarded the Shaurya Chakra. The citadel of democracy was saved from what could have been a catastrophic event if even one of the terrorists had sneaked into the main Parliament building. Six terrorists who made a daring attempt to enter Srinagar airport, then guarded by the CRPF, on January 16, 2001 were neutralised before they could enter the airport. Four CRPF personnel including a lady constable were martyred in the fierce encounter just outside the airport. For their valour, five were honoured with gallantry medals. The CRPF has proved its mettle in securing high-risk buildings umpteen times since its raising in July 1939. The withdrawal of the CRPF from Parliament is not a step in the right direction. It will be much better to deploy a tried-and-tested force than to induct a force which hasnt had the exposure or experience to handle daring attacks on important high-security buildings. With the CISF taking over the duties of the Parliament Security Service, uncertainty looms large on the latters future. With their long experience of dealing with MPs and other staff, PSS personnel are better placed to recognise everyone and must continue with the duties they were performing. They can be either taken on deputation with the option for permanent absorption in the CISF or deployed to work in tandem with the CISF as they had been with the Delhi police. They could be permanently posted in the Parliament security set-up till retirement by making an exception to the transfer policy of the CISF, which necessitates the replacement of personnel by new inductees periodically. The security of Parliament cant be compromised in any way and the best of security manpower and apparatus must be deployed. A tried and tested force is always better than any new inductions. Today's news: Outgoing Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai wins but loses many votes in early elections in Mongolia; Vietnam's economy runs dragged by microchip exports; A Chinese attendant dies defending two Japanese in school bus attack a few days ago in Suzhou; Busan is the first metropolis in South Korea at risk of extinction due to the demographic crisis. IRAN With counting still in progress, a runoff is looming in the presidential elections in Iran. The reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian is leading by about 1 million votes over the conservative Saeed Jalili, but far from the 50% of the votes needed to be elected. Despite the extension in the opening of six polling stations until midnight the turnout was low, around 40%. The runoff is scheduled for Friday, 5 July. MONGOLIA The ruling party won the early parliamentary elections in Mongolia, but by a much narrower margin over the opposition. Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai told the media that the Mongolian People's Party won between 68 and 70 of the 126 seats up for grabs. Despite the victory, it was a setback for Luvsannamsrai and his party, which had won 62 of the then 76 seats in Parliament in 2020. VIETNAM Vietnam's economy is growing faster than expected: in the second quarter of 2024, GDP is expected to increase by 6.93% year-on-year. Exports in the fields of electronics and fish products are driving the result, boosted by the race for diversification in microchip supply chains. CHINA-JAPAN China and Japan yesterday paid tribute to a school bus attendant in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou who died of stab wounds suffered after defending a Japanese mother and child in a knife attack on 24 June. "Hu Youping will be honoured for her heroic deeds," the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted local authorities as saying. The attention for her heroic deed came as authorities tried to defuse anti-Japanese sentiment on Chinese social media platforms and as Japan warned its citizens living in China to take extra precautions to protect themselves from similar attacks. SOUTH KOREA Busan, South Korea's second largest city, has been classified as an endangered metropolitan area in research published by the Korea Employment Information Service. The extinction risk is a rate calculated by ratioing the female population between the ages of 20 and 39 to the elderly population over the age of 65. Busan is the first metropolitan area in South Korea to fall in this index to 0.49, i.e. below the 0.50 threshold indicated as the extinction risk. The current national average for this figure in South Korea is 0.61. Busan had a population of 3.88 million in 1995, last year 3.3 million. RUSSIA More than 30,000 migrants who have obtained Russian citizenship have refused to be inducted into military service, and are currently being held in places of detention, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Aleksandr Bastrykin, has announced, to prevent them from secretly leaving the country, while 10,000 have been sent to the front in Ukraine. KYRGYZSTAN At the Zogorku Kenes, the parliament of Kyrgyzstan, the law on the rehabilitation of citizens who suffered repression for their political or religious views between 1918 and 1953, the years of the Stalinist revolution and dictatorship, was definitively approved, including persecution by all Soviet organisations, even trade unions and cooperatives. The Feast of Sts Peter and Paul in St Peter's Basilica the bestowing of the pallium on 42 archbishops appointed in the last year. At the Angelus: "If it is not service, authority becomes dictatorship". Data from last year's St Peter's Pence collections released by the Holy See: 48.4 million euro collected for the Pope's charity, in Asia 33 of the projects financed. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - God "opened the doors of his heart" to the apostles Peter and Paul, so they in turn could open tehir hearts to their brothers. Referring expressly to the Holy Door of the Vatican basilica that will be opened in the upcoming Jubilee of 2025, Pope Francis invited people to look to this image on today's Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. He did so in his homily at the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Vatican basilica, during which - as is tradition - he presented the 42 archbishops appointed during the past year with the pallium, the strip of white woollen cloth that is a symbol of their communion with the Holy See in their jurisdiction. "To Peter Jesus had entrusted the keys of the Kingdom," Francis recalled, "but he experiences that it is the Lord who opens the doors first, He always goes before us. And there is a curious fact: the doors of the prison were opened by the power of the Lord, but Peter then finds it difficult to enter the house of the Christian community: she who goes to the door, thinks he is a ghost and does not open it for him (cf. Acts 12:12-17). How often communities do not learn this wisdom of opening doors'. Paul, too," he added, "in recounting how the Lord has given him so many opportunities to proclaim the Gospel, uses the image of open doors. "Addressing the community of Corinth he says: 'A great and favourable door has been opened to me' (1 Cor 16:9); and writing to the Colossians he exhorts them thus: 'Pray also for us, that God may open to us the door of the Word to proclaim the mystery of Christ' (Col 4:3)". "The two apostles Peter and Paul," the pontiff commented, "had this experience of grace. They touched the work of God, who opened the doors of their inner prison and also of the real prisons where they were imprisoned because of the Gospel. And, moreover, he opened before them the doors of evangelisation, so that they could experience the joy of meeting their brothers and sisters in the fledgling communities and be able to bring the hope of the Gospel to all". An idea to which he also returned later on this feast day, from the window of the Apostolic Palace above St Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus. Pointing to the keys with which Peter is portrayed, he explained that 'authority if it is not service is dictatorship. The mission that Jesus entrusts to Peter is not to bar the doors of the house, allowing access only to a few select guests, but to help everyone find the way in, in fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus. Everyone'. And it is precisely this style that Francis also indicated to the archbishops appointed during the past year. They are called - he said - "to be zealous pastors, who open the doors of the Gospel and who, with their ministry, contribute to building a Church and a society with open doors". Among the bishops who received the pallium, the presence of Msgr. Linus Neli, archbishop of Imphal, the capital of the Indian state of Manipur, whose Christian community has experienced severe suffering this past year due to ethnic violence, was particularly significant. For Asia, the list also includes Archbishops Vincent Aind of Ranchi (India), Andrew C. Alarcon of Caceres (Philippines), Hironimus Pakaenoni of Kupang (Indonesia) and Paulus Budi Kleden, Archbishop-elect of Ende (Indonesia). From the Churches of Oceania, Mgr Mosese Vitolio Tui, who was appointed Archbishop of Samoa-Apia just a few days ago, received the pallium. Finally, on today's feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Vatican also released the annual report on St Peter's Obolus, which is collected in dioceses around the world on the Pope's Day of Charity, celebrated on the Sunday closest to this feast day. During 2023, 48.4 million euro in donations were collected, while 103 million euro were contributed from this fund. Among the countries of origin of the donors, the Catholic community of South Korea confirms its top position with 1.3 million euro donated (it is the fourth largest donor together with Germany and behind the USA, Italy and Brazil). The Churches in Asia are also among the recipients of direct assistance projects: on the continent with the funds of the Obolo di San Pietro a total of 33 projects have been realised for a total economic commitment of 2.8 million euro. In addition to the collections of these days in the parishes and dioceses each individual faithful can personally contribute to the Pope's charity at any time through the offerings collected online through the website www.obolodisanpietro.va. Never Have I Ever: Gotten My Penis Pierced Here's What It's Really Like to Get the Infamous 'Prince Albert' Piercing Down There Have you ever played Never Have I Ever before? Here are the rules: Everyone puts up ten fingers, and you go around in a circle and one by one share something sexy or scandalous that youve never done before. When someone else shares something you have done, you have to put one finger down and of course, drink. The first person to put all 10 fingers down loses (or wins, depending on how you look at it). Well, AskMen is still playing Never Have I Ever, and the rules are simple: In each edition of this column, we speak to someone about doing something new in bed, whether its a long-time fantasy, something that just happened, or even something they regret. They tell us everything so you get an inside look at what some sexual experiences are actually like. Though most of the guys searching to alter their member are looking to increase their size, there are a lot of ways to modify your penis including piercings. I was chatting with my friend InjectorChris who's talked with AskMen before about the rise in penis and scrotum fillers and he mentioned that some of his patients might come to him for further modification after falling in love with what needles can do to the region through piercings. He introduced me to his friend, Michael, a 33-year-old gay man living in New York City. Michael began with the tradition of getting a yearly piercing, beginning with his ears and nose. Last year, he decided that he was feeling brave enough to decorate his dick with a Prince Albert piercing. The Prince Albert piercing is a genital piercing that passes through the urethra and exits through the underside of the glans, aka head, of the penis. The name "Prince Albert" is often attributed to Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. It's not historically documented, but there's a very long-standing rumor that Prince Albert himself had this piercing. Hence, it carries on his namesake. Probably not the legacy the royal expected, but there you go. RELATED: All the Different Sex Slang You Need to Know As Michael learned when he had to step back from sex for a month, a Prince Albert piercing can take up to four to six weeks to heal. However, when it's done, you're left with a pretty, somewhat kinky body modification. Michael jumped on the phone with AskMen to talk about how getting a penis piercing compared to his later experience with penis fillers (which one do you guess had a longer healing time?), how his partners reacted, and whether he'd get one again. Keep reading. AskMen: Before you got a penis piercing yourself, what were your thoughts about them? Michael: Ive always thought that theyre pretty cool and interesting. Whenever I would come across one, it definitely struck my mind in an intriguing sort of fashion. Ive always been uniquely attracted to them and like that. I pierced my ear and nose; it was like a once-a-year trend where I would pierce something else. So towards the end of last year, I was just, like, you know what? Why not do it? Its my birthday and the holidays. Just go for it. RELATED: 69 Sex Things Every Guy Should Try at Least Once Ive always loved aesthetic services. I saw some articles which really pushed me and gave me the confidence that I needed, which led me into doing things like scrotum and penis filler. Regarding needles, how did the experience of getting a penis piercing compare to penis filler? I honestly would think the penis filler was easier. The needle aspects in either werent really bad. For this piercing itself, the cleaning was like the worst part. With the penis filler, you honestly dont even really notice it. You get it done, and then its like, its over, but piercings, you have to clean, you have to wait for it to heal. What was the experience of getting the penis piercing like? I ended up going to the same parlor where I got my nose done. I had a friend come with me for the camaraderie of it all. It was really nice and the piercer was super knowledgeable. We kind of went over anatomy, where its going to be placed, sizing, and what kind of jewelry were going to do. RELATED: What Gay Guys Could Teach Straight Guys About Getting Kinky The actual procedure began with using a cotton swab to clean the urethra. Then from there, she was like, One, two, three! and then [the needle] just like, went in and out, and it was done. Overall, the process took, maybe like, 20 minutes. It really wasnt that bad. What piercing do you have? I have a Prince Albert. I originally thought I wanted an open one [circular barbell], but it was getting snagged a bit, so I have a closed [captive ring] one now. And I like that a lot more. So how has it impacted your sex life? Its definitely a conversation starter. Some people are a little iffy about it, but its super easy to remove. Most of the time, I find that guys are intrigued by it. And then, a couple of times, people are a little freaked out by it! But I think if anything, they are definitely more excited because you dont see it terribly often. RELATED: What to Do When Your Partners Fantasy Freaks You Out Would you get another one, or do any more body mods? In the piercing space, probably not. Im thinking about going back for one more round of penis filler, but in terms of jewelry, probably not. And what advice would you have for someone whos considering getting a piercing? Definitely do research on the place youre going to. Make sure it looks clean, make sure they answer your questions, and that youre comfortable. And be prepared for the healing process. There is a bit of sexual downtime. I probably waited like a month and a half. How did the piercing live up to your expectations? The only challenging aspect was finding the right jewelry. Had I known in the beginning, I wouldnt have gone with the closed loop. I actually like the way it looks a lot better. It lives up to the fantasy that I built in my head. It looks very cool but it doesnt impact function or anything. It does enhance stimulation. So, I would say it definitely lives up to the fantasy. You Might Also Dig: The compensatory damages sought by the company, Walnort Finance Ltd, are equivalent to roughly one-quarter of the governments annual budget. The arbitration case brought before the World Banks International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) stems from the October 2021 takeover of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) by entities linked to Russian billionaire Roman Trotsenko. The latter bought 75 percent of the ZCMC stock from a German metals group and immediately gifted a quarter of that stake to the Armenian government. The government subsequently increased its share in the mining giant to almost 22 percent after securing a similar donation from Armenian minority shareholders prosecuted for tax evasion. It never gave clear answers to questions raised by the lavish donations highly unusual for the country. The ZCMC management was until then controlled by those shareholders at odds with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. Campaigning for the June 2021 parliamentary elections, Pashinian pledged to punish ZCMCs corrupt shareholders and make sure that their shares are returned to the people. Meanwhile, Walnort, which owns the remaining 12.5 percent of ZCMC, challenged the legality of the 2021 change of ownership. It claimed that the ZCMC charter entitled it to a right of first offer that was violated by the former majority shareholder. Walnort failed to have Armenian courts invalidate the deal before its owner, former Russian Health Minister Mikhail Zurabov, sold the company to the Geneva-based firm Bell Capital Switzerland in November 2023. Bell Capital reportedly specializes in international finance litigation. Walnort announced this week that it has sued Pashinians government for serious breaches of an agreement on protection of mutual investments signed by Armenia and Cyprus in 1998. Walnorts investment in Armenias largest mining company, Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine Closed Joint Stock Company (ZCMC), has been undermined by the Governments politically motivated campaign to obtain a significant shareholding in ZCMC, it said in a statement. In particular, the Government prevented Walnort from exercising legitimate shareholder rights in ZCMC which have resulted in damages of at least USD 1.2 billion (subject to quantification expected to be significantly higher). According to the statement, the government has ignored Walnorts offers to negotiate an amicable settlement and cracked down instead on the Cyprus-based companys Armenian subsidiaries. As of Thursday evening, the government did not react to the biggest ever lawsuit filed against Armenia by a foreign investor. Earlier in the day, its press office told RFE/RLs Armenian Service to submit relevant questions in writing. Based in the southeastern town of Kajaran, ZCMC employs about 4,000 people. It has long been one of Armenias leading corporate taxpayers. 29 June 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The Council of Ministers of Bulgaria has approved the country's participation in the joint venture to implement the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Europe "green energy" corridor, known as "Black Sea Energy," which will traverse the bottom of the Black Sea. Azerbaijan's ambassador to Bulgaria, Huseyn Huseynov, shared this information on his account on the "X" social network. "The Council of Ministers has approved Bulgaria's participation in the joint venture for the Green Energy Corridor project, aimed at supplying 'green energy' from Baku to Central Europe," the diplomat wrote. He emphasized that with a 20% stake, Bulgaria can play a significant role in the project due to its advanced electricity transmission system, interconnections with neighboring countries, developed energy market, investment opportunities in renewable sources, and increasing demand for "green energy." According to him, the Black Sea Energy Corridor initiative is based on a strategic partnership among the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary for transmitting "green energy" through an undersea cable in the Black Sea. "This project aims to enhance regional energy security, diversify energy supplies, leverage renewable energy potential in the Caspian Sea region, and increase the share of renewable energy in national energy portfolios." It's worth noting that on December 17, 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement to establish an energy bridge from the Caucasus region to Europe. As part of this agreement, plans include laying the "Black Sea Energy" undersea electric cable, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts and stretching 1,195 kilometers. The cable will transmit "green electricity" produced in Azerbaijan to Romania through Georgia and the Black Sea, potentially delivering up to 4 gigawatts of "green energy." Speaking to Azernews economist-expert Eldeniz Amirov noted that Bulgaria will be the fifth country to join this Corridor. "This Corridor is established through a memorandum signed between Romania, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Recognizing the potential future benefits, Bulgaria is eager to seize this opportunity, as it lies right on the border of this Corridor." According to him, Bulgaria's 20 percent share in the project is significant, representing one-fifth of the total. "This is a notable indicator. Although this accession might not have an immediate decisive impact on the Bulgarian economy, it is still a promising start. If Bulgaria can position itself as a transit country in the future, it stands to gain more, as Central Asia's energy resources will be transported to Europe through this energy corridor," economist said. "This Corridor strengthens the relationships between the participating countries, and these enhanced relationships can create opportunities in other economic sectors. However, I believe it has not yet generated additional opportunities from this perspective," E.Amirov concluded. From the above, it can be mentioned that Bulgaria's participation in the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Europe "green energy" corridor marks a significant step forward for the country's strategic positioning in the region. By securing a 20 percent share, Bulgaria not only underscores its commitment to sustainable energy but also sets the stage for potential long-term economic benefits. While the immediate impact may be limited, the strengthened relations with neighboring countries and the strategic importance of becoming a transit hub for Central Asia's energy resources highlight the future opportunities this Corridor presents. As Bulgaria continues to invest in its renewable energy infrastructure and leverage its geographical advantages, it stands poised to play a crucial role in enhancing regional energy security and driving economic growth through this innovative initiative. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 10:35 (UTC+04:00) We have said for a year now that we are more than happy to serve as a host, a mediator friend of the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenian. This is about what would be the most helpful for the two to reach peace, Azernews reports, citing US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James OBrien as he telling to journalists on Friday. My hope is that the foreign ministers will find an opportunity to meet very soon. If that is in Washington, we are happy to host them in whatever role we will play. But there are many channels. The two sides have very effective direct communication. This is something they are each doing for their own citizens to bring peace to the region. We are involved as the friend of the process, OBrien added. It is worth noting that the process of signing a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is progressing rapidly. The meeting held by the foreign ministers of the two countries in Almaty on May 10-11 indicates successful negotiations towards peace, with concrete agreements reached on continuing and accelerating delimitation and demarcation work. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 15:15 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more Ongoing peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia could thwart the ambitions and hegemonic desires of many powers in the South Caucasus. It's worth noting that the longstanding Garabagh conflict between Baku and Yerevan has drawn the attention of numerous countries to the region. Alongside the West, Iran, which neighbors Azerbaijan and Armenia, has also been somewhat emboldened by this conflict. Iran's proximity to Armenia, its controversial policies, and its silence over massacres in Azerbaijani territories over the past 30 years are regrettable. During the resumption of the Israel-Palestine war, Iran was among the Muslim countries that initiated protests against Israel. Interestingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran did not mention the existence of mosques converted by Armenians into cowsheds and pigsty, where Muslim Azerbaijanis expelled from their homes by Armenians were relocated. Despite Azerbaijan sharing a border with Iran and Garabagh being in very close proximity, Iran turned a blind eye to Armenia's actions. In 2020, when the Azerbaijani Army halted Armenian provocations and launched a counteroffensive, Iranian leadership refrained from celebrating it. Even this year, in April, Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Subhani, held a press conference stating that Armenian soldiers were killed with Israeli weapons during the Second Garabagh War. It's important to note that Azerbaijan purchased this weaponry and military equipment from Israel with its own funds to liberate its territories from occupation. Official Tehran, however, sent substantial amounts of weaponry and military equipment to Armenia during the 44-day Patriotic War to maintain Azerbaijani territories under occupation. Interestingly, all official statements from Iran indicate their support for peace. However, Tehran does not specify the form in which they support achieving peace. It seems that the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia does not align with Iran's interests. Just yesterday, another provocative statement by Iran's ambassador in Armenia was reported in the media. He mentioned that the results of Iran's presidential elections today will not bring any change in relations with Armenia. When asked about Azerbaijan, he emphasized that Azerbaijan should avoid using "threatening" language toward Armenia. By making such provocative statements at a time when events related to border delimitation and demarcation processes are intensifying, he serves the interests of the state he represents. It's worth noting that Armenia's current leadership's steps towards seeking peace have also caused a cooling in Iran's relations with Armenia. On June 21, Armenia's recognition of Palestine's independence was praised by many Muslim countries. Even President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally expressed his approval of Armenia's step, stating that he applauded Armenia. Subsequently, all Arab countries declared their positive attitudes towards Armenia's decision. However, Iran, which has consistently claimed to support Palestine and has established close relations with Armenia as its last ally, drew attention. The fact that Iran did not officially respond to Armenia's decision until a week later, merely stating "applauded," was perceived as ambiguous. It is evident that Armenia's decision to announce this after the phone call between Pashinyan and Erdogan on June 18, and the statements by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan regarding normalizing relations with Turkiye, have provoked Iran. It appears that Iran is displeased with Armenia's intentions to normalize and develop relations with Azerbaijan and Turkiye. While Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have been in a state of war for many years, have not discussed a peace agreement in the region for the years, the power dynamics are now changing. The peace process between these two ciountries in the South Caucasus is on the agenda, and whether other regional or foreign countries should accept this reality sooner or later remains to be seen. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan has been invited to NATO foreign ministers` summit in Washington, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien told journalists, Azernews reports. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is hosting an event for all of NATO's partners. That includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, so we expect them both to attend it. That's the foreign ministerial level. So they will attend along with the other, a total of 30 partners, the US Assistant Secretary emphasized. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 12:25 (UTC+04:00) On June 28, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on an official visit to Hungary, met with the Minister of Defense of Hungary, Mr. Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Azernews reports. First, Heroes' Square located in Budapest was visited and a wreath was traditionally laid. 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. At the end, a press conference was held for media representatives. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 15:50 (UTC+04:00) The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on an official visit to Hungary, met with the Vice President of the Hungarian National Assembly, Mr. Csaba Hende, Azernews reports. The meeting emphasized the special role of the heads of Azerbaijan and Hungary in the development of relations between the countries and that joint cooperation successfully continues in the military sphere, as in all spheres. The sides also held a wide exchange of views on the prospects of bilateral cooperation between the countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 17:57 (UTC+04:00) Between June 22 and June 28, Azerbaijani police officers found a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition in the recently liberated territories, Azernews reports. In the Khankandi city area, police found 26 automatic weapons, three machine guns, one pistol, three rifles, 27 grenades, two grenade launchers, 36 lighters, 13 shells, 5 bayonets, 115 cartridge combs, and 4,780 cartridges of different calibers. Also, the authorities found one automatic weapon, seven cartridge combs, and 255 cartridges of different calibers in the territory of Vangli village of Kalbajar district. Moreover, four automatic weapons, a pistol, a grenade launcher, 12 grenades, 10 lighters, 10 cartridge combs, and 278 cartridges of varying calibers were found in the Askaran settlement of Khojaly district. In particular, the police officers discovered and seized two automatic weapons, one pistol, one rifle, 13 grenades, three bayonets, 16 cartridge combs, and 270 cartridges of different calibers in the territory of Lachin district. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 19:00 (UTC+04:00) On June 29, a meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) was held under the chairmanship of Mazahir Panahov. Azernews reports, citing Azertag that at first the Chairman of the CEC M. Panahov introduced the Commission members to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the dissolution of the sixth convocation Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the appointment of early elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He said that the elections were scheduled for September 1, 2024, by the decree of the head of state. Then, the Calendar plan, which reflects the necessary points covering all the main stages of the election process in order to ensure that the main actions and measures provided for in the legislation for holding the elections are carried out consistently, systematically, and with quality by the election subjects in the established order and within the time frame, to provide them with methodical assistance and to increase the efficiency of their activities. was presented to the members for discussion. Each part of the said important election document was brought to attention separately and it was decided to approve it after discussions. In the meeting, the issue of creating an expert group under the Central Election Commission was also discussed in order to investigate complaints about the actions (inaction) and decisions that violate citizens' right to vote in the upcoming elections, as well as to more effectively ensure citizens' electoral rights, and it was decided to create an expert group consisting of 9 people. In accordance with the requirements of the Election Code, the creation of expert groups consisting of 3 members under the district election commissions was entrusted to the district election commissions of the constituencies. At the meeting of the Commission, in case it is necessary to consider the issue of registration of candidacy for deputy in the CEC, for the purpose of rechecking relevant documents and information, a working group consisting of experts from relevant state institutions was established under the Commission, and a member of the CEC was appointed as the head of the working group. Current issues were also discussed at the meeting, which was widely covered by representatives of media subjects. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 June 2024 20:53 (UTC+04:00) At least 30 people died in protests in Kenya this week sparked by a government drive to substantially raise taxes in the East African country, Azernews reports, citing Human Rights Watch. "Kenyan security forces shot directly into crowds of protesters on (Tuesday) June 25, 2024, including protesters who were fleeing," the NGO said in a statement. "Although there is no confirmation on the exact number of people killed in Nairobi and other towns, Human Rights Watch found that at least 30 people had been killed on that day based on witness accounts, publicly available information, hospital and mortuary records in Nairobi as well as witness accounts," the statement said. "Shooting directly into crowds without justification, including as protesters try to flee, is completely unacceptable under Kenyan and international law," said Otsieno Namwaya, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The Kenyan authorities need to make clear to their forces that they should be protecting peaceful protesters and that impunity for police violence can no longer be tolerated," Namwaya added. The largely peaceful rallies turned violent on Tuesday when lawmakers passed the deeply unpopular tax increases following pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). After the announcement of the vote, crowds stormed the parliament complex and a fire broke out in clashes unprecedented in the history of the country since its independence from Britain in 1963. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Florence's Fourth Fires Up Music, Food, Dancing on Central Oregon Coast Published 6/25/24 at 9:05 p.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection (Florence, Oregon) This year's Independence Day in the coastal town of Florence gets a little bigger and brighter. Once again, what is called Oregon's Coastal Playground is a Fourth of July monster, expanding all over town and, of course, throughout its skies. This year there's a bike parade, contests for pie-eating and watermelon-scarfing, and live music to the epic fireworks. (Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection) The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Florence, and the Port of Siuslaw have come together again to produce Florences annual 4th of July fireworks display. On Thursday, July 4, the night sky above the Siuslaw River will come alive with a dazzling fireworks display. The vibrant bursts of color will illuminate Historic Old Town, launching from the east end of the Port of Siuslaw Campground. Spectators can choose from numerous vantage points along the riverbank to enjoy the 30-minute show. On top of that, Florence Habitat for Humanity and the City of Florence have teamed up to create an old-fashioned shindig. Locals and Oregon coast visitors alike are invited to join in the festivities. Heres whats in store: Porch Parade (July 2 to July 4): Residents decorate their porches and participate in this communitywide parade. Its a chance to showcase creativity and celebrate together. Bicycle Parade (July 4): Hop on your bike, scooter, or wagon, and join the lively procession down Bay Street. Bring your family and friends: its a pedal-powered party. Pie- and Watermelon-Eating Contests: Head to the grassy area of the Port of Siuslaw Parking lot (at the east end of Bay Street) for these kooky contests. Participants of all ages can compete to see who can devour pies and watermelons the fastest. Registration is limited, so it is suggested to sign up early. FlorenceFun.com As the sun sets, gather with fellow revelers to watch the fireworks light up the night. We look forward to celebrating our nations freedom and encourage everyone in Florence to find safe and fun ways to celebrate Independence Day this year, and to look to the skies that evening for the beautiful display we have planned, said Chamber president/CEO Bettina Hannigan. FLORENCE OREGON COAST FOURTH OF JULY DEEPER GUIDE Pie- & Watermelon-eating Contests You won't want to miss this annual scarfing of grub in a public way. The annual Pie and Watermelon Eating Contest is a beloved public event. Participants ranging from ages 5 to 105 compete to see who can finish their portion first. Join in the fun at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, near the boardwalk by the east end of Bay Street, adjacent to Bridgeport Market. . Musical Fireworks For the third year in a row, festivities include live and recorded music to entertain attendees outdoors on the Three Rivers Casino Resort Stage featuring music by host DJ Al Rojas and featuring the band FM DAZE. Rojas says there will be drawings for prizes throughout the free four-hour show. The music begins in Old Town at 6:00 p.m. and Rojas will provide patriotic music to accompany the fireworks display. Ignite your Independence Day with an unforgettable celebration at the Port of Siuslaw, says Rojas. This years Fourth of July bash will be filled with music, fun, and giveaways that will have you dancing into the starry night. This is more than just a celebration; it's a chance for us to come together as a community and commemorate the spirit of freedom and unity that defines our nation. Fireworks Show One of the coasts biggest, brightest, and longest-lasting fireworks shows begins at dusk (approximately 10:00 p.m.). The show will be launched over (and reflecting off of) the Siuslaw River from the east end of the Port of Siuslaw property, giving viewers throughout Old Town, along the bridge, and in other locations a thrilling show and a fantastic photo op. For more information on the events, or how to join or support the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, visit FlorenceFun.com. See Other Oregon Coast Fourth of July Events for 2024, including updates from Port Orford, Coos Bay, Astoria, Lincoln City and Gleneden Beach. Full Fourth of July Events for Oregon Coast, 2024 Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - - Where to eat - - Florence Oregon Virtual Tour, Map MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted From Cape Disappointment Lighthouse with a Halo to Washington Coastal Storms Beneath Published 6/26/24 at 6:45 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection (Ilwaco, Washington) These days, Ilwaco is one of only two places on the Pacific Northwest coast with two lighthouses. The other is at Newport on the Oregon coast. Here, on the Washington coast , however, the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was the first along the cape area, starting up in 1856 about 42 years before the North Head Light went up. (All photos courtesy Angi D Wildt Gallery, Astoria) This is a place with some stunning moods, too: not just sunny ones. However, for this curiosity, it took over another 100 years for one really cool coincidence, photographically. It was like a sun halo but to be more precise it wasn't really. And it's likely that Astoria's Angi Wildt was not the first to shoot the sun in this cool spot, but it was the first conjunction of a Washington light and the almost-stellar phenomenon that Oregon Coast Beach Connection had seen. It's a fun little photographic moment Wildt captured that verged on a sun halo. See one of those: Colorful Sun Halos Indeed, this past spring of 2024 was chock full of real sun halos in the skies over the coastlines, with some getting seen on the north Oregon coast and south coast around that very day in May that Wildt snapped this lucky shot. There was some true serendipity, however. Wildt of Angi D Wildt Gallery in Astoria - had literally missed the boat on something else. That's why she ended up here. Serendipity, ya know? She was supposed to catch a boat out of Astoria to watch a yachting event back in early May. Heading to the gallery first, she grabbed some snacks and then found, well, disappointment... before going to Cape Disappointment. STORY CONTINUES.... I drove into the marina and saw my boat headed out early, she said. It really wasn't anyone's fault. It was an email chain snafu. So I decided to hike to Cape Disappointment. I hadn't hiked it since forever, so it was awesome. She was walking under a thin layer of clouds which happened to be cirrostratus clouds: which happens to be the right recipe for the most-hallowed halo. I just happened to see the clouds breaking over the lighthouse to form that halo, Wildt said. Boom. A dash of silliness with, well, something that almost looks heavenly. With the actual sun halo, you see a large ring around the sun. You can also see this with the moon, which is a bit more common. Cirrostratus clouds are the only way you'll get to see a sun halo, and the same goes for a moon halo. Halo phenomena along with their wispy cousin the sun dog are created by refraction in the atmosphere, meaning the light is passing through the ice crystals are being bent. With halos, light is usually being bent by 22 degrees, but sometimes at 46 degrees. Difference Between Sun Dogs and Sun Halos: Lovely Oregon Coast Science It all comes about, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), at around 20,000 feet. They make for a whitish glow around the sun during the day, though there are rainbow colors in there. It's just that the sun's brightness blows out the colors (photography term for it) and makes it whitish. That happens with moon halos too, but those can wind up with a rainbow effect which we've seen a lot of at night in Oregon and Washington this June. The Stormy Side of the Lighthouse Wildt is no stranger nor a shirker to getting intense shots of Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. In recent years, she's grabbed some stellar shots of the big waves that are often beneath the 1900s-era landmark. These shots on this page were snapped from famed (and ironically-named) Waikiki Beach at Ilwaco, where massive breakers take on the ancient cliffs. The area can definitely be dangerous when it gets like this: you can tell by the gargantuan logs piled up here. That doesn't happen with normal tidal conditions. Hotels in Astoria - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted As many Democrats call for replacing Biden as their nominee, this would create a $195 million problem. That is the amount of money the Biden-Harris campaign has raised and has in the bank, and if he withdraws, all of that goes to Kamala Harris. That would give Harris quite a nest egg to pursue the nomination herself if the puppetmasters try to put in someone else. A different Democrat presidential candidate would start off flatfooted with no money. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3063909/money-problem-democrats-could-have-if-biden-replaced/ This comes as a Democrat mega donor reports a meeting today between Biden, Obama, and former Chief of Staff Ron Klain over Biden's future as the nominee. Kamala Harris was excluded from the meeting and is furiious. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/06/breaking-hedge-fund-owner-democrat-party-insider-doug/ Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are pushing for Biden to be removed from the presidency under the 25th amendment, which would make Kamala Harris acting president. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3063723/house-gop-calls-biden-removal-office-debate-performance/ Major Democrat political donors in Hollywood have declared they are not sending the Democrats any more money unless Biden drops out. https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2024/06/28/top-hollywood-donors-issue-democrats-ultimatum-after-biden-debate-if-he-doesnt-drop-out-were-not-giving-any-more-money/ Another problem with the Democrats replacing Biden is that under state election laws in three swing states, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Georgia, it is already too late to replace Biden on the ballot unless he dies or is found mentally incompetent. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/06/uh-oh-another-bad-news-democrats-biden-cannot/ The ultra-liberal New York Times has demanded that Biden step down as nominee. https://www.express.co.uk/news/us/1916837/joe-biden-new-york-times-step-down Now, a new poll shows Trump with a 1 point lead in New Jersey https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/06/29/shock-poll-in-new-jersey-n2176172 All in all, this is a huge mess for Democrats. https://thefederalist.com/2024/06/28/can-dems-just-dump-biden-and-move-on-its-not-that-simple/ The Democrat National Committee has had an emergency call in conjunction with the Biden campaign to state party leaders around the country to try to talk down the calls for a new candidate. https://nypost.com/2024/06/29/us-news/biden-campaign-working-overtime-to-ease-concern-over-debate-performance/ Biden and his family are meeting today at Camp David on whether to continue in the dampaign. Jill Biden is being accused of "elder abuse". https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13585099/jill-joe-biden-lady-elder-abuse-accusations-election-2024.html Two political commentators with SkyNews Austtalia had a field day with the debate. Here are some of the highlights before and during the debate: David Dimbleby says he fears for the future of the BBC (Ian West/PA) David Dimbleby said that the BBC doesnt always show signs of remembering that its coverage of news, politics and the arts is important. The former Question Time host, 85, was a stalwart voice in the corporations broadcast of major events such as royal weddings and funerals and the night the UK goes to the polls. Dimbleby told the Telegraph that he is very, very worried about the future of the BBC. David Dimbleby with his Special Recognition award at the National Television Awards (Ian West/PA) He said: I very much hope it will remember though as an organisation it doesnt always show signs of remembering it the things that really matter are the World Service, news and politics, and the arts, which nobody else does seriously and properly. Dimbleby would regularly deliver the exit poll figures at 10pm on BBC One, before being replaced in 2019 by Huw Edwards, who also began heading the coverage of key UK moments. Edwards resigned and left the BBC earlier this year after allegations that he paid a young person for sexually explicit photos. On Thursday, the BBCs General Election night will be presented by Mastermind host and BBC News At Ten newsreader Clive Myrie alongside Sunday morning political show host Laura Kuenssberg. Clive Myrie and Laura Kuenssberg will host the BBCs coverage on Thursday (BBC/,Jeff Overs) Dimbleby said he does not miss it because I have spent five years not doing it, but hailed doing the general election as the Everest of broadcasting. He added the entire broadcast is made up of hitches you cant get through to the constituency, or you do get through and the new MP is so grand that he didnt want to wait and has gone off to ITV. Dimbleby said he never got tired and never prepared for covering the election, but did acknowledge that when you stop walking along a tightrope, you miss it. So I stopped doing Trooping the Colour because I got bored of it, he also said. I stopped doing the State Opening of Parliament because it is the same ritual every year. The Cenotaph, I keep doing it. I must have done 35 years. I imagine I will do it again this year. In 2022, Dimbleby covered the Queens funeral procession, after he commentated on the Queens Platinum Jubilee service at St Pauls Cathedral. He has not fronted as much coverage in recent years, and recently announced that he would step down as chairman of the Towner Eastbourne art gallery. Star student helped developed technique to make faux leather from fungi for fashion industry, and worked on medical device for kids with muscle condition Aodhan Murray has set up his own company Among those receiving their degrees was Caitlin Chee, who as part of her Masters in product design engineering helped develop a technique to make faux leather from mushrooms. The product is aimed at replacing animal leather in the fast-fashion industry. In April last year she was named the gradireland female leadership undergraduate of the year. She also had the opportunity to travel to the US as part of a Queens programme. She was among just 25 students out of the universitys 25,000 roster to travel to Boston to meet with industry leaders from a range of organisations. She crossed the Atlantic again to Canada for a three-month research internship at Polytechnique Montreal in Quebec. That saw Caitlin design and create a proof-of-concept prototype using 3D printing of an upper-limb exoskeleton for children aged two to six who have arthrogryposis, a condition that causes a stiffening of the muscles. The project is undergoing further development in Quebec. She said: I am so grateful for the funding and support from Queens, which has given me a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel and pursue my passions in engineering. These last five years have led me to return to the university in October to begin my PhD in polymer research with the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, combining my engineering passions with my desire to work towards better sustainability in the materials and packaging industry. Joining her in graduating yesterday was Aodhan Murray, with a Masters in electrical and electronic engineering. Aodhan Murray has set up his own company Aodhan joined Queens in 2018, and during his second year he began to realise he could apply his knowledge by co-founding Phasora Ltd with support from QUBIS, the universitys commercial arm, and Innovate UK. The company produces a high-tech device that allows utility companies to study their power grids in fine detail. He explained: Phasora is progressing greatly on its product development as we look to launch a highly flexible device to provide visibility of the grid to help enable more renewables to join the grid. Im looking forward to graduating so I can focus on Phasora again with the hope this product will be brought to market shortly. The PSNI has confirmed it is investigating the appearance of a UVF mural in Co Armagh which has been condemned by an Alliance councillor. Local representative Peter Lavery criticised the terror groups attempt to mark territory near a park in Lurgan and took to social media to advice the public that police have been alerted. PSNI Chief Inspector Stevenson confirmed the report was received on Saturday. "Our enquiries are ongoing," they added. "Lurgan Neighbourhood Policing Team officers will continue to engage with community representatives and partner agencies around this issue. Its understood the the giant orange coloured initials of the Ulster Volunteer Force, against a purple backdrop, were painted on a wall near Lurgan Park earlier this week. Cllr Lavery shared a picture of the scene as he expressed disgust on Facebook. I completely condemn the erection of a UVF mural in Lurgan which was painted in recent days on a wall near the Avenue Road, he wrote. This is not history or culture, instead is is a clear attempt to mark territory and intimidate. The community in Lurgan wants to be left in peace so they can get on with their lives. "This sinister attempt to try to bring fear into the area will not deter people from continuing to progress towards a more positive future. The elected representative has urged anyone with information to contact the police on 101. The mural also contains the words Mid Ulster Brigade a notorious UVF unit which was behind some of the most savage killings of the Troubles. It was part of the Glenanne gang, a collaboration of loyalist paramilitaries and some members of the security forces. Members were involved in several high-profile attacks during its 30 year long terror reign during which dozens of people were murdered. The blood drenched Portadown based unit was responsible for the the Dublin and Monaghan bomb attacks which claimed the lives of 33 people in May 1974. It was also behind the murder of top IRA commander John Francis Green, at Tullyash, Co Monaghan, in January 1975. The shooting dead of six members of the O'Dowd and Reavey families in coordinated gun-attacks at Bleary and Whitecross a gun and bomb attack which claimed the lives of three members of the Miami Showband in August 1976 was also the work of the Mid Ulster Unit. its former leader Billy Wright was expelled by the UVF in August 1986. He defied an order to leave the country and went on to set up his own unit, the LVF which led to bloody feuds. Mr Lavery has previously condemned the appearance of UVF facades in Lurgan. In 2021 one appeared on the side of a Housing Executive property in the town which was also condemned as an attempt to intimidate residents. Those signs, depicting images and slogans claiming to represent Mid-Ulster UVF and associated other paramilitaries, were displayed at Pollock Drive close to a community centre and replaced facades of Edward Carson and the Somme among other historical markers. A new search will take place around the village of Masca, Tenerife, for missing British teenager Jay Slater (James Manning/PA) A renewed search for missing teenager Jay Slater is under way in Tenerife after Spanish police appealed for expert volunteers to help. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation on June 17. On Friday, the Guardia Civil appealed for volunteer associations, such as firefighters, and individual volunteers who were experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva, or massive search, on Saturday. The search in the village of Masca, near to his last-known location, is being co-ordinated to take in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. It marks the 13th day in the search for the apprentice bricklayer. Brigadier Cipriano Martin, chief of the Guardia Civils mountain rescue team, said Mr Slater would not have travelled to any area we dont go to. Speaking through a translator, he told the BBC: There are difficult areas and weve given instructions for people not to risk their own safety. But theres something we need to make clear, which is any area we dont go to, well, Jay wont have gone there either. You have to think about it logically if I see theres vegetation in front of me and Im going to get spiked, and I cant get through, then he wont have gone through that area either. We have to be logical, obviously. The Airbnb Casa Abuela Tina in Masca, Tenerife, where missing British teenager Jay Slater resided prior to his disappearance (James Manning/PA) Asked if the sea can be reached directly from the search area, he said: You can reach the sea, in fact last Saturday I went along the whole path there are old paths which are only occasionally used because its a cliff with very little attraction for sporting purposes. But you can reach the beach along them, so I reached the beach. We didnt find anything. Its a path that goes above and not along the bottom of the cliff, it has drops, and whats needed are ropes to get down and we also know he was not equipped for that. There are rocky drops that you cannot get beyond, you can only get down with a harness and ropes the people searching that spot today will have to turn around I think, because they dont have the necessary equipment, and anyway the best that Jay could do was simply to walk. Mr Slater attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the island which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. He had reportedly been driven to an Airbnb property in Masca. According to reports, media were told in a press conference on Saturday that two men who were reported to have rented the Airbnb are not relevant to the case. Members of a search and rescue team near the last known location of Jay Slater (James Manning/PA) On Friday, Mr Slaters friend Brad Hargreaves told ITVs This Morning he had been on a video call with him before his disappearance when he heard him go off the road. He said: He was on the phone walking down a road and hed gone over a little bit not a big drop but a tiny little drop and he was going down, and he said Ill ring ya back, Ill ring ya back because I think someone else was ringing him. He confirmed he could see his friends feet sliding down the hill and could hear he was walking on gravel. But, Mr Hargreaves said he and his friend were both laughing at that point. He added: He didnt seem concerned on the phone until we knew how far away he was. He told the programme he still had hope for Mr Slater and was praying for him to come home. Earlier this week, his mother Debbie Duncan, who travelled to the island following his disappearance, said money raised online would be used to support mountain rescue teams, and to cover her own accommodation and food costs. Donations flooded in after GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater home was set up by Lucy Law, his friend and the last person to speak to him, and by Friday more than 40,000 had been raised. An appeal poster for Jay Slater, 19, who went missing during a holiday in Tenerife (Family Handout/PA) In an update on Thursday, Ms Duncan said: 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. Ms Law said Mr Slater told her in a frantic phone call before he went missing that he was lost in the mountains, he wasnt aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%. Search teams, co-ordinated by the Guardia Civil, have since mounted a huge manhunt using helicopters, drones and search dogs to scour mountainous areas of the island, but are yet to find the teenager. Ms Duncan has described her sons disappearance and the wait for news as a living nightmare. Visitors will be able to see parts of Balmoral Castle used by the royal family for the first time this summer (Andrew Milligan/PA) The Kings interior design tastes will be on display when visitors are given an extensive tour of Balmoral for the first time in its history. Charles has thrown open the doors of his Scottish retreat to the public, allowing them a glimpse of royal family life in the Highlands. From Monday visitors can take a guided tour of a number of rooms in the Aberdeenshire castle, where successive monarchs since Queen Victoria have been able to relax and recharge amongst local Scots who have treated them as their own. Balmorals library which Charles uses as a his study (Visitor Enterprise for Balmoral Castle/PA) James Hamilton Goddard, visitor enterprise manager for the Balmoral Estate, has been working with his team to open up the royal residences entrance hall, red corridor, main and family dining rooms, pages lobby, library and drawing room to the public. He said: Its a magnificent place, I think the King wants people to see (it). We were asked, my department, to put this together and we put this together. The public who managed to get a ticket will come away (having seen) the royal familys holiday home thats exactly what it is, it feels very homely. Charles is the latest in a long line of the kings and queens who have added their own stamp to Balmoral since Victoria and Prince Albert fell in love with area and had the castle built in the 1850s. Balmoral Castle painted by King Charles (Joe Giddens/PA) The King has changed the drawing room carpets back to Hunting Stewart tartan, which was the original style of floor coverings Victoria had fitted in the castle. Balmorals walls are hung with paintings by Victorian artist Sir Edwin Henry Landseer selected by Charles, who has inherited his great great great grandmother Victorias passion for the painter and sculptor. Landseer is best known for creating the lions at the base of Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square and was invited to Balmoral every summer to teach Victoria and Albert painting. The castles library, which was once Victoria and her consorts breakfast and lunch room, is today used by the King as his working study where he has welcomed dignitaries from across the globe. The books lining the shelves include tomes on Scottish History particularly Highland clans Alberts speeches, as well as novels and books on poetry and art. Balmoral has been the summer retreat for the royal family since Queen Victorias reign (Visitor Enterprise for Balmoral Castle/PA) Mr Hamilton Goddard said: The public actually seeing the library, which is now used as His Majestys study, is just possibly one of the most beautiful rooms of the entire residence. Quirky items on display include the chauffeurs whistle, used in past years to call the driver, which can be seen in the red corridor, decorated with printed flock wallpaper commissioned by Victoria from arts and crafts pioneer William Morris. Visitors can also see the dinner gong, used to summon Balmoral guests and made from materials salvaged from the British warship the Temeraire which fought in the Battle of Trafalgar. Tickets for the guided tours, priced at 100 or 150 with afternoon tea, were sold out withing 24 hours of going on sale with 40 people each day allowed to visit the royal residence from July 1 to August 4. The opening takes place before the King and Queen arrive at Balmoral for their summer break but there is a royal touch for those having cake and sandwiches. At Charles request tea will be served for visitors on a replica of the White Stewart Tartan China used by the royal family at Balmoral. Visitors have previously only been able to visit Balmorals ballroom and the grounds of the castle, and the new tour will include a visit to the ballroom where Victoria staged dances and the royal family still hold Ghillies balls to entertain the staff. Rishi Sunak celebrated the UK as the worlds most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy while visiting a Hindu temple. The Prime Minister spoke of the events of the last few days as he addressed Hindus in the main worship hall of the Neasden Temple in north-west London, referring to the allegations of racism dogging rival party Reform UK. Akshata Murty, the Prime Ministers wife, joined him in the visit to the temple complex, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, on Saturday evening. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty during a visit to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Dan Kitwood/PA) The couple visited the Mandir, the temple itself, taking part in prayer rituals, before Mr Sunak addressed hundreds of Hindus in the main hall. A priest speaking before Mr Sunak said it had been a matter of great pride for the British Hindu community to have seen a practising Hindu and his family become residents of No 10. He also joked: You have really raised the bar for children in our community. It is no longer enough to become just a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant. Because Indian parents across the country are now saying you can also become prime minister. Mr Sunak was presented with a flower garland as he approached the stage, and touched the feet of the priest in a mark of respect. The audience clapped and cheered as he bowed to make the gesture. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked Hindus for their support (Dan Kitwood/PA) You have been with me every step of the way. On the hardest days in this job, I have felt you backing me, the Prime Minister told the crowd. He added: I know the pride there is to have a British Asian Prime Minister and I am determined to never let you down. Mr Sunak later added: I am proud to be the first British Asian Prime Minister and I am even prouder that it is not a big deal. The events of the last few days should not make us forget that the United Kingdom is the worlds most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy and we should all be uplifted by that. Campaigners for Nigel Farages party Reform UK in the Clacton seat in Essex that he hopes to win were recorded by an undercover journalist from Channel 4 making racist comments, including about the Prime Minister who is of Indian descent. In response to the incident, Mr Sunak talked about the impact on his family: 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. Mr Sunak and his wife performed rituals (Dan Kitwood/PA) After addressing worshippers, what was supposed to be a swift exit turned into an approximately 20-minute walkabout among the crowd for the Prime Minister. People rushed from their seats to shake Mr Sunaks hand, or as was the case among the children present, to give him a high five. When speaking with older members of the Hindu community, Mr Sunak often bowed to touch their feet in respect. An elderly gentleman he spoke to during the temple tour appeared to say he was praying for the Prime Minister to win the election. Oh gosh, thank you, Mr Sunak said, as he clasped the mans hands. Police officers help an elderly woman during an evacuation in the Donetsk region (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Russian shelling of frontline villages in eastern Ukraine has killed four people while rescuers in the city of Dnipro dug through rubble after a Russian attack ripped through a nine-storey residential building, leaving one dead, officials said. The attacks came as Russia continues to stretch out Ukrainian forces in several areas along the 600-mile front line. Moscow has stepped up air strikes in a bid to drain Ukraines resources, often targeting energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. The shelling of the frontline village of Niu-York in the Donetsk region also left five injured, said governor Vadym Filashkin. He said that Russian forces had shelled populated areas 13 times over the past 24 hours. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content In Dnipro, at least one person died and 12 were injured, including a seven-month-old girl, after a Russian strike destroyed the top four floors of the apartment block on Friday evening, regional head Serhii Lysak said. Kyiv has also struck back at Russia with its own aerial attacks. A Ukrainian drone strike killed at least five people in Russias Kursk region, local officials said on Saturday. Two children were among the victims of the attack in the village of Gorodishche on the Russian-Ukrainian border, governor Alexey Smirnov said on social media. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country had lost about 80% of its thermal power (Laurent Cipriani/AP) In its morning statement, the Russian Defence Ministry said that six Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over the countrys Tver, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. It did not give information on the reported strike in the Kursk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country had lost about 80% of its thermal power and one third of its hydroelectric power in Russian strikes. Discussing the attack in Dnipro, Mr Zelensky said it was a reminder to Ukraines allies that the country needed more air defence systems. The Ukrainian air force said on Saturday that it had downed 10 Russian drones overnight. This is why we constantly remind all of our partners: only a sufficient amount of high-quality air defence systems, only a sufficient amount of determination from the world at large can stop Russian terror, he said. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has placed his country as a strategic ally to the West (AP) Mauritanians have gone to the polls to elect their next president, with the incumbent Mohamed Ould Ghazouani widely expected to win after positioning Mauritania as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence. Mr Ghazouni, who is seeking re-election on the pledge of providing security and economic growth, is a former army chief and the current president of the African Union. He came to power in 2019 following the first democratic transition in the countrys history, and on Saturday promised to respect the results of the vote. Presidential candidate Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid rallied his supporters, ahead of the presidential election end of the month, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mamsy Elkeihel) Mr Ghazouni said after voting in Ksar, a suburb of the capital Nouakchott: The last word belongs to the Mauritanian voters. I commit myself to respecting their choice. Although his opponents accused him of corruption and mismanagement, he remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability. The vote is taking place in a particularly tense regional climate, with Mauritanias neighbouring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence. Two million people are eligible to vote in a nation of five million. Two million among the nation of five million are eligible to vote (AP) Mr Ghazouani is facing six opponents, including an anti-slavery activist, leaders of several opposition parties and a neurosurgeon, who accused the government of corruption and clientelism. Mauritania is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil and natural gas. It is poised to become a gas producer by the end of the year, with the planned launch of the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyim offshore gas project at the border with Senegal. However, almost 60% of the population live in poverty, according to the United Nations, working as farmers or employed in the informal sector. With few economic opportunities for young people at home, many are attempting to cross the Atlantic to reach Europe, and some are even trying to get to the United States through Mexico. Saturdays vote was unfolding peacefully, according to observers, with the polls due to close at 7pm local time (8pm BST). Partial results are expected on Sunday. We have not noticed any anomalies or problems, declared Taghiyouallah Ould Ledhem, spokesman for CENI, the independent electoral commission. People are voting smoothly and easily, we have not received any complaints so far.s OTIS The clock is ticking for the Farmington River Regional School Committee on rethinking the division of the financial burden between the districts two towns: Otis and Sandisfield. Tired of footing the bill for more than they can afford, at a Nov. 17, 2022, special town meeting Sandisfield voted to request adding terms to the district's regional agreement by which it could withdraw. Now, more than 15 months later, the Sandisfield Select Board sent the school committee a letter with an ultimatum. According to an April 16 letter sent the school committee, the Select Board is prepared to propose to its voters at a Special Town Meeting to withdraw from the Farmington River Regional School District effective September 1, 2024," in the event that the school committee has not provided the terms requested. There are 128 students at Farmington River Regional Elementary School, located in Otis, with about 60 percent from Otis and 40 percent from Sandisfield. There is a large wealth disparity between the two towns, with Otis being far wealthier than Sandisfield. Sandisfield, meanwhile, is paying more than the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says it can afford, while Otis is paying far less. On May 21, the Sandisfield Select Board sent a memorandum to Denise Hardie, school committee chair, following up. In it, the Select Board expressed gratitude" for its "prompt response and cooperation on behalf of the school committee." In that May letter, the Sandisfield Select Board also said it would withdraw its prior requests for terms and conditions of withdrawal if special town meeting votes on the apportionment method were approved. Superintendent Timothy Lee referred to Sandisfield's predicament in his written testimony to the Joint Committee on Education regarding a home-rule petition on school choice tuition. In it, he said Sandisfield "may already have reached its breaking point," and noted it is one of the largest towns in the state with low equalized valuation, a large portion of untaxed state-owned land and miles of unpaved roads. He noted Sandisfield's request for a change in apportionment. "If a compromise cannot be reached, town leaders have suggested it may be necessary to withdraw from the district and reconfigure as a 'non-operating' tuition only town," Lee wrote, adding that such a move would dissolve the district and "would undoubtedly result in more cost and fewer options for remaining students." With about 10 options for apportionment methods proposed and considered by an ad hoc committee, the school committee settled on two, with a third option of a blend of those two. Both would ultimately shift the burden from Sandisfield toward Otis. In an effort to meet Sandisfield's Sept. 1 deadline, the school committee scheduled additional meetings this summer to come to agreement on the final method that will be presented to both town meetings. Our main goal is to keep the school district open, said Douglas Miner, Sandisfield school committee member. Both parties need to benefit. The school committee next meets Monday at 7 p.m. at the Farmington River Regional School library. Word of the Week: Symphony. And the fascinating origins of orchestral instruments and their names, from strings to percussion BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Nemo after winning the ESC. According to a survey, skepticism prevails that the singing competition will be held in Switzerland next year. (archive picture) Keystone According to a survey, less than half of Swiss people are looking forward to the ESC being held in Switzerland. Supporters of left-wing parties are more excited than those of conservative parties. SDA SDA No time? blue News summarizes for you A survey shows that 49% of the Swiss population are skeptical about the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Approval is higher among people with a higher level of education and left-wing political views, while 74 percent of SVP supporters are against it. Several Swiss cities have applied to host the ESC. Show more This was revealed by a Sotomo survey published in the "Blick " newspaper on Saturday. A total of 24,720 people were surveyed. They answered the question of whether they would welcome Switzerland, and therefore SRG, hosting the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in 2025. 49% of them answered "no" or "rather no", and 46% "yes" or "rather yes". Five percent gave no answer. Support for the ESC is highest among Green Party supporters, with 72% in favor. The SP, GLP and the Center Party also have a majority with anticipation. The situation is different for those who prefer the SVP and FDP: skeptics clearly outnumber supporters of these two parties, with 74% of SVP supporters in favor. The majority of those who did not state a party preference in the survey are also not looking forward to the ESC in Switzerland. Decision in August on which location will host ESC 2025 Several Swiss cities have announced their candidacy to host the ESC. They are Basel, Bern - together with Biel - Zurich and Geneva. The ESC 2025 will take place in Switzerland after Nemo from Biel won this year's edition. According to the schedule, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and SRG will examine the submitted dossiers in July and August. The decision on the venue for the ESC 2025 will be announced at the end of August. More videos from the department SDA An election worker cuts the security tab on a vote counting machine after the polling stations close. Photo: Ng Han Guan/AP/dpa Keystone According to preliminary results, the Mongolian People's Party (MVP) has won the parliamentary elections in Mongolia, but has lost part of its overwhelming majority. After almost all votes had been counted, the previously undisputed party won 68 of the 126 seats in the Grand State Chural and thus only secured a narrow majority, as Mongolian media reported on Saturday. The previous Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene declared his MVP the winner of the election. In the previous election, the party had won 62 seats in the then 76-seat parliament. SDA In this ninth parliamentary election since the democratic transition in 1990, the opposition made significant gains. Observers sometimes interpreted this as the population's desire for change. According to preliminary results, the center-right Democratic Party won 42 seats. The Hun Party won eight seats. Two other splinter parties shared the remaining eight seats. Election observers criticize fairness According to the electoral commission, voter turnout was around 69 percent. The official election results will be presented within 14 days, reported the state news agency Montsame. Just over two million people in the country, which is surrounded by Russia and China, were called to vote. Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) assessed the election process positively. However, the organization criticized unequal conditions of competition to the advantage of the MVP, as stated in a press release. In contrast, the observers praised the fact that the increase in seats led to more plurality and women in parliament. The area of resource-rich Mongolia is more than four times the size of Germany, although the country only has a population of around 3.4 million. The former socialist People's Republic voted using a different electoral system. 48 seats were allocated via a party list and 78 seats via a direct election. The Grand State Chural in the capital Ulan Bator grew from 76 to 126 parliamentary seats. Mongolia dependent on its neighbors Mongolia is considered an important democratic buffer between the two autocratic countries of China and Russia. Ulan Bator has long tried to maintain a balanced relationship with its neighbors, on whom Mongolia is very dependent. Almost all of its petroleum products come from Russia, for example, and more than 90 percent of Mongolia's total exports go to China, especially coal. Domestically, Mongolia, where many people still live as nomads, is struggling with corruption in politics, which is why the population's trust is increasingly declining. SDA ARCHIVE - Fire and black smoke rise between houses in the northern Israeli border town of Metula, which was shelled by Hezbollah, photographed from Marjayoun in southern Lebanon. Photo: Hussein Malla/AP/dpa Keystone Saudi Arabia has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. The reason for this is likely to be fears of a war between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. The Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Saturday that the embassy in the Lebanese capital Beirut had appealed to its citizens to leave the country "immediately". It also said that people from Saudi Arabia should no longer travel to Lebanon. SDA A few days ago, Canada, for example, also called on its citizens to leave the country. The Federal Foreign Office in Berlin has been warning Germans against traveling to Lebanon for some time in light of the current conflict with Israel. German citizens are urgently requested to leave the country. "A further deterioration of the situation and expansion of the conflict cannot be ruled out", according to the Foreign Office. Since the beginning of the Gaza war almost nine months ago, Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have been firing at each other almost daily, especially in the border area. The intensity of the fighting has recently increased significantly. SDA Bolivian President Luis Arce said on Friday that a former general planned to take over the government and become president in a failed coup. He also denied that the Andean nation was in an economic crisis. Advertisement In an interview with the Associated Press (AP), the embattled leader denied once again that Wednesdays attack on the government palace was a self-coup designed to garner him political points. I didnt escape. I stayed to defend democracy, Mr Arce said. Mr Arce washed his hands of claims by relatives of the 21 people detained by the government that they were innocent of attempting a coup and had been tricked by ex-general Juan Jose Zuniga. Its a problem of those who were involved, its not the governments problem, Mr Arce told AP. Advertisement The president speaks after a coup attempt at the government palace in La Paz, Bolivia (AP/Juan Karita) Mr Arce also said his government has been politically attacked by his one-time ally turned rival, former president Evo Morales. He said the in-fighting has snarled legislative activities and hamstrung his government in confronting economic problems. Despite that, he said, Bolivias economy is growing, and his administration is working to diversify its means of production, invest in things like lithium, and industrialise. Advertisement Bolivia has the largest reserves of lithiuma metal known as white gold and considered essential in the green transitionin the world. It has gone largely untapped, in part due to government policy. Mr Arce said the government has taken action to address intermittent gasoline and dollar shortages and other hurdles ailing the South American nations economy. Bolivia has an economy thats growing. An economy in crisis doesnt grow, he said. Supporters of the president demonstrate outside the prosecutors office demanding jail time for Juan Jose Zunig (Carlos Sanchez/AP) Advertisement He said it was completely normal for Bolivians to stockpile food in supermarkets and run to ATMs upon seeing an emerging coup in the capital instead of following his call to take to the streets in support of the government. He said Bolivians were traumatised by the political turmoil in 2019 that led Mr Morales to resign as president and flee and also caused 37 deaths. Where there is a political situation, this rupture, a coup detat, of course, people will be scared that there wont be food so theyll go get money to stock up, Mr Arce said. Advertisement He added that the government was investigating whether the countrys political opposition organised the attack. That same day, Mr Arces governmental minister, Eduardo del Castillo, said the government claimed that there were snipers who did not arrive in time to the Murillo square where the coup was staged. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has re-elected its leadership duo at the partys conference, following its gains in the recent European election. Meanwhile, thousands of people protested outside, with some demonstrators attempting to block roads and clashing with police. Advertisement AfD took 15.9% of the vote to finish second in the European Parliament election on June 9, despite recent scandals and setbacks. Thousands of people demonstrated outside (dpa via AP) That was lower than its support in surveys at the beginning of the year, but a particularly strong performance in the formerly communist east has bolstered its hopes of emerging as the strongest party in three state elections there in September. Advertisement At the partys two-day conference in the western city of Essen, co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were elected unopposed to new two-year terms. They were backed by 79.8% and 82.7% of delegates respectively a display of harmony by the partys often argumentative standards. Ms Weidel vowed to work to tear down the unspeakable so-called firewalls that other parties have set up against working with AfD. A heavy police presence was in place in Essen, where local authorities had tried to find a way to prevent the AfD event, but lost their case in court. Advertisement Large-scale protests were organised against the party, which celebrated good results in the European elections (dpa via AP) Organisers said a march through the city attracted some 50,000 people, German news agency dpa reported. Thousands attended other demonstrations. Protesters staged sit-ins on streets and crossings near the convention hall. Advertisement Early on Saturday morning, a group of demonstrators tried to get through a barrier and was pushed back by police using pepper spray and batons. There were also incidents in which masked demonstrators attacked officers, according to police, who reported several arrests. Two officers were kicked in the head while a politician was being escorted through a group of protesters and were taken to hospital, police said, while another seven were slightly injured. Ms Weidel told delegates as she opened the meeting that what is going on out there has nothing to do with democracy, and said that we are here and we will stay. Advertisement Some police were hurt during unrest (dpa via AP) AfDs recent setbacks included the party sidelining its top two candidates from the election campaign due to scandals and being kicked out of its hard-right group in the European Parliament. Mr Chrupalla said that we could have taken 20% in the European vote and complained that reporting on the two candidates was unfair and disproportionate. But he also acknowledged that with careless and unprofessional behaviour, some have unnecessarily offered room for attack. That way, we take two steps forward and one step back, but in the future we must take three steps forward, he added, arguing that the party needs to take a closer look at its candidates. Russian attacks across eastern Ukraine have killed at least 11 people, while rescuers in the city of Dnipro dug through rubble after a Russian strike ripped through a nine-storey residential building, leaving one dead, officials said. The attacks came as Russia continues to stretch out Ukrainian forces in several areas along the 600-mile front. Advertisement Moscow has stepped up air strikes in a bid to drain Ukraines resources, often targeting energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. The shelling of the front-line village of Niu-York in the Donetsk region also injured five people, said governor Vadym Filashkin. Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow is not seeking quick gains and would stick to the current strategy of advancing slowly (AP) Advertisement He said that Russian forces had shelled populated areas 13 times over the past 24 hours. A further seven people were killed on Saturday afternoon in Russian shelling on the town of Vilniansk, including two children, governor Ivan Fedorov said. Ten more were injured, while infrastructure was also damaged, he wrote on social media. Meanwhile, in Dnipro, at least one person died and 12 were injured, including a seven-month-old girl, after a Russian strike destroyed the top four floors of the apartment block on Friday evening, said regional head Serhii Lysak. Rescuers confirmed that several residents remain missing. Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Dnipro attack was a reminder to Ukraines allies that the country needed more air defence systems. The Ukrainian air force said on Saturday that it had downed 10 Russian drones overnight. Russian troops are forging through Ukraines defences along the front line (Russian defence ministry press service via AP) Advertisement This is why we constantly remind all of our partners: only a sufficient amount of high-quality air defence systems, only a sufficient amount of determination from the world at large can stop Russian terror, he said. Russian officials also reported Ukrainian attacks, with a drone strike killing five people in Russias Kursk region, local officials said. A Ukrainian drone strike killed at least five people in Russias Kursk region, local officials said. Two children were among the victims of the attack in the village of Gorodishche on the Russian-Ukrainian border, governor Alexey Smirnov said on social media. Advertisement In its morning statement, the Russian defence ministry said that six Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over the countrys Tver, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. It did not give information on the reported strike in the Kursk region. Seven people, including two children, were killed by a Russian missile strike in the Zaporizhzhia region. At the moment, we know about eleven injured people, three of them are children. Unfortunately, the number of casualties may still increase. Our cities and communities suffer pic.twitter.com/dbKQT8KTZK Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) June 29, 2024 The Ukrainian government also responded Saturday to a statement from the Belarusian military saying it had increased its forces along Ukraines northern border in response to what it described as security threats. The announcement came after Belarus border agency claimed its troops downed a Ukrainian drone that had flown across the border to gather intelligence. Kyiv denied the accusations, which it described as Russian propaganda. The Russians task is simple to draw more of our forces (to the Belarusian border), Ukraines Centre for Countering Disinformation said in a statement. Any information about our activity in the border area is a lie. Belarus authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has close ties with Russia and allowed Moscow to use his countrys territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022. Humanitarian workers have started moving tonnes of aid that had been piled up at a US-built pier off the Gaza coast to warehouses in the besieged territory, the United Nations said. The move is an important step as the US considers whether to resume pier operations after yet another pause due to heavy seas. Advertisement It was not clear when the aid might reach Palestinians in Gaza, where experts have warned of the high risk of famine as the war between Israel and Hamas militants is in its ninth month. This is the first time trucks have moved aid from the pier since the UNs World Food Programme (WFP) suspended operations there due to security concerns on June 9. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed (AP) Advertisement Millions of pounds of aid have piled up. In just the last week, more than 10 million pounds were moved ashore, according to the US military. A WFP spokesperson, Abeer Etefa, told The Associated Press this is a one-time operation until the beach is cleared of the aid and is being done to avoid spoilage. Further UN operations at the pier depend on UN security assessments, Ms Etefa added. The UN is investigating whether the pier was used in an Israeli military operation last month to rescue three hostages. If WFP trucks successfully bring the aid to warehouses inside Gaza, that could affect the US militarys decision whether to reinstall the pier, which was removed due to weather Friday. American officials said they were considering not reinstalling the pier because of the possibility that the aid would not be picked up. Advertisement "Trash is piling up everywhere, people are living under plastic sheeting where temperatures soar. @UNWateridge Families in #Gaza live next to mountains of garbage and sewage. With very few bathrooms available and unbearable summer heat, the sanitary conditions are desperate. pic.twitter.com/V8Q0H7Np7P UNRWA (@UNRWA) June 29, 2024 Advertisement Even if the UN decides to keep transporting aid from the pier into Gaza, lawlessness around humanitarian convoys will be a further challenge to distribution. The convoys have come under attack in Gaza. While most aid deliveries come by land, restrictions around border crossings and on what items can enter Gaza have further hurt a population that was already dependent on humanitarian aid before the war. The June 9 pause at the pier came after the Israeli military used a nearby area to fly out hostages after their rescue in a raid that killed more than 270 Palestinians, prompting a UN review over concerns that aid workers safety and neutrality may have been compromised. Advertisement Meanwhile, a senior Biden administration official said the US has presented new language to intermediaries Egypt and Qatar aimed at trying to jump-start the stalled Israel-Hamas negotiations. Aid has been stockpiled for weeks, leading to fears of spoilage (AP) The official said the revised text focuses on negotiations that are to start between Israel and Hamas during the first phase of a three-phase deal that US President Joe Biden laid out nearly a month ago. The first phase calls for a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one. Under the current proposal, Hamas could release all the remaining men, both civilians and soldiers. In return, Israel could free an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The releases will not occur until sustainable calm takes effect and all Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. We welcome yesterdays evacuation of 21 patients outside of #Gaza. This is the first since the Rafah crossing closure on 7 May. Over 10,000 patients still need medical evacuations. We appeal for facilitated medical evacuation via all possible routes, including Rafah and Karem pic.twitter.com/A2o1zFD7UO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) June 28, 2024 The new proposed language, which the official did not detail, aims to find a solution to differences between Israel and Hamas about the parameters of the negotiations between phase one and phase two. Hamas wants those negotiations centred on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners who will be released from Israeli jails in exchange for remaining living Israeli soldiers and male hostages held in Gaza, the official said. Israel wants the negotiations to be much broader and include the demilitarisation of the territory controlled by Hamas. More than 37,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war since it began with Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, according to Gazas health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its toll. The ministry said the bodies of 40 people killed by Israeli strikes had been brought to local hospitals over the past 24 hours. The @theipcinfo report on #Gaza shows a slight improvement in hunger levels thanks to increased food deliveries and nutrition services. To reduce the risk of famine, we need sustained humanitarian access across the Strip, for food, nutrition, clean water, and health care. World Food Programme (@WFP) June 26, 2024 At least two people were killed and six injured, including a child, in a strike in Bureij camp in central Gaza. The October 7 Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and another 250 people were taken hostage. Israeli forces have been battling Palestinian militants in an eastern part of Gaza City over the last week. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes, according to the UN. The Israeli military acknowledged an operation against Hamas fighters in Shijaiyah and on Saturday noted close-quarters combat. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the June 30 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . When I sit down to talk about the new film Fancy Dance with its star, the Oscar-nominated breakout star of Hollywoods awards season Lily Gladstone, we start a little off-piste with a quote from Lynda Carters Wonder Woman, the 1970s television iteration of the feminist super heroine. It was that particular Wonder Woman who said: Women are the wave of the future, and sisterhood is stronger than anything! Gladstone smiles when I offer her the quote, at both the unexpected inclusion of Wonder Woman as an unlikely guest star in our conversation, but also at the prescience of her observation. Sisterhood is the strongest thing, Gladstone says in reply. Unfortunately, its become almost a subversive thing in Western society when, in worlds like the world I grew up in, and the world of [her new film] Fancy Dance, women lead and own and hold everything together. There is a real cultural acceptance and acknowledgment of that in a way that you dont necessarily see in the Western world. So, it makes sisterhood almost feel like a rebellious act when its [actually] just the most natural thing in the world. Gladstone is of Siksikaitsitapi and Niimiipuu heritage and grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana, near the Canadian border in central northern United States. In the world in which she was raised, the word aunty is defined as little mother, or other mother. As a piece of linguistic legerdemain, it sheds a revealing light on the nature and significance of female relationships within the family, and the roles women play in the lives of their younger descendants. It makes sisterhood almost feel like a rebellious act when its [actually] just the most natural thing in the world. LILY GLADSTONE There is no divide between your mom and all of her sisters those are all your moms, Gladstone says. Linguistically, culturally, familially, theres not a separation there. Its having language that gives you this perspective of your aunties as extensions of your mother and as other mothers for you. It keeps families, it keeps clans, it keeps communities very, very close. Advertisement Though she has been a working actor since her debut in the 2013 French film Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian, 2024 finds Gladstone taking her place in the centre of the spotlight. Critically, the 37-year-old actors dazzling performance as Mollie Kyle in the Oscar-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon, has two fast follow-ups: the true-crime drama Under the Bridge, based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey, which will air on Disney+, and Fancy Dance, the feature film debut from director Erica Tremblay, for Apple TV+. Fancy Dance is the story of Jax, played by Gladstone, a Native American woman who lives on the Seneca-Cayuga Nation Reservation who is also the primary carer of her teenage niece Roki (Isabel DeRoy-Olson). On a road trip to an upcoming powwow a gathering of First Nations communities for the purpose of socialising, dancing and singing Jax hopes to uncover the truth around the disappearance of Rokis mother. At first glance, the film is tender and complex, exploring the relationship of the two women in the context of the absence of the third. It has light moments, and great humour, borrowing from the coming-of-age and road trip genres. But it also talks to the missing and murdered Indigenous women in America, and lands on screens at a time when Australia is in the midst of a profound reckoning with the issue of domestic violence. Loading We begin our conversation contributions from Wonder Woman aside by talking about the film itself. Before long, however, we are deep in discussion about the inability of wider society to talk about, or even begin to tackle, the cycles of violence that women of all ethnicities still deal with. But a discussion with Gladstone is neither polemic in tone nor overtly political. When she discusses the issues, she does so with a voice of quiet strength and an unspoken but certain wisdom inherited from her mother, Betty, who is never far away and occasionally wanders into our conversation from an adjacent room in the house. Fancy Dance, Gladstone explains to me, intersects powerfully with Killers of the Flower Moon, which explored the first major homicide case investigated by the FBI among oil-rich Osage Indians in Oklahoma in the 1920s. Fancy Dance shows you two different points in history, not just for native people, [with] the same issue a hundred years later, says Gladstone. Advertisement In historical terms, the crunch point was the US Supreme Court ruling on Oliphant v Suquamish Indian Tribe in 1978 which decided (by a 6-2 majority) that Native American tribal courts have no criminal jurisdiction over non-Native Americans. We dont have enough tribal jurisdiction, Lily says. The Oliphant case eroded tribal jurisdiction to be able to prosecute non-Native or even Native and non-enrolled offenders of violent crimes on reservation lands. It eroded our sovereignty to take care of ourselves, and thats where the action is. Where there should be national databases, clearer jurisdiction and better processes to both prosecute cases quickly and protect women who become caught in the legal machinery, there is simply a vacuum. Until we have that, its grassroots, its having the conversation, Gladstone says. The biggest challenge? That there is still a general perception that we dont exist any more, that we were conquered and we disappeared into everybody else, Gladstone says. So, forget about even talking about sovereignty, about treaties, about policy, about governance ... we know those are the tools we need to protect our communities. In the meantime, its circumvention, its sisterhoods, its circles like the National Indigenous Womens Resource Centre that created a database that the FBI doesnt have. Gladstone is of Siksikaitsitapi and Niimiipuu heritage and grew up on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana in central northern United States. Credit: Celeste Sloman/Trunk Archive/Snapper Its a group of Osage women and Native women who are just doing a grassroots job of addressing domestic violence, of going and picking up girls on trafficking tips in the middle of the night, of just doing it, Gladstone adds. And in Fancy Dance, you see its the sister taking matters into her own hands because its her only option. Advertisement There is no question that for Gladstone, the 2024 awards season was a transformational journey. She was the first Native American to be nominated for best actress at the Oscars, the first Indigenous person to win best actress awards at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild. If her recent life were to be a book, I tell her, we would surely title it Lilys Amazing, Extraordinary, Ridiculous, Crazy, Insane, Hilarious Award Season. Living through it, Gladstone says, it was magical, it was ridiculous, it was mysterious, it was all of those things. It changed minute to minute, it was every day, it was every week, it was just so much of everything for so long. You spend so long as a native artist getting only certain auditions... and just wondering if you want the place thats there for you in Hollywood. LILY GLADSTONE I think what kept me sane in going through it was how excited Indian country was. Just the outpouring of support for all of us, the way the film was received. All of it. You spend so long as a native artist, as a native actor, getting only certain auditions, certain casting calls, and just wondering if you want the place thats there for you in Hollywood, if you want the representation thats there for you. Before our conversation, I Googled photographs of the Blackfeet Reservation. In lieu of an actual trip to the location, I wanted to get a sense of the landscape Gladstone grew up in. If not the actual detail itself, at least a visual understanding of what her horizons looked like: the colours and textures of the earth and the sky. A reservation upbringing is challenging, to be sure. Gladstone even had a small role in Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititis tender and beautifully crafted Reservation Dogs, about teenagers growing up on a reservation in Oklahoma, which somehow captured the complex balance of hardship, limitation, freedom and joy. You dont get teased the same way anywhere else, Gladstone says, laughing, when I ask her to talk to me specifically about the upside of a reservation childhood. I dont want to say you get torn apart, but people just see you in your essence so quickly. Nicknames happen so effortlessly and its a beautiful way of learning to have humour about your own ego and not take yourself so seriously. Advertisement 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 Plunging gaming revenue and declining patronage has forced one of Sydneys most famous clubs into a fire sale of its historic CBD headquarters to pay off $28 million in debt. City Tattersalls Club will sell its Pitt Street site, which is being redeveloped into a 50-storey tower housing a hotel and hundreds of apartments, after members were warned the club faced extinction if a deal was not done. The City Tattersalls Club has been forced to sell its historic Pitt Street headquarters. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The clubs chief executive Marcelo Veloz said the deal will be enough to pay off debt and have working capital and a reasonable deposit to buy another clubhouse in the Sydney CBD. Veloz declined to name the purchaser of the Pitt Street site, as the sale is not concluded, but said it was not ICD Property, its partner in the redevelopment. A 44-year-old Woolloongabba man has died after being struck by a Brisbane City Council CityGlider bus just after 11.30pm in South Brisbane on Friday night. Police on Saturday morning said their initial investigations show the bus was travelling along Melbourne Street where it struck the male pedestrian near the intersection of Cordelia Street. The crash site on Melbourne Street, just before the intersection with Cordelia Street. Credit: Tony Moore Emergency services arrived at the scene a short time later, where the man was declared deceased. The driver of the bus, a 59-year-old North Lakes man, was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital for assessment. A five-bedroom home in Brunswick passed in at $1.62 million after two vendor bids at auction on Saturday. A handful of people endured Melbournes wet weather to attend the auction of 24 Sturrock Street, which had a listed price guide of $1.6 million to $1.7 million. Just one of three expected bidders ended up making an appearance and did not make an offer. It was one of 793 homes scheduled to go under the hammer in Melbourne on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 61.8 per cent from 553 reported results, while 79 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. With the small but reluctant crowd showing no sign of kicking off the auction, Ray White Brunswick auctioneer Jamil Allouche placed a vendor bid of $1.6 million before taking a short break to confer with the vendors. He returned to place a second vendor bid of $1.62 million, at which the property was passed in. It hasnt been a great time for some airlines based in the South Pacific. Air Vanuatu went into voluntary insolvency last month, grounding all flights, and unrest in New Caledonia included blockades of that countrys airport, affecting the operations of the national carrier, Aircalin. The airport reopened, but unrest continues. But theres some good news for Vanuatu. Solomon Airlines will begin weekly direct flights from Brisbane to Vanuatus Espiritu Santo island from Thursday, July 4. The once-weekly direct return joins its twice-weekly Brisbane-Honiara-Port Vila flights in servicing Vanuatu for Australians. Air Vanuatus administrators have also received expressions of interest in the airline from potential buyers seeking to resume operations. One of those might well be the South Pacifics biggest airline, Fiji Airways, which is a beacon of regional and global aviation success. Fiji Airways was named the regions best airline at the World Airline Awards. Fijis national carrier was voted, for the second consecutive year, the Best Airline in Australia and Pacific at the Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards, held in London on June 24. Irans progress was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency the United Nations atomic watchdog. (Photo: Reuters / Lisi Niesner) Iran is set to hold a runoff presidential election on July 5, pitting reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian against hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. The announcement came after the first round of voting on Friday resulted in the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic's history, with more than 60% of voters abstaining. Pezeshkian, a little-known reformist and cardiac surgeon, emerged as the leading candidate with 10.4 million votes, followed closely by Jalili, who garnered 9.4 million votes. The election spokesman, Mohsen Eslami, confirmed the results, noting that no candidate secured the required 50% plus one vote needed to win outright. This runoff will be only the second in Iran's presidential election history, the first occurring in 2005. The low turnout, which stood at 39.9%, reflects widespread public discontent and apathy towards the electoral process. Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa program, remarked, "Let's look at it as a protest in its own right: A very widespread choice to reject what's on offer - both the candidates and the system. That tells us a lot about public opinion and apathy, frustration. It sort of brings it all together." The backdrop of this election is marked by significant economic hardships and social unrest in Iran. The country's economic struggles and the populace's disillusionment with the Shiite theocracy have intensified public frustration. This sentiment was evident in the more than one million voided ballots, typically seen as a protest vote. Pezeshkian, who has been associated with reformist policies, faces the challenge of galvanizing voters for the runoff. His campaign has focused on outreach and potential reforms, despite skepticism about his effectiveness. In a statement aimed at boosting voter turnout, Pezeshkian commented on his intent to improve relations with the West, a stance that has drawn mixed reactions from the political establishment. Jalili, known for his hard-line stances and famously described by CIA director Bill Burns as "stupefyingly opaque" in negotiations, has strong support among conservatives. His campaign has been bolstered by endorsements from other hard-line figures, including Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Qalibaf, who finished third in the first round, quickly endorsed Jalili, criticizing Pezeshkian for his associations with President Hassan Rouhani and former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The runoff election occurs at a time of heightened regional tensions, particularly in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict and Iran's escalating nuclear activities. Iran's continued enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade levels has kept it at odds with Western powers, adding another layer of complexity to the election. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei now 85, the next president could play a crucial role in shaping Iran's future leadership. Insiders and analysts suggest that Khamenei seeks a fiercely loyal president to ensure a smooth transition of power. Jalili's anti-Western views contrast sharply with Pezeshkian's more moderate approach, making the outcome of the runoff pivotal for Iran's domestic and foreign policies. The presidential race also underscores the broader legitimacy crisis faced by Iran's clerical establishment. The significant boycott of the election, including by figures such as imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and 2009 Green Movement leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, highlights the deep-seated discontent. As Iran approaches the runoff, the question remains whether Pezeshkian can mobilize the 60% of voters who abstained in the first round. Vakil remarked, "It's going to rest on if the general public, that 60% who stayed home, are going to come out and protect themselves from those hard-line views" that Jalili holds. Panchen Rinpoche visits revered Jokhang Temple in Chinese city of Lhasa Xinhua) 09:41, June 29, 2024 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) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) S Jaishankar's visit to the Gulf nation will enable both sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations. (File Photo) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to pay an official visit to Qatar on June 30, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday. During the visit, Jaishankar will meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. "India and Qatar share historic and friendly relations marked by regular exchange of high-level visits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Qatar on 14-15 February 2024 and held discussions with Qatar's Amir H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani," the MEA said in an official release. Jaishankar's visit to the Gulf nation will enable both sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations including political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, and people-to-people as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest. In June first week, the first meeting of the Joint Task Force on Investment (JTFI) between India and Qatar was convened in New Delhi. The meeting was aimed at strengthening investment cooperation between the two countries. The joint task force was co-chaired by Ajay Seth, Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, and Mohamed bin Hassen Al-Malki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar. As per a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the joint task force on investment has reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to strengthen bilateral relations and to leverage the collective potential for accelerated growth, investment opportunities, and synergistic collaboration across diverse sectors ranging from infrastructure and energy to technology and innovation. They also underscored the significance of the robust economic relationship between India and Qatar, rooted in shared values, common objectives, and a shared vision for inclusive development. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai and discussed bilateral partnerships and the "well-being of the Indian community" in Qatar. Italian animation company company Mondo TV has agreed to pay $538,000 for apparent violations of American sanctions that prohibit using the U.S. financial system to send money to North Korea. Between May 2019 and November 2021, Mondo sent $537,939 to the North Korean government-run animation studio Scientific Educational Korea Studio (SEK) for production services, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control. By doing so, the U.S. government said, Mondo had acted with reckless disregard for U.S. sanctions laws and regulations and caused U.S. banks to process payments for the North Korean government. The U.S. government said that Mondo has been subcontracting work to North Korea since the 1990s. Further, Mondo on occasion has hosted North Korean animators in Italy for animation training. Further details from the Treasurys investigation (download full PDF here): Mondo accumulated approximately $1,123,120 in outstanding debt owed to SEK for several projects. In July 2019, SEK and Mondo executed an agreement whereby Mondo would pay SEK in monthly installments for work SEK completed for Mondo prior to 2016, when Mondo paused their relationship due to human rights concerns, and for new projects SEK would undertake for Mondo beginning in 2019. Before each monthly payment, SEK would issue an invoice to Mondo that named a third-party company and its bank account details for Mondo to remit payment. Among them, SEK identified two third-party companies in China and one U.S. company, along with their respective account information at several U.S. financial institutions. Mondo then remitted the monthly payments to these intermediaries according to SEKs instructions. Mondo appeared to believe the payments to these third-party companies were to satisfy debts SEK had to these companies. Throughout the course of their relationship, and while remitting payments pursuant to the 2019 agreement, Mondo understood it was paying a DPRK company. Mondos Chief Executive Officer approved and signed the 2019 agreement, which made explicit reference to North Korea, as did two additional contracts he signed on behalf of Mondo with SEK for additional projects performed in 2019. Associated invoices, payment receipts, and emails between Mondos management and representatives of SEK also frequently identified SEK, North Korea, or Pyongyang. Moreover, emails between Mondos management and representatives of SEK directly reference specific payments to a named U.S. company and named U.S. financial institutions. Mondos Chief Operations Officer and Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs personally approved all the transactions. Mondo did not have a sanctions compliance policy at the time the conduct at issue occurred. Ultimatey, Mondo initiated 18 wire transfers to Korean animation studio SEK that were processed by or settled at U.S. financial institutions. Many questions remain about how much animation work North Korea does for Western producers. A few months ago, a report from the Stimson Centers 38 North project found that American producers may have used production services from North Korea. Unlike the Mondo situation however, the Americans were unaware that their work was being outsourced to the heavily-sanctioned Asian country. American shows that were allegedly produced in part in North Korea include Prime Videos Invincible and Maxs upcoming Iyanu. The U.S. government has been increasingly vigilant about companies that use North Korean animation services. In 2022, the Treasury leveled sanctions against seven companies and two individuals who were working on behalf, or have used the services, of SEK. CORRECTION: This article incorrectly identified the TV show Meteoheroes as a Mondo TV production. Cartoon Brew regrets the error. Adrienne Talley Rhodes Green, who joined her family in managing their Lake Winnepesaukah attraction in Lakeview, died at her home Thursday at age 60. Born on February 14, 1964 to Buddy and Adrienne Rhodes, she graduated from the Bright School (Class of 1976), Girls Preparatory School (Class of 1982) and Hollins University (Class of 1986). She would go on to earn a Masters in Education degree from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City. After pursuing a career in education at the Hunter Museum of Art and the Creative Discovery Museum, Ms. Green joined Lake Winnepesaukah, her familys business, as manager of Public Relations and Advertising, a role she would go on to serve in for 25 years. Ms. Green, who was a lover of country music, helped continue Lake Winnepesaukahs tradition of summer concerts, booking many of the most famous acts to ever play Jukebox Junction, including Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and Josh Turner. She is survived by her husband, Jeff Green; stepdaughter, Courtney Green; mother and namesake, Adrienne Rhodes; sister, Tennyson Dickinson (Tommy); nieces, Taylor Cordeiro (Andrew) and Carter Dickinson; nephew Myers Dickinson; sister-in-law, Janet Green (David); and brother-in-law Jason (Ashley); as well as numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, L.C. "Buddy" Rhodes, Jr.; maternal grandmother, Evelyn D. White; and paternal grandparents, Clyde and Ruth Rhodes. Services will be at First Centenary United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, with a visitation the hour prior. A private interment for family members will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Chambliss Center for Children or Ronald McDonald Childrens Charities, two organizations that Ms. Green championed in her role at Lake Winnepesaukah. Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com. Adrienne Talley Rhodes Green passed away peacefully at her home on June 27, 2024. Born on February 14, 1964 to Buddy and Adrienne Rhodes, her birth date destined her to a life of heart-themed gifts on nearly every holiday, something she was far too gracious to ever complain about. Talley graduated from The Bright School (Class of 1976), Girls Preparatory School (Class of 1982) and Hollins University (Class of 1986). She would go on to earn a Masters in Education degree from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City. After pursuing a career in education at the Hunter Museum of Art and the Creative Discovery Museum, Talley joined Lake Winnepesaukah, her familys business, as Manager of Public Relations and Advertising, a role she would go on to serve in for 25 years. Talley was known to all with whom she interacted for her subtle wit, ready smile and gentle disposition, save for on her annual, beloved dove hunts with her late father where she was a mean shot. A lover of country music, Talley helped continue Lake Winnepesaukahs rich tradition of summer concerts, booking many of the most famous acts to ever play Jukebox Junction, including Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and Josh Turner. She is survived by her husband, Jeff Green; stepdaughter, Courtney Green; mother and namesake, Adrienne Rhodes; sister, Tennyson Dickinson (Tommy); nieces, Taylor Cordeiro (Andrew) and Carter Dickinson; nephew Myers Dickinson; sister-in-law, Janet Green (David); and brother-in-law Jason (Ashley); as well as numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, L.C. (Buddy) Rhodes, Jr.; maternal grandmother, Evelyn D. White; and paternal grandparents, Clyde and Ruth Rhodes. Services will be at First Centenary United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, with a visitation the hour prior. A private interment for family members will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Chambliss Center for Children or Ronald McDonald Childrens Charities, two organizations that Talley championed in her role at Lake Winnepesaukah. Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will provide a 45-minute presentation discussing the story of 38th Alabama Infantry Captain Ben Lane Posey during the Battle of Chickamauga on Saturday, July 13, at 11 a.m. Participants will meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center before traveling out onto the battlefield. Please dress accordingly for the weather, and a folding chair might be desirable. Alabama lawyer Ben Lane Posey seemed to fight two wars, one on the field against US forces and the other with the Confederate high command. He kept up a steady correspondence back to Alabama, where he provided some graphic descriptions of what the soldiers in the field endured. For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch. Deep beneath the waters of Lake Superior, there lurks a mysterious object that caused damage to the hull of a large cargo ship. After the ship hit the object, water started leaking into the vessel. It was partially flooded and listed to one side. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Michipicoten, a 689-foot Canadian bulk carrier, had been transporting low-grade iron ore taconite when it ran into trouble on the morning of June 8. At this time, the reason behind the flooding is still unknown. Taconite is mined from the Mesabi Iron Range near Hibbing and transported to different ports around the Great Lakes region from Duluth, as stated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. During the incident, half of the crewwhich consisted of 22 memberswere evacuated for their safety. No one was harmed, and the freighter is now at Thunder Bay, Ontario. When its safe to do so, the ship will be moved to undergo repairs. Currently, an investigation is being conducted to find out what struck the vessel. Lorne Thomas, the external affairs division chief for the Ninth Coast Guard District stated that investigators will look into whether the hulls damage was due to the ship running aground, hitting a fixed or floating object, or experiencing a hull failure. However, the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes had posted on social media, saying that the freighter collided with a stationary object underwater, approximately 35 miles southwest of Isle Royale, and island located in Lake Superior. The ship had taken off from Two Harbors, Minnesota, and was on its way to Thunder Bay in Canada. Early in the morning of June 8, shortly before 7 a.m., the Michipicoten reported flooding to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes. The crew used water pumps to expel some of the floodwater. By 9:15 a.m., they had managed to reduce the listing from 15 degrees to five degrees. Fortunately, the vessel was able to control the flooding enough to get safely to Thunder Bayfortunately, none of its cargo entered the water, and theres been no report of pollution of any kind, said Lt. Joseph Snyder, a public affairs officer for the Coast Guard. The spaces that were being flooded, essentially empty spaces, they were not spaces where the crew lived or worked and they were not areas where the cargo was. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. During the Ming dynasty, two merchant vessels sank down into the depths of the South China Sea. Now, archaeologists in China have recovered over 900 artifacts from the shipwrecks. The ships are located around a mile below the waters surface, roughly 93 miles southeast of the island of Hainan. They are about 14 miles away from each other. Over the past year, researchers used both manned and unmanned submersibles to haul up 890 artifacts from the first vessel in three phases. They also documented the sites with underwater cameras and a three-dimensional laser scanner. According to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) in China, the trove of objects included copper coins, pottery, and porcelain. Overall, more than 10,000 items were found at the site. Archaeologists think that the ship had been transporting porcelain from Jingdezhen, China when it sank. The team stumbled across 38 artifacts in the second ship, including porcelain, pottery, shells, deer antlers, and ebony logs that most likely came from somewhere in the Indian Ocean. They suspect that the ships were in operation during different parts of the Ming dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644. The Ming dynasty was founded by Emperor Hongwu. During the Ming dynasty, Chinas population doubled. The country also established important cultural ties with the West when maritime trade developed in 1557. China exported silk and allowed a European presence in their empire. As a result, their cuisine expanded, as foods like peanuts and sweet potatoes were introduced for the first time. Furthermore, the period was known for its drama, literature, and porcelain. The porcelain was made with various hues, but it mostly featured a classic blue-and-white color scheme. It was created by grinding china stone, combining it with china clay, and baking until translucent. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. There is a rare metallic asteroid floating through space that is worth an estimated amount of $10 quintillion. To give you an idea of what $10 quintillion looks like, here is the whole number spelled out for you: 10,000,000,000,000,000,000. The asteroid is named 16 Psyche, and it is located in the Asteroid Belt between the planets Jupiter and Mars, millions of miles away from Earth. The asteroid is large, measuring approximately 173 miles across. Its distance from Earth is somewhere between 186 million miles and over 372 million miles. Its one of the largest objects currently floating in the asteroid belt. Most asteroids consist primarily of rock or ice. However, scientists believe that 16 Psyche is mostly made up of iron and nickel, possibly between 30 and 60 percent. Because it contains such a large quantity of valuable metals, it is thought that the asteroid might be the exposed core of an earlier planet that lost its outer layers as a result of violent collisions in the solar system. NASA is on a mission to reach the asteroid. In 2023, the agency launched an unmanned spacecraft, also named Psyche, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to investigate the space object. It wont arrive until August 2029. It is the first time that NASA will be visiting a metal world. According to Nicola Fox, the associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASAs Washington headquarters, studying the asteroid Psyche can give us a better understanding of our universe and the metal core of our own home planet, Earth, which is impossible for us to access. The spacecraft is about the size of a van. As of May 2024, it was 190 million miles away from Earth, traveling at high speeds of 23 miles per second, which comes out to 84,000 miles per hour. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News Baptist evangelist tied down with ropes, killed by Muslim extremists in Uganda NAIROBI, Kenya An evangelist who had received death threats from Muslim extremists was killed after leading Muslims and others to Christ in eastern Uganda, sources said. The body of evangelist Richard Malinga was found in the evening at Kayete Swamp in Akisim A village, Butebo District after 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 and share the Gospel, his pastor said. He left his hometown in Pallisa District the morning of June 17 to share about Christ in Butebo District. Several people put their faith in Christ, including some radical Muslims, said his churchs senior pastor. 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 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. 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% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. Originally published at Morning Star News Home News Christian lawmaker takes on new calling speaking out for 'those who can't speak' after departing Congress Former Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., says she seeks to use her new role as a commissioner on the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to help persecuted believers "advance the cause of Christianity around the world." Last month, USCIRF, a Congressionally-mandated independent body of experts set up to make recommendations to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Congress on global religious freedom matters, welcomed three new commissioners, including Hartzler. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., nominated his former colleague, who served in the lower chamber of U.S. Congress from 2011-2023. 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 Hartzler's appointment comes more than a year after she retired to seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri but lost in the Republican primary to the state's then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt. "I'm looking forward to speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves around the world, those who are persecuted for their faith," she said in a recent interview with The Christian Post. "And it will be good to reconnect with my former members of Congress as well as members of the administration to try to advance this cause." Hartzler, 63, said that she accepted Christ when she was 9, and Jesus has been the Lord of her life since then. "And I want to do what I can to glorify Him and to help others be able to come to know him or live out their faith," she said. "This opportunity is a way to live out Hebrews 13:3, which says, 'Remember those who were imprisoned as if you were their fellow prisoner and those who are mistreated as though you were suffering.'" "This is an opportunity to speak out for those who cannot speak out for themselves and hopefully advance the cause of Christianity around the world," she reiterated. Hartzler said that while she was aware of USCIRF during her time in Congress, she didn't actively pursue the volunteer role after her departure from Washington. She said she was contacted by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who asked if she would be interested in a two-year term as a USCIRF commissioner. "And I prayed about it and looked into it further and felt like this was definitely an opportunity to be able to make a difference for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world and all people of faith," she said. "Majority Leader Scalise passed along my recommendation to Speaker Mike Johnson, who went ahead and made that appointment. And I feel very honored to have this opportunity, that they thought of me and they've entrusted me with this very important mission of speaking up for the persecuted individuals around the world and advancing religious freedom," she added. As a former House Armed Services Committee member, Hartzler said she has always been concerned about China. She said she has "worked to try to not only secure our national defense but also shine the light on what China was doing to Christians, to the Uyghur Muslims, to the Falun Gong and other people of faith in China." "They have been imprisoning the underground church and pastors there for years. There are reports that they perform organ harvesting on the believers of Falun Gong," she said. Hartzler recalled that during the Trump administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared China was committing genocide against the Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang Province. "I hope to be able to continue to advocate for those people of faith in China and to try to encourage China to change its ways," she said. "I'm also concerned about many other countries, particularly Nigeria, where 80% of the Christians who were killed in 2021 were from Nigeria," she noted. "In fact, since 2015, there's been over [50,000] Christians who have been killed there, 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools destroyed." Like many other religious freedom advocates, Hartzler expressed concern about the Biden administration's removal of Nigeria from the State Department's list of countries of particular concern after the Trump administration had placed it there toward the end of Trump's term. The CPC label is reserved for nations with egregious violations of religious freedom. Countries that receive that designation can be subject to what Hartzler summarized as "economic sanctions and other ramifications." Hartzler remains hopeful that "the next administration, whether it's President Biden or whether it's President Trump, will redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern." She believes the U.S. has a "huge influence around the world" and "should use that influence for good to help people who desire to be able to live out their faith according to their deeply held beliefs." "I hope I'll be able to advocate for people to get out of prison that are in prison because of their faith," she continued. While Hartzler acknowledged that Americans "have a unique opportunity to live out our faith without being tortured or put in prison," she maintained that there has been an increase in "hostility towards [the] Christian faith here in America as well as other faiths." "We, for many years, have enjoyed religious freedom here, but we're starting to see those freedoms being stifled and vilified as well. So that's not the role of USCIRF, which is focusing on foreign and international threats to religious freedom. But I'm hopeful as we shine the light on abuses in other countries, it will spur people here in our own country to appreciate the freedoms we have and preserve them here as well." As Hartzler is one of three new commissioners appointed to USCIRF last month by leaders in Washington, the other commissioner picked by Johnson, Maureen Ferguson, is a senior fellow at the Catholic Association and co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Conversations with Consequences." Ferguson serves on the board of directors for the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast and the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. She is also a member of the advisory board at the Belmont Abbey Center, which USCIRF describes as "an initiative of Belmont Abbey College that seeks to restore civil society, cultivate religious freedom, and reclaim the public square for the common good." The third new commissioner, Asif Mahmood, was appointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Mahmood is a "practicing physician, human rights activist, interracial and inter-faith community organizer, and philanthropist" with experience working in Democrat politics. He currently chairs the Organization for Social Media Safety and serves on the board of Hope the Mission, a homeless shelter in California. Two additional members of USCIRF, Stephen Schneck and Eric Ueland, were reappointed by President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., respectively, for new two-year terms. The sixth USCIRF Commissioner, Susie Gelman, will continue to serve in her role until her term expires next year. The appointment of Hartzler and the other new commissioners comes as the terms of six previous members of USCIRF expired last month. Home News Iowa Supreme Court allows heartbeat abortion ban to take effect The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that state law that prohibits most abortions after a baby's heartbeat is detected, typically around six weeks into a pregnancy, can take effect. The states highest court ruled 4-3 on Friday in the case of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc., et al v. Kim Reynolds et alto reverse a lower court decision blocking the law, and remanded the case for further proceedings. Justice Matthew McDermott authored the majority opinion, writing that abortion is not a fundamental right under the Iowa Constitution and that the fetal heartbeat statute is rationally related to the states legitimate interest in protecting unborn life. 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 right to an abortion, as the historical record shows, is not rooted at all in our states history and tradition, wrote McDermott. 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. As a result, Planned Parenthoods substantive due process challenge fails. The district court thus erred in granting the temporary injunction. Chief Justice Susan Christensen authored one of the dissenting opinions, arguing that 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. 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, she wrote. Instead, we should interpret our constitution through a modern lens that recognizes how our lives have changed with the passage of time. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds celebrated the ruling, releasing a statement in which she said that there is nothing more worthy of our strongest defense than the innocent unborn. 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, stated Reynolds. 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. The Iowa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which helped to represent the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, denounced the decision as absolutely heartbreaking. Many Iowans will now face unjust sometimes impossible obstacles to getting an abortion. Only some will have the resources, circumstances, and safety to leave our state to get care, stated the ACLU of Iowa. In 2018, before Roe v. Wade was overturned, Iowa passed a law that prohibited doctors from performing abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, with exemptions for abortions being performed due to rape, incest, fetal abnormality, and treatments related to incomplete miscarriages. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed a lawsuit against it on behalf of the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City and Planned Parenthood North Central States. Last year, the Iowa Supreme Court deadlocked 3-3 over whether to reverse an earlier decision to block the law from taking effect, with Justice Dana Oxley, the seventh member of the court, not taking part in the proceedings. Home News Robert Morris' son-in-law reveals nightmare week for family amid abuse scandal Ethan Fisher, senior pastor of Gateway Church Houston, who is also the son-in-law of Gateway Church founder Robert Morris, revealed Sunday that his family faced a "nightmare week" following the revelation of allegations from 54-year-old Cindy Clemishire that Morris sexually abused her for four-and-a-half years in the 1980s beginning when she was 12. "As people have asked us, 'Hey how are you doing?' I just tell them, 'Well, it's been a nightmare week,' what we've had to process and what we've had to go through. But we know that we will get the help," said Fisher, the husband of Morris' daughter, Elaine, who serves as Gateway Church Houston's leadership pastor. "And truth be told, I just simply want to say thank you to every person who has reached out to us. I know that you have been praying for us, praying for the church, praying for us individually, as a family, and I want to say we appreciate it," he added. "That's really what's truly carried us during this past week. For us, and many of us, this is unprecedented, and we appreciate the love; we appreciate the support, and we appreciate the way that you cared for us." 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 Morris resigned from Gateway Church on June 18 after Clemishire reported that the megachurch pastor began sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, and continued with the abuse for four-and-a-half years after that. Without naming Clemishire, Morris admitted to CP in an earlier statement that he had engaged in "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" while he was a pastor in his early 20s. Elders at Gateway Church initially told CP that Morris was transparent about his past and believed he had been biblically restored to ministry. However, after Clemishire's report was made public, they said Morris did not tell them the "young lady" was 12 years old at the time. Fisher said he was left at "a loss for words" after the news broke. "This past week, we have been obviously grieved and shocked over the child sexual abuse allegations that have been brought to light regarding Robert Morris," he told his congregation, which he said is not a campus of Gateway Church but an independent, autonomous operation. "For years, he has shared about a moral failure early on in his marriage. But prior to this past week, the leadership, including myself and even Elaine, for the leadership here at Gateway Church Houston, did not have all the facts regarding the allegations." After Morris resigned from Gateway Church, Fisher said he was also removed as the apostolic and overseeing elder of Gateway Church Houston. "Elaine and I, we're processing it, obviously, as family. Elaine is a daughter, and I've done my best to be there for her. Me, as a son-in-law, we're processing the pain in real-time in the same way I know many of you are," Fisher told his congregants. He said he and his wife had to have tough conversations with their 9-and-10-year-old daughters. "We're having to navigate tough conversations with our children around this conversation and shedding tears as we process with them. Many of you know we have a daughter who's 10 and a daughter who's 9, and having to navigate the emotions and trying to do our best to care for them," he said. "We've lived in this tension of loving a person while at the same time knowing there are consequences to actions. God is love, and He is also just. While forgiveness is available, there are also many times costs to our decisions," he said. He said he and his wife have been getting counseling from "trusted people in wholeness that can only be found in God." "Elaine and I are doing our best to pursue healing and turn to the Lord during this time," he said. "We want to be able to lead and love God and His people for a long time and we know that something like this can rock the faith of many and can also hinder the purity of our hearts." Home News Texas Supreme Court sides with Christian judge who refuses to officiate gay weddings The Supreme Court of Texas ruled Friday in favor of Dianne Hensley, a justice of the peace in Waco reprimanded for not performing same-sex weddings, reinstating her lawsuit against the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The commission had previously issued a public warning for her refusal to officiate same-sex weddings, citing a violation of judicial impartiality based on sexual orientation. In an 8-1 decision, the court found that Hensley's decision not to appeal the commission's warning to a Special Court of Review before filing a lawsuit in civil court does not prevent her from pursuing her lawsuit. 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 "We hold that, apart from one declaratory request against the Commission, petitioner's suit is not barred by her decision not to appeal the Commission's Public Warning or by sovereign immunity," the majority decision, written by Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, reads. "Accordingly, we affirm the part of the court of appeals' judgment dismissing the one declaratory request for lack of jurisdiction, reverse the remainder of the judgment, and remand to the court of appeals to address the remaining issues on appeal." Hensley, represented by attorneys from Mitchell Law LLP and the First Liberty Institute, argues that her refusal to officiate same-sex weddings is protected under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and an exercise of her religious beliefs. She contends that refusing to officiate such weddings does not impede her ability to perform her judicial duties impartially. Hensley was first elected justice of the peace in McLennan County in 2014 and has been twice reelected since. To ensure McLennan County residents can access low-cost wedding ceremonies after the U.S. Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a national right in 2015, Hensley "invested extensive time and resources to compile a referral list of alternative, local wedding officiants," according to the First Liberty Institute. The list included at least one option within walking distance of her office, which reduced the cost to the same amount Hensley received and who could do same-sex weddings within the same timeframe. "No one complained to Hensley, her staff, or the Commission about her marriage-referral system or her ability to be fair or even her appearance of fairness in any judicial proceeding," the ruling states. "Nevertheless, the Commission learned of her system from an interview she gave a newspaper and opened a preliminary investigation in May 2018." In January 2019, after the commission questioned her, it issued a public warning, concluding that she violated a statute that applies to conduct in the performance of judicial duties and another statute that regulates a judge's extra-judicial conduct. Despite the warning, Hensley continued her practice and sued the commission, seeking a court order to block future sanctions. The court's majority opinion stressed that while judges must follow the law impartially, they are not required to officiate at weddings as part of their judicial duties. The opinion further clarified that Hensley's decision to refer same-sex couples to other officiants does not necessarily imply bias or prejudice. Justice Jimmy Blacklock, joined by Justice John Devine in a concurring opinion, argued that the commission's actions against Hensley constituted unlawful religious discrimination. They expressed that politely declining to participate in a same-sex wedding for religious reasons does not demonstrate an inability to judge impartially. "By going out of its way to take sides in a contentious moral and political debate about conflicts between the right to same-sex marriage created by [U.S. Supreme Court's 2015] Obergefell [ruling] and the rights of religious dissenters long enshrined in our founding documents an ongoing debate that Obergefell itself acknowledged would continue the Commission has done far more, in the eyes of many Texans, to undermine public confidence in Texas's judicial branch than a lone justice of the peace in Waco ever could." The First Liberty Institute hailed the decision as a victory for religious liberty. Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel, stated that Hensley's conduct should serve as a model for public officials, balancing personal religious convictions with public duties. "Judge Hensley's way of reconciling her religious beliefs while meeting the needs of her community is not only legal but should stand as a model for public officials across Texas," Sasser said. "This is a great victory for Judge Hensley and renews her opportunity to seek justice under the religious liberty protections of the law." Hensley expressed gratitude for the court's decision, which allows her to continue advocating for religious liberty and the rule of law. The Texas Supreme Court's decision sends the case back to the lower courts to address the remaining issues on appeal. Home News USCIRF to Launch Extensive List of People Imprisoned for Their Faith Worldwide WASHINGTON The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has announced that it will launch a detailed list to provide the public with the names of thousands of people across the world who are imprisoned, being tortured or have disappeared because of their faith and religious freedom advocacy. During the launch of the USCIRF Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project on Capitol Hill Thursday morning, USCIRF Chair Rev. Thomas Reese announced that the commission is in the process of fulfilling a new congressional requirement mandated by the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act passed last December. According to the law, USCIRF is required to make publicly available in "online and in official publications, lists of persons it determines are imprisoned or detained, have disappeared, been placed under house arrest, been tortured, or subjected to forced renunciations of faith for their religious activity or religious freedom advocacy." 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 According to the law, the victims must be in a country that the commission designates as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations or persecuted by a non-state actor designated as an "entity of particular concern." "USCIRF is developing a form for NGOs ... to fill out to give them a sense of the kind of information we will need in developing our prisoners list," Reese said. "We are in the process of developing a website and staffing up for this project and we will send out the form electronically when we are ready to receive information. So this is a heads up." Reese, a Jesuit priest and senior analyst at National Catholic Reporter, told The Christian Post that the purpose of the list is to show that there are thousands of people who are prisoners because of their beliefs and their conscience. "We want to raise them up to give notice to them and to target the countries that have hundreds, and in some countries thousands, of prisoners to hold them accountable for their actions," he said. Reese couldn't give an estimated date for when the list is expected to be released and said that the task of compiling the list does not come without challenges. "This is not going to be an easy project because we might get a name and we have to figure out what we know about this person, what facts we can actually verify, why they were arrested," he explained. "We don't want to put somebody up on our list and then find out three months later that they were arrested for drugs but their parents think they were arrested for religious freedom." "Also, our focus is religious freedom so if they were arrested for political reasons because they are a dissident, we are upset about that but that is not within our mandate," he continued. "So this will be a difficult problem of why one is arrested. Is it because of their religious beliefs or the politics? Sometimes, it's both." Reese added that the USCIRF office needs more funding in order to hire more employees to work on the project. "Congress has given us this mandate and we need some more staff, which means some more money to do it, to be perfectly honest," he said. "We've got a full plate and now suddenly we have this project. We are hoping to get more funding to make this happen." Although there are many Americans who want to help spread awareness and advocate for international prisoners of religious conscience, Greg Mitchell, co-chair and coordinator of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, said that most people just don't know how to help. "One of the great things about this mandate for USCIRF, this project and this list is that it establishes a mechanism [to allow people to help]," Mitchell said during the event. As part of its Prisoners of Conscience Project, USCIRF commissioners have selected individual prisoners of conscience whom they are personally advocating for. Among the prisoners of conscience selected by the commissioners are Patriarch Abune Antonios, imprisoned in Eritrea; liberal blogger Raif Badawi, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia; pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh and Tran Thi Hong, imprisoned in Vietnam; Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (the Panchen Lama), detained in China; Uighur Muslim Gulmira Imin, sentenced to life in prison in China; and Baha'is Fariba Kamalabadi and Mahvash Sabet, imprisoned in Iran. Home Opinion No, Armenia is not antisemitic. But Azerbaijan certainly is News broke last Friday that Armenia had decided to formally recognize Palestine as an independent state. This news was shocking for Armenia observers, as the decision seemed to come out of the blue. Media outlets in Azerbaijan began circulating stories about Armenias clear antisemitism despite the fact that Azerbaijan has recognized Palestine as an independent state since the 1990s. While we can only speculate as to why Armenia chose this moment to recognize Palestine, it is possible that it came as a precondition for the normalization of relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, which has gained steam lately. Perhaps the most pressing question in light of the announcement is whether Armenia, the first and oldest Christian country in the world, is actually anti-Israel. While Armenias decision to recognize Palestine is concerning, it is important to note that it is quite literally the last country in the entire Middle East to do so, and it likely came as a result of external pressure. Armenia is an ancient biblical nation, and it most certainly does not identify with the values of radical Islam. Additionally, according to Israels National Security Secretariat, Armenia is the safest country for Jews to travel to in the entire Middle East (outside of Israel). In fact, it is safer than Azerbaijan and most of Western Europe. Similarly, Armenia has served as a safe haven for Jews seeking to escape persecution in Russia. So much so, that the Jewish community has gone out of its way to highlight the fact. 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 In all fairness, Armenia does have its qualms with Israel. First, it feels betrayed by the fact that Azerbaijan imports nearly 70% of its weapons from Israel. These weapons are routinely used against Armenians, including in the ethnic cleansing of 120,000 Armenian Christians from Artsakh. Additionally, while Armenia recognizes and mourns the Holocaust, Israel does not recognize the Armenian Genocide. While these matters amount to frustration, Armenians also understand that Israelis are not inherently anti-Armenian and that, like Armenians, they are trying to survive in an extremely hostile neighborhood. While Armenians are preoccupied with fending off attacks from Azerbaijan, Israel is preoccupied with confronting the Iranian threat. In fact, the Iranian threat is the pretext for the entire Israeli-Azerbaijani relationship. Azerbaijans proximity to Iran has made it an important base of operations for Israeli intelligence operations against Tehran. To be clear, Azerbaijans relationship with Israel is a matter of geopolitical calculation and not one of religious pluralism. In addition to gaining access to advanced Israeli weapons, Azerbaijan also uses its relationship with Jews to create a facade of tolerance while waging a campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the regions Armenian Christians. For example, following the 2023 ethnic cleansing of Artsakh that saw 120,000 Christians driven from their ancient homeland, Baku reflexively pointed to its positive relationship with Jews as evidence of its tolerance for religious minorities. A deeper investigation of Azerbaijans relationship with Israel is one of manipulation and not genuine affinity for the Jewish people. First, as previously mentioned, Azerbaijan recognized Palestine as an independent state back in the early 1990s, 30 years before Armenia recognized Palestine. Second, according to UN Watch, Azerbaijan has a 100% anti-Israel voting record at the UN. For context, this means that Azerbaijan has voted against Israel on 153 resolutions at the UN. This is hardly the behavior of a nation that loves the Jewish people. It should also be pointed out that Azerbaijans closest ally, Turkey, remains a stalwart supporter of Hamas. The relationship between Ankara and Baku is, in fact, so close that the two presidents describe themselves as one nation, two states. Following the Oct. 7th terrorist attacks against Israel, Azerbaijans foreign minister stated, Azerbaijan supports the Palestinian people in their struggle for statehood, the solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-state principle, with the capital of Palestine in East Jerusalem. Despite Azerbaijans antisemitic tendencies, it knows that it can not afford to lose Israel as a strategic partner. To that effect, it works diligently to paint its chief rival, Armenia, as being antisemitic in order to isolate Yerevan from Israel. Shortly after Armenia announced that it would recognize Palestine, Azerbaijani went on a media blitz to tout its support for the Jewish people and decry Armenias supposed antisemitism. Unfortunately, it seems that Azerbaijan may even be willing to go to extreme lengths to keep the Armenian and Jewish people divided. Since 2023, Armenias Mordechai Navi Synagogue has been vandalized four times. Interestingly, at least some of the incidents seem to have been carried out by non-Armenians who left immediately after the attack. Several members of Armenias Jewish community, including Armenias Chief Rabbi, went on record stating that they believe the attacks are being instigated by foreign actors in order to paint Armenia as being antisemitic. According to Jewish community member Roman Lapin, the attacks were an undoubted provocation, the roots of which do not grow from the Armenian community, but from outside. This is evidenced by the fact that absolutely every attack was accompanied by external media pressure and was used in Armenophobic propaganda, with details that were known to the attackers and us, but were not made public in the Armenian media. While Armenias decision to recognize Palestine is troubling, it is not indicative of a deeper antisemitism. Azerbaijan, which touts itself as one of Israels most stalwart defenders, made the very same decision 30 years ago. Armenia certainly has reservations about Israel, but that does not change the fact that it has been a safe haven for Jews in the Middle East. Even so, Azerbaijan will continue to work diligently to portray Armenia as an enemy of the Jewish people to preserve its ties with Jerusalem. Lets hope that the world can see through the facade. Home Opinion Pride month goes out with a whimper Its been a long time since Americans could sit back and actually enjoy the month of June. It was always an insufferable four weeks, breathing in the rainbow-saturated air that fell heaviest across our favorite sports, stores, shows and social media. But the most remarkable thing about this years pride month may be just how unremarkable it was. Sure, there were still parades, over-the-top political pronouncements, and colorful flags billowing from too many government buildings, but the characteristic dread and fatigue from pride is gone replaced by a quiet confidence that maybe, just maybe, weve been heard. For the conservatives in the movement fighting this battle the longest, 2024 didnt just feel different. It was different. Heading into these final days of June, the biggest story across the mainstream media isnt whos celebrating pride, but where did it go? The Associated Press, NBC News, Vox, and others have talked to countless experts, who all have the same thing to say: Executives are too worried about rocking the consumer boat. Theyve been rattled, Drexel University Marketing Professor Daniel Korschun insists of CEOs and other industry heads. Theres been a definite scaling back in both big and small ways, Joanna Schwartz, another professor at Georgia College & State University, agreed. I had expected some brand caution, but this year seems [to be] a near full-scale retreat. 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 For people whose livelihoods are actually tied to the LGBT activism that June represents, bad doesnt begin to describe the year theyre having. For Tim Bennett, co-founder of a firm called Tribury that specializes in reaching gay and trans identifying audiences, business has been a bust. A lot fewer clients are reaching out for Pride Month collaborations, Bennett admitted to Vox. In speaking with my peers, he said, most of us are experiencing the same pullback or wait-and-see approach. Brand sponsorships are especially low. Rob Smith, who sells gender-neutral clothing, told the AP that hes seen a 25% drop in the number of stores carrying his line just over the last several months. That jives with what Alysse Dalessandro has experienced as an LGBTQ content creator. She went from 35 clients who hired her as a model for their pride month campaigns in 2022 to nine in 2023 and just five this year. Even The Trevor Project, an extreme trans-affirming youth nonprofit, conceded to Marketing Brew that its seen a decline in corporate giving in the last couple of years. Maybe this is just a natural progression, some have tried to spin it. If transgender and queer people are regarded as part of the norm, theres no point in making a big statement, Barbara Kahn, of the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School, argued. But in a country where corporate America is routinely blackmailed by LGBT pressure groups, any hint of moderating that message would be seen as betrayal. Stephen Soukup, an expert in woke capital, whos tracked the progression of corporate activism for decades, pointed out that for the last 15 years, businesses have tried very hard to please one specific [activist] group, the Human Rights Campaign, which is an LGBTQ interest group. And every year, [HRC] puts out its Corporate Equality Index and every year, corporations are expected to do different types of things in order to receive a 100% rating. Lately, thats included everything from offering health care coverage for gender reassignment surgery to giving a certain amount of dollars and time to LGBT advocacy. If HRC doesnt like the level of support they receive from a business, then, as Outstanding podcast host Joseph Backholm pointed out, theyre going to try to destroy your reputation and make it hard for you to do business. So the companies feel an obligation. Frankly, Joseph argued, I see this as a kind of extortion, where unless you do the things the [activists] want you to do, they are going to affirmatively try to harm you. Because in the marketplace, of course, your reputation is a big part of what your brand is. He compared it to a gangster showing up at a store, tapping their nightstick on their palms saying, You know, its a great business you have here. Itd be terrible if something happened to it. The difference now is, American consumers have managed to collectively hurt brands bottom lines more than HRCs ostracization ever could. After Dylan Mulvaneys beer cans and Targets tuck-friendly swimwear, the backlash was so explosive and so sustained that companies had no choice but to recalibrate. These were billion-dollar mistakes that sent plenty of boardrooms into desperate PR tailspins and everyone else on a year-long soul search. This whole grassroots sea change thats taken hold in sports, business, and other industries has been an astounding thing for longtime conservatives to witness, especially those like Soukup, whove been fighting the corporate beast virtually alone for the better part of two decades. Theres definitely been a retreat, he agreed. When I sat down to write the book The Dictatorship of Woke Capitol four years ago this summer, he admits, I was pretty pessimistic. I didnt think that there was a whole lot we could do to push back against ESG, to push back against the broader stakeholder movement, to push back against all of this politicization of American corporations Even after the book came out, the following spring, I did interview after interview [and] I was asked, What do you think is going to happen? I was still pretty dour. I [was] still pretty pessimistic about what our prospects were to get capital markets back to neutral. Now, he looks around at this nationwide movement to roll back LGBT activism and can hardly believe it. Over the past three years, theres been really an explosion in the pushback. And there are a lot of people whove been involved in this, a lot of people who deserve a lot of credit for this. It was almost like a great awakening for everyday Americans, who finally got fed up and realized the amount of power they wield. Weve seen a lot of people say, You know what? This is not right. This is not the way that American capitalism is supposed to function. This is not the way American democracy is supposed to function. And its important for us to get this right, because if we dont, then we lose everything. Im so much more optimistic now than I was three or four years ago about how effective we can be in halting this ideological, political takeover of business and capital markets. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Home Opinion The Supreme Courts upcoming decision on trans-ing children hangs on Neil Gorsuch The U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider state bans on administering puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and the performing of trans surgeries on minors, and there are no guarantees such laws will withstand scrutiny. Court watchers should disabuse themselves of the notion that because the current majority of justices on the bench are Republican-appointed, this will be smooth sailing. Far from it. Supreme Court decisions are notoriously unpredictable as there are often many mitigating factors and thorny legal issues in play, and in my view, whether or not a law prohibiting the hormonal and surgical trans-ing of children will be upheld hangs on the opinion of one justice in particular: Neil Gorsuch. Earlier this week, the high court agreed to hear the matter of L.W. v. Skrmettiand at issue is whether or not the Constitution allows states in this case Tennessee to restrict experimental gender medical practices on minors. Meanwhile, an amorphous, fictitious ghost from a relatively recent Supreme Court ruling haunts this upcoming case. Writing for the majority in the 6-3 ruling in the 2020 case Bostock v. Clayton County, Justice Gorsuch infamously enshrined transgender status in the context of Title VII, the section of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that pertains to employment discrimination. The Bostock ruling consolidated three cases, one of which centered around Aimee Stephens, a now-deceased man who claimed to be a woman who was fired after he refused to comply with the dress code at a Michigan funeral home where he once worked. Firing someone based on their transgender status, whatever that means, constitutes sex discrimination under Title VII, according to the majority opinion. Even though the Court specifically held that the ruling applied narrowly in the employment context, that has not stopped the Biden administration from inappropriately citing Bostock to legitimize gender ideology in many areas of public policy. In his scorching dissent in that case, Justice Samuel Alito predicted that though the Court does not want to think about the consequences of its decision, we will not be able to avoid those issues for too long, adding that the entire Federal Judiciary will be mired for years in disputes about the reach of the Courts reasoning. Needless to say, Alito has proven prescient given the abundance of miry disputes that are currently in motion on these issues today. Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh were the other dissenters in Bostock and it is hard to imagine that their thinking has modulated. It is likewise hard to imagine Amy Coney Barrett, a devout Catholic mother of 7 children who joined the court months after Bostock was decided, voting to allow trans-ing minors. While Id love to be proven wrong here, given the political lefts full-fledged religious fervor in championing all things LGBT (especially the T), I fully expect liberal justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson to vote to strike down Tennessees ban. Chief Justice Roberts, who has repeatedly demonstrated that he has zero appetite for touchy social issues, will likely join the dissent. Id love to be proven wrong on that too. That leaves us with Gorsuch who would be the clincher fifth vote, presuming that Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Barrett hang together. It seems unavoidable that his contention that transgender status constitutes a meaningful ontological category of personhood will have to be addressed. If it was germane to Title VII, its certainly relevant in the realm of pediatric medical care and whether or not states can set limits in the interest of child safeguarding, particularly when the treatments are experimental and invasive. Does any person have a gender identity or alternative gender status knowable only to themselves? Do children? If kids do possess one and thus need risky medical interventions to alleviate the associated psychological distress that comes with it, can they then give informed consent to the foreclosure of their fertility by way of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones? Much is at stake indeed here with Gorsuchs transgender status locution. Gorsuch is now in the unenviable position of having to explain just what he meant by transgender status despite there being no reputable scientific evidence, brain imaging scan, blood test, or genetic marker definitively proving its existence. Every definition that activists have ever insisted upon for what trans is either relies upon cultural stereotypes or is completely circular, trying to foist incoherent meaninglessness into concrete legal meaning. But at root, theres no there there. Put simply, its a complete lie. The Supreme Court taking up L.W. v. Skrmetti is an important step in the long-awaited reckoning over what many, myself included, believe is some of the most atrocious child abuse and one of the most monstrous medical scandals in history. Should the justices uphold a state ban to prohibit so-called gender-affirming care for minors, it will reduce the number of children who are experimented on in this way. That is, quite obviously, objectively good. But such a ruling will not address the fact that states like California have gone in the opposite direction and have become a "trans sanctuary, enabling the machinery of the family courts and other government entities to carry out these practices on out-of-state minors who make it to the Golden State against the wishes of their parents. Prudence and sober-mindedness are necessary when we consider the depth of the damage this ideology has wrought and what it will take to pick up the pieces. Heres hoping that the upcoming decision in L.W. v. Skrmetti will be grounded in the science of biology, heralding a return to much-needed sanity and reality that there are only two sexes, and no psychological status or fanciful notion of gender can ever alter that brute fact. If Justice Gorsuch winds up writing the opinion in this matter, he would be wise to retract his Bostock word salad altogether. 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 Kevin Costner helms new Western epic telling story of faith on the frontier For Hollywood icon Kevin Costner, telling the story of America's frontier past has always been a matter of faith. While the 69-year-old Oscar-winning actor and director knew that an authentic depiction of the settler's stories would not be possible without portraying the crucial role that faith played in sustaining them on their gruelling path to a new home, it would also be vital in the long journey of bringing 'Horizon: An American Saga', to the big screen. "Faith is what guided people out there to the unknown," Costner told The Christian Post. "They just leaned on it. There was this promise, but the promise was not enough. You had to go on faith. And people brought the religion with them west." Set against the backdrop of one of America's most tragic and bloody upheavals, the Civil War, 'Horizon' follows the intertwining lives of families, friends, and adversaries from 1861 to 1865, as a divided nation fights to decide what kind of country the United States of America should be. Costner stars alongside Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, and Luke Wilson, but also directed, produced, and co-wrote the three-hour film, the first of a four-part series. The project is Costner's magnum opus, and he has poured his passion into the franchise since the '80s, even investing $38 million of his own money into it. It was over the course of this long road that faith sustained Costner, who told CP that he had to cling to a steadfast belief that the film would come to fruition in its own time. "I've had hands over me, for sure, in my life, and I'm like anybody, I try to force it," the 'Yellowstone' actor said. "I try to force things through force of will, and I've been able to do that a lot in my life. But I've also found that things come in their own time. I think that's how my career's gone, to be honest. Everything in its own time, I didn't burst onto the scene as a teenager. It took me a while. So, I trust my journey." However, 'Horizon' is not any kind of traditional faith-based project. A gritty portrayal of the often violent and lawless Old West and the settler's fraught relationship with Native Americans saw it receive an "R" rating for violence, nudity, and sexuality. However, it is also infused with spiritual themes, depicting the profound faith many families possessed, and weaving in verses of Scripture with character dialogue. "I wanted [Scripture to] obviously relate to the situation," Costner said. "I grew up a Baptist and church has always been a part of my life, my grandmother, the whole thing, so I don't mind it bleeding into a movie. "I don't force it in. But when I think about why people went west, when they said goodbye to people back east, they never saw them again, there was some kind of trust that people needed to lean on, because they were oftentimes in situations where they didn't even know what they were doing. They were out of control, they needed faith." The movie reflects Costner's belief that "violence and humanity can go together", and the director hopes that the film's message will resonate with audiences, and become something they will want to share with younger generations. Costner, who has a long and storied career in the Western genre, wants the film's legacy to be a nuanced understanding of America's historical narrative, one that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities and cultural clashes of the era but still celebrates the resourcefulness and courage of those who ventured West. "I hope that it stands on its own. I'm not looking to reinvent the West or set the record straight," he said. "This was hard fought for. The resourcefulness it took for the people that came out, not even being necessarily equipped to be in the West, is something that I admire. But I also understand the great clash that happened between cultures and what we lost. "There were people that were displaced. So, I don't ignore any of it. I just go after it. I hope I land on the side of behaviour and authenticity." Syrian militia commander vows to protect local Christians A Syrian militia commander has promised to protect the last remaining Christians in the local community during a visit to the local Christian community in Ras Al-Ein in the north of the country. Currently controlled by a coalition of Islamist militia groups, Ras Al-Ein is located near Syria's border with Turkey. Commander Abdulaziz Al-Sawadi, also known as Abou Barzan, leads the forces in charge of an area 25 miles west of the town. According to a local resident who spoke to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a charity that champions freedom of religion and belief, Commander Abdulaziz Al-Sawadi toured the town on 22 June, telling residents that he was committed to strengthening his relationships with local communities and building stronger channels of communication. As he took time on his visit to tour St Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church and the church's library, the commander also reassured his audience that he was seeking to develop effective mechanisms for managing complaints and feuds, especially those related to property. "We were delighted to welcome Abou Barzan and his staff to our town and church," CSW's local source said. "Our relationship with them goes back to 2019 and we have always appreciated his understanding of, and respect for, the religious and ethnic diversity of our town, and his commitment to fostering a friendly relationship with the different communities, a relationship built on trust, cooperation and respect for civilians' rights." The same resident also told CSW that the community had not encountered any issues related to land and property rights in the areas coming under Commander Al-Sawadi's authority, and that landowners had continued to enjoy full control over their farms and crops. This stood in stark contrast to the areas controlled by other militias like the Al-Moutasem and Suliman Shah Brigades, where landowners faced unlawful taxes and bribes and, in some cases, had seen their land confiscated. "We have reached out to [the brigades] several times but they have constantly ignored our complaints and treated us disrespectfully and threatened us," the resident said. CSW also spoke to a senior tribal chief, who denounced the actions of other militia commanders. "As Sunni Arab tribes, we denounce the behaviours of militia groups such as Al-Moutasem and Suliman Shah. They don't represent us; they only represent themselves and their backers," he said. "They are worse than Assad's officials, who were corrupt but didn't interfere with personal and religious freedoms. They are warlords who betrayed the aspirations of the 2011 uprising." CSW's Founder President Mervyn Thomas commended Commander Al-Sawadi's actions, and called on other militia forces to follow his example. "We commend this gesture by Commander Al-Sawadi. We encourage him to continue to demonstrate commitment and respect to human rights and the protection of civil society, and call on other armed groups to follow this example," he said. Mr Thomas also urged governments involved in the region to work towards peace in Syria, and ensure that the human rights of civilians caught up in the conflict were protected. "We also call on the UK and US governments, the EU and UN to press the Syrian opposition and the Turkish government to restrain the armed groups loyal to them from committing violations, and to raise the issue of human rights, especially freedom of religion or belief and women's rights, in all bilateral talks," he said. "The Syrian opposition and the Turkish government should act immediately to end all forms of human rights abuses, some of which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, in the areas under their control." Whatever happened to 'family values'? There was a period of time in the 1990s when it was popular for politicians to talk about 'family values'. The voting population was often surveyed to discover their relative ratings of political parties' support for these beliefs. But this concern seems less common in recent times. What happened? "Family values" means different things to different people. For some, it refers to all social conservative values, such as: chastity, commitment, marriage, tradition, patriotism, and obviously the family itself. This is sometimes defined more by what social conservatives are against, though: pornography, divorce, drugs, radical feminism, same-sex marriage, for example. For others, it is simply supporting different kinds of families and encouraging what is necessary to help them thrive. One obvious reason why British politicians piped down about "family values" was the embarrassment when those values were shown somewhat shallow, or non-existent, in the politicians themselves. For example, after Conservative Prime Minister John Major launched his "back to basics" campaign in 1993, it wasn't long before the tabloid newspapers uncovered a series of grubby scandals that led to many resignations. There were numerous "cash for questions" affairs, such as that of Neil Hamilton. There were also many sex scandals of a kind that might not be considered as scandalous in today's more permissive society: fathering children to women who were not their wives, as environment minister Tim Yeo admitted, having affairs like Lord Caithness, or the closeted homosexuality of Michael Brown, a minister and MP. At the time such behaviour was seen as hypocritical, and its exposure led to a resignation. Of course, in later years it was also discovered that Major himself had conducted an extra-marital affair prior to his premiership. A return to family values? Despite this ignoble history, could family values be making a comeback? Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned family 14 times in his New Year speech this year, according to the i newspaper. "Family runs right through our vision of a better future," the PM said, according to the report. He stressed the need for "a society that truly values the family". Of course in recent times the higher echelons of the Conservative Party have not been any more family-orientated. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has had several marriages and many adulterous affairs, and the photos of Matt Hancock's adulterous clinch in a lift in 2021 provoked public fury, more for his breaching of Covid rules than his infidelity. However there are a few Tory MPs who seem to be more committed to the traditions of "family values" and who are starting to speak up. Miriam Cates, who is a Christian, has spoken positively of the traditional family and the protection of children on multiple occasions, and fellow social conservatives (and fellow Christians) Danny Kruger and Nick Fletcher too. The rise of anti-family values It is not just the hypocrisy of their colleagues that makes these discussions more difficult today, however. Many modern activists express their explicit desire to promote the opposite of the traditional family. Not limited to the promotion of same-sex relationships or even polygamous relationships, these new movements argue that the traditional family promotes inequality, among other things. There has also been a decline in marriage in British society, so fewer voters might be perceived to view it as important. And while the PM has discussed the family, Harry Benson at the Marriage Foundation argues that politicians are less comfortable discussing marriage itself. "It's now a decade since any cabinet minister made a speech that included the importance of marriage," he wrote in a blog for the UK 2024 election. "This public silence is at odds with their private behaviour. Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are both married, as are most of their respective cabinets. What do they know that we shouldn't know?" Those who denigrate marriage or family while receiving their benefits themselves have been accused of having "luxury beliefs", a term coined by former foster child and now successful writer, Rob Henderson. It refers to beliefs that damage society, especially the poor, yet are promoted by the elite, who do the exact opposite. "The original luxury belief is that family structure is unimportant, despite a vast body of research indicating that a stable two-parent home is one of the strongest factors for a child's wellbeing and future," Henderson wrote on his newsletter. "Among U.S. college graduates, only 25 percent think couples should be married before having kids. "Their actions, though, contradict their luxury belief: the majority of American college graduates who have children are married. Affluent people are the most likely to promote the view that marriage is unimportant, despite their behaviour suggesting otherwise." Is the American family valued? 'Family values' has had more success in the US, where it still seems to be valued. It became a core part of the presidential campaign at the 1992 Republican National Convention, where a "Family Values Night" featured Barbara Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle's wife, Marilyn. The focus was Hillary Clinton and their claims that she wanted to undermine the family. That campaign was unsuccessful, and the Clintons went on to win the White House, despite their somewhat questionable family values. Historically the American public say that they consider this very important in their choice of President. While it might not seem so, after the rise in support for Donald Trump, a man whose attitude towards women and marriage is certainly not aligned with what most people consider 'family values' - much of his support on the right was due to the perceived lesser values of Clinton and Joe Biden in comparison, especially on abortion. US polls this year show that for voters on the right, family values are still considered important in the US. "Trump supporters (59%) are much more likely than Biden supporters (19%) to say that it is better if people prioritize marriage and children," concluded a recent poll from Pew Research. A similar trend occurs for beliefs on abortion, though younger Trump voters are more 'pro choice' than their older fellows. The future of family values It might seem that with a seemingly more liberal younger generation and their rejection of the social conservative beliefs that are usually associated with "family values", that the future looks bleak. However, there are a few signs that Gen Z is more traditional or conservative than its elders in the UK; and there is a recent shift in US society further towards family values. Perhaps the pendulum is swinging? The UK's general election will undoubtedly lead to a shake up in party politics as the Conservative party flounders. This could lead to a return to family values or a turn against them. There are small political parties that are more traditionally conservative waiting in the wings, such as the Social Democratic Party. Family values aren't quite finished yet. Heather Tomlinson is a freelance journalist. Find her at www.heathertomlinson.substack.com or on twitter @heathertomli We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 15427610 Attendees walk through an expo hall at AWS re:Invent, a conference hosted by Amazon Web Services, at the Venetian in Las Vegas on Nov. 28, 2023. Amazon will double the value of credits it offers some startups to use its cloud infrastructure, CNBC has learned, as the company faces heightened competition from Microsoft in artificial intelligence services. Starting July 1, startups that have raised a Series A round of funding in the past year will be eligible for $200,000 in credits through AWS' Activate program, up from $100,000 before, the Amazon cloud unit said in an email to venture capitalists this week. Seed-stage startups will still be eligible for $100,000 in credits, AWS said. Two people briefed on the changes confirmed the credit increase, though they asked not to be named because the information is private. Matt Garman, who was recently promoted to CEO of AWS after running sales and marketing, was meeting with founders in Silicon Valley this week, the people said. Garman told the execs that collaborating with startups would always be a primary focus, one of the people said, adding that Garman described AI companies as AWS' ideal customers. AWS confirmed the increase in credits and Garman's visit to Silicon Valley, and said that in the past, the $100,000 would expire in one year, while the $200,000 credit will now expire in three years. A company spokesperson called AWS the leader in cloud "by a wide margin," adding that over 280,000 startups run on AWS, including 96% of "unicorns" in AI and machine learning. "These new programs are simply us doubling down on this incredible momentum," the spokesperson said. Amazon, which is best known for its massive online retail operation, derives most of its profit from AWS, a business it launched in 2006, well before rivals Microsoft and Google hit the scene. AWS leads the market, with $25 billion in revenue in the first quarter, up 17% from a year earlier. But Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud are growing more quickly, and are benefiting from rapidly advancing AI models. Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022 on Azure, and has since attracted a wave of AI workloads to Microsoft from companies big and small. Google has a number of large language models, most notably Gemini. Amazon has been trying to catch up in generative AI and has poured billions of dollars into OpenAI challenger Anthropic. Last month, AWS CEO Adam Selipsky announced his resignation after three years running the business, with Garman named as his successor. During Selipsky's time at the helm, Microsoft and Google increased their share of the cloud infrastructure market. One analyst told CNBC that Microsoft "ran laps around" AWS in generative AI. Startups have long been fertile ground for cloud infrastructure companies, as they try and lure ambitious founders who could be building the next multibillion-dollar business. In November, Microsoft announced a partnership with Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator that would provide participating startups with $350,000 in Azure credits and access to graphics processing units (GPUs) for training AI models, a spokesperson said. Microsoft has since extended the $350,000 credit incentive to other accelerators, including the AI Grant. Startups enrolled in Microsoft's Founders Hub program, which doesn't require previous venture funding, can receive up to $150,000 in Azure credits over four years. In addition to its Activate offering, Amazon has a new 10-week generative AI accelerator program. Participants will be able to access up to $1 million in cloud credits, according to the website. Earlier on Friday, Amazon's head scientist, Rohit Prasad, told employees that the company has hired David Luan, co-founder and CEO of AI startup Adept, along with some of Luan's colleagues. "Amazon is also licensing Adept's agent technology, family of state-of-the-art multimodal models, and a few datasets," Adept said in a blog post. AWS remains the leader in cloud infrastructure, but Microsoft is quickly closing the gap. AWS' market share slipped to 31% in the first quarter of this year from 32% three years earlier, while Azure jumped to 25% of the market from 19% in 2021, according to Canalys. Google is also picking up share, accounting for 10% of the market, up from 7% in early 2021. WATCH: AWS will boost investments in Singapore's cloud infrastructure by $9 billion US President Joe Biden speaks at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center grand opening ceremony in New York on June 28, 2024. The Biden campaign has raised $27 million starting from the day of the first presidential debate through Friday evening, a campaign spokesperson announced on Saturday. The number comes in the middle of President Joe Biden's post-debate fundraising swing, during which the campaign is looking to keep pace with former President Donald Trump's recent donation momentum. The Biden campaign, the Democratic National Convention, and Biden PACs and committees jointly raised $85 million in May, lagging behind Trump's $141 million haul in the same month that the former president was convicted on 34 felony charges. The post-debate campaign push is also trying to reassure donors that Biden can still deliver a Democratic win come November, despite his fumbling performance at Thursday's first debate against Trump. After the 90-minute face-off in Atlanta, Biden on Friday headed to Raleigh, North Carolina, to hold a rally where he spoke with a more energetic tone and acknowledged his debate slip-ups. "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 do know: I know how to tell the truth," he said. After North Carolina, the president flew to New York to deliver remarks at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center to mark Pride Month. Later that evening, he held several campaign receptions. Biden will participate in even more campaign receptions on Saturday in New York and New Jersey before returning to Camp David later in the evening. Those events will likely boost the $27 million fundraising figure higher. The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how much of this new fundraising came from grassroots donors online versus higher-dollar donors. Since the 90-minute face-off on Thursday, Democrats have been in a frenzy trying to clean up the mess of Biden's debate flop. Biden supporters, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have tried to spin the debate by recognizing, rather than ignoring the president's debate blunders while also asking voters to look past them. Some Democratic strategists, however, are calling on Biden to drop out of the presidential race and forfeit his delegates to a fresh candidate. Biden and Trump are scheduled to debate again on Sept. 10, a potential redemption opportunity for the president's perception with voters, many of whom express concerns over his age and ability to handle a second term. Bitcoin's blues could linger throughout July, but investors are still optimistic about the cryptocurrency in the second half of the year. The cryptocurrency has yet to break out of the tight range it's been stuck in between $60,000 and $70,000 since March. This week it fell to the lower end of that range and is now on pace to finish June down 10%, according to Coin Metrics. That would make it its worst month since April and second down month in three. July is usually a strong month for bitcoin, which has finished higher for the month in seven of the last 11 years, according to CoinGlass. At $61,000, bitcoin has key support at the $57,000 level, chart analysts say , although a breach below that could be "damaging." Investors are worried about the cryptocurrency taking another leg down due to the supply overhang heading into July. "The Bitcoin halving was a known positive supply event for the market for this year we have less bitcoin being produced," said Zach Pandl, managing director of research at Grayscale Investments. "There are always other known potential sources of bitcoin supply from government for example, but it's always uncertain when that's coming to market. To some extent, the supply that is being liquidated by things like government agencies is partly negating the positive effects over the short run of the Bitcoin having." This week, the crypto market was startled when the U.S. and German governments sent large amounts of previously seized bitcoin to exchanges, according to CryptoQuant. Additionally, the trustee of the now defunct Mt. Gox exchange announced it will begin repayments to creditors 142,000 bitcoins worth $9 billion in today's prices starting in July. Some investors are concerned that creditors may sell some of that bitcoin in July, after waiting more than 10 years for a resolution with the exchange. "This fear is justified given the recent behavior of Gemini creditors which are assumed to have liquidated part of the crypto assets received in recent weeks; in particular, almost $2 billion of crypto assets returned to 232,000 retail customers by bankrupt crypto lender Genesis and crypto exchange Gemini," JPMorgan's Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou said in a note this week. "A similar downside risk looms in July with Mt. Gox creditors," he added. "Assuming most of the liquidations by [them] take place in July, this creates a trajectory where crypto prices come under further pressure in July, but start rebounding from August onwards." BTC.CM= 1M mountain Bitcoin's return to $60,000 Bitcoin is still solidly in a bull market, however, despite recent and potentially near-term sluggishness, and market participants are expecting the cryptocurrency will retest its March all-time high of about $73,000 by the end of the year. If the market gets another low CPI print, a Federal Reserve rate cut at the central bank's September meeting would become the base case for many macro investors, Pandl said. Bitcoin, along with other risk assets, tends to rise with expectations for rate cuts. The next look at the consumer price index is scheduled for July 11. U.S. presidential election campaign messaging about the U.S. dollar which moves inversely to bitcoin could also catalyze the next leg higher, he added. "We don't know what candidate Trump's views are on the U.S. dollar," Pandl said. "Trump expresses a view that he would like to see smaller U.S. trade deficits, but so far, has mostly focused on the need for tariffs." "It's possible that during the election campaign, Trump may introduce the idea that we need a weaker dollar," he added. "Those two things in combination would be positive for bitcoin: Fed rate cuts and one of the two presidential candidates talking about dollar weakness." Marion Laboure, senior strategist at Deutsche Bank Research, said growing demand for crypto ETFs will help keep bitcoin's price "elevated" in the months ahead. Initial filings known as 19b-4s for ether ETFs were approved in May and the funds themselves are in the process of getting S-1 registration approvals which are expected to come through in the coming weeks. This week, VanEck and ARK 21Shares also filed for what would be the first spot Solana ETFs. "There is a lot of uncertainty in the market, but I'm pretty optimistic," she said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have more ETFs approved as well. If we have a clearer institutional framework, we will have more ETFs. ... We are moving towards more democratization, more institutionalization of ETFs." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. This story is part of CNBC Make It's Six-Figure Side Hustle series, where people with lucrative side hustles break down the routines and habits they've used to make money on top of their full-time jobs. Got a story to tell? Let us know! Email us at AskMakeIt@cnbc.com. Teyoshe Smith's previous job came with hourlong lunch breaks. She spent them personally delivering hand-assembled charcuterie boxes around Richmond, Virginia. Her side hustle started "organically," Smith says. She and her sister-in-law made table-long charcuterie spreads for family gatherings, and she started selling them to other people on Facebook Marketplace in May 2022. Her first batch, made at her "kitchen island," was modest compared to her current ones, Smith says. It was enough for 25 boxes full of hand-toasted crostini, cured meat and provolone cheese cut into flower shapes. The boxes sold out within two days on Facebook Marketplace, she says. Smith built her business, now called Bite by Bite & Co., from her house and a nearby church kitchen while maintaining her full-time job as a project manager at Capital One. The side hustle brought in $84,000 in revenue during its first seven months, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, prompting Smith to leave her job in May 2023. DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to earning passive income online Today, Bite by Bite operates in two cities: a storefront in Richmond and a commercial kitchen in Atlanta. Smith's company brought in $379,000 in revenue last year and her storefront in Richmond was profitable, she says. Bite by Bite plans to open two additional franchise locations later this year, Smith adds. The 43-year-old attributes the business's fast growth to her own drive to take care of others. "To my core, I love entertaining, I love hosting, I love giving everybody a good experience," says Smith. "That's just me, bottled up. You could just put me on a shelf and sell me. It's what I'm here on this earth to do." Here, Smith discusses how she grew her side hustle into a full-time job in just one year, the moment she felt like she'd become successful and her best advice for other small-business owners. CNBC Make It: Do you think your side hustle is replicable? Smith: Yes, but what makes this hard is: Charcuterie is so trendy. Pretty presentation can only get you so far, and you need something that's going to set you apart. How did you set yourself apart? My business has evolved to really provide a more homemade experience we create our own cheese balls and cheese dips from fresh ingredients. Bolivian General Juan Jose Zuniga is presented following his arrest by the authorities for a coup attempt in La Paz, Bolivia June 26, 2024. Detained Bolivian general Juan Jose Zuniga was ordered to six months "preventive detention" for his role leading a failed coup against the government earlier in the week, a top prosecutor said on Friday. The Attorney General's Office requested the six months detention and said other government bodies, including the Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry, supported the request "due to the importance and seriousness of the events that occurred," state prosecutor Cesar Siles said. "This preventive detention that the judge is ordering will undoubtedly set a precedent and a good signal so that this investigation can continue to advance," Siles added. Before being arrested on Wednesday, Zuniga led military units to gather in the main square of capital La Paz, home to the presidential palace and Congress. An armored vehicle rammed a palace door to allow soldiers to rush into the building. Zuniga has been handed a terrorism charge, which carries 15-20 years in prison, Siles said, as well as a charge for an armed uprising, which carries a sentence of 5-15 years. Zuniga has said he was following an order from President Luis Arce, who has denied having any involvement in or prior knowledge of Zuniga's operation. In this article F GM STLA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT GM launched 'EV Live,' a free online platform that connects electric vehicle owners or consumers who have questions about zero-emissions cars and trucks with an expert who can answer them. Courtesy: GM DETROIT Purchasing a vehicle has never been that easy. But shoppers entering traditional dealer showrooms for the foreseeable future may have a new challenge: An alphabet soup of "electrified" vehicle offerings. As all-electric vehicle adoption crawls along in the U.S., automakers are increasingly releasing various hybrid vehicles as alternative options to EVs and traditional gas-powered engines. A variety of models means more customer choice, but also more complexity for automakers and consumers, many of whom are returning to the new vehicle market for the first time in years following unprecedented supply chain shortages and record used vehicle prices. "More choice in the marketplace is good for consumers, but only if they understand the differences," said Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific. "There needs to be more clarity on what the terms and acronyms actually mean, and what the potential benefits and drawbacks are." A car shopper today has their pick of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles; mild-hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs); hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs); plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs); fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), also commonly known as EVs. Also coming later this year from Stellantis : range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) that are similar to plug-in hybrid vehicles but can exclusively function as an EV, with its electric motors powered by a gas engine. Each type of vehicle may be better for a different kind of customer. All except EVs and fuel-cell vehicles continue to offer a traditional internal combustion engine combined with "electrified" technologies such as a battery or motor to assist in performance or fuel economy. Heather Seymour, of St. Johns, Florida, said she did quite a bit of research prior to purchasing a 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, known as a 4xe model. "I knew I wanted to kind of dip my toe in the water of the hybrids. I wasn't ready to go full electric, so the plug-in was definitely of interest to me," said Seymour, who said she typically uses the all-electric range of the SUV, except on longer trips. "The more we learned about it, the more we figured out what we wanted." EV naming While consumers may not need to know every acronym or technology to find their right model, automakers aren't exactly helping the situation with their consumer-facing naming. For example, Hyundai's Genesis brand calls its all-electric vehicles "electrified," while many others reserve that term for hybrids. Chrysler's Pacifica minivan is a plug-in hybrid labeled as a regular "hybrid," and Toyota markets some of its traditional hybrids as "hybrid EVs." Stellantis says its REEV vehicles are not PHEVs, despite operating similarly. "Every automaker is using different terms. There's no standardization, and that causes some confusion on the consumer side," Waatti said. GM's 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV (right) next to a gas-powered Chevy Equinox on May 16, 2024 in Detroit. Michael Wayland / CNBC Some automakers such as General Motors also use traditional nameplates such as the Chevrolet Blazer and Equinox for new EVs that share little to nothing with their gas-powered counterparts other than the name. Stellantis' Jeep also uses the "Wagoneer" moniker for two large gas-powered SUVs as well as a smaller, all-electric Wagoneer "S" SUV. Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa has said he isn't worried about any confusion, as the brand has a strong naming heritage and customers can decide which vehicle is best for their needs. "I believe that we need education, but after education we have a lot of choices for the consumer," he said during a recent interview. "It's all for the benefit of the consumer. They will have a lot of flexibility." Education is key One thing automotive executives from Japan and South Korea to Detroit and Germany can agree on is the need for consumer education. Whether vehicles are electrified or all-electric, they're critical for automakers to meet tightening emissions and fuel economy targets as well as to build production scale, reduce prices and increase profits. "We don't want to force a customer to do something they're not ready for," Kia America VP of Marketing Russell Wager told CNBC earlier this year. "We're trying our best to educate them." 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV Jeep Kia and its dealers have put out myth-busting pages online to answer concerns or frequently asked questions about EVs and hybrids. They range from technical questions about batteries to practical questions like whether you can go through a car wash in an EV (you can). GM has taken it a step further. The Detroit automaker launched "EV Live" in 2022. It's an online video platform, now known as "GM Energy Live," that allows participants to interact one-on-one with EV specialists and learn about electric vehicles and charging. Ford Motor recently launched its own video-based training program, geared toward its more than 3,000 U.S. franchised dealers to improve customer service, better engage employees and provide dealers and the company with more data to help in selling the vehicles. Auto executives say it's up to the companies as well as their dealers to be trained and educated about the benefits of the vehicles, whatever they may be. "Each customer, in the end, is very different," said Jeremie Papin, chair of Nissan Americas, earlier this year. "I think it's what the vehicle can do for them," not necessarily how the technology works, he said. Automotive alphabet soup The automotive industry has more powertrain and "propulsion" options than ever before. Here's a breakdown: Internal combustion engine (ICE): A "traditional" vehicle with an engine that's fueled with gasoline or diesel. A "traditional" vehicle with an engine that's fueled with gasoline or diesel. Mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV): An ICE vehicle that functions largely like a non=hybrid vehicle but may include minimal electrified features such as a small battery, regenerative braking or electric motor. An ICE vehicle that functions largely like a non=hybrid vehicle but may include minimal electrified features such as a small battery, regenerative braking or electric motor. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV): Think of the Toyota Prius, a vehicle that has a hybrid powertrain system combined with an engine. Think of the Toyota Prius, a vehicle that has a hybrid powertrain system combined with an engine. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) : These vehicles feature an internal combustion engine combined with a hybrid system, including a larger battery than traditional hybrid vehicles as well as a plug to recharge the vehicle's battery. They typically allow drivers to travel a certain number of miles using the battery before the engine is needed to power the car or truck. : These vehicles feature an internal combustion engine combined with a hybrid system, including a larger battery than traditional hybrid vehicles as well as a plug to recharge the vehicle's battery. They typically allow drivers to travel a certain number of miles using the battery before the engine is needed to power the car or truck. Battery-electric vehicle (BEV): These all-electric vehicles do not feature an internal combustion engine. Instead, they contain an electric motor that's powered by a large battery. They need to be recharged using an electrical outlet and charging port or charging station. These all-electric vehicles do not feature an internal combustion engine. Instead, they contain an electric motor that's powered by a large battery. They need to be recharged using an electrical outlet and charging port or charging station. Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV): Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and equipment operate much like BEVs but are powered by electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen instead of pure batteries, which commonly include lithium. They're filled up with a nozzle, similar to traditional gas and diesel vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and equipment operate much like BEVs but are powered by electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen instead of pure batteries, which commonly include lithium. They're filled up with a nozzle, similar to traditional gas and diesel vehicles. Range-extended electric vehicles (REEV): These are an emerging technology that largely function as a PHEV, however after the battery runs out of energy to power the vehicle, an engine works as a generator to exclusively power electric motors. The vehicle still drives like an EV instead of having the engine directly power the vehicle's motion. Consumer adoption News and Info from our Community Partners Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Citi Bikes cargo vans are specially equipped to swap up to 72 batteries from one truckload. Photo: Alex Kent No one approaching a Citi Bike dock wants to see the red light. It signals one of many possible mechanical misfortunes: The pedals are jammed; the battery is dead; the brakes are corroded; the dock is offline; or, very rarely, the entire system is down (which did happen in June, lasting all of two hours). Its come to feel routine scanning the row of docks for a good one. This is when most riders will either find another bike or move on. But the system has flagged the malfunction and a mostly invisible workforce of bike mechanics, drivers, rebalancers (who redistribute bikes among stations), maintenance crews, and operations managers has been mobilized to address it. Now that Citi Bikes peak season has begun, thats more than 1,000 people who are on call in a 24/7, year-round operation to keep one of the worlds largest bike-share networks running. In June alone, the average is 165,000 rides a day, and the teams at Citi Bike and Lyft, which owns the bike-share system, believe it will hit 200,000 before the year is out. Part of that boom has come from the number of riders who want the Cosmo, the silver e-bike that has replaced many of the blue first-generation e-bikes. Citi Bike has upped that supply accordingly after the city lifted the cap on them last November. Now a total of 15,000 pedal-assist bikes (of the 40,000-total fleet) make up 65 percent of Citi Bikes trips. Even Lyft didnt project this scale of demand, and its figuring out how to streamline all the charging and maintenance. Thats a challenge because and a surprising number of users dont realize this the streetside docks dont charge bikes (apart from two pilot sites that just launched in May, that is). Nearly every depleted battery, up to 5,000 a day, needs to be transported to a Long Island City warehouse, plugged in, and then ferried back out to stations that now stretch from Van Cortlandt Park to Citi Field and all the way down to Sunset Park. Doing that requires a crew of 170 people, four shifts, and 67 specially equipped cargo vans. The cabinets at the Long Island City warehouse charge up to 5,000 batteries a day. Photo: Alex Kent Citi Bikes warehouse in Queens also holds dozens of docks in need of repair. Photo: Alex Kent All of this, in practice, feels surprisingly low-tech. I was invited to tag along one morning to observe the shuffle. At the warehouses, drivers unload dead batteries and test each one. A diagnostics test flashes purple if a battery is damaged, or red if its dead for good. Were very conservative, just given the concerns over safety, said Patrick Knoth, Citi Bikes general manager. So even if its slightly damaged, we recycle it. Once cleared, the batteries are inserted into a series of charging cabinets in the warehouse which resemble freezers for plutonium, or equipment you might expect to see in a sci-fi movie. They can charge up to 30 batteries at a given time, and a fully depleted one takes about six hours to get to 100 percent. But this does not include the batteries of the first-gen e-bikes, which are not compatible with the cabinets; instead, they sit on a shelf connected to wires and take longer to charge. They also lack sensors, so its tough to tell whats happening once they leave the warehouse, and Citi Bike expects to take them out of service for good by late July. I think were going to have a retirement party when theyre gone, said Allison Abbott, a regional general manager for Motivate, the company that operates Citi Bike. Charged batteries are then loaded into the trunk of cargo vans, the newest of which can hold 72 batteries each. Each carload takes about four hours to distribute. Bibi Dhanraj, an operations manager for Motivate, swapping out batteries in Long Island City. Photo: Alex Kent As a morning shift of drivers left the warehouse, Bibi Dhanraj, an operations manager with Motivate, showed me an app on her phone called Fieldwork. The software allows her to see where each driver is located along their route, which is generated for them by an algorithm, refined in the last year, that takes into account traffic and the number of batteries needed along their path. I spotted a few dots on the map indicating the location of bikes, far from the Citi Bike service area closer to Long Island than Manhattan. Those are the ones left on the side of a road, she explained. You wouldnt believe where they show up sometimes. Soon, Dhanraj was getting ready to swap some batteries herself. We tailed her by bike to the first station on Jackson Avenue. She double-parked and lugged out two, and moved to the first bike her phone app identified for her. She tapped her phone on its center console, which detached the battery. Old one out, new one in. The whole exchange takes less than 30 seconds. Crew members use a smartphone app to swap out batteries. Photo: Alex Kent This fast-moving logistics chain has allowed Citi Bike to speed up the rate of refreshed bikes, a problem that was much more endemic last year, when about half of all e-bikes were losing their charge within 24 hours. Today, that share is just 4 percent. But most of the day, Dhanraj is troubleshooting on the phone. Drivers call in regularly about connectivity issues, longer-than-expected travel times, parking issues, or questions from curious (and sometimes frustrated) riders they encounter while swapping. But sometimes its a particular brand of New York City chaos. I got a call recently that a station was completely covered in garbage. The driver couldnt even get to the bikes, it was so bad, she told me. If all goes according to plan, this daily race should get less frantic, as Citi Bike begins to electrify its docks. The company has projected that doing so at just 20 percent of its stations would replace 90 percent of swaps. We visited one of the two pilot sites at the corner of Manhattan and Meserole Avenue in Greenpoint. (The other is in front of Lyfts Midtown office.) Both sites are on the sidewalk for a reason: Ripping up a street can cost a small fortune, and it was easier to get ConEd, the Department of Transportation, and other agencies to green-light a sidewalk renovation for the first go. Its not easy to tell that this station is connected to a power grid underground, minus subtle differences. One helpful change is that users can tap their fob on the new docks rather than insert it. For a charging station to work, it will need a Goldilocks of factors working in its favor, Knoth said. It has to be frequented enough that itll make a dent in the fleet, but not too busy that the bikes end up leaving with only a partial charge. (A full charge takes about four to six hours, like an EV.) Citi Bike is pitching more potential sites to NYCDOT, which will let it know if a link to the grid is too far off, or a water main stands in its way. Citi Bike is also exploring funding opportunities to pay for it all. Knoth said he hopes to have ten charging stations built by the end of the year. I asked what that meant for the battery cavalry, and all of the other people supporting that around-the-clock process. Well find work for them, replied Knoth. Crew members will need to be retrained in maintaining the charging stations, which is arguably more complex and specialized than battery swaps. And with more power comes a lot more bikes zipping around, and more flat tires, more cracked consoles, more broken baskets. In other words: more red lights. Theres plenty to do. 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. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. China-proposed peaceful coexistence principles highly needed in turbulent world Xinhua) 09:45, June 29, 2024 HONG KONG, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday held an event to commemorate the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence put forth by then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in the 1950s, demonstrating the country's unwavering commitment to peaceful development. Since their inception, these principles -- 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 -- have been warmly welcomed by numerous countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, which fought for independence, equality and dignity in the international political arena amid ideological confrontations during the Cold War. In comparison with Western powers' condescending attitude toward developing countries, these principles advocate that all countries, regardless of size or ideological, political and social structures, are equal and in managing mutual relations, all should practice reciprocal restraint and self-restraint. Consequently, the principles have been gradually deemed as fundamental norms governing international political and economic relations, holding the moral high ground. By introducing and faithfully practicing these principles, China, over the past seven decades, has enjoyed a friendly and peaceful environment for its fast development, and also earned a reputation as a sincere development partner and peace contributor. Over the past 70 years, the five principles have demonstrated remarkable vitality. They have laid the foundation for China to pursue independent and peaceful diplomacy, and the content of these principles has also been enriched with the change of the times. China is now advocating for building a community with a shared future for mankind with the Belt and Road Initiative being its key pillar and bolstered by its Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. The three initiatives are designed to help improve global governance and address challenging issues faced by mankind, based on mutual learning and dialogue between civilizations, win-win cooperation and respect for all parties' concerns. However, reality often bears similarities to history. Today, power politics is as prevalent as it was 70 years ago. Following the "table and menu theory," Washington is inciting confrontations in various regions and sectors solely for its own security and interests. Against the backdrop, recalling the five principles has become increasingly significant and necessary. Indriana Kartini, a researcher from Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency, said that the principles are universal and should be accepted by many countries because they express positive perceptions on international relations. "If all countries embrace the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, I think it will contribute to maintaining regional stability and world peace." In its effort to help resolve tough international issues, China always follows the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, consistently adhering to the principles of non-interference in internal affairs, political solutions, objectivity and fairness. From the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has been highly acknowledged for its efforts to realize common development and prosperity, maintain world peace and stability, and resolve global governance challenges with all partners. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) One of them is expected to hold one of the four great offices of state if Labour wins the election and the other has long been one of Sir Keir Starmer's closest friends in politics. So the marked absence of David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, and Ed Miliband, the climate change spokesman, from public view during the six-week election campaign is a curious matter indeed. The apparent disappearance of Lammy is most perplexing, for in only a matter of days he is in line to move into a third-floor suite overlooking St James's Park in the Foreign Office, one of the mightiest repositories of power in the Whitehall estate. He would be only the second black MP to ascend the marble-pillared Grand Staircase as Foreign Secretary (after James Cleverly), surely a feather in Labour's virtue-signalling cap. His probable elevation is all the more significant at a time when we are experiencing the greatest unrest in global affairs since the end of the Cold War, thanks to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the ever-more aggressive posturing on the world stage by China and Iran. The marked absence of David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, from public view during the six-week election campaign is a curious matter indeed, writes Andrew Pierce Ed Miliband, who led Labour to a humiliating loss in the 2015 election, has reinvented himself as a green energy guru and is the architect of the party's controversial plan to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 So where is he? And where is Ed Miliband? The man who led Labour to a humiliating loss in the 2015 election has reinvented himself as a green energy guru and is the architect of the party's controversial, and expensive, plan to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. I'm told both have been ruthlessly sidelined by Starmer's backroom staff, who decide who does the daily media rounds and who does not. 'They seem to have been banished from the airwaves,' says one Labour source. Another compared them to submarines: 'They have been ordered to stay out of sight and will not be allowed to resurface in public until the election is well and truly won.' In Lammy's case, it seems his extraordinary propensity for public gaffes is to blame. Just weeks ago, he waded into a diplomatic row by appearing to endorse a bid to prosecute Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged 'war crimes'. Lammy, to the horror of seasoned diplomats in the Foreign Office, declared 'international law must be upheld' after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) called for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. The putative Foreign Secretary stoked more controversy the next day with a speech at the Chatham House think tank in which he resolutely declared Labour will recognise Palestine as a state if they form the next government. Formal recognition of Palestinian statehood last month by governments in Ireland, Norway and Spain prompted Israel to withdraw its ambassadors, saying they were not willing to do business with countries which rewarded Hamas killers for the 'the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust'. And what if Donald Trump wins the next presidential election? In an article for Time magazine in 2018, Lammy branded Trump, who was then President, a 'woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath' and a 'profound threat to the international order'. The result of all this has been a genuine fear among Labour staffers that the outspoken former lawyer could trigger a diplomatic row during the election campaign with a careless word or phrase. Ed is one of the few frontbenchers Sir Keir Starmer can trust not to start going on manoeuvres with an eye on the party leadership if and when disillusionment with the Labour leader sets in, writes Andrew Pierce It's why they have confined him to tours of marginal constituencies across the country. Then there is Brexit, the issue Starmer has been so desperate to avoid during the campaign for good reason. He was, after all, the architect of Labour's second-referendum policy. Yet Lammy was even more fanatical. He insulted Leave voters and tried to frustrate Brexit at every turn. In fact, his attempt to overturn Brexit began just three days after the referendum itself when even the most ardent Europhiles were willing to accept the will of the people. Not Lammy. He was determined to try to obstruct the largest democratic mandate in British electoral history. He wrote in The Guardian (where else?) that the vote was 'advisory and non-binding' and that, 'at the very least', people should be asked to vote again. In 2019, he compared the pro-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs to Nazis and white supremacists. When he was challenged to withdraw the remarks he doubled down, saying the comparison 'was not strong enough'. H e also said that people who backed Brexit had been manipulated by Putin's Russia: 'We don't want to talk about that, we don't want to admit that the Russians have been manipulating our elections, but that's partly what's happening.' One Labour Party source tells me that Lammy was at the State banquet for the Japanese Emperor Naruhito at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. 'But it wasn't a speaking engagement,' they were quick to add. 'He's been gagged because of his remarks on Gaza, the US and Brexit. They don't want him alienating potential Labour converts.' Not surprisingly there is now growing speculation that Lammy will be overlooked for the plum post of Foreign Secretary in Starmer's first Cabinet reshuffle. As recently as Wednesday, Starmer refused to guarantee Lammy would be made Foreign Secretary if Labour wins, amid rumours that Douglas Alexander who served in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's cabinets might be parachuted into the role. But a source close to Lammy says: 'David assumes he will be Foreign Secretary. He doesn't mind keeping his head down now. He will have plenty of time to flex his muscles when he's Foreign Secretary.' Perish the thought. And what of Miliband? Despite his much-vaunted appointment to the new position of Shadow Secretary of State of Climate Change and Net Zero in 2021, there has been deafening silence from Miliband on the airwaves. Given the close bond between the former Labour leader and Starmer, this must hurt. They are practically neighbours in North London and share a metropolitan vision of the world. Both see implementing their green ideology as more important than jobs, security and sustaining the economy. 'They are friends, not just colleagues,' observes one Labour figure. And, as a former leader who knows he won't get a another chance at the top job, Miliband is one of the few frontbenchers Starmer can trust not to start going on manoeuvres with an eye on the party leadership if and when disillusionment with the Labour leader sets in. Even so, Miliband has been ordered to stay submerged. In part, thanks to his unhappy legacy as a failed Labour leader but also because the public seem increasingly sceptical of 'climate change' policies. Indeed, Labour's own private polling shows there is widespread unease over the party's green crusade. Only weeks ago Miliband was humiliated when Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves vetoed his plan to spend a staggering 28 billion a year on green projects. Just months earlier he had said: 'Some people don't want Britain to borrow to invest in the green economy. They want us to back down... I will never let that happen.' Little did he know then that he would be blocked by elements within his own party. Labour suffered further embarrassment on Thursday when leaked audio emerged of Darren Jones, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, admitting the true cost to the taxpayer of the dash to Net Zero and decarbonising the economy would be 'hundreds of billions of pounds'. Miliband was not wheeled out to deny or try to defend the figure. Perhaps that is because his record on the issue is far from spotless. It was Miliband who, as Climate Change Secretary in Gordon Brown's government, began the process of saddling householders with expensive green levies on their quarterly energy bills. In government, he is hoping to mastermind a massive expansion in controversial and unsightly onshore wind farms, which despoil the landscape and upset local communities. Miliband is also the champion of the ban on new licences for oil and gas drilling projects in the North Sea on environmental grounds. The move has been attacked by the Tories and the SNP in Scotland, where Labour are hoping for major gains, on the grounds it will cost jobs and inflate household energy bills. No wonder all-powerful campaign director Morgan McSweeney is dubious of Miliband and reportedly associates him with the days when Labour was unelectable. One Labour grandee says: 'Morgan doesn't want him talking about expensive new green initiatives, so he's been sidelined. He's a reminder of the past while Starmer is trying to look forward. 'Miliband will definitely still be in the same job after the general election. But there must be a chance that Lammy will not there are plenty of people willing to take his place.' Denial, anger, depression and acceptance. America's Democrats went through these stages of grief on Thursday night as Joe Biden crashed and burned on the CNN debate stage. After the event, the media spin rooms felt like a wake. The talking heads all mournfully agreed that now may be time to accept what the rest of the world has understood for some time: Joe Biden is not fit to be a presidential candidate in 2024. Non-Democrats might feel entitled to respond: what planet have these people been living on? Last night may have been particularly agonising, as Biden slurred incoherently on every topic. But anyone with eyes to see has known for some time that America's Commander-in-Chief is not in good health. The talking heads all mournfully agreed that now may be time to accept what the rest of the world has understood for some time: Joe Biden is not fit to be a presidential candidate in 2024 Last night may have been particularly agonising, as Biden slurred incoherently on every topic. But anyone with eyes to see has known for some time that America's Commander-in-Chief is not in good health His presidency has become a sorry farce, as the 81-year-old pathetically mumbles and bumbles and stumbles about the world stage. His evident senility can by no means have been a total surprise. He merely confirmed the worst fears, and more, about his mental state. For years now, the Democrats have insisted often in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary that Joe is fully fit and firing on all cylinders. In meetings, they claim, he's full of beans and always across the facts. But last month, in a significant breach of the party line, senior sources close to the President revealed that Biden seemed increasingly challenged in meetings. In January, at a congressional meeting on national security and Ukraine, he spoke so faintly that he could barely be heard and paused for so long that aides worried that he had fallen asleep. Their adamance that all is well, therefore, has often sounded as contrived as a North Korean press release about the vigour of Kim Jong Un. It is at best deluded at worst an outright lie. His presidency has become a sorry farce, as the 81-year-old pathetically mumbles and bumbles and stumbles about the world stage His evident senility can by no means have been a total surprise. He merely confirmed the worst fears, and more, about his mental state In 2020, during the last presidential election, talk of Biden's incipient dementia was dismissed as malicious Republican gossip. But even then he was showing signs of decline. The Covid pandemic that year ensured he didn't have to go through the usual rigours of a campaign. Thanks to the lockdowns, he spent much of the build-up to the election in his basement at home in Delaware, communicating via Zoom. Tellingly, he lost his temper when a friendly journalist asked him if he had taken a cognitive test. 'Come on man!' he replied. 'That's like saying, before you get on this programme, have you taken a test for if you take cocaine or not.' Biden then was better than he is now. In the first 2020 presidential debate he got the better of Trump. But in other interviews and public performances that year he often lost his thread and appeared confused in interviews. After Biden moved into the White House, his team has made every effort to cover up his declining capacities. His press conferences are stage-managed to the last detail. The White House now has a PR protocol whereby the President is flanked by an entourage that walks slowly beside him across the lawn between the White House and Marine One, the presidential helicopter, to stop TV crews and photographers catching any more embarrassing footage. Now, after the humiliation on CNN on Thursday, that charade appears to have ended at last. Joe and his wife Jill, the First Lady, still seem oblivious, at least in public. In 2020, during the last presidential election, talk of Biden's incipient dementia was dismissed as malicious Republican gossip. But even then he was showing signs of decline The Covid pandemic that year ensured he didn't have to go through the usual rigours of a campaign. Thanks to the lockdowns, he spent much of the build-up to the election in his basement at home in Delaware, communicating via Zoom At a post-debate event on Thursday, Jill addressed her husband before a crowd of die-hard fans: 'Joe you did such a great job!' she shouted, as if addressing a challenged child. 'You answered every question!' But outside Biden's inner circle, most Democrats are ditching any pretence that all's well. So why did it take it so long for Democrats publicly to acknowledge this glaring reality? The alacrity with which party loyalists are changing their tune this week has caused some suspicion in Republican circles. The theory now is that Democratic bigwigs, possibly at the urging of Barack Obama, pushed for the first presidential debate to be held early it's normally in September so that, if Biden failed the Democratic machine would have time to replace him. But if the Democrats were really so calculating, why didn't they junk Biden last year before the nomination process began? At a post-debate event on Thursday, Jill addressed her husband before a crowd of die-hard fans: 'Joe you did such a great job!' she shouted, as if addressing a challenged child. 'You answered every question!' Biden now has all the delegates he needs to be confirmed at their Democratic convention in Chicago in August. Unless he chooses to stand aside, or dies, he will be all but unstoppable. The truth is that the Democrats are paralysingly terrified about Trump's possible comeback. That's why they have clung to Joe Biden the man who beat him at the ballot four years ago in spite of his glaring decrepitude. We are now less than 130 days away from the election, however, and the Democrats' stubborn refusal to have accepted Biden's mortality sooner may end up propelling Trump to the White House. Most people aren't thrilled at the prospect of Trump taking charge again. But, similar to how many British voters now feel towards Conservative Party, a growing number of Americans believe that the out-of-touch Democrats deserve to be punished at the ballot. Joe Biden's party has lied to the public and itself for too long. Freddy Gray is deputy editor of The Spectator Barbara can still remember when Blyth was the jewel in Northumberlands crown. We had the best market in the North East, she tells me, but now theyve killed it. She gestures outside her tiny shop on Bowes Street. This used to all be lovely cobbles, but they ripped them up and modernised. They also raised the kerb, so the pensioners cant get up and down, theyve put in parking restrictions, and these new benches are so uncomfortable that people cant even sit on them. Despite this municipal vandalism, she claims her own business is doing a brisk trade. We sell on stuff from peoples homes. Mostly deaths, divorces and repossessions. As well as this shop weve got two warehouses full. She sighs. This used to be such a nice area. Then the Tories got in. For almost seven decades the constituency of Blyth Valley was a Left-wing fortress. Home to half a dozen collieries and the largest coal exporting port in Europe, it was represented for 30 years by Ronnie Campbell, a former miner arrested twice on the picket lines during the 1985 strike. Your browser does not support iframes. Until the early hours of December 13, 2019, when the returning officer announced Conservative candidate Ian Levy had snatched the seat, and the first brick was punched from the middle of Labours vaunted Red Wall. Ive come here for the final full week of the 2024 election campaign to see if those same voters are preparing to lead another political sea-change. But Barbara seems disillusioned with the entire political class. I wont be voting, she tells me. Theyre all the same. When you arrive in Blyth youre immediately confronted with symbols of progress and decline. The monolithic wind turbine that looms over the terraces of St Cuthberts Court like one of the sinister tripods from War Of The Worlds. The nail-bars, bookmakers and vaping-shops that now shoulder responsibility for sustaining the local economy in place of the pits, shipyards and rail hubs. But initially there is little sign the people of this area are preparing to rise up and deliver the Conservatives their worst defeat in living memory. Sitting on a bench outside St Marys Church, I ask Pat how shell be voting. She looks at me slightly bemused. Voting? Oh, the election. No, I wont be. To be honest, I dont even know how to vote. As I turn on to Market Street, I see further signs of hope for Rishi Sunak. The perceived failure of the Levelling Up agenda is supposedly costing him dear. Yet here is a giant billboard announcing a new three-screen cinema and a live music events space coming soon. Then it suddenly strikes me that Ive seen lots of billboards like this on the campaign trail. The improvements promised to Red Wall Britain are always arriving tomorrow. Never today. But I reflect that maybe Im being too cynical. Perhaps a new creative activity space will help offset concerns about the cost of living, NHS waiting lists and the small boats crisis. That is until I walk into Doppios Coffee House on Waterloo Road. And bump into Dan, Ruth, Norma and Liz, who are being served their morning cuppa by Alan, the manager. They all tell me they voted Tory in the past. But Liz is the only one whos sticking with Rishi. She says its because hes looking after my pension. Dan likes Nigel Farage he thinks about the country. Norma likes Farage, too, but concedes: Im not sure about what he said about Ukraine and Putin. Ruth is also unsure but definitely wont be voting Tory. Rishi just doesnt understand normal people, she says. Alan says hes impressed with Keir Starmer. Weve had 14 years of the Tories, he says, and what is there? Sewage in the rivers. The Partygate thing. The crime thats over-running London. Its time for a fresh start. Cramlington village, a supposedly solid Tory area. In the neatly tended square the sun is glinting off the memorial that holds several columns of names for the Northumberland Fusiliers who fell in the First World War Is there any prospect of them voting Conservative again on Thursday I ask. No!!!!!! they cry in unison. Liz shakes her head and smiles. The old Blyth Valley was split in two in the last boundary review, with the town itself now sitting in the Blyth and Ashington constituency, and the bulk of the wards transferred into the new seat of Cramlington and Killingworth. So I head out to Cramlington village, a supposedly solid Tory area. In the neatly tended square the sun is glinting off the memorial that holds several columns of names for the Northumberland Fusiliers who fell in the First World War. Just opposite is The Four Ladies pub, which stands as its own commemoration to the former mines that once dotted the area. The Four Ladies are actually the names that were given to the pit-wheels which stood at the top of the coal shafts Amelia, Anne, Betsy and Daisy. Sean the landlord is keeping his counsel about how he intends to vote. We dont really like to talk politics in pubs up here, he tells me. But as a North East native hes candid about the changes hes seen in this part of the world. I used to run a pub in Middlesbrough, he reveals, and we had a lot of contractors coming in from Ireland who were working on the new mine theyre building out near Whitby. Just think about that. A coal mine in the North East. And theyre having to bring in outside contractors to work it because we havent got the skills locally. I was in the North East on election day in 2019. And you could feel it. A rumble beneath your feet. The impending Red Wall revolt. Ive travelled the length of the country during the past five weeks of this campaign. And I can feel it again. Only this time, its not confined to the Red Wall. And its not a rumble, but a full on earth-tremor. Standing at the bar of The Four Ladies is Roland. A printer by trade. Hes only too happy to break Seans politics prohibition. I backed Boris last time, he says, but then we had Partygate. I lost my parents to Covid, and I couldnt be with them at the end. So that was it for me. What will he do on Thursday? Reform. We need something different now. On the bar is a collection tin for the Cramlington Foodbank. Last year it gave out 667 emergency food parcels to local people. I drop in a few coins as I leave. This week Britain will vote for change. After my visit to Blyth, its not hard to see why. Just a few days ago, Rishi Sunak warned that illegal migrants were 'queuing up' in Calais waiting for a soft-touch Starmer government so that they can come to the UK and stay here. The Prime Minister was entirely right to do so. However, he could have also spoken of other people eagerly anticipating Sir Keir in Downing Street: the tens of thousands of illegal migrants who are already here. That's because they know that a Labour government will also certainly mean nothing less than an asylum amnesty for the vast majority of those people not new controls and checks on illegal migration. Sir Keir has famously pledged to scrap our Rwanda deportation scheme almost as soon as he crosses the threshold of No 10. Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer pictured today speaking at a campaign event in London Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pictured on Armed Forces Day in his constituency in Richmond and Northallerton Your browser does not support iframes. The inescapable implication of such a move would be to add an estimated 90,000 migrants now earmarked for removal to the safe African country to the asylum application process. No longer waiting for deportation, they would simply join the asylum queue. Moreover, as was reported last week, Refugee Council officials estimated that up to 70 per cent of them - about 60,000 could be granted asylum in the UK. At a stroke under Sir Keir, the only real deterrent to the evil trade of people-smuggling would be removed. The genuine sanction of removal to Rwanda would be replaced by no threat or dissuasion, rather a latter-day version of the welcome mat that Tony Blair infamously produced for EU migrants in the early 2000s. For what in reality is Labour proposing to do to curb the small-boats crisis? Sir Keir's oft-repeated vow to 'smash the criminal boat gangs' is accompanied by a solemn pledge to set up a 'new Border Security Command'. Such a new body already exists and is already working to target the despicable people smugglers. The Labour leader's pledge amounts to little more than a new brass nameplate and some new headed stationery. Migrants pictured crossing the English Channel on a small boat in March this year Sir Keir has famously pledged to scrap our Rwanda deportation scheme almost as soon as he crosses the threshold of No 10 Yet even this hollow promise to create something that already exists was an afterthought. As we know, Sir Keir's original 'five missions' declaration contained no reference to curb illegal migration at all. The Border Security Command was only hastily tagged on as an extra priority as part of his 'first steps' just a few weeks ago. That's because tackling illegal migration is as much an empty Labour pledge as their promise not to find stealthy new ways to increase taxes if they win the election. After all, arch-Remainer Sir Keir has made no secret of his desire to renegotiate our post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, despite reports that Brussels will insist on our accepting 100,000 of their illegal migrants as the price. I hope and trust that voters will see through Labour's subterfuge on immigration. The North East Somerset and Hanham constituency that I am seeking to represent is not on the front line, so to speak. It lies on the outskirts of Bristol, not Dover. As we know, Sir Keir's original 'five missions' declaration contained no reference to curb illegal migration at all However, it is striking how when I talk to people, so many raise the issue of uncontrolled immigration and the perception that illegal migrants are getting special treatment. As with fair-minded people across the country, they do not quibble with genuine asylum seekers getting refuge in the UK. But they want the system to be scrupulously fair, balanced and properly organised. A re-elected Conservative government would deliver that by delivering on the Rwanda scheme. Labour would deliver warm words and little else. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is the Conservative candidate for North East Somerset and Hanham A former member of the Mormon church has revealed the unsettling melodies the sect would teach to kids as young as primary school. Alyssa Grenfell, 31, has built a fanbase of hundreds of thousands of followers over the past few years as she's shared her story - from being raised in a devout Mormon family to her decision to leave the church as a young adult. Often delving into the many idiosyncrasies of growing up Mormon, Alyssa has most recently revealed - and performed - a number of songs she was taught in her religious school from childhood. First up, and most jaw-dropping, was 'I Like Mormon Boys,' sung to the tune of Sir Mix-a-Lot's Baby Got Back, the iconic early '90s rap homage to women with prominent rear ends. Ex-Mormon Alyssa Grenfell, 31, is known by hundreds of thousands on social media for speaking out against her former religion, which she left in early adulthood As her most recent insight into her Mormon upbringing, Alyssa gave a preview of three songs she was taught in childhood - including a bizarre, sanitized rendition of Baby Got Back The very explicit lyrics include phrases such as 'when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face, you get sprung' and 'My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun.' The creepily sanitized Mormon version, of which Alyssa performed the first few lines, are as follows: 'I like Mormon boys and I cannot lie / You other girls can't deny / When a guy walks in with scripture case and a smile on his face you get a date! 'A celestial mate! / Oh but wait! / He's going on a mission leavin' you wishing that you had a man / Someone to hold your hand. 'So deacons! (what) Teachers! (what) We don't want your features / 'Cause your brothers are hot and you are not / So bring on those righteous priests, HUH!' A quick Google search revealed several videos of pre-teen girls enthusiastically reciting the lyrics to the rhythm of the original Baby Got Back verse. The next song Alyssa described is called Follow the Prophet, which, she added, kids are taught starting at age three. The lyrics, which repeat 'Follow the prophet,' in reference to adhering to the teachings of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith, conclude: 'Follow the prophet, don't go astray / Follow the prophet, he knows the waaay.' The third song Alyssa shared, also taught starting in primary school, is called 'I Hope They Call Me On a Mission.' Alyssa and her husband tied the knot in the Mormon church, but she and her husband left the church not long after Since leaving the church, Alyssa has regularly spoken out about her experiences, from the bizarre dating norms to the hyper-strict rules of Mormon institution Brigham Young University Commenters on Alyssa's 58-second video expressed horror at the 'indoctrination' effect of the songs - with many especially disturbed at the Mormon-ized rendition of Baby Got Back The song is seemingly intended to hype up young children about going on their 'mission' - a mandatory rite-of-passage of Mormons in young adulthood that involves traveling and living elsewhere for a year to attempt to convert people in faraway communities to Mormonism. The lyrics, as Alyssa sang them, go: 'I hope they call me on a mission / When I have grown a foot or two / I hope by then I will be ready / To teach and preach and work as missionaries do, do-do-do-do.' Commenters on the YouTube version of Alyssa's 58-second video were aghast, most of all at the Baby Got Back parody. '"You get a date... a celestial mate!" Well, that escalated quickly,' quipped one. 'I think my brain just had a 404 error. I was NOT prepared for the Mormon indoctrination version of Baby Got Back,' a second admitted. 'What they did with Baby Got Back should be considered a crime in all 50 states and US territories,' declared a third. 'I was expecting hymns not THIS,' added a fourth. 'Follow the "profit,"' a fifth chimed in, taking aim at the Mormon church's notoriously large coffers, valued in the hundreds of billions. 'The most brainwashy part is that they make kids age three sing them. They want to have them doctrinized from so early on so that they don't question anything about the church later in life. It's crazy,' a seventh pointed out, disturbed at the underlying logic. Alyssa tied the knot with her Mormon husband in her early 20s. Not long afterwards, the couple left the Mormon church after grappling with the extent of its discrimination against women, non-white people, the LGBTQ+ community and more. She's since regularly spoken out about her experiences, from the bizarre dating norms, to post-death baptisms and the hyper-strict rules of Mormon institution Brigham Young University, to the phenomenon of 'cult voice.' It's a British staple that's easy for anyone to cook at home. But according to Ben Newman - better known as the Spudman - a lot of people make mistakes when dishing up the popular meal. Ben, 39, who became a TikTok sensation thanks to his mouth-watering loaded jacket potatoes told Ninja Kitchen the common mistakes people make. The Tamworth-based chef revealed that you should in fact use two potatoes and never wrap it in foil. Mr Newman pictured outside his trailer in Tamworth where he sells hundreds of meals a day Ben, also known as @spudarmy on TikTok, has amassed a huge following of 1.9 million by sharing his culinary tips, often handing out free jackets to a few lucky customers Make sure you use the right type of potato 'It's all about the variety of potato as opposed to how you cook it. 'When buying jacket potatoes, avoid 'Nadine Potatoes' - they are a variety of potatoes stocked by many supermarkets. Whilst they look great and most likely have a high-yielding crop, the cook on them is absolutely awful.' Use two small potatoes instead of one large one 'Cooking time will depend on the size of the potato. If the potato fits in the palm of your hand, cook for around an hour and a half. 'Everyone makes the mistake of going for the biggest potato they can find, but it is better to buy a couple of smaller ones and have two. 'They will cook more evenly and won't have any hard bits in them.' Don't wrap your potato in foil Whilst many may think you must wrap a spud in tin foil, Spudman says not to, saying. 'I never wrap my potatoes in foil at home. You're less likely to burn them in your home oven as opposed to an industrial potato oven which hits 300-350 degrees.' How to make the perfect air fryer jacket potato With jacket potatoes being more popular than ever, Ninja Kitchen has revealed its own air fryer jacket potato recipe. Ingredients 2 x 225g Maris Piper or King Edward Potatoes, washed and poked all over with a fork 2 tsp Veg Oil 1 tbsp coarse Salt, such as Maldon Salt & Pepper to taste Butter Step-by-Step Guide Massage the Oil all over the Potatoes. Roll the Potatoes in the course Salt.This is what makes the skin really crispy. Place the potatoes in the basket and select the air fry function on 200c. Set the time for 45 minutes. Check that it is cooked all the way through then remove from the basket and cut a slit down the centre so the skin remains crisp. Season with Salt and Pepper, add a dollop of butter and your favourite toppings! Advertisement Mr Newman has previously revealed the heartfelt reason behind his rockstar look after suffering his own health battles. The jacket potato king got the punk hairstyle to raise money for kidney research and it's something that has stuck ever since. His business has exploded since he started uploading videos onto TikTok last year just to 'keep an eye on my kids' and the son of a potato merchant is regularly mobbed when fans see him walking through the town. It's beyond his wildest dreams and something that seemed unimaginable when he started the business under a different name two decades ago, aged just 18. He now sells up to 1,000 meals a day priced between 4 and 5 from inside his tight-knit cream-coloured trailer. He suffered three failed kidney transplants - in 2014, 2016 and 2019 - and will be on dialysis for the rest of his life. People have been flocking from as far as the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia to his humble jacket potato van after his videos took the internet by storm racking up 2.6 million followers and 41.6 million likes on TikTok. 'It's all been beyond my wildest dreams,' he said. 'I just try and have fun with the videos. People seem to enjoy the livestreams but I enjoy filming people's responses when I give them a free spud. 'I've seen the Binley Mega Chippy comparison but I like to feel we've worked a little harder than that. 'They were a meme and it happened by chance. We know it will drop off but we want to keep going for as long as we can and to put Tamworth firmly back on the map. 'If we do well, so does the town. It's all about promoting local businesses and also every jacket potato seller out there. 'There is one in your own town, go and support them. 'My grandad was a farmer and my dad was a jacket potato merchant, I think they would be proud.' Lady Lola Bute put her best fashion foot forward as she donned a leopard print bikini and denim cut-offs while picking up a snack at Glastonbury this afternoon. The model, who celebrated her 25th birthday this week at Vogue World in Paris with her Dutch boyfriend Parker Van Noord, made a quick turnaround to get to Worthy Farm in Somerset where she was pictured sharing some food (and a cuddle) with her beau. Lady Lola, who is an expert in glamour, managed to perfect grunge chic in the bikini, paired with shorts and biker boots as she attended the festival. She and Parker shared sweet moments as they wrapped their arms around each other, beaming while doing so. Earlier this week, the couple posed up a storm in the French capital city as they attended the Vogue event. Lacy Lola Bute, 25, took a walk on the wild side as she picked up a snack at Glastonbury Festival in Somerset It was a more demure celebration for Lady Lola's birthday party - after she threw a party to remember last month so she could celebrate with all her friends and family. Her early birthday bash, on the Isle of Bute, at her ancestral home Mount Stuart House. Friends, from Hollywood stars to fashion icons and royalty, sipped champagne at the event. The model and socialite shared an intimate moment with her Dutch boyfriend and fellow model, Parker Van Noord The socialite, who has recently returned from Paris where she and Parker attended Vogue World, adjusted her bikini The couple looked smitten as Lady Lola sat on Parker's lap and stroked his face The couple appeared to be sharing a coffee while taking some time out in the sunshine on day three of the festival The socialite sipped on her hot drink as she sat on Parker's lap and put her arm around him Lady Lola Bute with her boyfriend, Parker Van Noord Among the dozens of guests were the actress Sienna Miller, stunning New Zealand model Jessica Clarke, Princess Olympia of Greece, the make-up mogul Charlotte Tilbury with her West End producer husband George Waud and the ubiquitous socialite Poppy Delevingne. There was techno music and flashing lights, dining tables groaning with lobsters, oysters and local beef, a marching band of pipers and fireworks lighting up the skies above the Firth of Clyde. Some images showed Lady Lola dancing freely, dressed in a silver mini-dress by designer Annie Doble. Lady Lolas late father, John Crichton- Stuart, the 7th Marquess of Bute was better known as the racing driver Johnny Dumfries. At 15 he dropped out of Ampleforth, the Roman Catholic public school, and worked as a labourer on building sites in London before becoming a painter and decorator. Later he landed a job as a mechanic, opening a way to pursue his dream of motor racing. The former champion driver and friend Damon Hill observed of him: He spent his entire life trying to live down the fact he was descended from Robert the Bruce. I always got the sense he hated the very idea of people thinking he only got anywhere because of his background. At 19, he began racing under the name Johnny Dumfries, a name taken from his courtesy title the Earl of Dumfries. He progressed to F1 in 1986, partnering the late Ayrton Senna at the Lotus team. It turned out to be his one and only F1 season, and he picked up just three points. Instead he went on to endurance car racing and in 1988 had his greatest success as winner of the Le Mans 24-hour race before quitting in 1991 due to the illness of his father. Two years later he succeeded to the marquessate and took over the 300-acre Mount Stewart estate but he struggled psychologically with his new responsibilities, refusing to use the title for several years. In 2012 he was named as the richest sportsman in Scotland thanks in part to his having sold off the other family home, Dumfries House, in Ayrshire, and its collection of Chippendale furniture to the then Prince Charles for 45 million. A woman who took ayahuasca 45 times in three months has described her experience as 'like watching a Netflix series' of her 'past lives'. Tatjana Strobel, 53, and from Germany, took the hallucinogenic drink every other day during ceremonies at a retreat in Bolivia with a group of ten other attendees. Revealing her experience to DailyMail.com, she said she saw herself in a new role every time including a philosopher, a concertist, a witch and a prophet. The writer is overwhelmingly positive about her trips, claiming the drug combated her phobias of snakes and even death. Some of her most bizarre visions include 'marrying herself' and discovering that she's visited Plato's fictional island of Atlantis. Ayahuasca, which is illegal in the US, has surged in popularity in recent years for its alleged ability to 'reset' the mind and ease mental health woes. Retreats outside the US offering it have amassed a following of celebrities including Will Smith, Chelsea Handler and even Prince Harry. Tatjana Strobel, 53, a published author, revealed she took ayahuasca every other day over three months. She described the experience as like a 'Netflix series' of her previous lives Among some of her more bizarre claims, Ms Strobel also said ayahuasca also revealed to her that she was 'from Atlantis' and that there is a queue of souls waiting to come to Earth It is normally taken over a few days where the drink is handed out during ceremonies led by a 'shaman', or spiritual leader. Some retreats extend over a period of several weeks and involve attendees taking ayahuasca as many as 22 times. Shamans report taking it as many as 100 times per year. Ms Strobel decided to go on an extended retreat lasting three months in 2022, after trying ayahuasca at least six times previously, and being 'curious' about how the psychedelic might change her life. Describing her experience, she said: 'It was beautiful you know, it was like a series, when I finished one night I would start again on the next. 'I saw different things nearly every time I took it. I was a concertist, I was a witch this happened many times I was a person who helped others give birth, I was a writer, I was a prophet, I was everything.' 'It was really like watching a series on Netflix.' The substance is known to cause extreme nausea and diarrhea in the minutes after ingesting. However, Ms Strobel says she had little concern about potential long-term effects. If she felt unwell, she'd opt out of taking the drug the following day, she said. People take ayahuasca at retreats, such as the Ambi Resort in Colombia (pictured above) Users normally vomit after taking the drug, before experiencing a 'trip' that lasts for several hours (Shown above is the Ambi Resort in Colombia) 'My body is very sensitive. It means that if I eat something that is not good for my body, I stop.' Ayahuasca is made from a concoction of plants from the Amazon rainforest, which are cooked into a stew and then consumed. Many users have previously described the taste as 'vile'. These plants contain DMT, a schedule I substance in the US considered as dangerous as heroin, LSD and MDMA, which gives the drug its psychedelic properties. Experts say it can disrupt activity in the brain including communication between different areas, leading to the vibrant and colorful images that many users witness. Some scientists have explored the drug's potential for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) alongside ketamine, with small studies suggesting it could help to rewire the brain or allow people to 're-process' traumatic experiences. Research has also suggested it could improve brain health by boosting the production of a chemical that slows neurodegeneration. But concerns have been raised about potentially negative effects on mental health. One 2022 study found that at least half of 10,000 adults reported a negative mental health effect, including depression and hallucinations, in the weeks to months after taking ayahuasca. Dr Greg Fonzo, a psychiatrist at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, Austin said he would be 'concerned' about patients taking this much ayahuasca. 'It is unclear whether frequent use could have detrimental effects on mental health and cognitive functioning'. 'There are also concerns and reports of potential cardiac abnormalities.' DMT is known to increase the heart rate while it is still active in the body. Andrew Gallimore, a computational neuroscientist at the Okinawa Institute of Science in Japan, added that he would be concerned over the dramatic purging or vomiting that could be caused, saying this risked dehydration and damage to the esophagus. He added: 'Aside from this, psychological integration of what is often an extremely intense and psychologically demanding experience is as important as the experience itself. 'This can take days or longer, so it's hard to envisage how the experiences could be properly integrated when strung together in such rapid succession like this.' Psychological integration after ayahuasca refers to the process of integrating the profound experiences and insights into daily life and sense of self. A number of deaths have been reported among people who have taken ayahuasca, although in each case this has been linked to another substance taken alongside it. The cases include a 22-year-old in Florida who consumed ayahuasca mixed with kambo, a poisonous venom from a tree frog. He died after suffering a seizure caused by drinking excessive water after vomiting. Tatjana Strobel revealed her experience on a podcast with Alex Renko, a wealthy 15-year-old who regularly posts on social media about psychedelics Ms Strobel said she had always 'feared' drugs steering clear of alcohol but decided to try ayahuasca in the hope it would enhance her life. The first time she took ayahuasca, she says she didn't throw up, earning her the nickname of the 'dominator'. But by the end of the three month retreat, she would throw up every time she took the drink. Dr Daniel Perkins, who runs the University of Melbourne's Psychedelic Research Center and studies the drug, has a more positive outlook on the impact of the drug. He said a research paper he authored found lno association between the number of times ayahuasca has been consumed in the last year and adverse mental health effects. He added: 'But there is some association with reporting physical health adverse effects. By far the most common was vomiting or nausea at the time of use.' Groups that organize ayahuasca retreats say that shamans may take ayahuasca up to 100 times a year and that it is regularly used in indigenous cultures without causing serious negative health effects. To others considering taking ayahuasca, Ms Strobel says: 'If you are on your way somewhere then it can help you, but if not it might not help you find who you are.' READ MORE: Exactly how heat stroke destroys the body in as little as 15 minutes Summer is officially here. Temperatures are rising, school is out and people are ready to kick back and relax. But before heading to a barbecue or a trip to the beach, Dr Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency room doctor at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida, shared the five 'weird' things she tells her patients to steer clear of over the summer. From backyard potlucks to cleaning your grill a certain way, the doctor warned in a TikTok of broken bones, 'violent GI illnesses' and deadly bacteria lurking in waters. 'Admittedly, these are fairly strange things to be worried about, but almost all of these injuries and illnesses are fairly preventable,' Dr Martin told her 1.5million followers. Below, DailyMail.com reveals Dr Martin's summer 'no's. Dr Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency doctor at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida, shared in a TikTok video the five activities she tells patients to avoid Dr Martin's don'ts include getting together for a potluck, cleaning your grill with metal brushes, and jumping on a trampoline Steer clear of potlucks Neighborhood barbecues are a summertime staple, but Dr Martin suggests heeding caution. 'This is when everybody brings a side dish and it sits out for hours, but people are still picking at it,' she said. 'Maybe the burgers are a little bit undercooked, and the next day everyone has violent GI illnesses.' GOT A HEALTH-RELATED STORY? EMAIL: health@dailymail.com Advertisement According to the USDA, it's essential to keep hot foods above 140 degrees Fahrenheit and cold foods below 40 degrees as harmful bacteria can grow quickly between these temperatures. This is known as the 'danger zone.' The agency recommends ditching foods that have been sitting out for at least two hours, or one hour in temperatures over 90 degrees. Eating food that has been sitting out this long could lead to illnesses like E Coli and Salmonella, which both cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and a fever. These infections affect 1.3million Americans every year. Hop off the trampoline A childhood favorite, jumping into the air as if you're weightless. But no matter how fun it is, Dr Martin suggests switching to a different activity. She advises people to steer clear of trampolines due to the risk of fractures, which typically happens when the trampoline surface recoils just as someone is about to hit it. This causes a severe impact on the body. 'We see so many broken bones, especially legs, on trampolines,' the doctor said. And getting a net or an in-ground trampoline won't reduce the risk of the most common injuries because the accidents 'happen on the trampoline itself,' she added. The risk also increases when more people are on the trampoline due to people falling into each other or landing awkwardly. According to Radiopedia, trampoline fractures occur most often in children ages two to five and can require surgery. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported there were more than 300,000 injuries from trampolines in 2018 the latest data available. This includes more than 110,000 visits to the emergency room. And the American Academy of Pediatrics reported about four percent of all US pediatric fractures are caused by the devices. Swap out metal grill brushes Dr Martin detailed the case of a four-year-old boy at her hospital who swallowed a metal grill brush that was stuck in his burger Keeping the grill clean is essential for maintaining food flavor and warding off bacteria. However, not all grill brushes used to remove grime are created equal. 'Stop using those [metal] grill brushes. There are so many better options out there,' Dr Martin said. She noted the small pieces on the brush can break off during cleaning, leaving them lingering on the grill's surface. 'They get stuck on the grill and then you put a burger on there and you eat the burger,' she said. 'They get lodged in your tongue, your mouth, your throat, your GI tract.' This can cause life-threatening tears. In a separate video she posted last year, which has 41million views, Dr Martin detailed the case of a four-year-old boy who came to her emergency room after eating a burger at a barbecue. The boy was suffering from sudden ear pain and fevers and refused to eat or drink. After several days of tests, a CT scan of his neck revealed a piece of a metal grill brush lodged near his tonsils. Instead, Dr Martin recommended using scrubbing stones, wooden scrapers, wipes, and brushes with soft bristles. Get your bug spray ready Mosquitos can seem like an unavoidable nuisance, but it's crucial to protect against the pesky bugs. Dr Martin explained some mosquitos can carry serious illnesses like West Nile virus, which is spread from the bite of an infected insect. In rare cases, it can be transmitted person-to-person via a blood transfusion or organ transplant. West Nile virus can lead to fever, headache, muscle ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and pain behind the eyes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There have been 51,000 cases in the US since the virus first arrived in the country in 1999. The CDC recommends using a bug spray containing one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil or lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. However, DEET and IR3535 can cause eye or skin irritation in people with sensitive skin or allergies. Be wary of swimming in the lake If you plan to enjoy a cool dip in a lake, be sure to plug your nose, Dr Martin warned last. This is important to protect against the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, which is found in warm freshwater environments like rivers, lakes, and hot springs. The amoeba infects people when it enters the nose and travels to the brain through the olfactory nerve responsible for sense of smell. There, it causes severe inflammation and damage. Symptoms include splitting headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Death can come about five days after symptom onset. The damage to brain tissue, primarily to the frontal lobes and areas critical to motor skills, cognitive functions and speech ability, is so severe people who survive the infection have to relearn to talk and walk. 'It is found in fresh water, especially warm, fresh water in the south,' Dr Martin said. 'You avoid it by not getting fresh water in your nose.' 'Don't dive into freshwater lakes.' Less than 10 Americans contract this condition every year, though the fatality rate is over 97 percent, even with treatment. READ MORE: How glasses could be making your vision WORSE , doctors warn A doctor who started going blind in medical school has said her potentially career-ending condition has actually made her a better doctor by teaching her 'the importance of advocating for your own health.' Dr Tara Narula, a cardiologist in New York City, lost part of her vision in medical school Cardiologist Dr Tara Narula, from New York City, was sitting in a lecture hall during her second year of medical school in the early 2000s when she noticed colored lights blinking in the corners of her right eye. Her symptoms continued for several months until she went home for the holidays. She visited an eye doctor who found no issues other than a small hemorrhage in the back of her right eye - which is when blood vessels break in the eye, causing bleeding. However, when a neuro-ophthalmologist ordered a test that required Dr Narula, now in her 40s, to press a button every time she saw a flash of light, 'there were a whole series of flashing lights I had missed.' Soon after, she was diagnosed with inferior arcuate defect, which leads to blurriness and spots in direct vision and has caused her to permanently lose the vision in the bottom part of her right eye. 'Getting this news at the start of my medical career scared me, and I feared the absolute worst,' Dr Narula, an associate professor of cardiology at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York, she wrote for TODAY, where she is also a contributor. Her condition has stayed stable since she was originally diagnosed, and she now says her experience has made her a more empathetic doctor and better able to connect with and treat her patients. Doctors are unsure what caused Dr Narula's vision loss, though they have suggested that her eye became misshaped due to nearsightedness Doctors were unsure what caused the vision loss, though they pointed to multiple sclerosis (MS) as a possibility. But after a series of MRIs, doctors ruled that out. They also suggested it could have been from a small undetected stroke or from getting accidentally elbowed in the eye during a night out. 'Being told something was wrong was difficult enough, but the hardest part was not having a real diagnosis or answer for what had happened to me,' Dr Narula said. She added: 'In addition, not knowing if it might happen again or if my vision might continue to decline was one of the hardest things I've had to face. 'Its challenging to exist in that gray area, where there are some answers but a complete picture doesnt exist.' Though Dr Narula returned to medical school at the University of Southern California, she had a hard time focusing due to stress - that is until her mother gave her valuable advice. 'She said that if I spend too much time worrying about what could happen, I wouldn't enjoy the life that was happening,' the physician aid. The last specialist she saw now believes her severe case of nearsightedness - difficulty seeing objects far away - could have misshaped her eye, leading to her partial vision loss. Inferior arcuate defect is a form of glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that affects 3million Americans. While Dr Narula was initially frustrated with the unknown surrounding her condition, she said her experience has made her a better doctor. Dr Narula, a medical contributor at TODAY, said that her vision has stayed stable since she was diagnosed, though she undergoes regular scans 'Every time I go for my annual visual field test, I still worry. Every day, I realize in an instant I could once again be a patient,' Dr Narula said. 'Having been through my own journey always reminds me that behind every patients medical record number, image and chart is a human being who is scared and struggling to find their way to hope and a new normal.' As part of her empathetic approach, she noted that every time a patient needs a test or scan, she makes sure to responds as soon as possible so that patient can have answers quickly. 'I know how frustrating and frightening it is not to have a definitive diagnosis or know what will happen,' she said. 'Being a patient taught me the importance of advocating for your health.' Dr Narula recently shared her tips for patients navigating their own health journey. First, she recommends keeping an open mind and seeking out multiple opinions, especially for a condition that's difficult to diagnose. Similarly, she said it is important to find a doctor you are comfortable with - someone who will listen to concerns and make you feel 'heard.' She also suggested keeping a journal of symptoms and test results to bring to appointments. 'I also encourage patients to ask for copies of all their tests, including MRIs, CT scans, bloodwork, etc.,' she said. GOT A HEALTH-RELATED STORY? EMAIL: health@dailymail.com Advertisement 'That way, they have all the relevant information needed about their health and can share them with providers instead of waiting for a doctors office to send the results.' And for women, who are dismissed by doctors far more often than men, Dr Narula said they should 'learn to voice what they feel.' 'Women know their bodies and when something is wrong. I advise my female patients to trust their instincts when something feels off, and don't let others downplay it,' Dr Narula said. 'Advocating for health starts, in many cases, with believing in your own experience.' An important aspect of navigating a health challenge is finding a support system to help you 'grapple with the tough emotions of a difficult-to-diagnose condition.' She recommends asking a friend or family member to accompany you to doctors appointments. Dr Narula added: 'Its easy to feel overwhelmed in the health care system and wonder how you can possibly navigate a health challenge. 'But my mothers advice to me from medical school still rings true: "If you put one foot in front of the other and dont look too far ahead, youll realize months have passed. Take it one day at a time."' It's so often the subject of boasts... or cruel jokes: how long a man 'lasts' in bed. If it's all over to quickly, the other party can end up dissatisfied. But equally, going on for too long can become something of a chore. To try to end the debate on just what IS the normal amount of time, science has been hard at work coming up with some definitive answers. One recent study suggested men in the UK last for about seven minutes, on average, before ejaculating, while others suggest 10 minutes was the norm. But if sex is over sooner, or later, it isn't necessarily a cause for concern, says Dr Richard Viney, a consultant urological surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. One study suggested men in the UK last for about seven minutes before ejaculating, while others suggest most men take about 10 minutes on average Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'Terms like premature or delayed ejaculation are more of a social construct rather than a medical one.' Although he admits there are some instances where extremely premature ejaculation may need intervention medical textbooks suggest a persistent pattern of ejaculation before one minute of sexual activity, before a man wishes it in most cases it's just about 'perceived norms' and 'ideal duration'. Three studies, all published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, used different methodologies and sample populations, yet their results reveal what is considered 'normal' when it comes to the duration of sex. One 2023 study surveyed 1,660 men to find out how long it takes for men to ejaculate with the hope it will help diagnose those who have trouble reaching orgasm. The sample mostly included heterosexual men from Hungry and a significant proportion from the US and other English-speaking countries. The men, who were 39 years of age on average, were asked to estimate how long it took for them to ejaculate from start of stimulation to orgasm in partnered sex. It was rated on a nine point scale ranging from one minute to more than 25 minutes. Dr Viney admits there are some instances where premature ejaculation needs intervention but in most cases it's just about 'perceived norms' and 'ideal duration' Researchers found men who took longer than 10 minutes to ejaculate were more likely to report significant 'orgasmic difficulties'. Another 2020 study published in the same journal revealed how long men typically last, but this time from the perspectives of both men and women. The participants were recruited from social media sites including Facebook and Reddit using advertising, which resulted in 1,065 respondents, consisting of 571 men and 494 women. The main types of ejaculation problems Ejaculation problems are common sexual problems in men. This includes premature and delayed ejaculation. If you have a persistent problem with ejaculation, visit your GP, who will discuss the problem with you and may examine you or refer you to a specialist. Premature ejaculation This is where the male ejaculates sooner than he or his partner wishes. Occasional episodes are not a cause for concern but if it's reoccurring there are treatments. It can be caused by prostate problems, thyroid problems or recreational drugs. It can cause stress, depression and relationships problems. Delayed ejaculation This can be experienced as a significant delay before ejaculation or as being unable to ejaculate at all. It can also be caused by psychological and physical factors. Psychological factors include relationship problems, stress or depression. Physical causes include diabetes, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, surgery to the bladder or prostate and increasing age. Source: NHS Advertisement They were asked how long they believe most men last during penetrative sex, the duration they consider ideal, the time they think qualifies as premature ejaculation and how long they personally last during penetrative sex. There were no significant differences in between the lengths estimated by men and women. Most participants estimated men last about five minutes, but admitted the ideal duration would be double that at about 10 minutes. Men and women also agreed on a median threshold of about 1.5 minutes for what is classed as premature ejaculation. However, men who reported premature ejaculation issues did estimate typical and ideal durations compared to men who did not. The results showed no significant differences between straight, gay, and bisexual men and the results were also similar across age groups. But people who had more sexual partners estimated longer typical times. A study from 2005 also published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine involved asking 500 couples from a number of countries to time how long sex lasted using a stopwatch. Overall 4,000 sexual events were timed and couples had sex on average eight times over four weeks. From start of penetration it took on average it took men 5.4 minutes to ejaculate. But times from 0.55 seconds to 44.1 minutes were recorded. The study did reveal that men in the United Kingdom most often lasted 7.6 minutes in the sack. It also found that younger men aged 18 to 30 were slightly faster to finish, at 6.5 minutes, while men who were over 51 years were faster still, at 4.3 minutes. But Dr Viney said interpreting studies in this area can be 'problematic'. That's because attempting to observe sexual intercourse will likely adversely affect the result, he explains. 'Trying to interpret and apply these results to real life people and their experiences then becomes challenging,' Dr Viney said. While in most cases how long you last in bed is nothing to worry about, it could be an indicator of health. The NHS warns premature ejaculation could be a symptom of prostate problems, or a result of using recreational drugs. It can also cause stress and anxiety about your sexual performance. Dr Viney said interpreting studies in this area can be 'problematic'. That's because attempting to observe sexual intercourse will likely adversely affect the result (stock image) While delayed ejaculation can be caused by diabetes, some antidepressants like SSRI's and spinal cord injuries. Dr Viney said: 'Ultimately, if a man feels he has issues with any aspect of this very sensitive but hugely important part of their lives they should consult a doctor. 'It'll be unlikely that there is a serious underlying issue but there is a lot that can be done to address the symptoms and this work make the visit worthwhile.' But Dr Viney explains their is no 'one size fits all' definition for how long a man should last in bed, but it's important to pay attention to any sudden changes. He said: 'For some women, 30 minutes of sex might be the dream but for others this would be a nightmare, due to pain, so there really isn't a "one length of time fits all" definition for what duration is optimal. 'Premature ejaculation is not usually indicative of a significant underlying issue. 'The individual might feel it's a bit 'touch and go' but it's usually a learnt behavioural issue and there are things that can be done to improve matters. 'A fairly sudden change in ejaculatory behaviour would be worth investigating but generally, there would rarely be a significant underlying issue.' Delayed ejaculation also isn't always caused by a health condition and can have a number of causes, Dr Viney explains. 'Recent prior ejaculation can make an encore performance much harder and often difficult to achieve,' he said. He added: 'A lot of this is down to the different, competing parts of the autonomic nervous system which control erection and ejaculation. 'Ejaculation switches off the erection and firing that back up again can be a challenge after.' Dr Viney explains that some medications can also change how long it takes for a man to ejaculate. He said: 'Arousal is another significant component of the underlying ejaculatory process and anything that serves as a distraction can interfere with a man's ability to reach climax and ejaculate. 'Certain medications can interfere with reaching climax, one group of which are drugs like Viagra that men ironically take to improve their erections. 'Some drug groups don't interfere with climax but can lessen ejaculation such as tamsulosin, which men are prescribed to treat prostate symptoms.' I will tell it exactly how I remember it, though traumatic memories like this can deceive. What I know for sure was that it was early afternoon on 16 November 2019 and I was standing in the front passage of my family home in Shepherds Bush, the culturally and racially diverse kernel of West London where my twin brother and I were born and brought up. We were both readying ourselves before the big mirror, primping and preening. At 12:25 I sent a text to the friend we were meeting for lunch: Leaving now. At 12:31 I sent a second text, Currently dealing with some guy passed out on my front steps. Crack. My brother had discovered him there, lying spread-eagled outside our house. He was a hulking, unwieldy man, likely in his 30s, but aged prematurely by his bad habits. Dirty glass vials and drug paraphernalia littered the area around him. By now, my brother and I had become accustomed to the rougher edges of the Bush. Our mothers street, with its pretty terraced homes, acts as a thoroughfare from the high street to the residential side of the area an offshoot for drunks, addicts and criminals out to conduct their business in privacy. All too often their business is that of relieving themselves, usually in the front area of our house, the first on the street, as my mother rails at them from her top window. At 12:33 I called 999. The operator transferred me to the ambulance service, and a straight-talking woman who instructed me to carry out a series of tests on the man, to check his vital signs. It was then that the truth began to reveal itself: there was no indication that he was still alive. The operator informed us an ambulance was on its way, but in the interim we needed to transfer him from the steps to a flat surface. It bears reminding that this was a big man, over 6ft tall, and he wasnt going to be much help in assisting us. With the aid of a passerby, a man in his late 20s who looked too clean and frightened to be from the area, we elected to drag him carefully down the steps to the basement area of the house. Then the situation took another grim turn. As a student of philosophy, I had spent years grappling with questions of morality, and the nature of altruism. Those theoretical questions were brought into focus when the operator issued the following imperative: Now, one of you will have to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Under normal circumstances I enjoy kissing, and I believe that most people would, on balance, kiss a stranger to save their life. Theres a romance to it, the kiss of life; the fact that human beings can restore life through an act of love. This scene, however, was no Richard Curtis depiction. The guys eyes had rolled to the back of his head, his face was bloated and mottled. As I got closer, I could see that he was bleeding from the mouth. The three of us conveyed to the operator our hesitation at pressing our lips against his. It was then that she said something Ill never forget Its life or death: you decide. Although UK law doesnt legally compel a bystander to administer mouth- to-mouth resuscitation, the nature of a life-or-death scenario effectively eliminates any sense of choice particularly when the operator delivers her words with such critical emphasis. A few onlookers had now gathered on the street above, craning their necks over my mothers railings. I was writing for a well-known British soap opera at the time but even we would baulk at such trite plot contrivances. The moment called for a hero. I was determined that it not be me. The row that ensued between me and my brother was not unlike the countless ones wed had over whose turn it was to unload the dishwasher. And I knew he would bully me into it, like he always did. By now the once helpful passerby had calcified in fear and was no longer producing words. I realised it was going to be me. Id like to say my thoughts were with the man who lay before me, the life he had lived and his family, but the truth is I was thinking hard about myself, whether I could face the guilt of not doing it. What does it mean to let a man die, if you had the chance to save him? Does karma exist? Would other people judge me? Another prevailing emotion was that of intense indignation. While severe drug abuse has always been a problem in my area, it had escalated in recent years. This incident followed a string of burglaries impacting my family, and an increase in other crime- and drug-related activity in the neighbourhood. And now this, a man so drug-addled and brazen he sees your home as a convenient location for a pitstop, a man who casually lets himself through your gate and takes a seat, smokes some nice crack, then overdoses. He had taken the complete p***. All the same, ultimately the dread of potential guilt prevailed. Neither my brother nor I had received formal CPR training, so the operator talked us through it. What ensued was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have ever had and hopefully will never have again. I will spare you the details but it lasted around 17 minutes, my brother pumping his chest, and I spitting out his blood; and everyone was watching, including my mum. I eventually heard sirens, the medical crew arrived and took over [pictured above]. I then found myself being assessed in the back of an ambulance. In the frantic commotion I remember my mother hurrying out of the house clutching empty shopping bags, ashen-faced, fleeing to the safety of Waitrose. Someone must have convinced her to reconsider, as she accompanied me to the hospital instead, where I spent the remainder of the afternoon undergoing blood tests. At 14:37 I texted my friend to tell them I wasnt going to make it to lunch. Later that day my neighbour came over to relay that, according to a paramedic he had stayed in contact with, the guy had survived. But any sense of self-gratification was eclipsed by having to wait for my blood-test results for days, during which I had convinced myself I was going to die from some terrible blood-related illness. Infuriatingly, the hospital also refused to disclose the other guys results due to confidentiality laws. Despite my philosophy training, I wasnt able to convince them why, on this occasion, it was ethically justified for me to have access to that information. Three days later I got the all-clear. I can now say that I saved someones life. But there is something profoundly wretched about what happened, and a symptom of societal sickness that NHS workers are acutely aware of. Like the beachgoers whove gone for a dip only to find themselves breast-stroking through excrement, we are now frequently reminded, often to our horror and revulsion, of the alarming extent of this countrys decline. I dont know if the guy would have been so lucky if the incident happened today as of February 2024, the ambulance response time for a category 2 call (which includes suspected heart attacks) was on average 40 minutes and 6 seconds, which is well beyond the official target of 18 minutes. Given this, bystander CPR is even more critical now. Should you suffer a heart attack, youd better hope there are some well-meaning people around. Getty Images, Mirrorpix, Alamy, Sachin Kureishi My favourite drink as a child was blackcurrant and apple Ribena: cold, never hot. We moved quite often because my father and mother [Colonel John Archibald Campbell and Elizabeth Pearth] loved doing up empty houses around Belgravia after the Second World War but wherever we were I would always have a glass of Ribena before bed. We used to drink a disgusting orange juice that came from the government in a brown bottle with a screw top, and you had to go and sit in a queue to get it. I suppose it was full of vitamin C and some colouring because no orange has ever tasted like that. Unfortunately, I had my first taste of alcohol when I was 13. A neighbour hosted a cocktail party at our house on Chapel Street and somebodys idea of a joke was to put gin in my grapefruit juice. I ended up in bed with a doctor looking after me. I havent drunk gin since I wouldnt even consider it. Luckily, I discovered vodka aged 18, so I havent been left spirit-free. My mother was Austrian, and they have a different approach to alcohol, so we were introduced to a little wine with water at dinner from the age of 15. Drinking at home means you never want it that much, so you dont go out and get drunk. My first drink of the day is black coffee, another Austrian habit. I hate milk, it doesnt agree with me, and I was told it made me very fat as a child. I have a wine cellar, with about 40 bottles. Then I keep two cases of Saint-Veran white wine, champagne and rose in a wine fridge, so Ive got that on hand. Berry Bros red is my go-to wine, and I have some better ones for dinner parties. Nina used to hang out at Annabels bellinis would be the toast at her funeral I buy my wine from a man called David Campbell, who has a company called Vineyards Direct. He writes to us and says, We have six cases of Chateau god-knows-who. I dont think hes related, but hes a kinsman, as the Scots would say. If I go out for dinner, I try not to look at the price of a bottle of wine. I told my grandchildren to do this, too, which is backfiring somewhat. Lucio on Fulham Road has a lovely wine list, and they always find me something thats delicious and not 300. I had champagne on my first date with my first husband, Andrew Konig, because it was the night of Edward Heaths election in 1970 and we were quite joyful. My first business partner was Mark Birley, who owned the London club Annabels. He always told me that if you go to a decent restaurant, the house wine should be something you would drink yourself and enjoy, because, after all, youre putting your name on it. So the idea that the house wine is some revolting bottle of cats p**s for 5 is completely wrong. Bellinis would be the toast at Nina's funeral I remember sitting at a table at Annabels back in the 1960s and The Supremes were suddenly, magically there. It turned out that Marks brother-in-law, Alistair Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 9th Marquess of Londonderry, was passionate about music and he knew them. Hed found them on their previous trip to England in some club in Liverpool when they were virtually unknown, thought they were amazing, and had invited them to his house for lunch. He was the one person in England who could ring them up and say, Hi!. If I could share a glass with anyone dead or alive it would be Dame Edna Everage. I was lucky enough to know her quite well. Id have to drink because she didnt. She was fabulous as Dame Edna, but she was even more fabulous as Barry Humphries. He was the most extraordinary man, highly intelligent and interested in everything. He couldnt help but be funny. I dont think Ive ever been given good advice over a drink. I suppose if the drink was good enough, you wouldnt remember. Id like to be toasted with a bellini at my funeral, made with fresh peach juice, not some horrible stuff in a bottle. Its cheerful, delicious and summery, and it means that a rather good barman has made it. Back in 1924, French icon Suzanne Lenglen, whose billowing pleated skirts inspired the design of the concertina roof at Roland Garros in Paris, demolished Sylvia Lumley-Ellis 6-0, 6-0 before 2,500 mild-mannered onlookers in bonnets and dress shirts (poor Lenglen later bowed out with jaundice). And who can forget the warm Monday afternoon in 1981 when a 22-year-old John McEnroe, already nicknamed Super Brat by British tabloids, kicked, threw and broke his racket in rage during the second set against American compatriot Tom Gullikson? McEnroe loses his cool in his opening match in the Wimbledon sunshine, 22 June 1981 You cannot be serious! hed bellowed at the umpire after landing a perfect ace in the first set, only for the line judge to call it out. That ball was on the line! After being warned about his behaviour he was twice penalised a point, and was later fined, but went on to win the first of three Wimbledon singles titles. Time spares no one: a shiny new Court Number One replaced that art deco cauldron in 1997, its first match seeing Tim Henman play Canadas Daniel Nestor. Super Brat mellowed, too, and will again be charming millions this year for the BBC from the media centre that sits atop the old Court Number One. 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.' Concern: DS Smith boss Miles Roberts As I am sure is the case for many readers in recent days, I have read the main parties' manifestos with interest to see how their pledges are likely to shape the next five years. I have done this on a personal level, but also as CEO of DS Smith, a FTSE 100 company with a proud UK heritage. Of particular interest to me are plans for an industrial strategy and how this can generate much needed economic growth. The success of big manufacturers like DS Smith is predicated on investing sustainably, for the long term. When we decide what to spend on new facilities or technologies, we look 20-30 years ahead, so we need to know we can rely on policies that not only create the right conditions to invest, but are suitably far-sighted. And it's not just us. All British businesses are crying out for a long-term national industrial strategy that will support higher levels of investment and growth. Due to the unparalleled challenges of the net zero transition, that strategy must be underpinned by an ambitious industrial decarbonisation plan. Many of our competitors overseas have been implementing their plans for years, and that means the UK is behind the curve. In this Parliament, whilst it was positive to see developments like the Energy Bill Relief Scheme in response to the magnitude of the energy challenge caused by the war in Ukraine, this was a short-term response. UK energy costs for manufacturing have been and remain substantially higher than those in continental Europe. This, plus the lack of a long-term industrial plan and uncertainties about the regulatory environment and divergence with Europe, have continued to put off firms from investing in the UK. As we work our way through the macroeconomic effects of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, this has stymied much needed growth. But why focus on manufacturing, in particular? The UK is often described as a 'services economy' and the merits of fintech are much vaunted, but the UK manufacturing sector accounts for about half of our exports, two-thirds of R&D spending and employs around 2.6 million highly skilled people across the country. Everything you touch or consume, at home or at work, has its origins in manufacturing. It is therefore crucial that any new approach recognizes the fundamental importance of manufacturing for the British economy. Certainly, advanced manufacturing in the past decade has received a lot of focus from government. However, the next administration must acknowledge the benefit that manufacturing brings as a whole. What's more, I firmly believe that a new strategy must unashamedly set out to achieve a green reindustrialisation of Britain. The combined challenges of the net zero transition, historic low growth, and increasing global competition, leave governments with a clear need to partner with businesses to find solutions that will work. Whomever is in power by the end of next week, the idea for an industrial strategy partnership or council, to provide expert advice to government on a statutory footing, is without question a good one. As a major employer and cog in the supply chain and producer of fibre-based packaging, our roots are in the UK, and we are passionate believers in sustainability. But as it stands, the lack of clarity on energy sources is deeply problematic. We need to know where will the government place its bets what will the new UK energy sources be? For example, will it be nuclear, hydrogen, or biofuels? And where will this be generated, on what timescale, and with what connections and pipelines? That is what we need to make investment decisions. None of this happens alone. Success will come from a strategy that is implemented between government and a range of industry players. If the next government, in whatever guise, can give us clarity on where and with whom these partnerships will be, then investment across a range of relevant parties will follow, I am sure. Without a forward-looking green industrial strategy in line with the landmark packages announced by US and EU lawmakers in recent years, along with long-term certainty about the direction of regulation and alignment with our European partners, the UK risks being left behind rapidly, particularly on green technology and energy security. With guidance, companies can meaningfully assess what investment in the UK could look like. For our part, DS Smith has already invested record amounts into lower-carbon facilities in Italy and Poland, and into greener technologies in Germany, France and Spain, because we have ambitious decarbonisation targets and the industrial and energy policy frameworks in those countries are made clear. But right now, the UK cannot map out its route to Net Zero, nor underscore why it is an attractive place to invest. Pace and agility are important. I am certain I am not alone in looking forward to finally seeing concrete proposals, and whilst we do not have the spending power of either the US or EU, we do have numerous strengths we can and should play up to. The sooner the winning party on Thursday embraces this, the better it will be for the UK. A village cafe owner has blasted the behaviour of mystery moaners whose actions could cost her as 50,000. Maisie Davies, owner of Cafe Oi/Oi Dumplings in Marsden, West Yorkshire, said her business could be prevented from opening new premises because of an 'absolutely devastating reason'. Fellow owner of the Asian fusion restaurant, Mollie Power, said that they were looking to create a coffee shop that turns into an evening dinner spot after moving to a new site. But their plans were unexpectedly thwarted by a group of unidentified individuals - who started a separate petition against them getting a drinks licence for remains that are unclear. In an attempt to boost their business, the pair launched a Change.org petition, which has gone to be signed by nearly 2,000 people. A village cafe owner has blasted the behaviour of mystery 'individuals' whose actions could cost her as much as 50,000 Maisie Davies, owner of Cafe Oi/Oi Dumplings in Marsden, West Yorkshire, said her business could be prevented from opening new premises because of an 'absolutely devastating reason' In a statement on June 13, the pair wrote: 'For us to have the best chance at winning this thing, it's essential for you to be present on the day to share your thoughts during the hearing. 'If you can spare the time, your presence would be greatly valued Let's ensure our voices are heard loud and clear.' Maisie and Mollie's plea came due to the requirement of the business to have an alcohol licence as they said they needed to be able to sell alcohol so that their business can stay afloat. 'If we cannot serve alcohol at our place, then there is a strong likelihood that everything we have invested into our business will be for nothing and that Oi will cease to exist,' the pair said, according to Yorkshire Live. However, they said that a small group of unidentified individuals had been urging others to sign a separate petition that would not allow the cafe to serve alcohol. Addressing the issue, the local business responded: 'We are absolutely devastated that the wills and wishes of a small group of pernicious individuals stands to threaten everything that we have worked so hard to create. 'So far, we have invested our life savings into 9 Peel Street. The current renovation cost is already over 50,000. Money we want to invest into a village that we love.' As well as launching a petition for an alcohol licence, Maisie and Mollie encouraged supporters to send letters to Kirklees Council's licensing committee - which is due to meet on July 3 to discuss the licence. Leaving messages of support, those who had signed the petition were unified by their hope that the business would be awarded an alcohol licence. Local resident Vicky Cullen wrote: 'I live in Marsden and think Oi have been a wonderful addition to the community. All small businesses are struggling and the council should be doing everything in their power to support them. In an attempt to save their business, the pair launched a Change.org petition, which has gone to be signed by nearly 2,000 people 'I would definitely frequent it more if I could have a glass of wine with my meal. It would be discriminatory, in my view, to not permit this licence if there are other businesses within a few metres selling alcohol and food. 'We want a thriving village centre where we can activley support diverse small businesses please.' Another comment, from Tracy Thornton, read: 'I love Oi Dumplings and want to see them do well in the village. Everybody likes a glass of wine or beer with their meal. There are several other licensed establishments in the village- why is this different?' Jacqueline Clarke added: 'Id like to make a choice and my choice to is have a beer or a glass of wine with my food. Very sad a few people are hell bent on not supporting a new business and in turn more revenue for other businesses too and more visitors to the village.' A pair of American YouTubers have been lauded online after giving their verdict on a classic British lunch-time staple. Food reviewing phenomenon Kalani Ghost Hunter invited his friends, Steve and Dylan, to try a snack that is loved by millions of Brits but often criticised and ridiculed by Americans. A simple staple for many home cooks who want a quick meal, the dish has also consistently been used as a target when it comes to pointing out an apparent lack of flavour or complexity in British cuisine. After preparing the dish for his friends, Kalani said they could either eat simply by picking up the snack by hand or by using a knife and fork. Opting for the former, they dived straight in, causing some of the cheesy beans to spill off the toast - but were immensely satisfied by the results. A pair of American YouTubers gave a surprising verdict after trying cheesy beans on toast for the first time while comparing it to a snack that is more renowned for consumption across the United States Praising it for its depth of flavour, they marked that it had a similar taste to 'mac and cheese on toast'. They added: 'The beans are not sweet beans [like people might expect in the US] like barbecue-flavoured beans. They have more of a tomato flavour and taste very good'. They also went to compare the snack to 'grilled cheese dipped in tomato soup', also noting that they felt British cheese to be 'better', noting that Cathedral Cheddar was, in their words, 'life-changing'. Giving their verdict on the snack overall, they rated it a strong nine out of ten, clearly demonstrating their satisfaction with the meal. Responding to their verdict in the comments, other users were quick to hail Kalani for his efforts in attempting to boost the reputation of British foods. One user joked: 'This man's done more for British international relations than any foreign secretary ever has'. A second quipped: 'Bro [sic] accidentally became the food ambassador of the UK'. Another praised Kalani for making the snack as British as possible when it came to his preparation, posting: 'First American I have seen on this app make beans on toast the way us Brits make it.' Food reviewing phenomenon Kalani Ghost Hunter invited his friends, Steve and Dylan, to try a food that is loved by millions of Brits but often criticised and ridiculed by Americans Critiquing Kalani's method, a fourth remarked: 'Try not to boil your beans as it affects the taste. And very crispy bread is even better, with a thin layer of marmite on the toast plus cheese'. This advice was echoed by the brand in advice released to consumers in October 2023, as it gave the seemingly ideal method for how to cook baked beans. Heinz said: 'Never boil your Heinz beans. This can cause the sauce to split, potentially ruining the colour and flavour.' Two slices of white farmhouse loaf bread should be toasted, placed on a plate and have unsalted butter spread evenly up to the crust. The beans - heated to 64C for the ideal instant eating temperature - are then poured over the toast. The recipe released on social media soon blew the mind of many beans on toast fans with the choice of butter, in particular, causing controversy among the hundreds of comments. Heinz declared online: 'There are two types of people in the world - those who add butter to their beans on toast and those who don't.' Dawnie Claypole responded 'Oh, I'm a heathen. I love salted butter', while another viewer branded unsalted butter 'a crime'. Maria Brown said: 'Unsalted butter literally tastes of nothing. Salted all the way.' A man is lucky to be alive after stepping on a gumnut and developing an infection so serious that he ended up having a leg amputated. Andrew Trigg, 40, stepped on the gumnut at his home in New Lambton Heights, Newcastle, in the NSW Hunter Region, on May 12. A seed became lodged under the skin of his right foot and festered over the following month, becoming so bad that he was unable to move or eat. Mr Trigg was eventually taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with sepsis. Surgeons first amputated his toes but later realised the infection had spread, forcing them to remove the lower half of his leg. The 40-year-old was shocked at how a seemingly innocuous moment could lead to a life-threatening illness - but is determined to overcome the setback. 'This isn't going to define me. It will change me, but not define me,' he said. Mr Trigg said he did not think anything of the wound immediately after he stepped on the gumnut. Andrew Trigg, 40, (pictured) stepped on a gumnut in May, with a seed becoming lodged under the skin on his right foot. It became infected, leading to a lower leg amputation Mr Trigg took antibiotics only weeks after he stood on the gumnut because the infection appeared to spread and started to smell (seen: his right foot before he was taken to hospital) The seed had created an ulcer and after he and his wife Kylie cleaned and dressed it every day, his foot seemed fine. But a month later Mr Trigg had a fall at home, with his wound taking the brunt of the force. Within a couple of days he had a fairly 'sizeable bruise' and there was an odour coming from his foot. 'That's when I knew I needed antibiotics,' he told Daily Mail Australia. After obtaining a script from a doctor online because he 'couldn't move', he started the five-day course - but noticed the inflammation had started spreading up his leg. Mr Trigg said he was feeling unwell and could only hold down a slice of toast, some grapes and 'litres' of water over the next week. His wife insisted she drive him to John Hunter Hospital after his pain became worse. After some initial tests, a nurse broke the news to him that he was a diabetic - a condition Mr Trigg had no idea he had been living with. The nurse explained diabetes could make infections even more problematic. Mr Trigg said his wife Kylie (pictured with their dogs) saved his life by making him go to the hospital The 40-year-old said he felt overwhelmed by the support from family and friends After a day of taking blood samples and being observed by doctors, Mr Trigg was told by specialists he would need his big toe removed because he had sepsis. Sepsis is the life-threatening response a person's body has to an infection, and starts attacking tissue and organs. 'They told me the hope was in removing [the big toe] they would use the skin left over to wrap - and hopefully keep - the rest of the foot,' Mr Trigg said. But later that night specialists delivered a shocking blow to Mr Trigg, informing him there had been no 'good tissue in the area' and they would need to 'take a couple more toes', after concluding his foot didn't 'look good'. Despite the life-changing operations, Mr Trigg hadn't lost his sense of humour, saying: 'They took the two toes at the end, leaving the ones in the middle. It was like I was wearing a pointy-toed heel.' Shortly after the operation, the doctors again delivered some tough news to Mr Trigg and his wife. Mr Trigg (pictured with wife Kylie) said he wants people to make sure they go to the doctor if something doesn't feel right. He said men have a tendency to dismiss things and urged all Aussies to not delay seeking medical attention 'They said even though the amputation of my toes was a success, the infection had spread across my foot and there was no good tissue,' he said. 'The doctors said my options were to keep chopping the foot back bit by bit but the infection could keep spreading. Or I could leave it and die. 'The final option was to get an amputation of my lower-leg under my knee and give myself the best chance. 'I haven't had trouble dealing with the amputation because the only other option is death.' Despite Mr Trigg's ordeal, which also involved an additional surgery two days later to shape his limb, he wants to get the message out to people, especially men, not to delay treatment. 'Don't be too proud to get help. As soon as you see something different - a mark, a cut, a lump - go straight away to a doctor,' he said. Mr Trigg had only turned 40 recently and has set the goal to push himself so he can see his wife perform in a musical in late July (pictured with wife Kylie at his 40th) Everything you need to know about sepsis Sepsis is when your body has an extreme response to an infection Sepsis is life-threatening Call 000 or go to a hospital emergency department immediately if you or someone you are looking after has any of the following serious symptoms: * feeling very sick (the worst you have ever felt) or getting very sick, very quickly * difficulty breathing or breathing very quickly (in children or babies you may notice grunting noises or their lower chest getting sucked in as they breath) * not needing to urinate (wee) all day or less wet nappies (less wee) than usual in young children or babies * a new concerning rash or rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it * confusion * blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin * feeling like your child is very sick. You know your child best. Trust your instincts if you think something is wrong. Even if you have already seen a doctor, if you or your child is still sick and not getting better, go back to your doctor or hospital emergency department, or call Triple Zero Never be afraid to ask 'could it be sepsis?' Source: NSW Health Advertisement 'Don't tell yourself, "It will clear itself up, it'll be OK." You can't risk it. 'The doctors told me if I'd waited a couple more days I could have been dead or at least in ICU fighting for my life.' The salary packaging consultant, whose doctors have said is 'still not out of the woods' and has 'a long way to go', has now exhausted the last of his leave and has no pay coming in. His wife of 14-years, who is a casual aged care worker, has no leave entitlements. She is now doing half days so she can be with her husband daily. 'I'll be in hospital for at least a few months for rehab. The doctors told me being able to hop, swivel and pivot is months down the track, as is a prosthesis,' he said. Mr Trigg said he would be in a wheelchair for months and the couple's rented home would need some modifications. A GoFundMe has been set up by their good friend Kerrie Stephens to help with the couple's ongoing expenses such as rent, specialist medical bills, modifications to their car and suitable accommodation. Netflix fans have blasted a 'disgusting' new documentary series which they have labelled as being 'too disturbing' to even finish watching. After it dropped on the streaming platform in the US last week, viewers were quick to share how impacted they were by the show. Taking to social media, one user simply wrote: 'It's disgusting'. A second added: 'Just watched on Netflix and my jaw was dropped the whole time'. Netflix fans have blasted a 'disgusting' new documentary series which they have labelled as being 'too disturbing' to even finish watching After it dropped on the streaming platform in the US last week, viewers were quick to share how impacted they were by the show Another user wrote: 'It was such a shocking documentary and honestly I'm still not 100% sure what I believe'. Meanwhile, a fellow viewer commented: 'Too disturbing for me to continue watch it.' They were referring to Tell Them You Love Me, which tells the tale of a white and married university professor, Anna, who meets Derrick, a black, non-verbal, and disabled younger brother of one of her students, John Johnson. Anna's meeting with Derrick comes after she had been approached by John about his brother's disability, cerebral palsy. This resulted in Anna and Derrick, 28, meeting in person for the first time, while the former assisted the latter with his communication. After teaching him how to use a keyboard fitted with an LED screen to type, Derrick begins taking university classes. Although Anna subsequently claimed that she was married to someone else, the pair fall in love and begin an allegedly consensual, sexual relationship. However, as the show progresses, it is revealed through the plot that Anna was convicted of sexually assaulting the man she claimed to have loved, after his mother became aware of their relationship. Derrick's mother accused Anna of taking advantage of her son, who had been declared by the state to have the mental capacity of a toddler. A subsequent ruling sees Anna found guilty of two counts of first degree aggravated sexual assault and results in her being sentenced to 12 years in prison. Two years later, her appeal was granted and conviction revoked on grounds of a technicality. The show then explores why the testimony related to Anna giving Derrick help via computer-led communication was dismissed, while attempting to determine why she accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge. Tell Them You Love Me is available to stream on Netflix now This video is no longer available This video is no longer available It was the birth of a new age. As industry had revolutionised the reach of progress, the scientists of the early 20th century would take centre stage in defining the limits of human understanding towards the vague promise of utopia. Backed by enormous funding and intrigue, their strides into the unknown could show humanity at its best. But without the constraints of modern ethics, they could just as well reflect our very worst. The Soviet Union, blinkered to a vision of an imagined future shaped by secular science and political ideology, suppressed reports of some of its most grisly experiments. But some of the boasts of more wacky 'advances' in new fields survived the purges, and continue to draw interest to this day. Among them, we can still hear the calm reflections of one Soviet scientist in a video released in the 1940s as he describes some of his most adventurous pioneering work into artificial organ replacement: the severing of the head of a dog, followed by its apparent reanimation as researchers watch on in awe. Lifeless, the dog's head is shown before the reanimation - wired into strange machinery It's alive! The film appears to show a dog's head reanimated with groundbreaking technology The dog's head appeared to respond to citric acid and other stimuli A researcher tickles the dog's nose with a feather, causing it to roll around and close its eyes The dog appears to turn its head and react to the banging of a hammer off screen A cartoon shows how the machinery pumps blood around the dog's head to fill in for organs Brukhonenko later went on to attempt similar experiments reanimating human cadavers Sergei Brukhonenko was a pioneer of Stalinist scientific discovery, notable for his development of early heart and lung machines -- pumps allowing blood and oxygen to keep circulating during surgery. In 1928, he presented his 'autojector' - a two part machine capable of working in lieu of human organs. Six years later, he briefly managed to revive a man who had committed suicide just three hours earlier. The dead man's body slowly warmed and his eyelids fluttered but the reanimation lasted just two minutes as the experimenters turned off the pumps. What is artificial circulation? Sergei Brukhonenko's 'Device for Artificial Circulation' meant that blood could still pump around the body, or head, while the heart was removed. It consisted of two parts - an oxgenator to saturate the blood with oxygen and removed excess carbon dioxide and a pump. The pump drew used blood from the hear and deposited it in a glass chamber. It was warmed, oxygenated and then pumped back into the animal. Using the system of tubes and pumps the head is sustained with oxygen and blood. The head is subject to stimuli to prove it is in control of its faculties while on the machine. The pump was not hermetically sealed and eventually the blood would coagulate. However, Brukhonenko was able to keep a dog's head alive for one hundred minutes. The device was never used in a clinical open heart surgery and a newer version created in the mid-1950s by John Gibbon overshadowed the work of Brukhonenko. Modern devices are based on the same principles but are now much more complex and also control the chemical composition and temperature of the blood flowing into the body. Advertisement The scientists were 'unbearably horrified' by what they had done, reports Salon, and after that Brukhonenko experimented with animals instead. In later life, he would be commended as one of the leaders of the Research Institute of Experimental Surgery, carrying out the first Soviet open-heart surgery in 1957. And after a lifetime of achievements, he would be posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize for his advances in artificial blood circulation. But Brukhonenko shaped his understanding of artificial life support through a series of well-documented experiments on dogs. While shocking for their content, the research dazzled his international peers. After a viewing in London in 1942, a 1940 film of his experiments was shown to scientific audiences in the US in 1943. A contemporary article in TIME magazine describes the scene: 'A thousand U.S. scientists in Manhattan last week saw dead animals brought back to life...' The premise was shocking. It had barely been a decade since James Whale reanimated Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' for the silver screen - and audiences were still captivated by daring flirtations with controlling mortality. The film begins with a brief preamble from British scientist J. B. S. Haldane - a founder of neo-Darwinism, credited with the 'primordial soup' theory of evolution - who claims to have witnessed the experiments in Russia first hand in a vote of authenticity. A short animation explains how the 'autojector' will working, filling in for the heart and lungs of a deceased animal, before a researcher gives a demonstration. In the view of Gavan Tredoux, Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute: 'The device looks exactly as one would expect an apparatus in the laboratory of a deranged scientist to look.' A dog's head is seen on a table, detached from the body. The action starts in medias res, the scientists applying citric acid to the already reanimated animal, which appears to contort and react to the stimulus. The dog licks its nose and blinks several times as the acid is swabbed around the mouth, appearing uncomfortable with the sensation. The scientists then show the dog can still hear, taking a hammer and banging it on the table next to the dog and further away. Again, the dog's ears twitch and the head appears to turn to identify the source of the noise. Sergei Brukhonenko is remembered for his pioneering work in heart and lung machines. At the height of scientific interest, he also recorded some unsettling experiments on animals Irritated by a swab of citric acid, the dog starts to lick its nose The dog turns its head and appears to try to bark as a hammer is banged next to its ear A mock up shows how the artificial organs imitate breathing and heart functions Brukhonenko's machines helped drive advances in the field of artificial blood circulation An audience of 1,000 American scientists were stunned by the experimental research The film moves on from 'the revival of separate organs' to the revival of 'a whole organism', showing a dog lying on a table, at first apparently unresponsive. An 'autojector' then whirrs into life, pumping liquids through elaborate glass pipes and containers. A heartbeat monitor shows the beginnings of life as the machine continues to turn over, getting stronger and stronger until, at last -- movement. The dog moves its head as its vital signs burst into life. Breathing makes gradual progress. Scientists poke at the dog's eyes, which now start to respond and blink instinctively. 'A few days later', the dog is seen walking and interacting with a scientist without prompt. It pants, wags its tail, and eats treats. The dog appears to be well, alive and healthy. 'After ten to twelve days, the dog returns to its normal state... After the experiment, the dogs can live for years, they grow, they put on weight, and have families.' The scientific community was astonished by Brukhonenko's work. TIME assessed that audiences felt 'this work might move many supposed biological impossibilities into the realm of the possible'. Offering a glimpse into the mindset of Soviet-era scientific fascination, the magazine reported that schoolchildren in the USSR were 'constantly confronted' with posters heralding science as the answer to all worldly problems. 'Red science is a vast, centrally directed enterprise... no scientific frontier is neglected. 'Red scientists are well paid, get special vacation privileges, are rewarded with prizes up to 200,000 rubles for outstanding work, rank with writers in prestige.' The CIA gives the average annual salary of a worker in the USSR as 4,940 rubles in 1943. Acknowledging the presentation, Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw reflected: 'I am even tempted to have my own head cut off so that I can continue to dictate plays and books without being bothered by illness, without having to dress and undress, without having to eat, without having anything else to do other than to produce masterpieces of dramatic art and literature.' In another segment, the scientists appear to revive a 'whole' dog The dog is later seen walking around and interacting with people Experiments in the Revival of Organisms came out in 1940, nine years after the release of 'Frankenstein', a reimagining of Mary Shelley's classic about the reanimation of a corpse Frankenstein's monster was chased and hunted by a fearful mob after throwing a girl in a lake The experiments appeared to inspire the music video to Metallica's 'All Nightmare Long', depicting Russian scientists reanimating a dead cat named Lazarus The biblical story of Lazarus tells of a man brought back to life by Jesus. Fears of death and interest in reanimation has endured millennia. Metallica's video parodies the efforts of Soviet scientists breaching the 'frontier of cooperation' in the 'new world' While interesting, the research and its presentation did attract some controversy. In a 1945 appraisal, the Canadian Medical Association Journal judged the film 'well photographed and well arranged' but 'inappropriate for the general public'. The authenticity of the video itself was also scrutinised by viewers in the years that followed. Historian Charles Pappas suggested that the goal of the film was to 'impress, rather than inform' and may, as such, have been a re-creation (but not a fake). Tredoux, writing in 'Comrade Haldane Is Too Busy to Go on Holiday: The Genius Who Spied for Stalin' poked at the TIME article as reading 'like a press release from the Soviet press agency' in its praise of 'red science'. He noted Brukhonenko had made 'rather more modest claims' in his 1928 research, not citing reanimation, but 'fell victim to the relentless escalation of Soviet expectations'. In 1937, Nature appeared to lend credibility to the experiment, citing a report some ten years prior on Brukhonenko's work leading up to the film. 'He removed the head of a dog and attached to it an apparatus which he called the autojector for artificial circulation of the blood, with the result that the severed head was kept alive for six months, reacting to all stimuli. 'Some years later, Dr Brukhonenko succeeded in resuscitating a whole animal.' Research continued in a similar vein for some time. Throughout the 1950s, 'transplantologist' Vladimir Demikhov recorded 23 surgeries on dogs before LIFE Magazine picked up the story of a two-headed Russian dog apparently showing normal functioning. Brodyaga, a German Shepherd, successfully hosted the head of Shavka, a smaller dog, with both heads able to see, smell and swallow. Shavka's head was not attached to Brodyaga's stomach, and anything she drank spilled out onto the floor. Again, Demikhov's success with experimental coronary artery surgery and organ transplantations built his legacy as a pioneer of modern medicine. But beyond this, his experiments into the colourful and the strange reflect a very different scientific milieu to ours in the early 21st century. The outstanding reach of early 20th century science pushed limits - inevitably showing us at our best, and our worst. It was in this environment we first entertained the possibility of interplanetary exploration, conquered nature through applications of medicine - and started mass-producing cans of beer. But the period also saw scientists conduct horrifying experiments in the name of 'progress' - eugenic science and sterilisations on an industrial scale, the deliberate testing of disease on the infirm and unconsenting, and the development of bombs that could raze cities. Vladimir Demikhov (pictured) contributed a great deal to research into organ transplants. His more experimental work with animals reflects a scientific world almost unrecognisable today LIFE Magazine shared photos from an experiment, which the researchers said was not event their most successful. Inspired, scientists would later attempt head transplants in monkeys The operation on Brodyaga and Shavka underway in a Moscow laboratory in September 1958 In an extraordinarily niche paper on the trope of isolated heads in early Soviet science and fiction, Russian historian Nikolai Krementsov assessed that the fascination stemmed from 'anxieties about death, revival, and survival' in post-Revolutionary Russia. Krementsov judged that the interest had developed from 19th century scientific research, but was recast by the revolution-inspired belief 'that anything was now possible, and "newly born" Soviet citizens could now control their own destiny'. Brukhonenko's work not only captured the attention of the public and his peers, but was rewarded with great sums from state sponsors until his research stagnated operating on human cadavers. His ten-minute film, and the interest it generated, therefore not only provides a window into his narrow field of work - but a deeper insight into the feeling of the time: that life and death were themselves controllable through the unfettered searchings of science. The start of the 20th century saw the buds of industrial and enlightenment progress blossom into grandiose new superstructures - ideologies and fields of research capable of creating and destroying life with cold, scientific reliability. More than hopes of space-travel, better health or tinned beer, it is this obsession with morality that best reflects our base nature - and brings interest back to a small laboratory in Moscow 85 years on. A Tesco customer has revealed a clever Clubcard hack that helps subscribers of the discount scheme find the best deals. Posting to her account on Instagram under the handle @moneymumofficial, Gemma Bird, who offers financial tips for parents, gave a handy tip to Tesco shoppers. Customers in possession of the supermarket chain's loyalty card - known as a Clubcard - can save on items earmarked by the brand, saving them money at the end of their shop. Revealing the hack in an Instagram reel, Gemma began the video by zooming on one of the trademark yellow and blue Clubcard stickers. She then panned the camera to show the difference between a regular price and the discounted Clubcard price. A Tesco customer has revealed a clever Clubcard hack that helps subscribers of the discount scheme find the best deals Posting to her account on Instagram under the handle @moneymumofficial, Gemma Bird, who offers financial tips for parents, gave a handy tip to Tesco shoppers The financial tipster said that there is a handy trick that buyers can use to see when a Clubcard offer is about to expire. This can be seen by viewing a six-digit assortment of numbers, which represents the date a specific item is discounted until. For example, in the video, an item is seen with the code 230704, meaning it was valid until July 4 2023. Brits should be mindful that this follows a year/month/day format, rather than the day/month/year sequence they might be expecting when looking for an offer's expiry date. Every pound you spend in store or online equates to one Clubcard point. When you redeem these points in the form of vouchers to spend in Tesco, they are worth one penny per point. Those with Clubcards can also access discounts on select products in store and online, as well as exchanging points for other rewards. It comes after customers were left fuming over a change in the Clubcard rules in June last year leaving them 'hundreds of pounds out of pocket'. Customers in possession of the supermarket chain's loyalty card - known as a Clubcard - can save on items earmarked by the brand, saving them money at the end of their shop The financial tipster said that there is a handy trick that buyers can use to see when a Clubcard offer is about to expire Previously customers were able to swap their Tesco vouchers for up to three times their worth at more than 100 High Street brands called 'Reward Partners'. Alongside discounted prices, the Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner scheme also allowed customers to earn points to spend on meals, travel and days out. But the changes, which were due to take effect from June 14, meant customers can now only able to claim two times the value of their vouchers at places including Virgin Atlantic, Disney+, Legoland and Cafe Rouge. The supermarket chain was forced to push back the deadline for the voucher points as thousands of people trying to claim their rewards caused their systems to crash. Violent deaths in Venezuela have plummeted to a 22-year low as criminals increasingly join the millions fleeing the broke socialist nation - many of them entering the US to pursue their own twisted version of the American dream. Once deemed the world's most dangerous city, Caracas has seen homicides fall by a staggering 25 percent when compared to 2023, with the Venezuelan Violence Observatory registering 26.8 violent deaths per 100,000 people, compared to a rate of 35.3 for every 100,000 habitants in 2022. But now, as Venezuelans increasingly flood over the US-Mexico border, reports of newly-arrived migrants committing horrific crimes have left Americans shocked - including that of two men arrested in the brutal abduction, rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Texas just last week. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the oil-rich socialist regime is emptying its jails and sending violent felons to the US as he campaigns for a second term. But security experts say the real reason is more likely that criminals and gangsters are now seeking to escape the bankrupt nation and go where the money is. Venezuela has seen its homicide rate fall to a 22-year low as millions have left the socialist nation over the last years, including the criminals The crime reduction in the oil-rich nation has coincided with an influx of Venezuelans crossing the US-Mexico border According to InsightCrime, the dire economic situation in the country, combined with the mass population exodus, has reduced opportunities for those looking to extort, kidnap and rob back home. 'Crime is falling in Venezuela because of the destruction of the countrys economy because of the loss of opportunities for crime,' OVV director Roberto Briceno-Leon told InSight Crime. While the government does not publish official data on crime, Venezuelan security official Remigio Ceballos Ichaso has claimed overall crime has dropped by 32 percent - without citing what kind of crime that figure included. Jose Antonio Colina, founder of Veppex, an organization that advocates for Venezuelans who were persecuted by the nation's regime, told DailyMail.com many of the recent arrivals accused of horrific crimes have never known democracy or the rule of law and are acting in the US as they were allowed to do back home. 'Many of them are minors who are born and raised in a country where there is no justice or respect for the law,' said the former Venezuela military officer, who has been exiled in Florida since 2003, when he was accused of conspiring against then-president Hugo Chavez. Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, right, and Johan Jose Martinez Rangel, left, are facing murder charges for the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray Nungarays body was found June 17 in a shallow creek after police said she sneaked out of her nearby home the night before 'These new migrants are proof that socialist Venezuela is a country that has failed - its society has rotten and it is now exporting thugs who think crime is just part of regular life.' Many of the Venezuelans who have been accused of crimes in the US are indeed mostly young men, including several teenagers. In February, 15-year-old Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa allegedly shot a tourist in the leg in Times Square before fleeing the scene and firing at two NYPD officers. And earlier this month, Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata, 19, reportedly opened fire on two NYPD officers who tried to pull him over on his scooter, which had no tag. Castro-Mata, who illegally entered the US at Eagle Pass, Texas last July, allegedly told police that he is part of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and that engaging in gunfights with police is 'common practice.' 'Venezuelan police officers get shot often in my home country because criminals feel there is a chance of getting away,' Mata allegedly told the NYPD after his arrest, also informing them that Tren de Aragua members are smuggling firearms into migrant shelters inside food delivery packages to dodge metal detectors. The notorious gang has been referred to as 'an invading criminal army' by US lawmakers and a member is suspected of the brutal murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, has been charged with the murder of Laken Riley, 19 Riley, a nursing student was running on the University of Georgia in Athens campus when she was murdered Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, has been charged with the murder of Riley, 19. Venezuelan expat and writer Christian Caruzo, who has spent more than a decade trying and failing to migrate to the US with his brother legally, told DailyMail.com it's been enraging to watch as the worst of his home country does manage to get into the US. 'I was never able to find path that would allow us both in, and I abstained myself from doing anything illegal despite the sheer despair that I at times found myself drown in amidst all of what was going on in Venezuela,' he said from Italy, where he managed to migrate with his brother. Caruzo said he agrees with the assessment that the last two decades have fundamentally changed Venezuelan society, creating desperate citizens willing to do anything to survive. 'Venezuela is a country that can easily turn anyone, men and women alike, into cruel people,' Caruzo said. 'That life, sadly, is the only thing a lot of Venezuelas youth have only known which, in no way, justifies it whatsoever, though.' Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, 15, is accused of shooting a tourist in Times Square, and of trying to shoot two NYPD officers Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata, 19, is accused of shooting two NYPD officers in Queens Caruzo has been following news of Venezuelans committing crimes in the US, and says they are doing the same crimes that millions of Venezuelans have left to escape. He added: 'The crimes are very much in the same style to what we are used to seeing in Venezuela. Robberies, cops getting shot, and passersby getting caught in the crossfire is the bread and butter in Venezuela. 'It is extremely likely that any Venezuelan will say the same, because either youve been a direct victim of it, your family members have, or someone you know has, in some way, been a victim of crimes of that nature. 'That kind of insecurity is one of the reasons that have driven nearly eight million now out of the country, and thats without factoring in the regimes oppressive hand and institutionalized repression, which is a whole other gargantuan beast of its own.' The influx of Venezuelan migration has happened over just a few years, as Venezuelans began fleeing the socialist policies of Hugo Chavez and his successor Nicolas Maduro. Once deemed the world's most dangerous city, Caracas has seen crime fall by a staggering 25 percent this year, according to the Venezuelan Violence Observatory. An assailant lies dead outside a bank after being killed by an armed victim of the robbery in Caracas Unlike its neighbors in Latin America, Venezuelans have not traditionally been a migrant culture - in 1990, there were just 42,000 Venezuelans in the US, compared to 282,000 Colombians. Venezuelans began leaving their country in significant numbers in 2000, just a year after Hugo Chavez' election, as the nation's wealthiest feared nationalizations and socialist policies to come, as reported by Caracas Chronicles. The US is currently seeing a third wave of new arrivals from Venezuela, which started in 2017, and has seen the country's poorest and most desperate travel from their homes to the US-Mexico border on foot, crossing into central America through the perilous Darien Gap. Along with the millions of innocent migrants, criminals including professional gangsters have also managed to make their way into the US, and have been making headlines in recent months. The gangsters have used the migration wave to hide among legitimate asylum seekers - over 334,000 Venezuelans crossed the US-Mexico border in fiscal year 2023 - second only to Mexicans. 'They go into local economies where there are Venezuelans and take over the criminal underground using excessive force,' former Border Patrol Agent Ammon Blair told the New York Post. 'Theyll start shooting prostitutes controlled by rival gangs and perform the executions live on social media in order to establish their presence.' The political and economic crisis has forced more than 7.7million people to leave the nation since 2014- even more than Ukrainians and Syrians. The US is currently seeing a third wave of new arrivals from Venezuela, which started in 2017, and has seen the country's poorest and most desperate travel from their homes to the US-Mexico border on foot, crossing into central America through the perilous Darien Gap The political and economic crisis has forced more more than 7.7million people have left the nation since 2014- even more than Ukrainians and Syrians It's a rare case of massive migration from a country that is not at war but has seen one of the most extreme fortune reversals in recent history after the socialist takeover 25 years ago. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, after a series of crimes allegedly committed by Venezuelans, made a point of saying the majority of Venezuelan asylum seekers who have entered the country over the last years have followed the law. However, the high-profile crimes committed by Venezuelans are damaging the reputation of law-abiding Venezuelans, Veppex founder Colina told DailyMail.com. 'They are not only damaging the US, but also affecting Venezuelans who live here, especially those who have been here for a while. 'In Veppex we are asking that Venezuelans who commit crimes face the maximum weight of the law so they serve as an example so those who are coming here understand they can't act like there are no laws here, as they did in Venezuela. 'And they cant come here and stain the good reputation of those who have proven to be productive members of US society.' Heartbreaking pictures have revealed the horrendous condition that abandoned dogs have been kept in with fur so matted that even rescuers struggles to recognise the animals. Niall Harbison, a Michelin-chef turned dog rescuer, showed shocking snaps of the poor pooches - one of which was so malnourished that it had maggots in its eye on the day it was rescued. Niall, who lives in Thailand, said the pictures were sent to him on June 9, with a message asking for help concerning two dogs that had been seen trapped in cages. So poor was their condition that Mr Harbison said he had to squint to even be able to recognise the animal as a dog. He took the dogs back to his Happy Doggo sanctuary and days later, after numerous vet visits and more than 12 hours of grooming, Niall was pleased to share that the animals' health had 'fully improved'. Heartbreaking pictures show the horrendous condition of abandoned dogs with fur so matted rescuers could barely recognise them A post on X, formerly Twitter, by Niall Harbison, an Irishman now living in Thailand, showed shocking snaps of the poor pooches - one of which was so malnourished that it had maggots in its eye on the day it was rescued Although he shared that one of the dogs, Faith, will lose her eye, the dog rescuer reassured people that such an event is 'not a big deal at all', given the state in which she was initially found Niall works to rescue dogs through his charity, Happy Doggo, which he first set up in 2021 after recovering from a near-death experience due to substance abuse Although he shared that one of the dogs, Faith, will lose her eye, the dog rescuer reassured people that such an event is 'not a big deal at all', given the state in which she was initially found. Posting to X on Tuesday, Niall shared a heartwarming update as he wrote: 'They were down at the beach today. 'Its hard to believe that just 16 days ago they were in the cages with no hope and in agony from their fur in the heat.' He added: 'Theyll continue their recovery for another few weeks and then well find them a forever home together. 'Two little fun loving angels who deserve every moment together on the beach'. Niall works to rescue dogs through his charity, Happy Doggo, which he first set up in 2021 after recovering from a near-death experience due to substance abuse. While jogging around the area of Koh Samui in Thailand in an effort to get his life back in order, Niall noticed a number of malnourished dogs, which he started to bring food to and share videos of online in the hope they could be rescued. After his videos began attracting worldwide attention, he began feeding and vaccinating as many dogs as he could - but quickly became aware that sterilisation would be the only way to fix the problem in the long-term. In 2023, Niall travelled to Europe, the United States and Dubai to organise a series of dog walks, where animal lovers could meet one another. After thousands of people turned up, one lucky shelter dog was even able to be rescued. Posting to X on Tuesday, Niall shared a heartwarming update as he wrote: 'They were down at the beach today. Its hard to believe that just 16 days ago they were in the cages with no hope and in agony from their fur in the heat.' Since then, Niall's tireless work has seen him able to secure a plot of land for a dog sanctuary, which gives the most sick and vulnerable animals a much-needed space to recover in before they can be tended to. Speaking to MailOnline in 2023 about his incredible journey, Niall said: 'I started the mission after ending up in ICU in hospital. I nearly drank myself to death because I suffered from anxiety and depression. 'I spent three days there and when nearly dying I vowed to change my life and do something meaningful.' Discussing his ongoing battle to stay sober, he added: 'Thats not easy and I share that openly. I do that purely to hopefully help somebody somewhere who needs it. 'Ill never stop talking about that because its still got huge stigma attached and seen as a weakness in society.' Despite mounting pressure from the Democrats to consider his political future after a car-crash debate performance, Joe Biden seems to be staying firmly in the race with Jill Biden stubbornly standing by his side. And her actions over the past 48 hours are clear that she is the one firmly pulling the strings over her husbands decision to stay in the race. She made it clear when she spoke to wealthy donors in New York on Friday night she knew how the debate was perceived but said she told her husband the campaign would continue. "So let's talk about last night's debate, because I know it's on your minds." she said. "As Joe said earlier today, he's not a young man. And you know, after last night's debate, he said, 'You know, Jill, I don't know what happened. I didn't feel that great.' And I said, 'Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that you've been president.'" The CNN performance where Joe Biden meandered through answers and lost his train of thought sparked an unprecedented panic in the party. Top lawmakers and operatives were immediately considering their options. But when Biden attended a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, he seemed like a different man. Jill Biden called it an 'amazing' event. During it, he admitted his debate performance wasn't ideal, but insisted he is staying put in the race. The crowed of more than 2,000 cheered him on. His defiant announcement came alongside the one person likely standing between him and a potentially historic decision to step aside: His wife Jill. Even though she knows he had a bad night at the first presidential debate, she is standing stubbornly at her husband's side and fighting back against the fears he will lose November's contest to Donald Trump. The Bidens know 'he didnt have the best first debate,' a source close to her told DailyMail.com. 'Is he the best person to be president, now and for the next four years? 100% yes.' 'Shes his wife of 47 years; she is his biggest supporter, biggest champion, and biggest believer.' President Biden, 81, has the nomination locked up. The only way for the party to have a different nominee is for him to voluntarily exit the race. Jill Biden is doubling down on her support of President Joe Biden And the one person who can get him to do that is Jill Biden. It was only after her blessing he agreed to run for a second term. She is his closest adviser and the person he listens to the most. But Jill Biden is no where near the conclusion that her husband needs to exit the race. She said it herself at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, the day after the debate. Wearing a dress repeatedly emblazed with the word 'vote,' she told the crowd: 'We don't choose our chapter in history, but we can choose who leads us through it. And at this moment with these perils the world is facing, there is no one that I would rather have sitting in the Oval Office right now than my husband.' And, in the aftermath of the debate, she praised Joe Biden lavishly even as many Democrats were banging their heads' about his fumbling debate performance. 'Joe, you did such a great job answering every question. You knew all the facts, she told him at a gathering with supporters. Many called her out of touch with the nights events. What her words showed, however, was the weight she carries with the president. She is the one Joe Biden turns to reassurance. She is the one that can act as a balm to his wounded pride. It is now a question of what she will do next. Jill Biden has intervened before when she thought Joe Biden wasnt being served well by his advisers. After his first disastrous press conference, she walked into a staff meeting and demanded to know who was responsible for the event and why it wasnt put to a stop. At his next press conference, she sat in a chair front and center, taking charge. The question is what will she do now: Will she push for changes at the campaign? Will she call for staff to be fired? Will she put Joe Biden in public more? Or will she urge the White House to continue to use stage-managed events and keep him surrounded by aides? The full fallout in the Biden inner sanctum remains to be seen but Jill Biden will front and center of what comes next. She will likely emerge from this with more power than ever in the White House. She is the one who sees Joe Biden the most, even in the most private moments. She is the one who truly knows his health and mental state. She is the one who has defended him when his age is questioned. I know whats on your mind so lets talk about age this election, Jill Biden told a fundraiser in Philadelphia on Monday night. This elections not about age. Joe and the other guy are about the same age. This election is about character wisdom and ability. Additionally, she is the one who often steps in at his events - to take him by the arm and guide him back on track when he fumbles. And that role played out in real time at the debate when a video of her helping the president down the stage stairs at the end of the event went viral. And, as the true extent of Bidens fumbling was revealed in real time during last nights debate, Jill Bidens loyalty is being questioned not just by Republicans, who have called her the presidents handler, but by Democrats who are Biden supporters. I think I should start by saying, without any apologies, that I love Joe Biden and Jill, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough said the morning after the disastrous debate. He added that it was time to question whether Biden should stay on the ticket: If, however, you believe, as do I, and as do so many people who watch this program, and who fear just how dark of a place a second Donald Trump term will take America, then I think it is critical that we ask the same questions about this man I love, respect, and whose whose public service in saving this country from Donald Trump over the last three and a half years I honor and always will. Jill Biden gave Joe Biden a hug after the debate ended on Thursday Those who know her argue the fallout from the debate will cause her to double down on Team Biden. Our First Lady is a fighter and shes a competitor. She, and the Biden Family, have been here before when his political obituary was being written and he was down and counted out. The collective reaction to the debate tonight will only reinforce their grit and determination they will double down on running. Whether thats a good or bad thing is up for debate. Thats just who they are they dont give up. Do not expect anything to change in this race, wrote her former press secretary Michael LaRosa on X. Jill Biden has always been the rock of the Biden family. She demonstrated that during its most trying week since Beau Biden died in 2015: the week her stepson Hunter was on trial while her husband was on a state visit to France, requiring her to balance her private and public roles. Hunter Bidens trial for federal gun charges exposed the familys darkest secrets: his voice rang through the courtroom as prosecutors used his own audio book to play out scenes of his drug use, his ex-wife discussed finding his drug paraphernalia, and his brothers widow described how he got her addicted to crack cocaine. Jill Biden was there, accused of wasting taxpayer money for her four flights back-and-forth across the Atlantic that week for a personal family matter, so she could be there for her son while also performing her first lady duties in France. The White House noted she loves her son, and, like any mother, wants to be there for him. And that she sent him strength from her front row seat. I have not seen her find strength like she found that week in a remarkably long time. I mean, really since around the 2015 period when Beau was dying or after he died, that she was having to get back up, a senior White House official told DailyMail.com of that time period. There's a steel in her, right? Where she's just like: let's just do this. That steel, however, could become rigid, a determination to keep Joe Biden in the White House simply to defy his critics. Some describe her motives for wanting to stay in the White House as a play for power and revenge. She likes power. She wants to stay. She wants some sense of revenge, historian David Brinkley told CBS Face the Nation in February. Jill Biden holds Hunter Biden's hand after he - and wife Melissa Cohen (right) - leave the courthouse after his guilty verdict Jill Biden gives Joe Biden a kiss - the couple have been married 48 years But the White House notes the first lady has her own agenda for a second term: expanded pre-K schooling, more funding for community college, abortion rights restored, and womens health getting a greater priority. And they argue her biggest priority is the defeat of Donald Trump. Jill Biden, along with the president, is a fervent believer that Trump will destroy democracy: Trump has told us again and again why he wants the White House. To give himself absolute power. To not be held accountable for his criminal actions, she said in Los Angeles earlier this month. To destroy the democratic safeguards that stand in his way. Democrats, however, are now questioning if Joe Biden can beat Donald Trump. The former president was leading Biden in key battleground states ahead of the debate. The fear is Trump's poll numbers will go up. David Axelrod, the former Obama senior adviser, said Bidens performance sent shockwaves through the party. '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. It also remains a question of Bidens legacy. He came in during the 2020 election to calm the country after the chaos of Trump's presidency. But if he loses in November, history will rewrite its view of him. And of Jill Biden. That steel in the first lady, her loyalty to her husband of 48 years, could make her blind to that. First Lady scholars know that every couple contemplates their legacy. The Bidens are no different, Stacy Cordery, a professor at Iowa State University and expert on first ladies, told DailyMail.com. It took Joe Biden a long time to get to the White House. Even if Jill had the power in their marriage to force him to step down, I do not believe she would use it - because she loves him too much. The attorney for one of the West Memphis Three has revealed a haunting new theory about the horrific murders of three eight-year-old Cub Scouts - with new DNA testing now underway in a bid to identify 'the real killer'. The three young victims - Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers - were found naked in a murky ditch, hog-tied with their shoelaces, and mutilated beyond recognition in West Memphis, Arkansas, in May 1993. Dan Stidham represented Jessie Misskelley, Jr. - one of the teens who was convicted of the heinous crime in 1994 along with Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin. The teens became known as The West Memphis Three, with prosecutors claiming they killed the children as part of a Satanic ritual. The ordeal was later chronicled on the big screen in the movie Devil's Knot, starring Reese Witherspoon. The suspects spent the next 18 years behind bars, but were released from prison in 2011 and continue to maintain their innocence to this day. Now, in his book, A Harvest of Innocence: The Untold Story of The West Memphis Three, Stidham has revealed his theories about who the 'real killer' could be. The West Memphis Three pictured (l-r) Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. and Jason Baldwin, at a news conference at the Craighead County Court House in Jonesboro, Arkansas Three eight-year-old Cub Scouts brutally murdered: Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were found naked in a ditch, hog-tied with their shoelaces and mutilated beyond recognition Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Stidham said he believes a long haul truck driver may be the real culprit for the triple murders. The attorney did not reveal the alleged suspect's name, but said that he is already serving a life sentence for a separate murder conviction. This unnamed truck driver, who the attorney has honed in on during his rookie investigations, allegedly has other victims who are varied by appearance and gender. Stidham told DailyMail.com he is also looking at a second long haul trucker, also serving a life sentence, as a potential suspect. The pair have been communicating via mail exchange, and he plans to visit him. 'I will be tracking him down,' Stidham said. Some of his theories are based on logs of the trucks that passed through the area on the date the boys were murdered in 1993. He explained: 'Truckers are required to sleep so many hours per day - so they pull into those truck stops and park. 'There are a lot of people who are hitchhikers, sex workers or just run aways who end up with these long haul truck driver serial killers and their bodies are dumped six states away before the police can figure out what happened.' In this case, he said: 'It is a little bit strange that this truck driver - if it is a truck driver - would leave the bodies so close. 'But you dont want to be pulled over by a state trooper police officer with three dead kids in the back of your big rig. That is why I think he left them where he did.' Attorney Dan Stidham, who is now a judge, has been working tirelessly on new leads to find 'the real killer' Dan Stidham (center) is pictured as a young attorney when he was defending his client Jessie Miskelley, Jr, one of the three accusers in The West Memphis Three Another lead he continues to pursue is Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of Stevie Branch, one of the eight-year-old victims, who was married to Stevie's mom Pam. They divorced after her son's murder. Hobbs has never been arrested or charged for the crimes, and previously in 2021 welcomed the new DNA testing, according to Action News 5. Before the murders, Hobbs, who was reportedly doing drugs with some other men, caught the boys spying on them. 'I said this in my book, I am not willing to take Terry Hobbs off the suspect list,' he said. 'I cannot account where he was over the entire evening - all night and all morning- the next day.' He added: 'We have a small DNA link at this point and where it was located was in one of the ligatures that bound the boys.' In April, a critical new development took place in the decades-long case when the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled in favor of new DNA testing of evidence from the crime scene that was not available when the evidence was previously tested. Damien Echols' attorney had filed a petition in 2022 requesting further testing which had initially been denied by a circuit court on the grounds that Echols was no longer in custody before it was overturned two months ago. This DNA - that may hold key evidence in the case - will now be retested with the M-Vac wet vacuum system, a forensic collection device, that investigators use to solve crimes. Stidham called the move 'groundbreaking,' as the case is now open, stating that 'the benefits of one of The West Memphis Three, benefits them all.' 'It's incredible technology. So we're very, very hopeful that this will lead us to the real killer,' Stidham said. Enthusiastic about the recent development, Stidham said: 'The DNA testing that is going to be retested, gives me two different shots at it from two different angles the long haul truck driver angle and Terry Hobbs.' Damien Echols, 18, was labeled the 'mastermind' in the boy's death and was sentenced to death in the triple murder Jessie Misskelley, Jr., 17, lived with his father Jessie Misskelley, Sr. in a trailer, before his arrest Jason Baldwin, pictured at the age of 16, when he was arrested for the triple homicide Stidham's book highlights the alleged gross misconduct of justice by the police, the trial jury and the prosecutor, as well as the personal and professional sacrifices he made during the period he was involved in the case. And with a revived interest from younger audiences, Stidham said that Gen Z and Millennial true crime enthusiasts are engaging with the West Memphis Three case more than ever. Today, he is still working to get his client exonerated. Speaking about his theories and the case that has haunted him for three decades, Stidham told DailyMail.com: 'There has never been any DNA belonging to the West Memphis Three discovered in the case at any time. 'As far as the State is concerned, the case is closed. We, involved with the defense, still believe it is far from over and continue to pursue our own theories and suspects.' He added: 'We will never give up.' With the release of his book, he hopes there is somebody out there with a guilty conscience who is willing to come forward and help them catch the real killer. Another lead the attorney continues to pursue is Terry Hobbs (pictured) the stepfather of Stevie Branch, one of the eight-year-old victims. Hobbs has never been arrested or charged, and has denied any wrongdoing An Alford Plea technically ended the case - allowing the three convicts to walk free. On August 19, 2011, the remarkable plea was negotiated between the attorneys, who were facing the grueling task of giving the men a new trial after new DNA evidence in 2010 failed to connect any of them to the horrible crime. The name derives from a 1970s Supreme Court case, but in this instance, the Alford Plea was used as an 'explicit assertion of innocence while pleading guilty.' Essentially, the three convicts refused to admit to any criminal act, but conceded that the defense had evidence that could be used against them. As a result of the rare and historic legal compromise, Misskelley Jr, Echols and Baldwin were released in 2011. This is why the West Memphis Police and the prosecutor have been very reluctant to allow the new DNA testing, according to the attorney. 'They wanted all this nightmare to go away. It's never been out of the news the entire 31 years since it happened. There's always been something in the news about the case or the WM3 themselves,' Stidham said. A Harvest of Innocence: The Untold Story of The West Memphis Three was published in late 2023 Stidham is hoping the new generation of readers and those interested in true crime will lead to more proof in the case. 'It's been interesting to see how people change their outlook after the release of my book and even after the Alford Plea itself,' he said. 'These people I would have never had a chance to talk to or interview, and I'm hoping that it leads to more evidence.' Stidham, who was a young public defender at the time he was representing Misskelley, said that West Memphis Police were convinced from the very beginning that Damien Echols was the perpetrator of the crime. They also surmised that Jason Baldwin, his best friend, must have been in on it as well. 'The theory that emerged was that the murders were the result of a Satanic Ritual due to the wounds on the bodies that were beyond human comprehension,' he explained, 'but Ken Lanning, a former FBI profiler had debunked the theory.' Stidham claimed police focused on Damien Echols like a 'laser beam' and began rounding up and questioning anyone who had ever been associated with him. The trio were arrested and sent to prison, with no other evidence linking the teens to the murders with the exception of an alleged false confession given by Misskelley. The attorney said that Misskelley found it difficult understanding the situation he was in and that he 'did not understand anything about the criminal justice system.' Misskelly was interrogated by police for more than 12 hours which resulted in what Stidham called a false 'compliant confession,' which means that the person being interrogated is psychologically coerced by the interrogators to confess even while believing he is innocent. 'The person confesses to escape a stressful situation, avoid punishment, or gain a promised or implied reward,' he explained. On the big screen: The murders of the three boys was made into a film, Devil's Knot (2013), starring Reese Witherspoon as Pam Hobbs and Alessandro Nivola as Terry Hobbs (pictured) Kristopher Higgins (playing Misskelley), James Hamrick (playing Echols) and Seth Meriwether (playing Baldwin) in Devil's Knot (2013) 'Jessie Misskelley was a concrete thinker, not an abstract thinker, and he could not fathom how his false confession would haunt him for years,' Stidham said. 'He was only thinking of how he could end the interrogation and go home to his dad as promised by his oppressors.' 'When it became clear to even the most casual observer that they were innocent, say as early as 2007, after our experts gave their affidavits, they doubled down and tried to keep their 'campfire story' alive and burning,' he said. 'They could have just said, Hey, sorry we made a mistake and then exonerated them. Paid them reparations, done the honorable thing, but they just dug in deeper.' He said he believed they used the Alford Plea to avoid having to admit that they were wrong and did everything they could to preserve these misguided convictions. Nor did they want to pay them for the loss of the best years of their lives. 'So, they took a cowardly way out and simply got into the lifeboats and safely off the sinking ship to protect themselves from embarrassment and ridicule. 'I wrote my book to make sure that everyone knew exactly what happened, including the enormity of their failure to take responsibility for what they did. My book sets the record straight.' He said: 'It was not a coincidence that within mere months after the new prosecutor and new judge were put into the equation, the West Memphis Three were released from prison.' Stidham, a judge for the last fifteen years, is not able to be involved in any official investigation so he does the work when he isn't on the bench. 'I made a promise to my client that I'd get him out of prison, which I was able to fulfill,' he said. 'Then two of the three victims' parents asked me to continue my work and find the real killer.' He added: 'I'm trying to fulfill that promise now.' Incredible footage has shown several 'UFOs' spotted in a mysterious ancient canyon where experts claim they have found 'evidence' of portals. The eerie phenomenon was shown during Tuesday's episode of the History Channel's Beyond Skinwalker Ranch. Hosts Paul Beban, veteran journalist, and Andy Bustamante, an ex- CIA agent, traveled to Rock Art Ranch, a private cattle ranch in northern Arizona, to investigate the thousands of ancient Native American petroglyphs. The men spoke with former Navajo Ranger Jon Dover about the ancient rock carvings that show animals, three-fingered creatures seemingly representing extra terrestrials, and what is believed to be portals. The area, which is deemed sacred, was created by Indigenous people more than 13,000 years ago. The petroglyphs feature unusual rock carvings including, three fingered people and portals created by Indigenous people more than 13,000 years ago to communicate, and deemed sacred Thousands of ancient rock carvings are at Rock Art Ranch, a cattle ranch in Northern Arizona Experts have been investigating the petroglyphs for years. Secret of Skinwalker Ranch stars - astrophysicist Travis Taylor and principal investigator Eric Bard - told the two experts on the spinoff show to 'think about' what they are looking at, and 'what it could be that it's trying to tell you.' Taylor, an acclaimed astrophysicist who has worked with NASA to explore the UFO phenomena, explained that the Indigenous people use the cave systems as a portal system, and noted that 'places like these may be a doorway or a window to somewhere else.' Bard appeared excited about the 'portal' they were going to witness. During the episode, the men compare the petroglyphs that appear at Rock Art Ranch with the ones at Skinwalker Ranch in Utah to see if there is a connection. Andy and Paul brought their thermal imaging equipment, to check the energy and vibrations - a first for Dover, who told them there has never been any investigations or experiments performed at the Rock Art Ranch. On their walk into the canyon, Dover told them about the carvings that have been there since 500 AD. Dover said the three-fingered people represent 'star people.' Other highlights of the hour-long show include the stunning visual of two cigar-shaped UFOs that appeared on camera at an accelerated rate Former Navajo Ranger Jon Dover (left) speaks with Paul (center) and Andy Andy expressed surprise and said: 'So, we're basically saying here that there people were visited or they experienced contact with extraterrestrials. That's really quite humbling.' He also explained that in Native culture 'spirals always are an indication of migration,' but said that 'we've reinterpreted it to symbolize a portal.' The men took measurements while out in the field, and used their instruments to capture the sound and energy level. During their exploration, they discovered parts of the rocks in the cliffs that were bright hot, while others were not. Dover added: 'We believe that the ancients had the ability to manipulate these dimensional gates.' Light, energy and frequency was measured during the episode, with the assistance of Native American drumming The men set up cameras to capture the orbs flying through the air Two cigar-shaped UFOs mysteriously appeared after a ritual was performed - flying at incredibly high speeds during the hour-long show. Even more activity began to occur after a Native American medicine man beat on a drum, and chanted a slow melodic rhythm causing vibrations. Both men noticed a drastic temperature drop and the orb-like UFOs change directions. One of the several unidentified flying objects was caught on a camera set at ground level, going at an accelerating speed before disappearing from view. However, a separate camera set up at 60 feet above the canyon did not capture the UFO above the petroglyphs, leading the investigators to think they might be smaller, orb-like UFOs. Pictured: One of several UFOs that appeared on the Beyond Skinwalker Ranch stars' recording equipment The alleged UFOs' flight paths were non-linear, with one making a change in direction that could not be achieved using modern aircraft 'So we have UFODAP that's up on the cliff edge and we have one that's here and this is one that's down here in the valley with us,' Art told the men. Paul responded while they stood at the base camp: 'Whatever the phenomenon is right now, it does seem to be hovering around.' Tuesday's episode comes a week after the two investigators went to the Miller Ranch in Colorado, which has not only been the location of several UFO sightings, but is near a local bridge with incredibly high fatality rate: 16 deaths in over 30 accidents. Using LIDAR ground laser technology, they created a 3-D model of the bridge constructed from the data that had some points located completely underground - something the investigators say might be due to time-slowing anomaly. A bridge nearby to the Miller Ranch in Colorado has seen over a dozen deaths just a short walk from mysterious cattle mutilations - which a team of investigators claim may be linked to secret 'portals' underground A 3-D model of the bridge constructed from the LIDAR had some points located completely underground - something the investigators say might be due to time-slowing anomaly The team at Skinwalker Ranch observed four unidentified flying objects - and what appeared to be a possible portal on the ranch The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch - currently in its fifth season - has seen its fair share of UFOs in recent episodes as well. Earlier this season, the team of researchers and scientists encountered at least four UFOs on camera... at the same time. 'Now, one of the things that stands out - Look, there's something,' Bard said, reviewing the footage. 'It looks like there's something under it. Moving with it.' Beyond Skinwalker Ranch airs Tuesday nights at 10 pm. Ex-Neighbours star Madeleine West revealed how she alerted cops to a 'paedophile' who had been talking to hundreds of primary school-aged girls via social media. The actor and author, 43, said her alarm bells went off when she saw a young girl she knew and a dozen of her friends were being followed on TikTok and other platforms by the same account which had uploaded no content, prompting her to look closer. 'He followed 4,025 accounts ... So I cross checked the first 200 and discovered they were all children under nine,' she told Newscorp. West said she then went through the comments on the posts those girls had been uploading and found ones posted from the suspicious account - which left her in shock. 'These comments were along the lines of, ''You've got such a sexy body. Can I see you with your clothes off?'' And most pertinently, ''Please put your face in the video. Can I see a post of your face'',' she said. West said she first went to talk to the parents of the group of girls who lived in her local area and said they had no clue their children were using these platforms, so they shut down their accounts. West said she then took screenshots of the information she had found and forwarded it, with the permission of the girls' parents, to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and the office of the eSafety commissioner. 'The federal police contacted me within hours because this was a dead set peadophile,' she said. Ex-Neighbours actress Madeleine West has revealed how her online sleuthing led her to uncover a paedophile West said the AFP told her they are investigating her tip off. The Underbelly actor and author from Melbourne has become an advocate for child safety after revealing she had been abused by a neighbour when she was a child. She confronted her own abuser four decades later when she knocked on his door in July 2022 wearing a secret audio recording device detectives had given her. Peter Vincent White, now aged in his seventies, received a 15-year sentence for his cruel abuse of seven young victims aged between four and 14. The recording was crucial in prosecuting White. In the audio, West could be heard exchanging pleasantries with White and his wife, who is profoundly deaf, before confronting him about the abuse. She was left shocked when White said he could not remember committing any of the crimes - only to then beg her for forgiveness with four damning words: 'I'm very, very sorry.' West went public with her story in January 2023 and has since become an advisor and speaker for cyber-safety organisation Safe on Social and abuse survivors group Warriors Advocacy. West has become an online child safety advocate after revealing her own abuse as a child A campaign to block children's access to social media to limit online harms such as predatory behaviour and cyber-bullying has been gaining momentum in Australian politics. The current age limit for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok is 13 but there has been wide criticism these age limits are not verified and can be bypassed. Some state governments are calling to raise this age for social media use to 16. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed these efforts, and the federal opposition has committed to introducing laws that will bar under 16-year-olds from social media. Many online sites currently rely on age gating, where users self-report their age. This can easily fail. Children under 13 can provide fake birthdates to create social media accounts. And teenagers can simply tap 'yes' when asked to verify if they're over the age of 18. To prevent children from accessing inappropriate and harmful online content, the federal government is already funding a trial of 'age assurance' technologies. Self-reporting is a type of age assurance but other methods, including more rigorous age verification processes, are also available. These include providing 'hard identification' documents and emerging biometric technology. The Australian Federal Police are believed to be making further inquiries based on Ms West's information. An inmate who made 30,000 while in prison as a 'wheeler dealer' is believed to be the first Brit convicted of evading income tax on cash he made behind bars. Nigel Harker was locked up in HMP Northumberland in 2020 and made money through 'trading' - on which he did not pay income tax. The 47-year-old man had initially been charged with blackmail in relation to his illegal jail cell enterprise, which he denied. Instead he pleaded guilty to evasion of 3,080 income tax. A judge said the charging decision was an 'interesting' approach which may not have been seen in this country before and likened it to the famous Al Capone takedown. Harker was due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday but left the building during a break in the hearing. A warrant has subsequently been issued for his arrest. Nigel Harker (pictured) was locked up in HMP Northumberland in 2020 and made money through 'trading' but did not pay any income tax on it A judge said the charging decision was an 'interesting' approach which may not have been seen in this country before and likened it to the famous Al Capone (pictured) takedown Judge Stephen Earl jailed Harker in his absence and said: 'Who said crime doesn't pay? 'I think I've seen this film actually, in 1931, when finally the FBI got Al Capone for his dealings with hooch, prostitution and drugs. Of course they couldn't get him on any of those things and what did they get him on? Evasion of income tax.' In relation to Harker, Judge Earl said: 'This was him basically selling produce in prison and not paying his dues. 'It's a rather interesting case but there is principle previously for it, not necessarily in this country but I'm sure it is a satisfactory resolution.' Prosecutor Michael Cahill told the court: 'In 2020 the defendant was a serving prisoner in HMP Northumberland where he was a wheeler dealer and trader. 'Named individuals and others purchased items from him by way of trading and debts accrued. 'Over the relevant period the defendant had a turnover of about 30,000. Mr Cahill said the tax evasion period would have been around 12 months. The lawyer continued: 'Had he been paying tax on that, allowing for base rate allowances, it would have been around 3,080.' Judge Earl added: 'I think I've seen this film actually, in 1931, when finally the FBI got Al Capone for his dealings with hooch, prostitution and drugs' Harker was an inmate in HMP Northumberland where he was 'a wheeler dealer and trader'. The defendant had a turnover of 30,000 and did not pay income tax Harker, of Hartlepool in County Durham, admitted the tax charge as well as a dangerous driving offence. He was caught 'flying through red lights', travelling on the wrong side of the road and 'almost having an accident' in his BMW in Hartlepool in 2022. Judge Earl said he may also face an absconding charge for leaving the hearing. Harker was sentenced to a total of 19 months in jail with a three-year road ban. Anthony Albanese has been grilled about his salary ahead of his payrise on Monday. The Prime Minister's salary will tick over $600,000, reaching a new height for our elected leader's pay packet. He was questioned about the salary, which is about nine times the median Australian wage, while on Sunrise on Saturday morning. 'Prime Minister Monday not a bad day to be leading the country either,' host Matt Doran said. 'Your your salary, you'll enjoy a pay rise, earning more than $600,000 a year. Given what Australians are going through, do you think that passes the pub test?' 'I recognise I'm really well off,' the Prime Minister said, adding it was an independent tribunal which set politicians' wages. 'That's why we made the decision to intervene in the tax cut, so that both you and I had our tax cut in half, so that people who are low and middle income earners didn't miss out, people who are earning under $45,000.' From Monday, Australians will pocket between $350 and $4500 in extra cash each year depending on their income bracket as part of the tax changes. The Prime Minister's salary will tick over $600,000, reaching a new height for our elected leader's pay packet Mr Albanese was questioned about the salary, which is about nine times the median Australian wage, while on Sunrise on Saturday morning In June the independent Remuneration Tribunal announced a 3.5 per cent wage rise for federal MPs. The Prime Minister's salary goes up more than $20,000 under the change, to $607,471. Australia's highest paid chief executive is paid more 50 times more than the Prime Minister: Macquarie Group chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake was reportedly paid $30.4m last year. The largest bank chief executive pay packet was CBA boss Matt Comyn with $7.3m. That sum made Mr Comyn the 19th highest paid chief executive in Australia, according to the Australian Financial Review, OpenDirector and global search firm Odgers Berndtson. Yellowstone officials say a rare white buffalo has not been seen since it was born on June 4. The beast, which fulfilled a Native American prophecy that portends better times, was the first in the park's history and was a landmark event for its species recovery. But now, it is unknown whether the calf - named Wakan Gli, which means 'Return Sacred' in Lakota - is still alive. The park's statement noted how each spring, about one in five calves die shortly after birth due to natural hazards, but officials declined to respond directly to questions about whether they believed the rare white calf had passed. The birth of a white buffalo is an extraordinarily rare occurrence with one born in the wild once in every 1 million births, or even less frequently, the park said. A rare white buffalo calf has not been seen since its birth, raising concerns about its fate Records show it the first white bison to be born from the last wild herd in the US, with other births in recent decades occurring in captivity. Park officials 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. The birth of a rare white buffalo in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times, according to members of the American Indian tribe Montana photographer Erin Braaten took photos of the white buffalo in the Lamar Valley while visiting the park with her children. 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 newborn animal its 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. It is unknown whether the calf - named Wakan Gli, which means 'Return Sacred' in Lakota - is still alive The birth of a white buffalo is an extraordinarily rare occurrence with one born in the wild once in every 1 million births, or even less frequently, the park said The birth of the sacred calf comes as after a severe winter in 2023 drove thousands of Yellowstone buffalo, also known as bison, to lower elevations 'The birth of this calf is both a blessing and warning. We must do more,' said Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota and the Nakota Oyate in South Dakota , and the 19th keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman Pipe and Bundle 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. 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 week's ceremony, said he thinks the calf is alive somewhere in the park, away from the roads and walkways most visitors frequent. 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 it's 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 The birth of the sacred calf comes as after a severe winter in 2023 drove thousands of Yellowstone buffalo, also known as bison, to lower elevations. More than 1,500 were killed, sent to slaughter or transferred to tribes seeking to reclaim stewardship over an animal their ancestors lived alongside for millennia. Erin Braaten of Kalispell took several photos of the calf shortly after it was born earlier this month in the Lamar Valley in the northeastern corner of the park. Her family was visiting the park when she spotted 'something really white' among a herd of bison across the Lamar River. Several wildlife photographers manages to capture the rare white buffalo on film on June 4 The calf's birth fulfills a prophecy for the Lakota people that portends better times but also signals that more must be done to protect the earth and its animals Traffic ended up stopping while bison crossed the road, so Braaten stuck her camera out the window to take a closer look with her telephoto lens. 'I look and it's this white bison calf. And I was just totally, totally floored,' she said. After the bison cleared the roadway, the Braatens turned their vehicle around and found a spot to park. They watched the calf and its mother for 30 to 45 minutes. 'And then, she kind of led it through the willows there,' Braaten said. Although Braaten came back each of the next two days, she didn't see the white calf again. For many Native tribes of the Great Plains, including the Lakota people, the birth of a white buffalo calf with a black nose, eyes and hooves is akin to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The 2,000-year-old Lakota legend says that when nothing was good, food was running out and bison were disappearing, a White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared, presented a bowl pipe and a bundle to a tribal member, taught them how to pray and said that the pipe could be used to bring buffalo to the area for food. As she left, she turned into a white buffalo calf. 'And some day when the times are hard again,' Looking Horse said in relating the legend, 'I shall return and stand upon the earth as a white buffalo calf, black nose, black eyes, black hooves.' A similar white buffalo calf was born in Wisconsin in 1994 and was named Miracle, he said. Troy Heinert, the executive director of the South Dakota-based InterTribal Buffalo Council, said the calf in Braaten's photos looks like a true white buffalo because it has a black nose, black hooves and dark eyes. 'From the pictures I've seen, that calf seems to have those traits,' said Heinert, who is Lakota. An albino buffalo would have pink eyes. Ota Bluehorse, a member of the Spirit Lake Tribe, wears a headdress adorned with bison horns during a naming ceremony for the rare white buffalo calf Mike Mease, co-founder of the Buffalo Field Campaign, speaks next to a photograph of a white buffalo calf during a naming ceremony earlier this week Dallas Gudgell, vice president of the Buffalo Field Campaign and member of the Assiniboine Souix, laughs during a naming ceremony for a white buffalo calf in West Yellowstone, Montana Devin Oldman, a member of the Northern Arapahoe tribe, speaks during a naming ceremony. The reported birth of the calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times Other tribes also revere white buffalo. 'Many tribes have their own story of why the white buffalo is so important,' Heinert said. 'All stories go back to them being very sacred.' Heinert and several members of the Buffalo Field Campaign say they've never heard of a white buffalo being born in Yellowstone, which has wild herds. Jim Matheson, executive director of the National Bison Association, could not quantify how rare the calf is. 'To my knowledge, no one's ever tracked the occurrence of white buffalo being born throughout history. So I'm not sure how we can make a determination how often it occurs.' Besides herds of the animals on public lands or overseen by conservation groups, about 80 tribes across the U.S. have more than 20,000 bison, a figure that's been growing in recent years. In Yellowstone and the surrounding area, the killing or removal of large numbers of bison happens almost every winter, under an agreement between federal and Montana agencies that has limited the size of the park's herds to about 5,000 animals. Earlier this month, Yellowstone officials proposed a slightly larger population of up to 6,000 bison, with a final decision expected next month. People gather at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone for the naming ceremony Arvol Looking Horse, a spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota peoples in South Dakota, left, watches a tarp fall, revealing the name of a recently born white buffal Miss Shoshnone-Bannock Queen Develynn Hall takes the stage during the naming ceremony But ranchers in Montana have long opposed increasing the Yellowstone herds or transferring the animals to tribes. Republican Governor Greg Gianforte has said he would not support any management plan with a population target greater than 3,000 Yellowstone bison. Heinert sees the calf's birth as a reminder 'that we need to live in a good way and treat others with respect.' 'I hope that calf is safe and gonna live its best life in Yellowstone National Park, exactly where it was designed to be,' Heinert said. Lawyers acting for two people who fell ill in the E.coli outbreak linked to salad leaves have started legal action against Tesco and Asda for compensation. Legal firm Fieldfisher told the PA news agency it has issued letters of claim for breach of the Consumer Protection Act over own-brand sandwiches purchased in the supermarkets. The claims relate to an 11-year-old girl from the North West and a man from the South East. The UK Health Security Agency said on Thursday one patient had died in the E.coli outbreak, which investigators believe is linked to salad used in sandwiches. Fieldfisher said the claim against Asda relates to the 11-year-old girl who contracted E. coli after eating an own-brand chicken salad sandwich bought at one of its stores. Lawyers acting for two people who fell ill in the E.coli outbreak linked to salad leaves have started legal action against Tesco and Asda for compensation (Stock image) Tesco declined to comment on the incident which has left an 11-year-old girl from the North West and a man from the South East seriously ill The UK Health Security Agency said on Thursday one patient had died in the E.coli outbreak, which investigators believe is linked to salad used in sandwiches (Stock image) 'The girl, aged 11, developed the serious condition haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which attacks the kidneys and has been on dialysis for three weeks,' it 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.' The legal director of the firm, Harvinder Kaur, said she had issued a separate letter to Tesco on behalf of an adult man from the South East who was also hospitalised 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.' 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.' A Tesco spokesman said: We have not yet received notification of this claim from Fieldfisher. Labour's plan to lower the voting age could add more than a million Left-wing teenagers to the electoral roll. Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that he will press ahead with lowering the voting age to 16 if he wins the election next week. The move would enfranchise around 1.6million 16- and 17-year-olds. Sir Keir told the Mail this week that Tory claims he is trying to rig the electorate were 'completely wrong'. Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that he will press ahead with lowering the voting age to 16 if he wins the election next week. The move would enfranchise around 1.6million 16- and 17-year-olds (Stock Image) Sir Keir told the Mail this week that Tory claims he is trying to rig the electorate were 'completely wrong'. Pictured: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden Anger at Welsh jibe over Tory 20mph protest The Labour-run Welsh governments top legal adviser faces a reprimand after claiming Conservatives opposing blanket 20mph speed limits were happy to see children killed and injured on our roads. Counsel General Mick Antoniw has admitted his comments, posted online in September 2023, were inappropriate. The Welsh Senedds standards watchdog has said he should be censured by the Welsh parliament. Standards Commissioner Douglas Bain said Mr Antoniw set a very poor example and showed a lack of judgement. A motion on the censure of the MS for Pontypridd, set to be put to the parliament on Wednesday, is unlikely to be opposed. Advertisement But analysis of recent polls suggests the youngsters he plans to give the right to vote will be overwhelmingly Left-wing. A recent YouGov survey found that 37 per cent of voters aged 18-24 backed Labour, with 21 per cent supporting the Greens and an equal number the Liberal Democrats. If results were similar for 16 and 17-year-olds, they would suggest that lowering the voting age could add an extra 1.3million Left or centre-Left voters to the electoral roll. By contrast, the Conservatives enjoy just 7 per cent support among the youngest age group, and could gain as few as 112,000 extra voters from the change. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: 'If Keir Starmer were to win, the UK would join a small group of countries like Cuba and Ecuador in enfranchising teenagers as he manoeuvres to lock in large Labour majorities. 'A supermajority would give Starmer a blank cheque to raise taxes, attack pensioners and lose control on migration. Automatically gifting himself more than a million more Left-leaning voters will lock Labour in power for a generation.' Meanwhile a children's vote organised by a coalition of youth organisations and charities also suggested that lowering the voting age would benefit the Left. The vote, organised by a coalition of youth organisations and charities, saw 23,000 young people aged seven to 17 take part across England and Wales. The Our Generation, Our Vote mock election was held to give young people a voice and hear first-hand views about the policies of the main parties. Overall results saw 32 per cent voting Labour, 29 per cent choosing the Green Party and 13 per cent going for the Liberal Democrats. Your browser does not support iframes. But analysis of recent polls suggests the youngsters he plans to give the right to vote will be overwhelmingly Left-wing Meanwhile a children's vote organised by a coalition of youth organisations and charities also suggested that lowering the voting age would benefit the Left Ten million postal votes overloading the system Postal votes are expected to top ten million in this General Election, causing problems for those running the ballot. The number of postal votes rose from 937,000 in 1997 to 8.2 million in 2019, a slight dip on the previous 2017 election, but more than 1.3 million applications were made between May 22 and June 19 this year. 'Election teams are doing their very best to run this snap election, but with a short timetable plus print and delivery suppliers working at capacity demand is overloading the system,' the Association of Electoral Administrators said. 'Printing postal votes is a complicated process. Personalised postal vote statements must be matched with the correct ballot paper, personalised envelopes and instruction sheets. Election teams also need to carry out security checks, adding to the time needed to prepare and send ballot papers out.' It comes as a Scottish council was forced to take urgent action to ensure people who have not received postal ballots can still have their say next week. Edinburgh City Council has set up an emergency centre where those who have yet to receive their ballot can have one reissued, or can even cast their vote ahead of July 4. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said he was 'troubled' by delays in some Scots receiving their postal votes. Postal votes are expected to top ten million in this General Election, causing problems for those running the ballot. (Stock Image) Advertisement Ten per cent picked Reform UK, while just 9 per cent favoured the Conservatives. The 20 organisations behind the project stress that they are politically neutral. The coalition, including Save the Children, UK Youth and Girlguiding, said more than a fifth (22 per cent) of the children who took part had highlighted education as the policy area that influenced their vote the most. This was followed by health and climate/ environment (joint on 18 per cent). Cost of living was an issue for 16 per cent, while 12 per cent cited safety. Immigration was mentioned least, with only 8 per cent saying this had influenced their mock vote. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Now even the New York Times has turned on Joe Biden - as the Democrat-friendly newspaper urged the President to quit the race for the White House the day after his disastrous debate. Party donors and congressmen are said to have given the ailing President a week to 'prove he is not dead' after the car-crash showdown against Trump. Insiders described the 81-year-old's performance as a 'train wreck' and a 'dumpster fire' - while some openly suggested he should step aside for another candidate. Biden meandered through the 90-minute CNN spectacle, struggling to finish sentences and losing his train of thought multiple times in front of tens of millions of stunned TV viewers. And despite insisting he was ready to take the fight to Trump and courting LGBTQ voters in New York - including bringing Sir Elton John onstage with him - the President failed to convince key voters that 'I'm Still Standing'. In a blunt editorial, the broadsheet slammed him as a 'shadow' of his former self as they admitted the once 'admirable' politician 'struggled to make it to the end of a sentence'. In an article titled 'To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race', they blasted his continued attempts to run as a 'reckless gamble' with the country's future. In a blunt editorial, the broadsheet slammed him as a 'shadow' of his former self as they admitted the once 'admirable' politician 'struggled to make it to the end of a sentence' Insiders described the 81-year-old's debate showing as a 'train wreck' and 'dumpster fire' and some openly suggested he should step aside for another candidate 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' Despite insisting he was ready to take the fight to Trump and courting LGBTQ voters in New York - including bringing Sir Elton John onstage with him (pictured) - the President failed to convince key voters that 'I'm Still Standing' President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk off stage at the conclusion of the presidential debate The editorial comes despite a defiant Biden's insisting last night that he could still win an election as he refused to pull the plug on his election bid They said that the country needed 'a stronger opponent' to stand in the way of the 'significant jeopardy to... democracy' - a threat characterised by the Republican leader. In a damning blow, the newspaper's editorial board said: 'There is no reason for the party to risk the stability and security of the country by forcing voters to choose between Mr. Trump's deficiencies and those of Mr. Biden. It's too big a bet to simply hope Americans will overlook or discount Mr. Biden's age and infirmity that they see with their own eyes.' They continued: 'The clearest path for Democrats to defeat a candidate defined by his lies is to deal truthfully with the American public: acknowledge that Mr. Biden can't continue his race, and create a process to select someone more capable to stand in his place to defeat Mr. Trump in November. 'It is the best chance to protect the soul of the nation the cause that drew Mr. Biden to run for the presidency in 2019 from the malign warping of Mr. Trump. And it is the best service that Mr. Biden can provide to a country that he has nobly served for so long.' The brutal indictment comes despite a defiant Biden insisting last night that he could still win the election - as he refused to pull the plug on his bid for a second term. The president used a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, to assuage the widespread concerns as some of his closest allies - including Obama - publicly backed him despite admitting the performance was bad. 'I know I'm not a young man. To state the obvious,' Biden said, standing alongside First Lady Jill while she wore a Christian Siriano dress covered in the word 'vote.' '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.' Joe Biden during the first 2024 presidential debate on TV between him and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Former US President Donald J. Trump speaks against Biden during a campaign rally at the Greenbriar Farms in Chesapeake, Virginia President Joe Biden participates in the CNN presidential debate Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election '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 added. But Democrat grandees are calling for the President to suspend his campaign and step aside for a younger candidate at this year's party convention, which will take place in August. 'I think the president has one week to prove he is not dead,' Matthew Yglesias, a US political blogger, was told by one congressman. Mark Buell, a Democrat donor, said: 'Do we have time to put somebody else in there?' Barack Obama advisor David Axelrod added: 'There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.' And David Plouffe, who managed Obama's campaign when he came to power in 2008, told CNN: 'It's kind of a Defcon 1 moment they are three years apart, but they seemed about 30 years apart tonight.' This frank concern was concurred in the UK - where Conservative Cabinet ministers desperately sought to preserve Britain's 'special relationship'. Supporters of former President Donald Trump gather prior to his remarks during a campaign rally at the Greenbriar Farms in Chesapeake Republicans hold up signs bearing Trump's famous catchphrase from the Apprentice directed towards his political foe Joe Biden looks down as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election Three told The Telegraph that Biden needed to be swapped out for someone younger. They bluntly said the Democrats have to 'get rid' of the aging politician and 'switch him fast' if they want to hold on to victory. 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. 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. '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. Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden board Air Force One at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 28, 2024 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 Jill Biden helps her husband off stage last night after his debate with Trump went awry '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?' 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. Mr Biden looked shaky as he descended the stairs Jill Biden addressed her husband and said: 'Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question.' President Biden looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes (pictured) while Trump was speaking in the CNN debate last night 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. 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. She marveled when the audience joined in and called Trump a liar. A poster of US President Joe Biden with the word "Failure" stamped across his face is seen as people wait to hear Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Supporters of former President Donald J. Trump gather prior to his remarks during a campaign rally 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.' Donald Trump twisted the knife into Biden last night - calling his disastrous debate performance a 'big victory' and suggesting the U.S. can't survive four more years of his presidency if he can't make it through 90 minutes on stage. The 77-year-old took the rally stage in Virginia after the state's Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, who was once tipped to be a challenger for the GOP presidential nomination. Trump tore into Biden for his poor performance after a week of rest and then went spoke about migrants, global warming electric cars, Al Capone, Hannibal Lecter, whales, Michelle Obama. The audience of MAGA faithful then cheered for their favorite nicknames for Biden, including 'sleepy' and 'crooked'. 'Did anyone last night watch a thing called the debate? Man, that was a big one,' he told a fired-up crowd in the crucial swing state. 'Did anyone last night watch a thing called the debate? Man, that was a big one,' he told a fired-up crowd in the crucial swing state of Virginia . The former president insisted that the 81-year-old is staying in the race despite Democrat calls for him to be replaced Trump told the crowd: 'Biden spent the entire week at Camp David resting, working, studyinghe studied so hard he didn't know what the hell he was doing' 'Biden spent the entire week at Camp David resting, working, studyinghe studied so hard he didn't know what the hell he was doing.' 'He got the debate rules he wanted, he got the date he wanted, at the network he wanted with the [moderators] he wanted. 'No amount of rest or rigging could defend his atrocious record'. Trump added that the question is not if Biden can survive a 90-minute debate, but whether the country can survive another four years of him in the White House. The presumptive Republican nominee then reeled off his greatest rally hits, and pointed out 'beautiful women' from North Carolina who had been to more than 170 of his rallies. He compared the former Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam to Michael Jackson because he was involved in a blackface scandal. Trump also discussed potential Biden replacements, and hinted that Michelle Obama would be a good choice if she wasn't polling so badly. 'A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for failure, surrender, and disaster for our country. A vote for your all-time favorite president, Donald J. Trump, is a vote for stopping Joe Biden's inflation and border invasion and for making America great again!' Armed police were forced to shoot a 'dangerously out-of-control' XL Bully, which attacked and injured at least one woman in Greater Manchester on Friday night. Officers were called at around 9pm to several reports of a dog attacking members of the public in Gladstone Road in Eccles, Salford. Despite efforts by police, they were unable to safely recapture the animal - which is now a banned breed in the UK. Armed officers were called out to the residential road 'due to the risk and harm it was causing', before it was 'destroyed at the scene as the last possible option.' Following the incident, two men were arrested and detained after confronting officers. Armed police were forced to shoot a 'dangerously out-of-control' dog, which attacked and injured at least one woman in Gladstone Road in Eccles, Salford, on Friday night Despite efforts by police, they were unable to safely recapture the dog - which is now a banned breed in the UK Armed officers were called out to the residential road 'due to the risk and harm it was causing', before it was 'destroyed at the scene as the last possible option' A woman who was injured by the animal is continuing to receive treatment for her injuries. XL Bullys, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31 without an exemption, following a slew of fatal attacks across the UK. The powerful breed has distinctive features, including an average 20-inch height, broad shoulders, a bulky head and nine-stone weight. New laws on owning the breed were introduced following a wave of fatal attacks linked to XL Bully-type animals, including Ian Price who was killed in Stonnall, Staffordshire, in September 2023, and Ian Langley, who died in Sunderland in October 2023. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: 'At around 9pm tonight on Gladstone Road in Eccles we were called to several reports of a dog dangerously out of control that was subsequently attacking the public and injured a woman in the process. XL Bullys, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31 without an exemption, following a slew of fatal attacks across the UK (stock image) 'Initially, both local officers and the public were unable to regain control of the dog. 'Specialised officers were deployed and tried to safely secure the XL Bully but were unsuccessful. 'This meant unfortunately due to the risk and harm it was causing as a banned breed it was destroyed at the scene as the last possible option. 'Two men were later arrested and detained after confronting officers. The woman victim is still receiving treatment for her injuries. 'We understand the concern this incident will raise within the community but our officers have a duty to act in challenging situations on a regular basis with the aim of keeping everyone safe.' A millionaire financier plans to buy a massive Highland estate complete with four islands and hand it to a community group in an extraordinary act of generosity. Ian Wace is in the process of securing the Badentarbat Estate by Achiltibuie, near Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty. Considered by some to be an inspiration for the cult 1970s horror film The Wicker Man, Badentarbat is on the market for 2,750,000 and covers a 'significant portion of the Coigach peninsula'. Mr Wace has told the Coigach Community Development Company (CCDC) the estate will be gifted to the group once the sale is complete. Badentarbat is home to around 70 crofts plus four small islands which are part of the Summer Isles group. Summerisle was the fictional location of The Wicker Man, which was wrongly thought by many movie fans to be set in the Wester Ross archipelago. In fact, it was shot in Galloway and Plockton. Millionaire Ian Wace attending a n event at The River Cafe, London in 2018. Mr Wace has bought a massive Highland estate and plans to give it to the community Badentarbat Estate by Achiltibuie, near Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty is on the market for 2,750,000 and covers a 'significant portion of the Coigach peninsula' Summerisle is considered by some to be an inspiration for the cult 1970s horror film The Wicker Man Residents local to Badentarbat have now voted to support the move, in a packed community meeting on Thursday. Mr Wace bought nearby Tanera Mor, the largest of the Summer Isles, in 2017. A spokesman for Mr Wace said of the latest purchase yesterday: 'It all happened very quickly and was approved by the community in Achiltibuie last night. Ian wanted to do something for the community. Tanera is opposite the community and he's invested a lot on the island, rebuilding the community there. There are grants available from the Scottish Government for a community buy-out but it is a lengthy, competitive process. Ian stepped in to speed up the process. It's all done and dusted.' According to the Scotsman, Adam Blaker, chief executive of Summer Isles Enterprises (SIE) which runs Tanera Mor, represented the philanthropist at Thursday night's meeting. He told the locals: 'Ian was only interested in buying the estate if he could gift the crofting land. It has been an extremely rapid process. This is about doing something meaningful. 'It gives people in the community the opportunity to own their own property and to govern their own decisions. People will see and feel the benefit of this for generations to come.' The estate is one of two main ones on the peninsula and has been owned by the same family for around half a century. Mr Wace is worth around 800million according to the Sunday Times Rich List. Richard Williams, chairman of CCDC, said: 'We are hugely grateful to Ian Wace for enabling this incredible opportunity for the community.' Victorian Police have made a breakthrough in the drive-by shooting of a father-to-be in Melbourne's southeast earlier this year, with a man charged with murder. Homicide detectives on Friday charged a 21-year-old Cranbourne North man with murder over his alleged role in the killing of Aaron Toth who was found with a gunshot wounds in a vehicle at Hampton Park early on April 27. Mr Toth died at the scene, sparking an outpouring of grief from his friends and family, as well as a police manhunt. The man has been charged with a string of charges relating to separate incidents including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit kidnap. Aaron Toth was killed in a drive by shooting in Hampton Park in April this year. Source: Facebook He is expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Saturday. Police earlier this year described the incident as a suspected targeted shooting. Police were told a Ford Ranger ute was seen driving from the scene and was found burnt-out in Berkwick later that morning. Homicide detectives on Friday charged a 21-year-old Cranbourne North man with murder over his alleged role in the killing of Aaron Toth who was found with a gunshot wounds in a vehicle at Hampton Park early on April 27 Police earlier this year described the incident as a suspected targeted shooting, with a Ford Ranger ute seen driving from the scene which was later found burnt-out in Berkwick At the time, his friend Sammy Adams said he was travelling to Melbourne after news of his 'best mate's' death. 'I'm on my way to Melbourne now, a day too late for a catch up we will never have,' he said, 'I'll never be able to tell you how much I love you as a mate for all you have done for me. 'I'm so upset and f***ed up by your death ... My deepest sympathy and condolences to all of your family.' The man running taxpayer-funded courses to protect schoolchildren from disinformation has made repeated appearances on Vladimir Putin's propaganda channel. Matteo Bergamini's Shout Out UK organisation received a share of a 3million grant from London Mayor Sadiq Khan and has worked with over 50 councils to teach 30,000 youngsters to help 'counter disinformation through political and media literacy'. He boasts of having over 1,500 schools in the group's network and that its clients have also included the Home Office, Department of Culture, the Greater London Authority and US State Department. Mr Bergamini was made an MBE for Services to Charity, Social Enterprise and Education in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours. And he has started an All-Party Parliamentary Group with several senior MPs and peers to 'bring political and media literacy education' to every young person in Britain. Matteo Bergamini who runs taxpayer-funded courses to protect schoolchildren from disinformation has made repeated appearances on Vladimir Putin 's propaganda channel (pictured) But for three years after the full launch of his organisation, Mr Bergamini made multiple appearances on Kremlin backed RT - previously called Russian Today - which watchdogs eventually pulled in the UK after widespread accusations it was promoting lies and propaganda. He described being 'honoured' to speak at the 2017 World Festival of Youth in Russia, which was branded a Kremlin soft power event and was also addressed by Putin. Mr Bergamini appeared on RT on screen and online between 2015 and 2018, even after then hard left Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell had told Corbynite MPs not to appear on it following the sickening nerve agent attack by Russian agents in in Salisbury in March 2018. In a September 2018 RT interview about then Home Secretary Amber Rudd's ID card plan, he appeared on screen as the channel promoted its much-mocked interview with the two suspected state assassins as they explained unchallenged that they had been innocent tourist in Salisbury who approached dissident Sergei Skripal's house by accident. RT was later fined 200,000 by Ofcom in 2019 for breaching impartiality rules over its reporting of the Salisbury poisonings and the war in Syria. Mr Bergamini was made an MBE for Services to Charity, Social Enterprise and Education in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours (pictured with Princess Anne) In a 2017 RT appearance Mr Bergamini accused the New York Times and Wall Street Journal of launching a 'witch hunt' against RT after the US papers accused the station of posting 'unreliable, misleading and highly partisan' content fuelled by a close relationship with social media. He said: 'They couldn't just accept that RT is doing well by providing people with [content] that people will watch '[They] are just choking out accusations without any evidence' Mr Bergamini told the Mail that he wasn't in control of RT's editing of his comments and he believed criticism of the channel was warranted. Mr Bergamini did not mention his multiple RT appearances when hosting a 53-minute-long Nato sponsored podcast recorded at the US Embassy in June 2023 warning about Russian state propaganda. The podcast included an extensive section about RT 'pumping out disinformation' in which he interviewed a US academic who described how the channel had been spreading conspiracy theories since 2008 and was filled with 'Kremlin friendly voices'. London Mayor Sadiq Khan awarded Mr Bergamini a share of a 3million grant for his Shout Out UK organisation RT was finally pulled from UK screens in March 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine when Ofcom revoked its licence and the European Union banned it for promoting 'systematic information manipulation and disinformation by the Kremlin'. Ofcom later ruled RT had breached impartiality rules 29 times over its coverage of the war. Mr Bergamini started Shout Out UK as a student blog in 2011 to platform youth voices and it became a 'fully fledged' organisation in 2015 declaring its 'mission to defend and amplify democracy' by ensuring all citizens are 'inoculated from disinformation and misinformation.' On 23 March 2014, as Russia was in the final states of annexing Crimea, Shout Out UK's official Twitter account posted a tweet saying: 'Has Cameron and Obama's attack on a democratic decision to join Russia by Crimea shown old signs of western imperialism?' Mr Bergamini told the Mail the tweet should also have included a blog to an article voicing someone else's opinion and that he 'fully condemned' the annexation. Later that year the account was used to Tweet an event with state media Rossiga Novessya, RIA Novosti, a forerunner of the Sputnik news agency which has also since been banned in the UK by Ofcom. It urged anyone wanting to be a journalist with RIA Novosti? contact Shout Out UK. Mr Bergamini, who has also made many appearances on other news channels, told the Mail that going on RT or speaking at an event did not 'constitute an endorsement of its practices', that Shout Out UK's 'major works with governments' began after his RT appearances and he did not mention these in the Nato podcast because it was to 'platform experts' not give his 'personal experience.' The day after the Mail approached for comment he Tweeted an article on Shout Out UK's website entitled 'my experience with foreign state propaganda' which also addressed most of the points we had put to him. Mr Bergamini dated the article as four days prior to being contacted by the Mail - and later told us it had been written 'some time ago' - but repeatedly declined to confirm the date he had published it online. A boat driver killed a young woman by turning too fast and slamming her into another vessel while she was tubing, her friend claims. Kaileigh Seidel, 24, died on June 22 from injuries she suffered in the collision on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. Police said she was 'thrown' from the boat around 8pm, but her friend Millie Lovea, who was on board watching helplessly, blamed the driver. Lovea said the driver was 'whipping back and forth through the river' and took a turn too fast, flinging the tube - and Seidel - into the other boat. Kaileigh Seidel, 24, died on June 22 from injuries she suffered in the collision on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon She claimed Seidel was pleading with the person helming the boat to slow down and drive less erratically, but they didn't listen. '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,' she said. 'Seeing my friend hurt and feeling helpless is something I can't shake. Making the call to her family was even worse. 'I'm overwhelmed with guilt and sadness, wondering why things happened the way they did. 'I keep replaying the events in my mind, questioning what I could have done differently or better to save her. 'Survivor's guilt is real, and it's something I'm gonna carry every single day.' Photos Seidel posted showed she and her 'bestie' Lovea smiling and laughing just three hours before she was killed. Seidel was tubing on the river with her friend Millie Lovea (pictured together just three hours before she died), who witnessed the accident Her friend claimed Seidel was pleading with the boatie to slow down and drive less erratically, but they didn't listen Her family said Seidel was not usually one to worry, and if she was pleading with the driver to slow down it must have been very dangerous Seidel's family thanked friends and Portland locals for supporting her family and sharing their love Seidel's aunt Rachelle Hunsperger, after hearing Lovea's account, insists the boat driver should be charged with causing her death. 'This was not just a simple accident. She did not 'fall off' of a boat. This boat driver needs to be held accountable,' she said. Hunsperger told KPTV that Seidel was not usually one to worry, and if she was pleading with the driver to slow down it must have been very dangerous. 'That just seems so unlike her. She was always like, let's go, let's have fun. If she was telling somebody to slow down then she was probably scared,' she said. 'This was no simple accident. I feel that there is somebody definitely at fault and hopefully that comes out.' Seidel's boss said she 'had amazing energy, a loving heart and a smile that could light the world' The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office River Patrol is investigating Seidel's death Seidel's sister Aliyah also hit out at the boat driver, whom Seidel did not know well, for their alleged dangerous conduct. 'She was so innocent and taken so violently because of someone else's decision to be reckless,' she told the local news station. 'She was very spontaneous and she loved to have fun. She got invited out on a boat and she had no idea that that would be the last day of her life.' Aliyah thanked friends and Portland locals for supporting her family and sharing their love for her sister. The boat collision took place on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon The river runs straight through the center of Portland, the biggest city on Oregon 'When I last saw her on Friday night I was helping her move her things out of her apartment because she was moving in with my dad to save money,' she wrote on Facebook. 'She said to me 'seriously thank you SO much, I literally have no one else'. Little did she know she had hundreds of people.' Seidel's boss Terra Yoder said she 'had amazing energy, a loving heart and a smile that could light the world'. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office River Patrol is investigating Seidel's death after a 911 called 'reported that they had witnessed a woman getting struck by another boat'. A long-time Biden ally secretly indicated to other Democrats that he would be open to supporting a different candidate if the debate went poorly. After Biden's abysmal performance in the first presidential debate on Thursday night, the longtime friend's worst fears were likely realized. For two decades, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer served with Joe Biden in the upper chamber of Congress, yet this did not stop him from reportedly telling other allies he would be open to ditching Biden if the debate did not go well. The new information reveals that behind closed doors, Schumer was painfully aware that the night could be a disaster for the Democrats. After Biden's abysmal performance in the first presidential debate on Thursday night, the ally's worst fears were likely realized According to Axios, who learned of Schumer's sentiments through two people familiar with the matter, the Senate majority leader was fond of an early debate for a few reasons. The first was that it would give Biden more time to rehabilitate his image after a weak showing. The other reason was that it would provide the Democratic Party more time to chart a way forward and consider other options. Now that Schumer's fear has come true - Biden's performance has been called a disaster by pundits and politicians of all affiliations - it's unclear what steps the senator from New York will take. Publicly, of course, Schumer is still very much in Biden's corner. On X.com, the senator wrote: 'Tonight's debate made the choice clear. Four more years of progress, or four more years of attacks on our fundamental rights and our democracy.' A long-time Biden ally secretly indicated to other Democrats that he would be open to supporting a different candidate if the debate went poorly For two decades, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer served with Joe Biden in the upper chamber of Congress , yet this did not stop Schumer from reportedly telling other allies that he would be open to ditching Biden if the debate did not go well He continued: 'We've got to get out the vote for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and a Democratic Senate and House.' A Schumer spokesperson doubled down on the senator's support for Biden in a statement to Axios: 'Leader Schumer has always supported and continues to support President Biden as the nominee and believes he will be re-elected.' Democratic pundits, though, are not satisfied with Biden's performance, feeling that the debate confirmed many voters' fears that the president was too old and infirm for the nation's highest office. Several op-eds have been published in liberal publications that call on Biden to end his campaign for The White House. On Friday, the editorial board of the New York Times urged the president to exit the race. The publication put it bluntly, writing: 'Mr. Biden can't continue this race.' But elected Democrats have closed ranks and aren't publicly withdrawing their support from Biden. Democratic pundits, though, are not satisfied with Biden's performance, feeling that the debate confirmed many voters' fears that the president was too old and infirm for the nation's highest office If the Democratic Party decides to heed the calls of different political analysts, the move to swap out presidential candidates will need to be set in motion by Biden himself, or a high-ranking member of the party. Given his stature within the Democratic organization, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, who first assumed office in 1999, will likely be looked to for some direction. Schumer's position as the party's leader in the Senate makes him painfully aware of the possible negative implication of a weak presidential candidate at the top of the ticket. A canny strategist, the Senate majority leader has worked in close coordination with Biden in the past to champion and pass different pieces of legislation. Publicly, of course, Schumer is still very much in Biden's corner Ultimately, though, Schumer's loyalties aren't bound up with Biden, but with the party and its senators. In November, the Democrats will need a stellar performance from the top of the ticket in order to secure victories for their Senate candidates in battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Nevada. It's unclear whether or not elected Democrats think that Biden will help them on the ballot. For his part, Biden announced at a rally in North Carolina on Friday that he was not planning on dropping out of the race. The president used the event to try to manage some of the fallout from his disastrous debate performance. 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 'I know I'm not a young man. To state the obvious,' the president said, standing alongside First Lady Jill Biden, who wore a Christian Siriano dress covered with word 'vote.' '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 then swore to the people in the audience that he was still ideally suited for the nomination. '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.' A homeless man has been charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed a stranger to death at a popular swimming destination. Police were called to Frankston Pier, in Melbourne's southeast, following reports of an assault just after 6am on Saturday. A 45-year-old man from Cranbourne North was found unresponsive and died at the scene. Police arrested a 36-year-old man on the foreshore shortly after the gruesome discovery. The man, who has no fixed address, has been charged with murder over the older man's death. He will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, the crime scene was cordoned off as investigators and State Emergency Services combed for evidence. 'Homicide Squad detectives are investigating and at this stage are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident,' Victoria Police said in a statement. A homeless man has been charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed a stranger to death at a popular swimming destination 'It is also believed the parties involved were not known to one another.' One passerby recalled the moment they ran to the man's aid following the incident. 'I checked the dude but there was no sign of life at all no twitching, no noise, no nothing,' he told the Herald Sun. 'I didn't know whether to stay there with him or (not). I just saw the guy walking off and I just thought I couldn't let him walk away,' the witness claimed. 'He stopped like he was thinking for a second and then walked off.' He said the incident had lasted less than a minute and had left him shaken as he had started fishing from the pier hours earlier at 3.30am. 'I was fishing on the other side of him (closest to the foreshore) a couple of minutes before it happened,' he said. Swimmers have been warned to avoid several Maine beaches after officials made a repugnant discovery in the water. Beaches in Portland, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Camden, Rockport and more were flagged for high levels of bacteria on Friday, reported News Center Maine. While members of the Maine Healthy Beaches program conducted routine testing, officials discovered alarming levels of enterococci bacteria - microorganisms that indicate possible contamination by fecal waste. Maine Department of Environmental Protection Coordinator Meagan Sims told the local news outlet that signs are often posted around the shores to warn beachgoers if an advisory has been posted. 'Our protocol when we have elevated bacteria is to always make every effort to what we call re-sample that location,' Sims said. Swimmers have been warned to avoid several Maine beaches including in Kennebunkport (pictured) due to high levels of enterococci bacteria Enterococcus does not cause flesh-rotting necrotizing fasciitis, but it still leads to severe health problems. The bacteria are a common cause of urinary tract infections, endocarditis - an infection in the lining of heart valves - and blood infections. It enters the body when contaminated water is swallowed or comes into contact with an open wound. Infection via wounds can lead to abscesses. In addition to leading to UTIs, which affect the bladder, urethra, and kidneys, and endocarditis, enterococcus can cause bloodstream infections called bacteremia, meningitis leading to inflammation in the membranes surrounding the brain, and gum infections. The infections are typically treated with antibiotics. But many strains have evolved to evade the medications, which poses challenges to treating them effectively. In addition to potential bacteria exposure, other Maine officials are sounding the alarm on other beach safety hazards. Lifeguards at Old Orchard Beach have had to recuse several people from rip currents and erosion caused by storms in the off season have presented new dangers. Maine officials are sounding the alarm on hazards at Old Orchard Beach (pictured) such as rip currents and erosion dangers 'It's going to be a challenging summer for our public safety,' Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief John Gilboy told WMTW. 'The storms this past winter really really altered the beach and that is damaging a lot of the dunes. It's changed the ground of the ocean so that now we have sand bars in places that we didn't have, and now we have rip currents in places that we didn't have.' At least five feet of sand has been washed away from under the pier, leaving rocks, debris and pipes exposed. On Tuesday, dozens of beaches in San Diego were shut down due to sewage creating frighteningly high levels of bacteria in the open waters. Water contact closures were issued for Silver Strand Shoreline, Imperial Beach Shorelines, and the Tijuana Slough Shoreline, along the U.S, Mexico border. Advisories were issued for the La Jolla, Children's Pool, Coronado, Coronado Lifeguard Tower, the Ocean Beach, Dog Beach, the San Diego River outlet, Mission Bay, North Cove, and Vacation Isle. A city council has announced that all its parking meters will soon be cashless but the decision is meeting with some pushback from residents. North Sydney Council has announced all the parking meters under its jurisdiction on the north side of the city's Harbour Bridge will be made cashless to coincide with the shutting of Australia's 3G network. 'Our parking meters are changing due to the upcoming Australia-wide shutdown of the 3G network,' the council said in a statement. 'All existing parking meters in the North Sydney LGA use this network, which therefore requires an upgrade.' The rollout of the new meters will take place over the next month. There no other changes to paid parking zones or time limits. Council said there were a number of reasons for going cashless with only four per cent of those using meters still feeding coins into the slots. 'Over the past year, the number of people paying with coins for parking has lowered to less than 4 per cent,' it said. North Sydney council has announced it is 'upgrading' all its parking meters to be cashless 'Malfunctions in our existing parking meters occur primarily due to coin-box vandalism and jams. 'The removal of coin payments ensures our parking meters' reliability long-term, as it decreases these ongoing maintenance costs.' However, not everyone approved of the change. 'Absolutely ridiculous, who wants to do a card transaction for $1?' one person posted online. Another warned that scammers were putting fake QR codes on meters fooling motorists into thinking they were paying council. The new cashless parking meters were met with a mixed reaction from locals commenting online 'I wonder how they plan to stop that from happening?' the person asked. Another person commenting approved the change with one qualification. 'Quicker to tap on than finding a $1 coin, as long as they don't pass on the card fees to us,' they said. Legendary investor Warren Buffet has given the public a peek at his will, revealing how he intends to use his $130billion fortune to help those in need. The chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, 93, said after he dies, almost all of his immense wealth will be put into a charitable trust, which will be managed by his daughter and two sons. Buffet also clarified that his donations to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation would terminate. 'The Gates Foundation has no money coming after my death,' Buffet told The Wall Street Journal. Legendary investor Warren Buffet, 93, has given the public a peek at his will, revealing how he intends to use his $130 billion fortune to help those in need The active philanthropist has already parted with more than half of his shares of Berkshire Hathway, a multinational holding company that he gained control of in 1965. On Friday morning, Buffet made his latest round of charitable donations, leaving him still in possession of almost $130 billion of company stock. In order to donate money in the trust, Buffet's three children will have to be in complete agreement over the causes they choose to sponsor. The chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway said that after he dies, almost all of his immense wealth will be put into a charitable trust, which will be managed by his daughter and two sons; Pictured (far left) daughter Susan, (center-right) son Howard, (far right) son Peter The billionaire hasn't exactly prescribed how his children should go about using the money, though, offering them little more than his philosophy of giving back. 'It should be used to help the people that haven't been as lucky as we have been,' Buffet, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska, said. 'There's eight billion people in the world, and me and my kids, we've been in the luckiest 100th of 1 percent or something. There's lots of ways to help people.' In order to donate money in the trust, Buffet's three children will have to be in complete agreement over the causes they choose to sponsor Buffet has changed his will multiple times but arrived at the current iteration after seeing how his children had matured over the years In 2006, Buffet, who had previously contended that he would save philanthropy until his death, had a change of heart and announced his desire to give. He committed to making annual gifts to the Gates Foundation, as well as four foundations that were associated with his family. At the time, though, what he would do with his immense fortunate upon his death remained a mystery. But Buffet on launching his children's charitable trust in lieu of continuing to contribute to the five foundations after he dies. The Nebraska billionaire has changed his will multiple times, but he told the Journal that he arrived at the current iteration after 'seeing how his children matured over the years.' Buffet's daughter, Susie, is the oldest of the brood at 71. Like her father, she lives in Omaha, where she chairs the Sherwood Foundation - an organization that champions childhood education and social justice. Susie also chairs the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation, which is devoted to supporting reproductive rights and providing college scholarships. Howie Buffet, 69, lives in Illinois, where he farms and leads the Howard G. Buffet Foundation, which is focused on food security, conflict mitigation, and curtailing human trafficking. Along with his sister, Howie serves on the Berkshire board. 'I feel very, very good about the values of my three children, and I have 100% trust in how they will carry things out,' Buffet said, proudly Peter Buffet, the youngest at 66, is a composer who lives near Kingston, New York. Along with his wife, Jennifer Buffet, he directs the NoVo Foundation, which has done work with indigenous communities. 'I feel very, very good about the values of my three children, and I have 100 percent trust in how they will carry things out,' Buffet said, proudly. He added that after he dies, his children will have an obvious advantage over him in determining how to make the best use of his fortune. 'I like to think I can think outside the box, but I'm not sure if I can think outside the box when it's 6 feet below the surface and do a better job than three people who are on the surface who I trust completely.' Bill Maher ripped Joe Biden's performance in his debate with Trump, joking he'd 'seen beauty pageant contestants answer questions better' than the president. The comedian dug into the president's disastrous debate in his opening monologue for his Max show, Real Time, on Friday. Bombshell new polling revealed even fewer voters believe Biden is is mentally up to the task of being president for another four years after he struggled to get through debate night. Maher has regularly criticized Biden's chances at re-election, often declaring his age to be the biggest problem. 'I don't want to say he s**t the bed, but his new Secret Service name is Amber Heard,' Maher said. Bill Maher slammed Joe Biden's performance in the presidential debate against Donald Trump and branded him with a new Secret Service codename He was referencing Johnny Depp's testimony in which he claimed his ex-wife defecated in their bed at their Los Angeles penthouse after an argument the night before her 30th birthday in February 2016. 'Did you see the debate? In case you missed it don't worry so did one of the contestants,' said Maher. 'I mean Trump told lie after lie after lie. He never would have gotten away with that if Joe Biden was there. 'You know Joe, he famously loves trains but apparently not of thought.' Earlier in June, Maher declared Biden's new immigration policy would cost him the presidency after he issued an executive action that limited the number of migrants who can arrive at the border and claim asylum to 2,500 per day. Maher said: 'If Biden loses this election, it's going to be because of two things: He's old and immigration. New polling showed even fewer voters believe Biden is is mentally up to the task of being president for another four years after he struggled to get through debate night 'I mean, just on a political level, I don't think they could have handled it worse.' Biden attempted to manage the fallout from his dismal debate performance at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday. 'I know I'm not a young man. To state the obvious,' the president said, standing alongside First Lady Jill Biden, who wore a Christian Siriano dress covered with word 'vote.' '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 then swore to the people in the audience that he was still ideally suited for the nomination. '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 tried 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. '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. At the end of his speech, Biden suggested that the rally appearance was the beginning of his post-debate redemption arc. 'I know what millions of Americans know - when you get knocked down you get back up.' For his part, Trump told a crowd of supporters at rally stage in Virginia on Friday that Biden 'didn't know what the hell he was doing' during the debate. 'He got the debate rules he wanted, he got the date he wanted, at the network he wanted with the [moderators] he wanted. 'No amount of rest or rigging could defend his atrocious record.' Police are investigating after reports of a bloody street battle outside a nightclub, which according to one witness involved 50 people. While no officers or paramedics were called to the incident outside central Perth's Barbes nightclub on Hay Street in the early hours of Saturday morning, five people later presented to the Royal Perth Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. On Saturday police cordoned off an area outside the club and the nearby carpark next to a TAB where officers examined some fallen temporary construction site fencing. Forensics officers have been examining several trails of blood on the pavement and street along with other items of interest that have been flagged on the bitumen as they take photos or put evidence into bags. Melissa Nightingable, who is homeless and was sleeping in her car behind the nearby Carlton Hotel when the brawl broke out between 4am and 6am, witnessed the fight. 'I was just trying to sleep in my car, it's really hard being homeless ... and so I tried to hide so they didn't know it was just me in my car and that was when a group of them just went free for all,' she said. 'They started to throw rocks and gravel at my car ... (I thought) they were going to break in (and I was going) to get raped or get killed or get beaten.' Ms Nightingable said there were at least two people injured out of the roughly 50 combatants. Police are investigating after reports of a bloody street battle outside Perth nightclub Barbes in the early hours of Saturday Forensics officers cordoned off an area around the nightclub and nearby carpark with trails of blood seen on the ground 'One was limping and the other one had his hand covering up his white t-shirt,' she said. 'I heard really bad language and swearing.' Police confirmed they received no reports of a crime being committed or victim complaints from the incident. A disabled woman has complained she cannot get into historic buildings because of the steps in front of the doors. Jayne Mattingly has spent the past two years wheelchair bound with chronic illnesses and said she struggled to live in Charleston, South Carolina. The 33-year-old sufferers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, intracranial hypertension, endometriosis, autoimmune disease and a spinal cord injury. Mattingly posted a video to social media explaining her disappointment at being unable to get into Harken Cafe & Bakery on King Street. A disabled woman posted a video to social media explaining her disappointment at being unable to get into Harken Cafe & Bakery on King Street due to a step outside the door The cafe had a small step in the century-old leading into its doors that her wheelchair wouldn't be able to get over without a ramp. 'These are the moments that are heartbreaking, and this is the majority of Charlestown,' she said. Mattingly, who complained she was excited to go out after getting her hair done, also showed a shop she couldn't get into due to a tiny marble step. 'Not welcome,' she wrote over the top of the video. 'Being disabled in an inaccessible world. Charleston can be better. Being disabled doesn't need to be this hard. period. end of story,' she added. 'I literally just want to pay for food and be a patron of businesses! The irony of the car being parked in front of the curbcut and then the cafe not having a ramp all we need is a slab of wood.' Jayne Mattingly has spent the past two years wheelchair bound with chronic illnesses and said she struggled to live in Charleston, South Carolina Mattingly sufferers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, intracranial hypertension, endometriosis, autoimmune disease, and a spinal cord injury Mattingly later complained to local media that Charlestown that the historic city center was too hard to navigate and should be made more accessible. 'You know, instead of being like, 'historic buildings are more important than people,' let's think of people first,' she told WCSC. 'Because we could all be become disabled at some point. I think that really is the moral of the story, that passionate heart before the law.' Mattingly got some support from locals who noted Charlestown's historic architecture was hard to navigate even with a baby pram. But others argued the century-old buildings shouldn't have to be changed for her, and the businesses weren't unwelcoming because the buildings predated them. 'Not being able to access a 120yo building is very different from actively being UNWELCOMED. Stop thinking everything is affront to your sensitivities,' one wrote. Mattingly later complained to local media that Charlestown that the historic city center was too hard to navigate and should be made more accessible 'As my mom got older, she had a lot of trouble climbing tiny steps...not once did she thinks it was an attack. The poor cafe didn't design the damn architecture.' Others suggested Mattingly could have contacted the cafe and shop in advance for assistance getting inside. They also recommended a portable ramp for her wheelchair that could be used whenever she encountered a inaccessible entrance. 'This is a historical building code issue. Nobody said you 'weren't welcome.' Notable to maybe have a lightweight curb ramp at a store like this, but that's just a conversation,' one wrote. 'They also strap to the back of most mobility chairs. Nobody is the villain here.' Viewers argued the century-old buildings shouldn't have to be changed for her, and the businesses weren't unwelcoming because the buildings predated them Another suggested: 'Did you try calling them? A owner would have no problem assisting you over the bump or maybe they have a temporary ramp in the back they can pull out.' A third added: 'You are welcome. Wrong wording. I'm sure they would help you if you asked. I had to ask for help after two knee replacements. They were all happy to do so.' Mattingly had 14 brain and spine surgeries, plus other procedures, as well as a total hysterectomy. She relies on her wheelchair, rollator, and her service dog, Wheatie. She explained in a 2019 fundraiser that her health issues began with numbness in her face and severe pain in her upper body in July 2018. A small, rural county in South Carolina has seen its white population surge in recent years, with no county in the US paralleling its explosive growth. Jasper County, tucked away in the state's southeastern corner, has seen its share of white residents swell as more and more retirees flock to the area in search of warmer weather and lower taxes. As a result, the burgeoning white population can be largely attributed to retirement-age people who have migrated there. One of the positive effects of this influx of retirees has been the proliferation in the area of 55+ communities, like Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head. A small, rural county in South Carolina has seen its white population surge in recent years, with no county in the U.S. paralleling its explosive growth The retiree migration is an unsettling trend, one that began in Hilton Head a few decades ago before ultimately arriving in Jasper County, which is located between Savannah and Beaufort County. According to the US Census Bureau, Jasper County experienced the fastest growth of any county in South Carolina, and it was the ninth fastest growing county in the nation. A majority of that growth has occurred in the towns of Ridgeland and Hardeeville, according to the Post and Courier. Today, Ridgeland's population is roughly seven times what it was in 1990, while Ridgeland, with less than 4,000 residents, anticipates having more than 40,000 in two decades. When the 2020 census was conducted, Jasper County was already primarily white - 44 percent compared to its black population of 40 percent. Hispanic people accounted for almost all of the rest of the total. Jasper County, tucked away in the state's southeastern corner, has seen share of white residents swell as more and more retirees flock to the area in search of warmer weather and lower taxes One of upshots of this influx of retirees has been the proliferation in the area of 55+ communities, like Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head Another draw for the retirees is the Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, a vast, 55+ community that covers over 2,700 acres in southern Jasper County But by 2023, the white population further ballooned, according to recently released census estimates. The data revealed that the number of White residents had increased, rendering them 48 percent of the population. While the number of Black residents didn't really change, because of the surge in the White population, their percentage was diluted. The Black share of the population plummeted to 32 percent. One Black Jasper County local expressed little surprise about the changing racial makeup in the area. The burgeoning white population can be largely attributed to retirement-age people who have migrated to South Carolina Reginald White, whose family has owned property in the Cherry Hill neighborhood, told the post and courier that 'the area's fast-growing white population and slowly shrinking black population came as no surprise.' He explained that much of the county's economic lifeblood comes from the hospitality industry, which is located in neighboring Beaufort County. Mr. White revealed that many young black people are leaving the area in the hopes of finding higher-paying jobs farther afield. He said he's witnessed this happen in his own family. 'In order to find those better-paying jobs, a lot of people are leaving the area,' White noted. He continued: 'I would say that the economics of Jasper County are causing a lot of young folks to leave for better career opportunities.' In 2023, Jasper County's Administrator, Andrew Fulghum said that the county's explosive growth sprang from an influx of retirees In 2023, Jasper County's Administrator, Andrew Fulghum, told the Courier, that the county's explosive growth sprang from an influx of retirees. The county features many benefits to the prospective new resident, including a growing housing supply, a median housing cost that's roughly $150,000 cheaper than in Beaufort County, and quick access to the interstate. The latest census data seems to bear out Fulghum's assertion. In 2020, 28 percent of the residents in Jasper County were over 59 years old. Only three years later, it's now 34 percent. Another draw for the retirees is the Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, a vast, 55+ community that covers over 2,700 acres in southern Jasper County. EXCLUSIVE The New South Wales opposition is in total disarray following a stand-off between the respective leaders of the Coalition partners. Daily Mail Australia has been leaked an extract of the party room chat within the Nationals revealing just how bad the fallout from the crisis is getting. In the chat, one MP fumed about the release of 'contradictory' press releases by Nationals leader Dugald Saunders and Liberal Opposition Leader Mark Speakman. The MP, member for Tweed Geoff Provest, also fired a warning shot that the agreement between the two parties can't just be ripped up without consultation - demanding an urgent party room meeting or he would quit the party. The text fireworks erupted after Mr Speakman visited the state seat of Wagga Wagga this week, meeting with the local independent MP Joe McGirr. The flying visit wasn't well received, however, by Nationals upper house MP Wes Fang, who took to social media to slam his Coalition leader, clearly upset at not being included in the trip. Mr Fang - also the Nationals whip in the upper house and a member of the Coalition's front bench - described Mr Speakman as 'underhanded', only 'pretending' he cares about Wagga Wagga, and 'slinking' into town. Mr Fang even suggested the Liberal leader's time was up and he needs to go. Leaked texts between Nationals NSW MP Geoff Provest and state party leader Dugald Sanders reflect the turmoil happening in the state Coalition Mr Provest wasn't easily dissuaded that the rift between the Coalition parties was not serious 'That should tell you everything you need to know about the longevity of 'Speako's' leadership', Mr Fang's social media post concluded. Mr Speakman responded by issuing a media statement yesterday sacking Mr Fang from the Coalition's front bench. He said that Mr Fang's social media post made his position 'untenable' and Mr Speakman invited the Nationals leader Dugald Saunders to appoint another National to fill the vacant position. But Mr Saunders has defied the attempt by the Opposition leader to sack Mr Fang, putting out his own media release late yesterday claiming that only he as leader can sack a member of the Nationals from the front bench. Because the Coalition agreement isn't publicly available, it is hard to know who is right about that interpretation. Mr Saunders made clear that he wouldn't be sacking Mr Fang, so his Nationals colleague therefore would be continuing in his position on the Coalition front bench despite Mr Speakman's attempt to remove him. Nationals Party NSW leader Dugald Saunders is facing a potential split after differing with NSW Leader Mark Speakman over the fate of an MP NSW Opposition leader Mark Speakman's (pictured) visit to the state seat of Wagga Wagga wasn't well received by Nationals upper house MP Wes Fang, who took to social media to slam his Coalition leader, clearly upset at not being included in the trip It has created an untenable situation for both party leaders, with the potential for one or both of them to lose their position as leader, or the Coalition agreement between the parties could even be ripped up altogether. Daily Mail Australia has been exclusively given text message correspondence from the Nationals party room group chat highlighting the escalating situation. The longest serving member of the Nationals party room, Mr Provest, wrote on the chat: 'The Coalition agreement cannot be torn up without any consultation or discussion in our party room.' He requested an urgent party room meeting to resolve the issue. Tweed MP Geoff Provest was determined to have a partyroom meeting to address the apparent rift between the Coalition partners Mr Provest wrote that if a meeting isn't called he would be forced to 'consider my National Party membership'. Trying to downplay the untenable situation the Nationals leader responded, writing that he and Mr Speakman 'are operating on very good terms' and 'there is absolutely no talk of our agreement being torn up'. The long-serving Nationals MP wasn't buying the spin his leader was selling, however, responding forthrightly: 'With respect Dugald, you and Mark are clearly not operating on "very good terms" otherwise the two directly contradictory press releases would not have been issued. 'This is most extraordinary in my time in the Parliament. I insist upon a partyroom meeting for the purpose of considering the continuation of the Coalition agreement. The partyroom must be consulted. Will you call a partyroom meeting to discuss this?' The crisis in the NSW Coalition was sparked by an extraordinary social media post Nationals MP Wes Fang blasting Mr Speakman The Nationals leader briefly responded: 'sure mate - leave it with me'. Daily Mail Australia understands that there is a mood within the Nationals to terminate the Coalition agreement, however there are also concerns that doing so might backfire on the junior Coalition partner. Liberals are concerned that if the Coalition stays intact - unless the Nationals leader backs down and agrees to Mr Fang's removal from the frontbench - the opposition leader's authority is 'shot to pieces', as one Liberal MP put it. A fully-laden truck has ploughed through a primary school in Sydney's south after failing to stop at an intersection and crashing into 19 cars. Emergency crews worked to free the trapped male truck driver after he crashed into a classroom at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Moorebank. The driver reportedly failed to stop at an intersection on Newbridge Road and Nuwarra Road at about 1.15pm on Saturday. Police will probe whether the driver had a medical episode before the crash. 'He's gone off the road, crashed into the gate at the local church and then finished underneath a classroom at the school,' Sergeant Shaun Colls told 7News. 'Thankfully, it is a weekend (so no children were at the school),' he said. A later police statement said 'The driver was trapped within his cabin for almost 40 minutes before he was released by Fire and Rescue NSW and taken to Liverpool Hospital.' Eight other people were also treated by paramedics at the scene, two of whom were taken to Liverpool Hospital. Emergency crews worked to free the trapped male truck driver after he crashed into a classroom at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Moorebank (pictured) Emergency crews worked to free the male truck driver, who was trapped after crashing into a building at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (pictured) in Moorebank Nobody, including the driver, was seriously injured. The truck was stuck inside a classroom at the school, with traffic brought to a standstill due to the scale of the crashes. NSW Fire and Rescue attended the scene to assess the building's structural safety. 'The truck will be towed for mechanical examination while the building is being checked for structural damage,' the police said. As of late on Saturday evening, the police had not yet spoken with the driver. Anyone with information or footage of the crash is asked to come forward. Teams of volunteers have joined a huge new search for missing British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife after a new clue involving an allegedly stolen Rolex emerged. As the hunt for the missing 19-year-old enters day 13, police are now investigating a scuffle outside Papagayo Beach Club, where Jay was seen partying on June 17. It is believed a fight - involving an Eastern European man who reportedly had his valuable Rolex stolen - broke out after the venue had closed. One of Slater's friends, who had travelled to Tenerife to help in the search told detectives the alleged incident could have led to Jay's disappearance. Authorities are now reviewing CCTV footage from the venue where the incident occurred. The 'army of volunteers' have answered the Spanish police's call for help and are helping them comb the rugged mountain area where the missing raver Jay Slater, 19, went missing following a night out in Tenerife's Playa de las Americas resort on June 17 The search pictured beginning today in the early morning near to Jay's last-known location in the village of Masca. They will attempt to retrace his last-known steps The volunteers pictured as they begin the co-ordinated search which is taking place in a steep rocky area, with ravines, trails and paths all being searched thoroughly 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 Another theory which is understood to be on the table is that the valuable watch had somehow wound up in the cottage where Jay had travelled - and that he then ventured into the wilderness in an attempt to steal it. This clue comes shortly after an 'army of volunteers' answered the Spanish police's call for help and are now helping them comb the rugged mountain area where the missing raver disappeared today. On Friday the Guardia Civil appealed for volunteer firefighters and experts in rugged terrain to assist in a 'busqueda masiva', or massive search, taking place today. The search began at 9am near his last-known location in the village of Masca as the volunteers attempt to retrace his last-known steps. The co-ordinated search is taking place in a steep rocky area, with ravines, trails and paths all being thoroughly searched. It started from the Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda restaurant and volunteers were told to bring food and water with them as the search is predicted to take last the entire day. It has been reported that today's search could be 'perhaps a final push from the Civil Guard to make some kind of headway'. Cipriano Martin, head of the Civil Guard's Greim mountain rescue unit, said: 'The operation is going to consist of a search with the people that have come here today, in a thorough manner, because at the height we are, we need to progress by ruling out areas and make sure that the areas we search, with the work we have done this week, are looked at well and can be ruled out. 'And of course that's going to be done based on the information we have, and that information is his last-known position, the conservations he had the day he disappeared, and that's what makes us focus the search on that area.' Cipriano Martin, head of the Civil Guard's Greim mountain rescue unit speaks to the media before the search began Guardia Civil agent Cipriano Martin speaks with volunteers They will attempt to retrace his last-known steps When asked if all options were being considered Mr Martin replied:'At the moment, yes. Until we know something we can't focus on any hypothesis and we work with several possibilities. 'In terms of extension, the whole area. Masca's been looked at, the Juan Lopez ravine, the Retamar ravine, Las Aneas ravine, Los Carrizales ravine, in all the areas we know he's been in because his mobile phone coverage is undeniable and places him there. 'But we have a difficulty which is that once the phone goes off the antennas stop picking it up, so that while he's walking, and we don't know how long he was walking for, no phone mast is going to detect it, and as the technicians tell us, they look for mobiles and not people, so we're at that point as well, that we have certain information and we have to go on that.' Asked whether the principal information they have to go on is the last place Jay's phone 'pinged' from, he replied: 'That's right. We can't come up with too many conjectures either. The clues are based on the information we have. 'Another of the things that leads us to consider that hypothesis is when he rings his friend Lucy and says he's cut himself on a cactus and he's worried because he doesn't know whether it's poisonous or not, and she tells him not to worry that it's not poisonous. Today a search in Masca is taking place where the local police have asked volunteers to help The dog Caperucita listens to the instructions of the Civil Guard agents alongside her owner before beginning the search 'But for that to happen you have to leave the road because you're not going to cut yourself on a cactus being on the road and he's had to go into the mountains obviously.' 'Well, we've been searching for lots of days and with the search today, we're talking about 30 people.' When asked if on the day Jay disappeared someone saw him he replied : 'Yes, he was seen, the morning he disappeared, around 8.10am, he was seen very near the spot we're at now, heading up to the look-out point, and later his telephone places him here, and after that the phone location he shares places him here.' Asked to specify how difficult some areas were, Mr Martin said: 'Areas you can't pass through, where there's rocks jutting out you can't negotiate unless you've got ropes and a harness. 'I think that the people who are involved in the search today, when they reach those points, won't continue because they haven't got that equipment. 'What they're going to is walk.' Asked whether Jay's family were participating in the search, he said: 'All week they've been participating because we've seen them and they've seen us in several places. They've been actively participating.' Asked whether he'd spoken to the two men who were in the Airbnb and spent time with Jay before he vanished, he said: 'We're mountain specialists and we're in charge of searching here, and it's the Civil Guard investigators who have been responsible for the investigation, those men have been spoken to and they don't have any relevance whatsoever for the case.' 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. The apprentice bricklayer went back to the Casa Abuela Tina Airbnb (pictured) near the rugged Rural de Teno national park with two men Jay Slater's mother (left) said she's at her 'wit's end' and revealed his ex-girlfriend Jessica Ingham was among those who had travelled to Tenerife with him 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 Jay's friends have flown out to Tenerife to try and help locate the missing teenager Jay's father Warren and his mother Debbie are pictured joining the search for their son 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 said on Friday officers were preparing a 'coordinated large scale operation'. The search has so far focused on the Masca gorge, around 3000ft above sea level, which has been combed by police, drones, dogs and helicopters since he was reported missing. But despite the extensive searches over the past 13 days, no trace of Jay has been found. It comes as: Spanish police has also faced criticism for refusing an offer of help from their Lancashire counterparts last week, as the search for Jay now enters day 13. 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 previously 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. Spanish police released footage on Thursday afternoon showing officers moving on foot through some of the rough and remote terrain Police have been concentrating their search on a ravine further along the national park, with caves near Los Carrizales being investigated Spanish Police have been carrying out aerial inspections in the Civil Guard helicopter It recently emerged that 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 been in Tenerife for eight days and said: 'Its been exhausting and its been really hard work but Im not giving up until we find Jay. 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) 'Ive spent time with the family and to see them cracking up and crying has been really emotional, I just want to do the best I can to help them. 'This area is so vast it needs as many people as we can to search through the area but I'm looking for marks in the soil, sliding like his friend said. It's hard but I will do my best.' 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 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. 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 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 revealed on Thursday 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 have said 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 on Thursday. 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 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. 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 updateon Friday 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. Childcare staff are in high demand across Australia as a growing number of workers leave for better paid jobs in areas such as aged care. But some towns in regional Western Australia are so desperate for childcare workers they are offering up to $150,000 a year to attract and retain staff. Those willing to work in the Pilbara, Gascoyne, Kimberley and Goldfields can earn an eye-watering salary depending on their qualifications. The huge salaries are necessary to attract fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) childcare workers to the mining towns, where staff shortages have left some services at risk of closure. Full-time FIFO staff work a roster of two weeks on, one week off. 'The pay rate is based on the casual award rate, with a daily living away from home allowance,' One Tree Community Services chief executive Karri Hillier told 7News. One Tree is a not-for-profit that recently got state government funding for its new 12-month Regional Early Years Learn and Lead (REYLL) project. This will help childcare providers in the area with hiring, training and resources. Childcare staff (pictured) are hard to hold onto across Australia as workers often leave for better paid jobs in other areas such as aged care But some towns in regional Western Australia are so desperate for childcare workers, they are now offering up to $150,000 a year to attract and retain staff. King George Falls in Kimberley, WA is pictured One Tree will help services in the REYLL program to recruit and train local workers, but where there are gaps they will be filled with its casual EduTribe FIFO workers. Ms Hillier said the flexibility, freedom and rural adventure are attractive to many workers looking for a change. 'It's also very rewarding, providing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and families while benefiting communities and business,' she said. 'FIFO also provides the opportunity to "try before you buy". 'Some of our FIFO staff have opted to relocate and live locally when they have found a centre they love.' Late last year, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) released data showing the sector's 'ongoing workforce crisis' meant thousands of Australian families were unable to get childcare places. 'Our members have reported for years now that staff recruitment and retention is one of the biggest issues in the sector,' ACA president Paul Mondo said at the time. An aerial view of Porosis Creek and Naturalist Island, Prince Frederick Harbour, Kimberley coast, WA is pictured. Kimberley is one of the areas trying to attract childcare workers with big salaries 'There is a critical need for more government support to help attract and retain early learning educators.' The stresses were particularly being felt in regional towns, often referred to as 'childcare deserts' - where there are more than three children for every place. 'In rural and remote communities, some childcare centres are operating at 60 per cent capacity due to a lack of staff,' Ms Hillier said. 'Some have had to close.' WA's regional mining towns are hoping the lure of earning up to $150,000 a year is going to fix the problem in their areas. Dramatic bodycam footage has captured the moment police chased down and arrested an armed suspect after an alleged early morning home invasion. The footage, released by WA Police, showed the officers responding to the incident in Camillo, in Perth's outer southeast, at about 3.30am on Saturday. The police car thundered through the dark streets with its siren blaring as the officers pursued the suspects of an alleged home invasion. The video then cut to an officer checking an empty car on a street and saying: 'Suspect has ditched the vehicle.' The officer then ran and jumped a fence into the backyard of a home where he himself climbing through dense shrubbery. In the yard, he was confronted with a man wearing dark clothes and a balaclava and holding what appeared to be a weapon. 'Drop the weapon now, or I will taser you,' the cop is heard shouting at the man. After a second officer arrived, the two pinned the suspect to the ground, with one yelling at the suspect: 'Don't move or I will tase you. Hands behind your back now.' Dramatic bodycam footage has captured the moment police officers chased down and arrested an armed suspect (pictured) after an alleged early morning home invasion After a second officer arrived, the two pinned the suspect (pictured) to the ground The shocking footage is part of an investigation into the alleged home invasion. The police allege two males, one armed with a knife and one with a firearm, broke into a home on Natasha Way and threatened the three occupants before stealing some items. 'The offenders stole a Ford Falcon sedan and left the area,' the police said in a statement on Saturday afternoon. 'It will also be alleged the stolen vehicle was sighted by police about 3.50am in Thornlie and failed to stop. 'Police followed the vehicle and a short time later the vehicle stopped on Greenway Avenue in Thornlie. The male occupant of the vehicle fled on foot before being apprehended and taken into custody. 'The firearm believed to have been used during this incident was located on Clancy Way in Thornlie and has been seized by police.' The officer ran through the quiet suburb and jumped a fence and dense shrubbery (pictured) into a backyard, where he found a man holding what appeared to be a weapon The 31-year-old man taken into custody has been charged with a range of offences including aggravated home burglary, aggravated armed robbery and reckless driving to escape a police pursuit. He is due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday. Inquiries are continuing in relation to the second offender. The explicit viral video showing a Wandsworth prison officer having sex with an inmate in his cell is the latest example in the growing trend of behind-bars relationships. In the three years to March 2023, 31 female prison staff working in male prisons were sacked, including one who gave birth to her inmate lover's baby and another who had his cell number tattooed on her thigh. It is more than 50 per cent rise on the 19 women sacked in the previous four-year period, and that figure doesn't include incidents recorded at private prisons, run by companies such as G4S, Serco and Sodexo. But according to those who have worked in the system, instances of sex inside jail like the shocking example at Wandsworth prison is just the tip of the iceberg. One former prison officer, previously told the Mail: 'The numbers will be much, much higher than the figures that have emerged because these events are swept under the carpet. The case which brought the problem to the national spotlight this week involved Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, who now faces a police investigation after she was recorded romping with a prisoner at HMP Wandsworth Linda is seen wearing uniform during the explicit clip where she appears to have sex with an unidentified prisoner at the Category A jail in south-west London Fellow prison officer Ayshea Gunn exchanged more than 1,200 phone calls, including explicit video calls, with prisoner Khuram Razaq (pictured together). She even smuggled a pair of knickers into his cell, concealed in her bra Prison nurse Elyse-May Hibbs, 25, was jailed for six months for having a fling with jailed drug dealer Harry Pullen at HMP Parc in South Wales Aisha Golsby, 23, was working at HMP Portland in Dorset when she became involved with convict Deano Harrison. She was jailed for 16 months last year for tipping him off about a cell search 'If a sexual relationship ever comes to light, then normally the prison officer is given the chance to resign. They don't like this stuff to come out, it's hugely embarrassing.' To an outsider, it's hard to understand what drives an officer to risk an affair with an inmate, knowing they could lose everything if they are caught. So what exactly is going on behind prison walls? The case which brought the problem to the national spotlight this week involved Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, who appeared on a Channel Four documentary about threesomes and orgies, MailOnline revealed yesterday. She is understood to have recently quit her job as a prison officer in the South London jail following the scandal. Linda is seen wearing uniform during the explicit clip, which begins with her performing a sex act on an unidentified prisoner at the Category A Wandsworth jail in south-west London. The footage, which MailOnline understands to be recent, then shows her having sex with the prisoner while his cellmate films on a mobile phone. Footage of the cell shows a TV and piles of clothes heaped over a bunk bed. Linda De Sousa Abreu is understood to have recently quit her job as a prison officer in the South London jail following the scandal The woman is seen wearing uniform during the explicit clip, which begins with her performing a sex act on an unidentified prisoner at the Category A jail in south-west London Footage of the cell shows a TV and piles of clothes heaped over a bunk bed The friend who is smoking while recording says: 'Guys we've made history, this is what I'm telling you.' The prison officer's radio, left on a side table, crackles constantly with her colleagues heard on the other channels above the din of the other prisoners on the landing unaware of what is going on in the cell. At one point, someone appears to try to come into the cell, at which the man filming, can be heard saying to the person on the other side of the door 'give me a minute, one second.' The prisoner filming tells his friend to carry on and then pans the camera round momentarily and, grinning, says: 'This is how we roll in Wandsworth.' And her sibling, who is a personal trainer from London, told MailOnline yesterday how she had to block fans of her sister from her own social media after she appeared on the swingers show. Linda is also believed to have an explicit OnlyFans account. But she is not the only female prison officer to fall for the charms of a male inmate. Take the case of probationary officer Ayshea Gunn, who exchanged more than 1,200 phone calls, including explicit video calls, with prisoner Khuram Razaq. She even smuggled a pair of knickers into his cell, concealed in her bra. A glamorous selfie shows Ayshea Gunn posing in the mirror on a night out. She worked as a probationary officer at Berwyn Prison where she met her lover Razaq Gunn, left, was jailed for one year at Mold Crown Court in 2019 after having an affair with dangerous criminal Khuram Razaq, right, at HMP Berwyn in North Wales Ayshea Gunn, 27, in handcuffs on her way to prison after being jailed for the illicit affair A total of 18 female guards at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, North Wales, have been fired or have resigned for having illicit affairs with inmates In a similarly sordid tale at HMP Berwyn in North Wales, her fellow officer Emily Watson performed a sex act on an inmate in his cell on Christmas Day. At HMP Berwyn in Wrexham an astonishing 18 female guards or other female staff have been fired for illicit relationships with male inmates since 2017. This includes Jennifer Gavan, 27 who was jailed for eight months in December 2022 following her relations with prisoner Alex Coxon, 25. She had sent intimate photos of herself to Coxon on Snapchat and kissed him during the relationship between April and July 2020. Gavan, from Wrexham, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public a public office at Mold Crown Court after she accepted 150 to bring in the mobile phone. Roxanne Walker, 34, another female guard at the 2,100 medium-risk category 'C' facility, dubbed 'Britain's cushiest' received a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years after engaging in 'sexually explicit' chats with an inmate. Emily Watson (left) was jailed for one year after she performed a sex act on inmate John McGee (right). McGee was serving an eight-year sentence for the hit-and-run death of a charity worker Watson, 26, was jailed for a year in April 2019 over the fling with the inmate at HMP Berwyn Watson, who was jailed for a year, is pictured being led in handcuffs ahead of her sentencing at Mold Crown Court Watson had 'virtual sex' over FaceTime with the prisoner, while CCTV footage showed she had visited McGee's cell alone three times. Pictured: McGee gestures after leaving Mold Crown Court in handcuffs Jennifer Gavan, left, was jailed for eight months after she smuggled a mobile phone into the prison for her lover Alex Coxon, right. She sent Coxon intimate photos over Snapchat Gavan (pictured) pleaded guilty to misconduct in public a public office after she accepted 150 to bring in a mobile phone to the prison where she was working A cell at HMP Berwyn in a photo from 2017 - rooms all have a phone for outgoing calls Roxanne Walker, 34, (pictured) avoided prison after engaging in 'sexually explicit' chats with an inmate at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, North Wales Walker was spotted by colleagues giggling with 'manipulative' criminal Daniel Walker at 250m HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, North Wales, (pictured) This sexual impropriety is far from unique to HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, which calls cells 'rooms', blocks 'communities', and allows inmates to have their own phones and laptops. There has been an alarming rise in the number of female officers from across the HM Prison Service found guilty of striking up illicit relationships. The latest figures from the MoJ revealed that as of last September female prison officers now represent 42.1 per cent of the workforce. In five years, the number of female officers working in prisons has risen by 3,519 - a surge of nearly 28 per cent. The latest totals showed 16,199 females were employed, compared to 22,309 males. Cases at other prisons of female warders crossing sexual boundaries includes that of Corinne Redhead, 29 who had an inmate's baby following a secret year-long fling and was jailed for nearly two years in November 2022. She entered the clandestine relationship with O'Connor, who was serving a ten-year sentence while working at The Mount Prison in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire - an all-men's prison. Aisha Golsby, 23, was working at HMP Portland in Dorset when she became involved with convict Deano Harrison. She was jailed for 16 months last year for tipping him off about a cell search. Joanne Hunter, 28, was jailed for three years for her relationship with Connor Willis while she was working at HMP Forest Bank in Salford. Hunter - described as 'naive' and 'vulnerable' in court - believed Willis was 'in love' with her and agreed to smuggle packages, including cannabis, into prison for him. She also sent him explicit photographs, which were later found on her phone. Prison nurse Elyse-May Hibbs, 25, was jailed for six months for having a fling with jailed drug dealer Harry Pullen at HMP Parc in South Wales. Joanne Hunter - described as 'naive' and 'vulnerable' in court - believed inmate Connor Willis was 'in love' with her and agreed to smuggle packages, including cannabis, into prison for him Joanne Hunter, 28, conducted the relationship with Connor Willis while working at HMP Forest Bank in Salford Hunter also sent him explicit photographs, which were later found on her phone Prison nurse Elyse-May Hibbs, 25, (left) was jailed for six months for entering into a relationship with an inmate Harry Pullen (right) at HMP Parc in South Wales Hibbs leaving court during her trial last year. She was later jailed for six months for the affair Married Victoria Laithwaite, 47, was caught sending prisoner James Chalmers, 30, messages which suggested a relationship between the pair while he was banged up. She was working as head of safer custody and equalities when the texts were discovered on a mobile phone found inside the prisoner's cell at HMP Onley. In March two female prison workers appeared at Bolton Crown Court, accused of having simultaneous relationships with the same inmate. Aleesha Bates, 30, and Jodie Wilkes, 27, exchanged thousands of messages with a prisoner in an illicit love triangle at HMP Buckley Hall, Rochdale. Prison officer Bates was the first to start a relationship with an inmate who'd been jailed for drug trafficking offences. She was so infatuated she sent X-rated messages and naked photos, and even planned their future together once he was released. The second relationship, with operational support worker Wilkes, came to light in 2020 when a contraband phone containing 'dozens' of messages was found in the prisoner's cell. Female prison worker Jodie Wilkes, 27, exchanged thousands of messages with an inmate Prison officer Aleesha Bates, 30, was also in a relationship with an inmate and sent him X-rated messages and naked photos Both women admitted misconduct in a public office, with Bates sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and Wilkes handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years. Professor Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, previously came forward to reveal the rising problem was being caused by the fact low-paid new recruits are being rushed through a training process which leaves them ill-equipped to properly deal with manipulative criminals. Another insider previously told MailOnline some female staff are so ill-prepared for the job that some turn up for a shift 'glammed up' with full make-up and even false eyelashes as if they are going for a night out. And one inexperienced new female recruit even asked an older colleague 'What do I do if I am attracted to a prisoner?'. The dangers of manipulative male prisoners was illustrated in December when prison worker Ruth Shmylo, 26, from Pontypridd was prosecuted but then cleared after she revealed that she only had 'phone sex' with gangster inmate Harri Pullen after he made terrifying threats to harm her and her family. Prof Acheson, an expert in the UK's criminal justice system and specifically the prevention of Islamist and right-wing radicalisation, blamed the current situation on the culmination of years of staff neglect and said: 'In modern law enforcement men and women work together across the criminal justice system and prisons are no different. Nor should they be. 'However, effective relationships depend on suitable and sufficient officers properly trained and well led. None of these conditions are met in today's prison services. 'Emergency recruitment has thrown barely trained youngsters into the maw of disordered and violent prisons across the country. This sets the scene for exploitation and corruption by experienced offenders. The Mount prison in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire (stock image) 'We've seen the results in the statistics, particularly the rising number of female officers who enter sexual relationships with prisoners. The Ministry of Justice may argue that the data suggests that surveillance by counter corruption teams is working. 'I think that's a poor defence. 'Unless there is a fundamental improvement in recruitment, training, and supervision this behaviour will continue. 'While an illicit relationship between a female officer and a prisoner might seem relatively harmless, the impact on victims and the danger to prison security is very real.' And he blamed what he called 'criminally stupid austerity cuts' for reducing the number of experienced staff and replacing them with naive younger ones. Elsewhere, prison staff on the 'shop floor,' who walk the dangerous corridors and walkways of the UK's jails, say female prison officers have no idea what they are getting into when they start. Several affairs took place at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham (pictured) HMP Berwyn prisoners have been given more privacy, with the ability to come and go from their cells as they please as well as being able to lock themselves in at any time. Pictured: A cell in the prison in 2019 Craig Wylde, 41, a former guard at high security HMP Durham prison, said: 'There is a problem with some younger female prison officers who turn up to work in full makeup, glammed up and even wearing false eyelashes and bangle earrings. 'Governors make them remove the eyelashes and earrings because of health and safety, but they still go onto the landings of a male prison looking like they are on a night out. There is the constant fear that they are sending out the wrong message in a place full of men who are banged up for years and sexually frustrated.' Jane, a former female prison officer with more than 20 years' experience, told of trying to deal with a naive recruit asking her for advice if she fancied a serving prisoner. She said: 'What do you say to that? I was blunt. I asked her to think about whether being a prison officer was for her.' Cases of inappropriate relationships between female warders and inmates range from having sex in cells, sending suggestive pictures of themselves, smuggling illicit goods into jail for their lovers and even having their children. Jane, in her 50s, who previously served in the Armed Forces, said that before retiring from the prison service she saw a startling change in the type of female entrant. She said: 'I trained with women in their 20s, most out of military service, who knew themselves and had the right attitude. They wanted a career. 'Before I left, I saw some young women entering training that frankly I felt should not have been allowed out the house by their parents.' She added: 'I have had young girls crying on my shoulder and seen others walk off the job within weeks. It is claimed that a watering down of the recruitment process had resulted in less suitable candidates being given jobs (stock photo of prison drug rehabilitation programme in Bovingdon) 'It is terribly difficult dealing with a self-harmer, blood everywhere or a suicide whatever your age. At 20-years-old, it's almost impossible.' Jane claimed that a 'watering down' of the recruitment process had resulted in less suitable candidates being given jobs. At some jails, more than one in four posts are vacant. Corners being cut in the recruitment process include holding interviews on Zoom, as opposed face-to-face, which makes it harder to 'gauge character' and reducing the training period for prison officers from 12 to eight weeks. She said: 'Eight weeks training did not prepare them for their first day on the wings and the job took a tremendous emotional toll. 'But let me make it clear that the vast majority of young, female recruits are doing a fine job under intense scrutiny and pressure. 'However, the statistics don't lie, and it is apparent that a small number make the life changing mistake of falling for a prisoner they should be locking up.' Mr Wylde said that rules should be changed so that both male and female officers should not be allowed to join the service 'until their mid-20s to ensure they have some life experience.' And he added: 'There is a feeling that some graduates are joining just to pay off their Student Loans and don't have the desire to do the job. They are bright, but that isn't enough.' For Jane, who has witnessed the crisis first-hand, the increase in inappropriate sexual relationships between female warders and male inmates may also be down to deeper psychological reasons. She said: 'Most normal people will ask how the hell they make this jump? Don't they understand they will ruin their lives? 'Well, in my experience, some do realise the risk, but, for whatever reason, are willing to put themselves in that position. Maybe it's just excitement?' Experts who have studied the phenomenon have also pointed towards more underlying reasons for the worrying trend. Kamalyn Kaur, a Psychotherapist and Anxiety expert with over 10 years of experience providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) previously told MailOnline that some women can find themselves powerless to stop themselves being drawn to unsuitable partners due to how the brain works. She said: 'There are certain traits associated with 'bad boys' such as confidence, risk-taking and assertiveness that would have been seen as advantageous in the past in terms of evolution. It suggests adventure and opportunity. 'These are people that have not conformed to societal expectations and pressures and that can give off an allure of 'bad boy' energy.' She added: 'If you are someone who usually follows the rules, and quite 'textbook' then that whole allure of being with someone who is rebellious can give you tunnel vision suddenly. That person might represent everything you want to be but can't be.' One officer who spent seven years working in a Category B prison and recalls: 'To many prisoners, the sex itself isn't the goal it is a way of getting the officer in their pocket for other things like smuggling in tobacco, drugs or mobile phones. 'They know a sexual relationship or flirting is a way of hooking you and hooking you is exactly the goal of the more cunning inmates. 'Inexperienced officers, particularly younger women in a men's prison, will feel like a fresh bit of meat on display.' The prisoners' motivations are clear. But why do officers fall for these tactics? Some commentators have put the trend down to an unconscious compulsion to pursue unsuitable partners, repeating tired cliches about women lusting after a 'bad boy'. Of course, there is a complex web of factors at play, which may include attraction or an urge to transgress. But experienced officers claim there is often a deliberate pattern of coercion by the inmate. The anonymous guard said: 'You cannot show a single chink in your armour, or you are finished. 'I would warn recruits to never even speak about their personal life on the landings because prisoners would listen in and use this stuff against you. 'It might start off with something small; they might challenge you to a game of pool and say the winner gets a Mars Bar. Of course, you can't give them chocolate and if you do then you've broken the rules, and they've got you. 'The squeeze will begin. The next thing is they will ask 'can you bring this in for me' and the whole thing escalates from there.' Once one boundary is crossed, others quickly follow and the power dynamic shifts from officer to prisoner. 'The key thing is the inmate has nothing to lose they are already in prison. 'Whereas for the prison officer, their entire life is on the line. 'If you've done something wrong and the inmate has the power to ruin your life, you'll do anything to stop that happening.' As for the logistics of an illicit physical affair between a prison officer and an inmate supposedly under constant surveillance often, it seems, it's all too easy. A prisoner eating a meal in HMP Berwyn on March 15, 2017 in Wrexham, Wales (stock image) 'There are actually lots of places they could potentially have sex,' said the anonymous guard. 'The cupboards, maybe, if they had someone to keep watch and give a signal if there was someone coming. Even in a cell, if they were happy to live dangerously. 'There is a lock in there of course we would call it 'shooting the bolt' when you put it on a latch. 'And the officer could plausibly come up with an excuse, [saying] they needed to have a chat with this inmate, for example. 'I would never go into a prisoner's cell without another officer there, but I have known it to happen.' A spokesperson for the Prison Service previously said: 'The overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest and their professionalism and expertise should not be called into question because of the illegal actions of the small number who aren't. 'We are doing more than ever to catch the minority who break the rules, including bolstering our Counter-Corruption Unit with 140 new staff and strengthening our vetting processes to root out misconduct.' Police have arrested a woman after a female prison officer was filmed having sex with an inmate in an HMP Wandsworth jail cell. The suspect is being held on suspicion of misconduct on public office after police arrested her yesterday. It comes after footage emerged of a prison officer having sex with an inmate in his prison cell. The woman in the video, who MailOnline revealed was a swinger named Linda De Sousa Abreu, is seen wearing uniform during the explicit clip, which begins with her performing a sex act on an unidentified prisoner at the Category A jail in south-west London. The footage, which MailOnline understands to be recent, then shows her having sex with the prisoner while his cellmate films on a mobile phone. Footage of the cell shows a TV and piles of clothes heaped over a bunk bed. The woman is seen wearing uniform during the explicit clip where she appears to have sex with an unidentified prisoner at the Category A jail in south-west London Linda De Sousa Abreu was yesterday identified as the prison officer recorded romping with a prisoner at HMP Wandsworth The explicit clip begins with the woman performing a sex act on an unidentified prisoner at the Category A jail in south-west London Footage of the cell shows a TV and piles of clothes heaped over a bunk bed De Sousa Abreu (pictured) is understood to have recently quit her job as a prison officer in the South London jail following the scandal The friend who is smoking while recording says: 'Guys we've made history, this is what I'm telling you.' The prison officer's radio, left on a side table, crackles constantly with her colleagues heard on the other channels above the din of the other prisoners on the landing unaware of what is going on in the cell. At one point, someone appears to try to come into the cell, at which the man filming, can be heard saying to the person on the other side of the door 'give me a minute, one second.' The prisoner filming tells his friend to carry on and then pans the camera round momentarily and, grinning, says: 'This is how we roll in Wandsworth.' He then tells his friend having sex: 'You know you're gangster innit!' MailOnline revealed on Friday that the woman in the video was De Sousa Abreu who is understood to have recently quit her job as a prison officer in the South London jail following the scandal. Her sister, Andreina, told last night how she warned her not to mix her lifestyle with her work and said she was now 'suffering the consequences'. She said Linda and her husband Nathan Richardson, now 29, were stars of Channel 4's Open House: The Great Sex Experiment in which couples pushed the boundaries of the relationships at a luxury country escape. And the Brazilian-born model did not hold back during the show even getting involved in a 15-person orgy with the fellow contestants. The couple also boast an OnlyFans account, under the alias Linda La Madre which charges $10 a month for racy content of her and her husband. The then personal trainer from Fulham explained during the Channel 4 documentary: 'Monogamy is a social construct that I think needs to be dismantled. 'Opening up our relationship has allowed us to form a deeper connection with each other.' One of her co-stars Shanice, who was exploring the idea of having a foursome with pair on the show said: 'Linda is fire...crazy sex appeal'. At the time of filming the couple had been together for nine years and in an open relationship for three of those. De Sousa Abreu's sister told tonight how she warned her not to mix her lifestyle with her work and said she was now 'suffering the consequences' Her sister said Linda and her husband Nathan were stars of Channel 4's Open House: The Great Sex Experiment Her sister said she only found out Linda worked for the prison service at the start of the year and said the pair had a heart to heart Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, and her husband Nathan were stars of Channel 4 's Open House: The Great Sex Experiment where 'experimenting couples' are offered the opportunity to explore 'consensual non-monogamy' And her sibling, who is a personal trainer from London, told MailOnline tonight how she had to block fans of her sister from her own social media after the racy show. Linda is also believed to have an explicit OnlyFans account too. Andreina said: 'She's a swinger. She was on a Channel four programme called Open House. I never saw it. It's not the sort of thing I'd watch with my little sister in. 'I have built up a big community on my own social media I preach fitness and God but when her fans found her, they found me and they were sending me messages and I was blocking everyone because it's not something I wanted to be associated with.' Linda's OnlyFans reads: 'I am a happily married sexy latina who wants to share hot content with you. Experience my real life, real love, real sex and real orgasms! 'We believe in authenticity, all our content will be genuine and we'll never fake it because we want you to enjoy watching it as much as we'll enjoy making it!' Her sister said she only found out Linda worked for the prison service at the start of the year and said the pair had a heart to heart. She explained: 'I've had my say with her, I was very brutally honest with her about her behaviours. I spoke to her previously about her lifestyle. 'All I can say is that I'm a firm believer in God and Linda gave herself to the wrong lifestyle, 100 per cent, and now she's suffering the consequences unfortunately, which has fallen down on her husband, our parents and myself. During the show which aired last year, the couple were filmed getting happily involved with the other contestants, and even one night participating in a 15-person orgy. Pictured: Linda, in the yellow dress and Nathan in the black shirt behind her The then personal trainer from Fulham said: 'Monogamy is a social construct that I think needs to be dismantled' One of her co-stars Shanice, who was exploring the idea of having a foursome with pair on the show said: 'Linda is fire...crazy sex appeal' The then personal trainer from Fulham explained during the Channel 4 documentary: 'Monogamy is a social construct that I think needs to be dismantled' 'I don't have anything bad to say about my sister besides the fact that I was wary of the lifestyle she was leading and I knew it was going to lead her down a very horrible path, which I warned her about. 'As her older sister, the only blame I have is that I should have been more thorough, I should have been harsher, but then again everyone chooses their own path. 'I only found out that she worked for the prison service in January. That's when I spoke to her and said do not mix your lifestyle with work. Don't be stupid, don't do stupid things.' Yesterday Vanessa Frake, former head of security at Wormwood Scrubs, called the footage 'shocking'. She told MailOnline: 'This is what is completely wrong with the prison service in this day and age! 'This woman disgraces not only herself, the uniform and the Prison Service.' A Prison Service spokesman said on Friday: 'Staff corruption is not tolerated and the former prison officer allegedly featured in this video has been reported to the police. 'It would be inappropriate to comment further while they investigate.' The Met Police said: 'We have been made aware of a video allegedly filmed inside HMP Wandsworth. 'A police investigation is under way. At this early stage there have been no arrests. We are in close contact with the Ministry of Justice.' Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, said the footage raised serious security concerns. 'If this footage is authentic and I've been assured it is, the problems confronting a likely new Labour administration go far beyond overcrowding,' he told MailOnline. The friend who is smoking while recording says: 'Guys we've made history, this is what I'm telling you' A cell inside HMP Wandsworth seen in a photo from a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in 2022 The Victorian gatehouse of HMP Wandsworth, which was built in 1851 as the Surrey House of Correction 'This is a national law enforcement agency. The idea that recruits to it would even contemplate let alone participate in sex acts is a stunning indictment of the utter chaos inside this prison. It won't be an isolated incident. 'The state is no longer in charge here. The security implications and corruption threat is obvious and as explicit as the flagrant acts. The widespread infiltration of illicit mobile phones will mean that this footage is seen by huge numbers of prisoners. 'How are decent female officers supposed to feel safe to do their jobs in an environment where colleagues willingly participate in their sexual humiliation and exploitation?' One of the most unlikely political pairings in recent memory are about to take their romance public with a joint appearance at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra. Though Victorian state MP Georgie Purcell and federal MP Josh Burns are both from left wing parties - Animal Justice Party (AJP) and Labor, respectively - their opposing views on the Middle East have raised many eyebrows. Mr Burns, 37, is Jewish, a Zionist and a very prominent supporter of Israel, while Ms Purcell, 31, is a pro-Palestinian activist who is regularly seen at protest marches. Their appearance at the ball is designed to put an end to what they say has been weeks of 'harmful gossip and speculation' about their relationship. Ms Purcell, a former stripper with multiple tattoos, has almost 200,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly posts about Palestine. Though the couple is now going public, including posting a selfie together, the AJP MP has asked for some privacy over her relationship with the rising Labor star. 'I give more of myself to public life than most politicians, whether it be my past in sex work, my abortion experience or suffering from mental ill health and it does take a toll,' she told the Herald Sun. 'Victorians have a right to judge my policies and my voting record, but all I ask is for some privacy in the parts of my personal life I choose not to share.' One of the most unlikely political pairings in recent memory are about to take their romance public by attending next week's Midwinter Ball in Canberra together. Victorian state MP Georgie Purcell and federal MP Josh Burns are pictured Mr Burns, 37, is Jewish, a Zionist and a very prominent supporter of Israel, while Ms Purcell (pictured), 31, is a pro-Palestinian activist, regularly seen at protest marches It comes after Mr Burns' St Kilda electoral office was set on fire and windows were smashed in what the MP called a 'politically motivated attack'. The walls of the building were covered in red paint and graffitied with a slogan reading 'Zionism is fascism'. Zionism refers to the ideology that Jews deserve their own state in their ancestral homeland of Israel. It came as the latest in a string of acts of vandalism targeting the offices of state and federal MPs in the wake of the conflict in Gaza. But Mr Burns said he and Ms Purcell are able to find common ground on the issue, despite their seemingly distant viewpoints. 'We agree on so much and we talk about the rest. I respect her and she respects me. We agree on what is important we want peace and an end to the violence,' he said. Ms Purcell, who is the youngest woman in any Australian parliament and the second youngest ever to be elected to Victoria's Legislative Council, recently posted on Instagram that she had 'met someone special' whom she 'can't stop thinking about'. This has now been revealed to be Mr Burns. It comes after Mr Burns' St Kilda electoral office (pictured) was set on fire and windows were smashed in what the MP called a 'politically motivated attack' The couple's reference to 'harmful gossip and speculation' may be alluding to a thinly veiled account of the start of their romance that appeared in an advice column for the News Corp parenting website Kidspot last month. A woman who identified herself as A Sydney Mum told the publication about a single dad she called 'Joe' whom she had been going out with. 'Joe was very upfront about wanting to have another baby with me,' she wrote. 'We spoke and planned the merging of our families. 'Just two nights prior we had gone out and talked about our plans for the future. He told me that he'd never been happier and that I was everything that he'd been wanting in a partner.' Joe met her children after they'd first spoken with him on the phone, so the kids could get 'familiar with his voice'. Ms Purcell (pictured) is the youngest woman in any Australian parliament and the second youngest ever to be elected to Victoria's Legislative Council Taking to Instagram, the 31-year-old shared a short clip to reveal she had recently 'met someone special' whom she 'can't stop thinking about' But then, the women claimed Joe ghosted her and the relationship ended. 'I was upset he'd led me on, but I was furious he'd led my kids on,' she wrote. The Australian reported that it had it on 'impeccable authority' that 'Joe' was a pseudonym for Josh Burns. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Mr Burns is the man referred to as Joe. Mr Burns has been contacted for comment. At one time, Sophie Grant thought the cringeworthy episodes from her love life were nothing more than rueful anecdotes to share with friends. However, as she gears up for the release of her fouth book, the Glasgow-based author has discussed how these embarassing tales sparked a career that has transformed her life. Ms Grant, who goes by the pen name of Sophie Gravia, 32, became an overnight sensation after she turned her raunchy blog into a self published novel. Her latest work Hot Girl Summer comes hot on the high heels of her three previous books: A Glasgow Kiss, What Happens in Dubai and Meet Me In Milan. The plot of her upcoming book sees her characters go to a school reunion where they realise their lives are not quite on track. As a result they pledge to do their utmost to ensure they have a summer filled with romantic encounters. Author Sophie Gravia (centre) and friends dressed as naughty nurses. Ms Grant, from Bellshill, has become a publishing success Ms Grant, from Bellshill, is a mother of two: Olivia, 14, and Grace, 12. Born and raised in Lanarkshire, she left high school in fifth year and enrolled in a performing arts course at college. But after having her second child with her then boyfriend, she pursued her nursing career and left the creative indutsries behind. It wasnt until 2019 that she turned her string of failed dates into a blog and then a novel. The immediate chart-topper changed life as she knew it for her and her family, allowing her to pay off all her debts and buy a new house and car. However, despite writing about romance, she herself has remained unlucky in love, and admits that - like her characters - she had an unsuccessful encounter with an old school crush after they decided to get reacquainted last summer. She explained: I had my own reunion with my crush from high school but it didnt go to plan when I quickly realised he still hung around the street and drank on the weekends. However, while her high school crush was stuck in the past, Ms Grant said she prefers a nice Cosmopolitan or Mojito in a classy bar. She was also less than impressed when her date suggested grabbing some chips and gravy on their date. Ms Grants life has changed dramatically since she snagged a book deal with publishers Orion, which boasts Scottish literary giant Ian Rankin among its authors. She said: The success of my three books so far has been incredible. Its changed my life and my childrens lives. They love it because Ive cut down my nursing shifts to two days a week now and we get to spend more time together and I dont have to constantly worry to save up and take them to nice places and we can enjoy life together comfortably. Ms Grant also has enough of an income now to go on holiday every month, not to mention the trips abroad paid by her publisher as she promotes her books. She said: The trips have been amazing. I get to pick where I write and go visit these places. Id never been to Italy before and its now my new favourite place. Im also booking in trips to New York, Monaco, Nice and Amsterdam in coming months. Im living the dream. Porn star Austin Wolf appeared in court this week following an FBI sting operation that officials claim uncovered sickening child pornography. The adult entertainer, 43, real name Justin Heath Smith, walked into Manhattan federal court on Friday afternoon to face the music - before turning to his partner of 10 years in the gallery and mouthing: 'I'm sorry.' Prosecutor Getzel Berger described Wolf as a 'danger to children online, danger to children offline, danger to children everywhere', as he argued for him to be put behind bars awaiting trial. Wolf's attorneys unsuccessfully tried to have the judge impose a 24-hour house arrest order instead, however the judge disagreed due to the 'very troubling' nature of the charges against him. Austin Wolf, 43, real name Justin Heath Smith, allegedly sent and received images that 'depicted children as young as infants, including a video showing a 10-year-old child bound and raped' Wolf faces up to 20 years in prison on child porn charges, as prosecutors described him as a 'danger to children online, danger to children offline, danger to children everywhere' The 43-year-old appeared in court Friday wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans, but did not walk back out as he was sent to Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. Wolf's attorneys urged the judge not to send him to the lockup, which has a notorious reputation for squalid conditions and perilous risks for inmates. The facility is currently under a 23-hour-a-day lockdown after an inmate was stabbed to death earlier this month, and Wolf's attorneys attempted to spare him this fate by turning his 'apartment (into) the MDC.' They added that allowing him to remain in his Manhattan apartment with a GPS monitor would 'let him eat, shower, not get murdered.' But the judge cited the 'very troubling' charges against Wolf as the reason he rejected the proposal, and said that releasing the porn star 'could not reasonably assure the safety of the community.' Wolf faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him, including distribution and receipt of child pornography as well as possession of child pornography. The adult film star walked into Manhattan federal court on Friday afternoon to face the music - before turning to his partner of 10 years in the gallery and mouthing: 'I'm sorry.' He was snared in an undercover FBI sting operation, after he allegedly exchanged sickening videos with the anonymous target of an investigation by the bureau. The two allegedly used the encrypted app Telegram to trade horrific content, which authorities said included a video of a 10-year-old child being bound and raped. Reports say an undercover FBI agent then zeroed in on Wolf after finding him through the anonymous target of the probe, who confirmed his identity by talking to him through the target's Telegram account. Wolf's Manhattan apartment was raided by the FBI following the sting in April, where cops reportedly found hundreds of videos of child porn on an SD card in his computer room. One of Wolf's last social media posts chillingly reads: 'Have you seen what happens to little boys that follow me to the lock room?' One of Wolf's last social media posts chillingly reads: 'Have you seen what happens to little boys that follow me to the lock room?' US Attorney Damian Williams said after his arrest this week: 'As alleged, Justin Heath Smith received and distributed hundreds of recordings containing child pornography, including a ghastly video showing a young child bound, beaten, and raped. 'Our investigation into Smith is ongoing, and we urge anyone with information about Smiths conduct to call 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.' It is not the first time Wolf has made headlines for the wrong reasons, after he was caught in 2018 having a mid-flight romp with a flight attendant. Footage emerged of the two having sex inside an aircraft lavatory, with the Delta staffer still wearing their uniform when they were caught. Diver fighting for life after being rescued at remote beach in NSW A scuba diver is fighting for life after being pulled from waters at a remote beach just hours after another man died during a dive expedition in Queensland. Bystanders at Flint and Steel Beach at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, north of Sydney, performed CPR on the man and called triple-zero, triggering an extensive and complex emergency response just after 2pm on Saturday. NSW Ambulance crews, the Westpac rescue helicopter, Rural Fire, Fire and Rescue and NSW Police crews raced to the scene to assist. The man, aged in his 40s, was put onto a Rural Fire Service boat and transported to a port, where he was rushed to Northern Beaches Hospital in a critical condition. A NSWFR spokesman said firefighters attended, including a specialist rescue team. It comes after a 54-year-old Gold Coast man died while on a commercial scuba dive at the Wolf Rock dive site 2km off Double Island Point just after 11am on Friday. A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said the man had died following a 'completely unrelated medical reason'. Queensland Police have appealed for help finding the man's scuba equipment that might have drifted along a wide stretch of Queensland's southeast coast. Bystanders at Flint and Steel Beach (pictured) at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, north of Sydney , performed CPR on the man and called triple-zero, triggering an extensive and complex emergency response just after 2pm on Saturday It comes after a 54-year-old Gold Coast man died while on a commercial scuba dive at the Wolf Rock dive site 2km off Double Island Point just after 11am on Friday The man's diving equipment, which included a black buoyancy control vest and white air tank, was left in the water and police believe it could have drifted north. Currents might have pushed the equipment to the northern area of Inskip Point and as far as the stretch of beach at K'Gari, police believe. Anyone who finds the items on the beach has been urged to leave them alone and contact the police, but if they are found in the water, police have urged the public to collect them before contacting authorities. Wolf Rock is known to locals as challenging scuba diving and snorkelling site where divers can encounter low visibility and strong currents. A report will be prepared for the Coroner. A third person has been arrested after Stonehenge was sprayed with orange paint earlier this month. A man in his 30s from Essex was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on Thursday on suspicion of aiding and abetting criminal damage, aiding and abetting unauthorised entry and damage to an ancient monument, and aiding and abetting aggravated trespass, according to Wiltshire Police. He has now been released on police bail. Two protestors, Niamh Lynch, 21, a student from Oxford, and Rajan Naidu, 73, from Birmingham, had been previously arrested in connection with the incident. They remain on bail. Earlier this month, video footage posted on social media showed two people, wearing white shirts with Just Stop Oil emblazoned on the front, running up to the ancient monoliths with canisters and spraying paint all over them. Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed Stonehenge with orange paint earlier this month. Two people were arrested at the scene. Today, a man in his 30's from Essex has been arrested in connection to the activist group's latest stunt Image shows orange substance on Stonehenge, sprayed by Just Stop Oil protesters earlier this month Several stones - dating back to the late Neolithic period - were covered during the incident, which happened at around midday on June 19, the day before the summer solstice is celebrated at Stonehenge, which is the heart of a World Heritage site. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the attack as a 'disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK's and the world's oldest and most important monuments.' The Prime Minister continued: 'Just Stop Oil should be ashamed of their activists, and they and anyone associated with them, including a certain Labour Party donor, should issue a condemnation of this shameful act immediately.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said 'Just Stop Oil are pathetic' after activists from the group targeted Stonehenge. In a tweet, he wrote: 'The damage done to Stonehenge is outrageous. Just Stop oil are pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.' Several stones were covered in the substance before the protesters stopped and sat cross legged on the grass Historian Tom Holland, who has previously hailed Stonehenge as one of Europe's most precious prehistoric sites, also criticised the attack. He wrote on X: 'Parade your concern for the planet by destroying endangered lichens. Sympathy transmuted into utter loathing.' Furious visitors told how they were left 'devastated' after witnessing two Just Stop Oil protesting at Stonehenge by covering its sarsen stones in bright powder paint. One couple travelled 5,000 miles from the west coast of the USA to see Stonehenge and said it has 'ruined' it for visitors. Another couple from Newcastle, 325 miles away from Wiltshire, likened the incident to the Sycamore Gap tree felling. One heroic woman, who works at Stonehenge, wrestled with the Just Stop Oil protesters. A druid was also seen 'cursing' the 'two idiots' who staged the protest. Nestled in the Wiltshire countryside near Salisbury, Stonehenge is one of the top tourist attractions in the UK thanks to its mysterious beauty. The historical landmark dates back 5,000 years, with the famous circle of sarsen stones being placed between 2600 BC and 2400 BC. Police have been clamping down on Just Stop Oil. The Metropolitan Police yesterday said 27 Just Stop Oil activists were taken into custody following a series of raids relating to a plot to cause a 'summer of chaos at airports across the UK'. All the arrests were made under a section of the Public Order Act that makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure. A gang of ruthless human traffickers jailed last week face the most severe court sanctions in Scotland when they are eventually released. The three Chinese nationals, who ran a network of brothels in Glasgow and Edinburgh, were handed lengthy terms of imprisonment after their operations were dismantled by a Police Scotland and Home Office investigation. However, it can be revealed that the gang, who generated significant financial proceeds, now face Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) which will see their activities, even down to the amount of cash they carry, monitored for rest of their lives. We told this month how Qin Huang, 31, a mother-of-three who directed operations from her flat in a quiet Glasgow suburb, and co-accused Xiao Min, 38, of Carshalton, Surrey, trafficked women to work in brothels in Scotland. They included one located 50 yards from unsuspecting tourists on Edinburghs Royal Mile. A third member of the group, Guolei Huang, 35, was convicted of brothel-keeping. The gang reacted with shock and anger as they were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday to a total of more than 20 years in prison. Brothel madam Qin Huang, who trafficked women and arranged for adverts for their services, sobbed uncontrollably when told she would serve eight years, while a co-accused yelled furiously as he was led away to be transported to prison. DCI Iain Nelson, who helped lead an operation targeting people traffickers who ran brothels in Scotland Gang members Qin Huang and Xiao Min We can reveal that a further court hearing has been ordered for next month, at which the trio are in line to be served with SCPOs, Scotlands most punitive measures aimed at curbing the activities of serious criminals. The measures, in place since 2016, are designed to inhibit offenders and ensure their lifetime management across their business and personal lives, from the cash they carry, to mobile phone use and travel activities. A legal source said: These orders are reserved for serious cases, and are aimed at making it as difficult as possible for them to return to criminal activities when they are released from prison. They give the authorities the scope to comprehensively monitor offenders, including any assets, income, expenditure, and can even limit the money in their pockets. They place restrictions on criminals until the day they die. We told how the three were convicted in a policing first - without a single victim having to appear in court - such was the stength of the evidence, such as from intelligence and digitial sources, which police gathered. Speaking to this newspaper, police welcomed the convictions and said it sent a clear message such offences would not be tolerated. Police Scotland Detective Chief Inspector Iain Nelson, who helped lead the investigation, said: This case actually started in 2020 as a spin-off from another anti-trafficking operation and intelligence gained via that. Pieces of information began to connect and we were able to build links between these. We found connections to other areas of trafficking and organised crime and initiated inquiries from there. Now, several years down the line, when you have convictions for those involved, it is a big win for us. It sends a message to those responsible that it will not be tolerated and encouragement to victims that we can help. At the High Court last week, Xiao Min was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months, after admitting human trafficking alongside Qin Huang, while Guolei Huang was jailed for 4 years and 3 months for brothel keeping. Judge Lady Poole said: The investigation uncovered a sophisticated criminal network involved in prostitution. East Asian females were harboured and trafficked to work as prostitutes. The network included the use of six different rented addresses in Glasgow, and one in Edinburgh, for the provision of sexual services. Brothel keeping and trafficking women for prostitution involves the deliberate degrading of fellow human beings. When such offences come to light, it is the practice of the courts to impose substantial sentences in order to punish the offender in a manner which adequately reflects the gravity of these crimes, to deter others from regarding the exploitation of others as a potential money-making opportunity, and to protect the vulnerable from being exploited in this way. The mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray who was brutally murdered by two illegal migrants received a 'shock' phone call from former President Donald Trump only minutes before he took the stage to debate President Biden. Victoria Galvan - who is best friends with Jocelyn's mother Alexis Nungaray - shared how unexpected the call was and how much it meant to the heartbroken mom, whose daughter was strangled and found floating in a bayou only miles from their Houston home on June 16. 'He was like, "I'm actually about to come on for a debate" He gave his condolences, and he said that he would be reaching back out to her,' Galvan told The New York Post. 'He wanted to say that he was praying for Alexis and that he's been thinking about her and he wanted to reach out. He said that he was going to reach out in a couple days to her I mean, she was really we were all shocked,' Galvan said. Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, both Venezuelan nationals, were arrested and have been charged with capital murder. They are each being held on $10 million bond. Alexis Nungaray approaches the casket of her 12-year-old daughter Jocelyn Nungaray during her graveside service on Thursday in Houston Former President Donald Trump speaking about immigration and the border during Thursday night's presidential debate Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was brutally murdered on June 16 by two Venezuelan migrants Immigration and the border was one of the hot button issues the candidates sparred over during Thursday' debate. Trump spoke of the recent killings by unauthorized migrants entering the country illegally as the country faces unprecedented levels, including the horror death of young Jocelyn Nungaray. Weeks before the preteens murder, Pena Ramos and Rangel Martinez had been released into the country despite being intercepted by border agents. During the debate, Trump did not say Jocelyn's name but spoke of the recent killing authorities alleged were committed by undocumented immigrants. The other young women murdered but were not named were Laken Riley, 22-year-old nursing student killed Georgia killed while jogging in February, and Rachel Morin, 37, a mother of five, also killed while jogging along a trail in Maryland in August 2023. 'They are killing our citizens at a level we've never seen before. And you are reading it. Like these incredible young girls over the last few days,' Trump said. 'One of them, I just spoke to the mother. They just had a funeral for this girl. She's 12 years old. This is horrible what's taken place.' Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, one of the two men accused of killing 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, is led from the courtroom by deputies on Tuesday Franklin Pena Ramos, one of the two men accused of killing the young girl leaves the courtroom after bail was set for $10 million On May 28, Pena Ramos was fitted with a GPS ankle monitor by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent after he crossed at El Paso in Texas, but he had cut it off by the time the pair were arrested for killing Jocelyn Nungaray. Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, was also released after being intercepted by border agents on March 14, little more than three months before Jocelyn's murder. Ramos had told agents he planned to live with his cousin in Houston, but the tracker was only set to monitor his movements for 21 days, and he was sharing an apartment with Martinez when he was arrested. Last week, both men were charged with capital murder, and investigators are awaiting the result of tests to confirm whether Jocelyn was raped as well as murdered. Galvan and Jocelyn's mom shared how Jocelyn would be in disbelief that Trump called and all the attention the case has garnered. White doves fly after being released during a graveside service Jocelyn on Thursday On Thursday was the funeral service and a celebration of life that took place for Jocelyn. On her obituary was a line from a Billie Eilish song, 'Things fall apart and time breaks your heart.' 'We understand all about things falling apart and broken hearts. Because on June 17th, our hearts were broken when our angel, Jocelyn Lisel Nungaray, gained her wings in heaven.' 'Rest in peace, dear Jocelyn. Your light will continue to shine in our hearts, now with angel wings to guide us.' London Mayor Sadiq Khan lead the crowd at the capitals Pride parade whilst a group chanted 'there is no pride in genocide' elsewhere in the city. His wife Saadiya Khan and Conservative Assembly member Andrew Boff as well as MAFS star Ella Morgan, double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Homes were also present at the march which set off from Hyde Park today. In a statement, the mayor said as a 'proud ally' the event was one of his annual highlights, having been present every year since 2016. Elsewhere in London, the group Queers for Palestine walked through Piccadilly chanting: 'There is no pride in genocide'. The 50-person group waved posters accusing Israel of genocide whilst also alleging the state was 'pinkwashing' to improve its international reputation. Pinkwashing - also known as rainbow-washing - is a term used to describe the practice of trying to benefit from supporting LGBTQ rights as a way to profit or divert away from another agenda. London Mayor Sadiq Khan lead the crowd at the capital's Pride parade today as the rainbow clad crowd marched through the city A marcher donning rainbow sunglasses and holding a rainbow fan Parade participants in fancy dress march through London during the annual Pride event In a statement, the mayor said as a 'proud ally' the event was one of his annual highlights, having been present every year since 2016 The mayor with parade-goers during Pride In London, which kicked off at Hyde Park Double olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes was also amongst the revellers today at Pride In London MAFS star Ella Morgan was also spotted taking part in the procession today Three female spectators dressed in pink tops, hats and glasses watch the Pride March Pride parade participants march through central London draped in rainbow flags Poppy Ajudha entertained Pride parade-goers onstage in Trafalgar Square The singer-songwriter wore a dangly green dress as she took to the stage in Trafalgar Square A parade-goer shows off a band reading 'Ms Handler UK' A participant with a rainbow-coloured vest and black pointed moustache Tahir Kesai, a 50-year-old who was part of the group, said: 'We decided to march because we think it's important to be here. We're too passionate about this cause to not participate.' In a full statement about the Pride in London parade, Sadiq Khan said: 'I'm delighted that London's diverse LGBTQI+ communities and allies are once again joining together in the heart of our capital for our world-renowned Pride celebrations and march of solidarity. 'Pride is one of the highlights of my year and it is an honour to have been on every march since I was first elected as mayor in 2016. 'This incredible event is a shining light for LGBTQI+ rights and shows why our city is a beacon for openness and inclusion - a place where you are embraced and celebrated for who you are. Our capital's LGBTQI+ communities make a huge contribution to life in London. 'There is however still work to be done to achieve true equality, and as a proud ally, I'll continue to stand side-by-side with our capital's LGBTQI+ communities as we work to build a better London for all.' Dee Chanelle, director of Zodiac, who is hosting the official Pride in London Social, said: 'Pride is a time of unity where everyone comes together to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights. 'Freedom to express yourself and live authentically is very important. 'London is open to all this Saturday and we are proud to have our employees take part in the parade. Describing London as a beacon for 'openness and inclusion', Khan said there was still more work to be done to achieve true equality Khan taking a selfie with two members marching with the crowd today Members of the crowd holding an LGBT flag over the Mayor during the parade Khan posing for a selfie with a pride parade-goer in Piccadilly Circus Khan attended the event alongside his wife Saadiya Khan. Conservative Assembly member Andrew Boff were also present Elsewhere in the city, the group Queers for Palestine chanted: 'There is no pride in genocide' ' It's important to employ members of the LGBTQ+ community from gifted entertainers to those who otherwise struggle with work opportunities based on appearance and sexual orientation. 'The atmosphere is London is amazing today and we are ready to welcome the crowds in later for our busiest day of the year. 'We are contributing not only to this important day but helping to boost the London economy.' 35,000 revellers descended on the capital today for the march through central London in celebration of the LGBTQ community. The theme for this year's march was 'We Are Everywhere', with droves of people making their way through the city with their rainbow flags and clothes. The city has been particularly busy in Trafalgar Square as well as Hyde Park - where the march began Several roads including those around Golden Square and Soho have been closed in preparation for the parade. Christian counter-protesters have gathered alongside the Pride parade reciting religious sermons criticising the march today. Two attendees carrying pride flags and donning t-shirts which read: 'I have everything I need' and 'I am everything' Two men celebrating the event whilst donning red and purple head pieces Another pride participant enjoying celebrations in the capital with his diamante mesh mask One person walking in the sunny capital with a multi-coloured umbrella A reveller dressed in a rainbow costume take parts in the Pride march celebrations A reveller dressed in a glistening gold carnival outfit at the Pride In London parade One man showed off his large multi-coloured wings The group of eight activists - seven men and one woman - stood within a fenced off section adjacent to the route of the parade. Several police officers were stationed around the counter-protest, set up on Piccadilly, to prevent potential clashes. The group held placards reading: "Repent and turn to Christ" and "Be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken...a man's pride shall bring him low". A middle-aged man addressed the parade through a loudspeaker and was met with jeers from marchers in ridicule. Crowds of motorbikes and various flags making their way through the capital during today's parade People enjoying the parade whilst holding a bi-sexual flag Two revellers hugging and smiling at the parade in London Three pride attendees with one draped in a lesbian flag (left) while the person to the left carries a pansexual flag Kemi Badenoch has hit back at David Tennant calling him a misogynist, after he blasted her in a trans rights speech. The Women and Equalities Minister said the attack from the Doctor Who star, who told an awards ceremony he wished she would shut up and not exist, was rooted in misogyny. 'I do think David Tennant is a misogynist. The way he framed those comments showed that he did not care about the argument on single-sex spaces for women,' she told the Times. 'Shut up' is one of the tropes that you hear them say. There's something visceral there. I do think it's probably rooted in misogyny. It doesn't matter whether it's misogyny or not. It wouldn't be any better if it was directed against a man.' The Women and Equalities Minister said the attack from the Doctor Who star, who told an awards ceremony he wished she would shut up and not exist, was rooted in misogyny During his interview the Timelord said trans youth should not feel unloved or not accepted as 'most people in the world don't really care', later adding that opposers would 'all go away soon' After winning celebrity ally at the LGBT Awards for being one of 'the community's most fierce allies and supporters', the Scottish actor was asked to relay a message to trans youth backstage. During his interview the Timelord said trans youth should not feel unloved or not accepted as 'most people in the world don't really care', later adding that opposers would 'all go away soon'. He went even further backstage adding that 'it's a tiny bunch of whinging little f***ers that are on the wrong side of history and they'll all go away soon'. Ms Badenoch believes that Tennant does not understand her point of view, saying 'I've never said anything negative about trans people. 'I've actually talked about protecting them from those who wish to exploit the rules that were made for them. They [people like Tennant] just don't care. They attack. They think it's all a big game. If you want to be a politician, then stand for election.' After winning celebrity ally at the LGBT Awards for being one of 'the community's most fierce allies and supporters', the Scottish actor was asked to relay a message to trans youth backstage JK Rowling has hit out at Doctor Who star David Tennant following his pro-trans speed at the LGBT Awards She took to X formerly Twitter, suggesting the Timelord was not concerned about women's welfare particularly women in prison Harry Potter author JK Rowling also weighed into the debate criticising Tennant and implying he had a lack of concern for women's welfare suggesting the actor wanted 'a lot of people to cease to exist' following his comments. In particular she appeared to imply Tennant had no concern for women who would like to opt for 'female-only' spaces in prisons, at work or in crisis centres. She wrote on X: '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.' Asked how she coped with being attacked by the likes of Tennant, Mrs Badenoch admitted: 'It's not an easy thing to cope with. 'That is just one of thousands of people who sends nasty messages, police investigating things, you just need to have a certain type of character and constitution which is to be able to deal with things like that. 'Politicians need thicker and thicker skin.' Even Sir Kier got involved in the debate this week, as he criticised both Tennant a Labour supporter who has previously described the party leader as a 'clever grown-up' and Labour candidate Dawn Butler, who agreed with the former Dr Who. On a visit to a medical centre outside Leicester to meet NHS staff, he told reporters: 'I think in politics, as in life, it's really important that we are able to robustly disagree with others. 'Obviously, that happens a lot in a general election campaign but we should do it with respect for everybody involved in that robust discussion.' Jill Biden revealed that she comforted Joe after his disastrous debate performance as even she admitted it was 'on the minds' of their campaign donors. The First Lady has come under scrutiny in recent days amid growing fears over President Biden's age deterioration, with some speculating that she is a driving force behind his insistence of remaining in the 2024 race. At a fundraiser on Friday in New York City, Jill told supporters that her husband is 'not a young man', but said she only offered words of reassurance following his 90-minute debate ordeal. 'After last night's debate, he said, 'You know, Jill, I don't know what happened. I didn't feel that great,'' she began, per New York Times reporter Katie Rogers. 'I said, 'Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that you've been president.'' Days later on Saturday afternoon, Joe was seen clutching his wife's arm as they departed Marine One in The Hamptons, as the couple continue to hit the campaign trail together while under the spotlight. The First Lady has come under scrutiny in recent days amid growing fears over President Biden's age deterioration, with some speculating that she is a driving force behind his insistence of remaining in the 2024 race On Saturday afternoon, the 81-year-old was seen clutching his wife's arm as they departed Marine One in The Hamptons to attend a fundraiser The Bidens are in New York for a glitzy fundraiser in East Hampton at the home of hedge-fund billionaire Barry Rosenstein, with celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick reportedly expected to attend. The presidential motorcade also briefly stopped at the home of Avram Glazer - partial owner of Manchester United - after driving past lines of supporters, one of whom was seen holding a sign reading: 'You got this, Joe. When you get knocked down, you get back up.' Tickets to tonight's event are as high as $250,000, however Biden may not be met with a friendly crows as donors are said to be 'extremely disappointed' in his debate performance. 'Everyone paid in advance so it could be an opportunity to encourage him to drop out,' a source told the New York Post. On debate night, Jill raised eyebrows as she was seen carefully helping the 81-year-old off the debate stage before congratulating him for 'answering all the questions', which some observers criticized for the low bar he cleared. She appears set to stubbornly stand by his side until November, despite the debate reportedly sparking panic inside the Democratic party as they look to potentially oust the president. A source close to the First Lady told DailyMail.com that the couple 'know (Joe) didn't have the best first debate', but they have no plans on changing course. 'Is he the best person to be president, now and for the next four years? 100% yes,' the insider said. 'Shes his wife of 47 years; she is his biggest supporter, biggest champion, and biggest believer.' President Joe Biden insisted he can still win the election in his first campaign rally after his disastrous debate performance, where he appeared far more energetic than the night before 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 day after Biden's debate fiasco, the president appeared far stronger and more virile at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he insisted that he 'intends to win this election' in November. Jill Biden called it an 'amazing event', where over 2,000 supporters gathered to show support. The rally, however, did little to dispel rumors that Democrats may look to intervene and urge Biden to drop out of the race - with former President Barack Obama and the First Lady seen as the few people who may convince him. Biden already has the Democratic nomination locked up, and would need to voluntarily step aside to not take on Trump in November. Betting markets showed that Biden's chances of re-election took a significant hit after the debate, 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. A crossbow-wielding attacker has wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade, Serbia's interior ministry said. The officer responded by fatally shooting the attacker, who is yet to be identified, before being taken to hospital. Both Serbian and Israeli officials said that initial indications are that it was a terror-motivated attack. Serbia's Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, said in a statement that the attacker fired a bolt at the officer, hitting him in the neck. He said the officer than 'used a weapon in self-defence to shoot the attacker, who died as a result of his injuries'. An attacker with a crossbow has wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade, Serbia's interior ministry said The officer responded by fatally shooting the attacker, whose weapon is seen lying in the road in the aftermath Both Serbian and Israeli officials said that initial indications are that it was a terror-motivated attack The police officer was conscious when he was transported to Belgrade's main emergency hospital, where an operation to remove the bolt from his neck will be performed, the statement added. A spokesman with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that 'today there was an attempted terrorist attack in the vicinity of the Israeli embassy in Belgrade'. The spokesman said the embassy is closed and no employee of the embassy was injured. Mr Dacic told reporters that 'we are still talking about possible motives'. However, he added: 'There are now all indications that the motives relate to terrorism. Because there is no other motive why someone would attack a gendarme outside the Israeli embassy.' He said one person was arrested near the scene of the shooting. Police are investigating a possible network and ties with foreign terrorist groups, he added. Police officers eventually removed the body of the attacker from the scene this afternoon Pictured: Armed Police officers stationed close to Israel's embassy in Belgrade A spokesman with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade (pictured) is closed and no employee of the embassy was injured Serbia's Interior Minister, Ivica Dacic, said one person was arrested near the scene of the shooting. Police are investigating a possible network and ties with foreign terrorist groups 'There are indications that those are individuals already known to the security services... the Wahhabi movement,' said Mr Dacic, referring to the hard-line Islamist movement. 'But this still has not been confirmed.' The identity of the attacker is still being determined. Authorities raised the security alert in Belgrade, including for foreign embassies and government buildings but also public places such as shopping centres and other busy areas. Serbia has maintained close relations with Israel during the war in Gaza. A woman took 'ghosting' her date to the next level by calling 911 on him while he was her doorstep, falsely reporting that he was threatening her. Sumaya Thomas, 18, from, North Liberty, Iowa reportedly 'got cold feet' just before meeting up with a man she matched with on a dating app. Instead of calling off the date altogether, she called authorities just after midnight on June 16 and manufactured an outrageous story just to get him off her property. Thomas fabricated a tale, telling authorities that the man on her doorstep was her abusive ex-boyfriend, whose child she was pregnant with. She further claimed that he was threatening to hit, punch, kick, and stab her over text, according to an affidavit obtained by Law&Crime. She also claimed that she had known him for two years. Sumaya Thomas, 18, took 'ghosting' her date to the next level by calling 911 on him while he was her doorstep, falsely reporting that he was threatening her Instead of calling off the date altogether, she called authorities just after midnight on June 16 and fabricated an outrageous story just to get him off her property 'She reported him threatening to cause harm to her,' court documents said. Police encountered the man walking away from the location. According to reports, he told them he'd just met Thomas a week prior on a dating app. Their communication then shifted from the app to text messages. To support his claims, the man presented the text conversation to the officers, which they confirmed aligned with his account. 'The conversation showed he was being honest and he really did just meet the female,' court documents said. When police interviewed Thomas, officers said that she claimed to have known the man for two years. She also stated she was pregnant with his child and that he had been abusive towards her, refusing to leave her alone. After repeated questioning, Thomas eventually confessed that she just 'got cold feet' made up the entire story only because she had second thoughts about the date and simply didn't want to go through with it. She also told officers that she falsified the story because she didn't think officers would help her if she explained the real reason why she called them. The unidentified man was held for over an hour after Thomas' false accusations. The woman was charged with two misdemeanor counts of False Report of Indictable Offense to Public Entity, and one count of False Report - 911 call and released from Johnson County Jail. Royal fans have shared their vivid reactions to King Charles' new portrait as the palace released a photograph of His Majesty in full military regalia to mark Armed Forces Day. The portrait of Charles III was taken by photographer Hugo Burnand in Windsor Castle's Grand Corridor in November last year and features him wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations. Royal family fanatics were quick to praise the latest photo of the King on social media. Commenting on the monarch's looks on social platform X, formerly Twitter, one user said: 'He looks good and it's so vibrant. Love all the colours', while a separate comment read: 'New portrait of King Charles - the vibe is 'regal and chill'. Another said: 'That's tremendous'. 'Now that is a portrait of a King!', said another X account. King Charles III sits for a portrait in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England. His Majesty, as Head of the Armed Forces, is wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations. His Majesty's Field Marshal cap, white gloves and Field Marshal baton are placed on the table King Charles' first official portrait since the coronation painted by Jonathan Yeo on public display at Philip Mould Gallery in central London, Britain, last month Social media users appeared to be bigger fans of Charles' latest photos than his first official painted portrait since his Coronation, which was unveiled last month. The painting, by the renowned artist Jonathan Yeo, shows the King against a red, fiery backdrop. A butterfly flutters around his shoulder, which Yeo said captured his 'metamorphosis from Prince to King'. Commenting on today's new image, one fan said: 'Wonderful portrait of King Charles. The red one was horrible', in reference to Yeo's painting. The newly-released picture captures Charles wearing the collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter with the Sovereign's Greater George, as well as the sash of the Royal Victorian Order. He also had the Star of the Order of the Garter and the Star of the Order of the Thistle along with the Order of Merit, the Royal Victorian Chain, the Sovereign's badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and a Medal Bar. On the table, His Majesty's Field Marshal cap could be seen along with a pair of white gloves and the Field Marshal baton. Social media users appeared to have a positive reaction to the King's latest portrait Royal fans seemed to like the newest official photograph of Charles more than his first painting as ruling monarch which was released last month The picture of Charles was taken by photographer Hugo Burnand in Windsor Castle's Grand Corridor in November last year Also today, a video of Queen Camilla was also released by Buckingham Palace, in which she thanks veterans, serving members of the Armed Forces and their families. In addition, she paid tribute to the military for 'everything you do to protect this country of ours'. And Camilla described the Armed Forces as a 'source of inspiration, reassurance and pride'. Her message was filmed in the Clarence House Morning Room and produced by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), of which the she is patron. In her message to the military, the Queen said she was 'deeply honoured to join you all on Armed Forces Day'. She added: 'Whether in this country or overseas, we celebrate the service of the men and women in our military and thank you all for everything you do to protect this country of ours. 'We also remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of stability and peace around the world.' Camilla then spoke about how she was in Normandy with the King on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. She said: 'We were reminded of the incredible bravery of the Allied land, sea and air forces whose combined endeavours brought about the liberation of Western Europe and in whose debt we shall forever be. Camilla added: 'Eight decades later, I know that that same spirit and those same qualities remain much in evidence throughout our Armed Forces, as you undertake your duties in the face of a multitude of challenges and dangers. 'In so doing, you not only protect these Isles, but also defend liberties way beyond these shores. Your determination, unrelenting efforts and selfless loyalty to each other and to the United Kingdom are as enduring as our gratitude.' She also paid tribute to families who 'keep the home fires burning' while members of the military are deployed overseas. Camilla continued: 'As the proud daughter of an Army officer, I know something of the impact military life has on your loved ones you too are heroes. Reform UK has withdrawn support from three of its candidates over offensive comments they have made, the party has confirmed. Nigel Farage's party is no longer backing Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley - who were all previously standing for Reform. It comes after leader Nigel Farage disowned the candidates during a much-anticipated appearance on the BBC Question Time special at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham yesterday, when their remarks were put to him. Mr Farage told the programme: 'I want nothing to do with them.' Nigel Farage 's party is no longer backing Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley - who were all previously candidates for Reform Mr Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, posted on X that 'importing loads of sub-Saharan Africans plus Muslims that inter-breed' had created a 'gene pool decline' Mr Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, posted on X that 'importing loads of sub-Saharan Africans plus Muslims that inter-breed' had created a 'gene pool decline'. In another post he said that 'importing sub-Saharan Africans' would 'dilute the IQ of our country', which he told the BBC was 'taken out of context'. Meanwhile, Mr Lomas allegedly said black people should 'get off [their] lazy arses' and stop acting 'like savages'. Ms Lilley, who is running for the party in Southend East and Rochford, is accused of describing people arriving on small boats as 'scum'. In a post in June 2020 he commented on the arrival of a small boat in Dover, saying: 'I hope I'm near one of these scumbags one day. I won't run away, I'll slaughter them then have their family taken out.' Within weeks he posted again, railing against 'more scum' entering the UK. 'I hope your family get robbed, beaten or attacked', he added, according to The Times. Mr Lilley also suggested that razor wire should be carried by Border Force guards to tear the boats making the dangerous journey across the Channel. In another concerning post, he commented 'gas' alongside laughing emojis under a video of Muslims praying, the newspaper said. The 70-year-old also claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic was a plan to 'depopulate the world' and was 'mass murder by government'. Robert Lomas, in Barnsley North, reportedly said that 'black people of Britain' were 'grifting the race card' and should 'get up off your lazy arses' and stop acting 'like savages' Leslie Lilley, who is running for the Reform party in Southend East and Rochford, said he would 'slaughter' migrants arriving on small boats and have their families 'taken out' He is one of 41 Reform candidates who are 'friends' on Facebook with the fascist leader Gary Raikes. Raikes is a former organiser for the British National Party and heads the New British Union, modelled on Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists. The candidates will remain on the ballot paper, but are no longer endorsed by Reform UK. This comes after the Reform UK leader came under heavy fire over comments made by Reform activist Andrew Parker. Mr 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'. 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 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. '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.' Nigel Farage's Reform UK has since reported Channel 4 to the elections watchdog, claiming the broadcaster used an actor as a 'plant' in its undercover investigation into his campaign. The broadcaster has denied that Andrew Parker, who was filmed using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak, was paid by or known to Channel 4 News before the expose on Mr Farage's General Election campaign in the constituency of Clacton. But Reform, in a letter to the Electoral Commission, said it was 'wholly unbelievable' for it to be a coincidence and Channel 4's piece 'cannot be described as anything short of election interference'. Separately, Mr Farage is embroiled in a dispute with the BBC, claiming the audience for Friday's Question Time special was 'rigged' and refusing to appear on the flagship Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show unless the corporation apologises. Sir Keir Starmer has voiced support for Rishi Sunak after a Reform activist was secretly recorded directing a racial slur towards the Prime Minister. When asked about the incident the Labour leader said he shared the PM's 'disgust' at the comments made by campaigner for Nigel Farage in Clacton. Sir Keir accused Mr Farage of not doing enough following the incident, and added that it is the leader who sets the 'tone, the culture and the standards' of a political party. Speaking on a campaign visit in Hampshire, he said: 'I don't think (Mr Farage) has shown the leadership he should've shown. There's no good condemning remarks after the event. 'If you lead a party you set the tone, and the culture, and the standards of your party, and I don't think he's done enough in terms of leadership.' Sir Keir accused Mr Farage of not doing enough following the incident, and added that it is the leader who sets the 'tone, the culture and the standards' of a political party In response to the incident, Mr Sunak said: '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' The footage, recorded by an undercover reporter for Channel 4 News, showed Reform campaigner Andrew Parker (pictured) using a racist term about Mr Sunak and suggesting migrants should be used as 'target practice' Asked if he sympathised with the Prime Minister, Sir Keir said: 'I do, and I thought what he said about his daughters in particular was very powerful. 'And I'm glad he said it and I share his disgust at the comments that were made.' In response to the incident, Mr Sunak said: '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.' The footage, recorded by an undercover reporter for Channel 4 News, showed Reform campaigner Andrew Parker using a racist term about Mr Sunak and suggesting migrants should be used as 'target practice'. Also in the video George Jones, a veteran UKIP supporter who now runs events for Mr Farage's campaign, made homophobic comments. Mr Jones, who spotted a pride flag displayed on a police car, described the pride flag as 'degenerate' and suggested members of the LGBT community are paedophiles. He 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******.' Security minister Tom Tugendhat said there was a 'pattern of racist and misogynistic views' within Reform UK. Mr Tugendhat said it was just the latest incident involving candidates or activists associated with Reform. He told Times Radio: 'There's many decent people vote for every political party and there's many decent people who will vote for Reform. Also in the video George Jones, a veteran UKIP supporter who now runs events for Mr Farage's campaign, made homophobic comments when a police displaying the pride flag drove past Mr Farage has claimed the Clacton expose was 'a political set-up of astonishing proportions', highlighting Mr Parker's background as an actor. Channel 4 have hit back at the claims saying they met Mr Parker for the first time in Clacton 'But what we're trying to do is to remind people, to try to make clear to people, what it is that Reform really is.' He said Mr Farage has 'clearly done almost no due diligence on who he's asking to carry his message'. 'There is a real pattern of racist and misogynistic views in the party. I think it's absolutely right to call it out,' he added. In a Times interview, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said wavering Tories considering backing Reform should think again. She said: 'What I am asking those people who are Reform voters, or considering voting Reform, is that you are good people, I know that you feel some disappointment with our party, but don't let these people who claim to be like you get in. 'They are not like you all. They are a totally different thing.' She said Reform was made up of 'people who are not fit to make the decisions about your life'. She rejected calls from some of her colleagues to join forces with Mr Farage after the election and let him into the Conservative fold. Ms Badenoch said: 'Why is he getting a special pass? He is like the wolf in the three little pigs story. He wants to blow your house down. The wolf is coming to destroy you. He's not coming for a cup of tea.' Mr Farage has claimed the Clacton expose was 'a political set-up of astonishing proportions', highlighting Mr Parker's background as an actor. He added he was 'not going to apologise' as what had happened was a 'set-up, a deliberate attempt to smear us'. In a Times interview, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said wavering Tories considering backing Reform should think again Security minister Tom Tugendhat said there was a 'pattern of racist and misogynistic views' within Reform UK. Mr Tugendhat said it was just the latest incident involving candidates or activists associated with Reform Mr Parker has previously said 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 allegations 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.' Mr Farage also claimed the audience on BBC's Question Time on Friday, during which he was questioned about his party's supporters, 'was rigged'. He said: 'These were not ordinary members of the public. They hand-picked a prominent pro-Palestine activist and even a BBC TV Director to attack me.' A spokesperson for the BBC told MailOnline: 'We refute these claims. 'Last night's Question Time audience was made up of broadly similar levels of representation from Reform UK and the Green Party, with the other parties represented too. There were also a number of people, with a range of political views, who were still making up their mind.' A father-of-two loses has lost his left leg after it was torn to shreds during a horror boating accident when a drunk' woman driver backed over him on a North Texas lake. Kyle Lively was on Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, Texas last Saturday night when he was thrown off the back of the boat 'unexpectedly' into the water. Officials from the Azle Fire Department said first responders were called around 8.45pm where they found a man struck by a boat propeller, NBC DFW reported. The driver of the boat was identified as Kelly McCandless, who was arrested, and charged with 'boating while intoxicated,' according to Tarrant County jail records, People reported. Lively's thighs and knees were ripped apart by the rotating metal blades of the boat's propellers but miraculously was able to get himself to the surface of the water using his arms and his will to live, his family said. Three Good Samaritans got him to safety tied a tourniquet around his legs, and called 911. He was airlifted to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, a level one trauma center. Kyle Lively was thrown off the back of his boat without warning - and was struck by the boat's propeller last Saturday on Eagle Mountain Lake near Forth Worth, Texas The driver of the boat was identified as Kelly McCandless, who was arrested, and charged with 'boating while intoxicated,' according to Tarrant County jail records, People reported Since the incident, Lively has undergone numerous surgeries to save his leg, but due to the severity of his injuries, doctors gave him a grim prognosis. Lively's right leg was also injured but was stable. On Saturday morning, he gave an update on his prognosis telling loved ones that he has decided to move forward and 'amputate' his left leg expressing how difficult it was to make the life-altering decision. 'There is no saving it,' he said. ' I lost 10 inches of femur bone as well as upper quadrant muscle,' he said. 'Ive been thinking about it for a few days now,' he said. 'Ive asked God to guide me this whole process.' In the post, he expressed gratitude and said he was 'completely overwhelmed with all the people that have reached out' and all the 'love' that has been shown. 'Its a lot to process and take in, but thank you for the positive energy and thoughts, he said. Lively's boat called Lively Dream II Since the incident, Lively has undergone numerous surgeries to save his leg, but due to the severity of his injuries, doctors gave him a grim prognosis Lively's sister, Marie Lively told local news outlet NBC DFW what a selfless person her brother is and a devoted family man. 'For those of you who know my brother Kyle, you know he is truly a great man. One of the best there is. A hard worker, a kind soul, a fun guy and above ALL a devoted father to his two boys,' she said in a GoFundMe she created. Lively shared the long recovery ahead and the mounting medical expenses, as her brother is small business owner with no health insurance. 'The doctors hope he will be able to walk again, and we know that he will,' she said. 'We also know this is going to be a long recovery, an uphill battle and a huge financial struggle for Kyle and his family.' 'I dont know what its going to cost but Im assuming $200,000 minimum,' Marie said. Lively's sister, Marie Lively told local NBC DFW what a selfless person her brother is and a devoted family man Lively pictured with his two sons last June while enjoying a day out boating 'Kyle owns his own elevator inspection company; however he obviously cannot work right now, which adds more financial strain and stress,' she said. 'So, we are humbly asking for your help. No donation is too big or too small and ALL money collected will go to Kyle's medical bills and family,' she said. She outlined some of the preliminary expenses he will be facing include hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, mortgage, home bills and cost of living. She grew emotional knowing that the near-fatal event could have had a different ending. 'He's going to be okay, and everythings going to be okay no matter what happens,' she sad. 'Because hes alive.' As of Saturday the GoFundMe has raised more than $35,000 towards their goal of $50,000. A New York town is furious after a 13-year-old boy was tackled to the ground and fatally shot by police after allegedly displaying a firearm. In footage circulating on social media, three cops are seen chasing the Asian male on foot as he fled from being stopped by Utica police officers around 10:18 pm on Friday. As the teen was running, the Utica Police Department said that he displayed what appeared to be a hand gun, according to an initial statement released on Facebook. One officer caught up with the boy and wrestled him to the ground before punching him in a front lawn in a residential area. The other two officers joined in the assault before one of them fired a gun at the boy. A New York town is furious after a 13-year-old boy was tackled to the ground and fatally shot by police after allegedly displaying a firearm A press conference held on Saturday morning at city hall addressed the situation. A large crowd of concerned citizens attended, expressing their outrage and grief The mother of the 13 year old boy who was shot and killed by Utica Police cries after listening to a translator inside City Hall in Utica, NY on Saturday, June 29, 2024 Neighbors who witnessed the incident had been filming with their cell phones, yelling 'careful, careful' to the cops. After the gunshot rang through the neighborhood, witnesses filming the incident screaming in horror. Through tears and a breaking voice, one person exclaimed 'Oh my god! Yo! He just shot him!' The boy was rushed to Wynn Hospital where life saving efforts were attempted, but he died from the injuries he sustained. A press conference held on Saturday morning at city hall addressed the situation. A large crowd of concerned citizens attended, expressing their outrage and grief. Chief Mark Williams presented the initial details of the case, facing jeers and shouts from the audience. 'On June 28 at approximately 10.18pm, the Utica officers assigned to the crime prevention unit conducted a stop of two males on the 900 block of Shaw Street regarding a police investigation. During the stop, one of the individuals fled from the police on foot. While fleeing, the youth displayed what appeared to be a handgun.' A family member of the victim was reportedly present, prompting one person to ask the audience to keep their thoughts to themselves out of respect. 'There's a lot of emotions in this room,' Williams said at one point. 'But you're asking us to be transparent, and when you shout over us, it makes it very difficult to do so.' Williams continued: 'A police officer ultimately discharged his firearm once, striking the male during a ground struggle. The victim is described as a 13-year-old Asian male who was given immediate first aid on the scene by the police officers and later transported to the hospital where, unfortunately, he succumbed to his wounds. The officers did recover a replica Glock 17 handgun with a detachable magazine. This replica handgun was ultimately found to be a pellet gun.' Mayor Michael Galime said the incident 'became tragic in mere moments,' and promised full transparency 'to make sure the community can understand how to be part of this process as every single piece unfolds.' 'I cannot express, in words, that this point cannot change what has forever changed as of yesterday evening. Our condolences to the families, the community and all of Utica and the surrounding areas for what is going on during this event,' he concluded. Chief Mark Williams presented the initial details of the case, facing jeers and shouts from the audience A crowd gathers outside City Hall for the press conference in Utica, NY on Saturday, June 29, 2024 'On June 28 at approximately 10.18pm, the Utica officers assigned to the crime prevention unit conducted a stop of two males on the 900 block of Shaw Street regarding a police investigation,' said Chief Williams at a press conference The identities of the involved officers will be released 'in a short period of time,' according to Chief Williams. After investigative protocols have been followed, the unedited bodycam footage will be released. In the meantime, the officer has been put on paid administrative leave, according to CNY Central. A dual investigation is underway: the Attorney General's Office will determine potential criminal charges, while the UPD's Professional Standards Unit will handle the administrative aspects. Fell running legend Joss Naylor MBE also known as King Of The Fells has died aged 88. The Climbing Shop - located in Ambleside - announced his death on social media, adding the runner had passed away 'in the company of friends and family'. The sheep farmer originally from Gosforth, Cumbria first started running in 1960 and walked away victorious from several races earning the Iron Man nickname. He remained an avid runner for the remainder of his life, serving as a source of inspiration for fellow joggers across the globe smashing several records. Mr Naylor was held the fastest known time for Pennine Way, Welsh 3,000ers, the Three Peaks - and even broke the Lake District 24-hour three times. Fell running legend Joss Naylor MBE also known as King Of The Fells has died aged 88Fell running legend Joss Naylor MBE also known as King Of The Fells has died aged 88 At the age of 80, he ventured nearly 50km from Caldbeck to Wasdale in memory of his father Joe whilst also fundraising for the Brathay Trust - a youth-development charity. Three years later the sportsman even completed the Lake District Mountain Trial - a challenge he failed to complete in 1962 due to bad weather and a cramp. In 1983, the extraordinary athlete also completed the Lakes, Meres and Waters event - which includes 20,000 feet climb as well as 105 miles - in just 19 hours and 14 minutes. He also raced across the 214 Wainwrights in only seven days at the age of 50, later running 70 Lakeland fells aged 70. In an interview with BBC Countryfile in February 2021, he revealed he was still running two or three times every week, He describing the fell tops as 'the best views on earth'. Mr Naylor was renowned for his humble spirit as well as being supportive of other fell runners. When he was residing in a care home following a stroke in 2021, he told Bradbury House: 'I consider myself quite lucky with all the records and wins over the years. 'The conditions and your body have got to be alright on the day, so I was fortunate I was able to perform at the right times. 'It was particularly difficult to keep going during the heatwaves, but I received a lot of support from friends, family and the fell-running community. He added: 'There are a lot of good people involved in the sport. In my opinion, they're the greatest people on this earth and I'm very proud to be associated with them. 'We all like to club together and a number of the challenges I've mentioned are often run to raise money for various charities. 'I was lucky enough to be recognised for my charity work and running achievements with an MBE.' There has been an out-pour of condolences from far and wide after the death of the runner - who received an MBE for his services to charity and sport - was announced. Stuart Ferguson the Chairman of the Fell Runners Association said: 'We are hugely saddened by the news that the legend that is Joss Naylor has passed away. 'Joss inspired so many and will be ever remembered for what he gave to our unique sport.' Brathay Trust, who the runner raised an staggering 40,000 for between 2007 and 2019 - also released their own statement. He would attend all of the charity's fundraiser races until he had a stroke in 2021. They said: '[Mr Naylor's] unwavering commitment to our mission and his passion for the outdoors left an indelible mark on our organisation. 'Josss legendary feats as a fell runner and his tireless advocacy for young people resonated with all of us. 'His spirit of adventure, resilience, and love for the Lake District inspired countless individuals, both within and beyond our community. The legendary runner was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his services to sport and charity, having raised 40,000 for the Brathay Trust between 2007 and 2019 'As we mourn his loss, let us remember Joss Naylor as a beacon of determination, kindness, and camaraderie. 'His legacy will forever echo through the hills and valleys he traversed, and in the hearts of those he touched.' The Welsh 1000m Peaks Race shared a heartfelt statement, stating Mr Naylor created a 'legacy of excellent running'. They said: 'The fell and mountain running community across the UK will have been touched by his stalwart presence over decades, and now his sad passing. 'Thank you for leaving a legacy of excellent running in the Welsh 1000m Peaks Race, with many notable wins in the the race's first years of the 1970s.' Scots with serious health conditions face dire shortages of medicines with some forced to travel for miles to get vital drugs. Medicines for those with cystic fibrosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and diabetes are all currently affected by supply issues. The situation has also impacted stocks of epilepsy medication and hormone replacement therapy treatments in recent months. Now The Mail on Sunday has launched a campaign to end the drug shortage nightmare. We are calling on the UK and Scottish governments to implement four changes which would help to resolve the crisis. They are that pharmacists should be given more power to make substitutions when drugs are out of stock; that manufacturers should be forced to give advance warning of known shortages or face fines; a public database should be created to allow patients to check which pharmacies have their drugs in stock; and that all NHS patients should be allowed to use hospital pharmacies to source crucial drugs. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said that medicine shortages create stress for patients, their families and pharmacy teams Sabrina Duncan has had problems accessing ADHD medication for both of her sons Laura Wilson, Royal Pharmaceutical Society director for Scotland, said: Medicine shortages are creating a lot of stress for patients, families and pharmacy teams across Scotland, just like in the rest of the UK. Delays in receiving medicines mean pharmacists spend hours tracking down supplies when more time and expertise could be spent directly with patients. People with cystic fibrosis must take the vital supplement Creon with every meal or risk bowel pain, dramatic weight loss, infections and grave illness. Without it, they cannot absorb any nutrients from their food. However, there is currently a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Creon capsules, which has left some people struggling to get supplies. SSPs alert pharmacies and other providers when shortages are acute and they may need to supply alternatives. David Ramsden, chief executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: These medicines are essential as they help the body absorb vital fats, oils and critical medications, and control painful and unpleasant gut symptoms. We know some people are spending hours calling or travelling to multiple pharmacies or reducing their food intake. We need manufacturers and the Government to urgently work together to take all actions to address the shortages. Reasons for the supply issues, which affect the whole of the UK, include manufacturing or distribution problems and increased demand for medicines. Some commentators also blame wider factors including Brexit, the conflict in Ukraine and the Covid pandemic. Sabrina Duncans sons both have ADHD. Her youngest, Blake, nine, struggles to concentrate without his medication, lisdexamfetamine, as does her oldest, Corey, 14, without Xaggitin. Ms Duncan, 36, of Methil, Fife, said: I had issues getting medicine for my youngest that lasted for months. He struggled a lot because of it. However, Corey has not had any medication for a year and a half. It has had a huge impact. Earlier this week, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) revealed that warnings of medicine shortages have more than tripled in the past two years. The NPA found that the UK Government sent out 50 SSPs between 2022 and 2024, compared to just 15 between 2019 and 2021. A Scottish Government spokesman said it is engaging with the UK Government on the issue. The spokesman added: The NHS has robust systems in place to manage medicine shortages when they arise. Anyone affected by this should speak to their doctor or pharmacist. A UK Government Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: We are working to resolve remaining issues as soon as possible. A BBC newsreader stunned Glastonbury-goers with a drum and bass set at the legendary Glastonbury festival. Presenter Ros Atkins hit the decks for a one-and-a-half hour set on the Stonebridge Stage on Saturday afternoon - following the likes of Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and Irish DJ Annie Mac. With 500 fans raving to his first ever DJ set at Glastonbury, the analysis editor - who is best known for his rather serious 'explainer videos' - decided to drop a remix of the BBC News theme tune as his final song. Fans were delighted by the track and it has been played on BBC Radio 1 by Greg James. In a behind-the-scenes video, Atkins revealed he worked with David Lowe - the original BBC news theme composer - as well as DJ and producer Crissy Criss. Ros Atkins plays a drum and bass set at Glastonbury's Stonebridge Stage His debut Glastonbury performance lasted for an hour-and-a-half Atkins (right) poses with MC Inja (left) before surprising Glastonbury-goers with a remix of the BBC theme tune Around 500 fans filled the tent to listen to the broadcaster's drum and bass set A Glastonbury-goer dances to Atkin's remixes in a pink cowboy hat while holding a matching fan In a behind-the-scenes video, Atkins revealed he worked with David Lowe (left) - the original BBC news theme composer - as well as DJ and producer Crissy Chriss (right) Providing an insight into the creative process, Chriss said: 'I came up with the idea of let's start the track as a BBC news headline. 'Increase the BPM. Turn it up. And then we go into the big up-to-date drum and bass, all-in big basses, different vibes and different melodies. There's jungle flavours in there, there's drum and bass. There's so much going on.' Speaking of the finished product, composer Lowe said: 'I couldn't have ever imagined it would sound like that. It's absolutely amazing.' Fans were just as pleased by the unconventional remix. One posted on X: 'Just brilliant, looking forward to hearing this as the updated theme on BBC News.' Another wrote: 'A Glasto legend is born!' This is not the first time DJ Atkins has blessed listener's ears. Two years ago he made a surprise appearance on BBC Radio 6 Music's Desert Island Disco All-Dayer. In a tweet announcing his radio set in 2022, Atkins said: 'To the 19-year-old who avidly collected all the latest mix cassettes and recorded tracks off, the idea I'd do a mix on the BBC would have been incomprehensible. I'm very touched to have been asked.' Since growing up as a teenager in Cornwall, Atkins loved listening to 'hardcore drum and bass' as well as attending raves. The young Atkins played DJ sets, in 'a very amateur fashion', in London, Cornwall and Cambridge. BBC newsreader Ros Atkins revealed in 2022 his background as a drum and bass DJ. He played a range of music at venues in London, Cornwall and Cambridge, as well as South Africa A thread from 2022 where Atkins revealed his past in DJ'ing has photos of him and his friends going to raves as well as him DJ'ing at venues Mr Atkins said that, while living in South Africa, he also worked the decks during a 'huge rave' inside Johannesburg train station. Whilst in the country, he also performed at Pretoria's 'Oppi Koppi' festival In the social media post, Atkins shared an image of him performing in Regents Park in 2006 Atkins even took his desks abroad, performing in a 'huge drum and bass room' in Johannesburg and Pretoria's Oppi Koppi festival when he lived in South Africa. Prior to Glastonbury, the journalist's last gig had been in Regent's Park in 2006. Remembering the 'reasonably sweaty affair', Atkins said: 'A few days later, our eldest daughter was born and suddenly I had a lot less time and energy. DJing didn't fit into life so well and I've not done a gig since.' He added: 'Here's to it not being another 16 years before I put together another set...' And just two years later Atkins secured a drum and bass set at Glastonbury - the legendary five-day festival based on Worthy Farm in Somerset. In a tweet announcing his Glastonbury performance, Atkins said: 'It's frankly incomprehensible that I'm tweeting this - but here's the line-up for Stonebridge at Glastonbury and to my great excitement and astonishment, I'm on it. 'What started with a one-off drum and bass set for BBC6Music two years ago has ended up here. Very grateful for the invitation.' The presenter played a set on the Stonebridge Stage at Glastonbury - where Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and Irish DJ Annie Mac also performed One user suggested the remix should be used when the exit polls come out next week while someone else joked: 'Have you fact checked this Ros?' Another suggested that the newsreader team up with his colleague Owain Wyn Evans - who also harbours a secret musical talent. The BBC weatherman lifted spirits during lockdown in 2020 when he played the drums to the iconic theme tune while presenting from home. This is the shocking moment a 'street takeover' attended by hundreds ended in a blazing inferno early Saturday morning in downtown Los Angeles. The takeover occurred before 3am at the intersection of 18th and Main streets, according to preliminary reports by OnSceneTV. Two vehicles erupted into flames in the middle of the intersection, KTLA News reported. It remains unclear if the fire was deliberately set or if the vehicles caught fire accidentally, the news outlet reports. When police arrived they confirmed there were at least 50 cars present. An LAPD spokesperson told KTLA, officers were initially deployed to the location due to fireworks being lit. Two cars erupted into flames in the middle of the intersection in downtown LA at West 18th and South Main Street in downtown Los Angeles Hundreds descend on the area where a street takeover ended in an inferno early Saturday Citizen reported that numerous vehicles exploded due in part to the nitrous tanks. The chaotic scene had at least 400 to 500 people blocking access to the street, with reports that the takeover may have involved racing vehicles, as per the Citizen mobile app. The report said that police had requested additional units to divert traffic at the scene and ensure public safety, as emergency services were working to contain the fires and manage the crowd. Police requested two tow trucks to remove the burned and wrecked vehicles, as per Citizen. The incident was being investigated. As of Saturday early afternoon, it was still not known if anyone was injured or sustained injuries. During the terrifying scene, traffic was reported to be moving near the burning vehicles - with some motorists honking while others drove past as if nothing happened. The takeover - attended by hundreds of people - occurred before 3am at the intersection of 18th and Main Streets, according to preliminary reports by OnSceneTV People are seen outside of their cars during the chaotic scene early Saturday According to reports, police made no arrests, but the two wrecked vehicles were impounded. In March, a street takeover took over in the same downtown LA area around 11.30pm at night. The LAPD's Central Division patrol units were deployed to the area after they received multiple reports of the sideshow. After officers responded to the area the takeover was shut down without incident within minutes. Stranded holidaymakers have hit out at the 'disgusting' service after Gatwick Airport suspended all flights yesterday afternoon. Passengers faced massive delays, last-minute diversions to other London airports and missed connections after a Boeing 777 British Airways flight had to make an emergency stop on the runway due to 'having hot brakes'. This sparked chaos for thousands of Brits hoping to kick summer off with a holiday as any flights due to take off or land at the airport were temporarily suspended. One passenger told MailOnline of the 'terrible and extremely poor service' their elderly parents experienced after they became stranded in Santorini. Their parents had a flight home from the Greek island at 1.30pm but it was eventually cancelled at 8pm. Passengers faced massive delays, last-minute diversions to other London airports and missed connections after a Boeing 777 British Airways flight had to make an emergency stop on the runway due to 'having hot brakes' This sparked chaos for thousands of Brits hoping to kick summer off with a holiday as any flights due to take off or land at the airport were temporarily suspended. Pictured: Gatwick's North Terminal in 2018 They added: 'They were put up overnight at a basic hotel and forced to attend the airport this morning at 10.15am despite their flight not due to take off until 9.00pm local time and having no availability on an earlier flight meaning they have spent almost 2 days at the airport. 'The flight they are due to fly on has further been delayed to 11pm with no actual confirmation it will take off.' They claimed: 'Utterly disgusting and appalling customer service with extremely poor communication minimal information given, yesterday they were told it was a technical fault with the aircraft and this morning it was still the same despite having ample time to sort this and other flights departing before them. 'They have no cash on them so are relying on the minimal vouchers that easyJet are providing.' Others have had special occasions impacted by the flight cancellations. Trish and Oliver McShane had their flight for their son's 40th birthday celebration trip cancelled with only 15 minutes notice yesterday. They said: 'We had our flight from Belfast to London Gatwick cancelled with 15 minutes notice today, we were going to celebrate our son's 40th birthday, no alternative flights available except fly to either Southampton or Manchester, my husband is 82 years old and has special assistance, a sad weekend for the family.' A London Gatwick spokesperson said: 'The main runway was closed for 50 minutes yesterday (28 June) due to a departing aircraft having hot brakes. Safety is our top priority and London Gatwick's dedicated airport fire service swiftly attended to support the aircraft. The runway is now open and operating as normal. 'Yesterday 16 flights were diverted and 23 flights were cancelled and there were a number of delays due to the knock-on impact. 'Today we continue to work with our airlines and other airport partners to minimise disruption. There have been some cancellations due to European weather and the knock on impact of yesterday's runway closure. Passengers should contact their airlines directly for the latest flight information.' An easyJet spokesperson said: 'Like all airlines operating across European airspace easyJet's flying programme has experienced some disruption yesterday, June 28, due to weather and ATC delays. 'Due to the runway closure at Gatwick Airport some flights were affected with six inbound flights required to divert to other London airports. While the runway was then reopened, flow restrictions were put in place which unfortunately resulted in some cancellations to the programme to and from Gatwick yesterday afternoon. 'We did everything possible to minimise the impact for our customers whose flights were affected, providing hotel accommodation and meals as well as a refund or a transfer to an alternative flight and advised customers they will be reimbursed for expenses where they made their own arrangements. 'The safety and wellbeing of our customers is our highest priority and while this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused.' A British Airways spokesperson said: 'The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, and we've apologised for the inconvenience caused following an aborted take-off at Gatwick Airport.' They previously 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.' MailOnline has contacted Easyjet for comment. 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 in the morning on June 27 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. Iran is heading for a rare runoff election pitting a little-known 'reformist' against a hardline former nuclear negotiator following the lowest-ever poll turnout in the Islamic Republic's history. Masoud Pezeshkian, the ostensibly 'moderate' option, bested the ultra-conservative candidate Saeed Jalili but fell short of the 50 per cent needed to secure majority. Iran's interior ministry has confirmed the second round of voting will take place on July 5. Pezeshkian, 69, received 10.4 million votes while Jalili, 58, received 9.4 million of 24.5 million cast in Friday's election, though 61.5 million Iranians were eligible to vote on Friday. Low voter turnout is seen to reflect deepening public frustration following years of economic strife and political repression. 'Let's look at it as a protest in its own right: A very widespread choice to reject what's on offer - both the candidates and the system,' said Sanam Vakil, the director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa program. 'That tells us a lot about public opinion and apathy, frustration. It sort of brings it all together.' Tens of thousands of protestors meanwhile gathered across Europe on Saturday voicing antipathy towards the incumbent government and calls to boycott supreme leader Ali Khamenei's 'sham elections'. An Iranian woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Tehran on June 28. Many boycotted the vote on Friday, with critics branding the elections a 'sham' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his vote for the snap presidential election at the Imam Khomeini Husseiniya in Tehran, Iran on June 28 Demonstrators rally in Berlin on June 29, calling for the abolition of the clerical system and the establishment of a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state in Iran Senior politicians spoke in Paris as demonstrators massed in Berlin to protest the 'sham' elections in Iran, on Saturday June 29 People, many of them expatriate Iranians living in Berlin, gather to demand freedom and democracy for Iran the day after Iran's presidential election Iranians protest one day after the first round of the presidential election in Iran, in Berlin With 60 per cent of voters casting no ballot at all in the election, support was dismally low for the remaining candidates as Iran sought to choose a replacement for President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter accident last month. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf received 3.3 million votes, while Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi had over 206,000 votes. Ultraconservative Qalibaf was the preferred candidate of Ayatollah Khamenei, the reigning head of state since 1989. Pourmohammadi had threatened to split Pezeshkian's votes after appearing to step back from traditional conservative values to more moderate positions - but won just 0.8 per cent of the final vote. But Pezeshkian is not widely viewed as the solution to Iran's woes, either. Critics say the more moderate option represents just another government-approved candidate. With nobody able to gather a clear majority, Iran's top two candidates will advance to a run off in one week's time. The only other runoff presidential election in Iran's history occured in 2005, when hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bested former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. 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. There had also 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 under house arrest, also refused to vote along with his wife, his daughter said. Critics have branded the election a 'sham', and tens of thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday to voice opposition to the regime. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a political coalition calling for the regime's overthrow, told the Free Iran 2024 World Summit in Paris today the 'sham elections are the outcome of the impasse and the major failures that plague the regime'. 'The people of Iran have repeatedly and clearly declared, "Our vote is to overthrow the regime; there is no place for elections in this regime. It's time for revolution!"' she said. 'Direct monitoring and observation from the beginning to the end of the so-called voting... indicate that the boycott struck a sledgehammer blow against the regime, with 88 percent of Iranians abstaining from the fraudulent elections,' she continued. 'This overwhelming abstention represents the Iranian peoples decisive rejection of dictatorship and their clear vote for the regimes overthrow, signaling the impending victory of a free Iran under a democratic republic.' 'This election was intended to address Khameneis succession problem and secure the regime's continuity, but it has left the regime without a clear successor. 'Darker days lie ahead for the clerical regime. The countdown to overthrow has begun,' she concluded. Former Vice President Mike Pence, also speaking to an audience in Paris, told those resisting the regime at the Free Iran conference: 'I urge you from the bottom of my heart, to keep working, keep fighting, never stop believing in a free Iran, and never doubt that the freedom-loving American people are with you and support your dream of a secular, democratic Iranian Republic. 'When people ask why I chose to be here, the answer is simple. I want the world to know that because of all of you, the winds of change are blowing in Iran stronger than ever before. 'We gather at a momentous time in the wake of momentous events. I rejoice at the death of no man. But the death of President Ebrahim Raisi makes the future brighter, and the world is safer now that such an evil man has passed into history.' Pezeshkian waves to supporters on the day of the presidential election Saeed Jalili leaves after voting in the presidential election at Imam Hasan Mosque on June 28 Iranian women line up to vote for the presidential election at a polling station at the shrine of Saint Saleh in northern Tehran A woman fills out her ballot during the presidential election in a polling station in Tehran Iranians protest one day after the first round of the presidential election in Iran, in Berlin A protester gestures during a rally 'for a democratic, secular republic in Iran' in Berlin Neither of Iran's two options heading into the July 5 runoff have done enough to convince critics they offer a viable alternative for Iran's future. In a documentary on the reformist candidate Pezeshkian aired by state TV, one woman said her generation was 'moving toward the same level' of animosity with the government that Pezeshkian's generation had in the 1979 revolution. 'Pezeshkian has been a generally underwhelming candidate," the geopolitical consultancy Eurasia Group said in an analysis before Friday's vote. 'Should he qualify for a runoff, his position would weaken as the conservative voting bloc unites behind a single candidate.' Mrs Rajavi, speaking in Paris, warned: 'Reformists within this irreformable regime were this time used to increase turnout. 'However, when asked, their candidate reiterated that his programs and policies are decided by Khamenei, and that deviating from them is a redline for him.' Nonetheless, on Election Day, Pezeshkian offered comments on outreach to the West after voting seemingly aimed at drumming up turnout for his campaign - even after being targeted by a veiled warning from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His opponent, Jalili, once described by CIA director Bill Burns as 'stupefyingly opaque' in negotiations, likely would have won outright had the three hard-liners not split Friday's vote. Jalili is known as the 'Living Martyr' after losing a leg in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war and is famous among Western diplomats for his haranguing lectures and hard-line stances. Qalibaf, a former general in Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and head of Iran's police, had been thought to have a wider power base, despite being plagued by corruption allegations and his role in past violent crackdowns. He quickly endorsed Jalili in conceding the result and criticized Pezeshkian for allying himself with President Hassan Rouhani and his former foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. The two reached Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which later collapsed after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord. 'The road is not over yet, and despite the fact that I respect Mr. Dr. Pezeshkian personally, ... I ask all the revolutionary forces and my supporters to help stop the wave that is causing an important part of our economic and political problems today,' Qalibaf said in a statement. The winner of the Presidential Election will replace former President Raisi, who died aged 63 in a helicopter crash on May 19. The crash also killed the country's foreign minister. Raisi was regarded with disdain by much of Iran's diaspora, associated with the mass executions in Iran conducted in 1988 and his role in the bloody crackdowns on dissent following protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by police over allegedly improperly wearing the mandatory headscarf in 2022. Former President Ebrahim Raisi (pictured in May 2024) died on May 20 in a helicopter crash along with several other high-ranking figures Mahsa Amini died in police custody in Iran in 2022, detained by police after allegedly wearing a headscarf incorrectly Huge protests broke out across Iran in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini in Sept. 2022 Conservative Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf addresses a rally June 26, 2024 in Tehran Mostafa Pourmohammadi during a TV debate ahead of the presidential elections, on June 25 A poster of presidential candidate Saeed Jalili is seen torn on a street in Tehran, June 29 22-year-old Amini had recently been admitted to university and planned to become a lawyer when she was detained by police for improper wearing of a headscarf. She fell into a coma after her arrest and died in suspicious circumstances in hospital in Tehran on 16 September 2022. The Islamic Republic's officials told media that Amini suffered a heart attack while detained by 'morality police', denying reports she had been beaten. Leaked medical scans and assertions of police brutality led observers to believe she had died at the hands of the police. Iran witnessed its largest protests since at least 2009 in response to her death, amid a clash between a state tending towards stricter observation of inferred religious law and a more liberal Iranian community. Iranian 'morality police' have since launched sporadic campaigns to verbally or violently arrest and 're-educate' women found in breach of regulations in response to changing dress codes and norms. This is the moment armed police shot an out of control XL Bully, who attacked passers-by and injured at least one woman in Greater Manchester on Friday night. Video footage captured officers armed with guns chasing the dog, which was seen running out onto the road having reportedly attacked several members of the public. Police were shown firing shots at the unruly animal while pursuing it down Gladstone Road in Eccles, Salford. One member of the public, dressed in a grey top and jeans, is seen pleading with officers to not kill the dog. They were unable to safely recapture the XL Bully - which is now a banned breed in the UK. One resident who heard the gunshots said: 'I didn't know what was going on. I counted six shots. I didn't think something like that would happen around here.' Video footage captured the moment armed officers opened fire on an 'out of control' XL Bully dog in Greater Manchester Armed police were forced to shoot a 'dangerously out-of-control' dog, which attacked and injured at least one woman in Gladstone Road in Eccles, Salford, on Friday night Despite efforts by police, they were unable to safely recapture the dog involved in the incident last night in Eccles, Salford - which is now a banned breed in the UK Armed officers were called out to the Gladstone Road 'due to the risk and harm it was causing', before it was 'destroyed at the scene as the last possible option' One man, whose car was hit by a bullet, told the BBC he thought the police response was 'very excessive'. He said: 'Any one of those shots could have ricocheted into a house. 'Some of the neighbours and myself had our cars damaged [and] my sister was in the house and she was very distressed.' Armed officers were called out to the residential road 'due to the risk and harm it was causing', before it was 'destroyed at the scene as the last possible option.' Following the incident, two men were arrested and detained after confronting officers. A woman who was injured by the animal is continuing to receive treatment for her injuries. XL Bullys, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31 without an exemption, following a slew of fatal attacks across the UK. The powerful breed has distinctive features, including an average 20-inch height, broad shoulders, a bulky head and nine-stone weight. New laws on owning the breed were introduced following a wave of fatal attacks linked to XL Bully-type animals, including Ian Price who was killed in Stonnall, Staffordshire, in September 2023, and Ian Langley, who died in Sunderland in October 2023. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: 'At around 9pm tonight on Gladstone Road in Eccles we were called to several reports of a dog dangerously out of control that was subsequently attacking the public and injured a woman in the process. XL Bullys, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31 without an exemption, following a slew of fatal attacks across the UK (stock image) 'Initially, both local officers and the public were unable to regain control of the dog. 'Specialised officers were deployed and tried to safely secure the XL Bully but were unsuccessful. 'This meant unfortunately due to the risk and harm it was causing as a banned breed it was destroyed at the scene as the last possible option. 'Two men were later arrested and detained after confronting officers. The woman victim is still receiving treatment for her injuries. 'We understand the concern this incident will raise within the community but our officers have a duty to act in challenging situations on a regular basis with the aim of keeping everyone safe.' MailOnline has contacted Greater Manchester Police and the North West Ambulance Service for comment. It is nearly impossible for President Joe Biden to win the 2024 election without carrying a majority of independent voters and he has now lost them, perhaps, irretrievably. That's the finding of an exclusive DailyMail.com poll of politically unaligned voters, who watched the first presidential debate on Thursday night. However, this survey of independent-minded Americans also revealed a glimmer of hope for Democrats left despondent by their frontrunner's shockingly feeble performance. If President Biden were to quit the race - as prominent Dems and influential left-leaning media commentators are urging him to do and allow his party to unite around an alternative candidate, there is an opportunity to defeat Trump in a general election. It is nearly impossible for President Joe Biden to win the 2024 election without carrying a majority of independent voters and he has now lost them, perhaps, irretrievably. Make no mistake, as previous polling by The Mail has shown, voters hold dismal views of the aging President. Ahead of the debate, 48 percent of independents voters said they have an unfavorable opinion of Biden (41 percent said the same of Trump). But Biden's halting debate performance, which failed to meet even the lowest of expectations, cemented the perception that he is just too old for the job. 'I was concerned for him,' Miguel, a 23-year-old Hispanic voter from Missouri, who does not consider himself a Republican or Democrat, told The Mail. Miguel was not alone. 'Sad,' 'scared,' 'confused,' 'worried,' and 'uneasy' were the most common reactions among these voters to Biden's debate performance. While these Americans expressed sympathy for the 81-year-old grandfather, they do not believe that he should be in the race. Fifty-five percent of independents said Biden 'should no longer be the Democratic nominee.' It's true that Senator Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election and defeated Republican John McCain without carrying the independent vote. But Obama benefited from historic turnout among black voters. Biden will not enjoy that same level of support from minorities. The desire for Biden to dropout was shared by 49 percent of black independents and 57 percent of Hispanic independents. Strikingly, four in 10 independents who voted for Biden in 2020 agreed that the party must move on without him. They may be on to something. Trump won because Biden lost so badly. The former real estate mogul did not re-invite himself and he remains the most unpopular major party politician in the country - behind Biden. Hidden inside this survey is some good news for left-leaning Americans terrified at the prospect of another Trump presidency - the former president did not win over a significant percentage of new voters, despite carrying the night. Before the debate, 48 percent of independents had a favorable view of Trump. After the face-off that metric only increased a few percentage points to 51 percent - a statistically insignificant number within the poll's margin of error - even though six in 10 voters believed Trump performed 'best in the debate.' Furthermore, in terms of how Trump was perceived, it was a mixed bag. He was seen as the most physically strong, presidential, and mentally astute but also as the most patronizing, annoying, and rude (Biden was seen as the most boring). Trump won because Biden lost so badly. The former real estate mogul did not re-invite himself and he remains the most unpopular major party politician in the country - behind Biden. The clear takeaway from these results is that there is an opportunity for Democrats, if they can swap out their candidate. One in every eight independent voter in our survey said they plan on voting for Robert F Kennedy Jr in November. While it's extremely unlikely that the Democratic establishment will rally behind him - there is a clear desire among independents to hear what he has to say. Fifty-five percent of independents believe RFK Jr should have had a place on the CNN debate stage. That includes nearly six in 10 individuals who backed Biden in 2020. One in every eight independent voter in our survey said they plan on voting for Robert F Kennedy Jr in November. Past surveys have made one thing perfectly: Harris is unlikely to perform much better than Biden against Trump. And what of the other Democrats so often mentioned as potential Biden substitutes? Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and California Governor Gavin Newsom are not well-known by the American public making polling on their electoral prospects unreliable. But their relative anonymity could prove to be an asset. They would present to voters as a blank slate without the tremendous baggage of more familiar politicians, like Vice President Kamala Harris. Past surveys have made one thing perfectly: Harris is unlikely to perform much better than Biden against Trump. She was recently named in a September 2023 Mail poll of all voters as the least popular vice president in history. The words most commonly used to describe her were 'incompetent,' and 'idiot.' A quarter of Democrats, one in four black voters and a majority of 18 to 29-year-olds said that they preferred Biden replace her as his running mate. There is no doubt that the way forward for Democrats is muddy. While independents were moved by Thursday night's debate away from Biden they did not gravitate toward Trump in any significant way. There is a way forward for Democrats. It does not involve President Biden or Vice President Harris. Reform UK has made an official complaint against Channel 4 over 'electoral interference' after claiming the broadcaster used an actor as a 'plant' during an undercover sting. Adam Richardson, the Reform secretary, said in a letter to the Electoral Commission that it was 'entirely evident' that a Reform activist filmed making a string of sickening racist remarks was 'a plant within the Channel 4 News piece'. 'It is wholly unbelievable that by complete coincidence Channel 4 were performing an undercover investigation and by chance were paired up to go canvassing with a man who was pretending to be someone else, using a false voice and saying almost exclusively racist and bigoted remarks,' he wrote. 'The Channel 4 broadcast has clearly been made to harm Reform UK during an election period, and this cannot be described as anything short of election interference.' Reform has faced intense scrutiny since Andrew Parker was filmed in Clacton suggesting migrants should be shot by soldiers as they arrive on UK beaches and calling Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a 'f***king P***'. Nigel Farage, party leader, has claimed the 'whole episode does not add up' with Reform distancing itself from Parker, a part-time actor. Parker told MailOnline that while he is an actor, he volunteered to leaflet for the party because he believes in its message. Channel 4 has denied that Andrew Parker, who was filmed using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak, was paid by or known to the broadcaster before the expose on Farage's General Election campaign in the constituency of Clacton. Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has tried to distance itself from volunteer Andrew Parker Reform volunteer Andrew Park was seen on camera calling Rishi Sunak a 'f***ing P***' and made several other vile comments about migrants. He argued, 'we were having laughs' Parker, who works as an actor, was filmed calling the Prime Minister 'a f***ing p***' as he canvassed in Clacton-on-Sea. He said he volunteered for Reform as he 'believes' in its message Channel 4 News has said it did not pay Mr Parker who was 'not known' to the broadcaster and was 'filmed covertly via the undercover operation'. Reform said it was also planning to demand an investigation by broadcasting regulator Ofcom. Richardson said he had also made a formal complaint to Essex Police on behalf of Farage, according to The Telegraph. Parker told the PA news agency he was 'glad' that Channel 4 was being reported to the Electoral Commission. He declined to say whether he had been paid to appear in the footage, instead telling the PA news agency that 'it'll all come out in the papers, what'll come out is the truth'. Parker declined to comment further. He has previously told PA his volunteering for Reform was separate from his acting job, adding that he had been 'goaded' into making the comments caught on camera. 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.' Separately, Reform has withdrawn support from three of its candidates over offensive comments they have made, the party has confirmed. Nigel Farage's party is no longer backing Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley - who were all previously standing for Reform. Farage disowned the candidates during a much-anticipated appearance on the BBC Question Time special at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham yesterday, when their remarks were put to him. Farage told the programme: 'I want nothing to do with them.' Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, posted on X that 'importing loads of sub-Saharan Africans plus Muslims that inter-breed' had created a 'gene pool decline'. In another post last year he said that 'importing sub-Saharan Africans' would 'dilute the IQ of our country', which he told the BBC was 'taken out of context'. Meanwhile, Mr Lomas allegedly said black people should 'get off [their] lazy arses' and stop acting 'like savages'. Ms Lilley, who is running for the party in Southend East and Rochford, is accused of describing people arriving on small boats as 'scum'. In a post in June 2020 he commented on the arrival of a small boat in Dover, saying: 'I hope I'm near one of these scumbags one day. I won't run away, I'll slaughter them then have their family taken out.' Within weeks he posted again, railing against 'more scum' entering the UK. 'I hope your family get robbed, beaten or attacked', he added, according to The Times. Mr Lilley also suggested that razor wire should be carried by Border Force guards to tear the boats making the dangerous journey across the Channel. In another post, he commented 'gas' alongside laughing emojis under a video of Muslims praying, the newspaper said. The 70-year-old also claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic was a plan to 'depopulate the world' and was 'mass murder by government'. Farage is now also embroiled in a dispute with the BBC, claiming the audience for Friday's Question Time special was 'rigged' and refusing to appear on the flagship Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show unless the corporation apologises. He said the audience was rigged and 'these were not ordinary members of the public', adding: 'They hand-picked a prominent pro-Palestine activist & even a BBC TV director to attack me.' Having taken part in a protest does not rule someone out from applying to be in the audience. It is understood that there were no BBC staff members in the audience. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We refute these claims. Last night's Question Time audience was made up of broadly similar levels of representation from Reform UK and the Green Party, with the other parties represented too. 'There were also a number of people, with a range of political views, who were still making up their mind.' Mr Oakenfull, who is standing in Derbyshire Dales, posted on X last year that 'importing loads of sub-Saharan Africans plus Muslims that inter-breed' had created a 'gene pool decline' Robert Lomas, in Barnsley North, reportedly said that 'black people of Britain' were 'grifting the race card' and should 'get up off your lazy arses' and stop acting 'like savages' Leslie Lilley, who is running for the Reform party in Southend East and Rochford, said he would 'slaughter' migrants arriving on small boats and have their families 'taken out' Reform UK co-deputy leader Ben Habib distanced himself from Andrew Parker's comments about the Prime Minister. He said Andrew Parker, who was filmed using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak, is a 'disgusting human being'. Habib said he would 'absolutely abhor any racism' in the party and suggested that Mr Parker portrayed himself as a 'gammon' character in the Channel 4 footage which was recorded by an undercover journalist. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, he said: '(Mr Parker) is a disgusting human being if he stands by what he said, absolutely foul language, unacceptable behaviour, unacceptable sentiments. 'And we have made a complaint to the Electoral Commission and we will get to the bottom of that. 'It is a coincidence I think which does beg a lot of questions that he is an actor, that he used a voice when he was canvassing that wasn't his natural voice, and he was bombastic. 'Exactly the kind of character that someone - if you've heard the expression - might wish to attribute to what they call a gammon.' Parker 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'. 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. '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.' JD Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin has announced that he will not be backing a political party at the general election, despite supporting the Conservatives and Reform in the past and donating 200,000 to the Vote Leave campaign in 2016. At the last election in 2019, the founder and chairman of the pub chain gave 50,000 to a Boris Johnson-led Conservative Party. Two years later, the prominent Brexiteer handed Reform UK 25,000 when it was established by Nigel Farage and Richard Tice. The businessman has also donated money to the Labour Leave pressure group. Sir Tim, 69, appeared to heap praise on Sir Keir Starmer in 2023 but his refusal to fork out the cash to back the party this year seems to indicate he has not been impressed by the Labour leader. Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin pictured in 2017. The chairman of the company has announced that he will not be backing a political party at the general election Wetherspoon, which Sir Tim has grown into a national chain with more than 800 branches, revealed a rise in sales in May (Stock Photo) Sir Tim pictured with Boris Johnson in July 2019. He backed the former PM in his election campaign He told The Telegraph: 'For a number of years I donated to the Brexit Party, Reform and Labour Leave. 'I decided not to back any party in this general election, which was my approach in all general elections before the referendum. I have made no donations to political parties this year.' Sir Tim has previously claimed he would support the Labour leader if he offered a good collection of policies, insisting he has never been a supporter of the Tory party. The outspoken Wetherspoon chairman pointed out that he had only backed Mr Johnson as he aligned with his views on Brexit. Sir Tim received his knighthood in the New Year Honours for services to businesses and hospitality but the nomination was also thought to have accounted for his backing of Britain's exit from the EU. The honour was praised by Mr Farage, as well as Brexiteer Conservative politicians including Sir Jacob Rees Mogg. The businessman has stuck by his support for the UK's decision to leave the block but has accepted that 'exaggerated claims' were made by both sides of the debate. Sir Tim pictured in 2020. He opposed lockdown measures during the pandemic The Wetherspoon chief pictured with Nigel Farage in 2019. He backed Farage's Reform party in 2021 when it was set up Sir Tim also became an outspoken critic of Covid lockdowns, warning of the impact they had on the hospitality industry. Wetherspoon, which Sir Tim has grown into a national chain with more than 800 branches, revealed a rise in sales in May, with its chairman attributing the rise in demand to Guinness becoming 'fashionable' through social media trends. On Thursday, we have the chance to bury the toxic and divisive independence debate for good. The SNP are on the ropes but only you, the electorate, can serve them that knockout blow. The Scottish Conservatives stand ready to deliver on Scotlands actual priorities on the NHS, on education, on rural issues in key seats up and down Scotland where its a straight fight between my party and the SNP. But we cannot afford to get complacent for a second. This glorious opportunity cannot pass us by. We must make sure we seize it. Because, for many of us, beating the SNP is personal. We all want to get the nationalists out. Were fed up with their constant demands for independence. Were appalled by what theyve done to our country. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross says his party will deliver on Scotland's real priorities We need to call time on this era of SNP dominance. We need to make sure the SNP are not just down, but voted out. That is entirely possible in this election. Make no mistake, the SNP are still dangerous. Theyve had a bad year but weve seen them go through scandals before and somehow come out unscathed. Im sure all of us can recall those times where it seemed certain the SNP would lose but come the election, thousands of independence supporters turned out to help them over the line. We know those diehard nationalists will be at the polls on July 4. The question is will you turn out in even greater numbers to beat them by voting Scottish Conservative in every seat where its a head-to-head battle between us? Thats what it will come down to. And the stakes couldnt be higher. This election is so important. It will decide the focus of the next five years in your community. Everything that matters in your local area is on the line the state of the roads, NHS waiting times, the future of high streets, investment in schools, improving the economy. Your vote on Thursday will decide if those key issues get the attention that they really deserve. Every vote for the Scottish Conservatives will be a vote to deliver on your top priorities. Our local candidates will be laser-focused on building a better future for your community and your family. But its going to be really tight between us and the SNP in the many seats where were sitting in first or second, and the nationalists are in the other top spot. In all those crucial constituencies, no other party can win. Reform, Labour and the Lib Dems have no chance. They are too far behind. In those key seats, any votes for another party other than the Scottish Conservatives will only benefit the SNP. There is a real risk that just a few votes for Reform could help the SNP to win. Even if Reform get only five per cent of the vote, which polls indicate they could, that may be enough to let the nationalists slip in by the back door. I understand why people may be frustrated by my party or even with me personally but just ask yourself if youre comfortable with the election of a nationalist MP in your area? However you feel about my party, that is not something any of us want to see happen. We need to vote together, especially in key seats which are a straight choice between the SNP and Scottish Conservatives, to stop the nationalists. Every one of us on the pro-UK side wants to see the end of the SNP because we know what would happen if they sneak over the line and win in your constituency. They would be distracted from the issues that really matter. They would ramp up their demands for independence. Just listen to what John Swinney has said. Hes put independence on page one, line one of the SNP manifesto. Hes stated that every seat the SNP wins will count towards a mandate for independence. He will pursue independence with everything hes got. At the moment, the SNP are on the back foot. But if they win seats on Thursday, they could very quickly rebound. They could fire up the nationalist movement and all you would hear for the next five years is independence, independence, independence. That would mean the issues you really care about such as our economy and NHS would fall by the wayside. They would be ignored by the SNP Government at Holyrood, who would turn all of their focus towards spreading division, and nationalist MPs across Scotland would spend all of their time campaigning to try and break up the UK. We need to stop that happening. We cannot afford to let the next five years be wasted. There are too many huge challenges facing our country that need tackled now. Our public services need urgent and immediate action and investment. But that wont happen if the SNP win. So, we really need to take the chance to beat the SNP in key seats up and down Scotland. In every single contest where its a straight choice between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP, a vote for any other party risks electing a nationalist. Every vote for Reform or not voting at all will help the SNP. And we can all agree that the most important thing in this election is getting rid of the nationalists. Its personal for all of us who have had to tolerate the last decade of division, the years of missed opportunities, and the bitter politics of Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and John Swinney. I know politicians are supposed to pretend to like each other and its the done thing for leaders of different parties to act like theyre really good friends behind the scenes. Ive always found that to be false. Its not something Ive ever been able to do. It might not be to everyones tastes, some will say its to my detriment, but I wear my colours on my sleeve. I had no desire to pretend to be friends with nationalists trying to tear my country apart. I didnt enjoy being in Nicola Sturgeons company. I couldnt simply overlook all her deceitful statements, the damage she did, and the division she created. I relished submitting the Vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf that brought him down after all the horrendous policies he brought in and the vicious way he attacked Unionists. John Swinney is more of the same. Hes one of the most divisive and dishonest nationalists there is. The SNPs time is up. This Thursday, youve got the power to make these people pay for what theyve done to Scotland. There is a huge opportunity, you could even call it a once-in-a-generation chance, to inflict the SNPs worst electoral defeat in more than a decade. If you vote Scottish Conservative in key seats where its a straight choice between my party and the SNP, we can make it happen. Lets seize this chance to beat the SNP and end any talk of independence for good. This is the dramatic moment a Just Stop Oil activist is dragged out of her home by her arms as she is arrested over the group's plot to cause a summer of chaos at Britain's airports. The supporter is one of 27 people detained by police this week who are suspected of plotting to disrupt airports this summer, as part of a 'swift and robust' co-ordinated police operation. Speaking to a camera at moment of her arrest by three officers, the woman repeatedly said she 'had not done anything wrong'. In the minute-long clip, which has emerged on X, the woman found herself surrounded by officers and began by saying: 'Oil and gas means collapse. It means the loss of everything we know. Out political system is absolutely broken.' She added: 'I've not done anything wrong. I'm a supporter of Just Stop Oil. They've come to my house and arrested me in my home.' Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment a Just Stop Oil activist was carried away by her arms and legs, as police arrested the woman in her own home The Just Stop Oil activist is one of 27 people detained by police this week who are suspected of plotting to disrupt airports this summer As she was arrested by three officers, the Just Stop Oil activist repeatedly said she 'had not done anything wrong' A total of 27 'key organisers' of planned disruption have been held across the country Met Police said the arrests were undertaken as part of a 'swift and robust' co-ordinated police operation against planned disruption to airports this summer As she is taken outside and carefully carried by the officers into a waiting police vehicle, she said: 'This is my home. You cannot come to my home and arrest me.' In a response to MailOnline, the Met Police said it can not comment on individual arrests, however a total of 27 'key organisers' of planned disruption have been held in London, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Devon, Essex, Manchester, Surrey, Sussex, Norfolk and West Yorkshire. On Tuesday, four people were arrested and released on bail after being identified at Gatwick Airport, while on Thursday, six were arrested at an east London community centre as part of a publicly-advertised event promoting airport disruption. Yesterday, 17 individuals were arrested at their homes across the country. In a statement issued on Friday, Met Police said: 'All the individuals were arrested under a section of the Public Order Act which makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure. 'Among those held were several high-profile members of Just Stop Oil who we believe to be key organisers. 'Met officers worked with more than eight other police forces to arrest suspects at their homes across the country. A total of 17 people were arrested.' Chief Supt 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.' Footage from Friday shows police arriving at 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' Those who have been arrested and released on bail have been banned from travelling within 1km of any UK airport unless passing through by vehicle or public transport. Met Police added that 'in future, anyone suspected of breaching this condition can be arrested immediately for this offence.' Responding to the arrests, Just Stop Oil said 'the British state has acted unlawfully.' A statement appearing on the group's website said: 'Being a Just Stop Oil supporter is now enough to make you a suspect. 'Believing that no government has the right to tyrannise the entire world by encouraging the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, marks you out as a dangerous radical.' Just Stop Oil added that it will continue in its goal of demanding the government ceases extraction and burning of all oil, gas and coal by 2030. The protest group has recently staged numerous high-profile actions, which have sparked outrage from politicians and members of the public alike. Earlier this month, two of the group's members were arrested for spraying Stonehenge with orange paint. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the attack as a 'disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK's and the world's oldest and most important monuments.' Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed Stonehenge with orange powder in a stunt that drew criticism Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said 'Just Stop Oil are pathetic' following the action. In a tweet, he wrote: 'The damage done to Stonehenge is outrageous. Just Stop oil are pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.' Activists have also targeted private jets at London's Stansted airport in recent weeks. 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. Just Stop Oil activists Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald next to a private jet which they spray painted at Stansted airport's VIP airfield earlier this month The action impacted an 18-seat Gulfstream G650, which would be worth around 60million when new, according to documents seen by MailOnline. 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.' Police have continuously come under pressure from the government to take a firmer line with protesters to limit the disruption they cause. The North Carolina mother who tortured and murdered two of her adopted children could face the death penalty after the children's partial remains were found in a metal burn barrel in the back of a home in Autryville. The siblings Blake and London Deven have not been seen for years, but were never reported missing by their adoptive mother, Avantae Deven. Deven stood in front of District Court Judge Caitlin Evans in Cumberland County Court in Fayeteville, North Carolina on Thursday. If convicted, she could face the death penalty, WRAL News reported. She was arrested at her home on Berriedale Drive on Wednesday - months after police executed a search warrant at her home - and charged her with first-degree murder, concealment of death, kidnapping and felony child abuse. She is being held without bond at the Cumberland County Detention Center until her next hearing that is scheduled for July. The North Carolina mother who tortured and murdered two of her adopted children could face the death penalty after the children's partial remains were found in a metal burn barrel Blake Deven is believed to be deceased after his adoptive mother horrifically tortured him and his sister for years. The photo was taken in 2012. He would have been 17 In April, detectives searched Deven's home where the siblings reportedly lived - and made the gruesome discovery of the metal burn battle containing partial human remains. Investigators believe they had been tortured, and physically abused by their adoptive mother for years and revealed the horror the children had to endure in her care. London Deven, the older child, was reported to have been neglected and starved, investigators said. They also believe the children are dead. London Deven would have been 27 years-old, and her brother, Blake, 17. Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West spoke outside the courthouse appalled by the heinous acts. 'The allegations are certainly some of the worst that I've seen in the almost 25 years that I've been doing this.' Deven's defense attorney said: 'I know the allegations can't be any worse. I do have complete trust and confidence in our judiciary.' Deven leaving the courthouse in Fayetville, North Carolina after seeing the judge Investigators were tipped off to Blake's disappearance in November 2023, when officers responded to a call from a child living at the home who was attempting suicide, according to a lead investigator in the case. The child told police chilling details in which he told them that 'he hadn't seen his brother Blake Deven in about five years and the last time he saw him he had a broken arm. He then told police Blake is now dead.' At that time, there was no missing persons report filed on Blake, but investigators said Deven filed one after they began to probe. Upon hearing the inhumane treatment they endured, the children's biological mother told WRAL News: 'I'm so sorry son you didn't deserve this.' Deven moved to the Fayetville area in 2015 with her elderly mother, and five children she had adopted. Three of the boys were biologically related and two girls were not related to each other or the boys, according to ABC11 News. The children had been interviewed by police and Department of Social Services (DSS) who shared the horrific and sick treatment they endured at the hands of their adoptive mother. They also told officials what they believe may have happened to their siblings - Blake and London. According to the children, they were kept in a dark, small room and given little, or no food, and if they wrote apology letters for their behavior they could earn food. Sgt. Jeff Locklear answers questions about the arrest of Avantae Deven in connection with the disappearance of Blake Deven and London Deven Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden and Sgt. Jeff Locklear answer questions about the arrest of Avantae Deven in connection with the disappearance of Blake Deven and London Deven Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden talks about the arrest of Avantae Deven in connection with the disappearance of Blake Deven and London Deven ABC11 reported that forensic evidence supported the allegations of torture, starvation, and isolation by investigators. According to police, Deven gave authorities different stories to prolong the investigation being done. One of those tales included that Blake was 'possibly at a Buddhist retreat in the mountains,' said Sgt. Jeff Locklear, a lead investigator. In another twisted detail, police said when the DSS came to the house for a visit, Deven had a family acquaintance pretend to be Blake. Detectives tracked down the person who admitted he took part in the impersonation at Deven's request. Speaking with others, investigators learned other heinous acts of torture, abuse and neglect, including no hygiene, and were forced to use a small plastic container for restroom purposes for days, weeks or months at a time. A person who once lived in the home told police that Blake died in 2017 after being tortured for years, starved and neglected that rendered him unconscious. Deven refused to get her son medical help, despite pleas from her other kids. The person told officials, that she came up with a plan to hide the boy's remains until she could decide how to get rid of them permanently, eventually putting them in a burn pit in the backyard. Deven also told one of the children who had been in her care that left the home at one point that she had to put London in a 'mental institution,' as per documents, when they asked. A wealthy southern California town has been deemed the 'stinkiest beach in America' from the sewage crisis. Wendy Fry, a reporter with Mercury News, said Tuesday was the quintessential beach day in San Diego, where the affluent towns of La Jolla and Del Mar are located. While the beaches were packed, Fry said the coastline was eerily deserted. The culprit? Over 100 billion gallons of raw sewage from Mexico's Tijuana River, dumped into the Pacific Ocean over the past five years. This untreated sewage has become a recurring nightmare for Imperial Beach, a small coastal town of about 26,000 residents. A wealthy southern California town has been deemed the 'stinkiest beach in America' from the sewage crisis While the beaches are packed in San Diego, the coastline, specifically in Imperial Beach, has been eerily deserted. The culprit? Over 100 billion gallons of raw sewage from Mexico 's Tijuana River, dumped into the Pacific Ocean over the past five years The contamination regularly forces beach closures and the smell can be overpowering. 'Imagine opening a manhole cover and just swan-diving in, and that's what hanging out on the beach is like now,' Imperial Beach resident Wilson Howard told Fry. '(The smell) wakes you up in the night. That's how strong it is,' said Cara Knapp, who lives on the oceanfront Seacoast Drive with the beach as her backyard, told Fry. Imperial Beach, once a renowned surfing destination, has fallen victim to the the wastewater surges that have been washing ashore for decades. 'They call us 'the stinkiest beach.' Who wants to buy a home a million dollars and up and be considered 'the stinkiest beach in the United States?' said Knapp. The sewage problem has also contributed to the ongoing issue of inequality and the large gap between socioeconomic classes. The untreated sewage has become a recurring nightmare for Imperial Beach, a small coastal town of about 26,000 residents A significant portion of the raw sewage originates in impoverished Tijuana colonias, neighborhoods where residents lack proper housing due to poverty, according to Fay Crevoshay, the communications and policy director of the international nonprofit WILDCOAST. These communities build makeshift homes using scrap materials like garage doors and tires, and often lack connection to public sanitation systems. Their sewage flows directly into a canal that eventually reaches the US, she says. When it rains, this canal overflows, carrying trash and sewage straight into the working-class communities of Southern California's South Bay. Pictured: A map of beaches in San Diego that are most affected by the sewage 'I like how in the U.S. they describe these communities as 'underserved.' In Mexico, it's 'No served.' No service. Nothing service,' said Crevoshay. Researchers say the toxins from the sewage water pose a threat to public health, which is why Imperial Beach is closed more often than not. Governor Gavin Newsom has refused to declare a state of emergency without explanation, according to Voice of San Diego. Meanwhile, Senator Steve Padilla and assembly member David Alvarez who overlooks a district in South County, want the Center of Disease Control and Prevention intervene. 'They just need to show people that they care because right now, with the exception David Alvarez, our state assembly member, and Steve Padilla, our state senator,' said Serge Dedina, the executive director of WILDCOAST and former mayor of Imperial Beach. 'We feel pretty abandoned by our state elected officials on this issue and by our state agencies as well.' Despite Imperial Beach seeing over 700 consecutive days of beach closures, residents continue to endure the daily effects of pollution. Baron Partlow, one of the affected residents, started 'Stop the Poop,' an organization that has been outspoken about the struggles these residents face 'You can smell it all night long, you can't open your windows, you can't close them cause it still gets in, you can eat cause it makes you nauseous you can't sleep it's horrible,' Partlow told CBS 8 San Diego Last week, South Bay residents gathered at the Coral Gate community park to share their frustrations and come up with solutions to the smell of sewage from the Tijuana River Valley in their neighborhoods. Baron Partlow, one of the affected residents, started 'Stop the Poop,' an organization that has been outspoken about the struggles these residents face. 'You can smell it all night long, you can't open your windows, you can't close them cause it still gets in, you can eat cause it makes you nauseous you can't sleep it's horrible,' Partlow told CBS 8 San Diego. Partlow has began monthly meeting with Leon Behnam from Citizens for Coastal Conservancy to talk about solutions for the issue that has placed their beaches for months. Senior European officials have called on the US Democratic Party to axe Joe Biden following his disastrous Thursday night performance over fears a win for Trump could spell disaster for Ukraine. 'We're very concerned because we, more or less, understand what it means for Ukraine, a Biden presidency, and we really don't know what it means for Ukraine, a Trump presidency,' Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, told CNN. While Biden, 81, has backed Ukraine with billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid in defiance of Putin's reign of terror since 2022, Trump, 78, has threatened to cut spending, raised questions over the future of NATO and ominously said he could end the war in 'one day' if elected. Michael Link, a German FDP politician, said Biden's party should 'consider who is best placed to prevent Trump from returning to office using his usual methods allegations, insults, distortions, outright lies,' as reported by The Telegraph. Allies within the Democratic Party acknowledged the difficulty Biden had in getting words out at this week's event in Atlanta, Georgia, some warning there was 'panic' in the party as others suggested it was time for change. Biden managed to reassure supporters somewhat at a rally in North Carolina on Friday, appearing with more energy and intelligibility and vowing to 'get back up' and 'defend democracy'. Biden speaks during the first presidential debate with Trump in Georgia on June 27 Biden hit back on Friday, speaking in North Carolina and pledging to carry on Ukrainian soldiers fire on Russian positions in Donetsk on June 24. Officials in Europe fear a Trump victory may see disaster come to Europe - and urge Biden to step back Speaking in the swing state on Friday, Biden told several hundred supporters that despite not being as young as he used to be, 'I know how to tell the truth'. '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. I know how to get things done. And I know like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up. 'I would not be running again if I did not believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job.' Still, critics continue to voice concerns it might not be enough to persuade key voters and defeat Trump in 2024. Around the world, there is growing concern that if Trump is re-elected, support for Ukraine may too dry up - allowing Putin to steamroll through Europe and setting a dangerous precedent for bellicose dictators to act with impunity. 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. '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 Twitter/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.' Radosaw Sikorski, the veteran foreign affairs minister for Poland, wrote 'it's important to manage one's ride into the sunset' in a cryptic reflection on legendary Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius' 'screwed up' succession, 'starting Rome's decline'. 'Marcus Aurelius was a great emperor but he screwed up his succession by passing the baton to his feckless son Commodus (He, from the Gladiator),' he wrote on Twitter/X. 'Whose disastrous rule started Rome's decline. It's important to manage one's ride into the sunset.' 'American democracy killed before our eyes by gerontocracy!' added Guy Verhofstadt, a member of the European parliament and a former prime minister of Belgium who posted pictures of Biden and Trump on X. 'Unlike eight years ago, we are much more prepared, as are other European and Asian allies,' said Kunihiko Miyake, a Japanese former diplomat and now research director at the Canon Institute for Global Studies, a think tank. 'Still, Mr Trump is unpredictable.' Biden refused to stand down after his performance on Thursday night, urging that in spite of his age he still knew how to do the job and would defend American democracy against perceived threats. During the debate, Trump claimed that US veterans 'can't stand' Joe Biden and appeared to the president for Putin's invasion. '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,' he claimed. 'I've never heard so much malarkey in my whole life,' Biden responded to Trump's statement. 'If you take a look at what Trump did in Ukraine, he's this guy told Ukraine told Trump, do whatever you want. Do whatever you want. And that's exactly what Trump did to Putin, encouraged him, do whatever you want. And he went in,' Biden said. Trump did say that Putin's terms - keeping the occupied territory in Ukraine - were 'unacceptable' to him, before talking about the cost of the war. Trump said Biden had given '$200 billion now or more to Ukraine'. Between February 2022 and February 2024, the US delivered or committed weapons and equipment worth $46.2bn (36.52bn) to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute - amounting to about 0.18 per cent of GDP. Smaller sums were offered in humanitarian aid support and budget support. Trump claimed he would be able to end the war in Ukraine 'in one day' if president Ukrainians fire a French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzer toward Russian positions Ukrainian officer Maksym stands next to a tank in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on June 9 Ukrainian soldiers train with new weapons in Donetsk Oblast on June 27, 2024 Trump has meanwhile boasted that he could stop the war in Ukraine in just 'one day'. Speaking on GB News last year he said: 'If I were president, I [would] end that war in one day. It'll take 24 hours. I will get that ended. It would be easy. 'That deal would be easy. A lot of it has to do with the money. That war has to be stopped. It is a disaster.' Reuters reported earlier this week that two advisers close to Trump have presented him with a plan to end the war that involves threatening to withhold weapons unless Ukraine enters into peace talks with Russia. Ukraine has vowed not to give up any of its land to Russia. Nigel Farage was bamboozled by a surprise banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin descending from the ceiling at a rally in Walton, Essex this evening. Led By Donkeys, a political campaign group, claimed responsibility for the act, broadcasting the full unveiling on their Twitter/X page. Video showed the banner emblazoned with a picture of Putin and the words 'I [heart] Nigel' slowly unfolding behind the Reform UK party leader as addressed his audience at the Columbine Centre, some 9 miles from Clacton-on-Sea. While some cackled at first, others joined calls to 'rip it down' as two men struggled to pull the poster from the ceiling. In a pithy explanation, Led By Donkeys said on Twitter/X: 'Nigel Farage says Putin is the world leader he 'admires the most' and blames the West for Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.' Video showed a banner slowly descending behind Farage as he spoke this evening Some of the members of the audience laughed, before others joined chants to 'get it down' Farage has received bipartisan criticism for his controversial comments on Russia, with Boris Johnson late last week saying he was 'parroting Putin's lies' with 'morally repugnant' claims. In a speech shared on Twitter/X on June 24, Farage discussed comments made with the BBC's Panorama in which he said that the expansion of the EU and NATO had 'provoked' Putin into invading Ukraine. 'George Robertson, the former Secretary General of Nato, said a few months ago that the EU's accession agreement to Ukraine was a mistake that was used by Putin,' he claimed. Lord Robertson, who headed Nato from 1999 to 2003, accused Mr Farage of talking 'total nonsense'. Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Farage also wrote: 'His [Putin's] invasion of Ukraine was immoral, outrageous and indefensible. 'As a champion of national sovereignty, I believe that Putin was entirely wrong to invade the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Nobody can fairly accuse me of being an appeaser. I have never sought to justify Putin's invasion in any way and I'm not now. 'But that doesn't change the fact that I saw it coming a decade ago, warned that it was coming and am one of the few political figures who has been consistently right and honest about Russia's Ukraine war. If you poke the Russian bear with a stick, don't be surprised if he responds.' Sharing the article on X, Mr Johnson wrote: 'This is nauseating ahistorical drivel and more Kremlin propaganda. Nobody provoked Putin. Nobody 'poked the bear with a stick'. 'The people of Ukraine voted overwhelmingly in 1991 to be a sovereign and independent country. They were perfectly entitled to seek both Nato and EU membership.' Russian state TV rigidly controlled by the dictator jumped on Farage's comments and boasted that he was 'complimentary' to Russia and had revealed 'who really provoked the conflict'. Asked if the Kremlin considered the Clacton-on-Sea candidate 'an ally', Maria Zakharova suggested it did, saying: 'How [else do] you see the person who tells people that two plus two is four or reminds you of the exact time?' Assistants struggled to pull the banner down from the ceiling and walked off stage Farage was speaking in Walton, Essex this evening as Britain prepares to go to the polls Nigel Farage was due to speak at the Columbine Centre in Walton-on-the-Naze at 5pm on Saturday. The Reform Leader is standing to run in nearby Clacton-upon-Sea, currently a Tory-held constituency. Reform currently finds itself embroiled in a row over a Channel 4 investigation in which an undercover reporter filmed a Reform volunteer making racist comments about Rishi Sunak and offensive remarks about shooting migrants. Reform has distanced itself from the volunteer, noting he claims to be an actor. They have also made an official complaint against Channel 4 for 'electoral interference'. Channel 4 has denied that Andrew Parker, who was filmed using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak, was paid by or known to the broadcaster before the expose on Farage's General Election campaign in the constituency of Clacton. She is the Hollywood superstar who is back on British TV screens in a drama examining cancel culture. However, Karen Gillan says its the psychopaths at the top of industries including Tinseltown who really need cancelled. The Scots actress said there had been positive change in the wake of the MeToo movement against sexual predators but that more was needed to stop the wrong people getting into powerful positions in the first place. Ms Gillans journey to stardom began in earnest after she was cast as the Doctors assistant Amy Pond in Doctor Who. She arrived in Hollywood before the MeToo movement rocked the industry, and said of such inappropriate behaviour: I was aware of it. Karen Gillan at last years premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in Seoul, South Korea Karen Gillan and Hugh Bonneville in the ITV drama Douglas is Cancelled The actress with parents Raymond and Marie, who she has moved out to California to be close to her I havent had any first-hand experiences but we all knew about it. It certainly wasnt rare. I look back and wonder about not speaking out. Is silence complicity? We could all ask ourselves that. She acknowledged the industry is improving but added: Were never going to get rid of people who want to abuse power. What we need to do is sort the systems that allow them to get into power in the first place. We need to figure out how not to give psychopaths leadership positions. The 36-year-old, who is now based in the US, is starring in ITV drama Douglas is Cancelled. It follows Hugh Bonneville, who is a newscaster accused of telling a sexist joke at a wedding, with Ms Gillan playing his co-host. She said: Cancel culture has always existed to a degree, but social media has made it faster and more irrational. Its the dopamine hit of anger and outrage. Ms Gillan says the belief instilled in her by her father was the key to her success which has seen her revealed as the 21st most successful leading actor of all time. She said, as a child, she would perform monologues at home, which she made her parents sit through in the living room of their house on an Inverness council estate. The modest star recalled the support of her parents Raymond and Marie and the wise words he gave her aged just 13 as they watched Judith Keppel become the first British 1 million winner on Wants to Be a Millionaire?. She told The Times magazine: My dad said, Shes in the right headspace. A lot of people need the money and buckle under the pressure. They wont risk going all the way. You need to live in her headspace. She added: If you want to know how I got here, its my dad. He made everything seem possible. Hes my Eton, my secret weapon. Raymond Gillan. Everyone should have one of those. Such is her closeness to her parents, she has moved them to be near her and husband Nick Kocher in California. She said: It was the least I could do after all the monologues they had to sit through. A Starmer government would make Britain 'like Cuba' by giving votes to 16-year-olds, senior Tories have warned. Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of 'fiddling with the constitution' by pledging to extend the voting age. Conservative candidate Bob Seely, a member of the foreign affairs committee, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Arrogant Sir Keir Starmer hasn't even got his feet under the desk in Downing Street and Labour are already planning to fix our election system to be like Cuba. 'Labour wants to use 16-year-olds, barely out of school, to build in a supermajority for a generation.' Another Tory candidate said: 'Cuba is their role model.' Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of 'fiddling with the constitution' by pledging to extend the voting age to 16-year-olds Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Starmer was 'fiddling with the constitution to please the Castro-loving Left' The Communist-run country is one of the few in the world that allows 16-year-olds to vote. Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the issue must be put to a referendum. Sir Iain said: 'The more you look at Starmer, the more you understand what you see is not what you get. 'He is a revolutionary who is determined to change the electoral system so Labour has a long period in power. 'He has no right to change the voting age because he will be fiddling with the constitution to please the Castro-loving Left. You shouldn't do it without a referendum.' The Labour leader would reportedly move quickly to lower the voting age in his first year in government. Sir Keir has said: 'Yes, I want to see 16 to 17-year-olds voting. If you can work, if you can pay tax, if you can serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote.' The move would be the largest electoral change since 1969, when the voting age was cut from 21 to 18, and would enfranchise more than 1.5 million teenagers. Analysis of recent polls suggests the youngsters would be overwhelmingly Left-wing. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden warned this would mean Sir Keir 'automatically gifting himself more than a million more Left-leaning voters'. Your browser does not support iframes. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden warned such a change would mean Sir Keir 'automatically gifting himself more than a million more Left-leaning voters' 'If Keir Starmer were to win, the UK would join a small group of countries like Cuba and Ecuador in enfranchising teenagers as he manoeuvres to lock in large Labour majorities,' Mr Dowden said. The Labour party has been closely studying how Scotland and Wales cut the voting age for some elections. In Scotland, 16-year-olds can vote in local and Scottish Parliament elections, while in Wales they can vote in local and Welsh Parliament elections. Sixteen and 17-year-olds can also vote in the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Brazil and Austria, as well as for some elections in Germany, Malta and Norway. Keir Starmer hopes that the start of next month is unseasonably wet to reduce the chance of his likely premiership being sabotaged by rows over his migrant policy. Rishi Sunak landed blows on the Labour leader last week by claiming that illegal migrants are 'queuing up in Calais waiting for a Labour government', and Sir Keir's strategists are concerned about the 'optics' of a surge in small-boat arrivals in his first week in No 10. Sir Keir has promised to cancel Mr Sunak's policy of sending migrants to Rwanda on 'day one' of a Labour Government a move the Refugee Council estimates would lead to nearly 60,000 of those earmarked for deportation being granted asylum instead. A shadow minister confirmed that Labour's focus in the first week would be on small boats, saying: 'Keir's team see that weather forecast as the most important since D-Day. Migrants pictured crossing the English Channel on a small boat in March this year Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer pictured speaking at a campaign event at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London today Migrants pictured who were rescued from a boat crossing the English Channel on Dungeness Beach in Kent last year 'If it's sunny, with calm seas, there's going to be a surge of migrants. And that could set the tone for the first 100 days. 'It could falsely make it look like we've lost control.' The Allied operation to liberate Europe from the Nazis in 1944 was originally planned for June 5, but it was delayed by a day after meteorologists correctly forecast a window of quieter weather. A record number of migrants crossed the Channel in the first six months of this year, with 12,901 reaching the UK up 17 per cent on last year and up eight per cent on the previous record in 2022. About three-quarters of these will be awarded asylum if Sir Keir wins. In the final days of the campaign the Tories are ramping up their attacks on Labour's migrant policy, with Mr Sunak today saying that 'Labour would throw open our borders with their illegal migrant amnesty... making us the soft-touch migrant capital of the world'. Former Business Secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg writes in today's Mail on Sunday that a Labour government will 'also certainly mean nothing less than an asylum amnesty' for tens of thousands of illegal migrants. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured, writes in today's Mail on Sunday that a Labour government will 'also certainly mean nothing less than an asylum amnesty' for tens of thousands of illegal migrants Migrants pictured on an RNLI lifeboat after being picked up at sea while crossing the English Channel on June 23 Sir Jacob says: 'Sir Keir has famously pledged to scrap our Rwanda deportation scheme almost as soon as he crosses the threshold of No 10... 'At a stroke under Sir Keir, the only real deterrent to the evil trade of people-smuggling would be removed. The genuine sanction of removal to Rwanda would be replaced by no threat or dissuasion, rather a latter-day version of the welcome mat that Tony Blair infamously produced for EU migrants in the early 2000s.' Labour has also been warned that French preparations for the Paris Olympics at the end of next month will draw police away from the migrant camps in the north of the country. The shadow minister said: 'The Foreign Office has already briefed us that when the Olympics start the police are going to be deployed around Paris. And the smugglers know that. They could exploit the window.' In addition to the 60,000 migrants likely to be granted asylum out of a total of 90,000 on the Rwanda list the Refugee Council also forecasts that 27,000 more migrants will cross the Channel this year, adding to the backlog of claims that a Labour government would have to process. A third of small-boat arrivals have been from countries from which more than 80 per cent of asylum claims are granted: Sudan (with a 99 per cent asylum grant rate), Eritrea (99 per cent), Syria (99 per cent), Afghanistan (98 per cent) and Iran (83 per cent). The Council expects Labour to start transferring the 90,000 migrants to the asylum system, even before it repeals Mr Sunak's Illegal Migration Act. Your browser does not support iframes. Labour has also been warned that French preparations for the Paris Olympics at the end of next month will draw police away from the migrant camps in the north of the country The Council expects Labour to start transferring the 90,000 migrants to the asylum system, even before it repeals Mr Sunak's, pictured, Illegal Migration Act A provision in the legislation gives the Home Secretary the discretion to override deportation and grant migrants 'limited leave to enter or remain in the UK', which could allow Labour to start processing asylum claims without having to pass new legislation. In response to claims of a 'migrant amnesty', Labour argues that the Tories have provided a 'hotel amnesty' by holding them in temporary accommodation while failing to get legal clearance for the flights to take off to the African country. Migrants assembling in Calais were last week quoted as saying they would not take the risk of crossing the Channel until they knew there was a new government and the Rwanda scheme had been abandoned. A Peshmerga fighter from Iraq told The Daily Telegraph: 'It's better to wait for two weeks, I would like to wait for two weeks. We need to wait until the new government has arrived. It [Rwanda] was a really bad decision.' The General Election could be hit by a series of legal challenges after it emerged that thousands of postal ballots have not been delivered on time. At least 13 constituencies have been affected by the fiasco, eight of which are marginal seats. The crisis has been caused by councils not printing enough ballot papers and Royal Mail not delivering on time, it is claimed. One Tory source raised the prospect of wholesale legal challenges after polling day: 'The main thing to remember is, in most constituencies, Conservatives do better on the postal votes. 'So this is likely to be disproportionately more damaging to the Tories than anyone else.' Rishi Sunak, the leader of the Conservative party which is likely to be disproportionately impacted by late postal ballots, speaks to armed forces veterans in Richmond on June 29 It has emerged that thousands of postal votes have not been delivered on time Other parties could also mount challenges, the source added. 'What could happen is that all sorts of results could be challenged. We could end up with a complete mess after the General Election, with people questioning the results.' Chingford & Woodford Green, where former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith is defending a wafer-thin majority of 1,262, is one of the affected constituencies, sources claim. Yesterday he urged both Royal Mail and local councils to take action, saying: 'We are demanding they act immediately.' Waltham Forest Council, which is within the constituency, said: 'Our postal votes were sent out on time, before the deadline. If anyone is having any problems, please contact us as early as possible and we will try to resolve it.' At least 2,600 postal votes were sent out late in North West Essex, where Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, is standing. Some postal voters in Rutland and Stamford where Tory Alicia Kearns is standing have yet to receive their ballot papers. The council, however, insisted that it issued the postal votes 'on time' to Royal Mail. Six affected seats are in Scotland, where the school term ends earlier than elsewhere in the UK. Some voters went on holiday abroad before their postal ballots arrived. Chingford & Woodford Green, where former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith (pictured) is defending a wafer-thin majority of 1,262, is one of the affected constituencies At least 2,600 postal votes were sent out late in North West Essex, where Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch (pictured) is standing Some postal voters in Rutland and Stamford where Tory Alicia Kearns (pictured) is standing have yet to receive their ballot papers Cathy Bloor, from Aberdeenshire, told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that she had not received her postal vote before going away and cannot now vote. 'I've voted in General Elections all my life and to miss this one just makes me quite upset,' she said. 'I just feel like I've really missed out.' Edinburgh and Fife councils have set up emergency voting booths so that postal voters who have not received their ballots can vote in person. A Royal Mail spokesman said: '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 majority of voters who watched the debate felt Donald Trump could beat several potential Democratic candidates should Joe Biden be replaced on the ticket. The assertion comes from a series of polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight, a company that uses statistical analysis to show the lay of the land in various elections. One group of polls conducted by the Data for Progress showed Trump beating out a host of big name 'replacements' for Biden, which included California Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris. In the poll, Trump topped Newsom 47 percent to 44, and beat Harris 48 to 45. Even more grim news for Democrats was the poll's prediction that Trump would beat Biden as well, as the president's campaign continues to spiral following Thursday's disastrous debate. A majority of voters who watched the first Presidential debate felt that Republican candidate Donald Trump could beat several candidates aside from Biden should he be replaced The assertion comes from a series of polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight, a firm that uses stats to show the lay of the land in various elections. The analysis looked at polls conducted in the wake of Biden's debate performance Thursday, as Democrats mull potentially replacing him In addition to Newsom and Harris, the Data for Progress research, using the responses of more than 1,000 people, had Trump beating Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg 47 to 44 if the election were held today. Also losing in a hypothetical election against Trump was Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker who only garnered 43 percent to the Republican nominee's 46. Other candidates like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker fared only slightly better - both garnered 44 percent to Trump's 46 - in the same sample set used by Data for Progress. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania also lost by a margin of three percent when pitted against Trump. All showed Trump beating out a host of 'replacements', which included California's Gavin Newsom The White House's Kamala Harris also fell when pitted against the former president, falling short by three percent in a poll of 1,011 likely voters The latter two have previously been pegged as potential presidential candidates for the Democratic Party in the past, but both have maintained they are devoted to Biden. The last poll conducted by Data for Progress Friday found Trump beating Biden by a comfortable three percent, while a poll of 841 registered voters sponsored by the New York Post had Biden falling short by seven percent. The results come amid an air of uncertainty as to the Democratic Party's top choice, as Biden's halting debate performance continues to come into question. A replacement would be possible but unlikely, experts have said - as the process would be complicated and open the door to the loss of a united front ahead of the slated vote for nominees at their convention in August. The Democratic National Committee's official procedures for the convention, adopted in 2022, give the committee the authority to choose a new candidate if either member of the ticket dies or withdraws. Biden also has the power to bow out of the race himself - by releasing all the pledged delegates he has accumulated. That's 3,894 of 3,937 so far, according to a tally by The Associated Press. In the event of such a choice, those delegates would be free to vote for whomever they chose - with the above half-dozen candidates surfacing as replacements. Potential replacements like Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania also lost badly when pitted against Trump, also by a margin of three percent The White House's Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg also lost by three percent against Trump, with November only a few weeks away Other candidates like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey fared slightly better, though by only a single percent - in the same sample set used by Data for Progress he results come amid an air of uncertainty as to the Democratic Party's top choice, as Biden's halting debate performance continues to come into question The move would lead to an open convention, something unseen in today's state of politics. If Biden elects to drop out, he'd also like endorse an intended successor. The obvious choice would be Vice President Harris, who reportedly has been referred to as a 'work in progress' by her president. A report earlier this year further claimed Harris was still struggling to penetrate what she called the 'bubble' of Biden campaign thinking - as Whitmer of Michigan and and Newsom have also often mentioned. In the event of an open convention, the nominee with majority support from the party's delegates would receive the endorsement, even if Biden did not peg them as his successor. As of writing, the president has aired no plans to bow out of the race. When asked Friday about such a prospect while campaigning in North Carolina, he said: 'I know I'm not a young man, - 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,' he continued, before receiving a round of uproarious applause. '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,' he concluded. A Muslim backlash against Sir Keir Starmer's stance on Gaza could cost the party key seats this week. Tory sources raised hopes that they could deny Labour victory in highly marginal Peterborough a seat won by Tory Paul Bristow by just 2,580 at the last General Election. Nearly one in five of the constituency's residents are Muslim, sparking Labour fears that they could vent their anger at Sir Keir's refusal last year to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Many pro-Palestinian voters were also outraged after the Labour leader appeared to suggest Israel had a right to limit essential supplies to the territory, only later clarifying that it should not withhold humanitarian aid. Sir Keir Starmer's stance on Gaza could cost him victory in some marginal seats, including Peterborough Paul Bristow, who won Peterborough by just 2,580 votes, openly called for a ceasefire in Gaza last October In stark contrast, Mr Bristow who is seeking re-election in the seat openly called for a ceasefire in Gaza as long ago as last October. He was promptly sacked from his role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Science Secretary Michelle Donelan. Mr Bristow said: 'I can now talk openly about an issue so many of my constituents care deeply about. I believe I can do this better from the backbenches rather than as part of the government payroll.' A few weeks later, Sir Keir suffered a raft of resignations by Labour frontbenchers over his stance on Gaza. Earlier this month, there were reports that Labour was redirecting activists to campaign in seats with substantial Muslim populations. His lively 'dad dancing' at Taylor Swift's Wembley concert earlier this month left royal fans in hysterics. Prince William clearly enjoyed bobbing along to the popstar's hit song, Shake It Off, from her album 1989. But the Prince of Wales is far from the first royal to showcase their (not always spectacular) moves. Over the years, members of the Royal Family have let their guard down and displayed their sense of rhythm in public. In fact, everyone from Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana to Kate Middleton and Camilla has been captured joining in the fun. Catherine, Princess of Wales During the royal tour of the Caribbean with Prince William in 2022, Kate enjoyed dancing with the residents of Hopkins, Belize. The small town is home to the Garifuna community, who couldn't resist involving Kate in traditional jiving. The mother-of-three could be seen playfully shimmying towards her husband, while he watched on with a huge beam on his face. Kate enjoyed dancing with the residents of Hopkins in Belize during her royal tour of the Caribbean in 2022 Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh The Duchess of Edinburgh showed off her dance moves as she joined members of the Royal Family at King Charles's Coronation Concert last May. Wearing a coral Beulah dress and with a Union Jack flag in hand, Sophie showed off her free-spirited moves while singing along to Lionel Richie's hit tune, All Night Long. Royal fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to praise her carefree nature, with one fan claiming she is 'all of us who couldn't attend the concert but wanted to.' Sophie showed off her free-spirited moves while singing along to Lionel Richie 's hit tune, 'All Night Long' at King Charles's Coronation Concert last May Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth hosted the annual Ghillies Ball for Balmoral staff and the local community each October. BBC footage from the 1991 ball shows the monarch enthusiastically partaking in traditional Scottish dancing alongside Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana The clip begins with Her Majesty waving a finger at Prince Philip, then taking his hands and dancing with him, before it cuts to Princess Diana holding hands with guests and dancing. Members of the Royal Family then gather around the Queen in a circle, referred to as the Eightsome Reel, as she twirls in the centre. Queen Elizabeth hosted the annual Ghillies Ball for Balmoral staff and the local community each October. Footage from the 1991 ball shows the monarch enthusiastically partaking in traditional Scottish dancing Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth take part in the Scottish country dancing called the Eightsome Reel King Charles In 1985, the then Prince Charles made history when he attempted to breakdance during a visit to Middleton-on-Sea in Sussex. While dressed in a smart double-breasted suit, Charles busted out his moves in front of a crowd of onlookers. The moment was even immortalised in Netflix's The Crown. Charles attempted to breakdance during a visit to Middleton-on-Sea in 1985 The then Prince danced with gusto as he was cheered on from the sidelines Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Following his DJ set at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in 2011, Idris Elba revealed that Meghan had been the best dancer at the reception. 'I think Meghan was the one that was really like letting it go,' the Luther actor told ET Canada. 'You know, she was real she just had a lot of fun. It was her wedding. So she had the greatest time.' Among Meghan's requested songs for the event were Still by Dr Dre and Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Idris Elba revealed that Meghan Markle was the best dancer at her 2018 wedding reception after he performed a DJ set at the event. Above: Meghan and Harry dancing at their wedding reception Among Meghan's requested songs for the event were Still by Dr Dre and Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody Prince Louis Much to his sister's annoyance, Prince Louis burst into a dance in full view of royal fans during Trooping the Colour earlier this month. He was watching proceedings with his mother Kate and siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte from a window in the Horse Guards building. When he started jiving, Charlotte appeared to order him to 'stop'. Much to his sister's annoyance, Prince Louis burst into a dance in full view of royal fans during Trooping the Colour earlier this month Queen Camilla Queen Camilla and Len Goodman impressed onlookers when they swayed across the dancefloor during a charity function in London in 2019. The event, held by the British Dance Council in conjunction with The Royal Osteoporosis Society in 2019, was intended to demonstrate how beneficial dancing can be for your bone health. Camilla showed off her dancing skills when she was swept onto the floor by Len Goodman in 2019 Afterwards, Mr Goodman said: 'It was my favourite kind of dance. Holding a lovely lady and having a nice little shuffle around. 'She had great rhythm. It was lovely dancing one on one with her.' In an impromptu speech, the royal said: 'I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this morning. I love dancing. 'I have a granddaughter who is passionate about it and maybe we will see her on Strictly one day. The pair danced at the Victory Services Club in London Prince Harry Prince Harry certainly isn't afraid of the dancefloor - as his wedding reception proved. But he also showed off his skills during his tour of the Caribbean and Brazil in 2012. Within hours of arriving in Belize, Harry was whisked to a street party in the capital city of Belmopan, where he was challenged by the city's mayor. He said: 'I have been forewarned you are an outgoing person who is a good dancer!' Harry set about confidently dancing with a local woman. At one point, he expertly spun her away and continued jiving to the reggae music. The Prince, who appeared to enjoy the experience, later said: 'I'm just glad my brother isn't here as he would want to do it and that wouldn't be cool.' Prince Harry certainly isn't afraid of the dancefloor - as his wedding reception proved. But he also showed off his skills during his tour of the Caribbean and Brazil in 2012. Above: Dancing with a local woman in Belize Harry took part after being challenged by the city's mayor who said that he had been told he was a 'good dancer' Princess Diana All eyes were on Princess Diana as she twirled around the dancefloor with her husband in 1988. The Princess, who dazzled in a floral Catherine Walker gown, put on an animated display with Charles at the glamorous ball in Sydney. Princess Diana wowed crowds in Sydney when she danced with Prince Charles in 1988 It came three years after her famous dance with John Travolta and other stars at a ball at the White House during a royal tour of the US. Diana jived with Travolta for 20 minutes to songs from his hit films Grease and Saturday Night Fever and then danced with Magnum PI star Tom Selleck. She also took to the floor with Hollywood great Clint Eastwood. The Princess had a passion for dance and had dreamed of becoming a ballerina before she became too tall. Dressed in a blue velvet Victor Edelstein gown, Princess Diana made history when she danced with John Travolta at the White House in 1985 Diana also danced with Magnum PI's Tom Selleck at the White House in 1985 Princess Diana later danced with Hollywood great Clint Eastwood, whilst Selleck to the floor with US First Lady Nancy Reagan Princess Beatrice Princess Beatrice was snapped being whisked around the floor at a ball in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity in 2013. The royal sported a beaming smile as she was dipped and twirled on the otherwise empty dancefloor. Beatrice, who has loved ballet from a young age, has reportedly continued her passion as a way to keep fit in recent years. Princess Beatrice was snapped being whisked around the floor at a ball in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity in 2013 There's no doubt it's one of the world's most iconic historic sites and a British cultural icon. But the debate over how Stonehenge came into existence about 5,000 years ago really is far from over. A team of researchers has hit back at new study claiming that the landmark's 'bluestones' were transported from Wales naturally by glacier ice. Leader Tim Daw, former historic property steward for Stonehenge and owner of the All Cannings Long Barrow, called the study 'nonsense' and 'seriously flawed'. He told MailOnline that they were pulled by tribes along the ground using a series of logs a generally-accepted theory for many decades. There's no doubt it's one of the world's most iconic historic sites and a British cultural icon. But it seems the debate over how Stonehenge came into existence about 5,000 years ago is far from over In addition to the tall Sarsen stones that make up Stonehenge's distinctive appearance, the site is also home to around 80 smaller 'bluestones' (pictured) which we know come from Wales. Dr John says these bluestones (pictured) are far too weathered and rough to have been quarried and transported In addition to the tall Sarsen stones that make up Stonehenge's distinctive appearance, the world-famous site is also home to around 80 smaller 'bluestones'. It is generally agreed that these bluestones originate from Craig Rhos-y-Felin in the Preseli Hills of south-west Wales but how exactly they got to Stonehenge is hotly debated. Dr Brian John, a retired geology lecturer from Durham University, proposed in his new study that a 'lost' bluestone boulder taken from the Stonehenge site over 90 years ago shows that humans didn't move the stones at all. Dr John said this bluestone boulder bears marks that suggest it was moved by glacial ice challenging the common theory that it was manually transported from Wales to Salisbury Plain by tribes. But Daw and his fellow researchers including Richard Bevins, a geologist at Aberystwyth University say it's known with 'absolute certainty' that humans moved all of Stonehenge's bluestones. The most commonly-accepted theory of how the Welsh 'bluestones' got to the Stonehenge site is they were transported manualkly along the ground using a series of logs. This photo shows a modern Indonesian tribe using this technique Pictured, the 'lost' bluestone boulder taken from the Stonehenge site over 90 years ago - which Dr Brian John thinks was moved naturally by ice Aerial view of Stonehenge (pictured) - one of the worlds most famous prehistoric monuments which is still being debated by experts 'They had the ability, knowledge and technology to transport them [the bluestones] that isn't in question,' Daw told MailOnline. 'If you can move a rock a hundred meters, you can move it a hundred miles that is simple logic. 'It might not be easy but it can be done. 'They were all moved into position and raised there by humans.' What's more, Daw and his team contest Dr John's methods which rely on his interpretations of the bluestone boulder. Through a detailed analysis of the boulder's surface, Dr John identified a series of marks that suggest glacial impact and scarring, he said. During a cold period of Earth's history before Stonehenge was built, much of Britain gradually froze over in the process pushing bluestones from Wales southwards towards Wiltshire, he alleged. However, Daw and colleagues contest this, firstly saying the ice didn't push as far south as that, and secondly that the marks on the boulder were made at Craig Rhos-y-Felin. Dr John thinks that during a cold period of Earth's history before Stonehenge was built, much of Britain gradually froze over - in the process pushing bluestones from Wales southwards towards Wiltshire Daw said: 'When we look at the boulders that are still at Craig Rhos-y-Felin, which is where it came from, we can see that the erosion happened there. Poll Do you think the 'bluestones' were transported by glacier ice? Yes No Do you think the 'bluestones' were transported by glacier ice? Yes 68 votes No 338 votes Now share your opinion 'The stones there are already shaped and scarred, so none of the "evidence of glacial transport" can be shown to be from its journey from Wales to Wessex.' Dr John called the theory that the bluestones were manually transported a 'myth' that's 'just been accepted as the truth'. But Daw and others strongly refute this and think Dr John's study adds to public misconceptions about Stonehenge's history. 'This is just a very annoying background rumble of nonsense that gets picked up and spread which takes the time and effort of academics to repeatedly refute,' Daw told MailOnline. 'This time and effort that could be better spent on real scientific investigations into the marvels of Neolithic Britain.' There is something both parties agree on, however that it was only the bluestones that came from Wales. The much larger and more famous Sarsens are from the chalk land of southern England, probably near Marlborough 15 miles from Stonehenge. Sian Welby has given birth to her first child! The This Morning and Capital Radio presenter, 37, welcomed a baby girl, named Ruby, with her fiance Jake Beckett. Sharing her joyful baby news on Instagram on Saturday alongside a slew of adorable snaps, Sian wrote: 'Our little Ruby [love heart emojis]'. Sian posted a picture of her little girl wearing a beige knitted cardigan revealing her name. Before her announcement, Sian was seen on a walk with the new tot cradled in her arms as she stepped out for a stroll with Jake. Sian Welby, 37, has given birth to her first child! The This Morning and Capital Radio presenter welcomed a baby girl, named Ruby, with her fiance Jake Beckett Sharing her joyful baby news on Instagram on Saturday alongside a slew of adorable snaps, Sian wrote: 'Our little Ruby [love heart emojis]' Sian carried her daughter in a sling as she soaked up the first few days of motherhood. The new mum looked overjoyed as she stepped out in a stylish black and white striped Adidas tracksuit. Sian is yet to announce the details of when she gave birth to her newborn on social media. The couple couldn't wipe the smile off their face as they held hands during their brisk walk. Earlier this month, Sian confirmed Jordan North will replace her as This Morning's showbiz correspondent as she headed off on maternity leave. The TV star marked her final day with the announcement as she admitted: 'I think I've pushed it as far as I can before I pop.' During her last appearance on the ITV daytime show before she gives birth to a baby girl, host Ben Shephard said: 'First it's time for the latest showbiz news, Sian is here, for your very last date with us before you go off to pop.' Sian replied: 'Yes, exactly, which I think I've pushed as far as I can without going into labour on this sofa!' Sian posted a picture of her little girl wearing a beige knitted cardigan revealing her name Before her announcement, Sian was seen on a walk with the new tot cradled in her arms as she stepped out for a stroll with Jake Sian was seen on a walk with the new tot cradled in her arms as she stepped out for a stroll with Jake on Saturday Sian carried her daughter in a sling as she soaked up the first few days of motherhood The new mum looked overjoyed as she stepped out in a stylish black and white striped Adidas tracksuit The couple couldn't wipe the smile off their face as they held hands during their brisk walk Sian is yet to announce the details of when she gave birth to her newborn on social media Jake helped Sian adjust the straps on the sling Sian couldn't keep her eyes off her baby girl throughout their walk She continued: 'I know the showbiz news needs to be left in good hands and somebody that deals with showbiz stories every morning and actually works alongside me most mornings when I am doing the radio 'This is the handover of all handovers! I really think this is the perfect guy for the job, I work with him every morning and he's fantastic. It is Jordan North everybody!' Jordan, 34, then joined Ben, co-host Cat Deeley and Sian in the studio, and said: 'I've got a new shirt for this and everything!' Ben joked: 'This is the showbiz handover, like on the relay!' with Sian quipping: 'This is like the baton in the Olympics.' Cat told Jordan: 'We'll make sure there's an extra plate of food for you every week!' Jordan added: 'Absolutely, I'm just the supply teacher for the summer, that's all.' Sian told Ben and Cat: 'I'm so glad it's Jordan. You are brilliant and he's the perfect guy for the job, we have such a laugh on Capital.' At the end of the segment, hosting duo Ben and Cat gifted the mother-to-be with a baby grow, which she seemed thrilled about. Earlier this month, Sian confirmed Jordan North will replace her as This Morning's showbiz correspondent as she headed off on maternity leave The TV star marked her final day with the announcement as she admitted: 'I think I've pushed it as far as I can before I pop' Sian became engaged to Heart Radio producer Jake during a romantic holiday to Greece in 2023 Sian announced she was expecting her first child with her fiance Jake live on air in February During her pregnancy, Sian shared gorgeous bump snaps and documented her journey along the way While Jordan will be Sian's replacement on This Morning, taking over her seat at Capital Breakfast will be Kemi Rodgers. Sian announced she was expecting her first child with her fiance Jake live on air in February. Sian said at the time: 'I think I want to share something with the group right now, actually. 'Seriously, guys: got a bit of an announcement for you. I'm pregnant! I don't know how I've managed to keep it from you for this long, but I am, it's not a joke. 'The lies, the deceit, the mocktails! I couldn't wait to tell you. This is a whole new journey for me and I want to take you all on it with me, and don't worry I'm not going anywhere! 'This is going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait to share it with you all.' Sian became engaged to Heart Radio producer Jake during a romantic holiday to Greece in 2023. Jake - who popped the question in August last year - works for Heart Breakfast as a creative producer alongside hosts including Kelly Brook, Rochelle Humes, Vogue Williams and Emma Bunton. Lip blushing is the latest cosmetic craze to sweep Australia, and influencers are raving about it online. An alternative to lip filler, the procedure involves applying a sheer tinted colour all over the lips and 'tattooing' it into the skin to achieve plumper, rosier and more kissable pouts. It can also correct lips that are uneven or discoloured. Despite some doctors warning against the procedure, several big-name Aussie social media stars are sharing their positive and horror stories about the treatment. Model Laura Dundovic, 36, recently underwent lip blushing and revealed the results on Instagram. The brunette beauty, who soared to fame when she was crowned Miss Universe Australia back in 2008, was all smiles as she pouted at the camera with her voluptuous new lips. Laura told her followers that 'she wished she had done it sooner'. Big-name Aussie social media stars, including Laura Dundovic (pictured) have recently jumped on the trend of lip tattooing She shared a gallery of eye-popping photos to Instagram which showcased the incredible end result of her recent lip tattoo 'When these wear off I will be doing it again,' she said. 'These are my lips with nothing on them now. Attention to detail is [thumbs up emoji]. Meanwhile, former Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis showcased her dramatic lip transformation back in April. The former reality star, 34, confirmed she had got her lips tattooed when she shared a gallery of photographs from the salon chair. Taking to Instagram, Martha confirmed the treatment was 'way less painful' than she thought it would be. 'In good hands. Way less painful than I anticipated,' she assured her fans. However, some influencers haven't had the same positive results. Last year, Bella Johnston was brutally slammed online after getting cosmetic lip tattooing. Former Married At First Sight star Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) showcased her dramatic lip transformation back in April, confirming the treatment was 'way less painful' than she thought The Bachelors star, who appeared on season 10 of the show earlier last year, took to TikTok to show off her 'patchy' lips which had been inked with a pinky red colour. In the video, the 27-year-old said she was scared she 'had ruined her face'. 'I got my lips tattooed like a month ago and I keep waiting for me to like them but it isn't getting better,' she wrote in the clip. 'Are they meant to be patchy? Why is the outline so strong? 'Has anyone had their lips done before? Pls tell me the colour fades more. I better not have ruined my face.' While the reality star was met with some advice and tips in the comments, several users trolled her for undergoing the cosmetic procedure. 'Why would you ever do this to yourself,' a user asked, while another added, 'Ronald McDonald over here.' 'Never tattoo your face, it's always a bad idea,' one fan wrote, while another said, 'I've never seen it look good on anyone I'm sorry.' Meanwhile, several users offered sound advice and encourage the influencer to go and get them touched up. Last year, Bella Johnston (pictured) was brutally slammed online after getting cosmetic lip tattooing 'With cosmetic tattooing after the first session patchy looks is very common so that's why the 2nd appointment is needed to make sure everything Blends,' someone said. Former Big Brother star Skye Wheatley also had alarming results. A few years ago, the model and TV personality, 30, had fans questioning whether she's gone too far after debuting an extremely inflated pout online. Sharing a TikTok video of herself immediately after getting her lips tattooed, Skye explained she wanted to fool her boyfriend Lachlan Waugh into thinking she'd permanently engorged her lips with filler. A year prior, she showed footage of a beauty therapist gently gliding over her lips with the tattoo gun, enhancing the shade of her pout. 'Can't feel a thing thanks to this numbing patch,' she explained. Multiple sessions are required to achieve a desired shade and lip tattooing can last between one to five years. A few years ago, Skye Wheatley (pictured in 2020) had fans questioning whether she's gone too far after debuting an extremely inflated pout online A photo of a woman's lips after receiving permanent full-lip contouring at a dermatology clinic in London The procedure can cost from $450 to $1,400 for an initial session, as well as several 'touch-up' appointments after, and each session takes approximately 90 minutes. Experts say the treatments can be painful because the skin on the lips is highly sensitive. Additionally, experts warn that allergic reactions to cosmetic tattooing procedures are common and the risk is heightened with lip blushing because of the red pigment in the dye used. Dermatologist Dr Shilpi Khetarpal said: 'Red is one of the most common allergenic tattoo colours. With lips being pink or red, when youre depositing that colour, theres a risk of an allergic reaction.' And if an allergic reaction does occur, there is no easy solution. Dr Ava Shamban, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist, told Allure: 'When correction laser is done to remove the red pigment, it almost always turns black. Expertise, artistry, proper care, and advanced knowledge of the skin will give the patient the lowest risk of complications.' China Focus: China's Chang'e-6 collects 1,935.3 grams of samples from moon's far side Xinhua) 09:47, June 29, 2024 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) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) The Heart Rate Challenge is one of Love Island's most iconic tasks, with viewers tuning in every year to watch the Islanders put on their sexiest performances. Fun, fearless and flirty, the dances are always a series highlight, but some of the performances don't always go to plan... with the aftermath also equally as explosive. This year, the villa was rocked when it emerged Joey Essex and Grace Jackson hadn't managed to raise each other's pulses, while the love triangle between Harriett Blackmore, Jess White and Ronnie Fint reared again as Jess and Ronnie raised each other's hearts the most. Despite being tense at the time, the Islanders are always able to laugh off their efforts later on, with many crediting the task as being a villa highlight. Now, MailOnline takes a look back at 10 of the most awkward - and iconic - Heart Rate Challenges to date. Alex George Season 4 While he may have been terrified at the prospect of stripping off, Dr Alex George still threw himself into the challenge with aplomb The good-natured doctor proceeded to make his way down to the firepit and rip off his shirt to reveal his muscly - and slightly sunburnt - physique The girls attempted to laugh off the awkward dance, as Alex gyrated up against each of them While he may have been terrified at the prospect of stripping off, Dr Alex George still threw himself into the challenge with aplomb. The good-natured doctor proceeded to make his way down to the firepit and rip off his shirt to reveal his muscly - and slightly sunburnt - physique. The girls attempted to laugh off the awkward dance, as Alex gyrated up against each of them. Speaking after the performance in the beach hut, Alex admitted: 'I did a bit of smouldering, a few drops as well. That's the first and last time you'll ever see Doctor Alex stripping.' Mal Nicol - Season 10 Probably the most relatable performance ever in the villa, Mal Nicol couldn't contain her laughter when she took part in the challenge Giggling throughout and attempting to bite her lip to stifle the sound, the boys were left in hysteric as Mal leant into her costume as a sexy cat and growled at them The short and sweet performance may not have set any pulses racing but it definitely set off the boys' funny bones Probably the most relatable performance ever in the villa, Mal Nicol couldn't contain her laughter when she took part in the challenge. Giggling throughout and attempting to bite her lip to stifle the sound, the boys were left in hysteric as Mal leant into her costume as a sexy cat and growled at them. The short and sweet performance may not have set any pulses racing but it definitely set off the boys' funny bones. After being dumped from the villa, Mal filmed herself watching the scenes back, grimacing as she witnessed the dancing. Charlie Radnedge Season 8 Charlie Radnedge went for a butler in the buff look as he showed off his physique in a pair of black trousers with a white collar and bow tie However, everything fell apart when he decided to kick off his routine by performing the worm before being unable to rip off his trousers Undeterred he went on to thrust himself at the giggling girls, waving his bottom in front of Danica Taylor's face while she visibly recoiled Within days of entering the villa, Charlie Radnedge was given the task of showing off his best moves and getting the girls' hearts racing. He went for a butler in the buff look for his routine as he showed off his physique in a pair of black trousers with a white collar and bow tie. However, everything fell apart when he decided to kick off his routine by performing the worm before being unable to rip off his trousers. Undeterred he went on to thrust himself at the giggling girls, waving his bottom in front of Danica Taylor's face while she visibly recoiled. Mike Boateng Season 6 Pulses were certainly raised when Mike Boateng gave his best shot at the heart rate challenge The policeman showed no signs of nerves as he twerked on all the girls and fashioned himself a thong out of tight briefs Mike even brought his own props, clutching a can of squirty cream and encouraging the girls to lick it off him Pulses were certainly raised when Mike Boateng gave his best shot at the heart rate challenge. The policeman showed no signs of nerves as he twerked on all the girls and fashioned himself a thong out of tight briefs. Mike even brought his own props, clutching a can of squirty cream and encouraging the girls to lick it off him. Reflecting on the performance in the Beach Hut, Mike scored his efforts 7/10, adding: 'I know some of these girls hearts were pumping!' Mary Bedford Season 7 Viewers were left in shock when Mary Bedford strutted out for her performance, but not by her routine, by her shocking ensemble The blonde bombshell looked a far cry from her typical glamorous self with a frizzy red wig plonked on her head and cheap mermaid costume Mary managed to get her own back that Halloween, however, as she shared an Instagram snap clad in a very sexy mermaid costume, captioned, 'this is how it should have been done.' Viewers were left in shock when Mary Bedford strutted out for her performance, but not by her routine. The blonde bombshell looked a far cry from her typical glamorous self with a frizzy red wig plonked on her head and cheap mermaid costume. Past Love Island champion Amber Gill got involved in the online debate, confirming that the Islanders had no say on their outfits, which were chosen by producers. Mary managed to get her own back that Halloween, however, as she shared an Instagram snap clad in a very sexy mermaid costume, captioned: 'this is how it should have been done.' Curtis Pritchard Season 5 As a professional dancer, Curtis Pritchard was keen to put his moves on the ladies of the villa His iconic entrance flailing his arms and shaking his hips is one of the show's most memorable moments and only got better from there Curtis didn't hold back as he put his moves on all the girls at the firepit As a professional dancer, Curtis Pritchard was keen to put his moves on the ladies of the villa. His iconic entrance flailing his arms and shaking his hips is one of the show's most memorable moments and only got better from there. He began by turning his attentions to a flustered Amber Gill, who said: 'Curtis gets a 10 out of 10 from me!' It was then Maura Higgins' turn, with the dancer scooping her up in his arms and twirling her around. Paige Thorne Season 8 Dance: Model and dancer Tasha Ghouri, 23, is seen performing for Dami while wearing a hot pink swimsuit, looking very similar to a Barbie doll in a preview while Paige dressed in red Baywatch: Paige donned a platinum blonde wig and a pair of white heels Sizzling: Paige Thorne did her best Pamela Anderson impression in a Baywatch-style swimsuit for the steamy challenge Another Islander let down by the producers was Paige Thorne. The Welsh paramedic put on a very sexy performance and looked incredible in a high cut scarlet swimsuit. Yet the attempt to mimic Pamela Anderson in Baywatch was let down by one key element, her wig. Rather than turning her into a blonde bombshell, producers plonked a flat silver wig on her head, completely ruining the look. Will Young - Season 9 Will Young was known for his flamboyance in the villa and that was certainly demonstrated in his epic performance Jigging over to the girls dressed as a sexy pirate, he instantly showed off his impressive dance moves before turning his attention to the waiting ladies Will's performance was bizarrely staged to the Wellerman Sea Shanty Remix which only added to the comical nature of the routine Will Young was known for his flamboyance in the villa and that was certainly demonstrated in his epic performance. Jigging over to the girls dressed as a sexy pirate, he instantly showed off his impressive dance moves before turning his attention to the waiting ladies. After being grinded on by the farmer, Samie Eilish was quick to quip: 'No one will ever do it like Will!' while his girlfriend Jessie Wynter squealed: Oh my days, the hottest sailer Ive ever seen. All these girls could see what they were missing out on. Will's performance was bizarrely staged to the Wellerman Sea Shanty Remix which only added to the comical nature of the routine. Chris Taylor Season 5 Not many Islanders would consider kicking off their routine with a roly poly, but Chris Taylor took the move in his stride Admitting he wanted to do some 'high risk' moves, Chris flung himself around the firepit, even finishing his routine with a cartwheel It's a routine that stuck in Joanna Chimonides' head, as she remarked: 'Is this meant to be sexy? No, he tried bless him. It was the best experience and we all laughed' Not many Islanders would consider kicking off their routine with a roly poly, but Chris Taylor took the move in his stride. Admitting he wanted to do some 'high risk' moves, Chris flung himself around the firepit, even finishing his routine with a cartwheel. He didn't neglect the girls, though, grinding up against them as they giggled. It's a routine that stuck in Joanna Chimonides' head, as she remarked: 'Is this meant to be sexy? No, he tried bless him. It was the best experience and we all laughed.' Dani Dyer - Season 4 Dani Dyer made it impossible to get any of the boys' hearts racing as she came out awkwardly flapping her pom poms Dressed as a sexy cheerleader, Dani made a beeline for Jack Fincham and sat on his lap for roughly two seconds before flapping her pom poms at the others Ensuring absolutely no one would enjoy her performance, Dani finished up by squealing 'This is awful' at the boys Dani Dyer made it impossible to get any of the boys' hearts racing as she came out awkwardly flapping her pom poms. Dressed as a sexy cheerleader, Dani made a beeline for Jack Fincham and sat on his lap for roughly two seconds before flapping her pom poms at the others. Her heart clearly wasn't in it as she confessed in the beach hut she was scared, while Jack mused: 'Dani's not going to come out here and grind on all my mates is she, bless her.' Ensuring absolutely no one would enjoy her performance, Dani finished up by squealing 'This is awful' at the boys. David Tennant reunited with his pal Michael Sheen at Pub In The Park: All Star Charity Gala on Friday, after the actor was slammed by JK Rowling over his pro-trans rights speech. The former Doctor Who star, 53, wore a casual grey suit with large black sunglasses and black Adidas trainers as he joined his Good Omens co-star at the event. Michael, 55, wore a comfortable grey T-shirt with an open khaki shirt and chinos and trainers, as the pair joined stars including Myleene Klass and Clare Balding at the event. On Friday, Rowling, 58, first name Joanne, took to X, formerly Twitter, to call people like David 'the gender Taliban '. She wrote of David: '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. David Tennant, 53, reunited with his pal Michael Sheen, 55, at Pub In The Park: All Star Charity Gala on Friday, after the actor was slammed by JK Rowling over his pro-trans rights speech The former Doctor Who star wore a casual grey suit with large black sunglasses and black Adidas trainers after causing a storm with his comments at the British LGBT Awards last week On Friday, JK Rowling, 58, first name Joanne, (pictured in 2022) took to X, formerly Twitter , to call people like David 'the gender Taliban ' She said in a separate tweet: 'For a man whos supposedly a model of compassion and tolerance, he sure does want a lot of people to cease to exist.' Joanne was speaking in response to a comment David made at the British LGBT Awards which took place on June 21. Speaking about those that have offensive views on trans and non-binary people, David said: 'Oh, it's a tiny bunch of little whingeing f**kers who are on the wrong side of history and they'll all go away soon.' He also said, while accepting his award for Celebrity Ally, that we won't live in a world where someone can just be themselves, as long as they're not hurting anyone, 'until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn't exist anymore.' David added: 'I don't wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up.' Kemi replied on Twitter: '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..(1/2) 'Tennant is one of Labours celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win. Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win. (2/2)' On Friday, JK Rowling, 58, first name Joanne, took to X, formerly Twitter, to criticise him saying anti-trans people are 'whingeing f**kers' who will 'all go away soon' at the LGBT Awards David had said this in an interview prior to his accepting the Celebrity Ally Award Joanne pointed out the supposed hypocrisy of David being for compassion and tolerance but against her and Kemi Badenoch She quoted a BBC news article about David and Kemi's row (he had told her to 'shut up', also at the LGBT Awards) with a joke about the 'Gender Taliban' being above reproach On Tuesday, a defiant Kemi refused to back down on her trans views and drew attention to the fact a 'white male celebrity' is 'attacking the only Black woman in government' Kemi's tweet was reshared by Rowling. Then, a Twitter user questioned David telling the only Black woman in government, and the 'daughter of immigrants', to 'shut up' and not exist. Joanne replied: 'But the utterances of the Gender Taliban receive special dispensation, for they are a holy caste.' The billionaire author's views on trans issues has led to many a celebrity fall out, including with Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the Harry Potter films. Back at Pub In The Park, also in attendance were television presenters Ben Shephard and Andrea McClean. Clare Balding looked fantastic in a blue-green jacket, black trousers and boots, and a black shirt. Mick McCarthy in a blue polo and Nicki Chapman in a deep purple short-sleeved velour jacket smiled sweetly together on a bench. Beth Goddard looked lovely in blue converse and cropped white trousers and she tied a light blue jumper around her neck. Back at Pub In The Park on Saturday, also in attendance were television presenters Ben Shephard and Andrea McLean Ben, 49, looked stylish in green chinos, a pair of sunglasses folded into his shirt, and a hand in his pocket Clare Balding looked fantastic in a blue-green jacket, black trousers and boots, and a black shirt Clare nestled under the arm of Stephen Mangan Mick McCarthy in a blue polo and Nicki Chapman in a deep purple short-sleeved velour jacket smiled sweetly together on a bench Mick posed with comedian Dara O Briain as they joined a slew of stars at the charity event Beth Goddard looked lovely in blue converse and cropped white trousers and she tied a light blue jumper around her neck Gaby Roslin, 59, soaked up the sunshine in a solo shot, her jumper featuring a yellow rebus design of 'love' and a heart She rolled up the sleeves of her jumper and finished her look with baggy extra long white trousers and white trainers James Midgley and Jenni Falconer beamed and looked summery in white trainers Once-model Vernon Kay looked handsome as he smiled in a black shirt and white trousers and trainers David posed with (L-R): Arabella Weir, Sir Lenny Henry, and Gaby and they all smiled brightly Performing at the event was Richard Jones: the bass guitar player of The Feeling and husband of Sophie Ellis-Bextor David posed with Arabella Weir, Sir Lenny Henry, and Gaby Roslin and they all smiled brightly. Gaby, 59, soaked up the sunshine in a solo shot, her jumper featuring a yellow rebus design of 'love' and a heart. She rolled up the sleeves of her jumper and finished her look with baggy extra long white trousers and white trainers. Performing at the event was Richard Jones: the bass guitar player of The Feeling and husband of Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Jeremy Allen White enjoyed a lunch date in Los Angeles on Friday. The 33-year-old actor, known for his role in the hit Hulu show The Bear, which left fans on the edge of their seats with a third-season cliffhanger, was spotted in Beverly Hills looking effortlessly stylish. Wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt and khaki pants, the charismatic star flashed his signature megawatt smile as he met up with friends in the upscale neighborhood. The Iron Claw star completed his look with a pair of bright white sneakers, all while engaging in a lively conversation on his phone. The afternoon outing comes after Jeremy denied that his character on The Bear, chef Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto, was headed for a romance with Carmy's protege Sydney Adamu, played co-star Ayo Edebiri. Jeremy Allen White enjoyed a lunch date in Los Angeles on Friday The 33-year-old actor, known for his role in the hit Hulu show The Bear, which left fans on the edge of their seats with a third-season cliffhanger , was spotted in Beverly Hills looking effortlessly stylish 'There was no talk in the rooms about any romantic implications [between Carmy and Sydney],' Jeremy said, according to Vanity Fair. White and Edebiri garnered top honors at the 2024 Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, and Emmys for their outstanding performances in the acclaimed FX series. The Bear centers on an award-winning chef who inherits his older brother's Chicago sandwich shop, confronting numerous personal and professional challenges as he strives to run the restaurant. The show received widespread critical and commercial acclaim upon the release of its first season. It currently holds a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 93% audience score. Jeremy's recent professional successes follow his agreement to several stipulations in his custody arrangement with his estranged wife, Addison Timlin, in October. In order to spend time with the two young children he shares with the actress, he signed off on daily alcohol testing, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. As reported, the superstar couple split in May 2023 after over three years of marriage. Despite the hardships of single parenting, the former couple have put on a solid effort in co-parenting, as they've been spotted out and about with the kids recently. But the reunions do not appear to be a hint at a reconciliation. The Hulu hunk was also recently linked to Rosalia and model Ashley Moore. However, Addison has yet to be linked to anyone new publicly, at least. Prior to the split, Jeremy gushed about Addison while accepting a Golden Globe for his role in The Bear. The afternoon outing comes after Jeremy denied his character on The Bear, chef Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto, was headed for a romance with the his character's protege Sydney Adamu, played co-star Ayo Edebiri; (pictured with Edebiri in June) Jeremy, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo at The Bear season 3 premiere after party The series follows Carmine 'Carmy' Berzatto, an award-winning chef who returns to Chicago to run his brother's struggling sandwich shop The Beef after his death 'Addison Timlin, I love you deep in my bones, thank you for all that you do, thank you for everything that you've done,' he said. In an interview with InStyle around the same time, he waxed on about the love for his daughters as well. 'I learn a lot from them. I feel like in a lot of ways, theyre teaching me all the time how to be better: how to be better to them; how to be better to my wife, my friends, my parents, and my sister. 'I think Ive been ready to domesticate for a long time, and Im so happy to be in the house all the time with them.' Jojo Fletcher turned up the heat while promoting her latest swimwear designs. The Bachelor star, 33 who frequently shows off her fit figure in barely there bikinis posed up a storm in collaboration with Cupshe on Friday. She took to Instagram to show off her taut tummy in jaw dropping swimsuits as she walked on the beach with a horse. Her honey-blonde locks cascaded over her shoulders and made her full-glam makeup look pop with her glowing tan. The pieces in the collection included both two piece and one piece suits. Jojo Fletcher turned up the heat while promoting her latest swimwear designs 'Just a few more of my favs & PSA: Restocks are now available! All swimmies from my co-designed collection with Cupshe are back on the site,' she wrote in the caption. The carousel of sultry bikini snaps were a hit with the model's 2.6million followers, racking up over 20.7k likes and 285 comments. Fans rushed to the comments to pen their support for the Bachelorette alum with one writing, 'Such a stunning collection.' Another chimed in saying, 'I have so many pieces on the way to me cant wait loving the collab!' The Dallas, Texas native's collaboration with the swimwear brand also includes coverups and summer dresses. Prices range from $15 to $48 for the unique styles as listed on the Cupshe website, as the collaboration dropped just weeks ago. Earlier this month, the blonde beauty gushed over her grueling workout routine that she credits her fit figure to. 'I just always try to move my body every day. Whether its just a walk, Pilates class or a pickleball game with Jordan!' she shared with DailyMail.com. The TV personality went on to say that walking also plays a role in her fitness journey. 'If that's not for you, I love just getting on my phone and pulling up a quick little full bodyweight strength class that I can knock out from wherever I am. I also love a fast power walk,' she added. The Bachelor star, 33, posed up a storm in collaboration with Cupshe on Friday Her honey-blonde locks cascaded over her shoulders and made her full-glam makeup look pop The pieces in the collection included both two pieces and one piece suits 'Just a few more of my favs & PSA: Restocks are now available! All swimmies from my co-designed collection with Cupshe are back on the site,' she wrote in the caption Fletcher went on to explain that the collaboration enabled her to branch out into the fashion world and create inclusive options: 'It features bold pops of color for the spring and festival season, yet still incorporates some perfect neutrals that will turn heads. 'These pieces are ones that will make you feel confident and sexy while also being super comfortable to wear,' she finished. Kayla Itsines has paid a loving tribute to her husband Jae Woodroffe. The 33-year-old took to her socials on Friday to share a gallery of cosy snaps of the loved-up pair sharing an intimate moment. 'Reminder to check in on the amazing men in your life!' the fitness guru said in the caption. 'If anyone comes to mind when you're reading this, send them a text and let them know they are loved.' 'I love you so much Jae,' she concluded and signed off the message with a love heart emoji. The photos show the genetically-blessed couple showing off their sunkissed figures in activewear wear which they paired with matching white runners and identical designer eyewear. One picture shows the besotted pair can be seen posing in the back of a pick-up truck and gazing into each others eyes. In another photo, Kayla can be seen showing off her long tan legs in a pair of black running shorts as Jae holds her close. Kayla Itsines has paid a loving tribute to her husband Jae Woodroffe. (Both pictured) Followers enthusiastically supported Kayla's post. 'Love this beautiful reminder and seeing you guys together like that, even the sunglasses can't hide the heart eyes,' one fan commented. 'Remind of the love in the olden days before we had cellphones, you two look great,' added another. The 33-year-old took to her socials on Friday to share a gallery of cosy snaps of the loved-up pair sharing an intimate moment. (Pictured) 'Only love vibes!,' gushed another fan. Earlier this week Jae Woodroffe, 29, shared a photo of the couple from when they were 'just friends'. Jae moved on with the multimillionaire fitness influencer shortly after splitting with his long-time ex-girlfriend Lauren Belotti, who also happened to be close pals with Kayla. Kayla used the post to remind her followers to 'remember the amazing men' in their lives In the snap, Kayla is seen showing off her incredibly toned figure in a black bikini as she poses with her hunky beau by a pool. The pair both brandished wide smiles and she flashed a peace sign for the camera. Jae responded with the image after a fan asked 'Pic of you and Kayla when you were just friends?' The photos show the genetically blessed couple showing off their tanned bodies It's unclear exactly when in the timeline of their relationship the picture was taken, as the pair may have just broken up with their respective exes, Lauren Benotti and Mitch G. Kayla and Jae tied the knot in December last year following a two-year engagement, but their fairytale romance first blossomed under unusual circumstances. From getting together just months after leaving their respective exes to Kayla's subsequent falling out with Jae's ex-girlfriend - things weren't always so simple. Kayla debuted her relationship with personal trainer Jae on September 26, 2021, when the couple was spotted packing on the PDA outside a kebab shop in Adelaide Kayla debuted her relationship with personal trainer Jae on September 26, 2021, when the couple was spotted packing on the PDA outside a kebab shop in Adelaide. The sighting came just a few weeks after Kayla had split from her former boyfriend, a videographer known only as 'Mitch G'. Earlier that month, 'Mitch G' was pictured packing his personal belongings into a moving van outside Kayla's home, confirming their brief relationship was over. Coincidentally, Jae also moved on with Kayla shortly after splitting with his long-time ex-girlfriend Lauren, who also happened to be close friends with Kayla. Kayla and Jae tied the knot in December last year following a two-year engagement Jae and Lauren are believed to have started dating in 2016, as indicated by loved-up Instagram photos posted by Lauren at the time. The last photos of the former couple together were uploaded on May 23, 2021, following a night out with a group of friends which included Kayla. A group photo taken during the outing even shows Kayla, Jae and Lauren all posing side by side. Kayla and Jae debuted their romance four months later. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any party has ever been unfaithful. Kayla declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia, but her spokeswoman Sara Bergstrom said the 'media narrative' suggesting Kayla and Lauren fell out because of Jae 'was false then, and [is] still false now'. A court ruling on Friday put an involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin on track for trial in early July after a judge denied a request to dismiss the case on complaints that key evidence was damaged by the FBI during forensic testing. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sided with prosecutors in rejecting a motion to dismiss Baldwin's, 66, case - after dismissing a previous motion last month in May. Defense attorneys had argued that the gun in the fatal shooting was heavily damaged during FBI forensic testing before it could be examined for possible modifications or problems that might exonerate the actor-producer. The ruling removes one of the last hurdles before prosecutors can bring the case to trial with jury selection scheduled for July 9 in Santa Fe. Attorneys plan to call on testimony at trial from a selection of more than 60 court-approved witnesses. A court ruling Friday put an involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin on track for trial in early July as a judge denied a request to dismiss the case on complaints that key evidence was damaged by the FBI during forensic testing; seen in 2021 in NYC The ruling removes one of the last hurdles before prosecutors can bring the case to trial with jury selection scheduled for July 9 in Santa Fe They include film director Joel Souza, who was wounded in the shooting as well as assistant director Dave Halls. Halls earlier pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon, and an array of first responders, investigators, firearms experts and close-range witnesses to the shooting. Baldwin isn't listed but has the right to testify at his own trial. During a rehearsal on the set of the Western film Rust in 2021, Baldwin pointed a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing her and injuring director Souza as the bullet became lodged in his shoulder. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the gun's hammer but not the trigger and has pleaded not guilty. The FBI conducted an accidental discharge test on the gun by striking it from several angles with a rawhide mallet, eventually breaking the gun. Prosecutors plan to present evidence at trial that they say shows the firearm 'could not have fired absent a pull of the trigger' and was working properly before the shooting. Baldwin has twice been charged in Hutchins' death. Prosecutors dismissed an earlier charge, then refiled it after receiving a new analysis of the revolver that Baldwin pointed at Hutchins. Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is serving an 18 month sentence on a conviction for involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting, as she appeals the jury verdict. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sided with prosecutors in rejecting a motion to dismiss the case; seen in 2023 in NYC Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is serving an 18 month sentence on a conviction for involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting, as she appeals the jury verdict; Hannah seen above in April It's likely the prosecutors will call her to testify at Baldwin's trial, despite her refusal to answer questions at a pretrial interview and instead invoke her constitutional rights against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment. A judge refused a request to compel her testimony by providing immunity. Marlowe Sommer said that destruction of internal components of the firearm 'is not highly prejudicial' to a fair trial and that Baldwin's legal team failed to demonstrate bad faith by investigators. While Baldwin 'contends that an unaltered firearm is critical to his case, other evidence concerning the functionality of the firearm on Oct. 21, 2021, weighs against the defendants assertions,' the judge wrote. Sheriff's investigators initially sent the revolver to the FBI for routine testing, but when an FBI analyst heard Baldwin say in an ABC TV interview that he never pulled the trigger, the agency told local authorities they could conduct an accidental discharge test, though it might damage the gun. The FBI was told by a team of investigators to go ahead, and tested the revolver by striking it from several angles with a rawhide mallet. One of those strikes fractured the gun's firing and safety mechanisms. Defense attorneys say that the 'outrageous' decision to move forward with testing may have destroyed exculpatory evidence. During a rehearsal on the set of the Western film Rust in 2021, Baldwin pointed a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the revolver went off, killing her and injuring director Souza as the bullet became lodged in his shoulder; Hutchins seen in 2019 Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the gun's hammer but not the trigger and has pleaded not guilty; Rust set seen in October 2021 Prosecutors said it was 'unfortunate' the gun broke, but it wasn't destroyed and the parts are still available. They say Baldwin's attorneys still have the ability to defend their client and question the evidence against him. In Friday's ruling, the judge said prosecutors will have to fully disclose at trial the destructive nature of the FBI forensic testing on the gun, including what was lost in the process and its relevance in reaching a verdict. Several hours of testimony about the gun and forensic testing during online hearings in recent days provided a dress rehearsal for the possible trial against Baldwin. Attorneys for Baldwin gave long and probing cross-examinations of the lead detective, an FBI forensic firearm investigator and the prosecution's independent gun expert, Lucien Haag; seen in 2023 in NYC Attorneys for Baldwin gave long and probing cross-examinations of the lead detective, an FBI forensic firearm investigator and the prosecution's independent gun expert, Lucien Haag. Prosecutors plan to present evidence that they say shows the firearm 'could not have fired absent a pull of the trigger' and was working properly before the shooting. Since the 2021 shooting, the filming of Rust resumed but moved to Montana under an agreement with Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, which made him an executive producer. The completed movie has not yet been released for public viewing. Her father bequeathed a 96 million fortune, but has Bella Freud mislaid her own Midas touch, for the moment at least? I ask because the acclaimed fashion designer one of 14 children Lucian Freud acknowledged as his own is bidding farewell to what has been described as her 'luxury fragrance brand', Bella Freud Parfum. Despite selling scented candles at 50 a piece and, in a familial nod to her great-grandfather, Sigmund Freud, a creation called 'Psychoanalysis Eau de Parfum' 165 for 100ml the company is now in liquidation. It's a rare setback for Bella who has enjoyed success in interior design, film-making and publishing, as well making clothes which enjoy a 'cult following' among the likes of Sienna Miller, Olivia Wilde and Kate Moss, the last of whom posed, naked and pregnant, for Bella's father, with the resultant portrait selling for 3.9 million. Bella declines to comment on the fate of her eponymous fragrance business, but observers note that its parent company, Bella Freud Ltd, has itself battled through a challenging year which has seen its assets dwindle from 900,000 to just over 100,000. Bella has enjoyed success in interior design, film-making and publishing, as well making clothes which enjoy a 'cult following' among the likes of Sienna Miller , Olivia Wilde and Kate Moss (Bella and Moss pictured at the first anniversary of Cosmoss) Bella declines to comment on the fate of her eponymous fragrance business, but its parent company, Bella Freud Ltd, has battled through a challenging year with assets dwindling from 900,000 to just over 100,000 Among the perfumes is a nod to her famous grandfather Sigmund Freud - 'Psychoanalysis Eau de Parfum' 165 for 100ml Its current summer sale on an array of merchandise from pinstripe trousers and hoodies to beanie hats and cushion covers has offered discounts of as much as 70 per cent. One thing is certain: little, if anything, will disconcert Bella, 63, who was born in the same year as two of her half-sisters, Isobel one of Freud's four children by Suzy Boyt and Lucy, one of four more he fathered by Katherine McAdam. As a child, she and her younger sister, Esther, accompanied their mother, Bernardine Coverley, to Morocco where they lived in a rundown Marrakesh hotel. The experience inspired Esther to write her first novel, Hideous Kinky, later made into a film starring Kate Winslet. Separated from her husband, White Mischief author James Fox, Bella has reflected: 'I used to wonder what is going to happen...now I think, "How am I going to make this happen?"' Stand by for the next Freud chapter. He's a fan favourite and a hot tip to carry off this year's Gold Logie. But Larry Emdur, 59, got a shock this week when pictures circulated the internet showing the Channel Seven stalwart being 'arrested' by police. The Morning Show host shared the fake images that were AI-generated in an Instagram post on Friday. In one photo, a devastated-looking Larry is being carried off by two police officers and includes the caption: 'Larry's media career over.' A second image shows Larry being escorted by two law enforcement officials. 'According to the internet it looks like I've been arrested twice since Sunday's Logie announcement,' Larry captioned his post. Known for his quick wit and sense of humour, Larry could not resist taking a belt to the scammers behind the fake pictures. 'I refuse to give in ! I'll be running the rest of my Logies campaign from prison,' he joked. Gold Logie nominee Larry Emdur, 59, (pictured) got a shock this week when AI-generated pictures circulated the internet showing the Channel Seven stalwart being arrested by police He also took the opportunity to take a cheeky dig at Gold Logie nominee Tony Armstong. 'I know you are behind this [scam] Tony,' Larry added. Meanwhile, Tony responded: 'Mate, at the ABC, we are all about honesty.' Larry's supporters appeared to be tickled by the The Chase host's post and joined in to mock the scammers who created the fake pictures. 'Showbiz is a wild ride buddy. Can I bring you a cake with a file?' messaged Today Extra host David Campbell. Larry joked he would be running his logie campaign from behind bars'. Larry shared this fake photo in his post, which misspells his surname as 'Emdure' Larry, who is up for a Gold Logie this year, posted the pictures to his Instagram on Friday and mocked the scammers who created them Deal or No Deal host Grant Denyer messaged a naughty response to Larry's post with the comment: 'See you in the showers.' SAS Australia and former military man Any Middleton also played along with Larry's joke messaging: 'I'll come and break you out, mate! Standby standby.' Meanwhile, a few of Larry's friends pointed out that the scammers had misspelt the star's surname as 'Emdure' in one of their fake posts. ' ''Emdur' rolls off the tongue much better than 'Edmure', I can see why you changed it,' messaged Human Nature's Phil Burton. Larry took a dig at his Gold Logie rival Tony Armstrong, joking that the popular ABC presenter had a part to play in the fake images Larry faces stiff competition in the Gold Logie race. The other contenders include Tony Armstrong, Robert Irwin, and his I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here co-host Julia Morris. Sonia Kruger, Asher Keddie, and Andy Lee are also up for the prestigious gong. It comes after Larry's former Seven stablemate David 'Kochie' Koch has become a regular victim to scammers for similar pranks over the last year. Pictured: Larry poses with Gold Logie contenders Tony Armstrong, Andy Lee, Robert Irwin, Sonia Kruger and Julia Morris The TV veteran, 68, who quit Sunrise a year ago, was seen in AI-generated images depicting him as being 'arrested'. The image has also been plastered with 9News' logo and the phrase: 'Breaking News'. 'Why didn't he tell the truth sooner?' the fake caption read alongside an image of Kochie smiling. The former Seven star was also the subject of multiple cryptocurrency scams that used false reports of his death to dupe people out of thousands of dollars. Larry's experience comes after scammers spread false photos of David 'Kochie' Koch being arrested by police following his retirement (pictured) Earlier this month Koch blasted Meta (Facebook) for failing to remove scam advertisements using his likeness. Alongside billionaire Andrew Forrest and entrepreneur Dick Smith, Koch is part of an Australian Consumer & Competition Commission lawsuit against Meta filed in 2022, accusing it of misleading conduct by allowing fraudulent ads, according to The Australian. I'm just devastated by what (the scams do to) ordinary people it's people's life savings,' he said. 'If (Meta has) algorithms that can pick up the inappropriate posts of customers on a platform, why don't they have the same algorithms that can also pick up inappropriate advertising and content on their platforms?' Koch asked. Naomi Watts headed for a shopping spree in Prada on Friday, after coming under fire for attending Balenciaga's Paris Fashion Week show. The actress, 55, and Nicole Kidman were criticised for attending the designer's showcase earlier this week following the brand's BDSM photo scandal. But Naomi seemingly shrugged off the drama as she headed out in the city. The Hollywood star cut an elegant figure in a dusk pink shirt, complete with floral detailing. Naomi paired the sheer number with some white ankle grazer trousers and made sure she was comfortable for her spree in some black and white Adidas Sambas that cost around 90. She tied her blonde tresses back and covered her face with a pair of trendy black sunglasses. Naomi Watts headed for a shopping spree in Prada on Friday, after coming under fire for attending Balenciaga's Paris Fashion Week show. But Naomi seemingly shrugged off the drama as she headed out in the city. The Hollywood star cut an elegant figure in a dusk pink shirt, complete with floral detailing The celebrations came amid a social media furore over the fact the pair attended the Balenciaga Paris Fashion Week show earlier in the week, following the brand's BDSM photo scandal. 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. 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 she was 'shaken by the disturbing images' and was 'reevaluating my relationship' with Balenciaga. However Nicole - who had recently starred in a separate 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 social media storm erupted over the fact the pair attended the Balenciaga show earlier in the week, following the brand's BDSM photo scandal Many parents expressed their outrage at the famous duo for attending a fashion show by the controversial brand (Pictured: Naomi Watts and her daughter Kai Schreiber) Meanwhile Nicole demonstrated her own loyalty to the firm when she and Naomi cheerfully attended its latest fashion show in Paris this week. Nicole was joined by her daughter Sunday Rose, 15, while Naomi's teen Kai, also, 15, attended alongside her Hollywood star mother. Many parents expressed their outrage at the famous duo for attending a fashion show by the controversial brand. 'I simply cannot believe that anyone, particularly a parent, would associate with this brand. Much less GIVE them positive publicity and support,' one person wrote. 'Such poor taste to associate with this brand,' another commented. 'Eww. Balenciaga are Not Like Us,' a third agreed while one said: 'Supporting [this] brand. How predictable.' Naomi looked every inch the movie star in a white blazer with a structured collar, allowing a sultry peek at her decolletage. The Impossible star added a matching pencil skirt and dangling pearl earrings, elevating the chic look with white gloves. She styled her short blonde hair in elegant curls and sported oversized shades and a slick of pink lipstick. Chris Pratt's wife Katherine Schwarzenegger is pregnant with their third child. The superstar couple, who share daughter Eloise Christina, 2, and Lyla Maria, 3, are expecting another bundle of joy, according to a report from People on Friday. Chris, 45, also shares 11-year-old son Jack with ex-wife Anna Faris. DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Pratt and Schwarzenegger for comment. Earlier in the day, Katherine, 34, took to her Instagram to share sweet snaps from a family outing with her handsome Marvel star husband. Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt are pregnant with their third child; (pictured May 19) Katherine was spotted on June 21 in Santa Barbara 'Things that make me happy: A gloomy morning followed by a barn visit,' the post was captioned. Katherine appeared solely in the first photo, where she was seen from behind, dressed in a black sweatshirt. The news follows Chris sharing a sweet tribute to his wife for their five-year wedding anniversary on June 8. He took to Instagram to mark the special milestone by posting a throwback photo of them together on Instagram, accompanied by a heartfelt note to his wife. 'Happy Anniversary to my honey!' Pratt wrote in his caption. 'Five years has flown by.' He added: 'Thank you so much for the joy, stability and fun you've brought to my life. I thank God for you every day.' Katherine, who is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, also shared an Instagram post to commemorate the special occasion. She posted a photo of them staring into each other's eyes and both with bright smiles plastered across their faces. In the picture, Pratt and Katherine were a stylish pair in chic suits, which they wore to the Hollywood premiere of his new flick The Garfield Movie last month. '[Five] years of laughs and love. I love you! Happy anniversary,' she wrote alongside a white heart emoji. The news follows Chris sharing a sweet tribute to his wife for their five-year wedding anniversary on June 8 Katherine, who is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, also shared an Instagram post to commemorate the special occasion Pratt and Katherine share two daughters three-year-old Lyla and two-year-old Eloise He also shares his son Jack, 11, with ex-wife Anna Faris Chris and Katherine first sparked romance rumors in early 2018, after they were spotted canoodling in Santa Barbara, CA. Seven months prior, Chris filed for divorce from wife Anna Faris after eight-years of marriage, citing 'irreconcilable differences,' according to TMZ. They asked for joint custody of their son Jack who was five-years-old at the time. Katherine and Chris were later captured on a PDA-packed outing in July of 2018, followed by numerous family hangouts with the Schwarzenegger's and the Pratt's, which were documented on social media. The couple did not confirm their relationship status until December of 2018, a little over a month after Chris' divorce from Anna was finalized, as reported by E! News. The confirmation came in the form of 'Happy Birthday' post from Chris to Katherine, which included a photo collage of the brunette beauty. 'Happy Birthday Chief! Your smile lights up the room. I've cherished our time together. Thrilled God put you in my life. Thankful for the laughs, kisses, talks, hikes, love and care,' wrote the Parks And Rec alum. On January 9, Chris proposed to Katherine, which he proudly announced to his 28.8million Instagram followers. 'Sweet Katherine, so happy you said yes! I'm thrilled to be marrying you. Proud to live boldly in faith with you. Here we go!' captioned Pratt. Chris and Katherine first sparked romance rumors in early 2018, after they were spotted canoodling in Santa Barbara, CA He included a photo of himself and Katherine embracing that gave his followers a clear view of the giant rock on her finger. They moved in together shortly after getting engaged. Katherine and Chris were married on June 8 of 2019 during what was described as 'an intimate ceremony' in Montecito, California. 10-months later in May 2020, it was revealed by Katherine's mother Maria that the newlyweds were expecting their first child together. Comedic actor Martin Mull died at the age of 80 on Thursday. The star, who played Colonel Mustard in Clue, Roseannes boss Leon Carp in the sitcom Roseanne and starred with Fred Willard on Norman Lears Fernwood 2 Nite, passed away at home after a battling a 'long illness', according to his daughter Maggie Mull. 'I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,' Maggie wrote on Instagram. 'He was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials. He would find that joke funny. He was never not funny,' she continued alongside a black-and-white snap of her father. 'My dad will be deeply missed by his wife and daughter, by his friends and coworkers, by fellow artists and comedians and musicians, andthe sign of a truly exceptional personby many, many dogs. I loved him tremendously,' she concluded. Comedic actor Martin Mull died at the age of 80 on Thursday; (pictured 2018) The star played Colonel Mustard in Clue, Roseannes boss Leon Carp in the sitcom Roseanne (pictured) and starred with Fred Willard on Norman Lears Fernwood 2 Nite, passed away at home after a battling a 'long illness' Mull also played Principal Willard Kraft on Sabrina: The Teenage Witch from 1997-2000. His co-star, Melissa Joan Hart, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram on Friday, honoring the late actor. 'Rest in Peace my friend. The incredible #MartinMull (Principal Kraft) has left us for his eternal rest,' the actress wrote alongside a throwback snap of the pair on set of Sabrina. 'I have such fond memories of working with him and being in awe of his huge body of work which before #SabrinaTheTeemageWitch included #Roseanne and #MrMom as the projects I knew him from. 'And after our sabrina days, his body of work multiplied with guest star and recurring roles on huge shows as well as features and animation. He once told me that he takes every job he's offered just in case the train comes to an end, which in this business tends to halt quickly. 'But he was an artist who liked to paint and build things with his hands, a musician and a wonderful man who i am better for knowing. He will be missed but this world has benefited from his being here. 'My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. I will continue to cherish the Martin Mull art work hanging in my home!,' she concluded. In 2016, Mull received an Emmy nomination for his guest role as political aide Bob Bradley in Veep. 'I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,' Mull's daughter Maggie Mull wrote on Instagram on Friday Mull also played Principal Willard Kraft alongside Melissa Joan Hart on Sabrina: The Teenage Witch from 1997-2000 Melissa Joan Hart paid a heartfelt tribute to Martin via her Instagram on Friday Vanessa Lachey (L) and Mull in the short-lived Dads from 2014 More recently, he has made guest appearances on The Afterparty, Not Dead Yet, and Grace and Frankie. Martin Eugene Mull was born in Chicago to an actress-director mother and a carpenter father, per Variety. At the age of 2, his family relocated to North Ridgeville, Ohio, and when he was 15, they moved again to New Canaan, Connecticut. Mull pursued his passion for painting, earning both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. He initially entered show business as a songwriter, writing Jane Morgan's 1970 country single A Girl Named Johnny Cash, which reached No. 61 on Billboards country charts. He soon launched his own recording career, composed the theme for the 1970 series The 51st State, and served as the music producer for the 1971 film Jump. Mull transitioned into acting with his breakout role in Norman Lears soap spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1977 and its spinoff Fernwood 2 Night. He was a series regular as Ed Munn on The Ellen Show, Ellen DeGeneres's 2001-02 sitcom that aired for 18 episodes on CBS. Mull and Fred Willard's characters married on Roseanne Melissa Joan Hart and Martin Mull on Sabrina The Teenage Witch in 2001 Mull appeared on Not Dead Yet with Gina Rodriguez in 2023 Martin Mull and His Fabulous Furniture perform at The Great Southeast Music Hall on May 22, 1974 Friday From 1998 to 2004, Mull was a regular on the game show Hollywood Squares, appearing in 425 episodes, frequently occupying the coveted center square. On Foxs short-lived 2013 sitcom Dads, Mull played the father of star Seth Greens character. In film, Mull starred alongside Tim Curry in 1985s Clue and had notable roles in Paramounts 1980 film Serial, as well as appearances in Mr. Mom and Mrs. Doubtfire. His final role was in Apples The Afterparty. Anna 'Chickadee' received emotional, final goodbyes from her loved ones after her health took a major decline amid her cancer battle in the latest episode of Mama June: Family Crisis. Friday's episode - which was titled One Last Family Christmas - focused on Anna's last days in hospice and her family preparing to give her a memorable holiday. Last year in December 2023, Anna passed away at the age of 29 following a battle with adrenal cancer - leaving behind her daughters Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight. At one point during the episode, Mama June revealed that, 'Anna's had a few rough nights. And last night was really rough.' 'I mean, she was shallow breathing. We all slept in the living room. I can tell things are different. That is the reason why hospice is here,' she further explained. Anna 'Chickadee' received emotional, final goodbyes from her loved ones after her health took a major decline amid her cancer battle in the latest episode of Mama June: Family Crisis Friday's episode - which was titled One Last Family Christmas - focused on Anna's last days in hospice and her family preparing to give her a memorable holiday Anna had been living with June as well as her husband, Justin, at their home during her last days. A hospice nurse came to check on Anna, and explained, 'Well, I feel like she's definitely transitioning. She's got a high pulse, very high pulse.' In a confessional, Mama June expressed, 'No matter how much you knew it was going to happen, it is still f***ing like, what?' The episode cut back to the hospice nurse who said, 'I can't give you a time frame...We just never know. How fast things are going to change.' Cutting back to June, she said, 'When the hospice nurse says Anna's transitioning, um, you know what that means.' 'I mean, if you want to say goodbye or you want to make peace with Anna, this is the time to do it.' Mama June and Anna's sister, Lauryn 'Pumpkin', could be seen making calls to other family members so they could have a chance to say goodbye to Anna. Lauryn stated that she would have to cancel the Christmas party that she had planned for Anna, explaining she 'can barely keep her eyes open.' Last year in December 2023, Anna passed away at the age of 29 following a battle with adrenal cancer - leaving behind her daughters Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight At one point during the episode, Mama June revealed that, 'Anna's had a few rough nights. And last night was really rough' 'I mean, she was shallow breathing. We all slept in the living room. I can tell things are different. That is the reason why hospice is here,' she further explained A hospice nurse came to check on Anna, and explained, 'Well, I feel like she's definitely transitioning. She's got a high pulse, very high pulse' In a confessional, Mama June expressed, 'No matter how much you knew it was going to happen, it is still f***ing like, what?' Cutting back to June, she said, 'When the hospice nurse says Anna's transitioning, um, you know what that means. I mean, if you want to say goodbye or you want to make peace with Anna, this is the time to do it' 'And that just kind of breaks my heart because, like, Kaitlyn is having to watch that. Kylee is having to watch that. We're having to watch that with everybody surrounding us, and it just...it f***ing sucks.' Aside from Anna's immediate family, other loved ones arrived to June and Justin's house to say their final farewells, such as Anna's father, June's estranged mother and Kaitlyn's father Eldridge. Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' - who was in Colorado at the time for school - was called and told to fly back home as soon as possible due to Anna's declining health. She was able to catch a red eye flight and was greeted by her family, with Mama June saying that Anna had been asking for her. June added, 'I want y'all to go in there and say what y'all want to say to her. I did it last night. And I told her today, I said, don't worry about it, we got Kaitlyn, I promise you.' Alana had the chance to see Anna and tell her that she finished her first semester of college. Despite not being coherent due to not eating for around four days, Anna was still able to proudly say, 'Way to go, Alana.' In a confessional, Honey Boo Boo stated, 'Anna saying to me that, like, she didn't really say it to me, but she...I knew what she was trying to get past, that she was proud of me and stuff when I told her that I finished my first semester of college.' Mama June and Anna's sister, Lauryn 'Pumpkin', could be seen making calls to other family members so they could have a chance to say goodbye to Anna Lauryn stated that she would have to cancel the Christmas party that she had planned for Anna, explaining she 'can barely keep her eyes open' 'And that just kind of breaks my heart because, like, Kaitlyn is having to watch that. Kylee is having to watch that. We're having to watch that with everybody surrounding us, and it just...it f***ing sucks' Aside from Anna's immediate family, other loved ones arrived to June and Justin's house to say their final farewells, such as Anna's father, June's estranged mother and Kaitlyn's father Eldridge Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' - who was in Colorado at the time for school - was called and told to fly back home as soon as possible due to Anna's declining health She was able to catch a red eye flight and was greeted by her family, with Mama June saying that Anna had been asking for her Alana had the chance to see Anna and tell her that she finished her first semester of college. Despite not being coherent due to not eating for around four days, Anna was still able to proudly say, 'Way to go, Alana' 'It was just crazy because I wanted Anna to be able to see me graduate college. And like, now that's not even going to happen.' Later, June could be seen outside of the house and gave credit to her husband, Justin, for helping Anna. Mama June then became emotional and added, 'They did tell us that we have maybe a day. She will not be here at Christmas. She will not be took out of this house. She will pass away in my house. And she will probably pass away on my couch.' She explained that she was trying to make a 'calm space' for Anna but admitted that 'It's just a lot.' The screen faded to black, with the words, 'Anna passed away that evening surrounded by her family.' In a video message, Mama June expressed, 'She died peacefully in my home with her sisters, with myself, with Justin, Eldridge, and her children and other family members.' 'She loved every one of y'all. And she would not have it any other way for me to come on social media and let y'all know. I feel like she won her battle because Anna's no longer suffering.' Lauryn also shared a clip, and stated, 'You know, we can't see her again. So now I have to live with that, you know? I got to pull myself together to keep going. You know?' 'It was just crazy because I wanted Anna to be able to see me graduate college. And like, now that's not even going to happen,' she added Mama June then became emotional and added, 'They did tell us that we have maybe a day. She will not be here at Christmas. She will not be took out of this house. She will pass away in my house. And she will probably pass away on my couch' She explained that she was trying to make a 'calm space' for Anna but admitted that 'It's just a lot' The screen faded to black, with the words, 'Anna passed away that evening surrounded by her family' In a video message, Mama June expressed, 'She died peacefully in my home with her sisters, with myself, with Justin, Eldridge, and her children and other family members' Lauryn also shared a clip, and stated, 'You know, we can't see her again. So now I have to live with that, you know? I got to pull myself together to keep going. You know?' Honey Boo Boo also emotionally reflected on her sister's passing. 'We were all just sitting there talking.' 'And she took her last breath. I really wish she would have seen me graduate. But that'll be ok because she's going to be watching over me' Honey Boo Boo also emotionally reflected on her sister's passing. 'We were all just sitting there talking.' 'And she took her last breath. I really wish she would have seen me graduate. But that'll be ok because she's going to be watching over me.' In a previous episode, Anna revealed that she wanted her daughter, Kaitlyn, 11, to be under the guardianship of her father Eldridge, in the event of her passing. June had also revealed that Anna's 'biggest fear' amid her cancer battle was 'going to sleep at night and passing away in her sleep.' Elsewhere in Friday's episode, Mama June and her daughter, Anna, shared a lighthearted moment while inside the living room of June's house. At one point, Chickadee pointed out, 'Ew, you need to get your toes done,' with her mother laughingly replying, 'I know I do. But I haven't had time. I need to get these cut. It's been two months.' 'Ew,' Anna said again, with June playfully adding, 'I'm sure you need to get yours done, too, don't you? Your feet don't look bad?' 'No, and I'm not moving my legs to find out,' Anna said. In a previous episode, Anna revealed that she wanted her daughter, Kaitlyn, 11, to be under the guardianship of her father Eldridge, in the event of her passing At one point, Chickadee pointed out, 'Ew, you need to get your toes done,' with her mother laughingly replying, 'I know I do. But I haven't had time. I need to get these cut. It's been two months' 'Ew,' Anna said again, with June playfully adding, 'I'm sure you need to get yours done, too, don't you? Your feet don't look bad?' June replied, 'See, you don't even know if your legs look bad or not,' but Anna said, 'I know they look a lot better than that' Also throughout the episode, Anna's loved ones began to plan an early Christmas party which would take place at Lauryn's house. However, after news of Anna's rapidly declining health, preparations were put on pause June replied, 'See, you don't even know if your legs look bad or not,' but Anna said, 'I know they look a lot better than that.' Mama June then broke out into laughter with Anna adding, 'That s*** is nasty.' 'This situation is horrible for all of us. But we have to find a silver lining in everything and make those memories and laugh and cherish those janking moments,' June said in a confessional. Also throughout the episode, Anna's loved ones began to plan an early Christmas party which would take place at Lauryn's house. However, after news of Anna's rapidly declining health, preparations were put on pause. Harry Potter star Emma Watson and her brother Alex have taken the spirits world by storm with their luxurious gin brand, Renais. After a successful debut in the UK last year, Renais Gin is now available in the United States, reaching over 40 states, and finally accessible to Australian fans. Over the weekend, the Watsons celebrated their official US launch with an extended campaign for Renais, which Emma herself directed and styled. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, she shared the exciting news with her 74.6 million followers, offering them a glimpse into the brand's inception, backstory, and core values through an intimate and lighthearted film. The campaign was a family affair, self-produced without any ad agency involvement. Aussies hoping to get their hands on the gin can currently only do so online via United Cellars, Master of Molt or Winetopia. 'I am very proud to share my director's cut commercial for @renaisspirits to celebrate us heading to the United States,' Watson wrote in her Instagram post. 'The US has been my second home since I first went to Brown in Rhode Island, so I am thrilled to be bringing Renais abroad and home again! Making this with friends and family has been one of the most rewarding, creative experiences I've ever had.' Harry Potter star Emma Watson and her brother Alex have taken the spirits world by storm with their luxurious gin brand, Renais. Both pictured After a successful debut in the UK last year, Renais Gin is now available in the United States, reaching over 40 states, and finally accessible to Australian fans The Watson siblings created Renais Gin in July last year after being inspired by their family's rich history in winemaking. Over three decades ago, their father, Chris Watson, planted the family vineyards in Chablis, France. Renais reportedly reflects the traditions and craftsmanship of Northern France by boasting a complex yet smooth palate. Crafted from reclaimed French wine grapes and natural botanicals, it's also sustainably distilled. Renais Gin has already made a mark in the UK, Italy, and Germany, selling over 10,000 bottles. Aussies hoping to get their hands on the gin can currently only do so online via United Cellars , Master of Molt or Winetopia In July last year, the iconic duo joined forces to launch the gin brand which is inspired by their family trips to the vineyard in France during their childhood Emma previously expressed her pride in this family project, highlighting the significance of the Chablis region in her upbringing and the joy of collaborating with her brother Alex. 'To me, Renais is a family project, not only does the Chablis region evoke very special memories of growing up, I've loved having the opportunity to create something with my brother Alex,' she shared in a statement. Emma has gushed about her close relationship with her brother, crediting him as someone who helped her 'find the most challenging things, with time, incredibly funny.' Derryn Hinch has revealed he he facing a 'pretty serious' battle with skin cancer. The Aussie media personality, 80, said he is currently undergoing five weeks of daily radiation treatment in a bid to get rid of a melanoma on his forehead. The cancerous spot just below his hairline was first discovered by doctors in February and he had it removed, but medics weren't able to take out the entire area. He then visited Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to have a further operation to remove the melanoma and he is now undergoing radiation as 'insurance'. Derryn said he is taking the medical issue seriously and is just focusing on each day as it comes amid the daily treatment schedule. 'It is not good. I have had two operations on my face and they still have to do radiation,' he told the Herald Sun. 'The only good news is they looked at a spot that I was operated on about eight years ago on the other side (of his forehead) and that is clear. 'I tick off each day and once that day is gone, it is gone. It is pretty serious but as someone once said, that's life.' Derryn Hinch (pictured in November 2018) has revealed he he facing a 'pretty serious' battle with skin cancer The Aussie media personality, 80, said he is currently undergoing five weeks of daily radiation treatment in a bid to get rid of a melanoma on his forehead Derryn remained upbeat and said he is 'feeling good' as he has three weeks left of the radiation treatment at Alfred Hospital. Earlier this year, Derryn revealed that he nearly lost his life during a liver transplant back in 2011 amid his first cancer battle. The former Senator for Victoria told how he died on the operating table and had to be resuscitated as he detailed how grateful he is for every day of his life. 'I found out from my surgeon, Bob Jones, that I died on the table and they managed to get me back. I am now living 13 years longer than I should have because I carked it,' he told the Herald Sun at the time. 'Since then, I have had a political career, I have been a senator. I have been in the business of journalism for more than 60 years.' The cancerous spot just below his hairline was first discovered by doctors in February and he had two surgeries in a bid to remove it, and is now undergoing radiation as 'insurance' Earlier this year, the former Senator of Victoria (pictured in 2018) revealed that he nearly lost his life during a liver transplant back in 2011 amid his first cancer battle The politician underwent a liver transplant in 2011 after being diagnosed with aggressive cancer, and the organ was donated by the family of Heath Gardner. But in 2020, the New Zealand-born broadcaster said he hasn't spoken with the Gardner family for more than two years after he began drinking alcohol again following the operation. 'They got very angry when I announced that, "yes, I have been having a drink again sometimes". Even though I had my doctors permission, they did not like that,' he told the Herald Sun's Sacked Showbiz podcast. 'I will always recognise that family for what they did and the fact that without them I would not be here,' he added as he credited their generosity for keeping him alive. Love Island teased the return of the iconic Casa Amor villa at the end of Friday night's episode. Six stunning new bombshells are preparing to turn the boys' heads in the shiny new villa across the road in Sunday's episode. Things could get awkward very quickly as Joey Essex's ex-fling Emma Milton, who is also friends with his other former flame Grace Jackson, is heading into the villa. A past love interest of Ciaran Davies is also entering the villa, hoping to break up his couple with Nicole Samuel and rekindle their relationship. Four other singletons have also got their eye on one face in particular, with the hopes of stealing him in the looming recoupling. Six stunning new Love Island bombshells are preparing to turn the boys' heads in the shiny new Casa Amor villa in Sunday's episode (Emma Milton pictured) Four other singletons have also got their eye on one face in particular, with the hopes of stealing him in the looming recoupling (Jessica Spencer pictured) A past love interest of Ciaran Davies is also entering the villa, hoping to break up his couple with Nicole Samuel and rekindle their relationship (Ellie Jackson pictured) Emma Milton Manchester-born Emma, who boasts 296,000 Instagram followers, is hoping to rekindle her relationship with her ex-fling Joey Essex after they shared a short-lived romance on the outside. The 30-year-old content creator, who is also friends with Love Islander Grace Jackson, admitted things could get quite awkward between the trio. Emma said she and Joey 'have been friends for years' and have a lot of mutual celebrity pals so she would be open to reconnecting with him. After years of travelling around the world and partying, Emma said she's at the stage in her life where she is ready to settle down. The brunette beauty said she is ready to give 'good advice' for her fellow islanders but admitted she is awful at taking her own. Manchester-born Emma Milton, who boasts 296,000 Instagram followers, is hoping to rekindle her relationship with her ex-fling Joey Essex after they shared a short-lived romance on the outside The 30-year-old content creator, who is also friends with Love Islander Grace Jackson, admitted things could get quite awkward between the trio Diamante Laiva 21-year-old Diamante, from London, is open to have chats with Wil Anderson in the new villa. The beauty business owner is adamant Wil is waiting for her to arrive and make him come out of his shell. Diamante says she has 'so many different moods, she cant even describe to you what kind of person I am for starters'. But the beauty ensures she will pick people up on something there and then instead of being two-faced. 21-year-old Diamante Laiva (pictured), from London, is open to have chats with Wil Anderson in the new villa Lucy Graybill Retail store manager Lucy describes herself as honest, kind and definitely someone that her fellow islanders can rely on. The 26-year-old Glasgow-born bombshell say she's not afraid to tread on toes and steal a boy who she fancies. Lucy is hoping to find someone good looking and who has great banter as she's hoping to find herself a boyfriend who is her best friend. Ciaran and Wil are her top runners she is hoping to get to know and assess the energy, she says. Retail store manager Lucy Graybill, 26, describes herself as honest, kind and definitely someone that her fellow islanders can rely on Ellie Jackson Ellie, 22, from Glasgow, revealed she has previously chatted to Love Island Ciaran Davies before. The Senior Executive Assistant says she is looking forward to reconnecting with the Welsh rugby player. Ellie describes herself as fiery and chaotic, but says she is sure to make everyone in the villa laugh. As well as Ciaran, Ellie has her eyes set on Wil and Sean Stone and looking forward to chatting with them. Ellie Jackson, 22, from Glasgow, revealed she has previously chatted to Love Island Ciaran Davies before and is hoping to reconnect in the villa Ellie describes herself as fiery and chaotic, but says she is sure to make everyone in the villa laugh Jessica Spencer Jessica, 25, from London, describes herself funny, flirty, sassy and ready to find love. The fashion stylish says she doesn't like to take herself seriously and is one to go with the flow. The beauty has her eyes set on Ayo Odukoya despite him having a good connection with Mimii Ngulube. Jessica says she fancies Ayo 'so much', but also thinks Wil will be a good catch and someone she would like to explore a connection with. Fashion Stylist Jessica Spencer, 25, from London, describes herself funny, flirty, sassy and ready to find love Ruby Dale 23-year-old Ruby, who lives in Surrey, says the number one thing she looks for in a partner is... a brain. The content creator says she will be a very dramatic Islander, a very loud Islander and a very entertaining Islander. Another one hoping to speak to Wil, Ruby says he seems kind, intelligent, lovely and can't wait to get stuck into a conversation with him. 23-year-old Ruby Dale, who lives in Surrey, says the number one thing she looks for in a partner is... a brain Constance Hall's partner Denim Cooke has suffered a fall that has left him in hospital. The mother-of-seven, from Perth, shared an update to Instagram Stories on Saturday night in which she showed Denim laid out on an examination table. 'Fell off a bloody roof again, Denzi' she wrote across the screen of the clip, using Denim's nickname. In the footage, Denim appeared in pain, but managed to crack a smile for the camera. Constance has not provided details of how the accident occurred nor has she yet updated fans on her partners condition. It's not the first time the accident-prone Denim has ended up in hospital with injuries. Denim was involved in a horror motorbike crash in August, 2020. The 48-year-old was airlifted to a trauma ward at Royal Perth Hospital suffering seven broken ribs, punctured lungs, multiple infections and a brain injury after skidding off his bike. Constance Hall's partner Denim Cooke has suffered a fall that has left him in hospital. Both pictured His recovery was long and difficult, leading to Denim moving out from the family home as he mended his wounds. 'He just completely checked out of life after the accident,' Constance said at the time. 'I think when he woke up from the accident, I was very excited. And there was this sort of false hope' she continued. 'I spoke to the doctors, and they said Denim doesn't have motivation anymore. The frontal lobe damage has taken any of that away that he might have had before. The mother-of-seven shared an update to Instagram Stories on Saturday in which she showed Denim laid out on an examination table. 'Fell off a bloody roof again, Denzi' she said 'His psychiatrist said really recently, and it was really clever, "He loves you. He loves his family. He needs to work for you rather than just getting you and all the things you do and provide... and that's not gonna happen unless he's removed from the family home.''' The couple began to look into an assisted care facility to get a few nights away from each other and heal but Constance was reminded constantly that he was 'becoming a shell of a man'. Denim went to stay with 'his bestest friend' who lives in Esperance, a 10 hour drive away from Constance's home in Margaret River. 'I spoke to him the next day, and there was just this light in his face... like he was just his old self again. He was clear. He was awake and alive and around lovely people,' she said. Her empathy, compassion and desire soon returned and Constance thanks her partner's psychiatrist for stepping in when he did to 'help them'. It's not the first time the accident-prone Denim has ended up in hospital with injuries. Denim was involved in a horror motorbike crash in August, 2020 His recovery was long and difficult, leading to Denim moving out from the family home as he mended his wounds Denim has since rejoined his family and lives in Western Australia with Constance and their seven kids. The blogger said in a recent Instagram Stories video that the couple grow stronger all the time. 'Yes it was getting better, they dip and then they get better again,' the 40-year-old said. 'The thing I love most about Denzy is that his heart is kind, really kind and he's always prepared to change and grow and listen,' she continued. 'Like for example, I was saying to him the other day, I don't want to keep telling you what the f**k to do because I need to focus on what I'm doing and I had a go at him and we fought,' Constance went on. 'Then he went off and he thought about it, he comes back and he goes "I think it is because I never saw my dad doing this" and he was vacuuming and he was like I really want to get better, I want to be a better husband.' Constance and Denim met in 2017, they 'married' and had their son Raja in 2018 bringing the total 'kid count' to seven. The controversial mummy blogger explained up until recently, she was still legally married to her first husband, British carpenter Bill Mahon, because she couldn't cope with the red tape involved with getting a divorce, hence she and Denim are not legally married at this time. Kelsey Stratford commanded attention in a red mini dress while attending the Steve Madden x Barfly Dubai launch event on Thursday. The TOWIE star, 23, displayed her toned curves in the bandeau number with bejewelled embellishments, which perfectly hugged her sizzling frame, and added silver strappy heels. She toted the glamorous look with a matching shimmery red clutch bag for the swanky night, and kept the jewellery to the minimum with a gold bracelet. Her blonde locks were styled in flawless as she smiled graciously posing inside the fashion event, also alongside another female pal. Kelsey was axed from The Only Way Is Essex during a mass cull of of cast members in 2021. Kelsey Stratford commanded attention in a red mini dress while attending the Steve Madden x Barfly Dubai launch event on Thursday The TOWIE star displayed her toned curves in the bandeau number with bejewelled embellishments, which perfectly hugged her sizzling frame, and added silver strappy heels Her blonde locks were styled in flawless waves as she smiled graciously posing inside the fashion event, alongside another female pal She made the choice to quit showbusiness altogether and train as a carer in a bid to help others. The former reality star was inspired by her little sister Kennedy, 10, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 at just a few weeks old and is paralysed from the neck down, and is unable to speak or swallow properly. And Kelsey has spoken out to praise the care her sibling gets after Kennedy was initially told she would only survive 18 months, while revealing details of an app she's developing to help her sister communicate. Kelsey told The Sun: 'I honestly dont know what wed have done without the NHS. 'She is on constant medication and oxygen, which they provide for her. They do amazing work. 'Without them, we wouldnt have been able to care for Kennedy.' About 1.6million people in the UK carry the gene that causes spinal muscular atrophy and one in every 10,000 babies is born with the condition. A baby born with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 is expected to die before their second birthday. Kelsey was axed from The Only Way Is Essex during a mass cull of of cast members in 2021 She made the choice to quit showbusiness altogether and train as a carer, after being inspired by her little sister Kennedy, 10, who has spinal muscular atrophy type 1 Those who develop other types of the condition later in life often go on to have a normal life expectancy. Kennedy is routinely seen by the team at Great Ormond Street Childrens hospital but is treated elsewhere in emergencies. Every winter she ends up in intensive care, with Kelsey describing Kennedy's immune system as 'awful'. She was on life support after contracting Covid-19, with Kelsey saying: 'The NHS have been incredible to my family and kept Kennedy alive.' Kelsey was 12 years old when her mother gave birth to Kennedy and her twin brother Karter. It was soon realised both babies were not progressing normally which led to them both receiving a spinal muscular atrophy diagnosis. After four months, Karter died from the condition, with Kelsey's mother having to break the news to the older siblings. 'I dont really talk about this part of it much, so its really hard,' said Kelsey. She said it was a shock to learn it was unlikely the babies would be a part of their family for long so they tried their best to make life as comfortable as possible for Kennedy. Kelsey says it's 'amazing' Kennedy is still with them today, adding that she's the 'strongest' and most 'cheerful' girl she knows. However, Kelsey is determined for Kennedy to communicate on her own and has teamed up with a psychologist that would allow disabled children to communicate with their families. Kennedy can only communicate by grunting, laughing or crying and only her close family or carers are able to understand what she means. Kelsey says children with spinal muscular atrophy have fully functioning brains but are trapped inside their own bodies. She says she knows Kennedy would love to be able to say things but can't. She has revealed details of an app she's developing to help her sister communicate and make her life better The app called Kennedys Kingdom is in development but she is searching for someone to help turn it into a fully functioning reality. It would involve a screen showing an alphabet with AI software hovering over each letter for two seconds before moving on to the next. The user of the app would be able to select the letter by making a noise and the letter would be dropped into a basket to later spell out the word. As it is used more often, the app would suggest words in a similar way to predictive text on mobile phones. Kennedy has previously been using Eye Gaze which works by tracking eye movement to select letters. Kelsey says it is often very slow and struggles to connect to the user's pupils, causing Kennedy to get frustrated and give up. The new app would give Kennedy a better chance at communicating with her family and carers, and the medics in hospital. Kelsey said: 'The NHS gave my sister a chance at life, and now Id like to help her live it to the full.' Sonia Kruger has shared a rare insight into her relationship with her partner of 16 years, Craig McPherson. The television host tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine that Craig's recent departure from Channel Seven, where he was the network's Director of News and Public Affairs for nine years, was the right move for their family. 'One thing Craig has always been for me and I for him is rock solid' the 58-year-old said. 'And in an industry that can be fickle at times, you need to have someone who's in your corner. We certainly are that person for each other.' She continued: 'Craig has had an incredible career... He's not ready to retire, but I think he needed to step back from such a demanding job, especially when we have a child who's nine. 'She requires his attention too at times, as do I. The timing was right for him to step out. I'm excited to see what comes next.' Sonia added, 'I'm biased, but he really is one of the best in the business. I know there will be something fun that comes for Craig where he can actually indulge a passion, which is sport. So, who knows?' Craig was responsible for programs in including 7NEWS, Sunrise and The Morning Show until his abrupt departure in April. Sonia Kruger has shared a rare insight into her relationship with her partner of 16 years, Craig McPherson. Sonia is pictured in Stellar Magazine 'Mr McPherson played a pivotal role in leading Seven's news and public affairs offering over two stints at Seven, including a long period of success helming Today Tonight,' a Seven media statement said. 'He has overseen many consecutive years of audience leadership for Sunrise and The Morning Show.' McPherson said in the statement that he had been considering whether to move on for a while, but ultimately decided that 'now is a good time for all to have a fresh start'. McPherson has left the embattled network in the wake of the Bruce Lehrmann sex and drugs allegations that hit the network's flagship current affairs show, Spotlight. He has worked as a journalist for over 30 years, and is credited for helping Sunrise retail its title as Australia's number one breakfast show for a decade. The television host tells this week's issue of Stellar Magazine that Craig's recent departure from Channel Seven, where he was the network's Director of News and Public Affairs for nine years, was the right move for their family. Craig is pictured with the couple's daughter 'Craig has had an incredible career... He's not ready to retire, but I think he needed to step back from such a demanding job, especially when we have a child who's nine' Sonia said Sonia began dating Craig in 2008 when they both worked at Seven, before welcoming daughter Maggie in 2015. Craig has six children from a previous relationship. The Strictly Ballroom star has previously admitted her romance with Craig was a slow burn. Speaking to The Anj, Rob & Robbo Show in 2021, Sonia said she and Craig used to have many heated arguments when he was her boss on current affairs show Today Tonight, several years before they became romantically involved. 'He's one of the toughest taskmasters there is. You would know. You get very little praise from Craig, but you will definitely hear about it if you've made a mistake or you've missed something,' she said. However, Sonia got to know another side to Craig years later, after she'd left Today Tonight and was hosting reality show Dancing with the Stars. She revealed her former boss had reached out to her when her father was very ill in hospital. 'He'd obviously heard about it, and he sent me a very kind message,' she said. 'And from that point, we started talking and we reconnected.' Daryl Somers was struck by inspiration after the funeral of his friend and Hey Hey It's Saturday co-star John Blackman last weekend. The TV legend paid tribute to Blackman at the service, where he stated the star may be preparing for a series of 'Hey Hey It's Heaven' alongside the show's late co-creator, Ernie Carroll, in the afterlife. Somers was clearly impressed with his observation, as he's now sought to trademark the slogan, according to a new report. A trademark application for 'Hey Hey Its Heaven' has been filed by Somers Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd, the Herald Sun reported on Saturday. The application was reportedly made on June 26, three days after the funeral. Daryl Somers (left) was struck by inspiration after the funeral of his friend and Hey Hey It's Saturday co-star John Blackman (right) last weekend Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Daryl Somers for comment. Family, friends and industry greats gathered to bid Blackman farewell in Melbourne last Sunday. Cecile Blackman, his devoted wife, was joined by a roster of A-list supporters, including Eddie Maguire, Wilbur Wilde, Livinia Nixon, Glenn Robbins, Frankie J Holden, Rhonda Burchmore and Red Symons. Legendary Hey Hey It's Saturday star Blackman passed away from a heart attack at his home on June 4 at age 76. The veteran broadcaster had undergone minor surgery the day before to have two skin cancers removed. The TV legend paid tribute to Blackman at the service (pictured), where he stated the star may be preparing for a series of 'Hey Hey It's Heaven' alongside the show's late co-creator, Ernie Carroll, in the afterlife John's battle with health issues had been ongoing. In 2018, he had his jaw removed amid a gruelling fight with cancer, and he underwent brain surgery in 2022. Blackman first started his career in the media back in 1969 and went on to become a household name on Australia's airwaves. He went from working in sales to launching his radio career at the age of 22 and first worked at 2GN Goulburn as an announcer, newsreader, copy writer and salesman. Blackman went on to secure a gig at 2CA Canberra before joining 3AW in Melbourne as an evening announcer alongside Reverend Alex Kenworthy on Nightline. Somers was clearly impressed with his observation, as he's now sought to trademark the slogan, according to a new report He later moved to Sydney and worked as a staff continuity announcer and daytime newsreader at National Nine News' program TCN-9. Then came his famous move to Hey Hey It's Saturday, where he worked as an announcer and doing the character voices on the show for its entire 28-year run. Blackman became famous for his rapid-fire wit, incredible sense of humour and hilarious punchlines. He voiced legendary characters including Angel, Mrs Macgillicuddy, Alfred Desk Mike and Charlie Who, among many more, as he won over legions of fans. The long-running program was on screens from 1971 until 1999, and went on to have a string of brief relaunches in the early noughties, which Blackman returned for. Blackman also lent his famous voice to the Hey Hey It's 100 Years special, which aired in Victoria and South Australia in April 2022. Kim Kardashian's private jet was boarded by aircraft rescue firefighters after she touched down in Los Angeles on Friday. Multiple members of the Los Angeles Fire Department specializing in aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) could be seen climbing into the parked plane. An eyewitness on the scene claimed that the emergency services were there to help a stewardess who complained of dizziness. ARFF can respond to medical calls, as well as dealing with such problems as chemical spills and plane fires that occur on airport property. DailyMail.com has reached out to Kim's representatives for comment. Kim Kardashian's private jet was boarded by aircraft rescue firefighters after she touched down in Los Angeles on Friday After she exited the plane, Kim cut a lowkey figure, dressed in a simple silver jumpsuit with her long dark hair worn down After she exited the plane, Kim cut a lowkey figure, dressed in a simple silver jumpsuit with her long dark hair worn down. The incident came less than two years after Kim's frightening air ordeal when her private plane was forced to turn around amid intensifying turbulence. She was supposed to be whisked off to a surprise 42nd birthday trip to Las Vegas, but the weather conditions became so dangerous she had to return to Los Angeles. Kim was accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner and sister Khloe Kardashian, as well as a claque of friends like Steph Shepherd, Malika Haqq and Tracey Romulus. As the turbulence grew stronger, Kim nervously remarked: 'I have to make it to 43 please,' as seen on an episode of The Kardashians. 'I'm getting a little nervous, I don't love turbulence,' said Khloe in a confessional, describing the situation as 'some scary s**t.' Even Kris said: 'Well, I used to be a flight attendant, so I'm really good at being calm on a plane when there's turbulence, but it seems a little extreme tonight.' In her own confessional, Kim explained the rollercoaster experience to her fans, sharing the thought process behind the decision to turn back. The incident came less than two years after Kim's frightening air ordeal when her private plane was forced to turn around amid intensifying turbulence, as seen on The Kardashians As the turbulence grew stronger, Kim nervously remarked: 'I have to make it to 43 please,' and even her mother Kris, an ex-stewardess, felt the conditions were 'a little extreme tonight' 'We go down and then we pull back up, twice, and that scared me. The first time I'm like, oh you're joking,' Kim said. 'And once I realized it's not a joke, we actually can't land, I'm like, I'm not messing with my life, like, let's go home. But it sucks.' Back in Los Angeles, Kim and her loved ones decided to salvage the evening by indulging in a late-night trip to In-N-Out. They clambered onto a party bus where they washed down their fast food with Jell-O shots, ensuring Kim's birthday retained some celebratory energy. Pregnant Katherine Schwarzenegger showed off her chic maternity style while stepping out in Los Angeles amid reports she is expecting her third child. Earlier this week, the Maverick and Me author, 34, was seen rocking an open white button-down blouse over a black t-shirt and Alo track pants while leaving a hair salon. The writer completed her effortlessly chic ensemble with a pair of oversized shades and black padded sandals. As she walked back to her car toting a large beige tote bag and Stanley tumbler, the wife of Chris Pratt appeared in high spirits. The best-selling author and her husband have not publicly confirmed the news. Pregnant Katherine Schwarzenegger showed off her chic maternity style while stepping out in Los Angeles amid reports she is expecting her third child On Friday, she shared a slideshow of sweet photos from a recent family outing. 'Things that make me happy: A gloomy morning followed by a barn visit,' she captioned her post. In the first image, Katherine could be seen from behind, dressed in a black sweatshirt, as she helped one of her little girls get on a horse. Earlier this month, she and her Marvel star husband celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. To mark the special milestone, Pratt gushed that the years had 'flown by.' 'Thank you so much for the joy, stability and fun you've brought to my life. I thank God for you every day,' he raved on Instagram. Katherine, who is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, also shared an Instagram post to commemorate the special occasion. She posted a photo of them staring into each other's eyes and both with bright smiles plastered across their faces. Earlier this week, the Maverick and Me author, 34, was seen rocking an open white button-down blouse over a black t-shirt and Alo track pants while leaving a hair salon In the picture, Pratt and Katherine were a stylish pair in chic suits, which they wore to the Hollywood premiere of his new flick The Garfield Movie last month. '[Five] years of laughs and love. I love you! Happy anniversary,' she wrote alongside a white heart emoji. Chris and Katherine first sparked romance rumors in early 2018, after they were spotted canoodling in Santa Barbara, CA. Seven months prior, Chris filed for divorce from wife Anna Faris after eight-years of marriage, citing 'irreconcilable differences,' according to TMZ. They asked for joint custody of their son Jack who was five-years-old at the time. Katherine and Chris were later captured on a PDA-packed outing in July of 2018, followed by numerous family hangouts with the Schwarzenegger's and the Pratt's, which were documented on social media. Earlier this month, Chris shared a sweet tribute to his wife for their five-year wedding anniversary Katherine, who is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, also shared an Instagram post to commemorate the special occasion Pratt and Katherine share two daughters three-year-old Lyla and two-year-old Eloise He also shares his son Jack, 11, with ex-wife Anna Faris The couple did not confirm their relationship status until December of 2018, a little over a month after Chris' divorce from Anna was finalized, as reported by E! News. The confirmation came in the form of 'Happy Birthday' post from Chris to Katherine, which included a photo collage of the brunette beauty. 'Happy Birthday Chief! Your smile lights up the room. I've cherished our time together. Thrilled God put you in my life. Thankful for the laughs, kisses, talks, hikes, love and care,' wrote the Parks And Rec alum. On January 9, Chris proposed to Katherine, which he proudly announced to his 28.8million Instagram followers. 'Sweet Katherine, so happy you said yes! I'm thrilled to be marrying you. Proud to live boldly in faith with you. Here we go!' captioned Pratt. Chris and Katherine first sparked romance rumors in early 2018, after they were spotted canoodling in Santa Barbara, CA He included a photo of himself and Katherine embracing that gave his followers a clear view of the giant rock on her finger. They moved in together shortly after getting engaged. Katherine and Chris were married on June 8 of 2019 during what was described as 'an intimate ceremony' in Montecito, California. 10-months later in May 2020, it was revealed by Katherine's mother Maria that the newlyweds were expecting their first child together. Heidi Klum commanded attention in a pink feathered minidress as she departed her hotel in Paris with husband Tom Kaulitz on Saturday night. The supermodel, 51, and German guitarist, 34, seemed in good spirits as they headed out in the French capital for a date night. Heidi put on a leggy display in the eye-catching strapless number which she teamed with a stylish lilac Chanel crossbody handbag. The runway star kept comfortable in a pair of chunky white trainers and accessorised by layering gold necklaces. Leaving her long blonde waved tresses loose, the America's Got Talent judge completed her outfit with a pair of stylish sunglasses. Heidi Klum commanded attention in a pink feathered minidress as she departed her hotel in Paris with husband Tom Kaulitz on Saturday night The supermodel, 51, and German guitarist, 34, seemed in good spirits as they headed out in the French capital for a date night Meanwhile Tom cut a cool figure in an oversized white T-shirt which he wore with beige trousers and matching trainers. The date night comes after Heidi and Tom 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 on Friday. 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, Heidi could be seen showing off her incredible figure in a pink and blue floral bikini. Heidi and Tom 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 Heidi'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. 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. The date night comes after Heidi and Tom were seen acting like newlyweds, even after five years of marriage, as they packed on the PDA during a family trip to the beach in Sardinia Leni sent temperatures soaring in a busty white bikini on Instagram on Tuesday when she shared several sultry social media snaps from her latest sun-soaked getaway 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. Charlie Sheen's ex-wife Brooke Mueller was reportedly 'romantically involved' with Matthew Perry nearly two decades ago. The claim comes amid reports that the actress, 46, was reportedly questioned by the authorities over the late Friends star's fatal overdose. Allegations surfaced this week that Mueller was interviewed 'multiple times' by the LAPD in relation to Perry's death last year of 'acute effects of ketamine.' Mueller was never arrested or handcuffed regarding the inquiries, and sources tell InTouch she has been cooperating with the criminal investigation. Now, Perry's ex-girlfriend, Kayti Edwards, alleged she and Mueller dated him simultaneously after the three of them met in Alcoholics Anonymous. Charlie Sheen 's ex-wife Brooke Mueller was 'romantically involved' with Matthew Perry nearly two decades ago, it has been claimed; Mueller is pictured that year, 2006 Allegations surfaced this week that Mueller was interviewed 'multiple times' by the LAPD in relation to Perry's death last year of 'acute effects of ketamine'; Perry pictured 2006 'Brooke dated Matthew in 2006, at around the time I first started hanging out with Matthew,' Edwards, 48, told The US Sun - adding that she believes Perry and Mueller may have 'reconnected' in his final years. 'They definitely did not first meet initially in rehab, we all met in AA in 2006,' said Edwards, who later worked as Perry's assistant in 2010 and 2011. 'She and I were seeing him at the same time, there was no girlfriend and boyfriend relationship - we just dated,' she continued. 'He would take me out on dates and he would take her out on dates. It was kind of like this thing, like: "Are you going out with Brooke tonight?" It was back and forth between her and I but they were definitely romantically involved.' She described Mueller as 'my rival,' adding: 'I knew of her and Im sure she knew of me. We were hanging out with Matthew, dating him and it wasnt really a big deal.' Edwards, the step-granddaughter of Julie Andrews, recalled: 'It was probably a three-month thing because thats what him and I were. Him and Brooke and me and he never went out publicly and looked romantic, it was always in his house.' Later in 2006, Mueller was introduced to Charlie Sheen, whom she got engaged to the following year and ultimately married in 2008. 'Back in 2010 when I started working for Matthew I even asked about her and if he still talked with Brooke and what he thought about her being with Charlie,' Edwards asserted. 'He said it didnt surprise him because that was who she was. She wanted to hook up with an actor with money, so it didnt surprise him.' Edwards added: 'Thats what she wanted, that lifestyle of being married and having kids with an actor, and I dont think Matthew was ever going to give that to her.' Now, Perry's ex-girlfriend Kayti Edwards (pictured 2018) has claimed she and Mueller dated him simultaneously after the three of them met in Alcoholics Anonymous in 2006 Later in 2006, Mueller was introduced to Charlie Sheen, whom she got engaged to the following year and ultimately married in 2008; Mueller and Sheen pictured at the 2008 Emmys She went on to speculate that they may 'have reconnected more recently, in the last two years or so' if she had to 'guess.' Edwards explained: 'She was sober when she was dating Matthew in 2006 because he was sober at that time. Its possible that after Charlie she went off the rails and they reconnected in rehab. I guess I never asked but if they were hanging out Im pretty sure he would have said: "Guess who I ran into?"' The claims surfaced after it emerged that Mueller has been questioned by the authorities about Perry, who was found dead in his hot tub last October. 'She's hired lawyers and has had multiple meetings with law enforcement since they arrived at her sober living house with a search warrant. She's being tight-lipped about the situation,' a source explained. This development comes following separate report that said investigators could charge 'multiple people' in relation to the actor's death. DailyMail.com has reached out to Mueller for comment on this story. 'It's tough to say or know exactly what her role is [in Matthew's death], but she's adamant she had nothing to do with that.' Mueller has had various issues with substance abuse over the years. In July 2011, she underwent a rehab program. Two years later, her children were removed from her home because of suspected drug use. Mueller reentered rehab at that time. Mueller, 46, was married to Sheen between 2008 and 2011, and the couple has three children together Perry pictured in his hot tub in his final Facebook post prior to his October 2023 death Perry, shown here in 2015, died due to the 'acute effects of ketamine,' an autopsy found Her last public rehab stint occurred in August 2019. Between 2008 and 2011, Mueller was married for actor Charlie Sheen. The couple has twin sons together, Bob and Max. Their divorce came amid allegations of domestic abuse on Sheen's part. Perry's death in October 2023 at the age of 54 shocked the world. The beloved Friends star was unresponsive in his hot tub in his Los Angeles home. An autopsy attributed his death to the 'acute effects of ketamine.' The amount of ketamine in his blood was in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery. It was listed as the primary cause of death, which was ruled an accident with no foul play suspected, the report said. People close to the actor told coroner's investigators that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy. The decades-old surgical drug has seen a huge surge in use in recent years as a treatment for depression, anxiety and pain. According to the InTouch report, investigators in the case have seized a laptop and iPhone from Mueller. An insider confirmed to InTouch that Mueller and Perry met during rehab. 'They formed an unexpected friendship,' the friend said. Perry said in 2022 that he estimated that spent $9 million battling his addictions across 15 rehab stays. In a report by People published on Tuesday, an investigative source from law enforcement said that investigation is now 'nearing its conclusion.' Brooke Mueller poses for her mugshot after being arrested and charged with assualt and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on December 3, 2011 Mueller has had multiple stints in rehab, her most recent occurring in 2019 The source did not clarify who the 'multiple people' potentially facing charges are, adding that any future action will ultimately be determined by the U.S. Attorney's Office. In December last year, a medical expert speculated to Page Six the actor had 'likely' obtained ketamine illegally for 'recreational use,' however. Even though Perry was undergoing ketamine treatment for anxiety and depression at the time of his passing, his autopsy report noted 'the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy.' In collaboration with the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspector, LAPD then started investigating where the ketamine came from that 'ended up playing a part' in the actor's death. At the time, TMZ reported that an ongoing investigation was looking to deduce where the actor who spent years battling alcoholism and drug addiction got the ketamine. 'Law enforcement sources tell us there is an ongoing investigation into where Matthew got the ketamine that ended up playing a part in his death and the main questions are who provided the drug, and under the circumstances,' the outlet reported. Sources also told the outlet that 'both local police and the DEA have been looking into this matter for months, but it's unclear where exactly investigators are in the probe.' It was also revealed that they had already talked to 'some key people in Hollywood,' who are 'known to have a history of drug use or abuse,' as they 'could have information leading to the source,' per the report. A year prior to his death, he opened up about his struggles with addiction and detailed his sobriety journey in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. In the tell-all released in 2022, he claimed that he was finally sober after multiple failed attempts to get clean and at a personal cost of $9 million. Later, sources told DailyMail.com that the 'reclusive' star would have younger hook-ups from the dating app Raya to deliver drugs to his house even while he was under the 24/7 care of a nursing team. Despite having a nursing team at his $6 million Pacific Palisades home as well as a live-in sober companion, Perry managed to have casual hook-ups sneak him illicit drugs without detection, sources explained in December 2023. 'He would meet girls on dating apps and have them come over,' insiders claimed. 'There was a slew of 21 to 25-year-olds that he would meet on Raya. They would bring drugs with them. It was mostly Oxycontin [a powerful opioid pain killer]. He would also get illicit drugs from old girlfriends, there was a kind of network,' a source said. The source added: 'I think with [his memoir], Matthew thought it would help him to get to the place that he was describing. 'He was writing about what he was hoping to be the situation as if he was already there. He was writing the script that he wanted.' Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have revealed the hilarious reason that they no longer sleep in the same bed together. The Loose Women panellist, 34, and the actor, 42, made the surprising confession about their marital set-up during an appearance on Friday's Celebrity Gogglebox. After seeing one couple share a kiss in Channel 4 series The Nevermets, Joe turned to his wife Stacey and said: 'We used to have pillow talk, didn't we?' Stacey replied: 'We used to sleep in bed together, do you remember that? Before we had three kids in four years!' Imitating Stacey, Joe continued: ''I'll go in Rex's bed with the baby, all right?'' Stacey Solomon, 34, and Joe Swash, 42, have revealed the hilarious reason that they no longer sleep in the same bed together The couple, who married in 2022, share three children together, Rex, five, Rose, two, and Belle, 16 months (all pictured in April) After seeing one couple share a kiss in Channel 4 series The Nevermets, Joe turned to his wife Stacey and said: 'We used to have pillow talk, didn't we?' Stacey laughed then agreed: 'It's what happens, innit babe?' Stacey and Joe began dating in 2016 and married in 2022, share three children together, Rex, five, Rose, two, and Belle, 16 months. On Gogglebox, the couple also watched a 1992 Top of the Pops compilation and Beat The Chasers and Joe one of their dogs while Stacey held their pet duck. They were joined in the episode by the likes of Mel B and her daughter Phoenix and Stephen Mangan and his sister Anita. There was also Nick Grimshaw and his niece Liv, Mo Gilligan and his friend Babatunde, and Jeff Brazier and his son Bobby, and more. The episode comes after Stacey celebrated her firstborn Zachary, 16, finishing school and going to his prom. Zachary was just 15 months old when a 19-year-old Stacey auditioned for the sixth series of The X Factor, which she would go on to finish in third place. His father is Stacey's then-boyfriend Dean Cox, and Stacey went on to have Leighton, 12, with her ex-fiance Aaron Barnham. Joey said: 'We used to have pillow talk, didn't we?' Stacey replied: 'We used to sleep in bed together, do you remember that? Before we had three kids in four years!' Stacey shares Zachary, 16, ex-boyfriend Dean Cox, Leighton, 12, with ex-fiance Aaron Barnham, and Rex, five, Rose, two, and Belle, 16 months, with husband Joe (all pictured) The episode comes after Stacey celebrated her firstborn Zachary, 16, finishing school and going to his prom In May, Joe admitted being a father of six was 'really hard' - his sixth child is firstborn Harry, 16, from a previous relationship. However, he didn't rule out a seventh, telling the Mirror: 'I never thought I'd be sitting here with six kids. 'So, you never know what life's going to throw at you. But if it does throw another baby at me there could be worse things. And he's not alone, as Stacey teased back in January that she wouldn't mind more children either. During an Instagram Q&A, she was asked: 'Are you finished with having babies or would you like more.' Posting a video of her two youngest children Rose and Belle playing with their toys, Stacey admitted she would never rule out the idea of more kids. She wrote: 'I can honestly say. My favourite thing in the whole wide world is being a mum. I just get so much joy from watching our little ones grow & getting to be a part of their world. 'I would love more. Whatever will be will be. But omg I love them (Joe will be off to get a vasectomy when he sees this).' Stacey and Joe's revelation comes after new research revealed that a fifth of Brits would like to follow in the couple's footsteps as they believe separate bathrooms will achieve harmonious living, while 17 per cent believe separate bedrooms would do the trick. While partners are the most likely to bicker in the home, of those who say they argue, admit to having arguments at least FIVE times a week. Some of the most annoying habits include not washing up or keeping the house clean, leaving the toilet seat up and not taking the bins out. Research from Uswitch.com reveals what causes the most tension within homes across the UK. The research from Uswitch which has explored when and what is causing the most arguments in the home, found that between 6pm and 8pm is when couples bicker the most with those they live with, and the household chores are sparking the most confrontations. The top reasons for household arguments include not washing up, not sharing the load of household chores, money and what to eat for dinner. Elise Melville, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: 'We all lead busy lives which come with their own day-to-day stresses, so its understandable that we want to return to a peaceful and happy home at the end of the working day. 'The research shows that communication is key to harmonious living and that we need to be mindful and considerate of those we live with. 'Simple tasks such as helping with the washing or unloading the dishwasher, or simply turning lights off when we go to bed, may not only be beneficial to the purse strings but also to your household environment. 'For those keen to keep the peace, almost half of those surveyed (47%) say communicating well with each other is important for harmonious living, as well as showing empathy and validating the other person's feelings (37%), cooking for one another (36%) and even spending time apart in different rooms (24%). 'If youre conscious of how much others in your household are wasting on energy, you can keep track of your usage using Utrack by Uswitch, which connects to your smart meter and allows you to see usage insights down to the hour.' John Deere is sparking outrage by laying off American workers and moving more of its agricultural equipment manufacturing to Mexico. Since October 2023, more than 1,000 John Deere workers have either been laid off or pushed into an early retirement across several plants in Iowa and Illinois. In many instances, production that these US workers were responsible for has been shifted to new locations in Mexico. The company was founded 187 years ago. More layoffs are expected later this year - despite John Deere raking in over $10 billion in profit in 2023 while also paying CEO John May $26.7 million in total compensation. A longtime John Deere worker at the Harvester Works plant in East Moline, Illinois, told The Guardian it comes down to one thing: Greed. John Deere manufactures everything from tractors, construction vehicles, mowers and even snowmobiles. The company is facing backlash over its ongoing plan to lay off increasing numbers of American workers in favor of relocating production to Mexico Portrait of John Deere, the man who founded the company that bears his name to this day 'We get wind of more layoffs daily, it seems, and it's causing uncertainty all over,' said the worker, who stayed anonymous for fear of retaliation. 'The only reason for Deere to do this is greed.' The company, these days almost exclusively known for its green tractors and iconic leaping deer logo, was established nearly two centuries ago in 1837. In its early days, it produced self scouring steel plows, which revolutionized farming and replaced the inferior cast iron plow that would often get stuck in sticky soil. Now, John Deere, which still bears its founder's name, manufactures everything from tractors, construction vehicles, mowers and even snowmobiles. It's expanded quite a bit since its 19th century humble beginnings, boasting a total of 109 factories and offices globally. Many of the company's dozens of factories in the US are the largest employers in small Midwest towns, making it especially devastating when dozens or even hundreds of people are suddenly out of job and don't have many places to turn. In October 2023, John Deere kicked off its most recent rash of job cuts in Illinois, when it announced 225 layoffs at the Harvester Works plant in East Moline, a town of less than 21,000. Another 34 production employees were laid off in May at neighboring town Moline's cylinder works factory. On March 12, company officials announced that they would lay off 150 more workers at the plant in Ankeny, Iowa, where sprayers and cotton pickers are made. Around 600 more production workers will be laid off effective August 30 from factories in East Moline and two cities in Iowa, including Davenport and Dubuque, WQAD reported Friday. Arguably the hardest hit plant is in Waterloo, Iowa, a small town that has the distinction of being the site where John Deere produced its first gasoline-powered tractors back in 1918. John Deere's Harvester Works facility in East Moline, Illinois, where 225 workers were indefinitely laid off in October 2023 Inside a John Deere plant in Ottumwa, Iowa, where over 100 jobs were cut this year Pictured: Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, who said John Deere is hugely important to the town he leads A total of 500 workers were laid off across the multiple facilities in Waterloo, with 308 being let go in March and another 192 being dismissed as of June 22, the Des Moines Register reported. The company employs 5,200 people in Waterloo, making it the largest employer in town, with about 3,300 of them working in production and maintenance. The layoffs come two years after John Deere announced it was moving Waterloo's tractor and cab production to Ramos, Mexico. Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart told DailyMail.com that residents are 'disappointed and upset.' 'Any time you have a major employer' initiate layoffs 'it's a challenge for the local community,' Hart told DailyMail.com. Hart went on to say that many people in Waterloo have relatives going back decades who've built careers at John Deere. Many of Hart's own family members, including his father, worked and retired from the company. Hart added that John Deere's influence isn't limited to the thousands of people it employs in his town of 66,000. It's also a philanthropic giant in the area, regularly working with affordable housing organizations, providing internships to aspiring young people and unloading millions of dollars in grants to help benefit local organizations. The city of Waterloo, Iowa. It has a population of 66,000 and is the county seat of Black Hawk County A glimpse at the John Deere factory in Waterloo back in 1944 Tim Cummings, the union president of the local chapter of United Auto Workers 838, slammed John Deere over the Waterloo layoffs. 'I urge John Deere to stop outsourcing and bring these products back to our factories and allow our talented workforce to produce these products at home where they are used by North American farmers and businesses,' he told local affiliate KWWL in May. Workers at a plant in Ottumwa, another tiny town in Iowa, faced a dilemma somewhat dissimilar from what their fellow employees went through. They've been expecting job cuts for two years, ever since John Deere announced in 2022 it would be moving the factory's production of mower conditioners to Monterrey, Mexico. In February, the workers were presented with an offer to retire early. Those with at least one year at the factory would get $15,000, while employees with 25 years or more of experience received $72,000. With some afraid they'd eventually lose their jobs anyway, 103 workers took the deal and said goodbye to the factory on May 31. The very next day, another 16 employees who didn't take the retirement package had their jobs eliminated. Workers at a plant in Ottumwa, another tiny town in Iowa, had been expecting layoffs for two years after John Deere announced a portion of its production line would be shifted to Mexico The rash of layoffs coincide with John Deere executives saying they believe that farmers around the world will likely spend less money over the next six months Pictured: John Deere CEO John May made $26.7 million in total compensation last year Chris Laursen, 53, is one of the workers who decided on an early exit and said he worries about towns across the US that are reliant one big employer like Ottumwa is. '[For] a lot of these communities, like mine in Ottumwa, losing John Deere would be an extremely big loss. Its a town of 28,000, and the only other manufacturing is a pork processing facility, so it doesnt leave a lot of options for jobs,' Laursen told the Guardian. He said he believes John Deere sees Mexico as a cheap source of labor with the added benefit that it can import steel there for much cheaper and sell products built with that steel back to the American market. John Deere has said the yearslong move to Mexico can be attributed to rising manufacturing costs. In the shorter term, John Deere investor relations director Josh Beal said in a May earnings call that farmers around the world will likely spend less money on equipment over the rest of this year - which would hit the company's bottom line. Weeks after that earnings call - which sent the company's stock plummeting 11 percent in a single day - around 3,000 John Deere workers in Dubuque were hit with bad news. In the beginning of June, they made aware that production of two of the factory's major products will be shifted to Mexico, similar to what's already happened with two other Iowa manufacturing plants. Now local media has reported that 100 production employees working at the Dubuque plant will be let go by the end of August. Iowa farm near Dubuque - where a John Deere factory has lost about 100 production workers The city of Dubuque, Iowa. Less than 60,000 people live here and John Deere is the largest employer in the county, according to locals Farmers in the Arkansas Valley check out a John Deere combine harvester on February 11, 1960 The construction of two types of multipurpose landscaping and/or construction vehicles will be relocated from the Dubuque factory to a plant in Ramos, Mexico by 2026. Workers in Dubuque will continue to make plenty of other farm and construction equipment, but the company hasn't yet shared when or how many employees will be phased out over the coming months and years. Dubuque, like many of the towns affected in John Deere's labor cost cutting frenzy, isn't a huge town with loads of opportunities waiting right around the corner. Danny Sprank, a member of the Dubuque City Council, said as much in an interview with DailyMail.com. 'If John Deere were to do some major shuttering or layoffs, that would definitely affect our Greater Dubuque Community overall,' Sprank said. 'They are the largest employer in the county, and that would definitely affect citizens' lives.' Sprank works full time at Jim Giese Commercial Roofing and said at least four of his fellow roofers have left in the last few years to go work for John Deere. Because of the good pay and benefits, 'it's one of the most coveted employers to work for in our community,' Sprank said. The four workers who left his local roofing company for the John Deere plant in Dubuque still work there. At the time of their departure, they were all men in their mid- to late-twenties, some of whom have families and young children to take care of, Sprank told DailyMail.com. He is very concerned that people like his former colleagues, who made a rational career move to boost their salaries, will ultimately pay the price as John Deere seeks to lessen its manufacturing in the US. 'Generally, how companies operate...when they're going to do some type of structured layoff, it's never the top down. It's always the new guys,' Sprank added. A John Deere factory in Brazil. The company is moving production there, as well as Mexico More than 10,000 workers at John Deere went on strike for five weeks in 2021. They won a 10 percent raise for hourly earners and increased retirement benefits The layoffs come after 10,000 unionized John Deere workers went on strike for five weeks in October 2021. The strikes were among the most prominent during 'Striketober', where thousands of workers from Nabisco, Kellogg's, McDonald's and others walked out for weeks or even months to protest low pay in the wake soaring company profits. Striking John Deere employees won a 10 percent raise for hourly earners, increased retirement benefits and the maintaining of the health insurance program that workers don't have to pay premiums for. DailyMail.com approached John Deere for comment regarding the ongoing layoffs but didn't receive an immediate response. A lightweight frame weighing just 450kg tractor having compact 9 HP diesel has been developed by CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI), specifically for small-scale farmers who have been mostly relying on bullock-driven carts or high-powered costly tractors for the cultivation. This tractor boasts practical front and rear wheel sizes, a manageable wheelbase, ground clearance, and turning radius, making it easy to maneuver in small farm plots. Currently, over 80 per cent of cultivators in the country fall into these categories, many of whom still rely on bullock-driven farming due to the cost and operational challenges associated with existing options like power tillers and traditional tractors. The introduction of this technology aims to significantly enhance farming efficiency, allowing tasks that traditionally took days with bullock carts to be completed in mere hours. Moreover, it reduces the capital investment and maintenance costs burdening small farmers, said an official from the DST under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. He explained, a large number of framers 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. The indigenous technology was demonstrated in nearby villages and to various manufacturers. Recognizing its potential impact, a Ranchi-based MSME has expressed its keenness to establish a manufacturing plant for mass production of these tractors. Their goal is to supply these affordable machines to farmers through state government tenders, ensuring accessibility through subsidised rates. This initiative not only promises to improve agricultural outcomes but also supports local economies by promoting manufacturing and job creation within the region, said the official. Passengers, who were scheduled to travel out of the national capital, on Friday morning from Delhi Airport Terminal-1 but could not due to the temporary shutdown following a roof collapse will get a full refund. The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday asked airlines to ensure that there is no abnormal surge in airfares for flights to and from the national capital amid suspension of operations at Delhi airport's Terminal 1 following the roof collapse incident. Structural Engineers from IIT Delhi have been asked to immediately assess the incident at Delhi T1. Further examination will be decided based on their initial findings. Similarly AAI will have the Jabalpur incident examined. Following the tragedy, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu convened a high-level review meeting with key officials including the 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. It was decided that 24/7 War Room Establishment & efficient management of T2 & T3 A 24/7 War Room will be established under the close monitoring of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This War Room will ensure the full refund of cancelled flights or provide alternative travel route tickets as per availability. All refunds will be processed within a stipulated time of 7 days. 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 of Civil Aviation. A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four other soldiers returning from a military training exercise were reportedly swept away by a flash flood while crossing the Shyok river near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Nyoma-Chushul area of Ladakh early Saturday morning. The soldiers, belonging to the field artillery unit, were crossing the river bed in a T-72 Tank at the time of the incident. Due to the sudden rise in water levels, the soldiers could not move out of the tank which was stuck in the river bed and were swept away by strong currents. Rescue teams were rushed to the location but they failed to save them. The soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty have been identified as Ris MR K Reddy, Dfr Bhupender Negi, LD Ekeidaung Teibam, Hav Subhan Khan (6255 Fd workshop) and Cfn S Nagraju. In a post on X, Fire and Fury Corps said, "GOC Fire and Fury Corps and All Ranks salute the Bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice, in the line of duty in Ladakh on 29 Jun 24 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. "Rescue teams rushed to the location but due to high water level and strong currents the rescue mission didn't succeed and the tank crew lost their lives. The Indian Army regrets the loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are still underway," the post explained. Earlier, on August 19, 2023, a JCO, along with eight other soldiers, lost their lives when an Army truck they were travelling in veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Kiari in Leh district. Since the May 2020 stand-off between the Indian and Chinese troops several soldiers of the Indian Army have sacrificed their lives during operational duties in the region. Even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military parleys, the stand-off continues in the cold desert region. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief over the unfortunate accident. In a post on X, the Defence Minister said, "Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget the exemplary services of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief." Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the news of the accident and the loss of lives. The basement of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi remained flooded on Saturday following heavy rains. AIIMS Media Protocol In-Charge, Rima Dada, reported that the Operation Theatre (OT) at the AIIMS Trauma Centre has not yet resumed operations. "Heavy rains caused severe water logging, especially in the basement of the Trauma Centre where heavy generators and equipment are located. This led to the stoppage of OTs, though four life-threatening surgeries were still performed," Dada said. The director and additional director assessed the situation and worked on clearing the water logging in the basements and lifts. Power was cut by NDMC, causing OTs to shut down until 4 p.m. Once power was restored, surgeries continued throughout the night. The basement remains waterlogged, but steps are being taken to prevent future incidents. The tunnel connecting AIIMS to the trauma centre has been cleared, but Basement 3 is still inundated. Pumps have been installed to remove the water. Operations will resume once electrical engineers give the go-ahead. On June 27, 364 patients were operated on, and on June 28, 347 surgeries were conducted despite the heavy rains. Additionally, the Neurosciences Centres OTs was affected due to non-functional air-conditioning and water seepage, causing neurosurgeries to be referred to other hospitals. The 16th Congress of Asia continental branch of International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP Asia) 2024 conference held at Yokohama, Japan from June 22 to 25, 2024. The conference was attended by over 700 participants from 43 countries. Dr Narendra Chaudhary, Additional Professor from the Division of Pediatric Haematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS Bhopal, along with Pediatric Hemato-oncology fellow Dr Mugdha Todkar and senior resident Dr Anisha Rosyln, attended SIOP Asia 2024 and presented 4 research papers, 3 related to blood cancers and one on psychological problems among children diagnosed with cancer. Dr Mugdha presented an interesting case of blood cancer in a child, which was missed on routine blood and bone marrow tests but picked up in a special test called the Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) test. A child with blood cancer may respond to steroids and traditional treatment but does not cure, but this partial treatment make proper diagnosis, treatment and outcome more difficult. The message was spread not to treat a child with suspected blood cancer even with traditional medicines unless diagnosed properly and a full plan is made. Dr Anisha Roslyn presented a paper on the impact of a cancer diagnosis on child psychology. She studied 50 children and found 14% of children had depressive symptoms and about 70% of children had anxiety symptoms. These psychological symptoms were managed without medicines by just counselling only. This study was also guided by Dr Ashish Pakhre, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry. The research paper discussion on AIIMS Bhopal papers was well appreciated by international delegates. Prof. (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director, AIIMS Bhopal congratulated the presenting researchers and encouraged the faculties, resident doctors, students and even the nursing staff to contribute to research. A three-day photography workshop was inaugurated today in the Mass Communication Department of Karim City College. Photographer Naresh Sablok from Tata Steel participated as the resource person, sharing his expertise and passion with eager students. In his opening remarks, Sablok emphasized the importance of understanding the mood of the subject in achieving excellent photography. He explained that the frame we create is more significant than the model of the equipment used. Throughout the workshop, he provided technical insights on various lenses, filters, and key photography terms like aperture, focus, and shutter speed. Sablok advocated for manual photography over automatic settings, detailing the precautions necessary when capturing manual shots. He also demonstrated composition and framing techniques using his own photographs. Forty students from various semesters of undergraduate and postgraduate classes in the Mass Communication Department are participating in the workshop. The students expressed great enthusiasm and interest, many thanking Sablok and showing a keen interest in pursuing photography as a career. The first session was followed by practical exercises led by senior studio executive Syed Sajid Parvez and studio executive Syed Shahzeb Parvez. Tomorrow, students will practice photography at Jubilee Park, capturing images on assigned topics using both cameras and mobile phones. On the final day, Sablok will analyze the students' photographs, offering tips for improvement. The workshop began with a welcome address by the head of the department, Dr. Neha Tiwari, who introduced Sablok. Faculty member Dr. Rashmi Kumari was also present. College principal Dr. Mohammad Riyaz congratulated the department, highlighting the benefits of such workshops for students. The Mass Communication Department of Karim City College, established 26 years ago, is the oldest and most prestigious in the city, with alumni who have made significant contributions to the media field nationwide. The college is currently admitting new students, open to those with over 45% marks in their 12th-grade exams. Sub Inspector Gaurav Raghuvanshi, accused in the abetment to suicide case of an area manager of a company arrested, while the relatives of the SI said that the police have described the surrender as arrest. Police said on November 30, 2023, Manoj Raghuvanshi (40), area manager of Indian Potash Limited (IPL), committed suicide. At the time of the incident, Gaurav Raghuvanshi was the station in-charge of Vidisha Kotwali. The police have also arrested Manoj's wife Jyoti and brother-in-law Pintu alias Devendra. All three had reached Bhopal court on Thursday afternoon to surrender. Ayodhya Nagar SHO Mahesh Lilhare said that all three were caught from outside the court before surrender. On Thursday evening, the accused were produced in the court after medical and taken on three-day remand. Important evidence related to the case is to be seized on the identification of the three. Along with this, inquiries will also be made about where and with whom the accused spent their abscondence. Seven people were made accused in the case. Out of these, Geeta Raghuvanshi, Kanti Bai, Tinku alias Avinash and retired ASI Ram Singh have been granted bail by the Supreme Court. SI Gaurav Raghuvanshi, Jyoti Raghuvanshi and Pintu alias Devendra surrendered in the court of Mridul Latoria Judicial Magistrate First Class on 26 June. The court ordered the station in-charge and the investigating officer to appear in the court the next day on 27 June at 12 noon. During this time, the police had sought remand of all three for interrogation. Approving the remand, the court handed over all three to the police till 1 July. Dainik Bhaskar has its order sheet. In which it is mentioned that all three have surrendered. SI Gaurav's elder brother Avinash Raghuvanshi said - Gaurav, Jyoti and Pintu have surrendered. Police's claims of arrest from the court are completely wrong. The court itself summoned the diary and handed over the three to TI Mahesh Lilhare and investigator Vijay Kalchuri. On November 30, 2023, Manoj committed suicide in his Ayodhya Nagar house. He had written in the suicide note that I do not want to die. Wife, her cousin, brother and maternal uncle-aunt forced me. Because of them I am committing suicide. These people have taken lakhs of rupees from me. Wife puts pressure that I will let the son meet you only when you take a share in the property from your mother and transfer it to the child's name. I love my son Akshay very much. Brother, you keep all the property. Don't give anything to the wife... nothing. In this case, a suicide video also surfaced. After a long investigation, the police had registered a case of abetment to suicide on March 1, 2024 against 6 people including Manoj Raghuvanshi's brother-in-law, the then station in-charge and sub-inspector Gaurav Raghuvanshi for abetting suicide. Before committing suicide, Manoj had shot a 6-minute video on his mobile phone. In which he has talked about committing suicide after getting fed up with the harassment of his wife Jyoti and her 6 relatives. The police had also seized this video. Along with this, the police also found a handwritten suicide note from Manoj. In which he had also written the password of his mobile. On April 9, 2024, Bhopal Zone-2 Superintendent Shraddha Tiwari announced a reward of Rs 5,000 for giving information about the accused. On April 19, Manoj Raghuvanshi's mother had given a complaint application to the Police Commissioner demanding the arrest of the accused. After this, the accused could not be arrested. NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the reference to Emergency made by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his speech was not apt and did not suit the stature of his post. Addressing reporters here, Pawar also said the sops announced in the budget presented by his estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday, was just an effort ahead of the state assembly polls to project that they are doing something massive. Soon after his election as Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla on Wednesday set off a firestorm by reading out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency as an attack on the Constitution by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Referring to it, Pawar said, "The speaker's reference to the Emergency in his address did not suit the stature of the post. It has been 50 years since the Emergency, Indira Gandhi is no longer alive. So why is the speaker bringing up this issue now?" "Is it the role of the speaker to make a political statement? We think his statement was not apt. The President's speech also had a brief mention of this issue. That was also not necessary," he said. On Rahul Gandhi taking the Leader of Opposition's post, Pawar said the party with the most number of MPs in the Opposition gets to decide the Leader of Opposition. "The MPs of the Congress decided to make Rahul Gandhi their leader. In one way, this is a representation from the new generation with a background in politics, and a willingness to put in tremendous effort. I am sure he will shine," he said. Pawar hit out at the BJP, saying that before making statements on Congress-mukt Bharat, the BJP should take note of how many seats it had before the Lok Sabha polls and how many it has after this election. "The BJP does not have a majority in Parliament. Without Nitish kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, they would not have formed a government. Regardless of how much they try to hide it, the truth is clear - they do not have a clear mandate from the people of India," the veteran leader claimed. On the state budget, he said, "What kind of a budget was this? Free education to girls, Rs 20,000 rupees for each 'dindi' (group) of the Pandharpur wari (pilgrimage) - everything was out in the public before it was presented in the Vidhan Bhavan. It has two meanings - the tradition of keeping the budget under wraps has not been maintained and none of the provisions presented in the budget will see the light of day. This budget has been presented keeping in mind the assembly elections due in 3 months. There is no budgetary provision for the promises made in the budget. How can I spend Rs 100 when I have Rs 70 in my pocket? This budget is only meant to show that we are doing something massive, but I am sure that people will not believe this, he asked. "The questions the government has to answer is - what revenues have you gathered; how much do you want to spend, and how are you going to cover the gap between the two? How can the government promise to implement the assurance without making provisions for covering this gap? This budget does not have much meaning. I have doubts as to what extent they will be able to implement this budget," he said. Speaking on the speculation that MLAs from the Ajit Pawar faction returning back to his party, Pawar said, "(Party's state unit chief) Jayant Patil and others are aware of this, I have not met anyone in person. Let's see who comes. Do you have a list of names?" Pawar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in 18 constituencies (in Maharashtra) during the Lok Sabha poll campaign and In 14 of these constituencies, the Mahayuti candidate lost the election. "I would like to request Modi ji to address as many rallies as possible in the upcoming assembly elections," he said. Speaking about the MVA's preparations for the assembly polls, Pawar said the allies will take all decisions with consultations. "Parties that supported us in the Lok Sabha elections as part of the INDIA bloc, like the PWP and AAP, will be included in the MVA," he said. When asked about the MVA's prospects, he said In the Lok Sabha elections, the MVA was leading on 155 out of the 288 Vidhan Sabha seats in Maharashtra. "If this continues for the assembly polls, it is obvious that we will form the next government," he said. He attacked the BJP for "misusing" the central investigation agencies against political opponents. "You put the chief ministers of two states in jail, of whom one was released yesterday. Then you put MPs or MLAs or ministers from West Bengal in jail. When lower courts pass verdicts against you, you appeal those decisions immediately and put leaders back in jail. It is clear that agencies are being purposely manipulated and misused," he charged. Talking about the Delhi airport roof collapse incident, the former Union minister said projects are completed in a hurry, without checking the quality of work. "Keeping elections in mind, projects have been announced, inaugurated and opened to public use. 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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 Chinese lawmakers vote to adopt law on rural collective economic organizations, other bills Xinhua) 09:48, June 29, 2024 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. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) On Saturday night, the New Gate Art and Cultural Centre in Derry was filled with the powerful sounds of unity and hope as the Apex Band Project held its concluding concert. The groundbreaking initiative, launched by St. Columb's School of Music, brought together young music students from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, supported by Apex Housing Association (Apex) through the Housing for All Shared Housing Programme. IN PICTURES: Apex Band Project brings unite and hope through music Louis Fields, Co-Founder of St. Columbs School of Music, explained: We invited everyone to join us as our three newly established youth bands took to the stage, performing a wide range of songs they crafted over the past few months. "Guided by our experienced tutors, this concert celebrated the students' hard work, creativity, and the beautiful harmony that music can foster among diverse groups. "To inspire the new bands, The Suite, the city's hottest new band formed through the GCSE music course at St. Columbs College, performed as the headline act. The Apex Band Project began with a series of free workshops, inviting secondary school students from Culmore and the wider Derry area to hone their skills, learn new techniques, and understand the intricacies of forming a band. The students from different cultural backgrounds and identities also learned how to set up equipment, conduct sound checks and create set lists - essential skills for any aspiring musician. Teresa McCloskey from Apex Housing Association commented: After 16 weeks of mentorship and practice, it was great to see this group of young people from eight different local schools performing together in public for the first time as newly formed bands. "It was our pleasure to support the project through the good relations plan for our shared neighbourhood in the city, Woodlands Avenue in Culmore. Our hope is that the three bands will continue beyond this project, and that their confidence will continue to grow following this sold-out concert. The Apex Band Project was supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executives Housing for All Shared Housing Programme. The Programme had its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy, which reflected the Executives commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. A potential of 4.4m will be invested in Apexs Woodlands Avenue shared neighbourhood in Culmore and its associated good relations plan. Apex works in partnership with local advisory group stakeholders and residents to develop and deliver a good relations plan for the area. This plan includes bridging events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include health and wellbeing, arts and culture, education and training. The Conservative Party is set to emphasise the benefits of the Union as it launches its General Election manifesto in Northern Ireland. The party is running candidates in five of the regions 18 Westminster constituencies. It has not won any seats in Northern Ireland in recent general elections. Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is set to address the launch event in Belfast on Saturday. The party said the manifesto will re-commit to the Conservatives UK-wide plans. These include a guarantee not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT, a tax cut for workers, cutting national insurance by 1,350 for the average worker and an ambition to abolish national insurance for workers completely when financially responsible to do so. The pledges also include tax cuts for the self-employed, pensioners, parents, a workplace pension guarantee not to introduce any new taxes on pensions for the duration of the next parliament and cutting immigration by removing illegal migrants to Rwanda and introducing a legal cap on migration to guarantee that numbers will fall every year. In terms of Northern Ireland, the Conservatives refer to delivering 3.3 billion of extra funding to stabilise public services, agreeing a new fiscal framework to reflect the different level of need in Northern Ireland and supporting the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery to provide answers for Troubles victims and survivors. Mr Heaton-Harris is to say that the Conservatives want Northern Ireland to remain a full and integral part of our great Union and that this commitment is not just a matter of policy, but a deep-seated conviction. He will also extol the benefits of Northern Irelands place in the Union. Mr Heaton-Harris is to describe Northern Ireland as a great place to live, work and invest in, with a highly educated and talented workforce, a competitive labour market, and lower costs than many other major competitors. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said a vote for the Conservatives is a vote to deepen precious bonds. He said: Northern Ireland is an integral part of our United Kingdom, and our manifesto outlines our clear plan to continue taking bold action to deliver a safer, more secure, more prosperous future for its people. A vote for the Conservative and Unionist Party on July 4 is not only a vote to deepen the precious bonds that unite us but a vote to build on Northern Irelands economic success as we cut taxes for working people, protect pensions with our triple lock plus, and lower immigration. A 21-year-old Travel and Tourism student from North West Regional College (NWRC) has won a UK national award for showing incredible dedication to his education. Matthew McGrotty, from Lettershandoney, has been diagnosed with high-functioning autism, which impacts his learning in several ways, but he has overcome any challenges in his way to be named the 2024 Learner of the Year at NCFEs Aspiration Awards. Progressing from a Level 2 Work Skills programme, Matthew has just completed the NCFE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Travel and Tourism at NWRC and sees a bright future ahead within the travel industry. Hes due to return to the college in September where he will study the Open University Foundation Degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management Earlier this year, Matthew secured a placement with Translink at Coleraine train station. This opportunity provided him with a firsthand look at the inner workings of the transport industry. Translink offered him a structured schedule, rotating him through different areas like ticket barriers and customer service. Matthew thrived in the customer service role, providing passengers with information on train services and navigating unexpected situations like cancellations. Beyond the tasks, Matthew valued the opportunity to work as part of a team and witness how the transport industry adapts to real-world challenges. The supportive staff at Translink took the time to explain their operations in full detail, so Matthew left the placement with valuable insights to support his future. The positive feedback on his contributions further fuelled his passion for a career in transport. Commenting on the experience, Matthew said: Im really glad I had this opportunity because its something Ive always had a passion for, and its shaped my knowledge for my future long-term employment. David Gallagher, Chief Executive at NCFE, commented: Matthew is a remarkable learner and a shining example of why alternative pathways are essential to ensure no learner is left behind. He is an inspiration to his peers and goes above and beyond to make a difference for others, through being a class representative, his participation in the Youth Council and his volunteering work. Its great to see that the NCFE travel and tourism qualification is helping him to progress to the next step in his career within an important industry. NCFE is delighted to present Matthew with this award. In addition to his placement experience, Matthew is consistently exceeding expectations with distinction grades in his modules and inspiring his classmates with his dedication and work ethic. His leadership qualities led to him being elected as class representative, where he actively supports his peers and advocates for their needs. Luane Quigley, Curriculum Manager and Course Coordinator at NWRC who nominated Matthew for the award said: Matthew is not a learner who works in isolation, he is very much a core individual at the heart of the provision within the college. He is very driven, focused and above all, completely selfless. He assists others in his class when they dont understand something, and it was great to see him be elected class representative this year. He has touched the lives of others and has been a fantastic ambassador for not only the programme but the college overall. Mark Montgomery, Northern Area Railway Route Manager at Translink, said: "We're proud to have been a part of Matthew's journey so far and congratulate him for securing for this much-deserved award. As one of Northern Irelands largest employers, were committed to supporting individuals who need practical skills and experience to enhance their employment prospects. "We also want to highlight all the opportunities that are available to young people at Translink. As we work towards net-zero emissions across our entire fleet, we have collaborated with a range of stakeholders including bus and other vehicle manufacturers, energy suppliers and universities to develop the region as a centre of excellence for zero-emission technology supporting the local green economy and creating new jobs. "It is heartening to see the dedication of young individuals like Matthew who can play a key role in shaping the future of our sector and help us create advanced public transport services and integrated networks which connect people and communities, enhance the economy, improve health and environmental wellbeing for all. Matthew also actively participates in the Youth Council for Northern Ireland, giving speeches and advocating for young people across Northern Ireland. He is a dedicated volunteer with Voices Of Young People In Care and Care Leavers (VOYPIC), sharing his experiences and supporting others. He helps to organise residential trips for the organisation and participates in various other activities to support young people in care and care leavers. Reflecting on the qualification and looking ahead to whats next, he said: I chose to study this NCFE qualification because I have an extensive interest in traveling to different destinations and learning about the operations of the transport sector. My ultimate long-term goal is to seek employment with Translink, Northern Ireland Railways. I have a huge passion and interest in our railway network, and I enjoy taking the train regularly and discovering places that I have never been to before. Ive also applied for a Foundation Degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management. After 17 years awarding third level student scholarships, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship scheme is reminding students from Louth to apply. The 2024 closing date is fast approaching, and all applicants are advised to submit their entries sooner rather than later! The Naughton Scholarships are a scheme of scholarships to promote the study of engineering, science and technology at third level by students in Ireland. Each year, from February to June, Leaving Certificate students can apply for a scholarship if they intend on studying science, computer science, mathematics, engineering or technology at third level that year. The closing date for receipt of application forms for The Naughton Foundation Scholarship 2024 is Friday, June 28 at midnight. There will be one guaranteed scholarship for each of the participating counties, 36 allocated in total. Students are invited to apply if they are currently attending secondary schools in Louth and if they are studying two or more of the following subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, mathematics, and applied mathematics. Each scholarshio is valued at 20,000 - 5,000 for each year of the students third-level course in any publicly funded university or third-level institution in Ireland, including Northern Ireland. The school of each winner is also awarded 1,000. The 2024 application forms for The Naughton Foundation Scholarship Programme are available for download and can be completed online on The Naughton Foundation website: www.thenaughtonfoundation.com A protest will take place in Dundalk this this afternoon in solidarity with Natasha O'Brien. The gathering of "reflection and motivation" will take place on Saturday, 29th June, at Market Square, Dundalk, outside the courthouse at 3pm Ms O'Brien, aged 24, was beaten unconscious by soldier Cathal Crotty, aged 22, of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha on Limerick's O'Connell Street in 2022. Hours later Mr Crotty boasted on Snapchat, "Two to out her down, two to put her out". He walked free from Limerick Circuit Court after receiving a fully suspended jail sentence. One of the organisers of the protest said it is taking place to register our disgust and horror at the leniency of the sentence that Cathal Crotty received in relation to the savage assault on Natasha O`Brien. Violence against women, men and children cannot and should not be tolerated, he continued. The people of Dundalk are urged to come out on the day to show solidarity with Natasha and those who are affected by violence either domestically or in public. There will be a number of speakers in attendance and people are encouraged to wear purple and bring their own candles and banners along to the event. The total number of Ukrainian refugees living in Louth under the Temporary Protection Directive now stands at 2386 according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office. This compares to a figure of 2478 in February this year. Nationally, 107,406 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) were given to arrivals from Ukraine by 2nd June 2024. Broken down by area; the figures reveal the Drogheda Urban area has 894 Ukrainians living locally while Dundalk-Carlingford has 428; Dundalk South has 671; Ardee has 227 while Drogheda Rural has 166. The figures mark an increase in numbers in three out of five areas in Louth compared to February last year. Those figures, (for February 2024) were: Drogheda Urban area had 868 Ukrainians living locally while Dundalk-Carlingford had 708; Dundalk South had 511; Ardee had 235 while Drogheda Rural had 156. Dundalk- Carlingford saw a huge drop in the number of Ukrainian refugees living in the are with the numbers falling from 708 to 428, a drop of 280. Additionally the CSO report showed that there were 586 hosts in Louth currently in receipt of Accommodation Recognition Payment and arrivals from Ukraine living in accommodation provided by these hosts. The figures also reveal that there are currently 246 Ukrainian children enrolled in primary schools in Louth, a decrease of 6; while there are 204 enrolled in secondary schools in the county, an increase of 4. Commenting on the release, Laura Carter, Statistician, said: "There are two maps in this release based on mapping 102,879 individuals, or 96% of arrivals, to a location within Ireland. These maps are based on the local post office address as per the process through which arrivals were seeking assistance from the Department of Social Protection or, if available, the arrivals' residential address where an Accommodation Recognition Payment is payable to the host of the residence. The first map is a count of arrivals by Local Electoral Area (LEA), and the second is the rate of arrivals by LEA (per 100 of the Census 2022 de facto population). Kenmare in Co. Kerry had the highest number of associated arrivals from Ukraine at 2,844. Our analysis also shows that the rate per 100 of the population ranges across all LEAs in the country from 0.28% to 12.38%. The LEA with the highest rate was Ennistimon in Co. Clare." Louth County Council is celebrating the success of the Lu Festival of Light, which has been honoured with the Best Arts and Culture award at the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) Awards ceremony held in Glasgow. The accolade recognises the festival's profound impact on the community, its innovative use of heritage assets within the town, and the extraordinary animations and storytelling over the eight-day event. The festival is a collaborative partnership between Louth County Council, Love Drogheda BID, Visual Spectrum and Failte Ireland, underpinned by story development by Anthony Murphy, Mythological Ireland. The Lu Festival of Light has captivated the hearts and minds of residents and visitors alike, transforming the town into a mesmerizing canvas of light, art, sound and creative illustrations on wonderful canvasses. This recognition is a testament to the festival's unique approach to celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Louth while infusing it with contemporary artistic expressions. "We are immensely proud of what the Lu Festival of Light has achieved," said Colette Moss, Senior Executive Officer, Louth County Council. "Winning the Best Arts and Culture Award at the ATCM Awards is a true reflection of the dedication, creativity, and hard work of everyone involved". Trevor Connolly, CEO of Love Drogheda BID said: "The collective team efforts have turned dreams into reality, creating a magical experience that has left an indelible mark on the community of Drogheda. "This partnership exemplifies the power of working together to achieve extraordinary results. Lu Festival of Light has brought further prominence and acknowledgement of stories from our past and an appreciation of our culture and heritage in a new way. Announcing the award, Ojay McDonald Chief Executive of ATCM said: Best Arts and Culture Scheme is always a difficult category with plenty of commendable submissions. However, the way the partnership created an audio-visual experience against a backdrop of Irish Mythology meant a clear winner for 2024. "The 'The Lu Festival of Light' captivated audiences with a fully immersive experience. Telling stories from the past by using the newest and most captivating audio-visual experience could be groundbreaking in the way towns maximise their history and heritage in the future. The Lu Festival of Light continues to grow in popularity, drawing visitors from far and wide, providing a tangible boost to the local economy. This award highlights the festival's success and sets a benchmark for future cultural events in the region. Last year, the town of Drogheda welcomed over 70,000 visitors over the festival period with a plethora of activities and activations across the streets and venues with an estimated 6.1million direct uplift. For more information about the Lu Festival of Light and future events, please visit www.lufestivaloflight.com. Figures released this week by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on the population of the country in 2022, have given some insights to the breakdown of the population of Louth, at a local authority level and also at a local electoral area (LEA) level. Among the figures relating to Louth in the release, it estimates that in 2022 Dundalk South was the most populated LEA and had more males than females; there were 64,955 people at work; and 14,341 were students or pupils, while the average age in the county was 37.5 and the population of the county was 148,932. The CSO release, Irish Population Estimates from Administrative Data Sources (IPEADS), 2021, is a CSO Frontier Series Research Paper, that the CSO says, may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete, for example new administrative data sources. It adds that particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in the release. IPEADS 2022 does not produce population statistics for households. However, improved inclusion of Eircodes across a number of key administrative datasets has led to over 90% of records containing an Eircode up from 80% in 2021 and 60% in 2020. Looking at the LEAs in Louth, in 2022 the population was estimated as follows: Dundalk- Carlingford , Louth - 29,261 Dundalk South, Louth - 39,669 Ardee , Louth - 27,719 Drogheda Rural, Louth - 20,672 Drogheda Urban, Louth - 31, 611 The figures also give details on the Principal Economic Status of all the people in the area covered by Louth County Council. It reveals that there was 118,871 people aged 15 and over, 59, 272 male and 59,599 female. 64,955 were at work; 14,341 were students or pupils; 7,659 were looking after home/family; 16,312 were retired; 3,909 unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability; 11,213 were unemployed; and 482 were not in the Labour Force. Commenting on the release, Cathal Doherty, Statistician in the Life Events and Demography Section, said: This Research Paper, as the third iteration of Irish Population Estimates from Administrative Data Sources (IPEADS), continues to demonstrate the policy-relevant research projects the CSO is developing as part of its leadership role in the National Data Ecosystem. While serving primarily as a means of demonstrating the potential of administrative data for delivering new classes of statistical products, IPEADS also demonstrates an evolving platform for the development of population estimates. As part of the CSO's Frontier Series that uses experimental methodology, it must also be emphasised that IPEADS' estimates must be interpreted with caution and are not comparable with official CSO population estimates such as Census data." NEWPORT, N.H. Now is the time to share your experiences and concerns about your health care. Every three years, New London Hospital and Newport Health Center conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment that includes a Community Health survey that will be made available digitally, as well as on paper. We will have paper copies of this survey at Newport Senior Center/Sullivan County Nutrition Services. Your input in the process is essential in the design of initiatives of New London Hospital and Newport Health Center for the next several years. Your responses are private. The summary of responses from the community will be included in a final report of the survey results to be made available later this year. We invite you to join us, at the Newport Senior Center, to complete the survey and ask questions on March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are 60 or older, join us for lunch after or before completing the survey. The meal for Thursday, March 14, will be meatloaf, mashed potato, sugar snap peas and chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. The suggested donation is $3 a meal. This is one of our most requested meals. Now is the time to have your voice heard. We are interested to hear from all the towns in service areas which include: Andover, Bradford, Croydon, Danbury, Goshen, Grantham, Lempster, New London, Newbury, Newport, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Washington and Wilmot. Taking learning to a new level that will be stimulating. LSVNA and New London Barn Playhouse will be providing a communications workshop series for those who care for loved ones with Alzheimers and dementia. Caregiving for someone with Alzheimers or dementia can be overwhelming, lonely and extremely difficult. The New London Barn Playhouse and Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice are supported in part by a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts to offer free monthly events that connect caregivers going through similar situations and help them navigate different circumstances. The sessions combine insights from health care professionals with improvised scenarios where actors navigate common caregiving situations onstage. The series aims to help caregivers develop new communication skills, strategies to cope with stress, flexibility in relationships and an understanding of loved ones changing perspectives. Attendees are welcome to participate in discussions and scenarios, or they may remain an observer. Mark your calendars now for this valuable opportunity to help learn helpful strategies when caring for someone with Alzheimers or dementia. We are honored to have LSVNA and New London Barn Playhouse on April 10, from 10 to 11:30 am. Peter B. Hanscom January 25, 1943 June 26, 2024 PERKINSVILLE, VT -Peter Brackett Hanscom was born to Eliot B. Hanscom and Edna T. Hanscom on January 25, 1943 at Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. He grew up near Philadelphia, PA where his father, uncle, and cousins ran Hanscom Bakery and its network of retail stores. He and his younger sister Sue spent their youthful summers in Ocean City, NJ and at the familys Revolutionary Era home in Eliot, Maine. Following school, Peter chose to veer away from a career in the baking business. He shared his familys avocation for travel; and by his mid twenties, Peter was working as an agent and tour guide for McGettigans Travel Bureau in Philadelphia. While at McGettigans in the late 1960s, Peter planned an around-the-world journey by travel van, collecting rare route maps and researching requisite visas in his off-time. Shortly thereafter he met his future wife, Katherine Jackman of Wichita, KS who was working in Philadelphia and well-qualified to journal the proposed trip. She joined him for this adventure and the two were married upon their return to the States early in 1970. By 1973 the Hanscoms had located in Perkinsville, VT where they built a home and resided for almost twenty-five years. Peter served his adopted community as Dog Catcher, Constable, and Weathersfield Ambulance Service Volunteer for many years. With friend and local contractor Matt Keniston, Peter and Kathie purchased, remodeled, and sold two homes in the area and one in Santa Fe, NM. Peter also had a business selling antique cars and car parts. In 1998 the Hanscoms divorced. Peter later relocated to Westminster West, VT taking great pleasure in his new place atop a hill overlooking the Connecticut River Valley. Bearing witness to his lifetime love of art and architecture, Peter was an accomplished builder, woodcarver, potter, and layer of dry stone walls. Peter was preceded in death by his parents Eliot and Edna Hanscom and his sister Susan Hanscom Howell. He is survived by his ex-wife Katherine and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Peter treasured his friendships and would want to acknowledge Bill Shinn Jr., Penny Arms, Bill Henderson, and Norm and Vicki Hanson as special among them. Eagle Times As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas. Cork has around 30 beaches, but which is the finest? As part of our Cork Coasts series, the Peoples Republic of Cork have picked out their favourite 16. They have concluded the countdown from No.16 to No.1 - and readers now get the chance to have their say. Read More What is the best beach in Cork? Over the next few weeks, our Cork coastlines will battle it out to see who will be crowned Cork's best beach, by you, our readers. Earlier this week Dock Beach, Kinsale took on Barleycove. Today Ballyrisode goes head-to-head with Tralispean. CORK TDs have cast doubt that Dublin West Fianna Fail TD Jack Chambers new role will make a significant difference to the people of their constituencies. As Michael McGrath vacates the role of Minister for Finance to take up a new position as European Commissioner, Mr Chambers was voted into the role by 86 to 60 votes on Wednesday. Tanaiste Micheal Martin thanked Mr McGrath for his service to the party and Government, saying: I have no doubt the people of Cork South-Central, whom we both have the great privilege to serve, will be proud of his work in the years ahead. In support of Mr Chambers, he said: While he will be the youngest person nominated to serve as Minister for Finance since Eamon de Valera nominated Michael Collins to the post in April 1919, his experience is already well beyond that of many who have held the post in the past. Cork North Central People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry asked: What is the legacy of the outgoing minister, Michael McGrath? It is an Ireland where young people are locked out of the housing market. The average price of a home in the city of Cork rose last year by 30,000, more than a years take-home pay for many young workers. He said that Jack Chambers, the nominee, is cut from the same political cloth as Michael McGrath, and may be young but he will deliver the same old, same old. West Cork TD Holly Cairns congratulated Mr Chambers, saying she disagreed with those who had an issue with his age, as we need more young people in politics. She added: While I wish the minister of state well in his new position, will anyone outside here really notice the difference? she asked. Will anything change other than a face at the Cabinet table? Will people struggling with the cost of living finally get the support they need? Will the hundreds of thousands of people locked out of homeownership finally get secure roofs over their heads? The good news is that the minister of state has a lot of money at his disposal. The Government had a surplus of 8bn last year and expects to have a similar surplus this year, she said. Mr Chambers now will have a huge opportunity as the Minister for Finance to make a real and substantial difference in peoples lives the question is whether he will take this opportunity. FORMER Lord Mayor, Minister of State and TD for Cork North Central Bernard Allen, described as a beloved figure to many was laid to rest earlier this week. A former Fine Gael Junior Minister, Mr Allen began his political career in 1979, when he was first elected to the then Cork Corporation, in what was then the North Central ward. In the 1981 general election, Mr Allen was elected to Dail Eireann as a Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, and he retained his seat at every subsequent election until his retirement from politics, after 30 years in the Dail, in 2011. In 1988, he served as Lord Mayor, and in 1994, when Fine Gael returned to government, then Taoiseach John Bruton appointed Mr Allen Minister of State with special responsibility for youth and sport. Between 2007 and 2011, Mr Allen served as chair of the Public Accounts Committee. A special meeting of Cork City Council was held ahead of Mr Allens funeral on Wednesday to pay tribute to the former first citizen. Fine Gael councillor Damian Boylan was among those who spoke, saying Mr Allens dedication, leadership, and compassion leaves an indelible mark on the city. Bernard Allen on the election campaign trail in 2009. Picture: Eddie O'Hare His tenure as Lord Mayor was marked by visionary leadership, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among the diverse tapestry of our citys residents. Bernard believed deeply in the power of community, and his efforts to bring people together, to listen to their concerns, and to act with empathy and fairness, made him a beloved figure to many. Labour councillor Peter Horgan said it was right and proper that the council would note Mr Allens achievements in political life and mark his passing. Last night I contacted Brendan Howlin who was senior minister in the Department of Environment in that 94-97 government Bernard Allen was Minister of State and I said can you sum up Bernard Allen ahead of today and Brendans one sum-up was that he was passionate about Cork and I think if any of us will leave this Chamber, leave this mortal coil and be told we were passionate about, I think we would be very happy about that, he said. On June 9, 1979 the then titled Evening Echo noted that a little bit of history was made in Cork the day when Bernard Allen was elected an Alderman of the city for the North Central electoral area. A family picture of Bernard Allen after his mayoral election in Cork City hall. Bernards grandfather was Ald James Allen, Lord Mayor in 1942, and his uncle was the late Ald. Sam Allen, the piece stated. Some nine years later Bernard Allen was elected Lord Mayor of Cork. Three nerve-tingling hours of voting in the Imperial Hotel last night eventually confirmed Deputy Bernard Allen as the next Lord Mayor of Cork, an Echo article on February 23, 1988 said. Deputy Bernard Allen as the next Lord Mayor of Cork. Deputy Allen was chosen as the Fine Gael Mayoral nominee after a tense struggle which ended in a head-to-head vote with Cllr Ted McCarthy. The three other candidates, Cllr Bill Nolan, Cllr Brian Bermingham and Senator Denis Cregan, had been eliminated earlier in the proceedings. Five counts could not separate the two, and it was eventually decided to stage a straight re-vote. Deputy Allen won the last vote on a 5-3 margin. The Cork North Central TD today expressed his delight at winning the nomination - and would only go as far as to say that the behind-closed doors meeting was the most nerve-wracking event in his political career. Bernard Allen after being elected at the count in Neptune Stadium in 1997. Photo: Maurice O'Mahony In May 2011, a civic reception was held in Cork City Hall to mark the retirement of Mr Allen and Fianna Fail TD Noel OFlynns retirement from politics. Although they were from opposite sides of the political divide, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail united for the civic reception to mark both mens retirement from politics, an article on May 7 said. There was spontaneous applause throughout the speeches from Lord Mayor Micheal OConnell and City Manager Tim Lucey, paying tribute to the two former politicians, who announced they would not be running in Cork North Central ahead of last Februarys general election. Lord Mayor Michael OConnell said that while both men came from different political parties and were in some ways very different theres more unites them than divides them. Mr Allen was laid to rest at St Finbarrs Cemetery following a funeral mass in the North Cathedral. In her eulogy, Mr Allens daughter Lorraine said while her father had been a former Lord Mayor and a TD for over 30 years, to his family he was a devoted husband and a treasured dad. For such a public figure, he was a very private, family person, she said. Politics was always left at the front door, and he loved being at home with my mum Marie, myself, Audrey and Deirdre, Lorraine said. A PRISIONER at a garda station had to be taken to hospital where he shouted abuse at staff and now he has been jailed for two months. 37-year-old Richard Harrington of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour on the same date. Sergeant Aisling Murphy outlined the background to the incidents for Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court. On January 2 2022, Sergeant Vincent McCarthy was assisting an arrest of another person when he was approached by Richard Harrington who was verbally abusive to gardai at the scene. He assumed a fighting stance. He left but returned a short time later and began this behaviour again, Sgt Murphy said. Arrested for this threatening behaviour, at Bridewell Garda Station it became necessary to transfer him to the accident and emergency unit of Mercy University Hospital for a check. Sgt Murphy said that it was on his release from hospital that he shouted abuse at staff and put himself in breach of the same act again. Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, said: While in prison he has engaged in all the treatment programmes up there. The accused had 59 previous convictions. Nine for the same offence of engaging in threatening behaviour. Judge Mary Dorgan imposed two concurrent two-month sentences on the accused. NINE organisations working in Cork are among the recipients of RTE Toy Show Appeal grants. The RTE Toy Show Appeal began in 2020 and was inspired by the story of Saoirse Ruane, from Kiltullagh in Galway, who won the hearts of the nation with her appearance on The Late Late Toy Show. Saoirse sadly passed away in March this year. Announcing the grants, RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst spoke of Saoirses enduring legacy with the Toy Show Appeal. The RTE Toy Show Appeal is one of the most important things that we do as an organisation. We are so grateful for the support of our Late Late Toy Show audience, whose generosity has ensured that RTE can continue to make a positive difference to the lives of thousands of children and their families across the island, north and south, he said. Children have always been the inspiration behind The Late Late Toy Show and have, in turn, inspired the RTE Toy Show Appeal, not least Saoirse Ruane, who will be remembered as someone who made such a positive and lasting impact on us all. Her memory will live on through the RTE Toy Show Appeal and the many young lives that will be transformed. Nationally, 122 RTE Toy Show Appeal grants made possible by the generosity of viewers of last Novembers Late Late Toy Show and totalling 3.6m are set to benefit 1.1m children across the country. Local projects and organisations in every county of Ireland will receive grants to help with a diverse range of needs, including food and essentials, disability aids, creativity and play, and bereavement support. Almost 290,000 has been awarded to organisations working in Cork, including Feed Cork, Clonakilty Friends of Asylum Seekers, Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism, The Crann Centre, Yana North Cork Domestic Violence Project, Huruma CGL t/a Wellsprings, Graffiti Theatre Company, Nasc, and Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation. The chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, Denise Charlton, said: Childrens lives in every county are about to be transformed thanks to the huge generosity of RTE Late Late Toy Show viewers and the Toy Show Appeal. 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 and was jailed for three months for further thefts. Ms OFarrell of Marble Hall Park, Ballinlough, was sentenced by Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court. She pleaded guilty to the shoplifting at Dunnes Stores, Ballincollig, County Cork, on June 16. She also appeared at another sitting of the court where she pleaded guilty to a number of other thefts committed in December 2023 and January this year. Shane Collins-Daly, solicitor, said that Ms Farrell was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity. Judge Dorgan imposed concurrent sentences of three months on each of the charges. On December 20, 2023, she stole 160 worth of cosmetics from B-Perfect Cosmetics at Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork. On January 13, at Self-Help Africa on North Main Street, she took clothing from a mannequin at the premises. And on January 23, she stole cosmetics from Boots at Half Moon Street. A STREET in Cork should be named after the late Bernard Allen to reflect the impact the former Fine Gael minister and Lord Mayor had on the city, Independent Ireland councillor Ken OFlynn has suggested. The suggestion follows the funeral of the late Mr Allen earlier this week and is to be the subject of a motion at a forthcoming meeting of Cork City Council. Mr OFlynn said he was aware of a convention which normally would allow a number of years to pass after the death of a person before a street or a public structure would be named after that person. I think its time to revise those rules, he said, and pointed to the naming of a road on the northside after the late Dave McCarthy, a former Lord Mayor who died in 2011, in 2014. The suggested naming of a street after Bernard Allen is a heartfelt endeavor to pay tribute to his unwavering commitment to public service and to ensure that his name and achievements resonate across generations, said Mr O Flynn. A 62-YEAR-YEAR-OLD man from Ballinlough who left Cork District Court on bail on Monday on charges of causing criminal damage to neighbours cars allegedly threatened to damage a neighbours car again within 24 hours. On Thursday, Richard Ahern of Knockrea Drive, off Ballinlough Road, Cork, applied to be released on bail again. However, Sergeant Sean Minihane objected to bail, saying, He was in court on Monday on two criminal damage charges involving the same family. By lunchtime on Tuesday (June 25) there was a complaint that the same man was threatening to cause criminal damage. There is overwhelming evidence captured on CCTV and several witnesses recorded incidents on their mobile phones. I would have serious concerns with Mr Ahern interfering with witnesses. Terrified The injured party is terrified of him. She is in fear. The moment she pulls up in her car, Mr Ahern is out, Sgt. Minihane testified. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said, Mr Ahern will give evidence to the effect that he will remain away from the neighbours property. There was no actual damage (on June 25). Sgt. Minihane replied, That was prevented. Mr Buttimer said, The answer is, there wasnt any. Mr Buttimer said the accused would give an undertaking not to go next or near his neighbours or do anything to interfere with their property. Sgt. Aisling Murphy who prosecuted the case said, The state would have serious concerns. Judge Mary Dorgan said, It is extremely concerning that this gentleman could be given bail to remain of good behaviour. It is alleged these significant issues occurred on the 25th I am refusing bail, I am remanding him in custody. We will chat to him again on July 4. Judge Dorgan said that the accused had a disability and that DPP directions should be given as quickly as possible so that the case could be dealt with in court. On Monday Mr Ahern faced two counts of causing criminal damage. The first charge relates to Tuesday, June 18 at Knockrea Drive when it is alleged that a car was damaged. The second charge concerns Friday, June 21 when the same 62-year-old man is accused of causing criminal damage to another car. On June 27 he was charged with threatening a woman that he would damage her car and a related charge of having a shovel and a bucket of salt intending damage and being threatening and abusive under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. Had the new charges not been brought the two initial criminal damage charges would have stood adjourned until September 25 for Directions from the DPP. A CORK woman who is living with multiple sclerosis and a cancer diagnosis has urged the public to support a new tap-to-donate initiative for Cork University Hospital (CUH) Charity. Having endured two major health issues, Michelle Curran, who lives in Ballincollig, said she regards CUH as a second home. I was diagnosed with MS 22 years ago and cervical cancer nine years ago, said Ms Curran. I get tired and Ive gone back to working four days a week. It takes its toll. Ms Curran, who has worked in the hospitality sector in Cork for more than 30 years, said the care she has received at CUH has been instrumental in improving her quality of life. Now Ms Curran is asking customers of The Kingsley Hotel and its Perch Coffee & Wine outlet, where she works as a supervisor, to support services at the Wilton campus by tapping their bank cards to make a donation at the first ever tap-to-donate points for the charity at the hotels reception and at the tills at Perch. If people can donate something while they are getting a coffee at Perch, or when theyre checking into, or out of, The Kingsley, it can help improve services at CUH for everyone who needs them, Ms Curran said. Ms Curran, who will return to CUH next month to discuss a new treatment plan, has faced her illnesses with resilience: You get a deck of cards, you pick one and thats the way things are for the rest of your life, you get on with it. You have to fight it every day, she said. Finola Twomey, director of sales and marketing at The Kingsley, said that given the hotels strong links with CUH, its staff had been delighted to host the two tap-to-donate points. We felt it was right to do this and support the charity because we see so many people staying with us who are being treated at the hospital, she said. Companies wishing to install a tap-to-donate unit at their business to support the work of CUH and Cork University Maternity Hospital are asked to contact claire@cuhcharity.ie. THE Director of Public Prosecutions decided that the case against a former bank cashier accused of seven counts of theft where she worked 13 years ago could only be dealt with at district court level if there was a guilty plea to all charges. Sergeant Aisling Murphy said that otherwise the case would have to proceed by indictment to trial by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Mary Dorgan said she would accept jurisdiction also on a plea of guilty to the seven charges. Solicitor Frank Buttimer for defendant, 46-year-old Maeve Joyce of Browningstown Park, Ballinlough, applied for a copy of prosecution evidence for consideration of the matter. The case was then adjourned until July 16 for consideration of a signed plea of guilty. All charges relate to various dates in June and July, 2011. The first count states that at Bank of Ireland, on Bridge Street, Cork, she did steal property, namely 2,194 cash, the property of the manager of Bank of Ireland. The next six charges refer to the alleged theft of the following amounts: 450, 1,000, 2,674, 1,500, 1,784 and 4,500. Uisce Eireann is undertaking further flushing works in areas of Cork city today as part of efforts to improve water quality for homes and businesses. The works commenced this morning and are expected to continue until 4pm. Flushing is taking place in the following areas: Melbourne Road, Woburn and surrounding areas Hollywood Estate, Millstream and Hollymount and surrounding areas Farranferris and surrounding areas Glenheights Park, Glenthorn and surrounding areas Copper Hill, Beaumount and surrounding areas Templeacre Avenue, Chapel Field, Upper Cathedral Road and surrounding areas The water utility company said that, as works progress through the area, signage will be put in place. It said the flushing is part of the work of Uisce Eireanns dedicated water quality taskforce that continues to address water discolouration issued for affected customers across the city. Our goal is to minimise the instances of discolouration for the people where reports of discolouration have been received, water operations lead for Uisce Eireann, Sean Lynch, said. Areas are prioritised based on customer feedback and reports directly to our customer care team. The programme of works involves isolating and flushing small sections of the water network to clear any build-up of sediment from the old cast iron pipes. Uisce Eireann said clearing the pipes can result in sediment carrying through to customers taps resulting in increased instances of discoloured water in the short-term. The company thanked customers for their patience and said it regrets any inconvenience caused. People have been advised not to drink discoloured water, and in the event of discolouration, to run the tap for up to 20 minutes which Uisce Eireann said will usually restore water to a clear colour. The water is safe to drink once running clear. If the issue remains unresolved, we encourage customers to contact us directly. The customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Customers reporting instances of discolouration help us to determine flushing locations on the network, the company added. For more information and advice, visit www.water.ie/help/water-quality/discoloured-water/. 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) BY the time you read this, I will be up, up, and away, off on my jollies on a flight from Cork Airport to a sun-baked foreign land. Its a holiday that has been nearly a year in the planning, and I have spent almost as long anticipating it - the warmth on the shoulders, the cool beer, the meals al fresco... and did I mention the cool beers? Most of us take a second out to thank our lucky stars whenever a hard-earned holiday begins - but this morning I can guarantee I was thanking more than my lucky stars as my plane departed Cork soil. I was thanking the gods in heaven that we had booked a Ryanair flight instead of an Aer Lingus one. Because that seemingly innocuous decision nine months ago ended up being one that could have caused immense disruptions to our cherished holiday plans had we chosen differently - and may even have ended them altogether. Imagine that. The shock, the disbelief, then the dawning misery, that your flight has been whipped away from you with less than a weeks notice - leaving you not so high and dry. My heart goes out to all the estimated 40,000 people whose lives have indeed been upended in the past week by the industrial action taken by Aer Lingus pilots, through no fault of their own. Most of us can accept that flights can be cancelled or delayed for a variety of reasons, from weather to mechanical issues, but when customers become collateral damage in a dispute that is not theirs of the making, that really is beyond the pale. At least 244 flights were cancelled from Wednesday to Sunday this week due to the indefinite work to rule being taken by the Irish pilots union IALPA in a dispute over pay. Thousands of passengers intending to travel with Aer Lingus in the coming weeks now face huge uncertainty too. Imagine, all those holidaymakers whose trips are now up in the air. All those adventures planned, all that time eagerly ticking off the days... then to be plunged into uncertainty, and even to have those hopes cruelly dashed. Neither Aer Lingus nor the pilots union come out of this row with any glory, and Tanaiste Micheal Martin summed up the public mood when he described as shocking the degree to which the needs of the Irish travelling public were being ignored by both sides in the dispute. Mr Martin is a wily politician who knows taking sides in a row like this will normally lose you more friends than it will earn you. Moreover, the Irish public tend to have a positive outlook on unions in any row with management, a tradition that goes way back to the views of our founding fathers such as James Connolly and James Larkin. We like to see unions telling it to the man and have a cast-iron belief that the workers are always in the right. It takes a lot for the people to take the side of the company. However, in this particular dispute, it strikes me that it is the union who have badly misjudged the room. This is one industrial row in which large tracts of the public are, if not siding with the company, at least finding it very hard indeed to support the union. This is because we can all see the issue at play here, and it is simply this: Aer Lingus pilots turned down a 9.25% pay increase because they want a 24% rise. In anyones book, these are vast increases to a persons pay packet. Factor in that a mid-career captain at Aer Lingus is on 177,365 a year at the moment, and one with 20 years experience currently banks a 239,000 salary, and you can see how it is hard to summon up sympathy for the union. The worlds smallest violin, anyone? That isnt to suggest that pilots are not incredibly skilled operators who do an immensely responsible job, and that they do not deserve hefty salaries. But it does make it difficult for the ordinary man and woman to side with them when they ask for a vast sum more, especially when their longed-for annual holiday in the sun is being threatened by the dispute. Taoiseach Simon Harris summed up the anger among many when the cancelled flights were announced, when he urged the airline and the pilots to sort this out. He added: Many, many, many families across the country have seen parents and others go out to work over the course of the year and set aside a few bob to try and take their kids on a family holiday. And the idea that passengers - children due to go on their summer holiday - would be used as pawns in an industrial relations dispute that has already been considered by the Labour Court is utterly reprehensible, people need to step back from the brink. Again, Mr Harris was emphasising the two sides in the dispute, but most observers will have noted that it was the union who seemed to act in indecent haste in launching a work to rule, which they must have known would be incredibly disruptive for their company and its customers. More than a century ago, James Connolly wrote an indignant poem, called We Only Want The Earth, in response to his socialist colleagues who urged caution and moderation in making demands on behalf of workers. Our demands most moderate are, we only want the earth, the poem went. In holding out for a pay rise that would add an extra 40,000 or more to their annual salaries, Aer Lingus pilots appear to be be taking Connollys poem at its word. I enjoyed a flight recently enough on Aer Lingus, and was sent on an email survey by the company a few days later. Thank you for choosing to fly with Aer Lingus. We would love to hear about your experience on your recent flight, it stated. On the basis of this experience, how likely are you to recommend Aer Lingus to a friend or colleague? On the basis of that experience, quite likely. On the basis of the actions of its unions in recent days, not very likely at all. NASA and Boeing plan to spend the next few weeks conducting tests on the ground in order to better understand issues with the Starliner spacecrafts thrusters before giving its crew the go-ahead to fly back to Earth. But, officials insisted in a press conference Friday afternoon, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are not stranded on the International Space Station. Were not in a rush to come home, said Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program. Starliner has been docked with the ISS since June 6 for what was meant to be a 10-day flight test all in all. During its approach of the orbiting lab, however, the craft experienced problems with five of its thrusters, and a known helium leak appeared to worsen. NASA and Boeing have been working together to evaluate the issues ever since. On Friday, representatives for the two said they arent yet setting a date for the return flight, and will instead wait until the ground tests have been completed and all analyses run. The first thruster tests, which will be conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, are expected to begin as soon as Tuesday. It was initially stated that Starliner could only stay docked at the ISS for a maximum of 45 days due to limitations with its batteries, but Stich said during the conference that these batteries are being recharged by the space station, so this can be extended. I want to make it very 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. Starliner is performing well while docked, and the craft could still be used as a lifeboat to bring the astronauts home if necessary in the case of an emergency, the officials said. Mark Nappi, VP and program manager of Boeings Commercial Crew Program, reiterated Stichs comments, saying, Were not stuck on the ISS, the crew is not in any danger, and theres no increased risk when we decide to bring Suni and Butch back to Earth. By Ben Weingarten, RealClearInvestigations May 31, 2024 This summer the Supreme Court will rule on a case involving what a district court called perhaps "the most massive attack against free speech" ever inflicted on the American people. In Murthy v. Missouri, plaintiffs ranging from the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana to epidemiologists from Harvard and Stanford allege that the federal government violated the First Amendment by working with outside groups and social media platforms to surveil, flag, and quash dissenting speech characterizing it as mis-, dis- and mal-information on issues ranging from COVID-19 to election integrity. The case has helped shine a light on a sprawling network of government agencies and connected NGOs that critics describe as a censorship industrial complex. That the U.S. government might aggressively clamp down on protected speech, and, certainly at the scale of millions of social media posts, may constitute a recent development. Reporting by RCI and other outlets including Racket News' new "Censorship Files" series, and continuing installments of the "Twitter Files" series to which it, Public, and others have contributed and congressional probes continue to reveal the substantial breadth and depth of contemporary efforts to quell speech that authorities deem dangerous. But the roots of what some have dubbed the censorship industrial complex stretch back decades, born of an alliance between government, business, and academia that Democrat Sen. William Fulbright termed the "military-industrial-academic-complex" building on President Eisenhower's formulation in a 1967 speech. RCI reviewed public records and court documents and interviewed experts to trace the origins and evolution of the government's allegedly unconstitutional censorship efforts. It is a rich history that includes the battles to defeat America's adversaries in World War II and the Cold War; the development of Silicon Valley; the post-9/11 War on Terror; the Obama administration's transition to targeting domestic violent extremism broadly; and the rise of Donald Trump. If there is one ever-present player in this saga, it is the storied institution of Stanford University. Its idyllic campus has served as the setting over the last 70-plus years for a pivotal public-private partnership linking academia, business, and the national security apparatus. Stanford's central place, particularly in developing technologies to thwart the Soviet Union during the Cold War, would persist and evolve through the decades, leading to the creation of an entity called the Stanford Internet Observatory that would serve as the chief cutout in critics' eyes for government-driven censorship in defense of "democracy" during the 2020 election and beyond. Stanford's Rise to Military-Industrial-Academic Complex Powerhouse Although it bears the name of the railroad magnate who founded the school in 1885, Leland Stanford, the powerhouse university we know of today, represents the vision of another man, Frederick Terman. The son of a Stanford psychology professor, Terman began his tenure at the campus where he was reared teaching electrical engineering during the 1920s and 1930s. He also harbored ambitions to turn the university and its surrounding area into a major high-tech hub to rival that of MIT on the East Coast. Like his MIT colleagues, Terman was also deeply connected to the government's budding national security apparatus. During World War II he was tabbed to head Harvard's Radio Research laboratory, established by the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development to develop countermeasures against enemy radars. Through its good work, the lab would save an estimated 800 Allied bomber aircrafts. Returning to Stanford with the insights and contacts he had developed during the war, Terman took over as the dean of the engineering school in 1946 determined to implement an ambitious plan: to use government funding to erect "steeples of excellence" in critical disciplines that would continually attract new investments in a virtuous cycle that would raise Stanford to preeminence among research institutions. Terman would win Pentagon contracts to help fund Stanford's Electronics Research Laboratory and the Applied Electronics Laboratory, which included work on classified military programs, bringing Stanford firmly into the military-industrial-academic complex fold. Additional labs some engaged in basic or theoretical research, and others applied research followed, deepening the school's ties to the national security state during the Cold War. While reportedly advising every major branch of the military, Terman cultivated ties with private industry. He encouraged graduates to start firms in nearby communities that would come to be known as Silicon Valley, and urged professors to consult. In 1951, Terman helped establish the Stanford Industrial Park, a high-tech cooperative on university land that would attract electronics firms and defense contractors the first such university-owned industrial park in the world. Its tenants would include among others Hewlett-Packard, GE, Eastman Kodak, and a host of other notables, later including the likes of Facebook and Tesla. Lockheed Martin would relocate its Missiles Systems Division to Silicon Valley in 1956 and go on to serve as the largest industrial employer in Silicon Valley during the Cold War. Under Terman's leadership, first as engineering school dean and then as provost, Stanford and the firms it helped incubate and attract generated advances in everything from microwave electronics and electronic warfare, to missiles and satellites, and semiconductors and computers meeting the demands of military and civilian consumers alike. Stuart Leslie, author of "The Cold War and American Science: The Military-Industrial Complex at MIT and Stanford," wrote that "[b]y nearly every measure" Terman achieved his goal of challenging "MIT for leadership" in the sciences. The relationship Terman fostered between the feds and Silicon Valley companies would be responsible for producing "all of the United States Navy's intercontinental ballistic missiles, the bulk of its reconnaissance satellites and tracking systems, and a wide range of microelectronics that became integral components of high-tech weapons and weapons systems" during the Cold War, according to one study. Leslie Berlin, formerly a historian of the Silicon Valley Archives at Stanford University, would write that "All of modern high tech has the US Department of Defense to thank at its core, because this is where the money came from" underwriting research and development. One Stanford institution to which the money flowed with an indirect link to current controversies regarding social media censorship was the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). Incorporated on campus as a nonprofit in 1946, it would pursue lucrative contracts for often-classified military R&D projects. By 1969, SRI ranked third among think tanks in total value of defense contracts garnered. Anti-war activists helped force Stanford to divest from the outfit in 1970 though it would continue to work with government on an array of initiatives. Among them was one building on a Pentagon-backed project to network computers, known as ARPANET. In 1977, an Institute van would transmit data in what is regarded as the first internet connection. Stanford would open an Office of Technology Licensing in 1970 to manage the university's growing IP portfolio. The office would execute thousands of licenses covering many thousands more inventions sometimes in tandem with the security state. For example, Google was built in part on National Science Foundation-supported research; its development has also been tied to work done under a joint NSA and CIA grant. Terrorism Rejuvenates and Transforms the Military-Industrial-Academic Complex The 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 would reinvigorate and fundamentally transform a military-industrial-academic complex that had demobilized to an extent following the Cold War, during which it had been largely foreign-facing. It would come to see not only foreign clandestine communications but public conversations between Americans promoting disfavored viewpoints as national security concerns. To combat jihadists, Washington demanded sophisticated new surveillance tools and weapons. When combined with the explosion in communications technology, and the creation of massive new reams of digital data that could be collected and analyzed, Big Tech would prove a natural supplier. The advent of social media including Facebook (2004), YouTube (2005), and Twitter (2006) would significantly impact these efforts. To the public, social media platforms comprised a digital public square that empowered citizens as journalists and enabled the free flow of ideas and information. But governments and non-state actors, including terrorist groups, realized they could harness the power of such platforms, and use them for intelligence gathering, waging information warfare, and targeting foes. Initially U.S. authorities focused almost exclusively on foreign jihadist organizations' exploitation of social media. That began to change when the Obama administration created a series of policies and associated entities most of which worked closely with Big Tech and academia targeting a broader array of adversaries. In 2011, the Obama administration deployed its "Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States" strategy. While identifying Al-Qaeda as "our current priority," the policy broadened the national security apparatus focus to "all types of extremism that leads to violence, regardless of who inspires it." That same year, the State Department stood up an entity aimed at "supporting agencies in Government-wide public communications activities targeted against violent extremism and terrorist organizations" that in 2016 would morph into the Global Engagement Center (GEC). It would serve as a broader "interagency entity" that would not only partner to build "a global network of positive messengers against violent extremism" including NGOs, but leverage data analytics "from both the public and private sectors to better understand radicalization dynamics online." Also that year, the Defense Department announced its Social Media in Strategic Communication program, launched to "track ideas and concepts to analyze patterns and cultural narratives" as part of an effort "to develop tools to help identify misinformation or deception campaigns and counter them with truthful information, reducing adversaries' ability to manipulate events." Millions of dollars flowed to both Big Tech and academic hubs in connection with the project. In conjunction with these programs, the Obama administration also consulted with outside advisors to study how jihadist groups engaged in online disinformation campaigns. Included among the advisors was Renee DiResta, future technical research manager of the Stanford Internet Observatory which would later play a key role in the government's effort to identify and quell speech disfavored by the government. With terrorist organizations increasingly exploiting social media platforms to proliferate propaganda and in pursuit of other malign ends, Silicon Valley came to play an increasingly key role in U.S. counterterrorism efforts. As Kara Frederick wrote in a 2019 report for the Center for a New American Security, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media companies: hired talent to fill gaps in their counterterrorism expertise, created positions to coordinate and oversee global counterterrorism policy, convened relevant players in internal forums, and instituted a combination of technical measures and good old-fashioned analysis to root out offending users and content. Major and minor tech companies coordinated with each other and with law enforcement to share threat information, drafted policies around preventing terrorist abuse of their platforms, updated their community guidelines, and even supported counter-speech initiatives to offer alternative messaging to terrorist propaganda. Frederick, now at the Heritage Foundation, would know. A counter-terrorism analyst at the Department of Defense from 2010-16, she departed for Facebook where she helped create and lead its Global Security Counterterrorism Analysis Program. Facebook's chief security officer during Frederick's tenure, Alex Stamos future founder of the Stanford Internet Observatory would boast that "there are several terrorist attacks that you've never heard of because they didn't happen because we caught them ... some local law enforcement agency took credit for it, but it was actually our team that found it and turned it over to them with a bow on it." "Once clearly public sector responsibilities," Stamos would add, "are now private sector responsibilities." Trump's Election Catalyzes the Creation of the Censorship Industrial Complex With government broadening its focus to domestic violent extremism and its nexus to social media, and a revolving door opening between the national security apparatus and the platforms, Donald Trump's election would prove a catalyzing event in the creation of what critics would describe as the censorship industrial complex. His victory, which followed Brexit, another populist uprising that stunned Western elites, sent shockwaves from Washington, D.C., to Silicon Valley. A narrative quickly arose that social media was to blame for Trump's unexpected win. It held that dark forces, especially Russia, had manipulated voters through dishonest posts, and that the platforms enabled Trump's victory through allowing supporters to advance corrosive conspiracy theories. The national security apparatus sprang to action. In January 2017, outgoing Obama DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson made protecting election infrastructure part of his agency's mandate. Subsequently: DHS would develop a Countering Foreign Influence Task Force focusing on "election infrastructure disinformation." The State Department's Global Engagement Center would broaden its interagency mandate to counter foreign influence operations. The FBI would establish a Foreign Influence Task Force to "identify and counteract malign foreign influence operations targeting the United States," with an explicit focus on voting and elections. These key components of what would come to be known as the censorship industrial complex one that would ultimately target the speech of Trump's own supporters and the president himself emerged at the very time he was fending off the Trump-Russia collusion conspiracy theory that gave rise to them. Government concerns over foreign meddling in domestic politics would drive demand for putatively private sector actors, often with extensive government ties and funding, to engage in what the NGOs cast as research and analysis of such malign operations on social media. In 2018, the Senate Select Intelligence Committee would solicit research, including from DiResta, on Russia's social media meddling research that would bolster something of a pressure campaign against social media companies to get them to quit dithering on content moderation. The committee also commissioned Graphika, a social media analytics firm founded in 2013, to co-author a report on Russian social media meddling. Graphika lists DARPA and the Department of Defense's Minerva Initiative, which funds "basic social science research," on a company website detailing its clients and research partners. It would serve as one of the four partners that would comprise the Stanford Internet Observatory-led Election Integrity Partnership a key cog in government-driven speech policing during and after the 2020 election. Another entity that would join the Stanford-led quartet is the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, established in 2016. Funded in part by the Departments of State including through the Global Engagement Center and Energy, the think-tank counts among its directors CIA chiefs and Defense secretaries. The lab's senior director is Graham Bookie, a former top aide to President Obama on cybersecurity, counterterrorism, intelligence, and homeland security issues. In 2018, Facebook announced an election partnership with the lab wherein the two parties would work on "emerging threats and disinformation campaigns from around the world." The third of four entities later to join the Election Integrity Partnership was the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, formed in 2019. Stanford grad and visiting professor Kate Starbird co-founded the Center. The National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research have provided funding for Dr. Starbird's social media work. That same year, the Stanford Internet Observatory emerged. Founded by Alex Stamos, who had led substantial research on Russia's social media operations while Chief Security Officer at Facebook and routinely interfaced with national security agencies throughout his cybersecurity career, the Observatory would serve as a "cross-disciplinary initiative comprised of research, teaching and policy engagement addressing the abuse of today's information technologies, with a particular focus on social media includ[ing] the spread of disinformation, cybersecurity breaches, and terrorist propaganda." The Observatory is a program of Stanford's Cyber Policy Center, which counts former Obama National Security Council official and Russian Ambassador Michael McFaul, among other notables on the faculty list with backgrounds in or ties to the security state. Stamos stood up the Observatory with a $5 million gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies which also gave $1 million to Starbird's work. The Craigslist founder's charitable vehicle contributed some $170 million to "journalism, countering harassment against journalists, cybersecurity and election integrity," between 2016 and 2020, areas he argued constituted the "battle spaces" of information warfare information warfare waged implicitly against President Trump and his supporters. The National Science Foundation also provided large infusions of money to the sprawling network of academic entities, for-profit firms, and think tanks that would emerge in the "counter-disinformation space." This network produced a mass of research and analysis redefining and expanding the perceived threat of free and open social media. It argued America was plagued by a pandemic of "misinformation," "disinformation," and "malinformation," with a nexus to domestic violent extremism that could be created and disseminated by almost anyone thereby making everyone a potential target for surveillance and censorship. Ideas authorities found troubling would come to be treated as tantamount to national security threats to be neutralized as the future Biden administration would codify in the first-of-its-kind National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism. DiResta described this paradigm shift in a 2018 article for Just Security a publication incidentally also funded by Newmark. "Disinformation, misinformation, and social media hoaxes have evolved from a nuisance into high-stakes information war," DiResta wrote. She continued: Traditional analysis of propaganda and disinformation has focused fairly narrowly on understanding the perpetrators and trying to fact-check the narratives (fight narratives with counter-narratives, fight speech with more speech). Today's information operations, however, are computational. They're driven by algorithms and are conducted with unprecedented scale and efficiency. It's time to change our way of thinking about propaganda and disinformation: it's not a truth-in-narrative issue, it's an adversarial attack in the information space. Info ops are a cybersecurity issue. This re-definition of what arguably amounts to speech policing of social media as security policy could be seen a year later when NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged that "NATO must remain prepared for both conventional and hybrid threats: From tanks to tweets." (Emphasis RCI's) The Censorship Industrial Complex Mobilizes for the 2020 Election In the run-up to the 2020 election, DHS' Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which took as its mandate protecting election infrastructure, would expand its focus to include combatting misinformation and disinformation perceived as threatening the security of elections regardless of its source. This would ultimately encompass the protected political speech of Americans, including speculation and even satire to the extent it called into question or undermined state-approved narratives about an unprecedented mass mail-in election. Social media companies, chastened after having come under withering political and media attack for their content moderation policies during the 2016 election, would recruit dozens of ex-security state officials to fill their "Trust and Safety" teams dealing with policing speech to likewise combat this purported threat. Frederick told RealClearInvestigations that Silicon Valley leaders believed the teams' past focus on Islamic terror, which receded under Trump, reflected a bias, requiring platforms to "reorient toward domestic extremism" the new target of the political establishment. Combining the platforms' political leanings with the tools they had developed to take on jihadists, in Frederick's words, would create a "powder keg" threatening to obliterate Americans' speech. Still, the Constitution stood in the way to the extent the government wanted to police the platforms' speech. In the run-up to the 2020 election, both federal authorities and like-minded NGOs recognized a "gap:" No federal agency had "a focus on, or authority regarding, [identifying and targeting for suppression] election misinformation originating from domestic sources," as the Stanford Internet Observatory-led Election Integrity Partnership would put it. DiResta acknowledged any such project faced "very real First Amendment questions." In response, the government helped create a workaround via that very Election Integrity Partnership a government driven, advised, and coordinated enterprise run by NGOs to surreptitiously surveil and seek to censor speech that did not comport with government-favored narratives on election administration and outcomes. One hundred days from the 2020 election, the Stanford Internet Observatory, alongside Graphika, the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, and University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public launched the EIP as a "model for whole-of-society collaboration," aimed at "defending the 2020 election against voting-related mis- and disinformation." As RCI previously reported, the project had two main objectives: First, EIP lobbied social media companies, with some success, to adopt more stringent moderation policies around "content intended to suppress voting, reduce participation, confuse voters as to election processes, or delegitimize election results without evidence. Second, EIP surveilled hundreds of millions of social media posts for content that might violate the platforms' moderation policies. In addition to identifying this content internally, EIP also collected content forwarded to it by external "stakeholders," including government offices and civil society groups. EIP then flagged this mass of content to the platforms for potential suppression. As many as 120 analysts, records show, created tickets identifying social media content they deemed objectionable. They forwarded many tickets to officials at platforms including Google, Twitter, and Facebook which "labeled, removed, or soft blocked" thousands of unique URLs content shared millions of times. An RCI review of the nearly 400 of those tickets produced to the House Homeland Security Committee found that government agencies including entities within the FBI, DHS (CISA), and State Department (GEC) involved themselves in nearly a quarter of the censorship tickets. Those tickets almost uniformly covered domestic speech, and from the political right; in dozens of instances, the project made "recommendations" to social media companies to take action. The tickets RCI reviewed illustrated the project's efforts to push social media platforms to silence President Trump and other elected officials. One EIP analyst would say of the effort that it "was probably the closest we've come to actually preempting misinformation before it goes viral." In response to RCI's inquiries in connection with this story, CISA Executive Director Brandon Wales shared a statement reading in part: "CISA does not and has never censored speech or facilitated censorship. Such allegations are riddled with factual inaccuracies." Given "concerns from election officials of all parties regarding foreign influence operations and disinformation that may impact the security of election infrastructure," Wales said, "CISA mitigates the risk of disinformation by sharing information on election security with the public and by amplifying the trusted voices of election officials across the nation" work he indicated is conducted while protecting Americans' liberties. Dr. Starbird told RCI that: Falsehoods about elections - whether accidental rumors about when and how to vote or intentional disinformation campaigns meant to sow distrust in election results - are issues that cut to the core of our democracy. Identifying and communicating about these issues isn't partisan and, despite an ongoing campaign to label this work as such, isn't 'censorship.' The Censorship Industrial Complex Persists Despite Scrutiny All had come full circle. Stanford had once again connected the security state to Silicon Valley for a project involving both basic and applied research aimed at perceived foes studying how narratives emerged, and then seeking to get offending ones purged. That project would again garner new funding from the security state in the form of a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation split between the Stanford Internet Observatory and the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public for "rapid-response research to mitigate online disinformation." Their partners in the EIP would receive millions more from the federal government under the Biden administration. The relationship between DHS' Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and EIP would only grow. As RCI reported: In the days following Nov. 3, 2020, with President Trump challenging the integrity of the election results, CISA rebuked him in a statement, calling the election "the most secure in American history." The president would go on to fire CISA's director, Christopher Krebs, by tweet. Almost immediately thereafter, Krebs and Stamos would form a consultancy, the Krebs Stamos Group. In March 2021, Krebs would participate in a "fireside chat" when EIP launched its 2020 report. CISA's top 2020 election official, Matt Masterson, joined SIO as a fellow after leaving CISA in January 2021. Krebs' successor at CISA, Director Jen Easterly, would appoint Stamos to the sub-agency's Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, established in 2021, for a term set to expire this month. Director Easterly would appoint Kate Starbird to the committee. Starbird chaired the advisory committee's since-abolished MDM (Mis-, Dis-, and Mal-Information) Subcommittee, focusing on information threats to infrastructure beyond elections. SIO's DiResta served as a subject matter expert for the now-defunct subcommittee. DHS scrapped the entity in the wake of the public furor over DHS' now-shelved "Disinformation Governance Board." Starbird, her University of Washington colleagues, and a former student member of the Stanford Internet Observatory who had matriculated to the Krebs Stamos Group would publish a report in June 2022 building on their EIP efforts, titled "Repeat Spreaders and Election Delegitimization: A Comprehensive Dataset of Misinformation Tweets from the 2020 U.S. Election." Its publication coincided with, and seemed aimed at buttressing the partisan House January 6 Select Committee's second public hearing. Documents obtained via FOIA from the University of Washington and recently published by Matt Taibbi's Racket News and Substacker UndeadFOIA, suggest the committee's chief data scientist met with Starbird and DiResta in January of that year to discuss the report the EIP produced following the 2020 election and its underlying data a report that linked mis-, dis-, and mal-information regarding the 2020 election to the capitol riot. In the interim, EIP would morph into the Virality Project, which would be used to target dissent from public health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic dissent those authorities argued could lead people to die, as dissenting views on the 2020 election spurred the capitol riot. Among those targeted by the government for silencing, and who social media companies would censor, in part for his opposition to broad pandemic lockdowns, was Stanford's own Dr. Jay Bhattacharya one plaintiff in Murthy v. Missouri (Dr. Bhattacharya and Taibbi were recipients of RealClear's first annual Samizdat Prize honoring those committed to truth and free speech). As he sees it, the Virality Project helped "launder" a "government hit list for censorship," which he finds "absolutely shocking" and at odds with the Stanford's past commitments to academic freedom and general "sort of countercultural opposition to government overreach." As chilling as these efforts were, a House Homeland Security Committee aide told RCI: EIP and VP were largely comprised of college interns running basic Google searches. Imagine a similar effort leveraging artificial intelligence to sweep up and censor ever greater swaths of our online conversations. We are at the beginning of the problem, not the end, which is why it is so vital to get right today because without action, tomorrow could be far worse. It is unclear whether such action is forthcoming. Oral arguments in Murthy, heard this past March, suggested the Supremes may diverge from the lower courts. A federal district court found, and an appellate court concurred in the view that in coordinating and colluding with third parties and social media companies to suppress disfavored speech, government agencies had likely violated the First Amendment. Those courts barred such contact between agencies and social media companies during the pendency of the case an injunction the nation's highest court stayed over the objections of Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch. At least one companion case targeting the likes of the Stanford Internet Observatory, and its Election Integrity Partnership and Virality Project as co-conspirators with the federal government in violating Americans' speech, Hines v. Stamos, is pending. GOP legislation to deter and/or defund the activities illustrated in these cases has languished in Congress, but oversight efforts have raised the cost for NGOs to continue partnering with the government. When asked in June 2023 about the Stanford Internet Observatory's future plans, Stamos told the House Judiciary Committee, which has been probing alleged public-private censorship efforts, that "Since this investigation has cost the university now approaching seven figures legal fees, it's been pretty successful I think in discouraging us from making it worthwhile for us to do a study in 2024." Bhattacharya responded in an interview with RCI, "Why is Stanford putting so much of its institutional energy into [defending] this [the Observatory]?" "It seems like they are putting their thumbs on the scale partly because they're so closely connected with government entities." Months later, according to his LinkedIn profile, Stamos would depart from the Observatory, while remaining a part-time Stanford Adjunct and Lecturer in Computer Science. On the eve of oral arguments in the Murthy case, Stanford University and its observatory castigated critics for promoting "false, inaccurate, misleading, and manufactured claims" regarding its "role in researching and analyzing social media content about U.S. elections and the COVID-19 vaccine." Stanford called on the Supreme Court to "affirm its right to share its research and views with the government and social media companies." It vowed the Internet Observatory would continue its work on "influence operations." Starbird has echoed Stanford. In response to a series of questions from Taibbi pertaining to the trove of FOIA'd documents Racket obtained, she said: Our team has fielded dozens of public records requests, producing thousands of emails. Not one confirms the central claims of your thesis falsely alleging coordination with government and platforms to "censor" social media content. But, instead of acknowledging that fact, abuse continues of the Washington State public records law to smear and spread falsehoods based on willful misreadings of innocuous emails, ignorance about scientific research, and, in several instances, a lack of reading comprehension. She too vowed that: "At the Center for an Informed Public, our research into online rumoring about election procedures and our work to rapidly identify and communicate about harmful election rumors will continue in 2024." Stanford's Internet Observatory and the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public will not be spearheading the Election Integrity Partnership for 2024 or future election cycles however, per a link to the EIP's website to which a Stanford spokesperson referred RCI in sole response to our queries. Some experts are doubtful alleged social media censorship is going away anytime soon. "I don't know how to put the genie back in the bottle,'" said Frederick. "There's a thing about intel analysts in general where you have a sense of superiority because you have access to things that the plebes don't. But, you know, these people have taken their G-d complexes to the next level and turned it against their neighbor." Of the alleged speech police, she said "they're drunk with power obviously and they think they know what's best for us." Amb. Alberto Fernandez, vice president at MEMRI and a former leader of the precursor to the State Department's GEC, an observatory stakeholder that had itself funded adjacent efforts, told RCI "there needs to be transparency and preferably, a firewall' of some sort between the Feds and social media." In May, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) who had himself submitted an amicus brief siding with the agencies in the case, contra Republican colleagues led by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan revealed that in the wake of the oral arguments in Murthy, federal agencies had resumed communications with social media companies. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who had originally brought the Murthy case as Missouri attorney general, replied: "It appears DHS, FBI and potentially other agencies are quietly ramping up their efforts to censor Constitutionally protected speech ahead of the 2024 election." Crofters and the wider public are being asked by the Scottish government to share their views on how crofting should be reformed. The consultation, which runs until 2 September 2024, seeks views on a range of proposals for modernising crofting. The Scottish government said it wanted to help to create opportunities for new entrants and encourage the active management and use of crofts. The crofting system must also support effective and sustainable land use, it explained. There are around 20,000 crofts across the crofting counties, which are in the Highlands & Islands and in designated areas in Scotland. More than 750,000 hectares of land in Scotland is in crofting tenure, with approximately 33,000 people living in crofting households. As part of the consultation, the publics views are needed on proposals on entry to crofting, crofting communities and use of common grazings. It also seeks input on strengthening residency and land use, as well as enhanced Crofting Commission powers. Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said new any legislation must support the sustainability of crofting, crofters and crofting communities. However, he said crofting also needed to be modernised. Crofting has a special place in the cultural heritage of Scotland, and we want it to play its part in our future," Mr Fairlie said. We now see crofting playing an increasing role in tourism, renewable energy generation, forestry, peatland restoration, beekeeping and small-scale horticulture production. The consultation proposals range from relatively small technical changes to significant innovations and I would encourage everyone with an interest to respond to the consultation or come to one of the meetings if they are able. A programme of meetings spearheaded by the Scottish government will take place from 3 July to 15 August. Lupita Nyong'o is determined to keep her personal life out of the spotlight. Lupita Nyong'o wants to keep her love life low-key The 41-year-old actress has been romantically linked to actor Joshua Jackson in recent months - but Lupita wants her private life to remain private. The Hollywood star - who split from TV commentator Selema Masekela in 2023 - told PEOPLE: "There's so much of my life that is public, to also make my personal life a part of the public conversation, it's a liability. "What I learned is when things go south, then recovering from that moment takes longer because everybody knows. "So in the name of just being allowed to have relationships that mean a lot to me, and grow from them on my own terms ... I want to keep things to myself." Lupita has previously been much more open about her love life. But the actress has now made a conscious decision to adopt a different approach. She said: "There's a lack of control. I don't have control in things ... I'll say this: What's wonderful about social media is I get a say in what people know about me. "But, there are parts of my life that I have no control over what people know. And it is unnerving. It's saddening at times - I'd say even disappointing and frustrating. But then I can't do anything about that. "So what I can do is safeguard what I share as much as possible, and then leave the rest to God." Last year, a source revealed that Lupita and Joshua were trying to keep their romance "under the radar". The insider told Us Weekly: "Joshua and Lupita have been dating for a very short while now. Theyre focusing on keeping their relationship under the radar as much as possible." Cardi B has warned her production team not to "play with [her] money". Cardi B has slammed her production team The 31-year-old rap star slammed her team following a technical mishap during her performance at the BET Experience event in Los Angeles on Friday (28.06.24), and Cardi has now taken to social media to double down on her criticism. Cardi - who was vocally critical of the team during her performance - said on X: "let me tell you about yesterday!! I spent 100k on pyro that we couldnt use because the production team failed to have the fire marshall go over safety with my team which is sooo simple to do.. spent days in rehersal learning choreography just so for them to have the wrong mix and we had to swap it out .. booked four fans so they could be turned on during Bartier Cardi and that never happened.. you wanna know why? Because they didnt bother to show up to rehearsal while hundred thousands of dollars was put into this show. Dont play with my money in this economy honey [laughing emoji] (sic)" In a separate post, Cardi rubbished criticism of her on-stage behaviour. The 'Bodak Yellow' hitmaker - who worked as a stripper before finding success in the music business - explained: "when you do a show you dont pay after you pay before.. I paid 350,000 up front the least they could do is get my pyro ready and turn the fans on because guess what??? At the end of the day that money is not returnable dont half a** my show because you comfortable when I definitely dont half a** when it comes to paying.. (sic)" Rachel Leviss feels "ready to date". Rachel Leviss feels ready to date The 29-year-old beauty is currently single, but Rachel has revealed that she's "open" to dating and finding love. The former 'Vanderpump Rules' star - who previously had a months-long affair with Tom Sandoval - said on her 'Rachel Goes Rogue' podcast: "I'm looking forward to it. "I'm looking for someone who is safe and reliable and emotionally mature, emotionally stable, and someone who's gonna treat me right." Despite this, Rachel insisted she won't rush into anything. She explained: "I definitely wouldn't sleep with someone on the third date, especially because I already have a reputation. [I] don't need people making assumptions about me being easy." What's more, Rachel acknowledged that she was following her heart rather than her head during her affair with Tom. The TV star shared: "With Tom, it was like it was a secret relationship that I was thinking with my heart and not logically." Tom split from Ariana Madix after news of their affair became public, and Rachel subsequently took to social media to issue a public apology. She wrote on Instagram at the time: "I want to apologize for my actions and my choices foremost to Ariana, and to my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I must own my actions and I deeply regret hurting Ariana. (sic)" Rachel also promised to reflect on her mistakes. She said: "I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved. I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices. (sic)" The US international trade deficit increased to $100.6 billion in May, rising by $2.7 billion from April's deficit of $98.0 billion, according to advance statistics released by the US Census Bureau. This increase is attributed to a decline in both exports and imports of goods for the month. Exports of goods for May were reported at $166.7 billion, reflecting a decrease of $4.6 billion from April's exports. Meanwhile, imports of goods for May were $267.3 billion, down $2 billion from the previous month. Wholesale inventories for May, adjusted for seasonal variations and trading day differences but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $901.6 billion. This marks a 0.6 per cent increase from April 2024, though it represents a 0.5 per cent decrease from May 2023. The percentage change from March 2024 to April 2024 was revised from an initial estimate of 0.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent, as per the bureau. Retail inventories for May, also adjusted for seasonal variations and trading day differences but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $796.8 billion. This indicates a 0.7 per cent rise from April 2024 and a 5.0 per cent increase from May 2023. The March 2024 to April 2024 percentage change remained unrevised from the preliminary estimate of a 0.7 per cent increase. The US trade deficit rose to $100.6 billion in May, up $2.7 billion from April, as exports dropped by $4.6 billion to $166.7 billion, and imports fell by $2 billion to $267.3 billion. Wholesale inventories increased 0.6 per cent from April but decreased 0.5 per cent year-on-year. Retail inventories rose 0.7 per cent from April and 5.0 per cent from May 2023. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP) VICTORY BATTERY METALS CORP. (CSE:VR)(OTC PINK:VRCFF)(FRA:VR6) is pleased to announce that it has significantly expanded it's focus on uranium, with the acquisition of the Yellow Chief uranium property in Utah, and a portfolio of four uranium properties in Saskatchewan. When combined with the previously announced Chariot River property in Saskatchewan, the companies holdings comprise 3,643 hectres. Terms of the Option Agreement are: The Option Agreement dated June 26, 2024, subject to CSE approval, provides Victory the sole exclusive right to acquire 100% interest in the Property in accordance with the following terms: by making aggregate cash payments of $200,000 to Yellow Chief, issuing an aggregate of 16,000,000 common shares to Yellow Chief and incurring aggregate exploration expenditures of $500,000 on the Property as follows: (a) Paying $200,000 in cash to Yellow Chief as follows: (i) $100,000 within 14 days of signature; (ii) $50,000 on the first anniversary of the initial payment; (iii) $50,000 on the second anniversary date; (b) Issuing 16,000,000 common shares of Victory Battery Metals Corp as follows: (i) 8,000,000 common shares upon signature of the Agreement; (ii) 4,000,000 common shares on or before the 1st anniversary of the Effective Date; (iii) 4,000,000 common shares of on or before the 2nd anniversary of the Effective Date; c) Incurring aggregate exploration expenditures of $600,000 on the Property as follows (i) $100,000 on or before the first anniversary date of the Agreement (ii) an aggregate of $200,000 on or before the second anniversary date of the Agreement (iii) an aggregate of $300,000 on or before the third anniversary date of the Agreement. YELLOW CHIEF URANIUM PROPERTY - Located in mining-friendly Juab County in western Utah, the Yellow Chief property comprises 28 claims covering 130 hectares. Juab county is an active exploration and mining area, with beryllium produced by Materion from the Spor Mountain mine, gold exploration and production at the Tintic mine by Osisko Development Corp, and drilling and exploration at the Tintic project by Ivanhoe Electric (Utah Geological Survey Circular 134, 37 pages). The property covers the northern portion of the past producing open pit, and prospective volcanic tuff units trending to the northeast of the pit. The Yellow Chief Mine was developed from 1959 to 1962 as an open pit, " ..which reached horizontal dimensions of 1,200 by 300-500 feet (366 m by 91-152 m) and a depth of 100-150 feet (30-46 m). Approximately 100,000 tons (90,700 metric tons) of 0.20-0.23 percent uranium ore was produced from the deposit (Bowyer, 1963)." * * As reported in; (URANIUM MINERALIZATION IN FLUORINE-ENRICHED VOLCANIC ROCKS, Burt, D. M. et. Al, 1980, prepared for the U. S. Department of Energy. Subcontract No. 79-270-E) "Uranium mineralization at the Yellow Chief mine occurs as lenses of disseminated secondary uranium minerals (mostly beta-uranophane) in a 100-to 120-foot (30-37 m) thick sequence of conglomerate and tuffaceous sandstone that directly underlies the "beryllium tuff member" of the Spor Mountain Formation." ** ** As reported in; (URANIUM POTENTIAL IN UTAH, Gloyn, R. W. and Krahulec, K, 2004, UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY) The Yellow Chief uranium mine is only 6 kilometers east of Materion Corp.'s open pit operations for beryllium (Be) ore. Beryllium is a high-value, essential, light metal with wide applications in the aerospace, computer, telecommunications, electronics, medical, satellite and defence sectors. The Spor Mountain operations are the largest source of beryllium in the United States, accounting for approximately 63 per cent of the world's annual production in 2020. Little information is available regarding previous exploration programs in the area. The Company will conduct mapping and sampling of the open pit sites, with a focus on planning a drill program to test for the favorable uranium (+/- Be) units, North and Northeast of a mapped East to North-East trending fault mapped in the pit. PK Property - The PK property covers 1 claim comprising 1090.0 hectares located northeast of the Athabasca Basin, within the Charlebois-Higginson uranium district. Also known as the "Pinkham East" property, the claims were last explored in the late 1970's. Assessment reports indicate the PK property high (to 100 times background) radioactivity in pegmatite. Radioactivity is reported to be associated with a coarse-grained, off-white leucocratic pegmatite. This rock contains white feldspar and local large biotite books. The pegmatite may extend along strike more than 1700 m. Only limited sampling (3 samples) was completed with uranium values of up to 0.035% U3O8. Fine-grained, reddish brown sandstone boulders cover the grid area of the PK property with boulders reported up 1 metre in diameter and friable, that are unlikely to have survive glacial ice transport over large distances. It was interpreted that they may be sourced from an outlier of the Athabasca Formation. If found insitu, this would be the furthest north occurrence of Athabasca Formation and the unconformity would be an attractive target for uranium mineralization. Mozzie Halo East and Mozzie Halo West Properties - This package comprises three blocks of claims, located around the core Mozzie East and West Properties. The Mozzie East and West Properties are held by other land owners. Combined the Company's three properties total 445 hectares with two blocks adjacent to the Mozzie West property, and one claim adjacent to the Mozzie East property. The Mozzie West and East properties were previously held by Pegasus Resources Ltd. (refer to Pegasus Press Release, October 20, 2021): "The Mozzie Lake property consists of two claim blocks that are situated approximately 25 and 40 km northeast of the edge of the Athabasca basin. It is located within the Charlebois-Higgingson Lake uranium district. Highlights: - Historical resource estimate at the 20A zone with 204,200 tons at 0.119 per cent triuranium octoxidem at an average width of 15.8 feet (4.8 metres), containing 535,718 pounds of uranium*; The mineralization is hosted within pegmatite intrusions. The pegmatite deposits of the Charlebois-Higgingson Lake uranium district have remained largely dormant since it was first explored in the 1940s to 1960s era. There are historical references to rare-earth-element-(REE)-bearing minerals in the region, including at the Pinkham Lake prospects on the Mozzie Lake property. The company believes that a re-evaluation of the district with respect to REE mineralization should be conducted to potentially bolster the uranium potential of the project(s). *The historical resource estimate was completed by Trigg, Woollett & Associates Ltd. on behalf of King Resources Company in 1968 (Sask. assessment report 74P07-0043). The historical mineral resource estimates listed above either use categories that are not compliant with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and cannot be compared to NI 43-101 categories, or are not current estimates as prescribed by NI 43-101, and therefore should not be relied upon. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the estimates as current resources and Pegasus is not treating the estimates as a current resource estimate." Mr. Mark Ireton, Victory President and CEO noted "Victory is pleased to advise having enhanced the property portfolio with the addition of these uranium properties bringing total uranium holdings to 12,815 Ha including Sept Ilse Uranium, Quebec with 9,042 Ha, 130 Ha in Juab County, Utah and 3,643 Ha in Saskatchewan. Uranium focus comes with geographic diversity and encouraging property advancement potential given results, features and findings from past work programs on all properties prior to their acquisition by Victory." Scientific and technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Helgi Sigurgeirson (P.Geo. with EGBC) and a "qualified person" under NI 43-101 and Consultant to Victory Battery Metals Corp. About Victory Battery Metals Corp. VICTORY BATTERY METALS CORP. (CSE:VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also actively seeking other exploration opportunities. For further information, please contact: Mark Ireton, President Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822 or TOLL FREE 1 (855) 665-GOLD (4653) E-mail: info@victorybatterymetals.com 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. Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Victory Battery Metals Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Read this notice carefully as it may affect your rights TORONTO, June 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This Notice is directed to all persons and entities, excluding certain persons associated with the defendant, Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. ("ReconAfrica") wherever they may reside or be domiciled, who purchased or otherwise acquired common shares of ReconAfrica listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and Frankfurt Stock Exchange, on or after May 30, 2020 (the "ReconAfrica Securities"), and held some or all of those securities until after the close of trading on September 7, 2021 ("Canadian Settlement Class Members" and the "Canadian Class Period"). PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE A proposed class action (the "Canadian Action") brought on behalf of the Canadian Settlement Class Members has been settled. The Canadian Settlement has been approved by the British Columbia Supreme Court (the "Canadian Court"). This Notice provides Canadian Settlement Class Members with information about how to submit a Claim Form to the Canadian Claims Administrator in order to participate in the distribution of the Canadian Net Settlement Fund. THE ACTION The plaintiff in the Canadian Action (the "Canadian Plaintiff") alleges that commencing May 2020, ReconAfrica negligently signaled planned fracking by referencing "unconventional" resources and "shale" deposits within Namibia. In industry parlance, "unconventional" resources and/or "shale" deposits refer to oil and gas deposits requiring extraction by fracking. The Canadian Plaintiff alleges that ReconAfrica was made these statements negligently because it failed to disclose to investors that: (1) ReconAfrica had not determined whether Namibia would allow fracking, which had never been done in Namibia, and which was central to ReconAfrica's business plans; and (2) ReconAfrica possessed data from its test wells that revealed poor prospects for achieving oil and gas production that would be commercially viable. These alleged omitted material facts undermined ReconAfrica's public statements made during the Canadian Class Period, rendering them misleading. When publicly corrected, the markets' reaction was allegedly immediate and harsh. ReconAfrica denies all such allegations. The settlement of the Canadian Action, without an admission of liability on the part of ReconAfrica, was approved by The Honourable Justice Francis on June 20, 2024. This notice provides a summary of the settlement. SUMMARY OF THE SETTLEMENT TERMS ReconAfrica will pay CAD $5,075,000 million (the "Canadian Settlement Amount"), in full and final settlement of all claims against it in the Canadian Action. Canadian Class Counsel Fees, including out-of-pocket expenses and taxes, were fixed by the Court as a first charge on the Canadian Settlement Amount in the amount of thirty (30) percent of CAD $5,075,000 million, plus disbursements, plus taxes. The Canadian Settlement Amount for the Class, less the Canadian Class Counsel Fees and disbursements, administrator's expenses, and taxes, (the "Canadian Net Settlement Amount") will be distributed to the Canadian Settlement Class in accordance with the Court-approved Canadian Plan of Allocation. The Global Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement dated February 27, 2024 (the "Settlement Agreement") and Canadian Plan of Allocation may be viewed at https://bergermontague.ca/cases/reconnaissance-energy-africa-ltd/ . HOW TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION: CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 28, 2024 Each Canadian Settlement Class Member must submit a completed Claim Form on or before October 28, 2024 in order to participate in the settlement. The Claim Form can be accessed or downloaded at https://bergermontague.ca/cases/reconnaissance-energy-africa-ltd/ or obtained by calling the Canadian Claims Administrator at 647.598.8772 extension 6. If you do not submit a completed Claim Form by October 28, 2024 2024, you will not receive any part of the Canadian Net Settlement Amount. The Canadian Court appointed Berger Montague (Canada) PC as the Administrator of the settlement to, among other things: (i) receive and process Claim Forms; (ii) decide eligibility for compensation; and (iii) distribute the net Canadian Settlement Amount to eligible Class Members. The Claim Form should be submitted to the Administrator by using the secure Online Claims System at https://bergermontague.ca/cases/reconnaissance-energy-africa-ltd/ . You may submit a paper Claim Form only if you do not have internet access. The paper Claim Form may be sent by mail or courier to: ReconAfrica Claims Administrator 330 Bay Street, Suite 505 Toronto, ON M5H 2S8 Email: info@bergermontague.ca INTERPRETATION If there is a conflict between the provisions of this Notice and the Settlement Agreement, the terms of the Settlement Agreement will prevail. This notice has been approved by the Court. Questions about matters This notice should NOT be directed to the Canadian Court. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/notice-of-settlement-approval-reconnaissance-energy-africa-ltd-canadian-securities-class-action-302186237.html LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Rising Afrobeat and Afropop sensation Amirror is set to captivate music lovers with her highly anticipated EP "Reflxns," releasing on June 28, 2024, along with the official music video. Signed to Akon's Konvict Kulture label, Amirror's new EP showcases her unique sound and artistic evolution, featuring 11 tracks predominantly produced by Akon and Nektunez, with a special production contribution from Spotless, who also lends his voice to the song "Morocco." 'Reflxns' 'Reflxns' Album Cover Born in West Virginia, Amirror's musical journey began with family karaoke sessions and soulful gatherings, evolving through talent shows and festivals. Her path took a significant turn when global superstar Akon discovered her, impressed by her distinctive sound and undeniable talent. This pivotal moment led to her signing with Konvict Kulture and a transformative visit to Senegal, which profoundly influenced her artistic vision. "Amirror is a powerhouse of talent and creativity," said Akon. "Her new EP 'Reflxns' is an exciting, vibrant journey through her unique musical landscape. It's been an absolute blast working on this project, and I can't wait for the world to experience her extraordinary sound." "Reflxns" blends dynamic Afrobeat rhythms with soulful melodies, resonating deeply with Amirror's roots and the influential artists she admires. Her fans, affectionately known as "Reflxnss," will find a deep connection to her lyrics and beats in this EP. "I'm beyond excited to share 'Reflxns' with my fans," said Amirror. "This EP is a celebration of my musical journey and heritage. Each track is infused with energy, passion, and a piece of my heart. I hope everyone feels the love and joy that went into making it." Amirror's career has already seen international tours and collaborations with artists like Mase, Teni, and Rotimi. With "Reflxns," she continues to break boundaries and redefine the music landscape, offering both up-tempo and soulful tracks that speak to the heart. Don't miss the release of "Reflxns" on June 28, 2024. For more information and to listen to the EP, visit: https://vyd.co/Reflxns. About Amirror: Amirror is an Atlanta-based music artist known for her electrifying Afrobeat and Afropop sound. Signed to Akon's Konvict Kulture label, she has captivated audiences worldwide with her powerful performances and deeply personal music. Contact Information Katina Fields Publicist - KFields PR Agency katina@kfieldspr.com (714) 865-5690 SOURCE: Amirror View the original press release on newswire.com. Hyderabad, India--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2024) - BrandingExperts.com, a leader in digital marketing solutions, announces the launch of its groundbreaking tactics designed to revolutionize business strategies. These innovative approaches are set to transform how businesses navigate and succeed in today's competitive landscape. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10236/214806_2d2922d0a4722800_001full.jpg In response to the evolving needs of businesses seeking impactful strategies, BrandingExperts.com has developed a suite of innovative tactics. These tactics encompass cutting-edge digital marketing methodologies tailored to enhance brand visibility, engage target audiences effectively, and drive sustainable growth. "At BrandingExperts.com, we are dedicated to empowering businesses with the tools they need to thrive," said Mr. Abdul Sattar, CEO of BrandingExperts.com. "Our innovative tactics are designed to unlock new opportunities and achieve significant results, ensuring our clients stay ahead in their markets." Key features of BrandingExperts.com's innovative tactics include: Strategic Digital Campaigns: Customized strategies crafted to align with specific business goals and audience demographics. Customized strategies crafted to align with specific business goals and audience demographics. Advanced Audience Targeting: Precision targeting techniques to reach and engage the right audience segments. Precision targeting techniques to reach and engage the right audience segments. Comprehensive Analytics: Real-time analytics and performance metrics to optimize campaigns and measure ROI effectively. Whether launching new initiatives, expanding market reach, or revitalizing brand presence, BrandingExperts.com's innovative tactics provide businesses with a competitive edge and a pathway to sustained success. About BrandingExperts.com: BrandingExperts.com is a leading provider of digital marketing solutions, specializing in branding, PR, and online visibility strategies. With a commitment to innovation and client success, BrandingExperts.com helps businesses establish and elevate their brand presence in the digital landscape. For more information about how BrandingExperts.com's innovative tactics can revolutionize business strategies, contact: Contact: Nikhil Bharath Kumar Induri Senior Executive support@brandingexperts.com BrandingExperts.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214806 SOURCE: BrandingEx Solutions Pvt Ltd. Lochem, 29 June 2024 ForFarmers strengthens its position in co-products through acquisition of Van Triest Veevoeders ForFarmers announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Van Triest Veevoeders (Van Triest), which specialises in trading residual flows and co-products.The acquisition concerns the buying and selling activities, including the associated storage and transshipment facilities and means of transport.ForFarmers, under the name CirQlar, is already active in supplying co-products and residual flows.This acquisition fits into ForFarmers' mission For the Future of Farming: by using more and more co-products, we contribute to a sustainable future with affordable and sustainable food by producing dairy, meat and eggs. Van Triest, family business in Hoogeveen Van Triest has been active in trading residual flows and co-products since 1959. The company has purchasing agreements with breweries, the dairy, sugar, bioethanol and potato processing industries and, as regards roughage, with many farmers. They sell the products, including brewer's grains, potato pulp, silage maize and wet beet pulp to some 3,500 farmers mainly in the Netherlands but also in Belgium and Germany. Van Triest has a very good infrastructure in terms of logistics, storage and transshipment and possibilities for mixing residual flows in Hoogeveen and Coevorden. Van Triest trades over 1 million tonnes of residual flows annually and has 90 employees. Important step in sustainable market segment ForFarmers, under the name CirQlar, has been active in the Netherlands in supplying and valorising co-products. and has storage and transshipment sites in Lochem and Heijen. Van Triest's locations and customer base fit seamlessly with ForFarmers' activities and offer good growth opportunities. This transaction strengthens the cooperation with suppliers of residual flows and co-products to make the food chain more sustainable in an efficient way. These products which are not suitable for human consumption can often be used to produce nutritious feed for cows, pigs and chickens. Pieter Wolleswinkel, CEO ForFarmers: "We are looking forward to working together with our new colleagues at Van Triest. Combining our activities means that we can serve our suppliers co-products even better and provide our customers with an even better and broader range of these products. In addition, we are taking a further step in making our food chain more sustainable." Hein van Triest, director and owner of Van Triest: "We have known ForFarmers for years and recognised a similar focus on customers and employee satisfaction. These were important factors in the decision to transfer our family business to ForFarmers." Subject to the approval of the Consumer and Market Authority, ForFarmers will acquire the shares of Van Triest, the company which includes the trading operations and associated transport equipment and storage and transshipment activities. Completion of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2024. The purchase price will be paid entirely in cash, further financial details will not be disclosed. The management of Van Triest will remain actively involved after completion of the transaction. This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. Note to editors / For more information: ForFarmers, Ilse Niehof-Duivelshof, ilse.niehof@forfarmers.eu or +31 (0)6 23 63 28 98 Company profileForFarmers ForFarmers N.V., www.forfarmersgroup.eu Company profile Van Triest Van Triest is a family business that, since its foundation in 1959, has grown into a professional enterprise specialising in the purchase and sale of high-quality moisture-rich concentrates and roughage. Van Triest forms a reliable link between suppliers and buyers. Over the years, sustainable relationships have been established with over 3,500 livestock farmers, providing a solid basis for our sales. The company has purchasing agreements with breweries, the dairy, sugar, bioethanol and potato processing industries and, as regards roughage, with many farmers. They sell the products, including brewer's grains, potato pulp, silage maize and wet beet pulp to some 3,500 farmers mainly in the Netherlands but also in Belgium and Germany. Van Triest has a very good infrastructure in terms of logistics, storage and transshipment and possibilities for mixing residual flows in Hoogeveen and Coevorden. Van Triest trades over 1 million tonnes of residual flows annually and has 90 employees FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements, for example relating to ForFarmers' legal obligations in terms of capital and liquidity positions in certain specified scenarios. In addition forward-looking statements may, without limitation, contain phrases such as "intends to", "expects", "takes into account", "is aimed at", 'plans to", "estimates" and/or words of a similar meaning. These statements pertain to or may affect matters in the future, such as ForFarmers' future financial results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which may lead to material differences between the actual results and performance and the expected future results or performance as implicitly or explicitly contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may result in, or contribute to, deviations from current expectations include, but are not limited to developments in legislation, technology, taxation, jurisprudence and regulations, share price fluctuations, legal proceedings, investigations by regulatory bodies, the competitive landscape and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect any forward-looking statements or the actual results of ForFarmers are discussed in the most recently published annual report. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate solely to statements as of the date of this document and ForFarmers accepts no obligation or responsibility whatsoever to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release, regardless of whether these pertain to new information, future events or otherwise, unless ForFarmers is legally obliged to do so. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday expressed grief over the death of five Indian Army soldiers while they were attempting to cross a river in Ladakh, and said that the nation stands firm with their families. In a post on X, the Defence Minister said, "Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh." "We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief," the Defence Minister added. Five Army soldiers were killed during a tank warfare exercise in the Ladakh region when the stream through which the tanks were passing suddenly got flooded on Friday. Army officials said while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got struck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to a sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission did not succeed and the tank crew lost their lives, the officials said. The Indian Army regrets the loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2024) - Heritage Park Historical Village is excited to invite everyone to a special celebration on July 1st, marking its 60th birthday. This year, the park focuses on its rich history and commitment to community and stewardship as it celebrates six decades of preserving and sharing Western Canada's heritage. 60 years ago, trustees from the Woods Foundation came together with Calgary City Council to create a "children's pioneer park." That idea turned into Heritage Park, and since that time, Heritage Park has become one of the largest and most visited living history museums in Canada, with more than 618,000 guests in 2023. Hosting school programs (over 50,000 kids every year), weddings (over 4,000 in the last 60 years), and everything in between, Heritage Park has continuously cemented its legacy as one of the most loved tourist attractions in Alberta. Now, we're turning 60 and we want you to come and celebrate with us! Here are the highlights: 10:00am: Be one of the first 1,000 guests in the gate to savour one of our famous butter tarts for free! 11:00am: Enjoy a parade around the village centre, featuring vintage vehicles, Heritage Park's adorable farm animals, live performers, and the costumed Interpreters of Heritage Park. 11:30am: Witness the spike drive ceremony at Midnapore Station. We'll honor our railway, at the heart of the original plan for Heritage Park, and an essential part of our living museum. We salute the Park's 60 years in the community, and the progress Heritage Park aims to achieve in the future. 12:00pm: Sing happy birthday to Heritage Park! We'll serve 600 pieces of birthday cake, first come, first serve, at Midnapore Station. It's our way of saying thank you to the community for its continued support and for making Heritage Park a beloved destination for generations. Performances throughout the day include the Chinook Country Line Dancers, Wataga Dance Troupe, Calgary Police Service Pipe Band, Balzac Kitchen Party String Band, and concert sets by Country Music Alberta's two-time Horizon Female Artist of the Year, Mariya Stokes, and Hayley Isabel, 2024 winner of Country Music Alberta's Youth Horizon Award. Enjoy displays, demonstrations, and hands-on activities around the Park. The Nifty Fifty's Ford Club will have a collection of beauties to admire on Celebration Field. Challenge your friends and family at the old-fashioned games like three-legged and egg-in-spoon races. Let your children get creative with colouring and crafts. One of the highlights of this celebration is the story of Jim Heaton, who was here on the day Heritage Park opened - July 1st, 1964. Jim is now an employee at the Park, helping with events and as a key member of its donor outreach group. He will share some of his stories emceeing the spike drive ceremony. "Heritage Park is more than just a historical village; it is a living testament to the spirit of our community and the dedication to preserving our collective history for future generations," says Lindsey Galloway, president and CEO of Heritage Park. "This 60th birthday is a celebration of our legacy and our commitment to another 60 years of community and stewardship." Join us in celebrating our 60th birthday and honoring the past, present, and future of Heritage Park. Full details are found here. Heritage Park Presents in Celebration of Our 60th Birthday, Mariya Stokes. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10668/214956_80821d4f445f18cc_001full.jpg Hayley Isabel, winner of the 2024 Alberta Country Music Youth Horizon Award. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10668/214956_80821d4f445f18cc_002full.jpg Heritage Park's 60th Anniversary Parade. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10668/214956_80821d4f445f18cc_003full.jpg Chinook Country Line Dancers. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10668/214956_80821d4f445f18cc_004full.jpg Old-Fashioned Family Games. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10668/214956_80821d4f445f18cc_005full.jpg --- Media Inquiries: Pam Taylor Director, Marketing and Communications, Heritage Park 403-519-3409 ptaylor@heritagepark.com Alternative Media Contact: Noelle Aune 403-861-1982 noelleaunepr@gmail.com About Heritage Park Historical Village For 60 years, Heritage Park has been proud to be one of Canada's leading living history museums. The Park is located on Treaty 7 territory, respecting the history, languages and cultures of the nations on whose traditional land we reside. A registered charity, Heritage Park receives hundreds of thousands of guests from around the world every year. A key contributor to the tourism landscape of Alberta since 1964, Heritage Park is an immersive educational and community hub, telling the diverse stories of the multicultural history of Western Canada. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214956 SOURCE: Heritage Park The inclusion of Sakal Ban in this exhibition highlights the songs cultural and musical significance read more Netflix and Sanjay Leela Bhansalis series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has achieved another remarkable milestone, with its popular song Sakal Ban being featured at the Royal College of Music (RCM) Museums exhibition Awaken: Sufi Music and Women of South Asia in London. The exhibition will be running in the UK till October for 3 months. This inclusion places Heeramandi alongside iconic and legendary Sufi music such as that from the films Mughal-E-Azam and Zeenat, solidifying its status as a ground-breaking work in Indian musical history. Advertisement 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, showcasing Indias rich musical heritage on an international platform. The Royal College of Music Museum exhibition, titled Awaken: Sufi Music and Women of South Asia, brings to life the often overlooked stories of womens roles in the male-dominated musical landscape of Sufism. Opened on June 18, the exhibition illuminates the invaluable contributions of Sufi women through a display of items drawn from collections across the world. It reveals the voices, performances, and instruments of Sufi women in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh from the Mughal period to present-day London. The inclusion of Sakal Ban in this exhibition highlights the songs cultural and musical significance. The music of the series has transcended borders, with music aficionados worldwide lauding its melody and musical brilliance. Songs from the series have become a global sensation, with countless Instagram reels and posts showcasing the tracks. This widespread popularity underscores the universal appeal of the music curated by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Advertisement On Sakal Ban featuring at the Royal College of Music Museum exhibition, Prerna Singh, CEO, Bhansali Productions, expressed her delight, Its a great honour to see SLBs collaboration being recognised at such a prestigious platform, we are thrilled to share this with the audience worldwide". Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar continues to put India on the global map musically, celebrating the rich and diverse heritage of Sufi music and the pivotal role of women in its history. Helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the eight-part series is now streaming across 190 countries on Netflix. Speaking to Firstpost, when Roy was posed the same question, the veteran actress said, Wahin na, yeh zindagi ke ittefaq hote hain (these are the quirks of destiny) read more Sonakshi Sinha is happily married to Zaheer Iqbal now as the couple got hitched on June 23 in Mumbai. Her interview about father Shatrughan Sinha, his relationship with Reena Roy, and the striking resemblance she bears with her has gone viral. Talking to Masala, Sinha was quoted saying, I think it happened when I was not even born. I found out when I was growing up and started understanding things. But Im not going to crucify my father for something he did years back." I look like my mother Poonam Sinha, quipped the Dabangg star on that controversial question. Advertisement Speaking to Firstpost, when Roy was posed the same question, the veteran actress said, Wahin na, yeh zindagi ke ittefaq hote hain (these are the quirks of destiny). Jeetujis mother and my mother look like twins sisters. Sinha, who tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal on 23rd June at her Bandra residence, has been subjected to trolling for inter-faith marriage. In fact, the couple has disabled the comment section to avoid unnecessary hatred and negativity. Now, the Dahaad actress has reacted to trolls in a subtle by resharing Prasad Bhats post of her and Zaheer, which talks about being love is the universal language. Resharing that post on her Instagram Stories, Sonakshi worte, Truest words!! This is adorable! Thank you. Meanwhile, Sonakshis dad and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha also slammed trolls and urged them to not spread the negativity. Anand Bakshi saab has written about such professional protestors, Kucch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna. To this I would like to add, Kehne waale agar bekar, bekaam-kaaj ke ho to kehna hi kaam ban jata hai (For unemployed people, this is all the work they have). My daughter has done nothing illegal or unconstitutional, said the Aan actor to Times Now. Following President Joe Bidens lacklustre debate performance against Donald Trump, there is talk of replacing Biden as the Democrat nominee for the upcoming presidential elections. Forcing him out would be rather difficult. In the unlikely scenario he decides to withdraw, the Democratic Party will be thrust into chaos, having to select a new nominee. It could also open the party to fresh attacks from the Republicans read more Following the debate against his rival Donald Trump, talk of replacing US President Joe Biden as the Democrat nominee for the upcoming elections has emerged. File image/Reuters The knives are out for President Joe Biden following his lackluster performance in the first 2024 presidential debate against former President Donald Trump. Bidens struggle throughout the debate, which marked the earliest general election matchup in modern political history, has fuelled more doubts about his suitability for office. Reports about the Democrats facing pressure to replace their presidential candidate are plenty. But what would happen if Biden drops out from the race ahead of the elections? Advertisement Concerns Around Bidens Age At 81 years old, Biden has faced persistent scrutiny regarding his capacity to fulfill the responsibilities of the presidency. Democrats had pinned their hopes on a strong showing by Biden to quell doubts about his age and fitness for office. Instead, his faltering performance deepened existing concerns. It kindled more discussions among party members, Democrat voters, donors, and undecided voters about his stamina and mental fortitude. There is some support for replacing Biden now. However, it will be rather difficult to force him out from the top of the ticket. Can Biden be forced out? The Democratic Partys rules make it exceedingly difficult to replace a nominee without their consent. Overturning the results of the primaries, where Biden secured almost 99 per cent of delegates, would be a controversial and unprecedented move. The partys charter includes provisions for replacing a nominee in cases of death, resignation, or incapacitation, but not for pushing someone out forcefully Ultimately, the decision rests with the DNC Chair, currently Jaime Harrison, a staunch Biden ally. Harrisons position and loyalty to Biden suggest that any effort to replace him would face considerable resistance from the partys leadership. The national party, too, has shown unwavering support for Bidens re-election, and there is no indication of any significant movement to oust him from the top of the ticket. Can Biden withdraw? Thus, although forcing Biden out is not impossible, it is also not very plausible at the moment. What is plausible- but still rather unlikely- is that he voluntarily withdraws. The rules allow Biden to withdraw. But there is very little chance of it happening right now. In the past, even during the bumpy patched during his campaign, Biden had binned talk of withdrawing. His campaign has insisted that he was the only one who managed to defeat Donald Trump, and exuded confidence that he would do it again. Advertisement Still, if, over time, pressure mounts high, Biden may succumb and withdraw his candidature. US President Joe Biden may face pressure to withdraw from the presidential elections. Reuters That would open a whole new proverbial can of worms. The process of selecting a new nominee Should Biden decide to withdraw, the process to nominate a new Democratic candidate would be complex and fraught with challenges. Before or during the national convention: If Biden were to exit after most primaries or during the convention, the Democratic Partys delegates would be tasked with selecting a new nominee.The Democratic Party set a deadline of June 22 for states to select the more than 3,900 delegates allocated as part of the primary process. These delegates, almost all currently pledged to Biden, would need to convene and vote on a new nominee if Biden were to withdraw. This process would shine a spotlight on the individual delegates and their allegiances, potentially leading to a contentious and highly publicised battle for the nomination, according to CNN. After the convention: If Biden were to withdraw after the convention, the chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) can call a special meeting of the full DNC, which consists of about 500 members.In theory, a majority vote of the members present is needed to select new presidential and vice-presidential nominees. However, the actual process is likely to be complex, involving behind-the-scenes politics and public pressure campaigns, according to NBC. Political historian Leah Wright Rigueur told BBC News, I think that if he were to get replaced, part of the negotiation for him stepping down would be that he would get the final say in who replaces him. That is another complication one must consider. Past instances to draw from There are just a couple of incidents in American political history that are similar to the current situation with Bidens nomination. Facing significant opposition from within his party and the broader public due to the Vietnam War, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced on March 31, 1968, that he would not seek re-election. This decision opened the door for other Democratic candidates, including Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who eventually secured the nomination. Advertisement If Biden followed this route, he would finish the current term, and sit the presidential race out. That would still not spare the potentially gruelling and chaotic search for the replacement candidate within his party. Senator Thomas Eagleton was initially chosen as George McGoverns running mate in the 1972 election. However, after revelations about his mental health history, he had to drop out. Eagleton was replaced by Sargent Shriver. This is another instance of mounting external pressure forcing a candidate to withdraw. In 1992, Ross Perot decided to drop out and later re-enter as an independent. Biden dropping out from the Democrat ballot and running as an independent is an unlikely scenario. If it does come to pass, it would be disastrous for the Democratic party, who would likely see a division in their voter base. Advertisement The political fallout The potential for a contentious and highly public battle over the nomination could significantly impact the Democratic Partys image and electoral prospects. The spectacle of internal conflict and indecision would provide ample ammunition for Trump and the Republican Party to criticise Democratic leadership. The potential benefits of replacing Biden with a more dynamic candidate must be weighed against the risks of appearing divided and disorganised. Reports have already indicated that after the debate, many undecided voters and double haters (voters who dislike both Biden and Trump) are leaning towards Trump. While changing the candidate might attract some of these voters back, the potential for a protracted and messy nomination battle could offset any gains. Advertisement Former US President Donald Trump addresses a charged-up gathering in Virginia, a day after the debate against Biden. AFP Any benefit of replacing Biden might only materialise when a much more dynamic candidate is brought to the fore with near unanimous approval. In a nutshell The aftermath of President Bidens debate performance has reportedly sparked significant debate within the Democratic Party about his future as their nominee. The process of replacing a sitting president as the partys candidate is complex, not to mention risky. While the potential benefits of a new, more dynamic candidate are clear, the dangers of appearing divided and indecisive are equally significant. BJP MP from Kota Om Birla has been elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for the second time. He defeated the INDI Alliances Congress candidate, K Suresh, in the polls, making him the first person to be re-elected as the Speaker of the lower house in 20 years. All this and more in our weekly wrap up of the big news from India read more Om Birla after he was elected as the Speaker of the House during the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, in New Delhi. PTI Its been a busy, busy week for India. From more revelations emerging from the NEET-UG exam exam paper alleged leak to the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha, a lot has happened in the country in the past week. In the week gone by, the NEET-UG paper scandal continued to make headlines. From the CBI taking over the case to making its first arrest, a lot unfolded in the matter, which we shall explain below. Advertisement The 18th Lok Sabha also began this week and quite a few big stories emerged from there. There was the Speakers election, the debate on Emergency being raised in the lower House and even the row over Asauddin Owaisis oath. The heavy downpour in Delhi and the resulting airport roof collapsing also grabbed headlines this week. As we bid goodbye to the week, heres a round-up of the stories in India to keep you up-to-date with the important developments. 1) The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on 24 June and it started on a contentious note. The point of contention: the election for the important post of Speaker. While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), proposed Om Birla for a second term, the INDI Alliance, led by the Congress, put forth K Suresh as their candidate. This was a rare occurrence in Indian politics. Read our essay to find out why this was unusual and different from previous elections. 2) The contest for the Speakers post ended on quite an anti-climactic note when the BJPs choice of Om Birla won the polls through a voice vote and began his second term. But who is Om Birla? What do we know about the Kota MP? President Droupadi Murmu with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister at the Parliament House complex before her address to the joint sitting of of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, in New Delhi. PTI 3) Parliamentary proceedings in India always make the news and this session is no different. On Thursday (June 27), President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of Parliament. During her address, she said: Today is June 27. The imposition of Emergency on 25th June 1975, was the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country felt outraged. Her remarks came a day after a row emerged in Lok Sabha over Om Birlas similar comments and even BJP ministers. But why is there such a discussion on Emergency in Parliament? We decode the reason here. Advertisement NSUI members stage a protest demanding re-examination of NEET-UG Entrance Exam 2024 over alleged irregularities in its results, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. File image/PTI 4) The NEET-UG scam continues to make news. However, it seems the epicentre of the alleged paper leak has been Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand. The Bihar Police, earlier in the week, had vital evidence in the case and on Thursday (27 June), the CBI made its first arrests from the state too. Our explainer delves into how the state of Bihar has gained notoriety for its cheating crisis. Vehicles are crushed after a portion of the roof at the Delhi airports Terminal-1 collapsed amid heavy rainfall, in New Delhi. PTi 5) Away from the news of exam cheating and Lok Sabha, there was also the partial collapse of the roof of the terminal at Delhi airport owing to heavy rains. While one person died in the accident, others were left injured, and flight operations were severely affected. But how much rain did Delhi receive and how did it turn into a nightmare for Delhiites. Advertisement 6) Medicine in India is a tough field. Theres a lot that students have to endure to pass their medical exams and become doctors in India. However, for one first-year MBBS student at Rajasthans Dungarpur medical college, it became almost life-threatening. He had to undergo dialysis four times after second-year students made him do more than 300 sit-ups at a place near the college on May 15. What does the law say on ragging in India? Is it legal? Heres our explainer on it. 7) On June 28, India had a big reason to smile. The country was added to the JP Morgan Government Bond Index Emerging Market (GBI-EM) suite. Goldman Sachs has estimated that as much as $40 billion could flow into India over time due to this inclusion. Find out why this is a big deal for the Indian economy and the rupee here. Advertisement And thats it from us for this week. If you liked the way we broke down the news and gave you context behind the big headlines, heres where you can find more. Also, heres a weekend read we suggest: Baahubali actor Anushka Shetty suffers from a rare laughing disease. Find out more about it here. The soldiers were killed when the water level suddenly rose in the river while they were crossing it read more Five Indian Army personnel have been killed in Ladakh in a mishap while crossing a river. The soldiers were killed on Friday when their tank was crossing a river in the Daulat Beg Oldie area, said defence officials to ANI. The officials said the mishap occurred due to the sudden rise of water level in the river. A mishap took place in the Daulat Beg Oldie area of Ladakh during a tank exercise of crossing the river yesterday in the sector due to a sudden increase in water levels there. Loss of lives of Army personnel is feared. More details are awaited: Defence officials pic.twitter.com/my7pYEvWP8 ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024 Advertisement ANI further said that the deceased included four jawans and a junior commissioned officer (JCOs). It added all five bodies have been recovered. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the deaths and confirmed the incidents. Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh, said Singh. He further said, We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief. Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 29, 2024 Ladakh is a region of great strategic value that shares border with Chinese-occupied Tibet. While Indian military has always been deployed in the region, the deployment has multiplied greatly since 2020 when the ongoing India-China military stand-off in the region began within unprovoked Chinese incursions and attacks. The stand-off, particularly the incident in Galwan Valley in 2020 in which Chinese soldiers killed at least 20 Indian soldiers, has driven the India-China relationship to its lowest point since 1962 when the two nations fought a war. India presented an outline of an action plan for the next two years, focusing on key priorities and initiatives to further strengthen the Colombo Process read more India has presented an action plan focusing on several of its priority areas for regional cooperation under the Colombo Process, a regional consultative forum comprising 12 Asian nations. India has unveiled an action plan targeting key priority areas for regional cooperation within the Colombo Process, a consultative forum comprising 12 Asian nations. This plan was introduced during a meeting chaired by India in Geneva on Friday. Among the priorities outlined by India were a review of the Colombo Processs financial sustainability and an expansion of the forums membership to include additional nations as both members and observers. Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary (consular-passport-visa division) in the Ministry of External Affairs, delivered the special address at the meeting. Advertisement He emphasised Indias commitment to advancing the objectives of the Colombo Process and enhancing collaboration among member states, the ministry said. India presented an outline of an action plan for the next two years, focusing on key priorities and initiatives to further strengthen the Colombo Process, it said. In May, India assumed the chair of the Colombo Process for the first time since its inception. The Process continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing regional cooperation on migration issues, and with Indias leading role, there is a renewed commitment to engaging all member states actively, improving migration governance, and fostering safe, orderly, and regular migration for organised overseas employment, the ministry said in a statement. While political dialogue has its usefulness, it isnt clear how dialogue will help when China is using power disparity between two nations to redraw the modus vivendi. Image: AP A strange paradox plagues the status of India-China ties. For such a consequential relationship that may make or mar Indias rise, the debates around it are largely myopic, set across the political and ideological faultlines. India certainly cannot afford not to constantly evaluate and debate threadbare the terms of the relationship, more so as a new government in New Delhi begins another innings with a fresh mandate. Will the third iteration of Narendra Modi government prefer continuity, or a new approach? Given that bilateral ties have hit a deadlock in the backdrop of an ominous military buildup across the ill-defined Himalayan borders, creating a dangerous flashpoint between two of the worlds most powerful armies, the urgent question is the current state of the bilateral framework. Advertisement It is clear that the terms of the framework that were drawn up in the 1990s have collapsed. Owing chiefly to the power imbalance, an inordinately more powerful China now wants to redraw the provisos of the relationship in its own terms, and that involves creating new realities along the 3,440km-long LAC. So far, all of Indias efforts at persuading China not to use force to unilaterally change the status quo at the LAC have failed, and New Delhi has also been unsuccessful in coaxing China to revert to pre-2020 status quo, even at the cost of considerable bloodshed. Even more worringly, both militaries armed to the teeth are locked in a confrontationist posture at the LAC. Failure to achieve a detente could lead to an eventual catastrophic conflict, led by miscalculation even, if not intent. The question of a new bilateral framework that may prevent such an eventuality gains added significance but with China adopting a maximalist position, leaving India with an onerous choice between acceptance or aggression, the roadmap to a new framework isnt clear. To get a shot at a new framework, therefore, the deadlock needs to be broken. There must be sufficient incentives for both sides to engage with an earnest intention of breaking the deadlock. So far, 21 rounds of military-level talks have achieved some progress. But it has not been enough. The onus lies on India, unlike China that wants the boundary issue to be boxed in an appropriate place for resumption of normalcy because China-India ties should not be defined by any single issue or area. In other words, China is not interested in resolving the crisis. New Delhi, in response, is creating deterrence to discourage China from further deployment of grey-zone tactics. The Modi government is furiously building and upgrading critical infrastructure at the border to improve its logistics capabilities. It is also exploring the option of external balancing by gravitating closer to the US and its regional allies. Advertisement None of it, however, has given India the requisite leverage to force China to climb down from the cliff, manage the crisis and reduce the risk of violent escalation. Some voices are urging a resumption of political-level dialogue. Writing in The Times of India, author and former Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale observes, What objectives might a resumption of the political dialogue serve? To begin with, it might allow for an in-depth understanding at a political level of each others positions. Such dialogue might, hopefully, permit both sides to find some common ground to start building a new framework. It might benefit risk management, not simply in terms of minimising unintended conflict, but also in terms of modernising the 1993 and 1996 agreements in order to make them relevant to contemporary needs. Advertisement While the restarting of dialogue process at the highest political level may help in breaking the deadlock, it is worth noting that Chinese incursions have occurred even when two leaders have met. Xi Jinpings visit to India from 17-10 September, 2014, was marked by a standoff between Indian soldiers and the PLA in the Chumar and Demchok region of Ladakh. While political dialogue has its usefulness, it isnt clear how dialogue will help when China is using power disparity between two nations to redraw the modus vivendi. In March 2023, when Indias external affairs minister S Jaishankar had met then Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 FMs summit, the Chinese interpretation of the meeting indicated the widening gulf between the two sides. Advertisement Scholar Antara Ghosal Singh of ORF, who pores over Chinese media commentary and analyses for reaction, writes of the Chinese perspective that the mainstream Chinese discourse post the meeting was that China needs to prepare for the worst at the LAC. From a Chinese perspective, India did not show a positive attitude during the meeting and did not reciprocate Chinas so-called goodwill gestures such as it seeking to explore common grounds between the two countries beyond the border dispute or participating in defence exchanges and cooperation with India under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, etc. It was argued that the meeting only lasted for 45 minutes, in which Jaishankar made a big fuss about the border issue. Advertisement While India holds that ties may improve only if theres disengagement at the border and that overall relations cannot be separated from the military standoff, China insists that India cannot bring any conditionality to the table during talks. In this game of one-upmanship, Chinese and Indian leverages for peaceful resolution have cancelled each other out for an enduring stalemate, leaving China, the superior military and economic power, in a state of advantage. China has used the situation deftly, indulging in a series of cartographic and nomenclature aggression to buttress its overarching territorial aggrandizement, and is doing everything from building dual-use facilities and villages along the LAC, expanding infrastructure and is even beefing up offensive air force capabilities by deploying advanced stealth fighters along the border. What could be Indias response? Modi 3.0 has given a few indications. Some notable developments show an attempt by New Delhi to create more leverage. The Diplomat has reported that India plans to rename 30-plus places in Tibet, reclaiming from historical records their ancient names in Indian languages. The magazine claims to have witnessed a list of the places to be renamed, and quotes Indian army officers involved in the exercise, as saying that media trips are being organized to disputed border areas to speak to locals who fiercely oppose Chinese claims and say they were always part of India with an aim to push through the Indian counter-narrative on the disputed border through regional and global media. If renaming of places, a move that is yet to materialise, is playing the Tibet card, the message got louder with India hosting a bipartisan US Congressional delegation that had just passed a bill, Resolve Tibet Act, that empowers the US to actively and directly counter disinformation about Tibet from the Chinese government, rejecting false claims that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times, pushing for negotiations without preconditions between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives or the democratically elected leaders of the Tibetan community, and affirming the State Departments responsibility to coordinate with other governments in multilateral efforts toward the goal of a negotiated agreement on Tibet. The American lawmakers (both Republicans and Democrats) who passed the bill that pushes for free Tibet, landed in New Delhi, met the Dalai Lama, and issued a scathing attack on Xi. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was part of the delegation, stated that while His Holiness Dalai Lama, with his message of knowledge, tradition, compassion, purity of soul and love, will live a long time and his legacy will live forever. But you, the President of China, youll be gone and nobody will give you credit for anything. And then the delegation met Prime Minister Modi the next day, having been hosted by Jaishankar the previous night. Interestingly, the Tibetan spiritual leader has left for the US for medical treatment, so the meeting could well have been held on American soil. The fact that India played host to the American lawmakers who had an explicit agenda on Tibet, and the prime minister granted them an audience the next day says all that is to be said about Indias messaging. Modis move came right after the newly elected prime minister, in his third consecutive stint, had responded warmly to a congratulatory message from Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te and vowed to build closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership. The deliberate nature of the public response that triggered an acerbic reaction from China, left little space for doubt that this is part of a calibrated pushback, aimed at leveraging the partnerships. That Modi is using the US and its allies in sending across messages wont be lost on Beijing. New Delhi is also refusing to resume direct civilian flight service between India and China, that has remained suspended for the last four years since the outbreak of the pandemic, despite several requests from Beijing tying it with restoration of normalcy at the border. Modi has also decided not to visit the upcoming SCO summit at Astana, Kazakhstan. The official excuse is ongoing Parliament session that ends on July 3, but it is hard to ignore the impression that avoiding running into Xi has been an equally strong motivation. Any Russian displeasure at Modis absence will be taken care of by the prime ministers quick dash to Moscow for a standalone visit for the India-Russia summit on July 8. Faced with a fait accompli at the border, Modis attempts are focused on creating leverage by expanding the horizons. The overarching goal remains stability in relationship while breaking the deadlock and forcing Xi into a meaningful engagement. India has been forced into this balancing act because China is unwilling to reverse the new facts on the ground or make any more concessions. To China, India has no real clout or ability to alter the new reality and no option but to accept it. From this vantage point, China calls Indias earnest efforts to tie normalisation of relations with the resolution of border crisis arrogance and sky-high price. Chinese scholar and strategist Hu Shisheng the director of Institute for South Asian Studies at CICIR, an influential Chinese think tank on foreign policy and security affairs that comes under the direct supervision of CCPs Ministry of State Security (MSS) and whose research influences and represents the mainstream voice of the Chinese party-state system, in a recent piece on Indian foreign policy, calls the diplomacy of Modi government dynamic and tension-filled. Hus essay, reproduced in Sinification (machine translation), observes that though Indian diplomacy has flourished under Modi due to indulgence from the West, and even though India-US ties despite latent mistrust are set to deepen, in recent years, the Biden administration has focused much of its efforts on the Western Pacific region, promoting minilateral security cooperation mechanisms with its allies. This indicates that the US has lowered its expectations of India in its strategy to contain and blockade China. Hu also observes that considering the significant disparity in power between China and India, New Delhi will neither want to break relations with China completely nor will it be willing to serve as cannon fodder for the Wests containment of China. In future, Sino-Indian relations may continue to be characterised by cold hostility [] or non-violent, non-cooperative coexistence. To the extent that Hus views represent the prevalent Chinese thinking, it appears that Beijing has come to a conclusion that Indias options in getting China to do its bid are becoming increasingly more constricted. China remains aware of the significant power discrepancy between the two nations, and this awareness is making China more adventurous, imbuing it with a greater appetite for risk-taking including implementation of force to achieve its objectives secure in the belief that India, as a lesser power, will ultimately be forced to back down. This is not to suggest that Beijing is spoiling for a violent escalation, but it seeks to use force, or threat of force as a leverage to demand obeisance from India, and it wants New Delhi to accept Beijings primacy and admit its secondary status in Asia. In this context, Modis recent moves assume greater significance. A battle of nerves lies ahead. External balancing and a fast-growing economy are Indias best options, but in the short term, a lot may depend on the outcome of US presidential polls. The author is Deputy Executive Editor, Firstpost. He tweets @sreemoytalukdar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Julain Assanges status as a journalist or whistle-blower will always be questioned and debated because Wikileaks obtained several leaked documents through hacking and others via whistle-blowers and third parties read more Two US AH-64 Apaches hover over a Baghdad neighourhood during the Iraqi insurgency (2003-2011). Location: Al-Amin al-Thaniyah. Date: July 12, 2007. Time: 12:03 pm. Weapons used: Two M230 Cannon 30 mm autocannons and three AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. Casualties: 11, including two Reuters journalists. The Apaches see a group of men some of who are carrying Kalashnikovs and an RPG launcher as American armoured vehicles advance. The group also includes two Reuters journalists, Namir Noor-Eldeen, holding a camera, and Saeed Chmagh, talking on his mobile phone. Advertisement As five to six men in the group move in the direction of approaching US soldiers, one Apache requests authorisation to shoot. Hes got an RPG! says one crew member misidentifying Noor-Eldeens telephoto lens pointed at his copter and a US Army Humvee as it casts a shadow on the ground. Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat! As the two M230 Cannons strafe the group, Noor-Eldeen sprints to escape the gunfire before crashing into a heap of garbage and falling. Another round of fire and he collapses. Seven men, including Noor-Eldeen, are killed. The crews rejoice at the bodies with messages like Haha, I hit em I think and Oh, yeah, look at those dead basta*ds. Meanwhile, a wounded Chmagh crawls and a van stops near him. We have individuals going to the scene. Looks like possibly uh picking up bodies and weapons, says a crew member and requests to engage despite two of the vans unknown number of occupants picking up Chmagh. Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat! The two M230s blow up the van killing Chmagh and three others and wounding two kids inside the vehicle. We need, we need a uh to evac this child. Ah, shes got a uh, shes got a wound to the belly, says one crew member after realising the copters has wounded the kids. Well its their fault for bringing their kids into a battle, says another crew member. Advertisement In the third attack, the Apaches fire three AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on a building identified as the source of fire at US soldiers despite two unarmed men walking towards it. The 38-miniute classified black and white video, titled Collateral Murder, released by Julain Assanges WikiLeaks in April 2010, caused a maelstrom in the media and the world, especially the US, and made him a global sensation. Assange released the video with the assistance of US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was arrested and served seven years in a military prison before being granted clemency by then-President Barack Obama in 2018. In July of the same year, Assange dropped another bombshell by releasing more than 91,000 classified documents about the Afghanistan war. Advertisement In October, he dumped around 400,000 classified military files chronicling the Iraq War between 2004 and 2009 in the public domain. Assange was unstoppable. In November, WikiLeaks released thousands of American diplomatic cables, called Cablegate, including frank views of foreign leaders and Saudi Arabias request to the US to attack Irans N-programme. The Australian hacker-cum-truth campaigner, a hero for his supporters and a villain for his detractors, was in the crosshairs of the Donald Trump administration. He was indicted by a US federal grand jury on 18 counts, including 17 under the 1917 Espionage Act for his involvement with Manning. Freedom of press in US Advertisement The US often boasts of being the oldest democracy that guarantees freedom of expression and the press. However, Americas rank in the World Freedom Press Index has consistently slipped in the last three years. According to Reporters sans frontieres (RSF) 2024 Press Freedom Index, the US ranked 55th, down 10 places from 45 in 2023 and 13 places from 42 in 2022. The percentage of countries whose situation is classified as satisfactory (yellow) has drastically dropped from 36 per cent in 2023 to 21 per cent in 2024. One of the worlds biggest economic powers, the United States, has fallen 10 places, the report read. Advertisement RSF found that major structural barriers to press freedom persist in the US, once considered a model for freedom of expression. Media ownership is highly concentrated, and many companies buying American media outlets appear to prioritise profits over public interest journalism. The RSF also mentioned the unprecedented level of distrust in the American media. The disinformation affecting American society has created an atmosphere where citizens no longer know who to trust. An October 2023 Gallup survey showed that only seven per cent of Americans have a great deal of trust and confidence in the media. If the Americans publics trust in the mainstream media is so abysmally low and several companies owning media organisations prioritise profits over public interest journalism, citizens have the right to know what journalists dont or cant report. How the US aimed to contain China in the Vietnam War and not to secure an independent, non-Communist South Vietnam as told to Americans. How the Apaches also killed innocent civilians in the 2007 Baghdad airstrike. How the US was struggling against the Taliban in Afghanistan but presented a contradictory narrative to the public. How the civilian deaths caused by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan were much higher than reported. How the US violated the Geneva Conventions at the Guantanamo Bay prison and arrested around 150 innocent people. How the NSA conducted mass surveillance of Americans phones after 9/11 under the Patriot Act. How the US drone programme killed several civilians, including children, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya mistaking them to be terrorists based on unreliable evidence. How the Democratic National Committee (DNC) favoured Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential nomination while pledging impartiality. If the US government is hiding sensitive information or is lying to the public, how will Americans access such facts? The above-mentioned classified documents were released by WikiLeaks and whistle-blowers, such as military analyst Daniel Ellsberg (1971 Pentagon Papers), NSA contractor Edward Snowden (2013 NSA memos leak) and NSA intel analyst Daniel Hale (2014 Drone Papers). Misuse of Espionage Act, 1917 In a 2011 speech, Obama said, We must support those basic rights to speak your mind and access information . In the 21st Century, information is power; the truth cannot be hidden; and the legitimacy of governments will ultimately depend on active and informed citizens. Though the US Constitution doesnt provide the right to access or disclose government information, the 1966 Freedom of Information Act provides that any person has a right, enforceable in court, to obtain access to federal agency records, except to the extent that such records (or portions of them) are protected from public disclosure by one of nine exemptions (first being classified information) or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions. Some media outlets feel that since Assange was freed in a plea deal, journalists and whistle-blowers will always be at risk of being targeted by the US for revealing classified information under the Espionage Act. The Espionage Act, initially intended to curb the acquisition of defence-related information with the intent to harm the US or acquire code and signal books, photographs, blueprints and other such documents with the intention of passing them to Americas enemies during wartime, has been used to target whistle-blowers like Snowden, Hale and Ellsberg. The Acts misuse is its application in cases of leaks/release of secret documents to the public or the media, not Americas enemies. The law doesnt differentiate between insiders who share classified information with the media and the public and those who harm American interests. Whistle-blowers are not spies. If they dont inform the public of government corruption, crimes or incompetence, ordinary Americans and the media cant access such information or demand corrective action from the government. If Snowden hadnt leaked the NSA memos, the 2015 USA Freedom Act, which imposed new limits on the bulk collection of telecommunication metadata of Americans, wouldnt have been enacted. During his 2008 election campaign, Obama said that often the best source of information about waste, fraud and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out and pledged to protect whistleblowers. However, according to a November 2015 report by PEN America, a nonprofit that defends writers, artists and journalists and protects free expression worldwide, Almost all of the non-government representatives whom PEN interviewedincluding activists, lawyers, journalists and whistle-blowersthought the Espionage Act had been used inappropriately in leak cases that have a public interest component. Is Assange a journalist and whistle-blower? So, when Assange returned to his home country after seven years of self-imposed confinement and five years of detention on Wednesday following pleading guilty to a criminal charge under the Espionage Act in a US Pacific island territory, some saw it as a victory of press freedom. Assanges wife Stella said, I hope journalists and editors and publishers everywhere realise the danger of the US case against Julian that criminalises, that has secured a conviction for, newsgathering and publishing information that was true, that the public deserved to know. That precedent now can and will be used in the future against the rest of the press. So it is in the interest of all of the press to seek for this current state of affairs to change through reform of the Espionage Act Stella Assange: "I hope journalists and editors and publishers everywhere realise the danger of the US case against Julian that criminalises, that has secured a conviction for, newsgathering and publishing information that was true, that the public deserved to know. That pic.twitter.com/Gkv3dLzEtM WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 26, 2024 However, Assanges status as a journalist or whistle-blower will always be questioned and debated because Wikileaks obtained several documents through hacking and others via whistle-blowers and third parties. For example, WikiLeaks exposed DNC 19,252 emails and 8,034 attachments in July 2016, exposing the partys bias towards Clinton and acrimony towards her rival Sanders. On the one hand, the leak served the public interest by alerting Sanders supporters of the partys prejudice. On the other hand, it did a disservice by triggering concerns that his supporters would not support Clinton after nomination. The documents triggered an uproar with the DNC chair, CFO, CEO, communications director and finance director resigning. An August 2020 report titled Report of the Select Committee on Intelligence United States Senate on Russian active measures and campaigns and interference in the 2016 US election found that Russia used Republican Party campaign consultant Paul Manafort and WikiLeaks to interfere in the 2016 election to boost Trumps chances. WikiLeaks actively sought, and played, a key role in the Russian campaign and very likely knew it was assisting a Russian intelligence influence effort, the report read. The committee found significant indications that Julian Assange and WikiLeaks have benefited from Russian government support. Trumps reaction to the leak confirmed the report. WikiLeaks, I love WikiLeaks, This WikiLeaks is like a treasure trove and Boy, I love reading WikiLeaks, he said during the campaign as he praised the website more than 100 times. A US intelligence report in January 2017 also found a WikiLeaks-Russia collusion. GRU, Russias military intelligence agency, supplied the hacked DNC material to Wikileaks via a circuitous route to avoid getting traced. The most substantial evidence of WikiLeaks-Russia collaboration was in the report submitted by special counsel Robert S Mueller III, appointed on May 17, 2017, to investigate Russias interference in the 2016 election. The GRU started releasing the hacked DNC documents one month on the fictitious website DCLeaks.com before WikiLeaks leaked them. Subsequently, the GRU contacted WikiLeaks about possible coordination in the future release of stolen emails, the report read. We have some sensitive information too, in particular, her [Clintons] financial documents. Lets do it together. What do you think about publishing our info at the same moment? @dcleaks_ sent a direct message to @WikiLeaks on June 14, 2016. A week after GRU persona Guccifer 2.0 released the first tranche of the DNC documents, WikiLeaks sent a direct message to Guccifer 2.0s Twitter account on June 22: Send any new material [stolen from the DNC] here for us to review and it will have a much higher impact than what you are doing. On July 6, 2016, WikiLeaks sent another message to Guccifer 2.0: If you have anything Hillary related, we want it in the next tweo (sic) days because the DNC is approaching. Conflict between bernie and Hillary is interesting. On September 20, Donald Trump Jr. emailed senior campaign staffers saying that he got a weird Twitter DM from wikileaks adding that the website asked him about an unlaunched anti-Trump conspiracy site. On October 3, WikiLeaks sent another message to Trump Jr. asking him to help spread a link alleging that Clinton had advocated droning Assange. Several days after publishing emails hacked from Clinton campaign manager John Podestas account, WikiLeaks wrote to him on October 12: Great to see you and your dad talking about our publications. Strongly suggest your dad tweets this link if mentions us wlsearch.tk. Assanges Russia connection didnt end there. He hosted the show World Tomorrow (The Julian Assange Show) on the Kremlin-controlled media propaganda outlet RT from April to July 2012. Regarding the Baghdad airstrike video, which Assange claimed was exclusive, The Washington Post reporter David Finkel reported the incident in detail with fact-checking earlier and mentioned it in his 2009 book The Good Soldiers. Finkel, embedded with 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division for 15 months, had seen the video. According to him, the situation at Al-Amin al-Thaniyah was much more dangerous with US troops engaged in a fierce fight with insurgents a few days ago. Though the crews definitely made a bad judgement by mistaking the telephoto lens as an RPG launcher or shooting at the van, it was difficult for the Apaches, providing cover to the approaching US armoured vehicles taking fire, to distinguish between the Kalashnikov-toting insurgents and the Reuters journalists. Unlike a journalistic organisation, Assange launched a campaign in June 2015 to crowdsource a $100,000 reward for making public the remaining 26 chapters of Americas Most Wanted Secret: the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) after publishing three chapters in the last two years. The remaining 26 chapters of the deal are closely held by negotiators and the big corporations that have been given privileged access, the website said. The TPP bounty also heralds the launch of WikiLeaks new competition system, which allows the public to pledge prizes towards each of the worlds most wanted leaks. For example, members of the public can now pledge on the missing chapters of the TPP. Assange said, The transparency clock has run out on the TPP. No more secrecy. No more excuses. Lets open the TPP once and for all. In June 2017, WikiLeaks offered a $10,000 bounty to get a reporter for The Intercept fired after government contractor Reality Leigh Winner leaked an NSA report to the investigative new website. Per the report, the GRU carried out a cyberattack on, at least, one American voting software supplier and sent spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials days before last 2016 presidential election. WikiLeaks issues a US$10,000 reward for information leading to the public exposure & termination of this reporter, the website tweeted on June 6, 2017. WikiLeaks issues a US$10,000 reward for information leading to the public exposure & termination of this 'reporter': https://t.co/W9wijCk5d3 WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 6, 2017 Some of the classified material, like on Afghanistan and Iraq wars and Gitmo, released by WikiLeaks has served public interest and human rights, but not Cablegate. Do Americans think that WikiLeaks has served or harmed the public interest in the US? A poll by British international Internet-based market research and data analytics firm YouGov on Thursday showed that only 30 per cent of Americans think that WikiLeaks actions served the public interest. Of the 4,814 US adults surveyed, 25 per cent think WikiLeaks harmed the public interest. Regarding Assange, only 10 per cent have a very favourable opinion of him, 18 per cent somewhat favourable, 15 per cent somewhat unfavourable and 12 per cent very unfavourable. A Pew Research Center survey published in December 2010, one month after the US diplomatic cables leak, also found that most Americans thought it harmed the public interest. The News Interest Index survey, conducted from December 2 to 5 among 1,003 adults, found that 60 per cent thought that the leak harmed the public interest. Only 31 per cent said that the release served the public interest. After Assanges 2019 indictment, John Demers, the then-top Justice Department national security official, said, Julian Assange is no journalist. No responsible actor, journalist or otherwise would purposely publish the names of individuals he or she knew to be confidential human sources in war zones, exposing them to the gravest of dangers. The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. By prioritising dialogue and collaboration in areas such as trade, water sharing, and regional security, New Delhi and Dhaka have made significant strides in resolving disputes and fostering prosperity read more The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was on a two-day visit to India on June 21. The official visit was the first incoming bilateral state visit by a foreign leader after the Lok Sabha elections. This is the 10th time PM Modi has met Sheikh Hasina since 2019, showing how much India values its south Asian neighbour. PM Hasina was among the international dignitaries present at the swearing-in ceremony of Modi 3.0 on June 9. Advertisement Over time, India and Bangladesh have cultivated a multidimensional relationship characterised by common historical roots, cultural affinities, and geographic proximity. The two nations maintain cordial diplomatic relations, which have experienced further enhancement under the leadership of PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina. The outcome of the visit The two neighbouring nations signed multiple MoUs covering maritime cooperation, rail connectivity, oceanography, health, and disaster management. Emphasis was given on rail connectivity, where Bangladesh would offer transit through its territory between North East India and West Bengal. It is speculated that India will try to run a train service soon that will connect northeastern states like Tripura with western Bengal through Bangladesh. A group of experts will visit Bangladesh to discuss the conservation and management of the Teesta River. Soon, India may also start issuing e-medical visas to deal with the surging demand for medical visas from Bangladesh. Panchamrit In 2015, Panchamrit replaced the previous doctrine of Panchsheel with five new pillars of foreign policy: samman (dignity), samvad (dialogue), samriddhi (shared prosperity), suraksha (regional and global security), and sanskriti evam sabhayata (cultural and civilisational links). India aspires to be a great power and is marching towards it with all intents and purposes under the current leadership. However, the aim of becoming a great power is only possible by forging and maintaining cordial relations with neighbours in the Indian subcontinent. Indias current intensified engagement with neighbouring and extended neighbouring nations through the Neighbourhood First policy, Act East policy, Act West policy, and the introduction of Panchamrit are important examples of it. Advertisement Bangladesh is a trusted neighbour and a key partner in South Asia. The overall India-Bangladesh strategic ties have been on an upswing in the last few years. In June 2015, PM Modi visited Bangladesh, and a land border agreement was reached to resolve a 41-year-long dispute between the two countries. To enhance connectivity, the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project connecting Siliguri (India) and Parbatipur (Bangladesh), as well as new railway lines and bus routes, were inaugurated during the visit. In April 2017, during Sheikh Hasinas visit to India, 22 agreements were signed on cyber security, defence, and nuclear energy, among others. New Delhi extended the line of credit to Dhaka of nine and a half billion dollars between 2015 and 2017 for 17 developmental projects. In 2017, India also provided Bangladesh with a line of credit of $500 million for the purchase of defence equipment. The year 2023 witnessed a spurt of bilateral activities, showcasing the strength of the relationship. Both Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline on March 18 in a virtual format. These bilateral agreements and partnerships exhibit that Bangladesh is an essential and equal partner in the region, highlighting samman (dignity) by India, which is the first pillar of Panchamrit. Advertisement The previous connectivity projects and the current possible rail and maritime projects will boost trade and people-to-people connections, which will bring samriddhi (shared prosperity) to the region. In the last five years, the PMs of both countries have met 10 times, highlighting the samvad (dialogue), which is crucial to building trusted relations. The fourth and important pillar of Panchamrit suraksha (regional and global security) can be seen in the active cooperation between various agencies of both countries to cooperate on police matters, anti-corruption activities, and to combat illicit drug trafficking, fake currency, human trafficking, and cyber security, among others, which is essential for the peaceful growth of the shared sanskriti evam sabhayata in the region. Both countries cultural and civilisational ("sanskriti evam sabhayata") connections are very strong. Advertisement In her address, Prime Minister Hasina described India as Bangladeshs major neighbour and a reliable friend. India is our major neighbour, trusted friend, and regional partner. Bangladesh greatly values our relations with India, which were born out of the War of Liberation in 1971. I recall with gratitude the contribution of the government and the people of India to Bangladeshs independence, she mentioned. The statement underlines the cultural and civilisational connections that these two countries have. Many Bangladeshis visit India for medical help, and students study in Indian universities under ICCR scholarships, which outline the culture and people-to-people connection and how these two countries are moving towards samriddhi (shared prosperity) in the region. Advertisement India-Bangladesh relations are anchored in historical, cultural, and economic ties, reflecting deep mutual trust and cooperation. By prioritising dialogue and collaboration in areas such as trade, water sharing, and regional security, both nations have made significant strides in resolving disputes and fostering prosperity. Cultural exchange further solidifies their bond, promoting understanding and camaraderie. As neighbours with shared challenges and opportunities, India and Bangladesh exemplify how a commitment to partnership and mutual respect can lead to enduring peace and development in the region. Vijay Maidergi is a PhD Scholar in the Department of Politics and International Studies at Pondicherry University. Anmol Kumar is a Research Assistant for an ICSSR Project at Pondicherry University. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Chinese police detain 3,350 for distributing fraud-linked information Xinhua) 13:12, June 29, 2024 BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have detained over 3,350 people who allegedly helped telecom fraud organizations to lure victims, in a recent nationwide operation, the Ministry of Public Security said Friday. The suspects from 106 criminal gangs allegedly printed cards containing fraudulent website addresses, QR codes and obscene information and posted them at public venues to lure victims into fraud schemes, the ministry said in a press release. The operation has responded to an emerging problem of more and more telecom fraud organizations hiring accessories to distribute false information and lure victims offline, the statement said. Such criminal activities used to be done online but were effectively curbed by police crackdowns in cyberspace. The ministry pledged that police nationwide will maintain a momentum of cracking down on criminal offenses that weaken people's sense of security, including telecom fraud. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) Gang attacks police convoy, escapes with man arrested for robbery in Karnataka In a scene straight out of an action movie, a gang of miscreants attacked a police convoy in Gadag District of Karnataka in the wee hours of Saturday and escaped with the accused who had been arrested for robbery. According to police, the gang attacked a convoy of the Gangavathy police from Koppal District near Gadag Railway Bridge and escaped with accused Amjad Ali Irani. Amjad Ali Irani was wanted by the Gangavathy Shahar police, in a case registered against him under IPC Section 392 for robbery. Superintendent of Police, BS Nemagouda stated on Saturday after visiting the four injured personnel in the hospital that the cops had gone to secure the accused wanted by the Gangavathy Shahar police. While the cops were taking Amjad Ali Irani to the police station, his associates who had followed the police vehicle attacked it and helped the convict escape. Legal action will be initiated based on the complaint by the police. It is being verified how many persons attacked the police vehicle. The car window was broken and the door of the police vehicle was damaged in the incident. It is not clear which gang carried out the attack. SP Nemagouda said, We know how to instill the fear of the law in them. Strict action would be initiated against the culprits. Further investigation to trace the gang is on. Neither candidate, but the US media, which has proved to be more lapdoggish than it is given credit for read more With elections just a little over four months away, the US media is complicit in the unedifying situation that the US public finds itself in. Image: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert The stage was set for incumbent US President Joe Biden to assure his nation that he was good to go for another four years in the White House. More than POTUS, the two anchors of the first-ever Presidential Debate conducted before the two candidates have even received the formal approval of their respective parties, were determined to cut him plenty of slack as he faced off with his mercurial challenger, former President Donald Trump. But it backfired. Spectacularly. Advertisement So now the US media has turned on a dime and wants Biden to step aside! With very little time to change candidates at this stage, there will be talk of a conspiracy by political cabals to bypass the system of primaries to choose the worthiest one. Why did the Democratic Party not tell a clearly ageing politician to call it a day long before this crisis point? Why did mainstream media collaborate with that party to persist in propping up Biden despite warnings about his abilities? Indians are used to the term godi media these days, indicating the willingness of the fourth estate to soft pedal those in power. But mainstream media in the US has been far more lap-doggish with Biden than they are given credit for. During this first debate the anchors repeatedly did not let Trump rebut Bidenthe few times when the latter was coherent. They pretended not to see Trump about to reply and moved quickly to the next topic. The media willed Biden to win. That could not save Bidens bloopers, of course. In fact, if anything, he looked rather like an aging racehorse pumped up with steroids that produced short bursts of energy but then lapsed into a canter and then a total standstill. Maybe Biden does not have Parkinsons as many in the opposing camp have been alleging, but he certainly is not all there either. Many 80-year-olds are still alert, sharp, cogent and physically fit these days. Sadly, Biden is evidently not one of them. The televised face-off was part of the Prop Up Biden campaign. Instead, it offered too close a look at the President. Even when he was supposedly attacking Trumpon the migrants issue, on veteranshe looked woefully stiff, his eyes and mouth frozen in one mode, sometimes looking like an irritable Grandpa woken up from his mid-morning snooze. If anyone could make Trump look better than he was, it was Biden with his breathy, raspy voice and fuzzy logic. Advertisement Trump is nearly four years younger than Biden, but during his term as President, the mainstream US media gleefully highlighted each time he stumbled, bumbled or fumbled, conveying he was unfit to be in that job. It worked in 2020. Ironically, the same media tried valiantly to gloss over Bidens far more frequent stumbles, bumbles and fumbles while in office, especially during this re-election campaign, to convey that he is still fit for the job! But that just did not work in 2024. There have been protests against ageism and attempts to silence criticism of Bidens clearly failing mental and physical faculties. But the US publics opinion after this TV debate was clear: age is very much an issue. And they were not swayed by the US medias attempts to sidestep that contentious issue with Bernie Sanders-type feints like, Yes, age is an issue but there are also other issues that candidates must be judged onabortion, climate change, minimum wage Advertisement It seems Biden had practiced hard about what he would say during the debatehe even took a week off for it, some had reported. He rattled off a bunch of sentences at top speed in the initial minutes of the debate, but then he lost the plot. Often. He started with one subject and ended with another, all in a single sentence. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, Trump commented archly at one point, and I dont think he knows what he said, either. At one point, a rambling Biden even claimed the Border Patrol men endorsed me which Trump later countered by saying they had actually endorsed him. That made Biden round on Trump like an incensed Mr Wilson would at Dennis the Menace, but he could not find the words for a comeback. The last word on the matter, however, was from the Border Patrol, whose union put up a succinct retort on X: To be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden. QED. Advertisement Testily calling Trump a liar and harking back to his deceased sons military record to gather sympathy sounded pathetic to anyone other than a diehard Democrat voter. That is probably why every opinion poll conducted after this debate was unanimous that Trump had won this match, although there were wide variations on the victory margin. Still, most of the media obligingly gave plenty of post-debate airtime to Bidens defenders, including Vice President Kamala Harris. She told sympathetic TV anchors that he had slow start but a strong finish, and that he spoke about all the issues that concern the American people. A few other Democratic party sympathisers offered similar arguments. But when that did not work, the mainstream media did an about-face. They are now calling for Biden to step aside. To save their face or Bidens? Only the consistently anti-Biden New York Post stood vindicated, and its editorial may turn out to be prophetic. Advertisement It wrote: We just witnessed the end of Joe Bidens Presidency his performance during the debate was embarrassing. Whenever CNN put him up on the split screen, he had a thousand-yard stare. He didnt look old. He looked ancient. He looked emptyIt is political malpractice to let him continue to run for re-election. It is national malpractice to let him continueThe Democratic elite are pulling a con job on the American people, and it was exposed last night. With elections just a little over four months away, the US media is complicit in the unedifying situation that the US public finds itself in. On the one hand it has played up the fact that one candidate is a convicted felon (thanks to some adroit legal politicking). On the other, it was talking up a doddering old veteran of Washington DCs discredited political labyrinth along with some motivated sections. Until now. And NOTA is an option only in Nevada in the US. The author is a freelance writer. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Wildfires are common in Greece but they have become more devastating in recent years amid hotter and drier summers that scientists link to climate change. A wildfire near Athens last week forced dozens to flee their homes, which authorities said they believed was the result of arson as well as the hot, dry conditions. read more A man stands next to his car as a wildfire burns at the industrial zone of the city of Volos in central Greece, July 26. File Photo- Reuters A wildfire ignited in a forest area north of Athens Saturday afternoon with high winds making firefighters tasks harder as much of the nation remains on high fire alert. At least forty wildfires have erupted since dawn across the country with wind speeds exceeding 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour, AFP quoted fire brigade sources as saying. Talking to the media, Fire Department spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis said on Saturday that the conditions that prevail are difficult and dangerous. Advertisement Wildfires are common in Greece but they have become more devastating in recent years amid hotter and drier summers that scientists link to climate change. A wildfire near Athens last week forced dozens to flee their homes, which authorities said they believed was the result of arson as well as the hot, dry conditions. Accustomed to scorching summers, Greece faces a tough wildfire season after its warmest winter and earliest heatwave on record, with temperatures hitting 44C (111F). Strong winds and numerous high-voltage pylons in the area of Mount Parnitha known as the lungs of Athens are impeding the use of firefighting aircraft. Reinforcements from the regions of Thessaly, Epirus, and Central Macedonia, as well as volunteer firefighters, are helping to tackle the forest fires. The winds have carried smoke into the centre of Athens while a message was sent to people in nearby areas via the emergency number 112 to be on standby due to the fire. There is no longer an active front at the fire that started in Katsimidi, Parnitha but the fight is not yet over even though the situation has improved, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias said in a statement Saturday evening. The Fire Danger Forecast Map issued for Sunday by the Civil Protection Ministry predicts a very high risk of fire (category 4) for Attica, the Peloponnese, Crete, the North and South Aegean Regions, and Central Greece. Advertisement Another fire started about 20 kilometres northwest of Athens in the area of Lakka Katsari on Saturday afternoon, while authorities successfully controlled a fire in the southeastern town of Keratea, which had led to the evacuation of two villages. Last year, a fierce two-week heatwave was followed by devastating wildfires in which 20 people died. The flames consumed nearly 175,000 hectares (432,000 acres) of forest and farmland, according to the National Observatory of Athens. With inputs from AFP. Rights groups have condemned the exclusion of Afghan women from the main meetings and the lack of human rights issues on the agenda. The Taliban authorities acknowledge the issues about women, government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference in Kabul on the eve of the latest talks. But these issues are Afghanistans issues, said Mujahid, who will lead the delegation read more Taliban authorities said on Saturday that demands over womens rights were Afghanistans issues to solve, ahead of United Nations-led engagement talks where the exclusion of Afghan women has sparked outcry. The Taliban government, which has imposed restrictions on women since seizing power in 2021 that the UN has described as gender apartheid, will send its first delegation to the third round of talks starting in Qatar on Sunday. Civil society representatives, including from womens rights groups, will attend meetings with the international envoys and UN officials on Tuesday, after the official talks. Advertisement Rights groups have condemned the exclusion of Afghan women from the main meetings and the lack of human rights issues on the agenda. The Taliban authorities acknowledge the issues about women, government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference in Kabul on the eve of the latest talks. But these issues are Afghanistans issues, said Mujahid, who will lead the delegation. We are working to find a logical path toward solutions inside Afghanistan so that, God forbid, our country doesnt again fall into conflict and discord. He said the Taliban government would represent all of Afghanistan at the meetings and, given their authority, should be the only Afghans at the table. If Afghans participate through several channels, it means we are still scattered, our nation is still not unified, he said. The talks were launched by the UN in May 2023 and aim to increase international coordination on engagement with the Taliban authorities, who ousted a Western-backed government when they swept to power. The Taliban government has not been officially recognised by any state and the international community has wrestled with its approach to Afghanistans new rulers, with womens rights issues a sticking point for many countries. Taliban authorities were not invited to the first talks in Doha last year and refused to attend the second conference, demanding that they be the sole Afghan representatives to the exclusion of invited civil society groups. Advertisement That condition has been met for the third round. Mujahid reiterated that the Taliban government sought positive relations with all countries. However, he added that no major or key discussions would take place in Doha and that the meeting was an opportunity to exchange views, particularly with Western countries. The agenda will include combating narcotics and economic issues, key topics for authorities in the impoverished country. We have hurdles blocking economic development, which should be removed, Mujahid said. If the economy were fine, then all other issues could be solved. In a statement late on Friday, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said the guidelines were only aimed a tiny number of separatists and their evil words and actions. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan has ignored the facts and is trying to intimidate its own people for political means, which China is strongly opposed to, the office said in a statement read more Most Taiwanese can visit China with no need to worry and can come in high spirits, the Chinese government said, condemning Taiwan for warning its citizens not to go following a threat from Beijing to execute diehard separatists. Taiwans government raised its travel warning for China this week, telling people not to go unless absolutely necessary after China announced legal guidelines threatening prosecution and in extreme cases the death penalty for Taiwan independence separatists. Advertisement In a statement late on Friday, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said the guidelines were only aimed a tiny number of separatists and their evil words and actions. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan has ignored the facts and is trying to intimidate its own people for political means, which China is strongly opposed to, the office said in a statement. The majority of Taiwanese compatriots can participate in cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. They dont have to have any worries about travelling to and from the mainland. They can absolutely arrive in high spirits and depart well content. China has vowed to pursue people it views as Taiwan separatists wherever they may be, though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan and it is not clear how China could seek to enforce any legal judgements outside its borders. Taiwans travel warning also applies to the Chinese cities of Hong Kong and Macau. China has not hidden its dislike of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, whom it views as a separatist, staging two days of war games after he took office last month and regularly sending fighter jets and warships to operate around Taiwan. Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed. He rejects Beijings sovereignty claims and says only Taiwans people can decide their future. China says any move by Taiwan to declare formal independence would be grounds to attack the island. The government in Taipei says Taiwan is already an independent country, the Republic of China, and that it does not plan to change that. The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedongs Communists. As Iranians cast their ballots on Friday, the Middle East was ablaze with conflicts and the incoming president will have his task cut out from day one read more The incoming President of Iran will have the unenviable task of steering the Islamic Republic through one of its most turbulent times regionally and globally. Domestically, too, he will have a tumultuous start. More than a year after the monthslong uprising following the death of a 22-year-old woman shook the country, he will inherit an insecure state thats in the midst of a renewed crackdown on womens freedoms to preserve the values of the Islamic Revolution. The state remains on its toes for signs of dissent to check any brewing movement. Advertisement While the writ of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the last word on all affairs, it is up to the presidency to implement the writ. As Iranians cast their ballots on Friday, the Middle East was ablaze with the Israel-Hamas War in the Gaza Strip and the belligerence of the Houthis in the Red Sea. Yet another war appears to be on the verge of breaking out in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. All of these groups along with others like Shia militias in Iraq and Syria and the Gaza-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) are sponsored by Iran and thus the regime remains central to regional conflicts. At the same time, Iran is closer than ever to developing a nuclear weapon. It is effectively a threshold state at the moment and the only thing between Iran and the bomb is the go-ahead from Khamenei. Israel and the United States are anxious about the nuclear programme and remain committed to stopping the bombs development. Israel considers it an existential threat and remains open to military action. The term of the new Iranian president will therefore be on the edge from the onset. Is there going to be change or continuity in Iran? Of the six presidential candidates, five are hardliners and only one is a moderate. Advertisement Of the five hardliners, three are from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and a fourth is from an intelligence background. The IRGC is an armed force in Iran thats separate from the regular military. It is the personal sword-arm of the Supreme Leader and is committed to preserving the Islamic Revolution of 1979 domestically and exporting it externally. The Quds Force of the IRGC is the foreign intelligence and covert operations wing of the IRGC that steers Iran-sponsored schemes in the region. While there will not be a policy shift under the new Iranian president as the broad contours are set by the Supreme Leader, the president and his ministers will have the crucial executive role and a lot depends on the manner of the implementation, says Deepika Saraswat, a scholar of Iran at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). Advertisement This means that while the broad policy may remain the same, if the sole reformist candidate Massoud Pezeshkian wins, then Iran may indeed be a bit different. Saraswat says Irans international relations may also see a difference given the reformists and moderates have pursued constructive engagement with the world, including the West. Saraswat further says that Pezeshkians campaign has focused on rights of women, Irans ethnic minorities, border areas, fostering greater unity in the country. This means while there may not be a substantial shift on mandatory hijab rules, there may be renewal of a reformist agenda of incremental reforms in social and cultural issues. Advertisement The Iranian president can channel the aspirations and demands of the people. Pezeshkian, like any president, can be a vehicle for advancing those aspirations. In the past, reformist and moderate presidents have acted as pressure groups to negotiate with the more conservative establishment, says Saraswat, the author of the book Between Survival and Status: The Counter-Hegemonic Geopolitics of Iran. Is Supreme Leader looking at domestic consolidation? In Iran, the candidature for the presidency is approved by the Guardian Council, a body of Islamic clerics and jurists under the Supreme Leader. While Pezeshkian was cleared as a candidate, the five others were from the conservative camps. A relatively diverse pool of candidates brings some democratic competition, possibly generating participation from the reformist constituency and undecided voters. A higher turnout boosts the legitimacy of the system, says Saraswat, an Associate Fellow at the West Asia Center at the MP-IDSA. Advertisement Seeking such a domestic consolidation makes sense at a time when Iran has so many fronts opened. The recent episode of exchange of barrages with Israel could have also had a rally around the flag effect. Many Iranians question their countrys involvement in the conflict in Gaza but at the same time when Iran is under attack by Israel or the United States, it is bound to rally people around the flag. The conservatives especially have argued for hard security, a strong Iran that has strategic depth across the region, says Saraswat. Irans negotiations with the world Just a day before Iranians went to polls, the United States imposed fresh sanctions on Iran. This is part of the long-running conflict between the two sides where the West has sought to punish Iran with sanctions over its nuclear programme and interventions in the Middle East. While sanctions may primarily appear to be punitive measures, they are also negotiating tools as the prospect of lifting these sanctions is used by the West to pursue Iran to make concessions on its activities that the West finds unacceptable. This was how the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) the Iran Nuclear Deal of 2015 was signed. It capped Irans nuclear enrichment in lieu of lifting sanctions. Former US President Donald Trump, however, quit the treaty and Iran followed suit. He mounted whats called the maximum pressure strategy against Iran reinstating sanctions to the fullest. Years later, Iran is now closer to the bomb than ever and the failure of Trumps maximum pressure strategy is for all to see. Saraswat of the MP-IDSA says sanctions alone dont work on Iran and the West needs to rework its approach. The maximum pressure strategy failed spectacularly. The Iran Nuclear Deal was not perfect. It was a compromise as it could not secure the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear programme the way the United States and Israel would have wanted. But it capped nuclear enrichment, allowed for monitoring of the nuclear programme, and prevented the development of the bomb. After Trump exited the deal, Iran ramped up the enrichment. Now, Iran retaliates to sanctions with more enrichment, says Saraswat. At the current levels of enrichment, it could take anywhere between weeks to a few months for Iran to make weapons-grade uranium once the go-ahead comes from the Supreme Leader. Then, the warhead may be ready in many more months one estimate says the entire process could take a year and a half. But developing the weapon may not be the goal of Iran and it may instead be looking at its threshold state as a bargaining chip. Saraswat says, The nuclear threshold status is increasingly seen as part of Irans deterrence strategy, especially after the Iranian-Israeli exchange of fire in April. Given Iran does not want a full-blown war with the United States, and acquiring nuclear weapons will be crossing a big red line for the United States and Israel, so it has not made the political decision of acquiring the bomb despite the evident technological capabilities. To communicate this convincingly if this is indeed the case to the concerned parties would be a challenge for the incoming government and the West too would need to find new responses and better ways to engage with Iran. The sanctions have clearly not worked and the 2015 deal is dead. They would be watching for signals from the new president to gauge his intentions and chalk out a response. Moderate reformist Massoud Pezeshkian has emerged as the leading candidate in the Iranian presidential election read more Iran will have run-off elections between reformist Massoud Pezeshkian and hardliner candidate Saeed Jalili next month. A run-off election is held when no candidate wins 50 per cent of the votes. It will be held on July 5. As per the final results of the elections, which did not result in a clear winner, Pezeshkian was the most popular candidate. Of the total ballots cast, Pezeshkian secured 10,415,991 votes compared to Jalilis 9,473,298, according to Irans state-run IRNA news agency. Advertisement The final and official results of Iran's 14th Presidential Election/ the election will go to the second round - 58,640 ballot boxes were counted in 482 cities and 24,535,185 people voted - Massoud Pezeshkian: 10,415,991 - Saeed Jalili: 9,473,298 - Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf: IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) June 29, 2024 Of the six candidates in the fray, Pezeshkian was considered among the favourites and had emerged as the most popular candidate in the initial rounds of counting itself. He comes from the Azeri minority community and has spoken of the rights of minorities, women, and border areas of the country. It is expected that his government could be much more considerate to the concerns of women and minorities in the country. The Iranian elections saw the all-time low voter turnout of 39.9 per cent despite the regimes expectations of broader popular participation. The inclusion of Pezeshkian along with hardliners, including veterans of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), was seen as a move from the Supreme Leader to prop a diverse bunch of candidates that attract voters from various spheres of life. The candidature of all the hopefuls has to be approved by the Guardian Council of Iran, a body of Islamic clerics and jurists appointed by the Supreme Leader. In Iran, the Supreme Leader is the final authority on everything. He sets the policy and makes decisions. The president and his government only implement the policies and enforces the decisions, but they can still influence the outcome through the nature of implementation and the enforcement. The presidential election in Iran were necessitated by the death of President Ebrahim Raisi last month in a helicopter crash. Announcement of this scheme follows a recent review of kharif crops, where the government discussed the climate changes effects on human life and biodiversity. Pasha Patel, the executive chairman of the newly formed Environment and Sustainability Task Force, cited a report by the World Resource Institute-IPCC warning of devastating effects from a temperature rise of 1.5C to 3C read more For the first time, Maharashtras state budget included measures to combat Climate change change, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced Friday. Under the Atal Bamboo Samriddhi Yojana, bamboo plantation will ensured across 10,000 hectares of private land in the state. This scheme aims to mitigate the impact of climate change, according to the minister. Farmers participating in the scheme will receive Rs 7 lakh per hectare over three years for bamboo plantation. Additionally, bamboo will be planted on wasteland, starting with a project covering 1.2 lakh acres in Nandurbar. Advertisement Funding for private land will be split, with 90% provided by the Central Government and 10% by the state. For tribal land, the scheme will be fully funded by the central government, the finance minister said. Announcement of this scheme follows a recent review of kharif crops, where the government discussed the climate changes effects on human life and biodiversity. Pasha Patel, the executive chairman of the newly formed Environment and Sustainability Task Force, stated the urgent need to address climate change impacts. He cited a report by the World Resource Institute-IPCC warning of devastating effects from a temperature rise of 1.5C to 3C. These effects include biodiversity loss, drought affecting millions, increased forest fires, more hot days, frequent heat waves, sea level rise, and floods impacting a major portion of the population. Patel advocated for extensive bamboo plantation, as a countermeasure for these acts. He proposed that 20% of Maharashtras geographical area be covered with greenery given bamboos rapid growth and versatile uses. The state government plans to use the central scheme to implement large-scale bamboo plantation projects, including along major highways and expressways. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also announced a Rs 200-crore bamboo plantation initiative in Mumbai, to be executed by the BMC. The 81-year-old Biden lauded people who rebelled on June 28, 1969, against yet another police raid on the Greenwich Village gay bar Stonewall Inn a pivotal occasion in the fight for LGBTQ rights looking sharper than he did in a catastrophic debate against Donald Trump the previous evening read more Elton John and Joe Biden inaugurated the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York on Friday Image Courtesy AFP US President Joe Biden paid tribute to LGBTQ pioneers and British music legend Elton John performed his hits as the duo inaugurated a historical site in New York on Friday celebrating the 1969 Stonewall riots. The 81-year-old Biden lauded people who rebelled on June 28, 1969, against yet another police raid on the Greenwich Village gay bar Stonewall Inn a pivotal occasion in the fight for LGBTQ rights looking sharper than he did in a catastrophic debate against Donald Trump the previous evening. Advertisement You marked a turning point for civil rights in America and inspired the hearts of millions around the world. To this day, Stonewall remains a symbol of a legacy of leadership for the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans women of color, he said. We remain in a battle for the soul of America, Biden added, before introducing John to the stage. The six nights of the Stonewall riots marked the birth of the modern gay rights movement. Gay Pride was born in their wake. The bar still exists and was designated a national monument by former president Barack Obama in 2016. Since Friday, a small, free museum has been added where visitors can learn about the sites history. Just as Americans visit Independence Hall, Liberty Bell or the Statue of Liberty to embrace the history of our country, now we can pay homage to a place where we began to fight for our freedom, our rights, our equality, said Mark Segal, who was part of the revolt at Stonewall. Elton John, himself an LGBTQ icon, told attendees: The job isnt done. The 77-year-old musician concluded a triumphant farewell tour last year, but returned to the stage on Friday to treat guests to a short recital. He dedicated the classic Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me to his friend Larry Kramer, one of the co-founders of the Act Up organization, and to all the LGBTQ+ people that have gone before us and have paved the way for where we are now. A special CBI court in Godhra on Saturday granted the probe agency four-day custody of Jay Jalaram Schools principal Purushottam Sharma, teacher Tushar Bhatt, and middlemen Vibhor Anand and Arif Vohra, all of whom are alleged to be involved in irregularities in the May 5 NEET-UG exam in Godhra read more The CBI conducted searches at seven locations in Gujarat on Saturday in connection with the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam and arrested a journalist in Jharkhand, officials said. According to them, Jamaluddin Ansari, a journalist with a Hindi newspaper, was arrested on Friday for allegedly trying to help the principal and vice principal of a Hazaribagh school, both of whom are accused in the paper leak case. Oasis Schools principal Ehsanul Haque and vice principal Imtiaz Alam have already been arrested by the federal probe agency in connection with the medical entrance exam paper leak case. Advertisement The CBI on Saturday searched the premises of suspects in Anand, Kheda, Ahmedabad and Godhra districts of Gujarat. The probe agency is investigating a larger conspiracy spread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi and Jharkhand. A special CBI court in Godhra on Saturday granted the probe agency four-day custody of Jay Jalaram Schools principal Purushottam Sharma, teacher Tushar Bhatt, and middlemen Vibhor Anand and Arif Vohra, all of whom are alleged to be involved in irregularities in the May 5 NEET-UG exam in Godhra. The Gujarat police had arrested five people, including the principal and the teacher, in connection with the paper leak case. The CBI investigation has shown that the examination centres in Godhra and Kheda chosen by the National Testing Agency (NTA) were controlled by the same school administration, officials said. According to sources, the accused allegedly asked candidates arranged by them from Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to mark Godhra as their examination centre and choose Gujarati as their language, they said. Investigation conducted till date has revealed that the accused persons who were given the responsibility of carrying out the examination in a free, fair and transparent manner were themselves involved in arranging candidates and facilitating them to attain good marks in the NEET exam for a hefty consideration, an official in the known of developments said. Advertisement The candidates arranged by the accused allegedly showed Panchmahal and Vadodara in Gujarat as their addresses, officials said. The agency has claimed a larger conspiracy involving interstate links in the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, they said. The officials said the CBI would interrogate Purushottam Sharma, Tushar Bhatt, Vibhor Anand and Arif Vohra, who are understood to possess crucial information pertaining to exposing the broader conspiracy orchestrating the manipulation of the NEET-UG exam. The probe agency informed the court that it was essential to further the investigation, unearth the larger conspiracy and bring the masterminds to justice. The CBI wants to probe the extent of the connections of arrested persons in other states from where they have arranged the candidates and their conspiracy with the accused persons of the other FIRs lodged by CBI in other states, officials said. Advertisement The CBI has registered six FIRs in the case. The FIR from Bihar pertains to leakage of paper while remaining from Gujarat and Rajasthan pertains to impersonation of candidates and cheating. The agencys own FIR on a reference from the Union Education Ministry pertains to a comprehensive investigation into alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination. NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions. This year, the exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. More than 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the test. The order came on the complaint of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge in Pakistans Punjab against alleged harassment from an intelligence agencys officials read more The Lahore High Court said that PM Shehbaz Sharif was responsible and answerable for such incidents as intelligence agencies of the country come under his command (Photo: Reuters) The Lahore High Court has asked the Pakistan Prime Ministers Office (PMO) to issue orders stopping the intelligence agencies and military of the country from approaching judges. The order has come amid complaints by some judges that the countrys all-powerful military and intelligence establishment has interfered in their work and has pressurised them. For much of its existence, Pakistan has been ruled by the military. Even when the military has not been directly in power, it keeps the country in its broad control and calls the shots in security and foreign policies and is vastly influential in the domestic affairs. Advertisement Now, Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore HC has ordered the Pakistan PMO to instruct all government agencies, including the intelligence agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the infamous Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the military, to stop approaching judges, according to The Dawn newspaper. The order came on the complaint of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) judge in Pakistans Punjab against alleged harassment from an intelligence agencys officials, as per the newspaper. The report did not name the agency. At a previous hearing, the paper said that Karim had remarked that PM Shehbaz Sharif was responsible and answerable for such incidents as intelligence agencies of the country come under his command. The order read, Instructions shall go out by the Prime Ministers Office to all civil or military agencies including the Intelligence Bureau as well as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding strict directions not to approach or contact any judge whether of the superior judiciary or sub-ordinate judiciary or any member of their staff in future. Karim further said that security measures should be in place across ATCs in consultation with the concerned judges. He issued directions to Punjab Police as well and said that the state and local police chiefs will be held personally responsible and proceeded against in contempt if the order was violated, as per the newspaper. Advertisement Karim further directed the ATC judges in Punjab to install call-recording applications on their mobile phones so they could record the conversations that are meant to influence them or harass them. Notice: As of May 27, 2021, South Dakota Mines has fully exhausted our CRRSA Act and HEERF II Student Assistance Grants allocation; as a result, we regret that no further assistance under these programs is available. 1. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act (enacted December 27, 2020) provided additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF II). A portion of these funds were designated to be spent as emergency funds for students. The HEERF II allocations were in addition to the initial HEERF I funds received as part of the CARES Act in April 2020. On January 17, 2021, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Mines) received the Grant Award Notification (GAN) for the HEERF II Institutional Funds. The GAN for the HEERF II Student Funds was received on February 9, 2021. 2. South Dakota Mines was allocated $727,849 for Student Assistance Grants. The intent of South Dakota Mines was to fully award these funds to eligible students. 3. Per our records and based upon the limitations initially imposed on who was eligible for assistance, over 2000 students at South Dakota Mines were initially determined to be potentially eligible to receive funding from this program. 5. Per information available in our records, South Dakota Mines potentially eligible students were evaluated based on high Unmet Financial Need and prioritized in the order of Federal Pell Grant eligible students, students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that fell within the Federal Pell Grant EFC range (included both graduate and undergraduate students) and then by all other students with high Unmet Financial Need. 6. As of May 27, 2021, 631 HEERF II awards were processed for disbursement to 630 eligible students. Our full $727,849 allocation has been fully exhausted. 7. Students with a zero-balance owed to South Dakota Mines received their funding by direct disbursement to them via their designated requested refund method (check or Direct Deposit). These students were notified by e-mail from David Martin, Financial Aid Director, to their South Dakota Mines e-mail account of the award, the source of the funding and the approximate date they could either see the funds in their designated Direct Deposit account or receive the check. 8. Students who had an unpaid balance owed to South Dakota Mines that were being considered for funding were sent an e-mail requesting their permission to apply the funds to their unpaid balance. They were informed that if the amount of the award was more than what they owed, they would receive a refund of the difference. However, if after the funds were applied they still owed a balance on their account, they were directed to contact the Student Accounts/Cashiering Services office to pay the balance owed. They were also informed that if they chose not to give South Dakota Mines permission to apply the offer to their unpaid balance, they would receive a direct refund. Once their response was received, offers were processed and funds disbursed as they requested. Back to top Pakistans Ambassador to the United States has requested Washington to provide small arms and modern equipment to help the country with its Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, a newly approved counter-terrorism initiative. Earlier this month, the cash-strapped countrys Federal government greenlit the reinvigorated national counter-terrorism drive. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already made it clear that the initiative would not be a large-scale military operation and would not displace local populations, Dawn reported. Advertisement Pakistan has launched Azm-i-Istehkam [] to oppose and dismantle terrorist networks. For that, we need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment, said Ambassador Khan while addressing US policymakers, scholars, intelligentsia, and corporate leaders at a Washington think tank, the Wilson Centre, earlier this week. During a subsequent Q&A round, he elaborated that the operation will comprise three components: doctrinal, societal, and operational. He also mentioned that the Pakistani government has already begun working on the first two phases and the third phase will be implemented soon. Paks request to US Khan emphasised that Pakistan and the United States should maintain strong security links and enhance intelligence cooperation. This is crucial for regional security and opposing the rising tide of terrorism that also threatens the interests of the US and its allies, he added. The Pakistani envoy insisted that the prospects of Pakistan-United States relations are bright in this regard. We share values, our security and economic interests are interwoven, and it is the aspiration of our two peoples that strengthens our ties, the Ambassador averred. Khan also requested the United States to partner in Pakistans diplomatic efforts in Kabul and collaborate on counterterrorism and the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. In this era of renewed strategic competition, the US and Pakistan should build on existing partnerships and explore new horizons to establish the parameters of mutual interests, said Masood Khan. We should not base our engagement on the incongruity of expectations. Our ties should be anchored in ground realities, even as we aim for stronger security and economic partnerships. Secondly, one or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage," he concluded. Advertisement US State Department expressed support but the question of supplying arms remains hanging Earlier this week, the US Department of State expressed support for the Pakistani operation and insisted that no country should face the kind of terrorist attacks that Pakistan has seen in recent years. We support Pakistans efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights," State Departments spokesperson Matthew Miller said while responding to questions at a press briefing. Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks. No country should have to suffer such acts of terror, he added. However, the support came with caution. Advertisement While speaking on the lynching of a man in Madyan for alleged desecration of the Holy Quran, Miller pointed out that the country should be concerned about the human rights abuse on its soil. Violence or the threat of violence against another person is never an acceptable form of expression, and we oppose blasphemy laws everywhere in the world [] because they jeopardise the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of religion or belief, the US official averred. We continue to urge Pakistani authorities to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all. This includes freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to peaceful assembly, he added. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. More than eight months into Israels air and ground war in Gaza, militants continued to stage attacks on Israeli forces, operating in areas that the Israeli army said it had gained control over months ago. read more Local officials in Gaza said 45 people, most of them sheltering in tents, were killed in the May 26 air strike on Rafah that triggered massive global outrage, including criticism from some of Israel's closest allies. File Image AP A senior official of the terrorist Islamist group Hamas, Osama Hamdan, said on Saturday there has been no progress in ceasefire talks with Israel over the Gaza war. The Palestinian group is still ready to deal positively with any ceasefire proposal that ends the war, Hamdan told a news conference in Beirut. Arab mediators efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire, with both sides blaming each other for the impasse. 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. Advertisement Hamdan also blamed the United States for applying pressure on Hamas to accept Israels conditions. Once again, Hamas is ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from Gaza Strip and a serious swap deal, said Hamdan, referring to a potential swap of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinians in Israeli prisons. When Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7 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 nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has left the heavily built-up coastal enclave in ruins. In Gaza, Palestinian health officials said Israeli military strikes across the enclave had so far killed at least 35 people and wounded others on Saturday. Israeli forces have continued to operate in the Shejaia neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. Residents said tanks had advanced deeper into several districts including the area around the local market and there was heavy fire from the air and the ground. The armed wing of Hamas and the allied Islamic Jihad reported fierce fighting, saying fighters fired anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs against the forces operating there. More than eight months into Israels air and ground war in Gaza, militants continued to stage attacks on Israeli forces, operating in areas that the Israeli army said it had gained control over months ago. Advertisement The Israeli military said on Saturday that over the past week it killed dozens of militants in close quarters combat and air strikes in Shejaia, after encircling what it described as a civilian area converted by Hamas into a militant compound. In the area, the troops located observation posts, weapons, enemy drones and a long-range rocket launcher near the schools, the military said in a statement. Hamas has denied Israeli assertions that it operates in civilian areas such as schools and hospitals. Israeli leaders have said in the past week that the intense phase of the war is approaching its end, and that the next stage of the offensive will mainly be smaller-scale operations meant to stop Hamas from reassembling. Advertisement Meanwhile Israeli forces operating in several districts in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, killed several Palestinians and forced families living in the far western edge of the city along the coastal areas to head northwards, according to Palestinian medical officials and residents. Israel has said its military operations in Rafah are aimed at eradicating the last armed battalions of Hamas. Around 11:00 am (0900 GMT) an unknown person, whose identity is being determined, shot a member of the gendarmerie, who was on duty securing the Israeli embassy, from a crossbow and hit him in the neck, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic read more A Serbian police officer on Saturday killed a man who shot him in the neck with a crossbow in front of the Israeli embassy in Belgrade, in what the prime minister called a terrorist act. Police identified the assailant as being a convert to Islam, who was born in 1999 in the town of Mladenovac, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Belgrade. The attack happened around 11:00 am (0900 GMT) on Saturday morning in the Serbian capital, when the attacker shot the officer who was on duty outside the Israeli embassy. Advertisement The policeman used a weapon in self-defence and defeated the attacker, who died as a result of his injuries, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. Authorities said some arrests had been made and a number of people known to the security services were suspected of being linked to the attack. Police also said they were carring out searches in a number of locations. The officer, who underwent surgery in hospital, was in his guard booth when the attack happened. According to authorities, the assailant had moved to live in Novi Pazar, which is a historical and political centre of the Bosniak Muslim minority in Serbia, and a centre of Islam in the country. Dacic told reporters that there were early indications connecting the attack with people suspected of being linked to the Wahhabi movement an ultra-conservative branch of Islam that dominates in Saudi Arabia. He said several people had been arrested for prevention reasons and that overall security had been stepped up in Belgrade. Special prosecutors had taken over the case, added Dacic. - Terrorist act - Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic strongly condemned what he labelled a heinous terrorist act. This was an act of insanity, which cannot be attributed to any religion and any nation. It is a crime of an individual, he said, according to quotes from the Beta news agency. Advertisement The prime minister said his country would firmly respond to the threat of terrorism and stressed Serbian citizens could feel safe. The Israeli foreign ministry called it an attempted terrorist attack in the vicinity of the countrys embassy in Serbia. The embassy is closed and no employee of the embassy was injured, it said in a statement, saying the circumstances are still being investigated. The Balkan nation has continued arms sales to Israel after the war in Gaza started with Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel, which claimed 1,195 lives, mostly of 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. Advertisement Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,834 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Many Sri Lankan mercenaries fighting in the Ukraine front have become Russian citizens, making it difficult to give them diplomatic support, Economy Next quoted Foreign Minister Ali Sabry as saying. They have taken Russian citizenship at the moment, Sabry said on Friday read more Those wounded among the Sri Lankan mercenaries in Russia are reluctant to return to the island nation as they hope to receive Russian citizenship, a minister said on Saturday. Many Sri Lankan mercenaries had left for Russia through agents and were forced to fight in Russias war against Ukraine. Many Sri Lankan mercenaries fighting in the Ukraine front have become Russian citizens, making it difficult to give them diplomatic support, Economy Next quoted Foreign Minister Ali Sabry as saying. Advertisement They have taken Russian citizenship at the moment, Sabry said on Friday. If you take another countrys citizenship you lose Sri Lankan citizenship, so if you are no longer a citizen of Sri Lanka we lose the right to represent you, that is the problem unless they apply for dual citizenship, Sabry said. While some appeared to have been misled that they would be camp helpers in support roles and pushed into combat, others may have known the actual stakes involved, he said. The State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, who has just returned from Russia after having led a high-powered delegation to discuss with the Russian authorities the human smuggling operation of ex-military men, said: We were provided details of 464 of them. As many as 17 have died. We also discussed the issue of paying compensation to them." The Sri Lankan minister said the two days of talks with Russian authorities were centred on the 17 Sri Lankans killed in action, payment of compensation for the deceased and the wounded, the plight of the uncontactable Lankans, the possibility of voluntary returns, early termination of contracts and regularisation of remuneration. An initiative to prevent Sri Lankan retired military personnel from being illegally recruited and trafficked to fight in the war between Russia and Ukraine was tabled during the visit, according to a News First Lanka report. MP Gamini Valeboda said discussions were held with high-ranking Russian officials, including the Deputy Minister of Defence and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and a joint committee comprising representatives from both countries relevant ministries and the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia has been established. Valeboda also highlighted the seriousness of the situation and said smugglers were charging families of these veterans over Rs. 1 billion to facilitate their illegal deployment. Advertisement The government blamed foreign employment agencies for carrying out a racket of people smuggling. Many retired military officers and foreign employment agency personnel are remanded for the racket. The provocative statement came after the Conservatives hinted at coming up with an executive order for Trump to quickly sign if he wins the 2024 US Presidential elections read more Former US President Donald Trump will pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord for the second time if he comes back to the White House, his campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed. The provocative statement came after the Conservatives hinted at coming up with an executive order for Trump to quickly sign if he wins the 2024 US Presidential elections. The Paris Climate Accord was signed with the intention of reducing the global emissions of the greenhouse gases causing climate change. Among the draft orders, the Conservatives will be trying to push a proposal that could remove the United States from the entire United Nations framework underpinning global climate negotiations. Advertisement The remarks from Trumps campaign spokesperson came when she was asked about her take on the matter. Yes, he has said that he would," Leavitt replied to the question which was posed by POLITICO. Trump continues to slam the Paris accord It is pertinent to note that the former president himself railed against the Paris accord in his recent debate against US President Joe Biden. He insisted that the agreement was a rip off of the United States and a disaster. In light of this, industry lawyers are preparing different executive orders on different energy policies for Trumps signature. A couple different versions of draft executive orders pulling the US out of the accord currently exist for Trump to sign, an oil industry lawyer familiar with the process told POLITICO. One of these drafts included pulling the United States out of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, Leavitt did not respond to the speculations on whether Trump was considering pulling the US out of the UNFCCC, which would turn out to be an even bigger setback for the worlds fight against climate change and global warming. The Paris Agreement was signed by the US in 2015 under the Obama administration. It is pertinent to note that Trump could not immediately pull the US out of the Paris accord. A signatory is obligated to give notice to the UN Secretary-General and wait for one year to formally withdraw from the accord. Advertisement Trump gave the notice for the same in 2019 with the US exiting the climate agreement the following year. However, the US dropping out of the UNFCCC would be much more concerning. Washingtons departure would impede the UNFCCCs operations since it is the major funder of the treaty. Leaving the UNFCCC would also take one year. Hence, the future of the United States response to climate change depends upon who will assume the office. With inputs from agencies. Reform no longer endorses Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley, but they will still appear on the ballot paper as Reform candidates since it is too late for them to be removed, said BBC and Sky News. Oakenfull, standing in Derbyshire in the East Midlands area of England, is accused of having posted derogatory comments about the IQ of sub-Saharan Africans on social media last year read more Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage speaks during a BBC Question Time Leaders' Special at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham on June 28, 2024 in the build-up to the July 4 general election. AFP Britains hard-right Reform UK party, led by Brexiteer Nigel Farage, has withdrawn support from three candidates for next weeks general election over allegations they made offensive comments, local media reported Saturday. Farages anti-immigration group tipped to take support away from Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservatives in Thursdays vote has been embroiled in a racism scandal as the election campaign enters its final days. Reform no longer endorses Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley, but they will still appear on the ballot paper as Reform candidates since it is too late for them to be removed, said BBC and Sky News. Advertisement Oakenfull, standing in Derbyshire in the East Midlands area of England, is accused of having posted derogatory comments about the IQ of sub-Saharan Africans on social media last year. Lomas, a candidate in Barnsley in north England, reportedly made offensive comments about black people. Lilley, seeking to become an MP in Southend in southeast England, allegedly described irregular migrants arriving in Britain on small boats as scum, adding: I hope your family get robbed, beaten or attacked. Appearing on BBC Television on Friday night, Farage disowned the trio, saying: I want nothing to do with them. The development came after Sunak, Britains first leader of colour, denounced a racist slur used against him by a campaigner for Reform. An undercover investigation by Channel 4 filmed campaigners making racist, homophobic and offensive comments in Clacton-on-Sea, eastern England, where Farage is hoping to be elected as an MP. The supporter also called for Muslims to be kicked out of mosques and their places of worship turned into pubs. Farage suggested that the comments were a complete and total set-up, claiming without evidence that the man may have been paid to act in the video, possibly by opponents threatened by the partys popularity. He has complained to Britains elections watchdog. Channel 4 denied Farages claims of fabrication. In its report, another campaigner suggested members of the LGBTQ community are paedophiles. Advertisement Reform has come under growing scrutiny in recent weeks as it climbs up the polls. According to the anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate, Reform has withdrawn at least 166 candidates since the beginning of the year, many of whom have made racist or offensive remarks. Farage, seeking to become an MP at the eight attempt, has tried to blame a vetting company for not properly scrutinising would-be candidates. The Tories and the main opposition Labour party, which is expected to win the election, accuse Farage of failing to tackle racism in his party. A new poll published by the Labour-supporting Mirror newspaper on Friday put Sunaks Conservatives on 18 percent, with Reform on 21 percent, both well behind Labour on 38 percent. Advertisement Support for Reform could split the right-wing vote, handing Labour a landslide, analysts say. The intelligence indicated the catalyst for war a major attack by either side, for example is likely to happen with little notice, the report suggested read more Smoke rises from the southern Lebanese town of Khiam, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as pictured from the town of Qlayaa, southern Lebanon June 25, 2024. File Image / Reuters Amid the brewing tensions in the Middle East, US intelligence warned that there is a looming potential for a large-scale war between Israel and Lebanon within weeks if all the parties involved in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict fail to secure a ceasefire deal. While speaking to POLITICO, American intelligence officials said that a truce deal in the Gaza crisis is important to prevent overall turmoil in the Middle East. However, the prospects of an imminent agreement remain bleak with Israel moving forward with its ground operation in Rafah. They also pointed out how both the Israeli military and Hezbollah are reportedly preparing for a full-scale conflict, including efforts to procure additional weaponry. Advertisement Tensions remain at an all-time high According to POLITICO, two senior officials from the US intelligence said that Israel is trying to rebuild its stockpiles and troop capacity quickly. Meanwhile, Irans UN mission said that if Israel embarks on a full-scale military aggression in Lebanon, an obliterating war will ensue. Albeit Iran deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regimes propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon, should it embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue. All options, incl. the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, are on the table, the Iranian mission wrote on X, formally known as Twitter. Albeit Iran deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regimes propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon, should it embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue. All options, incl. the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, are on the table. I.R.IRAN Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) June 28, 2024 While the current tussle between Israel and Hezbollah is relatively contained, it is pertinent to note that the ongoing situation marks the worst confrontation between the two parties in 18 years. The two sides have been trading fire ever since the Israel-Hamas war commenced. The war which was triggered by Hamas surprise attack in Southern Israel has already led to the death of over 40,000 Palestinian civilians. Advertisement Several countries issue travel advisories The risk of a full-scale conflict has led to many European countries issuing advisories for their citizens urging them to leave Lebanon. The US State Department has also issued a travel advisory advising American citizens to reconsider travel to Lebanon. The intelligence indicates the catalyst for war a major attack by either side, for example is likely to happen with little notice, one of the intelligence officials told POLITICO while talking about the reasons why such advisories are being issued. Things became even more concerning after Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who visited the US this week, told reporters, We are preparing for every possible scenario. Hence, it is feared that the looming conflict between Israel and Hezbollah can hit the world at any time. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. The trip by Prime Minister Garry Conille, heading the countrys transitional government, and other officials comes days after Kenyan police finally arrived in violence-ravaged Haiti, on a long-awaited mission to help stabilize the Caribbean nation, upended by powerful gangs. read more Police guard outside the hospital where Haiti's newly selected prime minister, Garry Conille was hospitalized in Port-au-Prince, Haiti late Saturday, June 8, 2024. File Photo- AP Haitis new leader was in the United States on Saturday for a visit set to include meetings with international financial institutions as well as a White House official, his office and a National Security Council spokesperson said. The trip by Prime Minister Garry Conille, heading the countrys transitional government, and other officials comes days after Kenyan police finally arrived in violence-ravaged Haiti, on a long-awaited mission to help stabilize the Caribbean nation, upended by powerful gangs. Advertisement Washington has promised generous funding for the UN-backed mission, but ruled out sending American troops. Conille will meet with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Monday, a National Security Council spokesperson said. Haitis new leader was in the United States on Saturday for a visit set to include meetings with international financial institutions as well as a White House official, his office and a National Security Council spokesperson said. The trip by Prime Minister Garry Conille, heading the countrys transitional government, and other officials comes days after Kenyan police finally arrived in violence-ravaged Haiti, on a long-awaited mission to help stabilize the Caribbean nation, upended by powerful gangs. Washington has promised generous funding for the UN-backed mission, but ruled out sending American troops. Conille will meet with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Monday, a National Security Council spokesperson said. Haiti has long been rocked by gang violence, but conditions sharply worsened at the end of February when armed groups launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow then-prime minister Ariel Henry. Henry announced in early March that he would step down and hand over executive power to a transitional council, which named Conille as the countrys interim prime minister on May 29. The violence in Port-au-Prince has affected food security and humanitarian aid access, with much of the city in the hands of gangs accused of abuses including murder, rape, looting and kidnappings. Advertisement The multinational Kenyan force, greenlit last year by the UN Security Council, had been held up for months amid challenges to its deployment in Kenyan courts before the first police officers arrived on Tuesday. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he is drawing out a comprehensive plan for how he believes the war should end. The proclamation came weeks after he hosted an international peace summit in which Russia was not even invited read more Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is working on a comprehensive plan to end war against Russia. Ukrainian Presidential Office As the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage on, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he is drawing out a comprehensive plan for how he believes the war should end. The proclamation from the Ukrainian leader came on Friday. However, there are no public talks currently underway between the two warring nations. While Zelenskyy hosted a major international peace summit in Switzerland earlier this month, Russia was not invited to the event. It is very important for us to show a plan to end the war that will be supported by the majority of the world, the Ukrainian leader said on Friday. Advertisement This is the diplomatic route we are working on, he added. Zelenskyys comments came while he was conducting a joint press conference alongside Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar. Is the world inching closer towards the end of the war? While addressing the media in Brussels on Thursday, the Ukrainian leader said that he would put forward a detailed plan on how the war should be ended in a matter of months. He insisted that Kyiv does not have too much time in its hands, pointing to the high casualty rate among soldiers and civilians, AFP reported. Over 90 nations sent representatives to the two-day summit Zelenskyy hosted in Switzerland. While it was stated that the countries would come together to discuss the end of the war, the other warring nation, Russia, was outcasted from the summit. Interestingly, the vast majority of the participants agreed to a final communique that stressed the need for Ukraines territorial integrity to be respected in any settlement. However, many nations such as Indian, did not agree with the communique and Russias strong ally China went on to boycott the summit altogether. At that time Beijing reasoned that they would not attend the international event since Moscow was not being invited. Ever since the beginning of the war, Ukraine repeatedly maintained that Russia must pull its troops out of the internationally recognised territories to ensure a just end to the war. The Zelenskyy administration has often demanded the Russian authorities to withdraw its troops from the Crimean peninsula. The region was annexed by Moscow back in 2014. Advertisement Zelenskyy has maintained that the aforementioned conditions needed to be fulfilled before the two nations could even sit and talk about peace prospects. While Russian troops are slowly advancing on the battlefield, claiming to have seized another small village on Friday, Kyiv is working day and night to rally Western allies for financial and military aid to counter the Russian wrath. With inputs from the AFP. Tony Archuleta-Perkins, 48, of San Francisco was indicted on eight counts of bank fraud and five counts of engaging in money laundering, prosecutors said. Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Images A San Francisco man has been indicted on federal charges of embezzling more than $1.2 million from his employers, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California said Friday. Tony Archuleta-Perkins, 48, was indicted on eight counts of bank fraud and five counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (money laundering), prosecutors said. If convicted, Archuleta-Perkins could face up to 30 years in prison for each count of bank fraud and up to 10 years in prison for each money laundering account. Archuleta-Perkins was arrested in San Francisco Friday morning, according to prosecutors. He appeared in federal court and was released on a $500,000 bond, pending trial. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prosecutors allege that between at least May 2018 to December 2023, Archuleta-Perkins used his position as chief financial officer at two San Francisco law firms to make payments to nonprofit organization Murrieta Valley High School 1994, which he started in 2013. Once the money was transferred to MVHS 1994s bank account, Archuleta-Perkins would sometimes make direct payments to vendors and other accounts for personal expenses that were unrelated to the organization or the law firms, prosecutors said. On separate occasions, he wrote checks to himself from MVHS 1994 and then deposited the checks into his personal bank account, prosecutors said. On at least one other occasion, prosecutors said, Archuleta-Perkins falsely endorsed a U.S. Treasury check for more than $41,000 that was made out to one of the law firms, deposited that check into an MVHS 1994 bank account, and then wrote himself a check for the same amount. He also used money he stole for other personal expenses, including credit card payments, as well as toward the purchase and renovation of at least three California properties, according to prosecutors. Archuleta-Perkinss next court appearance is scheduled on July 31 in San Francisco. The 30 Stockton Muni bus heads through San Franciscos Union Square. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle Everything I know about San Francisco I learned from riding a Muni bus. Or better yet, a streetcar. Riding public transit is the easiest and best way to explore a city. A tour bus shows you the highlights: a tourists view of the place. A city bus offers real life. Want to see a city? Ride the bus. This is something a lot of San Franciscans learned as kids. We roamed the city on the streetcars and buses Sunday trips to visit our grandmother in the Western Addition, rides to the Zoo on the L car, trips to Golden Gate Park to the aquarium, to North Beach, to the Top of the Hill in Daly City, all over. We explored the city. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I can still remember those trips through the dark and mysterious Twin Peaks tunnel on those old streetcars, rattling and banging and bouncing as if they were going to jump the tracks. The tunnel had a funny smell, too, like musty old socks. But this piece isn't about the good old days. Its about exploring the city on the Muni system in real time. I always wanted to be an urban explorer anyway. So I took about 20 Muni rides over a few days last week just to see. Riders hang on to the straps on Muni. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle I got the idea the other afternoon in Union Square when two 38 Geary buses rolled up one after the other. The destination sign on the first said 33rd Avenue. The second: Lands End. Who could resist a city bus to Lands End? Not me. Two days later in Noe Valley, a 48 Quintara bus rolled up, headed east, down 24th Street. Its destination: 22nd and Iowa Streets. Even for a lifelong San Franciscan 22nd and Iowa was a mystery, a blank spot on the map. Worth exploring. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So I did. The Geary bus is like a ride through the real San Francisco. It runs from the glittering Salesforce transit center, up Market Street a bit, up Geary, past Union Square westbound, past the theaters, past old style apartment houses, through a district unchanged since Dashiell Hammetts time gritty, as real as a dime, he might say. Past Van Ness, Japantown, Fillmore Street, the Western Addition, out Geary, on and on. The Richmond District goes on forever: San Francisco in all its complexity: Irish bars, Chinese restaurants, a Russian cathedral, the end of the city at the end of the line. The 38 line is like the city in miniature overcrowded sometimes, noisy, rough riding, complicated. And some of the riders bring their problems on the bus. The 48 bus runs across the city, too, but its a different city. Iowa and 22nd turns out to be an end-of-line stop under the 280 freeway, one foot in Potrero Hill the other in Dogpatch. When the bus heads out it runs over Potrero Hill, up 24th Street, one half Latino, the other Noe Valley gentrified, up over the slope of Twin Peaks, across the spine of San Francisco then down to West Portal, out Ulloa, Santiago and Quintara, through the Parkside District, all the way west to the Great Highway, the Pacific Ocean across the street. When I got off the bus I got sand in my shoes. There are other crosstown routes worth trying: the 24 Divisadero from Fillmore and Jackson streets, the heart of Pacific Heights, down hip Divisadero Street, through the Castro, over the big hill into Noe Valley, over Bernal Heights to Third Street and Palou Avenue. The heart of the Bayview neighborhood. One could transfer there to the T Third train. A choice going south to Sunnydale, going north to Chase Center and Chinatown. Or the 30 Stockton bus: Chinatown, North Beach, the Marina and Crissy Field in the Presidio, a San Francisco kaleidoscope in an hourlong bus ride. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I took the scenic routes the F streetcar the length of Market Street and out along the Embarcadero, the 25 Treasure Island bus for a stunningly beautiful ride across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island, the city skyline in the distance. The F streetcar is seen at San Franciscos Ferry Building. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle My favorite was the 39 Coit, which runs from Fishermans Wharf up Telegraph Hill. Its a small bus, and it runs infrequently, an urban neighborhood bus with regular riders who seem to know each other. It ran up the Union Street hill from Washington Square past upper Grant Avenue, past little alleys that always remind people of Europe up to the top of Telegraph Hill at Montgomery Street. The intersection is too small even for the smallest Muni bus to make a U-turn so the driver has to back down a bit to make the turn. Its a postcard view up there: the bay, the bridges, the towers of the city, Russian Hill, a kind of dream San Francisco. But in real life nobody can live there. Too expensive. The 39 Coit bus carries passengers on Union Street to Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle The trick in exploring the city the Muni way is to avoid rush hour, stay clear of sketchy districts like the Tenderloin, and get off the bus now and then to explore. There are a million places parks, restaurants, coffee shops to check out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lets face it, though: Muni riding is not for everyone. We all know people who wouldnt be caught dead on public transit. I know one woman who was amazed when I told her Id ridden to an event on the streetcar. Muni, she said, was dirty, smelly, and dangerous. When was the last time you rode? I asked. Never, she said. 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. Then-San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and husband Richard Blum cut the cake after they are married at City Hall in January 1980. John Storey/The Chronicle 1980 Except for the fame and fortunes of the families involved, the fight that has erupted in court over the estate of Sen. Dianne Feinsteins late husband the billionaire financier Richard Blum is all too common among blended families, according to attorneys who have reviewed two lawsuits filed in June and July by Feinsteins daughter Katherine. Its not uncommon when the first spouse dies that there are differences of opinion between the surviving spouse and children, said Jean Kohler, an estate planning attorney in Los Altos. Disputes around real estate are especially common, as is the case in one of the Feinstein lawsuits. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The high-profile family feud provides some insight into how families, blended or not, can avoid or minimize disagreements that may occur when a parent dies. Be careful who you choose as trustees. Trustees have a lot of power. Thats number one, said Steve Hartnett, director of education with the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. Another is the importance of communication. The clients I have seen with really successful administration of their estate plans are clients who make decisions with parents, spouses and children at the table. Maybe everyone wasnt 100% ecstatic about how it played out, but if they have an idea about the lay of the land before a parent dies, they are less likely to end up in court, said Burlingame estate planning attorney Chelsea Suttmann. Feinstein and Blum married in 1980. Blum had three daughters from a previous marriage and Feinstein has one. Katherine Feinstein is a former San Francisco Superior Court judge and current San Francisco fire commissioner. The lawsuits, both filed in San Francisco Superior Court, involve two trusts the power couple set up to hold a modest portion of their vast assets. One holds three homes and certain bank accounts. The other holds proceeds of a life insurance policy that paid off when Blum died in February 2022. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both trusts were set up so that if Blum died first, Feinstein would receive income from the trust assets during her lifetime. After her death, any remaining assets would go primarily to Blums daughters. Such an arrangement is common, but can cause friction between the surviving spouse and stepchildren. Dianne is a lifetime income beneficiary. Its in her interest to have these assets generate as much income as possible, Kohler said. The remainder beneficiaries (Blums daughters), want to preserve principal and they want it to appreciate in value. They have diverging interests. They could be the best of friends and have different interests in how these assets are managed. One reason people put assets in trust is to avoid publicity. If you dont have trusts, your estate goes through probate, that is public. Trusts are supposed to be private, thats one of the benefits, Kohler said. But when families dispute trusts and wills in court, details of their estates become public. In the case of prominent people, they make headlines. The June lawsuit includes a four-page list of assets in the Richard C. Blum Revocable Living Trust that are not even part of the disputes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The June 28 lawsuit centers on a joint property trust that holds homes on Lyon Street in San Francisco, Seadrift Road in Stinson Beach and in Princeville on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. According to court documents and the lawyers who reviewed them, if Blum died first, Feinsteins share of the couples community property assets (those acquired after marriage) would flow through a survivors trust into Feinsteins own separate trust she set up in 1978. The remaining community property assets would go into a marital trust held within Blums revocable trust. Feinstein, as the surviving spouse, would receive all income from the marital trust during her lifetime. Upon her death, the remaining assets would go to Blums daughters. The 90-year-old senator and Blum were co-trustees of the property trust until Blum died. Afterward, Blums longtime lawyer Mark Klein took over as co-trustee for Blum. In August 2022, Katherine Feinstein took over as co-trustee for her mother. In the suit, Katherine Feinstein alleges that Blums daughters want to continue using the Stinson Beach house, but that Sen. Feinstein no longer wants it and does not want to pay for half the propertys carrying costs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The suit says that the home is unproductive and cannot be made productive without significant expenditure. The best course of action for all of the trusts involved is to sell the property. Thats important because California probate code requires the trustee to make property productive for the beneficiary. Dianne seems to want to liquidate so she can invest the proceeds and create income. The kids must believe, if you keep the Stinson house, it will continue to appreciate in value, Kohler said. Sen. Feinstein wants to put a new roof on the beach house and sell it this summer or fall, when the market is hot, according to the lawsuit In May, 15 months after Blums death, Katherine Feinstein sent Klein the paperwork needed to distribute the San Francisco and Stinson Beach homes into the Feinstein and marital trusts so the beach house could be sold, but he has not done so, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The 3,500-square-foot Stinson Beach home is worth either $3.9 million, $5.6 million or $7.6 million, according to online estimates by Redfin, Zillow and Realtor.com, respectively. Katherine Feinstein wants the court to force the co-trustees to sell the Stinson Beach property or file the paperwork necessary to divide ownership of the properties into the respective trusts, which presumably could make it easier for her to sell the house. The suit includes a June 9 letter to Travis Neal, a lawyer representing Katherine Feinstein, from Alison Marino, a lawyer representing Klein. In it Marino said her office received the paperwork for transferring ownership of the properties into the respective trusts on May 19 and we will continue to review them after we address complexities in the estate and trust administration and the extensive work associated with those complexities. Hartnett said 15 months is a long time not to distribute trust assets, but it is not unreasonable with large, complicated estates. But James Creighton, an estate planning attorney in Riverside County, said 15 months is far too long. They should have addressed it in a way that would have prevented these trust documents from being revealed to the world through this litigation. Attorneys for the Feinsteins and Klein did not respond to a request for comment. The second suit filed Monday by Katherine Feinstein on behalf of her mother revolves around control of an irrevocable trust set up in 1996 to hold a life insurance policy and its proceeds. When Blum died, the policy paid off and the proceeds were invested in U.S. Treasury securities, according to Feinsteins financial disclosure. Dianne Feinstein is entitled to all income from this trust during her lifetime. In addition, the trustee may pay or apply principal for her health, education, support, or maintenance, according to the suit. However, in making this decision, the trustee may consider or disregard Feinsteins other income or resources, the trust document says. Upon Dianne Feinsteins death, all remaining principal will go to Blums children. Feinstein, who lost months of work due to complications from shingles, has incurred significant medical expenses, and submitted a request to whom she believed to be the trustees of the 1996 Marital Trust for reimbursement of her medical bills but that the purported trustees refused to make distributions for those expenses, the suit says. While seeking reimbursement, Senator Feinstein learned that Blum did not name the purported trustees in the 1996 Marital Trust and they were not appointed in compliance with its terms, the suit says. The purported trustees are Klein and Marc Scholvinck, who was chief financial officer at Blums private equity firm. Katherine Feinstein contends that because they were not properly appointed, as the trusts sole income beneficiary Dianne is entitled to appoint a trustee and she appointed her daughter in July. The suit asks the court to confirm her daughter as trustee. My clients are perplexed by this filing. Richard Blums trust has never denied any disbursement to Senator Feinstein, let alone for medical expenses, Steven P. Braccini, an attorney for Klein and Scholvinck, said in a statement. While my clients are deeply concerned, we all remain hopeful that this is simply a misunderstanding that can be quickly resolved, rather than a stepdaughter engaging in some kind of misguided attempt to gain control over trust assets to which she is not entitled, he added. Both lawsuits omit some key facts, which will likely be filled in when the responding parties file their response, Kohler said. Although hindsight is 20-20, in retrospect there are some things Blum and Feinstein might have done differently to avoid a family feud, say lawyers not associated with the cases. The court wants to know what the people who set up the trust intended, Suttman said. Blum could have made it clearer what his intentions were for assets such as the Stinson Beach house. The property trust doesnt specify who has the ability to decide what houses are sold, she said. She said some clients write a mission statement that lays out their goals for trust assets. This can be helpful especially with real estate or a business that a family may want to preserve for generations. Also, when there is a potential for tension between lifetime beneficiaries (such as Dianne) and remainder beneficiaries (such as Blums children) it may be helpful to split their interests, she said. If Stinson Beach is something they are arguing about, they probably would have benefited from saying who gets Stinson Beach at the outset. Sometimes parents dont know there are strong feelings about certain assets, which is why communication is important. Kohler said the best way to bequeath real estate depends on the family. You could direct the trustee to sell everything at your death before its distributed. Or maybe you allocate property to one kid who really wants it, and assets of equivalent value to the other kid. That doesnt work if you dont have enough other assets of equivalent value. So you put terms in the trust where you allow one child to buy out the siblings. Any way we do it, whenever children inherit a piece of real property, I always advise them to have an agreement in place about use of the property: who has access, who will manage it, who gets to use it during holidays, who will pay the expenses, what happens when one of us dies? Kohler says. Another way to balance the interests of lifetime beneficiaries who want to maximize income and remainder beneficiaries who want to preserve or increase principal is to put assets in a unitrust. A unitrust typically pays out 3% to 5% of the trust value each year to the surviving spouse. If income from the trust is not enough, the trustee will dip into principal to make up the difference, Creighton said. Having co-trustees can also create tension between families. When you are splitting property up, half here and half there, and different people control different halves, thats a recipe for problems, Hartnett said. Creighton said naming business associates to be your trustee when you have a surviving spouse and children from a prior relationship can be a problem unless there is a clear understanding between your spouse and the business associates regarding your objectives. Many attorneys recommend choosing a trustee who is unbiased and has experience in trust administration. You can find them at banks or through the Professional Fiduciary Association of California website. State Farm's financial difficulties are prompting alarm from regulators and the prospect of further rate hikes for policyholders. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Californias insurance crisis, with its drumbeat of rate increases and carriers leaving the state, has been bad. But a more devastating blow could lie ahead, with potential implications for all property insurance holders in the state: State Farm General, Californias largest insurer by far, has officially signaled its worried about going out of business. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Insurance experts say that if the companys solvency problems worsen, it could create a ripple effect across the entire California home insurance market and, in a worst-case scenario, end up costing homeowners money whether or not they are covered by State Farm. Thursday, State Farm filed a request with the California Department of Insurance to raise its rates on homeowners insurance by 30%, renters by 52% and condominium owners by 36%. In that filing, the company made use of a specific regulation only to be used in order to protect the insurers solvency. Its a move that alarmed Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who said in a statement that State Farms requests raise serious questions about its financial condition. The signal of distress is limited to State Farms California arm, known as State Farm General, which does business only in California. It does not suggest imminent problems for the parent company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. Companies often create single-state subsidiaries in places like California and Florida states where theyre worried about large financial losses, according to Birny Birnbaum, executive director of the Center for Economic Justice and former chief economist for the Texas Department of Insurance. Doing so means they can separate their financial losses in a specific state from the overall company. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Determining the financial health of an insurance company is a complex process, but one indicator regulators use is the ratio of a companys available capital compared with its liabilities, Birnbaum said. In 2023, State Farm General the California-only subsidiary reported a net loss of about $880.4 million, according to documents submitted to the Department of Insurance. Its surplus or its assets minus its liabilities was about $1.3 billion. The company took in just under $3.6 billion for home insurance, a category that includes renters and condos. State Farm General lost almost $900 million in 2023, which means that their surplus was reduced pretty dramatically, Birnbaum said. If youre losing a billion dollars a year, and youre starting the year with $1.3 billion, another year of losses like that is going to wipe out two-thirds of your capital and surplus. Another common metric is loss ratios. Last year, State Farm reported a loss ratio of 89.61% in California meaning it paid $89.61 in claims for every $100 it took in in premiums. It was the companys worst performing year since the devastating wildfires of 2017. Those ratios do not account for the administrative costs of paying out claims, which can be significant. For consumers, the most approachable way to tell an insurers financial strength is to look at its credit rating, Birnbaum said. In March, the credit rating agency AM Best downgraded State Farm Generals financial strength rating from excellent to fair. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Not every insurer in poor financial straits reaches the point of insolvency. David Russell, a professor of insurance at Cal State Northridge, said a company that is rapidly losing money may approve a conservator to make decisions to protect its financial state, including by stopping the sale of new policies. State Farm already stopped writing new homeowner policies last May. In March, it also announced it would not renew 30,000 home insurance policies across the state. Another inevitable step in preventing insolvency is raising rates, according to Carmen Balber, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. Under Proposition 103, a voter initiative passed in 1988, insurance rates cannot be excessive, but they also cannot be inadequate in other words, companies cannot keep their prices so low that they go out of business. State Farms latest 30% request asks the Department of Insurance to allow the company to increase its rates by more than is typically allowed in order to replenish its surplus. Rate changes are driven by increased costs and risk and are necessary for State Farm General to deliver on the promises the company makes every day to its customers. We continue to look for ways to maintain competitive rates and help our customers manage their risk, a State Farm spokesperson said in a statement. Unlike most rate increases, this request does not differentiate based on where risk particularly wildfire risk is the worst. When State Farm raised its rates by an average of 20% statewide in March, some ZIP codes saw their rates barely increase, while others saw average increases of 40% or more. This time, State Farm seeks to raise rates by about 30% in every ZIP code where the company has customers, its filings with the state show. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If an insurer does reach the point where it may not have enough money to pay out all its claims, it would turn to the California Insurance Guarantee Association, a nonprofit that backs up all licensed insurers in the state. CIGA would then determine how much more money was needed and charge that amount to the rest of the insurers in the state based on their market share, according to Russell. Insolvency and CIGA intervention is rare, Balber said. Theres little precedent for what it would look like if a company the size of State Farm General went underwater. The most recent major example was Merced Property and Casualty Co., which was overwhelmed by claims following the devastating Camp Fire in 2018. In 2017, Merced insured less than 1% of the homeowners market. State Farm, by contrast, provides home insurance for 1 in 5 homes in the state and has been the largest property and casualty insurer in California for years. Its not as simple as other companies just pitching in. If State Farm were to suffer huge losses driving it to the point of insolvency say, from another year of disastrous wildfires most other insurers would likely already be paying out money for the same disasters, Russell said. Then theyd be saddled with the additional burden of paying money to CIGA. Those costs could then get factored into future rate increases, according to Russell. One additional option for relief to prevent the company from going insolvent would be for State Farm Mutual, the national parent company, to inject funds back into State Farm General with approval from regulators in Illinois, where both companies are based, Birnbaum said. In February, State Farm Mutual reported it lost $6.3 billion in 2023 but described itself as financially strong. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Were taking a state-specific approach as we operate, State Farm Mutual Chief Financial Officer Mark Schwamberger said in a release in February. Just because State Farm requested rate increases with the specific goal of protecting its solvency does not necessarily mean its solvency is legitimately threatened, Balber noted. The request will go through a thorough layer of review by Department of Insurance regulators, who will determine the validity of State Farms request and could turn it down or approve a lower rate hike than requested, she said. Lara said he would use all of the departments tools, including potentially calling for a rate hearing. Hearings can be requested by either the department or outside consumer groups and requires the rate increase application to go before an administrative law judge. The next steps are really dependent on the Department of Insurance, said Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communications for the Insurance Information Institute. Insurance companies have complained for years that long wait times to get new rates approved made longer in the case of a hearing have hampered their ability to raise their prices in alignment with increased risk due to climate change. In May, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed legislation that would require the department to process requests faster. Ruiz noted State Farms request could be the first major filing to test that legislation, if lawmakers pass it in time. The very earliest State Farms rate increase could go into effect is 2025. If approved by the Department of Insurance, it would be the companys largest homeowner insurance rate increase in at least seven years and one of the largest of any major insurer in the past several years. Jeremy Morrison/ Montrose Daily Press Jeremy Morrison/ Montrose Daily Press Westbound vehicles on County Road 26 detour route head toward Blue Mesa Reservoir. Pilot cars will guide traffic along the dirt road four times a day to local travel. Westbound vehicles on County Road 26 detour route head toward Blue Mesa Reservoir. Pilot cars will guide traffic along the dirt road four times a day to local travel. 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. NEW YORK, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) resulting from allegations that U.S. Steel may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So what: If you purchased U.S. Steel securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=26696 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. What is this about: On March 13, 2024, The Washington Post published an article entitled Biden calls American ownership of U.S. Steel vital as he opposed deal. It stated, in pertinent part, that President Biden [said] that he opposed Nippon Steels proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel, an extraordinary move that comes as a federal panel continues its review of the transaction for any potential effect on national security. On this news, U.S. Steel stock fell by 12.7% on March 13, 2024, and 6.3% on March 14, 2024 Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com TORONTO, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nubian Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: NBR | OTCQB: NBRFF) (Nubian or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) held earlier today. A total of 25,851,321 common shares of the Company were represented at the Meeting, representing approximately 41% of the total number of common shares of the Company issued and outstanding. All matters presented for approval at the Meeting were duly authorized and approved including: (1) setting the board of directors at five; (2) election of all five management nominees (Marc Henderson (Chair), Matthew Andrews, Markus Janser, Campbell Smyth and Martin Walter (CEO)) to the board of directors of the Company; (3) the appointment of DeVisser Gray LLP as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year and authorization of the directors to fix their remuneration; (4) re-approval of the stock option plan; (5) approval of the alteration of the Companys articles to provide for an Advance Notice Provision; and (6) board authorization to change the name of the Company. The Company also announces that further to its press release of April 11, 2024, the Company has closed an initial tranche of the private placement financing (the Private Placement) with the issuance of 4,416,667 units at a price of $0.06 per unit for gross proceeds of $265,000. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a Warrant) of the Company, with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.08 for a period of 24 months after the closing date. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid finders fees of $10,150 cash and issued 169,166 finders warrants in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. 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 Private Placement constituted a related party transaction within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) as certain insiders of the Company subscribed for 1,500,000 units pursuant to the Private Placement. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation in the Private Placement by the insider does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the of the Private Placement, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to complete the Private Placement in an expeditious manner. ABOUT NUBIAN Nubian Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded precious and base metals exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company is managed by a team of experienced mining and geological professionals. Nubians projects are focused on key mining jurisdictions including Peru and Australia (central Victoria and Tasmania). For further information, please contact: Martin Walter, Chief Executive Officer, Nubian Resources Ltd., at +1-416-389-5692 or martin@nubianr.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. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "may" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Nubians current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Nubians management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves 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 forward-looking information, including the closing of the Private Placement and use of proceeds. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in parameters of the projects as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and current global financial conditions, increased competition, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, including risks relating to licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks and title and environmental risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Nubian is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. YERINGTON, Nev., June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nevada Copper (TSX: NCU) (OTC: NEVDF) (FSE: ZYTA) (Nevada Copper or the Company) provides the results from its 2024 Annual General Meeting of shareholders (the Meeting), held today in Toronto. Shareholders holding a total of 906,852,710 common shares of the Company (Common Shares) were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting, representing approximately 63.44% of the total 1,429,567,214 Common Shares outstanding as of the record date. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business before the Meeting. Voting Details The following five nominees were elected as directors of the Company until the next annual shareholder meeting of the Company or until their successors are elected or appointed, with the detailed voting results as follows: Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Tom Albanese 901,088,357 99.95% 426,167 0.05% Michael Brown 901,148,249 99.96% 366,276 0.04% Elaine Dorward-King 901,065,684 99.95% 448,841 0.05% Anna Ladd-Kruger 901,103,572 99.96% 410,954 0.04% G. Ernest (Ernie) Nutter 901,194,882 99.97% 319,642 0.03% At the Meeting, the shareholders of the Company also (i) fixed the number of directors at five for the ensuing year, and (ii) voted to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Companys auditor and authorized the directors to fix their remuneration. A report on all matters voted on at the Meeting will be filed on SEDAR+. About Nevada Copper Nevada Copper is the owner of the Pumpkin Hollow copper project located in Nevada, USA with substantial reserves and resources including copper, gold and silver. Its two fully permitted projects include the high-grade underground mine and processing facility and a large-scale open pit PFS stage project. For additional information, please see the Companys website at www.nevadacopper.com, or contact: Tracey Thom | Vice President, Environmental and Corporate Affairs tthom@nevadacopper.com +1 775 391 9029 A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. ORLANDO, Fla., June 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southern California lifestyle brand PacSun is splashing into summer with a fresh wave of must-have trends for guys and girls. Known for its curation of accessible, on-trend looks, PacSun offers everything you need to capture that effortless summer vibe this season. Beach-Ready Looks for Women PacSun's swimwear collection is all about versatility. Mix and match their bikinis and one-pieces in vibrant colors and playful patterns to create your perfect poolside look. The flirty and feminine details will have you feeling confident all summer long. And when it's time to grab a bite to eat, PacSun's selection of trendy mini dresses transitions seamlessly from beach to brunch, eliminating the need for a wardrobe change. Elevated Summer Style for Men Guys can stay cool and stylish with PacSun's functional yet fashionable swim trunks. These trunks feature pockets for convenience and a subtle, sophisticated design that goes from poolside lounging to poolside hangs with friends. Pair them with a PacSun tee for a laid-back summer look that easily transitions to a night out when you throw on a pair of PacSun's denim. Denim Dominates with Baggy PacSun's denim selection is a perennial favorite, and baggy is back in a big way this summer. Responding to customer demand, PacSun has doubled its offering of baggy jeans in just the last three months. Complete Your Summer Look with PacSun Footwear Building your perfect summer wardrobe is easy with PacSun. Top off your outfit with their selection of stylish footwear for a cool, on-the-go vibe. Shop the entire collection today at PacSun.com and be sure to follow them on your favorite social channels, TikTok , Instagram , X , Facebook , and YouTube for more on-trend news. CHICAGO, June 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Taiwan Tourism Administration launches a new brand version 3.0 with tagline "TAIWAN - Waves of Wonder. From now until August 18, commuters traveling on Chicago's CTA Blue Line, between O'Hare International Airport and downtown Chicago will be bound to experience whole new aspects of tourism in Taiwan as they are transported via vibrant displays showcasing Taiwan's diverse attractions and rich cultural history. Taiwan officially launched its new tourism brand 3.0 in May with a redesigned TAIWAN logo inspired by wave-lines and in an orange hue symbolizing the sunrise. It signifies Taiwan's incredible mountains, oceans, winding roads and railways. The design concept aims to highlight Taiwan's year-round travel appeal and convey that Every Season is Tourism Season in Taiwan. The unique charm of Taiwan promises to deliver continuous waves of surprises for international travelers. Alongside the two Taiwan Tourism wrapped CTA trains, this collaboration with EVA Air also sees two additional EVA Air decorated cars running on the Blue Line. Starting from now until 7/4/2024, EVA Air will be having a special promotion to celebrate the launch of its CTA rail project. Using code CHITW24, passengers can purchase tickets originating from Chicago to Asia with outbound travel dates from 7/16/2024 to 11/30/2024. Moreover, EverFun Holiday is providing free airport transfers and other offers during the promotional period to encourage travel to Taiwan. Chicago has direct flights to Taiwan 7 days a week, operated by EVA Air. Meanwhile, Taiwans high-speed rail, round-island rail services, Taiwan Tour Bus, and Taiwan Tourist Shuttle all offer various discounts, making travel within Taiwan incredibly convenient, says Jingzhen Chuang, Director of the Taiwan Tourism Administration's New York Office. Free half-day tours are offered for layover passengers stopping in Taiwan, adds Chuang. Not only does Taiwan boast abundant natural beauty and diverse cultural experiences, the island offers exquisite cuisines ranging from Michelin-recommended restaurants to renowned night market snacks, a safe environment and welcoming locals. International travelers are warmly invited to explore Taiwan's stunning scenery, delectable cuisine, and vibrant culture! Director General Dennis Lei of TECO in Chicago emphasized the shared vibrant democracy, economic prosperity, and rich cultural life between Taiwan and Chicago. He hopes decorated train cars will boost Taiwan tourism, highlighting Taiwan as a convenient Asian travel hub. For more information on travels in Taiwan, please visit the Taiwan Tourism Administration official website at https://eng.taiwan.net.tw. For more information on promotional offers, please visit EVA Air's offer, and EverFun Holiday's offer. Contact: Mini Kao, Taiwan Tourism Administration New York Office ttany@tad.gov.tw 212-867-1632 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e694117-5d46-4cdd-9309-3e94e6ab7de5 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c6e9ab0-dc9a-4a5a-bff7-218c31fe026b Miami, FL, June 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CryptoHeap, a prominent name in the cryptocurrency staking industry , is excited to announce its renewed commitment to transparency and reliability. As the leading staking platform, CryptoHeap emphasizes the importance of these principles in providing top-notch services to its users, ensuring a secure and profitable staking experience. Salvage Warwick, CEO of CryptoHeap, highlighted the platform's dedication to upholding the highest standards. "Transparency and reliability are the cornerstones of our operations. We believe that by maintaining these values, we can foster trust and confidence among our users, setting a benchmark for the industry," Warwick stated. Emphasizing Transparency In an industry where transparency is crucial, CryptoHeap has implemented several measures to ensure that users have complete visibility into their staking activities. The platform provides detailed reports and real-time data on staking performance , allowing users to track their investments and rewards accurately. "Transparency is vital for building trust. Our users have access to comprehensive information about their staking activities, ensuring they can make informed decisions. We are committed to providing clear and accurate data to all our stakeholders," Warwick explained. Commitment to Reliability Reliability is another key aspect that sets CryptoHeap apart from other crypto staking platforms. The platform employs advanced technology and robust infrastructure to guarantee high uptime and consistent performance. This reliability ensures that users can maximize their staking rewards without worrying about technical issues or downtime. "Our platform's reliability is a result of continuous innovation and rigorous testing. We invest heavily in our infrastructure to provide a seamless staking experience for our users. This dedication to reliability has earned us the trust and loyalty of our community," Warwick added. Comprehensive Staking Packages CryptoHeap offers a wide range of staking packages tailored to meet diverse investment goals. These packages include some of the best crypto staking coins, ensuring that investors can find the best crypto to stake in 2024. The platform's offerings cater to both novice and experienced investors, providing attractive returns and robust security. Warwick emphasized the platform's commitment to providing the best staking crypto options. "We offer a variety of staking packages to suit different investment strategies. Our goal is to provide opportunities for all types of investors to earn rewards while contributing to the security and efficiency of blockchain networks," he said. Focus on User Education CryptoHeap understands the importance of user education in fostering a knowledgeable and confident community. The platform offers extensive resources to help users understand the nuances of crypto staking, including the benefits and risks involved. These educational materials cover a wide range of topics, from basic staking principles to advanced strategies. "Education is a key component of our approach. We want our users to feel empowered and informed about their investments. Our educational resources are designed to provide valuable insights and guidance, helping users make the most of their staking experience," Warwick noted. Strategic Enhancements and Future Plans Looking ahead, CryptoHeap is committed to continuous improvement and innovation. The platform plans to introduce new features and enhancements designed to optimize user experience and investment returns. These developments will further solidify CryptoHeap's position as a leader in the crypto staking industry. "We are constantly exploring new ways to enhance our platform and provide our users with the best possible experience. Our focus on innovation and excellence ensures that we stay ahead of industry trends and continue to deliver value to our community," Warwick concluded. omprehensive Staking Packages CryptoHeap offers a range of staking packages tailored to meet diverse investment goals, providing attractive returns and robust security. These packages include some of the best crypto staking coins, ensuring that investors can find the best crypto to stake in 2024. Here are the available packages: Arbitrum : $100 for 1 day; $2 daily rewards. : $100 for 1 day; $2 daily rewards. Toncoin : $200 for 1 day; $4 daily rewards. : $200 for 1 day; $4 daily rewards. Sui : $600 for 6 days; $6 daily, $36 total, $6 referral rewards. : $600 for 6 days; $6 daily, $36 total, $6 referral rewards. Polygon : $1,500 for 8 days; $16.50 daily, $132 total, $18 referral rewards. : $1,500 for 8 days; $16.50 daily, $132 total, $18 referral rewards. Cardano : $5,000 for 12 days; $60 daily, $720 total, $70 referral rewards. : $5,000 for 12 days; $60 daily, $720 total, $70 referral rewards. Ethereum : $8,000 for 16 days; $104 daily, $1,664 total, $128 referral rewards. : $8,000 for 16 days; $104 daily, $1,664 total, $128 referral rewards. Tron : $10,000 for 20 days; $130 daily, $2,600 total, $170 referral rewards. : $10,000 for 20 days; $130 daily, $2,600 total, $170 referral rewards. Solana : $15,000 for 25 days; $210 daily, $5,250 total, $300 referral rewards. : $15,000 for 25 days; $210 daily, $5,250 total, $300 referral rewards. Bitcoin : $30,000 for 30 days; $480 daily, $14,400 total, $690 referral rewards. : $30,000 for 30 days; $480 daily, $14,400 total, $690 referral rewards. Chainlink : $50,000 for 40 days; $950 daily, $38,000 total, $1,650 referral rewards. : $50,000 for 40 days; $950 daily, $38,000 total, $1,650 referral rewards. Cosmos : $100,000 for 50 days; $2,100 daily, $105,000 total, $3,800 referral rewards. : $100,000 for 50 days; $2,100 daily, $105,000 total, $3,800 referral rewards. Uniswap: $150,000 for 55 days; $3,750 daily, $206,250 total, $6,750 referral rewards. These comprehensive staking plans make CryptoHeap a top choice for investors looking to capitalize on the best staking crypto options. With a strong emphasis on transparency and reliability, CryptoHeap is setting new standards in the crypto staking industry. The platform's commitment to these principles, combined with its comprehensive staking packages and user education initiatives, ensures that users can navigate the complex world of crypto investments with confidence and success. For more information about CryptoHeaps services and upcoming enhancements, visit the official website at https://cryptoheap.com/ . Media Contact Details Contact Name: Salvage Warwick Contact Email: salvage@cryptoheap.com Address: 250 NE 25th St Apt 910, Miami, FL 33137, USA City/Country: Miami, FL, USA Website: https://cryptoheap.com Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency & securities. Megan Cassidy is a crime reporter with The Chronicle, also covering cops, criminal justice issues and mayhem. Previously, Cassidy worked for the Arizona Republic covering Phoenix police, Sheriff Joe Arpaio and desert-area crime and mayhem. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Missouri, and has additionally worked at the Casper Star-Tribune, National Geographic and an online publication in Buenos Aires. Cassidy can be reached on twitter at @meganrcassidy, and will talk about true crime as long as youll let her. Lochem, 29 June 2024 ForFarmers strengthens its position in co-products through acquisition of Van Triest Veevoeders ForFarmers announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Van Triest Veevoeders (Van Triest), which specialises in trading residual flows and co-products. The acquisition concerns the buying and selling activities, including the associated storage and transshipment facilities and means of transport. ForFarmers, under the name CirQlar, is already active in supplying co-products and residual flows. This acquisition fits into ForFarmers' mission For the Future of Farming: by using more and more co-products, we contribute to a sustainable future with affordable and sustainable food by producing dairy, meat and eggs. Van Triest, family business in Hoogeveen Van Triest has been active in trading residual flows and co-products since 1959. The company has purchasing agreements with breweries, the dairy, sugar, bioethanol and potato processing industries and, as regards roughage, with many farmers. They sell the products, including brewer's grains, potato pulp, silage maize and wet beet pulp to some 3,500 farmers mainly in the Netherlands but also in Belgium and Germany. Van Triest has a very good infrastructure in terms of logistics, storage and transshipment and possibilities for mixing residual flows in Hoogeveen and Coevorden. Van Triest trades over 1 million tonnes of residual flows annually and has 90 employees. Important step in sustainable market segment ForFarmers, under the name CirQlar, has been active in the Netherlands in supplying and valorising co-products. and has storage and transshipment sites in Lochem and Heijen. Van Triest's locations and customer base fit seamlessly with ForFarmers' activities and offer good growth opportunities. This transaction strengthens the cooperation with suppliers of residual flows and co-products to make the food chain more sustainable in an efficient way. These products which are not suitable for human consumption can often be used to produce nutritious feed for cows, pigs and chickens. Pieter Wolleswinkel, CEO ForFarmers: "We are looking forward to working together with our new colleagues at Van Triest. Combining our activities means that we can serve our suppliers co-products even better and provide our customers with an even better and broader range of these products. In addition, we are taking a further step in making our food chain more sustainable." Hein van Triest, director and owner of Van Triest: "We have known ForFarmers for years and recognised a similar focus on customers and employee satisfaction. These were important factors in the decision to transfer our family business to ForFarmers." Subject to the approval of the Consumer and Market Authority, ForFarmers will acquire the shares of Van Triest, the company which includes the trading operations and associated transport equipment and storage and transshipment activities. Completion of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2024. The purchase price will be paid entirely in cash, further financial details will not be disclosed. The management of Van Triest will remain actively involved after completion of the transaction. This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. Note to editors / For more information: ForFarmers, Ilse Niehof-Duivelshof, ilse.niehof@forfarmers.eu or +31 (0)6 23 63 28 98 Company profile ForFarmers ForFarmers N.V. (ForFarmers) offers complete feed solutions to the (organic) livestock farming industry. With its mission For the Future of Farming, ForFarmers is committed to a future-proof farming business and making the agricultural sector more sustainable. Our goal is clear: to contribute to a good return and a robust long-term business model. How? By leading the way with knowledge, advice, support and products on the farm. Close to the farmers, solution-oriented and with an open view of the future. The result: a contribution to affordable and sustainable food, For the Future of Farming. With sales of approximately 8.4 million tonnes of feed, ForFarmers is a leading player in Europe. The company has production operations in the Netherlands (head office), Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, and exports to various countries within and outside Europe. ForFarmers has around 2,450 employees and generated revenue of approximately 3 billion in 2023. ForFarmers N.V. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. ForFarmers N.V. - P.O. Box 91 - 7240 AB Lochem - T: +31 (0)573 28 88 00 - info@forfarmers.eu , www.forfarmersgroup.eu Company profile Van Triest Van Triest is a family business that, since its foundation in 1959, has grown into a professional enterprise specialising in the purchase and sale of high-quality moisture-rich concentrates and roughage. Van Triest forms a reliable link between suppliers and buyers. Over the years, sustainable relationships have been established with over 3,500 livestock farmers, providing a solid basis for our sales. The company has purchasing agreements with breweries, the dairy, sugar, bioethanol and potato processing industries and, as regards roughage, with many farmers. They sell the products, including brewer's grains, potato pulp, silage maize and wet beet pulp to some 3,500 farmers mainly in the Netherlands but also in Belgium and Germany. Van Triest has a very good infrastructure in terms of logistics, storage and transshipment and possibilities for mixing residual flows in Hoogeveen and Coevorden. Van Triest trades over 1 million tonnes of residual flows annually and has 90 employees FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements, for example relating to ForFarmers legal obligations in terms of capital and liquidity positions in certain specified scenarios. In addition forward-looking statements may, without limitation, contain phrases such as intends to, "expects, takes into account, "is aimed at, ''plans to, "estimates" and/or words of a similar meaning. These statements pertain to or may affect matters in the future, such as ForFarmers future financial results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which may lead to material differences between the actual results and performance and the expected future results or performance as implicitly or explicitly contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may result in, or contribute to, deviations from current expectations include, but are not limited to developments in legislation, technology, taxation, jurisprudence and regulations, share price fluctuations, legal proceedings, investigations by regulatory bodies, the competitive landscape and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect any forward-looking statements or the actual results of ForFarmers are discussed in the most recently published annual report. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate solely to statements as of the date of this document and ForFarmers accepts no obligation or responsibility whatsoever to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release, regardless of whether these pertain to new information, future events or otherwise, unless ForFarmers is legally obliged to do so. Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, June 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Globe Life Inc. f/k/a Torchmark Corporation ("Globe Life" or the "Company") (NYSE: GL) investors that a class action has been filed on behalf of investors. Globe Life investors that lost money on their investment are encouraged to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. According to the complaint, throughout the Class Period, Globe Life reported consistent premium revenue growth at the Company, led by consistent premium revenue growth at American Income Life Insurance Company ("AIL"). The Company also represented that its employees adhered to a code of conduct that expressly prohibited various forms of misconduct, and which required that all Globe Life employees comply with relevant laws and regulations, purportedly ensuring that the Company would maintain a workplace free from violence, threatening behavior, and illegal drugs. In truth, Globe Life was engaged in wide-spread insurance fraud, therefore inflating Globe Life's financial results. In addition, Globe Life permitted a culture of unchecked sexual harassment, in direct contravention of the Company's Code of Conduct. As a result of defendants' misrepresentations, shares of Globe Life common stock traded at artificially inflated prices throughout the Class Period. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of UiPath, Inc. (NYSE: PATH) securities between December 1, 2023 and the close of trading on May 29, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), have until August 19, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the UiPath class action lawsuit. Captioned Steiner v. UiPath, Inc., No. 24-cv-04702 (S.D.N.Y.), the UiPath class action lawsuit charges UiPath as well as certain of UiPaths top current and former executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the UiPath class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-uipath-inc-class-action-path.html You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com. Lead plaintiff motions for the UiPath class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than August 19, 2024. CASE ALLEGATIONS: UiPath is a business automation software company. The UiPath class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) UiPaths turnaround strategy had failed because fruitless investments and inconsistent execution plagued UiPaths overhauled go-to-market strategy; (ii) UiPaths AI-powered Business Automation Platform suffered from UiPaths inability to adequately scale its AI-powered tools and caused confusion among customers; and (iii) as a result, UiPath experienced significant difficulties closing and/or expanding large multiyear deals. The UiPath class action lawsuit further alleges that on May 29, 2024, UiPath announced the resignation of defendant Robert Enslin as CEO effective June 1, 2024, and the reappointment of defendant Daniel Dines as CEO. The complaint further alleges that UiPath also revealed disappointing first quarter 2025 financial results and a significant cut in its revenue guidance for fiscal year 2025. On this news, the price of UiPath stock fell more than 34%, according to the UiPath class action lawsuit. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired UiPath securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the UiPath class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the UiPath class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the UiPath class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the UiPath class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. Over the last decade, our Firm has been ranked #1 on the ISS Securities Class Action Services law firm rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In the last four years, Robbins Geller recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm during that time. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 800-449-4900 info@rgrdlaw.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Granville College continues to build its reputation as Canadas leading career college with the opening of new state-of-the art campus locations in Vancouvers downtown core and Surrey City Centre. Both Surrey and Vancouver have become international education hubs attracting students from all over the world for training that leads to secure and meaningful employment. The new Granville College Vancouver campus occupies two floors of a building in the heart of the downtown area to serve both domestic and international students. The all-new Surrey campus is in the City Centre area of Canadas fastest growing city. Both new campus locations are strategically located close to the Skytrain with access to major transportation routes. Granville College provides diploma and training programs that include Canadas first veterinary technician program along with learning for paralegal, business and management, human resources management, dental office administration, hospitality, healthcare and English as a Second Language (ESL). Education is the most powerful force to change the world, says Chief Operating Officer Chamara Perera. The new expanded campus locations will enable us to grow and offer new programs in fields like technology, artificial intelligence and the trades where there is an increasing shortage of workers. For more than 30 years, Granville College has helped thousands of students get the hands-on training, professional experience and ongoing support to pursue successful careers. The new expanded campus location will enhance the student experience. Granville College is part of the Opulence Education Group, a global education organization providing world class accessible education with a wide range of programs delivered in Canada, India, Australia and the U-K. Career training institutions play a vital role in meeting the demands placed on the labour force for the future as it is estimated that, in the next decade, British Columbia will have over 1 million new job openings in fields like health care, technology, education, social services and skilled trades. Vancouver, June 28, 2024 - Karus Mining Inc. (the "Corporation" or "Karus") announces that a new Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") has been appointed. Effective today, Anil Jiwani has resigned as the Company's CFO, and Dave Cross has been appointed as his successor. The Company would like to thank Mr. Jiwani for his service to the Company. We are very fortunate to have added Dave Cross to the Karus team as CFO effective immediately. Mr. Cross is a Chartered Professional Accountant ("CPA"), Certified General Accountant, with extensive knowledge and experience in mining and mineral exploration. In addition, the Company announces that it has appointed Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as its auditor for the Company's upcoming fiscal year. The Company's previous auditor, Saturna Group LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, (the "Former Auditor") resigned as auditors of the Company effective June 28, 2024. The resignation was not as a result of any reportable event (as that term is defined in section 4.11 of National Instrument 51-102, Continuous Disclosure Obligations). Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants (the "Successor Auditor") has been appointed as the replacement auditor for the Company. Copies of the Notice of Change of Auditor and letters from the Former Auditor and Successor Auditor have been filed on SEDAR. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Alex Gostevskikh" Chief Executive Officer For more information, please contact Karus Investor Relations: (888) 455-7620 info@karusgold.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214960 Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao gives remarks to the press at Oakland City Hall on June 24 following an FBI raid on her home the week before. She has hired veteran federal prosecutor Jeffrey Tsai to be her new lawyer. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has hired a new lawyer, veteran federal prosecutor turned white collar defense attorney Jeffrey Tsai, who prosecuted former presidential candidate John Edwards at the U.S. Department of Justice. Tsai also worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Miami, prosecuting white collar crimes and narco trafficking crimes, and as an assistant attorney general between 2013 and 2015 to Kamala Harris, when she was Californias attorney general. Read also: Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao criticizes timing of improper FBI raid and its impact on recall Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tsai began the process of working with Oaklands mayor last weekend, and formally signed on as counsel this week, he said. We are happy to be representing the mayor in this investigation, Tsai said in a phone interview. There is no indication that the mayor is being accused of wrongdoing, and to be clear, she has not been charged with any wrongdoing. And we look forward, during the course of the investigation, to working with law enforcement to prove that to be the case. The news comes as Thaos team seeks to steady the ship in the aftermath of the FBI raid on her house. The news delivered a jolt to the citys political establishment and added to a growing sense of alarm in Oakland, as the city nears the deadline to close a $292 million budget deficit over the next two years. Attorney Jeffrey Tsai prosecuted former presidential candidate John Edwards at the U.S. Department of Justice and served as an assistant California attorney general between 2013 and 2015 under Kamala Harris. Gittings Photography Thao gave a fiery press conference on Monday, in which she proclaimed her innocence, pledged to work with the authorities and be transparent to the public, and questioned why her house had been searched. She has said she doesnt know why the FBI raided her house; the FBI and U.S. attorneys office have released little information since. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tsai, a managing partner at the international firm DLA Piper in San Francisco, has extensive experience working in federal law enforcement, and is an expert in criminal and civil enforcement matters brought by state and federal authorities, his bio on the firms site says. He spent a total of eight years as a federal prosecutor, including as a trial attorney in the public integrity section of the Department of Justice. It was in that capacity that he worked as one of three prosecutors on the campaign corruption case against John Edwards. The former senator and presidential candidate from North Carolina was victorious in the case, after a jury acquitted him of one charge and failed to reach a verdict on five others after a six-week trial in 2012. The Justice Department dropped the case after the mistrial. Tsai declined to speak more about the investigation that resulted in the raid at Thaos house, saying that there was very little that we know at this point in time as to what law enforcement is doing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Marko says Toto Wolff guilty of wishful thinking Dr Helmut Marko has accused fellow Austrian Toto Wolff of "wishful thinking", as the Mercedes boss clings to the idea that Max Verstappen might make a shock team switch for 2025. Max Verstappen, Spanish GP 2024 Red Bull Osterreich newspaper on Friday asked Wolff if he had heard that Verstappen had now definitively pledged his immediate future to Red Bull. Did he really say that? Wolff replied. I don't think he clearly said 'yes'. But I wasn't there, the Austrian insisted. As I keep saying, we'll keep our free seat free for as long as possible. First and foremost, we need to make our car faster, because if the car is fast, fast drivers will want to drive with us. Red Bull has been mired by internal political conflict in 2024, with Max's father Jos - in a new high-profile spat with team boss Christian Horner - refusing to be as definitive as his son in suggesting he will still be in a Red Bull next year. There's so much going on that I don't want to talk about it, the 50-year-old former F1 driver said at the Red Bull Ring. When asked why Wolff keeps hinting that triple world champion Max might soon become a Mercedes driver, Horner said on Friday: "I think it's purely a tactic of distraction. Of course, if Toto does want a Verstappen for next year, I guess Jos is potentially available. Red Bull F1 advisor Dr Helmut Marko, meanwhile, described Wolff's attitude as wishful thinking . The starting point remains the same, he told Sky Deutschland. As long as Red Bull provides Max with a competitive car and he feels comfortable, there is no reason to change. As for Horner's accusation that he is engaged in distraction tactics, Wolff hit back: I didn't hear that at all, but it's just stupid. But when told that Horner is teasingly offering Jos Verstappen to Mercedes, Wolff added: That wouldn't be bad either. (GMM) Marko tells Horner, Jos, to end personal feud The bubbling feud between Max Verstappen's father and team boss burst back into life ahead of Red Bull's home race in Austria. Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen, Abu Dhabi GP 2023 Red Bull Jos Verstappen, a former Formula 1 driver still closely aligned with the management of his son's career, accused team boss Christian Horner of sabotaging his participation in a 'legend's parade' at the Red Bull Ring. Verstappen, 52, said Horner intervened to limit broadcast coverage of his demonstration run in an old Red Bull F1 car, following months of simmering tensions, a team leadership struggle, and rumours of a switch to Mercedes for Max. I'm completely done with him, Verstappen senior told Dutch media. "There were supposed to be recordings, also with a drone, but Horner didn't want me to be filmed in Red Bull kit and colours. And I heard from several sides that Horner did everything to not let me drive. How childish can you be? It's like being in a playground. Then I think, 'Say it to my face'. But it says something about him, I think, Jos added. Eventually I would have been allowed to drive, but I refused." Indeed, Jos ultimately decided to pull out of the event completely, which will still feature Gerhard Berger, David Coulthard, Emerson Fittipaldi and Johnny Herbert. For his part, Horner denied sabotaging or vetoing Jos Verstappen's participation in the demo. The legends parade is something that is organised by the circuit, he said. There was no veto from my side or anything like that. And I'm sure the legends will be in action later. Some believe the tensions between the Verstappen camp and Horner could ultimately result in Max accepting a standing offer to switch to Mercedes next year. But Horner insisted: "The relationship with Max has always been very good, very strong. And he's our driver. He's the one that is important, obviously, to have a strong relationship with. I've never had an issue with any of our drivers' fathers in the past. And whatever Jos's issues are, I've really got nothing to comment on. Red Bull's F1 advisor Dr Helmut Marko, who has also been at odds with Horner at times in 2024, urged the pair to sort out their differences for the sake of the team. We have enough problems already, and we are solving them, he told Sky Deutschland. "McLaren is a strong competitor now and although we are in a comfortable lead, this is mainly because our competitors have been taking points from each other. But the situation is changing, Marko, 81, added. "It seems that we now have only one opponent, which makes the task more difficult. I think this is a personal matter between Christian and Jos, and Max is in the main race, and that's the most important thing. (GMM) Return of French GP makes sense says Domenicali It would "make sense" if Formula 1 could return to France, the sport's CEO Stefano Domenicali admits. French GP 2022 Alfa Romeo Despite its deep motor racing history, and being the origin of the term 'grand prix' and the home of the FIA, the country fell off the race calendar amid financial problems for the Paul Ricard race organisers after 2022. However, moves are afoot to organise a new French GP, either at Paul Ricard again or even on the streets of Nice. L'Equipe correspondent Frederic Ferret interviewed Domenicali ahead of the Austrian GP this weekend and said the F1 CEO absolutely does not want to close the doors to any proposals . However, Ferret admits the chances for now are very slim , even if one possibility could be an annual race alternation between Nice and nearby Monaco. If, at some point, the president of the Republic and Prince Albert of Monaco say: 'There can be an agreement', then why not? Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice and former French GP promoter at Paul Ricard, said recently. And during Ferret's interview with the F1 CEO, Domenicali admitted: F1 and France make sense together. (GMM) California restaurants with surcharges, including 7 Adams in San Francisco, can continue the practice under a new bill the governor signed into law. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle California restaurant surcharges will remain legal under a controversial bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Saturday, a major victory for the states restaurant industry. Senate Bill 1524, introduced by state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, takes effect immediately. It was a last-minute response to opposition from restaurants to the states junk fees law, which starting Monday would ban hidden charges including at hotels and ticketed events, and would also have banned additional dining fees. With todays signing we can uphold the principle of providing consumers with up-front price transparency without inadvertently harming food service workers or small businesses, Dodd said Saturday in a news release. This new law will require clear, conspicuous disclosure of any fee, and a description of its purpose, on all advertisements, menus or other displays that contain the price of a food or beverage item. Now we can ensure restaurant customers are not shocked when they get their checks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The new law is sure to spark outrage from customers who are frustrated by restaurant fees and hoped they would become illegal in California. The legislation allows restaurants, bars, food concessions, grocery stores or grocery delivery services to charge additional fees, such as an automatic service charge, as long as its clearly and conspicuously displayed with an explanation of its purpose, on menus, ads or other areas that contain prices, as is current practice for many food businesses. Restaurants will have a year to ensure the text meets the legal definition of clear and conspicuous, which is a larger or contrasting font than the surrounding text, or set off from the surrounding text in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language. Saturdays signing caps off months of back-and-forth confusion over restaurant fees in California. Restaurant owners and workers were originally unsure if SB478 would permit service fees, which many food businesses use to increase wages and cover other costs. Attorney General Rob Bonta made conflicting public statements about the laws implications for restaurants. In May, Bontas office eventually issued guidance that all restaurant fees must be folded into menu prices, sparking an opposition effort spearheaded by food industry groups. Unite Here, a California labor union that represents 300,000 hospitality workers, also co-sponsored SB1524. It was co-written by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Assembly Members Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino (Los Angeles County), Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters (Yolo County), and Matt Haney, D-San Francisco. Restaurants are vital to the fabric of life in California, and they should be able to cover costs as long as they do so transparently, Wiener said Saturday in a news release. SB 1524 clarifies portions of the law that pose a serious threat to restaurants. The bill strikes the right balance between supporting restaurants and delivering transparency for consumers, and Im proud to support it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bill passed unanimously through the California Assembly and Senate this week. Local restaurant owners hailed the legislation. To be clear, this doesnt feel like a step forward, but its preventing a huge step backward, said Stella Dennig, co-owner of Daytrip in Oakland, which uses an automatic 20% service fee instead of tips to sustain higher wages for staff. This is a big sigh of relief for restaurant workers. The Golden Gate Restaurant Association, which represents San Francisco restaurants and lobbied for SB1524, said in a statement: After nine months of stress and uncertainty, we are relieved to have clarity as to the use of service or surcharges on restaurant menus. So many of our members are independent restaurants and rely on these line item charges to provide employee benefits and support pay equity. OnePlus is working on the Buds Pro 3, according to a new rumor. The company released the Buds Pro 2 back in February of 2023, and followed them up with the non-Pro OnePlus Buds 3 this February, and so we thought the "Pro" moniker was simply gone from its roster, in a similar fashion to what OnePlus did for its flagship smartphone line. But apparently that's not the case, and the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are coming to sit at a more premium level above the Buds 3. The Buds Pro 3 will allegedly be offered in black, gold, and green, but as always not all colors may be available in all markets, at least at launch. OnePlus Buds 3 The OnePlus Buds 3 are reportedly going to have an EQ, wear detection sensors, support for Fast Pair, Dolby Atmos, and OnePlus' Zen Mode Air. They are also expected to feature dual device connection, camera shutter support, and spatial audio. Unfortunately no other details have been outed, so it's still unclear when these may launch and the price - though it stands to reason that they will be more expensive than the Buds 3 were when they came out. To justify the higher price tag, the Buds Pro 3 might also have bigger, better sound drivers and (hopefully) enhanced battery life too. Source Scores of interested folks meandered through the stations of the various divisions of the Guam Department of Agriculture, and many learned that the department is much more than trees and plants. "This morning we had a lot of signups, a lot of applicants come over...potential applicants and as well as a lot of qualified applicants. Some of our jobs that we have listed goes from a forestry aide to agriculturalists to even coordinator positions like an invasive species coordinator, said Chris Rosario, state entomologist. As a whole, the Department of Agriculture addresses the issues that revolve around natural resources. Rosario and his team are responsible for identifying dangerous pests that make their way to Guam via plane or ship, learning about invasive species and destroying them if necessary. All six divisions were represented at the job fair on Saturday, and the display tables took up one empty bay and spilled out into the center court of the Guam Premier Outlets. The six divisions are: Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources Forestry and Soil Resources Division Agricultural Development Services Law Enforcement Section Biosecurity Division Animal Health We are not a big agency, but as you can see, what we do encompasses a lot, said Christine Fejeran, chief of the Forestry Division. So we are always busy, theres always more work to be done. But at the end of the day, we feel very satisfied about how the work we do helps the community. Asked which booth has been getting the most traffic, Rosario wanted to say his did. He brought a living beehive and insect displays, with their subjects frozen forever under glass. They were a hit with all the kids, and plenty of adults too. Because its land, water, air, pets, animals and insects, every division intersects with one or two other divisions. And the applicants were like that. They would visit every booth and come back to the one they wanted to learn more about, he said. One applicant, 22-year-old Santiago Poppe, said it was nice to see all the opportunities in one area. You get to talk one on one with all the employers. They have a lot of options here, and they are hiring, said Poppe. At first I showed up here at the forestry booth ... also I want to go and check out the DAWR booth. Poppe said he built an early connection with the department. Wildfires often came near his home, and he remembers bringing water and drinks to the firefighters on scene. He said that although he isnt sure yet, he knows that his career will have something to do with benefitting the community. Another popular booth was the one for the law enforcement division, staffed by uniformed conservation officers. Leilani Leon Guerrero, a civilian volunteer conservation officer reservist and Shian Aricheta, a conservation officer I, fielded several questions from interested applicants about the scope of their work. She said that of the four openings her department had, most people were interested in the conservation officer apprentice. With that program, you basically dont need to have any type of experience, but the main qualification is you have to have your drivers license and firearms ID, said Aricheta. With dirt yet to be turned on construction of a new Guam Memorial Hospital site, GMH management is now looking at how to keep the current, aging facility operating for another five to 10 years. GMH Trustee Dr. Teresa Borja said at Wednesday nights hospital board meeting that the GMH strategic planning subcommittee is weighing whats needed to keep the cash-strapped facility in good enough repair to keep running. The hospital team has a matrix of all the capital improvement projects the facility needs, she said, but funding remains a challenge. Borja said GMH Associate Administrator for Operations Zaldy Tugade has confidently reported that the life of the current facility could be extended, if we had our capital improvement money. If we had these projects going, and the appropriate funding, we could actually stretch the life of this hospital another five, maybe seven years, maybe longer, Borja told the board. Longstanding maintenance issues at GMH like leaking roofs and mold were made worse by last years Typhoon Mawar, and created a need for major air conditioning and ventilation upgrades. More recently, the hospital has moved to address piping after a burst pipe shut down the hospital lobby on April 30. But revenues at the public hospital are not keeping pace with skyrocketing costs for equipment, supplies, and staff, and GMH leadership is asking the Legislature to buoy the hospital with a subsidy of $74.3 million in tax revenue next fiscal year. GMH is on track to close the current fiscal year with a $26.8 million loss. Trustee Borja Wednesday said the board has to continue to press the governor and the Legislature. We need our subsidies, we need help, she said. Borja stressed that the Army Corps of Engineers had recommended that GMH be replaced back in 2019, but five years later, a new facility had yet to break ground. In 2021, GMH Administrator Lilian Perez-Posadas reported that groundbreaking was expected by 2022. But the Leon Guerrero administration, senators, and the medical community have been quarreling since then over how and especially where to build the new GMH. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero is now aiming to bypass lawmakers and break ground on a new hospital in the Mangilao-Barrigada area by next year, with help from the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority in purchasing private lands. A slim majority of senators and much of the medical community continue to push for a Tamuning site. Me personallywe dont care where you put the hospital...we are just further behind, GMH Trustee Borja said Wednesday. Agreed, Trustee Sharon Davis chimed in. Borja said the GMH team is now looking at different ways to fund repairs, including resurrecting a hazard mitigation grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. According to Tugade, GMH is now in active solicitation for about $9 million worth of capital improvement projects, which are funded through federal American Rescue Plan funds. We will be very busy next year, he said. Neonatologist could be hired In other news, GMH is working to hire a neonatologist, a doctor who treats critically ill newborns. GMH Administrator Perez-Posadas told the board Wednesday night that hospital obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Jonathan Seidel is helping to recruit the doctor and has been communicating with the neonatologist, who is expected to come to Guam for a site visit around September. Perez-Posadas said the recruitment would line up with the planned buildout of a maternal child health and family birthing center at GMH. Seidel noted that theres no guarantee the specialist will come on board. GMH has been without a neonatologist for several years, despite several doctors getting offers to work on Guam. A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that Guam had a higher infant mortality rate than any state between 2018 and 2021. An average of 32 babies died before their first birthday between 2017 and 2021, the report found. President Joe Biden participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election with former President Donald Trump at CNNs studios in Atlanta on Thursday. His performance rattled many Democrats. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/TNS I checked in with a top California donor the morning after President Joe Bidens debate debacle to ask whether they had a minute to chat. If I sober up, the donor quipped. Its been that kind of 24 hours for Democratic fundraisers in California and those close to Biden in the state where his campaign received 22% of the money ($305 million) he raised in 2020. Many were up into the wee hours of Friday morning, talking donors, officeholders and party operatives off the ledge. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yet some expect this collective agita from Bidens dreadful debate performance will kick-start a serious conversation about whether he should continue to be the partys nominee. The party will hold its nominating convention in August in Chicago, but is expected to nominate Biden virtually earlier that month so he can appear on the ballot in Ohio, which has an earlier deadline. These late-night callers werent sweating the details about ditching Biden. They wanted Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to replace Biden. Or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Or Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Or, yes, Gov. Gavin Newsom. But the top fundraisers fielding their calls expect and hope Biden will be the partys nominee. Stepping aside would be the presidents call to make, in close consultation with first lady Jill Biden. Nevertheless, they expect that conversation will be coming. Over the next month, theres going to be a push to ask him at the convention to throw it open to a new pick, said Joe Cotchett, a prominent Burlingame attorney and Democratic fundraiser Biden jokingly said he has known for 217 years at an Atherton fundraiser last year. I dont think thats going to happen. I think people are going to rally. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He expects Biden supporters to start talking about electing a team, not just one guy. As in Bidens team versus Trump, the candidate who said when accepting the 2016 Republican nomination that I alone can fix it. In contrast, Cotchett said, electing a Biden team is going be the emphasis, and thats what we have to explain to the American public. Cotchett said some of the officeholders and top operatives and officials he has spoken with are concerned about Biden dragging down the rest of the Democratic ticket in battleground states. This week, Cotchett hosted a fundraiser in San Francisco that raised $200,000 for Democratic senators facing tough reelection races in five battleground states. Theyre worried about the trickle-down effect for the five U.S. senators that weve got to support, starting with Sen. John Tester up in Montana, Cotchett said. Cotchetts response to the bed wetters he spoke to: Hang in there. We cant let a man like (Donald) Trump dominate this country, because we will lose our democracy. We all screw up. We all trip occasionally. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Palo Alto fundraiser Michelle Kraus, who has known Biden for more than two decades, also expects those conversations to happen ad nauseam because people like to hear themselves talk. But after fielding calls from donors and top officials, she doesnt expect any to walk away. The donors that know him know that that was not the way he usually is, Kraus said. They are solidly behind Joe Biden. Wade Randlett, a national Democratic donor from San Francisco, noted that the Biden campaign reported raising $14 million the day of and after the debate. The Trump campaign reported raising $8 million. Jittery donors and supporters are unlikely to have much influence on nudging Biden aside after that kind of haul. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If you have arguably the worst day of your presidency at a performance level, and you raise that amount, a bunch of money guys talking to you just doesnt move the needle, Randlett said. Randlett emphasized that it is only June, months before Americans start voting. Randlett recalled walking precincts in Nevada for Biden in 2020. Biden finished a distant second in the caucuses behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, and everybody thought he was dead then and had no chance, no scenario, no path to the nomination. And now we are where we are. There is no presidential campaign that doesnt have at least one really rough day, Randlett said. And if this is the nadir, were going to be fine. But what if it isnt? The calls for Whitmer, Pritzer or Newsom arent going to stop. Unless Biden decides to step down, he will be the partys nominee even if the New York Times editorial board asked him Friday to step aside. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Vice President Kamala Harris would be next in line for the nomination if Biden stepped aside. But those who are calling for a different 11th-hour savior ignore the likely irreparable damage it would do to the party to sideline Harris, the nations first Black and South Asian vice president. The partys most loyal voters, Black women, would be outraged and if they didnt vote, it wouldnt matter who the party nominated, because they wouldnt win. 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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 When you hear the words Fourth of July, aside from red, white and blue, fireworks may be the first thing that comes to mind. For some people theres a positive association with fireworks, but for others, not so much. Good news, enjoying fireworks is not a prerequisite for being patriotic. If youll be in the Houston area for Independence Day, there will be plenty of events celebrating the United States birthday that dont involve pyrotechnics. Here are some of the fireworks-free Fourth of July festivities happening in the Houston metro area on Thursday, July 4: When: 2-5 p.m. Where: 10855 Towne Lake Parkway, Cypress Celebrate Independence Day at Towne Lake in Cypress. This free event will include live music, airbrush face painting, balloon artists, a photo backdrop, stilt walkers and more. After the celebration, you can choose from numerous restaurants to grab dinner. Visit The Boardwalks website for more information. When: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: 1500 Binz St., Houston Head to Childrens Museum Houston for daytime Fourth of July festivities that are all about the fun and freedom of being a kid. The event activities include interactive science experiments, a confetti party with Captain America and Lady Liberty, storytime with Captain America and a science show. All ages are welcome at the museums event, but groups must include at least one child. The event is free with general admission. Tickets are $19.95 for adults and children and $17.95 for seniors. Visit the museums website to purchase tickets and learn about some of the discount options, such as those for active military. When: 12-3 p.m. Where: 4500 Travis St., Houston Show your patriotism by supporting some of our nations heroes. Houston Millennials, VFW Auxiliary Post 8790 and Cloudbreak Communities will be hosting a heartfelt meal providing at risk soldiers and veterans with hot dogs and hamburgers. By volunteering you will help these organizations in expressing gratitude and honoring the brave men and women that have fought for Americans freedom. The hosts are requesting all volunteers to bring a pair of new socks to donate to heroes. RSVP on Eventbrite to reserve your volunteer spot for the Freedom Lunch. When: 7-9 p.m. Where: 2618 Broadway, Galveston Enjoy a live performance by the Galveston Community Band at Moody Mansion. This free event will be in a different area of the island from where the Galveston beachside fireworks show will be held. Other exciting Independence Day events happening in Galveston include a parade and another music performance, both of which are also free. Visit the Independence Day celebration page on Visit Galvestons website for more information about the various events happening on the nations birthday. When: 9-10:30 p.m. Where: 2010 Waugh Drive, Houston Stop by the Riot Comedy Club for an evening of laughter. The event promises to be a riotous night filled with side-splitting jokes and unforgettable moments. The showcase will include a variety of comedic styles and perspectives, with some humor for everyone. All shows at the Riot Comedy Club are for ages 21 and up and photo IDs are required for entry. Purchase tickets starting at $15, before taxes and fees, on Eventbrite. When: 1-4 p.m. Where: 1070 Dallas St., Houston Live out your red, white and bougie fantasy with a day spent poolside at an upscale hotel. If youre down to splurge for a classy pool party, check out The Laura Hotel. Entry is free for hotel guests, while non-guests can purchase day passes for $75. The event will feature cocktails; exclusive daybed cabanas for two, starting at $400; and a special Fourth of July Pool Platter for $24. If youll be staying at The Laura, you can extend your celebration with their Discover Houston package, which includes daily breakfast for two, complimentary access to the pool party, a $25 food and beverage credit and a late checkout at noon. Click here to book your cabana or day pass. When: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Where: South Rice Ave. & Valerie St., Bellaire If youre looking for a family-friendly Fourth of July morning event, head to Bellaire for their parade and festival. The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. and will also include the Childrens Bike Parade. Both parades will end at South Rice Ave. and Linden St. Attendees can enjoy live music, food trucks and more on the Great Lawn in Loftin Park, beginning at about 9:30 a.m. The parades as well as the festival are all free to attend. For more information, call the Bellaire Recreation Center at (713) 662-8280, or visit the event page on the City of Bellaires website. When: July 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to sunset Where: 12600 Crystal View Blvd., Texas City Does vibing for two days of non-stop live music played by rock tribute bands as you enjoy tropical drinks, delicious food and a breathtaking waterfront view sound like your vibe? If so, Freedom Rocks Music Festival at Lagoonfest is where youll want to be on July 3 and/or 4. Bring your whole family to surf, sail, paddle, sunbathe or whatever floats your boat, literally. Click here to purchase tickets online $38 for people ages 14 and up and $20 for children ages 3-13. Haiti - FLASH : Good news, Extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS, confirmed Friday June 28, 2024, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from Aug. 4, 2024, to Feb. 3, 2026, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti. The corresponding Federal Register Notice https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-14247/extension-and-redesignation-of-haiti-for-temporary-protected-status provides information about registering for TPS as a new or current beneficiary under Haitis extension and redesignation. After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas determined on June 3, 2024, that an 18-month extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS is warranted because conditions that support Haitis designation are ongoing and that doing so was not contrary to the national interest of the United States. "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," said Secretary Mayorkas. The redesignation of Haiti for TPS allows an estimated 309,000 additional Haitian nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) to file initial applications for TPS, if they are otherwise eligible and if they established residence in the United States on or before June 3, 2024, and have continued to reside in the United States since then ("continuous residence"). Eligible individuals who do not have TPS may submit an initial Form I-821 https://www.uscis.gov/i-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that runs from July 1, 2024, through Feb. 3, 2026. Applicants also may apply for TPS-related Employment Authorization Documents and for travel authorization. Applicants can request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765 https://www.uscis.gov/i-765 , Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821, or separately later. Haitians who were not residing in the United States on or before June 3, 2024, are not eligible for such protection, and will face removal to Haiti if they do not establish a legal basis to stay. The extension of TPS for Haiti allows current beneficiaries to retain TPS through Feb. 3, 2026, if they continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. Current beneficiaries under TPS for Haiti must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from July 1, 2024, through Aug. 30, 2024, to ensure they keep their TPS and employment authorization. Re-registration is limited to individuals who previously registered for and were granted TPS under Haitis initial designation. DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants who apply for a new EAD may receive it before their current EAD expires and is automatically extending through Aug. 3, 2025, the validity of certain EADs previously issued under Haitis TPS designation. Details will be available on USCIS.gov. If you have one of these EADs, to get an EAD that is valid after Aug. 3, 2025, you must re-register for TPS and file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, following the instructions in the Federal Register notice extending and redesignating Haiti for TPS through Feb. 3, 2026. If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approves your newly filed Form I-765, USCIS will issue you an EAD valid through Feb. 3, 2026. USCIS will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for Haiti. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765 as of July 1, 2024, do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for Haiti, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through Feb. 3, 2026, and issue an EAD valid through the same date. The Federal Register Notice explains eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures necessary for current beneficiaries to re-register and renew EADs, and for new applicants to submit an initial application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD. This extension and redesignation does not apply for anyone who was not already in the United States on June 3, 2024, and consequences continue to be enforced on those attempting to cross unlawfully or without authorization into the United States. Since the Securing the Border Presidential Proclamation and Interim Final Rule was issued in early June, over 24,000 noncitizens have been removed or returned to more than 20 countries. HL/ HaitiLibre Interview: Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence critical for tackling global challenges, says French entrepreneur Xinhua) 15:19, June 29, 2024 BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The world is at a critical crossroads where solidarity and unity under the values embodied in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are essential to tackling global challenges and building a future of multilateralism that benefits everyone, French entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand has said. "The Five Principles are China's commitment to developing peacefully and to coexisting with other countries, which are often very different from China. And I think this is a key question in today's world," he said. "The Principles are actually closely linked to the UN Charter. For instance, one of the key principles is mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs. That's also part of the UN charter, (which prohibits interference by states in the internal affairs of others,)" he said. "Its being part of the UN Charter shows that, in fact, a lot of countries share the values in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," he added. The global order stands at a crossroads, where humanity has to choose between a world respecting the UN Charter and international law or a unipolar world dominated by one country that sets the rules, he said. "I very much hope that the world will evolve in the first direction where all countries are considered equal, mutually respect each other, do not interfere with each other, and are committed to a peaceful resolution of conflicts," he added. Bertrand highlighted the cultural exchanges and mutual learning in history between China and France, the first major Western country to establish formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. "If you look, for instance, back to the Enlightenment with thinkers like Voltaire, we have this mentality of trying to understand China and being inspired by China. And vice versa," he said. Bertrand, who lived in China for seven years and once studied acupuncture at a traditional Chinese medicine school, is now working on an entrepreneurial project with his wife to develop a range of products inspired by traditional Chinese herbalism. "In order to learn it (acupuncture), you have to do all the points on yourself. So I literally tried all the acupuncture points on myself. Every single one of them," he said with a big smile, pointing at the back of his hand. Bertrand believes his project will contribute to bridging Chinese and European cultures. "At the heart of our business, it is about explaining a key part of Chinese culture to the West," he said. "When you try to understand Chinese medicine, you also understand the very root of Chinese culture." "By helping people grow interested in traditional Chinese medicine, we also help them understand a bit more about how China perceives the way the human body works, and also in general, key concepts in Chinese culture like harmony, which is to find the right equilibrium between yin and yang," he added. He speaks enthusiastically of China's visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from a dozen countries, including France, to enter and stay in China for up to 15 days for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit. "I think it's a very, very good policy because at the end of the day, in order to understand China, the single best way is to come here and see the country with your own eyes. And it's also a show of confidence by China to tell the world: Come and see the country for yourself, we have nothing to hide, and we are proud of our country," he said. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) The Free City program that has allowed San Francisco residents to take free classes at City College since 2017 is set to shrink by more than half due to the citys tight budget. Some trustees are fighting back. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2017 As San Franciscans celebrate a new financial plan that preserves millions of dollars for public benefits, one much-touted perk hasnt been spared. Free City the $17 million program that lets every city resident take classes at City College of San Francisco free of charge will be cut nearly in half in the 2024-25 fiscal year, then drop by another 23% to $7.2 million the following year under the budget deal reached Wednesday. The Board of Supervisors is expected to finalize the new budget in July. All city residents can still take free classes for now. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But that could change in 2025-26 as the city renegotiates its memorandum of understanding with City College over the next year, as expected. San Francisco officials may propose limiting the perk to students working towards an associates degree from the community college, or for a certificate in a career program. All these things are open for discussion, said Maria Su, executive director of the citys Department of Children, Youth and their Families, which oversees Free City. Curiously, the reason for shrinking Free City is not entirely because San Francisco faces a massive budget deficit of $790 million over the next two years. Its because City College has had trouble even giving its classes away for free. The school has collected at least $23 million from the city that it hasnt been able to tempt San Franciscans to use, and it cant spend the money on anything but Free City. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nearly 17,000 San Franciscans took free credit courses at City College last year, saving the $46-a-credit fee charged by the state, city documents say. That may sound like a lot of students, but its 29% fewer than the 24,000 city residents who used the Free City benefit in 2017, the programs first year, the city reported. Given the citys terrible deficit, it is not fiscally responsible for us to continue to allocate an inflated amount to City College for the Free City College initiative, said Su. Mayor London Breeds spokesperson, Jeff Cretan, called it right-sizing the program. But enrollment numbers for the current year which arent posted on the citys Free City website suggest a rosier picture, with nearly 29,000 city residents taking classes, said the colleges interim Chancellor, Mitchell Bailey. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bailey said the unspent Free City funds reported by the city may also be old numbers disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, when enrollment dropped everywhere. We look forward to receiving the updated reports and working with the city to ensure that we have accurate information moving forward, Bailey said. On Thursday, the colleges Board of Trustees approved a resolution supporting tuition-free enrollment for all classes. Enrollment numbers for the current year suggest that nearly 29,000 city residents have signed up for free classes at City College, according to its interim Chancellor, Mitchell Bailey. But the school is sitting on millions in unclaimed benefits. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The boards president, Alan Wong, told the Chronicle that the trustees would especially oppose any proposal restricting Free City to students aiming for a degree or certificate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad City College is unusual because two-thirds of its students are older than 25 and nearly half study part time. City College is San Franciscos only lifelong learning institution where all residents regardless of age, income or background can enroll for free, Wong wrote in an opinion piece in the San Francisco Examiner on June 19. Free enrollment is essential to our mission of removing barriers for low-income students, historically marginalized communities, working students and parents who need childcare to attend classes. The size of its student body is a central dilemma for the college. Once among the nations largest community colleges, with 95,381 students, last year the school enrolled just 39,532 full- and part-time students, despite the existence of Free City. Unless City College can attract thousands of new students, the state has said that after 2026, it will freeze funding at the colleges 2024-25 level for years to come, threatening its fiscal stability. City Colleges accreditation is also at risk. In January, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges refused to immediately renew its all-important accreditation after finding that the trustees were neglecting the long-term fiscal health of CCSF, failing to follow their own policies and ignoring then-Chancellor David Martins authority. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Haiti - Politic : First official trip of Garry Conille to the USA Friday June 28, 2024, the Prime Minister, Garry Conille at the head of a Haitian delegation left the capital in the afternoon to go to Washington and New York, his first official trip since he was appointed Prime Minister. The Head of Government is accompanied by Nesmy Manigat, his Chief of Staff, Marie D.A. Ketleen Florestal, the Minister of Economy and Finance, also Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, and Dominique Dupuy, also the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister of Haitians Living Abroad. During its stay, the delegation, chaired by Prime Minister Conille, will have important working meetings with, among others, officials of international financial institutions. An inspection visit to the Haitian Embassy in Washington is also on the agenda. In the absence of the Prime Minister, the interim is provided by Me Carlos Hercule, Minister of Justice and Public Security. The Prime Minister has not communicated any date for the delegation's return to Haiti. HL/ HaitiLibre Amazon has announced plans to invest 10 billion euros in Germany in the coming years. Around 8.8 billion euros of this will be invested in the cloud infrastructure of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Frankfurt am Main for the AWS Europe region by 2026. The US company is spending 1.2 billion euros on logistics, robotics and company headquarters. In May of this year, Amazon had already announced investments of 7.8 billion euros for the "AWS European Sovereign Cloud" by 2040, which is to be located in Brandenburg. Anzeige According to the announcement, Amazon plans to create 4,000 jobs in three new logistics centers by the end of this year: in Horn-Bad Meinberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is scheduled to go into operation in late summer 2024, in Erfurt (Thuringia), which has been running since last month, and in Groenkneten, where there has been an Amazon logistics center since August 2023. New company headquarters are to be built in Munich and Berlin, and Amazon plans to expand its research and development center in Berlin. "Sovereign cloud" Amazon has invested a good 77 billion euros in Germany since 2010. The company now has around one hundred locations in this country. In addition to Berlin, Aachen, Dresden and Tubingen are also home to Amazon research sites. They are working on products and services for AWS, Amazon Music, Fire TV, Alexa and logistics technology. The additional investments in Berlin will primarily go towards AI and robotics. With the sovereign Euro Cloud, Amazon wants to attract public authorities and regulated companies as customers. Many of them are unable to use previous AWS offerings due to regulatory requirements. For example, operators of critical infrastructures (KRITIS) were often denied access. According to Amazon, all data and metadata will remain in Europe. Operation and support are provided exclusively by personnel based here. The sovereign Euro Cloud remains physically and logically completely separate from other AWS regions, but should still offer the same level of security, performance and availability. For users, the operation will not differ from previous offerings. (anw) ARM and Qualcomm have still not settled their license dispute after almost two years. The fronts have hardened to such an extent that Qualcomm recently filed a counterclaim against ARM and ARM wants to stop selling all PCs with Snapdragon X processors. Anzeige The reason for this is Qualcomm's acquisition of the start-up Nuvia, which developed its own ARM core in 2019 under the leadership of former Apple engineers. Nuvia actually wanted to use this core in server processors and has acquired an ARM license for this purpose. However, Qualcomm has repurposed this core as the "Oryon" for the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus PC processors and presumably also wants to use it in systems-on-chip (SoCs) for smartphones in the future. ARM argues that the existing license agreements would not cover the use of a custom core. ARM demands destruction of all Snapdragon X CPUs In an August 2022 lawsuit filed in the US District Court of Delaware (case number 1:22-cv-01146), ARM stated: "Qualcomm caused Nuvia to breach its ARM licenses, leading ARM to terminate those licenses, in turn requiring Qualcomm and Nuvia to stop using and destroy any ARM-based technology developed under the licenses." In a statement to Reuters, ARM insists: Anzeige "ARM's claim against Qualcomm and Nuvia is about protecting the ARM ecosystem and partners who rely on our IP and innovative designs, and therefore enforcing Qualcomm's contractual obligation to destroy and stop using the Nuvia designs that were derived from ARM technology." In plain language, this means that Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Microsoft, Lenovo, Samsung and other smaller manufacturers should destroy all notebooks or mini PCs with Snapdragon X CPUs. This may be the reason why Microsoft allegedly prefers to work with Mediatek and Nvidia rather than Qualcomm in the future. Qualcomm counters with a counterclaim Qualcomm filed a counterclaim against ARM on April 18, 2024, also in the US District Court of Delaware (case number 1:24-cv-00490). In it, the company collects all allegations against ARM from recent years. Some pearls from the statement of claim: "In furtherance of this effort, ARM has attempted to stifle Qualcomms technological leaps in CPU design by intentionally withholding deliverables paid for and due to Qualcomm under Qualcomms ARM architecture license agreement (ALA), misrepresenting the existence of those deliverables when Qualcomm provided written notice of ARMs failure to deliver, and threatening to terminate Qualcomms licenses if it attempted to enforce its contractual right to obtain the deliverables in question." "Finally [...] ARM deliberately withheld deliverables to which Qualcomm is entitled under its ALA with ARM under the guise that Qualcomms ALA does not entitle Qualcomm to support for 'Nuvia-based technology'. ARMs excuse is unjustified, and its breach could not be more clear." "ARM never cured its failure to deliver, causing Qualcomm to expend additional, unnecessary resources in designing and verifying its products." Apparently, ARM wants to push through a new licensing model to generate more revenue. The main aim is to base license costs on the price of the device rather than the processor. According to Qualcomm, this involves a one-off payment of several hundred million US dollars plus significantly higher license fees on an ongoing basis. A troubled partnership According to Reuters, the first day of negotiations between ARM and Qualcomm is not scheduled until December 2024. Anyone who wants to buy a PC with Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus has little to fear, at least immediately. A temporary sales stop seems unrealistic rather, the threat is intended to increase the pressure on Qualcomm. From an observer's perspective, the whole situation seems absurd. For years, ARM wanted to get its CPU instruction set into notebooks and desktop PCs. Now, for the first time, there is a realistic opportunity and ARM is torpedoing it to get a bigger slice of the pie. Qualcomm is also the second-largest supplier of smartphone processors (after Mediatek), making it one of ARM's most important partners. Meanwhile, Qualcomm is dependent on ARM because the company cannot develop any processors without the CPU instruction set. This would actually be the perfect breeding ground for a symbiosis, but it has gone badly wrong. (mma) Information provided by third parties from civil society, business, science and volunteer security experts is essential for detecting IT security vulnerabilities. However, such hackers acting on their own initiative would "generally be liable to prosecution" in Germany without the consent of the program or system administrators concerned. This also applies to Lithuania and Sweden, according to a recently published report by the Bundestag's Scientific Service on the criminal liability of hacking in an international comparison, which was commissioned by Anke Domscheit-Berg, a member of the Left Party. In other EU countries such as France, the Netherlands and Austria, the exposure of security vulnerabilities by ethical hackers is largely welcomed. Anzeige The main bone of contention in Germany has long been Section 202c of the German Criminal Code (StGB), which the Bundestag passed in 2007 alongside other hacker clauses. According to this, the preparation of a criminal offense through the production, procurement, sale, transfer, distribution or making available of passwords or other security codes for data access as well as suitable computer programs is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to one year. However, the "hacker tools" criminalized in this way are also used by system administrators, programmers and consultants to check networks and end devices for security vulnerabilities. Section 202b of the German Criminal Code stipulates that anyone who uses such tools to obtain unauthorized data from a non-public data transmission or from the electromagnetic radiation of an IT system for themselves or others is liable to up to two years in prison or a fine. With Section 202a, the legislator also stipulated that even unauthorized access to specially secured data by overcoming security precautions is criminalized and punishable by up to three years in prison. According to the experts, "the prevailing opinion" has interpreted the original definition of "obtaining data", which was only removed in 2006, so broadly "that hacking was, in fact, already covered to a large extent - contrary to the legislator's intention". The left is putting pressure on the planned amendment With this arsenal, "uncertainty is likely to remain among those who deal with IT security professionally", the parliamentary lawyers write. "White-hat hackers" who identify security vulnerabilities in IT infrastructures expose themselves to "a risk of criminal liability" without a mandate from the organization concerned. In Holland, on the other hand, the public prosecutor's office considers it important that ethical hackers "can continue to search for vulnerabilities and report them" to make IT systems more secure. At the same time, organizations and companies are encouraged to define guidelines for reporting security vulnerabilities. In Austria and France, it would also be conceivable to omit criminal liability in relevant cases. In a motion, the left-wing group in the Bundestag is therefore calling on the federal government to "promptly present a draft law that would enable the investigation, detection and reporting of IT security vulnerabilities by natural or legal persons without criminal penalties". Corresponding exclusions from criminal liability should be introduced "if the actions serve the purpose of ethically responsible research, identification, reporting and closure" of vulnerabilities in hardware and software. In November, Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) announced a reform of the hacker paragraphs that have been controversial for years. According to the key points, he wants the principle of ethical hacking to be considered "also in criminal law" in line with the coalition agreement of the traffic light coalition. The Liberal promised a concrete draft bill "in the first half of 2024", but this has not materialized. (nie) Apple released an important firmware update for owners of current AirPods and Beats headphones on Wednesday night. It does not provide any functional innovations, but fixes a potentially problematic security vulnerability, as the company announced in parallel on its Security Updates website. The bug affects the Bluetooth implementation integrated in the devices, which allows the devices to be hijacked. The problem: Unfortunately, it is not easy to initiate the update process. Users may have to wait several days or even weeks for the update to go through. Anzeige Which models are affected The new firmware for the AirPods has the version number 6A326. It is intended for AirPods from the second generation onwards, all AirPods Pro models and the AirPods Max over-ear headphones - in other words, all current AirPods on the market. Firmware 6F8 is available for devices from Apple subsidiary Beats, but only for the Powerbeats Pro and Beats Fit Pro models. Whether other models also need a patch, but Apple is not offering one, remained unclear at first. The vulnerability with the CVE ID 2024-27867 was discovered by security researcher Jonas Dreler. Apple describes it as follows: "If your headphones send a connection request to one of your previously paired devices, an attacker within Bluetooth range may be able to spoof the intended source device and gain access to your headphones." With this hijacking, it is not only conceivable that an attacker could fill a person with unwanted sounds, but could also redirect other connections - such as telephony or voice chats - via their own devices and thus record them. It is not known whether this is already happening in practice. The problem with such bugs is that Apple has no official way of forcing an update to the firmware of its AirPods and Beats headphones. "Firmware updates are provided automatically while your headphones are paired with your iPhone, iPad or Mac and within Bluetooth range," it says succinctly. You can only check in the Bluetooth settings (e.g. on the iPhone) whether the new firmware has arrived. Otherwise, it's a case of: Wait. However, some users have come up with tips and tricks on the Internet to speed up the firmware update of their audio devices: it is said to help to listen to 30 seconds of music via Apple's in-house streaming service Apple Music and then immediately place AirPods & Co. in their charging case, including the power connection (for AirPods Max: in the case including connection via Lightning). However, it is not said that this always works and is slightly reminiscent of IT voodoo. Apple always asks customers to wait for automatic delivery. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment at an authorized repair store or Apple Store, where there is special hardware that can force the update. Anzeige Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden (bsc) Brantley honored with Order of the Long Leaf Pine County Manager John Mitchell and Assistant County Manager Amy Brantley pose with Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Henderson County Assistant County Manager Amy Brantley was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on Friday on her last day on the job after 32 years in public service and 25 with the county. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest award for service granted by the Office of the Governor of North Carolina. It is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through their exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments. It is a recognition of Amys many years of service by the great State that she calls home, County Manager John Mitchell said. The County is proud of her accomplishments and wishes her the best in her retirement. Very rarely am I speechless, and I am speechless over this award, Amy Brantley said. When I think of the people who have received these over the years, that is a stellar group of people, and to be included in their company, that means the world to me. I truly appreciate Henderson County for nominating me for this award. It is an honor. Tourists view and photograph sea lions gathered at Pier 39 in San Francisco in early May. Later that month, a record-breaking 2,000 sea lions were seen at the pier. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Just a month ago, a dock at Pier 39 was overrun with sea lions. Around 2,000 males piled on top of each other on wooden floats, barking, braying and breaking a population record at the tourist magnet. Now, the dock is almost empty. Its always quite a shock, and this time it was much more of a shock, said Pier 39 harbormaster Sheila Chandor, who noted that the sea lions dropped in number from 2,000 to about 10 within a week. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Their sudden departure disappointed some recent visitors to Pier 39s K-Dock, said Chandor. But its a normal part of their annual migration cycle. Now is the time of year they head back to the Channel Islands in search of a mate. When that bell rings whatever that bell is that calls them to start its a pretty big event, she said. They do seem to travel en masse along the coastline. Its the call of the wild. Most California sea lions mate and have their pups on the Channel Islands, and females rarely travel north. The males, on the other hand, swim up the California coast and to Oregon and Washington in search of food. Since 1989, they have used Pier 39 as a resting stop along the way. The sea lions come to Pier 39 for the same reason as humans do. Theres lots of good food and places to rest and hang out, said Adam Ratner, director of conservation engagement of the Marine Mammal Center, a wildlife hospital in Sausalito. In a typical year there are 400-600 sea lions at the pier, and this years explosion in numbers was likely prompted by large schools of fish between the Farallon Islands and the Golden Gate. The sea lions will return again in August or early September. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The most important thing to remember about Pier 39 is that these are wild animals that come and go as they please. No one is feeding them, no one is keeping them here, said Ratner. Its amazing that we share this coastline with them and have such close exposure to them in a major city. At their peak, up to 30 of the blubbery creatures covered the surface of each wooden float, sometimes more when they stacked two deep, all jostling for the best spot in the sun. Chandor and her team built the floats specifically to withstand the weight of the 500-600-pound animals, after the pinnipeds pushed out boats at the dock in the early 90s, she said. Our floats held up. We were nervous there, she said. There are now an estimated 250,000 California sea lions on the U.S. West Coast, a population that has recovered under federal protections like the Marine Mammal Protection Act. There was some concern earlier this spring when scientists observed several hundred dead sea lion pups around Ano Nuevo State Park on the San Mateo Coast. That now seems to have been an isolated incident, because everything at the main breeding area in the Channel Islands appears to be normal, according to Michael Milstein, a spokesperson from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pupping is just finishing up now and the pups seem to be faring well, he wrote in an email. While Pier 39 has gotten noticeably quieter, the recent activity brought in much-needed visitors. Fishermans Wharf lost foot traffic during the pandemic and is still recovering. It definitely brought business back to the pier and to wharf, Chandor said. By Kate Bartlett Saturday June 29, 2024 People walk outside a shopping mall that was burnt during the demonstration against Kenya's proposed finance bill, in Nairobi, Kenya, June 28, 2024. JOHANNESBURG 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. 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.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.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.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. In 2011, McKinsey, the global consulting firm, conducted a survey of chief purchasing officers at top western apparel makers in order to gauge the supply chain shifts afoot in the industry. Before rising geopolitical tensions between the US and China birthed the China plus one business strategy, a version of it was silently deployed in the garment industry more than one decade ago. Until then, China dominated garment exports to western markets, commanding a 40% market share in both the EU and the US. However, according to the chief purchasing managers, there were growing headwinds: labour shortage in Chinas coastal industrial hubs, rising wages and diversion of production capacity toward national consumption. About 54% of purchasing managers said that they would diversify up to 10% of sourcing away from China while 32% said they would diversify more than 10% of sourcing, McKinsey reported. A clear winner emergedBangladesh, which McKinsey deemed the next China in garment-making and exports. Looking back at the survey, which was conducted 13 years ago at a time when global supply chains were getting further embedded in Asia, one statistic is revealing. When asked about the new sourcing hotspots in the next five years, 89% said Bangladesh, followed by Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia. India did not have the confidence of global purchasing managers; in hindsight, they were prescient. Early this year, the New Delhi-based research group Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) reported that India's global market share in garment trade has declined between 2015 and 2023: share of knitted apparel dropped from 3.85% to 3.10%, and the share of non-knitted apparel dropped from 4.6% to 3.7%. In 2023, China exported $114 billion worth of garments, the EU $94.4 billion, Vietnam $81.6 billion, Bangladesh $43.8 billion, and India just $14.5 billion, according to GTRI. Consider the trend in growth. Between 2013 and 2023, while Chinas garment exports declined by 23.5%, Bangladeshs grew by 69.6%, Vietnam's grew by 81.6%, and Indias grew by a marginal 4.6%. Ajay Shrivastava, a former bureaucrat and the founder of GTRI, stressed how important the entire sector is to the Indian economy and its dream of becoming a manufacturing nation. The sector [including both textiles and garments] provides jobs to [an estimated] 50 million people, Shrivastava said. Textiles and garments are not technology-intensive industries; these are labour-intensive. If we are losing to countries like Bangladesh then it is a sad reality and we have to do something about it. Shrivastava lays out the entire value chain of the sector. Cotton is grown in the fields, then cotton fibre is converted into yarns, then yarn into fabric, then fabric into garments. It's sad that we have to export cotton yarns. Ideally, we should convert it into fabrics, but after yarns, our value chain breaks, mostly because of quality issues, he said. Another bottleneck plaguing exports is the industry failing to catch up with shifting trends in the fast fashion industry, according to Shrivastava. We are a historically cotton-growing country. But about 70% of clothing bought by developed countries is made of mixed synthetics it has overtaken cotton and become a favourite of the fashion industry. Their share in Indian exports is less than 40%. Hence, Indian factories produce cotton apparel for the spring and summer seasons in the West, leading to low utilisation during autumn and winter when synthetics and blended fabrics dominate demand. A factory that runs only six months a year still has to pay the full years fixed costs. This makes anything made in the factory expensive. With weak synthetics, Indias apparel industry is a horse running with one leg tied. The results are low exports, low wages, and low investments in the sector, Shrivastava said. Entry into synthetics would make factories run full year and increase wages manifold. Fast fashion is a low-margin industry with a complex production process, and one indicator could determine manufacturing success. It is called the Standard Allowed Minute (SAM), which measures the time taken by a worker at a factory unit to make one garment. SAM is a function of skilled workforce, assembly line efficiency and the man-to-machine ratio. According to GTRI, about 80% of Indian exporters fail to meet SAM or other [industry] requirements, thereby limiting their ability to secure orders. Kumar Duraiswamy, joint secretary at the Tirupur Exporters Association in Tamil Nadu, said that while the man-to-machine ratio in India is about 2:1, it is close to 1.15:1 for China and Bangladesh. The efficiency of machines is about 80-85% in Bangladesh, China and Vietnam whereas the average for us is about 40%. Now imagine a 10,000 sq.ft factory with the standard expenses producing 5000 pieces in India [compared to] 9000 pieces therewhat we get is cheaper products offered by these countries, he said. A crucial part of the garment industry is the thousands of weaving and processing units, most of which are informal and small- and medium-sized enterprises. Shrivastava said that these units lack expertise, scale, and technology and remain racked with issues such as power outages and underutilization, which, in turn, increase weaving costs in India to levels comparable with those in the EU or US. Consider this statistic: Chinese fabric processing units process about 1 million metres of cloth per day compared to less than 20,000 metres in India, according to GTRIs analysis. Duraiswamy inveighed against successive governments apathy toward the garment industry. The thing is you cannot transform the MSME sector all of a sudden. The availability of orders, and the trust of the customers, is a big process. And with the policies that we have, people are tired; they do not want to run a garment business, he said. In 2021, the government announced that it will build seven Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) parks, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis 5F vision: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. The parks aim to create an integrated value chain: spinning, weaving, processing, dyeing and printing at one location. Tirupur - Indias largest garment-making hub - is a cluster-based model. About 2000 exporters are supported by 20,000 MSMEs that are part of the different processes in the value chain from yarn to fabric to knitting to dyeing to finishing to sewing, printing, embroidery and packaging. The future is an integrated model but we have to scale up taking the traditional model along because orders by buyers are a function of the manufacturing model, and the transition will take time, Duraiswamy said. To boost the sector, the government included it in its flagship production-linked incentives scheme, which was launched in 2021. However, under the scheme, fibre manufacturers were prioritised over garment makers and the threshold for investments was between rupees 100 crore to 300 crore, which, according to Duraiswamy, is high for the industry, cutting off most small and medium-sized manufacturers. The government has to go to the grassroots and find out about the nature of transformation that is required in this industry. High employment potential is only possible in the garment industry. You are promoting cotton and yarn exports. But exporting one unit of garment generates more jobs than one unit of cotton or yarn, Duraiswamy said. On June 25, 2024, the newly installed textiles minister Giriraj Singh said that his challenge is to beat China - not Bangladesh - in garment exports, and promised to make small clusters for smaller players in India and revive the making of integrated textile parks. Who knows how much time it will take to make it happen? This is the time to talk to leading manufacturers and ask them about the problems they face. There are decisions that need to be made now and not in the future, Shrivastava said. In Bangladesh, executives from companies such as Zara and H&M planned and designed policies for the garment sector, and the government fully supported them in whatever policy changes and trade facilitation measures they wanted, he said, noting that India should negotiate both tariff and non-tariff barriers in its ongoing free trade agreement discussions with the United Kingdom and EU. The EU levies tariffs anywhere between 10-18% on India-made garments while the tariffs for Bangladesh and Vietnam remain zero. However, we have to remember that the EU levies full duty on China-made garments and yet China is their top garment supplier, Shrivastava said. Tariff is only one of the factors [that determine success in exports], Duraiswamy says that an appreciating dollar has made machines expensive - most of which are imported - at a time when small -and medium-sized factories are finding it difficult to get access to credit owing to the adoption of Basel III capital norms by India. When credit growth stops, these factories go out of business. According to Duraiswamy, the global buying capacity has not increased but the manufacturing capacities [in Asia] have increased in the last few years with Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar joining the global supply chain. Change is the order of the day, he said and stressed the importance of a factory to a growing and ambitious economy such as Indias. Factories create an entire ecosystem with indirect jobs: a tea vendor will come, a fruit vendor will come, a salon will come, a real estate fellow will come, Duraiswamy said. But if the industry doesn't do well, it affects this entire ecosystem. Rohit Inani is a Delhi-based reporter. OF the worlds 7,000-odd languages, almost half are expected to disappear by the end of the 21st century. Two culprits are usually considered responsible for this decline. The first is colonialism: when great powers conquered countries, they imposed their language in government and schools and relegated local ones (or banned them outright). The second is capitalism. As countries grow and industrialise, people move to cities for work. They increasingly find themselves speaking the bigger language used in the workplace rather than the smaller one used at home. The death of languages often follows the same pattern. Conquest and colonisation lead to poverty, and sometimes an internalised shame. (Pixabay) English, as the most dominant language in the history of the world, often stands as a symbol of homogenisation and the steamrolling of smaller cultures. So it may come as a surprise that the most linguistically diverse spot on Earth spans a few square miles in New York. Ross Perlins new book, Language City, is the story of what he has learned as the co-founder of the Endangered Language Alliance, a non-profit organisation that has managed to identify some 700 languages spoken in New York, a number vastly greater than the 100 or so listed in Americas official census. Mr Perlin profiles speakers of six languages. Each tongue is threatened by different, larger neighbours. (English is by no means the only linguistic juggernaut.) Seke, from Nepal, is squeezed by Nepali and Tibetan. Wakhi, from Central Asia, sits between Chinese, Persian and Russian; its speakers also usually speak Tajik with others from their home country. Nahuatlthough not a tiny language, as it is spoken by more than 1.6m indigenous Mexicansis giving way to Spanish. NKo, a sort of alphabet-cum-written-standard meant to serve several closely related Manding languages of west Africa, must compete with French, the language of prestige in the region. Yiddish is losing out to English in New York and to Hebrew in Israel. As the language of secular Ashkenazi Jews it is nearing extinction (though it is flourishing among the ultra-Orthodox). The people Mr Perlin meets are multilingual by necessity. Together they speak more than 30 languages; each person has to move nimbly from one linguistic ecology to another, he writes. They refuse to stop using their cherished languagedespite incentives to do soin order to preserve something of the associated culture. The death of languages often follows the same pattern. Conquest and colonisation lead to poverty, and sometimes an internalised shame. As a result, parents often choose to raise their children in a bigger language for their own economic benefit. Whether a language disappears altogether is determined by the next generation: many assimilate and their language is lost for good. But sometimes they may try to reverse the decline. Can outsiders aid preservation? Many speakers of small languages treat them as a kind of sacred or scarce good that outsiders do harm to by learning and documenting; they do not think of their languages as objects of scientific curiosity. So those trying to help, including Mr Perlin, are learning to tread carefully. (In the book he describes an initially wary encounter with the last known native speaker of Lenape, New Yorks own indigenous language.) Tim Brookes, a British writer and the executive director of the Endangered Alphabets Project, another non-profit group, describes his own approach in his recent book, Writing Beyond Writing. He makes a persuasive case that linguists have long neglected writing systems in their well-intentioned push to give dignity to spoken as well as written languages. Linguists have tended to ignore the wonderful and hugely varied scripts that are threatened by behemoths including the Latin, Arabic, Devanagari and Chinese systems. As well as research and advocacy, Mr Brookes makes beautiful wood carvings in the scripts he describes. Like Mr Perlin, he is careful always to put the native users of a language at the heart of the story. The field has no time for white-saviour narratives anymore. Julia Sallabank, a linguist at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, has described how experts have historically approached languages in danger of extinction. In decades past a Western linguist would show up, learn as much as possible, then publish the results back home. In time, academics came to assist the language community by producing grammar books, dictionaries and recordings for speakers to use and pass down. Next came collaboration. Scholars and activists would sit down together to work out exactly what the group needed for the language to thrive. The final step has proved to be the hardest: work by the language community, with leaders taking charge of the process and outsiders providing funding and advice. It is the platonic ideal of language revitalisation but is far from the universal one. It is possible in places like America and Australia, rich countries starting to recognise the wrongs done to their indigenous peoples. But much language loss is going on, often in undemocratic countries with little time for troublesome minorities. What Western experts certainly can do is raise the alarmand show what they have learned from their own past. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com India's goods and services exports are expected to cross USD 800 billion this fiscal despite global challenges, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal (x/PiyushGoyal) How much did India export last year? In 2023-24, the shipments stood at USD 778.2 billion (goods USD 437.1 billion and services USD 341 billion). What is India's current exports situation? He said that the global situation is serious as war is still ongoing between Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas, and the Red sea crisis. The minister added that there are also elections in some of the major democracies like in Europe. Also Read: India plans to expand production-linked incentives for small textile firms: minister "In such a situation it's a positive sign that our exports are growing (9 per cent growth in May) and this also reflects that the world wants to do trade and investments with India. We are confident that this year we will have over USD 800 billion exports and it will be a historic record," Goyal told reporters here. He was here to participate in a programme of gems and jewellery exporters. What is the government doing to promote exports? Goyal added that for the USD 800 billion exports, the ministry is working on specifics with Indian missions abroad and export promotion councils. He added that last year the current account deficit (CAD) has also reduced...our exports will increase, manufacturing will get a boost India recorded a current account surplus of USD 5.7 billion or 0.6 per cent of GDP in the March quarter. This is the first time in ten quarters that the crucial metric of the country's external strength has turned into surplus mode. Also Read: India's May exports up 9.1% y/y as outlook improves In the year-ago period, the current account deficit stood at USD 1.3 billion or 0.2 per cent of GDP, and the same was USD 8.7 billion or 1 per cent of GDP in the preceding quarter ending December 2023. India's merchandise exports rose by 9.1 per cent to USD 38.13 billion in May even as the trade deficit widened to a seven-month high of USD 23.78 billion during the month, according to the latest government data. He added that focus on electric vehicles will help in reducing oil imports. The ministry is also holding a series of meetings with plantation boards, including spices, rubber, tobacco, tea and coffee, to promote exports especially those of value added goods. What is the issue with India's diamond polishing industry? Further, he said that India has taken up on priority the issue of ban on imports of Russian-origin unpolished diamonds by the European Union (EU) and G7 nations to protect the interest of the domestic diamond polishing industry. "Our ministry and the gems and jewellery export promotion council are continuously in touch with the European Union and G7 nations," Goyal said, adding in the last meeting, India took up the matter strongly. Also Read: Gujarat government signs MoUs with IBM, Microsoft, and NASSCOM for AI development "Still we are in touch with them to ensure that Indian industry does not have an impact," the minister said. G7 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, are major markets for Indian diamond exports. Ola Electric is working on building solid-state batteries, expecting its vehicles to use these batteries by next year, Reuters reported, quoting Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder and chairman of Ola Electric. Bhavish Aggarwal, Ola Electric CEO, with the S1 Pro electric scooter. (AFP) Ola's S1 electric scooter is among India's most sold electric scooters, and Aggarwal expects commercial production to begin at its cell 'gigafactory' in Tamil Nadu by early next year, the report read. Also Read: Vedanta Resources gets control of Zambian copper mine to capitalise on future copper demand for AI and EVs The factory was selected for the government's battery manufacturing incentive scheme. Why is Ola Electric working to build solid-state batteries? Solid-state batteries offer improved safety, a longer lifespan and faster charging compared to the conventional lithium-ion batteries that use flammable liquid electrolytes which can pose a safety hazard, especially in the case of accidents. However, mass adoption of solid-state batteries is difficult due to raw material availability, complicated manufacturing processes and high costs. Also Read: Ola Electric faces investor pushback on IPO valuation: Report The world's largest automaker, Toyota Motor of Japan, is a big proponent of solid-state batteries and plans to launch them globally in the next few years. How does Ola plan to build solid-state batteries? Ola does not currently commercially produce its own cells, but sources them from South Korea's LG Energy Solution and China's Contemporary Amperex Technology. However, Ola Electric has begun making the more efficient 4680 battery cells for testing purposes. Also Read: Ola Electric layoffs: Company to cut 500 jobs, Bhavish Aggarwal reducing costs These cells are known to be more efficient than their widely used 2170 counterparts, but many, including Tesla, have struggled to scale up production. How is the government supporting electric vehicles? Ola's 4680 cells have received a key domestic certification, Aggarwal said. The company will have an initial capacity to annually produce about 1.5 gigawatt hours (GWh) worth cells, for which it has invested $100 million, he added. Aggarwal also said that Ola Electric is okay with government tapering off FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India) subsidies in order to focus on the PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes, the Economic Times wrote. The government is expected to announce details of FAME III during the budget session late in July. This is expected to support two, three, and four-wheeled EVs with a 10,000 crore budget allocation, the Economic Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Vedanta Resources is taking back control of Zambia's Konkola copper mine, with plans to ramp up output as the demand for copper is expected to surge in the coming years, Bloomberg reported. Anil Agarwal, founder and chairman of Vedanta Resources What happened to the Konkola copper mine? This comes after a Zambian court sanctioned a plan to settle the $250 million debts owed to the mines creditors, which Vedanta Resources, billionaire Anil Agarwals firm is ready to pay. Also Read: Vedanta's holding company confirms stake sale to reduce debt, 7,968 crore of shares sold in block deal Konkola Copper Mines was put into provisional liquidation in 2019 after the previous Zambian government accused its owner of lying about expansion plans and paying too little tax, according to the report. What deal did Vedanta make to take control of the Konkola copper mine? Vedanta and Zambia's current administration resolved the issue in September, with the company agreeing to spend about $1.3 billion on the mine which can produce over 300,000 tons of copper a year. Also Read: Mark Zuckerberg says AI competitors try to create 'God instead of diverse useful tools Vedanta also committed to investing $1 billion over five years to complete expansion projects, the report read. Why does Vedanta see a rising demand for copper in the near future? This is because copper is used in a lot of applications, from power grids to electric vehicles and in data centers which drive the AI revolution. Konkolas plant, which processes both ore extracted at the mine as well as third-party supplies saw output falling to less than 40,000 tons of copper last year. Also Read: Mobile number porting after SIM swap to now take 7 days compared to 10 days earlier, for user convenience Vedanta is targeting output of 250,000 tons in the next few years, with about 40% coming from Konkola's own ore, the report read. Five Indian Army soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were drowned when a tank got stuck in the Shyok river near Saser Brangsa in eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level on Friday night. Five Indian Army soldiers, including a JCO, were drowned while crossing a river in a T-72 tank near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Daulat Beg Oldie in the Nyoma-Chushul area of Ladakh on Saturday. (Representational photo) A defence release said that the accident happened while de-inducting from a military training activity.Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to the strong current and water levels, the mission didnt succeed and the tank crew lost their lives. The Indian Army regrets the loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in eastern Ladakh, the statement said, adding that rescue operations are underway. Expressing grief, defence minister Rajnath Singh said: Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting a tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief, he added in his post on X. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the news of the accident and the loss of lives. Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the army personnel who fell victim to this painful tragedy. In this hour of grief, the nation stands together in saluting the exemplary service of our valiant soldiers, he posted on X. Arunachal CM Pema Khandu also expressed condolences. Deeply disturbed to learn that a T-72 tank with five soldiers has been swept away by flash floods near the Line of Actual Control in the Nyoma-Chusul area of Ladakh. Praying for the safety and well-being of our brave soldiers, he shared on X. Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney has advocated the emergent need of opening up of land routes between India and the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to augment the agriculture trade. Speaking at the BRICS Russia Conference on food security and sustainable agricultural development in Moscow, he reiterated that it was imperative to open the land route for harnessing the trade opportunities between India, Afghanistan and the CIS countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney All the SCO countries will benefit from this and it will also help to reduce hostilities between neighbour countries, he said. He also reiterated that the agriculture trade between India and Russia and other BRICS countries could be augmented, provided our plant protection and quarantine standards are harmonised. There is a vast potential in trade commodities like wheat, rice, barley, yellow peas and sunflower oil, including fruits and vegetables, which are short in Russia and CIS countries especially during winters, he added. A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) representative Mahesh Singla inspected the Central Womens Jail in Ludhiana. Addressing the inmates, Singla commended the jail administration for their efforts. (HT File) During the visit, Singla aimed to ensure that the human rights of women prisoners and migrant women in the jail are being upheld. He inspected various facilities, including the prison kitchen, barracks, factory, bathrooms, creche for prisoners children, library, and hospital. Singla also interacted with the prisoners and deportee women to inquire about the services they receive under human rights provisions from the jail administration. Addressing the inmates, Singla commended the jail administration for their efforts. The enthusiasm of the prisoners and migrant women living here indicates that the jail administration is providing them with all kinds of facilities, he said. He highlighted that the jail administration is conducting six to seven different training courses for the women prisoners to help them lead productive lives after their release. He suggested introducing additional short-duration courses to benefit more inmates. He also encouraged the women prisoners to join the Jai Hind movement, a campaign he initiated to promote patriotism. This appeal was warmly received, and both the jail administration and prisoners supported the movement by raising the slogan Jai Hind. At least six people have been killed in rain-related incidents in Delhi, including a labourer trapped under the rubble of an under-constriction wall in Vasant Vihar and a 45-year-old cab driver at a canopy collapse incident at Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 1 on Friday. NDRF personnel recover a body from under the debris of a wall that collapsed on Friday at a construction site at Vasant Vihar(PTI) The national capital woke up to another overcast morning on Saturday as parts of the city recorded light showers a day after logged 228.1 mm of rainfall in 24 hours on Friday, the highest in a single day in June in 88 years. With the monsoon arriving in the capital, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rainfall over the next five days, with parts of Delhi likely to witness heavy showers till July 1. Delhis minimum temperature on Saturday was 28.0 C, which is around normal for this time of the year. It was 24.7C a day earlier. Here are the latest updates on the Delhi rainfall: 1. Several parts of the city continued to be waterlogged, and many areas experienced prolonged power cuts. 2. The weather agency said with Fridays spell, June has now recorded 234.5mm of monthly rainfall, which is over three times the normal monthly average of 74.1mm. 3. The bodies of three labourers were on Saturday pulled from the rubble of a wall that collapsed at a construction site in the Vasant Vihar. Delhi Fire Service officials said that two of them have been identified as Santosh Kumar Yadav (19) and Santosh (38). The third labourer is yet to be identified. 4. A search operation is underway to ensure that no one else is trapped under the rubble. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Disaster Management Authority, and civic agencies are carrying out the operation, the officials said. 5. Two boys, aged 8 and 10 years, drowned while they were playing in a rainwater-filled ditch in Delhi's New Usmanpur area on Friday. In another incident, a man drowned at a flooded underpass in the Shalimar Bagh area. 6. A 39-year-old man was also electrocuted in Rohini's Prem Nagar area on Friday. 7. The heavy rain also led to trees getting uprooted in many areas, causing damage to properties and cars parked in residential areas. 8. The Delhi government has set up a 24-hour control room to monitor the waterlogging situation, minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has announced. 9. Meanwhile, the canopy collapse at the Delhi Airport T-1 has resulted in the suspension of operations from the terminal, which handles around 200 flights a day, indefinitely. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu further said that a war room has been constituted to ensure refunds or alternate flights for affected passengers in the incident. He also guaranteed a refund within seven days or alternate flights for those whose flights were canceled. 10. The Delhi Police have registered a first information report (FIR) under sections 304A (death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code. (With inputs from agencies) Every monsoon, Delhi puts its hopes on desilting exercises and an aging drainage network that is based on 48-year old drainage master plan prepared in 1976 and capable of handling only around 50mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period. Any more and the citys drains begin to overflow, submerging large parts of the city, throwing life out of gear. A heavily waterlogged stretch at Tilak Bridge in south-east Delhi on Friday. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo) In only a three-hour window between 2.30 am and 5.30 am, Delhi received 148.5mm, nearly three times that quantum. In 24 hours till 8:30 am Friday, that figure was 228.1mm, over four times what Delhis drains can handle, leaving large parts of the city knee-deep in water. Despite tall claims of desilting exercises done before the monsoon season, Delhi is not likely to see any relief from its perennial waterlogging problem in the future either, unless it overhauls its decrepit drainage system and implements a new drainage master plan, government officials and experts said. A government official said when the drainage master plan was prepared in 1976, it was done, keeping in mind the existing population of Delhi, which was only around six million. The plan was to help sustain the city for another two decades or so, before requiring change. Presently, Delhis population is over four times that, at around 25 million , as per the Master Plan Delhi 2021. The urbanised area has increased and the city has expanded. We also have seen more colonies come up and it is important that the drainage network expands with the growth seen. This has failed to take place and we still have the same drain as we had earlier, the official added, asking not to be named. Drains and roads in Delhi are managed by multiple agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) , with the Delhi High Court in April this year, calling for a single agency in Delhi to manage all its drains. PWD has now come forward to create a new master plan, but the maintenance work of Delhis 22 major outflow drains into the Yamuna is only expected to be taken over by Delhis Irrigation and Flood Control Department by next year. Meanwhile, PWD said it had hired consultants to create this new plan and will focus on Delhis three large drainage basins -- Najafgarh , Trans-Yamuna and Barapullah . The consultant for the Najafgarh basin was appointed last year while those for the other two basins have been appointed earlier this month. These consultants have started conducting surveys and we have provided all the historical data we had. The plan may take about a year to get fully formulated, a PWD official said, asking not to be named. Overall, Delhi has nine different agencies overseeing 426.5km of natural drainage lines and 3,311.5km of engineered storm-water drains, and the multiplicity of agencies has often been blamed for the poor maintenance of the drainage network. Spells of over 50mm in a single day are also becoming common, with multiple heavy rainfall days observed in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2021, Delhi recorded 1,512.4mm of rainfall till December 29, the second highest ever (behind 1,534.3mm in 1933). Last year in July, when similar scenes of massive waterlogging were seen, Delhi saw the monthly rainfall touch 384.6mm -- the third highest for July in the last 20 years as per India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, including 153mm of rain on July 8. The new drainage master plan for Delhi was supposed to be created first in 2009, but kept getting delayed. In 2012, the Delhi government announced IIT Delhi would be creating a new drainage plan soon, but when the plan was eventually submitted in 2018, it was not implemented. Sarvagya Srivastava, former PWD engineer-in-chief said the first step in fixing this yearly mess is to separate Delhis sewage system from the stormwater drains. Currently, unplanned disposal of waste leads to seepage of sewage into storm water drains which get blocked, leading to back-flow of water onto the streets every time the city receives even moderate levels of rain. We also need decentralised sewage treatment plants, which can reduce the need to transport sewage over large distances. Others said that the problem is also compounded by poor maintenance with even desilting drives, carried out by agencies ahead of the monsoon, merely being on paper. We have two problems. Our drains are unable to handle such a load, as they are old. At the same time, they are not being maintained at the level they should be, through the year. We also need to divert stormwater to water bodies wherever possible, as it is simply not possible to take Delhis entire drain network and empty it into the Yamuna, said Diwan Singh, an environmental activist . Dr S Velmurugan, chief scientist and head of traffic engineering and safety division of Central Road Research Institute CRRI said the drainage capacity of storm water drains along the roads has to be an integral part of the road design when the roads are being developed and upgraded especially in the case of 1800 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads. It is unfortunate that the Capital is still operating on 1976 drainage masterplan which has outlived its utility. Agencies deploy pumps at hotspots but these are stop-gap measures which cannot be taken seriously especially when such extreme weather events are on rise, he added. Which means the only certainty in the Capital is that if it rains more than 50 mm a day, parts of the city will flood. Hours after the Capital received the most rain it has in a single June day in almost 90 years tumbling multiple records and bringing the city to a grinding halt the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the southwest monsoon had arrived in the Union territory. It usually arrives in Delhi around June 27 and was delayed only by one day this year. A flooded Rohtak Road in New Delhi on Friday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) On Friday, Delhi received 23cm of rain till 8.30am, the highest in a day since 1936. IMD defines heavy rainfall as 6.45cm to 11.5cm and very heavy rainfall as 11.6cm to 20.4 cm. On Friday, Safdarjung, representative of Delhis weather, received nearly 15cm of rainfall in three hours between 4am and 7am. To be sure, IMD had only predicted light to moderate rain across the city for Friday. The Met department has now issued an orange alert for the next two days, forecasting moderate to heavy rain in the city on Saturday. It has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall on Sunday. Delhis maximum on Friday was 32.5C, which was five degrees below normal. It was 35.4C a day earlier. The minimum was 24.7C, three degrees below normal. It was 28.6C a day earlier. Forecasts show Delhis maximum should drop further over the weekend and will likely go below 30C. The minimum should hover around 23-25C. The last time June had a higher single-day spell of rain was on June 28, 1936, when 23.55cm was recorded. IMD also said with Fridays spell, June has now recorded 23.45cm of monthly rainfall, which is over three times the normal monthly average of 7.41cm. This is again Delhis highest monthly total for June after 1936 when 41.58cm was recorded. Monsoon gathers pace The monsoon was sluggish since June 11 and picked up only this week, gathering momentum and sweeping across the country. The main reason for the heavy rains is a low-pressure area hovering over the northwest Bay of Bengal, off north Odisha, weather officials said. Whenever a low-pressure area forms over head of the Bay of Bengal, it moves with the monsoon trough and activates monsoon rainfall. This low-pressure area will bring heavy rainfall over east and central India first and then over NW India. The monsoon will be very active now. In Delhi, most of the extremely heavy rain occurred in a couple of hours. This is unusual, said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD. A cyclonic circulation is also lying over northeast Rajasthan and neighbourhood in lower tropospheric levels. A trough is running from the cyclonic circulation over northeast Rajasthan to the low-pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal in lower tropospheric levels. Under their influence, fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, and lightning is very likely over Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, East Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, East India; and widespread light to moderate rainfall over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-BaltistanMuzaffarabad, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh over the next five days. Monsoon rainfall is active over almost the entire country according to IMDs satellite imagery. After its revival, monsoon will progress further and cover the whole country by 5 July. Active monsoon phase expected in the next two to three weeks with heavy rains along west coast and north India. High probability of extreme rains and flooding in north India. We should be alert.. M Rajeevan, former secretary, ministry of earth sciences wrote on X on June 26, based on models which indicated a strong monsoon surge over north India. The southwest monsoon 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, IMD added. Conditions are likely to become favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon into some more parts of West Rajasthan, remaining parts of Haryana, Chandigarh and remaining parts of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during next two to three days, IMD said, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall over northwest India over the next four to five days. It also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall over central and east India over the next two to four days and over northeast India over the next five days. Till Friday, June rainfall was 14% deficient with 35% deficiency over northwest India; 19% over east and northeast India; 19% over central India; 15% excess over south peninsular India. A sharp departure from dry spell Other manual weather stations in Delhi Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar recorded heavy rainfall. In the 24 hours till 8.30 am, Lodhi Road recorded 19.28cm, Ridge 15.04cm, Palam 10.66cm and Ayanagar 6.63cm, IMD data showed. The rain also improved the Capitals air quality. The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) recorded a reading of 64 (satisfactory) at 4pm on Friday. It was 79 (satisfactory) a day earlier. This was Delhis lowest AQI reading since it was 45 (good) on September 10 last year. This extreme spell of rain turns things around for what has been a dry year for Delhi. Between January 1 and June 27, Safdarjung has only received 5.11cm of rainfall, with the highest 24-hour day spell of rain this year being 2.65cm, which was recorded on February 1. HT on June 8 reported that this was Delhis driest start to the year since 2018, with only 4.47cm of rain recorded at Safdarjung in the first five months of this year. This is only 42% of the long-period average of 10.48cm, which Delhis base observatory receives in the first five months of the year. The last time Delhi received less rainfall at the start of the year was 4.35cm in 2018. Before Friday, Junes monthly total stood at just 0.64cm. New Delhi, The bodies of three labourers were on Saturday pulled from the rubble of a wall that collapsed at a construction site in the Vasant Vihar area here amid heavy rain, officials said. HT Image With this, the number of people killed in rain-related incidents in Delhi has risen to 11. The under-construction wall collapsed on Friday and the incident was reported to the Delhi Fire Services around 5:30 am. DFS officials said the bodies of three labourers have been pulled from the rubble. Two of them have been identified as Santosh Kumar Yadav and Santosh Kumar . The third labourer is identified as Dayaram , who used to work at the site with his wife, officials said. Cranes were used to clear the debris and water was pumped out of the foundation pit to recover the bodies. The bodies were taken to Safdarjung Hospital, they said. A search operation was later conducted to ensure no one else was trapped under the rubble. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Disaster Management Authority and civic agencies have carried out the operation, the officials said. Santosh Kumar was the only son of his parents in Bihar's Supaul. Kumar's kin Satyawan said Santosh had come to Delhi four years ago in search of work. "He would work on construction sites and send money to his parents in Bihar. The family is very poor," Satyawan said. He had joined the work here at this site two weeks ago, he added. Another Santosh, who also hails from Supaul, Bihar, is survived by his two brothers and parents. His two brothers work in another construction site in Delhi, Satywan said. Dayaram was a native of Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi. His two sons live with their family in UP, he added. A case under section 288 and 304A of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the unknown person at Vasant Vihar police station. A police officer said the basement was constructed to build a house on the plot. The contractor and the owner of the plot have been questioned and the probe was underway. On Saturday, two boys drowned in a waterlogged sections of the Siraspur underpass Six people died in rain-related incidents on Friday as the monsoon arrived with a fury, lashing the city with its highest rainfall in a single day of June in 88 years. The deceased included a cab driver who died after a portion of a canopy at the Delhi airport collapsed, a 39-year-old man who was electrocuted in Rohini's Prem Nagar area and four people who drowned in New Usmanpur, Shalimar Bagh and the Okhla Industrial area. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Thermal Power Corporation on July 10 for the establishment of its first waste-to-charcoal plant at the Bandhwari landfill, said officials. They have also confirmed that Faridabad will also receive its own waste-to-charcoal plant, with power minister Manohar Lal Khattar finalising these projects on Friday. The municipal-corporation is trying to expedite the construction of boundary wall of waste-to-energy plant at Galand to get rid of city's daily solid waste in Ghaziabad as of May 2023. (HT Photo) MCG commissioner Narhari Singh Bangar announced that the plant will convert 600 metric tons of waste generated from the city into 200 metric tons of coal once fully operational. Trial and testing of the Urban Waste to Charcoal Plant were conducted earlier this month, with NTPC bearing the capital expenditure. MCG will provide the land and the waste collected from across the city. The plant will produce 200 metric tons of green charcoal daily from the citys waste, Bangar said. A final meeting was held in Delhi, where the project, having undergone several tests, was given the green light to begin next month, officials said. The waste will be transported to the plant from various parts of the city by garbage transportation vehicles deployed by MCG, they added. Bangar also said that Faridabad would get a similar plant, with Khattar approving the project. The Urban Waste to Charcoal Plant will be established by NTPC and is expected to be completed within 18 months, said officials aware of the MoU. They further added that a recent test successfully converted 50 metric tons of waste into green charcoal. This initiative follows the cancellation of Ecogreen Energys contract for solid waste management, which had left MCG in a bind over new waste processing tenders. With this development, MCG will no longer be responsible for the landfill site. Once operational, the plant will remove the burden of tenders and processing units that are under scanner, they said. Former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had laid the foundation stone for a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant at Bandhwari on December 10, 2021, with a completion target of 2024. Officials noted that NTPC had launched a similar, successful project in Varanasi in February this year. According to officials, the new plant will utilise torrefaction technology, which involves the thermochemical treatment of feedstock at 300 to 350 C to break carbon polymer bonds and release volatile gases in the absence of oxygen. This process, conducted in a sealed reactor, makes the resultant flue gases easier to clean and the final product, torrefied charcoal, hydrophobic with a high heating value similar to conventional coal. Bangar explained that the waste-to-charcoal plant poses fewer pollution risks compared to WTE plants due to anoxic heating and low emissions. The torrefied charcoal process requires less expensive flue gas treatment and produces higher power generation potential. In contrast, WTE plants need scientific landfill disposal of fly ash and specialized pollution control measures due to the generation of dioxins and furans. The MCG Commissioner also highlighted several challenges MCG faces in waste management, including the processing of legacy waste, non-segregation of waste by generators, and the failure of bulk waste generators to achieve 100% onsite processing. The lack of land for transfer stations and fresh waste processing, along with the delay in the WTE plants installation, has hindered the waste management systems overall efficiency and effectiveness. Ecogreen had previously signed a concession agreement with the Haryana government in August 2017 for municipal solid waste management and the establishment of a 15MW WTE plant in Bandhwari. Officials noted that once operational, the WTE plant would have a capacity to produce 25MW of energy daily, with two boilers processing 750 tonnes each per day. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday requested judges of the Supreme Court, high court and lower courts at a programme in Kolkata to ensure that the judiciary is free from any political biasedness. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice DY Chandrachud during the inaugural session of the two-day East Zone II Regional Conference of the National Judicial Academy organised in collaboration with the Calcutta High Court and West Bengal Judicial Academy, in Kolkata on Saturday. (ANI) My humble request to all of you. This is my kind submission. Please see that there is no political biasedness in the judiciary. Judiciary must be pure. Absolutely pure. Honest and sacred, Banerjee said. She was addressing a programme organised by the National Judicial Academy and the Calcutta high court. The program was attended by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and chief justice of the Calcutta high court TS Sivagnanam among others. If the judiciary cant help the common citizens, where will they get the justice? When there are any atrocities, we think with great hope that only the judiciary can solve the problem. We think that the judiciary is the biggest pillar which will help to save democracy and the Constitution, she added. Also Read | Bengal Governor files defamation case against chief minister Mamata Banerjee In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, top leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress, including the party supremo, had often alleged that a section of the judiciary was acting under the influence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. I want to assure all eligible individuals who lost their jobs that the TMC will stand beside them during these challenging times. We will not allow any deserving candidate to suffer. This move by a section of the judiciary, seemingly influenced by the BJP, is condemnable, Abhishek Banerjee, TMC national general secretary, had said while addressing a rally in East Midnapore during the Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had slammed the TMC from a rally for attacking the judiciary over the recent verdict of the Calcutta high court on scrapping of OBC certificates awarded by the Mamata Banerjee government. I want to ask the TMC whether they would now unleash its goons on the judges. The entire nation is seeing how the TMC is throttling the judiciary, Modi said while addressing a BJP rally in North 24 Parganas. Also Read | Never faced political pressure in 24 years as a judge: CJI Chandrachud CJI Chandrachud said, All of judges know that in the worst of criminal cases that come before us, we have a human being who is before us. Even when we exercise the power of sentencing, we do that with a sense of compassion, just as we do it with a sense of duty to the family of the victim who has been wronged. He said: Constitutional morality is not just the key to the judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, but the district judiciary itself. The engagement of the common citizens begins first and foremost with the district judiciary. The Supreme Court is the last resort not withstanding Article 32 He added, The Supreme Court has given 37,000 judgements since Independence. We are translating the judgements in every language recognised by the Constitution. Till date 51,000 translations have been done. Banerjee also took a swipe at the BJP-led Centre saying that the funds, which the Union government earlier used to spend to set up fast-track courts, have been stopped. Earlier the Centre used to provide assistance for fast-track courts. Around eight years ago the facility was withdrawn. We are the only state to run 88 fast track courts. At least 55 are women fast track courts, she added. The BJP has hit back at the TMC supremo saying that the TMC has no moral right as it had been attacking the judiciary. She has no moral right. Throughout the year, the TMC malign and attack the judiciary. Posters were put up on the boundary walls of houses of judges to defame them. The party goes to the supreme court to shield criminals at the cost of public money. TMC doesnt believe in democracy and have no faith in judiciary and the Constitution, said Samik Bhattacharya, BJP spokesperson. LUCKNOW: After drawing flak from all quarters for the caving in of a portion of Ram Path, senior officials of the Ayodhya administration on Saturday constituted a team comprising officials from all concerned departments to probe lapses in the construction work. A portion of Rampath caved in following rains, in Ayodhya on June 23. (PTI File) The Yogi Adityanath government has deployed a team of PWD engineers under whose supervision repair work is being carried out. The 13-km stretch of Ram Path from Naya Ghat to Sadatganj has caved in at seven places due to technical flaws in the laying of sewer lines at these spots. All the affected spots are within a range of 300 metres on one side of Ram Path. According to officials, backfilling is the process of putting a mixture of soil or stones back into a trench or foundation after excavation to bury a pipeline. Proper backfilling is necessary to ensure a strong base to negate chances of shifting, erosion, or settling of soil. The agency that constructed Ram Path will have to bear defect liability for one year and thereafter maintenance liability for four years. Divisional commissioner Gaurav Dayal, district magistrate Nitish Kumar, and municipal commissioner Santosh Kumar Sharma jointly inspected waterlogged areas of the city. They went to Awadhpuri coloney, Jalwanpur, Sri Ram Hospital, Bachada Sultanpur, Janaura and other parts of the city facing water logging. We are facing problems at six to seven places due to excessive rainfall. Ayodhya has received 30 per cent of its typical monsoon rainfall in just two days, resulting in the caving of roads in some patches, said Dayal. As an emergency measure, the Ayodhya administration installed water pumps to flush out rainwater from low-lying areas. Ayodhya Mayor Girishpati Tripathi also inspected the waterlogged areas. The state government on Friday suspended six engineers of the PWD and the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam for gross negligence in the construction of the 13-km Ram Path and the laying of sewer lines beneath the promenade, patches of which were damaged after rain on Sunday and Tuesday night. The state government has also issued a notice to Ahmedabad-based contractor firm Bhuvan Infracom Private Limited. Special secretary Vinod Kumar on Friday issued the orders for suspension of PWD executive engineer Dhruv Agrawal and assistant engineer Anuj Deshwal. The order for the suspension of junior engineer Prabhat Kumar Pandey was issued by PWD chief engineer (development) VK Srivastav. Jal Nigam MD Rakesh Kumar Mishra issued the orders for suspension of executive engineer Anand Kumar Dubey, assistant engineer Rajendra Kumar Yadav and JE Mohammad Shahid posted at Ayodhya. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, relinquished his post on Sunday, with a ceremony for the occasion held on Saturday, in a ceremony at the Smritika War Memorial here. Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani at a ceremony at the Smritika War Memorial on Saturday (HT Photo) From here onwards, he will take on the responsibilities of vice chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) in New Delhi. On the event of his relinquishing Command, he paid tribute to the brave hearts immortalised at the War Memorial. In his lengthy and illustrious 37-year-long career thus far, he has served across a wide spectrum of conflict and terrain profiles and has tenanted a host of prestigious command, staff and instructional appointments. And due to his extensive experience in Command and Staff appointments on Western and Northern Borders, the General has insightful knowledge and deep understanding of operational dynamics on both frontiers. He took over the post of GOC-in-C of Central Command on March 1, 2023, and his time gave a renewed impetus to transform Central Command in a cohesive war-fighting team, capable of deterring and decisively winning conflicts through synergised joint force operations and self-reliant capability enhancement across several domains. On the occasion of his relinquishing Command, Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani also reviewed a guard of honour. His tenure here was marked by a renewed impetus on operational capacity building and technology infusion in the Central Command. The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended six officials of the public works department (PWD) and the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam for gross negligence in construction of the 14-km Ram Path and laying sewerlines beneath the promenade, patches of which were damaged after rain on Sunday (June 23) and Tuesday (June 25) night. Repair work underway after a road got damaged due to rain, in Ayodhya, on Wednesday. (PTI FILE PHOTO) Nearly 15 by-lanes and streets situated along the Ram Path were also severely waterlogged after the showers. Besides, water entered houses there. The state government has also issued a notice to Ahmedabad-based contractor firm Bhuvan Infracom Private Limited in connection with the matter. Special secretary Vinod Kumar on Friday issued the orders for suspension of PWD executive engineer Dhruv Agrawal and assistant engineer Anuj Deshwal. The order for the suspension of junior engineer Prabhat Kumar Pandey was issued by PWD chief engineer (development) VK Srivastav. Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam managing director Rakesh Kumar Mishra issued the orders for suspension of executive engineer Anand Kumar Dubey, assistant engineer Rajendra Kumar Yadav and junior engineer Mohammad Shahid posted at Ayodhya. The upper most layer of the Ram Path was damaged soon after it was made. This shows laxity in the work done under top priority of the state government, and damage to the image of the state among common people, said an office order issued by the public works department. Considering it as a serious irregularity, Dhruv Agrawal, the executive engineer Nirman Khand-3, is being suspended under rule 7 of the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1999. He will remain attached with office of chief engineer, PWD, in Ayodhya, the office order added. The matter is being further probed, said principal secretary PWD, Ajay Chauhan. Pictures of the damaged portions of Ram Path went viral on June 25, attracting attention from across the country. At least three children died and five others sustained injuries on Friday evening after an under-construction wall collapsed at a village in Surajpur locality of Greater Noida, officers said. The incident happened at the under construction home of a man named Saghir where eight children from his extended family were playing near the wall. (HT Photo) It is suspected that the walls foundation had turned weak following the heavy rain on Friday morning, and it collapsed by evening, they said. According to Hridesh Katheria, additional deputy commissioner of police, Central Noida, the incident occurred in Khodna Kalan village around 7.45pm. The incident happened at the under construction home of a man named Saghir. Eight children from his extended family were playing near the wall. Around 7.45pm, a wall of the house collapsed on the children. The family made efforts to rescue the children while the locals alerted police, said the ADCP. ALSO READ| Delhi rain hits 88-year high in June rainfall; IMD forecasts more to come | 10 Updates Police teams reached the spot by 8pm and rushed the eight children to a nearby hospital. Upon reaching the hospital, three children were declared dead on arrival while five others were admitted for treatment, the officer said. The deceased were identified as Ahad (4), Alfiza (2) and Adil (8). The injured are identified as Ayesha (16), Hussain (5), Sohna (12), Wasil (11) and Sameer (15). Doctors said the injured children are stable, Katheria said. All the eight children are related to each other and belong to Saghirs family. Saghir and his family members work as daily wage labourers, the officer said adding: The childrens bodies have been sent for a post-mortem examination and further investigation is underway. The Ramanathapuram District Fisherman Association announced on Saturday that they will hold a protest against the Tamil Nadu government following the introduction of new laws for fishermen, demanding their immediate repeal. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin(ANI) The association members alleged that the laws are designed to harm fishermen, specifically citing a provision that allows only one of a person's boats to receive diesel at a subsidized price if they own more than one boat. A decision regarding the protest was made by the association members at a meeting held in front of the fishing token issuing office near Rameswaram fishing port. The meeting was chaired by the association's secretary, Jesuraj. Fishermen also condemned the new law, which they claim includes the cancellation of government benefits, such as fishermen's savings and relief provided to fishermen over 60 years of age. They further alleged that the government refused to provide relief to a fisherman who recently died of a heart attack while fishing in the sea at Rameswaram. Additionally, fishermen accused the Chief Minister of failing to fulfil his promise regarding the increase of the diesel subsidy made at the DMK Fishermen's Conference. Fishermen also complained about the lack of proper pricing for shrimp and crabs caught by them. Earlier, on June 23, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 22 Tamil Nadu fishermen for fishing near Neduntheevu in Sri Lankan waters, according to the Rameswaram Fisherman Association. Several fishermen had gone to sea from Tamil Nadu on June 22, they said. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is expected to release the Class 11 results next week, according to sources in the board. Candidates who have appeared for the exam and wish to check their results can visit the official website at jkbose.nic.in once the results are declared. Students who wish to check their results need to submit their login credentials like roll number and registration number in order to access the results.(File/AFP) Students who wish to check their results need to submit their login credentials like roll number and registration number in order to access the results. Once the results are out, candidates need to verify the details on the score card and contact the concerned officials for any rectification. Also Read: UGC NET re-exam to be held online, NTA scraps pen and paper test for June session Candidates who have appeared for the exam and wish to check their results can follow the below mentioned steps. Steps to download Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Class 11 results 2024: Visit the official website of JKBOSE at jkbose.nic.in Look out for the link to check Class 11 results on the home page and click it A new page appears and students who have appeared for the exam need to submit their login credentials to access the results On submitting the login credentials like roll number and registration number, results will be displayed on the screen Verify the details and save the page Download the page and take a print out of the same for future needs. For more information, visit the official website of Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) at jkbose.nic.in. Also Read: Karnataka DCET 2024 results declared at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, here's direct link to check score CUET UG Answer Key 2024 Live: The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG Answer Key 2024 is expected soon. When released, candidates will be able to download it from the official website at exams.nta.ac.in. The result of the entrance test was expected by June 30 but with the answer key yet to be released, the announcement of results will be delayed....Read More After the answer key is released, the NTA will also give candidates a window during which they can raise objections, if any. The Answer Key will be released along with question papers and candidates' responses Subject experts will review these objections and use them in preparing the final answer key. The final answer key is used to prepare and announce the results. Notably. the entrance examination for admission to central and other participating institutes was held on May 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and 29, 2024. Moreover, This was the first time when the test took place in a hybrid mode (CBT and pen and paper). Follow the blog for the latest updates on CUET UG Answer Key and results 2024, and more. The Union Public Service Commission, UPSC, is expected to soon release the results of the Civil Service (Preliminary) Examinations 2024. When declared, candidates who appeared in the exams can check their results on the official website at upsc.gov.in. UPSCUPSC Prelims Results 2024: How to download when released at upsc.gov.in. (HT file image) Notably, the UPSC CSE Prelims 2024 was held on June 16 across the country at various exam centres. The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination consisted of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carried a maximum of 400 marks. As per past trends, the results are expected to be out in July. In 2023, the UPSC CSE Results were out on June 12, while the exam was conducted on May 26. Also read: UPSC EPFO PA Admit Card 2024 released, direct link to download, important instructions and exam details here Those who qualify in the Civil Services preliminary examinations will proceed to the next and crucial phase, the UPSC CSE Mains 2024, and eventually to the Interview or Personality Test round. The UPSC had earlier stated that it would draw a list of candidates to be qualified for the Civil Services (Main) Examination based on the criterion of minimum qualifying marks of 33% in General Studies Paper-II of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination and total qualifying marks of General Studies Paper-I of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. Also read: UPSC ESIC Nursing Officer 2024 admit cards released on upsc.gov.in, here's direct link to download The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination is tentatively scheduled to be held from September 20 onwards, as per the UPSC calendar. Through the UPSC Civil Services 2024 examination, 1056 vacancies in the central government services and departments will be filled. This includes the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Of the total vacancies, 40 are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability Category. Also read: UPSC CAPF 2024 Date: ACs exam to be held on August 4, check time table here Heres how to download UPSC CSE Prelims results 2024 when released: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) celebrated its 57th convocation, conferring degrees on 2,332 graduates across various disciplines. According to a press release by IIT Kanpur, the event was conducted in two sessions with the main opening ceremony held in IITKs regal Main Auditorium(Handout) According to a press release by IIT Kanpur, the event was conducted in two sessions with the main opening ceremony held in IITKs regal Main Auditorium. Prof Jayathi Y Murthy, President of Oregon State University, USA, and an IITK alumna was the chief guest, while Dr Mahesh Gupta, Board of Governors (BoG), IIT Kanpur, and Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur presided over the convocation. The convocation had 2,332 graduates across various disciplines, including 226 PhD recipients, 457 MTech recipients, 842 BTech recipients, 165 MSc (2-year) recipients, 36 MBA recipients, 12 MTech-PhD (Joint Degree) recipients, 1 MDes (Joint Degree) recipient, 17 MDes recipients, 77 MS (by Research) recipients, 40 PGPEX-VLFM recipients, 26 Double Major recipients, 89 Dual Degree recipients, 14 MS-PD (MS part of the Dual Degree) recipients, 125 BS recipients, and 205 eMasters degree programs recipients, informed IITK. Also Read: Meet the IIT Kanpur friends who made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list 2024 The world will offer you competing narratives about who you are and what you're worth. It's in your power to choose the narrative of your life and to write your own story. Despite the challenges, I've seen my peers, especially the women of IIT Kanpur, create their own paths and succeed against the odds. So, choose your story wisely. Remember, nothing is ever the end. There's always a way forward. Youve learnt how to make a living. Now learn how to live your life. Live deeply, live passionately, and live well, said Prof Jayathi Y Murthy. Kunwar Preet Singh (Computer Science & Engineering) was awarded the prestigious President's Gold Medal, Viplav Patel (Chemical Engineering-Electrical Engineering) and Sarthak Kohli (Computer Science & Engineering) received the Directors Gold Medals for outstanding all-round achievement and leadership in the 5-year and 4-year undergraduate programs, respectively. The Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Medal for best all-round performance was presented to Garima Bawa (Physics), and Tejas Ramakrishnan (Computer Science & Engineering) was awarded the prestigious Ratan Swarup Memorial Prize, mentioned the official press release. The convocation also recognised students who excelled in various domains by awarding proficiency medals and the IIT Kanpur Excellence Awards for contributions in Community Services, Leadership in Student Affairs, and Art & Cultural Activities, informed IITK. Also Read: IIT Kanpur, DRDO join forces to establish DIA Centre of Excellence, to foster research in next-gen defence technology NEET 2024 News Live: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the NEET UG re-exam results. The re-exam was conducted for 1563 affected candidates on June 23 and the results are now hosted on exams.nta.ac.in. Next, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is likely to begin the counselling process. Recently, the CBI, which is probing the alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET UG, arrested the owner of a private school in Gujarat's Godhra....Read More As per PTI, the operation began in the morning at the premises of suspects spread across four districts -- Anand, Kheda, Ahmedabad and Godhra. Earlier, the CBI arrested Oasis School Principal-cum-District coordinator of NEET exams Ehsanul Haq, Vice Principal Imtiyaz Alam and another individual on allegations of tampering of questions papers, in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh. The Principal and other staff members were questioned for hours with regard to the alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET UG 2024, on Wednesday. Besides, the Special CBI Court in Patna had earlier sent two accused in the NEET question paper leak case Chintu Kumar and Mukesh Kumar to CBI remand for three days. On the political front, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had been adjourned till July 1, 2024, following the protest by the opposition demanding a debate on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG 2024). The uproar in Parliament came in the backdrop of President Droupadi Murmu mentioning the paper leak issue while addressing the joint sitting of the Parliament on Thursday. She 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. HT Poll | Should NTA continue to be the conducting agency for NEET? Here's how people responded Follow the blog for the latest details on the NEET UG re-test result, paper leak case and other developments. Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan said that the revised dates for the NEET PG 2024 will likely be announced by Monday or Tuesday. NEET PG 2024: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the new dates for NEET PG will be announced by Monday or Tuesday. (ANI file image) Addressing a press conference, the education minister said NTA has already got a new leadership, and reforms have been initiated in the Agency under the leadership of former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan. He said, We have formed a new law to address the issue, and the entire case has been handed over to the CBI. New dates for NEET-PG will be announced by Monday or Tuesday, Pradhan added. Pradhan, also slammed Congress accusing it of not wanting a discussion, and that the party creates obstacles in the entire functioning of the institutional mechanism. He said, On behalf of the government, I clearly said that we are ready for any kind of discussion, but Congress does not want to address the students' issue, they want the matter to remain burning. Such issues have come to light even before 2014, but I cannot justify it. Also read: UGC NET re-exam to be held online, NTA scraps pen and paper test for June session It may be mentioned here Pradhans statement comes in the wake of the NTA announcing the new dates for the UGC NET 2024 that was cancelled and postponed. The NTA said that the exam will be held in multiple shifts between August 21 and September 4, and the same pattern followed by the agency before the June edition. Also read: Cancelled UGC-NET exam to be held in August-September, new dates for CSIR-NET out too The agency also mentioned that the UGC NET re-examination will be held in computer-based mode. This was the pattern followed by NTA until the last edition of the test when it went offline. As many as 9,08,580 candidates wrote the examination on June 18 in pen-and-paper mode (using OMR sheets). Actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar will marry gallerist Nicholai Sachdev on July 2 in Thailand, according to a 123 Telugu report. After inviting celebs such as Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Anupam Kher in person for their wedding, the actor, along with Nicholai met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and invited them to the wedding. Also read | Varalaxmi Sarathkumar reacts to negative comments on fiance: I dont care about people, even my father married twice' Varalaxmi Sarathkumar poses with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as she invited him to her wedding. Thank you for being so warm and welcoming Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, decked up in a blue and green saree, shared a series of photos with PM Modi as well as Nicholai, her father Sarathkumar and Radhika Sarathkumar as they met the Prime Minister in Delhi. Sharing the photos on Saturday, she tweeted, What a privilege it was to have met Our Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and invited him for our reception... thank you for being so warm and welcoming... spending so much of your valuable time with us despite your very busy schedule... truly an honour sir... thank you daddy @realsarathkumar for making this happen... @realradikaa. Varalaxmi poses with Nirmala Sitharaman Varalaxmi and Nicholai also posed with Nirmala Sitharaman and the actor shared the photos on X. She wrote, It was an absolute pleasure to have met our finance minister Smt. @nsitharaman ma'am.. it was absolutely delightful to have conversed with you on various subjects especially art with my fiance... thank you ma'am for your time we know how precious it is... so happy to have invited you for our reception... More about the wedding Varalaxmi, who was recently seen in Prasanth Varmas Teja Sajja-starrer HanuMan, got engaged to Mumbai-based Nicholai Sachdev in March. As per 123 Telugu, their wedding will be held in Thailand on July 2 in a very grand manner. Varalxmi herself is inviting some of the biggest stars to her wedding; she has so far invited Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ravi Teja, director Prasanth Varma, Bala, Prabhu, Vamshi Paidipally, Thaman S, Gopichand Malineni, Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Kichcha Sudeep, and Siddharth, among others. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar on her fiance Talking about Nicholai to Galatta recently, she said, He makes me laugh, supports my career and always puts me first. Hes extremely loving, pampering and fiercely protective of me. We share a love for food; he even completes my sentences. We met 14 years ago, and instantly, there was something, but we didnt date then. We stayed in touch as friends, and its only recently that love blossomed. In a recent Instagram post, actor Zareen Khan called out a Reel where the social media user was seen making fake freckles using a brocolli. The actor shares her disappointment with current beauty trends on social media. Im not against frecklesIm just against these nonsensical trends, the actor, known for her outspokenness, wrote in the caption, expressing her disbelief. Zareen Khan on freckles trend Talking to us, the 37-year-old says, There are some weird trends that have come now. I dont know what people are up to! Its beyond my understanding. I see this trend where people are trying to put fake freckles, its shocking. Why would you do that? I dont understand the idea behind it. Reflecting on her own childhood struggles with freckles, and the societal pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, Khan shared a personal revelation. I have nothing against freckles. I had it as a kid. If it was right now, I wouldnt have cared to remove it from my face. I didnt have a say during childhood, so my parents were in a rut of Oh my she is a girl child, daag nahi hone chahiye. That was hurtful, you know. They didnt understand freckles, they used to think ki pata nahi kya hogaya hain chehre par, she says continuing, My mom used to take me to homeopathic doctors to get them removed. Khan, who was last seen in Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele (2021), emphasised the importance of embracing natural beauty, urging sensitivity towards those with genuine childhood insecurities. For the new generation, everything they see on social media, is validation. If you naturally have freckles, its beautiful but aise reels mein banaake uska mazaak mat banaao. Many people actually have childhood trauma because of these things, she says. Lamenting the the lack of depth in content and superficiality of todays social media culture, Khan observes, No one is putting the reel to normalise freckles. Everything has its pros and cons. Social media can be a really great way to spread messages to impact the society in a good manner. But I hardly see anybody doing that, she ends. At least six people were killed and 15 others injured when a compressor in a glass factory exploded at Burgula village near Shadnagar town in Telanganas Ranga Reddy district, about 50 km away from Hyderabad, on Friday evening, the police said. 6 die, 15 injured after explosion in Telangan glass factory The incident happened at South Glass Private Limited, which manufactures architectural and automotive glasses, at around 5 pm. The compressor of the glass factory where the labourers were working exploded all of a sudden, resulting in serious injuries to several workers, Shamshabad deputy commissioner of police B Rajesh, who visited the accident spot, told reporters. The impact of the explosion was so intense that the bodies of workers got completely mutilated and their limbs were scattered all over the place. The exact cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained. The victims are believed to be from Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and they havent been identified yet, the DCP said. Soon after receiving the information, the Shadnagar police rushed to the factory site along with fire tenders to take up rescue operations. The fire was doused within minutes preventing further destruction in the factory. The injured workers were shifted to Gandhi and Osmania Hospitals in Hyderabad for treatment. The condition of at least five of them is said to be serious. The officials are also scrutinising the adherence to safety protocols following previous incidents in the area to determine if adequate precautions were in place. Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, who was briefed about the accident, expressed profound grief over the death of workers in the glass factory mishap. He instructed the authorities to shift the injured persons to hospitals and provide better medical treatment immediately. Reddy ordered Rangareddy district collector K Shashanka, who also rushed to the incident site immediately, to coordinate with revenue, police, fire, labour, industries and medical and health department and speed up relief measures. Seven people were killed and three others suffered serious injuries following a collision between two cars on the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, known as the Samruddhi Expressway, in Maharashtra's Jalna district on Friday night, according to a report by news agency PTI citing police sources. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene, with another person succumbing to injuries at the hospital later on. (Pic for representation) According to officials, the accident took place around 11 p.m. on Friday near Kadvanchi village. The police stated that the victims hailed from Malad (East) in Mumbai and Buldhana district. What happened? Police said the incident occurred when a multi-utility vehicle (MUV) travelling from Nagpur to Mumbai collided head-on with a car travelling in the opposite direction. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene, with another person succumbing to injuries at the hospital later on. "A multi-utility vehicle (MUV) going from Nagpur to Mumbai and a car heading in the opposite direction collided head-on, resulting in the death of six persons on the spot. One more person succumbed to injuries at a hospital later," a police official was quoted as saying. According to the PTI report, the collision's force was significant enough to cause the MUV to breach the crash barrier and veer off the left side of the road. Residents and police swiftly responded to the scene to assist individuals trapped in the severely damaged vehicles, as reported by officials. Umesh Jadhav, a medical officer at the Government District Hospital in Jalna, confirmed that six bodies had been transported to the hospital for post-mortem examinations. Three injured persons are being treated at Jalna's hospital, while one critically injured person who was shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district died later. Three of the deceased are from Mumbai, while as many others are from Buldhana district. He said one person who was shifted to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has yet to be identified. He added that the three injured persons are from Mumbai. Accidents on Samruddhi Highway The Samruddhi Highway is a 701-kilometer six-lane expressway that links Mumbai and Nagpur. The first phase, connecting Nagpur to Shirdi, was opened in December 2022. According to an official, 88 deaths occurred in road accidents on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra from January to July last year. A state highway police official attributed road hypnosis as a contributing factor to these accidents on the six-lane access-controlled expressway. Road hypnosis, also known as driving hypnosis, is when a driver becomes mentally detached while driving, often without recollection of specific events during that period. 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. Delhi health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Saturday hit back at the Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav over his comments on the Aam Aadmi Party government's response to the waterlogging issue in Delhi. Minister Bhardwaj said that the opposition parties must stay united in its fight for the constitution instead of involving itself in unnecessary arguments (HT Photo) Bhardwaj said that the opposition parties must stay united in its fight for the constitution instead of involving itself in unnecessary arguments. Opposition parties in the nation are fighting to save the constitution...Division among the opposition parties is not good. The local leadership in different states have the right to express their views, Bhardwaj was quoted by ANI as saying. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav, slammed the Delhi government by saying that it had warned the government about the monsoon. Yadav told PTI, 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. ALSO READ | Orange alert in Delhi as IMD predicts heavy downpour for weekend On Friday, different parts Delhi were waterlogged due to monsoon rains. Three labourers were trapped when an under construction wall in Vasant Vihar collapsed whose bodies were recovered from the rubble on Saturday, reported ANI. ALSO READ | Three labourers trapped in swamped Vasant Vihar site in south Delhi The Delhi Health Minister pointed out that Congress couldn't open their account in the past two Delhi assembly elections. Bhardwaj added, "Devender Yadav is himself losing elections. On the national level, we all are a part of alliance and we don't want to engage in unnecessary arguments at the local level" Earlier, the city unit of the Congress posted a video reportedly from Sis Ganj Sahib Gurdwara in Chandni Chowk asking the Delhi government and the municipal corporation when will they wake up? (with inputs from news agencies) A Delhi court on Saturday sent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody for 14 days (till July 12) in connection with corruption charges pertaining to alleged irregularities in the 2021-22 excise policy. CBI officials leave with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal from the Rouse Avenue Court after the court sent him to the probe agency custody in the Excise policy case, in New Delhi on June 26, 2024.(PTI) Kejriwal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 26 in connection with the case. He was sent to CBI custody for three days. At the time of his arrest, Kejriwal was already in judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). During the hearing on Saturday, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhary, representing Kejriwal, told the the court that the investigation in the case has been going on since 2022. Kejriwal was arrested in March 2024. He was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court. On the last date of the hearing, they (CBI) had said that they collected evidence in January, they said that they had in April obtained the sanctions. They also said that they had not arrested me earlier because they did not want to overreach the Supreme Court, Chaudhary told the court. Chaudhary also sought the court to direct the CBI to place all the material on record. They (CBI) have also made a statement before the Supreme Court that they will conclude the investigation by July 3...I am praying please ask the IO (Investigation officer) that whatever they are saying, your lordships may pin them down, he added. The CBI has filed four charge sheets in the case against 17 accused persons, including Manish Sisodia and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha. Kejriwal has not been named in any of the indictments yet. They claim that out of 100 crore received by AAP as kickbacks, 44.45 crore was transferred to Goa during June 2021 to January 2022 through hawala channels for election campaign purposes. A day after being released from jail on bail in a money laundering case, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and vowed to wipe out the party in the upcoming state assembly election. Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren speaks to the media after being released on bail, in Ranchi on Friday. (ANI Photo) (Somnath Sen ) "BJP has expertise in destroying the social fabric of India; people taught them a lesson in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It is daydreaming of winning assembly elections in Jharkhand," said Hemant Soren at a meeting with JMM workers in Ranchi. ALSO READ- Congress, JMM to induct new faces in Jharkhand cabinet We will give a befitting reply to those who hatched a conspiracy against us. Its time to put the last nail in BJP's coffin; the saffron party will be wiped out from Jharkhand, he told jubilant party workers. "I have received information that (assembly) elections may be held earlier in the state, and we are ready for them, he added. Hemant Soren was released from Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court. Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January as part of its money laundering probe in an alleged land scam case. The investigation concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores. The court has held that, prima facie, he is not guilty of the offense and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offense while on bail. 'I have come again to provide leadership': Soren No one can hide the truth, it comes out sooner or later," Soren claimed. I have come amongst you once again to provide you with leadership. I assure you that the results of Lok Sabha elections have given strength to natives and tribals of Jharkhand, he added. ALSO READ- Sita Soren, Hemant Soren's sister-in-law, joins BJP after quitting JMM The BJP secured eight out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand in the 2024 general polls. The JMM secured three seats, the Congress bagged two and the AJSU party got one seat. The issue of irregularities in the conduct of NEET rocked both Houses of Parliament on Friday with Rajya Sabhas Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rushing to the well of the House along with all Opposition floor leaders, the BJD joining the protests for the first time, and repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha, where the INDIA bloc has 236 MPs. MPs in the Lok Sabha on the fifth day of the special session, on Friday. (ANI) Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam fainted in the Upper House and was admitted to RML hospital. Thereafter, the entire Opposition walked out of the House. The government was keen to stick to convention and discuss the Presidents speech, while the Opposition was equally keen to raise the NEET issue. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pointed out that Zero Hour and adjournment motions cannot be allowed during the debate on the Presidents speech. Birla added that all issues (including NEET) could be raised during the main debate. In the Rajya Sabha, chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar slammed the Opposition and said, The kind of ignoble conduct will hurt every Indian, will put this institution to shame. We are here elected, get the prestige of being members of the upper house, the house of elders. If in this house we conduct ourselves in this unruly manner, it is most unfortunate. Speaking to reporters, Kharge said: I would like to tell the Rajya Sabha Chairman that his step-motherly treatment towards the Opposition today has tainted the history of Indian Parliament! Opposition-sponsored protests led to the Lok Sabhas adjournment till Monday but the Upper House continued to run. Opposition leaders said they would participate in the debate on Presidents speech from Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the debate in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. In the Lower House, Leader of the Opposition 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 Gandhi couldnt finish his speech as microphones were turned off, leading to another round of protests. Outside the House, Gandhi said, 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 Parliament that the Indian government and the Opposition are talking about the students together. In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also pointed out that Opposition can raise its issues during the debate on Presidents speech. With Dhankhar refusing to allow NEET debate, Opposition leaders stormed into the Well of the House led by Kharge. All other floor leaders were also in the Well in a rare show of strength and solidarity, said a senior Opposition leader who asked not to be named. Leaders of the Biju Janata Dal, which supported many of the NDAs bills between 2014 and 2024, were among the MPs protesting the issue. Kharges presence in the Well was noted by Dhankhar. It was very painful for me, unbelievable for me, that Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, a leader with parliamentary experience of over five decades, having held position of leader of opposition both in the state and in Parliament, walked into well of the house. The deputy leader of the party, Pramod Tiwari, also walked in. Senior leaders, Mukul Wasnik, also was there. It was a very painful moment for me. We expect leader of the opposition and leader of the house to exemplify their conduct that is worth emulating, he said. But Kharge told reporters that the Opposition had no other option. We wanted to raise the voice of lakhs of youth affected by the NEET scam by discussing it in the House under Rule 267. So to draw attention to the problem of the people, we asked for a special discussion. We did not want to trouble anyone. But they did not give it a chance. The Chairman was only looking at the ruling party. I raised my hand, stood up, followed parliamentary decorum and rules for 10 minutes to draw his attention, yet he did not look at the Leader of the Opposition in the House, Kharge added. He said that when the LoP in the house draws the chairs attention, the latter is expected to look at him. Instead, he deliberately ignored me to humiliate me. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi later released a video in which 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 across India. We urge the Prime Minister to debate on this issue and give the students the respect they deserve. Opposition leaders indicated that they would participate in the debate on Presidents speech from Monday. This current session will end on Wednesday and restart on July 22. A canopy collapsed at at the passenger pickup and drop area outside Gujarat's Rajkot Airport amid heavy rainfall on Saturday, a day after New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-1's tragic incident, reported news agency PTI. Canopy collapses at Rajkot airport a day after Delhi T-1's tragic incident(PTI) According to the preliminary information, there were no reports of any injuries or casualties. According to ANI, citing sources from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the canopy broke during maintenance work intended to remove accumulated water. Repair work is currently underway, and a detailed report on the incident has been requested. Gujarat is witnessing heavy rainfall as the southwest monsoon advanced further into the state. Amid the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas, seven teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Kutch, Rajkot, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Narmada, and Valsad districts. The incident took place a day after a portion of the roof collapsed at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours, which claimed the life of a 45-year-old cab driver and left eight others injured. The incident resulted in the suspension of operations from the Terminal 1, which handles around 200 flights a day, indefinitely. Delhi Airport, operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said that a roof at the old departure forecourt of Terminal 1 partially collapsed around 5am on Friday. While the cause for the collapse is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected to be due to heavy rainfall and winds. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has announced a compensation of 20 lakh to the family of the deceased, and 3 lakh each to those who received minor injuries. The ministry also ordered to undertake a structural preliminary inspection at all the airports across the country in order to prevent such incidents. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have registered a first information report (FIR) under sections 304A (death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code. A similar incident took place at Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur airport when a part of a fabric canopy collapsed on Thursday due to accumulation of water amid heavy rains and crushed a car parked below. However, no one was injured in the incident. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually inaugurated the 450-crore new terminal building of the Dumna airport on March 10. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday hit out at the Congress on the controversy surrounding competitive examinations including NEET. Congress does not want discussion, and they are running away from it. They only want chaos, and confusion, and want to create obstacles in the entire functioning of the institutional mechanism... The President herself has addressed the issue that Congress wants to debate about, admitting the challenges and shortcomings in the process and that we have to look into them, the minister was quoted by ANI as saying. His remarks come a day after the opposition parties including Congress protested in Parliament, demanding discussion on NEET. On behalf of the government, I clearly said that we are ready for any kind of discussion, but Congress does not want to address the students' issue, they want the matter to remain burning... Such issues have come to light even before 2014, but I cannot justify it, Pradhan added. NTA has got new leadership, reforms have been initiated in NTA under the leadership of former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan, we have formed a new law to address the issue, and the entire case has been handed over to the CBI... A new set of examination dates were announced yesterday, which were deferred or cancelled. New dates for NEET-PG will be announced by Monday-Tuesday, the minister said. The government replaced the National Testing Agency (NTA) director general and also set up a high-powered committee to recommend reforms in the examination process, enhance data security protocols, and review the structure and operations of the NTA. On Friday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi 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. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused Congress of creating obstacles in the entire functioning of the institutional mechanism The Delhi government on Saturday formed a fact-finding committee comprising three ministers and a secretary over illegal felling of over 1,100 trees in Satbari area in the southern ridge of the national capital, PTI reported. 1,110 trees were felled to widen a road in south Delhi. (HT Archive) A meeting was held at the secretariat over non-submission of status report by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in a contempt case in the Supreme court over illegal felling of trees without permission. The committee comprising three ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain will submit its report to Gopal Rai, Delhi's environment and forest minister, a statement from the minister's office on the minutes of meeting said. The report will be submitted to the top court, which is hearing a suo-motu contempt case against DDA vice-chairman Subhasish Panda over the same issue. DDA is headed by Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena. "The e-mails of DDA engineers reveal that the trees were cut on the verbal instructions of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor," Rai claimed. Also read | Delhi HC notice to officials over tree felling in South Ridge Adding that the Kejriwal government is committed to protect and increase the green cover of Delhi, Rai said that the fact-finding committee is formed due to non-compliance by the forest department to submit a report on June 28. Hearing the contempt case on Wednesday, the SC termed the illegal felling of tress as a brazen act. Terming the inability of DDA to ascertain whether the LG had ordered the cutting of trees as sheer disingenuity, the court directed Panda to go through official records and come clean on this aspect, the Hindu had reported. Also read | SC puts DDA in dock for hiding data on tree-felling Determined to fix accountability on the issue, the court directed Ashok Kumar Gupta, member (engineering) DDA, to file an affidavit in 10 days on events that unfolded during LG's visit to the area. In March, the SC had directed the DDA to stop road construction without the court's prior approval. It also directed the Dehradun-based Forest Survey of India (FSI) along with three independent experts to visit the site and assess the number of trees felled and its impact on the environment. (With ANI, PTI inputs) Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, while assuring proactive measures in the wake of the roof collapse incident at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-1, has said that a structural preliminary inspection would be done at all the airports across the country. Union Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu inspects the site where a part of the roof at T1 Airport collapsed (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) Naidu said that the ministry sought a report from all the airports within 2-5 days, upon which required necessary measures would to be taken to prevent such collapse incidents in the future. "Since we don't want such incidents to be repeated, we will ensure getting a structural preliminary inspection done at all airports. We have sought a report from all the airports across the country within 2-5 days, upon which we will see what necessary measures are needed to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future," news agency ANI quoted Naidu as saying. His remarks came in the wake of the Delhi Airport canopy collapse incident, which claimed the life of a 45-year-old cab driver and left eight others injured. The minister also expressed his condolence for the departed soul and said, "The incident that happened at the Delhi airport is very tragic and I offer my condolences to the one individual who lost his life. Some people were injured also in the incident, they have been taken to the hospital and their treatment is underway." While speaking on the proactive measures, the aviation minister said that a war room has been constituted to ensure refunds or alternate flights for affected passengers in the incident. He also guaranteed a refund within seven days or alternate flights for those whose flights were canceled. "For now, Terminal-1 is completely closed and evacuated. All the flight movements have been shifted to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. For those people whose flights have been canceled, they are being given either a refund or an alternate flight. The Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to pass a circular to provide refunds to the people within seven days." "To ensure this happens, we have set up war rooms at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. The Ministry has released a statement regarding this which has all the numbers. We are taking care of it and have placed one of the officers in the war rooms," he added. The ministry has also issued a circular to airlines, citing not to increase the fares. "When such incidents occur, there is an increase in air fares, so we have issued another circular to airlines on not increasing the fare of the tickets and maintaining the prices," Naidu said. He also slammed the opposition Congress for doing petty politics and spreading fake news over the tragic incident. "I am a little surprised that the opposition wants to do politics on this kind of issue by saying this is a terminal inaugurated by PM Modi but it is fake news they are spreading. PM Modi inaugurated a building in another terminal and it is intact. The roof of the building that collapsed is an old building inaugurated in 2009. It is a 15-year-old building...using this situation to take a dig at the govt is not a good precedent," he said. The canopy collapse has resulted in the suspension of operations from the Terminal 1, which handles around 200 flights a day, indefinitely. The police have registered a case on charges of causing death by negligence. Delhi Airport, operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said that a roof at the old departure forecourt of Terminal 1 partially collapsed around 5am on Friday. While the cause for the collapse is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected to be due to heavy rainfall and winds. The DIAL has further constituted a technical committee to investigate the cause of the incident. The ministry has also announced a compensation of 20 lakh to the family of the deceased, and 3 lakh each to those who received minor injuries. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi, The CBI on Saturday sought 14 days judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam, saying his incarceration was required in the "interest of the investigation and justice". Excise 'scam': Delhi court reserves order on CBI plea seeking Kejriwal's 14-day judicial custody Special Judge Sunena Sharma reserved the order on the plea after Kejriwal was produced in the court on the expiry of his three days police custody. In its remand application, the CBI said during the custodial interrogation, Kejriwal did not cooperate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive replies contrary to the evidence on record. "On being confronted with the evidence, he did not give a proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5% to 12% under the new excise policy of Delhi 2021-22, without any study or justification," it said. "He also could not explain as to why during the peak of second wave of Covid, the cabinet approval for revised excise policy was obtained through circulation in a hurried manner within one day, when the accused persons of the South Group were camping in Delhi and holding meetings with his close associate Vijay Nair," it added. The application said Kejriwal evaded the questions regarding the meetings of his associate Vijay Nair with various stakeholders of the liquor business in Delhi and he was unable to give proper explanation about his meeting with Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, accused Arjun Pandey and accused Mootha Gautham. "He also evaded the questions regarding the transfer and utilisation of ill-gotten money to the tune of Rs.44.54 crores in Goa assembly elections by his party during 2021-22," it said, adding that Kejriwal was "deliberately and intentionally evading the just and relevant questions related to the case." "He, being a prominent politician and chief minister of Delhi, is a very influential person, as such, there are credible reasons to believe that, he may influence the witnesses and evidences already exposed before him during the custodial interrogation and also the potential witnesses, who are yet to be examined, tamper with the evidence to be further collected and may hamper the ongoing investigation," the application said. As some crucial witnesses were yet to be examined and documents or digital evidence were yet to be collected, the plea sought Kejriwal's 14 days judicial custody "in the interest of the investigation and justice". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Five soldiers of the Army are feared drowned after being swept away while crossing a river in a T-72 tank near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Nyoma-Chushul area in Ladakh early Saturday, officials told PTI. Five Army soldiers swept away in flash floods near LAC in Ladakh,(Representational image) On 28 Jun 2024 night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got struck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didn't succeed and the tank crew lost their lives. Indian Army regrets loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway, the Indian Army said in a statement on X. Last year, nine soldiers including a JCO lost their lives when an army truck they were travelling in, veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Kiari in Leh district. The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff in Ladakh since May 2020 and a full resolution of the border row has not yet been achieved though the two sides have disengaged from a number of friction points. In January this year, army chief General Manoj Pande said the army is ready to deal with any challenge in the northern border (China). The army is ready and capable of dealing with any situation along the northern borders (with China). We have taken several concrete measures to develop our capabilities in those areas," General Pande had said. The army chief had said the situation along LAC in the Ladakh sector was stable, yet sensitive. External affairs minister S Jaishankar recently said that the NDA government's focus in its third term will be to resolve pending issues with China along the LAC. In the case of China, our focus will the situation on the border there are still some issues pending and how we can resolve them, he had said. June 29, 2024: In Ukraine a Russian offensive in early May featured a rare disruption of the SpaceX Starlink communications service that the Ukrainian forces had become heavily dependent on for radio communications and video feeds from drones, ground forces and aircraft. The cause of the Starlink disruption was a new form of Russian electronic jamming. Ukraine and Russia are engaged in a constant battle to develop new forms of jamming and adapt their equipment to deal with it. Without Starlink, Ukrainian forces have to rely on the same radio technology that the Russian have access to. This can also be jammed, but the jamming works both ways. Ukraine has sent reports of the jamming incidents to SpaceX as well as their NATO allies who are also planning to use Starlink for military operations. Russian jamming is also interfering with Western guided weapons, like the GLMRS guided rocks launched from HIMARS vehicles. Less frequently used guided weapons, like the Excalibur guided 155mm shell, are also affected. Ukraine already had developed a countermeasure for the jamming, but only for locally made drones (UAVs) that depend on a variety of guidance systems including fire and forget systems where the operator selects a distant target, which out of range of the jamming, and then launches the missile that is equipped with a picture of the target and homes in on that. Another version of this technology is used against Russian jammers where the Ukrainian rocket or air delivered bomb home in on the Russian jamming signal. NATO nations that have supported the Ukrainian war effort with over $100 billion in military aid, so far, are taking notes because what happens to the Ukrainians could happen to a NATO force in the future, or an American, South Korean, Japanese force in the Pacific facing Chinese aggression. New Delhi: Five soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed during a tank exercise on Friday night in eastern Ladakh after their Russian-origin T-72 was swept away by the raging waters of the Shyok River near Saser Brangsa, officials aware of the matter said on Saturday. Attempts to rescue the tank crew by a squad of combat engineers failed because of the strong currents, (Twitter Photo) Attempts to rescue the tank crew by a squad of combat engineers failed because of the strong currents, the officials said. The soldiers belonged to the 52 Armoured Regiment deployed at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), Indias northernmost military base near the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, HT has learnt. The rescue squad, consisting of nine soldiers, attempted its mission in a BAUT (boat assault universal type) but returned after finding itself in a precarious situation in the swollen river and could not save the men, said one of the officials cited above, who asked not to be named. Such crossings are carried out during drills after factoring in the river conditions. The turn of events was totally unexpected because of what seems to be a flash flood, said a second official, who also requested anonymity. On 28 June 2024 night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got stuck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didnt succeed, and the tank crew lost their lives, the Leh-based HQs 14 Corps wrote on X. Indian Army regrets loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway. Officials said the army will release the names of the five soldiers after their families have been informed. Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh wrote on X. The incident comes at a time when the military standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh is now in its fifth year, with no indication of an immediate resolution to the outstanding problems along the contested LAC even as India is hoping that ongoing negotiations with the neighbour will help restore the status quo ante of April 2020. Last August, nine soldiers were killed when an army truck, part of a three-vehicle convoy, veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Kiari in Leh. The tank incident took place near Saser Brangsa through which the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is building a new road to provide much-needed alternative connectivity to the remote DBO outpost. Work on the Sasoma-Saser La-Saser Brangsa-Gapshan-DBO road gathered momentum four years ago in the backdrop of escalating military tensions between India and China. The construction of the 130-km road from Sasoma in the Nubra Valley to DBO near the Karakoram Pass is in its final phase. The existing 255-km Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DS-DBO) road runs close to LAC. Sasoma and Darbuk can be reached from Leh via two different road axes. The Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) have held 21 rounds of corps commander-level talks to cool tensions along LAC, but the two sides still have tens of thousands of troops each and advanced weaponry deployed in the Ladakh theatre. Diplomatic talks are also underway to find a solution. The talks have thus far resulted in four rounds of disengagement from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Gogra (PP-17A) and Hot Springs (PP-15), but problems at Depsang and Demchok are still on the negotiating table. The five-day India-Pakistan summit ended in a grand climax with the signing of an agreement by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Shimla on the night of July 2, 1972. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sign the Simla agreement on July 3, 1972 . (HT Archive) The signing ceremony was held at 12.40am at the Durbar Hall of Himachal Bhavan. The agreement came after hard bargaining by both sides and was held up for a lack of consensus on the formulation of the Kashmir question. A compromise eventually emerged after two rounds of talks Gandhi and Bhutto held earlier in the day. The final round followed a dinner hosted by the Pakistan President in honour of Prime Minister Gandhi. The agreement, which sets out guidelines on durable peace and normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan, will be made public simultaneously in Shimla and Islamabad. According to the agreement, India and Pakistan have agreed to settle all mutual problems bilaterally. Both countries have also agreed to abjure the use of force in settling the issues between them. How the agreement was reached After the special dinner, the two leaders held a 10-minutes long meeting separately. The principal aides of both the sides were then called in. Thereafter, members of the political affairs committee of the Union Cabinet finance minister YB Chavan, agriculture minister Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, defence minister Jagjivan Ram, external affairs minister Swaran Singh who also attended the dinner, were consulted. Rough weather Gandhi then decided to finalise the agreement. According to sources, India has agreed to withdraw troops from occupied territories on the western front, except from those in Jammu and Kashmir. The signing ceremony was watched by members of the political affairs committee of the Union Cabinet. A beaming Bhutto was cheered on by waiting reporters for the successful conclusion of the agreement. Gandhi and Bhutto said the agreement would mark a new beginning in the relations between India and Pakistan, and both expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Talks ran into rough weather India made an effort to meet the Pakistani demands to some extent by revising the draft it presented earlier for consideration. The new draft was approved at a meeting of the political affairs committee of the Union Cabinet and was taken to Bhutto by PN Haksar, the principal secretary to the Prime Minister, and foreign secretary TN Kaul. It was further considered, but without any agreement, at a meeting of the principal aides of the Prime Minister and the Pakistan President. At the end of the afternoon round of talks with the Prime Minister, Bhutto addressed a news conference where he appeared hopeful that an agreement would emerge from his final meeting with Gandhi. He admitted progress was held up for lack of agreement on the Kashmir question. We are in a deadlock. but there is hope of limited success, the Pakistan President said in reply to a question while declining to spell out further details. Bhuttos overall impression of the summit, till the time he came to address the news conference, was that we have not succeeded; we have not failed. But, he added, meaningfully, the situation may change after our post dinner talks. He maintained that the dialogue itself was a big step towards normalisation of relations with India. There was a need to clear the subjective prejudices of the last 25 years before the two countries could deal effectively with objective elements. A beginning had been made and that itself was a gain, he argued. Both the countries suffered, Pakistan particularly, by shutting the door on each other. Pakistan at least was not going to shut the door, he said. He also noted hopefully that PM Gandhi had spoken of a series of summits at her meeting with Pakistani newsmen earlier. On Kashmir, he said, Pakistan stood by the self-determination principle while India had its own stand. He added significantly that the gap between the two viewpoints could be narrowed by talks. Pakistan was prepared to negotiate, he declared . A historic accord The dramatic eleventh hour understanding that Gandhi and Bhutto arrived at answered the prayers of millions of people in India and Pakistan who yearn for peace. The agreement suggests something in the nature of a breakthrough in India-Pakistan relations and reflects the statesmanship that both the President and the Prime Minister have shown in dealing with the immensely complex issues that have divided the two countries over the past 25 years. The Simla accord represented a great victory for the 700 million people of this sub-continent, heralding a new hope. The new revised textbooks for government and aided schools in Kerala have been welcomed by both teachers and students alike for promoting gender equality and challenging patriarchal norms in its curriculum. Government schools in Kerala welcome new gender-neutral curriculum The Class 3 Malayalam textbook, revised by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), for example, has an insightful lesson on household chores. One such image as part of the lesson shows a scene inside a kitchen at a home where a man can be seen grating coconut, while a woman is beside the stove. The image subtly seeks to challenge patriarchal settings in which women are often seen as taking care of kitchen chores. Another example is the Class 3 English textbook in which an image portrays a father preparing snacks for his daughter in the kitchen, and exhorting her to take some of it to school. Christy Prakasia, who teaches Malayalam for primary class students at a government school in Binanipuram in Ernakulam district, said, Its certainly a refreshing change. When we teach such lessons in class, students themselves are saying that they see both parents dividing duties equally in the kitchen. They are realising that its a good thing. SCERT director RK Jayaprakash added that the decision to revise textbooks on a large scale was taken last year as it had been over a decade since changes were made. During the revision exercise, we had many focus groups on different subjects and one of them was on gender education. We decided that it was time to do a gender audit of existing textbooks. As part of the audit, we built a framework and we wanted to address the changes that have happened over the years in society. The idea was to present concepts going beyond gender differences, said Jayaprakash. We have realised that pictures are an important learning aid as part of lessons in textbooks and students tend to imbibe a lot from them. Thats how we tried to bring in gender neutrality through pictures, he added. While state government revised textbooks of classes 1,3,5,7, and 9 last year, those of classes 2,4,6 and 8 will be done this year. As part of the new changes, the Class 9 social science textbook, due to be delivered to students by October this year, will have an entire lesson dedicated to gender justice by including the verdicts of the Kerala high court and the Supreme Court, said Jayaprakash. Gender lessons are now part of the curriculum objective. Overall, we are happy that people have positively reacted to it. We will spend the rest of the year taking feedback from teachers too, he said. New Delhi Implementing the four labour codes passed by the Modi government in its previous term is a top priority but the process could take several months because many states lacked a full understanding of the gamut of reforms and their scope, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday. Govt to hold more talks with states on labour codes The Mansukh Mandaviya-led labour ministry is understood to be preparing for a round of consultations with states to ensure that draft rules framed by a majority of state governments dont contravene federal rules under each code, which is a key issue, the person said. The four labour codes, passed by Parliament between 2019 and 2020, consolidates a complex web of 29 central labour laws and they seek to bring sweeping changes to Indias job market. The reforms to the countrys decades-old labour norms are a central part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis steps to drive up investments and create jobs. The codes have yet to be implemented because eight states are yet to pre-publish draft rules under each code; some labour unions have opposed the laws saying they make hiring and firing easier; and not all states have been able to frame rules appropriately. States need to pass the subordinate legislation for the codes since labour falls in the concurrent list of the Constitution, which gives both the Centre and states jurisdiction over the subject. States need to be adequately sensitised about the intention and scope of the labour codes so that their rules are in conformity with the central rules so that there is uniformity, which is not the case, the person cited above said. A second person who took part in these discussions said that talks are on with states at multiple levels and workshops are being planned to ensure that labour norms of states and the Centre are aligned. The four legislation are the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; and the Code on Social Security, 2020. Efforts to align states rules with federal ones have been ongoing. Last week, labour secretary Sumita Dawra held consultations with state governments officials to review the draft rules and their progress. Many state-level rules diverge from those framed by the Centre. For instance, federal rules and those framed by most states provide for revision of dearness allowance twice a year. Andhra Pradesh however wants one revision annually. Major labour unions have to be on board too, but many are opposed to the laws or their provisions. For instance, under the Industrial Relations Code, firms employing up to 300 workers will not require government permission to lay off workers or shut plants, up from the previous cap of 100. The code also makes it mandatory for trade unions to represent at least 30% of workers in a given establishment for official recognition as the negotiating union in case of disputes. If there are multiple unions, then the threshold prescribed is 51%. Ravinder Himte, the general secretary of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), said that some of the codes provisions were unacceptable, especially in the Industrial Relations Code and The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. The BMS has submitted its recommendations. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated BMS however said it whole-heartedly welcomed the other codes. Rajya Sabha lawmaker and former minister in the Bihar cabinet, Sanjay Jha has been appointed as the national working president of the Janata Dal (United) or the JD(U). A confidant of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, 56-year-old Jha cut his teeth in politics in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected as a member of the legislative council. In 2012, he switched sides to the JD(U), but the move was neither acrimonious nor compelled by a strain in ties; the switch had the approval of the BJP leaders of the time. Newly appointed JDU working president Sanjay Jha. (Santosh Kumar/ Hindustan Times) An alumnus of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jha was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April this year. He was instrumental in the BJP and the JDU forging alliance in the state in 2017 and then again in 2022. His elevation to the partys top post is an indication that he is likely to play a key role in navigating the alliance as the parties prepare for the crucial state elections next year. In an interview shortly after being appointed as the working president, Jha spoke about his priorities and the partys agenda. Edited excerpts: Q. You have been appointed as the JDU working president. What will be your priorities? A. We will focus on places outside Bihar, where the party has had a base and where elections are coming up. Take for instance places such as Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and some places in the Northeast, where our party has had legislators and lawmakers. We will focus on expanding our base in these places; we will see how to go forward, contest polls etc. Second, we have the assembly election coming up in Bihar in 2025. This Lok Sabha election has proven that our party, even after 20 years of being in power, is still relevant and popular. There was a perception among some people outside the state that the Lok Sabha polls will prove difficult for the JD(U). But after winning 30 of the 40 seats (in alliance with the BJP), which corresponds to winning 177 assembly seats, the message is clear about what people want. Q. The JD(U) is largely perceived as a one-man party. Often it is asked, who after Nitish Kumar? A. Nitish Kumar continues to remain relevant. The Lok Sabha polls have shown that there is no change in his reputation or how the people of Bihar perceive him. There is no question about his leadership. And unlike the other regional parties, he has not made it a family enterprise. The fact that I have been given the responsibility shows that this is not a dynastic party. In other parties, such positions are reserved only for family members. For those who work, there is ample space and opportunity in the JDU. Q. Now that your party is in alliance with the BJP, how will that impact the work of expanding the footprint of the JD(U)? There will be limitations of being in an alliance. For instance, how will you decide on issues related to contesting the assembly polls? A. The JD(U)-BJP alliance is a natural alliance in Bihar. We have been together since 1996; we dislodged the RJD and ended its misrule together in 2005. There is a healthy interpersonal relationship between the workers and the leaders of both the parties. We will keep working together and ensure the sanctity and dignity of the alliance is maintained, and I do not foresee any difficulties in our work and expansions going forward. Q. Your support has been crucial in helping the BJP form government at the Centre for the third time. You also have a long-standing demand that Bihar should be granted special status. The state Cabinet passed a resolution in this regard last year. Now that you are part of the government at the Centre, do you think that demand will be met? A. The partys national executive on Saturday passed a resolution seeking special category status or a special financial package from the central government for Bihar. Using the resources that the state has, there is a base that has been laid. Work to provide sadak, paani aur bijli (roads, water and power) has been done but to go forward, to take a leap from where we are and to provide opportunities for our people, we will need help from the Union government. We need financial and additional support, and we will take it up with the government. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has always spoken about development in the eastern region, in Bihar. So, we are confident that whatever needs to be done for the development of Bihar will be done. Q. Have you had any discussions on this with your ally? A. The government has just been sworn in, but we will take it up and have this discussion. Q. The issue of irregularities in the conduct of examinations and paper leaks has affected millions of students across the country, including in Bihar. Have you raised the issue with the alliance partner and what is your take on this? A. In our political resolution today, we have clearly mentioned the issue. Initially the investigation was started by the police in Patna, then the economic offences wing (EOW) of the state took up the issue and finally the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took up the case. Whatever strict action needs to be taken following the investigation should be done, peoples faith and confidence should be restored. We have also said Parliament should enact a law so that in future there is no scope for anyone to indulge in irregularities and leaks. Q. The Patna high court has set aside the state governments decision to increase reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC), Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) from 50% to 65% in educational institutions and government jobs. A. We will go to the Supreme Court. In our resolution today, we thanked the Bihar government for announcing that we will go to the apex court on this issue. We have also requested the central government to put this in the 9th Scheduled just as it is in Tamil Nadu where reservation is over 50% and it (reservation) cannot be challenged. Q. There has been a spate of bridge collapses in the state. About five instances of collapses have been reported in a month. A. A lot of work has been done for infrastructure development in Bihar. But what happens sometimes is that the river suddenly changes course. I have been the water resources minister in the state. But I am not aware of the specifics of these instances. The government is taking a serious view of this, and action will be taken to ensure no such incidents happen again. A national executive meeting of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) held in Delhi on Saturday decided to appoint Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as the partys working president. A proposal to this effect was made by JD-U national president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, which was accepted by all. Kumar would continue at the top party post. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar with JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha. (File) Jhas appointment has been made keeping in mind the 2025 Bihar assembly polls. He will assist Kumar, under whom the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest the polls. Jha, who took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP in April this year, is said to be close to Kumar and he had played a crucial role in JD-Us return to the NDA. His appointment indicates that the party wants to continue having better co-ordination with its alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His (Jha) appointment will help party expand its base pan-India, said Bihar minister Ashok Chowdhary. All the party MPs and ministers, apart from executive members, general secretaries, secretaries and state presidents, were present at the national executive meeting. A party leader said various topics, including an analysis of the recently concluded Lok Sabha election and strategies for the assembly elections scheduled for 2025, were discussed during the meeting. The meeting also passed a resolution and congratulated Kumar for the partys good performance in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 and reposed faith in him. Its political resolution asserted the role the party played in getting Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for the third term. The JD (U) contested 16 seats and won 12 in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. The national executive also decided to contest Jharkhand assembly polls to be held later this year. Besides, the party also reiterated its demand for a special category status to Bihar. The meeting came at a time when there is a demand from a section of BJP leaders in Bihar that the party should field its own chief ministerial candidate in the next assembly elections, even as JD-U and BJP leaders have dismissed claims of a possible mistrust between the two parties. In the previous national executive meeting of JD-U in December 2023, before the party switched from the INDIA bloc to the NDA fold, JDU president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh was replaced by chief minister Nitish Kumar. The Janata Dal (United) national executive meeting decides to appoint Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as the partys working president while chief minister Nitish Kumar would continue to be the national president. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar Sanjay Jha carries good relation with BJP The appointment of Jha as working president is said to be significant due to his good relationship with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. He is also the party's leader in the Rajya Sabha. Party sources said Jha is well-suited to secure favourable deals from the BJP and maintain a friendly relationship between the two parties, despite their history of rocky ties, PTI reported. ALSO READ- HT interview: BJP-JD(U) are natural allies, says Sanjay Jha Strict action on exam paper leaks, special package for Bihar: JD(U)'s resolution In the meeting, the BJP ally, now a major kingmaker in the current Lok Sabha, demanded strict action against those responsible for exam paper leaks and called for a strong law to prevent such incidents in the future. The party's national executive also passed a resolution seeking special category status or a special financial package from the central government for Bihar. Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, along with other senior leaders from across the country, attended the meeting in Delhi. ALSO READ- Modi 3.0 Union Cabinet portfolios: Here is what TDP, JD(U) and other BJP allies got Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA and took oath as Bihar CM with BJP's support after leaving the alliance and joining the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led 'Mahagathbandhan' in August 2022. Kumar's JD(U) contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the BJP. The BJP-led NDA performed well, winning 29 out of the 40 seats. BJP and JD(U) each won 12 seats, while LJP (Ram Vilas) secured all five seats it contested. The RJD and Congress won four and three seats, respectively. Patna: Bihar polices Economic Offence Unit (EOU), which is probing the 2023 constable recruitment exam paper leak case, has claimed that mafia involved in the crime breached the security chain during transportation to access the question paper, a modus operandi also believed to have been followed in alleged irregularities in this years NEET-UG, officers aware of the details said on Friday, identifying the Sanjeev Kumar (aka Lutan Mukhia) gang as a common link between the two cases. Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya The Bihar constable recruitment examination was conducted by the Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC) in October last year. The paper was scheduled on October 1, 7 and 15 due to large number of candidates over 1.8 million had applied for 21,391 vacancies, however, the very first day the questions leaked and following uproar the exam had to be cancelled and further exams postponed. An EOU officer, requesting anonymity, said that during interrogation of arrested accused, it came to light that the paper leak was carried out through a well-hatched plan to lay hands on the sealed questions during their transit from the printing press, scan them through specialised tools and then hand them over to their clients with solved answers in exchange for hefty sums. The EOU found that the CSBC had an agreement with a Kolkata-based company Caltex Multivation Private Limited (CMPL) for printing of question papers, packaging and transportation to treasury. The CMPL handed over its work to a Blessing Secured Press Private limited (BSPPL) for printing question papers and confidential documents in violation of the agreement and the work order. In the agreement, there was no provision of outsourcing/subletting work, the officer added. The BSPPL is owned by one Kaushik Kar, who was earlier accused in the Uttar Pradesh teacher recruitment paper leak case and a case was lodged against him in Varanasi and Bidhannagar in West Bengal in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Kaushiks wife is the director of CMPL while former employees of BSPCLSuman Biswas, Sanjay Das and marketing consultant Sourabh Bandopadhyay were directors of CMPL, additional director general, EoU, NH Khan said, adding they have received all related documents from the Registrar of Companies, Kolkata and Chattered Accountant of Kolkata. The agreement said the company would directly transport the questions to treasury from printing press, but the confidential papers were transported in open vehicle without seal, lock and security guard to a ware house of DP World Express Logistic Pvt Ltd (DPWELPL) in Kolkata. Later, the consignment was downloaded in Patna warehouse and transported to districts treasury by Zenith Logistic and Express Pvt. limited (ZLEPL). During the stay in Patna, Lutan Mukhia gang members lured ZLEPL employees Rahul Paswan and Ramesh Kumar to lay hands on question papers. The gang members got the question papers four days prior to the first phase examination. Once the questions were scanned, they were provided to solvers and from them they reached the targeted groups, who are kept at a pre-determined place and made to mug the answers, Khan said. The gang members provided answer key to the aspirants after taking hefty money. The answer key went viral on social media on the day of examination. Paswan and Kumar had also applied for the recruitment test. While the former appeared on first day (October 1, 2023), Kumars exam was scheduled on October 7. Their admit cards were seized by the EoU. In the 2024 NEET-UG case filed by CBI on Sunday, officials said the paper may have been leaked on May 3, two days before the exam, while being transported from the Ranchi airport to an office of courier company Blue Dart, and then to the Hazaribagh branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) with the help of employees of either the transport company or the courier agency. The EOU, which arrested 18 people and recorded the statements of SBI and Blue Dart employees, handed its case files to CBI. Police officers, declining to be named, said those arrested including members of Mukhia gang have, in the past bribed employees of courier companies, drivers involved in transportation and photographed question papers en route to different exam centres. Police have shared statements of the Blue Dart company employees and bank officials with CBI which will question them soon, one officer said. Last month, the NEET leak case was busted after Bihar police officers recovered a burnt photocopy of a question booklet from outside the Learn Play School and Hostel in Patna. It is at this school that over two dozen students were shown the question papers on May 4 a day before the examination by members of the Mukhia gang. Mukhia is absconding, while his aides have been arrested by Bihar police. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested the principal and vice principal of a school in Hazirabagh of Jharkhand in connection with the alleged NEET-UG exam paper leak, officials aware of the matter said. CBI sleuths at Oasis School for investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak case, in Hazaribagh on June 28. (PTI) According to the officials, Ehsanul Haque, the principal of Oasis School, and Imtiaz Alam, the institutes vice principal, were arrested over their suspected role in the alleged paper leak. The federal probe agency arrested Haque and Alam after detailed questioning, an official familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Officials said that the CBI also arrested a third person in the case but their identity was yet to be disclosed. They added that the probe agency was also questioning five more people from the district in connection with the case. ALSO READ| Both Houses adjourned after NEET issue rocks Parliament Haque was the Hazaribagh district coordinator for the medical entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5. Alam was an NTA observer and centre coordinator at the Oasis School for the medical exam that has been embroiled in a raging controversy. The two came under the scanner after a half-burnt question paper of NEET- UG, 2024 was recovered from a private school located in Ramakrishna Nagar of Patnaon May 5, hours after the exam ended. On June 23, a three-member probe team of Bihar polices Economic Offences Unit (EOU) visited the school and inquired about the conduct of the test and the mechanism to open digital locks of question paper boxes. A CBI team detained Haque after questioning on Wednesday. Haque has denied any tempering of the question paper in Hazaribagh and termed the allegations baseless. The 2024 NEET-UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS and other related undergraduate courses across India, has been beset with a series of allegations ranging from question paper leaks, inflated marking and arbitrary allowance of grace marks issues that have become a nationwide flashpoint for political parties, leading to thousands of students protesting for weeks. This years examination was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad, with 2.3 million candidates appearing for it. Kolkata, A senior Trinamool Congress minister on Saturday urged people not to take the law into their own hands and instead file complaints with police, expressing concern over the alleged fatal assaults on two youths accused of mobile phone thefts on successive days in the city. Political parties express concern over deaths of 2 persons after being thrashed by mob in Kolkata Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Firhad Hakim told reporters that "mass hysteria can only be countered by mass counselling," emphasising the media's role in sensitising people that police are proactive in addressing public complaints and apprehending perpetrators. "It is becoming dangerous if people lose their patience and resort to vigilante justice. Anyone with a complaint should approach police. Allowing such tendencies to continue unchecked could lead to situations spiralling out of control," said Hakim, who is also the mayor. A man was allegedly beaten to death in the citys Salt Lake area on Saturday for "mobile phone theft", less than 24 hours after a person died after he was roughed up over a similar suspicion. The deceased, identified as Prasen Mondal, was declared "brought dead" when he was taken to a hospital, a police officer said. On Friday, another person was allegedly beaten to death at a state-run hostel for students in Kolkata's Bowbazar area over suspicion of mobile phone theft, according to police. Irshad Alam , a resident of Belgachia, used to work as a mechanic at an electronics shop in Chandni Chowk. Union MoS and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar criticised the Mamata Banerjee government, highlighting multiple cases of mob lynching in West Bengal and alleging a failure to control such crimes. "There are reports that some people residing in a North Kolkata hostel were not students but unauthorised outsiders staying there for years. This issue is further complicated as some boarders of the SC/ST hostel were also implicated in the case," he added. "Security concerns arise when there is no CCTV footage available of the alleged incident," he added. BJP spokesperson Sajal Ghosh criticised police for focusing on extracting money from vendors rather than addressing vigilantism. "Assaulting someone based on suspicion reflects a disturbed mindset, but police must also be proactive in combating such behaviour. They are swift in pursuing opposition leaders," Ghosh remarked. WBPCC president Adhir Chowdhury expressed concern that these incidents indicate a loss of control over law and order by the administration. "This is regrettable. The administration's overall indifference needs to be addressed," he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said on Saturday that the INDIA bloc partners need to change their approach and start speaking about issues concerning Muslims. The INDIA bloc partners can speak freely about other minorities but not about Muslims. They need to change this. In the general election, Muslims substantially voted for this alliance and consolidated in favour of it, said Ruhullah Mehdi. NCs Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi showing a victory sign after winning the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. (AP) Even after having this support from the Muslim section of the minority, they dont speak for them. And then, what is left for the Muslims? What institution and what hope is left for the Muslims to turn to? questioned the Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar. Read: JD(U) appoints Sanjay Jha as working president, calls for Bihar special status at executive meet Aga Syed Ruhullah has won three legislative assembly elections from the Budgam constituency in Jammu and Kashmir. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, he defeated Peoples Democratic Party leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para by a margin of 1,88,416 votes. On June 26, in his inaugural address in the Lok Sabha after Om Birla was elected as Speaker for second consecutive term, Aga Syed Ruhullah said, I would request you that from today you are neither BJP nor Congress or Samajwadi, and you have only one party, and that is the Constitution of India. He expressed hope that the Speaker would uphold the Constitution and lead the House as a beacon of democracy. He also hinted that the Speakers legacy would be defined by how he handles both government and opposition voices in the lower house. Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi emphasised the importance of respecting elected lawmakers and highlighted a past incident where a fellow Muslim MP was called a terrorist. You will be remembered for how you handled voices in the House that called an elected Muslim MP a terrorist, or if you allowed those voices to persist. If an elected MP is called a terrorist in this House, I wonder what is happening to other Muslims in the country, Mehdi said before being interrupted by Om Birla. He was referring to an incident during a special session last September, where former BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri called former BSP MP Danish Ali a Muslim terrorist. In his letter to the Speaker, Danish Ali, then a BSP MP, mentioned that the BJP South Delhi MP had also called him bhadwa (pimp), katwa (circumcised one), and Mullah aatankwadi (Muslim terrorist). Shillong: The Meghalaya Lokayukta on Thursday issued notifications to the former chief secretary and other former officials of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for their alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme in the state. (Representative Photo) These actions were prompted by findings from the Comptroller and Auditor General of Indias (CAG) report on Social and Economic Sectors for the fiscal year 2021-22. The notices followed a complaint lodged by the Voice of the People Party (VPP)s North Shillong legislator, Adelbert Nongrum, identifying these individuals. Meghalaya Lokayukta Chairperson Bhalang Dhar, in an order, acknowledged receiving the complaint dated June 12 under Section 13 (1) (a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Dhar noted that the allegations were based solely on the CAG report submitted to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Accordingly, he directed that a notice, along with a copy of the complaint, be sent to the commissioner and secretary of the Assembly. A hearing to determine the admissibility of the complaint petition has been scheduled by the Lokayukta for July 23. In his complaint, Nongrum also implicated a former additional chief secretary responsible for power and a former chairman-cum-managing director of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for their alleged involvement in corruption. Nongrums complaint included other former officials from the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL), such as the director (distribution), chief engineers, company secretary, and chief accounts officer, among others. These officials were mentioned in relation to corruption allegations regarding the Saubhagya scheme. Nongrum emphasized the importance of addressing corruption issues in Meghalaya, stating that his complaint was filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act due to the alleged misappropriation of public funds by these former public servants. He pointed out that the CAG report, now in the public domain since its tabling in the state Assembly on September 22 of the previous year, highlighted significant audit findings, including Rs.156.14 crore in avoidable expenditure at MePDCL. This particular finding, documented in para 3.3 of the report, underscored concerns about the accountability of public funds, specifically related to decisions made by MePDCL on awarding contracts under the Saubhagya scheme. Nongrum expressed his expectation that the Lokayukta would handle his complaint with due diligence, noting the critical issues of corruption and drug addiction currently impacting the state. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin announced on Friday that the ruling DMK will amend the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937, to ensure stringent punishment for manufacturing and selling illicit liquor, even as the toll in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy rose to 65 within a week. The tragedy in Kallakurichi stemmed from people drinking hooch laced with methanol on June 18, resulting in the deaths of at least 65 people. (PTI) I would like to inform this House that a bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937, will be introduced in the Legislative Assembly tomorrow to make the punishment for such crimes more severe and to completely curb the crimes, the chief minister told the state assembly on Friday amid protests by Opposition parties who have been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. He added: I feel that the punishment for the crime of brewing and selling illicit arrack, which poses a threat to life, is insufficient. The development comes as consumption of illicit liquor laced with methanol has claimed 65 lives since June 18, with 19 people still undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, AIADMKs ally Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) met Governor RN Ravi on Friday seeking a CBI enquiry into the case, days after separate delegations of the BJP and the AIADMK met Ravi with the same demand. The Raj Bhavan later issued a statement, saying: DMDK General Secretary Tmt. Premalatha Vijayakant, along with her delegation, met with Honble Governor Thiru R. N. Ravi presented a memorandum expressing profound concern regarding the tragic fatalities from illicit liquor consumption in Kallakurichi, demanding a CBI inquiry. The CB-CID is currently investigating the case in which 11 accused have been arrested. The principal opposition, AIADMK, has been suspended for the entire assembly session concluding on June 29 for disrupting the House over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy incident. The issue has become a political setback for the ruling DMK. Ever since the current session began on June 20, AIADMK MLAs have been attending the assembly session wearing black shirts, holding placards saying Resign Stalin and raising slogans leading to their eviction. The Madras high court which is hearing AIADMKs petition, seeking a CBI probe, on June 26 gave the government time until July 3 to file a status report. Nalanda: For the faculty of the College of Horticulture, Noorsarai in Bihars Nalanda district, 51-year-old Sanjeev Kumar was just one of the many, if a little errant, technical assistants employed with the college. Outside of work, the rest of the staff knew little about him, except that he often took unsanctioned leave, and then submitted medical certificates later. Sanjeev Kumar, alias Sanjeev Mukhia, alias Lutan Mukhiya. On May 5, a day when 2.4 million students sat for the NEET-UG competitive examinations, Kumar played truant again. Calls to his phone went unanswered, and nine days later, college superintendent Pranay Kumar Pankaj sent him a show-cause notice. A reply arrived on May 20a medical certificate ostensibly from the Patna Medical College and Hospital which claimed that Kumar had a severe issue with his spinal cord and needed a months leave. The letter did not say what type of leave he wanted, and it was vague. So we neither approved or denied the request. We decided we would deal with him when he returned, Pankaj said. Then, sometime last week, Pankaj and the rest of the college was stunned. Across their television screens were photographs of Sanjeev Kumara man the police now believe is the mastermind behind the alleged leak of the NEET-UG examination in Bihar, and the lynchpin of a gang that indulged in this fraud with regularity. His role, senior Bihar police officials have said has been traced to a leak of the 2023 Bihar constable examination, and he was in jail for four months in another paper leak in Uttarakhand in 2016. His son, Shiv Kumar, is currently in jail, accused of leaking the Bihar Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE III) in March 2024, and selling it to candidates for sums ranging from 20 to 35 lakh. The man drove to work in a car and kept to himself. No one here had a clue about his criminal ways. This is what we told the police officials who came here last week, Pankaj said. A senior Bihar police official, who said that Kumar, also known as Sanjeev Mukhia, could be arrested soon, and had made crores from his crimes. If he took 25 lakh from one candidate, and the probe has revealed there were between 20 and 24 students who got the question paper on May 4, the money they made from one centre is close to at least 5 crore. For the last ten days then, vehicles have stormed in and out not just of the college but the village of Shahpur Balwa, about 50 kilometres away from Patna. Baldev Kumar, a neighbour who spent his teenage years around Mukhia said, There was something different about him. He always wanted to go to Patna, and moved there 7 to 8 years ago where he lived with his son and wife. His younger brother and his father are both still farmers. We knew his son(Dr Shiv ) had been arrested in a paper leak case some years ago but the family told us that he was framed. His wife Mamata won the Panchayat Elections and was appointed Mukhia. That is why everyone calls him Mukhia. Mamta Devi, Mukhias wife, had even contested the 2020 assembly elections from Harnaut assembly seat in 2019, but finished second. Mukhias neighbour, who asked not to be named said, Theirs is the only home with a refrigerator and a washing machine. Whenever he came home, he arrived in a car. We could all see the vehicle because he had to park it outside because there is no road that leads to their house. They were just farmers like us to begin with, but their lifestyle is different. Now we know how they had the money. But Mukhias mother Jasoda Devi, who lives in a two storey house with her husband and younger son, Rajiv, however said that he had been framed in a political rivalry. We had differences with some politicians in our district, and that is why we are in this mess. The police and CBI has come to ask about my sons whereabouts but I do not know where he is. But if he is guilty, he should surrender, Devi said. Hyderabad, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday said Warangal should be developed 'on par with' Hyderabad and asked officials to prepare a 'Master Plan-2050' for the city's comprehensive development. Telangana CM asks officials to prepare Master Plan-2050 for development of Warangal Reddy, who held a review on Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation development with ministers and officials during a visit to Warangal, instructed the officials to take steps to develop it as a heritage city. He told them to complete land acquisition for developing Inner and Outer Ring Roads for the city and to furnish full details regarding the requirements of funds for it. The chief minister suggested to them developing the proposed Outer Ring Road in such a way to connect one national highway with another in the city. He also asked the officials to ensure that a road is developed to connect the Outer Ring Road to Textile Park in the city. The chief minister also directed the officials to prepare plans to develop an underground drainage system under the 'Smart City mission', to lay drinking water pipelines and also to prevent encroachment of 'Nalas' . He expressed anger over the escalation in the estimated cost of construction of the super-specialty hospital in Warangal, the release said. He questioned the authorities about increasing the estimated cost of hospital construction to 1,726 crore from 1,100 crore without any approval. How can the estimated cost be increased by 626 crore by 'oral orders'?, he asked. Reddy told the officials to conduct a 'full forensic audit' on the construction cost, it said. Later, speaking at the inauguration of a private hospital, he said the government is developing Telangana as a 'medical tourism hub'. The government is thinking of providing a 'digital health profile card' and to facilitate free medical treatment to every citizen in the state, the release quoted him as saying. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Hyderabad: Telangana veteran Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Dharmapuri Srinivas passed away due to prolonged illness at his residence in the early hours of Saturday, his family members said on Saturday. (Sourced Photo) Srinivas was 76 and is survived by two sons. His elder son Dharmapuri Sanjay is a Congress leader and ex-mayor of Nizamabad, and his younger son, Arvind Dharmapuri is presently a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Nizamabad. My father Srinivas, fondly called Seenanna is no more. I will miss you, daddy! He is my father, my mentor and teacher. He taught me how to fight and how not to fear. He told me to love people and live for people. Daddy, you will always be with me and within me, a post from Arvind on Facebook at 3.30am on Saturday read. A veteran Congress leader, Srinivas was a three-time MLA from Nizamabad (rural) in 1989, 1999 and 2004. He was also a two-time president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee and played a key role in bringing the party to power in 2004 and 2009. Popularly known as DS, Srinivas served as minister for rural development and information and public relations in the then Congress-led central government between 1989 and 1994 and again as higher education and intermediate education in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government between 2004 and 2009. Srinivas also played a key role in the Congress party taking up the Telangana cause. He was instrumental in the alliance between the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) in 2004. After the bifurcation of the combined state, Srinivas resigned from the Congress and joined the BRS on July 2, 2015. He was subsequently made Rajya Sabha member but was sidelined by the party after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on the pretext that he had supported his son Arvind from Nizamabad against BRS president K Chandrasekhar Raos daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha in the Lok Sabha election. After the completion of his Rajya Sabha term in 2022, he returned to the Congress but did not play any active role and withdrew from active politics due to his ill health. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president and chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his cabinet colleagues expressed shock over the demise of Srinivas and extended their condolences to the bereaved family members. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Saturday tabled an amendment bill in the state assembly to further strengthen the provisions of Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937, which aims to ensure stringent punishment for manufacturing and selling illicit liquor, news agency ANI reported. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin speaks during the Budget Session of the State Assembly, in Chennai on Monday. (File photo) (ANI) The bill provides for various punishments for offences like import, export, transport, possession, manufacture, bottling and consumption of illicit liquor. The Tamil Nadu Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2024 shall come into force on such date as notified by the government. It substantially enhances the term of imprisonment and quantum of fine for various offences under sections 4,5,6,7 and 11 of the act. Accordingly, a maximum punishment of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a penalty of up to 5 lakhs has been proposed in the amendment. In case of death due to consumption of illicit liquor, then the punishment for bootleggers will be rigorous imprisonment for life with a fine not less than 10 lakh, the act said. The development comes after 65 people died and over 200 affected by consuming toxic methanol-laced illicit liquor since June 18 in Kallakurichi district of northern Tamil Nadu. Six women are among the deceased and 20 persons are still under treatment across hospitals in Kallakurichi, Salem and Puducherry. Also read | Families of Kallakurichi victims shattered, question availability of hooch Introducing the bill, Stalin said the government is not hiding anything and people in connection with the tragedy have been arrested. This government is determined to eliminate illicit liquor. After the Kallakurichi incident, I had a meeting with collectors and police officials. I had said in that meeting that if any life is lost in the future, the Police Inspector and the district superintendent of police will be responsible," Stalin added. Stalin said his government is taking all steps to reduce illicit liquor in the state. He also appealed "to keep politics aside and work unitedly to eradicate drugs in Tamil Nadu." The hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi had become a big political setback to the ruling DMK, ahead of assembly by-poll in the Vikravandi constituency in the neighbouring Villupuram district. The principal opposition party AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party led separate delegations to the Governor RN Ravi's office demanding a CBI enquiry into the tragedy. Also read | AIADMK MLAs meet Tamil Nadu Governor as row over hooch deaths heats up AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami led a one-day symbolic hunger strike on Thursday demanding the same. The former chief minister accused the TN government of being involved in diversionary politics by being indifferent in its actions over the hooch deaths, reported PTI. The case is currently under investigation by the CB-CID under the state police. On Friday, the CB-CID filed a petition in a local Kallakurichi court seeking custodial interrogation of 11 of the total accused persons arrested so far. (With ANI, PTI inputs) Chennai, The Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board did not initiate effective action to bring the inter-state migrant workers under its fold, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said on Saturday. TNCWWB did not bring inter-state migrant workers under its fold: CAG report None of the estimated 1.45 lakh inter-state migrant construction workers were registered with the TNCWWB, the CAG Performance Audit on Welfare of Building and Other Construction Workers of Tamil Nadu for the year 2024, said. Implementation of welfare schemes for the benefit of registered workers suffered due to abnormal delays in processing of claims made by registered workers. "Lack of clarity on scheme implementation had resulted in extending benefits to potentially ineligible persons. Lack of due diligence had led to non-extending benefits to a large number of beneficiaries during COVID-19 pandemic and simultaneously, a significant number of beneficiaries received assistance more than once," the report tabled in the Assembly stated. Significant shortfalls in achievements under the Mission Mode Project, launched by the Government of India, contributed to deficiencies in the implementation of welfare schemes. The report said that TNCWWB did not maintain a database of Cess assessed, collected and remitted and thus lacked a system to ascertain the quantum and timely assessment of Cess. "The audit found significant shortcomings in registering Establishments/Employers by the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health , which adversely impacted the scope for data sharing with TNCWWB to ensure assessment of Labour Cess," it said. The audit found significant under-valuation of cost of constructions by applicants of building permits, and the local bodies who were to collect the Labour Cess at the time of approving the building permits did not have a system to ensure correctness of the estimated value of the construction. Despite the creation of TNCWWB in 1994, significant shortfalls continued in the registration process of unorganised construction workers. "The manual as well as the electronic data of registered workers had significant shortcomings. Inaccuracies in capturing vital data such as Aadhaar number, mobile number and bank account number of the registered workers compromised the quality of the registration database," it said. Deficiency in identification of eligible construction workers through proper survey had resulted in non-registration of a significant number of workers. The CAG made 20 recommendations including asking the government to ensure that TNCWWB maintains an updated database of all Cess remitting institutions and establishments and framing guidelines for the estimation of construction cost of buildings for which building permits are approved by local bodies, and TNCWWB should ensure adherence to the guidelines. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. New Delhi: The World Banks Board of Executive Directors approved $1.5 billion in financing to help India accelerate the development of low-carbon energy. The loan will promote green hydrogen production, scale up renewable energy, and stimulate finance for low-carbon energy investments. Last year, the World Bank approved the first iteration of the loan, which was also of similar magnitude. All finance should be climate finance in todays world and the courageous countries that embrace energy transition will be the biggest beneficiaries going forward, World Bank country director Auguste Tano Kouame said in an interview. Kouame also said the World Bank will be rolling out concessional loans for global challenges related to the climate crisis. World Bank India director Auguste Tano Kouame (Sourced Photo) How will the new loan help India achieve its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement? Indias NDCs are quite ambitious. India wants to increase installed capacity for non-fossil fuel-based power sources equivalent to 50% of the countrys requirement by 2030; reduce the emissions intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 45% from 2005 levels by the year 2030; and increase carbon sink capacity of the economy by increasing Indias forest cover. This operation will help with the first two objectives. The National Green Hydrogen Mission wants to mobilise $100 billion worth of investments in the production of green hydrogen and electrolysers by 2030, which will correspond to about 5 million metric tonnes per year (MTPA) of green hydrogen produced by 2030. So, that will help reduce the CO2 content of GDP. The operation that we just approved as well as the first operation that was approved last year, will help with measures to increase the production of green hydrogen and measures to increase the production of renewable energy. This is because we recognise that if we want green hydrogen ambitions to be met, renewable energy will play a critical role and needs to be increased manifolds. Are you seeing an increase in interest in investing in green hydrogen? We are already seeing that. Since the first operation (loan) was approved, the private sector already expressed interest in investing in green hydrogen worth up to $ 70 billion, as per our calculation. They are already making very quick progress. We are estimating the contribution of this loan operation up to 2026. By 2026, our support will contribute to incentivising production capacity up to three million metric tonnes of green hydrogen. The operation will also support the incentives to achieve of 3GW worth of electrolysers produced in India. That will contribute to reduced reliance on imported electrolysers. Further, the government has issued a tender notice that they will buy a given quantity of green hydrogen for fertilizers in the form of green ammonia and bulk purchase for refineries. One of the major issues in climate negotiations this year is climate finance. Some UN estimates say developing countries need $2.4 trillion a year to transition. How can the World Bank help address this? My personal view is that there is no such thing as climate finance. In todays economy every finance, every investment should be climate finance. If you were to need trillions to develop an economy, and you expect the world to give some additional money for climate finance... no. The trillions that you are using or whatever amount, should be your climate finance. Climate finance is not going to come from another planet. Its going to come from Planet Earth and on this planet, there is a limited pot of money that all the countries are using. My plea would be that the whole world should say ok, the money we are getting from taxes and other sources... all the money we should use for climate either for adaptation or for mitigation. But if you say we are going to use this pot of money for traditional ways like building polluting industries and then expect somebody is going to give climate finance then it will not happen. Countries that are going to do the courageous thing are going to be the biggest beneficiaries. The World Banks view is that countries need development financing and we are going to work with countries to have more development funding available and support the green transition agenda. Look at our portfolio now, its all green financing. Around 20 years ago there was hardly any green financing. Now we will not invest in infrastructure that is not resilient. India issued its first green bond in 2023 and under our cooperation, we are going to work with the government to issue another $6 billion worth of sovereign green bonds. How will the Loss and Damage fund for which the World Bank is host and trustee be operationalised? Could you explain to a layperson how it works? The loss and Damage fund is not relevant for India. Loss and Damage fund is good for small islands in the Caribbean and Pacific and low and medium countries that are hit repeatedly with climate shocks. The fund will help them finance projects either through direct financing or by reducing the cost of borrowing. How can the indebtedness of developing countries be addressed through concessional loans? Do you have any plans for that? In India, the window that which World Bank uses to provide loans is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It is not as concessional as the International Development Association. India has graduated from IDA because it has done very well economically. But for IBRD countries also we recognise there is a need for concessional loans especially for global challenges or global public goods like addressing climate change. For projects that support the climate agenda or benefit the global economy, we are coming up with a framework for financial incentives. So even IBRD countries can have some concessionality built into the loan because what they are doing is good for the world. This is an innovation that our new President Ajay Banga has come up with. It will be effective soon. Heavy rain hit Haridwar on Saturday afternoon, causing the Sukhi river to flood and wash away numerous parked cars. The rainwater also entered homes and flooded major roads in the town. A Uttarakhand Police personnel advises people as the water level of river Ganga rises amid heavy rainfall, in Haridwar on Saturday. (ANI) Normally dry, the Sukhi riverbed is often used as a parking area. However, the sudden flood carried cars away into the river, which flows into the Ganga nearby. Due to heavy rains in Haridwar, the water level of Ganga has increased considerably. Some people had parked their vehicles near dry Sukhi river instead of parking places, which started flowing into the Ganga river due to heavy rains, Uttarakhand police said in a statement. There has been no loss of life in the incident, police said. Please park your vehicles in the designated parking places only, it advised people. ALSO READ- Uttarakhand CM meets PM Modi, seeks support on hydro, infrastructure projects People were seen gathered on bridges near Har ki Pauri to record the sight of the cars being swept away on their phones. ALSO READ- Highest rainfall recorded on a June day in Delhi in 88 years Check video of Haridwar rain Uttarakhand weather forecast On Friday, southwest monsoon covered whole Uttarakhand. The monsoon has progressed further, covering the remaining parts of East Uttar Pradesh and extending into more areas of West Uttar Pradesh as of Saturday, the India Meterological Department said. ALSO READ- Delhi rains: Bodies of 3 workers trapped in under-construction basement recovered IMD has predicted very heavy isolated rainfall in the state from June 30 to July 3. A low-pressure system is currently located over the northwest Bay of Bengal, near the north Odisha-Gangetic West Bengal coasts, according to the weather office. Additionally, cyclonic circulations have developed over northeast Rajasthan, eastern Uttar Pradesh bordering Bihar, and northwest Uttar Pradesh at lower tropospheric levels, it stated. Ravinder Kumar, son of the deceased cab driver Ramesh Kumar, who died on Friday after a portion of T1 terminal in Delhi airport collapsed on his car amid heavy rains, alleged delay on part of the police in informing the actual medical condition of his father, PTI reported. Parked vehicles are damaged by the collapse of a departure terminal canopy at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport(AP) He said that the family received information on Friday morning that his father had fainted at the airport. On reaching the airport, they were asked to go to the police station with the police personnel, Ravinder told PTI. "We asked them several times in which hospital they had admitted him. There was no response. At around 4 pm, we were informed that he had died, said Ravinder. One person died and six injured after the canopy of T1 terminal of the Delhi airport collapsed over the forecourt amid heavy rains on Friday morning. The accident led to flight cancellations and airlines shifted operations to T2 and T3 terminals, as arrivals and departures at T1 terminal remains suspended until further notice. Ravinder, who recently graduated from school had alleged criminal negligence on part of the government. Native of Uttar Pradesh, the deceased cab driver migrated to the national capital in search of work. He was the sole breadwinner of his family of four, the Hindu reported. Speaking to ANI, Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said a structural preliminary inspection would be done at all the airports to prevent such incidents. The Civil aviation ministry had assigned a technical team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, to examine the cause of the roof collapse. The ministry sought a report on the structural strength from all the airports within 2-5 days. Based on the report, required necessary measures would to be taken to prevent such collapse incidents in the future, Naidu had said. GMR-owned Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the Delhi airport operator had setup a technical committee to probe the cause of terminal roof collapse. The Delhi Police have registered a first information report (FIR) under sections 304A (death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code. Police said they will carry out the probe to ascertain the reasons that led to the collapse of the structure and fix the responsibility of the agency and people whose job was to ensure its maintenance. As per IMD, parts of the national capital near the airport recorded a massive 228.1 mm of rainfall in 24 hours making it one of the wettest days in June for Delhi. Massive rains led to waterlogging across several parts of the city, affecting water and power supply. (With PTI, ANI inputs) The Karnataka high court on Friday extended its interim order restraining the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, even as the 81-year-old approached court, seeking quashing of the case. Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa. (PTI) A single bench of justice Krishna S Dixit extended the relief it had granted to Yediyurappa on June 14 as the latters plea for anticipatory bail came up for fresh hearing, and permitted the prosecution to file its objection to the petition. It also sought CIDs response to a second petition filed by the BJP leader, seeking quashing of the case. The developments came a day after CID, which is probing the allegations, filed a charge sheet against Yediyurappa at the Fast Track Court 1 for Pocso Act cases in Bengaluru. The extension of the restrictions on arrest will continue till the next hearing. The matter has been posted for next week, a court official aware of the developments said, seeking anonymity. CID has been asked to file its objections to the plea on anticipatory bail and another petition seeking quashing of the case, the official added. Senior CID officers did not comment on the ongoing legal proceedings. Yediyurappa was booked on March 14 under provisions of the Pocso Act and Indian Penal Code after the teenagers mother, in a complaint with police, alleged he molested her daughter during a meeting at his residence in Dollars Colony in February this year. The case was handed over to CID for a detailed inquiry, even as the veteran BJP leader dismissed the allegation and vowed to deal with it legally. In its 714-page charge sheet filed on Thursday, CID alleged that Yediyurappa sexually abused the minor at his residence on February 2 when the mother-daughter duo visited him to seek help in another abuse case. The document, reviewed by HT, outlined the sequence of events, saying Yediyurappa held the girls hand and took her to a meeting room, secured the door, and asked her if she remembered the face of the person who previously harmed her. When she responded affirmatively twice, he inquired about her age and then touched her inappropriately, the probe agency said. The charge sheet also alleged that Yediyurappa offered money to the girl and her mother. He took some money from his pocket and put it in the hand of the aggrieved girl and went out. Then the accused told the complainant who was sitting in the hall that he would not be able to do anything in her case, it said. CID further alleged that on February 20, after the complainant uploaded a video related to the incident at Yediyurappas residence on her Facebook account, the BJP leader, through his accomplices, coerced her into deleting the clip. After the mother died of cancer in May, the survivors brother approached the high court with a complaint that the probe into the incident had not made any progress. The charge sheet lists 74 witnesses and also names Arun YM, M Rudresh and G Mariswamy Yediyurappas aides, as accused. In addition to charges of sexual harassment and assault under section 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 8 of the Pocso Act, Yediyurappa faces charges under sections 204 (destruction of document to prevent its production as evidence) and 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender) of IPC. Yediyurappa has been questioned by CID twice so far. While restraining CID from arresting the BJP leader on June 14, the high court had criticised the state over its approach and the need to apprehend him. If an ex-chief minister is treated that way, I am just wildly thinking, what will happen to a layman the way things have happened, there is doubt that there is something hidden in this matter, the court said. The Telugu Desam Party-led National Democratic Alliance government in Andhra Pradesh on Friday alleged that the previous YSR Congress party government had diverted more than 3,385.58 crore released by the Centre towards completion of works on Polavaram major irrigation project being built on the Godavari River. The Naidu-led government on Friday released a white paper on the status of the Polavaram project works. (Hindustan Times) The government released a white paper on the status of the Polavaram project works during a press conference held at the state secretariat, where chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that an amount of 11,762.47 crore had been spent on the project between April 1, 2014 and May 31, 2019. He added that the Centre had reimbursed 6,764.16 crore of this expenditure, and the remaining 4,998.31 crore was pending release by May 31, 2019, when the YSRCP government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power. The amount was subsequently released. Between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2024, the Jagan government had spent only 4,996.53 crore, though the Central government had released an amount of 8,382.11 crore to the state for completion of Polavaram project works. Thus, an amount of 3,385.58 crore was diverted by the Jagan government for other schemes, instead of spending the same on the Polavaram project, Naidu alleged. He said the diversion of funds had badly affected the progress of the works of the project, including land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of the project evacuees. Payment of bills amounting to 2,697 crore were still pending as of May 31, 2024. All the executing agencies of the project have practically stopped work due to non-payment of their pending bills, he said. The chief minister said during the five-year regime of the YSRCP, the project works had come to a virtual standstill. Only 3.84% of civil works were executed, while no work was carried out on the right and left main canals and distributary network. Even under land acquisition and R&R, only 3.89% progress was achieved, he said. Giving a detailed explanation in the white paper on what went wrong with the Polavaram project in the last five years, Naidu said the decision of the Jagan government to pre-close the agreement signed with the original contractor and allotting the works to a new contractor in the name of reverse tendering led to the whole chaos. Within a day of taking over as the chief minister, Jagan directed stoppage of works of the Polavaram project by the executing agencies Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd and Bekem Infra Projects Private Ltd in June 2019 and ordered termination of their contracts, he said. The chief minister pointed out that the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) which was specially constituted by the Government of India to execute the project, had observed at its meeting on August 13, 2019, that there was no ground nor was there any necessity for pre-closure of the contracts and rendering of works, in view of satisfactory progress of works by the existing contractors. It also warned of additional financial liability on the state government and said the Centre cannot be made accountable for the cost overrun, Naidu said. As part of the reverse tendering, the Jagan government signed a new agreement with Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) in November 2019. The government then claimed that the reverse tendering would result in saving of 628.47 crore. But, it signed two new contracts worth 2,268 crore with the same company for additional works at higher rates, resulting in additional expenditure on the government, the chief minister said. With regard to the damages caused to the Polavaram project during the YSRCP regime, Naidu said the previous government had failed to take necessary action to plug the two gaps left in the upstream cofferdam, resulting in deep scouring of the riverbed. The diaphragm wall (on which the earth-cum-rockfill (ECRF) dam is constructed), was damaged due to heavy floods in July 2020. A study made by experts from Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) in August, 2021, blamed it on inadequate construction and contract management, contractor changes, lack of strategic planning and coordination, and frequent design changes/deviations for the damages caused to the project, Naidu said, adding that between July 2020 to June 2024, work on the diaphragm wall and ECRF dam was at a total standstill. Stating that the Polavaram project has been brought into a very difficult situation, Naidu said the revised estimate of the Phase-I of the project was put at 30,436.95 crore as recommended by the Revised Cost Committee (RCC). After deducting the expenditure spent, the balance amount required for completing the project with impounding of water up to 41.15m is 12,157 crore. This is pending approval by the Centre, he said. While international expert design consultant AFRY India Pvt Ltd., is making seepage assessment from the coffer dams to find out vulnerable points, international experts from Canada and United States of America (USA) have also been engaged to study the extent of damage and to suggest steps for restoration of works. The government aims to complete R&R of displaced families by March 2026 and all the components of the project necessary for impounding 115.43 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water in the reservoir will be completed by June 2028, Naidu added. 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. Indian Designers such as Gaurav Gupta and Rahul Mishra are redefining global fashion with cultural riches. 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. Nita Ambani and Mukesh Ambani hosted RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at their residence, Antilia, in Mumbai ahead of their son Anant Ambani's wedding with Radhika Merchant. Paparazzi pages shared videos from the occasion on Instagram. It shows the family greeting the RSS chief outside their residence in Mumbai. (Also Read | Why is Isha Ambani carrying twin robots in these pics and what do they mean? Schiaparelli 'accessory' explained) Nita Ambani, in a silk saree, and Radhika Merchant, in an anarkali, greet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat with Mukesh Ambani and Anant Ambani. (Instagram) What Nita Ambani and Radhika Merchant wore for the occasion Nita Ambani opted for a gorgeous silk saree for the occasion. She greeted Mohan Bhagwat with folded hands while Mukesh Ambani accompanied her. Meanwhile, bride-to-be Radhika Merchant stunned in a traditional outfit - she wore a printed anarkali suit set. Lastly, Anant Ambani complemented his wife-to-be in a tangerine kurta, matching jacket, and white pants. Keep reading as we decode Nita Ambani and Radhika's traditional looks for the occasion. Nita Ambani's orange silk saree features gold brocade leaf embroidery and broad patti borders on the pallu. She wore the nine yards in traditional style, letting the pallu fall from her shoulder in a floor-grazing length. She styled the traditional look with a matching blouse, a statement neckpiece, earrings, rings, kadhas, a gajra with orange flowers to decorate her side-parted bun, smoky eye shadow, bindi, and minimal makeup. Radhika Merchant chose a printed anarkali suit set for the occasion. The bride-to-be wore a traditional Gujarati print suit in multiple hues, including red, white, green, orange, and yellow. She draped the dupatta of her suit set on the shoulders to complete the look. White heels, striking makeup, and minimal accessories completed the styling. Lastly, a half-up, half-down hairdo accessorised with a bejewelled clip rounded off the ethnic look. About Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani's wedding Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant will tie the knot in Mumbai on July 12. The couple's wedding festivities will continue for three days till July 14. Earlier this month, Radhika, Anant and the Ambani family hosted a grand pre-wedding celebration in Italy. They took their friends and family on a luxury cruise. International Asteroid Day 2024: The universe is full of surprises, and asteroids are one of them. They are neither planets nor comets. Asteroids are objects, either metallic, or icy bodies, or rocks that spin the orbit within an inner solar system. Asteroids do not have an atmosphere of their own and they vary in shape and sizes as well. Sometimes, an asteroid can be as small as a small rubble pile to as big as a dwarf planet with 1000 kilometres of diameter. However, asteroids can cause severe damage if they enter the Earths atmosphere. Creating awareness about asteroid impact and how hazardous it can get is essential. To make people understand, International Asteroid Day is observed every year. Every year, International Asteroid Day is observed on June 30.(Unsplash) As we gear up to observe the important day, here are a few things to keep in mind. International Asteroid Day 2024: Date Every year, International Asteroid Day is observed on June 30. This year, International Asteroid Day falls on Sunday. International Asteroid Day 2024: History In 1908, the asteroid event also known as the Tunguska Event occurred in a Siberian desert area; the area is now referred to as Krasnoyarsk Krai. The asteroid did not leave any impact crater it is believed to have disintegrated after entering the earths surface. The eyewitnesses confirmed the phenomenon, and this event is referred to as one of the largest asteroid impacts recorded in human history. Stephen Hawking, along with a few other people, including an Apollo 9 astronaut and Brian May, the guitarist for Queen and also an astrophysicist, founded International Asteroid Day. In 2014, the day was officially launched. In 2016, the United Nations announced the day to be celebrated every year. International Asteroid Day 2024: Significance June 30 was chosen as the day to celebrate International Asteroid Day to commemorate the Tunguska Event. The best way to observe the day is by learning more about asteroids, understanding how they can impact us, and becoming more interested in asteroid events. Skin allergies and skin irritation can lead to inflammation. This can further increase the risk of skin cancer over time. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Shifa Yadav, Consultant, Dermatology at Artemis Hospital Gurugram, said, Skin allergies are a widespread concern, with symptoms ranging from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Although they are generally manageable, certain skin allergies and the resulting chronic inflammation can potentially increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Skin allergies and skin irritation can lead to inflammation, further increasing the risk of skin cancer over time.(Unsplash) Dr Kandra Prasanth Reddy, Radiation Oncologist, American Oncology Institute, Hyderabad, further noted down the common skin allergens and how they can enhance the risk of skin cancer: ALSO READ: Why do we get skin allergies? Health experts share causes, symptoms, treatment Nickel: Nickel is a widespread allergen found in jewellery, coins, and household items. Repeated exposure to nickel can lead to allergic contact dermatitis, characterised by chronic inflammation. This persistent inflammatory response can damage skin cells and DNA, which might elevate the risk of developing skin cancer. Fragrances: Fragrances in perfumes, lotions, and soaps are known to cause allergic reactions in many individuals. Chronic exposure to these allergens can lead to dermatitis and ongoing skin irritation. This continual immune response may contribute to skin cancer over time. Preservatives: Preservatives such as parabens and formaldehyde-releasing agents are common in cosmetics and skincare products. They can cause allergic reactions and sustained skin inflammation, further leading to skin cancer risk. Chemical sunscreens: Ingredients in chemical sunscreens, like oxybenzone and avobenzone, protect against UV radiation but can also cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Although these ingredients are essential for preventing sunburn and UV damage, the allergic reactions they provoke can lead to chronic inflammation, potentially raising the risk of skin cancer. ALSO READ: How important is sunscreen for Indians; the right way to use it for skin cancer prevention Hair dyes: Certain chemicals in hair dyes, such as para-phenylenediamine (PPD), can cause allergic reactions. Continuous exposure and allergic reactions to these chemicals can result in long-term skin inflammation, which might increase the risk of skin cancer. Dr. Shifa Yadav shared insights about a few skin allergies that can increase the risk of skin cancer: ALSO READ: How to spot skin cancer: Symptoms, treatment and protection Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): Atopic dermatitis is characterised by chronic inflammation and itchy, red patches on the skin. Prolonged inflammation from eczema can lead to DNA damage in skin cells, increasing the risk of skin cancer. Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with an allergen, leading to an inflammatory response. Common allergens include nickel, fragrances, and certain preservatives found in cosmetics and personal care products. Chronic allergic contact dermatitis can result in persistent skin inflammation. Photosensitivity: Photosensitivity, or heightened sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light, can be caused by certain medications, medical conditions, or exposure to specific chemicals. People with photosensitivity experience severe skin reactions upon UV exposure, leading to chronic inflammation and an increased risk of skin cancer. Chronic Actinic Dermatitis: Chronic actinic dermatitis is a condition characterised by severe skin reactions to UV light, similar to photosensitivity but more persistent and widespread. This chronic condition results in prolonged inflammation. A 42-year-old Australian man faces charges related to an evil twin scam involving the use of fake free WiFi networks to steal personal data from unsuspecting users at airports across Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Authorities claim to have retrieved personal data from numerous individuals, with ongoing forensic analysis of seized devices. (Pic used for representation)(Representative image) According to a report from news.com.au, the man deployed a device in various locations, including airports and domestic flights, to replicate legitimate WiFi networks as evil twin copies. Authorities claim to have retrieved personal data from numerous individuals, with ongoing forensic analysis of seized devices. Also Read | RBI warns banks of cyberattacks, scheduled commercial banks at highest risk Here's how the scam took place The man allegedly operated a device offering free WiFi, which directed users to a counterfeit webpage when attempting to connect their devices. According to police, users were prompted to log in using their email or social media credentials. Authorities said the man stored these details on his devices, potentially gaining access to further personal information such as online communications, stored media, and banking details. The purported scam was revealed in April when an airline reported a suspicious WiFi network during a domestic flight, prompting police involvement. Also Read | Bengaluru student dies by suicide after falling victim to cyber fraud: Report How was he caught? The report said Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigators searched the man's belongings upon his arrival at Perth Airport on April 19, following an interstate flight. They seized a portable wireless access device, a laptop, and a mobile phone from his hand luggage. Subsequently, officers also raided at his residence in Palmyra, near Fremantle. A second search warrant was executed at his home on May 8, resulting in the man's arrest and charges being laid for a series of offences. Police claim to have retrieved personal data belonging to numerous individuals. Internet users should be cautious AFP Western Command Cybercrime Department 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, police said. Police advised that individuals using public hotspots should consider installing a reputable VPN on their devices to encrypt and secure their data. They also suggested avoiding sensitive activities like banking while connected to public networks and disabling file sharing. After use, it was advised to adjust device settings to 'forget network'. Additionally, it was recommended to turn off wi-fi on devices before going out to prevent automatic connection to hotspots. People using accessible wi-fi networks in airport areas or on domestic flights were encouraged to change their passwords and report any suspicious activity to cyber.gov.au. A 19-year-old Indian student who scammed his way into a top US university spoke about his very structured fraud in a Reddit post which ultimately led to his downfall. Aryan Anand falsified documents and even faked his fathers death to secure admission at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania on a full scholarship. Aryan Anand got a full ride to Lehigh University by falsifying documents.(Facebook/lehighu) His carefully structured scam unravelled after he bragged about it in an anonymous Reddit post. In the confession titled I have built my life and career on lies and fraud, Anand revealed how he faked his Class 12 boards degree, his school principals email address and his fathers death certificate to study in the US. He said his story began when his Class 10 boards were cancelled. From that day till now, I havent seriously studied for even two hours, he wrote. Anand said he opted for science in Class 11 but soon lost interest in studies again. After barely passing Class 11, he decided to get serious in Class 12 and even studied hard for two or three days - but soon fell into old habits again. There was a time in my life when I was just eating, sleeping and watching movies, he wrote. Soon, however, he realised he needed to get into a good college. Knowing he would never secure admission into an Indian college with his marks, Anand planned a very, very structured fraud to get into an American university. Very structured fraud In his post, screenshots of which have been shared online, the 19-year-old went into minute details of his unethical plan. He first faked educational transcripts by creating a fake stamp and seal of his school principal. Then, he bought a website domain with a name similar to his schools name and created fake email addresses of the school and its principal. Anand used ChatGPT to write his admission essay. He then applied to several universities in the United States and as expected, I got rejected from every Ivy League, he wrote. Anand did, however, manage to secure admission to one university. Very, very wrong One college, I wouldn't name for obvious reasons, it's a top 25 in the US and a reputed college. I don't know how they accepted me, but gave me a very very good financial aid package which covered almost everything except my meal plan cost, he wrote. Anand said his meal plan would have cost 5 to 6 lakh annually. He admitted that his parents could afford to pay that much, but still he wanted to pay nothing at all. He then did something he himself described as very very wrong. I created a completely fake death certificate of my father (I know you all are like what), but I did and sent that to my college, saying my dad got cancer and is dead, he said. The university which we now know is Lehigh instantly agreed to increase his financial aid package. Anand therefore reached the US without spending a penny out of his own pocket. Once at university, he again used ChatGPT to pass his exams. In his post, he bragged about how he used AI to cheat in his exams, came back to India during term break only to drink and party with his friends, and how he even managed to snag an internship with a fake CV. I made a complete fake resume, edited my transcript to look like a 3rd-year marketing student. I didn't do a CS or any engineering student because then for internships there are technical interviews and all, so I did the marketing one which have normal interviews, Anand explained. Then, he prepared answers for every experience listed on his resume and learnt them by heart. I got a marketing intern position at a small insurance firm based in New York, he wrote on Reddit. It's remote work, all I have to do is send some emails and sometimes make some phone calls. It's part-time. I do it like 2-3 hrs a day, and most of the time, I just clock in and watch movies or do anything unless there is something assigned to me, and I make around 1500$ a month from it, like 1.2 lakhs in INR, he said. I just spend it on getting drinks, getting some new electronics every month, and stuff like that. I know I should be investing and stuff, but I just don't like to do anything in which my brain is involved unless it's fraud, Anand wrote. However, his carefully constructed web of lies unravelled after a Reddit moderator came across his post, did some digging and realised he was a student at Lehigh. The moderator alerted the university, following which an investigation was launched. Although Anand could have been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison for his fraud, his university reached a plea deal where he would not face a prison sentence. Instead, Anand was expelled from Lehigh and deported back to India. Former US President Barack Obama took to X to extend his support and defend President Joe Biden after he received criticism following his debate with Donald Trump. Ashneer Grover took to X to share his reaction to Barack Obamas post on the Joe Biden vs Donald Trump debate. (File Photo, AFP) "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, the former president wrote. In the following lines, he added more about what Joe Biden stands for and how this first presidential debate hasnt changed how he views the 2024 election. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November, he added while supporting his former vice president. Ashneer Grover took to the comments section of Barack Obamas post and wrote Kuchh Bhi! - it translates to anything. Take a look at the posts here: Grovers post prompted people to share several reactions, with many joking about him trying for the US Presidential race. Just like this individual who wrote, Sir, aap ban jao US ke president (Sir, you become US President). Another individual added, Sir, app se hi sikha hai (Sir, he learnt it from you). While a third commented, Pretty good roast. Not, a fourth expressed, Ashneer ji, when are you fighting elections? According to Time, in 2012, during his first presidential debate against opponent Mitt Romney, Obama, too, struggled. Many politicians said that while Romney won the debate, Obama lacked the enthusiasm needed on such a platform. However, he fought back and won the second term that year. What are your thoughts on Ashneer Grovers reaction to Barack Obama backing Joe Biden after a debate with Donald Trump? Taxpayers are filing their annual ITR returns, with the last day of the process being July 31. While some take the help of professionals, many individual taxpayers prefer filing their returns by themselves. A Delhi-based CA shared an X post for those who are filing the returns on their own. He asked them not to be penny wise and hire a CA to file their taxes. His post prompted chatter on social media, with many expressing their disagreement. A Delhi-based CA took to X, sharing how he hires professionals to file his ITR. (Unsplash/Scott Graham) If you think filing an ITR on your own is a smart decision, hear me out. I am a CA and so are my parents. We all get our ITRs filed from CAs in practice. Tax laws change frequently and are very stringent if non-compliances are made, CA Kanan Bahl wrote. In the following line, he added, Don't be penny wise, pound foolish! Take a look at the entire post here: With over 91,000 views, the post has further accumulated close to 700 likes. People posted varied comments while reacting to the share. While some completely agreed with the CA, others argued and claimed that filing ITR on their own is not a challenging task. How did X users react to the Delhi CAs post on ITR? For ITR 1 filers and even for many ITR 2 we can manage on our own. Nothing against CAs, but just because a profession exists doesn't mean everyone should be forced to depend on them, argued an individual. Bahl, in response, said, Its not about getting returns filed from CAs necessarily. Any good tax practitioner also suffices. Ive been openly advising friends here on Twitter to not run a CA practice business as its extremely competitive and has lost pricing power. Im not writing for their business but for the betterment of people. Will share a few examples soon on why it is necessary to be aware of new updates. Another person suggested, What's something that a CA can learn and others can't? Unless it is business income which needs to be audited , then there is no need for CA. Learn and do filing yourself. Even business income under presumptive taxation doesn't require audit. Do it yourself unless you can use this time to make more money. Agreeing with Bahl, a third posted, I have never once filed it on my own. Always via a CA. Same one for years. While a fourth commented, For ITR-1 filers having Form-16, it takes hardly 10-15 mins to file. You absolutely do not need a CA for that. According to the Income Tax Department of India, the prerequisites for filing ITR for individual taxpayers who are citizens of India are an active PAN and registration on the e-filing portal with a valid ID and password. What are your thoughts on this post about hiring a CA to file ITR for individuals? Wild Thang has finally won the title of the Worlds Ugliest Dog. The 8-year-old Pekingese from Oregon, USA participated in the contest five times before he could win the big prize. He has finished in the second place three times before, but Friday was a day of victory for the toothless pooch. Wild Thang, a Pekingese dog, competes during the annual World's Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, on June 21, 2024. (AFP) According to The Guardian, Wild Thang edged out seven other dogs at the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California to win the title of the Worlds Ugliest Dog. As first place winner, the Pekingese will receive a reward of $5,000, making him a very rich pet indeed. He was a fan favorite hes kind of like the bridesmaid and never the bride, judge Fiona Ma told the Associated Press. He really tugged at our heart strings and deserved to win. Wild Thang was diagnosed with canine distemper when he was just a 10-week-old puppy. The condition prevented his teeth from growing, and also caused a muscle disorder in one of his legs. Today, his fur is a frizzy gray mass, his tongue flops out and one of his legs does not work properly. For all of this, Wild Thang is still a happy and healthy dog. He is just a sweet dog I was just holding him and he loves to be held and cuddled, judge Ma told the Associated Press. Hes never had a hair cut so that is the way he is and (his owner) shaves his stomach and he likes to sleep on ice packs. Celebrating imperfections The idea behind Worlds Ugliest Dog contest is to celebrate the imperfections that make each dog unique. For nearly 50 years, the Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest has been a testament that the pedigree does not define the pet, says the contests website. The contest speaks to the importance of advocating for the adoration of all animals and the benefits of adopting. Indeed, most of the participants in the Worlds Ugliest Dog contest are rescues. If he didnt win, I wouldnt have cared. I would go again next year because I just want to support the cause, said Wild Thangs owner, Ann Lewis. A United Nations agency said it has discovered five bombs in a wall of Mosul's iconic Al-Nuri mosque, planted years ago by Islamic State group jihadists, during restoration work in the northern Iraqi city. A general view of the Grand Al-Nuri Mosque after it was evacuated due to the discovery of explosive devices inside it dating back to the time of the Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq(REUTERS) Five "large-scale explosive devices, designed to trigger a massive destruction of the site," were found in the southern wall of the prayer hall on Tuesday by the UNESCO team working at the site, a representative for the agency told AFP late Friday. Mosul's Al-Nuri mosque and the adjacent leaning minaret nicknamed Al-Hadba or the "hunchback", which dates from the 12th century, were destroyed during the battle to retake the city from IS. ALSO READ| Israel's bombs flatten swaths of Lebanon village amid fears of wider war Iraq's army accused IS, which occupied Mosul for three years, of planting explosives at the site and blowing it up. UNESCO, the UN cultural agency, has been working to restore the mosque and other architectural heritage sites in the city, much of it reduced to rubble in the battle to retake it in 2017. "The Iraqi armed forces immediately secured the area and the situation is now fully under control," UNESCO added. One bomb was removed, but four other 1.5-kilogram (3.3-pound) devices "remain connected to each other" and are expected to be cleared in the coming days, it said. - 'Complex manufacturing' - "These explosive devices were hidden inside a wall, which was specially rebuilt around them: it explains why they could not be discovered when the site was cleared by Iraqi forces" in 2020, the agency said. Iraqi General Tahseen al-Khafaji, spokesperson for the Joint Operations Command of various Iraqi forces, confirmed the discovery of "several explosive devices from ISIS jihadists in Al-Nuri mosque." He said provincial deminers requested help from the Defence Ministry in Baghdad to defuse the remaining munitions because of their "complex manufacturing". Construction work has been suspended at the site until the bombs are removed. It was from Al-Nuri mosque that Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the then-leader of IS, proclaimed the establishment of the group's "caliphate" in July 2014. The jihadists took over large swathes of territory in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, which they ruled with brutality. Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition drove IS out of Mosul in 2017. The Al-Nuri mosque derives its name from Nureddine al-Zinki, the unifier of Syria who also reigned for a time over Mosul and ordered its construction in 1172. It was destroyed and rebuilt in 1942 in a renovation project, with only the ancient minaret remaining from the original structure. The current restoration of Al-Nuri, largely funded by the United Arab Emirates, is still expected to be completed in December 2024. This, said UNESCO, will finally erase "the stigma" of IS occupation. The minaret -- which will be reconstructed at a slant upon the request of locals -- is being rebuilt with 45,000 of the original bricks saved from the rubble, only a third of the original structure. The bomb scare was not the first surprise discovery at Al-Nuri. In January 2022, restoration teams unearthed an underground prayer room from the original 12th century building. 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (AFP) 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. Saeed Jalili, steadfastly loyal to Iran's supreme leader, pushed slightly ahead of the sole moderate candidate as more votes were counted from a tightly controlled snap presidential election held amid growing public frustration and Western pressure. Iranian presidential candidate and ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili (AFP) Among more than 10.3 million ballots from Friday's election counted so far, hardline former nuclear negotiator Jalili won more than 4.26 million votes and his low-profile moderate challenger lawmaker Massoud Pezeshkian gained about 4.24 million, Interior ministry official Mohsen Eslami told state TV on Saturday. Some insiders said the turnout was around 40%, lower than expected by Iran's clerical rulers, while 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. 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 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. The clerical establishment sought a high turnout to offset a legitimacy crisis fuelled 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 programme 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. Jalili, a former diplomat, describes himself as a pious believer in "velayat-e faqih", or rule by supreme jurisprudence, Iran's system of Islamic government that provides the basis for Khamenei's paramount position. LIMITED CHOICES Iran's presidential election is a contest among a tightly controlled group of three hardline candidates and one low-profile moderate loyal to the supreme leader. A hardline watchdog body approved only six from an initial pool of 80 and two hardline candidates subsequently dropped out. Pezeshkian is backed by the reformist camp that has been largely sidelined in Iran in recent years. 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% of people voted in a parliamentary election in March. "Based on unconfirmed reports, the election is very likely heading to a second round ... 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 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 liberalisation and political pluralism. "We will respect the hijab law, but there should never be any intrusive or inhumane behaviour 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 spiralled into the biggest show of opposition to Iran's clerical rulers in years. Pezeshkian attempted to revive 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 legitimise 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 2022/23 protests, more than 500 people including 71 minors were killed, hundreds were injured and thousands arrested, rights groups said. At least nine people, including three children, were killed after heavy monsoon rains in west Nepal triggered landslides, an official said on Saturday. At least 35 people across Nepal have died in landslides, floods and lightning strikes since mid-June Five members of a family were sleeping when their house was washed away by a landslide in Malika village in Gulmi district, about 250 km (156 miles) west of Kathmandu, according to Dizan Bhattarai, a spokesman for the National Disaster Rescue and Reduction Management Authority. Bodies of all five have been recovered, Bhattarai told Reuters, adding that the family included two children. In neighbouring Syangja district, one woman and her three year old daughter died in a landslide that swept away their house, while in Baglung district, which borders Gulmi, two people were killed in another landslide. At least 35 people across Nepal have died in landslides, floods and lightning strikes since mid-June when annual monsoon rains started. Rains normally continue until mid-September. Landslides and flash floods are common in mostly mountainous Nepal during the monsoon season and kill hundreds of people every year. Islamabad, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa said on Saturday that women in the country were killed in the name of honour without fulfilling the Islamic condition of producing four witnesses in cases of adultery. Pakistan Chief Justice Isa denounces killing women in the name of honour without fulfilling Sharia laws related to adultery Speaking at a conference for justice here on the topic of 'Access to Justice for All, the Chief Justice said that the constitution mandates women's representation across all sectors. He lamented a disregard for social history within the Muslim community and condemned the misuse of honour killings in the name of dignity. He said that according to Islamic teachings, the condition of four witnesses is necessary but women are killed in the name of honour in violation of Islamic laws. He also said that accusing a woman of adultery is called a Qazf and is punishable in Islam and under laws in Pakistan. Accusing or desecrating a woman is punishable by 80 lashes in the Quran," he said, adding he had not heard anyone punished for wrongly accusing a woman of adultery. The chief justice reiterated that denying women their rightful inheritance is a serious offence against Islamic principles, highlighting such cases often arise where sons claim to have received property as a gift after the death of their father and the deceased daughters are deprived of share. He said that the Constitution guarantees the protection of women in the workplace and all children, boys and girls, from 5 to 16 years of age are entitled to free education. The chief justice said that the first word of the Quran is Iqra which does not differentiate between the two . He said that there is a Qazf in Islam and our law. Justice Isa said that Article 25 of the Constitution ensures equal treatment, emphasising that women not only enter the National Assembly through reserved seats but also win elections and become parliamentarians. He stressed women's participation in every sector, adding new laws can be adopted to protect women's rights. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Iran will hold a runoff presidential election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, an official said Saturday, after an initial vote saw the top candidates not securing an outright win. A view shows a symbolic ballot box for the presidential election in a street in Tehran, Iran June 29, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY(via REUTERS) The election this coming Friday will pit reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian against the hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Also read | Iran to hold Presidential elections on June 28 | Take a look at key candidates Mohsen Eslami, an election spokesman, announced the result in a news conference carried by Iranian state television. He said of 24.5 million votes cast, Pezeshkian got 10.4 million while Jalili received 9.4 million. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf got 3.3 million. Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi had over 206,000 votes. Iranian law requires that a winner gets more than 50% of all votes cast. If not, the races top two candidates will advance to a runoff a week later. Theres been only one runoff presidential election in Irans history: in 2005, when hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bested former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Eslami acknowledged the country's Guardian Council would need to offer formal approval, but the result did not draw any immediate challenge from contenders in the race. 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. There had 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 under house arrest, has also refused to vote along with his wife, his daughter said. Theres also been criticism that Pezeshkian represents just another government-approved candidate. In a documentary on the reformist candidate aired by state TV, one woman said her generation was moving toward the same level of animosity with the government that Pezeshkians generation had in the 1979 revolution. Raisi, 63, died in the May 19 helicopter crash that also killed the countrys foreign minister and others. He was seen as a protege of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a potential successor. 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 Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by police over allegedly improperly wearing the mandatory headscarf, or hijab. Also read | In Iran, putting the hijab at the centre for change 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, the Islamic Republic 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. Despite the recent unrest, there was only one reported attack around the election. Gunmen opened fire on a van transporting ballot boxes in the restive southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, killing two police officers and wounding others, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. The province regularly sees violence between security forces and the militant group Jaish al-Adl, as well as drug traffickers. Various reports of UFO sightings are claimed now and then in the United States. Earlier this month, workers at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre reported seeing a strange object, likely a UFO in the Colorado sky, according to the National UFO Reporting Centre (NUFORC). The agency is trusted by law enforcement, military, pilots and civilians to report sights of UFO or UAP. The UFO sight in Colorado was just above the concert venue where the employees were working at night. Employees at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado claimed sights of UFO in the night sky. Also Read: NYT columnist, Biden's close friend, says president's debate performance made him weep,' urges him to bow out Detailed encounter of UFO in Colorado The report from the centre stated that the sight of UFO was spotted on June 5 in the night sky at 01:00 am when the employees at Morrison, Colorado witnessed something in the sky above. As reported by USA Today, the workers described the object as a dark metallic ship that appeared in the north of the amphitheatre. An observer of the incident in the report said, One of our coworkers suddenly said to us, 'Hey, what is that over there? It looks like a spaceship.' We all turned to look in the direction he was pointing and sure enough, there was a UFO hovering. Disbelief in what they were saying the worker continued, We all kept asking each other, 'Are you seeing this too?'" The object hovered in the air for about 30 seconds before heading in the east direction after which disappeared into thin air when it had their full attention. The size of the object, as described, was as large as a three-storeyed office building and it flew at a speed of 5-10 mph. The report further stated, Then it started fading away until it was invisible. It didn't shoot off into the distance. It simply dissolved into the ether. We all watched it vanish. Also Read: Princess Anne back home from hospital after head injuries, won't return to royal duties for foreseeable future Previous encounters with UFO This is not a fresh account of UFO sightings in the States, such claims have been made earlier as well. Colorado has a count of 3,320 UFO sightings as reported by the centre. The most common type of reports of these sightings include visions of orbs or lights. However, the centre does not get too excited about these encounters as many objects are in the sky and can be mistaken for a UFO said Peter Davenport, director of the non-profit centre to USA Today. He said that the most trustable information of these sightings comes from pilots as they are "pretty good sources of accurate information when they see something they can't identify or explain," he said. While Joe Biden has been facing criticism for his first presidential debate performance with Donald Trump, former president's estranged niece, Mary Trump, commented on her uncle performance. Mary Trump highlighted her continued support of Biden following the debate and called Trump's performance "apocalyptically disastrous" in a Substack post.(AP ) The first 2024 presidential debate took place in Atlanta on June 27, featuring a head-to-head match between Biden and his GOP rival Trump. Since then, Biden has been under fire for his performance at the debate, during which he frequently made mistakes in his speech, lost his thread of thought, and was difficult to understand due to his scratchy voice. Following the debate, Mary highlighted her continued support of Biden and called Trump's performance "apocalyptically disastrous" in a Substack post. While acknowledging that it would be absurd to pretend that Biden had a good debate, she stressed that Trump too should be facing calls to drop out of the presidential race. Speaking honestly about Trump, she said that "if the metrics by which we're measuring success are honesty, policy, a vision for America, and the defense of democracy, had a debate so apocalyptically disastrous." She went on to say that she couldn't believe that not a single expert or a Republican official, of whom she is aware of, has asked Trump to drop out of the race. "If we're only going to count style over substance, I'll take hoarse and halting over hate-filled and unhinged every day of the week," she continued. Trump's niece attacked CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who moderated the debate in Atlanta, for allowing "Donald to steamroll the truth with an incessant stream of increasingly bizarre and dangerous lies." Citing Trump's lies during the debate, she pointed out that the GOP leader said Nancy Pelosi was responsible for Capitol riots on January 6, he had placed a restriction on the price of insulin and not Biden, and that some Democratic states permit "abortion until after birth." Earlier in June, Pelosi had told MSNBC that Trump and "his toadies do not want to face the facts," rejecting the former president's interpretation of her assertion that she was the cause of the January 6 riots. "They're trying to do revisionist history," she stated. Also Read: Aggressive Donald Trump wins first face-off against a struggling Joe Biden: The key takeaways Mary Trump calls Donald Trump a traitor In her post, Mary called Trump a "cruel, a fundamentally dishonest man, a criminal, and a traitor." She said Trump doesn't deserve any credit for blatantly lying, vigorously attacking America, or painting a terrifying picture of the country where millions of women are denied their most basic human rights. Stressing that Biden stammered a lot due to a cold, she stated, "Donald Trump is a traitor. The former should not in any way negate the latter." Washington/Islamabad, Pakistans ambassador to the US has urged the US to provide small arms and modern equipment to his country to ensure the success of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, Islamabad's newly approved counter-terrorism initiative. Pakistan seeks small arms from US for 'Operation Azm-i-Istehkam' The decision to launch the 'Azm-e-Istehkam' operation was taken on June 22 at the apex committee meeting of the National Action Plan, a strategy approved in 2014 to eliminate militancy from the country. The federal government recently approved the reinvigorated national counter-terrorism drive. Pakistan has launched Azm-i-Istehkam to oppose and dismantle terrorist networks. For that, we need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment, Ambassador Masood Khan was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. He made these remarks while addressing US policymakers, scholars, intelligentsia, and corporate leaders at a Washington think tank, the Wilson Centre, earlier this week. Khan elaborated that 'Azm-i-Istehkam' comprises three components: doctrinal, societal, and operational. He noted that work on the first two phases has already begun, with the third phase set to be implemented soon. The decision to launch a new anti-terror operation was taken when the country faced a new onslaught by the Tehreek-i-Taliban militants who, according to officials, are based in Afghanistan. Khan emphasised that Pakistan and the US should maintain strong security links, enhance intelligence cooperation, resume sales of advanced military platforms, and work on the sustainment of 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, he added. Khan argued that the bilateral relationship should be based on ground realities and not be hindered by a few issues. Secondly, one or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage, he noted. He pointed to high-level defence talks, frequent meetings, and joint military exercises like Inspired Union-2024, Falcon Talon, and Red Flag as examples of robust defence cooperation between Pakistan and the US. Khan also suggested that the US should consider Pakistan as a partner in its diplomatic efforts in Kabul and collaborate on counterterrorism and the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. In this era of renewed strategic competition, the US and Pakistan should build on existing partnerships and explore new horizons to establish the parameters of mutual interests, the envoy said. We should not base our engagement on the incongruity of expectations. Our ties should be anchored in ground realities, even as we aim for stronger security and economic partnerships. Secondly, one or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage, he said. Meanwhile, the US State Department expressed support to Pakistan. On June 26, While responding to questions State Departments spokesperson Matthew Miller said We support Pakistans efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights." Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks. No country should have to suffer such acts of terror, he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Although Sunita Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore's Boeing Starliner spacecraft was originally projected to carry out its mission for a few days, the two astronauts have been seemingly stuck in space for three weeks and counting. 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)(AP) According to the latest developments, NASA has no plans to bring back Williams and Wilmore anytime soon, and their stay could extend for months. The government agency and Boeing have still not set a date for returning the capsule Calypso to Earth. This is the first time the Boeing Starliner is carrying people. Why Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return has been further delayed? Despite helium leaks and thruster outages on its way to the ISS in June, officials have repeatedly reiterated that the two astronauts are not stranded in space and are safe and sound, docked at the station. Instead of flying back, the Starliner team right away, officials back on Earth have their target set on testing the spacecraft's thruster technology at White Sands, New Mexico, which they hope to complete before the Boeing Starliner returns home. Also read | NASA is paying Elon Musk's SpaceX $843m to destroy the International Space Station During a press conference, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said: We think the testing could take a couple of weeks. Were trying to replicate the inflight conditions as best we can on the ground. The agency is not planning to target a specific date for [for return until the testing is completed. He's previously ensured that the Starliner is capable of returning at any point if necessary. NASA and Boeing's collaboration is reportedly delaying its return for further testing to gather data about the spacecraft's performance, especially the thruster system. According to CNN, NASA is weighing its options of extending the maximum length of Starliner's mission from 45 days to 90 days. On Friday, Stich said, I want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space. Also read | Sunita Williams and other US astronauts aboard ISS forced to take shelter as Russian satellite breaks up near station As the officials are conducting tests to understand why the thrusters malfunctioned, Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the Boeing Commercial Crew Program, said, So, if (the test in New Mexico) comes back and gives us all the answers, then we can just undock and come home. Continued emphasis on how the delayed return to Earth is an optional choice, Nappi added, Were not stuck on ISS. The crew is not in any danger, and theres no increased risk when we decide to bring Suni and Butch back to Earth. The Starliner has previously taken two uncrewed spaceflights but has consequentially faced more prominent setbacks over its rival, SpaceX's Dragon. A minivan slammed into a Long Island nail salon Friday, killing four and injuring nine people inside the business at the time, a Suffolk County fire official said. Police vehicles and fire trucks stand nearby a scene where a vehicle crashed into a building, in Long Island, New York, U.S. June 28, 2024 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (@FRANCISMPU VIA X via REUTERS) The vehicle came to a stop at the back of the Hawaii Nail & Spa store in Deer Park about 4:40 p.m. There were people trapped," assistant Chief Dominic Albanese of the Deer Park Fire Department told reporters at the scene. "We extricated them and transported them to area hospitals. The driver was semiconscious and taken to a hospital, Albanese said. It was not immediately clear whether the crash was accidental or intentional, officials said. Suffolk County Police Department major case unit detectives were investigating, a police spokesperson said. Photos from the scene showed a gaping hole in the storefront, which is in a strip mall. Eric Perez told Newsday he was loading groceries into his car across from the accident scene when he heard a speeding car and then a noise that sounded like shattering. "It was a sound that I never heard before, he said. As he and his wife were leaving the parking lot, he said, he saw emergency crews removing victims from the scene. We saw the ambulance and emergency workers pulling one body out, he said. And I saw two women I think worked there come out on stretchers. About 150 firefighters and medical personnel responded to the crash, Albanese said. Its horrible. Its going to be tough for the community, tough for the volunteer fire department, he said. But were going to get through it. Former President Donald Trump said he had a phone call with the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl allegedly tortured and murdered by two illegal migrants. Jocelyn, who was walking to a convenience store in Houston suddenly disappeared. On June 17, police found her dead in a creek, and two men from Venezuela are now facing charges of capital murder in her death. The call, made just minutes before Trump's scheduled debate appearance, left Jocelyn's mother in shock, who later shared the details. Alexis Nungaray approaches the casket of her 12-year-old daughter Jocelyn Nungaray during her graveside service on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) Trump called the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray I just spoke to the mother and they just had the funeral for this girl, 12 years old, this is horrible whats taken place, Trump remarked earlier. On Thursday night the former US president and Joe Biden locked horns in a heated presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta. The same day Jocelyn was laid to rest as her family remembered her as a loyal, compassionate and caring child who was her mothers best friend. According to the Post, a close friend of Jocelyn Nungaray's mother, who was with the grieving family, stated that she witnessed Alexis Nungaray receiving a call from Donald Trump. During the conversation, Trump expressed that there was no one else he would have rather spoken to before the debate than her. He offered his condolences and assured her that he would contact her again in the future. Also read: Melania Trump has a deal with Donald involving Barron, leading her to scale back first lady role if he wins What Trump said to Jocelyn Nungarays mother pre-debate As per Alexis Nungarays best friend, Victoria Galvan, Trump was like, Im actually about to come on for a debate. Glavan added, He wanted to say that he was praying for Alexis and that hes been thinking about her and he wanted to reach out. He said that he was going to reach out in a couple of days to her I mean, she was really we were all shocked. Jocelyn Nungaray is said to have been killed by two unauthorised immigrants who are accused of subjecting her to severe torture for close to two hours before leaving her body, which was only partially dressed. Video evidence shows the accused at a diner where they were seen with Jocelyn prior to the trio moving on to a convenience store and then walking towards a bridge. The legal authorities allege that the individuals responsible for Jocelyn's death buried her body in the swamp. Also read: Obama accepts it was a bad debate night, still stands by Biden who acknowledges, Im not a young man Trump, who has consistently spoken out against Biden's immigration strategies, accused Biden of permitting millions of illegal immigrants to enter the nation. He decided to open up our border, opening up our country to people who are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, the former POTUS claimed. To address this, Biden highlighted the measures his government has implemented to reduce unauthorized border crossings. 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 stated. Who is Maya Neelakantan? A 10-year-old Indian origin girl delivered stunning performance on the latest episode of America's Got Talent, demonstrating her love for rock classic with an Indian twist. Neelakantan, who is well-known on Instagram for her metal renditions, mesmerised the crowd with Papa Roachs Last Resort, which was filled with Carnatic elements.(YouTube) Neelakantan, who is well-known on Instagram for her metal renditions, mesmerised the crowd with Papa Roachs Last Resort, which was filled with Carnatic elements. Everyone in the audience was enthralled by her stunning performance. The Chennai girl stood out from other rock musicians, donning traditional Ghagra and the dazzling bindi on her forehead during the AGT audition. All four judges gave her a standing ovation following her 100-second performance. A pleasantly surprised Sogia Vargera questioned, "Maya, are you sure you're 10 years old?" Neelakantan answered, "I think so," with a sly, apprehensive smile. After watching her rocking performance, Simon Cowell had just one word to describe her head-banging artistry: Whoa! According to Cowell, the Indian girl kicked off her performance by strumming slowly, but turned into this rock goddess. You know what I love about this audition, you just weren't expecting this. You were so shy, and you're 10! And then you turned into, like, this rock goddess, he said. Cowell went on to share his personal guitar-learning experience, saying, I gave up playing guitar, actually no my teacher gave up on me. Howie Mandel, a fellow panelist, precisely predicted, I think you just picked yourself up a viral moment. When Mandel asked her about her musical inspirations, she mentioned Adam Jones (Tool) and Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer). Heidi Klum also acknowledged Maya's talent and praised her as gutsy and incredible. Several media outlets have covered her electric audition and even the clip of her amazing performance has gone viral on social media. Neelakantan has a YouTube channel which is run by her parents. She posted a video of her performance from the show on YouTube and wrote, What an honor that I got to play for the first time on stage and it's on America's Got Talent! Thank you for creating an unforgettable memory for me!! Maya Neelakantan receives gift from Gary Holt Neelakantan's rock and metal covers, which include songs by Tool, Metallica, and Slayer, have made her popular on social media. In 2022, she impressed Adam Jones, Tools guitarist, with her rendition of Tool's "7empest." Neelakantan received a gift from Gary Holt when she first met with him at his residence in March. On her Instagram page, she posted a video to describe meeting her idol, jamming with her, and receiving a guitar from his collection as a gift. She called their meeting the greatest day of her life in one of her YouTube videos. With the gifted musical instrument, she has created mashups of Tool songs. Also Read: Indian acrobats impress Americas Got Talent judges with performance to Deva Shree Ganesha Anand Mahindra and netizens on X hail Maya Neelakantan Anand Mahindra, the chairman of the Mahindra Group, posted a video of Neelakantan on X, referring to her as a "Rock Goddess from the land of Goddesses." Mahindra went on to say that she deserves to receive an invitation to play at the Mahindra Blues Festival, which the Mahindra Group hosts every year in Mumbai. Oh My God. Maya Neelakantan is only 10 years old. 10! Yes, Simon, shes a Rock Goddess. From the land of Goddesses. We have to get her back here to do her stuff at the@mahindrablues! @jaytweetshah@vgjairam, he wrote. Commenting on Maya's performance, one X user wrote: Dressed in a traditional Ghagra and shining bindi on her forehead, Neelakantan looked like anything but a typical rock musician with an Indian twist. Maya Neelakantan is a talented student of famous guitarist, Berklee school of music alumni Guitarist Prasanna, an Indian- American. It's a wholesome package of India's pride! another commented. A third user wrote, It was amazing how she was able to create sitar sounds with the guitar. I love that she is proudly wearing her cultural attire. Indian classical fusion western rocks... amazing! Cut my life into pieces. This is my last resort. Awesome song with awesome play, one more reacted. Know more about Maya Neelakantan and love for music Neelakantan, who developed interest in music from a very young age, plays thrash metal, Tool songs, and Indian classical Carnatic music. She's become a skilled guitarist who has performed live on several occasions. When she was just five-year-old, she used to dance around the house while playing a toy guitar. Over the years, her passion for music grew, inspiring her to pick up the guitar and become a skilled guitarist. Watch her full dazzling performance here The $230 million U.S. pier built off the coast of Gaza to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians has been removed because of rough sea conditions, and the Pentagon is considering not returning it unless already stockpiled supplies can be shipped to those in need, according to reports. The pier has helped move millions of tons of aid into Gaza, but much of it is still sitting in a storage yard that is already nearly filled to capacity because the aid agencies have been hampered in their deliveries as convoys come under Israeli attack, the Associated Press reported. "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," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said told reporters at a briefing on Friday. "I don't want to give the impression that it's at capacity. It is certainly full, but 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," she said. The United Nations has stopped distributing food and other supplies coming through the pier since June 9, the AP reported. The pause arose over security concerns for aid workers after the Israeli military used an area near the pier to transport hostages after their rescue earlier this month in a raid that killed hundreds of Palestinians, the report said. On Friday, U.N. World Food Program spokesman Steve Taravella said the organization's participation is suspended until security concerns are resolved. The Pentagon said that since May 17, more than 19.4 million pounds of humanitarian aid has moved through the pier. Critics on social media have come out sparring hard against Donald Trump over his demeaning characterization of what he sees as a segregated group of "Black jobs." Trump has often railed against immigrants for taking what he calls "Black jobs," and even "Hispanic jobs," apparently indicating work just about anyone can get. He hasn't detailed what specific jobs and professions he's referring to, but critics suspect he isn't talking about rocket scientists, molecular biologists, presidents or even real estate developers. Trump raised the issue again in his debate against President Joe Biden Thursday night. i want him to have to explain what exactly he means by black jobs and hispanic jobs pic.twitter.com/j2I5UZhMYx little miss loose cannon (@reesecorrigan) June 28, 2024 In response to Trump's dismissive "Black jobs" characterization, one critic quipped to followers: "Your one 'Black job' this year" is to vote for Joe Biden. People on social media have taken to posting their own professions or lists of jobs to demonstrate to Trump that "Black jobs" are just as varied and demanding as ... wait for it ... white jobs. Me heading to my Black Job this morning ! Black pediatricians are awesome! pic.twitter.com/gaSOizClWh Faith Crittenden, MD MPH (@FaithCrittenden) June 28, 2024 A physician. An astronaut. And a fighter pilot. Reporting live from our #blackjobs pic.twitter.com/4tnxpQbwZT Alister Martin (@AlisterFMartin) June 28, 2024 Glad they showed up for their black jobs.#BlackJobs pic.twitter.com/fUK9dFtVQZ Derrick #BLM (@Spawn_03) June 28, 2024 WATCH-- @SymoneDSanders to @chrislhayes: "I'm still trying to figure out what a Black job is, Chris. Am I at my Black job right now? I don't know." pic.twitter.com/WbnmwR8Bbu All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) June 29, 2024 Another day in Congress doing our Black jobs. pic.twitter.com/V50UkJCHks Rep. Stacey Plaskett (@StaceyPlaskett) June 28, 2024 I had a great day at my BLACK job today! Or is it my DEI job? I can't keep up with the latest racist term. Nevertheless, it was a great day across Baltimore. #BlackJob pic.twitter.com/ODk8IO8uLV Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) June 29, 2024 Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson at her Black Job in her robe. pic.twitter.com/HDGBCYpgtl Dandrige (@Dandrige12) June 28, 2024 The immigrants that took those black jobs pic.twitter.com/5ytmCu64cc PhillyTheBoss.com (@PhillyTheBoss) June 28, 2024 President Joe Biden bounced back from his disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump with a powerful campaign appearance that a former White House strategist said made him look like a different man. A split-screen video presentation by CNN contrasted a pale and fumbling Biden searching for words and concepts at Thursday's debate with a clip of him appearing animated and driven the the following day. At the rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Biden acknowledged that at 81, "I don't debate as well as I used to" but said he wouldn't be running "if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job." "I know like millions of Americans know when you get knocked down, you get back up," he said, raising a fist as his supporters clapped and cheered. CNN political commentator David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said Friday night that "it's hard to recognize the guy we saw today in the guy we saw last night." Axelrod also said the back-to-back performances "reminded me of the 2012 the first debate for President Obama, which didn't go well." "And one of the things that we stressed was we had an event scheduled the next day" for Obama, he said on "The Source with Kaitlan Collins." "You gotta be pumped. You gotta be pumped and show life, and so on. So this looked very familiar to me," Axelrod recalled. Biden, who was aided by teleprompters on Friday, coughed repeatedly during his address, underscording what campaign aides reportedly said were symptoms of a cold that plagued him during Thursday night's CNN-sponsored debate. That event featured an especially cringeworthy portion in which Biden appeared befuddled, repeatedly correcting statistics he'd cited and rambling about healthcare and the COVID-19 pandemic before saying that "we finally beat Medicare." His poor performance led the New York Times editorial board to call for him to drop his reelection bid to "protect the soul of the nation" from a second Trump term it said would threaten "nothing less than the future of American democracy." Trump was widely perceived to have won the face-off, although fact-checkers accused him of making numerous false statements, including claiming credit for the "greatest economy in history" when federal figures show growth has been stronger under Biden. "He told a lie like once every 100 seconds," former Trump White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci told CNN. Former President Donald Trump cautioned his supporters in a macabre "joke" during a rally in Virginia against having dinner with fictional cannibal serial killer Hannibal Lecter, warning: "Don't do it." Trump again took the opportunity during his campigan stop in Chesapeake to compare the gruesome killer, who enjoyed his victims with some fava beans and chianti, to immigrants streaming across the U.S. border. He mistakenly called the 1991 Oscar-winning film starring Anthony Hopkins the "Silence of the Lamb." "They're coming from prisons and jails, mental institutions and insane asylums like 'Silence of the Lamb,'" he said of immigrants at the rally, though there is no evidence to support that claim. Trump: Silence of the lamb. The late great Hannibal Lecter pic.twitter.com/Qp6cta0DjU Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2024 Trump made a similar comparison during a rally last month on the Jersey Shore where he also talked about the "late, great" Hannibal Lecter. "Has anyone ever seen The Silence of the Lambs?" Trump asked the crowd in Wildwood then, getting the title of the movie right. "The press always says, 'Why does he ramble about Silence of the Lamb?' The late, great Hannibal Lecter. He'd like to have you over for dinner. Did you ever? Don't do it," Trump warned. "If he suggests, 'I'd like to have you for dinner,' don't go. But these are the people, these are the people that are coming into our country and they are coming in numbers that nobody can believe," he continued, again inserting immigrants into the bizarre comments. Trump repeated his claim about migrants in his debate against Joe Biden Thursday, insisting that nations are emptying out "millions" from their prisons and mental institution to send to the U.S CNN, PBS and the Poynter Insitute's Politifact responded with a fact check that there is no evidence of such a push (calling such a claim "ridiculous"), and that Immigration officials arrested a total of about 103,700 noncitizens with criminal convictions from fiscal years 2021 to 2024, according to federal data. A Tesla electric vehicle reportedly steered itself onto train tracks that it apparently mistook for a road in northern California, according to police, in the latest mishap blamed on the company's Autopilot technology. Police in suburban Woodland, outside the state capital of Sacramento, released a photo of the wayward car stopped on the tracks running along a nearby roadway. "This morning, there was an incident where Autopilot mistook train tracks for a road, posing a serious danger," the Woodland Police Department said earlier this week on Facebook. Further details weren't disclosed and authorities said the account of the incident came from the unidentified "involved party or parties." "We have not verified their accuracy and the traffic investigation is pending," police said. "We provided this information as a safety reminder and to emphasize the importance of understanding your vehicle's features and their limitations." The incident occurred after Tesla settled a lawsuit over the fiery death of an Apple engineer whose Model X compact SUV steered itself into a highway divider in Mountain View, California, in 2018. Terms of the April deal with Walter Huang's widow weren't disclosed when the case was resolved the day before it was set to go to trial. The following month, a Colorado woman sued Tesla over the 2022 death of her husband, Hans Von Ohain, who died when his Model 3 sedan veered off the road, hit a tree and burst into flames in 2022. Von Ohain was intoxicated and using Autopilot at the time, according to the Associated Press. In December, Tesla recalled nearly all 2 million of its vehicles in the U.S. to update their software so drivers get more warnings when they don't pay attention while using the Autosteer function. But in May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that it couldn't find any difference in the warning software, and that Tesla had reported more than 20 crashes involving Autopilot since the recall, according to AP. Comic actor Martin Mull, whose deadpan humor earned him key supporting roles on TV's "Roseanne," "Veep" and "Arrested Development," has died, prompting tributes from former co-stars. Mull's death, at 80, followed a "valiant fight against a long illness," daughter Maggie Mull said on social media Friday. Maggie Mull, a TV writer and comic artist, said her father died at home on Thursday. "He was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials," Maggie Mull wrote on Instagram. "He would find that joke funny. He was never not funny." Jennifer Tilly, who co-starred with Martin Mull in the 1988 movie "Rented Lips," which Mull wrote, called him "such a witty charismatic and kind person" in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "As an actress just starting out, it really meant a lot to me to be able to work with such a wonderful actor," wrote Tilly, who provides the voice of Bonnie Swanson on the Fox TV network's long-running animated series "Family Guy." Paul Feig, director of the 2011 comedy "Bridesmaids," recalled acting with Mull on the short-lived 90s sitcom "The Jackie Thomas Show," and said he "treasured every moment being with a legend." "Martin was the greatest. So funny, so talented, such a nice guy," Feig wrote on X. Feig also said the off-beat, 1977 comedy series "Fernwood Tonight," which starred Mull as the host of a late-night TV talk show set in a fictional Ohio town, "was so influential in my life." In addition to his daughter, Mull is survived by his wife, musician Wendy Haas, according to the Associated Press. The bridge on Christopher Columbus Drive is closed to traffic over concerns about its safety. The substructure of bridge is rusting out. The 1987 bridge from Heritage Park is also in need of repairs but safe enough to use. The mayor says significant potholes on the bridge had the city looking at the structure more closely. PreviousNext North Adams Closes Bridge to Sons of Italy Property The Christopher Columbus bridge has been patched with metal plates over the years. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The bridge on Christopher Columbus Drive has been closed to traffic and the one-way bridge from Western Gateway Heritage State Park will become one lane. Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday that the bridge to the old Sons of Italy has been closed because it is in "dire repair." The metal and lumber span over the Hoosic River to State Street has been in rough shape for decades. Former Mayor John Barrett III described it as "deplorable" back in 2003 when the plans were being made for the reconstruction of the Hadley Overpass. The heavy lumber decking on the bridge has been failing and has been covered with a hodgepodge of metal plates over the years. In March, the mayor reported that the bridge and the vacant Sons of Italy were being evaluated. It appears on the mayor's draft capital repair list with a price tag of $2.5 million but she said Tuesday that the bridge is privately owned. The structure is apparently owned by the railroad but has operated as an access to Pan Am Railways' buildings; the Sons property, which the Redevelopment Authority purchased in 2011, and Apkin & Sons scrapyard until it closed two years ago. "The Sons of Italy bridge, that may need to be closed permanently but we haven't been able to get someone out to evaluate it," Macksey said in answer to questions. The state Department of Transportation recently evaluated the Heritage Park bridge, which allows overflow parking onto the Sons property. It's rated as a 6, or fair, for decking, substructure and superstructure. The mayor said MassDOT engineers were with Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau on Monday or Tuesday looking the bridge over. "There's some structural issues there so that is yet to be determined," she said. "Right now we're focused on getting Heritage Bridge patched ... it is safe, it is passable but there are some really big potholes which caused us to really look at the structure of it." She told the council she would know more when Lescarbeau submits his report. The 26-foot-long prestressed concrete bridge was built in 1987 and is listed as owned by the state. It is currently one-way from the park to the Sons to allow for overflow parking; motorists would depart over Christopher Columbus Drive, which is no longer possible. The mayor said the signage would likely be changed to one lane, with drivers being able to go both ways in turn, and another option is to encourage people to use the lot on the other side of the park. This is justed the latest in bridge woes for the city. The 1952 Brown Street bridge was closed last year and has been in the design phase since 2021. The city is working with state and federal officials on a fix for the Brown Street bridge and the failing Veterans Memorial Bridge is the subject of a planning study using a $750,000 federal grant. 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 Jet Jandreau, who co-stars in Kevin Spaceys first American film since his career was derailed by sexual assault allegations, says she supports the #MeToo movement and doesnt believe the House of Cards actor is in the category of real monsters. Speaking to The Independent, Jandreau revealed that extensive discussions took place before Spacey was cast in the independent thriller Peter Five Eight by director Michael Zaiko Hall. When Michael and the team floated the idea of Kevin, that was something we all had to discuss and see if we were comfortable with, said Jandreau. Hes one of the greatest actors of our time, and it was a thrill to work with him. I had a chance to talk with him and his management before filming, and my mind was put at ease. Jandreau said that after speaking to Spacey, she came to feel that a lot of what had been said about him was blown out of proportion, Of course, I believe and support #MeToo. Michael does as well, she said. open image in gallery Kevin Spacey and Jet Jandreau at the premiere of Peter Five Eight' ( Invincible Films ) We support the #MeToo cases, and the convicting of real monsters. I have also been mistreated on sets before, for sure. But each situation should be looked at on a case-by-case basis, and determined through the courts. She added: I support #MeToo, but Kevin is not in the category of real monsters. I think that needs to be said more in the press. The press likes to put out these shock articles, and then they step back. I dont think people even know that he was found innocent and vindicated. Kevin is finding his way back now, and the majority of people really do just love his performances and want to see him back. Spacey, 64, was last year acquitted of a number of sexual offences alleged by four men in the UK to have taken place between 2001 and 2013. Each of Spaceys accusers gave evidence in the trial, variously describing him as a vile sexual predator, slippery and atrocious, despicable, [and] disgusting. 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 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 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 told The Independent that he was very aware there would be pushback on casting Spacey in the film. 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. Peter Five Eight is available to stream on video-on-demand in the US. 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 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 Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Sugababes set at Glastonbury, an unexpected must-see for, anecdotally at least, absolutely every person with a ticket, quickly became its own kind of hell. Signs near the West Holts stage urged latecomers to stay away due to overcrowding. Unverified reports say there were people fainting in the crowd. This was pointless, easily avoidable chaos. In terms of current chart success or creativity at this particular moment in time, Sugababes may not be Pyramid stage material, but for many punters here they tick numerous boxes: nostalgia, bangers, brand recognition. Shoving them over on West Holts is misguided at best, irresponsible at worst. On stage at least, the band appear to be having a blast. Theres something incredibly affecting about seeing this trio smile. At the peak of their commercial zenith in the early Noughties, they were recognised and beloved for being pops grumpiest girl band three moody teenagers so preternaturally jaded that it was sometimes less fun to watch them live as it was to speculate which one could beat you up the quickest. (Mutya, obviously. It was always Mutya.) Nearly 25 years since their grungy, surf guitar-led debut Overload and in the wake of at least 30 different member line-ups (OK, like four), they hit the West Holts stage with the relieved, endearing joy of grown women whove seen all the destructive chaos of more than two decades in the music industry and come out glowing. As a show, this contains a lot of synchronised strutting and member-specific spotlighting each Sugababe (Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy) gets a turn at the centre of the stage, the others retreating to the back. ( BBC ) Freak Like Me, that seminal mash-up of Adina Howards 1995 namesake and Gary Numans Are Friends Electric?, lights the fuse with sexy-scary aplomb. Late-era bop Red Dress is a surprise highlight, the trios vocals cooing over electric guitar. Both Overload and the effervescent come-on Push the Button have long become generational classics. They send the crowd into rapture. Drums and a thunderous bass guitar transforms the slinky Round Round into a head-banger rock number. The crowds at Sugababes performance on West Holts ( BBC ) Its tempting to read into the fact that the far majority of the tracks here to elicit cheers didnt originally feature Donaghy, while even Buena was gone by the time the group scored one of their biggest hits with the sunny About You Now, which wraps up the show. But it doesnt mean that the Sugababes brand is bigger than its individual members. Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen each currently living it up in the Potentially Acrimonious Resting Home for Ex-Sugababes all had their place, but theres something undeniably powerful about witnessing Buchanan and Buena, two of the coolest pop stars this country has ever produced, harmonising together again, whatever their respective involvement with the music. Likewise to see Donaghy living up to the potential scuppered way back during album one when, amid band in-fighting and erratic teen hormones, she fled to less high-profile pastures. By the looks on their faces, they know this was a special show. Such a shame the crowd has to suffer for it. 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 The Bachelorette alum Rachel Lindsay learned via text message that her ex Bryan Abasolo had filed for divorce, court documents have revealed. In the June 26 filing obtained by People, Lindsay who starred as the titular Bachelorette during season 13 of the franchise claimed that Abasolo informed her via text that he had filed for divorce on January 2. The 39-year-old TV personality alleged in the filing that she and Abasolo, 44, had a conversation in [her] kitchen during which he failed to mention that he had filed for divorce. Approximately 30 minutes after he left the house, according to Lindsay, he sent a text message informing her that he had filed for divorce that same day. She reportedly included a screenshot of their text message in the filing, which read that Abasolo had texted her at 11.43am on January 2. Hey I just wanted to let you know that I officially filed, he texted, per People. Wait what? she responded. Lindsay also stopped sharing her location with Abasolo later that evening, according to the screenshot. Although Lindsay who met and got engaged to Abasolo during her season of The Bachelorette in 2017 knew that she and the chiropractor were separating and would be headed toward divorce, she claimed she was shocked to be informed over text that hed officially filed. She explained that their prior conversations had been amicable and they had decided to divorce in a way that would not attract media attention. However, Lindsay alleged that she tried to talk to Bryan about the divorce in order to settle this matter swiftly and amicably, but he was not interested. He informed me in no uncertain terms that everything must go through lawyers. He has not made any effort reasonable or not to resolve this matter with me, the filing read. Back in January, it was reported that Abasolo had filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court. He cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and listed their date of separation as December 31. After more than four years of marriage, Rachel and I have made the difficult decision to part ways and start anew, Abasolo said in a since-deleted statement posted to his Instagram. Sometimes loving yourself and your partner means you must let go. In his statement, he asked for respect for their family and friends as they navigate their next steps. While Lindsay didnt make her own social media statement about the split, she later opened up about the divorce on her podcast, Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay, describing the divorce as a difficult time. I didnt think Id get emotional, she said during the January 5 episode. First off I just want to say thank you for people who reached out. Im still trying to reply to people. You just never know how great your circle is until you see all the people that reach out and love you. Obviously its a difficult time, if youve read the headlines, and youre probably wondering why I would even work. But to be honest with you, I need to distract myself from myself, and the best way to do that is to do something that I love, and I love Higher Learning, she continued. Although the former Bachelorette didnt go into detail, she promised that she will eventually share with her fans but now is not the time, [Im] just trying to take it day by day. Her recent court filing comes after Abasolo requested spousal support and more than $75,000 for his legal fees. Elsewhere in the June 26 document, she claimed: His requests for spousal support and $75,000 in professional fees are not supported by competent evidence and far exceed the actual marital lifestyle and his need. The former couple were married in August 2019 after meeting on her season of The Bachelorette two years prior. They share no children together. Lindsay intially competed on Season 21 of The Bachelor with lead Nick Viall. She later gained recognition after she was announced as the first Black bachelorette in 2017, also marking the franchises first Black lead across its multiple series. 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 }} A woman has been arrested after a video emerged appearing to show a prison officer having sex with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth. Police had previously said they were investigating the footage, which was reportedly filmed at the scandal-hit prison in southwest London, after it circulated on social media. It is not known when the footage, which showed an officer in uniform, was taken. The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday a woman was arrested on suspicion of a misconduct in public office offence on Friday. It comes two months after a watchdog called for the prison to be put into emergency measures amid concerns over failings in security and severe problems with overcrowding, drugs, violence and self-harm. Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor wrote to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk to issue an urgent notification for improvement at the category B Victorian jail after deeply concerning inspection findings. The footage was reportedly filmed inside the scandal-hit Wandsworth Prison ( PA Wire ) Mr Taylor warned that security remained a serious concern at the prison, with chaotic wings and staff across most units unable to accurately account for their prisoners during the working day. He said: The poor outcomes we found at Wandsworth are systemic and cultural failures and stemmed from poor leadership at every level of the prison, from HMPPS [HM Prison and Probation Service] and the Ministry of Justice. For this troubled prison to begin to recover, Wandsworth needs permanent experienced leaders at all levels who are invested in its long-term future to improve security, safety and guide their less-experienced colleagues. Until this happens, the risk of a further catastrophe, a self-inflicted death or escape from lawful custody, is ever-present. A Met Police spokesperson told The Independent: A police investigation was launched on 28 June after officers were made aware of a video allegedly filmed inside HMP Wandsworth. A woman was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 28 June. She has been taken into police custody. Enquiries continue. We remain in close contact with the Ministry of Justice. A Prison Service spokesperson added: Staff corruption is not tolerated and the former prison officer allegedly featured in this video has been reported to the police. It would be inappropriate to comment further while they investigate. 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 }} A British hiker who went missing in Spain on Monday has been found dead, authorities have announced The 70-year-old man from London was discovered in the western Pyrenees following a search and rescue operation. The Spanish Civil Guard said he was located by three members of the rescue team at 1pm local time on Thursday near the Aspe peak. The Civil Guard contacted the air unit and the hiker was transferred to a nearby mountain refuge. Concerns were raised for the hiker on Monday at about 6pm when Interpols Manchester office contacted the Spanish authorities with the co-ordinates of an electronic bracelet the man was wearing. Interpol had concerns he could be either injured or lost. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told the BBC: We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities. The search for missing teenager Jay Slater continues in Tenerife ( PA Wire ) It comes as the hunt for missing teenager, Jay Slater, continues, with Spanish police launching a large-scale search operation on Saturday. The Civil Guard appealed for volunteer associations such as firefighters, and individual volunteers with experience in navigating difficult terrain to help them find the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire. Mr Slater was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with shorts and trainers, and his phone shows his last location as the Rural de Teno park at 8.50am on 17 June. Jay Slater was last heard from on 17 June ( PA/Reuters ) Since he was reported missing, several family friends and Mr Slaters ex-girlfriend have flown out to the Canary Islands to join the search, while his father has been seen pinning up posters in the town of Santiago del Tiete. Talking to reporters last week, Warren Slater said: It is a living hell. Unless youre going through it, you cannot explain. Please, please please, if anybody knows anything, just come forward and help us. 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 }} Groups of volunteers have taken to the mountains of Tenerife to search for Jay Slater after Spanish police issued a mass appeal for help in finding the missing teenager. The 19-year-old has not been seen since Monday, 17 June, with few clues appearing over the last 13 days to shed light on his disappearance. After attending the New Rave Generation festival in the beach resort of Playa de Las Americas, he travelled to the remote village of Masca with two older men, before deciding to make the 11-hour walk back to his accommodation at around 8am. The Airbnb Casa Abuela Tina in Masca, Tenerife, where missing British teenager Jay Slater resided prior to his disappearance (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire ) On Friday, the Guardia Civil appealed for volunteer associations, such as firefighters, and individual volunteers who were experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva, or massive search, on Saturday. It has been focused near his last-known location in the mountains above the AirBnb, where his phone was last registered at around 8.50am. This was after he contacted his friend Lucy Law to say that he was dehydrated, lost, had injured his leg on a cactus and only had one per cent battery. Search teams are having to navigate ravines, dense shrubbery and steep rocky areas with sniffer dogs, while drones and helicopters have previously taken part in the search. The search in the village of Masca, near to his last-known location, is being co-ordinated to take in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. A group of search and rescue workers where the search for the missing British teenager continues (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire ) Brigadier Cipriano Martin, chief of the Guardia Civils mountain rescue team, said Mr Slater would not have travelled to any area we dont go to. Speaking through a translator, he told the BBC: There are difficult areas and weve given instructions for people not to risk their own safety. But theres something we need to make clear, which is any area we dont go to, well, Jay wont have gone there either. Asked if the sea can be reached directly from the search area, he said: You can reach the sea, in fact last Saturday I went along the whole path there are old paths which are only occasionally used because its a cliff with very little attraction for sporting purposes. But you can reach the beach along them, so I reached the beach. Jay Slater search volunteer speaks of difficulties as police begin new hunt for the teenager ( Sky News ) We didnt find anything. Its a path that goes above and not along the bottom of the cliff, it has drops, and whats needed are ropes to get down and we also know he was not equipped for that. There are rocky drops that you cannot get beyond, you can only get down with a harness and ropes the people searching that spot today will have to turn around I think, because they dont have the necessary equipment, and anyway the best that Jay could do was simply to walk. Mr Slater had travelled to the Canary Islands to attend the NRG music festival at Papagayos nightclub with two friends before his disappearance, and was reportedly driven to the AirBnb during the early hours of the morning. According to reports, media were told in a press conference on Saturday that two men who were reported to have rented the Airbnb are not relevant to the case. Speaking to ITVs This Morning, his friend Brad Hargreaves said he had been on a video call with him when he heard him go off the road. ( This Morning ) He said: He was on the phone walking down a road and hed gone over a little bit not a big drop but a tiny little drop and he was going down, and he said Ill ring ya back, Ill ring ya back because I think someone else was ringing him. He confirmed he could see his friends feet sliding down the hill and could hear he was walking on gravel. But, Mr Hargreaves said he and his friend were both laughing at that point. He added: He didnt seem concerned on the phone until we knew how far away he was. Earlier this week, his mother Debbie Duncan, who travelled to the island following his disappearance, said money raised online would be used to support mountain rescue teams, and to cover her own accommodation and food costs. He told his friend he was planning on walking the 11-hour walk back to his accommodation ( PA Wire ) Donations flooded in after GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater home was set up by Ms Law, his friend and the last person to speak to him, and by Friday more than 40,000 had been raised. In an update on Thursday, Ms Duncan said: 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. Ms Duncan has described her sons disappearance and the wait for news as a living nightmare. 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 }} Hundreds of thousands have gathered in the capital for Londons annual Pride parade, with the capital centre decked in rainbows to celebrate the event. Crowds lined the streets from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square to watch the floats pass by, with dancers, martial arts performers and party buses taking part. An estimated 500 LGBTQ+ community groups and businesses took part in the parade, comprising more than 32,000 people, while stages and street acts filled the streets of Soho. Myriad groups were represented at the event ( Tim Anderson/PA ) People take part in the Pride in London parade ( Tim Anderson/PA ) Setting off at midday on Saturday afternoon, London mayor Sadiq Khan was at the front of the parade alongside his wife, Saadiya Khan. The mayor was joined by Andrew Boff, a Conservative London Assembly member, and air quality campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah. Among the myriad groups represented on the parade were Tesco workers, a marching band who treated crowds to a popular brass version of Toxic by Britney Spears, and Ishigaki JuJitsu, the UKs largest LGBTQ+ martial arts club. As the parade went down Piccadilly, spectators and participants danced and sang to loud pop music being pumped out of a Heart Radio float. Mr Khan said in a statement: Im delighted that Londons diverse LGBTQI+ communities and allies are once again joining together in the heart of our capital for our world-renowned Pride celebrations and march of solidarity. Pride is one of the highlights of my year and it is an honour to have been on every march since I was first elected as mayor in 2016. A cardboard figure of Jesus Christ holds a sign, Im sorry about them, pointing toward Christian protesters ( Tim Anderson/PA ) This incredible event is a shining light for LGBTQI+ rights and shows why our city is a beacon for openness and inclusion a place where you are embraced and celebrated for who you are. Our capitals LGBTQI+ communities make a huge contribution to life in London. There is, however, still work to be done to achieve true equality, and as a proud ally, Ill continue to stand side by side with our capitals LGBTQI+ communities as we work to build a better London for all. Bikers also took to the streets for the parade ( Tim Anderson/PA ) Among those on the march were the group Queers for Palestine, who walked down Piccadilly chanting There is no pride in genocide. The 50-person group held posters accusing Israel of genocide and condemning pinkwashing the accusation that Israel takes a progressive position on gay rights to improve its international reputation. Also in attendence were a small group of Christian counter-protesters who gathered alongside the Pride parade reciting religious sermons criticising the march. 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 }} With less than a week to go until the general election, voters checking their ballot papers may be surprised by some of the political parties running in their constituencies. While most people are aware of the political big hitters, there a few underdog parties that fly under the radar. Some of these parties are set up with satirical intent to provide comic relief to voters, while others attempt to make real political statements. From Count Binface Party to A Blue Revolution, The Independent has put together a list of those fielding candidates in the general election. The Mitre TW9 Chris French, 47, decided to run as an MP for Richmond Park in order to get publicity for his establishment ( Chris French/PA Wire ) Chris French, 47, registered his pub as a political party, and is running as the sole candidate for the bar in the general election. Mr French had a brainwave 12 months ago and decided to run as an MP for Richmond Park in Greater London in order to get publicity for his establishment. He is not optimistic about unseating the incumbent Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney but said he will definitely get one vote from himself. Now whether Gillian (Craigie) my partner votes for me, Im not too sure. If I only get one vote, it might be quite a frosty evening. Hopefully Ill get two votes, he said. His hypothetical manifesto includes closing all the other pubs down in Richmond. Count Binface Party Count Binface said he is ready to roll ( PA Wire ) Count Binface, the self-described intergalactic space warrior, is attempting to unseat prime minister Rishi Sunak in his North Yorkshire constituency. Binface, the satirical political character created by comedian Jonathan David Harvey, is hoping to strike a chord with voters by promising to introduce national service for former prime ministers and invite European countries to join the UK. His manifesto, entitled Bloody Loyal To Wherever Im Standing For Election, also includes double-locking pensions but with a little extra chain on the side and representing the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. The 5,702-year-old Recyclon placed 11th in the 2024 London Mayoral Election with 24,260 votes. Psychedelic Movement Reclassifying Marijuana ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The Psychedelic Movement is fielding four candidates in the general election, with a primary manifesto pledge to legalise psychedelic drugs. The manifesto also promises Southend will have 24-hour cannabis cafes offering THC brownies and cookies. Other election pledges include protecting local libraries, offering psychedelic therapy and bring back the legal punishment of exile for those that threaten the fabric and the future of this country. They also want to allow churches to use ayahuasca in their ceremonies and bring shamanic Christianity to Southend. The English Constitution Party The party was founded by Graham Moore, also known as Daddy Dragon ( PA ) The English Constitution Party is a nationalist outfit led by a man known as Daddy Dragon. He is a former QAnon promoter and gained some attention in 2023 after he called for supporters to bring rape alarms and eggs along to a protest against the coronation of King Charles. The party is fielding candidates in four constituencies including St Helens North, Chorley, Romford and Broxbourne. Their primary aim is MEGA Make England Great Again. They also promise to return England to common law practices. A Blue Revolution Blue Revolution was founded in 2017 by former Conservative Boston borough councillor, Mike Gilbert. Mr Gilbert said he started the party to "give blue collar workers more representation" in a political system that is too elitist and tribal. He is standing in Boston and Skegness for a second time. Blue Revolution describes itself as The home of small state socialism and not a traditional right or left-wing platform. The Freedom Alliance The Freedom Alliance developed as a response to Covid-19 restrictions and has stood hundreds of candidates for election across the UK. The party calls for individuals, families and communities to be freed from state and global corporate control. They are also against 15-minute cities, central bank digital currencies, the great reset, net zero, Ulez and social credit scores. New Open Non-Political Organised Leadership (NONPOL) Neil ONeil is running in Stratford-on-Avon ( New Open Non-Political Organised Leadership (NONPOL) ) NONPOL is an non-political party fielding one candidate in the general election its founder Neil O'Neil in Stratford-on-Avon. Mr ONeil describes himself as a distinguished technologist, futurist, musician, ethical hacker, public speaker, writer, inventor, filmmaker and speciesist. "I am not political, which I see as a significant advantage. I have not been corrupted or controlled and never will be. As the leader of the Party, I am in control of my career in the political arena. My passion is to make real change and challenge the current system," Mr O'Neil said. The party's main objective is to dismantle the entrenched political machinery and replace it with common-sense and organised governance. The party also proposes to scrap VAT and increase everyones salary by 20 per cent. Save Us Now Save Us Now was founded by conspiracy theorist Mark Steele, who claimed that 5G, wifi and other communication networks are part of a distributed weapon system. Mr Steele describes himself as a "weapons expert", claiming to have worked on undisclosed projects for the Ministry of Defence. He has also claimed street lights housed components of a 5G network, causing cancer and microwaving babies in their beds". The Common People The Common People website declares they seeking to form a majority Westminster government, but are only standing in one constituency, St Ives. The party has yet to publish a manifesto. They say they believe in a rehabilitation-focused justice system, nationalising utilities, and allowing 12-year-olds to vote. AI Steve AI Steve is the worlds first Artificial Intelligence-generated political candidate ( AI Steve ) The worlds first completely Artificial Intelligence-generated MP candidate, aiming to revolutionise democracy itself when he stands in Brighton on 4 July. The mastermind behind AI Steve, Steve Endacott, who calls himself a capitalist with a socialist conscience, said he will merely be a vessel for his AI alter-ego. He will stand and if he wins, he will physically attend Parliament to vote on policies decided upon by his bot alter ego. Mr Endacott told The Independent in his first interview: I will do the physical voting but I will be directed entirely by my constituents via AI Steve. Im just a bit of a numpty being told what to do. That is the whole idea of democracy. You have to put away your own personal politics, your own ego and actually do what your constituents want, which is quite radical in politics. 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 warned Labour activists the hardest mile is still ahead as he attempted to rally his troops for a final push towards polling day. The Labour leader told an event in central London: This is the final furlong. This is the last push. The last mile, the hardest mile. He asked them to imagine waking up to a Tory government on 5 July, saying that the millions of undecided voters mean it could happen. At the same event his deputy, Angela Rayner, had an equally tough message for the invited audience, telling them: Right now we have won nothing. Even as it unveiled star-studded endorsements from the likes of Sir Elton John, Labour is desperate to convince voters, as well as its own activists, the election is by no means in the bag. Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner (left) with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria ( PA Wire ) It follows fears the party could lose votes to the Greens or Liberal Democrats if too many believe a Labour government is guaranteed. The Conservatives have also tried to peel away Labour votes, warning that Sir Keir is set to win a supermajority at Westminster. It follows a series of opinion polls which show the party on course to win by a bigger landslide than Tony Blair in 1997. Speaking on Friday, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: Complacency about the inevitability of a Labour win terrifies me. He argued that in many seats where the race is between Labour and the Conservatives a vote for smaller parties is a vote that helps the Tories. With around 400 activists packed into the Royal Horticultural Halls in the capital, the event was in marked contrast to the 1992 rally that ruined Neil Kinnocks final week of campaigning. Then a reported 10,000 people filed into the Sheffield Arena to hear the Labour leader, widely seen by many as the UKs next prime minister, shout We're all right! a moment that has gone down in history as a sign of overconfidence. At his rally, Sir Keir called for voters to give him a clear mandate to govern next Thursday as he warned that apathy could hand the Conservatives another five years in power. He stressed a large majority would give him the authority to implement his agenda. The Tories have warned of a supermajority ( The Independent ) He said: Well need a clear mandate for this change, dont doubt that. And if you dont believe me, take a good look at the Tories. Chaos under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, two politicians who never had a clear mandate. In an emotional moment, he also urged the public: Dont forget what they have done, dont forget Partygate, dont forget the Covid contracts, dont forget the lies, dont forget the kickbacks, dont forget the cronyism, dont forget the division, the scapegoating of minorities, the failure to invest, the trips to the bookies, [and] the decimation of your public services. Telling working people were all in it together, the people who hurt your family finances, swanning around the House of Lords, after giving tax cuts to the richest 1 per cent that crashed our economy. Dont forget any of it. He was accompanied by his wife Victoria, after questions were raised about her non-appearance on the campaign trail. As well as Sir Elton, other celebrity endorsements in video clips played to the audience included James Norton, Beverley Knight, Georgia Harrison, Kit Harrington, Deborah Meaden and Jason Manford. The comedian Bill Bailey was one of a number of speakers, who acted as a warm-up for the Labour leader. Musician and comedian Bill Bailey addressed the Labour rally, while there were video endorsements from celebrities including Sir Elton John ( PA Wire ) Earlier Sir Keir hit out at desperate and ridiculous attempts by the Tories to cast Labour as a risk to national security. On a campaign visit in Hampshire, he told reporters that, as he had been granted access to sensitive intelligence by the government, it was wrong of ministers to claim he would be a danger to the country. He also said he shared Mr Sunaks disgust after a canvasser from Nigel Farages Reform UK used a racial slur to describe the prime minister. He criticised Mr Farage, saying the leader sets the tone, the culture and the standards of a party. 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 }} Reform UK has dropped three more candidates and said it has reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission, after the broadcaster released footage of an activist campaigning for Nigel Farage using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak. Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas, and Leslie Lilley, will still appear on the ballot paper as Reform candidates as it is too late for them to be removed, but they are no longer being backed by the party. Mr Oakenfull posted offensive comments about the IQ of sub-Saharan Africans on social media last year. He told the BBC the remarks were taken out of context. Mr Lilley reportedly posted on social media that people arriving on small boats were scum. Meanwhile, Mr Lomas allegedly said black people should get off [their] lazy arses and stop acting like savages. The party dropping its candidates comes after an undercover report on activists involved in Nigel Farages bid to win a parliamentary seat in Clacton, Essex. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during a BBC Question Time Leaders Special (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Wire ) One activist, Andrew Parker used the racist term about Mr Sunak and suggested 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 has claimed that Mr Parker, who is a part-time actor, was used as a plant. Channel 4 News has denied that Mr Parker was paid by or known to the broadcaster prior to the report. In a letter to the Electoral Commission, the Reform secretary Adam Richardson claimed that it was entirely evident that Mr Parker was a plant within the Channel 4 news piece. He added: The Channel 4 broadcast has clearly been made to harm Reform UK during an election period and this cannot be described as anything short of election interference. ( REUTERS ) The party said it was also planning to demand an investigation by broadcasting regulator Ofcom. Mr Parker said he was glad that Channel 4 was being reported to the Electoral Commission. He declined to say whether he had been paid to appear in the footage, instead saying itll all come out in the papers; whatll come out is the truth. Mr Parkers comments caused consternation across the political spectrum. On Saturday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he shared Mr Sunaks disgust at the use of a racial slur directed at the prime minister. And security minister Tom Tugendhat said there was a pattern of racist and misogynistic views within Reform. Sir Keir accused Mr Farage of not doing enough following the incident, and added that it is the leader who sets the tone, the culture and the standards of a political party. Speaking to reporters on a campaign visit in Hampshire, he said: I dont think (Mr Farage) has shown the leadership he shouldve shown. Theres no good condemning remarks after the event. Andrew Parker ( Channel 4 ) If you lead a party you set the tone, and the culture, and the standards of your party, and I dont think hes done enough in terms of leadership. In response to the incident, Mr Sunak talked about the impact on his family: 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. Asked if he sympathised with the Prime Minister, Sir Keir said: I do, and I thought what he said about his daughters in particular was very powerful. And Im glad he said it and I share his disgust at the comments that were made. There is a real pattern of racist and misogynistic views in the party. I think its absolutely right to call it out, he added. Separately, Mr Farage is embroiled in a dispute with the BBC, claiming the audience for Fridays Question Time special was rigged and refusing to appear on the flagship Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show unless the corporation apologises. On the BBC Question Time special, Mr Farage was asked why his party attracts racists and extremists. The Reform leader said he had done more to drive the far-right out of British politics than anybody else alive. He said the audience was rigged and these were not ordinary members of the public, adding: They hand-picked a prominent pro-Palestine activist and even a BBC TV director to attack me. A BBC spokeswoman said: We refute these claims. Last nights Question Time audience was made up of broadly similar levels of representation from Reform UK and the Green Party, with the other parties represented too. There were also a number of people, with a range of political views, who were still making up their mind. 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 }} Rishi Sunaks Labour opponent in his Richmond and Northallerton seat in Yorkshire has accused him of panicking as the prime minister campaigned to save his own seat in the last weekend before polling day. Tom Wilson, the 29-year-old NHS worker and musician who spoke to The Independent last weekend, has questioned why the prime ministers team apparently tried to arrange a hustings in the seat with farmers was cancelled. Mr Sunak, who was campaigning in the North East yesterday to be close to his seat for the weekend, is potentially facing the prospect of being the first prime minister to lose his constituency in an election in British history. Some recent polls have suggested the result in the rural seat, which covers part of the Yorkshire Dales but recently elected a Labour regional mayor, is too close to call. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with his wife Akshata Murty ( PA Wire ) On the battle bus yesterday, Mr Sunak dodged a question from The Independent about whether he will campaign in his own constituency this weekend and whether he can guarantee he will win his seat. The prime minister said he didnt take anything for granted and he would fight hard for every vote. But by Friday evening he was at The Bank pub in the village of Stokesley in his constituency to officially open a new decking area and meet local voters. Today he has been campaigning in Richmond and was at the army barracks at Catterick for Armed Forces Day. But there has been confusion over a hustings that Mr Wilson claims the prime ministers team asked the Country Land and Business Association to arrange in Richmond, the main town in his constituency, that was due to take place yesterday. Mr Wilson tweeted: On Thursday, while I was preparing for the BBC Radio York hustings, which the prime minister was once again absent from, I was contacted again to say the hustings had been called off. Instead the PM spent his, at least, seventh day of the campaign in the constituency. Mr Wilson told The Independent that the prime minister is panicking. He added: The prime minister is truly rattled, and scrambling to save his own seat here in Richmond and Northallerton. More rural voters than ever are putting their trust in Labour to deliver real change. Jonathan Roberts from the CLA said that Mr Sunak, as had been alleged by his opponents, did not pull out of the husting. He said: I took the view that there were too many candidates in that seat to contact, and so it would have been too difficult to organise at a time when - in any case - many of our members would be too busy on the farm to attend. The Independent has asked the Conservatives for a response. 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 }} The Conservatives project fear tactic deployed to scare voters with the threat of a Labour supermajority has spectacularly backfired, new polling has revealed. According to findings from Techne UK for The Independent, twice as many people are more likely to vote Labour (26 per cent) than more likely to vote Conservative (13 per cent) as a result of the warning used by Rishi Sunak and senior Conservatives about handing Sir Keir Starmer too much power. The tactic was also used to try to prevent Tory voters defecting to Reform, but almost one in 10 (9 per cent) said the warning had in fact made them more likely to vote for Nigel Farages party. The surveys findings appear to confirm warnings by former chancellor George Osborne whose own project fear tactics were blamed for defeat in the EU Brexit referendum that Mr Sunak and the Tories were fighting the wrong campaign. He had warned they were too focused on Reform and letting Labour run rampant in so-called blue wall safe seats. But the polling by Techne has offered the Tories a slither of hope with postal voting. While just under a quarter of those voting have said they will vote by post, the results break much more favourably for the Conservatives and Reform UK. Considering only the vote by post, the Conservatives would get 30 per cent, Labour 33 per cent, Reform UK 26 per cent and the Lib Dems 6 per cent. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Redcar, North Yorkshire, while on the campaign trail ( PA ) Pollster Lord Robert Hayward, a Tory peer, said the intelligence he has heard on postal votes suggests they are closer than the polls have suggested over the past few weeks. He said: While not as close as the sample in [the Techne poll], it is fair to say that what I have heard so far on postal votes is that it is much better than the national polls have suggested [for the Conservatives]. He added: This election is going to be a real test for the polling industry, especially the new MRP polls, in terms of accuracy, given the extreme results they have suggested over the campaign. While postal votes are important and can sway marginal seats, most voters (58 per cent) plan to wait until polling day on 4 July to make their final decision. But the rest of the survey paints a much more depressing picture for the Tories. In particular, major scandals that have hit the election campaign have had a much greater impact on the Tory vote than on other parties. The top issue to anger voters was Mr Sunak leaving the D-Day commemorations early, with 8 per cent saying it changed their vote. This was followed by the betting scandal involving members of the prime ministers inner circle that has consumed the Tories in the final days of the campaign, which saw 6 per cent say it changed their vote. In contrast, only 2 per cent were affected by Nigel Farages blaming of the West for the invasion of Ukraine. The Tories, led by home secretary James Cleverly and Mr Sunak, used Mr Farages comments as a major campaign issue, but apparently to little effect. Only 1 per cent changed their vote as a result of the anger over the way Sir Keir Starmer treated Labour Party veteran Diane Abbott, while nobody changed their vote as a result of Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Daveys stunts including falling into water. The bad feeling around the Tory campaign and the party is also underlined in the poll, which shows that more than four in 10 (42 per cent) planning to vote for them will be holding their noses and see them as the least worst option. Reform UK had the lowest rate of least worst option on 28 per cent and were chosen as the joint-highest best option for government along with Labour, with both parties achieving that rating with 57 per cent of those who intend to vote for them. Only one in 10 (9 per cent) plan to vote tactically as a means of getting the government out, while 42 per cent will vote for their favourite option. The anger with the democratic process and political parties saw 14 per cent admit they will not vote, in protest at all the parties, while another 9 per cent plan not to vote because they are not interested. 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 }} Pensioners whizz around on mobility scooters, pirate-themed boats sail by, couples clutch each others hands. Welcome to Whitby: the seaside town in North Yorkshire that has lent its name to a target voter in the general election race. The so-called Whitby woman, a term coined by polling think-tank More in Common, is a Tory voter who remains undecided about who will get her vote on 4 July. With an average age of around 61, she is a homeowner who lives in a suburb or a small town like Whitby, who voted in favour of Brexit and is less likely to have gone to university. And her actions are expected by some to have an impact on whether the Tories suffer a landslide defeat, fall to a narrow defeat, or cling onto power. Bar her age, Sadie Myers, who has an antique shop in Whitby called Den of Antiquity, perfectly fits the profile of the Whitby woman. Its like opening a box of chocolates that look different but all taste the same, the 49-year-old says of the political leaders. You get bored. Ms Myers is not a fan of Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer so is thinking of leaning towards Nigel Farages Reform. "I take pride in the fact that I always vote," she says. "I think it's very important, especially for women. We earned the right to vote and we need to hold onto that, you know. When you are not given people that you can warm to, it makes it very difficult." Surrounded by figurines of Betty Boop and the Buddha, it is clear Ms Myers, who was born into the antiques and jewellery industry, has an encyclopaediac knowledge of the many miscellaneous items she peddles. Meanwhile, as a 61-year-old lifelong Tory who voted for Brexit, Liz Richards closely aligns with the Whitby woman. Despite voting for the Tories her whole life, she is adamant they will not be getting her vote this time. The main reason, to be honest, is Covid, Ms Richards tells The Independent from behind the counter of her gift shop. Whitby night sky ( Maya Oppenheim ) And the way all of that happened. The way they behaved. I lost someone very dear to me during Covid. My mother-in-law died on her own, confused, not knowing where we were, two days after they were having their parties. Ms Richards, whose shop is called Wind and Willow, says she is unsure about who to vote for, unimpressed by all the parties, saying many of her friends feel the same. She says she is likely to vote, begrudgingly, for Labour for the first time, despite being fiercely critical of Sir Keir. I think he is weak, and I think he is really just a Tory, she says. Ms Richards, who has lived in Whitby for six years but grew up on the south coast, was even more scathing of Rishi Sunak, whom she accused of being out of touch with real people. He hasnt got a clue really, has he? she says. With all his money and his wifes money, I dont think hes got a clue what its like. She referred to the NHS and education as priorities, admitting she sometimes regretted voting for Brexit something she says has had a huge impact on the rising cost of living. Whitby Woman, Essex Man Voting profiles akin to the Whitby woman are routinely wheeled out during elections. The Mondeo man was a target voter for both the Tories and Labour in the 1992 election, while others have included Essex man, Worcester woman, Waitrose woman and, most recently, Workington man, a Brexit supporter who played a key role in Boris Johnsons win in the North East in 2019. The Scarborough and Whitby constituency has been a Tory seat since Robert Goodwill picked it up from Labour in 2005. He is stepping aside this time around, having won in 2019 by just over 10,000 votes. Featuring in Bram Stokers famous Dracula novel and visited by Goth daytrippers, Whitby combines high levels of deprivation with bougie gift shops and rising house prices. Packed with holiday lets, Airbnbs, quirky shops selling grumpy slogan T-shirts, and kids on school trips, the coastal town looks a thriving tourist hotspot. But beneath the surface, as with much of the country, problems linger with locals priced out and its closest A&E having some of the countrys lengthiest waits. Luke Tryl, executive director of More in Common, warns that Whitby womans decision on election day could lead to an absolute catastrophe for the Tories. He says the risk is that she may choose not to vote at all. Women who fit the profile of Whitby woman can be found all over the country, he says, describing the target voter as small-C conservative, and softly sceptical about politics with a live-and-let-live attitude. A sculpture by Whitby artist Emma Stothard ( Maya Oppenheim ) The Whitby woman is more immigration sceptic than the wider population but is not hyper political, he says, adding that More in Common has found that women make up seven in 10 undecided voters. Whitby womans core voting priorities, he says, are problems facing the NHS, the cost of living crisis, pensions and strong economic management. Really messed it up Joyce OKeefe, who works in a cafe in Whitby, says she will definitely be voting, but that she is undecided about who for. I am very confused, the 62-year-old, who has lived in Whitby for eight years, adds. I have no idea who to vote for this year. I dont feel either of them are going to make very much of a difference. Arcade in Whitby ( Maya Oppenheim ) Despite voting for the Tories in 2019, she will not be doing so again as they really have messed it up, she says. We didnt vote for Rishi, Ms OKeefe adds. We didnt choose him to be the leader. Its not working. I dont like Keir Starmer and I dont see him saying anything of any strength. All I seem to see him doing is arguing against what the Conservatives are doing, but Im not hearing any policies. Neither the PM nor the leader of the opposition have enough personality to win her over, she concludes, adding that she will not be voting for the Reform Party either a different view to that espoused in the partys meeting we attend the night before. Reform Party poster outside a Whitby pub ( Maya Oppenheim ) Ms OKeefe, who lived in Teesside before moving to Whitby, says she voted for Brexit in 2016 but Britains departure from the EU didnt work out how she thought it would. I dont feel its made a big enough difference to us, she says. I think all weve seen from it is negatives with regard to travel and everything. Im not seeing any positives from it. Surrounded by beige fudge, technicolour rock and strict signs warning you are not to feed the seagulls, an elderly man steers himself along with his Nova Check walker, while a young woman sits in a stationary electric blue Nissan, knitting as she gives her friend advice with her phone on speaker. T-shirts hanging in a Whitby shop ( Maya Oppenheim ) Anyone for a sea trip today, a man asks onlookers. Sail on one of Whitbys biggest pleasure boats. Karen Noble, who owns a clothes shop in the town, says she fits the voter profile of the Whitby woman, apart from the fact that she did not vote for Brexit, due to wanting to move abroad. The 63-year-old lifelong Tory voter says she has finally decided she will vote for the Reform Party after feeling deeply uncertain. Karen Noble in the doorway of her shop ( Maya Oppenheim ) Discussion in the shop in the last fortnight has been dominated by female and wavering Tory voters, who are concerned about long A&E waits in nearby Scarborough. The other week I ended up in A&E and they wanted me to go to Scarborough, says Ms Noble. I refused to go because last time I went I was in the corridor for 15 hours. 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 U.N. cultural agency has discovered five bombs hidden within the walls of the historic al-Nouri Mosque in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, a remnant of the Islamic State militant groups rule over the area, UNESCO said in a statement Saturday. The mosque, famous for its 12th-century leaning minaret, was destroyed by IS in 2017 and has been a focal point of UNESCOs restoration efforts since 2020. The U.N. agency said that five large-scale explosive devices, designed for significant destruction, were found inside the southern wall of the Prayer Hall on Tuesday. These explosive devices were concealed within a specially rebuilt section of the wall, the statement said. Iraqi authorities were promptly notified, secured the area, and the situation is now fully under control. It added that one bomb has been defused and removed, while the remaining four are interconnected and will be safely disposed of in the coming days. Iraqi authorities have requested that UNESCO halt all reconstruction operations at al-Nouri mosque and evacuate the entire complex until the devices are disarmed. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared an Islamic caliphate from the mosque a decade ago on June 29, 2014, leading to its destruction when extremists blew it up during the battle to liberate Mosul in 2017. The discovery of these bombs underscores ongoing challenges in clearing Mosul of explosives and revitalizing its devastated urban areas. International efforts, supported by the United Nations, focus on mine clearance and aiding in the citys recovery. Despite progress, much of Mosuls old city remains in ruins, marked by minefield warning signs, highlighting the complexity of post-conflict reconstruction. UNESCO aims to complete the full reconstruction of al-Nouri Mosque by December, finally erasing the stigma of the Daesh occupation, the statement said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group's name. A decade after the Islamic State 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 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 }} Bolivian president Luis Arce accused the countrys former general of planning to take over the government in a failed coup. The ex-general, Juan Jose Zuniga was ordered on Friday to six months of preventive detention for leading the failed coup earlier in the week. Mr Zuniga led military units to gather in the main square of the capital, La Paz which houses the presidential palace and Congress. An armoured vehicle rammed a palace door to allow soldiers to rush into the building. Tanks allegedly led by the ex-general also breached the gates of the presidential palace, as hundreds of military troops were mobilised. The former military general faces a terrorism charge that could lead to 15-20 years in prison, as well as an armed uprising charge that could result in 5-15 years in prison. This preventive detention that the judge is ordering will undoubtedly set a precedent and a good signal so that this investigation can continue to advance, Bolivian state prosecutor Cesar Siles said. Bolivia: Bolivians rally to defend democracy The coup attempt unfolded following months of political tension between Mr Arce and his one-time ally and former leftist president Evo Morales over control of the ruling party. Observers say this political tension has hampered the governments efforts to tackle an ongoing economic crisis. The former general had earlier said he staged the coup, following an order from the president. But Mr Arce has denied involvement or prior knowledge of the ex-generals operation. Speaking to the Associated Press, the Bolivian president denied that the coup was self-orchestrated to garner him political points. I didnt escape. I stayed to defend democracy, Mr Arce said. He also denied that Bolivia was in an economic crisis. The countrys foreign currency reserves are dwindling and its natural gas exports are plummeting. But Mr Arce said his government has taken action to address the countrys gasoline and dollar shortages and other economic hurdles. Bolivia has an economy thats growing. An economy in crisis doesnt grow, the president said, adding that the government was working on diversifying production and investing in options like lithium mining. The Andean country has the worlds largest known reserves of lithium, an element considered key to global green transition amid the ongoing climate crisis. However, lithium production in the South American country has largely remained untapped until now due to government policy. Additional reporting with agencies... 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 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by a police officer in upstate New York on Friday evening . Video circulating on social media purporting to show the incident shows a person being chased by police and tackled to the ground by an officer, with two other officers helping. A gun shot is heard, and the police officers jump up and stand several feet back, while the body remains slumped on the ground. Oh my god. Yo, he just shot him, yells the woman filming the video. Police said the teenager was holding a replica gun when he was killed after a chase with officers. Law enforcement officials said that police officers in Utica stopped the teenager and another youth around 10:18 p.m. The 13-year-old, whose identity has not been made clear but is of Asian descent, fled and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officers, according to a statement by the Utica Police Department. After a struggle, one of the officers fired a single shot at the boy, who was taken to Wynn Hospital. He died from his injuries. Police investigate the scene of Friday nights shooting in Utica, NY early Saturday, June 29, 2024 ( Syracuse.com via AP ) A department spokesperson didnt respond to phone and email messages seeking information about the replica gun which police characterized as a pellet gun during a news conference early Saturday. In a statement posted to Facebook, the Utica Police Department said, Our thoughts are with our officers involved, and the family of the deceased juvenile. Utica is a city located in upstate New York, approximately 40 miles from Syracuse. Community members expressed outrage over the tragic incident, chanting No justice, no peace in City Hall while police Chief Mark Williams and Mayor Michael Galime convened a press conference. Police said they were aware of the video circulating on social media and warned that it does not portray the incident in its entirety. Police said over the next several days they will release a report providing a comprehensive overview of the events as well as the full body camera footage from the involved officers. They also will release photos of the replica GLOCK 17 Gen 5 handgun and a detachable magazine that were recovered from the scene. State law requires the state attorney generals office to lead the investigation into the shooting, the department said. Police will also be conducting its own internal investigation. Spokespersons for state Attorney General Letitia James office didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday. We again offer our condolences to the family of the deceased juvenile during this very difficult time, as well as the many lives that this has now permanently changed within our community, the Utica Police Department said. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. 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 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 }} As murder suspect Eugene Gligor tossed his water bottle in a trash bin at Washington Dulles Airport earlier this month, unbeknownst to him, authorities investigating a cold case in Maryland were watching. In New York, police had been trying for years to link DNA found on the bodies of three slain sex workers, but were unable to until they watched as Rex Heuermann threw a major clue into the trash: his leftover pizza crust. And detectives in Oregon had been surveilling Robert Plympton, suspected of a decades-old murder, when they witnessed him spitting his gum out. Then they pounced. In each case, authorities snatched up the trash and the discarded DNA became a key in progressing, and in some cases solving decades-old cold cases. Its a process called surreptitious DNA collection, which refers to the collection and analysis of DNA from a person without their knowledge and without coercion, according to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Peter Valentin, a department chair of forensic science at the University of New Haven and a former detective with the Connecticut State Police Department, told USA Today that its abandoned DNA and police dont need a warrant to grab the DNA from public property. It works under the premise that you no longer have an expectation of privacy in things that you discard. Its abandoned DNA," Valentin said. For the Gilgo Beach cases, what theyre doing is getting DNA from the garbage. Once you take garbage to the curb, theres no longer an expectation of privacy. And its nearly impossible to avoid leaving DNA behind. The water bottle tossed in airport trash After 23 years, an arrest was made this month in the 2001 murder of Leslie Preer and it was all thanks to a plastic water bottle. On June 18, Montgomery County police in Maryland, charged 44-year-old Eugene T Gligor, 44, with Preers murder. Preer, 50, was found dead in the bathtub of her home near Washington DC in May 2001. There were signs of a struggle throughout the house and another persons DNA was found under her fingernails, but police were never able to match the sample. Eugene Gligor, 44, was arrested on June 18 in connection with a 2001 cold-case murder ( Montgomery County Police Department ) Then, in 2022, investigators found a partial match in commercial genetic databases assembled by ancestry research companies from the millions of samples sent in by customers. According to The Washington Post, the DNA in the database belonged to a relative of Gligor. Gligorhad dated Preers daughter when they were both students at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland, shortly before her mother was killed. It turns out that police had received an anonymous tip nine months after the 2001 murder claiming that Gligor, who was 21 at the time, may be somehow related to the case. Leslie Preer, 50, was found dead in the bathtub at her home in May 2001 ( Montgomery County Police Department ) Fast forward to June 2024 and an investigation subsequently tracked Gligor to Dulles Airport. Investigators watched through airport surveillance cameras as the suspect drank from his plastic water bottle and threw it away in a trash can. They retrieved the bottle and obtained a DNA sample, which matched the genetic material found under Preers nails. Pizza crust leads to arrest of Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect For over a decade, nobody had faced criminal charges over the mysterious Gilgo Beach killings until New York architect Rex Heuermann threw his pizza box in the trash outside his Manhattan firm last summer under the gaze of the police. DNA collected from a pizza crust in the discarded pizza box helped investigators link Heuermann to a hair found on one of the murder victims. Six weeks earlier a new investigative task force had formed and would eventually use the DNA evidence and cell phone location data to charge Heuermann for the murders of the Gilgo Four: Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Rex Heuermann, 60, has been charged with the murders of six women ( James Carbone/Newsday via AP ) On March 14, 2022, the name Rex was first mentioned, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said shortly after the July 2023 arrest. A New York state investigator was able to identify him in a database and from that point on we used the power of the grand jury, over 300 subpoenas and search warrants, looking into this individuals background to bring us to this day. According to court documents, the team surveilling Heuermann observed him throw out the pizza box into a trash can outside his office in Midtown, Manhattan and collected the pizza crust to be swabbed and analyzed by a forensics lab. The DNA matched a mitochondrial DNA profile from a male hair that was collected off burlap that had been wrapped around the naked body of 22-year-old Megan Waterman when she was found on December 13, 2010, near Gilgo Beach. The results came back on June 12, 2023, having a 99.96 degree of accuracy. Heuermann was arrested the following month and pleaded not guilty in court. Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose bodies were found in 2010 are the Gilgo Four ( Suffolk County Police Department via AP ) In June 2024, Heuermann, now 60, was arraigned in the deaths of two more women: Jessica Taylor, 20, and Sandra Costilla, 28. Taylor vanished in 2003 while working as an escort in New York City. Some of her remains were discovered in Manorville that year. Further remains were found during a 2011 search near Ocean Parkway, the road where the other Gilgo Beach victims were found. Costillas remains were found on November 20, 1993, on Cove Road in North Sea, a Southampton town. Prosecutors said they were able to use new forensic testing methods to match hairs found on or near both victims to a DNA profile that is a likely match to Heuermann. Sandra Costilla (left) and Jessica Taylor (right) are the first alleged victims of Rex Heuermann who were murdered before 2007 ( Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page ) Since late 2010, police have been investigating the deaths of at least 10 people mostly female sex workers whose remains were discovered along an isolated highway not far from Gilgo Beach on Long Islands south shore. Taylor and Costilla are the first alleged victims of Heuermann who were murdered before 2007, leading prosecutors to believe he was killing women for much longer than previously thought and are investigating the possibility of more victims. The Golden State Killer Discarded DNA was also key evidence in the case of the Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo, who was convicted in 2018 for several murders, rapes and burglaries in the 1970s and 1980s. His crime spree began in 1975 while he was working as a police officer in Exeter, California. DeAngelo began by stalking his victims, but eventually moved on to sexual assaults, rapes and murders. After DeAngelo was first targeted as a suspect in the cases through genetic genealogy, police followed him to a Hobby Lobby store in Roseville, California, and obtained DNA evidence from his car door handle. Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo was caught with the help of new DNA technology and he was convicted in 2018 for several murders, rapes and burglaries ( Sacramento Sheriffs Office ) They later collected items, including a tissue, from his trash outside his home and the DNA matched DNA from the crime scene. DeAngelo admitted 13 counts of first-degree murder and multiple rapes and burglaries after pleading guilty in a deal that kept him from receiving the death penalty. He also admitted he committed dozens of other sexual assaults that could not be prosecuted due to statute of limitation restrictions. At 74 years old, DeAngelo was sentenced to life in prison without parole. A piece of gum cracks the case A 1980 cold case murder in Oregon was solved after DNA found on a piece of discarded chewing gum led authorities to the killer. Robert Plympton, 60, was found guilty on March 21, 2024, on one count of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder in the murder of Mt. Hood Community College student Barbara Tucker. Barbara Tucker was 19 years old when she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and beaten to death on January 15, 1980, authorities said. Barbara Tucker, 19, was found dead on January 15, 1980 ( Gresham Police Department ) The next morning, students who were on their way to class at the school in Gresham discovered the womans body in a wooded area next to the parking lot. In 2000, vaginal swabs taken during Tuckers autopsy were sent to the Oregon State Police (OSP) Crime Lab for analysis and used to create a DNA profile of the suspect. Parabon Nanolabs Chief Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore told CNN that during her research, she discovered a history of red-headed men in the family line which led to the the prediction that the person who murdered and raped Barbara most likely had red hair. Parabon identified Plympton as a likely contributor to the DNA profile that was developed in 2000. Robert Plympton was found guilty on March 21, 2024, in the 1980 murder of Barbara Tucker after DNA from his chewing gum matched the profile created from DNA found on Tucker ( Multnomah County Sheriffs Department ) Armed with the new information, detectives with the Gresham Police Department found that Plympton was living in Troutdale, Oregon, and began conducting surveillance. When they saw Plympton spit out his chewing gum on the ground, they seized their chance, collected the gum and submitted it to the OSP Crime Lab. DNA from the gum matched the DNA profile developed from Tuckers autopsy. Plympton was arrested on June 8, 2021. He was convicted in March 2024 and remains in custody in Multnomah County. 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 }} An off-duty NYPD officer who was reportedly getting her nails done for a wedding has been identified as one of the four people killed when an alleged drunk driver crashed his minivan into a nail salon on Long Island on Friday. Emilia Rennhack, 30, lived in Brooklyn and worked at the Queens 102 Pct., with her husband Det. Carl Rennhack, whom she married in September, according to a Facebook post shared by the Det. Brian Smiles Simonsen Foundation Our hearts are breaking following the tragic loss of our 102 Pct. sister P.O. Emilia Rennhack in an off-duty incident yesterday, the Police Benevolent Association also wrote on Facebook. Please join us in praying for her family, friends and coworkers. Funeral arrangements to follow. Police say Steven Schwally, 64, of Dix Hills, had been speeding through a parking lot in Deer Park when he drove his 2020 Chevy Traverse through the front window of Hawaii Nail & Spa around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Schwally was charged with driving while intoxicated. He was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening. Three women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene and eight females and one man were transported to various local hospitals. The names of the other victims have not been released. Fire officials responding to the crash said Schwally was semi conscious when his vehicle came to a stop nearly at the back of the store, which is located in a strip mall. 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 ) Its horrible, its going to be tough for the community ... tough for the volunteer fire department, but were going to get through it, Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese said in a news conference Friday evening. (Its) just a horrible thing to see especially at this time of the year with all the good things happening, graduations and what not. Witnesses described the chaotic scene to ABC7 New York. Somebody saw that the man was driving and he came from this parking lot from Kohls and he was trying to pass somebody, and then they pretty much ran right into the nail salon and you could hear people screaming and yelling, Danielle Tanis told the new outlet. One of the salons customers was stunned by what happened. Yesterday I did my nails, Valerie Fisher said. Look, yesterday I did my manicure and pedicure. My heart dropped because life is so fragile. Life is so so fragile. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierneys office said Schwally, who remained hospitalized Saturday morning, will be arraigned at a later time. 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 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 New Jersey mother accused of drowning her two young daughters in a bathtub said she carried out the horrific killings for religious purposes, new court documents revealed. Naomi Elkins, 27, was living in a basement apartment in Lakewood with her children, ages 1 and 3, and her husband, who was out of state on business on June 25, when the tragedy happened. Elkins called Hatzolah Medical Service and told them she hurt her kids. When medics arrived, both girls were found wet and without their clothes. The younger child had a stab wound to her stomach. Despite CPR attempts, both children were pronounced dead of pediatric cardiac arrest at the scene. The girls mother later told investigators that she had been having concerning thoughts and had spent the night before praying. After leaving the daycare where she worked, she headed back to her house and once she was home, she believed that she needed to kill the children for religious purposes, according to charging documents obtained by News 12 and reviewed by The Independent. Elkins allegedly stabbed her one-year-old daughter and then placed her in the bathtub and [held] her underwater for what she estimated to be two to three minutes. The three-year-old allegedly ran into another bathroom and was screaming because she was scared, according to Elkins, who allegedly followed her daughter into that bathroom, ran another bath and then forced her under the water for several minutes. Elkins told investigators that she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time. Naomi Elkins pictured in a booking photo. Police say the 27-year-old drowned her two children, stabbing the youngest as well ( Ocean County Government ) Once both girls had stopped breathing, Elkins said she realized that she had done something wrong, and called Hatzolah Medical Service, according to the documents. At the suggestion of the responding detective, she wrote a letter to her daughters in which she references killing them. Elkins was taken into custody and 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. In a statement to the Asbury Park Pres, Elkins attorney Mitchell J. Ansell said she has a well-documented history of severe mental illness which has absolutely played a major role in these devastating events. During the police interview, Elkins told investigators she had the same thoughts on May 25 about killing her children for religious purporses. 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, adding that the Elkins family was deeply saddened by the tragic events. At this time, we kindly ask for the publics 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. Elkins is in custody at the Ocean County Jail and is set to appear in court for a detention hearing on Monday. 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 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 }} For 34 years, the brutal slayings of a brother and sister in Georgia remained a mystery until a decades-old rape kit led to an arrest. Kenneth Perry, 55, was charged this week in the deaths of Pamela Sumpter, 43, and John Sumpter, 46, who were stabbed at the Atlanta suburb apartment on July 15, 1990, according to the DeKalb County District Attorneys Office. John Sumpter died at the scene. His sister Pamela, who was raped and also stabbed, was rushed to the hospital where a rape kit was collected and male DNA belonging to her attacker was found. While in the hospital, Pamela gave investigators a detailed description of the man who attacked her and murdered her brother, telling them he was a new acquaintance of her brother and that he was from Detroit, Michigan. Days later, on August 5, 1990, Pamela died from her injuries. And the case went cold. Two decades passed without any viable leads. Then in 2022, investigators sent the rape kit for testing as part of its continuing initiative to test pre-1999 rape kit evidence, according to the DeKalb County District Attorneys Office. By February 2023, a male DNA profile was developed and uploaded to Georgias statewide DNA database. But the profile did not match any known offenders on the state level. A few months later, the district attorneys office applied for a federal grant for prosecuting cases using DNA and the case was chosen as a good candidate for the grant. In February 2024, the DNA was uploaded to a national database, and within days, it matched to a 1992 sexual assault case in Detroit, prosecutors said in a recent news release. The victim in the Detroit case had identified the suspect as her ex-boyfriend, Kenneth Perry, according to the district attorneys office, who then located the man in Loganville, Georgia. Kenneth Perry, 55, was charged in the deaths of Pamela Sumpter, 43, and John Sumpter, 46, who were stabbed at their Georgia home in 1990 ( Sherry Boston/DeKalb County District Attorney ) Matching the DNA , investigators identified Perry as a likely suspect. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Office Fugitive Unit arrested him at his Loganville home. Investigators collected a DNA sample from Perry and it was confirmed that he was the perpetrator in the Sumpter siblings murders. Perry was indicted 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. He is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail where he is being held without bond. Honored Othram could assist the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office in identifying the 1990 suspect in a double homicide and sexual assault. The suspect has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes. #dnasolveshttps://t.co/MZHwj6wLSs Othram Inc. (@OthramTech) June 26, 2024 We are here today because of incredible advancements in science and in investigative technology that have made what once seemed to be an unsolvable case, a solid case, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said at a news conference on Wednesday. The victims brother, James Sumpter, also spoke at the news conference. Its been over 30 years since this terrible, evil tragedy happened to my brother and sister, James Sumpter said. We now have closure. I pray that the justice system prevails. 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 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. 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. 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 }} Elvis Presleys iconic blue suede shoes sold for more than $150,000 at an auction on Friday. Presley wore the famed dark blue shoes for several performances throughout the 1950s, even mentioning them during a 1956 appearance on Steve Allens then-famous variety show. Now, theyre in the hands of a California-based collector who paid a six-figure price at a Henry Aldridge and Son auction. The high price reflects the importance of such an iconic object, Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge told CBS News. When you think of Elvis, you probably think of upturned collars, Las Vegas and blue suede shoes, Aldridge said. While Presley did not write the iconic Blue Suede Shoes tune, the song and shoes became synonymous with him after he covered it on his debut album. Elvis Presleys blue suede shoes, pictured, sold for more than $150,000 on Friday ( PA Media ) Presley originally gave the shoes to his close friend, Alan Fortas, the night before he left for the army in 1958. Presley and his friends spent the evening partying at his Graceland mansion. Fortas, who also managed Presleys ranch, died in 1992. That night, Elvis gave me these blue suede shoes size 10 1/2, Fortas wrote in a letter, according to the auction company. Ive owned these all these years The shoes have since appeared in several museums, including Las Vegas Elvis-A-Rama. That museum was robbed in 2004, but the shoes were miraculously left untouched. Elvis Presley pictured performing in 1966. Presley gave the blue suede shoes to his close friend after an all-night party at his Graceland mansion ( Getty Images ) The shoes were authenticated by Jimmy Velvet, Presleys close friend and the worlds leading Elvis authority, the auction website reads. There is a lot of history wrapped up in these well-worn blue suede shoes which are synonymous with the name Elvis Presley, Velvet said, according to the auction website. Presleys family recently made headlines over a Graceland mansion controversy. Elvis Presleys Graceland mansion, pictured, was almost sold in a foreclosure auction that his granddaughter said was fraudulent. A judge has since blocked the sale and Tennessee police have turned the investigation over to federal authorities ( AP2011 ) In May, a mysterious company tried to sell Presleys estate in a foreclosure auction. They claimed his estate had failed to properly repay a loan that used the Tennessee mansion as collateral. But actor Riley Keough, his granddaughter, said the claim was fraudulent and filed a lawsuit to halt it. A judge then blocked the sale. The next week, a self-described scammer with ties to Nigeria wrote to The New York Times claiming they were responsible for the failed auction attempt. Tennessee police turned over the investigation to federal authorities earlier this week, the Associated Press reports. 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 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 }} Disassociating in the doctors office, blinking in the sterile white light, Vera Cowell would often wonder if she was being abducted by aliens. As a teenager, Cowell never quite understood the reason for these fortnightly injections. Her mother told her that all young people received regular vitamin jabs; that this was simply what her body needed to make her a man. Cowell didnt want to be a man, and she hated how the injections testosterone, she would later surmise masculinized her body. But nobody seemed to care what she thought. "My consent was never required," says Cowell, now a 39-year-old therapist in Minnesota, who asked to be referred to by a pseudonym to protect her privacy. "It was simply a matter for adults... nothing had to be explained to me, so they explained nothing." Cowells experience a vulnerable teenager subjected to unwanted, traumatic medical treatments because doctors and parents decided what gender she should be resembles the most lurid fantasies of conservative activists and politicians seeking to ban transgender healthcare for under-18s . Yet because Cowell was born intersex, what happened to her would be explicitly shielded by many of the laws passed to accomplish that goal. Under the flag of protecting children from "gender ideology" , Republicans have given new legal backing to genital surgeries and other procedures on intersex infants and teenagers, often performed long before the patient can possibly consent. At least 81 per cent of US bills restricting trans healthcare between January 2020 and April 2023 contained exemptions for these highly contentious treatments, according to the Movement Advancement Project , an LGBT+ rights think tank. A separate count by the intersex advocacy group InterACT found that all 20 such laws passed in 2023 contained similar exemptions. "Its just preposterous that these bills discriminate in two ways at the same time," InterACTs legal and policy director Sylvan Fraser told The Independent. "The findings theyre citing, and the language theyre using about preventable harm its all backwards and incorrect as applied to trans people. But a lot of it is actually true if you apply it to the intersex patient population. Its tremendously ironic." Intersex campaigner Valentino Vecchietti at the London Trans Pride protester in July 2022, England, UK ( Getty Images ) Some of these procedures known as intersex medical interventions, or IMIs are done to treat serious medical emergencies, such as when a childs genitals form in such a way that stops them passing urine. Those cases are uncontroversial. In other cases, though, IMIs are designed to align intersex childrens bodies with what is normal for the gender chosen for them, which proponents argue will make them happier and healthier in the long run. Many intersex rights activists disagree. They allege that most early IMIs are unnecessary and dangerous, designed to enforce the gender binary on children who cannot possibly consent. Some refer to the such procedures as "IGM" that is, intersex genital mutilation . Some medical and human rights bodies have also questioned or condemned non-emergency IMIs, including the World Health Organization , the American Academy of Pediatrics , the UN Committee Against Torture , and a UN Special Rapporteur on torture . "[To] the people that are aware of the intersex carve-outs, its pretty alarming," says Marissa Adams, a 30-year-old intersex woman and a program coordinator at InterACT, who has suffered lasting physical and psychological damage from genital surgeries in her infancy. "It is really the first [US] legislation to specifically state that these surgeries are fine, that theyre allowed to happen... theyre ensuring that intersex kids do not have bodily autonomy, while also doing the same for trans youth." 'Its as if I was simply a specimen under a microscope Like many intersex people, Cowells medical history was concealed from her in the hope that she would grow up feeling like any other boy. As a child, she recalls pain when urinating and frequent medical visits. But she says she was often punished for asking about it, and even shamed for how expensive her treatments were. Anything from one in two million to one in sixty people are born with some kind of intersex trait, depending on the specific condition (though not everyone accepts the term "intersex"). Their expression and impact varies hugely: some are obvious from birth, some cause life-threatening complications, and some go unnoticed for decades. Cowell was born with two X chromosomes but ambiguous genitals, caused by a rare genetic condition called de la Chapelle syndrome. Her mother decided to raise her male "because boys have it easier", Cowell says she once admitted and medics accordingly constructed a penis, as well as possibly removing uterine tissue (Cowell has no records of exactly what was done). Since one of her testicles had also been removed, Cowell did not go through a natural male puberty, so her doctors induced one. Clinicians, she alleges, treated her as a curiosity and repeatedly photographed her genitals. All of this gave Cowell lasting trauma around medical matters. "It was as if I was simply a specimen under a microscope, and the bright lights werent to make it easier for me to see, but for them to see me," Cowell says. Such trauma is all too common. A study in 2020 found that intersex adults in the US had far higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts than the average American, while one in four reported living on below $20,000 per year. Another, much larger study in 2019 found that participants who had early genital surgery were more likely to report sexual difficulties and lack of satisfaction. Participants in general were also more likely than endosex (ie, non-intersex) people to undertake gender transition in adulthood. Justin Tsang, a 28-year-old disability and intersex advocate in Los Angeles who sometimes works with InterACT, and uses both he and they pronouns, always knew their body was unusual. They had "vivid memories" of being woken up at 3am or 4am as a toddler to be "whisked away into the operating room". Justin Tsang, who in 2021 took part in a White House roundtable about intersex issues ( Justin Tsang ) At age 17, Tsang stumbled across a medical document showing that doctors had comprehensively reconstructed his genitals to fit his parents decision to raise him as a boy. It was purely cosmetic, he says, adding that it caused him to suffer both physically and emotionally. Cowell, whose voluntary transition to female as an adult has brought lasting happiness, still sometimes stays awake at night wondering how much of her gender identity comes from authentic desire as opposed to trauma. The doctors stole from me my ability to even know what I want to be, she says. Why some doctors still support childhood surgeries Since the rise of modern intersex activism in the late 20th century, there have been attempts mostly unsuccessful to ban childhood IMIs except where there is a clear, urgent medical need. Doctors opposing these bills say that there are strong psychological and social rationales for operating early in certain cases, arguing that it helps intersex children to function or pass as a typical boy or girl. If I told you we did this clitoroplasty on a 2-year-old, and as a result she never got bullied, and never got humiliated, and didnt suffer from anxiety and depression, and didnt kill herself in the ninth or tenth grade you could say it was purely society that did this to her. And I would say youre right, but we live in a world where were social animals, said one doctor interviewed for a report by InterACT and Human Rights Watch. Surgical techniques have also advanced, and it is now common practice to advise that parents be honest with their children about their condition. Unfortunately, despite their and the infant parents best intentions, there is little to no doubt that some [past] surgeries and decisions had disastrous consequences, wrote Lane Palmer , a prominent paediatric urologist, in a 2019 op-ed opposing a California IMI ban. Today, the situation has improved dramatically. The question, however, is whether the benefits of early IMIs outweigh the profound ethical and medical risks of refusing to wait until the patient can express their own wishes. On that front, the evidence appears shaky.. Theres really no convincing research that says anything about heightened risk of psychosocial difficulties from growing up different in this context, says Fraser. But there is research showing that there are tremendous detrimental effects from living with the results of surgery that you had no say in, and that has such profound personal implications. That was also the conclusion of three former US surgeon generals, who wrote in 2017 after reviewing several dozen studies that there was a dearth of persuasive evidence in favour of early intervention. Moreover, many intersex people say these procedures increased rather than alleviated their struggles. Bonnie Scranton with her daughter Ellie Kraus, two or so decades ago ( Bonnie Scranton ) The thing that induces the most shame is actually feeling that your authentic self is not acceptable for some reason, says Bonnie Scranton, a 53-year-old psychotherapist and parent of an intersex child, whose doctoral dissertation focused on intersex experiences. Its not the variation itself, its the attempt at erasing or eradicating it. Asked how often in his life he has felt normal, Tsang pauses. I dont think Ive ever felt normal, he replies. I think [the surgery] made me feel less normal. I dont see my parents as villains There is an alternative to all of this. When Scrantons daughter Ellie Kraus was born in 1997, doctors appeared to mistake her internal testicles for ovaries, and did not remove them. Only at 14, after Kraus did not start menstruating on schedule, was she diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS). Although she had XY chromosomes, her body could not process testosterone and instead converted it into estrogen, causing her to grow up looking typically female. After her diagnosis, her doctor recommended she have her testes out due to cancer risk. But meeting other intersex people and activists gave her the confidence and knowledge to push back with an alternative, non-surgical treatment plan. It was certainly not a positive reaction, recalls Kraus, now a 26-year-old science teacher in Brooklyn, New York who says her gender identity is simply intersex. I think my provider... saw himself as the person who was in charge in the room. It was an intimidating moment. Ellie Kraus, left, with her mother Bonnie Scranton ( Ellie Kraus and Bonnie Scranton ) Kraus would ultimately have her testes removed as an adult, but being the one to decide made all the difference. Although this is not possible for all people with CAIS, she was able to finish puberty without medical help, and had agency over the process. Rosalind, 38, in Pennsylvania, is attempting a similar path with her two-year-old son James (both names are pseudonyms). Save one procedure to descend his testicles, she has refused further surgeries. The last straw came when a specialist told her not to worry because a certain surgery was reversible. What he meant was that its surgically reversible, Rosalind says. But anyone whos put their child into surgery knows that its not easy. It always comes with risks and in this instance it could also come with very severe consequences down the road. Rosalinds plan now is to raise James to love his body, and support him if he ever chooses to change it. For health insurance reasons she felt compelled to pick a gender, but she is prepared for the possibility that hell change that too. Many people interviewed for this piece said their parents felt pressured or rushed by doctors and lacked information. I dont see my parents as villains. I often say they were just as much victims as I was, says one anonymous intersex person who received early surgery. What Fraser advocates is that the same international medical standards commonly applied to trans children also apply to intersex children. In other words, full informed consent for every procedure, unless in a genuine emergency. It is so much less common for trans people to regret accessing gender-affirming care, because they have to work so hard to access that care, they say. But with intersex people its just the opposite; theyre being pushed downhill while a trans person is having to climb uphill. 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 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. 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 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 }} Summer is here and visitors are traveling in droves to enjoy coastal breezes and ocean swims but beach trips aren't always idyllic. Already there has been beach horror stories with one small town experiencing five drowning deaths in just four days, a woman losing her arm to a shark attack in Florida, and two teenage boys in Brooklyn missing for a week after getting pulled under by a wave. Analysts at Simmrin Law compiled a list of the most dangerous beaches in the US by studying hurricane landfalls, shark attacks, and surf related fatalities like rip currents, have. According to their findings, all of the top 10 most dangerous beaches in the US are in Florida. Here's a look at some of the most dangerous beaches in the US, including some outside of the Sunshine State. While none of the beaches are inherently dangerous, beachgoers should be aware of the risks anytime they set off for a weekend of sun and surf. A pair of paddle boarders watch as a sharks fin emerges from the waters off the coast of New Smyrna Beach in June 2024 ( screengrab/TODAY ) New Smyrna Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach, approximately 15 miles south of Daytona Beach, topped Simmrin Law's list of most dangerous US beaches. Because of its location on Florida's eastern coast, New Smyrna Beach not only has a high chance of being affected by Atlantic hurricanes, but it is also the most likely beach where a swimmer might suffer a shark attack. According to Simmrin's data, there have been 185 shark attacks at the beach, a fact that is not lost on the locals; visitors can purchase "shark bite capital of the world" shirts at beachside stores to commemorate their visit. Despite the high number of incidents, shark attacks are still an exceedingly rare occurrence. Dozens of beachgoers at Panama City Beach form a human chain to rescue nine stranded swimmers in August 2022 ( Roberta Ursrey ) Panama City Beach, Florida Panama City Beach, a town in northwest Florida on the Gulf, has experienced a staggering recent spate of recent drownings. Strong rip currents killed four people last weekend, including three visitors from Alabama on June 21. Just two days later, a 60-year-old woman from Missouri was found dead in the water. Panama City Beach came in second on Simmrin's list. The beach closed to the public on June 23, 2024 due to life-threatening rip currents, AL.com reports. Rip currents are strong underwater currents that can pull swimmers out into the ocean. They pose an extreme drowning danger because swimmers trying to swim against the current often cannot overpower its pull, leaving them exhausted and stranded far from shore. In addition to its rip current threat, in 2023 17 people were killed at Panama City Beach by lightning strikes, according to the Daytona Beach News Journal. A lone beachgoer stands on the shores of Stuart Beach on Floridas Hamilton Island. A married couple with six children, Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, drowned in June 2024 off the shores of Stuart Beach after they were pulled into the ocean by rip currents. ( screengrab/WBPF ) Stuart Beach, Florida Stuart Beach, located on Hamilton Island, approximately 45 miles north of West Palm Beach, does not appear on Simmrin's list of dangerous beaches, and does not often appear on any list of especially dangerous beaches. But it did become the scene of a tragedy in June when a four members of Pennsylvania family were yanked out into the ocean by a dangerous rip current. Two children and their parents, Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, were dragged into the ocean by the current. While the children managed to break the current and swim to safety, their parents could not, and they ultimately drowned. Bystanders told NBC News that some of the couples children were yelling from shore, correctly advising their parents not to swim against the direction of the current but rather parallel to the beach, until they could escape the riptide. A Puerto Rican flag on an empty beach at Ocean Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico (stock image) There have been eight drowning deaths at Puerto Rican beaches in 2024 ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Puerto Rico beaches While Panama City Beach is still the deadliest individual beach this year for riptide deaths, Puerto Rico has the unfortunate distinction of having the most surf-related deaths in the US this year. The National Weather Service has thus far logged eight deaths related to rip currents at Puerto Rico beaches this year. Two of the deaths occurred at La Concha Beach, while the other six occurred at Playa Montones, Escondida Beach, La Pared, Montones Beach, and Shacks Beach. In March, 26-year-old US Marine Samuel Wanjiru was swept out to sea by strong currents while swimming in Puerto Rico. Search crews looked for him for weeks, but ultimately suspended their efforts in April, according to the US Coast Guard. Beachgoers mill around the beach and play in the surf at Carolina Beach, North Carolina. More than 90 people had to be rescued from rip currents during the second-to-last weekend of June 2024 at the beach ( screengrab/CBS17 ) Carolina Beach, North Carolina While not deadly, recent ocean and lunar activity has kicked riptides at beaches in North Carolina into high gear. More than 160 swimmers had to be rescued from rip currents at North Carolina beaches over the June 21-23 weekend at beaches in North Carolina, USA Today reports. Rescuers had to pull 95 swimmers out of the rip currents at Carolina Beach alone. Thankfully it seems that the extreme rip current conditions were temporary. The National Weather Service explained that the rip tide conditions were caused by an east-southeast swell and the full moon over the weekend. Even still, the NWS warns that the risk of rip currents is still moderate at beaches along the North Carolina coast heading into the last weekend of June. 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 New York Times Editorial Board has called for Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race following his weak debate performance against Donald Trump. The editorial comes after the president appeared frail during the Thursday evening debate. His voice was soft and raspy, which his campaign attributed to a cold. He also interrupted himself and gave rambling answers to multiple questions. Vice President Kamala Harris even admitted Biden struggled: Yes, it was a slow start, she said Thursday. Thats obvious to everyone. The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant, the board wrote on Friday night. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trumps provocations, the board continued. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence. While the editorial board said Biden would be their unequivocal pick over Trump, they called on the Democratic party to put forward a new candidate. 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 The Continental Club on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Biden and Trump are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 presidential cycle ( Getty Images ) The clearest path for Democrats to defeat a candidate defined by his lies is to deal truthfully with the American public: acknowledge that Mr. Biden cant continue his race, and create a process to select someone more capable to stand in his place to defeat Mr. Trump in November, the Board wrote. It is the best chance to protect the soul of the nation the cause that drew Mr. Biden to run for the presidency in 2019 from the malign warping of Mr. Trump. The presidents performance has since sent 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. Biden freezes mid-answer during presidential election debate Another Democratic strategist told The Independent the debate was horrible. Need to have Harris take over, the person said. Cleanest option. Meanwhile, the president has yet to show any signs of stepping down. Bidens campaign said he has no plans of dropping out. The president also acknowledged his weak performance at a campaign rally on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Folks, I dont walk as easy as I used to, Biden said. 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 do this job. Joe Biden, pictured at a campaign event on June 28, addressed his poor debate performance ( AP ) I know what millions of Americans do: When you get knocked down you get back up, he continued. Biden, for his part, did have strong moments amid his overall-weak performance. 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 president said Trump has the morals of an alley cat. 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 your wife was pregnant? Trump responded by denying the affair with Daniels and calling his Manhattan trial which centered around hush money payments to the adult film star politically rigged. 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 first presidential debate, in which Joe Biden stumbled and Donald Trump repeated a barrage of lies and misinformation, was watched by 51.27 million viewers, according to CNN. The Thursday night debate saw Bidens befuddled performance spark deep panic among Democrats and glee among Trump supporters. The 90-minute event, which took place in Atlanta, was hosted by CNN but carried live by 22 networks. CNN said on Friday that the debate drew the highest audience on its network with 9.53 million viewers, followed by 9.276 million on right-wing Fox News. Meanwhile, ABC News drew 9.21 million viewers and MSNBC got 4.122 million. However, the number of people watching dropped more than 30 percent from 2020 when 73 million tuned in the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump. Donald Trump and Joe Biden at first presidential debate in Atlanta on June 27. The number of people watching dropped more than 30 percent from 2020s opening debate ( Getty ) A record 84 million people tuned in to watch the first 2016 debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton. More people watched the CNN Presidential Debate than any other CNN program in history, the network said in a statement. The debate was also the most watched, non-sports program of 2024 so far on television. CNNs previous biggest audience was a 2015 republican debate featuring Trump, which was watched by 23.1 million viewers. On Friday, Biden acknowledged his poor performance during a rally in North Carolina. I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, he said at the end of his remarks on Friday in Raleigh. 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 do this job, he said. I know what millions of Americans do: When you get knocked down you get back up. 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 }} Nearly everyone agrees including President Joe Biden that he botched the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election, but the question remains as to how much a debate performance matters when it comes to reclaiming the White House. History shows the 81-year-old Democrat could still recover. Pew Research shows that 63 percent of voters said the presidential debates were very or somewhat helpful in deciding which candidate to back. But its not clear when voters make up their minds, potentially leaving some room for recovery. In 2016, only 10 percent of voters said they had definitively made up their minds during or just after the debates while 11 percent said they would decide on Election Day or the days or weeks leading up to it, according to Pew. The panic that Democrats experienced after watching the president stumble on his words in Thursdays CNN debate is not a first. If whats past is prologue, Bidens dreadful debate performance likely didnt seal his fate in the November election. Bidens former boss Barack Obama had a lackluster performance in 2012 against Republican Senator Mitt Romney. The Democrat was accused of going through the motions as Romney pressed him on his first-term record. Still, he persevered in his re-election bid. Obama himself acknowledged his 2012 flop on Friday, giving a word of encouragement to his former veep on X: Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But before there was Obamas debate flop, there was George W Bushs. In his 2004 first presidential debate against John Kerry, then-President Bush appeared annoyed and irritated, NBC News reported at the time, often scowling when Kerry made jabs about his record. A contemporaneous survey from Pew Research showed that twice as many debate viewers thought Kerry prevailed. Still, Bush reclaimed the White House that year. Sara Fagen, who worked on Bushs 2004 re-election campaign, told NBC News about the curse of the incumbents: Usually incumbents in some ways have the harder job because theyre defending the sitting record. Alan Schroeder, the author of a book on presidential debates, also mentioned this phenomenon to the outlet: Once the president is in the office, and especially after four years in the office, they are in a sort of protected bubble where they dont hear much conflicting information. An incumbent candidate requires a sort of transition almost back to being a normal citizen, he said. People watch the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump ( Getty Images ) Ronald Reagan was another example of this. Up against Democrat Walter Mondale in the first 1984 presidential debate, critics called Reagans responses rambling and said he appeared tired. After an abysmal first showing, Reagan acknowledged his faltering and came to the same conclusion as modern-day strategists, suggesting that presidential debates were more difficult for the incumbent. He told reporters after the initial debate that unless the incumbent drops a bomb on the other fellow, [he] is going to automatically be tagged as not having done well because he didnt destroy somebody. The then-president added that the incumbent is at a disadvantage because hes under attack. Reagan continued: I look back now at the times in debates when I wasnt the incumbent and never realized how easy it was to be on the other side. In the second debate, Reagan recovered. Like Biden, the then-73-year-old president was faced with voter concerns over age. At the time, Reagan was the oldest president in US history until Biden claimed the title in 2020. Reagan makes a joke about his age during a debate with against Mondale on October 8, 1984 ( AP1984 ) He endearingly joked about his age at the second debate: I want you to know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents youth and inexperience. That year, Reagan took back the White House, sweeping 49 states. In the day since his disastrous performance, Biden seems to have already made somewhat of a recovery. Speaking at a North Carolina rally, the president acknowledged his debate blunders: I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious. As if channeling Reagan, Biden acknowledged his age: 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. He then cut into Trump: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. 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 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. 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 took a victory lap at a campaign rally in Virginia one day after bulldozing Joe Biden and millions of viewers with lies and inflated claims at the first 2024 presidential debate. The former president said the upcoming election isnt about whether the clearly struggling Biden can survive a 90-minute debate but whether America can survive another four years under his presidency, suggesting that the country might not survive another five months. Trump who spent his remarks in Chesapeake repeating his nonsensical and false statements about abortion, immigration, the climate crisis and the 2020 election told Biden that the country doesnt want him and to get the hell out of here. Many people are saying after last nights performance that Joe Biden is leaving the race, but the fact is I dont believe that, said Trump, suggesting that Biden polls better than other potential Democratic candidates. Its hard to believe, but Crooked Joe Biden polls better than those people, he said. Donald Trump speaks to supporters in Chesapeake, Virginia on June 28 where he took a victory lap following his debate performance against Joe Biden on Thursday night ( AFP via Getty Images ) Trumps campaign helped negotiate and agreed to the terms of the CNN debate. Yet Trump said that his rival got the debate rules that he wanted, he got the date that he wanted, he got the network he wanted with the moderators he wanted. The former president who continues to repeat the lie that the 2020 election was rigged against him suggested that Biden was trying to somehow rig the debate. No amount of rest or rigging could help him defend his atrocious record, Trump said. Trump maintained his apocalyptic vision of an America in decline and repeated his lies that doctors are killing babies after birth and a bogus allegation raised at the debate that immigrants are taking Black jobs and Hispanic jobs. He said rising sea levels arent an existential crisis but an opportunity for waterfront property, that global warming is fine, that Hollywood casting directors are scoping out his crowds, and that he knows more about weapons than just about anybody as he warned that the nation is on the brink of a third World War. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the nations highest-ranking Jewish politician, has become a Palestinian, Trump said. Donald Trump and Joe Biden at first presidential debate on Thursday night in Atlanta, Georgia ( Getty ) Last night, Biden reminded viewers that Trumps former chief of staff John Kelly said Trump called dead military veterans suckers and losers. Trump said Biden made that up. At his rally, Trump called Kelly the dumbest of them all. He was lost in The White House. That guy didnt know what the hell was happening. We used to call him a lost soul, he said. Biden and Trump held competing rallies on Friday hours after the president appeared lost and glassy-eyed during CNNs debate in Atlanta, were he struggled to counter Trumps unchecked, bogus statements during their first debate since the 2020 election. From his rally in North Carolina, Biden sought to recast the performance, saying that he had spent 90 minutes on stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat. I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, he said at the end of his remarks in Raleigh. 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, Biden added. 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. SIPHOFANENI Drama unfolded yesterday morning when the countrys law enforcers raided homes of Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Nomalungelo LaZwide Simelane and former Senate Deputy President Ngomuyayona Gamedze, under unclear reasons. The raids, according to information gathered by the Eswatini News, happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, where armed police officers accompanied by soldiers and warders are said to have invaded the homes of the two mentioned politicians unannounced and without any search warrants. Snatching They are alleged to have not only failed to produce search warrants when asked to do so, but are accused of allegedly forcefully snatching away MP LaZwides cellphone from her hand when she tried to record the incident. According to the MP, the officers were not happy that the Siphofaneni legislator was taking pictures, as they were conducting the search and are said to have deleted the pictures after forcefully taking the cellphone from her. It has further been established that over 20 officers were part of the raids, while a helicopter was also spotted patrolling the Siphofaneni area during that period. Rudely The invasion by the officers at the MPs homestead is said to have caused terror among the children that were allegedly rudely forced to wake up from their beds, as early as 4am. Upon seeing the officers armed with guns, some of the children are said to have taken to their heels before finding refuge in another house inside the compound, in fear of the unknown. Road-block Interesting to note, is that soon after the raid, which is said to have lasted for over an hour, a heavy road-block was mounted along the route leading to the MPs homestead, where cars passing by were searched. Noteworthy, is that officers from the three security forces conducted the roadblock. However, Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Nosipho Mnguni made it clear that the raids in Siphofaneni were not targeted at the two mentioned politicians.People should not be misled to believe that the raids were only conducted on the two (LaZwide and Ngomuyayona) because other homesteads were searched as well.There is nothing sinister about the raids because we never announce them to the public anyway, Mnguni stated briefly. The police communications officers could not comment on the concerns that the raids were conducted without search warrants, which is contrary to what was required by law. Disappointment The Station Commander at the Siphofaneni Police Station was also asked to comment on the raids, but he referred such inquiries to Mnguni. Some of the residents at KaMkhweli, where LaZwide resides, registered their disappointment at the raid, pointing out that it was deliberately staged to instil fear. The children were made to go through the trauma of seeing soldiers carrying guns inside their home. It is also disappointing to note that the officers could not produce search warrants when asked to do so, yet they continued to turn things upside down in the houses they entered. I feel pity for the family, one resident, who asked to remain anonymous said. 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 }} One year after a French teenager with North African origins was killed by police a shooting that sparked shock and days of rioting across France his mother led a silent march Saturday to pay homage to her son. It comes at a politically fraught time. Hate speech is blighting the campaign for snap parliamentary elections taking place this weekend, and an anti-immigration party that wants to boost police powers to use their weapons, and has historic ties to racism and antisemitism is leading in the polls. Several hundred family members, friends and supporters gathered in the Paris suburb of Nanterre to remember 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk, who was shot dead at point-blank range by a police officer at a traffic check on June 27, 2023. Within hours of his death, Merzouk, a delivery driver from a working-class neighborhood, became a symbol. For many across France, he was the embodiment of young French Black and North African men who, studies show, face police checks and discrimination more frequently than their white counterparts. At Sunday's march, his mother Mounia spoke to the crowd then broke off in tears. Friends wore white t-shirts with Merzouks photo, and fellow residents of his housing project held a banner reading Justice for Nahel. The march ended at the spot where he was killed, and an imam sang and read a prayer. There was no visible police presence, though organizers of the march recruited guards to ensure security for the event. Merzouk's mother asked politicians to stay away, to avoid politicking or tensions the day before Frances parliamentary elections. On Sunday, French voters will cast ballots in the first round of snap elections for the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, that could lead to the countrys first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation. French opinion polls suggest the National Rally party could dominate the next parliament after the July 7 second round and get the prime ministers job. In that scenario, Centrist President Emmanuel Macron would retain the presidency until 2027 but in a sharply weakened role. This march, happening now, it is a powerful symbol," said Assa Traore, who has been fighting for justice since her brother Adama died in the custody of French police in 2016. It means that history cant write itself without us. We, from the working-class neighborhoods, are the firsthand victims of these elections. We realized, from an early stage, that the National Rally and far-right parties were a danger for our country and will weaken it," said the 39-year-old with Malian roots who will march alongside Merzouks family. Merzouk's death, which was captured on video, stirred up long-simmering tensions between police and young people in housing projects and disadvantaged suburbs, many of whom are French-born youth with immigrant family backgrounds. Fueled by TikTok, riots spread with unprecedented speed before a mass police crackdown. The unrest caused, according to French authorities, more than $1 billion in damage. The officer who fired the shot cited self-defense, and an extreme-right figure started a crowdfunding campaign for the policeman that drew $1.6 million before being shut down. Citing security concerns, notably in housing projects and other impoverished areas in French suburbs or banlieues, the far-right National Rally wants to give a specific new legal status to police. If police officers use their arms during an intervention, they would be presumed to have acted in self-defense. Currently police officers have the same legal status as all French citizens and have to prove they acted in self-defense. The left-wing coalition New Popular Front, meanwhile, wants to ban the use of some police weapons and dismantle a notoriously tough police unit. People fear the victory of the National Rally. But, we, people from working-class neighborhoods, are afraid every day that our sons, brothers, or husbands will be killed. Racism and racial profiling are our daily life," Traore said. ___ Angela Charlton in Paris contributed. ___ Follow AP's coverage of elections worldwide at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections/ A volunteer in a new police search for missing teenager Jay Slater has spoken of the difficulties facing rescuers. Spanish police today (29 June) launched a massive new search for the teenager and appealed for volunteer associations such as firefighters, and individual volunteers with experience in navigating difficult terrain to help them. Police and volunteers started their search at 9am in the village of Masca, near Mr Slaters last-known location, and will attempt to retrace his last-known steps. Volunteer Juan Garcia told Sky News: Its hard, its a very difficult area and very hard to walk. A few kilometers take a long time. Security minister Tom Tugendhat has hit out at a pattern of racist and misogynistic views within Reform UK. Campaigners for Nigel Farages party Reform UK in the Clacton seat in Essex he hopes to win were recorded by an undercover journalist from Channel 4 making racist comments, including about the Prime Minister who is of Indian descent. Mr Tugendhat said it was just the latest incident involving candidates or activists associated with Reform. He told Times Radio on Saturday (29 June): Theres many decent people vote for every political party and theres many decent people who will vote for Reform. But what were trying to do is to remind people, to try to make clear to people, what it is that Reform really is. If you were shocked that an activist working for Reform UKs leader Nigel Farage has called Rishi Sunak a f****** P*** , and argued that people crossing the English Channel in small boats should be used as target practice by the army, where exactly have you been? The history of Reform UK the populist right-wing party with roots in Ukip, and which started in 2019 as the Brexit Party, before changing its name after our exit from the EU perfectly explains why people with such views end up there. Farage, who condemned these violent remarks and racist slurs, saying he is dismayed by them, today went on Loose Women and suggested the reason such people end up in his party is because they haven't got the BNP to go to anymore. It seems to me that racist stereotyping is at the literal foundations of Reform UK. Catherine Blaiklock, who founded the party, once said Black people were inherently violent due to excess testosterone; she then had to leave it in 2019, after Islamophobic tweets were uncovered, though she later described them as out of character and admitted they were unacceptable. Their only MP to date, Lee Anderson, jumped ship from the Conservative Party after he accused Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, of being controlled by Islamists. In my opinion, bigotry against Black and Brown people runs through Reform UK from start to finish. When Rishi Sunak missed part of the D-Day commemorations earlier this month, Farage said it was because Sunak doesnt understand our culture. Why would that be his attack line? Everyone who has grown up in the UK understands how important D-Day commemorations are, especially to Conservative voters. But Farage chose to frame Rishi Sunaks decision in a way that implies hes not one of us. During the 2016 referendum, Farage unveiled his infamous Breaking Point anti-immigration poster showing Middle Eastern asylum seekers in mainland Europe. Our EU membership would not have allowed them to come here. The only way they could have is if they had integrated into a EU country over several years and become citizens of that country. They might then have chosen to come to the UK as German or French citizens. But at that point, the only relevance of Farages poster that I can see would be to point out their ethnic origin. Farage defended the poster during his recent stint on Im A Celebrity. In a recent Sky News interview, he also said Muslims are against British values and repeated the findings of a poll commissioned by the Henry Jackson Society, a right-wing think tank, that suggested 46 per cent of British Muslims supported the terrorist organisation Hamas. But the 1,000 respondents had been asked who they had more sympathy for Hamas, or the Israeli government, which has killed tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza. Farage used the statistic in a misleading way, to paint nearly half of British Muslims as terrorist supporters. He has used Brown faces to scare people about European migration, and accuses a PM with Indian heritage of not understanding our culture. He has also publicly condemned the comments of Andrew Parker, the Reform activist who called Sunak a f****** P***. But Parker himself has since said he regrets the language he used, and claimed it was just typical chaps down the pub talk. From my experience, what Reform UK supporters say to each other in private tells a different story. Last weekend, I managed to get into their Stafford rally, where their deputy leader Ben Habib warned Reform candidates: Anything you might have said in innocent company, not knowing how it was going to be taken out of context later, will be taken out of context. Habibs intervention came not long after a Reform candidate was found to have praised Hitler. But this isnt the first time people involved in one of Farages campaigns have praised the Nazis. Reform leaders Richard Tice and Nigel Farage also ran the Brexit campaign Leave.EU, an organisation that posted cartoons of a Jewish Holocaust survivor holding puppet strings controlling Tony Blair. Their communications director Andy Wigmore, when asked about their campaign, said Nazi propaganda was very clever, and that the kind of campaign he ran with the now leaders of Reform UK was not new to the Nazis. George Jones, a long-time Reform activist who has also been out canvassing for Farage in Clacton, was filmed by Channel 4 News making homophobic comments, using the F-word to refer to gay people, and calling the Pride flag degenerate. Farage said the comments were drunk and vulgar. But there is no longer any excuse for ignorance about Reform UK. At the Stafford rally, Habib attacked the concept of being woke (against social injustice) because it promote[s] ethnic minorities, religious minorities, minority sexual preferences, and then the whole transgender ideology lot more often than not, to the detriment of the majority. Reform UK admits that the Brexit they were created to promote has failed. Its candidates in Stafford have said that Brexit has made us poorer so the narrative that they are the real champions of the working class is dead. It seems to me all they have left to offer is naked bigotry. The question is: will voters remember that at this election, and the next? Pilots' strike could knock up to 170m off Aer Lingus profits, says Barclays The airline was forced to cancel at least 224 flights this week, with more expected IAG chief executive Luis Gallego John Mulligan Sat 29 Jun 2024 at 03:30 The industrial action by pilots could knock as much as 170m off Aer Lingus earnings in the current year, according to a leading airline analyst. This would represent a 75pc slump on the 225m operating profit generated last year. I used to think I was the only gay in the village how a queer shed is bringing LGBTQ+ people together in rural Ireland Rural Ireland is much more welcoming to diverse sexualities than it was in previous generations, but many gay people a feel a queer culture and community is lacking which is why this group has been set up in Clare, with plans to branch out across Ireland Orla Vaughan at her home in Kilfenora, Co Clare. Photo: Natasha Barton Azmia Riaz Sat 29 Jun 2024 at 07:00 If she were to do it all over again, Orla Vaughan would not change anything about her life or the way she grew up. Living with an LBGTQ+ identity in a small village pub was not the easiest journey, but now she looks back on all the lessons she has learnt along the way. Further 122 flights cancelled next week amid ongoing pay disputeEight-hour strike taking place since 5am today while an indefinite work-to-rule is ongoingAer Lingus has apologised for serious disruption We are all on different flights home Hundreds of Aer Lingus pilots have marched around Dublin Airport during an eight-hour strike in a dispute with the airline over pay. The pilots, all in full uniform, set off at 6am from Aer Lingus's head office on the airport site and walked past the two terminal buildings twice holding placards and banners. The demonstration, which took place in pouring rain, caused major traffic disruption around the airport. The walkout, which ended at 1pm, came after primary schools in Ireland finished for their summer holidays and when many will be preparing for family trips abroad. Ameli Saez and Henri Couve, flying to Lyon, at Dublin Airport, Saturday 29th June 2024.PIC: Conor O Mearain Amelie Saez and Henri Couve from France, were flying from Dublin to Lyon and informed that their return flight tomorrow was cancelled. "Our flight was supposed to fly on Sunday morning, and they changed it to Thursday, July 4 - five days later," Ms Saez said adding they feel "confused". "We just had an email with a new flight for July 4. The information that it's transferred and that's all at the moment. "That's why we're here to speak with them and find another solution because we can't take a new flight. We need to go to France this weekend," she said. Mr Couve said the couple were in Terminal 2 to try and get their flight rebooked for this weekend. "We have nothing to do and no place to sleep," he said. "So the special mission is to find another flight and for the company to pay for the hostel because it's very expensive to stay five more days in Dublin," he added. Mary McLoughlin, who is from the US but lives in Co Donegal, is travelling with her family today to visit relatives in the US. "We've been planning the trip for over a year, and in the last few weeks, it seemed as if we might not actually go so we were just confused and struggling to figure out what we would do as alternative flights, Ms McLoughlin told the Irish Independent. "I guess it pulled through a couple of days ago, so it all worked out in the end," she said. Peter Rod, flying to Toronto, at Dublin Airport, Saturday 29th June 2024.PIC: Conor O Mearain Megan Partesano travelled to Dublin with her family for Taylor Swift's concert from Connecticut in the US. The family arrived in Dublin last Wednesday and found out yesterday that their flight home was cancelled. "We spent three days here, I was here for Taylor Swift. Our plan was to come to the airport, pick up a rental car, and then do a loop of the whole country," she said. "But now, as of yesterday, our flight for next Sunday, July 7, was cancelled. "So we're like: 'While we're here, let's talk to someone from Aer Lingus and try to get this sorted out so we can get a new flight home', she said. "We got a week's notice that it's been cancelled so we wanted to just get on a flight as soon as possible. I got the very last seat on my flight. "We're now going to different airports, so it's a bit complicated. "My family, there's four of us, we all have to split up - so we're all on different flights home going to all different places. "But our car is in New York, so I'm going to Connecticut, they're all going to Philadelphia. So we're just going to figure it out," she said. She said she is aware of the pilots' strike happening outside the terminal. "It makes total sense. I don't fault anyone. It's within their right to strike. I believe in workers' rights and human rights, she said. "And if they're being unfairly compensated and working under unfair conditions, then they have absolutely every right to be striking as they are. "It's unfortunate that has impacted us in the way that it has, but I don't fault or blame them at all. They have to do what they have to do," she added. Gertraud Gruenbacher from Germany was about to fly to Munich through London Heathrow but her flight from Dublin was cancelled. "We wanted to fly back on Friday, and our flight was cancelled. Last Monday, we got the message that our flight was changed for today," she said. "It is a longer trip because, at London Heathrow Airport, we need to stay for four hours or so. "We managed the hotel [in Dublin] by ourselves, we had to pay for the hotel but we should get a refund." Ms Gruenbacher came to Ireland with her friend to travel - starting in Dublin, and then taking a train to Cobh, Co Cork. Despite the cancelled return flight, the German tourist was delighted with her Irish trip. "It's very lovely [in Cobh], we were staying there for three nights and then we came back to Dublin. We wanted to stay three nights in Dublin, so now they were four nights and it was very lovely. "I have to say that all the people are very friendly in Ireland, and the countryside and everything - it was nice," she added. Peter Rod, who live in Toronto, is flying back home to Canada after spending three weeks in France visiting his family. Mr Rod was flying from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and had a layover in Dublin Airport. "It was supposed to be initially a two-hour layover, so we knew we would be safe," he said. "And then the flight changed, I would imagine because of circumstances, and we had 25 minutes, but it was late departing from Charles de Gaulle. "So we actually arrived in Dublin half an hour after our connection had left, so then we had to find out what our option was and the next best option was to fly out today. "[Aer Lingus] put us up in a hotel downtown and we're hoping we're on this plane. It says it's on time but we haven't got booking confirmation or boarding passes yet. So it's all words until it's actually in our hands," he added. Mr Rod said his experience with Aer Lingus has been fairly positive so far. "They seem organised. They were very generous in terms of the quality of the hotel and the meals and the taxis, all being taken care of. They've been extremely apologetic. "That's probably just Irish hospitality, but they're doing a good job of it, he added. Meanwhile, Mark Tighe, President of the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (Ialpa) who has been an Aer Lingus pilot for 34 years, was among the pilots who stood at the picket line in the pouring rain. "Today's strike is in response to the company refusing to acknowledge the reasonableness of the cumulated inflation. We're not looking to increase our pay, we're looking to protect our pay," he told the Irish Independent. "We're looking for our pay to be increased in line with the inflation over the last five years." It comes Aer Lingus and trade union representatives will meet again at the Labour Court on Monday. "The Labour Court have invited both parties in, we've already been into the Labour Court so we can only assume that the Labour Court are looking to see what agreements might be made, said Mr Tighe. "We have moved repeatedly over the 22 months, the company have not moved at all. Most recently, at our last meeting a few days ago, they stated the same position that any pay increase would have to be funded by the pilots themselves," he added. The picket line dispersed shortly after 9:30am but the full withdrawal of labour continues until 1pm. "Then, we will go back to work to fly our passengers to the destinations that they have booked, said Captain Daniel Lanigan, Vice-President of Finance at Ialpa. Mr Lanigan, who has been a pilot with Aer Lingus for eight years, said: "We've gone through many processes such as the Labour Court, and the internal Pilot Pay Tribunal, and they have not given the pilots a satisfactory resolution. So, at the moment, what we're looking for is an inflationary pay increase - we've had no pay increases since 2019. "At the moment, [Aer Lingus] haven't agreed to anything, so that's unfortunately why we've had to withdraw our labour. Captain Lanigan confirmed the work-to-rule will continue as the pilots decided yesterday not to announce any further strike action ahead of going to the Labour Court this Monday. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus has apologised for the serious disruption being caused by todays strike. Aer Lingus apologises to passengers for the serious disruption caused by IALPAs strike action today. The company restates its view that todays strike action by IALPA is very damaging to our customers, the wider staff in Aer Lingus and the company itself, said Aer Lingus. Ialpas actions continue to inflict serious reputational and financial damage on the airline and are increasingly making a resolution of the dispute more difficult. Aer Lingus welcomes yesterdays Labour Court invitation to both parties back into the Court and hopes that Mondays engagement in the court can result in an outcome that will bring normality to the travelling public. Prior to Saturday's full strike, pilots had been involved in indefinite work-to rule industrial action that began on Wednesday. Almost 400 flights have been cancelled so far, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. Aer Lingus pilots march around Dublin Airport as they begin their eight-hour strike (Evan Treacy/PA) Aer Lingus pilots wanted to ramp up industrial action by announcing another strike but a decision was put on hold at a crucial meeting. A committee of the Irish Air Line Pilots Associations (Ialpa) parent union Forsa decided to adjourn without considering the proposed escalation following a Labour Court invitation to a meeting on Monday. This meant the disputes committee did not make a decision on the plan for further stoppages that could have grounded more flights. It is understood the Forsa committee felt the courts request for no escalation in the dispute before Monday should be respected. Forsa and the airline have accepted the courts invitation. The Labour Court plans to carry out a comprehensive review of the dispute over the pilots claim for a 24pc pay rise over three years on Monday. Aer Lingus customers at Dublin airport react to flights impacted by industrial dispute - Friday 28th June If it finds room for negotiation, it may suggest new talks. But it has a challenging task ahead as the exploratory talks it held this week failed to find a basis for discussions. Another round of face-to-face talks, instigated by Aer Lingus, collapsed without much sign of progress. Passengers will hope that next weeks intervention might finally resolve the long-running row that has led to hundreds of flight cancellations this week. Aer Lingus said has had to cancel a further 122 flights next week as a result of the ongoing industrial action by pilots. The cancelled flights are from Wednesday, July 3, to Sunday, July 7. An eight-hour strike is taking place today while an indefinite work-to-rule is ongoing. The gap between the pilots and airline is still wide. Aer Lingus wants to discuss productivity measures to improve a pay offer of 12.25pc but Ialpa has refused to discuss this. It has lowered its pay demand slightly. Forsa general secretary Kevin Callinan issued a stark warning about the potential outlook for holidaymakers and other passengers if there is no progress on Monday. Obviously, this is a crucial intervention and if it fails, it will have the most dire consequences, in my view, including a very serious escalation of industrial action afterwards, he said. In a statement yesterday, Aer Lingus said a further 122 flights would be cancelled between July 3 and July 7 to protect as many services as possible. Mark Tighe of IALPA speaks to the media after talks break down with Aer Lingus 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. Aer Lingus has urged Ialpa to consider a joint referral back to the Labour Court in a bid to end the dispute. Ialpa president Captain Mark Tighe said: We are in a process within our executive and our union where we are considering an escalation in industrial action because the company have informed us that if we dont agree to work practice changes, theyre simply going to do away with our work practices, he told BBCs Good Morning Ulster show. The company have escalated, so I would expect there would be some sort of escalation in response. Meanwhile, pilots at unions across the US and Britain have rowed in behind their colleagues at Aer Lingus. Allied Pilots, which represents the 16,000 pilots at American Airlines, is among those to offer its steadfast support for the Aer Lingus pilots. On behalf of the 16,000 American Airlines pilots the Allied Pilots Association (APA) represents, I am proud to pledge our steadfast support for the Irish Airline Pilots Associations efforts to conclude CLA [Collective Labour Agreement] negotiations with Aer Lingus management, said APA president, Captain Ed Sicher. He added: APA has a long-standing history of standing shoulder to shoulder with our Irish brother and sister pilots. Mr Sicher said the US pilot union stands ready to share our knowledge and experience with Ialpa. Balpa, the union which represents pilots in the UK, said it also stands firm with colleagues at Aer Lingus. We urge all members to show support and solidarity with their colleagues at Ialpa, it said. Balpas general secretary, Amy Leversidge, said that the union has great concern about the pilot dispute at Aer Lingus. The 17,000-strong pilot union at US carrier Delta has also shown its support for Aer Lingus counterparts in advance of Saturdays strike. Please make the walk and ensure that no Aer Lingus pilots are having difficulties getting on their flights, the union said in a post on X. The US-based Airline Pilots Association, the umbrella group representing 78,000 pilots at 41 US and Canadian airlines, has also backed the pilots at the Irish carrier. Aer Linguss image problem: how to retain a first-class identity when flying has lost all its glamour? It is one of the countrys most recognisable brands, and was once a byword for prestige and glamour and its not just the pilots pay dispute that is putting its reputation under pressure The Golden Shamrock service as advertised in holiday magazines throughout the 1960s on flights to the US Kim Bielenberg Sat 29 Jun 2024 at 03:30 It was an American named Robert Logan who helped create one of Irelands most recognisable brand identities. 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. Stories of street violence: They hit me and cheered like they had scored a goal Recent unprovoked attacks have shone a spotlight on the deteriorating safety of Irish streets so what can be done to turn the tide You just dont see it like this in any other European capital: Victims of crime feel that violence is escalating in Dublin John Meagher and Edaein OConnell Sat 29 Jun 2024 at 03:30 On a warm summers evening in Dublin, Ernesta Brazauskaite was making her way home after socialising with friends when she was viciously assaulted in the street. Chinese police detain 3,350 for distributing fraud-linked information Beijing, June 29 (UNI) Chinese police have detained over 3,350 people who allegedly helped telecom fraud organizations to lure victims, in a recent nationwide operation, the Ministry of Public Security said. The suspects from 106 criminal gangs allegedly printed cards containing fraudulent website addresses, QR codes and obscene information and posted them at public venues to lure victims into fraud schemes, the ministry said in a press release on Friday. The operation has responded to an emerging problem of more and more telecom fraud organizations hiring accessories to distribute false information and lure victims offline, the statement said. Britiish Ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston and RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo Sligo Rovers committee members at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Arlene Foster and Peter Robinson at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Gerry Adams at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Teresa Mannion and Sharon Ni Bheolain at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Arlene Foster at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Michelle O'Neill arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Taoiseach Simon Harris arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan The funeral procession of Tommie Gorman (inset) flanked by a guard of honour from Sligo Rovers arriving at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro. Main photo: Carl Brennan. He has left a legacy that will never be bettered. A throwaway line from one of the hundreds of mourners who packed Our Lady Star of the Sea chapel in Ransboro for the funeral of Tommie Gorman, Sligos greatest champion, but one that was entirely fitting. For, a local hero is something to be and as Father Christopher McCrann said in his poignant homily, Tommie had introduced the Sacrament of friendship. And in a witty and highly humorous eulogy his son Joe said that Tommie got all the green lights when he married our mother Ceara. Taoiseach Simon Harris arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan But today, in the shadow of Knocknarea, the people of Sligo and Ireland gathered to say one last farewell to one of its own. Tommie belonged to everybody, he was the face in our living rooms all over the land and his passing is like the death of a dear old friend. There were no frontiers in Tommies eclectic world as he walked with all the captains and the kings but never forgot where he was from. And it was fitting that his beloved Sligo Rovers rose so magnificently to the occasion by beating Shamrock Rovers 2-0. It was also fitting that he was brought into the Showgrounds for a last farewell to the Bit ORed at 1.15pm. A total of 20 seats were reserved for the distinguished mourners who came from all over the land and abroad to say slan to a true man for all seasons. Representatives from the political, business, legal, sport, arts and media from Sligo and all over Ireland were among the huge crowd who came to pay their respects. Teresa Mannion and Sharon Ni Bheolain at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Among the many dignitaries at the funeral were An Taoiseach Simon Harris, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill, former First Ministers of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster. Former Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, ex-SDLP leaders Mark Durkan and Alasdair McDonnell were also present along with RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst. President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide de camp Captain Paul ODonnell. Michelle O'Neill arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan RTE broadcaster Sean ORourke was also among the mourners along with many former colleagues. Cathaoirleach of Sligo Co Council Cllr Declan Bree and his wife Margaret were among many local representatives from all sections of the community who filled the church. Meanwhile key political and business figures were among the thousands of people who paid their respects at Sean Feehilys Funeral Home on Friday evening. They included Tanaiste Micheal Martin, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin and former Tanaiste and EU Commissioner Ray MacSharry and his son Marc, Sligo/Leitrim Independent TD. Also among the thousands queuing were former European MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher and Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan. Businessman Denis OBrien flew in from Belgium to pay his respects. Before the funeral mass began, representatives of Sligo Rovers walked with the coffin in a guard of honour for what was described as their 12th man. Tommie Gorman In a deeply personal and moving eulogy, Chief Celebrant Fr Christopher McCrann, who was a close friend of Tommies, extended a special word to his wife Ceara, his daughter Moya and his son Joe as well as his brother Michael and his sister Mary. Know that our hearts go out to you, he said. Fr McCrann said when he heard the news his heart sank, and it was shocking. So many people felt that same sadness and it took so long to sink in. Tommie loved people and he treated each one with a care and a kindness that was like the Sacrament of friendship. Our community has lost a friend and a very good neighbour. We all had a mentor whose life witness will continue to bear fruit in our lives, and he has given us all part of his life and left us part of it. Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Fr McCrann added that where you invest your love, you invest your life. Tommie invested a big part of his life in our community, he said. Tommie was a journalist and a very good one and again we see a gift. He was a very particular and unique force towards mediation and unity and always with a sense of great hope for a better future. And this influence will come alive with the passing of time and history will be pleased with the part that Tommie Gorman played. And Tommie suffered a lot with illness, but he never allowed it to be his identity. His faith he embraced and supported cancer patients all over Ireland and further afield. There are many people we know who are very grateful for his personal closeness to them. Fr McCrann added that Tommie had great faith and was never afraid to show it. Tommie Gorman's funeral procession flanked by a guard of honour from Sligo Rovers arriving at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan He loved Knocknahur and he loved all things Sligo, his home place of Cairns Road and his own Sligo Rovers and Sligo rightly honoured him as a Freeman of the City. But Tommie never had sheep, he quipped. Tommie was a great talker but also a quiet and discreet man. In the words of Yeats, it is long since we began to call up to the mind this wise and simple man. And so, we all say Tommie, may God to whom you entrusted so much of your life, let you both now recognise each other as you meet face to face. And as your God embraces you and sees you in your decency, your honour, your diplomacy, your truthfulness, your humility, your kindness and kiss you as only God can kiss a truly beloved son with love and tears of joy in your eyes and be forever at peace. And we who remain thank you Tommie Gorman because you have walked with great nobility among us. Arlene Foster and Peter Robinson at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan His eulogy was warmly applauded At the end of the Mass Tommies wife Ceara and her sisters sang an emotive beautiful song and his son Joes eulogy was greeted with huge applause. Tommie Gorman is survived by his wife, Ceara, daughter Moya, son Joe, brother Michael and sister Mary. He was predeceased by his parents Joe and Maureen and by his sister Paula. After Mass, he was interred in Kilmacowen Cemetery. A senior barrister has been appointed to urgently examine how the Defence Forces deals with members who have been convicted of criminal offences. The appointment of senior counsel Peter Ward by Tanaiste and Defence Minister Micheal Martin comes after outcry over a suspended sentence for a soldier who viciously assaulted Limerick woman Natasha OBrien and after it emerged there are 68 members with criminal convictions or charges against them who are still serving. There was heavy criticism of the presence of a representative of the Defence Forces who gave evidence of Cathal Crottys good character before the assault which left Ms OBrien unconscious. Mr Martin said anyone involved in serious offences, particularly rape or sexual assault, should be taken out of service immediately without prejudice and said he had instructed the Chief of Staff Lt Gen Sean Clancy to put anyone currently facing serious charges on local leave straight away. Ive done that in terms of the instruction Ive given the Chief of Staff last evening in terms of those currently facing such charges to be out on what is termed as local leave. They are on leave essentially until the case is completed, Mr Martin said. He will meet the chief of staff again on Monday, and said the review would possibly go back further than two years, and that some of the 68 offences included in the dossier compiled for him by the chief of staff were grave. It came after all senior officers in the Defence Forces were called to a meeting with the Chief of Staff and the Armys legal adviser today. In a statement this evening, the Defence Forces said: The Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy has welcomed the appointment of Mr Peter Ward SC to examine the administration of cases involving Defence Forces personnel convicted of criminal offences. Senior Counsels recommendations on the management of serving personnel who are before the civilian courts or have received a conviction, will offer clarity on how Oglaigh na hEierann can handle cases involving these personnel. The appointment will also provide independent and comprehensive guidance to improve and strengthen the current regulatory framework. Lt Gen Sean Clancy said: I agree with the remarks by An Tanaiste regarding the unacceptable presence of personnel with serious convictions including gender-based violence within the Defence Forces. "Such individuals have no place in our ranks. The Defence Forces are committed to the highest standards of conduct and integrity. My commitment to these standards has not waned. My actions have been guided by our dedication to transparency and accountability. "We owe it to the bravery of individuals like Natasha O'Brien, to those impacted within our own organisation and to the values we stand for to ensure that no one within the Defence Forces can avoid the consequences of their actions. Lt Gen Clancy confirmed he had called a meeting of all unit commanders to reinforce that message and to reaffirm his total commitment to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern force where our organisational culture is underpinned by dignity, equality and mutual respect. The latest developments also come in the week a tribunal began investigating the armys handling of complaints of sexual abuse and harassment, sparked by revelations from the Women of Honour group. In a message aimed directly at members of the Defence Forces, Le Gen Clancy said: Let this moment be a wake up for us all. We must reaffirm our commitment to the highest standards of conduct and ensure that our ranks are filled with individuals who uphold the values we cherish. Together, we will face these challenges head-on, a transparent organisation not shying away from hard truths, but addressing them with the courage and integrity that is the foundation of Oglaigh na hEireann. "I am committed to addressing all issues and making positive changes for the future. This change is happening, and this organisation is transforming into a modern Defence Force where our organisational culture is underpinned by dignity, equality and mutual respect. We must not let the actions of a few overshadow the dedicated service of the many." The Defence Forces insisted it had not stood still in the wake of a damning report on its culture, saying it had appointed a civilian head of human resources and head of transformation; undertaken an external review of its complaints handling; now passes all complaints of alleged sexual offences to the Gardai; rolled out sexual ethics, gender diversity and unconscious bias workshops to all staff. It came after Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has said anybody with a conviction of a "serious nature" should not be in the Defence Forces. Mr Donohoe said he is "appalled" by the "assault and trauma that Ms O'Brien has endured. The review was ordered last week after Private Cathal Crotty (22) was spared a jail sentence for a violent attack on Ms OBrien in Limerick two years ago. The report was compiled by Lt Gen Clancy, and presented to Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Last week, Crotty was given a three-year suspended sentence after he assaulted Ms OBrien in Limerick in 2022. Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 28th While speaking to RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland, Minister Donohoe said: "I certainly believe that anybody that has a conviction of a serious nature should not be in Defence Forces. "Defence Forces now have a process of their own on the way with regard to the individual that is at the heart of the awful assault that was endured by Natasha O'Brien. "But certainly from my point of view, if I look at a culture I believe is what the Defence Forces want to aspire to, which is one of respect, which is one of being a source of pride for our country. "The swift resolution of this issue with regard to the individual that is now subject to proceedings from the Defence Forces is important. "There is also ensuring that there is a very visible and grasping of the project to transform the culture and perception of our Defence Forces that have been instigated by the Government. Those steps are really needed." Mr Donohoe also added that Irish Deference Forces "matter" and will "matter more in the future". "They're meant to represent the best of what is about order and control within our country. And my God, it goes without saying that the event that we saw on the streets of Limerick is as far away from that as we can possibly imagine." Ms OBrien was on her way home from work with a friend when she heard Crotty shouting homophobic slurs at a passer-by and asked him to stop. Crotty responded by assaulting Ms OBrien and the young woman suffered serious injuries as a result. Minister Donohoe said he is absolutely appalled and sickened by the assault on Natasha OBrien. With regard to the Defence Forces, while I have the greatest respect for the work that they do, and I believe that work will be even more important in the future, it does underline to me the importance of the modernisation work that is underway in the Defence Forces, enabled by the Commission under Defence Forces. I know the Tanaiste will now take legal advice on the report that he has received, he added. People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade in the Irish capital. Picture date: Saturday June 29, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Pride. Photo credit should read: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Pride is usually a bit like the first day of the Leaving Cert associated with beaming sunshine and high temperatures. But you dont get rainbows without rain, so thousands braved downpours in Dublin today to celebrate the citys Pride festival on what is expected to be one of the busiest weekends since before the pandemic. At lunchtime, Dublins main thoroughfare was awash with pools of water, people walking or dancing in the parade, Taylor Swift fans in town for her concerts at the Aviva Stadium, and throngs of GAA supporters heading up OConnell Street to the All Ireland quarter finals in Croke Park. Arthur Gourounlian (right) and Jessica Copeland Many of those in the parade said it was important to not let the rain deter them. Some pointed to a desire to show family, friends and colleagues they were accepted, welcomed and loved. Lynsey Marsden travelled from Carlow to support her son, Rhys Scully, and his friends. We are here to promote pride and equality for everybody, she said. When I grew up as a teenager, it was illegal in Ireland to be gay. I am so proud of how far Ireland has come in terms of equality, not just towards gay people, but everybody. My son is free to love who he wants to love, marry who he wants to marry and just live a normal happy life. It is important for people who dont support gay people, to see they are normal, everyday people, just out having fun. Rhys said it was important people didnt allow the weather to stop them celebrating. I am an open gay man and have been coming to Pride for a few years. Its as much a celebration of culture as it is a protest for people around the world who dont have rights, he said. Its a time for everyone to come together and express themselves without feeling any obligation to hide a part of themselves. We are just as proud if there is rain or sunshine and we shouldnt let that stop us. People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade in Dublin Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Rhyss friend Izzy McCarville, from Dublin, was among those who were showing solidarity for the people of Palestine. This is our one day of the year to show people we are here and we will always be here, she added. I am a lesbian. Pride is a protest, it has always been a protest. There was a mix of cultures and causes being championed. Rainbow and Progress Pride flags were dotted everywhere, but there were smatterings of banners and flags in support of Palestine and Ukraine. A troop of Samba dancers were followed down OConnell Street by a large Brazilian flag, representing the large community here from that country. Others taking part pointed to the festivals roots in New York protests 55 years ago. Conor ORourke from Westmeath was among them. Although we have come very far in terms of the rights we have in this country, there is still a lot more to be done. It is important to keep fighting for equality, Conor said. After the Marriage Referendum in 2015, people remembered the joy and the partying afterwards, but that came after years of campaigning and fighting for it to become a reality. The work goes on, and even though it is rainy and wet, we still need to show up. We need to show our support. People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade in Dublin. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire An increasingly corporate feel to the parade has been noted in recent years, and this year was no exception, with many of the countrys major employers and multinationals represented. Many had floats with drag performers, and among them was pink fire engine, DJs and dancers. Some of those participating said it was important for businesses and work colleagues to express solidarity. Padraig ORiordan, chairperson of the LGBT committee at Expleo Ireland, said he wanted to support the people he works with. It is good to be out and be seen, Padraig said. There are possibly more straight people than gay people here, and I know people who were going to the first Pride here in 1983 but there is a very different atmosphere now and it is incredible. Its great to see allyship, not just in work but in our communities. I am gay and this is the first company where I have joined the committee and been out at work. I want to make it easier for other people. People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade in Dublin. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Chair of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) LGBT group Eileen Gamble agreed visibility is very important. Our group has been around for 20 years and we dont ever intend to miss pride. You dont have rainbows without rain, she added. Many of our schools still have a religious ethos and some school are worried about how to address homophobic and transphobic bullying. We know how important it is for other teachers to see us out, proud and marching today. Teaching is a diverse profession so visibility is very important. Some are concerned about being out, especially trans teachers, and we are here to show them our support. Today's News in 90 Seconds - Saturday June 29 Judge Colm Roberts said This is almost the worst case Ive heard A woman who repeatedly drove without insurance has been sent to prison after she pleaded guilty and was convicted of the offence for the 14th time. Prosecuting, Inspector Tony OSullivan told Fermoy District Court that Justyna Jozwiak, 43, of Convent Road, Doneraile, Co. Cork was observed by gardai driving into the carpark of Tesco in Mitchelstown Co. Cork on November 23, 2023. The court heard that when Ms Jozwiak realised she had been spotted, on leaving the store she tried to avoid gardai. CCTV footage of Ms Jozwiak confirmed she had driven into the carpark and upon investigation it was also confirmed that she was banned from driving at the time and she was also the subject of a bench warrant. Her solicitor Cathal Lombard said that she had pleaded guilty to the three charges of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to appear in court. He said she was the mother of three children who ranged in age from their teens to twenties. Judge Colm Roberts said: This is almost the worst case Ive heard. Shes been sent to prison for this before, she has 13 convictions and she just keeps doing it. I dont really see how I cant send her to prison for this. For driving while disqualified Justyna Jozwiak was sentenced to six months in prison with two months suspended for two years, for driving without insurance she was sentenced to five months in prison with three months suspended for two years. The sentences will run consecutively. Her failure to appear in court was taken into consideration and recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed in her own bond of 1,000, with 500 required in cash. Members of the Irish Red Cross Youth took part in today's Pride parade in Dublin for their 13th sucessive year. Pictured aboard the Irish Red Cross Youth Train is Liz McMahon from Limerick. Photo: Tony Gavin 29/06 2024 Members of the Irish Red Cross Youth took part in today's Pride parade in Dublin for their 13th sucessive year. Pictured aboard the Irish Red Cross Youth Train are Juliette O'Dwyer and Catriona Finn. Photo: Tony Gavin 29/06 2024 Members of the Irish Red Cross Youth took part in today's Pride parade in Dublin for their 13th sucessive year. Pictured aboard the Irish Red Cross Youth Train are Sarah Gavin and Tara Kiernan from Drogheda. Photo: Tony Gavin 29/06 2024 A dog with a rainbow collar joins people as they brave conditions to they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Participants brave the rain for the Dublin Pride parade 2024. Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan takes part in the Dublin Pride parade. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Thousands braved downpours in Dublin today to celebrate the citys Pride festival on what is expected to be one of the busiest weekends since before the pandemic. There was a mix of cultures and causes being championed. Rainbow and Progress Pride flags were dotted everywhere, but there were smatterings of banners and flags in support of Palestine and Ukraine. A troop of Samba dancers were followed down OConnell Street by a large Brazilian flag, representing the large community here from that country. Others taking part pointed to the festivals roots in New York protests 55 years ago. Click here to read the full report on the days events, and scroll on to see pictures of the parade. People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan takes part in the Dublin Pride parade. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People taking part in the Dublin Pride parade. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Arthur Gourounlian (right) and Jessica Copeland Participants brave the rain for the Dublin Pride parade 2024. People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Members of the Irish Red Cross Youth took part in today's Pride parade in Dublin for their 13th sucessive year. Pictured aboard the Irish Red Cross Youth Train are Sarah Gavin and Tara Kiernan from Drogheda. Photo: Tony Gavin 29/06 2024 Members of the Irish Red Cross Youth took part in today's Pride parade in Dublin for their 13th sucessive year. Pictured aboard the Irish Red Cross Youth Train are Juliette O'Dwyer and Catriona Finn. Photo: Tony Gavin 29/06 2024 People takes part in a Dublin Pride event. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Andres Poveda PHOTOGRAPHY LTD Members of the Irish Red Cross Youth took part in today's Pride parade in Dublin for their 13th sucessive year. Pictured aboard the Irish Red Cross Youth Train is Liz McMahon from Limerick. Photo: Tony Gavin 29/06 2024 People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire People brave the conditions as they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Andres Poveda PHOTOGRAPHY LTD A dog with a rainbow collar joins people as they brave conditions to they take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Performers take part in Dublin Pride events. Photo: Evan Treacy/PA Wire Presentation from pupils from Norma's first and final classes in Coolard NS. In photo are Martin O Mahony, Daniel Lawlor, Aoife O Connor, John O Mahony and teacher Norma Leahy. Photo by John Stack. Norma Leahy (far right) pictured receiving a presentation from the staff as she calls time on her 33-year-long career in Coolard NS. Pictured are teacher Evelyn O Connell, Principal Margaret Kissane, SNA Ann Boland and teacher Norma Leahy. Photo by John Stack. In what was a fitting full circle send off for Coolard NS teacher Norma Leahy this past week, after 33 years teaching there, Norma finished her educational journey back where it all began when she was a pupil there herself all those years ago. Amazingly too, that is not where the special connections end either as incredibly, Normas class teacher when she joined Coolard NS way back when as a pupil was one Maurice OMahony. Fast forward then to 1991 when Norma herself was setting out on her first year back in her old stomping ground, this time as a teacher and lo and behold, whos sons were right there in her first class? Thats right, Maurice OMahonys sons, Martin and John. A full circle moment indeed. All good things must come to an end though and for Norma, the end of her long and illustrious career came last Friday when, after 42 years in total as a teacher, she brought the curtain down on her life in education. A special celebratory mass, presided over by Fr Sean Hanafin, was held in the school last week to mark the occasion. Norma spent the first nine years of her teaching career in Drimoleague in Cork before returning back to Coolard in 1991. At the mass last week Principal Margaret Kissane thanked Norma for her 33 years of dedicated and loyal service to the pupils of Coolard NS while former Principal Maurice O Mahony was on hand to tell of that amazing connection with Norma from all those years ago. Norma thanked the Fr Hanafin, the parents, Boards of Management and of course her family for their amazing support they have given her during her teaching career. She wished the pupils well in their future and hoped that they would be as happy in their chosen careers as she was in hers. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money for the inspirational ten-year-old The parents of a young Kilkenny girl with a completely twisted spine are raising vital funds to help with the costs of bringing their daughter to the UK for life-changing surgery. 10-year-old Brianna Phelan Somers was born with myelomeningocele spina bifida and scoliosis and as a result is confined to a wheelchair. Brianna was born on June 6, 2014 in Holles Street Hospital in Dublin. At just one-day-old, Brianna was transferred to Temple Street Children's Hospital for her first back surgery to close up an opening in her spine. For the last ten years, Brianna has undergone multiple surgeries, but has stayed smiling no matter what," said her mum, Catriona Phelan. "Despite the challenges, there is always a smile on Briannas face and she lightens up any room she enters with her witty, funny sense of humour. I know Im her mum so Im biased but I think she is an absolute inspiration. She's always the one telling us dont worry, it will all work out," laughed Catriona. Brianna has remained resilient and determined, despite a number of major setbacks. A year and six months ago, in December of 2022, Brianna had spinal surgery to have a growth rod inserted, however the surgery failed. Briannas spine is now completely twisted and is affecting her lungs and other vital organs. "Brianna needed to have a growth rod inserted because she couldnt breathe, she literally had no neck, her neck was completely gone so she just couldnt breathe as her lungs were completely under her ribcage, said Catriona. "But after she got the growth rod put in, we found out the Brianna was one of the children included in the review by experts from the Boston Childrens Hospital into spinal surgeries at Temple Street. "However, we didnt find out that she was part of that review until August of 2023, that was the first we heard from anyone about it, a whole eight months after the surgery." As a result, Brianna was transferred to Crumlin under a different consultant who was going to do her back surgery. The consultant at Crumlin then told us that another consultant from Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital in the UK would be travelling over to see Brianna. We were confused because we didnt understand why another consultant needed to see her. That was when were were told that the rod needed to come out as soon as possible as it was actually causing damage to Brianna and that was why the consultant from the UK needed to see her. The consultant explained to us that if they went about the surgery that way, Brianna may never come off the operating table. That was too big a risk to take The rod that was meant to help Brianna was doing the opposite. It had twisted her spine completely, leaving Brianna with no choice but to get a spinal fusion. "The consultant in Crumlin told us that Brianna needed a spinal fusion but the catch was that the surgery could not be done in Ireland. For the surgery to be carried out in Ireland, they would have to go through Briannas stomach where there are lots of vital organs. The consultant explained to us that if they went about the surgery that way, Brianna may never come off the operating table. That was too big a risk to take. As the hospital in the UK has the facilities for the surgery to be done without going through Briannas stomach, it was decided she would travel there instead to get the life-changing surgery. As the plastic surgeon in the UK is better qualified than the one here in Ireland, they can go through Briannas back rather than her stomach to do the spinal fusion. I think because of the review into how spinal surgeries are done in Ireland, they are all being extra careful and not doing anything unless they are certain they can do it, explained Catriona. "Although the rod caused damage to Brianna and she never should of got it, I do understand that the consultant was trying to buy Brianna some time, added Catriona. I have been told since, by other consultants, that if the consultant that put the rod in hadnt of done it, I would be standing at Briannas gravestone. I understand now he was buying us time. If the consultant that put the rod in hadnt of done it, I would be standing at Briannas gravestone The Government are funding part of Briannas treatment in the UK, but the Phelan family still need to provide money for medical support and accommodation themselves which will be costly. "Any donation, big or small will be welcome, said Catriona. We really appreciate all your love and support and prayers over the last ten years so please continue to keep us in your prayers for this next part of Briannas journey. "As Brianna has hit puberty, we only have a 12 month window to get this surgery done so we are hoping her operation will be done over the next few months. For Brianna, this surgery will hopefully be life-changing. Brianna is of course nervous for the surgery but she is also so positive about it. She understands that it will help her sit up straight, give her more independence in life and she wont have to rely so much on her mammy. She still has to get her feet done as well, but once thats all done she will be able to transfer herself in and out of her wheelchair and even have a shower by herself without her mam having to help her. "Brianna knows there is a light at the end of the tunnel, smiled her mum. To donate to To Raise Money towards Brianna Scoliosis Surgery In the Uk please click here A series of public consultations will take place next week as efforts continue to bring about the long awaited upgrade of the N4 Mullingar to Longford carriageway. The long waited development of a new carriageway between Longford and Mullingar has been given a massive boost after transport bosses announced a preferred route for its development has now been selected. Talks aimed at progressing the well documented N4 Mullingar to Longford upgrade has been beset by funding concerns and political contention for years. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan had been the source of much of that angst with local politicians repeatedly expressing their frustration over delays in securing government investment to the 50km stretch of roadway. Follow Independent Longford on Facebook In February, those anxieties were given a seven figure tonic when Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the State agency in charge of Irelands road and public transport infrastructure provided 1.4m towards the project. A little over four months later design team officials from both Westmeath and Longford County Councils have identified the emerging preferred route for the carriageways upgrade from Mullingar to Rooskey. The finer points of the identified route will be unveiled during a series of public and virtual consultations next week as part of a bid to upgrade a stretch of road that has recorded more than 200 personal injury collisions between 2008 and 2023. Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty said the significance of the project and the need for continued capital led investment to bring about its realisation could not be understated. The Lanesboro native said aside from addressing road safety concerns, a new and enhanced carriageway between Longford and Mullingar had the potential to offer up untold economic spin-offs. Obviously we are close to Dublin and anything that can reduce that journey time further is critical, he added. Its a key priority of a large number of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) employers and investors in the region and its critical now that we deliver on it. Three in-person public consultation events will take place in Mullingar, Edgeworthstown and Longford between next Tuesday (July 2) and Thursday (July 4). Tuesday July 2, 2-8pm, Longford Arms Hotel, N39 FK26 Wednesday July 3, 2-8pm, Mullingar Park Hotel, N91 A4EP Thursday July 4, 2-8pm, Edgeworthstown Library, N39 F7Y8. A virtual consultation will also be available to access via the project website on the same day. Circle K development turning heads on Louth-Down border Over the past few months, motorists travelling on the M1 north of Dundalk, may have noticed an unusual new structure near the border at Ravensdale as construction of the new Junction 20 service station got under way. Now completed and open to the public, the Circle K service station operated by local businessman Kieran Byrne is the first of its kind in Ireland and has been getting a lot of attention on social media, even earning a post on the popular Ireland Before You Die website. Sooey National School students write to Minister for Education Norma Foley seeking a new hall. Pictured are 4th and 5th class teacher Aoife Duignan, Principal Elaine McHugh, Chairperson of the school's Board of Management Elaine McHugh and pupils with the letters they sent to Minister for Education Norma Foley. Pic: Carl Brennan. New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday welcomed the second mountaineering expedition 'Vijay' of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) here and said that such strenuous operations and habit of conquest by jawans, makes both the individual and the force great. The team comprising 35 personnel had successfully climbed the 21,625 feet high Mount Manirang in Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said. He said that such arduous campaigns inculcate the habit of accomplishing goals, conquering and overcoming unimaginable difficulties to reach the goal. It is the habit of victory that makes a person and force great and is the biggest source of walking on the right path in a person's life, becoming victorious and increasing confidence. In the wake of a court ruling which shocked the nation, the people of Wexford will gather as one to call for zero tolerance on those who commit sexual, domestic, and gender-based assaults. Organised by newly-elected Rosslare councillor Aoife Rose OBrien this vigil comes off the back of the sentencing of Defence Forces member Cathal Crotty, who walked free from court after pleading guilty to an unprovoked attack on Limerick woman, Natasha OBrien, in 2022. As someone who has first-hand experience of the Irish judicial system, someone who has been a victim of abuse herself, Cllr OBrien said she intends to use her position on Wexford County Council (WCC) to advocate for tougher sentencing for abusers. I have been advocating for victims and survivors of sexual, domestic and gender based violence for many years now. Earning a seat in the chamber at Wexford County Council is a real honour and I will use my time there wisely, starting now with my first motion. I will bring this motion forward on Monday, July 8 where I will ask for unanimous support from my fellow councillors but first, I want to bring it to the public and share with them the reality behind the motion and the reason it must be passed. The vigil will take place on Sunday, July 7 at 1 p.m. on Wexford Quay and Cllr OBrien says it will be an opportunity for all those in the county to stand with not just Natasha, but everyone who has been a victim of abuse. "Whether attendees have been a victim of abuse or not, I hope that they show their support to stand with and for all victims. This is a matter of public safety and we need to end this crisis we are living in. I have first-hand experience with our judicial system as a victim of abuse and the reality is brutal. Victims feel more punished than their abuser(s): this is the reality. "The court process is gruelling and most victims endure that suffering without any closure because their abuser(s) get a slap on the wrist and walk free from court. Suspended sentencing is being rolled out for the majority of cases - this is not good enough. There is no clear punishment or deterrent for abusers, there is nothing within the Irish legal process that would prevent a person from abusing someone else. Our law is there to protect us, to serve justice and create a safer society and this just isn't the case." Although Mr Crotty received a three-year jail sentence for the assault of Natasha OBrien it was suspended in full. And Cllr OBrien is calling for mandatory minimum sentencing to ensure this doesnt happen in the future. "Zero tolerance means zero tolerance the Minister for Justice should enforce mandatory minimum sentencing to prevent further harm to others. We cannot continue living in a society where sexual, domestic and gender based violence is happening in every corner of our country and the people who are there to protect us are failing to do so. I will do everything in my power to create legislative change that safeguards others from being abused. I will submit motions to support this and use my voice positively to create a better society for all." Volunteers from the Arklow St Vincents de Paul charity shop are celebrating another huge accolade after they emerged as joint winners of the Team of the Year Award in the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul East Region. The award was presented to the Arklow SVP team, who tied with the Dublin Order Fulfilment Centre (OFC), at the Vincents 2024 Retail Conference held in University College Cork, which was attended by approximately 200 volunteers and managers from the Vincents network of shops throughout Ireland. Speakers at the conference included Kevin OSullivan, Environment and Science Editor of the Irish Times, Robin Osterley, CEO, Charity Retail Association, UK and Jeff Buamguard Director of Stores Support, SVP, USA. The Arklow SVP shop crews award comes on the back of another prestigious honour, with the volunteers chosen as highly commended winners of the Shop Team of the Year Award at Charity Retail Irelands annual awards. Praising volunteers for their tireless efforts, shop manager Tammy Byrne said that the team is fully deserving of all recognition that comes their way. We actually couldn't believe we got the Team of the Year award, and its down to an amazing team effort again by everyone in SVP Vincents Shop Arklow, she said. We travelled down to Cork as a team for the conference, which the awards are part of, and we were delighted to bring home the Team of the Year Award in our region. Its been a busy couple of months for us, and we were only at the Charity Retail Ireland awards in May, where we were highly commended winners and came fourth in the country. Its great to get that recognition, especially for the girls at the shop. They work so hard, are so creative and really have a passion for their community. They couldnt be more deserving of any honours that come their way. There was good cheer and excitement at Bigstone Community Hall when local residents gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the historic building. Filled with music, face painting, stalls, animals and plenty of refreshments, the family day featured memorabilia about the origins of the beloved hall, which lies near the borders of counties Wicklow, Kildare and Carlow, were on display throughout the day. Original committee members were invited and presented with a framed graphic image of the hall in thanks for their contribution in realising the facility for the Bigstone community, with committee members Eamon Hanlon, Joe Gannon, Ann Patterson, Pat Kelly, Jimmy Whyte, Jack Whyte, Sally McGuirk, Nuala Kavanagh, Brian Doyle and Pauline Murray receiving a presentation. Special guest Alan Dukes, who opened the hall in 1984 when he was Fine Gael Minister for Finance, joined the celebrations, alongside Fine Gaels Martin Heydon and Ivan Keatley, as well as Baltinglass parish priest Fr. Gerard Ahern. A special presentation was made to Mary Hanlon for her great efforts and dedication in ensuring the hall is maintained and looking after logistics for any events. Cairde Cheoil agus Damhsa and Irish dancers from the Doherty School of Dance who practise in the hall entertained the attendees with traditional music and Irish dancing, with the joyous day culminating with the release of white pigeons by children present. Hailing the event as a great success, an organiser said: This was a special day for this small community, who knows what can be achieved when they pull together to realise a vision for the future. Andrew Scott sent a message of hope to theatre lovers at Glastonbury, saying that the high prices for tickets in the West End does not mean "all doom and gloom". On Saturday, the Irish actor took to the Pilton Palais stage to talk about his Olivier-nominated starring role in Vanya, a one-man play based on Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's family drama Uncle Vanya that was being show at the Worthy Farm event. When the critically-acclaimed play was on at the Duke of York's Theatre in September 2023, there was a ballot for 10 tickets for under 30s, amid reported sales of seats for up to 180. The show has since been brought to more viewers thanks to National Theatre Live, which broadcasts in cinemas. Scott was asked by the PA news agency about theatre not being that "accessible" to young people due to the high prices. He said: "If you have to pay 350 to go to a play then young people under the age of 30 (and) not just under the age of 30 are just not (going to) be able to afford to go. "But (I) would not be too pessimistic about it, I do think things like NT Live... (and) we can't ignore the fact that we're in the middle of Glastonbury and we're talking about a play. I think that's really important, and it's because of initiatives like NT Live." The Sherlock star, also known for being the "hot" Priest in Fleabag, also said that "performers and producers" should take that this into account when doing productions. He said: "I think internationally Chekhov who I really believe is a fully resonant and relevant playwright and who's funny and people have a real misconception of what Chekhov is and (think) it's really serious, you know, this Russian guy. It's so funny and it's so serene. "The fact that that can be seen globally across the world, to me is mind blowing, so it's not all doom and gloom." 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. The wife of Jonnie Irwin said she is struggling with the way the property show presenter died. Irwin, who was known for Escape To The Country and A Place In The Sun, died aged 50 in February after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020, which later spread to his brain. His wife Jessica Irwin told the Daily Mail: You hear people say: He passed away peacefully. It was lovely, but it wasnt for Jonnie. It was a f****** awful process. I wish I hadnt seen it but I had to be with him. She added that she kept asking the nurses how she could help, but there did not appear to be anything she could do. It is just heart-breaking to see someone you love so much in that state, but he was surrounded by love and in our home, as he wanted, not in a hospice, she added. But it is not peaceful. People are upset and I had our three little boys to manage. Even at the end, Jonnie didnt want to go. He was fighting to the last. I hated every second lying next to my dying husband. I cuddled him but he was in a lot of pain. I was constantly moving him, administering drugs. I kept saying: Can I do anything? and he said: No, Im fine. How could he be fine? Jonnie Irwin was just 50 (BBC) Jessica, who shared three sons Rex, and twins Rafa and Cormac with Irwin, added: I still struggle with what he went through. She also said he never complained, and he would just get upset and say: Im just so sorry Im leaving you all'. He was not just my best friend, he was my lover, protector, the person I wanted to share my life with and it was such a mad, adventurous, fun life with him, Jessica added. I feel like Im still living in Jonnies world. His friends are my friends now. He renovated this house. Irwins first warning sign was while he was filming A Place In The Sun in Italy in August 2020, when his vision became blurry while driving. In 2022, he disclosed his health issues. The BBCs Escape To The Country, where he had been the host of the British daytime property-buying programme since 2010, paid tribute to the late TV presenter through a special programme. Irwin also starred in Channel 4s Renovation Game, which ran for three seasons from 2011, in which builders and designers put their fees on the line if they did not raise the property value of a house during a revamp. Morgan Freeman thanked his fans for alerting him that his voice had been recreated using artificial intelligence (AI). The Oscar-winning American actor, 87, is one of many Hollywood stars that have seen their tones replicated by technology. Freeman wrote on X: Thank you to my incredible fans for your vigilance and support in calling out the unauthorised use of an A.I. voice imitating me. Your dedication helps authenticity and integrity remain paramount. Grateful. #AI #scam #imitation #IdentityProtection. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content It is unclear what issue with AI that the actor, known for The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy and Million Dollar Baby, was making in the post. There have been reports of a TikTok influencer appearing to recreate Freemans voice using technology, while joking that she is the actors niece. A deepfake artist also created an AI generated video of Freeman in 2022. Freeman has lent his voice to documentaries including the Oscar winning documentary March Of The Penguins, and the more recent narration on the nature programmes Life On Our Planet and Our Universe, as well as several advertisements. Earlier this year, Scarlett Johansson expressed being shocked and angered at how eerily similar one of the voices in ChatGPT sounded to hers. In response, OpenAI said it will pause the use of one of the voices in ChatGPT after it drew comparisons with the Hollywood actress. Johansson said OpenAI reluctantly agreed to take down the Sky voice after she hired lawyers who wrote to the artificial intelligence giants chief executive Sam Altman, asking about the process by which the company came up with the voice. OpenAI dismissed the accusation saying that it is not AI and belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice. In January, social media platform X had to temporarily block searches linked to Taylor Swift after fake, AI-generated explicit images of the pop star were posted to the site. Andy Burnham said Sir Keir Starmer will not bulldoze local government if he wins the General Election, after telling a Glastonbury crowd he will continue to assert Manchesters devolved status. The Labour Mayor of Manchester was speaking at Worthy Farms Speakers Forum about the crisis of council funding with Guardian journalist and podcaster John Harris, where he arrived wearing a green bucket hat sporting the words Salford Lads Club, inspired by an album from The Smiths. He told the audience of around a hundred people to vote for change and that he has seen promising signs there will be improved devolution if Sir Keir Starmer wins next weeks election. I think it will change if Labour get in, it will improve, but it wont stop being very difficult, Mr Burnham told the crowd. Were going to continue to assert our devolved status. Asked by the PA news agency after the talk how he will defend his constituents against centralised power in Westminster, Mr Burnham said: We will work with whoevers in government to get the balance right. Weve had a difficult debate already on planning in Greater Manchester Ill be honest, not everybody was happy with the result, but weve now got a plan that will allow us to go quickly (to bring) the growth the country needs. I think with planning reform, we could do things better, but it must be with local people as much as you possibly can. Mr Burnham (right) was speaking to journalist John Harris (left) (Edd Dracott/PA) Its not Keirs style to just bulldoze things through, I think hell work with us to get the balance right. Mr Burnham, who was met by applause from a supportive crowd, condemned the local government approach of the Conservatives offering examples such as discrepancies in furlough during the Covid-19 pandemic and the cancellation of HS2. On a question about climate change, he was greeted to several whoops as he responded: Change is coming and honestly the mayors will bring the radicalism to the next government. Were more ambitious than any party government would feel able to be because we want to move as fast as possible for our for our area. Mr Burnham will speak again at the festival on Sunday about the housing crisis alongside campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa. Members of the audience came up to Mr Burnham after the talk to speak with him (Tom Leese/PA) Its been great to come here I did sort of weave through a few marginal seats on my on my way, but Im here to carry a political message as well, he said. Just four or five days now till polling day, the message I carried here was vote to make change a certainty. To me Glastonbury is an antidote to the culture wars an amazing, positive gathering of people its like the Britain of London 2012. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner was billed to speak at the festival until she cancelled earlier this week due to General Election commitments. I just love Angela, shes brilliant, shes such an asset to Labour Party,= and she needs to be around the country now, Mr Burnham said. Mr Burnhams talk focused on devolution (Edd Dracott/PA) Im here because obviously we do need to carry a political message into this space, with just days to go (until the election). So Im here to do a job that perhaps the the Shadow Cabinet cant do as well as maybe have the odd beer while Im here. Neil Jordan: I could have stayed in Hollywood and made Batman 3 but I came back here to make Michael Collins instead The directors new memoir gives a raw insight into his life and career, from sleeping rough in London to Julia Roberts asking him to cast her. Here he talks about his pivot from literature to movies, and reflects on his love-hate relationship with LAs film industry Irish film director and screenwriter Neil Jordan on Killiney Hill, Dublin. Photo: Frank McGrath Tanya Sweeney Sat 29 Jun 2024 at 03:30 The first time Neil Jordan moved to London as a young man, he was forced to sleep rough on the streets, in a park opposite Euston Station. He eventually found a job walking down Oxford Street wearing an advertising sandwich board. It was on a Kings Cross station platform that he encountered a couple of Scottish hippies who told him of a crash pad at the end of the Tubes Northern Line. Soon, he is joined by an imposing Turkish man in a suit, who leads Jordan into the sitting room, to a sofabed. Dressed in a silk robe, the man lifts the duvet of the bed and falls in next to Jordan, surprised that he is still fully dressed. Irish boys can make quite a bit of money round Piccadilly, the man tells Jordan. The sentence has sparked anger over what critics see as the flaws in Germanys judicial system, with disproportionate punishment for defamation. Photo: Getty Mumbai, Jun 29 (UNI) Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday assured the Maharashtra Assembly that instructions will be given to deposit the funds of all special assistance schemes into the beneficiaries' accounts on the fifth of every month. Giving information on the Point of Information question raised by member Bacchu Kadu in the house about delay in providing financial assistance to the weaker sections, he said that the Government of Maharashtra has initiated various schemes for the general public, the marginalised, and the economically-weaker sections across the state. It is necessary that eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits of these schemes on time, he asserted. Upon conclusion of Saturday's session, a discussion will be held with the Finance department's secretaries to understand the factual situation, he said. The state government has made substantial provisions of funds for all special assistance schemes, including the Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme, Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Grant Scheme, and schemes for the differently-abled, said Pawar. Therefore, it is essential that the financial assistance of these schemes is deposited into the beneficiaries' accounts on time, he added. UNI VKB SS Thousands of displaced Gazans forced to move again as Israeli tanks push further into Rafah US military pier removed and may not be replaced until aid starts to move, officials say Israeli soldiers in army vehicles move along the border with the Gaza Strip. Photo: Getty Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Doaa Rouqa Sat 29 Jun 2024 at 03:30 Israeli forces pressed their incursion deeper into two northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip yesterday, and Palestinian health officials said tank shelling in Rafah killed at least 11 people. US president Joe Biden said yesterday he intended to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in the November presidential election, giving no sign that he would consider dropping out of the race after a feeble debate performance on Thursday night that dismayed his fellow Democrats. Im here in North Carolina for one reason because I intend to win this state in November, Mr Biden said at a rally in the battleground state one day after the head-to-head showdown with his Republican rival, which was widely viewed as a defeat for the 81-year-old president. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 60 Indian nationals for their alleged involvement in an online financial scam . The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the people from Sri Lanka's Thalangama, Madiwela and Negombo areas. 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, reported Sri Lanka's Daily Star newspaper. The crackdown occurred following a complaint from a victim who claimed to have been lured into a WhatsApp group promising cash for social media interactions. 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, the Sri Lankan newspaper reported. Later, more operations were conducted in Negombo which yielded 19 additional arrests. It exposed the international links in Dubai and Afghanistan. Photo courtesy: X/@NBirenSingh Imphal/IBNS: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said the decision to continue or quit is not in his hands, in the backdrop of the rumours about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership change in the crisis-hit northeastern state, media reports said. Singh told NDTV, "Staying on as Chief Minister or resigning is not in my hands." His words come as the BJP is rumoured to be mulling the appointment of a new Chief Minister in the state after the saffron camp lost both Lok Sabha seats to Congress in 2024. Singh attributed the defeat to the crisis surrounding the ethnic clashes prevailing in the state but maintained the party got the desired votes in the Lok Sabha elections. "BJP's vote percentage is not low. What we expected, we got. This time we got more votes than last time but lost due to the rebelling situation," Singh told NDTV. "I know people are angry with me for our handling of the situation. We accept it. The situation is very complex. We are not fighting with an identified enemy, the Chief Minister added. More than 200 people died and about 50,000 others displaced after the ethnic clash between the Meiteis and Kukis broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The outbreak of violence in Manipur can be traced back to the 'Tribal Solidarity March' initiated by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM). The march was organized as a form of protest against the demand to include the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, which was prompted by a directive from the Manipur High Court on April 19. The march served as a catalyst for the subsequent escalation of violence in the region. Approximately 53 percent of the population in Manipur comprises Meiteis, residing predominantly in the Imphal Valley, while the remaining 40 percent consists of tribal communities such as Kukis, residing primarily in the hill districts surrounding the Valley. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Unknown gunmen abducted 13 labourers from Tator area of Tank district in Pakistan when they were repairing a 132KV transmission line on Friday, media reports said. District police officer Abdus Salam Khalid told Dawn News that nine out of the 13 labourers were recovered by the police, and search for the remaining was continuing. Khalid said the labourers were working on 132KV transmission line within the limits of Shaheed Mureed Akbar police station in Tator village of Tank when they were kidnapped by unknown armed men. He said the abducted labourers belonged to Punjab. Police cordoned off the area after reaching the spot. A search operation has been launched. Support Our Journalism We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news. Support objective journalism for a small contribution. On June 23, the 39th memorial anniversary of the tragic Kanishka bombing was held at the memorial site in Stanley Parks Ceperley playground area in Vancouver. Over 150 friends and family members of the victims attended this solemn event, remembering the worst and most gruesome terrorist act in aviation history. Among the attendees were prominent figures such as Conservative MP from Langley, Tako Van Popta, Provincial Minister of Health Adrian Dix, NDP MLA Jinny Sims, former MLA Dave Hayer, City Park Board Commissioner Angela Hayer, and representatives from the RCMP and CSIS. The event proceedings were managed by Adrian Dix, who has personal connections to the tragedy through his wifes family. MP Tako Van Popta delivered a message on behalf of Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, condemning terrorism. The Consul General of India laid a wreath and emphasized the importance of unity in combating terrorism. Dave Hayer made an emotional plea to federal leaders, urging them to observe a two-minute silence in Parliament in memory of the victims of this heinous act. Adrian Dix solemnly read out the names of all 329 victims, including the two who perished at Tokyo airport. He poignantly highlighted that Air India lost 24 crew members in the tragedy and urged against politicizing the issue of terrorism. For several years, Dix has dedicated himself to managing the proceedings of this event, ensuring they run smoothly. The event was secured by RCMP and Vancouver Police Department personnel. After the formal proceedings, tensions briefly flared when some relatives of the victims confronted radicals displaying Khalistani flags at the venue. The radicals were questioned about their presence and subsequently left the site. This annual memorial serves as a stark reminder of the events of June 23, 1985, when 329 passengers, including 268 Canadians and 24 Indians, lost their lives in the bombing of Air India Flight 182. The investigation implicated Babbar Khalsa International and its leaders, including Talwinder Singh Parmar and Inderjit Singh Reyat, who were convicted by Canadian courts. In a related event, a show aired on June 24, 2024, featuring an interview with Dave Hayer. He reiterated his call for federal leaders to take the issue of terrorism seriously and observe a two-minute silence in honour of the victims. He pointed out the irony that the federal Parliament had previously observed such a tribute for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a known offender. This memorial not only honours the victims but also serves as a call to action for Canadian leaders to acknowledge and remember the gravity of the Kanishka bombing, ensuring that such a tragedy is never forgotten. (Image and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com) Indian teen at America's Got Talent, Satyabhama OTT release and more from ent 1. Meet Maya Neelakantan: The Indian teen who impressed Simon Cowell at America's Got Talent Meet Maya Neelakantan: The Indian teen who impressed Simon Cowell at America's Got Talent/IG Maya Neelakantan, the talented Indian teenager, recently captivated audiences on America's Got Talent (AGT), leaving a lasting impression. Her remarkable musical prowess and boundless passion have propelled her to viral stardom. At only 10 years old, Maya's transformative journey from a timid young girl to a poised rock star on the AGT stage is nothing short of inspiring. Let's delve into Maya Neelakantan's story and discover what sets her apart as a standout contestant on AGT. 2. Are Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal expecting their first baby? Kokilaben hospital video fuels online speculation Are Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal expecting? Kokilaben hospital video fuels online speculation/X Since their recent wedding, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal have become the center of attention. The couple exchanged vows in a civil ceremony on June 23, and their wedding photos and videos have been trending non-stop. However, speculation about a potential pregnancy has surfaced after fans spotted them at the hospital, sparking a flurry of questions. 3. Netizens praise Kamal Haasan's brief role in Kalki 2898 AD, actor says My part in the universe has only begun Netizens praise Kamal Haasan's brief role in Kalki 2898 AD, actor says My part in the universe has only begun/X Kamal Haasan recently addressed his role and the future of Kalki 2898 AD, highlighting his brief screen time in the current installment while teasing a more substantial role in its sequel. Speaking at a press conference in Chennai, he mentioned, 'In Kalki, my character has a brief appearance that spans just a few minutes.' He added, 'My true involvement in the film is yet to unfold, promising more depth in the second part. Watching this film as a fan, I was truly amazed.' 4. 'People died & its just a video of Shah Rukh Khan': SRK grooves to AP Dhillon's Excuses in viral video 'People died & its just a video of Shah Rukh Khan': SRK grooves to AP Dhillon's Excuses in viral video/X Ever wondered what a night out with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan looks like, especially during a vacation? Currently, Shah Rukh Khan is enjoying a holiday in London with his wife Gauri Khan and their children Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam. A video of him dancing at a London nightclub has recently gone viral, showcasing Shah Rukh Khan grooving to 'Excuses' by Punjabi musician AP Dhillon. 5. Satyabhama OTT release: When and where to watch this Kajal Aggarwal-starrer Telugu film Satyabhama OTT release: When and where to watch this Kajal Aggarwal-starrer Telugu film/IMDb Actress Kajal Aggarwal's 60th film, Satyabhama, received significant promotion both before and after its release. Directed by Suman Chikkala, this cop drama struggled to captivate theater audiences but has now made its debut on OTT platforms. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Speculation is swirling around Bollywood star Sonakshi Sinha following her recent hospital visit with husband Zaheer Iqbal. The couple was spotted leaving Kokilaben Hospital on Friday evening, where they were reportedly visiting. While the reason for their visit was to check on Sonakshis father, veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, who was undergoing a routine checkup, it was the paparazzi-captured departure that set social media abuzz. The viral video has ignited questions online: Is Sonakshi Sinha expecting a baby? Is Sonakshi Sinha pregnant? VC: Voompla Following their recent wedding, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal have been the talk of the town. The couple tied the knot on June 23 in a civil ceremony, and their wedding photos and videos have been trending ever since. But now, fans are buzzing with questions about a possible pregnancy after seeing them at the hospital. Media reports confirmed that Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal were indeed at Kokilaben Hospital to visit her father. Yet, the viral video has fueled speculation online. People are now wondering if the actress might be expecting a baby. Despite the growing rumours, there is no confirmation of Sonakshi Sinhas pregnancy. The actress has also faced criticism for marrying someone from a different religion, leading to daily trolling. Her wedding photos and videos sparked disapproval from many, especially in Bihar, where some even protested against her marriage. Wedding pictures of Sonakshi and Zaheer Iqbal/Instagram Sonakshi Sinhas father, Shatrughan Sinha, is a well-known actor from Bihar, but Sonakshi herself has never visited the state. Since her marriage to Zaheer Iqbal, she has faced significant online backlash. Also Read: Richa Chadha herself in interfaith marriage says 'buri nazar wale tera muh faltoo' to Sonakshi Sinha's trolls Activists in Patna call Sonakshi Sinha-Zaheer Iqbal's wedding Love Jihad, Shatrughan Sinha reacts/X Critics have suggested she should rename her home 'Ramayana,' and there are also rumours that her brothers, Luv and Kush, are unhappy with her marriage. They did not take part in the wedding rituals, with actor Saqib Saleem stepping in to perform the brotherly duties instead. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Who is Maya Neelakantan? In 2022, Maya Neelakantan garnered widespread attention with her cover of Tool's 16-minute epic 7empest. Her performance was so remarkable that Adam Jones, Tools guitarist, sent her his signature Gibson guitar. This gesture highlighted her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft. America's Got Talent Debut Meet Maya Neelakantan: The Indian teen who impressed Simon Cowell at America's Got Talent/IG Recently, Maya, the Indian teen, took the stage on America's Got Talent (AGT) and impressed many. Her incredible skills and passion for music have made her a viral sensation. At just 10 years old, Maya's journey from a shy young girl to a confident rock star on stage is truly inspiring. Let's get into the story of Maya Neelakantan and what makes her a standout contestant on AGT. Mayas Memorable Audition On a recent episode of AGT, Maya Neelakantan made her debut performance that no one saw coming. Initially, she appeared to be a very shy and reserved girl. However, she soon amazed the judges and the audience by playing an instrumental version of Papa Roachs "Last Resort." Judges Were Impressed, Especially Cowell Judge Simon Cowell found Maya's performance especially impressive. He said, You know what I love about this audition, you just weren't expecting this. You were so shy, and you're 10! And then you turned into, like, this rock goddess. Cowell also shared his own experience with learning the guitar, admitting, I gave up playing guitar, actually no my teacher gave up on me. He even called her a rock goddess. Judge Howie Mandel also applauded Mayas performance, predicting that it could soon become a viral moment. Heidi Klum praised Maya as gutsy, incredible and lauded her talent. Mayas Musical Journey Maya, originally from India, developed a love for music at a very young age. She has become proficient in playing the guitar and has demonstrated her talents on multiple stages. Her skill in performing complex pieces across different musical styles distinguishes her. Maya is a versatile artist, able to play Indian classical Carnatic music, Tool songs, and thrash metal. Her journey with music began at a very young age. From the time she was just five years old, she would dance around the house, strumming a toy guitar to heavy metal music. Her love for music intensified over the years, driving her to learn and excel at playing the guitar. Mayas father mentioned in an interview that she put a lot of thought into her music beyond just playing the instrument. Support From Musical Legends Earlier in 2022, Maya impressed many with her cover of Tools "7empest." Her performance was so impressive that Adam Jones, Tools guitarist, sent her his signature Gibson guitar, the Adam Jones Les Paul Standard. In one of her YouTube videos, she shared this experience, calling it the biggest day of her life. More than getting the guitar, earning recognition from an icon like Jones was significant. Since then, she has crafted mashups of Tools songs with that guitar. Gary Holt, from Exodus and Slayer, has also supported Maya during her AGT audition. Maya shared on Instagram about the time she spent with Holt, further emphasising the support she has received from renowned musicians. Also Read: Kalki 2898 AD box office collection day 2: Did Prabhas-Amitabh starrer film maintain its momentum? For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Taiwan detects 23 Chinese military aircraft, 5 vessels close to island Taipei, June 29 (UNI) The Taiwanese military has detected 23 aircraft and five vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) close to the island over the past day, the Taiwanese Defence Ministry said on Saturday. "23 #PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN [navy] vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. 20 of the aircraft entered Taiwan's northern, central, SW, and eastern ADIZ," the ministry said on X. The Taiwanese armed forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly, the ministry also said. In love with the French and all things Paris? We are too! In fact who wouldn't be? French are known for their amazing fashion and that impeccable taste effortlessly flows into their interiors as well. If you've been dreaming of adding a touch of Parisian charm then let us make your dreams come true! With the right decor elements and a little creativity, you can create a French-style space that captures the essence of Paris in all its glory. veranda.com/Pinterest Also Read: Want To Know Paris In And Out? Watch These 5 Films To Truly Learn About The City Parisian-style home decor ideas Here are 6 simple hacks with which you convert your space into a scene straight out of Parisian dreams. 1) Ornate architectural features creativemarket.com/Pinterest Parisians like to add an old-world charm to their space. Taking inspiration from old buildings you can incorporate features like crown mouldings, elaborately ornamented ceilings and skirtings, reminiscent of times gone by. These faux features can be added in a very budget-friendly way using plaster of Paris. 2) Subdued colour palette French-style decor is all about the neutrals. The French believe in letting their chosen decor items take centre stage with the walls acting just as a background. By selecting white, off-white, beige and other neutral colours you can brighten up your interiors making them appear more spacious than they actually are. Also Read: Decor Tips: 9 Ideas To Bring Beach To Your Balcony For Year-Round Coastal Vibes 3) Rattan furniture danishdesignstore.com/Pinterest Bring sophistication and elegance to your space along with a hint of nostalgia by adding comfortable yet sturdy pieces of rattan furniture. Also known as cane or wicker furniture, such pieces could always be found in a Parisian home and are making a comeback once again. Adding an earthy-toned piece of rattan furniture into your modern space establishes the old and new theme of the space that is favoured by all Parisians. 4) Luxurious fabrics Using luxurious fabrics is one of the simplest ways to add Parisian style to your house. With the neutral colour of the walls, go for muted pinks, greens, locals, powder blues and other pastels for your curtains or drapes. Velvet, silk and linen are some of the preferred choices of fabric for the French for their cushions and bedding. Do not forget to add a rug in your living space to add another texture to tie the whole place together. 5) Vintage-inspired decor items Pinterest French love mixing old with new. If you are fond of Parisian-inspired decor style, you must have noticed a recurring theme of eclectic decor pieces with retro vibes paired with something modern. Parisians love their gold-gilded mirrors and by adding one to your space you can easily elevate your space and give it a vintage vibe. Also Read: Decor Tips: 5 Cozy Bathroom Ideas For Ultimate Relaxation After A Long Day 6) Antique crockery Presentation plays a very important role in giving any space its appeal. With a cabinet featuring china with elaborate patterns and gilded trims that you can get really at any flea market, you can add a touch of elegance to your space very easily in an inexpensive way. Display your fine china proudly and whip them out to wow everyone anytime you are entertaining guests. Every element plays a key role in creating an inviting space inspired by the French. So, grab a glass of wine and travel to Europe every time you step into your own little slice of Parisian paradise. Also Read: Why luxury candles are the ultimate self-care flex you need For more on fashion, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle. Two personnel from the Mumbai Police are being praised on social media for their timely and brave act that saved the life of a woman. The two police personnel, Kiran Thackeray and Amol Dahiphale, posted at the Marine Drive Police Station, jumped into the Arabian Sea in South Mumbai during high tide on Thursday and saved a 59-year-old woman from drowning. Incident during high tide The incident occurred at around 2:45 pm near Sundar Mahal junction on the Marine Drive seafront, where an onlooker informed the police that a woman, who was sitting on the promenade, had slipped into the sea and was drowning. Also read: US Marine Veteran Bravely Saves Swimmer Stuck In Riptide Upon receiving the information, the two cops rushed to the spot, jumped into the sea, and pulled out the woman, who was struggling in the water. The cops saved the woman, identified as Swati Kanani, a resident of Matunga, by risking their own lives as it was the time of high tide when the sea was generally rough. BCCL According to the police, the woman was admitted to a hospital for treatment and is out of danger. Also read: Mumbai, Delhi are India's most expensive cities Video goes viral Mumbai Police on Friday shared the video of the rescue on social media, with a caption reading: "Turned the tide! Responding quickly to a drowning incident near Sundar Mahal Junction, Marine Drive, on-duty officials PC Kiran Thackeray & PC Amol Dahiphale, despite high tide, jumped into the sea & rescued the woman. 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," the post said. I congratulate PC Kiran Thackeray and PC Amol Dahiphale for their bravery in rescuing a woman from the sea. I urge all citizens to avoid entering the sea during rainy days, especially during high tide. Please adhere to the instructions provided by the administration and police https://t.co/sZAdPjaPE9 pic.twitter.com/59EVm3yEhP , - CP Mumbai Police (@CPMumbaiPolice) June 28, 2024 Rains in Mumbai Mumbai has been receiving heavy rains since the onset of the monsoon in the city on June 9. On Friday, the Santacruz observatory of the India Meteorological Department recorded 78.6 millimeters of rainfall, while the figure was 65.9 mm at the Colaba observatory in the southern part of the metropolis. In a 10-hour period that ended at 6 pm, the island city recorded an average of 35.72 mm, while eastern Mumbai witnessed 33.30 mm and the western part of the city got 29.92 mm. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A woman from Uttar Pradesh has reunited with her brother after a gap of 18 years, thanks to an Instagram reel. The woman, identified as Rajkumari, a resident of Hathipur village in Kanpur, recognized her long-lost brother after she spotted his broken tooth. According to a report by India Today, the woman was scrolling through Instagram reels when she came across a video from Jaipur featuring a man who had a chipped tooth the same one as her brother, Bal Govind. Separated 18 years ago The report said that Bal Govind had left home some eighteen years ago to work in Mumbai. While he remained in touch with his family, he became untraceable on a train journey home. Also read: Man Reunites With Door Of His Home After Years Of Partition Between India And Pakistan BCCL According to Govind, he took a train when he fell ill, but instead of reaching Kanpur, he ended up in Jaipur. With the help of a stranger whom he met at the railway station, Govind got a job at a factory and started from scratch once again. How a reel reunited them As years went by, Govind got married and had two children. Along with his job, Govind also started making reels on Instagram, mostly featuring locations and things to see in Jaipur. Back home in UP's Inayatpur, Rajkumari stumbled upon one such reel and immediately recognized her brother from his broken tooth. Also read: Couple Sells Their 8-Month-Old Baby To Buy iPhone To Make Instagram Reels Unsplash Convinced that the person in the video was her long-lost sibling, Rajkumari contacted him through social media and confirmed her suspicion. Siblings meet after 18 years The two siblings then connected by phone and Rajkumari convinced her brother to come to their village. On June 20, Govind traveled to UP and reunited with his sister after 18 years of separation. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A video has gone viral on social media with claims of a UFO sighting in Canada. The video was shot by Justin Stevenson from Winnipeg while he was on a drive with his wife, Danielle Daniels-Stevenson, through Fort Alexander. The video, which was shot on May 24, has now gone viral on social media. Two flying bright objects In the video, some unexplained glowing lights can be seen in the night sky over the Winnipeg River as they drive through. According to Stevenson, the objects were as bright as the sun and were seen flying south above the river's north shore before disappearing behind a cloud. In the video, Stevenson can be heard describing the bright light above the tree line when he suddenly realizes that there is more than one such mysterious object. Also read: UFO expert says aliens are angered by desecration of Stonehenge SCREENGRAB "Look, there's another one," he said, adding, "Yo, I think we're seeing some aliens! For real!" Not from earth According to Stevenson, who is a self-proclaimed skeptic of otherworldly life, hes convinced the flying objects werent from planet Earth. It felt like we were in a sci-fi movie, he told local media, adding that They were super bright like a fire in the sky. I was skeptical before I saw this, but now this has given me the proof I need that theres something out there other than humans, he said. Also read: Whistleblower Alleges US Held Alien Biologics And Tried UFO Reverse Engineering "Seen this just few mins ago, what is it? Lasted like half hour," Danielle, who posted the video of the strange encounter on Facebook, stated. UFOs or helicopter After the video went viral, opinions were divided among UFO enthusiasts, with many arguing that it could be helicopters, drones, or flares dropped from planes and obscured by clouds. While others were convinced that the strange lights were a clear shot of UFOs. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Felix-Antoine Hamel, a candidate in the by-election in Toronto's St. Paul's, has created history, not with his winning or losing margin, but for not getting even a single vote. In the elections on Monday, Hamel got zero votes, a first for any candidate in the country in a Federal election. Protest candidate By his own admission, the 45-year-old Montreal musician was not in the election to win but to register his protest. According to Hamel, he decided to run for office as part of a protest over the first-past-the-post election system in the country. Also read: Lok Sabha Election 2024: NOTA Gets More Than One Lakh Votes In Indore FACEBOOK Longest ballot in Canadian history He was one of dozens of activist candidates who contested the by-election to protest the Trudeau governments abandonment of electoral reforms. This resulted in more than 80 names being listed on the ballot paper, the longest in Canadian history. FACEBOOK While hundreds of candidates in the past have also received no votes, in those cases, they still won their seats because they ran unopposed. The last such acclaimed seat was won in a 1957 by-election in Lanark, Ontario. True unity candidate Despite not getting even a single vote in his name, Hamel was still upbeat and pointed out the bright side of things. When I saw the result, I was like: Well, I am the true unity candidate. Everyone agrees not to vote for me, Hamel told CBC News. Hamel was joined at the bottom by two other candidates who got two votes each against their names. Also read: Candidate Gets Only One Vote In Tamil Nadu Local Polls; He Has Five Members In His Family FACEBOOK Wasn't expecting to create history According to Hamel, while he knew he wasn't winning, he never expected to make a mark in the history books. Im one of the last people that would be expected to make Canadian history in any way, he said. Hamel said his zero vote was worth it as it brought attention to the need for voting reforms. As long as I have the right and the privilege to get zero votes in an election, then we are truly in a democracy, he said. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A recent video of a candid interaction between a Kashmiri local and migrant workers from Bihar has won the hearts of social media users. In the video, a Kashmiri guy driving in a car sees two migrant workers and strikes up a lively discussion. What happens in the viral video? he Kashmiri guy jokingly pointing out that migrant workers from Bihar appear to have taken over all local jobs | Image: X The video begins with the Kashmiri guy jokingly pointing out that migrant workers from Bihar appear to have taken over all local jobs, from barbering to carpentry. The migrant workers initially avoid the camera, but soon engage in friendly banter. Also read: 22 per cent of all immigrant doctors in US are Indians, says study Curious about their future plans, the Kashmiri guy inquires whether they intend to learn farming, to which one of the Bihari men cheerfully says, "We will do everything. Now, we shall gradually learn to cultivate as well." Why was the conversation heartwarming? The talk takes a cultural turn when the Kashmiri man mentions "wazwan" | Image: X The talk takes a cultural turn when the Kashmiri man mentions "wazwan," Kashmir's customary multi-course supper. Initially perplexed by the word, the migrant worker humbly expresses his focus on earning a living and satisfying fundamental necessities. Toward the end of the video, the Kashmiri man suggests sharing the exchange online, to which the migrant worker, displaying his sense of humour, accepts and cheekily promotes his plastering talents, saying, "Tell them I charge Rs 7 per foot!" How did people on the internet react? The video has had a strong impact on social media, with fans complimenting the migrant workers for their humility, hard labour, and community contributions. Also read: Thousands Of Migrants Are Heading To The US, All Because A New Route Is Advertised Online Comments poured in, emphasizing the value of migrant labour in areas such as Jammu and Kashmir due to its price, quality of work, and dependability when compared to local labour standards. As the video continues to spread online, it serves as a reminder of the togetherness and mutual respect that may emerge when people from different backgrounds are linked by their common goals and determination to make a livelihood. This is naya kashmir pic.twitter.com/o9eEICz5XW vijay sheth (@vijaysheth) June 24, 2024 What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. E-commerce in India has witnessed explosive growth over the past decade, transforming the way Indians shop and businesses operate. From traditional retail giants to agile startups, numerous companies have capitalized on India's booming digital economy. Then came quick commerce, a subset of e-commerce that focuses on ultra-fast delivery of essential goods and groceries. It caters to consumers who expect near-instantaneous delivery times, typically within an hour or two of placing an order. With a bevy of Indian companies fighting it out in the rink, did you know that a Chinese business magnate built a website almost two decades ago which eventually became one of the biggest ecommerce companies in the world! forbes We are talking about Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group. Back in 2020, he was the richest person in Asia with a staggering net worth of $61.7 billion (Rs 5.1 lakh crore approx). Three years ago, Reliance chief Mukesh Ambani dethroned Ma and bagged the title of Asias richest person. At present Jack Mas net worth stands at 30 billion dollars(Rs 2.5 lakh crore), which is half of what he had in 2020. Last year, Ma attracted considerable interest and conjecture about his future plans following his retreat from public visibility amid a regulatory crackdown by the Chinese government. According to information from the China National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, Ma invested approximately $1.4 million(Rs 11 crore) in a small enterprise named "Hangzhou Ma's Kitchen Food" in the latter part of 2023. This investment occurred during his period of reduced public appearances and heightened government scrutiny. The company specializes in the sale of agricultural products. Also Read: Inside The Net Worth Of Indias Richest Man Mukesh Ambanis Children & Family deposit photos Since 2020, there has been widespread speculation about Jack Ma's activities, particularly as Beijing has tightened its control over his companies, Alibaba and Ant Group Co. Many attribute the regulatory scrutiny to Ma's controversial remarks about China's financial system. Consequently, Ma has kept a low profile and withdrawn from public view. Recently, Ma has shifted his focus to agricultural initiatives through his foundation, aligning with the Communist Party's "common prosperity" initiative. This cause has garnered support from various influential entrepreneurs as part of efforts to promote economic equality and shared prosperity in China. Lets dive into his inspiring story! Jack Mas early life Jack Ma, born in Hangzhou, China, grew up in modest circumstances during China's communist era. Despite his family's financial struggles, Ma seized opportunities in tourism sparked by Richard Nixon's visit in 1972. His passion for English led him to give free tours to foreigners, earning him the nickname "Jack." After graduating, he taught English at Hangzhou Dianzi University for $12 (Rs 1,000) a month. This humble beginning laid the foundation for his journey to becoming the founder of Alibaba Group, one of China's most prominent entrepreneurs. Also Read: Did you know India's richest man & Reliance chief Mukesh Ambani's birthplace isn't India but this country? Jack Mas name is synonymous with rejections reuters Jack Ma's journey to success is marked by numerous rejections and setbacks. As a child, he failed his primary school exams twice and his middle school exams three times. He faced rejection thrice before finally being accepted at Hangzhou Normal University. Despite applying to Harvard University ten times, he was denied admission each time. After earning his bachelor's degree, Jack struggled to secure employment, facing rejection 30 times before landing a job. He famously recounts being the only applicant out of 24 to not be hired when KFC opened in China. Additionally, he failed in two early entrepreneurial ventures. Despite these challenges, Jack Ma persevered, always dreaming big and eventually founding Alibaba Group, becoming one of China's most successful entrepreneurs. In one of his interviews, he was asked about his rejections, he said, Well, I think we have to get used to it. Were not that good. In 1995, Jack Ma traveled to the United States as part of a government project focused on highway construction. It was during this trip that he encountered the Internet and computers for the first time. In China at that time, computers were rare and internet access was non-existent due to high costs. Jack Ma's first experience with the Mosaic browser left a lasting impression. His initial search for 'Beer' yielded results from various countries but none from China. Even a search for 'China' returned no relevant results. This experience ignited his determination to bring China and its people online, marking the beginning of his vision to harness the power of the Internet for his country. The birth of Ali Baba britannica At the age of 31, Jack Ma launched Alibaba, an e-commerce startup that initially operated from his apartment with investment from 17 friends. Initially self-funded, Alibaba later secured $20 million from SoftBank and an additional $5 million from Goldman Sachs in 1999. Overcoming the challenge of building trust in online payment and logistics systems in China became a cornerstone of their early success, a challenge Jack Ma remembers fondly. Despite never having written a line of code or sold a product, Jack Ma's leadership propelled Alibaba to become one of the world's largest e-commerce networks. The company grew rapidly beyond China, competing globally and now ranks second only to Walmart in annual sales. Alibaba stands today as the e-commerce giant that Jack Ma envisioned, marking a remarkable journey from humble beginnings in his apartment to global prominence. What was the reason behind Jack Mas success? Kr Asia Jack Ma has always embraced innovation and a forward-thinking approach. As he expressed in 2004, he believes that entrepreneurship is fundamentally about navigating challenges and setbacks rather than being defined solely by success. He acknowledged that the most trying times in his entrepreneurial journey were yet to come, emphasizing that such difficulties are inevitable and must be confronted directly. Drawing from nearly a decade of experience, he stressed the importance of resilience, asserting that entrepreneurs must confront failures head-on and persist without giving up. Greeces Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vasilis Kikilias has warned the need for caution as extreme fire conditions loom over the country. With half of Greece facing a high risk of forest fires this weekend, Mr. Kikilias said citizens had to remain vigilant. He said on Friday:As of tonight and continuing through Saturday and Sunday, approximately half of the country will be at the orange levela critical riskdue to gale-force winds ranging from 7 to 9 Beaufort. The Minister assured that the entire state apparatus was on high alert, but he called on Greeks to play their part in preventing fires from being sparked. We must all cooperate by following authorities instructions and promptly reporting any fires to emergency services at 199 or 112. As Greece faces this weather challenge, collective efforts are crucial to mitigate the risk and protect lives and property. Citizens are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions during this critical period. iefimerida.gr Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned North Macedonia that its disregard of the prespa Agreement will imperil its bid to join the European Union. Mr. Mitsotakis sounded the warning during a meeting of EU heads of government in Brussels. He emphasized that if Skopje continued to publicly identify itself with a name Greece considers its own Macedonia and an integral part of its history , its chances of joining the European Union would be spoiled. Tensions between Athens and Skopje have grown since the election of North Macedonias new president in May when she riled Greek and EU officials for her country Macedonia in her oath of office. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova later insisted that she had a human right to refer to the country as she liked. The 2018 deal with Greece, which claims Macedonia as the name of one of its regions, was signed by the center-left government that the new leadership in Skopje defeated in May 8 elections. It ended a decades-long quarrel over history and cultural heritage, and stipulated that the country would formally adopt the new name North Macedonia. The agreement allowed North Macedonia to later join NATO. Compliance with international agreements is crucial for maintaining peace and security. iefimerida.gr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has condemned the Federal Government for operating multiple budgets concurrently. Information Nigeria reports that BudgIT, a civic-tech organisation, had condemned plans by the federal government to implement four national budgets concurrently. Currently, the Federal Government is operating the 2023 budget, 2023 supplementary budget, and the 2024 budget. Advertisement In a statement issued on Friday by Gabriel Okeowo, BudgITs country Director, the organisation described the development as worrisome. He pointed out that globally, budgets are typically prepared to cover 12 calendar months, from January to December. Okeowo warned that if multiple budgets are implemented simultaneously, projects from the 2023 budget and the 2023 supplementary budget will compete for the limited resources available to the federal government with essential projects in the 2024 budget. Speaking in relation to this via X on Saturday, Obi said the action is a blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability. On May 29, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu disclosed said the 2024 supplementary appropriation bill would soon be presented before the national assembly. According to Obi, this action by the federal government is also a recipe for chaos, confusion, and catastrophe. All available evidence has confirmed that the Nigerian government is implementing four national budgets concurrently. This is in blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. It is also a recipe for chaos, confusion, and catastrophe. This intentionally reckless action will lead to frivolous items in the approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources, further exacerbating the suffering of the Nigerian people, he wrote. READ ALSO: FG Can Double Revenue Without Heavy Taxes Oyedele According to him, Nigerian leaders are disconnected from reality and lack the competence to manage the nations finances effectively. It indicates that the leaders are out of touch with reality and lack the competence to manage our nations finances effectively. Unfortunately, this deliberate act of fiscal recklessness is being undertaken by elected representatives of the people, thereby betraying one of the cardinal pillars of democracy. Leaders are elected to responsibly manage public resources in an organized way. I respectfully appeal and in fact, demand that this situation be reversed immediately in preference for a more responsible and transparent approach to budgeting. We must prioritize the needs of the Nigerian people, not the selfish interests of a few. This is a call to action for all Leaders to desist from actions that will further drive the country into economic chaos, he said. The former Anambra State Governor added that neither the national assembly nor the executive has any excuse to promote or condone such unconscionable behaviour. Reacting to this, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said the claims by both parties are false. Discarding the allegations as rumours, via X, he wrote: Yesterday, @BudgITng raised a false alarm on the basis of rumours that FG is planning a 2024 supplementary budget. It is important to state that the FG is not planning to run 4 budgets within a fiscal year as being alleged. The National Assembly only approved that implementation of the capital components of 2023 budget and 2023 supplementary should be extended to December 2024 to achieve its objectives. Our country cant achieve sustainable development when Federal, States and Local governments focus on only consumptive expenditures which is essentially what recurrent expenditures represent. It is the capital expenditures that drive economic growth, strengthen private sector output and create employment opportunities for citizens. As a reputable civic organisation, Budgit can not afford to be flippant and be unduly sensational. Expectedly, @PeterObi has jumped on the false claims to push his new round of misinformation. Edwin F. Ackerman in Sidecar: Claudia Sheinbaum won a landslide in the Mexican presidential elections on 2 June. With close to 60% of the vote, the magnitude of her victory exceeded that of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2018. Her party, Morena, formed only a decade ago, secured a two-thirds majority in Congress and is just two representatives short of doing so in the Senate. The opposition PRI, PAN and PRD running on a unity ticket got about 27%, a significant decline since the previous ballot. Three things are particularly striking about the results. First, the clarity of the mandate: an anomaly in Western democracies, which are increasingly accustomed to marginal contests and political stalemates. Second, the particularities of Morenas constituency: a voting bloc anchored in the working classes yet capable of folding in parts of the middle strata. Third, the sense that a new political regime is emerging, founded on a post-neoliberal social pact. Sheinbaums main competitor was Xochitl Galvez, leading the coalition of the PRI, PAN and PRD. Galvez helmed an erratic campaign, representing the interests of big business sprinkled with lite social liberalism. Unable to run on an outwardly neoliberal agenda the term has become toxic in Mexico she opted instead for identity politics: her opening pitch emphasized her indigenous roots and humble beginnings, while her closing one leaned in to attacks on Sheinbaums non-Catholicism. More here. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has apprehended 27 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City, Edo State. The arrests took place on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at various places throughout the city, following intelligence on their alleged involvement in computer-related fraud. This was revealed in a statement posted on the X platform on Friday. Advertisement READ MORE: Sexual Assault: Appeal Court Affirms 5-Year Conviction Of Baba Ijesha The statement read, Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, arrested 27 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Benin City. The suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in computer- related fraud. Items recovered from them include the sum of N590,000.00, nine exotic cars, laptops and phones. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. SEE BELOW: The family of late Toheeb Eniafe has called on the Lagos State Police Command to speed up investigation to unravel the cause of the death of their breadwinner. Toheeb died on May 1 from gunshot injuries, after he was shot by a police officer during a fracas at a petrol station of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, in Obalende. Following this, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Command identified the police officer to be serving at Special Protection Unit Base 17, Lion Building. Advertisement However, addressing journalists at the press centre of the Lagos State High Court on Friday, the family lamented the delay in the investigation and said they suspected a conspiracy to cover up the matter. The deceaseds sister, Folashade Eniafe, said, Toheeb was easy-going and was a breadwinner in the family. Our parents are old. They lament over the matter every day. READ ALSO: Tinubus Health: Leadership Not About Ability To Lift Bag Of Cement, Hes Not Preparing For Olympics Shettima To Critics We are not hearing anything from the police on this matter on how it happened or what they are doing about it. It appears we are being cheated. The stress is too much. They should have mercy on us and let us know what happened. We dont have anybody. Also, Toheebs uncle, Sumaimon Eniafe, said, We want the policeman identified. We want to know the state of the matter. We are not hearing anything. Thats why we are here for justice. We want the police to complete their investigation immediately and charge the killer in court. According to the Vice Chairman of the National Road Transport Workers Union, Wale Giwa, who witnessed the shooting, Toheeb was the auditor of the union until his tragic death. Reacting, Hundeyin, said an investigation was still ongoing while allaying fears of any cover-up. Investigation is ongoing and development will be made available. We feel their pain and plight (of the family) and we are not sweeping it under the carpet, the PPRO said. He said the Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, had reached out to the homicide section of the state police, urging them to expedite action. Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairman of Nigerias Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, has opined that the Federal Government can boost revenue without imposing new taxes. He however advocates for better tax administration and the use of technology to close the estimated N20 trillion tax gap. Advertisement In an interview on Channels Televisions Politics Today on Friday, Oyedele emphasised that the Committees work focuses on transformative fiscal reforms driven by evidence and wide consultation. Weve done a lot of work, quite extensive and far-reaching. We have ve consulted widely, including with governors, federal revenue services, and primary sector stakeholders, he said. Regarding the pace of fiscal reforms compared to monetary policy, Oyedele explained, Fiscal reform cannot be as rapid as monetary policy. It requires evidence-driven policies and extensive consultation to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective prescriptions. He further disclosed that some recommendations, including a new tax regime offering relief to small businesses and easing capital constraints, have already been implemented. Asked about generating more revenue without increasing taxes, Oyedele expressed optimism. We have over 60 different taxes and levies but havent collected enough to adequately fund infrastructure like roads. READ ALSO: Tinubu Appoints Eight Permanent Secretaries To Fill Vacancies In Civil Service Instead of introducing new taxes, we advocate consolidating and harmonizing existing ones, he added. Oyedele stressed the importance of leveraging data intelligence and technology to close tax gaps and ensure compliance. By identifying those who should be paying but arent, we can potentially double our revenue within two to three years, he asserted. He also emphasised the need for exemptions for micro-businesses and low-income earners to prevent burdening societys most vulnerable. Oyedele affirmed his confidence in Nigerias ability to mobilize revenue sustainably. We believe in our approach over the medium to long term by streamlining taxes and enhancing compliance through modern methods, Nigeria can unlock its economic potential without overburdening its citizens, he said. The committees proposals are expected to undergo further legislative processes in the coming weeks, aiming to pave the way for a more robust fiscal policy framework in Nigeria. The Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, was established to review and reform Nigerias fiscal and tax policies, aiming to enhance efficiency, increase revenue, promote economic growth, and reduce poverty. The committees objectives include reviewing tax laws, identifying new revenue sources, developing a national fiscal policy, harmonizing tax policies, improving tax administration, enhancing transparency, promoting economic diversification, and encouraging private sector investment. The committees work is expected to lead to a more effective fiscal and tax system, improving the overall well-being of Nigerians. Former Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, has posited that many of Nigerias problems would have been solved if Local Government Areas (LGAs) were performing thier duties. Ogbeh said State Governors who establish caretaker committees for LGAs should not receive allocations meant for the third tier of government. Speaking on Inside Sources, a programme on Channels Television anchored by Laolu Akande, on Friday, Ogbeh said setting up caretaker committees for LGAs is illegal. Advertisement His words: Any governor who sets up a caretaker committee should not receive any funds because a caretaker is illegal, supreme court said. Dont send them cash, deduct their own and keep it. I cant be sending you money that disappears. You dont repair primary schools, you dont do anything, the money vanishes, and they say they are paying workers. For which work? READ ALSO: States Should Decide Fate Of LGAs, List Should Be Deleted From Constitution Afenifere Faults FGs Autonomy Suit Strolling around in the morning and drinking palm wine? These are the issues. Those failures are creating dangerous problems for the country. Ogbeh also alleged that some Governors are misusing LGA funds by appointing loyalists to caretaker positions and diverting resources for personal gain. According to him, a functional LG would effectively alleviate numerous social and environmental issues plaguing the nation. Here you have a system which unfortunately, is not working. If it were working, a lot of these problems would not be there. You have a governor in the state and there are 10 and 15 local governments, and the local government is failing. What I want to say to Nigerians is that if we dont want the local government system, scrap it; if it were allowed to work, it would have been a fantastic system, he added. On May 26, the Federal Government filed a suit at the supreme court against state Governors to seek full autonomy for the countrys 774 LGAs. Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has disclosed that his government will negotiate a new minimum wage for workers in the state. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the Organised Labour have been in loggerhead with the Federal Government over a new wage. FG is proposing a sum of N62,000 offer, while Labour union is insisting on N250,000, adding that the union will beat done his proposal until government present a reasonable amount of money for the workers. Advertisement However, Governor Namadi in an interview on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily, on Friday, disclosed that whatever FG picks as a new minimum wage, his government will negotiate with workers in the state on what to pay them. He said: We cannot say what we can offer because it is a matter of negotiation. Jigawa has not agreed on any figure because we have not even started the negotiation. READ MORE: You Cant Dictate What To Pay As Minimum Wage NLC To South Govs We put up a tripartite committee including the labour and stakeholders and we work together and then we agree on a figure. Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress had earlier criticized the idea that states should independently determine their minimum wage. It was gathered that the NLC made this known in a statement issued by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, on Thursday. The statement partly reads: This notion is not only dictatorial but also undermines the very essence as well as the model adopted for creating a national minimum wage in Nigeria. A yet to be identified number of workers have been killed as a building at Nicholas Ukachukwus Praco Limited Estate located in Guzape, Abuja collapsed on Friday. It was gathered that a source who refused to disclose his identity around the area, told SaharaReporters that a rescue team has been denied to perform their duty due to heavy rainfall. He said: Building collapse at Nicholas Ukachukwus Praco Ltd Estate in Plot 458 Guzape, Abuja. Workers feared dead, Ongoing rainfall hinders rescue. Advertisement Plot 458 GUZAPE is one of the 111 plots in Abuja illegally acquired by Nicholas Ukachukwu, an Anambra businessman whose Company, Praco Limited, is accused of conniving with civil servants in the FCDA to allocate more than 100 plots of land running into thousands of hectares to his company in what is regarded as one of Abujas largest land heists or grab. The lands were acquired without ministerial approval in July 2023, when there was no minister to have approved the land allocation. READ MORE: Abuja Building Collapse: 9 Rescued, 1 Trapped On assumption of office and following complaints from some of the original allottees of the land, the new Minster, Wike ordered the revocation of the illegally acquired plots. Construction work was stopped and demolition was carried out on one plot at the Sunrise area that Praco had entered and started construction. Nicholas Ukachukwu had at the time accused the minister of ordering the demolition because he is Igbo man, an assertion that was quickly debunked as blackmail by a man who has an odious reputation for sleazy land deals and racketeering in Abuja Several of the people whose lands were revoked and awarded to Nicholas Ukachukwu are currently in court. Unfortunately, Ukachukwu continues to use his financial resources to frustrate the cases in court and bribe FCDA officials who have turned a blind an eye to his illegal construction on the plots revoked by the FCT Minister. Sources indicated that the FCT Minister is frustrated by the antics and connivance of civil servants in FCT in this scandal. One Mufutau Taiwo, has been remanded by a Family Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, for defiling his eight-year-old daughter. The 35-year-old defendant was arrested by policemen for committing the offence at Ayedun Quarters, Akure, a few weeks ago. Taiwo was later charged in court on one count charge of rape. Advertisement According to Martins Olowofeso, the police prosecutor, the defendant was apprehended on June 18, 2024, following a report made to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the command at Alagbaka (Akure) that the defendant was involved in an incestuous act with his daughter. The charge sheet reads, That you, Mufutau Taiwo, 35, male, on June 5, 2024, at about 4 pm at No. 40 Egbe-Road, Ayedun Quarters, Akure, did have carnal knowledge of your daughter, (name withheld), female, aged eight years old, of the same address, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 25(a) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021. READ ALSO: Truck Kills 14 Worshippers After Jumaat In Kano Olowofeso informed the court that the Investigating Police Officer conducted a test in Akure, which revealed that there was penetration into the victims private part and she had been bleeding for three days. He added that the defendant had confessed to the alleged crime during interrogation by the IPO. The prosecutor, through an application, urged the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the issuance of advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions. The counsel to the defendant, G.O. Omoedu, told the court that his client had just served and he would need time to respond on points of law, urging the court to adjourn the case to enable him to reply to the remand application. The Magistrate, B. A. Alipohul, ordered that the defendant be remanded in police custody. She however adjourned the case till July 4, 2024, for hearing. Aviation Security at the Lagos Airport turned over Ayemobola Mojadesola, a passenger, age 29, and her mother to the police for reportedly acting in an unruly manner. The arrested travellers were accused of injuring a service worker (name withheld) at the Lagos airport. It was discovered that the passenger had previously borrowed a pen from an aviation worker, but an argument erupted when the staff member later requested the pen. Advertisement According to eyewitnesses, the brief disagreement escalated, and Mojadesola and her mother attacked the aviation worker, hurting her in the face near her eye socket. The passengers were also accused of smashing two laptop computers during the altercation. In a post on X on Saturday, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authoritys spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, urged passengers to refrain from disruptive behaviour, asking them to always report any issues to NCAA personnel rather than resorting to violence. Achimugu explained that Because she was asked to return a borrowed pen, a passenger named Ayemobola Mojadesola (born 1995) and her mother attacked an airport official, causing facial injuries and destroying two laptops in the process. She was arrested by AVSEC and had to buy replacement laptops and offered N50,000 cash for medical treatment of the injured staff. I must reiterate that unruly behaviour and destruction of airport equipment will not be tolerated. Always refer to them if you are not satisfied with the service rendered by operators. The airline offloaded the passenger for unruly behaviour and she was taken by AVSEC to Tango City before being handed over to the Nigeria Police Force. READ MORE: Navy Seizes 12,000 Litres Of Illegally Refined Diesel, Arrests Two Suspects Achimugu further noted that aviation equipment and personnel are present at all airports to ensure safe and secure travel. They are not punching bags. I urge aggravated passengers to always seek the assistance of the NCAA Consumer Protection Officers at the terminals. They are there to help you, he added. SEE BELOW: The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, has affirmed the judgment of a Lagos State High Court, which sentenced veteran Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, to five years imprisonment. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Baba Ijesha on Friday, was convicted for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor on the 19th of April, 2021. The appellate court in its lead judgment by Justice Folashade Ojo found the appellant guilty on counts 4 and 5, where he was accused of indecently touching a minor and sexually assaulted her. Advertisement Recall that the Lagos State Government had prosecuted Baba Ijesha on a six-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration. In her judgment, the trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo now retired of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, on July 14, 2022, sentenced the actor to five years imprisonment over the sexual assault of a minor. According to Sam Dordulian, sexual assault lawyer in Los Angeles, the prevalence estimates of child sexual abuse vary internationally between 8-31% in girls under the age of 18 and 3-17.6% in boys. In the United States, the estimates are 12.2-26.6% for girls and from 5.1-7.5% for boys for the same form of abuse. It was learnt that the court found him guilty of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault, of a minor between 2013 and 2014, which is contrary to Section 135 of Lagos State Criminal Law 2015. Dissatisfied with the verdict, Baba Ijesha through his counsel Mr. Kayode Olabiran, appeal the lower court decision, praying the appellate court to allow the appeal and set aside his conviction and sentence. The appellant argued that the prosecution failed to prove that he (Baba Ijesha) sexually assaulted the victim, contending that the appellant merely acted a script that he was invited to act. Delivering judgment on the appeal, on Friday, Justice Folashade Ojo set aside appellants conviction on indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault of a minor which allegedly occurred between 2013 and 2014, describing the testimony of PW1 (Damilola Adekoya) as hearsay. Justice Ojo, however held that on the event that occurred on April 19, 2021, the evidence of PW1 (Damilola Adekoya) was an eye witness account, adding that an eye witness account remains credible and one of the most effective ways to established commission of an offence. She said: The law is certain that there is no other evidence other than admission in commission of an offence. READ MORE: Baba Ijesha Cries Out For Help Over Deteriorating Health In Prison From the totality of the evidence of PW2 it can be safely inferred that as at the date of the victims testimony she was at best 15 years old and a child by virtue of Section 261 of the Childs Rights Law of Lagos State, 2015. It is significant to note that the appellant did not challenge PW2s on the evidence she gave. It is in view of all these that I hold that the prosecution established that PW2, the victim of the offence was a child at the time of the alleged offences in 2021. On the event of April 19, 2021, it is my firm belief that the evidence of PW1 does not amount to hearsay, she was an eye witness. My conclusion is that the evidence presented by the prosecution before the trial court on the offence of indecent treatment of a child, and sexually assault committed by the appellant on the 19th of April 2021 is compelling and sufficient to justify the appellants conviction. The court ordered as follows The appellants conviction, and sentence to five years imprisonment for the offence of indecently touching of a child contrary to Section 135 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 (count 2 of the charge) is set aside. The appellant conviction of three years imprisonment for the offence of sexual assault of a child contrary to section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 (count 3 of the charge) is set aside. I affirm the conviction and sentence of the appellant to fiveyears imprisonment for the offence of indecent treatment of a child contrary to section 135 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 (count 4 of the charge) The appellants conviction and sentence to 3 years imprisonment for sexual assault contrary to section 263 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011 (count 5 of the information) is also affirmed. The sentences for counts 4 and 5 are to run concurrently. A moving truck, on Friday, lost control and killed no fewer than 14 worshippers at lmawa town, Kura Local Government Area of Kano State along Zaria Kano highway. It was gathered that the truck rammed into the worshippers who were returning from the Jumaat mosque after observing the two rakat prayers. The Kano Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said several other persons also sustained varying degrees of injuries. Advertisement READ ALSO: Authorities Launch Investigation Into Dynamite Blast At Pro-Police Rally In Rivers In a statement by his spokesperson, Abdullahi Labaran, the Sector Commander said preliminary reports showed that the truck with registration number Reg no: MKA 537 XN lost control and collided with pedestrians who had just concluded observing the Friday prayers. The Sector Commander said efforts were ongoing to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the crash. Abdullahi while expressing his condolences to families of the deceased, emphasised the corps commitment to road safety. He however urged all road users to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to prevent such avoidable tragedies. Kalie Desimone of Montgomery County and Samantha, a 5-month-old German shepherd, greets Frances Rosenblum of Doylestown, in the lobby of the Kimmel Center on Saturday. Read more They came, they listened, and barely a bark was heard. Which is something that can usually go safely unremarked at a Philadelphia Orchestra concert. But for Saturdays matinee, in addition to a couple of thousand fans of patriotic music, the orchestra drew eight puppies getting their first-ever morsels of world-class orchestral music, and the audience cuteness quotient soared. Advertisement There they sat or sprawled near the seats occupied by their humans as the music played: Ridge and Ryer; Charlie, Holly and Dodger; Eastwood and Daphne; and Samantha, a 5-month-old German shepherd with big ears and probing, expressive eyes. Saturdays concert in Marian Anderson Hall was a free program for the usual orchestra fans, which is to say, two-legged ones. But it was also a chance for a select pack of canines to learn how to behave at a concert on their way to training as guide dogs. Weve never really been able to take a dog to something as spectacular as a concert like this, said Kalie Desimone, who attended with Samantha. Samantha and the other dogs will live with their host families until theyre about 15 months old before eventual placement with blind and sight-impaired clients. Its likely that concert attendance will be a part of the work for many of the dogs, Desimone said. Surprisingly or not, the blind people the dogs are paired with, a lot of them are musicians or they love music. It was Jeremy Rothman, the orchestra-Kimmel Center artistic and programming chief, who invited them in. His own family puppy sat for a family raising one for the Seeing Eye, based in Morristown, N.J., and his wife, Catherine VanVlack, suggested that the nonprofit organization might be interested in giving their young wards some concert experience. I mentioned it at a staff meeting, and everyone was like, Dogs! said Rothman. The Seeing Eye puppies learn basic house manners and socialization with their host families before going on to formal training and their match with clients. The group provides the host families with various kinds of support, including covering veterinarian bills and giving a stipend for food. Its not only a great opportunity for our dogs, said Seeing Eye area coordinator Shannon Rager of Saturdays concert, but we always need puppy sitters and puppy raisers, and this is a great way to show people who may not know about us what we do. At this point, Desimone is an old hand at it. Samantha is the 15th puppy she has raised. Shes incredibly loving. We call her a snuggle-bug. Shes very much attached to us, like Velcro. The feelings go both ways, and the eventual parting, painful though it may be, comes with some consolation. When I give her up, she lives on at the same age in my head, said Desimone. Saturday was perhaps a good test for what might lie ahead for any dogs with concerts in their future. Classical music can be mellow, of course, but not everything is as chill as a Satie Gymnopedie or Mozart serenade. And many scores go from shimmering strings to cymbal crash with no warning, which could startle a dog as it would a human. What then? Our families are good about reading a dogs body language, said Rager. If your dog is not happy, you remove the dog from that situation, because we dont want to create a stressful environment. But at Saturdays nearly two-hour concert of Copland, John Williams and Sousa led by conductor Jeff Tyzik, no one seemed stressed. All the dogs were quiet during the music. Samantha, though, did look concerned at one point. Tyzik had asked the audience to whistle along during the Colonel Bogey March, and when they did, Samantha sat up as if to see what all the noise was about. She let out a few barks on the way out to intermission. But for the most part, she was everything youd want a concert companion to be, and considerably more adorable than most. Said Desimone: This was a very big deal for her. She was awesome. Aimee Lucido had hoped the worst was over. Ten weeks after her daughter, Lyra, was born in July 2023, Lucido, then 32 and a resident of Berkeley, Calif., developed pain in her lower back that quickly escalated from mild to incapacitating. Her parents flew in from North Carolina to help. Their 10-day stay freed Lucido from the frequent bending and lifting that is a mainstay of infant care and had increasingly fallen to Lucido after her husband returned to work. Advertisement I felt so much better, recalled the childrens book author who also devises crossword puzzles for the New Yorker and the New York Times. Her relief proved to be short-lived. Several days after her parents departure, Lucido stumbled into the bathroom early one morning and unintentionally sat down hard on the toilet. Instantly she felt a sickening shudder in her lower back followed by the sensation of an electric current shooting up her spine. Intense nausea came next. Worried she might pass out from the pain, Lucido lay on the bathroom floor. Then she woke her husband to tell him she needed to go to the ER, where she was given medication to treat back spasms. It would take a second trip to the ER, consultations with several specialists and a fortuitous online search to unearth the little-known cause of the intense pain that left Lucido temporarily dependent on a walker and nearly unable to take a shower, dress herself or care for her baby. The condition has upended her life, prompting an unplanned cross-country move to help facilitate her recovery, a process expected to take months. I really want people to know about this disease because lack of awareness is the reason it often becomes so debilitating, she said. Had she known what was wrong earlier, Lucido could have taken simple steps to reduce her risk and minimize the damage. Slip and fall Before and during her trouble-free pregnancy, Lucido ran, lifted weights, and bicycled. She wasnt concerned when she developed mild back pain. Her friends whod had babies had dealt with a variety of ailments and Lucido was no stranger to back problems. In July 2021 she had slipped and fallen at home, smacking her back on the edge of a wooden stair. An X-ray revealed a compression fracture of a vertebrae in her spine. Lucido wore a back brace while she recovered. After three months, she said, it was like the injury had almost never happened. But at the urging of her parents, both of whom had been diagnosed with osteoporosis before their late 50s, Lucido convinced reluctant doctors to order a DEXA scan to assess her bone density. The noninvasive scan, which uses an enhanced form of X-ray, revealed a score of -3.3, unusually low particularly for a young adult and an indicator of osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become weak, brittle, and to break more easily. The endocrinologist Lucido consulted in 2022, who knew she was trying to conceive, advised her to consume sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D and return for a consultation when she was finished having children. (Osteoporosis drugs are not advisable during pregnancy.) Because of her low bone density, he offhandedly suggested she might consider limiting breastfeeding to about six months. A year and a half later, after her first visit to the ER, Lucido sought to determine whether breastfeeding might be related to her worsening back pain. The response from a second endocrinologist, a primary care physician assistant, a physical medicine doctor, and several lactation consultants was a resounding no. They told her they had never heard of such a connection and suspected that something as yet unidentified was causing her pain. Unable to schedule an appointment with the endocrinologist she had seen previously, Lucido saw a second endocrinologist. The doctor told Lucido she suspected she had wrenched a muscle. She said, I wouldnt want to deprive you of breastfeeding just because you have osteoporosis, Lucido remembers. By mid-November, a few weeks after her ER visit, walking had become difficult. Lucido was popping copious quantities of anti-inflammatory pills and muscle relaxants and spending much of her day on the couch. Her sister arrived from the East Coast to help. An X-ray and an MRI ordered by the PA she saw for primary care revealed something unexpected: two new mild fractures of her lower spine along with herniated disks, which are usually caused by age-related degeneration or an injury. It wasnt clear what caused them, although they might have been the result of the toilet episode. What alarmed Lucido was that no one seemed interested in investigating. She recalls feeling increasingly apprehensive about what might happen next. Spilled milk One morning in early December 2023 while brushing her teeth, Lucido felt an odd ache in her lower back as if my spine was made of two sharp pencils balancing point to point. She gingerly inched her way downstairs, pulled milk out of the refrigerator and, fearing she had missed the counter, twisted and lunged to prevent the carton from crashing to the floor. Within seconds it felt as if her lower back was on fire. Lucido dropped to the floor screaming in pain. Her husband and sister raced into the room to find her curled in a fetal position and called 911. Paramedics, who gave her a strong anti-inflammatory drug, suggested she might have sciatica, nerve pain that starts in the lower back and is sometimes caused by a disk problem. At the ER, the doctor seemed perplexed. After Lucido told him that Valium and lidocaine had helped control her pain previously he ordered them. But he declined Lucidos request for an X-ray and without explanation told her he couldnt get her a back brace or a walker. Lucido said he seemed increasingly impatient. He knew back spasms could be uncomfortable, she remembers him saying, but his shift was ending in a few hours and he couldnt leave until she did. He offered her a cane and said that if she was unable to walk she could go to assisted living. Finally, she said, after a second round of injections a walker was found and she hobbled out of the hospital. Lucido decided she had to wean her daughter, who was 4 months old. Breastfeeding, she said, was just getting too hard and required painful contortions to accommodate a squirming baby while protecting her damaged back. She and her family also began scouring the internet for information and urgently attempting to snag scarce appointments with the few Bay Area endocrinologists who specialize in treating bone disorders. As Lucido reduced and then stopped breastfeeding, her pain receded. But one night in late December she stretched in her sleep and felt something pop near her tailbone. An X-ray revealed two new spinal fractures. The clouds parted Their search paid off. Lucidos mother found a press release describing a condition that sounded uncannily familiar. In 2018 Columbia Universitys Irving Medical Center had launched a program headed by endocrinologist Adi Cohen to recruit, study, and treat women with a rare condition called pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO). A severe form of early-onset osteoporosis osteoporosis that occurs before age 50 PLO can occur in the late stages of pregnancy or during breastfeeding when the loss of maternal calcium leads to a temporary decrease in bone mineral density. Unlike postmenopausal osteoporosis, which is common and affects about 10 million Americans, PLO is rare, although no one knows how rare. Little is known about the condition, which was described more than 70 years ago. Misdiagnosis is common and many doctors have never seen a case. Calcium loss is reversed after breastfeeding stops and does not appear to affect the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. But in women who have PLO, calcium depletion can result in fragility fractures breaks not caused by a fall or other trauma resulting in severe back pain. Some of these women may be at higher risk of developing postmenopausal osteoporosis. The first step is to stop breastfeeding. A 2023 survey by Cohen and her colleagues of 177 women with PLO found that their average age was about 32, and that most fractures occurred during first pregnancies and while breastfeeding. Nearly half reported five or more fractures, usually of the spine. Recovery varies. A spontaneous rebound of bone density can occur within a year of giving birth, but some women may benefit from osteoporosis medication. It was as though the clouds parted, Lucido remembers when she read about the diagnosis. Lucido exchanged emails with Cohen. With the help of her physical medicine doctor she managed to secure an expedited appointment with Muriel Babey, an endocrinologist specializing in bone diseases at the University of California at San Francisco. Babey diagnosed Lucido with PLO and said she suspects her case involves genetic factors, including a family history of osteoporosis. A second DEXA scan taken shortly after she stopped breastfeeding showed that Lucidos bone density had decreased to -4.2. During the four months she breastfed, she suffered eight fractures. Because few women of childbearing age have undergone DEXA scans (they are typically recommended starting at 65), most would be unlikely to discover they had low bone density until they broke a bone. If youre starting at a very low level of bone mineral density youre putting yourself at risk for complications, Babey noted. She recommended that Lucido take an injectable osteoporosis drug in the hope of strengthening her bones. I am much, much better, Lucido said in May, after returning from a two-week trip to New York City that involved lots of walking, something she couldnt have envisioned in January. I feel hopeful, she said. For a while it was, Am I ever going to be able to walk again? Her diagnosis prompted a major life change. Because they needed more help immediately, Lucido and her husband sold their house in Berkeley in March and temporarily moved in with Lucidos parents in North Carolina. They plan to relocate to a New York City suburb in August. We realized we couldnt be so far away, said Lucido, who recently became Cohens patient and is enrolled in a research study at Columbia. Although she is now largely pain-free and has had no fractures since she stopped breastfeeding, Lucidos long-term prognosis is unclear. Had she known she was at risk of PLO, she says she would never have breastfed. She worries about falling and takes precautions to avoid it. She stopped running, is careful about bending, and doesnt lift heavy objects. What Lucido found most frightening and infuriating, she said, was skepticism about the severity of her pain coupled with an apparent disinterest in its cause at a time she felt particularly vulnerable. I couldnt bathe myself or put my pants on or get out of bed, Lucido said. I remember thinking Is nobody curious about how a healthy 33-year-old has spontaneous fractures? So this is how liberty dies in the void of an Atlanta TV sound stage plastered with more CNN logos than a NASCAR Camaro, where the relentless march on Washington by an American Mussolini, fueled by lies about everything from national greatness to his sleazy sex life, could not be stopped either by the muzzled moderators or the coughing and occasionally confused 81-year-old who was the last thing standing between the United States and dictatorship. Everything you need to know about the critical, on-a-ventilator condition of American democracy can be explained by this: Advertisement The candidate whose most memorable line was, I did not have sex with a porn star an all-but-certain lie on top of roughly 30 fact-checked falsehoods about important things from NATO to abortion law and who walked onto the Atlanta stage with 34 felony convictions and civil verdicts of an adjudicated rape and massive financial fraud, and who urged on an attempted coup against the U.S. government, is NOT the guy that pundits are begging to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. That guy would be President Joe Biden, who finally beat Medicare whatever that means but lost his first debate with Donald Trump, in what may have been his last chance to convince Americas legions of casual, TikTok-besotted less-tuned-in voters that the oldest president in U.S. history has the strength for another four-plus years in the White House. It turns out that the president who endured weeks of right-wing conspiracy theories that he was going to be high on Adderall or jacked up on Mountain Dew didnt even bother to take throat lozenges when the moment of truth arrived. Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, who gets paid the big bucks to find the humor in such a dire situation, riffed that both men should have been on performance-enhancing drugs, before gesturing at their pictures and slamming down his papers: This cannot be real life! It just cant! ... Were America...God! But it was real life. Thursday night, just like many of you, my phone started pinging around 9:05 p.m. Eastern with texts from nervous and horrified family members, seriously worried about their future. It was a night that reminded me of three other moments: June 6, 1968, when I was a 9-year-old kid walking to school and heard from a car radio that Robert F. Kennedy Sr. was the latest leader to succumb to assassination; Sept. 11, 2001, when I saw the second tower collapse and wondered how Id ever explain this to my two grade-school children; and Nov. 8, 2016, when Trumps first election inspired the same kind of frantic texts I got Thursday night, wondering if America was the nation we thought it was. But our country used to have the resilience to overcome assassinations, riots, even a large-scale terrorist attack. June 27, 2024 felt different. Thursdays debate didnt happen in a vacuum. It happened in a moment when many of our institutions, especially the ones that could be a check on an authoritarian president, are failing miserably. In the 48 hours before the lights went out in Georgia, a runaway Supreme Court anticipated the next Trump presidency with rulings that all but legalized political bribery, and made it virtually impossible for federal regulators to stop polluters or white-collar criminals. On the cusp of a Christian nationalist America, Oklahomas top educator required Bibles in schools, and a Louisiana law mandated the Ten Commandments in classrooms because they believe that neither our corrupted courts nor a Red Caesar president will dare stop them. And yet perhaps no once-trusted institution is failing America more right now than the news media. CNNs stellar fact-checker Daniel Dale went before a national audience and in stunning, rapid-fire fashion, exposed nearly 30 lies by Trump, many of them absurd (like grocery prices have quadrupled) or falsely taking credit for things he didnt do. But this happened at 11:47 p.m., more than an hour after the debate and when most folks were asleep. CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash did no fact-checking in real time, allowing Trump to spin his bizarro-world version of the last eight years uninterrupted. In a typical exchange, the ex-president and convicted felon absurdly lied that this man [Biden] is a criminal. I did nothing wrong. Tapper responded simply with, Thank you, President Trump. One of the few interruptions came from Bash, who stopped Biden in mid-sentence from setting the record straight on insulin prices. READ MORE: Who won the first presidential debate Joe Biden or Donald Trump? But the biggest clue that something is terribly wrong in America was, in the spirit of Sherlock Holmes, the dog that did not bark. Nothing in this election is more important than the simple fact that Trump wants to rule as a dictator, who would call up troops to put down protests, launch a dead-of-night mass deportation scheme to send thousands of migrants to desert detention camps, sic the Justice Department on his enemies, and free violent insurrectionists. Dont listen to me; read the 900-page blueprint for autocracy, the 2025 Project. And yet in a stunning fail, Project 2025 was never even mentioned during the debate. Not once! Not by CNN, in a shocking example of journalistic malpractice, but also not by Biden. That was one more unforced error by a president whos actually gotten a lot of stuff done, but just cant live up to his job as Ronald Reagan reinvented it in the 1980s: performer-in-chief. Because lets face it: Another institution that has miserably failed the Americans it purports to represent is the Democratic Party. Celebrating four decades of utter fecklessness, consistently choosing candidates not with the goal of winning but with fear-driven hopes of not losing, and consistently siding with rich donors over young people who desperately want a party they can believe in, Democrats are ultimately the ones who threw an 81-year-old deer into the TV headlights of a debate stage. And it probably wont shock you when I say that the American public not all of it, but a lot of it is wiser than Friday mornings shock and gloom from the TV pundits and the political establishment, which has been almost solely focused on Bidens mumbling performance. But in Thursday night focus groups from coast to coast, many everyday voters whove ignored Trump for four years were suddenly reminded why 81 million of us voted against him in 2020. The over-the-top lying. The bullying disrespect of our current president. And the blatant racism, like when Trump accused Biden of being a bad Palestinian, which did not suggest fondness for Palestinians, or with his bizarre claim that migrants are taking away Black jobs, whatever those are. In several focus groups Thursday night, voters remained divided, with some more put off by Trumps lying than by Bidens shaky performance. Were in heat-filled Arizona where we are suffering from climate change, one swing state voter told an NBC News reporter. To say that there is no problem with our climate is another lie from Trump. In a normal world, Trumps refusal to even address climate change amid a sweltering summer on the cutting edge of a global climate crisis would be a big story. Instead, New York Times columnists and the talking heads on Morning Joe are discussing nothing else but whether Biden should drop out, which would throw the Democrats into sheer chaos. Im an agnostic about that. Lets see some polling data first. But frankly, Im a lot less worried about Biden than I am about stopping dictatorship. Do not obey autocracy in advance. Its OK and totally normal to feel demoralized today, but then we have 129 days left to prevent the nightmare of Project 2025 from becoming a reality. I said it last week and Ill say it again: If you dont want a far-right Christian government controlling womens bodies or putting the Ten Commandments in your kids classroom, you should follow the examples of Germany and France and take to the streets and protest. And remember that even a weak Biden, if hes the candidate, is a bridge to a democratic future, while Trump is a road to nowhere. Eight years after Trump ran on the false premise of making America great again, it was heartbreaking to watch a 90-minute conversation about the nations future that pretended that America still doesnt have the best universities, the best scientists, the best pop music, and millions of idealistic Gen Z and Millennial folks who want to talk about how to make it even better. Donald Trump will destroy that, and Joe Biden is not going to save us. Neither is Chuck Schumer or Sonia Sotomayor or the next editor of the Washington Post. Thursdays real debate takeaway is that only we can save ourselves. So lets get to work. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter Last weekend, a groundbreaking took place for the new Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh that will have a memorial dedicated to the 11 worshipers who were killed in 2018, simply because they were Jewish. That same weekend, my family celebrated a significant milestone: my sons bar mitzvah, a Jewish rite of passage that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood at the age of 13. Advertisement The bar mitzvah day began with ancient traditions such as prayers and a reading of the Torah, followed by a reception with family and friends. Its a time for the community to come together to celebrate the young person stepping into their new role, to reflect on childhood and gaze forward to the future. But for my sons bar mitzvah, I felt something I didnt expect on one of the most significant days of my life: fear. I was concerned for the safety of my family and guests. I was concerned for the safety of my family and guests. Leading up to the day, I felt compelled to hire security for both the service and the reception. A few years ago, this thought wouldnt have crossed my mind. However, with the rise in antisemitism, this decision became starkly clear. Im not the only one living with this fear right now. As second gentleman Doug Emhoff noted at the groundbreaking at the new Tree of Life, It is a crisis of antisemitism we are undergoing right now in America and the world. In Pennsylvania alone, nearly 400 antisemitic incidents were reported in 2023, ranging from assault to yelling slurs at Jewish people, to vandalizing property, often with a swastika an increase of 246% from the previous year. Leading up to my sons big day, I raised my concerns with community members, who told me that hiring security was a very necessary precaution. A friend reminded me that Jewish communities in Latin America and Europe have relied on such measures for decades. Early in our sons life, back in 2012, we connected with a family at our local Jewish Community Center. The mother, a Jewish woman from Croatia, told us she thought we in the U.S. were fortunate to not experience the same level of violence and harassment Jews faced in Europe. When I saw her at her own sons bar mitzvah this past Memorial Day, her sentiments had shifted dramatically. We now know real antisemitism here, she said, reflecting an all-too-common sense of unease and vigilance. When I mentioned that I had hired security to friends and family, the overwhelming response was supportive. It was seen as a prudent measure to keep everyone safe. How times have changed. When I was growing up, my family synagogues doors were never locked, and guards were unheard of. That was the world I knew and the world I wish for my son or any person seeking a peaceful place to worship. I am angry that we have turned into a society where guards are now needed in a synagogue. The bar mitzvah was a success, filled with laughter, love, and a sense of achievement. Yet as soon as I sat down in the sanctuary, I could feel the presence of a guard. It elicited feelings of both comfort and frustration, and served as a stark reminder of the challenges we face. I dont want this to become our new normal. We owe it to our children to create a world where they can celebrate their milestones without fear, where the joy of their accomplishments isnt overshadowed by the threat of violence. It is imperative that we, as a society, address the current climate of antisemitism, racism, and hate in all forms. We must be vigilant and proactive in combating hate. We must work together to ensure that our places of worship, our schools, and our communities are safe for everyone. Of course, changing minds isnt easy. But there are things each of us can do. Individual actions are crucial. Show pride in your identity whatever it is. Speak out against antisemitism and all forms of hate, and support anyone who has been targeted. READ MORE: My Yom Kippur experience in Germany broke my heart open We must all build alliances across communities, as hatred against one affects us all. Cosponsor events, engage in dialogues with people of other faiths, and participate in community service projects. All of this helps foster mutual respect and understanding. When it comes to antisemitism, we must all promote education about Jewish culture and antisemitism in schools, communities, and workplaces to counteract ignorance and stereotypes. If kids can learn hate, they can also learn tolerance and love. In the short term, although it makes me sad to say it, religious institutions and communities of all faiths must consider enhancing their security. Lets draw strength from our traditions, our community, and our shared commitment to a better future. I want to ensure that the next generation of Jewish kids celebrating their bar and bat mitzvahs can look back on nothing but fond memories, free from the fear of being hated for who they are. Andrew Goretsky is the regional director for the Philadelphia office of the Anti-Defamation League, serving Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware. Thursday nights debate was always going to be disappointing. In one corner, you had an incumbent president with a 38% favorable rating. In the other, an ex-president challenger with an only slightly better 42% approval. Millions of people have already considered voting for an anti-vaccine environmentalist with a brain worm instead of the two front-runners. So even before the debate, many of us were saying it cant get any worse. Advertisement Then, it got worse. From the first statements, Joe Biden seemed hoarse and mumbly, stopping midsentence, losing his train of thought, saying things that couldnt possibly be what he meant we finally beat Medicare, for example, was particularly baffling. It was not an isolated incident. That would be understandable; anyone can trip over a word or two. But no. Despite a few flashes of coherence, the president looked for the most part like a man who had no business on the debate stage. It was truly hard to watch. We should feel sad for Biden, but we should also be angry at those who put him in this impossible position. READ MORE: Biden and Trump dabble in tariffs, but real trade reform is worth the cost | Kyle Sammin The whole performance made me think of my grandfather, who was about the age Biden is now when his once strong and intelligent mind started to become unable to function as it once did. Anyone who has dealt with an older relative in such a state knows that feeling of dread. When his children had to make the tough decisions to take away his car keys and, eventually, move him into a nursing home, it was hard on everyone. But that is what adults must do: make the hard choices. Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans had been saying for months years that Biden was in steep cognitive decline. Videos of him have been circulating for some time now that show him appearing bewildered and confused at various events. It was similar to a couple of incidents when Mitch McConnell froze up while speaking to the press last year. After those incidents, the Kentucky Senator announced he would step down from the job of majority leader. It was the right decision, though Im sure it couldnt have been an easy one. But when Biden had similar issues, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the videos were being spread in bad faith, and even that they were cheap fake images, somehow. We were told not to believe our eyes. Thanks to the ideological bifurcation of national media, this was believable, for a time. If all you watched and read was news media from outlets that were favorable to the president, the campaigns spin may have seemed like the truth. But there was no way to spin the events of Thursday night. NBC Newss Chuck Todd said Biden looks like the caricature that conservative media has been painting. The scales dropped from the eyes of a lot of left-wing media personalities that night. But the spin is still powerful Todd calling it a caricature, for example. If its happening before your eyes, its not an exaggeration: its real. No one but Biden and his doctors know exactly whats going on in his head. But on Thursday night, he looked a lot like my grandfather did after his dementia began. When that happens to the leader of the free world, it is cause for alarm. Now, the collective silence is broken, and talk of replacing Biden on the November ballot is echoing through the mainstream press. The movement to convince Biden to not run is real, one House Democrat told Jonathan Martin at Politico. Peter Baker at the New York Times reports that Bidens performance prompted a wave of panic among Democrats and reopened discussion of whether he should be the nominee at all. There was a good time for this discussion. It was 2022. Now, were in June 2024, and the primaries are over. There are 3,894 delegates pledged to Joe Biden and scheduled to arrive in Chicago in August to renominate him. Since he took office even before he took office Biden and his team have characterized their effort as a mission to save democracy from Donald Trump. And all the while, theyve been doing so by working to nominate and then renominate a man they knew was not up to the job. READ MORE: Trumps prosecution stretched the law to find him guilty | Kyle Sammin If they were serious about that supposed mission and if they cared about the president at a personal level the people who knew Biden best, the people who worked with him every day, would have recognized this problem and implored him to step aside in favor of a more capable candidate. But they didnt. They clung to power and lied to the American people about the presidents health. They lied and lied until it became impossible to sustain the falsehood, and then they panicked. Swapping out a presidential candidate at the last minute especially one who doesnt want to leave is nearly impossible. And the only plausible substitute is Vice President Kamala Harris, who polls even worse against Trump and has an approval rating similar to the presidents at 39%. But to replace both Harris and Biden is politically impossible Harris would see it (quite correctly!) as a massive betrayal and the voters would, too. No, this is the bed the Democratic establishment has made for themselves. For all their pious proclamations of saving democracy, what theyve been doing the whole time is saving their own jobs and influence. Biden should step aside for the good of his country, that much is clear now. But it is also clear that no one close to him has the courage to tell the man that its time to take away the keys. Making your way into the Aviva Stadium for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour, it feels less like a pop concert and more like a community gathering to celebrate all things girlhood. I love your dress, one fan gushed to a stranger kitted out in sequins as friendship bracelets, handmade in their thousands it seems, were exchanged enthusiastically. A pop juggernaut unlike any other, Swifts latest tour is the highest-grossing in history and the first ever to surpass $1bn in revenue and the resulting Swiftonimics is expected to generate 150m for the local economy in Dublin. And that is evident on the ground: as well as fans from Cork, Kerry, Galway and beyond travelling to Dublin, it seemed there were as many American accents as Irish chattering in the crowd. Taylor Swifts performance of The Man during her first of three sold out Concerts in the Aviva Stadium. Picture Chani Anderson Thought to be among the VIP guests nearby was Swifts boyfriend, Kanas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce while sitting in the stands was former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy who was home from London and spotted snapping selfies and trading bracelets with young fans. Rock band Paramore warmed up the crowd from 6.10pm with hits like Still Into You easily coaxing cheers, with lead vocalist Hayley Williams thrilled to be in Ireland, even wearing a Cranberries t-shirt. Paramore take to the Aviva stage as the support act for the Taylor Swift Eras Concert. Picture: Chani Anderson We love it here: weve always had really good shows in Ireland. Swift appeared to fever-pitch screams of adoration from her Irish fans at 7.16pm sharp, launching into Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince and Cruel Summer from her Lover album, bringing the audience on a journey through two decades in music. Dublin, that was wild. What a welcome, she said after her opening act. She added that no audience compares to Irish crowds. Im just having this feeling of were back. I havent gotten to play a song in Dublin in, I think its been five years. Nobody does this like you. Taylor Swift arrives on to the Aviva stage for the first of her three sold out Dublin gigs as part of her Eras tour. Picture: Chani Anderson She even appeared as a sparkling human tricolour at one stage, donning an orange top and green skirt with orange and green shoes during her 1989 era to honour her host country, a green mic completing the look. For the unfamiliar, in the Eras tour, Swift brings fans through various eras of her career, with songs from each of her albums featuring throughout the over three-hour gig. Since her tour began in March 2023, fans have been attending dressed as their favourite of her 11 albums. People warn you that the Eras Tour is loud, but it really does take hearing it to believe it. Fan favourite tracks include, Shake It Off, Anti-Hero, and the ten-minute-long All Too Well all the rerecorded Taylors Versions, naturally and these plus the We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together lyric change to pog mo thoin are among the songs that received the biggest screams at the Aviva. Taylor Swift on the Aviva stage for the first of her three sold out Dublin gigs as part of her Eras tour. Picture: Chani Anderson Champagne Problem received a two-minute-long ear-splitting ovation and chats of Ole Ole Ole that clearly made Swift feel emotional. However, it is her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, that wowed the most. Recently added to the setlist after the albums launch in April and aptly described by one reviewer at the time as Female Rage: The Musical, the TTPD section is an energised, cathartic performance from Swift and one that whipped fans into a frenzy. For her surprise songs, Swift sang an acoustic mashup up of State of Grace and Youre On Your Own Kid on the guitar, before sitting at the piano to blend together Sweet Nothing and Hoax. Taylor Swifts performance of The Man during her first of three sold out Concerts in the Aviva Stadium. Picture Chani Anderson As the sun set on Swifts first night in Dublin, one thing was for sure: its not just social media hype the Eras Tour is a once-in-generation spectacle that lives up to some very high expectations. To quote Fearless: I dont know how it gets better than this. The sold-out Eras Tour continues in Dublin on Saturday and Sunday. Read More Watch: Taylor Swift Fans descend on Dublin Taylor Swift fans Clementine, Zora Kane Tornquist and Chloe O'Sullivan Cullen from Cork pictured outside the Aviva for the stars first Dublin concert. Picture Chani Anderson Taylor Swift fans Zara, 7 and Derbhla Mcnamee pictured outside the Aviva for the stars first Dublin concert. Picture Chani Anderson Taylor Swift fans Rachel Swaine and Alice Tarquini from Fermoy pictured outside the Aviva for Fridays concert. Picture Chani Anderson Taylor Swift fans Georgia Carlini and Siria uberti from South Africa pictured outside the Aviva for Fridays concert. Picture Chani Anderson The lost crown of the High King of Ireland has been buried somewhere in a Vatican vault for almost 1,000 years. It may sound like the plot of a childrens adventure movie, but Clare TD Cathal Crowe brought the claim out of the realm of myth and legend and into the workaday surrounds of Dail Eireann this week. He submitted a parliamentary question calling on the Tanaiste to work with the Irish Ambassador to the Holy See to have legendary 11th century king Brian Borus crown returned by the Vatican. Some believe that Brians son Donnchadh brought his fathers regalia with him and gifted them to the Pope in Rome when he went to serve penance at the end of his own bloody reign in 1064. But others cast doubt on the very existence of a crown. One thing is not in doubt though: Sifting through layers of legend and ancient sources of varying degrees of reliability, the grains of truth that remain reveal tantalising glimpses of a fascinating character, the importance of whose 12-year reign cant be overlooked. A handful of artefacts and sites lay dubious claim to a connection to the high king, including the Brian Boru harp on which both the emblem of the Irish State and the Guinness logo are based. But even his final resting place remains disputed. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading Brian, son of Cinneide, was born at Kincora, near Killaloe, in modern-day Co Clare. The name Brian Boru was given to him posthumously. He is credited with being the Irish king who successfully united the country against hundreds of years of bloodshed and terror at the hands of the infamous Vikings. He is believed to have died at 88 years of age at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Brendan Grace and friends in a Brian Boru parade in Killaloe, Co Clare, where an annual Feile Brian Boru now commemorates the high king. Picture: Press 22 Later accounts of his reign describe it as a time of relative peace and prosperity, from a background where Ireland had been a conglomeration of fiefdoms controlled by often warring factions. He restored and built churches, and gave every cleric his own temple according to his rank and his right to it, the priest and historian Geoffrey Keating wrote in his 1634 History of Ireland. He built and set in order public schools for the teaching of letters and the sciences in general, and he also gave the price of books and expenses to each one who could not defray the expenses and who desired to devote himself to learning. To Cathal Crowe, long-time history buff and former mayor of Clare, who made waves by refusing to attend a planned 2020 commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) which was later shelved, the fact that Brian Boru is such an important historical figure means that its worth exploring whether his crown exists. He was the only Irish person to ever rule a united Ireland, Mr Crowe points out. Before him, there were around 150 local chieftains, and after him there was Norman Irish rule. So he was a very significant figure in Irish history. Brian Borus existence is not in question: He is referenced in numerous primary-source historical texts, including the 9th century Book of Armagh, an addendum to which was included around 1005: This refers to Brian as Imperator Scotorum, the Emperor of the Irish. It contains a record of an agreement between the high king and the Churchs seat of power at Armagh, and so it is held to be the only artefact that we know to have been in Brians presence. Brian Boru is referenced in numerous primary-source historical texts. This is not a mythological character. He very much existed, he very much ruled, Mr Crowe says. He witnessed as a child his mother Beibhinn being killed by Vikings; he resolved as an adolescent to take revenge for what happened to his family in a Viking raid; he united the clans and chieftains; and he led the biggest fight- back of warriors and combatants against a fearsome opponent. Mr Crowe says his parliamentary question was prompted by contact with a direct descendant of Brian Boru. 'This is not a mythological character. He very much existed, he very much ruled,' says Cathal Crowe. Picture. Brian Arthur/Press 22 Conor OBrien, the 18th Baron Inchiquin, who lived at Dromoland Castle and passed away in 2023, had held the title of The OBrien, head of the OBrien clan, who derive their name from Brian Boru. A decade before his passing, he had declared an interest in the claim that the Vatican had his ancestors crown. But the idea that Brian had a crown at all has been disputed by many historians: Records of how kingship was conferred in pre-Norman Ireland only refer to kings being presented with a peeled white wooden wand. Many argue that later depictions of Brian dating to the 18th century were drawing on European depictions of kings. In 1627, historian Conall Mac Geoghegan made a translation of the now-lost Annals of Clonmacnoise. He claimed that Donnogh Borowa, Brians son, went to Rome to Doe pennance because hee had a hand in the killing of his owen eldest brother Teige mcBryan. Hee brought the Crowen of Ireland with him thither, which remained with the Popes until Pope Adrean gave the same to King Henry the second that conquered Ireland. The idea that Brian Boru had a crown at all has been disputed by many historians. Writing in his 18th century Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicus, the British military surveyor Charles Vallency added the claim that the famous Brian Boru harp, now housed in Trinity College, was also a part of this gift, linking the fates of harp and crown. The holy father took these presents as a demonstration of the full submission of the kingdom of Ireland these regalia were deposited in the Vatican till the reign of Henry VIII, when the Pope sent the harp to that monarch, with the title of Defender of the Faith, but kept the crown, which was of massive gold. Later historians were scathing about this account. George Petrie, archaeologist and painter, wrote in 1840 that the harp was very far from being of the remote age to which it is popularly supposed to have belonged, pointing out that its crest is of the ONeill family. Modern historians are in agreement that the harp is almost certainly not 1,000 years old. The crown and other regalia of the celebrated Brian were probably lost to the Momolians at the Battle of Clontarf when that old military usurper was slain by the Danes, Petrie surmised. But he didnt question whether the crown would have existed. It is possible that Vallency was confused in his reference to Henry VIII because of the so-called Crown of Ireland Act, enacted during Henry VIIIs reign. The reference is to a symbolic kingship of English monarchs over Ireland, rather than the conferring of an actual crown. But what if Brians regalia did not consist of a crown, but his son did bring some kind of artefacts to the Pope in Rome? To Mr Crowe, its worth the Irish State investing some time and resources into finding out. As far as hes concerned, theres nothing to be lost and everything to be gained. I think we need to bring in some expertise from the Office of Public Works heritage division to see if the crown exists or not, he says. If it does exist, it merits a bit of a search because it is potentially a national treasure of some significance. And if it doesnt exist but there is something there, any other artefacts should be returned. Clare local historian Gerard Madden is author of several history books and gives guided tours of Brian Borus old stomping grounds at Lough Derg. He comes from the parish of Whitegate, which has several connections to the Emperor of the Irish. He is extremely sceptical about the claims as to the existence of a crown, pointing out that Brian Boru was subject to much revisionism in the name of Irish propaganda, claimed by the Church as proof of the civilising impact of faith, as with the Mac Geoghegan translation in this article, and claimed by early nationalists as the vanquisher of the Viking interloper. Clare local historian Gerard Madden is sceptical about the claims as to the existence of a crown. Picture: Kieran Clancy The depiction shows him like a European knight, Mr Madden says. It was a Christian Brothers thing: He is depicted as an emperor, with a crown, but it wasnt like that. Yet they are the depictions of Brian Boru you most often see. Mr Madden is also sceptical about several of the ripples through time left in the wake of Irelands great high king. He would have had three or four wives and 20 more concubines, but if every OBrien is descended from Brian Boru, he would have had a better run at it than Genghis Khan. Also in question by Mr Madden is the majestic Brian Boru oak at Tuamgraney, an ancient tree often held to have been planted by the high king beside the River Graney that flows into Lough Derg. They call it the Brian Boru oak, but the tree is about 500 years old, maximum, he says. It certainly isnt 1,000 years old. Id bet my life on that. But Brian Boru has a deep association with Holy Island and Lough Derg. His brother Marcan was the abbot there and we know he died in 1008. Brian Boru provided the funds for the first stone building on the island. Nearby at St Cronans church in Tuamgraney, Brian is recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters as having funded repairs to the building in 1012, just two years before his death. The Battle of Clontarf is re-enacted in 2014 in Raheny, Dublin, on its 1,000th anniversary. Picture: Laura Hutton While Mr Madden doubts the existence of a crown, there is one fact relating to Brian Boru that he would like to see investigated further: The high kings final resting place. The story goes that Brian Borus strong allegiance with the Church saw his remains taken north to be interred at St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh, where there is a plaque to that effect, but without a precise burial location. However, Mr Madden and many other locals point to the existence of a vast standing stone on Islandmore, Lough Dergs largest island, overlooking Brian Borus birthplace of Killalloe. I fully believe he is buried at Islandmore, Mr Madden says. He points out that it was customary at the time for every chieftain to be returned to the place of their birth for burial. Bringing Brian Borus remains north from Clontarf to Armagh would have necessitated crossing the then enemy territory of the ONeills. Far more likely, he believes, that he could have been brought overland to Banagher, and then by the Shannon to his home place. Irish casualties had been vast at the Battle of Clontarf. About 40 or 50 local chieftains were killed above at Clontarf OKeeffes and Maddens and others and they were brought back to their local territory, Mr Madden says. Thats the way it was done. The story goes that on the way, after four or five days, the stench from the bodies would have been horrific. So they stopped at Islandmore, within sight of Killaloe, and buried him. There is a standing stone at least three metres high which would tell you its someone important. That site has never been excavated and it probably never will be, because theres no road about to go through there. But that would be quite the thing, to see who is actually buried there, facing Killaloe. Women keep the world turning. They are the architects of living. Fact. So why then as a society are we not supporting them more? If we are so proud of how diversity and equality have evolved over the years, then why arent we doing something to show that women deserve the same respect as men? A lifetimes journey towards a more inclusive society will only succeed when we acknowledge and protect at all costs the fundamental principle of respect for women. As Taylor Swift who is visiting Ireland for three sold-out concerts this weekend once said: Other women who are killing it should motivate you, thrill you, challenge you, and inspire you. And that motivation should also be felt by men. Sadly its not. We are at a decisive moment in this lifetime right now where societal norms are being challenged like never before, but unfortunately the one great culture that needs serious fostering is the one that honours and protects women. We have convinced ourselves to believe that society has come a long way since the days of the caveman and his club, and how, after clubbing a woman over the head a couple of times, he would drag her by her hair back to his cave, where he would subject her to a terrifying ordeal. Of course, the caveman with his club has always been regarded as a myth, good for cheap sniggers on a lads' night out, nothing more than a prehistoric fable that exists alongside dragons and vampires. Or is he a myth? Give him a neat haircut, get rid of the beard, dress him up in jeans and shirt, smart jacket and shoes, a whiff of aftershave. He looks nothing like the caveman; but what if he turns on a woman, his fist becomes his club, and he reins down blow after blow until she lies unconscious on the ground, or until her eye socket has been irreparably damaged and her face disfigured? The caveman is far from a myth, as we have seen in recent times. Hes very real. According to the theory of teleology, society is getting better, our lives and how we interact with others are constantly improving, to a point where were finally drawing close to states such as gender equality. Except were not, and were fooling ourselves if we believe we are. Gender violence is far worse now than it has been in living memory. When men see violence against women as something to brag about, were back in the cave, living among savages. Two to put her down, two to put her out, was how convicted soldier Cathal Crotty bragged on social media shortly after he had savagely beaten Natasha OBrien unconscious. Crottys father partly blames the media for intensifying the countrys anger towards his son. Assault victim Natasha O'Brien speaking to the media outside the Dail. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/ RollingNews.ie OBrien described how Crotty held me like a punching bag almost ... until I eventually fell to the ground. Her attacker was handed a three-year suspended sentence by Judge Tom ODonnell. David OGorman, a member of the Irish Navy, an accomplished heavyweight boxer, is also still employed after he pleaded guilty last summer to savagely assaulting a woman he knew. He pulverised his victim, punching her with both hands to the head at least five to 10 times, leaving her bleeding from her right eye. Judge Tom ODonnell was on the bench that day. He handed down a suspended sentence to OGorman. I got the sense last week that the fury over the suspended sentence handed down to Crotty was in danger of minimising the shocking barbarity of his attack on a young woman hed never met before. His sickening jibe on social media clearly shows a mind that is both devious and remorseless. Violence and its life-long trauma is far worse than any sentence. Irish Defence Forces soldier Cathal Crotty received a three-year suspended sentence for assaulting Natasha OBrien. Crottys superior officer Commander Paul Togher described him in court as exemplary, courteous, professional, and disciplined in his conduct character traits that will never again be attributed to him. Togher also stated that members of the Defence Forces were expected to keep people safe. I would have thought that it was first and foremost the job of the Defence Forces to ensure that those they recruit were safe. Wayne Couzens was a serving British police officer in March 2021 when he abused his power to lure 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard to her death. Couzens abducted, raped, and murdered Everard. He will spend the rest of his life behind bars. His case exposed the scale of largely unpunished misogyny and abuse not just within the British police force, but also in other organisations where offenders are employed. Can gender violence aimed at women be prevented? Not if we continue to think that conversations about respect for women will stop it. They wont. Its a sad and shocking fact that no prevention strategy exists to protect women against violence from men, whether they know the men or not. A protest meeting outside the Dail in support of Natasha OBrien. Its difficult not to be tempted to call out contradictory beliefs whenever we hear platitudes being dusted off and rolled out, such as: Everyone has a role to play, or We need to have better conversations with our sons; or worse: My son would never do that. He might. Our Defence Forces are once again in the spotlight, and deservedly so. Power is a mighty sword, as is coercive control. When mixed with misogyny, you have a lethal determinant a ticking timebomb. Women who are assaulted should never be judged or blamed, its men who deserve the finger-pointing and the shame. A suspended sentence for a man who left a young woman out cold on the street after beating her unconscious the same man who makes a living wearing a Defence Forces uniform makes a mockery of how the legal system should view women. It also sends out a sign that if you can be described by your peers as being of exemplary standing, your chances of walking out of court increase. Until we start to see these Neanderthal savages for what they are, then we can never say with hand on heart that we respect women. Many men respect women but these days thats not good enough. Its vital that the crime of abject violence directed at women must never be minimised in our society just because the defendant is a great soldier or sportsman. Any man who sets out to attack and hurt a woman deserves a long stretch in prison, not a suspended sentence. Courtrooms should be for victim impact statements, not character references. Theres a very real sense that patriarchy is alive and well, and gender inequality is seen by many as normal. Its not, and it must not be allowed to continue. I'm not privy to the bedtime routine in Simon Harris home, but if its anything like the thinly veiled chaos that comes with two small children in my house, the first run at bedtime was starting on Wednesday evening when gardai arrived on foot of a bomb threat. The Taoiseachs wife and two small children were at home, possibly bargaining about bedtime stories or bath responsibilities, when gardai raced to the door after an unknown individual called a charity crisis line to warn of an explosive at the Wicklow home, using a code word. The call was deemed to be a hoax, a term the Taoiseach took issue with in Brussels the morning after the incident. Even the word hoax, Im not sure, is a fair word as Ive no doubt these things are done to intimidate and upset, he said. I have young children, I have a wife, and its a really unacceptable situation. The Taoiseach is right. The fact that there was no explosive at his home does not make what happened on Wednesday acceptable, and brushing it off only serves to hand a win to those who support, condone, and quietly celebrate these methods. In the wake of the recent local and European elections, much was made of the lack of a large-scale electoral breakthrough for Irelands far right. These people, it was surmised, had not received the kind of backing that they had expected, their Twitter/X echo chambers found to be just that. Places where nastiness and bigotry reigned, but not a true pulse of the Irish people. However, to view things only in electoral wins and losses is to lose sight of what is actually happening here. The Irish far right, as it has become known, is a small group. It accounts for a very small proportion of the population. But it is loud, aggressive, and increasingly dangerous. The point has never been and will never be just electoral success, because the Irish far right has learned a more simple way to dominate public discourse: That is to shut down things it doesnt like through sheer intimidation. In Wicklow this week, organisers were forced to cancel a Pride disco for 13- to 16-year-olds because of harassment and intimidation, wherein volunteers looking to create an event for LGBT+ teens were accused through baseless, anonymous letters, of molesting children. We have faced threats of protests from some residents of Newtownmountkennedy, whilst enduring malicious accusations of being paedophiles and groomers, they said in a statement. These baseless attacks are deeply troubling. [On Tuesday], one of our committee members experienced a horrifying invasion of privacy when someone placed a vile note through their letterbox, branding them with that same disgusting accusation. These actions underscore the very reason we need Pride. We stand against hate, bigotry, and ignorance. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, local Social Democrats councillor Danny Alvey said most people in the town are very accepting, inclusive people. Because of course they are. The Ireland that most of us live in is unrecognisable to one you read about in certain online quarters. One that is under siege and being destroyed by migrants, gay people, or women. The event is cancelled though. It will not go ahead because somebody somewhere understood that you dont need to have the will of the people any more. You just need to be willing to threaten, harass, and intimidate. You dont even have to put your name on your work. Far-right agitators Earlier this year, this newspaper reported that library staff people who oversee the lending of books had been given advice on how to deal with far-right agitators, with a suggestion of panic rooms. In an advisory, the Local Government Management Agency also suggested the use of panic buttons and lone-worker devices especially for small libraries where only one person might be working. A solidarity rally outside Cork City Library in support of library staff in 2023. Picture: Denis Minihane They were also told to put up signage that explicitly prohibited the use of audio or video recording within the building, including with mobile phones. This all stemmed from an incident where Cork City Library was forced to close last summer after a group of protesters mounted a banner across the entrance without permission. All summer, small numbers of protesters forced the closure of libraries across the country as they aimed to remove books such as teen sex education title This Book Is Gay. In Kerry, a family reading event at Tralee Library was interrupted by just five anti-LGBT+ agitators in an incident that left staff shaken and upset. Small numbers, big impact. The small number of elected officials from the far right poses its own issue about how councils act from here on. Can a local authority host events honouring a migrant community if it has to invite elected reps whose social media feeds either hint at or openly state anti-migrant sentiment? In that case will the default be not to invite elected councillors or, to be easier, not hold the events at all? The issue is not and never has been control of the apparatus of the State; its control of the narrative. Of course, none of this matters if not for the fact that one option for the narrative is a deep well of poison. On Wednesday, after the Dail voted to opt into the EU Migration Pact, all 79 TDs who assented were called traitors, scum, vermin, and other names not suitable for print. Traitors. They were promised vengeance under the Treason Act of 1939, which defines those guilty of treason as those found to have engaged in levying war against the State, on assisting any State or person or inciting or conspiring with any person to levy war against the State, or attempting by force of arms or other violent means to overthrow the organs of government. One far-right personality opined that any action taken from here is moral. The pact, we are told, is hated by the Irish public, yet the parties proposing it took over half of council and European seats in a free and fair election just three weeks ago. Mr Harris was right when he said he does not believe the word hoax does justice to what was visited upon his family, and he is right when he says the media should not call the continued visits of masked men outside his home protest. They are base intimidation of an elected representative. Should they continue, it is likely that the Taoiseach of the day will have no choice but to live in an official residence, a sea-change in how the public interacts with their leaders. However, those who celebrate a bomb threat against a woman and her children and who so often tell us their objection to immigration is about protecting women and children do not care about that. They do not care about civility, or decency, or democracy. Because they know that without them is the only avenue through which they can get their own way. Israels military said on 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 defence 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. We are not looking for war but we are ready for it The cross-border fire came as Israels defence 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 on Friday, Jordans foreign ministry told its citizens to avoid travelling to Lebanon. The US 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 will not agree to a ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border before there is 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. Elsewhere, 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 councils latest response to the October 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 travelling 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 Hamass 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. A renewed search for missing teenager Jay Slater is to begin in Tenerife on Saturday after Spanish police appealed for expert volunteers to help. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation on June 17. On Friday, the Guardia Civil appealed for volunteer associations, such as firefighters, and individual volunteers who were experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva, or massive search, to take place on Saturday. The Airbnb Casa Abuela Tina in Masca, Tenerife, where missing British teenager Jay Slater resided prior to his disappearance (James Manning/PA) The Spanish police force said the search, beginning at 9 am in the village of Masca, near to his last-known location, would be coordinated to take in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. It marks the 13th day in the search for the apprentice bricklayer. Mr Slater attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the island which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. On Friday, Mr Slaters friend Brad Hargreaves told ITVs This Morning he had been on a video call with him before his disappearance when he heard him go off the road. Members of a search and rescue team near the last known location of Jay Slater (James Manning/PA) He said: He was on the phone walking down a road and hed gone over a little bit not a big drop but a tiny little drop and he was going down, and he said Ill ring ya back, Ill ring ya back because I think someone else was ringing him. He confirmed he could see his friends feet sliding down the hill and could hear he was walking on gravel. But, Mr Hargreaves said he and his friend were both laughing at that point. He added: He didnt seem concerned on the phone until we knew how far away he was. He told the programme he still had hope for Mr Slater and was praying for him to come home. Earlier this week, his mother Debbie Duncan, who travelled to the island following his disappearance, said money raised online would be used to support mountain rescue teams, and to cover her own accommodation and food costs. Donations flooded in after the GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater home was set up by Lucy Law, his friend and the last person to speak to him, and by Friday more than 40,000 had been raised. An appeal poster for Jay Slater, 19, who went missing during a holiday in Tenerife (Family Handout/PA) In an update on Thursday, Ms Duncan said: 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. Ms Law said Mr Slater told her in a frantic phone call before he went missing that he was lost in the mountains, he wasnt aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%. Search teams, coordinated by the Guardia Civil, have since mounted a huge manhunt using helicopters, drones and search dogs to scour mountainous areas of the island, but are yet to find the teenager. Ms Duncan has described her sons disappearance and the wait for news as a living nightmare. Russian shelling of frontline villages in eastern Ukraine has killed four people while rescuers in the city of Dnipro dug through rubble after a Russian attack ripped through a nine-storey residential building, leaving one dead, officials said. The attacks came as Russia continues to stretch out Ukrainian forces in several areas along the 600-mile front line. Moscow has stepped up air strikes in a bid to drain Ukraines resources, often targeting energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. The shelling of the frontline village of Niu-York in the Donetsk region also left five injured, said governor Vadym Filashkin. He said that Russian forces had shelled populated areas 13 times over the past 24 hours. The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing. The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 28 June 2024. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/Egf0eQQn9d #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/aUnQakZs2r Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) June 28, 2024 In Dnipro, at least one person died and 12 were injured, including a seven-month-old girl, after a Russian strike destroyed the top four floors of the apartment block on Friday evening, regional head Serhii Lysak said. Kyiv has also struck back at Russia with its own aerial attacks. A Ukrainian drone strike killed at least five people in Russias Kursk region, local officials said on Saturday. Two children were among the victims of the attack in the village of Gorodishche on the Russian-Ukrainian border, governor Alexey Smirnov said on social media. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country had lost about 80% of its thermal power (Laurent Cipriani/AP) In its morning statement, the Russian Defence Ministry said that six Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over the countrys Tver, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. It did not give information on the reported strike in the Kursk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country had lost about 80% of its thermal power and one third of its hydroelectric power in Russian strikes. Discussing the attack in Dnipro, Mr Zelensky said it was a reminder to Ukraines allies that the country needed more air defence systems. The Ukrainian air force said on Saturday that it had downed 10 Russian drones overnight. This is why we constantly remind all of our partners: only a sufficient amount of high-quality air defence systems, only a sufficient amount of determination from the world at large can stop Russian terror, he said. A third person has been arrested in connection with a Just Stop Oil protest in which orange paint powder was sprayed at Stonehenge. Wiltshire Police said the man aged in his 30s, from Essex, was detained by Met Police officers on Thursday. He has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting criminal damage, aiding and abetting unauthorised entry and damage to an ancient monument, and aiding and abetting aggravated trespass. A spokeswoman for the force confirmed that the man had now been released on bail. She added: Two other people, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 20s, previously arrested in connection with the incident remain on bail while we continue with our investigation. We are continuing to work with English Heritage and partners to progress our enquiries. Following the protest, English Heritage said experts had quickly removed the orange powder from the stones, as there was a risk it would harm rare lichens growing on the stones. The charity confirmed there appeared to be no visible damage from the paint but the act of removing it could erode the fragile stone and damage the lichens. US President Joe Biden is looking to recapture his mojo and reassure donors that he is fully up to the challenge of beating Donald Trump. The 81-year-olds troubling performance at the first presidential debate rattled many Democrats, who see Mr Trump as an existential threat to US democracy after the January 6 2021 insurrection. Mr Bidens meandering answers and his struggles to respond to Mr Trump prompted The New York Times editorial board to declare on Friday that he should exit the race, and that staying in would be a reckless gamble. The President and his wife, Jill, plan to attend an afternoon campaign meeting in East Hampton, New York, the Long Island beach town where the real estate firm Zillow prices the median home at 1.9 million dollars. Donald Trump faced off with the US President in the first televised debate (AP) Scheduled later is an evening fundraiser in Red Bank, New Jersey. In the aftermath of Thursday nights debate, Mr Biden showed more vigour in speeches in North Carolina and New York on Friday, saying he believes with all my heart and soul that he can do the job of the presidency. The Biden campaign said it has raised more than 27 million dollars (21.3 million) on Thursday and Friday, including three million dollars (2.3 million) at a New York City fundraiser focused on the LGBTQ+ community. Jill Biden told supporters on Friday that he said to her after the debate: You know, Jill, I dont know what happened. I didnt feel that great. The first lady then said she responded to him: Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that youve been President. President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump, seen on a television during the debate (Carolyn Kaster/AP) The Democratic President still needs to allay the fears stirred by the debate as it seeped into the public consciousness, with clips and memes spreading on the internet, as well as public pressure for him to bow out of the race. Democratic donors across New York, Southern California and Silicon Valley privately expressed deep concerns about the viability of Mr Bidens campaign in the wake of his debate performance. In a series of text message chains and private conversations, they discussed the short list of possible replacements, a group that included Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, California governor Gavin Newsom and vice president Kamala Harris. But on Friday, there was no formal push to pressure Mr Biden to step aside and some suspected there never would be, given the logistical challenges associated with replacing the presumptive nominee just four months before Election Day. Some donors noted they were going to pause their personal giving. They said receipts from Mr Bidens weekend fundraiser would almost certainly be strong because the tickets were sold and paid for before the debate. (Photo : Cristina Gottardi) A West Virginia couple who were accused of enslaving five adopted Black children is set to face trial later this year after a judge revoked their bond on multiple civil rights violations, MetroNews initially reported. The Initial Discovery of The Five Adopted Black Children Donald Ray Lantz, 63, and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62, were first arrested by local law enforcement in October following a call to a Sissonville residence, expressing concerns about the welfare of the children, the indictmenthighlighted. Deputies from the sheriff's office entered a shed adjacent to the house, where they found a teenage boy and girl who had not been given enough food or proper hygiene care, locked inside a room without running water or bathroom amenities. According to a criminal complaint, deputies also discovered a 9-year-old girl crying in a loft in the main house alone, approximately 15 feet above the ground, without any safety measures against falling. The fourth child, an 11-year-old Black boy, was with Lantz when he returned from their wellness check, while the last child, a 6-year-old Black girl, was with Whitefeather, whom deputies located to be staying with acquaintances from their church. The children were placed in the care of Child Protective Services after the couple was arrested. READ ALSO: South Texas Border Couple Sentenced for Smuggling an Immigrant, Benefiting from Forced Free Labor Not Guilty Plea Despite Having Eyewitnesses Mark Hughes, Whitefeather's brother, claimed that the Sissonville residence was in the middle of relocation to a larger home in Beckley during a bond hearing reported by WCHS-TV in October. While Mark Plants, Whitefeather's attorney, described the shed as a teenage clubhouse with a key inside. However, Deputy H.K. Burdette portrayed a different story, saying he had to forcibly enter the barn as the teenage girl inside said she could not open it. Deputies found the girl and her brother in dirty clothes, exhibiting body odor, who claimed they were routinely locked in the shed for extended periods and were not allowed inside the house. The boy was also barefoot with apparent sores on his feet, as Burdette described. Judge Revoking Bond on Charges Despite facing multiple charges of human trafficking, forced labor, and child neglect posing a risk of bodily injury or death, the West Virginia couple pleaded not guilty to these allegations. Judge Maryclaire Akers, who characterized the case as one of the most egregious indictments she has encountered during her tenure, consequently raised the current bond to $500,000 for each defendant, believing it was inadequate. Kanawha County prosecutors argued that the money used for Lantz and Whitefeather's cash bonds was considered contraband, which is directly or indirectly associated with violating human trafficking laws. The Kanawha County Circuit Court Clerk's office is retaining the money that the West Virginia couple posted in February. Judge Akers believes it should be placed in a trust to benefit the minor victims involved in the case. The couple will face trial on September 9 after being charged with 16 counts each, which include felonies such as civil rights violations, human trafficking, forced labor, gross child neglect, and falsifying a public defender's application. RELATED ARTICLE: Indian-American Couple Jailed for Exploiting Cousin, Threatened with Physical, Mental Abuse to Overwork with Minimal Pay 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/ Brooke Cagle ) As remote work changes today's work landscape, we cannot deny that it is not for everyone. Research says that employees with a strong need for social connection are especially susceptible to feelings of loneliness, which can lead to poorer performance, decreased job satisfaction, and higher rates of burnout when working remotely. Microsoft's findings from 2022 also revealed that over half of workers feel increased isolation and reduced connection with colleagues due to remote work transitions and are more inclined to leave their jobs. However, as much as employees hate this new standard setup, they should still adhere to what their companies mandate and expect. Instead of fretting over the situation, learn from some workers who changed their mindset and turned remote work into something they love looking forward to every day. Hotels Have The Best Ambiance Mitchell Hochberg, president of Lightstone, which develops several Moxy properties across New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles, notes that people nowadays are increasingly traveling solo and seeking places where they can work comfortably during the day without feeling isolated. The Moxy Hotel, located in the fashionable Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg, exemplifies a trend where newer hotels serve as quasi-community hubs, a third place for millennials to be perceived as a public square and social hub, Hochberg asserts. READ ALSO: Hot-Desking: The Modern Office's Pros and Cons Chris Dong, a travel writer who values the flexibility of remote work, enjoys working from various locations, whether cocooned in a hammock while on the phone or typing away on a wobbly airplane tray table at 35,000 feet. While Dong's office can be anywhere with semi-usable WiFi or minimal cell service, hotel lobbies will always be his preferred workspace. Hotel lobbies are becoming popular as ideal locations for remote work, given their comfort, convenience, and professional atmosphere. These spaces provide comfortable seating, complimentary WiFi, and readily accessible power outlets, catering to the essential needs of remote workers. The ambiance is also carefully crafted to be inviting and tranquil, typically quieter than cafes and conducive to maintaining focus. Working from hotels comes with guidelines similar to outdoor cafes, too, which are typically expected to be purchased before settling down. While not an everyday practice due to costs, it is a convenient option for Dong that encourages indirect interactions, whether buying a cup of coffee or simply sitting down. Dong enjoys soaking in the travel experience they provide, even if he is just a short distance from home. Working from a Child-Friendly Scenery Young professionals in Toronto are also choosing to work from a local Chuck E. Cheese to break up their routine of meetings and memos with pizza and arcade games when Aryeh Bookbinder, a 25-year-old tech and artificial intelligence worker, aimed to evoke 1990s nostalgia from Chuck E. Cheese's peak popularity. While the staff initially seemed uncertain about his intentions, they allowed him to proceed as long as he was not disturbing anyone and was a paying customer. Bookbinder's solo visit at the Chuck E. Cheese location proved to be a success. There, he discovered a highly conducive work environment with excellent WiFi, free from the usual distractions of noisy children and flashing arcade games during school hours. Impressed by his experience, Bookbinder, who operates the guided-tour site Liminal Assembly, decided to promote Sheppard Avenue's party hub as his official office space. Bookbinder was accompanied by a diverse group of 20 Gen Z and millennial professionals on the last Monday of April. Each participant paid $45, which covered the costs of pizza, coffee, and the humorous rental of a school bus that transported them from a common meeting point to the Chuck E. Cheese location. One participant noted that the unusual combination of working alongside other focused strangers in a child-friendly environment boosted her productivity. She attributed her successful workday to the refreshing change of scenery that brought back memories of childhood. RELATED ARTICLE: Active Workstation Might Help You Become Productive and Mentally Sharp, Study Finds 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. Oakland, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) Rep. Jamal Bowmans loss to George Latimer for the 16th District of New York in the Democratic primary illustrates the destructive reach of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Israel wading into American electoral politics. Their agenda is driven by a single issue, about which they are willfully ignorant and misinformed. Contrary to the allegation in the Bowman-Latimer campaign, it is not anti-Semitic to speak out and object to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahus genocidal campaign in Gaza. Rather, it is an invocation of deeply Jewish values to do so. But things are inverted now in todays American rabbit hole, for Jewish Republicans in particular. Likewise, turning to Democrats, it is not an attack on Biden to object to his timid reluctance to be more forceful with Bibi about upholding terms of the US aid, as her opponents have argued in the AIPAC-driven effort to oust Rep. Cori Bush of St. Louis, and Bowman. AIPAC has set aside $100M to unseat people they dont like. Republicans are spending millions of dollars to unseat progressive officials at all levels of government. It is true that sometimes Democrats have crossed the aisle, while Democrats registering as Republicans in local primaries so they can vote out a Christian Nationalist. Going to the polls to cast a vote in ones district, however, is not the same as spending millions to manipulate a race in a district in which they dont live. AIPACs manipulative presence is US politics is more wantonly destructive than ever and foreshadows the destruction that will be wrought by Bibis forthcoming appearance in Congress. The difference between progressive and centrist Democrats is a growing chasm, and AIPAC is one of the forces driving it, using Republican mega-donor funds to intervene in Democratic contests. Bowman said, Unfortunately some so-called Democrats are aligning themselves with radical, racist Republicans, which illustrates how Republicans are using Israel as a cudgel to create more conflict. The Guardian notes they spent $20 million in mailers and ads. That sum is what the entire British election to be held on July 4 has cost. It is probably true that Bowman would have lost anyway, given that his district was redrawn to include more of wealthy Westchester County and his real support was in the Bronx. But AIPAC dumping that much money into a primary made sure that Latimer did not face an upset. 16th District Democrats who voted to oust Bowman ignored the fact that AIPAC has supported over 100 climate deniers and election deniers in Congress, and does all it can to help re-elect Trump. AIPAC is a single-issue organization, with no regard for healthy government in the US. Since Reagan, Republicans have conned a portion of the US electorate into thinking that Republicans are more favorable to Israel than Democrats. Trump injected steroids into that agenda item, to where its become a wolf-tree, eclipsing other issues more relevant to American voters, such as preserving American democracy itself. The priority for Democrats should be closing ranks to stop Trump; not punish elected officials for taking a righteous stand on Gaza, however unpopular to some. Congressmen from both parties need to reconsider Bibis July 24 invitation to Congress, considering that some of Israels most venerable and respected leaders have encouraged the US to disinvite Bibi. Their reasons include: Inviting Mr. Netanyahu will reward his contempt for U.S. efforts to establish a peace plan . . . By appointing David Friedman as US Ambassador to Israel, Trump began fulfilling every element of Bibis wish-list. Unlike Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, Trump did not stand against the Israeli Rights compulsion for self-destructive myopia. Rather he ceded to every aspect of Bibis far right agenda with the phony Abraham Accords, which has had predictably disastrous results. Bibi fueled Trumps alliance with the Evangelical movement by declaring him to be a modern day King Cyrus, when he moved the US embassy to Jerusalem in 2018. Evangelical Republicans picked up on that, and really believe the phony Trump prophecy. Bibi embraced American Evangelicals as the new cash cow for Israeli tourism and fundraising, to replace the money from American Jews, who no longer support his brand of Zionism. The Young Turks Video: AIPAC Bullies Brag About Jamaal Bowmans Primary Loss AIPAC has escalated its campaign to hold Netanyahu blameless, and to punish American politicians for expressing their conscience over Gaza. New York Times columnists Jesse McKinley and Nicholas Fandos observed, In the end, the left could not compete with the other sides vast resources, including a torrent of unprecedented spending by a super PAC tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The group attacked the two-term congressman over his criticism of Israels actions in Gaza but also the vote he and other members of the Squad took against Mr. Bidens bipartisan infrastructure plan. AIPAC is targeting progressives all over the country for objecting to genocide. The alienation and disenfranchisement in play was summarized in a letter sent to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from over a dozen progressive organizations, including Center for Popular Democracy Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, New York Communities for Change and New York City Democratic Socialists of America. It noted that United Democracy Project (UDP), an AIPAC Super Pac, was funded largely by Republican billionaires, to drown out Jamaal Bowmans message of humanity, dignity, and a thriving future for all. As a result, they unseated someone Jeffries had personally endorsed, who had earned a deep well of support among the Black and brown communities in the district, in favor of a conservative politician with a history of racist remarks and governance. AIPACs ruthless agenda in support of Trump put a spin on reality to distort Bowmans record, and condemned him for using his office to object to Bibis genocide in Gaza. One of Bowmans campaign slogans was, The Many Can Beat the Money. LA Progressive publisher Sharon Kyle summarized the loss saying, In a district that houses more than 725,000 people, less than 100,000 people showed up to vote. AIPAC proved that the money will always beat the many when the many stay home. Instead of upholding a left-wing agenda and a critical lens, liberal Zionists are a mouthpiece for Israels occupation and genocide, writes Yoav Litvin. ( The New Arab ) Israels ongoing genocide is part of a downward spiral for the Zionist project. In the words of acclaimed historian Professor Ilan Pappe: We are witnessing a historical process or, more accurately, the beginnings of one that is likely to culminate in the downfall of Zionism. Yet Zionisms long-standing settler goals have not only thrived through genocidal aggression masked as self-defence with subsequent land grabs as obscene rewards for its adherents but also via its liberal flank serving a crucial propaganda role, posturing as benevolent and humanitarian whilst aligned with aims of American imperialism. Now, confronted with Israels failure to achieve its stated goals and international outrage over its barbaric aggression, liberal Zionist propagandists are intensifying efforts to whitewash Zionisms genocidal criminality. Their aim is to prevent the projects collapse by shifting from circling the wagons to rehabilitating the liberal Zionist facade, enabling a return to management of the Occupation with periodic mowing the lawn. What is Liberal Zionism? The liberal wing of Zionism sanitises and revises the movements reactionary, settler-colonialist, and white supremacist nature, masking its true strategy and motive of expansionism through apartheid and genocide. It deceitfully presents Zionism as compatible with human rights, containing a right-to-left political spectrum with democratic and progressive values and a desire for peace and justice. This facade sanctifies a peace process of futile negotiations, while Israeli bulldozers and contractors continue to colonise Palestinian land, marketed in the US at Zionist land sales in synagogues. Zionisms liberal propaganda apparatus presents Israeli and Palestinian narratives as parallel truths, duplicitously portraying both peoples as victims with legitimate claims that require lengthy negotiations and concessions. This revisionist narrative equates Israeli settler colonialist aggressors, backed by the global US hegemon, with their Indigenous Palestinian targets. Media and Academia Liberal Zionist media, NGOs, academia and other organizations have been busy obscuring the events of October 7, as well as Israels subsequent deceit, including atrocity propaganda and the Hannibal Directive. They portray Zionist genocide as a trait of an extreme form of Zionism, scapegoating Prime Minister Netanyahu and his coalition as an anomaly rather than acknowledging it as an inherent aspect of the eliminationist project. Additionally, they suggest that by ousting Netanyahu, Zionism could revert to an acceptable trajectory. Subject to military oversight and censorship under Israels democratic laws, Haaretz, Israels longest-running newspaper and a bastion of liberal Zionism, has engaged in atrocity propaganda, served as a stenography service for political and military agendas, including targeting hospitals in the Gaza Strip, alongside Islamophobic rants which conflate Zionism and Judaism, and attempts to whitewash war crimes such as looting. In contrast to their portrayal as aligned with humanitarian and leftist values, liberal Zionists sanitise, justify, sustain, and gatekeep the Zionist project Haaretz and its editorial board claim to advocate for left-wing and liberal agendas, though in fact they promote civil liberties for the privileged class (Zionists) and refuse to address the core white supremacist nature of Zionism, which has terrorised Indigenous Palestinians for over seven decades. Indeed, anti-Zionist writers, other than a token couple of regular columnists, stand no chance of being published there. Similarly, Israel bars participation of parties in its elections if they negate the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, clearly outlining the boundaries of acceptable debate. Israeli academia has also served Israels reactionary Zionist agenda. In her recently published book, Towers of Ivory and Steel (Verso, 2024), Maya Wind lays out the case against Israeli academia and universities as embodying the apartheid typical of Israeli society and tools of Zionist settler colonialism and ongoing oppression of Palestinian people. To this end, Israeli universities and legal scholars frequently collaborate with the Israeli military, legitimising Zionist atrocities and collective punishment of Palestinians, while developing and marketing police and military methodologies and weaponry intended for export. Well-known liberal Zionists, including politicians, such as Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Yair Golan and former Chief of Shin Bet Ami Ayalon, and academics such as Yuval Noah Harari have all stepped up to the Zionist plate, regurgitating claims of guilt on both sides of the conflict, amongst other liberal Zionist canards. The new political movement, Standing Together, exemplifies efforts to normalise the liberal Zionist framework. Consistently strengthening the conflation of Zionism with Judaism, Standing Together blames extremists on both sides, recently with homophobic graphics. As stated by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions: By trying to paint Israel as a tolerant, diverse, and normal state, and focusing on hatred rather than oppression as the problem, this organisation is intellectually dishonest and outright complicit. It is serving a key role in Israels international propaganda strategy at this time. Within our lifetime Popular protest in a democracy is aimed at producing political pressure on elected representatives to create substantial change in policy. Protest is typically effective if those protesting have sufficient power to vote the target of the protest out. Recently, Within Our Lifetime (WOL), a Palestinian-led community organisation in New York City since 2015, faced strong opposition from liberal Zionists, progressives, and Democratic Party loyalists. They protested at a rally featuring progressive Congressmembers Bowman, Ocasio-Cortez, and Sanders for their continued support of the Biden administration, demanding pro-Palestinian politicians: (i) rescind endorsement of Biden; (ii) declare anti-Zionism is not antisemitism, and; (iii) defend Palestinian right to resist. Following WOLs protest Nerdeen Kiswani, an organiser at WOL said: Our action accomplished the goal of confronting the hypocrisy within the Democratic Party and not allowing the demonization of those fighting against genocide to be normalised. Haaretz critiqued WOLs protest with typical liberal Zionist talking points, smearing them as a hard-line group, simply for reiterating the Palestinian right of self-defence in all forms against occupation as established by international law, echoing critique against the group for rightfully demanding accountability from their elected representatives. Haaretzs gatekeeping aligns with recent findings showing wide-ranging Israeli government efforts to shape US discourse around the genocide in Gaza. In contrast to their portrayal as aligned with humanitarian and leftist values, liberal Zionists sanitise, justify, sustain, and gatekeep the Zionist project. Media, academia, and political figures within the liberal Zionist sphere are complicit in advancing Zionist agendas and silencing dissent. To effectively halt ongoing aggression and the genocide of the Palestinian people, and in line with the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) it is crucial to recognise liberal Zionists who act as agents for the Israeli regime and are reactionary proponents of Zionism and to advocate for their boycott, divestment, and sanction. Reprinted from The New Arab with the authors permission. TORONTO, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQX: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (Lithium Ionic or the Company) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lithium Ionic Bandeira Corp. (the Grantor), has executed a definitive royalty agreement (the Royalty Agreement) with ANRF LI (JSY) Ltd., an affiliate of Appian Capital Advisory LLP (Appian), granting a 2.25% gross revenue royalty in exchange for upfront cash consideration of US$20,000,000 (the Royalty). This agreement is substantially in line with the terms previously disclosed in the Companys May 30, 2024, news release. Appian is an investment advisor to long-term, value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies. Lithium Ionic intends to use the proceeds from the Royalty to advance the development and construction of its world-class Bandeira Lithium Project (Bandeira or the Project), located within the Lithium Valley in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Additionally, funds will be allocated for general corporate purposes and working capital requirements. The Lithium Valley is renowned for its significant concentration of lithium-bearing pegmatites and has become a globally significant lithium production center. Key Terms of the Royalty Agreement A 2.25% Life-of-Mine gross revenue royalty on the Bandeira Project Upfront purchase price of US$20,000,000 payable to the Grantor upon satisfaction of customary conditions precedent, including the finalization and delivery of security documentation and legal opinions. An option for the Company to fully buy-back the Royalty within the first five years of the closing of the Royalty transaction for a fee of US$67,500,000. The Royalty obligations will be secured by charges and share pledges over substantially all current and future assets relating to the Project. Blake Hylands, P.Geo., CEO of Lithium Ionic, commented, We are pleased to welcome Appian as an important partner as we continue to rapidly advance the Bandeira Project through permitting and towards construction. Their investment will strengthen our financial footing, and their technical expertise will help optimize our development strategies, ensuring we maintain strong momentum as we advance the Bandeira Project towards production. Michael W. Scherb, Founder and CEO of Appian, commented, We are pleased to partner with Lithium Ionic to help the Bandeira Project realize its potential and become an important lithium producer. This collaboration demonstrates the attractiveness of Appians credit and royalties offering and reflects our strategic commitment to investing in high-quality mining projects that are well-positioned to meet the increasing global demand for critical resources. BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Lithium Ionic. Bennett Jones LLP is acting as Lithium Ionics legal advisor. About Lithium Ionic Corp. Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its Itinga and Salinas group of properties cover 14,182 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. Its permitting-stage Bandeira Project is situated in the same region as CBLs Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas. About Appian Capital Advisory LLP Appian Capital Advisory LLP is the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies. Appian is a leading investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with global experience across South America, North America, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing nearly 7,000 employees. Appian has a global team of over 80 experienced professionals with presences in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Montreal, Dubai, Johannesburg and Perth. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Lithium Ionic Corp. Blake Hylands Chief Executive Officer, Director Investor and Media Inquiries: +1 647.316.2500 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity of the Companys mineral properties including Bandeira and Salinas, the Companys ability to produce a NI 43-101 compliant Feasibility study and the timing thereof, the Companys ability to obtain the requisite licences and permits, the economic viability of the Bandeira Project, the Companys ability to obtain adequate financing, the mineralization and development of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys exploration program and other mining projects and prospects thereof and the Companys future plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. [Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company] Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Friday, June 28, 2024 - A Chilean actor was found dead inside his Airbnb vacation rental in Colombia after he was last seen alive with two women he met on Tinder. The naked body of Alex Araya, 42, was discovered lying face down in bed inside the Medellin rental by a cleaner on June 7, according to the Chilean news publication La Tercera. The actors family later learned of his death in the news and have been trying to uncover what happened since then, his brother Eduardo Araya told the outlet. The night before he was found dead, Alex had met up with two women from the dating app Tinder, according to his brother. He was seen in a video with women entering the rental at around 11:30 p.m. on June 6. Two hours later, the two women walk out without him, according to the footage. The pair allegedly left with his credit cards and phone, which they used to pay for Uber rides, gas station purchases, groceries, and jewelry, Eduardo told the local outlet. Hes convinced the women arent the only people involved in his brothers untimely death and believes they are part of a larger gang targeting tourists. There are more people involved, he said in Spanish. They were part of a group dedicated to doing these things. Alexs cause of death has not yet been released, but Eduardo believes he was drugged, possibly with burundanga, also known as scopolamine, an odourless, tasteless drug that can cause a person to lose consciousness for up to 24 hours or more. But larger doses can be deadly. He had no visible signs of trauma and his body was found in a similar condition to other tourists who have been killed in the area. Alex is the 29th tourist to die in Medellin just this year. Saturday, June 29, 2024 - Kangundo Member of Parliament, Fabian Kyule, is facing resistance from his constituents after he voted 'Yes' for the contentious finance bill 2024. Angry residents attempted to storm the MPs house with the aim of torching it mid-Saturday morning. They barricaded the road leading to his home, forcing police to intervene. Police fired teargas canisters and live bullets to disperse the protesters. On Thursday, the protesters torched the MPs office. The legislators who voted yes for the finance bill are living in fear, following frequent attacks on their homes and business premises. The Government has deployed police to guard the homes of most of the MPs who voted yes for the controversial bill, which has been withdrawn by President Ruto after public uproar. The people of Kangundo have not be left out. They have visited the home of the area MP Fabian Kyule who voted yes in support of the finance bill 2024.#RutoMustGo #OccupyEveryWhere pic.twitter.com/XJ3sqSK3Q5 Patrick Safari (@patricksafariR) June 29, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Saturday, June 29, 2024 - The world's richest man, Elon Musk, is unhappy with President William Ruto and his coterie for switching off the internet when citizens protest for their rights. In the past two weeks, young Kenyans have been demonstrating in Nairobi and other cities, demanding the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, which aimed to increase taxes on basic commodities like bread and fuel. The demos culminated in the storming of Kenyas parliament on Tuesday where protestors chased their lawmakers from the dishonorable house Like other African dictators, Ruto instructed Safaricom to switch off the internet to stop Kenyans from expressing their rights via social media. Following the shutdown of the internet, Twitter users Amerix and George Njoroge asked the Tesla Founder to offer Starlink internet to Kenyans. Amerix told Musk, "Give Kenyans another offer for Starlink. "We will subscribe in droves. Our current Internet Service Providers collaborate with a repressive regime to throttle citizen journalism and muzzle freedom of speech" Musk in response said, "Starlink Mini will be about half the standard terminal price and available later this year" Starlink internet is satellite-based and dictators like Ruto cannot shut it down no matter what!! The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - A six-year-old girl died after her mothers boyfriend allegedly left her locked in a hot car while he attended to work. Markise Outing, 24, showed up at Southern Manatee Fire Department Station 2 in Bradenton, Florida, with the girl who was not breathing and possibly suffering cardiac arrest, according to the Manatee County Sheriffs Office. Outing told medics that she was his girlfriends child, and claimed that she over-heated while playing at a park, WWSB reported. The girls body temperature was recorded at 107.2 degrees Fahrenheit and she was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead later the same evening of May 20. However, on Tuesday, June 25, Outing was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter. GPS data indicated that the girl was in Outings car in a parking lot outside of his workplace for a few hours instead of at a park, said investigators. Outings account of what happened also contained inconsistencies. Investigators found that Outing picked up the girl from school and drove to his business car park around 2.45pm. He is accused of leaving her inside the vehicle with the windows up, with the temperature inside hitting over 115 degrees Fahrenheit. She died of extreme heat, according to her autopsy. Outing has been booked into Manatee County Jail. The discovery, which was 'frozen in time since the moment of disaster', changes our understanding of the Bronze Age. It was the worlds first multinational civilisation. Mighty ships plowed the waves between Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece carrying riches, diplomats and troops between the ancient worlds first great empires. But it all came crashing down in the space of a few decades around 1177BC. Exactly why isnt known. Surviving clay tablets talk of chaos, famine and swarms of raiding pirates. Now an accidental discovery 90km off the coast of northern Israel promises new insight to an era shortly before these mighty warlord entrepreneurs, advanced new technologies and previously unimagined comforts all suddenly came to an end. A petrochemical company drilling for signs of natural gas deposits has stumbled across the rare remains of a late Bronze Age ship. And it's both far enough offshore and deep enough to have remained largely undisturbed for more than 3000 years. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) says its cargo, including hundreds of intact ceramic amphorae the ancient equivalent of shipping containers used to transport everything from wine to grains represent a groundbreaking discovery. They say it is the "oldest ever" ocean-going ship ever found. Discoveries of a similar age have been found only in rivers, lakes and coastal harbours. Tales such as the epic poet Homers The Odyssey hint of invading sea people have fascinated scholars of the Bronze Age for centuries. Source: Ulysses and the Sirens, by Herbert Draper A robotic drone operated by British drilling company Energean stumbled across the 14m-long wreck buried in mud. "When we sent them (the antiquities authority) the images it turned out to be a sensational discovery, far beyond what we could imagine," said company spokesman Karnit Bahartan. The company and IAA have recovered two amphorae for analysis. Archaeologists have identified them as being of Canaanite origin, a people that occupied coastal Palestine before the Exodus of the Jews as described by the Jewish Torah and Christian Bible. Ship sunk due to crisis, possible pirate attack The ship seems to have sunk in crisis, either due to a storm or to an attempted piracy attack a well-known occurrence in the Late Bronze Age, says IAA marine unit head Jacob Sharvit. Then, as now, entire cities and economies were built upon the safe and regular flow of international trade goods. But a combination of events across the Mediterranean - including famine, plague, earthquakes and war - disrupted this network, causing entire empires to collapse. Ships transported a range of goods including wine, oil, grains and fruit in amphorae and metals central to the civilisations success copper and tin were cast into portable ingots for processing at their destinations. Ships from the era had large cargo holds to transport goods. Source: F. W. Welter-Schultes et al/Journal of Molluscan Studies 74(1) A map shows the route a ship of a similar age, the Uluburun, would have travelled in the late Bronze Age about 3,300 years ago. Source: F. W. Welter-Schultes et al/Journal of Molluscan Studies 74(1) Discovery changes view of ancient mariners Archaeologists and historians generally assumed the trading vessels of the era remained within sight of the shore, making short hops between regularly-spaced ports. These were built on well established routes carrying gold and grain out of Egypt, collecting cedar from Lebanon, copper from Cyprus and luxury goods from Persia (Turkey). Cargo ships then crossed the Aegean to Mycenaean Greece and Cyprus for olive oil and wine before allowing the prevailing winds to carry them across the Mediterranean to pick up the coast once again at Libya for the return to Egypt. But Sharvit says the wrecks position indicates its sailors knew how to use the sun, stars, currents and winds to find their way over greater distances - a skill not seen again in the Mediterranean for several centuries. "The discovery of this boat now changes our entire understanding of ancient mariner abilities. It is the very first to be found at such a great distance with no line of sight to any landmass," Sharvit said. Shipwreck 'frozen since moment of disaster' At 1.8km deep, the wreck is far beneath the eroding influence of the waves. And its also out of reach of fishing lines and nets. The ship is preserved at such a great depth that time has frozen since the moment of disaster its body and contents have not been disturbed by human hand, nor affected by waves and currents which do impact shipwrecks in shallower waters, explains Sharvit. It seems that a second layer of jars is also buried in the muddy bottom and apparently parts of its timber keel are buried deep in the mud. Jacob Sharvit said to ship appeared to have sunk in a crisis. Source: IAA The IAA has no deep-sea exploration capability of its own. "They asked if we would be willing to do it for them, and it took us no time to agree," Bahartan said of Energean's role. "We knew that if we didn't do it, nobody would." So, the deep-sea exploration ship Energy Star returned to the site with a team of archaeologists and engineers. They studied the site and assembled a mechanism of ropes and nets to excavate and recover two amphorae for analysis. These are currently having their content analysed in a laboratory before being released for public display. A deep-diving exploration drone captured images of the wreck 'frozen in time'. Source: Energean Only two other wrecks belonging to this era have been found. The famous Uluburun ship and Cape Gelidonya wreck both found off Turkey, were located close to shore. Both provide unique insight to the immense scale and multinational nature of trade at the time. The Uluburun ship carried goods from seven different nations, including 140 Canaanite amphorae. But its main cargo was 10 tonnes of Cypriot copper and one ton of tin. This was enough to equip a small army with bronze swords and armour. There are, as yet, no plans to further excavate or recover the newly discovered wreck. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Saturday, June 29, 2024 - President William Ruto met 96 bishops from the African Independent Pentecostal Church (AIPCA) at State House, led by the Presiding Archbishop Samson Muthuri. Ruto said the government has deliberate programmes and policies to create jobs and income opportunities for the young people, even as anti-government protests continue. He said there will be youth forums to discuss the the country's economic challenges. Ruto said the bishops committed to take part in the forums. The government has deliberate programmes and policies to create job and income opportunities for our young people. "These include the Affordable Housing Programme, digital jobs, labour migration and industrialisation through county aggregation and industrial parks and special economic zones. "The proposed youth and multi-sectoral forums will give the youth and other stakeholders a platform to discuss these and other national economic challenges that face our country. "Met leaders of the African Independent Pentecostal Church Africa who committed to take part in the multi-sectoral forum, State House Nairobi. They included 96 bishops led by Presiding Archbishop Samson Muthuri, he wrote. APCIA church is among the most corrupt churches in the country. The leaders frequent State House to take brown envelopes whenever they get an opportunity. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Saturday June 29, 2024 - South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro has irked the Gen Zs yet again. This is after he said that he would still vote for the Finance Bill 2024 if it was brought back to Parliament despite all the anguish and pain it has caused. Taking to his social media, Osoro, who is also the Majority Whip, affirmed that voting a NO for him was not an option despite the insults and nationwide protests against the Finance Bill. "Those waiting for an apology from me will have to wait longer. I would still vote YES if the Bill came today to parliament," Osoro affirmed. This comes even as President William Ruto declined to sign the Finance Bill 2024 and sent it back to parliament with reservations, recommending the deletion of all clauses. The President recommended a multisectoral, bipartisan, and multistakeholder engagement to address the future of Kenya on matters in the Finance Bill 2024 that Kenyans have raised. Further Ruto directed immediate austerity measures to reduce expenditure in the executive arm of government. The Head of State succumbed to pressure from Kenyans after nationwide protests against the Finance Bill 2024. The protests were being led by Gen Zs and millennials who demanded that the Bill be rejected in its entirety after Legislators voted to pass the Bill in parliament. The protests turned violent with at least ten people being killed countrywide and over 300 people sustaining injuries. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - Kenyans are demanding the immediate resignation of President William Ruto, citing numerous issues that have adversely affected the nation. Despite his recent withdrawal of the Finance Bill that would have raised taxes to address Kenya's debt, public anger remains unabated. A viral Twitter post, which has garnered thousands of engagements, states: "We no longer recognize William Ruto as the President of Kenya. We recall his presidency and urge him to immediately resign and surrender his office to the Kenyan people. President Ruto's retraction of the controversial Finance Bill, which was intended to increase taxes, has not quelled the public's outrage. Many Kenyans have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction. In his statement, Ruto highlighted that withdrawing the bill would create a significant funding gap for development programs aimed at supporting farmers, teachers, and others. He argued that the tax increases were necessary to service Kenya's debt of approximately 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), which is about 70 percent of the country's GDP. Saturday, June 29, 2024 - Nakuru County Senator Tabitha Karanjas daughter, Anerlisa Muigai, has shared her thoughts on the current situation in the country. For the past two weeks, young Kenyans, especially Gen Zs, have been demonstrating in Nairobi and other major cities against the Finance Bill 2024. On Wednesday, President William Ruto ceded ground and withdrew the Finance Bill 2024 In a Facebook statement, Anerlisa Muigai questioned the future of the country following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024. Muigai lamented that little has changed since the country elected its current leaders. She further criticized the Kenya Kwanza regime for imposing heavy taxation on Kenyans, making life unbearable for them. "NO!! It's been 2 years. How many of you have closed businesses? "Why are taxes used to attack businesses? "How many people have borrowed money from people to clear an arrear or sort something? "I am one of them. How many people are finding it hard to survive every day?" she said. She then offered her perspective on what the country needed to get back on the right track. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - A Zimbabwean man, Bambanani Ndlovu, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Happiness Ngwenya, and forcing their young children to sleep beside her dead body. Bulawayo High Court Judge Evangelista Kabasa convicted Ndlovu, condemning his actions as a horrific instance of gender-based violence. Ndlovu claimed he acted in self-defense, alleging that Ngwenya grabbed his testicles during an argument, but the court rejected this defence. The incident occurred after Ndlovu returned home late, leading to a dispute during which he strangled Ngwenya in front of their children. He then forced the children to sleep beside their mother's corpse, further traumatizing them. Judge Kabasa highlighted the brutality of the crime, stating that a home should be a sanctuary of peace and love. She noted the severe psychological impact on the children, especially given Ndlovu's threat to harm his daughter if she reported the incident. The court also heard testimony from the couples five-year-old daughter, who described the violent attack. Emphasizing the lack of mitigating factors and the aggravating circumstances, Judge Kabasa ruled that the standard 15-year sentence for such offences was insufficient. Instead, she imposed a 20-year sentence, considering the presence of the children, the retention of the body in the house, and Ndlovu's attempts to mislead about the cause of death. Saturday, June 29, 2024 - Fast-fading political analyst, Mutahi Ngunyi, has continued to share his thoughts on the current situation in the country. Since independence, the country has been ruled by boomers and Generation X and this has resulted in incompetent leadership, nepotism, massive corruption and looting of public resources. In what can be described as putting brakes on these uncouth vices, Gen Z have been taking to the streets, claiming they are taking back the country to where our forefathers left it. The demos by Gen Z have shocked President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has been linked to the deadly demos that have left over 23 people dead, including children in the last one week. According to Ngunyi, Gachagua is planning to oust President William Ruto with the help of the Russian government which is headed by President Vladimir Putin. He also said Gachagua's masters are former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Putin. Dear Ruto: Your PROBLEM is Riggy G. Uhuru and the Russians are just his MASTERS, Mutahi wrote on his X handle (formerly Twitter) Ngunyi cemented his assertion by saying that if Ruto would have resigned on Tuesday, Gachagua would be the biggest beneficiary. On another note: Let's assume that Ruto RESIGNED because of the revolution on Tuesday. "Who BENEFITS? This is the Qui Bono Question. "The beneficiary is the perpetrator of the ROGUE violence in Parliament. "Including the Killing of CHILDREN. Think about it. Hello Riggy G!!, he added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - A Spanish model who bit off her boyfriend's tongue after he ended their relationship has been arrested after going on the run. Adaia Lopez vanished after her horror attack on her boyfriend in June 2016 and jetted to Thailand. The 26-year-old beauty was caught on Thursday night, June 27, after being tracked down to a squat in the Costa Brava resort of Sant Antoni de Calonge north of Barcelona. According to Mail Online, 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, who went on the run last year, 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 up 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. He reportedly 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.' Saturday June 29, 2024 The fallout between President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has reached fiver pitch. This is after it emerged that Gachagua was deeply involved in the controversial Finance Bill 2024 that sparked a Gen Z revolution against Ruto and his government. Speaking during an interview, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah pointed a finger at Gachagua, asserting that he reviewed the contentious proposals and gave them a node even before Ruto had a chance to see them. DP Gachagua is in government, he chairs the Cabinet sub-committees, so he is the one that chaired the first meeting that considered the 2024 Finance Bill, Ichungwah declared, leaving no room for ambiguity about Gachaguas involvement. This comes even after Public Service CS Moses Kuria also accused Gachagua of shedding crocodile tears over the Finance Bill when he was instrumental in creating it. Taking to his social media, Kuria lambasted Gachagua for his leadership role in various critical government councils and committees, including the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC). 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 added. Their accusations paint Gachagua not as a victim, but as a key player in the bills progression. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday June 29, 2024 - Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has dismissed allegations of sponsoring the ongoing anti-government demonstrations. Taking to his X account, the vocal CS flagged a screenshot that purported to be him conversing with a fellow social media user. While issuing clarity, Murkomen flagged the screenshot that has been doing rounds across social media platforms as fake and urged Kenyans not to fall for the rumours. "Fake! Good people, ignore this propaganda," the CS wrote. According to the allegedly fake screenshot, a social media account purporting to belong to the CS allegedly attempted to lure a user into mobilizing a group of individuals to storm the State House in Nairobi. The flagged account holder promised a Ksh500,000 reward if the individual agreed to fulfil the tricky demand. I see you have a significant following. I would like us to work together for the betterment of our country, read part of the fake post. I have 500K and would like you to mobilize so many youths and influence them to set the protests. Please for the sake of theirs. However, according to the screengrab, the recipient in the fake post reportedly turned down the offer and demanded a Ksh1 million reward instead. "I wish to do this for the sake of my country and a better future. How about you make it 1M so we can buy bulletproof vests and make it to the Statehouse?" suggested the other user. "If we succeed, you won't be forgotten. Otherwise, I'm not making a deal with you to sell out our country." Murkomen's clarification comes days after President William Ruto put on notice criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, June 29, 2024 - For the past two weeks, young Kenyans, commonly known as Gen Z, have been demonstrating in Nairobi and other cities against the Finance Bill 2024. The punitive, retrogressive and uncouth bill was set to introduce a raft of taxes on basic commodities such as bread, sanitary towels and diapers, which angered the younger generation. On Tuesday, thousands of Kenyan protestors took to the streets and the hallmark of their demos was when they stormed Kenya's Parliament and chased away legislators. During the protests, according to civil rights organisations, 23 Kenyans paid the ultimate price. Within hours, many Kenyans began to hear reports of another, even more brutal incident - an alleged massacre of civilians in Githurai. The story quickly took hold on social media, where some people claimed more than 200 had been killed. But a BBC investigation has found no evidence of mass killings in Githurai - raising questions about how readily misinformation can spread amid a crisis. A BBC journalist said only two people were killed by police in Githurai. The Kenyan DAILY POST A selection of six-digit Victorian Heritage number plates will be on offer for lucky Aussies hoping to cash in on the growing trend. VicRoads is releasing a batch of six-digit Heritage number plates in July following last year's 'unprecedented demand'. Source: Instagram/VicRoads If you're hoping to join one of a few Aussie drivers sporting a one-of-a-kind heritage number plate, then now might be the chance to snap one up but you have to have some cash to spare. Previously, Yahoo News Australia explained the demand for heritage plates can see them fetch millions at auctions across the country. And now a selection of six-digit Heritage plates will be up for grabs with VicRoads releasing several to the public. Heritage plates, sometimes referred to as numerical plates, are immensely popular among collectors and investors and it's become a booming market that's increased in popularity in recent years. Anything from 1 up to 285,000 is considered a heritage plate in Victoria the state, along with NSW, driving much of the demand with single digits the most sought-after. They were the first number plates issued in Victoria and were available between 1932 and 1939. Heritage Plates are held by VicRoads and are drip-fed into circulation, and are only available to purchase via private sellers and auction houses. The exclusive plates are in high demand with only a select few seen on Victorian roads. Source: Instagram Victorian Heritage plates in 'high demand' Traditionally, six-digit Heritage plates have been available on the VicRoads Custom Plates website. Last year, six-digit Heritage plates became available for customers to order their selected combination, subject to availability. But after three days, the release was paused due to the high level of demand and based on that response, VicRoads is "anticipating high demand" once more, Giles Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, VicRoads Registration and Licensing Services said. "The last time six-digit Heritage plates were available in July 2023, the availability had to be paused due to unprecedented demand," Thompson told Yahoo News Australia this week. "We know customers will be excited by the chance to get their hands on a rich piece of Victorian motoring history especially those who may have missed out on the opportunity last year." A selection of six-digit plates will be available for drivers who can request a combination of numbers within a range. Source: VicRoads Plate popularity demonstrated by increase in value The average price paid for three-digit, four-digit and five-digit Heritage plates has more than doubled over the past three years, demonstrating the popularity of these plates. Ramy Attia, from Heritage Only, a premium marketplace for heritage plates, previously told Yahoo, "We've seen plates shoot up 200 per cent (in value) in a two to three-year period" and that attracts more people to the market. In February, Victorias luckiest custom number plate, '888-888' sold for an eye-watering $230,000 at auction, more than quadrupling the previous record for the state. While New South Wales number plate 'NSW 1', which had been "tightly held for decades," surpassed its $10 million estimate and sold for a humungous $12.4 million in January. Some of the combinations available from July include 110.911, 111.050 and 111.060, but there'll also be others. Source: VicRoads What makes Heritage plates so special? While single-digit plates are the most sought-after, and most difficult to come by, six-digit plates are just as much in demand. Some of the combinations available from July include 110.911, 111.050 and 111.060. "The value a Heritage number plate has to a customer can be influenced by several factors, including rarity, low digits, unique character combinations, repeating numbers, mirrored sequences, and alternating patterns are always in high demand," Thompson said. "Beyond the visual style, there is also the value that lies in the personal significance they hold for the owner, whether its a birthday, anniversary, or some other milestone." The exact release date and all available plate combinations will be announced in the coming weeks. So too will their costs. Availability will operate on a first in, best dressed basis. Anyone interested in these plates has the chance to order them, with no restrictions on eligibility. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Friday, June 28, 2024 The Director-General of National Intelligence Service (NIS), Noordin Haji, has stated that the agency possesses incriminating information on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This follows Gachagua's call for Hajis resignation after violent anti-tax protests in Kenya resulted in at least 23 deaths and numerous injuries. The Deputy President accused Haji of failing to inform President William Ruto about the severity of the protests, which could have prompted an appropriate response. Gachagua also claimed that Haji was undermining competent officers in the NIS and replacing them with cronies, thereby compromising intelligence operations. In response, Haji criticized Gachagua for attempting to tarnish his reputation, asserting that his primary responsibility is to report directly to President Ruto. Haji suggested that Gachagua's interest in the NIS files is driven by concerns over his own misconduct being exposed. He said; The DPs actions and words suggest that he has a personal interest in the intelligence briefs revolving around the protests. Could it be that he is worried that the NIS may have pinned responsibility at his doorstep? The DP is still bitter that many of his tribesmen who were serving in the NIS but sabotaging H.E. President William Ruto were removed from the service. It can only mean that the DPs desire is to sabotage the President in the hope that if the President falls, he can benefit from it. Haji warned that the NIS has files and extensive information about Gachagua that are damaging but which are under wraps. We invite him to shed off the DP tag so that this service can show him what a personal fight looks like, the NIS chief said. Haji also said that the NIS is committed to professionalism and integrity, adding that the service will not tailor its intelligence to fit into Gachaguas power-hungry designs. Friday, June 28, 2024 - A woman who planned her husbands 50th birthday party, allegedly turned the occasion into a nightmare after sensing he was ungrateful. Michelle Peters, 47, is accused of poisoning her spouses Mountain Dew with Round Up weed killer because he was not appreciative of the festivities she planned, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime. Her husband contacted the Laclede County Sheriffs Office on Monday to report that he believed he was being poisoned by his wife. He said his Mountain Dew tasted odd and weird and that he got sick shortly after drinking it. He did not think much of it initially, but after two weeks began coughing up brown or yellow mucus, and had a sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea, he told detectives. The man said that Mountain Dew drinks he had outside of their home in Missouri had a regular taste, but that the two-litre bottles of the drink in his garage tasted off. That led him to pull CCTV footage and he saw his wife allegedly mixing Mountain Dew bottles with Roundup and returning the tampered drink to the garage fridge. The husband said that every time he put a new bottle in the refrigerator, Michelle would put Roundup in it, states the affidavit. He gave a bottle of the mixed liquid and the videotape to someone as evidence in case he died from being poisoned. When he told Peters he was feeling sick, she allegedly replied that he probably had COVID and to stay away from the grandkids. Peters when questioned said she was mixing them to make weed killer that she saw on Pinterest but eventually admitted that she should have just divorced him. Michelle said she was mad at (her husband) because she had thrown him a 50th birthday party and he was not appreciative, police said, according to the affidavit. Michelle Peters has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. She is being held at Laclede County Detention Center with no bond and is set to make a court appearance on July 2. Her husband said he suspects his wife poisoned him to get his $500,000 life insurance payout or because she might be having an affair. A snake catcher has described what he's currently seeing as 'bizarre'. An unusually warm winter has seen snakes out and about for longer and keen to fill their bellies. Source: TikTok/troopytrippinaus78/Supplied An Aussie snake catcher is warning of "bizarre" behaviour among snakes amid an unseasonably active winter that's seen some reptiles go after the most outrageous prey. While the experts say the warmer conditions are also likely to launch an early start to the breeding season within weeks. It actually has been a crazy winter for more feeding activity, like the feeding hasn't stopped, Brandon Gifford from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 told Yahoo News Australia. This week we've been called out to a guinea pig eaten, and the other day two birds and a rat got eaten. But it's been the rare scenes caught on camera that have left the catcher truly astounded. Snake seen consuming pigeon upside down In Brisbane recently a woman got the shock of her life when a neighbour knocked on the door of the Hemment home she was visiting to alert her to an unwelcome visitor. When she went outside she saw a large coastal carpet python dangling from the roof while devouring a pigeon. A snake was caught on camera devouring a pigeon in Brisbane. Source: Supplied "I cant stand snakes," Joanne Kucks told Yahoo News Australia. "I'm absolutely petrified. They give me the shivers. "It was nature at its finest, but just gross. I wont be going to my mate's place anytime soon. He doesn't mind it being there. We think it lives in the roof." Snake bites off more than it could chew In another incident, tourists managed to capture a snake going after a sting ray in the Northern Territory, filming the reptile as it attempted to draw the creature's paralysed body onto dry land in East Arnhem. Ive never seen that before in my life, Gifford said, adding that it wasn't a traditional meal for a Bockadam, which live in mangrove estuaries lying in wait for food in the mud. Those water snakes up there, they obviously hunt in the water so they hunt fish, and I think in that situation it was just a mistaken identity. He would have just struck out thinking that it was a fish, but he wouldnt have been able to get it down. He said it was similar to a carpet python grabbing a dog. I think sometimes they're just locked and loaded for so long, and something walks past and they just, bang," he said. "They don't even think about it. Why are the snakes so active? Over-eager appetites can be attributed to the unusually warm weather, Gifford said, with sunny days and hotter temps drawing snakes out of their hiding places. Usually by this point of the year, the reptiles are in brumation, which is a kind of hibernation except snakes will come out to bask in the sun from time to time. And because it's been hot enough for their bodies to digest foods, they've also been stopping off for a meal, which can only mean one thing. Its already hot now and weve already got through the shortest part of the year," the Sunshine Coast snake catcher said. "So I'd say the breeding season will be up and running before we know it in early August, instead of September. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Entering its second half century, Kilkenny Arts Festival 2024 promises an eclectic mix of cutting edge new work in the magical setting of Irelands medieval city. Details were also announced of three highlight events that will feature in KAF 2024. Kilkenny Arts Festival will present the Irish Premiere of Johann Johannssons Drone Mass; performed by two of Irelands most virtuosic ensembles, Chamber Choir Ireland and Crash Ensemble, conducted by Paul Hillier. This work will be performed in St Canices Cathedral on Saturday, August 10 at 9.30pm. Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson (1969-2018) wrote for theatre, dance, television and film. His work was mostly stylised by its blending of traditional orchestration with contemporary electronic elements. He was nominated for an Academy award and won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score for the film The Theory of Everything. Written shortly before his untimely death, Johannssons statement work, Drone Mass was commissioned by the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) and premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with ACME and the vocal group, Roomful of Teeth in 2015. From an ever-evolving composer it bridges the ancient and utterly modern. Johannssons Drone Mass is not a mass in the sense we might know it, it can be described best as a contemporary oratorio the text is that of an ancient Egyptian Coptic Hymn that consists of only free-floating vowels. Another festival highlight this year will be This is the Kit, the musical project of Kate Stables; the alt-folk outfit that is also her pseudonym. Each album since 2008s Krulle Bol to 2023s Careful of Your Keepers shows a songwriter ever in the vanguard of her craft This is the Kits music places companionship at a premium, so being welcomed into its space feels like privilege, on record and in performance with her stellar supporting cast of Rozi Plain (bass), Jamie Whitby-Coles (drums) and Neil Smith (guitar). Whether performing pared-back songs or complex, multi-layered compositions, their gigs are a joyful blend of warm, infectious melodies and gorgeous vocals, and St Canices is the perfect venue to experience their enthralling sound. Tickets for the concert at St Canices Cathedral on August 14 are on sale now priced 35. In todays fast-paced mid-apocalyptic world everything can yield to despair and pointlessness. Continuing to be here at all, to stand tall and make music to gather to, thats a heroic act. This is the Kit in concert is a joyful coming together. Following TITKs breakthrough 2015 album Bashed Out, featuring collaborators John Parish and Aaron Dessner, 2017s Moonshine Freeze cemented the UK-born/Paris-resident Stables position as the rising star of contemporary folk. Her fifth album as This is the Kit Off Off On was written before the pandemic but captured the themes of resilience and restarting, homesickness, needing space, love and solitude. Once again the Festival will join forces with the OPW to Light Up The Castle. Kilkenny Arts Festival in association with the OPW is delighted to announce the commission of a new short film specially created for KAF24 a spectacle event for all the family from Fictions Picture Company and directed by Jack Phelan - Light Up the Castle: SIX SIDES SAWN. Light Up the Castle, the spectacular audio-visual show projecting images onto the walls of Kilkenny Castle, has become one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Festival calendar and this year promises to be an absolute showstopper. To our modern eyes, Kilkenny Castle is still a marvel. In an age of sky-scrapers, electric cars and quantum computing we wouldnt be able to build such a castle if we tried. It might as well have been a magical act. Light Up The Castle: SIX SIDES SAWN will take place on Wednesday 14, Thursday 15, Friday 16, and Saturday 17 August at 10:40pm. Admission is free. 2024s Light Up The Castle event wants to celebrate the magic of castle construction, and if that cant be done with construction itself, itll just have to be done with magic! The full lineup for Kilkenny Arts Festival 2024 which will take place in venues across the city and county from August 8 to 18 will be announced in June. For more see kilkennyarts.ie Vincent Laudescher and Natalie Tournadre were seeking a better quality of life when they decided to move from France to Ireland last year. After travelling around the country the couple discovered the quaint village of Kilmoganny in South Kilkenny and took over the lease of the pub there, Dunphys. We wanted to break the routine, I had been working as a bus driver and Natalie was in embalment and we decided that we wanted to go at a slower pace and have a better quality of life. We wanted more family time and we felt that it was a good time for a change. We said if we dont do it now we never will so we went on this adventure, explained Vincent. The couple took a four-year lease on Dunphys pub in the heart of the village and are putting their own stamp on the premises. We wanted to have a new experience of life outside of France, we very much liked Ireland when we visited here before and the Irish people so we decided to make the move, he added. The pair had previously spent time in Ireland in 2018 and they visited twice last year in seek of a place to call their new home. Last summer we rented a small campervan and we went up to Drogheda and Dundalk and looked at a number of places close to Dublin, including Portlaoise, Carlow and Naas. Then we went down around the coast and visited Wicklow, Waterford, Cork and even arrived in Kilkenny via Cahir. We spent a week touring around and then we went back to France and from there we stated to look online for a pub to rent. We found five pubs that were available and we thought might be options for us. One pub was in Dublin but there was no live-in accommodation with it and to rent somewhere would be very expensive. There was another one in Cork which was in a bad state and if there was a big rain the river would enter the pub! There was a good pub in Co Carlow but it was too big for us and would have been too much work. We want to work as a family unit and not have staff. We checked out a number of different regions and we had a good feeling about the place, said Vincent who added that when found Dunphys in Kilmoganny it was a perfect match for what they were looking for. The couple along with their 14-year son, Hans, live above the pub, while their older son Calixte (24) is living in France. Dunphys had been closed since August 2023 and the locals have missed the social outlet which is the beating heart of the small village. People living in the village are over the moon to welcome the couple and embrace them into the local community and are delighted to have the opportunity to taste craft beers from France as well as wines that are bought directly from small French producers. Vincent and Natalie have settled in well to village life which is no surprise as they used to live in the small village of Sanilhec, close to Nimes in the South of France. I think that the way of life here is very similiar to the village that we lived in in France, it goes at a slow pace and this is the way we like it. We feel a good ambiance here, added the couple. Vincent also works as a craft brewer producing La Calade beers in France and travels back every six weeks to keep a watchful eye on the brewing process. The name of the micro brewery, La Calade comes from the name of the small paved roads in Provence in France. The La Calade micro brewery is another labour of love for Vincent and Nathalie and Vincents mother, Danielle is also on hand on the ground in France to make sure all is going to plan. Danielle is also involved in the brewing and checks on the temperatures and pressure of the beers as it is being brewed. We have a range of four recipes - lager, pale ale, Amber IPA and stout and they are all inspired by the style Irelandais and are available in Dunphys along with some French wines that we have brought over from our winemaking friends in France and we have brought over a cask of whiskey, he said. We have great plans for Dunphys and we are delighted that we are the only bar in the village. We have the traditional bar and then the lounge area and we hope to put our own stamp on it, he added. Dunphys on Chapel Street in Kilmoganny is open from Thursday to Mondays and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The pub opens at 5.30pm and closes at 11pm on Sundays and Mondays, 11.30pm on Thursdays and 12.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Simon Barlow, from Albury in NSW, said his 'old street' is lined with plane and pear trees that are both messy and 'dangerous'. A NSW man, from Albury, has blasted his local council for failing to help clear leaves from his street, which he says fall in unrelenting quantities every week and poses a safety hazard. Source: Supplied A fed-up Aussie is calling for immediate council intervention to address what he says is a "dangerous" leaf problem wreaking havoc along his suburban street. He reports the gutters are frequently clogging and flooding, and he needs to fill "four 240 litre green bins every weekend" with the debris. The NSW man said not only do leaves fall in such unrelenting quantities that's it's difficult to maintain order along the road and footpath, but they also pose a significant health and safety risk, particularly when it comes to the elderly and those with mobility issues. Simon Barlow, from the border town of Albury in the state's south, said his "old street" is lined with plane and pear trees that are, he argues, lovely to look at but extremely messy and disruptive. He said particularly in autumn, his street becomes so inundated with leaves it causes the area to flood, and "you can't actually get out to your car without jumping at least a metre right off of the gutter". Simon Barlow said if council would assist in helping to clear the leaves from the pear and plane trees, his street wouldn't flood anywhere nearly as often. Source: Supplied Council urged to intervene "I've gone ass-over a couple of times trying to make the jump, to be honest," Barlow told Yahoo News Australia. "We've got either concrete blocks that go over the gutter for the driveways or big metal sheets, and we've got plane trees at the end of the street that drop those leaves that don't break down very easily. Then we've got pear trees that are also quite large. "So what happens is, in autumn, the leaves fall and because the gutters aren't open, because you've got all these obstacles over the gutter, they just block up and the water just backs up so quickly." Barlow said on his street, there's only one major drain at either end, meaning "every driveway's virtually got a blockage". "I quite often have to walk into the end of the street, which is four houses down with a rake or something," he said. "And I've got to constantly keep raking the leaves off the grates or the water runs away." Having repeatedly raised the issue with Albury City council which is realistically "only unmanageable for six weeks of the year" Barlow said "they never, or very rarely ever respond". "I can fill four 240 litre green waste bins every weekend," he said, adding that street sweepers and maintenance officers do attend the street about one per month, though he said that isn't anywhere enough to keep things in order. "If we get 50 to 70ml of rain in a hit, the two drains just block and we could actually be underwater by two or three feet, and then it floods the whole street. So we've had numerous times where we've had the street completely flooded," he said. Situation worsens in last decade "It's gotten worse in the last 10 years and I've been in this house for 25." Barlow said a better tree management plan from council would solve the issue relatively quickly if staff were able to remove the blockages beneath the metal ramps. He says he's seen no evidence they ever have, as "you can't just put a blower over the drain when it's really packed in". "My biggest issue with is just the lack of connectivity between council and responding," he said. "An elderly person trying to get through this mess, or even me and I'm only in my mid 50s but if I slipped, I could break a hip, I could break a leg and arm and that could be debilitating." Yahoo News Australia has contacted Albury City council for comment with regard to Barlow's claims. According to data from community problem-solving app Snap Send Solve, the platform recorded a 97.5 per cent surge in reports of water and sewer issues earlier this month in the wake of the heavy rainfall that lashed the east coast in June. Council weighs in Shane Bates, Team leader Streetscapes and Gardens said Albury City Council has a proactive street cleaning program to maintain "our extensive 555km road network". "Seasonal factors, availability of resources, and reactive requests including road accidents and material spills may impact the frequency of cleaning and our ability to effectively deliver the program," he told Yahoo News Australia "Our people endeavour to maintain as many streets as possible to ensure we mitigate risk and maintain the amenity of the city. We appreciate the assistance and patience of our community during these peak periods. Council receives more than 3,000 Snap Send Solve requests each year, and were currently investigating how we can more effectively close the loop with the community in a timely way." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. She's happy taking on sharks and snakes, but the global attention took some getting used to. Scientist Rosie Moore says the worlds hottest scientist tag doesnt bother her despite initially worrying the unsolicited moniker would ruin her career. The intrepid geoscientist mainly works with dangerous reptiles, poisonous toads and marine predators. She also moonlights as an Instagram influencer with 197,000 dedicated followers. Moore, 26, from Florida in the US, likes to post daring images of her wrestling alligators and diving with predatory sharks. Her profile really blew up when she appeared in a viral Instagram video of an alligator being pulled out of a pythons stomach. That was when the internet collectively labelled her the worlds hottest scientist, as she found herself at the centre of an insane number of articles, she said. The geoscientist who specialises in human-environmental interactions and spatial technology said she cried when she first heard the tag. But now, she has come to appreciate it, she says. I didnt want people to have that perception of me, especially as I had a lot of serious researchers following me. I thought itd ruin my career. When the first worlds hottest headline came out, I cried, she said. While she lamented that it mightve been a a clicky tabloid thing when the moniker first stuck, ultimately it completely changed my career and the course of everything. After several young girls wrote to her to tell her that they admire her work, she said she learned to just lean into it. It helps make science hot and therefore appeal to young girls, she added. Its also given me this platform to advocate for animals that people dont like, like sharks. Her content attracts millions of views with plenty of followers sharing her positive sentiment. As a father of a 7yo beautiful and intelligent girl, I shared your page with her and she is in love with you, one follower commented. We need more people like you showing that women can be attractive and recognised for their work, another wrote recently. I absolutely love your perspective on this, science itself IS hot and supporting conservation is beautiful! A third agreed. Jam Press Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. US tourist who got an apartment in Australia can't get visa approved: 'Ready to go' The young tourist thought her visa would be approved 'in 10 minutes'. But now she can't get back in. Source: TikTok Australia has welcomed a record number of migrants in recent years, but one unlucky woman says she has been left stuck outside the country as her working-holiday visa won't get approved, leaving her in an awkward predicament after previously leasing an apartment Down Under. Travel video blogger Karine, from the US state of Florida, travelled to Australia on a tourist visa and opened bank accounts and secured an apartment with the intention to return on a working visa. But she claims border authorities won't approve her and she suspects it's due to an overzealous move she made while on the initial holiday. "I went to Australia last January, I got three months on the tourist visa, I got an apartment, I got a bank account, I got all set up," she said in a video this week. "I was ready to work, I was ready to go." But that's when things took an unexpected turn. RELATED: Aussie OnlyFans model's 'traumatic' experience getting deported from US airport After returning to the US in April last year, she "immediately applied" for the work visa but says it's still pending, more than a year later. "I don't know what's going on. I'm hearing different things from different people saying they stopped letting people in because they let too many people in... And now there's too much going on there," she said in the clip that has been watched more than 125,000 times. Some Aussies questioned why she put her name on an apartment lease while on a tourist visa, suggesting it could've aroused suspicions of the authorities. "But I feel that it's not that uncommon to set yourself up for life there [before] you come back on the work-holiday visa," she said. While she's unsure why exactly she hasn't been approved for such a long time, the keen traveller is "crossing her fingers" she'll be allowed in by November. Australia's migration intake continues to be a contentious political issue. The Labor government has long argued more workers are desperately needed while critics say the pressure on infrastructure and the housing market has become too much. Responding to her video, many Aussies argued the apartment was simply a bad idea. "You are just the type of person we need here. I admire how proactive you were but yep, it could have also been your downfall," one TikTok user wrote. Changes to visa rules While many workers like Karine head Down Under on working holiday visas before seeking out sponsorship and permanent residency, the Australian government is tinkering with certain visa scheme and classifications of skilled workers. In response to political pressure over high migration, a big crackdown on international students means that from Monday, July 1, those on temporary graduate, visitor, maritime crew and other visas will not be able to apply for a student visa while they are in Australia. The change is aimed at clamping down on "visa hopping", which the department claims has contributed to a growing cohort of "permanently temporary" former international students in Australia. After a record net overseas migration intake of 528,000 in 2022-23, Treasury is forecasting that figure will decline to 395,000 in 2023-24, before tapering off even further to 260,000 in the coming financial year. The permanent migration program will be capped at 185,000 places in 2024-25, with 132,200 places allocated to the skill stream to help address Australias long-term skill needs. A new National Innovation visa will be established to replace the current Global Talent visa from later this year, aimed at targeting exceptionally talented migrants who would drive growth in sectors of national importance. The government will also reduce the work experience requirement for the temporary skill shortage visa, down from two years to one, for all applications from the end of this year. The government has also introduced a new ballot process for the Work and Holiday visa program for China, Vietnam and India from the coming financial year, designed to better manage program demand. with NCA Newswire Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Financial education from an early age proves crucial to promote responsible investment, avoid scams By Lee Yeon-woo What do parents expect from their children when it comes to money? Their highest hope may simply be that their kids use their allowance wisely rather than spending it all at once on useless things. Yet, in Dongducheon, in northern Gyeonggi Province, 22 elementary school students prove that they are capable of more than that. They are managing a significant amount of money and in some cases more wisely than adults. "After deducting tax, I save almost all of my wages in a term deposit. Every time it reaches maturity, I resubscribe the total amount again, allowing my money to grow," said Kim Eun-yu, a 12-year-old attending Idam Elementary School. Kim is also a seasoned investor, who successfully sold Coupang shares making a 40 percent profit. Her investment strategy is to "dip your feet in, reap profits and sell immediately." The students obviously don't trade real money. It's part of the program in Idam Elementary School's sixth-grade Class 4, developed by their homeroom teacher, teaching economy and finance. All financial activities in the class are conducted with a homeroom currency called "sabal." For instance, as the chairman of the National Assembly, Kim presides over class conferences and gathers agenda items for discussion. In return, she receives 1,200 sabals as a virtual monthly wage. She then pays tax to the teacher: 240 sabals for income tax and 300 sabals as a rental fee for her desk and seat. With her remaining money, she can do various things, such as joining a term deposit, making investments, purchasing snacks or buying the right to be first in line for lunch. As of May, the students can invest in stocks of the S&P 500, Apple, Netflix, Coupang and SungEel HiTech. They were all chosen by the students themselves through class meetings. The class banker, Kim Yu-mi, updates their prices every morning in an app named "Purple." The app manages students' every financial activity. Their investment strategies are not very different from adults. Gang I-an seeks long-term investment by investing in stocks she carefully chose based on their growth potential. The class banker Kim never invests her wages due to fears of potential loss. Han Ju-wan, the owner of the classroom snack bar, supplements his business items first and utilizes the remaining wage depending on the situation. "I've learned the basics now. So when I grow up and start earning a wage, I believe I will be able to manage my money very well," Han said. Their homeroom teacher, Lee Seong-gang, makes the utmost effort to teach responsible asset management. "Students can feel the stock market as gambling at their first encounter. It's hard to teach them how to analyze companies," Lee said. "I have set higher rates in deposits and ask students to write a consent form before investing in stocks. I also show them news of people who went bankrupt from excessive investment. I want them to start investing after knowing the inherent risks." During the second semester of this year, the students will also establish their businesses using their sabal credits. In preparation, they finished market research and are deciding on specifics such as profit rates and material costs. "Students feel proud in fulfilling their roles in the classroom and watching their assets grow," Lee said. "Parents also told me that even at home, students are trying to save real money." Why is education necessary? One might question whether such education is necessary or urgent for students at such a young age. However, students are much more exposed to malicious circumstances than adults anticipate, according to Lee. On social media, they frequently encounter ads offering small loans. These loan sharks lend small amounts of money, such as 50,000 won ($35.9), to students and demand 60,000 won in return a week later. They even ask children for their parents' resident registration numbers as a guarantee. Without financial knowledge, students are likely to fall prey to these schemes. For teenagers in vocational schools, teaching asset management is also crucial. They jump into financial activity right after graduation. Despite the importance, students are often not availed of such knowledge. Topics not directly impacting college entrance exams are not regarded as crucial educational priorities. "It's regrettable that finance accounts for such a big part of our society, yet it doesn't receive a sufficient acknowledgment within the education sector," Lee said. Students have also expressed their need for relevant firsthand financial education. According to a survey from the finance ministry conducted among 5,000 elementary, middle and high school students last year, 45.4 percent of middle school students and 51.4 percent of high school students said "time allocated to economic education in school is insufficient ." Additionally, 46.1 percent of middle school students and 52.3 percent of high school students said they wanted to learn about "financial products" the most. Over 30 percent of both middle and high school students expressed a desire to learn about basic economic principles such as market demand and supply. It's not that there haven't been attempts made at a legislative level to solve the issue. The most recent move came in 2023 when former lawmaker Hong Sung-kook, who has over a decade of experience in the brokerage industry, introduced a bill to add a "finance" subject to the elementary, middle, and high school curricula. But the bill failed to pass the 21st National Assembly. As of now, the only relevant curriculum lies in the subject of economics, taught in high schools. It is one of the nine elective subjects of the social studies section taken under the college entrance exam. But few students choose the elective. In the 2024 college entrance exam, only 4,890 students selected economics as a subject, making up just 1.1 percent of the total 444,870 test-takers. "Economics is generally considered more difficult compared to other social studies subjects, making it less popular. Even for those who study it, it is hard to say that they receive adequate financial education that is applicable to real life," said a high school teacher based in Gwangju, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the possibility of parental complaints. Idam Elementary School's Lee is worried that the gap in financial literacy is widening, varying significantly by region and by the income levels of children's parents. "If it's hard to add a new subject, it would be more feasible to start with mandatory one- or two-hour sessions tailored to the student's level. Accumulating those hours will be very beneficial for the children," Lee said. "Many college students don't even know the difference between a savings account and a fixed deposit account. Shouldn't they at least learn this much at school?" North Korea has convened a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), attended by its leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Saturday, amid expectations that it would discuss follow-up measures to implement a new partnership treaty with Russia. North Korea held the 10th enlarged plenary meeting of the WPK's 8th Central Committee, Friday, to review state policy performances in the first half, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The meeting was also to "discuss and decide a series of important immediate issues arising in maintaining the upturn in the comprehensive development of Korean-style socialism," the KCNA said. The report said five agenda items were approved by all members of the WPK Central Committee, and discussions on them are underway, without disclosing other details. North Korea usually holds a party plenary meeting for a few days in June. But this year's meeting has drawn more attention due to the possibility that it could discuss detailed measures to expand cooperation with Russia following its signing with Moscow of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. The North's leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Pyongyang, 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 against either country. That would amount to the restoration of a Cold War-era alliance for the first time in 28 years. (Yonhap) Medical school professors and community doctors decided Saturday to convene a one-day nationwide debate next month on the government's medical reform, a decision that will apparently result in a collective one-day walkout. A doctors' consultative group, known as the "special committee for upright medical care," resolved to hold the debate on July 26 with participation from doctors of every discipline, including medical school professors. Represented by medical professors as well as trainee and community doctors, the committee was launched earlier this month as the representative body to negotiate with the government over medical reform. Committee officials said the debate will inevitably lead to a one-day suspension of medical services by participants, who are likely to be mostly medical professors at general university hospitals. Committee members also reiterated their call for the government to abandon its medical school quota hike, which they said was decided without scientific justification. The decision came amid the continuing standoff between the government and the doctors' community over the government's decision to increase admission quotas across medical schools nationwide by about 1,500 seats for next year in an effort to address a shortage of doctors. Medical professors at three major hospitals of Yonsei University have been on an indefinite walkout since Thursday, demanding "tangible measures" from the government to resolve the ongoing health care crisis. Since late February, trainee doctors nationwide have also been staying off their duties at general hospitals in protest, significantly reducing medical service capacities at the hospitals. (Yonhap) South Korea commemorated the 22nd anniversary of its victorious naval skirmish against North Korea, Saturday, paying tribute to Navy sailors killed in action and vowing to honor their sacrifice with a firmer defense posture. The ceremony marking the anniversary of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong took place at the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Yang Yong-mo and Vice Veterans Minister Lee Hee-wan, who fought in the battle, attended the ceremony. They were joined by Navy sailors from the skirmish and the families of those who lost their lives on June 29, 2002. Leaders of major political parties were also on hand. The naval conflict occurred after two North Korean patrol boats crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border, and launched a surprise attack on the South's Chamsuri-357 warship near the western island of Yeonpyeong. About 30 North Koreans are believed to have been killed or wounded, though South Korea also lost six sailors, with 19 others injured. In 2022, the Navy defined its annual anniversary event as a "victory" ceremony to honor the fallen sailors. In his speech Saturday, Shin called out the names of the six late South Korean sailors and said, "The fighting spirit demonstrated by these six heroes and others who fought will stay in our hearts forever." Citing a recent series of provocations by North Korea, Shin said, "North Korea has forgotten its bitter defeat from 22 years ago. "If the enemy provokes once again, our military will respond promptly and firmly, and will battle until the end," he continued. "With our action, we will prove historical lessons that only strength can preserve peace." Earlier Saturday, President Yoon Suk Yeol took to Facebook to mark the anniversary and express a similar sentiment. "Peace is to be preserved by strength, not words," Yoon wrote. "We will honor our heroes' sacrifices by building an even stronger military and an even mightier South Korea." The ruling People Power Party (PPP) offered its tributes while also calling for a more robust security posture against North Korea. "Presently, we're faced with as grave a security situation on the Korean Peninsula as ever. With all forms of provocations, North Korea is threatening peace not only on the peninsula but all around the world," PPP spokesperson Kim Hye-ran said in a statement. "And there can be absolutely no compromise when it comes to protecting our people's lives and security in South Korea against any form of North Korean provocation. The PPP and the Yoon administration will protect South Korea and liberal democracy with a firm security posture." Hwang Jung-a, spokesperson for the opposition Democratic Party, said her party will do its best to build "a peaceful South Korea" on the foundation of strong security. "We'd like to once again thank our soldiers for their services in protecting our territory, water and airspace," Hwang said. (Yonhap) By Robert Neff While Jemulpo (modern Incheon) was often described in the late 19th century as the gateway to Korea, I would argue it was Fusan (modern Busan) that deserved this title, especially in the 1880s, when it appears more non-military Westerners visited it than Jemulpo. Over the next couple of articles we will examine Fusan in the 1880s. In October 1883, one foreign resident in Fusan described the port as a Japanese settlement consisting of 600 houses, which were, for the most part substantially built specimens of Japanese architecture, two stories high, and provided housing for the 1,800 Japanese residents. The finest buildings were the Japanese consulate, the 1st National Bank, the offices of several Japanese traders, the steamship office and Kofukutsi Hotel. In addition, the port had a hospital, school, post office and police station. The two-storied Korean Imperial Customs Services office was at the western end of the port and was also considered to be quite grand. In addition, a telegraph office was in the final stages of completion. He did not refer to Korea as the Land of the Morning Calm or even as the Hermit Kingdom, but instead deemed it the Land of Promise. While it may have been the Land of Promise to Japanese merchants, for non-Japanese businessmen, it was a forbidden land. In October 1883, the Chinese firm of Tick Hing & Company informed Japanese Acting Consul General S. Miyamoto of its intention to open a general store in Fusan. The managers, Ah-chi and Wi-sing, were encouraged by the friendly manner in which they were received by the Japanese official and proceeded to select a building on the main street and obtain a six-month lease from the Japanese owner. The building was then refurnished and the grand opening was scheduled for Nov. 3. In 1883, Nov. 3 was significant for many reasons. To the Japanese, it was their emperors birthday, but for the Korean Imperial Customs Service at Fusan, it was the first day they began collecting custom duties. A day or two before the grand opening, a Japanese man appeared at the store and informed the Chinese merchants they were to appear at the Japanese consulate for an interview. One of the managers complied and was promptly told by the Japanese consul that they (the Chinese) were to immediately shut their business and leave the port on the next steamer. The Chinese merchants refused and informed the Japanese consul that they would appeal to the Korean authorities for help. On the opening day, the shop was plagued with visits from Japanese store-keepers and merchants who threatened the occupants and ordered them to shut their store immediately. Later that evening, a large number of Japanese entered the shop and threatened not only to smash all of their merchandise but also to physically remove the Chinese from the premises. It was only with a great deal of effort that the Japanese were convinced to leave. They left, but warned they would return if the store opened again. The Chinese merchants stoically opened their shop for business the following day and were again harassed by not only the Japanese merchants but also by the Japanese consulate. The Chinese reminded the Japanese consul they would hold him responsible for the acts of his countrymen. He ignored them. The Chinese merchants lodged complaints with their minister in Seoul and their plight soon made its way into the English language newspapers in Japan and China. These newspapers especially The Rising Sun & Nagasaki Express denounced the Japanese acts. According to the newspaper: It seems that the Japanese Consul at Fusan objects to the presence of Chinese Merchants, on the grounds that in the settlement of Fusan it is agreed between Japan and Corea that only Japanese shall be able to carry on trade there. The editor doubted such a treaty existed, but even if it did, he argued, the Japanese consul had been informed in advance of the Chinese merchants intentions and had granted them permission to do so through his silence. It was only after a few Japanese peddlers complained of having to compete against the Chinese merchants that he took an active interest in the affair and then had the audacity to demand the Chinese merchants to leave. He went on to write: The Japanese have held a rich monopoly in Corea for 7 years past, but cannot do so any longer. The day has now passed when only Japanese can set foot on shore in the Land of Morning Calm, and when Japanese can rob undisturbed, valuable timber, per force majeur, from the islands on the East coast of Corea. He also expressed a desire for the Chinese fleet to visit not only Fusan, but also Nagasaki [as] the necessity for the presence of the Chinese fleet in these waters has been brought home to us in a most unmistakable manner After the Chinese authorities in Seoul lodged a complaint with the Korean government, Paul Georg von Mollendorff, a German adviser, was dispatched to Fusan to mediate a solution. Apparently a compromise was reached in which the Chinese merchants were allowed to remain but they did so in great fear of the jealous [Japanese] traders. It seems that once its lease was up, the Chinese firm moved to Jemulpo and Seoul where it enjoyed a very profitable business until the night of June 2/3, 1889, when the companys shop in Seoul was robbed. Nearly $7,000 worth of gold, silver and watches were taken. One of the employees on duty was stabbed to death and the shop was then set on fire. The Rising Sun & Nagasaki Express reported: This store is quite distant from any other Chinese or other foreign dwelling, and the robbers were not molested. Suspicion points to some of the Chinese roughs who have been flocking over from Chefoo for the last six months, and if the Chinese Minister wished he could most likely place his hands on the thieves without much trouble, as it is supposed that the entire contents of the store were carried away. A Chinese newspaper added: Tick, Hing & Co. are the agents of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. in Corea. Much sympathy is felt for them. They had many friends, owing to their universal courtesy and strict integrity. Whether Coreans or destitute Chefoo Chinamen did it is not yet known. But robbery of money and valuables seem to have been the object. Messrs. Tick, Hing & Co. were not insured, and their loss must be very serious. Shortly after the fatal robbery, the Chinese Legation in Seoul offered a reward of $1,000 for the arrest of the criminals. It isnt clear if anyone ever collected the reward but the company remained in Korea at least up until the early 20th century. For the company, Korea was definitely not the Land of the Morning Calm. Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters. The United States, Britain, France confronted Russia at the United Nations Security Council, 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, 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 Kim Song 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 wellbeing 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 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. (Reuters) A fired-up Joe Biden came out swinging Friday as he tried to make up for a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, insisting he was the right man to win November's U.S. presidential election. Biden's appearance at a campaign rally in the battleground state of North Carolina came amid rumblings in his alarmed Democratic Party about replacing the 81-year-old as its nominee and shortly before the nation's most influential newspaper urged him to step aside. "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 admitted to supporters in unusually confessional remarks. "But I know how to tell the truth. I know how to do this job," he said to huge cheers, vowing "when you get knocked down, you get back up." Biden's team was in damage-control mode after Thursday's debate when he often hesitated, tripped over words and lost his train of thought exacerbating fears about his ability to serve another term. He had hoped to allay qualms about his advanced age, and to expose Trump as a habitual liar. But the president failed to counter his bombastic rival, who offered up a largely unchallenged reel of false or misleading statements about everything from the economy to immigration. On Friday, Biden delivered the lines Democrats wished they had heard in the televised debate. "Did you see Trump last night? My guess is he set and I mean this sincerely a new record for the most lies told in a single debate," Biden said. "Donald Trump is a genuine threat to this nation. He's a threat to our freedom. He's a threat to our democracy. He's literally a threat for everything America stands for." Trump also returned to the campaign trail Friday, speaking at a rally in Virginia and launching his familiar attacks on Biden in a rambling speech. "It's not his age, it's his competence," Trump said. "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." A new Democrat? Trump addressed the chances of Biden being replaced by another candidate, saying "I don't really believe that because he does better in polls than any of the (other) Democrats." So far, no senior Democratic figure has publicly called on Biden to withdraw, with most toeing a party line about sticking with the existing ticket. "I will never turn my back on President Biden," California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has figured prominently on lists of possible replacement candidates, said immediately after the debate. Forcing a change in the ticket would be politically fraught, and Biden would have to decide himself to withdraw to make way for another nominee before the party convention next month. Biden overwhelmingly won the primary votes, and the party's 3,900 delegates heading to the convention in Chicago are beholden to him. If he exits, the delegates would have to find a replacement. "Bad debate nights happen," Biden's former boss, Barack Obama, wrote on X. But the election is "still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself." The show of Democratic loyalty and Biden's defiance in North Carolina were not enough for The New York Times, however. The daily newspaper slammed Biden's campaign as a "reckless gamble" in the face of the threat posed by Trump, with its editorial board which is separate from the newsroom calling for the president to stand aside. The "greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election," it said. A logical but not automatic candidate to take Biden's place would be his vice president, Kamala Harris, who loyally defended his debate performance. As the Democrats scrambled, Trump allies sought to project calm assurance. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a senior Republican figure, said it was clear Biden was not "up to the job." "Donald Trump is the only man on that stage that's qualified and capable of serving as the next president," he said. "The election cannot get here soon enough." A second debate is scheduled for Sept. 10. (AFP) A 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 over 3.8 million ballots from Friday's election counted so far, Massoud Pezeshkian won over 1,595,000 votes and 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 percent, 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. 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 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. The clerical establishment sought a high turnout to offset a legitimacy crisis fuelled 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 programme 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 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 percent in the 2021 presidential election and a record low of 41 percent of people voted 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 percent 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 liberalisation and political pluralism. "We will respect the hijab law, but there should never be any intrusive or inhumane behaviour 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 spiralled 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 legitimise 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 2022/23 protests, more than 500 people including 71 minors were killed, hundreds were injured and thousands arrested, rights groups said. (Reuters) Two giant pandas from China have safely arrived in Southern California, where they will be cared for as part of an ongoing conservation partnership , the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said Friday. The pandas, 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 will not be viewable by the public, the alliance said in a brief statement. 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 alliance said. A farewell ceremony was held earlier this week before the pandas departed from China. Yun Chuan, a mild-mannered male whos nearly 5 years old, has connections to California, the wildlife alliance said previously. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Xin Bao is a nearly 4-year-old female described as a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has a nearly 30-year partnership with leading conservation institutions in China focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas and the bamboo forests they depend on. (AP) Iran announced Saturday it will hold a runoff presidential election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi after an initial vote saw the top candidates not securing an outright win in the lowest turnout poll ever held in the Islamic Republic. The election this coming Friday will pit reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian against the hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Mohsen Eslami, an election spokesman, announced the result in a news conference carried by Iranian state television. He said of 24.5 million votes cast, Pezeshkian got 10.4 million while Jalili received 9.4 million. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf got 3.3 million. Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi had over 206,000 votes. Iranian law requires that a winner gets more than 50 percent of all votes cast. If not, the races top two candidates advance to a runoff a week later. Theres been only one runoff presidential election in Irans history: in 2005, when hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bested former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Eslami acknowledged the country's Guardian Council would need to offer formal approval, but the result did not draw any immediate challenge from contenders in the race. 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. There were signs of the wider disenchantment of the public with the vote. More than 1 million votes were voided, according to the results, typically a sign of people feeling obligated to cast a ballot but not wanting to select any of the candidates. The overall turnout was 39.9 percent, according to the results. The 2021 presidential election that elected Raisi saw a 48.8 percent turnout, while the March parliamentary election saw a 40.6 percent turnout. Despite the low turnout, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi praised the public for turning out to a vote conducted without any internationally recognized observers. He thanked the people who voted for their very valuable presence, adding that the election was held in complete safety and with very serious competition. There had 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 under house arrest, has also refused to vote along with his wife, his daughter said. Theres also been criticism that Pezeshkian represents just another government-approved candidate. In a documentary on the reformist candidate aired by state TV, one woman said her generation was moving toward the same level of animosity with the government that Pezeshkians generation had in the 1979 revolution. Jalili, once described by CIA director Bill Burns as stupefyingly opaque in negotiations, likely would have won outright had the three hard-liners not split Friday's vote. Qalibaf, a former general in Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, had been thought to have a wider power base, despiting being plagued by corruption allegations. He is also known for launching a violent crackdown on Iranian university students in 1999 and reportedly ordering live fire to be used against students in 2003 while serving as the countrys police chief. Now the question becomes whether Pezeshkian will be able to draw voters into his campaign. On Election Day, he offered comments on outreach to the West after voting seemingly aimed at drumming up turnout for his campaign even after being targeted by a veiled warning from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei . Though he has received notable endorsements from major reformist figures, including former Presidents (Hassan) Rouhani and Mohammad Khatami, Pezeshkian has been a generally underwhelming candidate, the geopolitical consultancy Eurasia Group said in an analysis before the vote. Should he qualify for a runoff, his position would weaken as the conservative voting bloc unites behind a single candidate. Raisi, 63, died in the May 19 helicopter crash that also killed the countrys foreign minister and others. He was seen as a protege of Khamenei and a potential successor. 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 Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by police over allegedly improperly wearing the mandatory headscarf, or hijab. 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, the Islamic Republic 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. Despite the recent unrest, there was only one reported attack around the election. Gunmen opened fire on a van transporting ballot boxes in the restive southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, killing two police officers and wounding others, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. The province regularly sees violence between security forces and the militant group Jaish al-Adl, as well as drug traffickers. (AP) Warren Buffett donated another $5.3 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and four family charities, his biggest annual donation since he began making them in 2006. Buffett's donation boosted his overall giving to the charities to about $57 billion, including to the family charities in the last two Novembers. The latest donation, announced on Friday, included about 13 million Berkshire Class B shares. Buffett donated 9.93 million shares to the Gates Foundation, and has donated more than $43 billion of Berkshire shares there overall. He also donated 993,035 shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for his late first wife, and 695,122 shares to each of three charities led by his children Howard, Susan and Peter: the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation and the NoVo Foundation. Buffett, 93, plans to give away more than 99 percent of the fortune he built at Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire, which he has run since 1965, with his children serving as executors of his will. Berkshire is an approximately $880 billion conglomerate that owns dozens of businesses including the BNSF railroad and Geico car insurance, and stocks such as Apple. Buffett still owns 14.5 percent of Berkshire's outstanding shares, a Friday regulatory filing shows, despite having given away more than half of his stock since 2006. His $128.4 billion fortune makes him the world's 10th-richest person, according to Forbes magazine. In a statement, Buffett said he was worth about $44 billion when the donations began, but that the benefits of compounding, "simple and generally sound capital deployment" at Berkshire, and the "American tailwind" produced his current wealth. Buffett, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates also pioneered the Giving Pledge, in which 245 people like OpenAI's Sam Altman, Michael Bloomberg, Carl Icahn, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg committed at least half of their wealth to philanthropy. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation works in reproductive health. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation works to alleviate hunger, mitigate conflicts including in Ukraine, and improve public safety. The Sherwood Foundation supports Nebraska nonprofits, and the NoVo Foundation has initiatives focused on girls and women. Friday's filing suggests based on Buffett's holdings that Berkshire has repurchased little or none of its own stock since April 19. (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 percent 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 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. (Reuters) An attacker with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade on Saturday, Serbias Interior Ministry said. The officer responded by fatally shooting the assailant. Both Serbian and Israeli officials said initial indications pointed to terrorism as a motive. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said in a statement that the attacker fired a bolt at the officer, hitting him in the neck. He said the officer then "used a weapon in self-defense to shoot the attacker, who died as a result of his injuries. The policeman was conscious when he was transported to Belgrade's main emergency hospital and underwent an operation to remove the bolt from his neck. Hospital officials said he was stable after surgery. Serbias populist President Aleksandar Vucic visited the wounded officer in the hospital, promising a sweeping crackdown against terrorists. We are hunting them down, he said. We will have no mercy for terrorism in Serbia. A spokesman with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that today there was an attempted terrorist attack in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. The spokesman said the embassy is closed and no employee of the embassy was injured. Israels ambassador to Belgrade, Yahel Vilan, said he was deeply shocked by the terrorist attack in front of the embassy. He expressed gratitude for the Serbian police officer who courageously prevented the attack and said he is convinced that the investigation by the competent authorities of this shameful attack will identify all responsible persons and further contribute to the preservation of Serbia as a safe country. Minister Dacic told reporters that an investigation was ongoing, but there are now all indications that the motives relate to terrorism. Because there is no other motive why someone would attack a gendarme outside the Israeli Embassy. Dacic identified the attacker as a 25-year-old Serb who converted to Islam. Police are investigating his possible network and ties with foreign terrorist groups after another person was arrested near the scene of the shooting, he added. There are indications that those are individuals already known to the security services the Wahhabi movement, said Dacic, referring to the hard-line Islamist movement. Authorities raised the security alert in Belgrade, including for foreign embassies and government buildings but also public places such as shopping malls and other busy areas. Israel's embassy is located not far from the U.S. Embassy in an upscale Belgrade district. It is guarded by an elite police unit with officers armed with automatic weapons. Serbia has maintained close relations with Israel during the war in Gaza. (AP) While NewJeans set the Tokyo Dome ablaze with their fiery stages, member Hanni didn't sit well with K-netizens after a "too sexy" outfit. Earlier on June 26th and 27th, NewJeans held their first local Japanese fan meeting, "Bunnies Camp 2024" at Tokyo Dome. This event was held to commemorate its official debut in Japan with its first Japanese EP, "Supernatural" unveiled on June 21. Upon its release, the quintet's popularity in the country heated up even more, lauding the members' high-quality songs, top-tier visuals, and charming personality. Amid these must-celebrated achievements, some K-netizens expressed their frustration to the NewJeans, pointing out how differently the members dressed themselves outside Korea. In SoKor, they used to dress in a more conservative manner, such as showing less skin and avoiding "sexy" 'fits, given that there are a lot of children who are watching them diligently as well. But in Japan, they shockingly wore "bolder" outfits, Hanni particularly gaining attention for her stage costume. In an online community, internet users uploaded the idol's photos wearing a long-sleeved mesh top with a leather bra top as the outerwear. She then completed the look with a layered microskirt. ALSO READ: Bunnies Clap Back to Malicious Comments Asking NewJeans Hanni to Manage Weight In the post then, the OP wrote: "Hanni's exposure is too much." They explained: "Hanni's outfit is pretty, but her exposure is too much these days. This is almost like a bra. What do you think?" As of uploading the article, it has now about 200k views, amassing divided opinions from web commenters. Seeing Hanni's appearance, some people agreed and criticized the idol's outfit, saying: "The reason why the opinions are divided is because Hanni is cute, but the clothes are sexy and don't suit her well." "Why is your body like that? The dress also looks unsophisticated." "The first outfit is so bad. It doesn't suit you and it's not pretty." There are even those who body-shamed the star, leaving comments such as: "I didn't think much of it because it wasn't a body that looked sexy even when dressed like that." "Hey, but why is her stomach so protruding?" "Hanni, you have a big belly, so why do they have to make you wear such a short top? I'm so embarrassed, instead of giving it to Danielle or Hyein." In response, Bunnies (fandom) immediately jumped to defend the idol, highlighting that there are a lot of celebrities who also dress like that, asking why is it a problem if Hanni does it as well, considering that she's also an adult now. They left cheering responses, encouraging her to just wear whatever she likes, and wrote: "It's not that short. She's an adult, so it shouldn't be a problem." "But aren't all girl group outfits like that these days?" "She's not even a minor, but you are all so overprotective because she looks like a baby." "Guys, she's an adult." READ MORE: NewJeans Hanni Becomes Target of Hate Comments Over Nationality Here's Why For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dela Cruz Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 29 (ANI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India is actively working on the process of free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with many countries and expressed confidence of fast progress with the United Kingdom, irrespective of the result of the British elections. He said a team of officials was in Brussels for negotiations with the European Union. Also Read | ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Prize Money in Indian Rupees: Check How Much Money in INR Winner and Runner-up Will Receive in T20 Cricket WC. "FTA (Free Trade Agreement) is a process on which we are working very actively with many countries. Because of the elections, there was a little bit of a break in my engagement with my colleagues, ministers and other government... As we speak, the team is just returning from European Union meetings. More than 25-30 officials were in Brussels for the EU negotiations... I am confident, they will make fast progress even with the UK, irrespective of the election result. We hope to make progress after the new government comes in. If the current government comes in, they are already deeply committed to the FTA," Piyush Goyal said. He mentioned having discussions with members of the Labour Party, who have shown equal interest in pursuing a free trade agreement with India. Also Read | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Meets PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Special Attention for State in Upcoming Budget. "We have already had personal discussions with the shadow trade minister and the shadow foreign minister of the Labour Party in UK a few months and they have committed to us that they are equally interested to pursue expeditiously a free trade agreement," he said. The thirteenth round of negotiations for the UK-India Free Trade Agreement took place from the September 18 to December 15, 2023. The round included sessions both in person, in London and Delhi, and virtual talks. As with round 12, these negotiations focused on complex issues including goods, services, and investment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak had earlier this month expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi held a bilateral meeting with PM Sunak on the sidelines of the 50th Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) in Apulia, Italy on Friday. Britain will go for polls on July 4. Officials had said earlier this month that the long-awaited trade deal between India and Britain is likely to be signed after the completion of elections in the United Kingdom as the officials of the two countries met virtually on May 7 last month. Last month, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry organised a Chintan Shivir to provide information related to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to the stakeholders and officials. During the meeting officials discussed strategies and vision for 2047, economic assessments and modelling of FTAs, inclusion of new disciplines like environment, labour, gender issues, and digital trade. India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations were formally re-launched in June 2022 as follow up of India-EU Leaders announcement in Porto in May 2021. Negotiations cover 23 policy areas and chapters. Six Rounds of negotiations were held till October 2023. Goyal, who is on a three-day tour of Maharashtra, addressed various stakeholders and emphasised India's strategic position in the global economy amidst current geopolitical challenges. The minister said that India remains committed to negotiating and finalizing FTAs with various countries, despite the disruptions caused by the global election cycles. He congratulated Ursula von der Leyen on her re-nomination as the EU Commissioner and noted her commitment to the EU-India Free Trade Agreement. Goyal also mentioned the recent election of Antonio Luis Santos da Costa as president of the European Council, highlighting his Goan roots and historical ties to the India-EU FTA. The union minister's tour of Maharashtra includes engagements with industry leaders, local businesses, and political figures, with a focus on promoting India's economic self-reliance and expanding international trade relations. Goyal emphasised the importance of making India a self-reliant economy, with a strong focus on sustainable practices and industry development. "It is our priority to make India self-reliant. And as we move forward, as we replace the oil economy by promoting electric vehicles, our focus is on plantation boards like spices, rubber, tea, and coffee," he stated. Piyush Goyal highlighted the significance of global events in the context of India's economic ambitions and talked about the world's increasing interest in trading and investing with India. "The global situation is serious. There are two wars going on....there is an atmosphere of elections all over the world. You know that in all the world's most developed democracies, elections have either taken place or are taking place," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 29 (ANI): BJD Vice President and Senior MLA Prasanna Acharya on Saturday urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to prioritize two key issues concerning Odisha - to push for the long-standing demand for special category status and seek a revision of the coal royalty rates. "Odisha CM and two Deputy CM gone to Delhi. They are meeting with the Prime Minister, the President of India and other Union Ministers. But they should raise our demands. CM Mohan Majhi should raise the Coal royalty revision and special category status issues. Odisha has long demand for special category status," Acharya told ANI. Also Read | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Meets PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Special Attention for State in Upcoming Budget. Acharya further aimed the BJP for what he described as a break from tradition. He questioned the recent appointment of a non-Odia Chief Secretary asking "Is this Odisha's pride?" "Chief Secretary appointment is the prerogative of the govt. But the BJP saying Odisha pride. Is this Odisha's pride ( Non-odia CS appointment)? BJP did the diversion. BJP broke the tradition of CS appointment," Acharya said. Also Read | Delhi Metro Records Over 69 Lakh Passenger Journeys on June 28 Amid Heavy Rains. Earlier in the day, Majhi and Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida on Saturday met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the national capital. After the meeting, Jaishankar took to social media platform X to post, "Delighted to meet Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi ji, Deputy CMs Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo ji, and Smt. Pravati Parida ji this morning. Congratulated them on the assumption of such significant responsibility." He further said that the Odisha government has been assured that the External Affairs Ministry would closely work with them so as to promote tourism. "Confident that their Government will take Odisha to a higher trajectory of growth and prosperity. Assured that MEA will work closely with Odisha Government in promoting tourism, establishing international linkages and accessing a global workplace. Wished them a successful tenure," Jaishanker tweeted. Meanwhile, Majhi and both his deputies, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida also met Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda in the national capital. On Friday, the three had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) GWM lead GWM has a diverse line of marques and models in its stable The Chinese car market is the biggest in the world. Last year alone more than 30 million of them were registered - three times the number in Europe. That's not a surprise, of course: it's why European firms have long flocked to China to sell their wares. What might be news, though, is that China is home to 61 domestic manufacturers. Those brands are split among 18 different powerhouses, from the behemoths of Geely (owner of Volvo, Polestar and Lotus) and BYD (the world's biggest maker of PHEVs) to the state-controlled Changan and SAIC (MG's new parent). ADVERTISEMENT Strong sales in their home market has, over the past few years, resulted in these Chinese companies attempting to go global, and with much success: from 2020 car exports quintupled in just three years to 4.9 million. This means the country is now the biggest exporter of vehicles in the world, overtaking Japan (home of the world's biggest car maker, Toyota). It's not just sheer volume that's putting China on the automotive map - these days it's quality, too. For instance, the MG 4, priced from 25,000, was the UK's second-best-selling electric car last year, behind the Tesla Model Y. BYD and Geely-owned Zeekr are other Chinese car firms making waves in the UK, with Xpeng, Nio (the one with the battery-changing stations) and Chery-owned Omoda coming soon. Another name to take note of is Great Wall Motor. GWM is the fifth-biggest player in its home country, with 1.2 million global sales last year, and under its wing are five brands: Poer (pronounced Power), Haval, Wey, Tank and Ora. GWM isn't strictly new to Europe - although its efforts so far don't inspire confidence. Once the only Chinese brand to sell vehicles in the region, it flirted with the UK with the now-discontinued - and two-star-rated - Steed pick-up. You can be forgiven for not remembering it. Its latest venture here is Ora, the EV-only brand that focuses on quirky styling to carve a niche in some saturated segments. It arrived here in 2022 with the Funky Cat (now the GWM Ora 03), a Volkswagen ID 3-chasing, well-equipped but flawed raised hatchback. The Ora 07 saloon - think a Chinese Hyundai Ioniq 6 - is on the way later this year, and an SUV has been tipped to follow. Story continues So with just one brand and two cars in the market, why should UK buyers care about GWM's niche name? Because, before long, it might not be so niche. Having already cracked Australia and parts of South America, GWM is promising to turn its focus to Europe. "No brand is ruled out when it comes to expanding into our European markets," says Thiemo Jahnke, GWM's European brand and marketing director, adding: "Especially the UK." Key to this wide-reaching ambition is that GWM is already well established in other European markets, especially Germany. In Bavaria it sells the Wey 05 (formerly the Coffee 01), a Europe-only, Mazda CX-5-sized hybrid SUV, while the smaller 03 is on the way. Both are tipped to come to the UK. Its Haval SUV and Poer pick-up truck brands are also well known in eastern Europe. In Russia, GWM's Tula manufacturing and engine plant - opened in 2018, in a first for a Chinese car maker outside of its home market - produces 150,000 cars for markets such as Russia and Bulgaria, where it previously also had a factory. Other locations in Europe are being looked at. What could hold it back, however, is that GWM's European business will now be conducted from China after it closed its Munich base last month, with the loss of 100 jobs. This decision, it says, was due to tough market conditions and the "very concrete threat of punitive taxes" on imported Chinese cars that are currently being considered by EU legislators. Regardless, the changes won't affect sales in Europe or the UK, promises GWM. Its UK operations are handled by distributor IML. Behind the scenes, GWM has also been fundamental in creating the next generation of one of the UK's biggest automotive names: Mini. As part of a 183 million joint venture, the BMW-owned brand's new electric Cooper and Aceman models are being built at the Chinese group's Zhangjiagang plant. This will cater for both the local and global markets before Mini's Oxford factory takes on European builds from 2026. Along with this, the deal means GWM and BMW are jointly developing cars. Translating something that works in China, a market that favours in-car tech over drivability, to Europe, a market that doesn't, is the biggest challenge for GWM. This was demonstrated clearly by the Funky Cat's reception in the UK: our two-and-a-half-star road test verdict pointed to its cheerful exterior being overshadowed by issues concerning "range, charging, long-distance comfort, ease of use, multimedia and assisted driving". "Yes, it can be better, it will be better, but it is not the worst and is still competitive," says chief BEV engineer Rolf Albrecht, when asked why GWM launched a car that felt both unfinished and lacking from European market testing. So what was the goal? "We do not want to be the leaders, we want to have a robust system," he says. "We have ideas of what we want to do better. I've taken the feedback [from the reviews) in." Albrecht adds that feedback will "give us a chance to improve and get better", but he admits the firm "doesn't want to take risks". Instead, the focus is on upgrading charging speeds and making the in-car software and technology more 'European-friendly' - so less-intrusive driver monitoring systems, for instance. Designs will also be tailored to be more appealing to European customers. Key to this is the opening of two new design studios, one in Munich and the other in Turin, and they will be tasked with feeding European trends' into concepts. Design boss Andrew Dyson says: "They are so we can get a feel for the European market and secure talent from European designers." How much of this will make it onto the roads, however, is more difficult to predict. According to Dyson, who helped conceive cars such as the Chrysler Crossfire and Vauxhall Mokka, GWM owner Wei Jianjun signs off every vehicle, and he takes part in design reviews every Friday. "He will say if he likes something or not," adds Dyson. "He has the final say." So what's next? Expect an influx of brands and models in Europe, including the UK, to begin with. GWM says it is targeting the "aspiring middle class" who are "tech-savvy and quality-focused", and one brand that fits this mould is Wey. Already on sale in Germany and tipped to come to the UK, Wey has the fundamentals to do well here, with exterior and interior styling that feel much more suited to European tastes. Another that fits this demographic is Tank, GWM's flagship marque, but don't expect to see it here. The issue is the business case: Tank told us the luxury SUV brand is positioned to compete with the likes of Range Rover, Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That's not a problem in China, but in Europe those competitor brands have too much clout to steal their customers. Regardless, the expansion plan is in full swing. GWM is targeting much of mainland Europe, including Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Bulgaria. In a bid to expand faster, GWM has even completed a renaming overhaul, with everything Europe-bound (such as the Funky Cat) positioned as product lines under the GWM name. "This will help us create a stronger consumer brand in the tough European marketplace and a faster awareness and familiarity ramp-up," says Jahnke. "Ultimately, this approach will ease further portfolio expansion in Europe." ]]> Chandigarh, June 29: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the BJP will fight the upcoming Haryana assembly elections alone under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and exuded confidence the party will come back to power in the state with full majority for its third consecutive term. In a party statement, Shah said the BJP will fight the next assembly elections under the leadership of Saini, who will also be the next chief minister. Addressing BJP leaders and workers during a meeting of the party's extended state executive at Panchkula here, Shah said they should have no doubts that the BJP will have no tie-up with any party for the state polls, which are due before October this year. Assembly Elections 2024: Election Commission Initiates Preparations for State Polls in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The party does not need any crutches, party sources quoted Shah as having said in the meeting. The proceedings of the meeting were not open to the media. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the BJP will form the government in Haryana for the third time with a full majority, Shah told the workers. He said to form a majority government in the state, every worker would have to go to every house and appeal to each voter, according to the sources. Lashing out at the Congress, Shah accused it of trying to hide its defeat in the Lok Sabha polls by spreading confusion among people. Home Minister Amit Shah Holds Maharashtra BJP Core Group Meeting at Delhi (Watch Video). Shah said Narendra Modi is the first leader to become the prime minister for the third consecutive time in the country after six decades. The basis of BJP's victory is the party's principles, the hard work of workers and the public welfare work done by the BJP government, he said. Targeting the opposition, Shah said the leaders of the Haryana Congress have been involved in "cuts, commission and corruption". Earlier in Haryana, one government used to work for one district, the other government for another district, but the BJP has done the same work in the whole of Haryana in the past 10 years, said Shah, asserting that there was no regional bias in under the BJP rule. He appealed to the workers that after the formation of the BJP-led government at the Centre, they have to work to ensure the party government is formed for the third time in Haryana. The Union Home Minister said "tara, sitara" will no longer work in Haryana as he took a dig at the Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Deepender Singh Hooda. "Sonia ka aakhon ka taara' (Rahul Gandhi), and (Bhupinder) 'Hooda saab ka Sitara' (Deepender Hooda). Ab Haryana mein Tara Sitara nahin chalega'," he said. He asked the workers to ensure the BJP's victory in the assembly polls with a two-thirds majority. The Haryana BJP posted on X that the home minister expressed gratitude to party workers and said the people of Haryana have made an important contribution in making Modi prime minister for a third time. The Union Home Minister said that in the last 10 years, the Centre carried out development works worth Rs 2,70,000 crore in Haryana. Praising the Modi government, he said it made many "impossible things possible" in the country, as he spoke about the construction of the Ram temple and the abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Lauding the people of the state, Shah said "Mhare (my) Haryana" has made a record in producing grains per person per acre. He appealed to the workers to make people aware of the work done by the BJP government in the last 10 years. Shah said that the BJP is the only party that respects the voter at the booth level and gives the credit of any victory to its booth worker. This is why the group of workers is called 'Dev Durlabh Fauj' in BJP, he said as he called upon all the workers to consider themselves as dedicated soldiers of the party and work for each and every vote. Shah noted that no other party has workers like the BJP. He said that the workers should go among the public with great pride because the Modi and Manohar-Nayab government have lived up to the expectations of the people on every front. In March this year, the BJP replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini, an OBC leader, as the chief minister of Haryana. Party leader Kiran Choudhary said Shah infused fresh zeal and enthusiasm in party workers. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is also the BJP's election in-charge for Haryana, Chief Minister Saini, party's co-incharge Biplab Kumar Deb and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar were present during the second session of the meeting which took place in the multipurpose hall of the Tau Devi Lal stadium in Panchkula. Senior state-level BJP leaders, office-bearers and around 4,500 party workers from all 90 assembly constituencies attended the meeting. After the meeting, Shah also met state unit office-bearers. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Jun 29 (PTI) Businessmen and hawkers clashed in the city's New Market area on Saturday, amid tensions over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's directive to reduce hawkers' occupation of road space. According to a police official, trouble began when some hawkers objected to traders with permanent structures in the heritage New Market complex and surrounding open spaces parking their vehicles there. Also Read | Bihar Bridge Collapse List: From Araria and Siwan to Madhubani, Here Are the Five Bridges That Collapsed Within 11 Days. The hawkers demanded as decided in a meeting between Mayor Firhad Hakim and their association members, the parking space in front of Simpark Mall in New Market compound be cleared of vehicles of permanent shop owners and hawkers be allowed to display their wares. As arguments escalated into physical altercations, businessmen blocked nearby S N Banerjee Road, disrupting traffic bound for Esplanade for about half-an-hour. Also Read | Delhi Weather Forecast: Two Boys Drown Near Waterlogged Siraspur Underpass in Samaypur Badli; IMD Issues Heavy Rainfall Alert for Next Two Days (Watch Video). Hawkers also organised a rally through various alleys of New Market-Chandni Chowk areas, alleging that shop owners were denying them their rightful space and jeopardising their livelihoods. Normalcy was restored following intervention by senior police and KMC officials, allowing both groups to resume their activities. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 29 (PTI) The CPI, the second-largest coalition partner in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala, on Saturday came out against the social media handles which are claimed to be so-called pro-Left but proved to be connected to anti-social activities including gold smuggling. The party said their role was not less in the setbacks suffered by the Left movement in recent times. Also Read | Rajkot Airport Canopy Collapse: Day After Similar Incident at Delhi Airport, Canopy Collapses During Maintenance Work in Gujarat (Watch Video). In a hard-hitting statement, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said the realisation that, those who pretend to be the protectors of the Left movement were actually the custodians of the underworld, was something which was unable to be tolerated by the Left sympathisers. He said the Left movement could regain the trust of people only if a deliberate distance was kept from them. Also Read | Bihar Bridge Collapse List: From Araria and Siwan to Madhubani, Here Are the Five Bridges That Collapsed Within 11 Days. The Communist movement has the responsibility to show justice to the lakhs of people who have been trusting it, he added. Viswam's statement came in the wake of allegations that cropped up against some leaders of the ruling CPI(M) in Kannur and their alleged connections with anti-social elements involved in gold smuggling and other illegal activities and the social media handles managed by them. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 29 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to former CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari at his residence in the Defence Colony in Dehradun on Saturday. Dhami discussed various contemporary issues related to the state with the senior BJP leader. Also Read | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Meets PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Special Attention for State in Upcoming Budget. Meanwhile, Dhami also launched the 'Jagran Samvadi' programme in Dehradun today. Taking to their official X handle, CMO Uttarakhand posted, "On this occasion, the Chief Minister expressed his views on the initiatives being taken to realise the dreams of the youth of the state, law and order, ease of transport, efforts being made to maintain the original form of Devbhoomi etc." Also Read | New CBDT Chairman: Ravi Agrawal Appointed at Top Post of Central Board of Direct Taxes. Quoting Dhami, the CMO in its post added, "The Chief Minister said that the development journey of Uttarakhand is a collective journey of all of us. We all have to cooperate in this. He also expected everyone to come forward with positive thinking in making Uttarakhand a leading and ideal state." The Chief Minister also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new records of development have been established in the entire country in the last 10 years. "Under the double-engine government, many such works have been done in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand which could not have been thought of earlier," Dhami said. Talking about the government's efforts for youth employment, Dhami said, "The youth of our state is moving ahead with new knowledge and science. The youth want employment and self-employment. Our effort is to make 100 per cent appointments on vacant posts in government departments. In the last three years, 14,800 youth have been provided government jobs." The Chief Minister also said that tourism and pilgrimage are the strong base of the state's economy. He said, "Due to the development of roads, air traffic and other infrastructure facilities, twice as many pilgrims have come to the state as compared to last year for the Chardham Yatra. While a total of 19 lakh pilgrims came to Kedarnath last year, 10 lakh pilgrims have come so far this year." The Uttarakhand Chief Minister further asserted that a provision of strict law has been made to prevent any kind of religious conversion in the state. "We have made a riot prevention law by taking strict action against those who cause any kind of damage to government property. Under this, the damage will be recovered from the person who causes damage to the resources," Dhami said. The Chief Minister also said, "It is our endeavour to make Uttarakhand a crime-free state. The spirit of friendly police in the state is for peace-loving people and not for criminals. Instructions have been given to the police to take strong action against criminals in the state." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Poonch, June 29: A brief exchange of fire was reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, official sources said on Saturday. "Late last night a brief exchange of fire took place at Line of Control in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch," Army Sources said. Earlier on June 27, three terrorists were neutralized in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday in the Gandoh, Bhaderwah sector of district Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, ADGP Jammu Anand Jain said. Speaking to ANI, the ADGP of Jammu, Anand Jain earlier said that the two M-4s and one AK-47 rifle have been recovered from the possession of the terrorists. Jammu and Kashmir: Infiltration Bid Foiled on LoC in Baramulla's Uri Sector. "Three terrorists have been neutralized in this encounter, and arms and ammunition have been recovered from them. A search operation is going on in the area. We launched a search operation as soon as we received information of the presence of terrorists... Two M-4s and one AK-47 rifle have been recovered," he added. Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army Soldier Dies in Accidental Firing Near LoC in Rajouri. On the emergence of new terror organizations, the ADGP asserted, "There is the presence of groups in this area and a search operation is underway. As the investigation into the Chhattergala incident is also underway, so, it's yet to be discovered if it's a new scheme of terror organizations." Arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession, 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, June 29: Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil on Saturday claimed the government was not allowing a debate on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament as people linked to the ruling party have ruined the future of lakhs of students and "there is so much evidence". Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters here, Gohil, the party's Gujarat unit chief, referred to the investigation going on in Godhara in connection with the NEET-UG case and sought to know how can the government claim that paper leak has not happened. NEET Paper Leak Row: CBI Conducts Raids Across Gujarat, Arrests Five in Connection With Scam. Shaktisinh Gohil Speaks on NEET Paper Leak Row - 1. ? 2. NEET 3. NEET ? 4. pic.twitter.com/xMbtIvLxs2 Congress (@INCIndia) June 29, 2024 "The government does not want to allow anyone in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha to discuss NEET because people linked to them have ruined the future of lakhs of students and there is so much evidence... So I do not believe that there is any door left through which the government can save its skin," Gohil said. He said that during the investigation in Gujarat, "only small fish are being caught. Why are big crocodiles being released?" "Because Jay Jalaram school's chairman is standing with Modi ji," Gohil alleged, adding the school's principal and a teacher are "main accused one and two". "Is it possible for my employees to commit such fraud in my centre, in my organization without my knowledge?" he asked. Jay Jalaram School's physics teacher Tushar Bhatt, principal Parshottam Sharma, Vadodara-based education consultant Parsuram Roy, his aide Vibhor Anand and alleged middleman Arif Vohra were arrested by the Gujarat police in connection with the paper leak case. Godhra police's May 8 FIR stated that the racket was unearthed after the Panchmahal district collector received a tip-off that some people were involved in malpractices linked to the exam. NEET-UG Paper Leak Row: NTA's Response on Time Limit to Raise Grievances Pertaining to OMR Sheets. Since the tip-off was received in advance, authorities prevented malpractices at the Jay Jalaram School in Godhra and the exam was conducted without a hitch, the FIR stated. The CBI has quizzed Dixit Patel, the owner of Jay Jalaram School, in connection with the case. The school run by Patel was one of the centres of the NEET-UG exam on May 5. "The Government told the Supreme Court there is no paper leak in NEET exams. The Union Minister said all is well... Yet crores of rupees have been unearthed during the investigation, many blank checks have been found from the parents of the children who appeared for the NEET-UG exam," Gohil said. "You can understand that in Godhra district, where there is no airport, someone from Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra is going there to take the exam," the Congress leader said. According to CBI sources, the accused already arrested had allegedly asked candidates arranged by them from Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to mark Godhra as their examination centre and choose Gujarati as their language. The probe agency has claimed "a larger conspiracy" involving "interstate links" in the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. The CBI has registered six FIRs in the NEET-UG paper leak case which included its own FIR on a reference from the Union Education Ministry and five from the states where it took over investigation. The probe agency has taken over one case each in Bihar and Gujarat and three cases in Rajasthan. NEET-UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. This year's exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. Over 23 lakh candidates appeared for the test. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar, Jun 29 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday lauded the role of National Cadet Corps (NCC) in promoting fundamental values and propagating principles of human dignity and equality in society. Sinha was addressing senior wing cadets of the NCC at Special National Integration Camp, at JAKLI Regimental Centre, Rangreth here. Also Read | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Meets PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Special Attention for State in Upcoming Budget. As part of the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme, over 250 cadets from 17 directorates of the country participated in the camp organised by NCC Directorate, Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. Sinha said the special national integration camp promotes the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' and has brought together cadets from 17 directorates to foster common values of patriotism, integrity and selfless service. Also Read | Delhi Metro Records Over 69 Lakh Passenger Journeys on June 28 Amid Heavy Rains. "The NCC has always served the society with commitment, efficiency and complete dedication in accordance with its motto 'Unity and Discipline' and has made immense contribution in nation-building," he added. Sinha said the camp will enable NCC cadets to appreciate and share the common aspirations of the youth of Kashmir Valley vis a vis the rest of the country. He reiterated the commitment of the UT administration towards the empowerment of youth of Jammu Kashmir, and called upon them to join the NCC in large number and selflessly serve the society and the nation. NCC Directorate of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh is establishing three new NCC units. It has already established state-of-the-art training academies in Nagrota and Leh and also started programmes to connect the youth with innovation and start-ups. (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 29: After veteran Congress leader D Srinivas Garu passed away on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and said that the former MP will be remembered for his long years in public service. Taking to their official X handle, the PMO India quoted Narendra Modi and posted, "Saddened by the passing away of former MP D. Srinivas Garu. He will be remembered for his long years in public service and efforts to empower the poor." The post added further, "My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief." Srinivas, a three-time MLA from Nizamabad (rural) served as a two-time president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. He led the party to power in the 2004 and 2009 elections in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh. After the bifurcation into two states Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Srinivas resigned from the Congress party and joined the BRS in July 2015. Dharampuri Srinivas Dies: Congress Leader and Former Rajya Sabha MP Passes Away After Prolonged Illness. Srinivas had been suffering from illness for some time and breathed his last due to a heart attack at 3 am on Saturday in Hyderabad. He was 76. Srinivas has served as Minister, MP and PCC president in the erstwhile AP. He is survived by his two sons. His second son, Dharmapuri Arvind, is currently the MP of Nizamabad. His elder son Sanjay has previously served as the Mayor of Nizamabad. Meanwhile, former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday paid tribute to Dharmapuri Srinivas. Speaking to ANI, Naidu said, "A senior politician, former Congress president, former minister who held important portfolios and above all, a gentle, humble human being who was always available to the people, used to spend time with the people... I convey my condolences to the family members." Muchkund Dubey Dies: Veteran Indian Diplomat, Former Foreign Secretary Passes Away at Fortis Heart Hospital in Delhi. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana ministers, and senior leaders of the Congress party expressed condolences over his demise. Apart from that, Telangana Minister of Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Congress Senior Leader V Hanumanth Rao and Rajya Sabha MP Keshava Rao paid their last respects. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) East Hampton, NY, Jun 30 (AP) Jill Biden was right at her husband's side Saturday as they exited Air Force One to head for a pair of campaign stops at luxurious vacation homes on Long Island. And she got straight to the point when it was her turn to introduce the president at a tony fundraiser. Joe isn't just the right person for the job. He's the only person for the job, she declared. Also Read | US: Woman Charged With Manslaughter After Leaving Eight-Year-Old Daughter in Hot Car While She Worked in Charlotte. The first lady also told donors, Anyone can tell you what they want to do, but Joe Biden can tell you what he's done with his judgment, his experience, and his relationships with leaders across the globe. The first lady is trying to rally support for her husband after a dreadful performance in Thursday's presidential debate created fresh worries about President Joe Biden's age and his ability to compete in November's election and to serve another four years. Also Read | North Korea Executes 22-Year-Old Man for Listening to K-Pop Songs and Watching South Korean Films: Report. The community college professor has been by her husband's side since he exited the debate stage as he faces what could be a defining challenge of his presidency the president says that democracy itself is on the line in his race against former President Donald Trump. It's a reflection of the first lady's influence, her love of her husband and the pressure confronting an 81-year-old candidate whom many voters worry is too old to serve another term as president. While Trump's wife has been noticeably absent from the campaign trail, Jill Biden has taken a leading role, wearing a dress Friday decorated with the word Vote. Less than 24 hours after her husband's disastrous debate, she stood before a crowd in Greenwich Village and spoke glowingly about her husband without any nod to the swirling controversy over whether he is up to another term. Joe will never stop fighting for this country and for communities like this one, she said at an event at the Stonewall National Monument, a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride. That's who Joe is. He wakes up every morning thinking about how he can make the lives of Americans better. She was more frank, though, later in the day at a LGBTQ fundraiser in the city, saying of her husband's debate performance, I know it's on your minds. As Joe said earlier today, he's not a young man, she allowed. And you know, after last night's debate, he said, You know, Jill, I don't know what happened. I didn't feel that great.' And I said, Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that you've been president.' The first lady went on to deliver a spirited defence of the president's abilities, signalling there was no stepping back from his intent their intent, really for him to press forward with his campaign. What my husband does know how to do is tell the truth, she said. When Joe gets knocked down, Joe gets back up, and that's what we're doing today. Jill Biden, 73, has long been her husband's chief confidant and public defender, but her role looms larger this year and is attracting increasing scrutiny from Trump supporters, some of whom question whether she's the one doing the steering these days. When the first lady gripped the president's hand as he left the debate stage on Thursday night after his halting performance, Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas reposted the video on X with the question, Who is the Commander in Chief? Jill Biden, early on reluctant to embrace the role of political spouse, is all in. Earlier in the year, when voters were in denial that Biden truly would seek another term, it was Jill Biden who squashed the idea he might not go through with it. How many times does he have to say it for you to believe it? the first lady told The Associated Press in a February interview during a trip to Africa. She added, He says he's not done. He's not finished what he's started. And that's what's important. As a native of the Philadelphia area, her tone has grown increasingly feisty as she has told supporters that Trump has gotten my Philly up. But the race with the former Republican is tight and she told the fundraising gathering on Friday that, We have to work harder than we've ever worked before. She doesn't just talk up her husband's best attributes, she regularly recounts stories of their courtship and life together for supporters. During Friday's events, she told the LGBTQ+ gatherings that Trump is a threat to their rights and we can't let him win, a sign that she won't shy from the gritty business of politics. Last month, the first lady delivered a commencement address to community college students in Arizona, where she talked about ignoring the doubters and pushing forward with their goals. The next time someone tells you that you can't,' you're going to say, Oh yeah? Watch me,' she said. It was an echo of the words her husband has used on multiple occasions when questioned about his ability to do the job for another four years: Watch me. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nouakchott (Mauritania), Jun 29 (AP) Mauritanians went to the polls on Saturday to elect their next president, with the incumbent Mohamed Ould Ghazouani widely expected to win after positioning Mauritania as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence. Ghazouni, who is seeking reelection on the pledge of providing security and economic growth, is a former army chief and the current president of the African Union. He came to power in 2019 following the first democratic transition in the country's history, and on Saturday promised to respect the results of the vote. Also Read | US: Woman Charged With Manslaughter After Leaving Eight-Year-Old Daughter in Hot Car While She Worked in Charlotte. The last word belongs to the Mauritanian voters," Ghazouni said after voting in Ksar, the suburb of the capital. I commit myself to respecting their choice. Although his opponents accused him of corruption and mismanagement, he remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability. The vote is taking place in a particularly tense regional climate, with Mauritania's neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence. Also Read | North Korea Executes 22-Year-Old Man for Listening to K-Pop Songs and Watching South Korean Films: Report. We must not let ourselves be fooled by the slogans of the candidates who are not reassuring, said Marieme Brahim, a 38-year-old company executive, who voted for Ghazouni. Mauritania must vote for continuity and stability and its security in a troubled environment and it is not these candidates without experience in governance who will give us confidence. Two million people are eligible to vote in a nation of 5 million. Ghazouani is facing six opponents, including an anti-slavery activist, leaders of several opposition parties and a neurosurgeon, who accused the government of corruption and clientelism. Mauritania is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil and natural gas. It is poised to become a gas producer by the end of the year, with the planned launch of the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyin offshore gas project at the border with Senegal. Yet almost 60 per cent of the population live in poverty, according to the United Nations, working as farmers or employed in the informal sector. With few economic opportunities for young people at home, many are attempting to cross the Atlantic to reach Europe, and some are even trying to get to the United States through Mexico. Mohamed Lemine Ould Moktar, 45, who voted for an opposition candidate, has two young sons who remain unemployed despite having university diplomas. "I just voted for change, we have had enough of identical regimes which squander the people's assets and maintain corruption," said Ould Moktar. Just look at more than 40,000 young Mauritanians take the path of immigration to the United States by jumping the border wall between Mexico and the United States. This is why I am voting for change. Saturday's vote was unfolding peacefully, according to observers, with the polls due to close at 7 pm. Partial results were expected on Sunday. We have not noticed any anomalies or problems," declared Taghiyouallah Ould Ledhem, spokesman for CENI, the independent electoral commission. "People are voting smoothly and easily, we have not received any complaints so far. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) World Insights: Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence -- timeless guide for int'l relations Xinhua) 09:06, June 29, 2024 A group photo of Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, Indian President Rajendra Prasad (first from right), Indian Vice President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan (second from right) and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru taken in the last ten-day period of June 1954 on the occasion of Premier Zhou's visit to India. The joint communique signed by the two sides on June 28 initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Xinhua photo (June 18, 1994) 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. 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. Photo shows Zhou Enlai heads a delegation to attend the first Asia Africa conference in Bandung in Indonesia in April 1955. Xinhua (Feb.11, 1998) 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. Passengers view a model of a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway at the waiting hall of Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) 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. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) 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. 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. Screenshot Nia Ali is a former world champion and Olympic silver medalist in the 100-meter hurdles, but at age 35, shes not a shoo-in to make the 2024 U.S. Olympic team in that event. So Friday night, when Ali got out of the blocks slow and immediately dropped from contention in a 100-meter heat race at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Oregon., it seemed her chances of making the semifinals were cooked. NBC play-by-play broadcaster Leigh Diffey immediately noticed Ali off the pace. Oh, look at Nia Ali! Diffey said. Oh no, this must mean shes injured, NBC analyst Ato Boldon quickly added. Diffey quickly figured out the issue. With all the scratches in the event, every competitor in that heat would automatically advance to the semifinals. No, but she knows that everybody goes through (to the semifinals), Diffey said. Oh, gotcha, Boldon said. Nia Ali is saving her energy, Diffey said. Well, this is what happens when youre a veteran and youre 35, and everybodys going through. Why am I bothering to expend any energy in the first run,' Boldon said. She scared me for a second there, I thought she had picked up an injury. That was a brilliant move. Nia Ali showing the kids what they should have done. This is what happens when youre a veteran and youre 35. If everybody is going through, what am I bothering to expend any energy in the first round for?Nia Ali showing the kids what they should have done.pic.twitter.com/vDfetHVI72 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 29, 2024 It was a prime example of sportscasters having to figure out an unusual situation on the fly. That Diffey solved the puzzle within a second or two was impressive. But both he and Boldon were momentarily stunned and worried by Alis slow start. The NBC Olympics X account even posted, Nia Ali had Ato Boldon fooled. Nia Ali had Ato Boldon fooled #TrackFieldTrials24 pic.twitter.com/HdXxeCGeOI NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 29, 2024 [SportMedia; Photo Credit: NBC Sports] Colombo, Jun 29 (PTI) Sri Lankan police have arrested at least 200 foreigners, the majority of them Indians, for allegedly engaging in online financial scams, a media report said on Saturday. The Criminal Investigations Department also found that funds obtained through such frauds have been deposited in bank accounts in the UK, Dubai and India. Also Read | US: Woman Charged With Manslaughter After Leaving Eight-Year-Old Daughter in Hot Car While She Worked in Charlotte. News portal NewsFirst.lk quoted officials from the Criminal Investigation Department who said that there were Chinese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Nepali nationals among those arrested but a majority of them were Indian nationals. About 400 computers used by the suspects are being subject to investigation. Also Read | North Korea Executes 22-Year-Old Man for Listening to K-Pop Songs and Watching South Korean Films: Report. Earlier on Friday, police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said some 60 Indians were arrested on Thursday from the Colombo suburbs of Madiwela and Battaramulla and the western coastal town of Negombo. The CID had conducted simultaneous raids in these areas leading to the seizure of 135 mobile phones and 57 laptops. The crackdown was the result of a complaint from a victim who was lured into a WhatsApp group promising cash for social media interactions. Police had said the arrests exposed international links in Dubai and Afghanistan even as the victims included both locals and foreigners. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Maya Neelakantan amazed judges and audiences alike with her rendition of Papa Roachs Last Resort during the auditions of Americas Got Talent Season 19. Her performance quickly went viral, capturing the attention of internet users everywhere. The judges, including Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel, were impressed by Mayas rock n roll prowess, with Simon even dubbing her a rock goddess for her impeccable delivery. Maya infused the rock classic with Indian musical elements, incorporating Carnatic influences into her guitar playing. India's Arshiya Sharma Stuns America's Got Talent Judges With Her 'Horror' Contortionist Dance; Heidi Klum Shares Video From Her Audition - WATCH! Maya Neelakantan not only showcased her musical fusion during the audition but also made a striking visual impact. She appeared in traditional Indian attire, dressed in lehenga-choli with dupatta, braided hairstyle and classic Indian jewellery, complemented by a bindi on her forehead. Watch Mayas incredible AGT performance below: Maya Neelakantan Auditioning For Americas Got Talent Season 19 View this post on Instagram A post shared by America's Got Talent - AGT (@agt) 11-Year-Old Guitarist Expresses Heartfelt Gratitude View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maya Neelakantan (@mayaneelakantan) Maya Neelakantan also took to social media to express her gratitude to those who supported her journey to the Americas Got Talent Season 19 auditions. In a heartfelt message, she wrote, While I enjoy this special moment, I feel its really important for me to thank all the special people who have been my pillars in reaching where Im now and supporting me on my performance for AGT. She concluded, I am so grateful that I am blessed with so many amazing people guiding me all the way and have the honor of learning directly from these Guitar Gods. So Thank You All! (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 29, 2024 11:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Thane, June 29: A 56-year-old woman from Bangalore has accused her late husband's friend, a Navi Mumbai resident, of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 30 lakh from his account, a police official said on Saturday. The woman told the police that she had moved from Navi Mumbai to the Karnataka capital due to her husband's excessive dependence on alcohol. She said her husband earlier held a senior post in a public sector oil marketing company and took voluntary retirement in 2020. Online Fraud in Mumbai: Teen Loses Rs 2 Lakh While Playing Game on Mothers Mobile Phone, Dies by Suicide. Accused Amit Sudhir Singh managed her estranged husband's daily affairs, the woman said in her police complaint. Citing the FIR, the official said Singh informed the woman in November 2023 that her husband was seriously ill and hospitalised. Within a few days, her husband died. Singh was allegedly evasive when the woman asked for her husband's phones. Online Fraud in Mumbai: Man Poses as Police Inspector, Dupes College Professor of Rs 1 Lakh After Claiming Her Son Was Detained. The woman alleged that when she went to her husband's bank, she found Singh had withdrawn Rs 30 lakh from his account within hours of his death. She claimed that Singh had been carrying out transactions for her husband and had his bank details, the official said. She did not provide any reason for approaching the police so late, the official said. Based on her complaint, the police on Thursday registered a case against Singh under Indian Penal Code sections 404 (dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death) and 420 (cheating), said an official from the Kharghar police station. Washington, June 29: Denying that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), the US space agency and Boeing officials have said they are currently not in any rush to come home. Amid multiple reports claiming that the two astronauts, sent to the orbiting laboratory onboard Boeing Starliner spacecraft earlier this month, are stranded after suspected helium leaks, NASA and Boeing officials said they are using the luxury of time to learn more before the astronauts return to Earth. UFO Sighting in Canada: Couple Records Video of 'Sun-Like UFOs' Hovering Over Winnipeg River in Fort Alexander, Says 'We Are Seeing Some Aliens'. I want to make it real clear that were not in any rush to come home, Steve Stich, NASAs commercial crew programme manager, was quoted as saying during a press conference late on Friday (US time). The station is a nice, safe place to stop and take our time to work through the vehicle and make sure were ready to come home, he added. NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate Starliners propulsion system performance before returning to Earth from the orbiting lab. The US space agency said they are now targeting the end of July for the next spacewalk outside the space station. This change allows teams on the ground to continue to troubleshoot and understand the water leak in the service and cooling umbilical unit that forced an early end to a spacewalk on June 24. Elon Musks SpaceX Wins USD 843 Million NASA Contract To Deorbit International Space Station in 2030. Originally slated to spend eight days on the orbiting space laboratory, the astronauts reached the ISS on June 6. According to NASA, the spacecraft requires seven hours of time to perform a normal end-of-mission and it "currently has enough helium left in its tanks to support 70 hours of free flight activity following undocking." (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 29, 2024 12:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Joe Biden has acknowledged that he did very poorly as he showed his age during last night's presidential debate as he has been described as meandering and even freezing at one point. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was criticized for lying again despite looking better than his opponent, making false claims left and right, with CNN also being criticized for not calling out his lies as the debate was going on. During a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Biden acknowledged the criticisms regarding his age, saying, "I don't debate as well as I used to." However, he added, "I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done." According to the Associated Press, Biden looked a lot more animated than he was during the debate. During the rally, he slammed Trump for his "lies" throughout the debate and also for waging a campaign aimed at "revenge and retribution." The choice in this election is simple: Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it," he told the North Carolina crowd before adding, "When you get knocked down, you get back up." The Biden campaign went on to address the concerns privately and keep donors and surrogates on board. Other Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, acknowledged Biden's poor showing, including North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. "Well, the president didn't have a good night, but neither did Donald Trump with lie after lie and his dark vision for America," he told the AP. "We cannot send Donald Trump back to the White House. He's an existential threat to our nation." Even former President Barack Obama acknowledged his former vice president flubbing the debate but did provide some insight, tweeting, "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." CNN Failed to Fact-Check Donald Trump During the Presidential Debate As many expected, Donald Trump lied throughout the debate, and CNN, which hosted it, was slammed for not doing anything about the former president and convicted felon constantly spreading misinformation and half-truths to voters. READ MORE: First Presidential Debate 2024: Donald Trump Spread Misinformation Again While Joe Biden Fumbled As The Guardian noted, CNN moderators did not fact-check statements live. However, whenever Trump would avoid a question, they would reiterate it. Despite this, it only made Trump finally answer the question sometimes. More Fact-Chacks on Donald Trump's Claims During Presidential Debate Vs. Joe Biden The media did not just carefully scrutinize every word Joe Biden said, but also Donald Trump's, as they pointed out the former president's many falsehoods and half-truths during the CNN debate. Donald Trump falsely claimed Democrats want abortions up until and after birth and that Nancy Pelosi refused his offer for national guard troops on 6 January 2021 to respond to the rioters he himself whipped up to attack the Capitol. Donald Trump was not able to back these claims up. He also claimed that Joe Biden has "the largest deficit in the history of our country," but BBC fact-checked that under Biden, the deficit went down to $1.7tn. This is almost half the budget deficit under the Trump presidency, which was at t $3.13tn. Trump also claimed Biden was behind his conviction, also without evidence. The BBC fact-check noted, "The case was brought by New York prosecutors rather than any federal authority. The Department of Justice does not approve the charging decisions of the Manhattan district attorney's office." READ MORE: Donald Trump Claimed He Was Tortured Before Taking Georgia Mugshot Photo; Gets Fact-Checked and Ridiculed This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Vice President Kamala Harris defends President Biden's debate performance - CNN Panama President-Elect Jose Raul Mulino is doubling down on his promise to address the migration problem in the Americas and said he wants the United States to help his country out with the issue, particularly on the migrants coming in through the infamous Darien Gap, which is considered the most treacherous migration route on earth. On Friday, the next leader of Panama announced that he wants an agreement with the United States on deporting migrants who cross the Darien Gap, which is located between Panama and Colombia. This perilous stretch of jungle connects South America to Central America and is now the busiest migration route. He made the comments during a visit to the jungle region, and according to ABC News, he also stated that he will bring the matter up when he meets Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during his s inauguration next week. Secretary Mayorkas will be leading the US contingent sent by President Joe Biden. During his campaign, Mulino infamously promised that he would be shutting down the Darien Gap to stop the flow of migrants coming in from South America, stating that the daily crossings were "an odyssey that does not have a reason to exist." "I hope to sign a respectful and dignified agreement with the United States so the two countries can begin the repatriation processes of all these people who are accumulated here," he said during his Darien Gap Visit on Friday, though he did not elaborate any further. "I've seen other crises in the Darien, but this is the worst I've seen. It breaks my heart to see children my grandchildren's age ask me for a bottle of water," he added. READ MORE: Mexico Wearing Down Migrants as New Tactic to Deter Immigration Amid Biden Crackdown Migrants Supportive of Panama President-Elect Jose Raul Mulino Plans to Shut Down Darien Gap Route Mulino and several future Cabinet members visited a temporary migrant reception center near the Darien Gap known as Lajas Blancas. There, he spoke with several migrants and it seems that they are actually supportive of his plans to close the Darien Gap's migration route. "He (Mulino) will have to close it," Pedro Monte, a Venezuelan migrant who lost his wife on the way to the Darien Gap, told the Associated Press. "It's the most dangerous thing ... there are thieves, there are deaths, it's a pity that people lose their lives there." While many support this plan, experts have cautioned the incoming president that his plan would not just be difficult, but would also be expensive to implement given how large the jungle is. White House Confirms US Delegation to Panama for Jose Raul Mulino Inauguration With its clampdown on migration, the Biden administration has been partnering with governments along the migration route, such as Mexico and Guatemala. With Jose Raul Mulino being enthusiastic about clamping down on migration, Panama would also be an important partner in this endeavor. Biden is expected to send Mayorkas as the leader of the US delegation, and he is also sending several others, including Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte, Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes, and Marcela Escobari, Coordinator for the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection & Special Assistant to the President. READ MORE: Panama Slams Nicaragua Over Ricardo Martinelli Asylum, Claims Neighbor Is Meddling in Internal Affairs This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Panamanian Election Immigration Impacts - KABB FOX San Antonio As the warm weather persists, people are partaking in outdoor activities. Green spaces, such as the Karl Stirner Arts Trail in Easton, offer a place for joggers, runners and walkers to enjoy the summer. Eastons Mayor Sal Panto Jr. wants to ensure these natural grounds do not become a trash disposal, which has become a recurring issue in recent years. Panto discussed the matter last week during Wednesdays meeting of Easton City Council, where he said that the trail is again experiencing problems with an excess amount of trash on the grounds. He said out-of-town individuals are visiting the trail, bringing in food and other items, and littering in the area. Panto said it took two trucks to remove the trash from the trail. He also mentioned a concern about people jumping off bridges into Bushkill Creek. We are very concerned about it, because the Bushkill Creek has had some of the dams removed, and the water level is around 6 inches. Panto said. So if they decide to jump off the bridges again like we did last year, theyre going to get hurt. Panto said to combat these issues, the city will be positioning police officers in the area. They will use cement barriers to limit parking on Bushkill Drive. He said people are still parking at the Simon Silk Mill and using a connecting bridge to access the trail and creek. We are on top of it, Panto said. Signs warn of no-nos at Eastons pedestrian bridge over Bushkill Creek to the Karl Stirner Arts Trail on May 22, 2024.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com Last year, orange barrels were placed on the trail, with signs stating the trail was only for Easton residents, which Panto said at the time was to keep the park clean and peaceful. Many out-of-town residents, like this summer, were visiting the trail and polluting the green space. Though people were coming with picnic baskets and speakers, Panto made it clear that grounds dont offer picnic faciilites that create a greater chance of pollution on the grounds. This plan received mixed feedback, one resident posting to a Facebook group, Pennsylvanias public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people, citing Article 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The issue goes back as far as 2020, where people were coming in large groups and bringing food, which caused a littering concern. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Chelsea Kun may be reached at ckun@lehighvalleylive.com. An ex-Real IRA man is going to Portlaoise Prison for failing to pay taxes on hundreds of thousands of euros he claims he was "gifted" by a millionaire friend while on unemployment benefits. Nathan 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 for a year 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 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. In November, the State dropped money-laundering and tax charges against Jennifer Dunne who had also been due to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court. Ms Dunne (38) of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, had been accused of six money-laundering offences relating to three AIB accounts between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, and a further three counts of failing to furnish tax returns between October 31, 2018 and October 31, 2020. Mr McGinn told the court that certain documents had now been received by the State and that all nine charges against Ms Dunne were no longer being pursued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, in what is known as a 'nolle prosequi' application. Ms Dunne had been charged with six counts of money laundering offences under Section 7 of Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010. Ms Dunne had been charged with converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property, namely funds lodged to an AIB account on dates between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, within the State, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. She had also been charged with - whilst having addresses at Tasaggart House, Saggart, Co Dublin; Richmond, Blackrock, and another address in Dublin - that she 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 between October 31, 2018, and October 2020. A Naas District Court judge struck out an alleged domestic violence breach case on Thursday, June 27 last. The case was heard in-camera (in private) before Judge Desmond Zaidan. Gardai alleged that a man breached a protection order, which was brought against him by his ex-partner. A garda who was sworn in told the judge that the man allegedly threatened to put his ex-partner in jail. The same garda added that there was no objection to bail being granted for the accused. He also said that the man and woman have a child together, and are currently in the middle of a break-up. "The injured party was upset when she gave a statement to gardai," the garda told the judge. Judge Zaidan pointed out the exact language that the man allegedly used: according to gardai, the man specifically said: "If you break the law, I will make sure that you will be put in jail." The judge described this as a 'blanket statement', not a direct threat (specifically with regards to the word 'if'), and as such, decided to strike-out the case. The defendant will return to court at a later date for hearing. An intimate immersive experience is taking place in the hidden spaces of The Moat Theatre Shakespeares Hamlet intersects with the fabric of the building, the history of the Moat Club and its members and the echoes of many rehearsals past. As they mark their 70th anniversary, follow the trail of generations of actors from the Club and hear their memories of how the building brought them together. In the aftermath of his fathers death, Hamlet must face the devastating grief he feels, sharpened by the rage he feels towards his uncle for trying to position himself as a new father figure. Play is a piece about grief and loss of your father or of your friends. It is about the importance of shared identity and a place like the Moat Club and in a community. Though rife with betrayal and revenge, the father-son relationship at the core of this strand of Hamlet is as recognisable now as it was in 1600. Play is returning after its sold-out run in Culture Night 2023 and following the success of This House is Elsinore at Culture Night 2022. It is presented as part of Heritage Week 2024 and supported by Creative Ireland and the Kildare Arts Service. Patrons will be moving through the building throughout the performance including up and down stairs unfortunately no universally accessible alternative is available. Some seating is available at times during the performance, which lasts 75 minutes. Tickets are on sale from July 1 and cost 20/ concessions 18. The staging of Play will take place on Tuesday July 20 at 7pm and 9pm, Wednesday 21 at 7pm and 9pm, Thursday 22 at 7pm and 9pm, and Friday 23 at 6pm, 8pm and 10pm. Further information available from The Moat Theatre www.moattheatre.com 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. SIFCO Industries, Inc. ("SIFCO") Announces Appointment of George Scherff as CEO SIFCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE American: SIF) The Board of Directors of SIFCO, a leading supplier of forged products to the aerospace, energy, and defense markets, today announced the appointment of George Scherff as the Company's chief executive officer ("CEO"), effective July 8, 2024. Mr. Scherff replaces Peter Knapper, who served as President and CEO since 2016 and announced his intention to retire earlier this year. "George Scherff has decades of successful experience leading middle-market organizations that have been in periods of growth and transition, which will serve us well as we transition into a new era for SIFCO," said Alayne Reitman, Chair of SIFCO's Board of Directors. "We thank Pete for his service to the Company. Pete saw us through uncertain times in our industry, including the global pandemic and the supply chain challenges that followed, and he leaves us well-positioned to move forward with confidence. We wish him all the best in retirement." Prior to joining SIFCO, Mr. Scherff served as CEO for Thermal Systems Manufacturing, Paradigm Packaging, Lund International, ABC Truck Body, and Hartzell Manufacturing following its merger with Continental Metal Specialties. He has a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo. Mr. Scherff joins SIFCO at a pivotal time for the company, as new opportunities present themselves in the markets we serve. "I am excited to join SIFCO as the Company furthers its long-term goals and embraces opportunities in our industries," he said. "I am particularly looking forward to working alongside the strong leadership team. Their keen strategic insights will prove invaluable as we move into the next phase of the Company's growth." SIFCO supplies flight-critical forged components and machined assemblies to the world's leading aircraft and engine manufacturers. These components can be found on virtually all commercial and military fixed-wing aircraft, as well as helicopters and business jets. SIFCO products are also supplied to leading steam and gas turbine manufacturers and oil producers serving the energy sector. 28 june 2024 at 16:15 News published onand distributed by: MDU Resources Publishes 2023 Sustainability Report BISMARCK, N.D., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE: MDU) published its 2023 Sustainability Report today on its website at www.mdu.com/sustainability. MDU Resources marked 100 years in business on March 14, 2024. While the report outlines the company's practices and results for 2023, achieving 100 years in business underscores MDU Resources' long-term commitment to doing what's right for its stakeholders by balancing economic, environmental and social considerations to ensure reliable, cost-effective products and services for its customers. In 2023, MDU Resources achieved an 11% reduction in methane emissions from its natural gas utility segment as compared to 2022 and achieved a 38% reduction in its electric generation greenhouse gas emissions intensity since 2005. These and other results of the company's regulated energy delivery and construction services businesses are outlined in the report. "Achieving 100 years in business is a result of our long-term commitment to doing the right thing for our customers, communities, employees and shareholders," said Nicole A. Kivisto, president and CEO of MDU Resources. "We remain on track for a late 2024 spinoff of our construction services business, Everus Construction Group. As we look to the future, we will be focusing on our regulated energy delivery business, which is where MDU Resources got its start 100 years ago. We remain committed to operating with integrity as we execute our core strategy." Forward-Looking Statements Information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release, including statements by the president and CEO of MDU Resources and comments about the planned spinoff of the construction services business, are expressed in good faith and are believed by the company to have a reasonable basis. Nonetheless, actual results may differ materially from the projected results expressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, refer to Item 1A ? Risk Factors in MDU Resources' most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the SEC. About MDU Resources MDU Resources Group, Inc., a member of the S&P MidCap 400 index, provides essential products and services through its regulated energy delivery and construction services businesses. Founded in 1924, the company is celebrating its 100th anniversary; learn more at www.mdu.com/100th-anniversary. For more information about MDU Resources, visit www.mdu.com or contact the Investor Relations Department at [email protected]. Investor Contact: Brent Miller, assistant treasurer, 701-530-1730 Media Contact: Laura Lueder, manager of communications and public relations, 701-530-1095 SOURCE MDU Resources Group, Inc. 28 june 2024 at 17:13 News published onand distributed by: Canadians invited to comment on proposed regulations for the Canada Disability Benefit GATINEAU, QC, June 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Persons with disabilities face significant barriers to financial security, making it hard to cover the costs of today, or save for the expenses of tomorrow. To assist with financial pressures, the Canada Disability Benefit will provide a social safety net between existing federal benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit and Old Age Security pension for persons with disabilities. Today, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, invites Canadians?especially persons with disabilities, their caregivers and family members, disability stakeholders and organizations dedicated to working with persons with disabilities?to comment on draft regulations for the Canada Disability Benefit that have been published in Part I of the Canada Gazette. This consultation will remain open until September 23, 2024. Budget 2024 provides an investment of $6.1 billion over six years beginning in 2024?25, and $1.4 billion ongoing for the Canada Disability Benefit, with the intent of supplementing existing provincial and territorial benefits. Residents between 18 and 64 years old may qualify for all or some of the CDB, up to a maximum of $2,400 per year, if they have a Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate and a net family income below $45,000 (if single), $58,500 (if they have a spouse or partner who doesn't qualify) or $70,500 (if their spouse or partner also qualifies). As proposed, this Benefit is estimated to increase the financial well-being of over 600,000 low-income persons with disabilities. The Government of Canada welcomes the early indications from the Governments of Nunavut, Manitoba and Nova Scotia to ensure Canadians are better off by not clawing back the Benefit. At the same time, the Government also applauds the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for bolstering their support for persons with disabilities who are eligible to receive this Benefit. As provinces and territories play a critical role in providing supports and services to Canadians with disabilities, the Government of Canada will continue to engage with them to understand how the Canada Disability Benefit may interact with existing provincial and territorial income-tested programs, including disability programs and social assistance, to avoid persons with disabilities facing claw backs. To ensure access to the Canada Disability Benefit for eligible Canadians, and to reduce financial barriers, Budget 2024 further provides funding of $243 million over six years, beginning in 2024?25, and $41 million per year ongoing, to cover the cost of the medical forms required for the DTC application process. Additionally, the Government is investing $23.5 million to work with community non-profit disability stakeholder groups to help more eligible Canadians access the DTC and navigate further disability-related federal benefits. The Government will analyze and consider the feedback received before finalizing the regulations that will be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette. Payments for the Benefit are to start in July 2025, following successful completion of the regulatory development process. Quote? "With the release of the draft regulations, we have reached another significant milestone in our work to make the Canada Disability Benefit a reality. We look forward to hearing feedback from the disability community on the regulations as we deliver this historic Benefit to Canadians with disabilities." The Honourable Kamal Khera Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Quick facts The Canada Disability Benefit Act received royal assent on June 22, 2023 , and came into force recently, on June 22, 2024 . As required by the Act, persons with disabilities from a range of backgrounds must be provided with meaningful and barrier-free opportunities to collaborate in the development and design of regulations for the Canada Disability Benefit. received royal assent on , and came into force recently, on . As required by the Act, persons with disabilities from a range of backgrounds must be provided with meaningful and barrier-free opportunities to collaborate in the development and design of regulations for the Canada Disability Benefit. Building on engagement activities that took place in 2021 and 2022, the Government launched a two-phase engagement process in summer 2023, to inform the development and implementation of regulations for the benefit. All the input received from over 8,000 Canadians through ministerial and technical roundtables, bilateral meetings and an online engagement process was considered by the Government as it developed the draft regulations. Budget 2024 proposes other key measures to support persons with disabilities including investments to expand the disability supports deduction; ensuring access to essential drugs and medical devices; creating a new Youth Mental Health Fund; and improving recruitment and assessment processes for persons with disabilities through the Federal Internship Program for Canadians with Disabilities. Associated links? Follow us on X (Twitter) SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada 28 june 2024 at 17:40 News published onand distributed by: High Arctic Announces Return of Capital and Distribution Dates 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 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (TSX: HWO) ("High Arctic" or the "Corporation"), further to its news release dated May 11, 2024, is pleased to announce the dates for a distribution of $0.76 per share to its shareholders by way of return of capital (the "Return of Capital"), which was approved by shareholders at the annual general and special meeting held on June 17, 2024. The record date for the Return of Capital will be July 9, 2024 and the payment date will be July 17, 2024. The Return of Capital is expected to be generally more tax advantageous to shareholders than a dividend. The Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") has determined to implement due bill trading for the Return of Capital. A due bill is an entitlement that will attach to each share traded, from the record date for the Return of Capital to the payment date, inclusive. Each due bill will notionally represent the $?0.76 ?distribution that a holder of a common share of High Arctic on the record date is entitled to receive pursuant to the Return of Capital. During the due bill trading period, a seller of shares (who is prospectively entitled to the $?0.76 ?distribution) will also sell to the purchaser the entitlement to the distribution (which is represented by the due bill attached to each share sold). Due bill trading defers the ex-distribution date and ensures shareholders are not deprived of the value of the Return of Capital between the record date and the payment date. Key dates for the Return of Capital are: The record date to determine shareholders entitled to receive the distribution will be July 9, 2024; Due bill trading will commence on July 9, 2024; The payment date for the distribution will be July 17, 2024; The ex-distribution date will be July 18, 2024 (the first trading day after the payment date, so that trades on and after that date will not have due bills attached); and The redemption date used by CDS will also be July 18, 2024. All of the foregoing dates are subject to the approval of the TSX. The Return of Capital will be funded from the Corporation's cash balances. In July 2022, the Corporation made a ??strategic decision to divest certain well servicing assets in Canada for cash proceeds of $38.2 million. ?As a result of receiving these cash proceeds plus, cash flow generated subsequently through operating, investing and financing activities, the Corporation had positive working capital of ?approximately $67.6 million, which included a cash ?balance of approximately $57.0 million as at March ??31, 2024??. The Corporation expects to close the proposed plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") between the Corporation and High Arctic Overseas Holdings Corp., also announced on May 11, 2024, on or about July 31, 2024. For more information on the Arrangement and the Return of Capital, 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, 330?5th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 0L4 website: www.haes.ca Email: [email protected] Non-IFRS Measures - Working capital ? Working capital is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and ?therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. Working capital is used by ?management as another measure to analyze the operating liquidity available to the Corporation. It is defined as ?current assets less current liabilities. ?This measure is not intended to represent or be construed as an alternative to current assets as calculated in ?accordance with IFRS.? 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 Return of Capital, including the amount of and the date of distribution thereof; the Corporation's ability to obtain TSX and other regulatory approvals for the Return of Capital; and 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. 28 june 2024 at 19:25 News published onand distributed by: MAYOR of Limerick John Moran was among more than 1,000 people who attended Ireland's largest collaborative manufacturing event between Ireland and the UK. The event at TUS on their Coonagh campus was organised by the UK manufacturing supply chain trade association and it included exhibits from 90 representatives from Ireland and the UK. GTMA manager David Beattie said: The strong working relationship between the GTMA and TUS has resulted in an event that began as a conduit for opening up new possibilities within the supply chain to customers and suppliers, to becoming an annual event that is advancing stronger trading relationships between Ireland and the UK. The GTMA is delighted to bring our members to Limerick every year for this event, and it has now become one of the main events on our members calendars. READ ALSO: Throwback Thursday: Pictures from the Limerick Leader archives President of TUS, Vincent Cunnane said while welcoming people to the campus: "The first phase of the Coonagh campus is designed to drive the expansion of engineering education and research, providing new workshops and laboratories for students, apprentices and researchers. Hosting Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2024 in this 5,819 square metre building in Coonagh underscores TUSs strong connection with industry and the local economy. It is fitting then, that an event like Manufacturing Solutions, built on the strong working relationship of almost a decade between TUS and the GTMA and supported by the Precision Turned Parts Manufacturers Association of Ireland (PTMA) should be one of the first major events to be held on our new campus." The event also included sixty student presentations of their research and innovations. PUPILS from four Limerick schools deserve a big bualadh bos for receiving a Gaelbhratach (Irish flag). Playing sport through Irish, learning new songs and poems and a Greenway cycle trip as Gaeilge are just some of the activities set up and run by student committees that were recognised for their promotion of the Irish language. Schools that were awarded a Gaelbhratach at a ceremony in Roscrea were Anglesboro NS, Nicker NS and Banogue National School. Our Lady's Abbey, Adare will be visited by the Gaelbhratach staff to receive their award. Run by Gael Linn, Gaelbhratach' is a national initiative that encourages primary and secondary school students to speak Irish outside of the formal classroom setting. READ ALSO: Limerick students raise much-needed funds for local charities Speaking at the awards ceremony, Edel Ni Bhraonain, Bainisteoir Gaelbhratach said: We are delighted to award primary school students from Limerick with a Gaelbhratach. Gaelbhratach gives young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to use and develop their Irish language skills in an interactive and non-traditional way. The programme aims to put the student voice at the centre of their learning through the Gaelbhratach committee. The role of this student-led committee is to direct the Gaelbhratach activities throughout the school year - empowering students in Limerick to take ownership of how and when they use their Irish. Gaelbhratach is an Irish language scheme focused on promoting Irish in primary and secondary schools around the country. Each year, Gaelbhratach organises the post-primary Gaelbhratach Awards Ceremony to celebrate the significant contributions made by teachers and students around the country towards the promotion of the Irish language in their schools. DELAYS for a new dialysis unit in Ennis could see the return of night time dialysis to University Hospital Limerick (UHL). Patients receiving haemodialysis are in the end stages of kidney disease experiencing kidney failure and would often need to attend the dialysis unit for four hours, three times a week. The practice of night time dialysis was stopped around 2015 when a new renal dialysis unit opened in UHL and now with a satellite unit on the Dock Road in Limerick as well, the services are at capacity. While the tenders have been completed for the Ennis site and HSE Mid-West say that a supplier has been chosen, no timeline is given for the completion of this project. They said funding has been identified and the steps to get this site on stream as soon as possible are ongoing. A HSE Mid-West spokesperson told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live: Due to the growing number of patients who require this treatment, we have reached maximum capacity in the dialysis unit at UHL. We continue to support patients who are suitable for home dialysis therapies and we are also proposing to establish a second satellite haemodialysis centre in Ennis, County Clare. In view of the current capacity constraints, we are considering the extension of the out-of-hours service to ensure patients who require dialysis continue to have access in the region. We are currently engaging with staff on this proposal. Among the determinants for offering this extended out-of-hours service would be that the patient is able-bodied and preferably living in close proximity to the hospital. READ ALSO: Protesters gather outside Limerick Courthouse to call out misogynistic system A spokesperson for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation told the Limerick Leader that it is inappropriate for patients to get dialysis at night. We do not have a date for the new unit but nurses are concerned that this service will again be provided at night time and impacting on safety and wellbeing of their patients. When receiving dialysis at night the patient must remain awake most of the night, which has a profound impact on younger patients who are trying to hold down jobs and family carers. A source close to the hospital, who did not wish to be named, told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live that there would be no proper nursing management and medical cover in the evenings and during the proposed nights. They added: Many of the patients who will be dialysed at night in these slots will be elderly and frail. They will have to leave their homes at approximately 10pm and will not return until around 6am after four hours of dialysis and travel time due to the catchment area of the unit. Night dialysis is not a safe solution to this problem in our view and we fear it will become a permanent measure, given previous trends. Patient safety and wellbeing will suffer greatly from this. According to the most recent HSE figures, there were 129 people on dialysis within the UHL catchment. A spokesperson for the Irish Kidney Association said: Night time dialysis is not clinically favourable for many patients. This highlights the urgent need for a national model of care for patients with end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis which all treatment facilities must adhere to. READ ALSO: First virtual hospital wards to be launched for Limerick patients They added that any plans for night time dialysis should be temporary. It should be treated as the exception rather than the norm and it should only be offered on a patient choice basis. The reality is that day-time dialysis is more humane, and it is also cheaper because rather than using night-shift nurses, patients can be treated during the day, making it a win-win situation - more convenient for patients and less expensive for the hospital. We believe a far better option, in this case, for both patients and the overburdened health care professionals working in the area is to open a new dialysis unit, which would relieve pressure on the existing unit. Indeed, tenders for a new dialysis unit to be located in Ennis issued on September 12, 2023. Eight months later we understand no decision has been made on the awarding of this tender, the IKA spokesperson told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live. They added that dialysis is very demanding and can impact people's ability to go to work, provide childcare, go on holidays or engage in other daily activities. STAFF at homelessness charity Novas have transformed what was a former storage area in Limerick's McGarry House into a communal space for women. The space in the facility, located at St Alphonsus Street is now a secure space to help women who have experienced homelessness in the city, along with being very bulnerable. The new space is the first of its kind within the Limerick project and is much needed according to the charity. The transformation has been made possible thanks to the generous donation of furniture and accessories by furniture retailer DFS. The project has also benefited from the expertise of interior designer Joanne Mooney, who has been instrumental in ensuring the room's design promotes a calming and feminine atmosphere. Joanne, who has 108,000 Instagram followers expressed her enthusiasm for the project. "It's incredibly fulfilling to be part of such a meaningful initiative. Creating a safe, beautiful space where these women can feel at ease is so important. I hope this transformation brings them a sense of comfort and peace," she said. READ MORE: New leader of Limerick's metropolitan district formally elected Novas chief executive Una Deasy said: "This new communal space is a vital addition to McGarry House. It provides our female clients with a much-needed sanctuary. "Most women who experience homelessness have also experienced gender and domestic-based violence in their lives, so having a female-only space helps to foster safety and engagement and helps our clients to address their trauma in a supportive environment. "We are immensely grateful to DFS, Joanne Mooney and the other suppliers for their support and generosity. This makeover, though in a small space, has the potential to make a huge impact on the lives of these vulnerable women." The Taoiseach has admitted he was frustrated over an ongoing controversy in the Defence Forces. It comes after earlier this week Simon Harris stated that information on how many serving members had criminal convictions was not immediately available to him. The Defence Forces later said a total of 68 members 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. Speaking to reporters at the Night and Day festival in Co Roscommon, Mr Harris said: I think its fair to say that I did express kind of visible frustration during the week and that was motivated from a place of good because I had watched what Natasha OBrien had been going through. Zero tolerance isnt a political slogan, zero tolerance is cultural change we need to bring about in Ireland. Mr Harris added: Were not yet where we need to be culturally in relation to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and the last couple of weeks have been a stark reminder of that. We already have Defence Force regulations that Im paraphrasing now that say if somebody is convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison, suspended or otherwise, that the dismissal process should begin. That process needs to be efficient, and if theres any blockages or any reasons why it isnt, we need to know that. We do, in my view, need to go further than that. If theres an allegation of a serious crime against you in the domestic, sexual or gender-based violence area I fully appreciate your due process, I fully appreciate the difference between a conviction and allegation but I do think people shouldnt be allowed continue in active service during that period of time. He added: These are people who wear the uniform of our country. And I should say this too, because I do know when any when any controversy blows up in any organisation. I know it can sap the morale of people. Theres many many thousands of good men and women in Oglaigh na hEireann and they do us proud at home and abroad and its for them we have to get this right. (Recasts throughout with new comment from labour minister, comments from WestJet CEO and president, updated flight cancellation numbers and impacted guests, comment from union) By Allison Lampert June 29 (Reuters) - Canadian Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan is set to meet with WestJet Airlines and the union representing their striking mechanics, after the carrier cancelled 235 flights, impacting 33,000 passengers on Saturday. Seeking to preemptively avert a strike by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association union's roughly 680 WestJet members, O'Regan had asked the board to resolve the contract dispute through binding arbitration. While the board on Friday ordered the contract to be finalized through arbitration, it added that O'Regan's referral "does not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lockout." O'Regan said on social media site X that he respects the authority of the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which is independent of the government, after reviewing the body's decision earlier in the day. Unions in North America have capitalized on tight labor markets to win hefty contracts at the bargaining table, with mainline pilots, autoworkers and others scoring big raises in 2023. WestJet said the carrier was scheduled to fly more than 250,000 passengers over the four days across Canada's July 1 long weekend. Canada's second-largest carrier is maintaining minimal service by operating about 30-50 aircraft, or around 150 flights a day, WestJet President Diederik Pen told reporters on Saturday. WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said AMFA was refusing to negotiate and called the strike "a very disruptive thing, basically done by a rogue U.S. union that is trying to make inroads in Canada. Their only purpose was to disrupt as many Canadian travelers as possible. On social media, WestJet travelers complained about being stranded or having long-planned family vacations cancelled. WestJet said it has offered a 12.5% wage increase in the first year of the agreement, and a compounded wage increase of 23% over the term of the agreement. Ian Evershed, an airline representative with AMFA, said von Hoensbroech's comments were disappointing and argued that it was WestJet that was refusing to negotiate. Evershed said WestJet repeatedly delayed returning to the table after the union made its last offer on Wednesday night. Instead the minister referred the union to binding arbitration. "We have been abandoned by the company at the negotiating table," Evershed said."Obviously we don't feel that's the best outcome for us. We prefer to continue bargaining." Evershed said the mechanics are striking because it puts them in a position to try and force the company into negotiations. He thanked O'Regan for "maintaining integrity" in a decision which upholds workers' right to strike. The union served strike notices to WestJet after 97% of its members voted to reject a tentative pay deal reached in May. By Allison Lampert (Reuters) -Canadian Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan is set to meet with WestJet Airlines and the union representing their striking mechanics, after the carrier cancelled 235 flights, impacting 33,000 passengers on Saturday. Seeking to preemptively avert a strike by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association union's roughly 680 WestJet members, O'Regan had asked the board to resolve the contract dispute through binding arbitration. While the board on Friday ordered the contract to be finalized through arbitration, it added that O'Regan's referral "does not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lockout." O'Regan said on social media site X that he respects the authority of the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which is independent of the government, after reviewing the body's decision earlier in the day. Unions in North America have capitalized on tight labor markets to win hefty contracts at the bargaining table, with mainline pilots, autoworkers and others scoring big raises in 2023. WestJet said the carrier was scheduled to fly more than 250,000 passengers over the four days across Canada's July 1 long weekend. Canada's second-largest carrier is maintaining minimal service by operating about 30-50 aircraft, or around 150 flights a day, WestJet President Diederik Pen told reporters on Saturday. WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said AMFA was refusing to negotiate and called the strike "a very disruptive thing, basically done by a rogue U.S. union that is trying to make inroads in Canada. Their only purpose was to disrupt as many Canadian travelers as possible. On social media, WestJet travelers complained about being stranded or having long-planned family vacations cancelled. WestJet said it has offered a 12.5% wage increase in the first year of the agreement, and a compounded wage increase of 23% over the term of the agreement. Ian Evershed, an airline representative with AMFA, said von Hoensbroech's comments were disappointing and argued that it was WestJet that was refusing to negotiate. Evershed said WestJet repeatedly delayed returning to the table after the union made its last offer on Wednesday night. Instead the minister referred the union to binding arbitration. "We have been abandoned by the company at the negotiating table," Evershed said."Obviously we don't feel that's the best outcome for us. We prefer to continue bargaining." Evershed said the mechanics are striking because it puts them in a position to try and force the company into negotiations. He thanked O'Regan for "maintaining integrity" in a decision which upholds workers' right to strike. The union served strike notices to WestJet after 97% of its members voted to reject a tentative pay deal reached in May. NEET PG Exam Cancelled: Amid row over irregularities and paper leaks of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the revised dates for the NEET PG 2024 will likely be declared by July 1 or 2. Speaking during a press conference, Dharmendra Pradhan said that NTA (National Testing Agency) has already got a new leadership and reforms have been initiated in the agency under the leadership of former ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan. Also Read | NEET paper leak: CBI arrests Hindi newspaper journalist in Hazaribagh He also said: We have formed a new law to address the issue, and the entire case has been handed over to the CBI. New dates for NEET-PG will be announced by Monday or Tuesday, Pradhan further said. The education minister also slammed the Congress, saying it wants to run away from a discussion in Parliament over the NEET exam issue. Pradhan said: Congress does not want discussion, and they are running away from it. They only want chaos, and confusion, and want to create obstacles in the entire functioning of the institutional mechanism... The President herself has addressed the issue that Congress wants to debate about, admitting the challenges and shortcomings in the process and that we have to look into them... On behalf of the government, I clearly said that we are ready for any kind of discussion, but Congress does not want to address the students' issue, they want the matter to remain burning.., he added. The NEET UG 2024 exam was held by the NTA on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates had appeared for it. The NEET UG results, expected to announced on June 14, were declared much earlier on June 4. Following it, allegations of irregularities and question paper leaks in states such as Bihar were raised, which led to protests across the country. Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin, founders of an app called Tequila Matchmaker, were at dinner on New York Citys Upper West Side when their phones began to vibrate. A maintenance worker had sent photos of their house in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, showing the doors barricaded, windows smashed and chains around the property. He was really scared," recalls Scarlet, a former journalist and native of Monterey, Calif. He didnt know what had happened, and the neighbors were saying dead bodies had been found." The rumors of bodies were baseless, but the drama was otherwise real. The photos showed the aftermath of a search conducted by Mexican authorities based on a criminal complaint by the countrys tequila regulator. The March raid punctuated a fracas that has affected one of Mexicos biggest industries: What makes a true tequila? The Sanschagrins are known on both sides of the border for a program that certifies tequilas as being free of additives. They say Mexicos regulator, Consejo Regulador de Tequila, filed the complaintwhich alleged they were illegally making and distributing fake tequila and adulterating drinksonly to stop them from continuing to highlight additive-free tequilas. The CRT, which oversees an industry that is a core part of Mexicos cultural identity, denies this. But it is vocal about its objections to the couples program, which it says is based on shaky science and hurts tequilas reputation. They saw a business in this additive-free," said Martin Munoz Sanchez, the regulators technical commissioner. They created a negative environment for tequila with this certification." The magic of tequila Additives have long been widely used across the spirits industry, adding flavor, color and texture to everything from cognac to whiskey. If under 1% of a tequila by weight, the additives dont need to be disclosed under Mexican law. Even critics like the Sanschagrins say there are no known health risks. But as the use of additives becomes more widespread, the couple say tequila drinkers have a right to know which brands are produced using only the traditional ingredients of agave, yeast and water, and which are supplemented with glycerin, corn syrup and other additives. The issue is becoming a big deal in a fast-growing industry that has many of the worlds largest alcohol companies jockeying for dominance. At its core, the fight is between those who want to protect traditional methods of tequila production favored by many family-owned companies, and some of the industrys giants, which have adopted more-modern methods. Tequila production has boomed, rising 164% between 2013 and 2023, according to CRT data. The growth is in part due to surging demand from the U.S. for sugary margaritas and shots, but also more recently to higher-end tequilas intended to be sipped or drunk with soda. Celebrities from George Clooney to Kendall Jenner have piled into the category, and tequila is forecast to overtake vodka and U.S. whiskey to become the most valuable spirit in the U.S. this year, according to the industry tracker IWSR. The demand boom has spurred a supply scramble, with many producers choosing to harvest agave plants well before they reach maturity. Traditional production equipment such as brick ovens can extract only some sugar from such young plants. By contrast, modern equipment can extract far more and make for a process that is both cheaper and quicker. The accelerated process, which avoids cooking, often necessitates that producers use additives to create the flavors in the final product. The Sanschagrins see additives as an outgrowth of the industrys recent mass industrialization. They say that the trend hurts mostly small brands and that many multinationals are deceptively marketing their tequilas as traditional. The regulator says as long as distillers abide by the law, the production methods they choose are their own business. The different ways to produce tequila according to the equipment, the personal recipe you have, will give you thousands of different profiles," the CRTs Sanchez says. That is the magic of tequila." Diageo, which owns the Don Julio and Casamigos tequila brandsneither of which is on the Sanschagrins additive-free listsays consumers should be encouraged to try different tequila profiles. The misconception that there is only one process for making great tequila has been a marketing angle that has not been constructive for the tequila industry and consumers," says Sophie Kelly, Diageos head of tequila. While reliable data on the subcategory is scarce, industry watchers say there is clearly consumer demand, with big retailers such as Total Wine featuring sections promoting additive-free offerings. Additive-free is the biggest trend in tequila right now," says Ivy Mix, head bartender at the Leyenda bar in Brooklyn. Trading shots Scarlet introduced Grover to tequila soon after they met 18 years ago in San Francisco. Trying different bottles quickly became a point of connection in their relationship. When the couple married in 2009, they had a tequila-themed wedding in Tlaquepaque. In 2012, they founded the Tequila Matchmaker app, which lists, rates and allows consumers to review the burgeoning number of brands available. It now has 328,000 users. In 2017, the couplewho by then were living in Tlaquepaquebegan noticing that some of the most popular tequilas contained nontraditional flavors. Certain brands started coming out tasting like vanilla or very sweet cake-icing batter," says Grover. We said, OK, this is enough." The Sanschagrins added a check box on the Tequila Matchmaker app indicating whether a tequila was additive-free. They say master distillers trained them to detect additives through smell and taste. They performed the checks during distillery visits, and eventually through testing done by a third-party lab. There were no industrywide standards on how to test for additives, which remains the case today. Mostly small brands, eager to set themselves apart from their bigger rivals, welcomed them. So did Patron, now owned by Bacardi, which says its tequila contains no additives. In July 2020, the couple turned their informal list into an additive-free tequila verification program." After the first year, brands were asked to pay $1,000 toward the program to help cover its costs, although Scarlet says those that didnt werent kicked off the list. Following the programs launch, the CRT accused the Sanschagrins of acting as shadow regulators and asked them to end their program. The regulator told themand later reiterated to The Wall Street Journalthat thousands of additives can be used to make tequila, and that identifying all of them would be impossible. The regulator said it has evidence from an accredited American lab that several of the 120 brands on the Sanschagrins additive-free list in fact contain additives. Grover says trace amounts of additives can make their way into tequilas unintentionally through cross-contamination when brands made by contractors share bottling lines. The regulator has since cracked down on other additive-free claims as well. In October, Patron put out a press release announcing a new additive-free seal it said had been endorsed by the CRT. Hours later, the brand pulled the announcement and deleted all social-media posts about it after the regulator fielded objections from a number of tequila makers including Diageo. The regulator then published an industry circular that said it didnt offer an additive-free seal and slammed brands that used the designation in their marketing. We never permit an attack on the industry of tequila," Sanchez says. Patron has since sued the CRT over the episode. Mauricio Vergara, Patrons president and chief operating officer, says the company wants to work with the regulator and the industry on the best way to conclude whether a tequila is additive-free. More than a debate about whether additives are good or bad, its one about transparency," he says. Consumers increasingly care about how products are being made." The setup In February, a man named Serpiko Sevchenko emailed the Sanschagrins to say he wanted a tequila tasting for himself and his friends. Could the couple organize one? A few days later the man and three others attended a Millionaires Tequila Tasting," costing $299 a person, at the Sanschagrins house. The men were actually undercover employees with the CRT, there to gather evidence later used to justify the March raid. The regulator says it found that the Americans were illegally making alcohol in their home. They saw distillation equipment Grover used to make a spirit he named Lotecito, and which they say he passed off as tequila. The Sanschagrins deny the allegations. Until they were informed by the Journal, the couple hadnt known that the tasting was a setup. This is such entrapment," Grover said. Following the raid, the couple briefly returned to Mexico and left with four suitcases and their three cats after their lawyer said it was unsafe. They recently bought a house in St Johns, Fla., where they plan to remain. The Mexico attorney generals office is continuing its investigation into the couples activities. The Sanschagrins say they wont visit tequila distilleries until the allegations against them are resolved. But they plan to continue the additive-free program through lab tests and tastings of bottles they buy in the U.S. To us, it is about protecting the traditional process," Scarlet says. It matters to us and obviously it matters to a lot of other people. It just matters." Write to Saabira Chaudhuri at Saabira.Chaudhuri@wsj.com It is the era of importing power from faraway lands. A grandiose project to build a nearly 2,500-mile subsea power line would connect vast wind and solar farms in Morocco to the U.K., providing a reliable supply of electricity to meet a projected boom in demand. The plans architect, Simon Morrish, said it is the U.K.s best option for clean electricity. It was like, well, why is no one doing this?" said Morrish, a former management consultant who also runs a landscaping-services company. Morrish has secured early-stage investment and hired a seasoned team, but his vision faces long odds. He needs to coax subsidies from the U.K. government, raise tens of billions of dollars and secure crucial permits from countries that control the seabed. The plan involves building Scotlands tallest buildinga giant cable factoryand a special ship to lay the lines. The project nevertheless shows how the electricity map is changing. Since coal and gas plants can sit near the areas they serve, their transmission lines generally dont need to travel long distances. But big empty sites with lots of wind and sunshine tend to be far from cities that need electricity. Already, grids in Northern Europe are being connected by subsea cables to share growing supplies of wind power. A 475-mile power line from the U.K. to Denmark, the worlds longest land-and-subsea grid connection, was switched on in December. Singapore, which lacks space for wind and solar farms, wants to import 30% of its electricity by 2035. Last year, it granted conditional approvals on plans to import much of that electricity via subsea cablessome more than 600 miles longfrom renewable-energy projects in Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam. Connecting Morocco to the U.K. takes the idea to another level. Scotlands tallest building Few places are richer in green-energy potential than western Morocco. The shortest day gets 10 hours of sunshine, and strong winds pick up late in the day. Morrishs venture, Xlinks, wants to build enough solar farms, wind turbines and batteries in the area to meet 8% of Britains electricity needs, or to power roughly seven million homes. It will take nearly 10,000 miles of cable for four offshore transmission linesfar more than existing suppliers could serve up. So Morrish started a cable-supply company to build a factory, with a tower taller than the Washington Monument, in which colossal cables will be lowered as they are coated in insulation. The factorys construction near the Scottish village of Fairlie has been delayed several times. Locals are doubtful it will happen. Its a nice area, a scenic area, and youre going to build a huge factory running 24/7?" said Rita Holmes, a longtime Fairlie resident. Transmission projects can take well over a decade to materialize. In the U.S., the Biden administration is pushing to ease permitting for lines that strengthen the countrys grid, boosting hopes for more projects. A 339-mile high-voltage transmission line that is under construction will bring hydropower to New York City from Quebec. A 550-mile line will bring wind power to California and Arizona from New Mexico. What you need is a bit of a catalyst," said Matthieu Muzumdar, partner and deputy chief executive at infrastructure investor Meridiam. Some of the federal and state programs were seeing could be part of that." Overseas, Meridiam is the lead investor in the first connection between the U.K. and Germany, and intends to invest in a planned 750-mile power line connecting Greece to Israel, via Cyprus. The project will lower lengths of cable weighing as much as the Eiffel Tower to depths of around 2 miles in the Mediterranean. What we are trying is bigger than what has been done before, both in terms of the size of the project and in terms of the amount of electricity we are trying to transmit," said Pascal Radue, who leads the generation and transmission unit at Nexans, a cable supplier working on the Greece-to-Cyprus first leg of that project. Nexans is among a handful of companies that supply high-voltage direct-current cables that can move electricity hundreds of miles with minimal losses. The company has sold out of the cables for nearly five years. Its rivals have similar backlogs. The dream of African wind and sunshine Demand for cable could sputter if the growth of renewables falls short of expectationsor if big projects falter. Swedens government recently rejected a connection under the Baltic Sea to Germany, citing concerns it would increase prices at home. Projects could be derailed for any number of reasons. An Xlinks-like plan to transmit Australian solar power to Singapore collapsed last year when the two billionaires leading it had a falling-out. The project has been revived by one of them, Mike Cannon-Brookes, the co-founder of software company Atlassian. The uncertainty limits how much those cable suppliers are willing to expand. It is why Xlinks needs its own supply. Morrish has persuaded investors including TotalEnergies, Abu Dhabis state-controlled utility company and General Electrics power-and-wind spinoff to buy into his plan. Xlinks closed a 100 million funding round in April, equivalent to $126 million. But construction costs alone will be between 22 billion and 24 billion, Xlinks says. The company is talking to the U.K. government about a subsidy that Morrish hopes would spur investments, but those discussions have dragged. Morocco also has to buy into the idea. Xlinks says the country would gain jobs, investment and tax revenue. The dream of sending North Africas wind and sunshine to Europe isnt new. An earlier effort, which would have moved power over land, fell through over a decade ago amid infighting between its backers and political turmoil in the region. Morrish said prospects are better now: Renewable-energy costs have fallen, and subsea cables can pass through fewer jurisdictions, making permitting easier. I have absolute confidence it will get done," Morrish said. Its just taking a bit longer than Id hoped." Write to Ed Ballard at ed.ballard@wsj.com and Emma Brown at Emma.Brown@wsj.com Profit booking at higher levels took center stage as the Indian stock market benchmarksthe Sensex and the Nifty 50ended their four-day winning streak with losses on Friday, June 28. Despite hitting fresh all-time highs during the session, both benchmarks succumbed to profit booking as investors took gains amid mixed global cues. The Nifty 50 reached a record high of 24,174 during the session but closed 34 points, or 0.14%, lower at 24,010.60, with 26 stocks advancing and 24 declining. Similarly, the 30-share Sensex hit a new record high of 79,671.58 but ended with a loss of 210 points, or 0.27%, at 79,032.73, with 20 stocks declining. "Indias optimism about the upcoming budget and upgrade in GDP forecasts continues to provide momentum in the market. Large caps are in favour due to the comeback of FIIs. However, profit booking ensued at the end of the week, at higher levels, in financials, especially private banks, which dragged the market down after the recent rally," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. Buy or sell stocks for Monday July 1 Sumeet Bagadia of Choice Broking has recommended three stocks for Monday Tata Motors, Britannia Industries and ONGC. TATAMOTORS TATAMOTORS is exhibiting strong bullish momentum, currently trading at 989.75 levels. The stock has also given a strong breakout of a falling trend line which is a significant technical development, supported by robust trading volumes, reinforcing the strength in the stock. The breakthrough suggests a potential continuation of the upward trend, offering an optimistic outlook for investors. Additionally, TATAMOTORS is trading above key moving averages, including the short-term (20 Day), medium-term (50 Day), and long-term (200 Day) EMAs, further affirming its bullish stance. The momentum indicator, Relative Strength Index (RSI), is at 57.40 levels. For traders, keeping an eye on the strong support near 966 levels is advisable which is also its 20 and 50 Day EMA levels, as a breach of this level could signal a shift in sentiment. Overall, TATAMOTORS current technical setup suggests a favourable environment for further upside potential, provided traders and investors remain vigilant to potential reversals and closely monitor key support and resistance levels. Based on the above analysis we recommend buying TATAMOTORS and the CMP of 989.75 with a stop loss of 965 for the target of 1040. BRITANNIA BRITANNIA has recently corrected from its record high of 5,725 and has retested an important support level of 5,290, which is also near its 20-day EMA. This indicates that the stock is finding a strong base at this level. Currently, BRITANNIA is trading above all its significant moving averages, reinforcing the positive outlook for the stock. The immediate resistance for BRITANNIA is at 5,550. Once the stock successfully crosses this barrier, it has the potential to continue rising toward the target of 5,860 and beyond. The RSI indicator is at 63.13, supporting the stock's ability to climb higher. Given these technical signals, BRITANNIA shows promising strength and a positive trend. Investors should keep an eye on the stock's movement around the 5,550 resistance level, as a break above this point could trigger further upward momentum. With the stock trading above all key moving averages, it is well-positioned for a continued rise toward its target. With a medium-term target price of 5860, we advise purchasing BRITANNIA at the CMP of 5475.55. If the price closes below 5290, our analysis will be regarded as being invalid. ONGC ONGC is currently trading at 274.20 levels, demonstrating a robust technical outlook. On the lower side, the stock has a strong support near 263 levels, providing a solid base for its price. Additionally, ONGC has crossed its short-term (20 Day) and medium-term (50 Day) EMA levels, indicating a positive trend. The stock is trading above all significant moving averages, further reinforcing its strength. On the higher side, a small resistance is observed near 279 levels. Once ONGC surpasses this resistance, a sharp upward move towards the target of 293 can be anticipated. Given these technical signals, ONGC shows promising potential for further gains. Investors should monitor the stock closely around the 279 resistance level, as a break above this point could lead to significant upside momentum. The current positioning above all key moving averages suggests a bullish trend, making ONGC an attractive option for continued growth. Based on the above analysis we recommend buying ONGC and the CMP of 274.20 with a stop loss of 263 for the target of 293. * AfD membership rose 60% since Jan. 2023, leaders tell congress * AfD seeks to form new political group in EU Parliament, they say * Targeting wins in three states in September * Tens of thousands protest against AfD congress By Sarah Marsh ESSEN, Germany, - Leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany on Saturday reported a surge in membership and vowed to build on the party's success in the European Parliament election, as they target wins in three state votes in the east this year. The AfD jumped to second place in nationwide polls last year amid frustration with infighting in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, worries over sluggish growth in Europe's largest economy, and concerns over the impact of the war in Ukraine. While a string of scandals and anti-extremism protests has dampened the AfD's support in recent months, the nationalist, eurosceptic party nonetheless came second with 15.9% in the European vote this month, ahead of the three parties in Scholz's coalition. AfD membership had grown by 60% to 46,881 members since January 2023, co-chief Tino Chrupalla told nearly 600 delegates at a party convention in the western city of Essen. Some 22,000 people had joined while 4,000 had left. "Despite all the harassment you have to endure as a member of the AfD, this is an absolutely sensational figure," Chrupalla told the convention. The figure is still a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of members boasted by the "big tent" parties in Germany, Scholzs Social Democrats and the opposition conservatives. The congress was held despite resistance from city authorities - marked by the rainbow and EU flags flying on flagpoles outside the convention centre - and protesters who sought to prevent AfD delegates from making it there. Two riot police officers who had been escorting a politician were seriously injured after protesters kicked them in the head after they fell to the ground and had to be hospitalised, police reported. A further seven officers were also injured. 'WE ARE HERE TO STAY' "Melt the AfD snowball before it becomes an avalanche" and "AfD = Despiser of mankind" read some of the signs that protesters carried at an anti-AfD march through the city. The interior ministry estimated some 20,000 people participated in the demonstration, state broadcaster ZDF said. The party congress will run until Sunday, the same day neighbouring France holds the first round of a snap parliamentary election that could bring the far right to power. "We will not be intimidated," said co-chief Alice Weidel. "We are here and we are here to stay." The AfD is on track to come first in elections in the eastern states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg in September, according to polls, which will likely further complicate governance there as other parties refuse to form a coalition with it. In discussing the party's policy platform, Weidel said AfD's future allies in the European Parliament should oppose the disbursal of taxpayer money to the "debt states" of Europe - a reference to countries such as Italy and Greece - and the idea that Ukraine belongs to the European Union, after it opened membership talks this week. The AfD is on course to form a new political group in the European Parliament - a move which would require 23 MEPs from at least seven EU countries - after being expelled from the Identity and Democracy grouping last month, Weidel said. MUMBAI : Foreign investors in Indias equity markets have shed their pre-election jitters and remain on a bullish streak ahead of the Union budget, assured of political and economic continuity with Narendra Modi returning as Prime Minister for a third successive term. Nirmala Sitharaman, in her second successive term as Indias finance minister, will present the federal budget for 2024-25 next month. Foreign institutional investors, or FIIs, have turnedbullish ahead of the budget not just in the cash segment of Indian equities but also on the derivatives segment. The Lok Sabha election results earlier this month returned the National Democratic Alliance to power at the Centre, although Modis Bharatiya Janata Party fell short of an absolute majority in Parliament. Early jitters over the economics of coalition politics, however, dissipated as Modi took office on 9 June. In June, foreign investors turned net buyers of stocks worth 18,807 crore, after net selling 34,257 crore in the preceding two months. They have also begun theJuly series of derivatives with a net cumulative bullish index futures positionof 319,115 contracts on index futures such as the Nifty and the Bank Nifty on Thursday, at the June expiry series of derivatives contracts. Also read |Foreign investors slash bearish bets ahead of Union budget, set stage for rally FIIs had started the June series with a net bearish position of 297,798 contracts on index futures. These have been covered fully and fresh bullish bets have been created. The main concern of FIIs were around the election results," said Jyotivardhan Jaipuria, founder and managing director at Valentis Advisors, an investment management services firm. With that concern allayed by political stability and expectation of reform continuity they have turned buyers once again. The budget and corporate earnings will be the next triggers for them." A month for bulls The bullishness of FIIs is reflected in the rollover data, which show Nifty futures rolls to the July series at 76%, higher than the three-month average of 69%. Rollover here refers to traders or investors carrying forward their Nifty futures to the July series; derivatives series normally expire on the last Thursday of each month. Rollovers accompanied by rising markets signal long aggression. July has historically been a month for bulls, with Nifty settling in the green 90% of the time over the past 10 years, averaging 3.5% returns," said Abhilash Pagaria, head of Nuvama Alternative and Quantitative Research. Also read |Savvy small investors score a quiet poll win We expect this bullish momentum to continue as there are still no signs of exhaustion," he added. The momentum could lead the Nifty index to touch the 24,500-mark in the next few days, with strong support coming from private banks and IT." The benchmark Nifty 50 index scaled to a fresh all-time high of 24,124 points on Friday, before ending the day at 24,010.60. The Sensex scaled a new peak of 79,546 points. Not much exuberance Pagaria expects that among private bank stocks, HDFC Bank Ltd will gain steam on apossible twofold increase in its weight in the MSCI India index, which is tracked by global passive funds for allocating money to Indian markets. HDFC Bank ranks fourth by weight (3.93%) on the MSCI India Index, behind Reliance Industries Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, and Infosys Ltd. However, Deepak Shenoy, founder of portfolio manager Capitalmind, said while the markets have performed well an allround exuberance" that has everyone including small-time investors bullish is absent, thus obviating fears of a possible fall given the recent rally. The Nifty has gained 6.52% since the end of May, while the Sensex has rallied 6.8% in that period. The last phase of the national election was on 1 June, a Saturday. Coinciding with this rally, retail and wealthy investors were cumulatively net short index futures by 242,961 contracts on Thursday. This was a hedge against long stock futures contracts, supporting Shenoys premise of the markets not being exuberant". Small and Mid-caps have remained market favorites so far this calendar year. Stocks from this space have witnessed exceptionally strong demand by retail investors in the first half of 2024. Year-to-date, the Nifty Midcap and Nifty Smallcap indices have both surged approximately 21 percent, outperforming the benchmark Nifty's 10.5 percent rise. Specifically, the Nifty Midcap index has outperformed the Nifty in four of the six months this year, while the Nifty Smallcap index has delivered higher returns in three of those six months. Month Nifty Returns (%) Nifty Midcap100 Returns (%) Nifty Smallcap100 Returns (%) January -0.03 5.17 5.83 February 1.18 -0.48 -0.31 March 1.57 -0.54 -4.4 April 1.24 5.81 11.4 May -0.33 1.65 -1.85 June 6.57 7.78 9.75 Meanwhile, Over the past year, the Nifty Midcap and Nifty Smallcap indices have soared by 51 percent and 60 percent, respectively, compared to the Nifty's 26.5 percent increase. This strong performance is attributed to solid economic fundamentals, increased retail investor participation, and robust corporate earnings growth. Economic expansion has created a favorable environment, while the surge in demat accounts and continuous inflows from mutual funds and SIPs have boosted demand for these stocks. Additionally, sectors such as real estate and defense, heavily represented by mid and small-cap companies, have shown strong earnings growth, further bolstering these segments. However, experts caution that valuations in the mid and small-cap segments are now stretched, which may lead to a more moderated performance in the second half of 2024. They advise investors to be selective and stick to a bottom-up investment approach. Let's take a look at what they have to say: Tanvi Kanchan, Head - UAE Business & Strategy, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers Despite their strong performance, mid and small-cap stocks in India face significant concerns due to high valuations and this high valuation makes these segments prone to volatility. While mid and small caps have shown strong performance in India, the high valuations and potential for volatility necessitate a cautious approach. Quality stocks in mid and small-cap still have the potential to deliver 5-6 percent alpha over and above the large-cap index, so the investors who are looking at higher risk and higher returns, even with a 3x-4x overvalued in comparison to large-cap, the segment can be explored. Also Read | FPI inflows poised to surge after a modest H1 2024; June sees strong recovery Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives and Research, SAMCO Securities Small and Mid-caps have remained the darling of the market so far. Stocks from this sector have been sought after by retail investors. The domestic money fund flow is testimony to this as the majority of domestic funds go to this category in the Mutual Fund industry. However, going ahead, whether the outperformance in this category continues or fizzles out, will depend on two major events slated for next month in July. The first is the Union budget and corporate performance of these companies in the first quarter of FY25. If there are any interesting Budgetary provisions announced coupled with consistent Q1 performance, the small and mid-cap companies will continue to attract investor attention. If they fail to perform and dont meet the market expectations, the setback in the momentum cannot be ruled out. Ravi Singh- SVP, Retail Research, Religare Broking Ltd. On a larger picture, we are positive on the small and midcap space but in the short term we may see outperformance from the large caps and one should not be aggressive on the mid and small-cap space so one can book some profits as well. Anirudh Garg, Partner and Fund Manager at Invasset From a long-term perspective, we believe mid and small-caps hold strong potential due to India's economic expansion and the ongoing capital expenditure (CapEx) programs. The government's focus on infrastructure projects and industrial growth supports the growth narrative for these stocks. As India progresses towards a higher GDP trajectory, the value and growth opportunities in mid and small-cap stocks are likely to become more pronounced. While short-term volatility is expected, investors should be prepared for such dips and maintain a long-term investment horizon. The potential for growth remains significant, driven by India's rising prominence in the global supply chain and domestic consumption growth. Therefore, selectively investing in fundamentally strong mid and small-cap stocks can be beneficial. Mohit Khanna, Fund Manager at Purnartha One Strategies YTD Nifty 50 TRI has delivered 11 percent returns as compared to 22 percent for Nifty Midcap 150 TRI and 21 percent for Smallcap 250 TRI. This run-up has increased the valuation gap between the large caps and mid & small caps. In this regard, there can be some near-term underperformance by the Mid/Small-cap Indices. Having said that, there are still a lot of stocks in the Mid/Small cap arena that have underperformed and are available at reasonable valuations. I would suggest investors to be selective and stick to a bottom-up investment approach, rather than top-down/index-level return calculations. Focus on earnings growth and valuations at an individual stock level is a better way of building a winning portfolio, in my opinion. Trivesh D, COO at Tradejini The valuations of mid and small-cap companies continue to be in the expensive and extremely bullish category. On account of smaller m-caps, these companies are susceptible to significant volatility which may induce investors to participate in such companies without a clear understanding of the operations and future growth prospects of these companies. I advise investors to maintain discipline in stock selection and the decision should not be merely based on speculation and FOMO to ensure long-term wealth is built. Timeless tales The Experimental Theatre of the NCPA will be staging Nuclear Sher. Scripted by acclaimed poet and lyricist Gulzar and directed by Salim Arif, the theatrical production revives ancient tales of Panchatantra where animal characters impart vital life lessons to a kings sons. The ensemble cast includes Shreya Acharya, Arshad Khan, Mayank Vishvakarma, and young actors from Dhai Akshar Educational Trust. Gulzars poetic scripting breathes new life into these stories, emphasising the enduring message: if you cant control something, its best not to create it, states the plays note. At Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, on 30 June, 5pm. Suitable for children aged 6 and above. Book tickets on Bookmyshow. A still from Moon on the Man directed by Prince Shah Magic in reality Vikalp Bengaluru in collaboration with Bangalore International Centre (BIC) will be screening Moon on the Man, a 2021 feature-length documentary directed by Prince Shah. Elaborating on the plot, the press note says, The film looks at two eccentric personalities Praklawn and Sailesh, through their stories, life experiences and their everyday activities. This narrative is annexed by Aasif and Wadood at a juncture when the stories of Praklawn and Sailesh enter into the realms of magic realism. The screening will be followed by a discussion between Prince Shah and filmmaker Sunanda Bhat. At BIC, Domlur 2nd Stage, Bengaluru, on 2 July, 6.30pm. Dindigul biryani is on the menu at the Dakshin Yatra food festival Simply, flavourfully South Savour flavours of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu at the Dakshin Yatra: Flavours of South Food Festival. On the menu are items like Chettinad chicken, Kerala prawn & mango curry, Dindigul biryani, Thalassery biryani and bisi bele bath, besides drinks like ambuli juice, neer majjige and panakam. At Edesia, Crowne Plaza, Okhla, till 30 June, 7-11pm. For details, visit www.ihg.com. A poster of Navarasa: Exploring the Spectrum of Emotions Emotions in movement Students of studio Nritya Shakti, led by choreographer Shakti Mohan, will present Navarasa: Exploring the Spectrum of Emotions, a two-hour dance performance that expresses a range of human emotions, from joy, sorrow, anger and courage to disgust, fear, peace and love. At The Royal Opera House, Mathew Road, Opera House, Girgaon, on 2 July, 7pm. For details, visit royaloperahouse.in. Piano prodigy Ayaan Deshpande A child prodigy and an orchestra The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, returns to Bengaluru this weekend with a unique concert by the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI). This concert by the SOI is going to be special as it will feature child prodigy Ayaan Deshpande, 10, performing on the piano. A student of the piano at the SOI Music Academy, Deshpande was winner at the Golden Key Music Festival of Vienna, 2023 in the piano performance and composition categories. He has also performed in front of maestro Zubin Mehta as well as jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves. Audiences can look forward to watch him perform Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 21. The concert will also have the SOI Chamber Orchestra performing Rossinis String Sonata No. 3, Respighis Ancient Air and Dances and Suite No. 3 amongst other works. At Prestige Centre for Performing Arts, Bengaluru, 29 June, 7pm. Three-quarters into The Solitude of a Shadow, a passerby asks the unnamed narrator-protagonist: Is your name Karunakaran? The question wrecks him despite how he wondered and confirmed, not too long before, that he had become exactly like Karunakaran. This singular, claustrophobic obsession with revenge against Karunakaran, a powerful loan shark of the Kavundar (Gounder) caste, who raped the narrators sister Sharada of the Nasuvan caste 30 years ago, is established even from the novels opening lines. Originally published as Nizhalin Thanimai (2012) by Tamil writer Devibharathi, it is ably translated into English by N. Kalyan Raman as The Solitude of a Shadow. He retains Tamil terms of address, and nouns and names that evoke a sense of a place and its people. Not once does this compromise the stifling intensity of Devibharathis narrative. The Solitude of a Shadow magnifies to delirious effect the idea that the things we tell ourselves to fashion our identities blur the lines between what we know of our past, present and future. This manifests in three forms. First, as the narrators self-reflection, with flashbacks showing caste biases seeping into the consciousness of children. Second, as his self-pity and victimhoodglimpses of the narrators boyhood days indicate the impact of sexual trauma, even if not his own. Third, as helplessness and inaction in the present. The Solitude of a Shadow By Devibharathi, translated by N. Kalyan Raman, Harper Perennial India, 208 pages, 399 A clerk at a government high school of which Karunakaran is a benefactor, the narrator is already at a disadvantage vis-a-vis his revenge plot. Later, as he gets close to Karunakaran to strike a cathartic blow of revenge, pangs of conscience push him further into himself. Briefly, he experiences love and intimacy with two women: Karunakarans daughter Sulochana and, later, a married neighbour Sugandhi. But Devibharathi doesnt afford him clarity or purity of feelings. With Sulochana, his feelings are muddied by his need to avenge her fathers actions. When he meets Sugandhi, he is disgusted by his flagging morals. However, the narrators unmet desire for revenge isnt the only albatross around his neck. His sister Sharada, the victim of Karunakarans crime, keeps reminding the narrator of his failure to avenge her. How are you going to kill him? she asks. Why he should, despite being too young at the time of the incident to understand it, never comes up a sharp focus on gendered expectations in the milieu Devibharathi writes about. This quest for revenge to restore a womans honour changes everyone who comes in contact with it. Now a shadowy version of themselves, they are each pushed into a sultry and oppressive loneliness. In a novel that deals with the inconsistencies and inaccuracies of memory, this is Devibharathis powerful final blow. [ ] 2024-06-28 08:13:04 . I ran into this phrase on the Linkedin page of Jeremy Watkins while surfing online yesterday and found it interesting. He says: " We may like to think that we've mastered perspective because we understand the concept intellectually, yet how many of us consistently allow ourselves to be fully open to new and alternative perspectives by seeing things through the eyes of others. Sometimes a subtle change of environment is all it takes to make us realise how stuck or fixed weve become in our approach. These moments began as we were escorted, in the dark, along a natural bushland track just outside of Shark Bay by our cultural guide, Capes, to a special site where he'd set up a small camp-fire. Suddenly, I realised that Capes had taken us along the exact same track that I had run earlier that afternoon with my ultra-running buddy, Dave. As Capes was explaining the story of his people and their connection to the sea and the land, he was also drawing their storyline in the sand to help us to not only hear his story, but to also see it evolve in front of our eyes. We are all students", he explained and at the same time we are all teachers. I teach you and you teach me. We come together as strangers, but we leave as friends. That's how life should be. It was a beautiful moment and one that will stay with me as a lasting reminder to always maintain an open perspective as to how I approach life, leadership and performance. The next day Dave and I ran the same track again. This time it was different. We were more connected to each other. More connected to the land. It was if we had come as strangers to this unfamiliar land but left better friends. " https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/come-strangers-leave-friends-jeremy-watkins/ I also found the phrase very fitting, as we will be welcoming a couple from US tonight. I "met" the wife on WXC blog. Her posts moved me so I left comments there which in turn moved her, and we became good "trusted-net-friends" since then. We have a separate suite on the first floor of our house which is normally vacant in the summer months for visiting families and friends; and they have a vacation condo in a city in California. So we decided to do suite/condo exchange for one month, with them coming now and we will go there in the fall. People come to WXC for all different reasons. I joined WXC in Feb 2023 to improve my Chinese and to find friendship (ie. ""), and friendship I did find. I also met a good WXC "trusted-net-friend" and had her family in our home for dinner last year when they were on a break from their one-year travel and visiting their relative here. And I have made some close friends on WXC blog with whom we can "laugh" and "cry" together and be there to support each other whenever needed, even though we have never met. Friends in need are true friends indeed. strangers, I feel the same here in APAD. leave as friends" online or offline, virtual world or real, and So it's possible and true to "come as Thanks for reading and have a good Friday (even it's not "the good Friday" ;-) ! Many of us have memory-holed the worst depravities and tragedies of the pandemic. And who will blame us for it? After all, the hits keep coming and there is no time to lie down and let solitary tears streak down our cheeks. For a moment though, I want to remember the oxygen cylinder scam. While I searched for a cylinder on behalf of a family member who had covid, a Sachin Agarwal surfaced and promised oxygen for 20,000. As it turned out Sachin Agarwal" was not just any old fellow. He contained multitudes. Many people lost money to Sachin Agarwal" while trying desperately to help their loved ones. Among them was journalist Nidhi Suresh who filed an FIR in Delhi, determined to get justice for everyone who had been scammed. Suresh later wrote, that two weeks after that FIR, the Delhi police arrested four men from Biharapparently part of a larger group of peoplewho reportedly confessed to scamming more than 300 people for over 1.25 crore". I gleefully told this rare story of comeuppance to a friend who looked jittery. With some hesitation she told me that her brother had earlier been involved with the oxygen scam gang. Back when they were a mobile phone scam gang, she said. Being an extremely determined older sister, she had redirected her unemployed younger brother into a completely different life. Also read: Heatwaves are a sneak peak into a future of climate breakdown I was stunnedless about the family connection and more about the nature of organised crime. It was an epiphany for meobvious for other people, I am sure this idea of the free-floating, generalist criminal adapting his skills and schemes to the zeitgeist aka whatever is trending. Why have those dark, teeth-gritting days of wanting Sachin Agarwal to drop dead returned to me lately? Its hard not to! Not when we are left to weep over the results of large-scale crimes when they could have been prevented back when they were a cottage industry crime. Or lets be honest, perhaps we would not have to deal with the second round of large-scale crime if even the first round of large-scale crime was prosecuted. If Kannada film star Darshan had been punished for his alleged domestic violence and attempt to murder his wife, would a troll from Chitradurga be dead today? If the very first alleged sexual assault by a second-generation politician had led to his imprisonment, would dozens and dozens of women have been allegedly assaulted by the family? If the monstrous Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh of the last decade had been resolved, if it had not left a trail of suspicious deaths, if justice was served, would we have the NEET situation that we have now? A certain variety of Indian is always talking with a sexual frisson about their longing for an authoritarian statea country where daddy knows best but also daddy loves them best. The aura of this kind of daddy is always one of efficiency. Famously, fascism lovers of the 1930s gushed about Mussolini making the trains run on time in irascible" Italy. To paraphrase history professor Victoria de Grazia, who wrote about this phenomenon in The New York Times in 1994, all that was just for likes. His regime built magnificent central stations and upgraded the main lines on which businessmen, politicians and comfort-minded tourists sped between Milan and Rome." Not so much for regular Italians who were stuck in creaky, old trains. In our era, trains plainly do not run on time but reels do. Wannabe dictators show their devotees their ability to appear sweatless, poreless in an image, of course. However, the real promise is to bestow devotees the ability to create, trade in and worship shiny imagesthe sped-up reel of a white bullet" train, the borrowed image of a clean and fancy street to rival Singapore, the facade that gleams even if there are leaks inside. The promise of authoritarian regimes to populations tired of mess and confusion is leave it to me, the streets will be safe". Except as we see around the world, what authoritarian regimes are actually saying is leave the crimes to me". Political scientists Ireneusz Karolewski and Viktoria Kaina recently labelled Russia a criminocracy. As names go, it could do with a make-over but it is immediately obvious what the word impliesthat Russia is a nation state shaped by crime. Karolewski and Kaina wrote in a London School of Economics blog, Corruption is the fuel of criminocracies, rather than a pathological development." Or if you want me to translate the tech talk, corruption is a feature in a criminocracy not a bug. These regimes are run by polished criminals who work hard to extract the last drop of maal from government institutions and national resources. Meanwhile, their prisons are full of sharp-eyed people who had the potential to connect the dots and interrupt the looting. Mussolini, for instance, had 50,000 railway workers jailed for political reasons". Also read: How the Constitution played a pivotal role in the election The efficient nation of China had its Pune Porsche equivalent back in 2009. A wealthy 20-year-old recklessly sped through Hangzhou and killed a pedestrian. The public was enraged by the images of the killer smoking and laughing while waiting for the police. As in the Pune Porsche case, the developments showed everyone watching how justice works when a tiny speck of the population owns most of the country. One of the developments was the accusation (and not for the first time!) that the remarkably light three-year sentence was going to be served not by the rich boy but by a Ding Zhu, a replacement criminal. Dingzhu-cracya place where you do the crime and someone else does the time, where we admire bullet trains on odd days and on even days train drivers take the bullet. Meanwhile, I think of Sachin Agarwal" and what exams he took, didnt take or wanted to take. Nisha Susan is the author of The Women Who Forgot To Invent Facebook And Other Stories. She posts @chasingiamb. The Central government has amended the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 giving withdrawal benefits for employees with less than six months of service. According to a government statement on Friday, the amendment is believed to benefit more than 7 lakh EPS members who leave the scheme with less than six months of contributory service. The Centre has also modified Table D to ensure that the service for every month is taken into account and withdrawal benefits are given in proportion to the service provided. Table D refers to the members who have not offered the required service for the scheme's eligibility or the members attaining 58 years of age. The amount that can be withdrawn will now depend on the months a member has completed the service and the wages on which the EPS contribution was received. Earlier, the withdrawal benefit was calculated based on the period of contributory service in completed years and the wages on which the EPS contribution was paid. This included a mandatory six-month contributory service. Hence, after completion of contributory service of six months and above, members were given benefits. The members who used to leave the scheme before six months were not entitled to the benefits. Members were entitled to a withdrawal benefit after completing contributory service for six months or more. Members who left the scheme before six months were not entitled to the benefit. This was the reason why many claims were rejected for members exiting before providing the mandatory service. During the financial year 2023-24, the report stated that approximately 7 lakh claims for withdrawal benefits were denied due to contributory service being less than six months. The government estimates that modifying Table D and simplifying the payment system will benefit more than 23 lakh employees under the scheme. The earlier estimation under Table D did not consider the fractional period of service provided under six months after each year. According to the press release, this resulted in fewer withdrawals in many cases. The modification will remove discrepancies in the amount withdrawn by members. According to the government statement, more than 95 lakh EPS members leave the scheme every year before providing the mandatory ten years of contributory service for pension.Such employees are given withdrawal benefits as per the Employee Provident Scheme. More than 30 lakh withdrawal claims were settled in the financial year 2023-24, the report said. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) In an increasingly divisive political sphere, Becka Robbins focuses on what she knows best books. Operating out of a tiny room in Fabulosa Books in San Franciscos Castro District, one of the oldest gay neighborhoods in the United States, Robbins uses donations from customers to ship boxes of books across the country to groups that want them. In an effort she calls Books Not Bans," she sends titles about queer history, sexuality, romance and more many of which are increasingly hard to come by in the face of a rapidly growing movement by conservative advocacy groups and lawmakers to ban them from public schools and libraries. The book bans are awful, the attempt at erasure, Robbins said. She asked herself how she could get these books into the hands of the people who need them the most. Beginning last May, she started raising money and looking for recipients. Her books have gone to places like a pride center in west Texas and an LGBTQ-friendly high school in Alabama. Customers are especially enthusiastic about helping Robbins send books to states like Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, often writing notes of support to include in the packages. Over 40% of all book bans from July 2022 to June 2023 were in Florida, more than any other state. Behind Florida are Texas and Missouri, according to a report by PEN America, a nonprofit literature advocacy group. Book bans and attempted bans have been hitting record highs, according to the American Library Association. And the efforts now extend as much to public libraries as school-based libraries. Because the totals are based on media accounts and reports submitted by librarians, the association regards its numbers as snapshots, with many bans left unrecorded. PEN America's report said 30% of the bans include characters of color or discuss race and racism, and 30% have LGBTQ characters or themes. The most sweeping challenges often originate with conservative organizations, such as Moms for Liberty, which has organized banning efforts nationwide and called for more parental control over books available to children. Moms for Liberty is not anti-LGBTQ , co-founder Tiffany Justice has told The Associated Press. But about 38% of book challenges that directly originated from the group have LGBTQ themes, according to the library association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. Justice said Moms for Liberty challenges books that are sexually explicit, not because they cover LGBTQ topics. Among those topping banned lists have been Maia Kobabes Gender Queer," George Johnsons All Boys Arent Blue and Nobel laureate Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye. Robbins said it's more important than ever to makes these kinds of books available to everyone. Fiction teaches us how to dream, Robbins said. It teaches us how to connect with people who are not like ourselves, it teaches us how to listen and emphasize. Shes sent 740 books so far, with each box worth $300 to $400, depending on the titles. At the new Rose Dynasty Center in Lakeland, Florida, the books donated by Fabulosa are already on the shelves, said Jason DeShazo, a drag queen known as Momma Ashley Rose who runs the LGBTQ community center. DeShazo is a family-friendly drag performer and has long hosted drag story times to promote literacy. He uses puppets to address themes of being kind, dealing with bullies and giving back to the community. DeShazo hopes to provide a safe space for events, support groups, and health clinics, and build a library of banned books. I dont think a person of color should have to search so hard for an amazing book about history of what our Black community has gone through, DeShazo said. Or for someone who is queer to find a book that represents them. Robbins favorite books to send are youth adult queer romances, a rapidly growing genre as conversations about LGBTQ issues have become much more mainstream than a decade ago. The characters are just like regular kids regular people who are also queer, but they also get to fall in love and be happy, Robbins said. _____ West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday, June 28, filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee day after she said that women complained to her saying that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there. Mamata Banerjee's remarks came a few weeks after a contractual employee accused Governor Ananda Bose of molestation following which the Kolkata Police also started a probe. Ananda Bose has also filed a similar defamation cases against some Trinamool Congress (TMC) employees for making similar remarks. Also Read | 2 TMC MLAs fail to take oath as West Bengal Governor leaves for Delhi "Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday moved the Calcutta High Court and filed a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders for their comments," the source told PTI. During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat, Mamata Banerjee claimed that women have informed her they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there. What TMC and BJP had to say TMC Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen said that she would be unable to comment on the matter without further discussion with the party leaders. "I have to talk to my party leadership to find out what actually happened. This is quite a sensitive matter," Sen told PTI. Also Read | Bengal Gov asks staff to disregard Kolkata police summons amid molestation probe Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha held the view that Bose took the right decision. "I think Governor Bose has taken the right decision. He should have taken this decision long back. I fully support him for this," said Sinha. Damaging West Bengals image': CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty, a veteran Communist party leader in the state, said that the tussle between Bose and Banerjee is not helping Bengal. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to do away with the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) from the state amid the paper-leak row. He also urged the Central government exempt the system at the national level amid the paper-leak row that has gripped the national discourse. In a letter addressed to PM Narendra Modi regarding exemption of NEET for the state, MK Stalin suggested that the selection process for professional courses should only be through the 12th standard marks rather than through a separate entrance exam. MK Stalin said it was an unwanted additional stress on students. MK Stalin said, In this regard, we had passed a Bill unanimously in our Legislative Assembly to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET and to provide medical admissions based on 12th standard marks. This has been sent for Presidential assent but the assent is still pending. The Tamil Nadu chief minister also wrote to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, seeking his support to Tamil Nadu's demand for NEET exemption. The recent reports of irregularities in the examination conducted by the NTA has shattered the dreams of many hard-working aspirants of medical courses in the country. This system is also depriving the rural poor youth to fulfil the dreams of becoming a medical graduate, he said. He also sent off letters to his counterparts in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Telangana and West Bengal, urging them to consider such resolutions to abolish NEET. "Considering the importance and seriousness of the issue, I request you to consider passing a similar resolution in your state Legislative Assembly also to urge the Union Government to abolish the NEET exams in the interest of the students of our states," MK Stalin said. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted May 5 but widespread protests erupted in the country after the results showed 67 candidates had scored full marks. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal was on Saturday sent to judicial custody till July 12 in a CBI case linked to an excise policy matter. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought 14 days judicial custody after the expiry of his three-day custodial interrogation. However, it did not ask for further police custody at this stage, saying his incarceration was required in the "interest of the investigation and justice". Appearing for Kejriwal through VC, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari read the application filed on behalf of Kejriwal seeking direction the CBI to place on record all material collected, including the case diary. "Arvind Kejriwal was produced before the court because his three-day CBI custody came to an end today. CBI did not seek further police custody, they sought a judicial remand which was opposed by us saying they have no grounds to seek a judicial remand. Now Arvind Kejriwal will be produced before the court on 12 July, said Advocate Rishikesh Kumar. Kumar said that they will move a bail application on Monday or Tuesday. Kejriwal was allowed to meet his wife and family within the court after the counsel urged the court to permit him to meet them till the order is passed. Home-cooked food for Kejriwal Advocate Rishikesh Kumar said they had moved an application that he be provided with his diabetes medicines, test kits, and home-cooked food, and the court has agreed to our demands. What CBI argued in remand application Some crucial witnesses were yet to be examined and documents or digital evidence were yet to be collected. During the custodial interrogation, Kejriwal did not cooperate with the investigation. Kejriwal deliberately gave evasive replies contrary to the evidence on record. Kejriwal did not give a proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5% to 12% under the new excise policy of Delhi 2021-22. Kejriwal also could not explain as to why during the peak of second wave of Covid, the cabinet approval for revised excise policy was obtained through circulation in a hurried manner within one day. Kejriwal evaded the questions regarding the meetings of his associate Vijay Nair with various stakeholders of the liquor business in Delhi. He was unable to give proper explanation about his meeting with Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, accused Arjun Pandey and accused Mootha Gautham. He also evaded the questions regarding the transfer and utilisation of ill-gotten money to the tune of Rs.44.54 crores in Goa assembly elections by his party during 2021-22. An under construction bridge collapsed in Bihars Madhubani district on Friday, marking the fifth incident in a series of continuous destructions, over a span of nine days, according to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. The 75m long bridge, that was being built at a cost of 3 crore, was being built by the Rural Works Department of Bihar, since 2021. The bridge is located on the Bhootahi river between the Madhubani-Supaul districts. The leader of opposition in BiharTejashwi Yadav, took to X, to pose his question, following the incident. A bridge under construction for years on the Bhootahi river between Madhubani-Supaul collapsed. Did you find out? If not, why? Try to find out? wrote Tejashwi Yadav. A 25m long pillar crashed into the river, as the water levels rose. Fallen pillars, along with huge tarpaulin sheets were further seen at the site. Though officials were tight-lipped about the incident, sources in the Rural Works Department, which was entrusted with the construction of the 75-metre bridge, confirmed that one of the pillars was washed away a few days ago, PTI reported. The sources claimed that the district administration has been asked to investigate the matter and submit its report while the contractor concerned has been instructed to get the structure repaired at the earliest. Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas in Nepal, which are adjoining the Kishanganj border, led to a sudden rise in the water levels. Notwithstanding the strong currents, one of the pillars fell, causing the collapse, District Magistrate Tushar Singla told reporters, mentioned The Hindu. Delhi Airport T1 roof collapse: The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a notice asking airlines to avert hiking their ticket prices post the roof collapse incident at Delhi Airport Terminal 1 on Friday, 28 June. In Delhi airport, airline operations are being shifted to Terminals 2 and 3 after the terminal 1 was shut down for takeoff and landings. The Government notice aims to curb any unexpected rise in flight ticket prices to and from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, reported CNBC-TV18 quoting officials in the know. The Civil Aviation Ministry in a post on X, formerly Twitter, said, In light of the unfortunate incident at Terminal T1D IGIA, Delhi, airlines are advised to monitor airfares to and from Delhi and take appropriate measures as necessary. A part of the roof at Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport collapsed at around 5 am on Friday. The incident resulted in one death and injuries to at least six other individuals at the scene. As a result of this incident, domestic flights like Indigo and SpiceJet operating from the Terminal 1 airport have been cancelled and temporarily rescheduled to operate out of the Terminal 2 and 3 in Delhi. Also Read | Heavy rain lashes Delhi; IMD issues orange alert for NCR till July 2 Mint reported earlier, that Indigo cancelled over 80 flights and SpiceJet cancelled around 15 flights. The airport generally handles around 190-200 arrivals and departures per day. The airport has a capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually operating 4,56,183 flights for the year 2023-24, according to data collected from Delhi Airport's official website. Heavy rains have resulted in the collapse of a section of the roof at Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport, reported PTI quoting the ministry. Reuters reported quoting the National Weather Office on Friday that the Delhi airport area received around 148.5 millimetres (5.85 inches) of rain over three hours, more than the average rainfall of June 2024. Safdarjung Weather Station recorded 228.1 mm (9 inches) of rainfall in the 24 hours, the highest rainfall ever recorded in a single day in June over 88 years. The Janata Dal (U) on Saturday appointed Sanjay Kumar Jha as working president of the party. The decision to appoint the party's Rajya Sabha member as working president was taken at a meeting of its national executive held in Delhi. The decision is considered significant since Jha is known to have a good equation with the BJP leadership. Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, along with other senior leaders from around the country were present at the meeting. Speaking to PTI, Jha said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always paid attention to Bihar and expressed hope that the party's demand for special category status or a package for the state would be met. Jha was well-suited to draw a good deal from the BJP and maintain a friendly relationship between the two parties, which have a history of bumpy ties, reported PTI quoting sources. During the meeting the party reiterated its demand for special category status for Bihar. Senior leader Neeraj Kumar said that the Centre could also consider an alternative in a special package. The BJP ally also demanded stringent action against culprits in exam paper leak cases and called for a strong law to rule out such incidents in the future. Nitish Kumar, returned to the NDA and took oath as Bihar CM with BJP's support, after leaving the alliance and joining Rashtriya Janata Dal-led 'Mahagathbandhan' in August 2022. Kumar's JDU contested the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in alliance with the BJP. Meanwhile, in the run-up to the Bihar assembly elections, former Union Minister and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Thursday had expressed his desire for the NDA to form a government with full majority in the state. Bodies of a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and four jawans who were feared to have been drowned were recovered, defence officials said. The five soldiers of the Army were swept away while crossing a river in a T-72 tank near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Nyoma-Chushul area in Ladakh early Saturday, officials said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences to the bereaved families on Saturday afternoon. Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh, Singh added. We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief," the minister wrote on X. Fire and Fury Corps, Indian Army, said in a post on X, On 28 Jun 2024 night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got stuck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level. The T-72 tank with five soldiers on board sank due to flash floods while they were crossing the river, the officials said. It further read, Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didn't succeed and the tank crew lost their lives. Indian Army regrets loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the news of the accident and the loss of lives. "Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who fell victim to this painful tragedy. In this hour of grief, the nation stands together in saluting the exemplary service of our valiant soldiers," he posted on X. Arunachal CM Pema Khandu also expressed his condolences on the incident "Deeply disturbed to learn that a T-72 tank with five soldiers has been swept away by flash floods near the Line of Actual Control in the Nyoma-Chusul area of Ladakh. Praying for the safety and well-being of our brave soldiers," he posted on X. A rescue operation had been launched. Mumbai local train updates: The Western Railways will operate a 5-hour-long block on up and down fast lines between Borivali and Ram Mandir railway station from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday, 30 June. The massive block would be operated to carry out the maintenance work. The railway will carry out maintenance work of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment to maintain smooth train operations in the coming days, said Western Railways in a statement. Jumbo block between Borivali and Ram Mandir station To carry out maintenance work of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment, a Jumbo Block of five hours will be taken on Up and Down Fast lines between Borivali and Ram Mandir station from 10.00 hrs to 15.00 hrs on Sunday, 30th June, 2024, said Western Railways in its press release. According to a press release issued by Shri Vineet Abhishek Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, during the block period, all Up and Down Fast line trains will run on Slow lines between Borivali and Andheri stations. The jumbo block doesn't mean a complete halt of local train operations on the route. It means that the up-and-down fast-line trains will run on slow lines between Borivali and Andheri stations. However, some suburban trains will remain cancelled during the block. A few trains between Borivali and Andheri station will be extended to Goregaon on the Harbour line. Also Read | As OpenAI threatens to block access to APIs in China, local players eye the pie The jumbo block is likely to impact the daily commuters on the route, hence passengers are requested to seek detailed information about the block on the said Mumbai local train route with concerned station masters. The Regional Meteorological Department (RMC) has issued an orange alert for Mumbai on July 1. Over the last few days the maximum city and adjoining areas have received intermittent heavy rainfall. According to RMC, heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely on Monday. Whereas, for June 30, the Regional Meteorological Department (RMC) has sounded yellow alert for the financial capital. The RMC said for the next 24 hours, the city will witness generally cloudy sky with intermittent spells of moderate rain in city and suburbs. Along with Mumbai, IMD has issued orange alert for Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Satara. Maximum and Minimum temperatures are likely to be around 31 degree Celsius and 25 degree Celsius. Orange alert for these cities Raigad: From June 30 to July 1 Ratnagiri: June 30 to July 2 Sindhudurg: July 1 Pune: June 30 to July 2 Satara: July 1 Similarly, the weather department has issued yellow alert for Thane and Palghar till July 3. The IMD said from June 30 to July 3, isolated very heavy rainfall is very likely over Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra. Forecast for Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra The districts of Konkan are likely to experience heavy rain at isolated places. The districts of Madhya Maharashtra are likely to receive heavy rain at isolated places in Ghat region. Thunderstorm, gusty wind (speed 30-40 kmph) and moderate rain are likely to occur over the districts of Vidarbha, said RMC. Also Read | Ratan Tata pens a heart-wrenching post to seek donor for a puppy in Mumbai Red and Orange alert for other regions Red alert: According to IMD, on June 29 and 30, isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over Arunachal Pradesh, and on June 29 in Assam and Meghalaya. Rajkot airport canopy collapse: The canopy collapse at Rajkot airport took place during the maintenance work to push out water accumulated in the Canopy, reported ANI quoting the Ministry of Civil Aviation Sources. No person was injured in the incident. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also sought a detailed report into the matter. Also Read | Govt orders airlines to avert price hikes post more than 80 flight cancellations The Rajkot incident comes a day after a canopy collapse at Delhi airport Terminal 1 killed one person and injured eight others. The canopy collapsed at the passenger pickup and drop area outside Rajkot airport amid heavy rains and wind on Saturday. Gujarat has been witnessing intense rainfall as the southwest monsoon is progressing across the state. After the canopy collapse incident at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced on Saturday that operations at Terminal 1 will remain suspended till further notice. Delhi airports Terminal 1 handles domestic flights, including those by IndiGo and SpiceJet. All operations have been temporarily shifted to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. In a post on social media platform X (formerly twitter), Delhi airport said: Flight operations at Delhi airport are normal and operating from Terminal-2 & 3 only. All flights from Terminal-1 have been shifted to Terminal-3 and Terminal-2. A technical committee has been formed to probe the cause of the canopy collapse at Terminal 1, DIAL had said. The technical committee will give the report as soon as possible, it added. Due to heavy rains and winds through the night in Delhi, a canopy at the old departure forecourt of Terminal 1 (T1) partially collapsed around 5 am this morning. While the cause for the collapse is being assessed, the primary cause seems to be the continued heavy rainfall over the past few hours, DIAL had said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted that Delhi will receive very heavy rainfall till July 1. In its official release, IMD said, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to experience this weather phenomenon on the 29th and 30th of June, while Punjab can expect heavy rainfall on the 30th of June and 1st of July. Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi are expected to receive heavy rainfall from the 29th of June to the 1st of July. It added, Uttar Pradesh is likely to witness isolated very heavy rainfall between the 28th and 30th of June. East Rajasthan is forecasted to experience this weather pattern from the 29th of June to the 2nd of July, while Madhya Pradesh is expected to see heavy rainfall on the 28th and 29th of June. Additionally, Odisha is anticipated to receive heavy rainfall from the 28th to the 30th of June. South India Meanwhile, the IMD has forecasted the following weather conditions over various regions in the upcoming five days: Kerala & Mahe, Lakshadweep, Coastal Karnataka, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Konkan & Goa, Gujarat State, and Madhya Maharashtra can expect widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning. Marathwada, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Rayalaseema, Telangana, and North & South Interior Karnataka will likely experience scattered light to moderate rainfall. Chhattisgarh is likely to experience isolated heavy rainfall on the 29th and 30th, while Vidarbha, Saurashtra & Kutch, Kerala & Mahe on the 28th, and Gujarat Region on the 29th, 30th June & 2nd July may also see isolated heavy rainfall. Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra are expected to receive isolated very heavy rainfall over the next five days, with Gujarat Region likely to experience this on 28th June & 1st July. Northeast India From the IMD forecast, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are expected to experience fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and isolated heavy rainfall on Saturday. Arunachal Pradesh can anticipate similar weather conditions on the same day, while Assam & Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura will likely experience these conditions over the next five days. Additionally, isolated very heavy rainfall is likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on the 28th and 30th of June and over Arunachal Pradesh from 30 June to the 2nd of July. IMD said, High flash flood risk is likely over a few watersheds and neighbourhoods of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and NMMT met Subdivisions during the next 24 hours. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday claimed that the state is facing financial breakdown, and called an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. The Governor has also sought a white paper on the finances of the state from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. Also Read | 2 TMC MLAs fail to take oath as West Bengal Governor leaves for Delhi It is very disturbing, shocking, shattering to see that West Bengal is facing a financial breakdown. Its public finance is in the doldrums, said CV Ananda Bose. The Governor said that as a responsible governor, he, upon the authority vested in the governor under Article 167 of the Constitution of India, has asked for an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss this issue. The remark comes after his meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Also Read | Bengal Guv files defamation case against Mamata over Raj Bhavan remark In a statement posted on X, West Bengal Raj Bhavan said, Bose held discussions with Sitharaman on various issues of national importance and stressed the need to implement income-generating economic development programmes for those in the fisheries sector. Stating that the Governor is also expected to play the role of a watchdog on the finances and other aspects of State administration as mandated in Article 167 of the Constitution of India, the statement reads, He (Bose) proposes to send a critical analysis of the financial management of the state to the Chief Minister with a direction to place it before Council of Ministers. Bose also demanded a white paper on the finances of the State, from the Government of West Bengal. On Friday, the office of West Bengal Governor criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her alleged remarks suggesting women don't feel safe to go to Ram Bhavan. According to PTI report, Bose has filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Calcutta High Court. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday, June 29, arrested a journalist in Hazaribagh in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper-leak case. Jamaluddin, the journalist of a Hindi newspaper, had allegedly assisted the principal and vice principal of Oasis School in the paper-leak. The CBI teams are also carrying out searches at seven locations in Godhra, Kheda, Ahmedabad and Anand in connection with the NEET paper-leak case. This is related to the FIR earlier probed by Godhra Police. CBI arrests for NEET UG On June 28, the CBI had arrested the principal and vice principal of Oasis School. The CBI made the first arrests on June 27, in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case in Bihar. Manish Prakash, and Asutosh are two other individuals who had been arrested from Patna. Currently, the national agnecy has six cases related to the NEET paper leak under its scanner. Of these six cases, one each is being investigated from Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, while the rest three are from Rajasthan. The National Testing Agency(NTA) had held a re-NEET for 1,563 candidates on June 29, out of which only 813 candidates had appeared. NTA, conducted the NEET (UG) exam for over 24 lakh candidates across 4750 centres in 571 cities. The results for the same were declared on June 4, the same day as Lok Sabha election 2024 results. NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) Polls closed in Mauritania's presidential election on Saturday, with the incumbent Mohamed Ould Ghazouani widely expected to win after positioning Mauritania as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence. Ghazouni, who is seeking reelection on the pledge of providing security and economic growth, is a former army chief and the current president of the African Union. He came to power in 2019 following the first democratic transition in the countrys history, and on Saturday promised to respect the results of the vote. The last word belongs to the Mauritanian voters," Ghazouni said after voting in Ksar, the suburb of the capital. I commit myself to respecting their choice. Saturdays vote unfolded peacefully, according to observers. The turnout was 40% out of 2 million eligible voters, and partial results were expected on Sunday. Nothing has been detected so far and the CENI has not received any complaints, said Taghioullah Ledhem, the spokesman for CENI, the countrys independent electoral commission. But some opposition candidates held a different view. We noted irregularities such as voting without identity cards, voting by proxy and the expulsion of representatives of opposition candidates, said Outoma Soumare, one of Ghazoumis opponents. Although his opponents accused him of corruption and mismanagement, he remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability. The vote is taking place in a particularly tense regional climate, with Mauritanias neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence. We must not let ourselves be fooled by the slogans of the candidates who are not reassuring, said Marieme Brahim, a 38-year-old company executive, who voted for Ghazouni. Mauritania must vote for continuity and stability and its security in a troubled environment and it is not these candidates without experience in governance who will give us confidence. Ghazouani faced six opponents, including an anti-slavery activist, leaders of several opposition parties and a neurosurgeon, who accused the government of corruption and clientelism. Mauritania is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil and natural gas. It is poised to become a gas producer by the end of the year, with the planned launch of the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyin offshore gas project at the border with Senegal. Yet almost 60% of the population live in poverty, according to the United Nations, working as farmers or employed in the informal sector. With few economic opportunities for young people at home, many are attempting to cross the Atlantic to reach Europe, and some are even trying to get to the United States through Mexico. Mohamed Lemine Ould Moktar, 45, who voted for an opposition candidate, has two young sons who remain unemployed despite having university diplomas. I just voted for change. We have had enough of identical regimes which squander the peoples assets and maintain corruption, Ould Moktar said. Just look at more than 40,000 young Mauritanians take the path of immigration to the United States by jumping the border wall between Mexico and the United States. This is why I am voting for change. ___ NEW YORK (AP) An officer in upstate New York shot and killed a teenager who was fleeing while wielding a realistic appearing firearm," authorities said Saturday. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said the shooting happened Friday night after officers in the city about 240 miles (400 kilometers) northwest of Manhattan stopped two youths at around 10:18 p.m. One of them fled on foot and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officers, he said during a news conference early Saturday at Utica City Hall. Members of the community, including the youth's family, were in attendance. One of the officers fired a single shot at the teen during a ground struggle," striking him in the chest, Williams said. The teen, who he described as a 13-year-old Asian male, was given immediate first aid by the officers and taken to Wynn Hospital, where he died from his injuries, the police chief said. Williams declined to provide more details about what prompted the stop or preceded the shooting, saying that will be part of the ongoing investigation. Officers, he said, recovered a replica GLOCK 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine from the scene. It is in all aspects a realistic appearing firearm with GLOCK markings, signatures, detachable magazine, and serial numbers, Lt. Michael Curley said in an email to The Associated Press later, when asked to elaborate about the weapon. However ultimately it fires only pellets or BBs. Williams said the department would release the identities of the officer and the youth later in addition to photos of the weapon. Over the next several days, he said, the department will be releasing a report providing a comprehensive overview of the events as well as the full body camera footage from the officers who were involved. Audience members shouted down officials' remarks at times, while at moments people implored the rest of the crowd to quiet down so members of the Burmese community could hear the responses translated by an interpreter in Karen. Mayor Michael Galime stressed the city would be transparent in its investigation, adding that he and other officials would be meeting privately with the youths family and other community members to answer their questions. We are holding this press conference so you can all be in this room," he said. "We understand the weight of this situation and we want to ensure that every single piece of this is understood. Everything will be released and everyone in this room and the entire community will have access to all of that information. Williams said the Office of the New York State Attorney General will lead the investigation into the shooting and will determine if it was justified. Spokespersons for state Attorney General Letitia James' office didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday. In the meantime, the officers involved will be placed on administrative leave with pay until further notice, in keeping with protocol during such shootings, Williams said. The department will also be conducting its own internal investigation to see whether officers followed department policies and training, he said. Williams said the department is also aware of a video circulating on social media of the incident but warned that it does not portray the incident in its entirety. It is not unusual that the stand-up shows of comedians get cancelled. Munawar Faruqui's show in Bengaluru in 2022 was cancelled after protests from right-wing groups. But now, Comedian Daniel Fernandes Hyderabad show scheduled for 4 PM on 29 June was cancelled following threats from Goshamahal BJP MLA T Raja Singh, reported thesouthfirst.com. Also Read | Comedian faces silent response for joke on RCB, netizens praise her courage According to the report, the Jubilee Hills Police confirmed that the program was cancelled citing MLAs threats. Daniel Fernandes's show 'Do you Know Who I Am?' was supposed to take place at the Heart Cup Coffee located in Jubilee Hills. The report added that BJP MLA T Raja Singh had earlier threatened Daniel Fernandes with physical attack, while responding to a joke by Fernandes made about the Jain community. Raja Singh said, as quoted by the South First, "On Bakri Eid, a comedian named Daniel Fernandes cracked bad jokes and mocked the Jain community. He further threatened, I want to remind him, you have a show in Banjara Hills today (Saturday) right? It is better you cancel the show or else our workers will come there and thrash you. You will think 50 times before coming to Telangana. Also Read | Comedian Shyam Rangeela alleges obstruction in filing nomination against PM Modi Adding more, Raja urged the police, We urge you to cancel his show, if not, the state we will make of his, everyone will remember, so that no one will ever joke on Jains or the Hindu religion. Raja reminded about the tensions created in Hyderabad when comedian Munawar Faruqui was to perform in the city in 2022. You remember when Munawar came to perform right? I want to make it clear that, if situation goes out of hand, it is the polices responsibility. Daniel Fernandes reacts: Following the cancellation, Daniel Fernandes released a video statement. He said via Instagram, The video that has offended people has been taken down and I have posted an apology earlier. However, we are still receiving calls, messages, and emails threatening us with violence and vandalism. Nobody is ready to guarantee the safety of my audience, my crew and myself. I do not want to put anyone in harms way because of something I said. Meghan Markle's father doesn't expect birthday wishes from his daughter and son-in-law, Prince Harry. Thomas Markle, who will turn 80 in July, has criticised Harry, claiming the Duke of Sussex never tried to reach out to him. Thomas Markle doesn't expect the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to send him birthday wishes. He blames Prince Harry for his strained relationship with Meghan. He hasn't spoken to his daughter in six years. He hasnt met Prince Harry. He has never met his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, either. The retired television lighting director and director of photography says he is in the same situation as King Charles because neither of the grandfathers has a relationship with Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet. "Neither of us deserves the treatment we've received," he said. Thomas has said that he wishes most to hear from his daughter for his birthday though he knows Meghan won't reach out. He also finds it puzzling that Prince Harry has never visited him. When I reflect back on my life, as you do when you are approaching 80, thats one of the questions I cannot find an answer for, Thomas told the Daily Mail. Also Read | Desperate Meghan Markle ready to reconcile with Kate Middleton Why didnt Harry ever come to meet me? He has the resources to fly around the world and does but why didnt he come to see me? he wondered. Harry-Meghans wedding Thomas did not attend Harry and Meghans 2018 wedding. He was supposed to walk Meghan down the aisle but got involved in a paparazzi scandal just before the event. Buckingham Palace stated that Thomas had missed the wedding due to health issues after reportedly having a heart attack. By Steve Holland and Jarrett Renshaw EAST HAMPTON, NY, - President Joe Biden embarked on a series of fundraising events across two states on Saturday as he works to stamp out a crisis of confidence in his re-election campaign following a feeble debate performance that dismayed his fellow Democrats. The events are being held as many nervous Democratic donors are lamenting Bidens weak showing against Republican rival Donald Trump on Thursday night and wondering what, if anything, they could do to change the course of the race, according to interviews with more than a dozen Democratic fundraisers. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited the upscale New York beach enclave known as the Hamptons for a campaign fundraiser hosted by hedge-fund billionaire Barry Rosentein. Later in the day, he will travel to New Jersey for a fundraiser hosted by wealthy New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat. I understand the concern about the debate. I didnt have a great night," Biden told the room of about 100 supporters gathered in the Hamptons. The point is I didnt have a great night, but neither did Trump. He added, "I promise you we're going to win this election." Another hedge-fund founder, Eric Mindich, and his Tony Award-winning producer wife Stacey, celebrity couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, and actor Michael J. Fox were all listed as members of the host committee at the New York event, according to an invitation seen by Reuters. Biden told a rally in North Carolina on Friday he intended to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in the November presidential election, giving no sign he would heed calls from Democrats who want him to drop out of the race. The race is very close, according to polls, and will likely come down to voters in a few battleground states. Biden's verbal stumbles and occasionally meandering responses during the debate heightened voter concerns that the 81-year-old might not be fit to serve another four-year term. Trump, meanwhile, unleashed a barrage of criticisms, many of which were well-worn falsehoods he has long repeated, including claims that migrants have carried out a crime wave, that Democrats support infanticide, and that he actually won the 2020 election. The Biden campaign on Saturday boasted it had raised more than $27 million between debate day through Friday evening, but questions remain about whether the debate performance will hurt fundraising, at least in the short term. The donor class is being closely watched for signs of whether he can ride out the doubts. Biden held a $100 million advantage over Trump just a couple of months ago, but the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee entered June with $212 million in the bank, compared with $235 million for the Trump operation and the Republican National Committee. Many top donors called political advisers in recent days to inquire about little-known rules under which Biden might be removed from the ticket against his will and replaced at or before the Democratic National Convention in August, according to two people who fielded the inquiries. Some donors were actively trying to reach Jill Biden, the first lady, who in turn could persuade her husband not to run, the New York Times reported on Saturday. Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn and one of the Democratic Partys most influential donors, wrote in an email to friends on Friday evening that he had been inundated. I got a lot of emails in the last 24 hours asking whether there should be a public campaign to pressure President Biden to step aside after his bad debate performance last night, he wrote in the email, which was seen by Reuters. It certainly delivered a blow to the mood among donors and organizers. He said it was up to Biden and his family to make a decision, adding, If anything, a public effort might compel the Bidens to try to prove the doubters wrong. One major fundraiser for the Biden campaign said some donors were learning fast how little influence they have in this situation. There are a lot of people who think they are more important than they actually are, the fundraiser said. The Maldives sees all the big powers in the Indo-Pacific as important partners and considers regional stability vital, its Washington ambassador said on Friday. Earlier, it had raised concerns of India and US after signing defense deals with China, according to a Reuters report. Speaking after a Washington visit by Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer this week, Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed said his country occupies a very strategic position and is aware of its responsibilities in maintaining a "free, peaceful and stable Indian Ocean." Zameer's Washington visit came two months after Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's party won a landslide in parliamentary elections. Muizzu has pivoted ties towards China and away from India, a key U.S. regional partner in standing up to Beijing's efforts to spread its regional influence. Zameer met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, who said Washington sought a deeper partnership. Ghafoor said he was not privy to details of defense agreements the Maldives has signed with China, but they should not be a cause of concern to others. "We deal with other countries in a sincere way and therefore we expect other countries to be dealing with the Maldives sincerely ... I don't think there are any hidden agendas in this at all," he said. "We would not do anything that would harm or create problems in the region ... because as a small country very much reliant on tourism, peace and stability, not only in the Indian Ocean, but also globally, is important to us." On how the Maldives, a low-lying archipelago of about half a million people, balanced its ties with India, China and the US, he said, "We consider all of them are partners ... all these countries are of importance to us and they help us." In May, India had replaced 80 soldiers on the Maldives with civilians after Muizzu's "India out" campaign. Ghafoor said relations with India were nevertheless "quite good" and improving, with a visit expected by India's external relations minister soon. U.S.-Maldives relations had become "very robust," he said, with both sides recently opening embassies in each other's country. He said the Maldives economic minister is expected to visit the U.S. next month to discuss a trade and investment framework agreement, as per the Reuters report. He was quoted saying that the Maldives would like to seem more U.S. investment especially in the tourism sector, which brought around 76,000 U.S. visitors last year. -Russian forces on Saturday fired missiles at the town of Vilniansk, outside the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing seven people, including two children, and injuring 31 others, officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeated his appeal to allies to provide Ukraine with more long-range weapons and enhanced air defences to stop what he said were daily attacks on his country. Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said two missiles were fired on the town, damaging infrastructure, a shop and residential buildings. Emergency services put the death toll at seven, including two children, with 31 others injured, eight of them children. Firefighters had put out blazes in several buildings and completed rescue operations. "Today the enemy carried out yet another dreadful terrorist act against the civilian population," Zaporizhzhia Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. The attack occurred in "the middle of the day, a non-working day, in the town centre, where people were out relaxing, where there were no military targets," Fedorov said. Zelenskiy posted photos from the site showing a large crater, downed trees and a pair of tarpaulins spread out on the ground of what looked like a park. "Our cities and communities suffer daily from such Russian strikes. But there are ways to overcome this," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram. "Destroying terrorists where they are. Destroying Russian missile launchers, striking with real long-range capability and increasing the number of modern air defence systems in Ukraine" were ways to defend against such attacks, Zelenskiy said. Russia's Defence Ministry did not reply to a request for comment on the incident. The Russian ministry, writing on Telegram, said its missiles had struck a nearby area in Zaporizhzhia region where it said Ukrainian trains unloaded arms and military equipment, killing soldiers and destroying armoured vehicles and missiles. The post, accompanied by a photo of a strike, identified the site as the village of Ukrainka, less than 10 km from Vilniansk. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield accounts from either side. The governor of Donetsk region, further to the east, said one person died in two incidents of shelling in the city of Kurakhove. Officials said two people in Kherson region, partly occupied by Russian forces in the south, were also killed. Rescue teams also were still working at an apartment building that was badly damaged in a missile strike on Friday in the central city of Dnipro. That attack killed one person and injured 13, with a number of others still missing. The allegations of President Joe Biden's mental decline purportedly evidenced by his verbal fumbles and meandering walks have found found its way onto the Time Magazine's latest cover, captioned panic. It shows Joe Biden walking and disappearing off the edge of the Time Magazine cover, triggering prompt responses from the social media users. Joe Biden feeble debate performances have also worried the fellow Democrats ahead of the November Presidential election in the United States. The US President has not yet addressed the worries of his supporters until after his first debate with Donald Trump. "I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious. 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. 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, Joe Biden said day after a debate showdown with Donald Trump. Joe Biden said he intends to defeat his opponent and ex-President Donald Trump, clearing that he is not thinking of dropping out of the race, eliciting sharp responses from netizens. You are in stage 4 of dementia and your interns write your tweets, said an X (formerly Twitter) user. Another said, If you can't walk talk and debate, then you can't be a president. One said, A few weeks ago you assured an interviewer that you are cognitively fit enough to hold the most demanding job on earth. This tells me that you do not in fact know how to tell the truth. You just admitted that you arent the man you used to be..you just admitted that you are unfit to serve, said one X user. But several of the party's most senior figures, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, said they were sticking with Joe Biden. Washington: The sound you might have heard after the presidential debate this past week was of voters falling between a rock and a hard place. Apart from the sizable and pumped-up universe of Donald Trump's supporters, the debate suddenly crystalized the worries of many Americans, a portion of President Joe Biden's supporters among them, that neither man is fit to lead the nation. Heading into the first debate of the general election campaign, voters had faced a choice between two strikingly unpopular candidates. They then watched as Trump told a stream of falsehoods with sharpness, vigor and conviction, while Biden struggled mightily to land debating points and even to get through many sentences. It added to doubts about the 81-year-old Democratic president's fitness to be in office for four more years. Also Read | Michelle Obama to replace Joe Biden after disastrous Presidential debate? Now, the options are even more dispiriting for many Democrats, undecided voters and anti-Trump Republicans. More than a few people came away from watching the debate very conflicted. Outside a Whole Foods in downtown Denver on Friday, registered Democrat Matthew Toellner tilted his head sideways, mouth agape, in an imitation of his favored candidate, Biden, who was seen doing that at times on the split screen when Trump was talking Thursday night. Im going to vote for Biden," said Toellner, 49, leaning against the wood siding of the grocery store. Actually, I might not. A few minutes later, Toellner looked out to the street and rethought again. Im going to vote for Biden, I think Id be a fool not to. But I just hate that I have to. His appeal to Biden and Democrats: Please step down, get somebody electable." On a Detroit park bench, Arabia Simeon was left feeling politically homeless after voting Democratic in the past two presidential elections. It just feels like were doomed no matter what," she said. Trump's disregard for the facts suffused his arguments, though he was rarely challenged on the specifics during the debate. On abortion, for example, one of America's most divisive issues for generations, the former Republican president claimed there is universal agreement that states should decide on the legality of it. There is ferocious argument about that. But did that matter? The public reaction, in dozens of interviews across the country, brought to mind Bill Clinton's post-presidency assessment of what voters want in fraught times: When people feel uncertain, theyd rather have someone strong and wrong than weak and right." The debate unmoored Simeon just as it did Toellner. The 27-year-old owner of a Detroit start-up went into debate night deciding between Biden and an independent candidate, the most prominent of whom is long shot Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Now she's leaning against Biden. Also Read | Biden crashed in first clash with Trumpand other takeaways from the debate I think it just kind of validated the feeling that I was having that this election is going to be extremely hectic, and its no longer the conversation of the lesser of two evils for me, she said from a park bench on a work break. Its more like both of these candidates dont feel like viable options. Simeon said that as a Black and queer person, Its really disheartening to know that no matter how far we come as a country, were still going to factory reset when it comes to president and have to make a choice between two white men. In large part, Democratic lawmakers in Washington and party officials across the United States closed ranks around Biden despite the panic that gripped many of them from his debate performance. But their remarks were measured, seeming to leave an opening if Biden were to make the extraordinary decision to have Democrats find another nominee. Its President Bidens decision what he wants to do with his life," said Sharif Street, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and a state senator. .So far, hes decided hes our nominee, and Im with him." To be sure, plenty of Biden supporters saw nothing to throw them off, as much as they tended to think he blew it. Worrisome, Jocardo Ralston of Philadelphia said of Biden's turn on the stage. Yet, Ralston said, "Im not conflicted, nor do I feel that I am choosing the lesser of two evils. ... Biden is not the ideal choice for many, but he is the only choice for me, without regrets or hesitation. The third-year doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania, whose work focuses on the experiences of queer Black and Latino boys in special education classrooms, watched the debate in a Cincinnati bar while visiting the city. All the work that I do and everything that I fight for is in direct opposition to Trump, his values, and his policies," he said. Biden turned in a more spirited performance Friday at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he acknowledged he is not the debater he used to be. I know how to do this job, he said. "I know how to get things done. He assailed Trump in ways that eluded him the night before. I thought Well Joe, why didnt you say that last night? said Maureen Dougher, 73, who found Biden strong, definite and very clear in his rally remarks. In a debate watched by an estimated 51.3 million people, according to a preliminary estimate by the Nielsen company, Bidens showing didnt come across as well as it did today. Amina Barhumi, 44, of Orland Park, Illinois, is affiliated with Muslim Civic Coalition and is sizing up Biden and Trump in part on how she expects each will act on the interests of American Muslims. Count her as demoralized about the candidate choices, too. She's hearing essentially the same rhetoric from both. We have not-so-great options that are front-runners on the ticket, she said. "Yesterday was an affirmation of exactly that. JD(U) seeks special category status or a special financial package from the central govt for Bihar. Earlier on Friday, the JD(U) took to its official X handle and posted a video of Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Minister for Water Resources & Parliamentary Affairs and quoted him as saying, A meeting of the National Executive has been organised in Delhi to review the current political scenario and preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections-2025. A day before, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said JD(U) and BJP will keep working together for good governance in Bihar. PM Narendra Modi said this after meeting with JD(U) MPs in Delhi on Thursday. "Had a great meeting with @Jduonline MPs. Our Parties have a long history of working together and fighting poor governance, corruption and criminalisation in Bihar. The leadership of @NitishKumar Ji has taken Bihar on the path of development. We will keep working together for good governance," PM Modi had said in a post on X and shared pictures from the meeting. Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA and took oath as Bihar CM with the BJP's support after leaving the alliance and joining the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led 'Mahagathbandhan' in August 2022. Kumar's JDU contested the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in alliance with the BJP. Bihar is expected to vote for its 243-member legislative assembly in October 2025. What is the special status category? The special status category, initiated in 1969 based on the Fifth Finance Commission's recommendations, aimed to support economically and infrastructurally backward states with hilly terrains and strategic international borders. In 2023, former Union minister Giridhari Yadav informed Parliament that the National Development Council (NDC) had previously granted Special Category Status for plan assistance to states distinguished by specific features requiring special attention. These features requiring special consideration included: (i) Challenging hilly terrain (ii) Low population density and/or significant tribal population (iii) Strategic positioning along international borders (iv) Economic and infrastructural underdevelopment (v) Financial insolvency of state finances Earlier, Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, stated under the special status category receive 90 percent of funding from the Centre for sponsored schemes. In contrast, other states outside this category receive 60 to 70 percent funding from the Centre, with the remainder sourced from their own finances. Recalling the dark days of Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said that the former PM put many of the leaders behind bars but never called them unpatriotic or abused them. I was in jail under the Maintenance of Security Act (MISA) for over 15 months, said RJD chief sharing an article "The Sangh Silence in 1975" written by him and journalist Nalin Verma and further added, My colleagues and I did not know many of the BJP ministers speaking about the Emergency today. We hadn't heard of Modi, J P Nadda, and some of the PM's other ministerial colleagues who today lecture us on the value of freedom It is to be noted here, Yadav was the convener of the steering committee that Jayaprakash Narayan--had constituted to carry forward the movement against the excesses of Emergency imposed by the then PM Indira Gandhi "Indira Gandhi put many of us behind bars, but she never abused us. Neither she nor her ministers called us "anti-national" or "unpatriotic". She never enabled vandals to defile the memory of Babasaheb Ambedkar--the architect of our Constitution. 1975 is a stain on our democracy but let's not forget who doesn't respect the Opposition in 2024," the RJD leader added. INDIA bloc slams PM Modi government for raking up Emergency On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, imposed a 21-month state of emergency. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which is considered one of the most controversial periods in India's political history. Earlier on Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of the Parliament and criticised the imposition of 'Emergency'. "Emergency was the biggest and darkest chapter of the direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country plunged into chaos during the Emergency, but the nation was victorious against such unconstitutional powers", she said. The President's remarks have triggered strong reactions from the leaders of the INDIA bloc. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of seeking cheap applause by having the President deliver a speech filled with lies. On Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)'s chief ministerial face for upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar objected the idea of projecting one particular individual. This comes at a time when Shiv Sena (UBT) insists that party chief Uddhav Thackeray should be announced as the next CM face Our alliance is our collective face. One individual cannot become our chief ministerial face. Collective leadership is our formula, Pawar said and further added, All our three alliance partners will take a decision in this regard He also said all who opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi should come together to fight as one and join MVA. During the recent Lok Sabha elections, the PWP (Peasants and Workers Party of India), AAP and Communist parties helped us. Though we are three partners in the MVA, we should include all these parties. All those opposed to Modi should become part of the MVA. Whatever decision has to be taken regarding the chief ministerial face, will be taken through discussion and after taking everyone into confidence. Important to have a CM face: Sanjay Raut Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut on Saturday pointed out that how important it is to have one individual to be the frontrunner for elections. Raut cited the INDIA blocs performance and the absence of the prime ministerial face to drive home his point. If the INDIA bloc had projected Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial face, we would have got 25-30 more seats People should know who they are voting for. People voted for Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. They want to know the face. We dont have differences over who should be our chief ministerial face. We are determined to fight the elections unitedly. We will win 175 to 180 Assembly seats, he said. Karnataka BJP leaders will lay siege to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence in Bengaluru on July 3, demanding his resignation in connection with an alleged illegal money transfer scam involving a state-run corporation, party's state president B Y Vijayendra said on Saturday. BJP on Friday held a state-wide protest against the Congress government on the issue and held demonstrations in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in almost all districts. The illegal money transfer issue, involving the corporation, came to light after its accounts superintendent, Chandrashekhar P, died by suicide on May 26, leaving behind a death note. The note claimed unauthorised transfer of 187 crore belonging to the corporation from its bank account, and from that, 88.62 crore was illegally moved to various accounts allegedly belonging to "well-known" IT companies and a Hyderabad-based cooperative bank, among others. Chandrashekhar has named the corporation's now-suspended managing director J G Padmanabh, accounts officer Parashuram G Durugannavar, and Union Bank of India chief manager Suchismita Rawal in the note, while also stating that the "Minister" had issued oral orders for transferring the funds. Following allegations against him in connection with the scam, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra tendered his resignation on June 6. "The scam and corruption happened at the Valmiki Development Corporation. The BJP has been staging agitation continuously against it. As a result of our agitation, Nagendra, who was a minister, had to resign. There are several things mentioned in Chandrashekar's suicide note, but the state government seems to still have not taken this case seriously," Vijayendra said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, BJP will continue its agitation against this huge scam in which the Congress government has looted the money that was to be spent for the welfare of the Valmiki and other ST communities. Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil and Valmiki Corporation's chairman Basanagouda Daddal will have to resign. Not only that, the chief minister has to resign, because the 187 crore scam would not have happened without coming to his notice, who holds the Finance portfolio, at the time when Lok Sabha polls were on, Vijayendra said. "So on July 3, all our legislators will lay siege to the chief minister's residence in Bengaluru. Never such a huge scam had happened in the state in the past. The money kept for the welfare of the ST community has been misused. "There are discussions that the money was used for the Lok Sabha polls by creating a number of fake accounts," he said, claiming that some people have received death threats in connection with the case. The state government has constituted an SIT headed by Manish Kharbikar, Additional Director General of Police, Economic Offences, at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), to conduct the probe. Amid uncertainty over Sunita Williams' return from space, NASA recently shared an update about the International Space Station (ISS), the India-born astronaut's temporary home in space. Astronauts on ISS were forced to take shelter for about an hour after a defunct Russian satellite broke into more than 100 pieces near the space station. The risk from the defunct Russian satellite's debris is likely to remain for longer duration as it will takes weeks to months before the hazard has passed, said Leolabs in a statement. Due to the low orbit of this debris cloud, we estimate itll be weeks to months before the hazard has passed, Reuters quoted LeoLabs. The Russian satellite, RESURS-P1 (#39186), broke up into hundreds of pieces in the low-Earth orbit on Wednesday. It is worth noting that there is no immediate threat to ISS astronauts. However, the incident has added to the space garbage. The US Space Command in a statement, said that the explosion left nearly 100 pieces of trackable debris in space. Will Russian aircraft breakdown near ISS affect Williams's return? The aircraft broke into pieces at around 10 am Mountain Time (1600 GMT) on Wednesday, according to Space Command. The breakdown was reported to have been occurred in an orbit near the space station. Due to the incident, all the astronauts on board, including Sunita Williams, were asked to take shelter in their spacecraft for roughly an hour. So far, NASA or any other agency linked with Sunita Williams' Boeing Starliner program has not officially announced the impact of the incident on her return spaceflight to Earth. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams boarded their Starliner spacecraft, the Boeing-built capsule that has been docked since June 6 in its first crewed test mission on the station. Sunita Williams may have to wait for months before returning to Earth Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's space programme was supposed to be of few days. However, their return flight from Boeing Starliner is likely to be delayed for months, reported ANI. Projected to last only days, the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft with two astronauts onboard is in limbo with no exact return to Earth announced. NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich has said that the US space agency is considering extending the duration of Starliner's mission from 45 days to 90 days, reported ANI citing CNN. On Friday, Stich said that NASA is considering extending the maximum length of Starliner's mission from 45 days to 90 days and there is no firm return date on the horizon, according to CNN report. NASA has further postponed the Boeing Starliner's return to Earth from the International Space Station with its first crew of astronauts - Barry Eugene "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, to allow more time for review of technical issues encountered. It did not set a new date, raising questions about the timing of the return of the two astronauts on Boeing's first crewed mission, which had initially been set for June 26, itself a pushback from the first potential date of June 14. Commenting on what is likely to follow, ISRO Scientist Mylswamy Annadurai says, "Any space program, when transiting, it needs to be seen that all the systems for the next save are ready. While launching also, it was seen, that there were a couple of delays. After the boarding, both of them were evacuated. The real launch took place after making sure that all the countdowns and everything was OK. Now when the system is fully ready, they can come back." It is part and parcel of the space game... People will not take any steps until they are doubly sure, especially when human lives are involved. Things will be taken care of properly..., he added. The crewed test of the spacecraft, test-flown to space two times since 2019 without humans on board, has encountered five failures of its 28 maneuvering thrusters, five leaks of helium gas meant to pressurize those thrusters, and a slow-moving propellant valve that signalled unfixed past issues. The issues and the additional tests run by NASA and Boeing call into question when exactly Starliner's crew will be able to make the roughly six-hour return journey home, and add to the program's broader problems. Boeing has spent $1.5 billion in cost overruns beyond its $4.5-billion NASA development contract. NASA wants Starliner to become a second U.S. spacecraft capable of ferrying astronauts with the ISS, alongside SpaceX's Crew Dragon, its primary ride since 2020. A woman who was repeatedly sexually abused by her uncle in the Midlands 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: Roscommon woman previously charged with human trafficking sentenced to jail for money laundering 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. Concert sponsor and musician James Taylor, left, performs with Yo-Yo Ma during an encore for Ma's concert at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. (Photo by Hilary Scott, courtesy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra) A man was pronounced dead and another person was taken to a hospital with a broken leg after a car slammed into a house in Dorchester in an incident that police first believed was a shooting. Boston police went to 24 Fifield St. in Dorchester for a report of a car into a house at 8:34 p.m. Friday, according to authorities. When they arrived, police found two people inside a car, one of whom the driver, who has not been named was declared dead at the scene. The other person inside the car was taken to a hospital, Sgt. Detective John Boyle, a Boston police spokesman, told MassLive. Boyle said the incident came across as a shooting but police have not been able to confirm if the man was shot and are now waiting for the results of an autopsy. Boston homicide detectives are investigating the incident and police are seeking the publics help, according to Boyle. Boston Inspectional Services also went to the scene to assess the house, Boyle said. Boston Police arrested an Everett man and charged him with arson in connection with a fire at a popular pub in Mission Hill earlier this week. Firefighters went to the Squealing Pig at 134 Smith St. just after midnight on June 26, and quickly struck a second alarm after finding heavy flames coming from the restaurant. A video posted to the Boston Fire Departments X account showed thick black smoke coming from the building and fire shooting out of its windows. The heat from the fire melted a light pole globe and damaged two cars across the street from the restaurant. On Saturday, Boston Police said they had arrested a 23-year-old man from Everett and charged him with arson of a commercial building, breaking and entering nighttime with intent to commit a felony, and willful malicious destruction of property. Sgt. Detective John Boyle, the police departments chief spokesman, said a report into the fire had not been completed and more information would be released once it had. In a statement posted to the restaurants website, its owners vowed to rebuild and create a new gathering place where cherished memories can once again be made. For 26 years, this establishment has been our pride and joy, serving as a gathering place for countless memories and celebrations, the statement reads. The loss is immeasurable for our family and the community that has embraced us so warmly. We are heartbroken, but our spirits remain strong. The Mission Hill community is truly a family, and we are grateful to be a part of it, the ONeill family wrote. A former South Shore Medical Center pediatrician was indicted in connection with the sexual assaults of 15 girls who were patients in his care, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruzs office announced. Richard Kauff, 68, of Norwell, was indicted on nine counts of rape with a child with force and eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, Cruzs office said in a statement released Friday. Kauff is out of Hingham District Court on $50,000 cash bail with conditions of release. This includes staying away and having no contact with the victims or South Shore Medical Center facilities in Norwell and Kingston, Cruzs office said. Kauff must also not have unsupervised contact with children under 16 years old, he must surrender his passport, stay in Massachusetts and let go of his medical license. In November 2023, Kauff pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape of a child with force and 12 counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. He worked since 1983 as a pediatrician and saw South Shore Medical Center patients in Kingston and Norwell until Kauff retired in 2022, Cruzs office said. On Oct. 4, 2023, an anonymous person posted on a Facebook group page that they thought they were sexually assaulted during an annual checkup, the district attorneys office said. The post was met with replies telling the user to report the incident to Norwell police. The next day, another person reported their own experience to Norwell police, resulting in the department seeking charges against Kauff, Cruzs office said. Over three dozen individuals came forward to report similar experiences with Kauff. An extensive grand jury investigation identified more victims and the viability of prosecution on charges based on the analysis of statute of limitations and other legal issues, Cruzs office continued. The grand jury returned with 17 indictments for 15 different victims spanning over 23 years. Kauff will be arraigned at a later date. A former Northeastern University employee was convicted of staging a hoax explosion and lying to a federal agent about the hoax, Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office announced. Jason Duhaime, 46, previously of San Antonio, was convicted 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, Levys office said in a statement released Friday. In Boston, U.S. Senior District Court Judge William scheduled Duhaimes sentencing for Oct. 2. Duhaime was previously arrested and charged on Oct. 2, 2022, and was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 27, 2022. Working as the New Technology Manager and Director of the Immersive Media Lab at Northeastern University, Duhaime called the campus police department at around 7 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022. He said he was injured after a plastic case he opened projectiles sharp objects at him, Levys office said. Duhaime told a police dispatcher that he and a student who was working the lab had collected several packages, including two Pelican-style cases, from the mail area. One was opened inside a storage closet and he claimed that very sharp objects flew out and under his shirt sleeves, injuring his arms. Media outlets later reported that investigators were focusing on whether the incident was a hoax. The package was reported to be a Pelican-style case with a rambling message railing against Facebook, its founder Mark Zuckerberg, and the universitys work with virtual reality technology. The case contained a violent note that threatened to destroy the lab. In the case you got today we could have planted explosives but not this time!!! the letter read. Take notice!!! You have two months to take operations down or else!!!!! WE ARE WATCHING YOU. Jason Duhaime allegedly authored a "rambling" letter criticizing Mark Zuckerberg and virtual reality, according to authorities. (Chris Van Buskirk/MassLive) Duhaimes concern about a second, unopened Pelican case triggered a significant police response, requiring the presence of the Boston Police Departments bomb squad and the assistance of several federal and state law enforcement agencies, Levys office said. Part of the universitys campus needed to be evacuated. In two statements on Sept. 13 and 14, 2022, Duhaimes statements to investigators were consistent with what he told dispatchers and denied fabricating the Pelican case story and the injuries to his arms, Levys office said. But police said the case and the threatening note Duhaime said it contained did not appear damaged by any explosive, nor did the room they were in contain debris indicative of an explosion. An investigation of one of the computers revealed an exact electronic copy of the anonymous threat letter, Levys office said. The letter was created and printed between around 2:50 p.m. and 3:56 p.m., hours before he first reported the incident. Duhaimes trial began on July 24. 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. A quintessentially Western Massachusetts story shot on location in Western Massachusetts has opened in local theaters this weekend. Janet Planet is the story of a single mother whose 11-year-old daughter is beginning to notice that perhaps her mom is not the all-knowing and all-perfect being she had held her to be through her childhood. I cannot believe that July is right around the corner. As we near the end of legislative session, weve had a packed schedule over on Beacon Hill. I started off my week at the West Springfield Block Party celebrating the towns 250th anniversary on Sunday. This is a huge milestone for the town, and Im honored to represent such a storied and rich history at the State House. This was a great event with local vendors and performers right over on the Town Common. Festivities are going to continue throughout the summer, and I recommend checking out the West Side 250th Committees calendar to see what is coming up next. A big thank you to the committee for all of your work organizing these incredible events for our community! Monday morning, I was honored to have joined the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery at their Western Massachusetts Policy Forum. This forum brought together advocates and subject knowledge experts from all across the state to our part of the commonwealth to collaborate on ways we can best support those suffering with addiction and help them in their recovery journey. As the Senate chair for the Joint Committee on Mental Health Substance Use and Recovery, Im proud to work alongside many of these advocates in the battle against the substance use epidemic. WESTFIELD On June 22, two Civil War veterans headstones were dedicated in a ceremony conducted at Westfields Pine Hill Cemetery by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and attended by the descendents of one of the interred soldiers. Westfield Veterans Graves Officer Eugene Theroux said Lt. Lyman F. Hooker and Sgt. David Benson Furber, both of whom fought in the Civil War, were interred in previously unmarked graves. Theroux, a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, ordered their military service records from the national archives, and once received, filled out a claim for standard government headstones. The headstones were placed at their respective graves by veteran volunteers. Participants of 2024 Summer Davos look forward to cooperation with China Pub Date:24-06-29 19:27 Source:Xinhuanet As the world seeks new growth engines to propel a sluggish global economy, participants of the Summer Davos have expressed their hope to further cooperate with China in various fields. Produced by Xinhuanet Presented by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Qin Shuying Related News Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence --... Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence cr... Bloody Business Unveiling the U.S. Mili... Huaibei, Anhui: Revitalizing the Ancient G... by Tanya Gazdik , June 28, 2024 Rural lifestyle retailer Tractor Supply Company apparently is afraid of going the way of other brands that have come under fire recently for appearing to be liberal. The company issued a statement on its website Thursday -- which it also shared on social media -- stating that it is eliminating its diversity, equity and inclusion jobs at the company. The changes come amid a growing wave of anti-DEI sentiment in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2023 to strike down affirmative action in colleges, according to CNBC. Experts at the time predicted the ruling could have implications for corporate hiring or recruiting. Companies, including Starbucks, Disneyand Targethave faced legal challenges over DEI initiatives for LGBTQ customers and employees. In February 2023, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer dropped race-based eligibility requirements for a fellowship program designed for college students of Black, Latino and Native American descent, the Associated Press reported. advertisement advertisement The company statement said the retailer will also no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign and will withdraw carbon emissions goals. The Fortune 500 company has been nationally recognized as an inclusive and diverse workplace, including last year in Bloombergs Gender Equality Index and Newsweeks inaugural list of Americas Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, according to NPR. But it recently became the target of conservative ire for that very reason, as the latest in a growing series of retailers to face backlash over and ultimately walk back its DEI initiatives. The statement says the company will further focus on rural America priorities including ag education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor and stop sponsoring nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns. Robby Starbuck, a music video director and Republican who ran unsuccessfully to represent Tennessee's 5th Congressional District in 2022, launched the campaign against Tractor Supply earlier this month, according to NPR. These changes mark a stunning shift in policy and messaging from Tractor Supply, which once touted its diversity and inclusion efforts, according to The Associated Press. Just earlier this month, Tractor Supply President and CEO Hal Lawton maintained that the company remained very consistent in how it approaches its own DEI and ESG environmental, social and governance programs for a number of years. The decision to abandon minority communities has ignited a vigorous debate about the role of corporations in fostering inclusive environments and the sway of political extremism over corporate policy, according to The Advocate. The company has disabled commenting on its Facebook and Instagram pages and CEO Hal Lawton has changed his X profile to private. In an attempt to erase its diversity legacy, Tractor Supply removed some DEI-related content from its website, per The Advocate. The Human Rights Campaign denounced the move, with Eric Bloem, vice president of programs and corporate advocacy, criticizing the companys decision in a statement to The Advocate. Tractor Supply Co is turning its back on their own neighbors with this shortsighted decision. LGBTQ+ people live in every zip code in this country, including rural communities. Companies from every industry work closely with us to be sure their employees and customers are respected, valued and can get the job done for their workforce and shareholders. Caving to far-right extremists is only going to hurt the same folks that these businesses rely on. by Tanya Gazdik , June 28, 2024 Jeff Buchanan has a new marketing focus at Toyota Motor North America. Buchanan, who has spent nearly four years as vice president of sales, takes on the new role of vice president of marketing and communications. The role was previously held by Joe Moses, who is now vice president, Lexus guest experience. Buchanan reports to Mike Tripp, who remains group vice president, Toyota division marketing, a position he shifted into last October. It was previously held by Lisa Materazzo, who left Toyota last September to become global CMO of Ford Motor Co. Damon Rose, formerly vice president of sales at Lexus, replaced Buchanan as vice president of sales at Toyota. Buchanan, who assumed the new role in March, was general manager for Toyotas New York sales region earlier in his career. advertisement advertisement He was quoted with his new title in a press release announcing a new initiative for the Toyota Corolla, the short brand film Getaway Driver created with SiriusXM, which is part of a national ad and media campaign supporting the Corolla Hybrid. The film features internet comedian and actor King Bach and pays homage to the ever popular psycho-horror genre. It marks Bachs first foray into television commercial advertising. Sometimes, we all need to stretch and push boundaries and just have a little fun, Buchanan says in the release. I think this over-the-top, humor-driven creative execution of Getaway Driver for the Corolla Hybrid Nightshade does just that. The campaign is from multicultural marketing communications agency Burrell Communications Group, one of Toyotas roster of marketing partners. Steven Kabuye, a refugee claimant from Uganda, says he almost died in January after being attacked in his home country because of his sexuality. He fled to Canada in March, where he awaits a decision on his refugee application. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Steven Kabuye didn't know what it was like to be gay and safe before he came to Canada. He fled from Uganda, where an Anti-Homosexuality Act is in place. In January, he was stabbed in the neck, arm and stomach just a few kilometres from his house. "This person tried to end my life while shouting," Die you homosexual," he said. In March, he arrived in Canada and applied for refugee protection on the basis of persecution because of his sexual orientation. He's now living and studying in Vancouver while awaiting a decision by Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). According to advocacy groups like Rainbow Railroad, Kabuye is one of hundreds of a so-called wave of "rainbow refugees" who are choosing Canada as a safe haven. Since 2021, Rainbow Railroad said it's seen an 80 per cent increase in requests for assistance from 2SLGBTQ+ people around the world. The like-minded Rainbow Refuge in Edmonton has also seen its membership triple in the past year as gay newcomers seek legal services, counselling and housing after arriving in the city. The IRB, which makes decisions on asylum claims, told CBC News it doesn't keep numbers on applications in process, only ones that have been accepted or rejected and couldn't comment on claims of a spike by 2SLGBTQ+ groups. In a statement to CBC News, it said applications for asylum in Canada in the category of LGBTQ+, accounted for six per cent of all refugee claims in the last three years. Aleks Selim Dughman-Manzur at the Rainbow Refugee Society in Vancouver on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Ben Nelms/CBC) But people who work on the front end of immigration applications, like David LeBlanc, an immigration consultant at Ferreira-Wells Immigration Services Inc. in Toronto, said there has been a noticeable uptick in people coming to them for advice and assistance on asylum claims about sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sometimes abbreviated as SOGIE. Many of these people, he said, come from African nations like Uganda and Kenya that have rolled back 2SLGBTQ+ rights. There are lots of Russians, too, who LeBlanc said fear being outed if they are conscripted for the war in Ukraine. Regardless of where people originate from, many are fleeing from similar crackdowns and rollbacks of 2SLGBTQ rights, but on the flip side, places that may have once been seen as safe places to go to are changing, too even here in Canada, where intelligence agency CSIS warned in February that extremists could "inspire and encourage" serious violence against the 2SLGBTQI+ community in the coming year. An annual report by the U.S. and Canadian charity Rainbow Railroad, released in June, found the United States saw a 523 per cent increase in requests for assistance from people living there. It recorded the third highest pleas for help, behind Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Rainbow Railroad pointing to bills across the U.S. that target gender-affirming care, bathroom access and pronoun use. "I think the bloom is off the rose for a lot of people looking at the U.S. for safety. Definitely, Canada seems to be almost at the top tier," said LeBlanc. Rainbow Refugee provides support and navigation to 2SLGTBQ+ refugees and refugee claimants seeking asylum status in Canada. (Ben Nelms/CBC) There are a number of different pathways for a person to claim asylum in Canada, but most require a person to be physically in the country. Once an application is made, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will decide if a person is eligible to be referred to the IRB for a hearing. But starting that process can be the hardest part, said LeBlanc, because getting permission to come to Canada with a valid visa is often the first hurdle. Changes to policies like the expansion of the Third Country Agreement in March 2023, which allows refugees to be sent back across the border if they came from the U.S., create more roadblocks for people attempting to seek refuge in Canada. It's a process that, from beginning to end, can take years and involves periods of intense uncertainty, said Aleks Selim Dughman-Manzur, the co-executive director of advocacy for the Rainbow Refugee Society, a hub for housing and other supports, in Vancouver. It was in September 2023 that Dughman-Manzur, who uses they/them pronouns, noticed a significant climb in the number of 2SLGBTQ people reaching out to their group. "When you are a foreign person, especially if you have a language barrier, it might take you some time to understand what the process is about," they said. "It might get really frustrating around each of the stages and the backlogs and the waiting." But resilience is common too, said Dughman-Manzur, and the people who are eventually settled in Canada more permanently put a lot of work into contributing to their new country. That's what Steven Kabuye said he's focusing on while he waits for a decision on his refugee claim, though he's also using his time to draw attention to the realities of 2SLGBTQI+ people from where he came. "As I stand here, I am representing the Ugandan queer voices that cannot have a voice here." Highlights: Tobacco and related products are primary causes of head and neck cancers in India Strict regulations on tobacco and alcohol can significantly reduce cancer cases Public awareness and behavioral change are crucial for effective cancer prevention Trusted Source Head and neck cancer: Current challenges and future perspectives Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? India accounts for 30% of all head and neck cancer cases worldwide, making it the most common cancer type in the country. #cancerprevention #health #medindia India accounts for 30% of all head and neck cancer cases worldwide, making it the most common cancer type in the country. #cancerprevention #health #medindia Advertisement Causes of Head and Neck Cancers Trusted Source Tobacco-related carcinogenesis in head and neck cancer Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement Increased consumption of tobacco and associated products is causing the rise in head and neck cancer in India. Malignancies of the tongue, mouth, and other sections of the pharynx, such as the oropharynx , nasopharynx, hypopharynx, salivary glands , nasal cavity, and larynx (voice box), are all examples of head and neck malignancies ()."The most common causes of oral cavity malignancies include tobacco and tobacco-related products (), betel nuts, smoking , and alcohol. Pritam Kataria, Consultant, Medical Oncology, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, said that HPV infections might also contribute to it.To reduce head and neck cancers, the expert advocated for "strict regulations on tobacco and tobacco-related products, as well as alcohol consumption ." Trusted Source Benefits and Risks Associated With Statin Therapy for Primary Prevention in Old and Very Old Adults: Real-World Evidence From a Target Trial Emulation Study Go to source Trusted Source Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for the highest number of fatalities worldwide, claiming approximately 17.9 million lives annually. #statin #Cardiovasculardisease #medindia Do Statins Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Elderly Patients? Trusted Source Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults Go to source Trusted Source Statin Therapy: Reduction in Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases Advertisement Advertisement Benefits and Risks Associated With Statin Therapy for Primary Prevention in Old and Very Old Adults: Real-World Evidence From a Target Trial Emulation Study - (https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M24-0004) Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults - (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2795522) A recent study shows evidence of the advantages of statin use in older patients, resolving the previous doubts in previous reports, and providing comprehensive findings. The strong evidence indicates maintaining statin treatment leads to a significant decrease in the relative risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by 21% for individuals aged 75-84 and 35% for those aged 85 and older, without any increased safety issues. Researchers at HKUMed and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health have recently presented this study ().The groundbreaking research represents a major achievement, as it offers real-life data on the use of statins in elderly individuals using progressive analytical procedures. The results were released in the journal,CVD poses a significant healthcare burden on a global scale, especially among aging populations. The effective management of high cholesterol plays a vital role in preventing CVDs. The most recent 'Population Health Survey' conducted in Hong Kong revealed that 65.6% of individuals aged 65-84 have high cholesterol levels.Statins are prescribed to reduce the risk of CVD-related illness and death due to their beneficial impact on lipid levels, anti-inflammatory properties , and ability to stabilize plaque formations ().Despite the long-standing use of statins to enhance lipid profiles and lower the risk of CVDs, there remains a lack of consensus regarding their use for primary prevention in patients aged 75 and above in current international clinical guidelines. The uncertainty surrounding statin use in this demographic is partly due to the limited representation of elderly individuals in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), leaving this crucial clinical issue unresolved in real-world scenarios. This research utilized real-world data to assess the long-term advantages and drawbacks of statin therapy in primary prevention among older adults, aiding in decision-making regarding statin initiation in this growing population.The study was led by Professor Eric Wan Yuk-fai and his research team at the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care in the School of Clinical Medicine and with the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy of HKUMed. The team evaluated the electronic medical records, from January 2008 to December 2018, of more than 80,000 elderly individuals in Hong Kong with suboptimal lipid levels and high-risk conditions such as diabetes or other risk factors for CVDs. The research focused on the correlation between statin therapy and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in this specific group, using a unique analytical method called target trial emulation. This method included the critical elements of randomized controlled trials in study design for observational studies, and this effectively minimized the biases commonly found in traditional observational research.The study results suggest that consistent use of statins was associated with a 21% decrease in relative risk and a 5% decrease in absolute risk in CVDs, over five years for individuals aged 7584. For those aged 85 or older, the relative risk reduction was even more significant at 35%, with an absolute risk reduction of 12.5% after five years. Furthermore, the research revealed no elevated risk of major adverse events such as liver dysfunction or myopathies linked to statin use in this particular group.The research verified the advantages and safety of statins for primary prevention of CVDs in older individuals, indicating that age should not be a determining factor for high-risk patients when it comes to the benefits of statin treatment. With the growing prevalence of CVDs in the elderly population worldwide, this study offers substantial proof to endorse the use of statin therapy for primary prevention of CVDs in this susceptible group.These findings have significant implications for informing clinical decisions regarding the initiation of statin therapy for this increasingly large population group, said Professor Cindy Lam Lo-kuen, Danny D B Ho Professor in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed. This study also pioneered a new research method to explore many more important but unanswered clinical questions related to the care of the elderly in real-world practice..The effective use of target trial emulation in addressing this research query also provides insight into future studies in geriatric medicine.Professor Eric Wan Yuk-fai emphasized, The older population, especially very old adults, are generally underrepresented in the RCTs, leading to a lack of high-quality evidence on treatment for this specific population group,.The innovative approach adopted in this study has the potential to generate high-quality evidence in the field of geriatric medicine, thereby advancing our understanding and improving healthcare outcomes for older populations..Source-Medindia Trusted Source A Descriptive Diagnosis or a Causal Explanation? Accuracy of Depictions of Depression on Authoritative Health Organization Websites Go to source Trusted Source #Depression, like a #headache, is a medical diagnosis that describes symptoms without explaining their underlying causes. #mentalhealth Understanding Depression: Causes Beyond Diagnosis Advertisement A Descriptive Diagnosis or a Causal Explanation? Accuracy of Depictions of Depression on Authoritative Health Organization Websites - (https://karger.com/psp/article-abstract/doi/10.1159/000538458/909052/A-Descriptive-Diagnosis-or-a-Causal-Explanation?redirectedFrom=fulltext) People frequently receive misleading information about depression , complicating their understanding of its origins. Psychiatric diagnoses, such as depression, primarily describe psychological symptoms rather than their underlying causes. Despite this, depression is often portrayed as a disorder responsible for symptoms like low mood ().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.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 specialising 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 analysed publicly available information on depression provided by leading international health organisations. The researchers selected the websites of English-language organisations whose information on depression was the most influential according to search engine results. The organisations included the World Health Organisation (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, and Harvard and Johns Hopkins Universities, among others.Most organisations portrayed depression on their website as a disorder that causes symptoms and/or explains what causes the symptoms, although this is not the case. None of the organisations presented the diagnosis as a pure description of symptoms, as would have been accurate.The researchers suggest that the problem may be caused by a 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.Source-Eurekalert An Air Force veteran in Florida has been charged with unauthorized possession and transmission of classified material related to U.S. aircraft and weapons, marking the latest case of a current or former service member being accused of mishandling sensitive information. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida announced Thursday that retired Lt. Col. Paul J. Freeman, 68, of Niceville, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on nine counts of retaining and sharing national defense information. "As alleged in the indictment, Freeman, on multiple occasions between November 2020 and March 2021, transmitted classified national defense information about United States Air Force aircraft and weapons to people not authorized to access the information," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release. Read Next: Inside Today's Navy Boot Camp: Less Yelling, Same Sleep Deprivation Prosecutors said in the news release that Freeman could face up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the nine counts. Both the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are working on the case, the release added. A service record for Freeman, provided to Military.com by the Air Force, shows him as retired from active-duty service. He joined the service in 1975 as an enlisted airman and became an officer in 1984 after graduating from Officer Training School. He served until 2003 as a developmental engineer with the 46th Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The indictment does not detail the specific information Freeman is accused of disclosing or to whom it was allegedly sent. Freeman has a detention hearing scheduled for Monday in Pensacola, Florida. An attorney was not listed for him in federal court records, and he could not be reached at phone numbers associated with him in public records. Freeman's case marks the latest in a string of charges and sentences current and former service members have faced related to mishandling classified and sensitive information. In March, Military.com reported that a 53-year-old civilian employee -- who was also a former Army officer -- at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, faces charges of providing classified information through an online dating app to someone he believed was a woman in Ukraine. That same month, Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, an Air National Guardsman with the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to six violations of the Espionage Act related to leaking highly classified Department of Defense information online in early 2023. Teixeira faces a sentence that could range from 11 months and up to roughly 16 years -- which could mark one of the strictest sentences in history for such a crime -- under his plea deal. While his sentencing is due later this year, the airman also faces a potential court-martial from the Air Force, Military.com reported in May. In 2022, Lt. Col. Robert Birchum, a retired Air Force intelligence officer, took a plea deal with federal prosecutors and admitted to possessing a thumb drive with 135 documents "containing classified national defense information," including the National Security Agency's collection methods and targets, Military.com reported. And last month, Navy Chief Petty Officer Bryce Pedicini was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being accused of delivering classified information to someone involved with a foreign government. Related: Court Sentences Chief Petty Officer Bryce Pedicini to 18 Years for Attempted Espionage Cpl. Bradford Flores is honoring his culture by growing his hair out -- and the Marine Corps authorized it. Flores, a Native American service member and anti-tank missile gunner, is the first Marine in the Corps to receive a religious waiver allowing him to grow his hair long in accordance with his Navajo heritage, the service confirmed to Military.com on Tuesday. The authorization, which was issued late last month, marks a critical milestone in a long push for service members to be allowed to observe religious practices while in uniform. The exemption is particularly notable, as the Marine Corps is known among the military branches to have the strictest adherence to uniformity and a reticence to allow exceptions to it. Read Next: House Approves $2.5 Billion for Junior Enlisted Raises, Which May Be $800 Million Too Little For Flores, the push for his authorization is not driven by individualism, he told Military.com in a recent interview, but a desire to honor his Navajo heritage while simultaneously being a part of the Corps -- and to help other Marines of Native American descent do the same. "I know this is bigger than me," Flores said. "This is for other people in my community." When he joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 2021, Flores was not able to wear his hair in the traditional fashion of the Navajo or Dine, as the tribe originally called itself. In his heritage, long hair exemplifies strength and communal identity, Flores said, and it is essential. "In our culture, you only cut your hair if there's a major life change or someone in the family passes," he said. "Even when you cut your hair, you have to do things very ceremoniously ... as an offering. You're letting go of yourself." Originally from Oklahoma, Flores comes from a long line of military service members and Navajo tradition. His father served in the Air Force for more than two decades, and his great grandfather, also a Navajo man, served in World War II, Flores said. Part of his push to request the accommodation was not only to be an example for other Indigenous men looking to join -- or already in -- the Corps, but to honor generations of his ancestors who served but were unable to observe their heritage while doing so. "We, the Navajo people, weren't treated the best," Flores said, referring to generations of racism and oppression by the U.S. government and non-Indigenous groups. "But we make do with what we have, and that's always been since the first Native people were around." As part of the religious accommodation process, Flores submitted a letter to the Marine Corps from the pastor of his church, the Rev. Dr. Justine Wilson. "The cutting of Native men's hair is a painful legacy of the practices of Native boarding schools, which sought to erase all traces of Native traditions from Native youth, down to prohibition of Native languages and the forcible cutting of hair," she wrote. Wilson said the effects of that forced assimilation and erasure have led to "astronomical" rates of alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide within Native communities. And to forcibly shear one's hair disconnects Indigenous men from the land and God. "For decades, Native men have had to choose between their Native religion and serving in the armed forces," she wrote. "It is my hope that we are at a time when Native men will no longer be singled out for restrictions on practicing traditional Native beliefs, and still be able to serve with distinction in defense of this country." Native Americans have served in the U.S. military for two centuries and, more recently, at five times the national average, according to the USO. Specifically, Navajo men have a long, rich history of serving in the Marine Corps but even so, were not allowed to practice their heritage, Flores said. During World War II, nearly 200 Navajo Code Talkers joined the Marine Corps and the annals of military legend when they transmitted radio communications using their unique language to obfuscate messages on the battlefield. According to the Marine Corps, those messages were "undoubtedly" intercepted, but never deciphered by Axis powers. Now, Flores can both serve his country and observe critical tenets of his heritage. And for him, many of those tenets in Navajo and Marine Corps culture are not at odds -- they're complementary. "Especially with Marine Corps warrior ethos, a lot of that falls in line with Native culture, regardless of whatever tribe it is," he said. "We're natural warriors. ... That's why in our communities, anyone that joins the military -- they're very, very highly respected." Prior to shipping off to boot camp, Flores was honored by tribal leaders at a powwow for joining the military, a sign to him of communal support. That support extended to his Marine Corps community too, he said. With guidance from his leadership and chaplain, Flores began the process of requesting a religious exemption in 2023. He said he talked to one of his sergeants, who is also Native American, who gave him the confidence to request it. He recalled that sergeant saying, "If you decide to do that, we're going to be here and support you the whole way." A year later, in the middle of a training exercise in Arkansas, his first sergeant told Flores that he had been granted the accommodation. Part of the exception means that he must adhere to female hair standards, meaning he must keep it in a bun, or braids if he is out in the field. "It was awesome," Flores said. "The first thing I did was screenshot the religious accommodation and sent it over to my dad, my mom and my fiancee. They were all ecstatic." Flores is not alone in his efforts. Other services, such as the Army, have made exemptions for Indigenous service members as well. And Flores was inspired by Senior Airman Connor Crawn, who received a religious exemption for hair wear to observe his Kanien'keha:ka, or Mohawk, tradition in 2022. Crawn is part of the Indigenous Nations Equality Team, or INET -- an Air Force-based initiative that provides advocacy and outreach for Native American service members. "Any sort of positive representation or awareness we can achieve relating to our Indigenous service members will always be a win," Crawn told Military.com by email Thursday of the news regarding Flores' accommodation. "Whether someone has something good to say or something bad to say about our Native men being able to grow their hair out in uniform, the discussion it creates alone brings awareness that we as Native people are still here, practicing our ways." Flores said he expects criticism and has already gotten some since announcing he is the first Indigenous man in the service to receive the accommodation. Largely, he said, that criticism has been outweighed by the support he has gotten from his Navajo and Marine Corps families. "Obviously, there are going to be people that have their criticisms and have their thoughts and opinions on it. But I don't care about any of the negative stuff," Flores said. "For me, my people, or even anyone that's interested in learning about it -- it's an opportunity for people that don't understand to learn or people that do understand it that want to be able to do this that are Indigenous ... and go forward with their process." Related: Indigenous Airman Celebrates Religious Approval to Have Long Hair in Uniform JERUSALEM (AP) Humanitarian workers have started moving tons of aid that piled up at a U.S.-built pier off the Gaza coast to warehouses in the besieged Palestinian territory, the United Nations said Saturday, an important step as Washington considers whether to resume pier operations after yet another pause because of heavy seas. It wasn't known when the aid might reach Palestinians in Gaza, where experts have warned of the high risk of famine as the Israel-Hamas war is in its ninth month. This is the first time trucks have moved aid from the pier since the World Food Program, a U.N. agency, suspended operations there because of security concerns on June 9. In just the last week, more than 10 million pounds were moved ashore, according to the U.S. military. WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told The Associated Press this is a one-time operation until the beach is cleared of the aid and is being done to avoid spoilage. Further U.N. operations at the pier depend on security assessments, Etefa said. The U.N. is investigating whether the pier was used in an Israeli military operation last month to rescue three hostages in a raid that killed more than 270 Palestinians. If WFP trucks successfully bring the aid to warehouses inside Gaza, that could affect the U.S. militarys decision on whether to reinstall the pier, which was removed because of adverse weather on Friday. U.S. officials said they were considering not reinstalling it because of the possibility that the aid would not be picked up. Lawlessness around humanitarian convoys is another challenge to aid distribution. The convoys have come under attack in Gaza. While most aid deliveries come by land, restrictions around border crossings and on what items can enter Gaza have further hurt a population that was already dependent on humanitarian aid before the war. An attempt to revive stalled talks Meanwhile Saturday, a senior Biden administration official said the U.S. has presented new language to intermediaries Egypt and Qatar aimed at trying to jump-start stalled Israel-Hamas negotiations. The official, who requested anonymity to discuss the effort that the White House has yet to publicly unveil, said the revised text focuses on negotiations that are to start between Israel and Hamas during the first phase of a three-phase deal that U.S. President Joe Biden laid out nearly a month ago. The first phase calls for a full and complete cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one. Under the current proposal, Hamas could release all of the remaining men, both civilians and soldiers. In return, Israel could free an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The releases wont occur until sustainable calm takes effect and all Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. The new proposed language, which the official didn't detail, aims to find a workaround of differences between Israel and Hamas about the parameters of the negotiations between phase one and phase two. Hamas wants negotiations centered on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails in exchange for remaining living Israeli soldiers and male hostages held in Gaza, the official said. Israel wants negotiations to be broader and include the demilitarization of the territory controlled by Hamas. Hamas political official Osama Hamdan said the group had yet to receive a new cease-fire proposal from mediators. Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke by phone with the head of Egypts general intelligence service to discuss the negotiations, Hamas said in a statement. Fighting in Shijaiyah and thousands flee More than 37,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war since it began with Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its toll. The ministry said the bodies of 40 people killed by Israeli strikes had been brought to local hospitals over the past 24 hours. At least three people, including a 5-year-old girl, were killed and six others were wounded in a strike in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The Israeli military didn't immediately comment. The Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and another 250 people were taken hostage. Israeli forces have been battling Palestinian militants in an eastern part of Gaza City, Shijaiyah, over the last week. Israel's military on Saturday noted close-quarters combat. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes, according to the U.N. Its like the first weeks of the invasion, one resident, Mahmoud al-Masry said of the intensity of the fighting. Many people were killed. Many houses were destroyed. They strike anything moving. Elsewhere, thousands of Palestinians who remained in Gazas southernmost city of Rafah fled Friday for Muwasi, a coastal tent camp designated by the Israeli army as a safe zone. Some told the AP that they evacuated because Israeli gunfire and missiles had come close to where they sheltered. More than 1.3 million Palestinians have fled Rafah since Israels incursion into the city in early May, while aid groups warn there are no safe places to go. With the heat in Gaza reaching over 32 C (89 F), many displaced people have found tents unbearable. The territory has been without electricity since Israel cut off power as part of the war, and Israel also stopped pumping drinking water to the enclave. Death is better than it. It is a grave, said Barawi Bakroun, who was displaced from Gaza City, as others fanned themselves with pieces of cardboard. ___ Wafaa Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Aamer Madhani in Asheville, North Carolina, Samy Magdy in Cairo, and Abby Sewell in Beirut, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs Israel-Hamas war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war LANSING, MI A Michigan man was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for crimes related to sex trafficking numerous women, authorities said. Alexzonder Rodriguez, 34, was sentenced Friday, June 28, to 36 months to 10 years by Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Darnella Williams Claybourne, according to a news release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Rodriguez, of Detroit, pled guilty in April to two counts of accepting earnings of prostitution and one count of transportation for prostitution. Authorities said Rodriguez conducted a criminal enterprise that involved the prostitution and sex trafficking of at least five victims. This included trafficked women from Detroit, Kimball and Port Huron. RELATED: Michigan man pleads guilty to human trafficking a minor with online ads From February 2021 through June 2022, Rodriguez would arrange dinner dates to lure in women, and then he would escalate the arrangements to include regular commercial sex, authorities said. Evidence showed Rodriguez orchestrated the commercial sex, organized the victims transportation and kept a majority of the earnings, according to the attorney generals office. Human trafficking is a horrific crime that devastates lives, Nessel said in a statement. Todays sentencing sends a strong message that those who choose to exploit others will be held accountable. I commend the diligent efforts of the FBIs Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force, which helped secure this sentence and bring freedom to victims. RELATED: Woman trafficked from India in arranged marriage, 3 face charges in Michigan Rodriguez is registered on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. He was convicted of assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration in 2009 in St. Clair County, and again in 2016 in Sanilac County, according to the registry. FLINT, MI Its no secret that Rust Belt cities well, their residents like a hearty meal. Factory workers love a good coney dog (or three) or simply a fresh, large sandwich before heading into their shift to tide them over while on the job. And the culture around a large, savory sandwich has only grown over the decades, especially here in Flint, where a local bar has turned created their own mouthwatering version of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. That is Soggy Bottom Bar. Located at 613 Martin Luther King Ave., the popular spot now features a savory behemoth that will satisfy any foodies palate. This is a rich rendition of the classic Philly cheesesteak, said Mackenzie Donnelly, a manager at Soggy Bottom Bar. It is hearty and gives you the proper sense of filling with a Soggy style combination of savory meat, banana peppers, in-house red sauce, melted Swiss cheese and soft bread, she said. While a Big Johns is the go-to, nothing beats our steak marinade. This sandwich is fresh. All while the meat hits those savory notes, it is complemented by the zip and tang of the red sauce and creaminess of the melted cheese in a way the knocks this one out of the park. The bread is toasted to perfection adding a nice contrast of crisp. Brendan Coullard, head chef at Soggy Bottom Bar, led the charge in creating this sandwich, and spent hours with the other cooks perfecting the red sauce. Its so good. Its super creamy and juicy, Donnelly said. Its got the perfect crisp to the bun. Its the equivalent of our popular Wagyu Burger but as a cheesesteak. This sandwich is an occasional special, but one to keep your eye out for, and definitely to ask your server about. Its one of many new specials the kitchen continues to experiment with and roll out for long-time customers. The bar is well known for its food. Regulars consistently satisfy cravings from a vast selection of specialty burgers, truffle fries, black bean nachos, chicken wings, hot chicken sandwiches and fresh salads. Friendly bartenders hone in on the skills to continue to perfect delicious cocktails, as well as serve up draft and canned beer you cant always find elsewhere in downtown Flint. Every Saturday, Soggy Bottom has live music, including rock, punk, jazz, hip-hop, rap, comedy shows and more. Every show has just been amazing, Donnelly said. Weve had so many terrific artists come through, and its such a perfect representation of Soggy Bottom Bar this melting pot of wonder. Even if you dont listen to a certain style of music, there are always good vibes. Current hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m Monday through Saturday. Soggy Bottom Bar is currently closed on Sundays. But back to the cheesesteak sandwich, one more time. The sandwich costs $13 plus tax, and it comes as a meal with fries, with an additional cost to upgrade your fries as loaded, sweet potato or poutine. Salad can be swapped out for the side as well, including Michigan Harvest, house, Caesar or kale. Indulge in a Soggy-style symphony of flavor of thinly sliced ribeye steak, rockin red sauce, perfectly melted cheese and soft toasted bread with a classic Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, Donnelly said. Taking a bite of this unique rendition of comfort food will satisfy your cravings and leave you craving for more. Read more on MLive.com: There was a baby parade in Flint with ... so many babies. Heres the video. See whats next for winners of $842M lottery, Michigans biggest Powerball prize ever Its a bird! Its a plane! It just may be the best prom entrance in Michigan. TEKONSHA TOWNSHIP, MI - Police are looking for a woman who they say is passing counterfeit bills at Southwest Michigan businesses. The Michigan State Police Marshall Post says a woman has been giving stores fake cash to put the money on an online card. Its believed she is working with a crew of people to pass these fake bills, a news release said. She is described by police as being a Black woman in her early to mid-20s, wearing a black sweatshirt and a yellow hair wrap. Police are also encouraging area businesses to be cautious when receiving large amounts of cash. Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Michigan State Police Marshall Post at 269-558-0500. The Republican nominee for state Attorney General is calling on lawmakers to repeal public camping rules after the nations high court sided with a Southern Oregon city Friday morning and guaranteed local governments wont violate constitutional rights if they fine or incarcerate people for sleeping in public spaces if they have nowhere else to go. Although former Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield didnt sponsor the bill urging cities to say when, where and why someone can sleep in public, Will Lathrop said the representative from Corvallis his political opponent in November pulled votes for the law while serving as majority whip in 2021. A Place to Sleep Reporters stayed the night at eight designated sites throughout the mid-Willamette Valley to learn more about how the systems in place are or are not working for unhoused locals. My opponent codified bad law, Lathrop said. Rayfield and representatives from Rayfield's campaign for attorney general did not return several voicemails seeking comment before deadline. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that city officials didnt treat anyone cruelly or unusually when Grants Pass enforced local laws prohibiting anyone from sleeping in public with blankets and pillows, deciding 6-3 along party lines for the city in a June 28 opinion. Those arguing for the city in April asked justices to take limits off police departments, so that cities may trespass people without housing from parks and sidewalks. Those arguing against the city said prohibiting sleeping bags is a death sentence in Grants Pass, a mountainous town of about 39,000 people that sees a couple of weeks of freezing temperatures each winter. City and state officials were calling for sweeps in the Western United States to resume soon after Fridays decision. Todays Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe homeless encampments and helps us deliver common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. But Oregon alone will be unaffected by the ruling after lawmakers in 2021 enshrined some of that doctrine. The state Legislature passed a pair of laws that prevent police from moving someone along when that person has nowhere else to go unless a city sets up a designated sleeping area and thus guaranteeing a right to sleep. Legal experts and housing advocates believe Oregon is unlikely to repeal those laws, which are based in part on Grants Pass v. Johnson's lower court ruling. Policymakers with the League of Oregon Cities, among the largest lobbyists in the state, helped write the right-to-sleep bill. The organization is setting its legislative agenda now, ahead of Oregons 2025 session. League Executive Director Patty Mulvihill said in a statement emailed to Mid-Valley Media that the organizations attorneys will review the Grants Pass decision, consulting with attorneys from across Oregon before issuing guidance to cities. The LOC, like the U.S. Supreme Court, recognizes and respects that homelessness is a complicated social, political, legal and moral issue that cities have been grappling with for several years, Mulvihill said in the statement emailed by Communications Director Kevin Toon. Andrea Bell, who helms Oregon's housing authority, said in a news release that Oregon Housing and Community Services rejects homelessness as an inevitable outcome and called on cities to not confuse the court decision for a mandate. "For many, we knew this day was coming, and yet it is still devastating," Bell said in the release. "This is a wake-up call for all of us cities in particular. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind positions that criminalize sleeping or sheltering in public spaces only exacerbates the experiences of homelessness." In a public statement, Lathrop said the rules, sponsored by then-House Speaker Tina Kotek, legalize unrestricted tent cities in Oregon. He said he fears an influx in Oregons population of people without housing as nearby states push encampments off public land. Which Idaho almost certainly will, Lathrop said by phone. Its naive to think we won't see an increase in the homeless population, and were already bursting at the seams. Oregon's law is more restrictive than a federal ruling out of Boise, Idaho in 2018 that kicked off the debate when it stopped police departments across nine western states from enforcing anti-camping laws. Several people without housing sued Grants Pass in 2018 when the city sought to skirt the Boise ruling by passing rules about bedding rather than outlawing public sleeping. Judges of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against both cities, halting police practice of ticketing people for sleeping in tents or cars, for trespassing, or breaking local camping bans. House Bill 3115 from 2021, which codified the flawed 9th Circuits decisions which was just overturned, must be repealed, state Rep. Ed Diehl of Stayton posted on X, formerly Twitter. Cities had to say when, where and how someone can sleep under the law that took hold in July 2023. Oregon left local elected officials, government administrators and municipal attorneys to specify sleeping spaces under rules dictating time, place and manner as long as those rules were reasonable. That means 241 governments, overseeing cities in Oregon, ranging in population from about two dozen to more than 650,000 people, had to figure out where they would allow people in tents or sleeping bags to get a night's rest. Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson inquired about the state law during oral arguments in August. "So it seems like the state has already precluded Grants Pass from doing the sort of thing it's doing here, so why do we need to weigh in on that?" she asked. Grants Pass attorney answered that HB 3115 is based on the prior case out of Boise and Grants Pass' laws were different. Related stories: Theodore John Browitt, of Lewiston, will be honored with an open house from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at Royal Plaza in Lewiston, 2870 Juniper Drive. The occasion is his 90th birthday. He was born July 3, 1934, in Roslyn, Wash., to John and Chris Browitt. In 1953, he entered the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany for three years. He and Georgia Leonard were married in 1958. He worked for railroads in the Roslyn and Cle Elum, Wash., areas, first for Milwaukee Road and later for Burlington Northern. The couple moved to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley in the late 1980s where he worked as a truck driver. The couple later divorced. *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 A 34-year-old man from Mexico was sentenced to a year in prison for molesting a teenage boy from Pullman in Whitman County Superior Court Friday morning. Juan Trejo Perez received the maximum sentence permissible by the state of Washington for third-degree child molestation. Whitman County Superior Judge Gary Libey handed down the verdict with no objection from the defense. Trejo Perez was placed on probation for a year and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Libey also approved a sexual assault protection order for five years. Trejo Perez was arrested in October 2023 when a Pullman family told police he had been inappropriate with a 14-year-old boy. He had shown the minor pornography, initiated conversations regarding sexual activity and touched him below the belt, according to court documents. Pullman police officers apprehended him at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport while he was pursuing a flight to Mexico, where he, his wife and children reside. A trial was held in December 2023 that ended with a hung jury and mistrial. A second was scheduled for February this year, but was delayed when Trejo Perez posted bond and failed to reappear to court. This led the court to initiate a nationwide warrant for his arrest. Days later, Pullman police found him hiding in a changing room at Pullman Building Supply. A jury of 12 Whitman County residents found Trejo Perez guilty of molestation during a three-day trial at the Colfax courthouse in April. Many of the victims family members supported the boy and provided testimonies to the court. 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 The Idaho State Board of Education unanimously approved extending the deadline for the purchase agreement between the University of Idaho and the University of Phoenix. The original $685 million purchase agreement expired May 31. On Friday, the SBOE extended the transaction closing date to June 10, 2025. UIs plan to purchase the online school has been delayed by a lawsuit from Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador and roadblocks from lawmakers. Earlier this year, the Idaho Senate killed a bill that would have restructured UIs proposed deal with Phoenix. SBOE Board Member Kurt Liebich said Friday UI cannot close on this transaction while legal challenges continue. He said there will likely be another suit filed that questions the boards constitutional authority to approve the transaction. As long as legal challenges are put in front of us, we cant close on this transaction because theres no way we would ever be able to issue bonds, he said. The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it. Flannery OConner in a 1955 letter to Betty Hester On June 14, 2024, U.S. Catholic bishops apologize for the mistreatment and trauma caused through the churchs role in American Indian boarding schools. While the apology is all well and good, it is very little and very late for thousands of Indigenous families in America. In the past, some people have decried my assertions of long-term trauma felt by Indigenous families because of treatment by both the federal government and various churches as overstated. But it is true: Families today still feel the trauma inflicted on their ancestors thanks to the insistence of sending Native children to boarding schools. The main purpose of Indian boarding schools was to strip away the childrens own culture, to make them more American. The famous quote by Carlisle Boarding School founder Capt. Richard H. Pratt that the schools were meant to Kill the Indian and save the man hints at the brutality used to assimilate the children. In 1892, Gen. Philip Sheridan encouraged Pratts ideals when he said the only good Indian is a dead Indian. Both mens attitudes seem to justify the long legacy of hatred, beatings, rapes and physical torture inflicted on the children. Throughout the Indian boarding schools, Indigenous children were often treated as animals rather than humans. It is no wonder many of the child ran away from the nearly 500 boarding schools, nearly 100 owned by the Catholic Church. In the schools, boys were made to cut their hair (a sacrilegious concept to many Indigenous men) and no child was allowed to speak their native language. This is one reason why so many of the Indigenous languages are disappearing. The children were supposed to be taught trades, but they were only taught trades which kept them subservient to the white population: cooking and mechanics for the boys, housekeeping for the girls. Singapore-listed real asset manager plans to spend up to SGD150 million (US$110 million) on acquiring industrial land in Vietnam to meet rising demand. The company expects to add $73-110 million worth of assets in Vietnam to its portfolio in the next two years, its CEO, Southeast Asia Investment, Patricia Goh told Nikkei Asia in an interview. Chinese companies in the garment sector and South Korean electronics producers are looking to set up new factories in Vietnam, and therefore CapitaLand Investment is looking for land build new factories or buy existing industrial infrastructure to lease to these potential tenants, Goh said. The company is also looking to expand its investment in Malaysia and Thailand. Industrial land rents are expected to rise by 7% in the south and 9% in the north every year for the next three years, property consultancy CBRE has said in a report in April. Demand from various industrial sectors and foreign businesses would boost rents in the segment across the country, it said. SSI Securities SSI Research expected positive developments in the industrial land segment this year thanks to the sustained rise in foreign direct investment flows into Vietnam. Several new industrial zones have been planned in the northern region in the next three years, it added. An aerial view of the Ga-Gao market in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Authorities in HCMC's District 1 are looking for investors to build apartments at the spot where Ga-Gao market stands now, hosting vendor families in deteriorated quarters. The traditional market is in Cau Ong Lanh Ward between Nguyen Thai Hoc, Vo Van Kiet, Co Giang, and Yersin streets. It has existed since before 1975, when the south had still not reunified with the north. The market has narrow walkways about a meter wide. The small stalls serve both as shops and living quarters for vendors and their families. Over time they have deteriorated, becoming damp and failing to meet fire safety standards. In fact, there have been several fires, with the last one, at the end of 2015, destroying 13 stalls. "For nearly 50 years this market area has not been redeveloped, leaving people here living in cramped conditions," District 1 Party chief Duong Anh Duc said at a meeting with businesses interested in the Ga-Gao market project on Thursday. "Many investors have come and gone. This time the district hopes businesses will propose feasible solutions." Duc said toilets are shared between many families and people have to take turns sleeping because their space is too small to allow everyone to lie down at once. Authorities are therefore keen to carry out this project to improve the quality of life for residents here. Ga-Gao market spreads over an area of 6,300 sq.m. According to current regulations, the maximum height of the apartment building will be 50 m (10-14 floors) with a population of 700 people. In line with that, the project will affect 290 households with 1,173 residents currently living there. Duc said the plan to seek investment has been in place for a long time, but many prospective developers turned down the project saying it was "not profitable." Nguyen Le My Hung of major property development company Novaland said over 6,000 sq.m of land with a use coefficient of 10 is significant in a central area like District 1. The "use coefficient of land" measures how much of a piece of land is covered by buildings or structures. It is calculated by dividing the total area of all buildings by the total land area, indicating how intensively the land is used. But the maximum construction density of 50% and height limit of 50 m mean only around 600 apartments could be built each with an area of 50 sq.m. If the existing residents want to be resettled in the same area, the developer needs to provide them with 300 apartments, leaving only 300 for commercial sale, "too little" to ensure reasonable profits, he said. He suggested calculating the total cost of the project, including normal profits, and making adjustments to the coefficient based on it. Le Thanh Nam from another major property developer Bitexco Group made a similar suggestion, saying since the site has a fairly large frontage, the maximum height of the towers should be increased to 80 m, allowing 24-30 floors to be built. Based on this, the occupancy should be revised from 700 people to 1,400. "The existing population is over 1,000, and planning for just 700 will be very difficult," he said. Nguyen Duc Bac of Malaysian-owned Gamuda Land said businesses are interested in a project only if costs, deadlines and legal provisions are assured. The project involves two hidden costs, land compensation and land-use fees, that make it very difficult for businesses to calculate the sums involved, he said. "If the two cannot be clarified right at the beginning, it will be very difficult for businesses to invest." If the developer has to negotiate compensation with the residents, it would become "extremely high," he claimed. The attendees said a survey is needed to accurately determine the resettlement needs of the residents and clarify how the public land portion would be allocated to businesses to safeguard all the parties interests. Khuong Van Muoi, former vice president of the Vietnam Association of Architects, said the land valuation should take into account the underground portions of Ton Duc Thang, Le Loi and Ham Nghi streets, the metro line No.1 station opposite Ben Thanh Market and renovation of September 23 Park, which are in the works. "There will never be another piece of land near the river, in the center of the city with convenient transportation systems above and below ground like this one." But he said, to attract investors, the city should consider increasing the construction density and reducing the minimum mandatory living space in the area. Many people sign up for opt-in polls in good faith, according to Kennedy. The problem is that this open-door approach also invites fraud, she wrote in an email. People create multiple accounts under multiple fake identities to complete as many surveys as possible just to make money. However, with the appropriate guardrails against fraud, YouGov chief scientist Rivers said, such methods offer a practical alternative to conventional probability sampling, where the costs are too high, and the response rates are too low. In some sense, he suggested, most polling is now nonprobability polling: When only 2 out of 100 people respond to a survey, its much harder to claim that those views are representative, said Rivers. Sprinkling a little bit of randomness at the initial stage does not make it a probability sample. Our approach has been: Let us assemble a sample systematically based on characteristics, said Rivers. Its not comparable to what the census does in the current population survey, but its performed very well in election polling. Rivers pointed to YouGovs high ranking on the website FiveThirtyEight, which rates polling firms based on their track record in predicting election results and willingness to show their methods. Gary Langer was not particularly impressed by high marks from FiveThirtyEight. (His own firm, Langer Research Associates, also gets a top grade for political polling they conduct on behalf of the partnership between ABC News and The Washington Post.) Pre-election polls, while they get so much attention, are the flea on the elephant of the enterprise of public opinion research, he said. The vast majority of surveys are concerned with other topics. They form the basis of federal data on jobs and housing, for example, and can reflect the publics views on education, climate change, and other issues. Survey data, he said, surrounds us, informs our lives, informs the choices we make. Given the stakes, Langer relies exclusively on probability polling. Research shows that opt-in polls just dont produce the same kind of consistent, verifiable results, said Langer. Hillygus agreed with Langer that, in general, probability polling is the more accurate method, although she cautioned that theres wide variation in quality among pollsters using both methods. Research suggests that widely used nonprobability methods, in particular online opt-in polls such as the Economist/YouGov survey, have inherent vulnerabilities. The prospect of cash or rewards can incentivize some people to complete surveys quickly and with as little effort as possible. Theyre giving you data and answers that just cant possibly be true, said Kennedy. For example, in one test of opt-in polling, 12 percent of U.S. adults younger than 30 claimed that they were licensed to operate a nuclear submarine. The true figure, of course, is approximately 0 percent. Four to 7 percent of people taking opt-in polls are so-called bogus respondents, compared to only 1 percent of those in the probability-based surveys, according to a 2020 Pew study. Those respondents do things like take the survey multiple times, or approve of everything, regardless of what was asked. Others seem to be located outside of the U.S. Bogus respondents are more likely to say that they are a young adult or Hispanic, but particularly with the Hispanic subgroup, data suggests that claim frequently isnt true, said Kennedy. They may inattentively tick yes to the Are-you-Hispanic question, she said, or spoof their identity because they think it gives them a better shot at making it through the initial screening. And then there are people who just like to mess around, said Hillygus. Multiple studies have shown that some teens provide disingenuous answers on national health surveys exaggerating drug and alcohol use, for example, or falsely claiming to be blind, a gang member, or to have had multiple pregnancies. Surveys asking about belief in conspiracy theories are ripe for trolling, said Hillygus. Polls showing that a large swath of Americans believed the Pizzagate theory, which falsely connected Hillary Clinton to a child trafficking operation in a run out of a Washington, D.C. pizzeria, are likely inaccurate, Hillygus and colleague Jesse Lopez concluded in researchthat, as yet, has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. More than 50 percent of the people who were claiming to believe in Pizzagate and other conspiracies were all people that we identified as survey trolls, Hillygus said. Randomly selecting people from the whole population protects against fraud. The key virtue of probability-based polling these days is not about the probabilities of selection, Kennedy wrote. It is about ensuring that bad actors are not infiltrating the survey and giving garbage data. There are ways to screen out impostors and trolls. YouGov uses around 100 indicators to gauge whether respondents are providing reliable data, said Rivers. After the Pew study on the antisemitism poll, YouGov ran its own analysis and discovered that its survey team had relaxed standards for people under 30 to get a large enough sample size. About half of that group should have been excluded, said Rivers. This whole thing should have been caught at the time, said Rivers. There were various red flags in the data. Since then, YouGov has put additional restrictions in place, he said, with more planned. But opt-in polling firms run the gamut. Some, like YouGov, publish their methodology and strive to ensure the integrity of their data. Others, experts say, do not. Attempted military coup in Bolivia FAILS just one day after it began An attempted military coup in Bolivia came up short following the arrest of its ringleaders on Wednesday, June 26, just one day after it began. At around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, military police and armored vehicles surrounded government buildings in Bolivia's administrative capital of La Paz, seeking to overthrow President Luis Arce's government. Reports indicate the attempted coup was centered around Plaza Murillo, the central plaza of La Paz and an open space that connects many prominent government buildings, including the Presidential Palace and the headquarters of the Bolivian parliament. Videos from Plaza Murillo showed rows of armed men in uniforms cordoning off the Presidential Palace and using an armored vehicle to break down the doors. Other troops held off the crowd with riot shields marked "Military Police." In an address to the nation, Arce confirmed that what was happening in La Paz was an attempted coup d'etat led by Commanding General of the Bolivian Army Juan Jose Zuniga. "You need to respect democracy," Arce warned the general. Arce condemned the "irregular mobilization" of multiple units of the Bolivian Armed Forces, confirming that the coup was led not just by the Army but also by the Air Force and the Naval Force. (Related: Former Bolivian president calls for global campaign to eliminate NATO) Zuniga himself was present at Plaza Murillo. "The three chiefs of the armed forces have come to express our dismay. Stop destroying, stop impoverishing our country, stop humiliating our army," he said, insisting that their action had the support of 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. Nation mobilized to resist coup, ringleaders later arrested Arce and his government later called on the nation to mobilize and reject the military coup. This immediately led to protesters surrounding several streets leading to Plaza Murillo, blocking off most avenues of escape for the military units in the square. The Bolivian Workers' Center, the country's main trade union federation, also called for an immediate and indefinite general strike in condemnation of the coup. Former Bolivian President Evo Morales, who led the country from 2006 to 2019 before his own ouster in a military coup and who remains a very popular figure in Bolivian politics, quickly condemned Zuniga and the coup and called on the country's robust social movements and organizations to take to the streets in opposition to Zuniga. "We will not allow the armed forces to violate democracy and intimidate people," said Morales. Less than a day after the coup began, international reporters at Plaza Murillo noted seeing soldiers withdrawing from the square and Bolivian police taking back control of the plaza. Arce later emerged from the Presidential Palace to address cheering crowds. Later that day, at around the evening of June 26, Bolivian police reported Zuniga's arrest. The head of the Naval Force, Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador, has also been arrested. The public prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation. Zuniga, Salvador and the chief of the Air Force have all been replaced. Follow Coup.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below reporting on the attempted military coup in Bolivia. This video is from the American Patriots God Country channel on Brighteon.com. More related articles: World War Zeee: Catherine Austin Fitts says central bankers want COMPLETE CONTROL through government coup Brighteon.TV. Russian source: Elite Ukrainian military units mulling COUP against Zelensky. Very senior Israeli official accuses U.S. government of seeking to oust Netanyahu. Big Tech proves again it is aligned with the Marxist deep state: YouTube takes down video exposing U.S. involvement in 2014 Ukraine coup. Sources include: RT.com X.com Reuters.com TheHill.com BBC.com Brighteon.com House approves bill to counter forced ORGAN HARVESTING from Falun Gong practitioners in China The United States House of Representatives has passed a landmark bill aimed at halting the Chinese government's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. On June 25, the Republican-controlled House approved the bipartisan Falun Gong Protection Act (FGPA). The proposal, introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) with 18 co-sponsors, was approved by a voice vote. The FGPA is the first legislative effort specifically targeting Beijings severe repression of Falun Gong to make it through the House. If enacted, the bill calls for an immediate cessation of the persecution. It will obligate the U.S. to sever cooperation with China in the organ transplantation field. It also mandates the secretary of state, the secretary of health and the director of the National Institutes of Health to assess whether the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners constitutes an "atrocity" under the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018. They must also determine how much U.S. grant money has supported organ transplantation in China. Under the FGPA, Chinese government officials, military leaders and anyone else knowingly involved in forced organ harvesting would receive significant sanctions including up to $250,000 in civil fines, $1 million in criminal fines and up to 20 years in prison. They would also be banned from entering the U.S. and conducting transactions with U.S. entities, and their current visas would be revoked. In the past two years, three U.S. states have enacted laws banning health insurers from funding organ transplant surgeries in China. This move is part of a broader effort to distance U.S. medical practices from the unethical practices reported in China. Additionally, Congress, United Nations-affiliated experts and the European Parliament have all publicly condemned forced organ harvesting. (Related: Arizona Bill that seeks to end ORGAN TRAFFICKING and HARVESTING zooms in on China.) We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. In 2023, the House passed its first bill addressing forced organ harvesting in a general sense, marking a significant step toward broader legislative action. The FGPA builds on this foundation by specifically targeting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong targeted since 1999 Falun Gong is a spiritual practice based on meditation and the principles of compassion, truthfulness and tolerance. However, the practice has been the target of a relentless campaign in communist China that the late former Chinese paramount leader Jiang Zemin launched in 1999. Perry spoke on the House floor about the issue's grave nature, stating that discussing forced organ harvesting in 2024 is "very frightening." He added: "If you have the money, there is no waiting list for an organ in China. There's a ready supply." The Pennsylvania Republican also compared the current situation in China to the atrocities committed by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele during the Holocaust. He nevertheless reiterated that while the Chinese people are good, they are oppressed by a regime that is intent on suppressing dissent and expanding its influence. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) also expressed his support for the bill, stating that targeting and killing members of a religious minority for their organs is akin to a horror movie plot. He emphasized the need for America to recognize and counter the oppressive actions of the Chinese Communist regime. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) also spoke passionately about the "unimaginable suffering" experienced by the victims, who have their basic rights stripped away and are subjected to horrific violations of their bodies. He highlighted the terror faced by those imprisoned for their beliefs, who then have their organs forcibly taken. The FGPA now awaits Senate approval after its passage in the House. If it becomes law, it will signify a major commitment by the United States to combat human rights abuses in China. The act will serve as a strong legal and moral stance against forced organ harvesting and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, seeking to end a deeply troubling chapter in modern history. Watch this clip from NTD TV's "China in Focus" about the House of Representatives passing the Falun Gong Protection Act. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Mike Adams and Mitchell Nicholas Gerber discuss communist China's organ harvesting of Falun Gong members Brighteon.TV. Relative of Shanghai-based doctor reveals detail about Chinas live organ harvesting program. Nursing program head at BCIT speaks out against Chinas forced ORGAN HARVESTING. Retired Chinese surgeon recounts being forced to HARVEST ORGANS from people who were STILL ALIVE. Sources include: NTD.com Brighteon.com Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh speaks at the conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing, China, on June 28. (Photo: VNA) Themed "Carrying forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind", the event attracted the participations of over 100 delegates and guests, including more than 20 former presidents, prime ministers and senior leaders of countries together with experts, scholars and members of friendship groups. In his speech, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law. They fully conform with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, with the evolving trend of international relations of the times, and with the fundamental interests of all nations. As the world and regional situation is facing challenges, nations need to uphold the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as well as 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, he said. Speaking at the event, Mr. Nong Duc Manh highly appreciated China's organisation of the celebration, emphasising that after 70 years of formation and application in international relations, the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" have demonstrated its strong vitality and have become a standard and basic foundation of international relations and law, helping to protect the legitimate rights and interests of many countries in the world, especially developing nations. The principles have also promoted an active role in strengthening the trend of peace and stability, building the world economic-political order in an increasingly fair, reasonable and tolerant direction, and contributing to peacefully solving disagreements and "hot issues" based on international law. Mr. Nong Duc Manh affirmed that, with a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification, Vietnam supports and is ready to actively participate in initiatives of all parties, including China's global initiatives, for the common interests of mankind, peace and progress of the world's people, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence", and international law. Within the framework of the conference, forums discussing the value and the significance of the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" were organised./. Israels military is beginning to question Netanyahus impossible goals in Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear to the world that the war in Gaza will not end until Hamas is completely eradicated. This task has proven to be outrageous and unrealistic, costing the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians, and plundering the Gaza Strip into a hell zone of destruction and starvation. Israelis own military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari recently stood against the regime and contradicted Netanyahus righteous doctrine. Hagari said that defeating Hamas was an impossible task. He said Israels end goal in Gaza means "throwing sand in peoples eyes." Netanyahu refuses to yield in the face of mounting pressure As Israels military picks apart the Gaza Strip in search of hostages, the casualties of war are piling up. After nine hellish months of fighting, more than 37,000 innocent Palestinians have been killed. Right now, the countrys political and army leadership are beginning to question Netanyahus agenda and whether his stated goals are tenable, ethical or worthy of pursuit. Hagari spoke up on Israels Channel 13 broadcast, stating that Netanyahus task of eradicating Hamas was impossible. This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear its simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public, he said. Hamas is an idea; Hamas is a party. Its rooted in the hearts of the people whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong. Netanyahu's office swiftly responded, affirming that the security cabinet, chaired by the prime minister, has defined the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities as a primary goal of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The statement reiterated Israels commitment to achieving these objectives, despite Hagari's remarks being interpreted as a challenge to Netanyahu's long-standing doctrine. 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. Israel is out of control, but its military is beginning to question their regime Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldar weighed in on the controversy, describing it as a significant escalation within Netanyahu's government. Eldar highlighted a growing divide between the prime minister and various analysts and reporters unofficially aligned with his administration. He pointed out that Hagari's comments not only challenge Netanyahu's strategy but also suggest a broader discontent over the feasibility and ethics of pursuing such outrageously ambitious military goals. This internal strife comes amid months of internationally mediated ceasefire talks, which have repeatedly stalled without yielding tangible progress. The situation has been further complicated by the withdrawal of Benny Gantz, a former military chief and key figure in Netanyahu's coalition, from the war cabinet. Gantz cited frustrations over the prime minister's handling of the conflict as a primary reason for his departure. Moreover, Netanyahu's recent criticism of the military's decision to implement a "tactical pause" in Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery has revealed his complete and utter lack of wisdom and empathy for the thousands of innocents who suffer from his escalatory dictates. Reports from Israeli TV stations quoted Netanyahu expressing displeasure with the growing dissent of his military objectives and strategies. He quipped that Israel is a country with an army, not an army with a country in a thinly veiled critique of what he perceives as antisemites ignorantly prioritizing humanitarian considerations over necessary military objectives. As the conflict in Gaza continues to exact a toll in human lives and amid mounting international pressure for a resolution, Netanyahu's government finds itself navigating not only the complexities of impossible objectives but also internal dissent over the strategic direction and moral implications of its military actions. Sources include: VOANews.com AlJazeera.com NaturalNews.com NATO secretary general suggests putting more NUCLEAR WEAPONS on standby North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been accused of once again escalating tensions with Russia by suggesting that the United States-led military alliance may put more nuclear weapons on standby , according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Stoltenberg revealed that consultations are ongoing among member nations about moving some warheads from their respective nuclear stockpiles to combat readiness. He emphasized that NATO might soon face an unprecedented situation with two nuclear-powered adversaries, China and Russia, and needs to send a clear message to these foes. (Related: NATO countries planning expanded land corridors to rush more troops to the front lines with Russia.) Peskov accused Stoltenberg of double standards, noting that the NATO chief had previously criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for "nuclear saber-rattling" when discussing Russias nuclear arsenal. Peskov claimed that Putin only makes such remarks when directly questioned by journalists. Peskov further noted that Stoltenberg's statements conflict with the joint declaration signed at a recent peace summit in Switzerland, held on behalf of Ukraine. The declaration asserts that any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine is inadmissible. Peskov described Stoltenbergs comments as a move to heighten tensions. Earlier this month, Putin addressed the issue during a meeting with foreign media, stating that nuclear-armed nations should avoid making nuclear threats but warning that Russia would follow its nuclear doctrine if its sovereignty or territorial integrity were threatened. 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 someones actions pose a threat to our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider ourselves in the right to use all means at our disposal," Putin said. "This issue must not be treated lightly." Stoltenberg reiterated NATO's goal of a world without nuclear weapons but argued that as long as Russia, China and North Korea possess nuclear capabilities, NATO must maintain its own to avoid a more dangerous world. Civil society calling on NATO to step back from stoking tensions The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a broad, inclusive campaign, focused on mobilizing civil society around the world to support the specific objective of prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons, called on both sides to step back and reduce tensions. Alicia Sanders-Zakre, ICANs Policy and Research Coordinator, urged all parties to de-escalate tensions: A day after joining in the condemnation of Russia for its unacceptable nuclear threats, the NATO Secretary General is now brandishing a nuclear response. This dangerous escalation is inherent to the doctrine of deterrence, which ICAN has long warned about. Both sides need to step back and reduce tensions. Sanders-Zakre continued: "NATO countries hosting U.S. nuclear weapons should inform their citizens that these inhumane weapons are on their soil without their consent. Transparency should be a priority for NATO. NATO members like Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, along with Belarus, which conducts nuclear exercises with Russia, should not be showing their willingness to participate in the potential killing of millions." Proponents of the deterrence doctrine claim it ensures stability and maintains peace, but in reality, it does the opposite. It promotes proliferation, leading more countries to acquire nuclear weapons, as seen with North Korea, and encourages reckless military engagements. History has shown that it also leads to dangerous brinkmanship, exemplified by the Cuban Missile Crisis, which nearly resulted in a nuclear catastrophe that was only narrowly avoided by chance. Nuclear experts have criticized Stoltenberg's ill-considered escalatory rhetoric. In the current Ukraine crisis, it heightens risks, especially for the European populations that NATO officials, including the Secretary-General, are supposed to protect. The states party to the United Nations' Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons have stated that the doctrine of deterrence is a threat to global security and an obstacle to disarmament. The use, or even the threat of use, of nuclear weapons is not to be taken lightly as it endangers civilian populations worldwide. Stoltenberg's recent comments about NATO being a nuclear alliance underscore the need for him, and others who support the outdated deterrence doctrine, to remember that behind these words are weapons designed to cause massive civilian harm. Watch this clip showing how NATO is rejecting peace with Russia. This video is from the channel PureTrauma357 on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NATO allies "inching closer" to deploying soldiers to Ukraine. NATO to overstep Russias red line as it mulls sending troops to train Ukrainian armed forces. 6 NATO members attempting to build an ANTI-DRONE WALL along border with Russia. Sources include: RT.com ICANW.org Brighteon.com James Clapper, Mr. October surprise: How Obamas intel czar rigged 2016 and 2020 debates against Trump Just before Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton faced off in their second presidential debate, then-National Intelligence Director James Clapper met in the White House with a small group of advisers to President Obama to hatch a plan to put out a first-of-its-kind intelligence report warning the voting public that "the Russian government" was interfering in the election by allegedly breaching the Clinton campaigns email system. (Article by Paul Sperry republished from RealClearInvestigations.com) On Oct. 7, 2016 just two days before the presidential debate between Trump and Clinton Clapper issued the unprecedented intelligence advisory with Obamas personal blessing. It seemed to lend credence to what the Clinton camp was telling the media that Trump was working with Russian President Vladimir Putin through a secret back channel to steal the election. Sure enough, the Democratic nominee pounced on it to smear Trump at the debate. And that wouldnt be the only historically consequential maneuver for Clapper, whose role in skewing presidential campaigns might deserve a special place in the annals of nefarious election meddling by, in this case, a domestic, not foreign, intelligence service. In 2020, he was the lead signatory on the intelligence" statement that discredited the New York Posts October bombshell exposing emails from Hunter Bidens laptop, which documented how Hunters corrupt Burisma paymasters had met with Joe Biden when he was vice president. It was released Oct. 19, just three days before Trump and Biden debated each other in Nashville. Fifty other U.S. Intelligence Community officials and experts signed the seven-page document, which claimed "the arrival on the U.S. political scene of emails purportedly belonging to Vice President Bidens son Hunter, much of it related to his time serving on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation. In hindsight, Clapper's well-timed pseudo-intelligence in 2016 and 2020 helped Clinton and Biden make the case against Trump as a potentially Kremlin-compromised figure, charges that crippled his presidency and later arguably denied him reelection. The phony laptop letter actually helped Biden seal his narrow victory since many of his voters in the close election told pollsters they would have had second thoughts about backing him had they known of the damning materials contradicting his denials he knew anything about his sons shady foreign dealings. A post-election survey by The Polling Company, for one, found that thanks to the discrediting and suppression of the laptop story, 45% of Biden voters in swing states said they were unaware of the financial scandal enveloping Biden and his son and that full awareness of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal would have led more than 9% of these Biden voters to abandon their vote for him thereby flipping all six of the swing states he won over to Trump and giving Trump the victory. In effect, Joe Biden was elected president because millions of voters were steered away by Clapper and his intelligence colleagues from learning about the damning contents on Hunter Bidens laptop. In 2016, Clapper appeared to use his authority as Obamas chief of intelligence to try to trip up Trump on behalf of Clinton. But not everyone in the administration was on board with releasing his official statement about supposed Kremlin meddling. Then-FBI Director James Comey had also met in the Situation Room in early October to discuss the plan. But Comey balked at accusing Russias senior-most officials of authorizing the "alleged hack" of the Clinton campaign and trying to interfere in the U.S. election process, as the two-page document claimed. Conspicuously, the FBI did not sign on to the intelligence. Still, Clapper implied in his statement that this was the finding of the entire U.S. Intelligence Community and that it was confident the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of emails. Aside from Clapper's Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the only other agency that attached its name to the assessment was the Department of Homeland Security. Also remarkable was the paucity of underlying evidence. The joint ODNI-DHS statement based its conclusion primarily on a report by a cybersecurity contractor hired by the Clinton campaigns law firm, who later walked back his finding in a sworn congressional deposition, allowing: We did not have concrete evidence [Russian agents stole campaign emails]. At best, Clappers finding was shoddy tradecraft. At worst, it was manufactured, or simply dreamed up, as one former FBI counterintelligence official described it to RealClearInvestigations. Either way, it came at a highly opportune time for Clinton. The Democratic nominee seized on the intelligence report during her debate with Trump in St. Louis on Oct. 9 to tarnish her Republican opponent as some kind of Russian agent. You know, lets talk about whats really going on here, because our intelligence community just came out and said in the last few days that the Kremlin meaning Putin and the Russian government are directing the attacks, the hacking on American accounts to influence our election, Clinton asserted, citing Clappers warning. We have never in the history of our country been in a situation where an adversary, a foreign power, is working so hard to influence the outcome of the election. "And believe me, theyre not doing it to get me elected, she continued. "Theyre doing it to try to influence the election for Donald Trump. "Now, maybe because he has praised Putin, maybe because he says he agrees with a lot of what Putin wants to do, maybe because he wants to do business in Moscow, I dont know the reasons. But we deserve answers, Clinton went on, clearly reciting a prepared talking point. "And we should demand that Donald release all of his tax returns so that people can see what are the entanglements and the financial relationships that he has with the Russians and other foreign powers." Some former U.S. intelligence officials say the Oct. 7 intelligence assessment appears to have been cooked up for the benefit of Clinton. There was no evidence to support it, said retired U.S. Army Col. Derek Harvey, who investigated the origins of the assessment for the House Intelligence Committee. It was a political diversion to help Clinton. He pointed out that the specious sourcing behind the intelligence violated Clappers own 2015 Intelligence Community directive outlining analytical standards for such assessments. Whats more, his directive prohibited any political bias in intelligence reporting, warning that assessments must be independent of political consideration. "Analytic assessments must not be distorted by, nor shaped for, advocacy of a particular audience, agenda or policy viewpoint, according to the six-page document, which was signed by Clapper himself. Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker said Clapper's Oct. 7 assessment is another example of the many covert ops the Intelligence Community ran against Trump to try to keep him from power or to minimize his effectiveness while in office. By pre-cooking the conclusion about the Russian government targeting Clinton, he said, Clapper abused the U.S. government's awesome intelligence powers to intervene in a U.S. election. In hindsight, it is now clear that the leaders of our intelligence agencies directed their immense powers towards all things Trump, he said in an RCI interview. Swecker added that Clapper, now 83, was easily manipulated by Obama and then-CIA Director John Brennan, even though Clapper oversaw the CIA. James Clapper was the Barney Fife of the Intelligence Community, he said. The CIA and other American intelligence agencies are prohibited from getting involved in domestic affairs, Swecker noted, and certainly not American elections. Attempts to seek comment from Clapper, now retired, were unsuccessful. But in his 2018 memoir, Facts and Fears, Clapper revealed that he and then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, another Obama appointee, agonized over the precise wording in the Oct. 7 intelligence release, ostensibly because the linkages to the Kremlin were gauzy at best. We didnt see any hard evidence of political collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, Clapper admitted on page 349, "but as I said at the time, my dashboard warning lights were all lit. He also suggested he was looking out for Clinton whom his boss, President Obama, had publicly endorsed and was actively campaigning for at the time. Both the Russians and the Trump campaign were, in parallel, pushing conspiracy theories against Secretary Clinton, Clapper complained, namely that she was corrupt. Added the former intel chief: Jeh and I felt strongly that we should inform the electorate, and President Obama assented. In doing so, Clapper confessed they pushed the boundaries of what they could say about the purported "Russian activities. As much as they juiced the intel, though, they agreed to stop short of blaming Putin directly. While Clapper, in his book, mentioned the presidential debate that took place two days later, he did so only in passing and failed to note the key fact that Clinton cited his ginned-up intelligence during the televised event, almost on cue. The Clinton campaign's foreign policy adviser later gloated about the Clapper statement, showing how important it was to the campaign. The fact is that the entire Intelligence Community stood behind a statement in October that the Russian campaign had hacked the DNC and released their emails, Jake Sullivan testified in a closed-door December 2017 interview with the House Intelligence Committee. We feared that we were under attack, not just by the Russians, but by a coordinated [sic] with the Trump campaign as well. Sullivan was mistaken, of course. The entire Intelligence Community did not stand behind the statement, which was backed by no real evidence. At the time, according to internal documents, the FBI called the notion that the Russian government was behind the alleged hack speculation. And nothing the Russians may have done was coordinated with the Trump campaign, as multiple investigations have concluded. Having been nearly charged with perjury in 2013 for lying to Congress about intelligence gathering before apologizing, Clapper appeared to politicize intelligence ahead of the 2020 presidential debate as well. In an Oct. 19, 2020, formal statement, Obamas and Bidens old intelligence czar falsely implied damning emails found on Hunter Bidens abandoned laptop were Russian disinformation. The intelligence came just in time for Biden, who would be squaring off with Trump in three days, just like it did for Clinton in October 2016. "Clapper didnt know the Russians were involved. He was just spitballing. His pre-debate guesswork was similar to his pre-debate so-called intelligence on Russia in 2016, said the former senior FBI counterintelligence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Although the statement declared the Hunter Biden laptop had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation, it provided no actual evidence of Russian involvement. Clapper and his colleagues asserted that they strongly suspected the Russian government played a significant role in the case. Later in the statement, they went further to state our view shared by the Intelligence Community not merely a suspicion anymore that the Russians are involved in the Hunter Biden email issue. There is incentive for Moscow to pull out the stops to do anything possible to help Trump win and-or to weaken Biden should he win, they speculated. A laptop op fits the bill, as the publication of the emails are clearly designed to discredit Biden. But Clapper was dead wrong. There was no Russian "op. And the laptop and its contents including the damning emails published by the Post were 100% real and authentic, as Special Counsel David Weiss confirmed during the recent trial of Hunter Biden on three felony gun charges, for which he was convicted earlier this month. The Russian government had nothing to do with any of it. In retrospect, many political analysts agree Clapper's intel statement was designed not to inform the electorate but to mislead it. But more significantly, the timing of its release suggests it was meant to help Biden in the next presidential debate, which was scheduled just three days later in Nashville. During that final presidential debate, held on Oct. 22, 2020, Biden dismissed concerns about his son's laptop emails and family foreign influence-peddling as part of a Russian plant after Trump lit into him about the laptop story. Joe, theyre calling you a corrupt politician, Trump said. Take a look at the laptop from Hell." Leaning on Clappers intel statement, Biden flatly denied knowing anything about Hunters foreign business dealings. Look, there are 50 former national intelligence folks who said that what hes accusing me of is a Russian plant, Biden shot back. They have said this is, has all the characteristics four, five former heads of the CIA, both parties, say what hes saying is a bunch of garbage. Nobody believes it except him and his good friend Rudy Giuliani." The intel provided a much-needed lifeline for the former vice president. It were as if Clapper had teed up the perfect talking point for Biden. As it turns out, Biden campaign officials had worked with Clappers team prior to the release of the intel statement accusing Putin of planting the laptop story. In a House deposition, former deputy CIA Director Mike Morell, a Clapper confidant and one of the 51 signatories of the letter, testified that around Oct. 17, top Biden campaign aide Antony Blinken, now Biden's Secretary of State, reached out to him to discuss the Hunter Biden laptop story. Morell revealed that one of the goals in releasing the letter two days later was to help then-Vice President Biden in the debate, according to an April 20, 2023, letter House investigators sent to Blinken. The day after speaking with the Biden campaign, Morell blasted out an email to former intelligence officials to recruit them to sign the Oct. 19 intel letter. We want to give the VP a talking point to use in response to Trump in the event he attacks Biden over the laptop revelations during the upcoming debate, Morell wrote his colleagues. After the Oct. 22 debate, Morell testified that Biden campaign chairman Steve Ricchetti called him to thank him for putting the statement out. Morell said former CIA chief of staff Jeremy Bash was also involved in the coordination effort. Bash happens to be the ex-husband of Dana Bash, who will be one of the CNN moderators questioning Trump and Biden at Thursday nights debate in Atlanta. In effect, the Intelligence Community conspired with the Biden campaign to deceive the electorate by creating a false talking point for Biden in the presidential debate, which some government watchdogs say constituted an unreported campaign contribution and a potential violation of federal campaign finance laws. On the same day that Clapper released the statement, then-Politico reporter Natasha Bertrand hyped it in a story with the conclusive headline: Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say. During the earlier frenzied coverage of Russiagate, Bertrand, who now works for CNN, acted as a go-to reporter for leaks from intelligence officials about Trump. She quoted one signatory to the letter as being confident that once again the Russians are interfering in U.S. elections. About 15 minutes after Politico published its story, Jen Psaki tweeted a link to the Politico article. Psaki was named Bidens press secretary the next month. The Biden campaign repeatedly cited Clapper's statement to dismiss the allegations against Hunter and Joe Biden. Clapper played his part by jumping on CNN to claim the laptop was textbook Soviet tradecraft." Its clear Clapper was rooting for Biden to win. Three days before Clapper released his all-too-convenient intelligence letter, he had donated $1,000 to Bidens campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records. He had given another $250 to Biden For President the previous October. In the current election cycle, records show Clapper has contributed at least $300 so far to Biden. RealClearInvestigations reached out to Clapper for comment but did not hear back. However, in a previous statement, he was unapologetic. I stand by the statement made at the time, he told the New York Post. "I think sounding such a cautionary note at the time was appropriate. Clappers history of intrigue gainst Trump includes leaking damaging classified information about him to the media. CNN anchor Jake Tapper thought he had the scoop of his career when, on Jan. 10, 2017, he reported that President-elect Trump had been briefed by the FBI about classified documents containing information from a credible intelligence source that the Russians had compromising dirt on him. Citing unnamed U.S. officials, the report, co-bylined with Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame, also falsely claimed that the Trump campaign and the Russian government had "exchange[d] information" throughout the election and that these allegations had been verified. Tapper failed to note that the supposedly classified information came from political opposition research funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign, otherwise known as the Steele dossier, compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. As flawed as the story was, it triggered a feeding frenzy in the national media, which up to that point backed off from covering the wild and unsubstantiated allegations contained in the Steele dossier. But after they learned from Tapper by way of Clapper that the U.S. Intelligence Community itself had taken a keen interest in the dossier and appeared to be taking it seriously, they reported the allegations against Trump nonstop for several years as if the dossier reports were the Pentagon Papers. When congressional investigators first asked Clapper about the CNN leak in a July 2017 deposition, Clapper flatly denied discuss[ing] the dossier [compiled by Steele] or any other intelligence related to Russia hacking of the 2016 election with journalists, according to a report issued by the House Intelligence Committee. But Clapper changed his story upon further questioning. Clapper subsequently acknowledged discussing the dossier with CNN journalist Jake Tapper. The report added that Clapper secretly spoke with Tapper in early January 2017 and that on Jan. 10, CNN published Tappers story about the dossier allegations, for which he won the Merriman Smith Award for broadcast journalism in 2018. The next day, Clapper issued a statement describing a call with Trump in which Clapper expressed my profound dismay at the leaks that have been appearing in the press and stressed that I do not believe the leaks came from within the IC, or Intelligence Community. Clapper, who was later hired by CNN as an official "national security analyst," had blatantly lied not only to the incoming president but also to the public. Again. And in effect, he had used Tapper, who's not only failed to correct the record at CNN, but finds himself in the position to grill Trump on Thursday night as co-moderator with Bash of the first 2024 presidential debate in Atlanta. Read more at: RealClearInvestigations.com Fact-checking network says online fact checks arent censorship We now live in a world where fact-checkers organize annual meetings one is happening just this week in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Article republished from ReclaimTheNet.org) These censorship-overseers for other companies (most notably massive social platforms like Facebook, etc.) have not only converged onto Sarajevo but have issued a statement that includes the towns name. The Poynter Institute is a major player in this space, and its International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) serves to coordinate censorship for Meta, among others. It was up to IFCN now to issue the Sarajevo statement on behalf of 130 groups in the fact-checking business, a burgeoning industry at this point spreading its tentacles to at least 80 countries that is how many are behind the said statement. No surprise, these fact-checkers like themselves, and see nothing wrong with what they do; the self-affirming statement refers to the (Poynter-led) brand of fact-checking as essential to free speech (will someone fact-check that statement, though?) The reason the focus is on free speech is clear fact-checkers have over and over again proven themselves to be either inept, biased, serving as tools of censorship, all three, or some combination of those. That is why their annual meeting now declares, with a seemingly straight face, that fact-checking is not only a free-speech advocate but should never be considered a form of censorship. But whos going to tell Meta? In the wake of the 2016 US presidential elections, Facebook basically became the fall guy picked by those who didnt like the outcome of the vote, accusing the platform of being the place where a (since debunked) massive misinformation meddling campaign happened. Aware of the consequences its business might suffer if such a perceived image continued, Facebook by 2019, just ahead of another election, had as many as 50 fact-checking partners, reviewing and rating content. In 2019, reports were clearly spelling out how the thing works its in stark contrast with the Sarajevo statement and the never censorship claim. And this is how it worked: Fact-checked posts are automatically marked on Facebook, and videos that have been rated as false are still shareable but are shown lower in news feeds by Facebooks algorithm. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also said that warning labels on posts curb the number of shares by 95%. We work with independent fact-checkers. Since the COVID outbreak, they have issued 7,500 notices of misinformation which has led to us issuing 50 million warning labels on posts. We know these are effective because 95% of the time, users dont click through to the content with a warning label, Zuckerberg revealed. That was before the 2020 vote. There is not one reason to believe that, if things have in the meanwhile changed, they have changed for the better at least where free speech is concerned. Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org Over 47,000 Palestinians killed, wounded or missing in Gaza since Oct. 7 Gaza's Health Ministry recently reported that Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinians killed, wounded or missing , with at least 3,000 massacres documented since Oct. 7, 2023. Ministry officials highlighted that they are operating with minimal equipment in the northern Gaza Strip as Israel continues to block the delivery of medicines, medical supplies and fuel to the besieged enclave. (Related: UN probe finds Israel GUILTY of crimes against humanity in Gaza.) "We are trying to restart vital departments in the Al-Shifa Medical Complex and the Indonesian Hospital," the ministry stated. Both hospitals have been directly targeted by the Israeli army during the 258 days of conflict in the Gaza Strip. The ministry has recorded 37,431 Palestinian deaths and estimates at least 10,000 bodies are trapped under rubble, unreachable by health workers. Approximately 5,000 of these are believed to be children. Three-quarters of the registered deaths are children (about 15,747), women (10,406) and elderly people. Over 85,653 individuals have been injured due to Israel's bombing of the strip, most of whom are children and women. The ministry also noted that 98 percent of children in Gaza lack access to safe drinking water. At least 33 children across the Gaza Strip, especially in the northern areas, have died from malnutrition and dehydration amid a growing famine, according to the ministry. Israel continues its offensive on the Gaza Strip, pushing further into the southernmost city of Rafah despite international condemnation. 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. Rafah Mayor Ahmed al-Soufi told Anadolu Agency that "over 70 percent of public facilities and infrastructure have been destroyed in the Israeli onslaught." Soufi noted that Israel recently destroyed dozens of homes in western Rafah's Saudi neighborhood. Israel claims only 16,000 civilians killed in Gaza Last month, Israel published its own estimate of the death toll in Gaza, claiming that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have killed 14,000 alleged terrorists and 16,000 civilians in the Strip. At around this same time, the Gaza Health Ministry claimed that around 35,000 people had died and nearly 25,000 of those had been "fully identified." The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but both Gaza authorities and third parties like the United Nations have confirmed that most of the casualties are women and children. The Israeli government and the IDF have sharply criticized the Gaza Health Ministry's casualty figures and media outlets for supposedly uncritically reporting the death and injury tolls of the conflict in Gaza, claiming that its own numbers are more reliable. "Israel has repeatedly stated that the numbers coming out of Gaza, which are being echoed by UN agencies, have been manipulated by the Hamas terrorist organization," claimed Oren Marmorstein of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Public Affairs and Media Division. "[The numbers] are not accurate, and they do not reflect the reality on the ground." Meanwhile, World Health Organization spokesperson Christian Lindmeier has defended the accuracy of Gaza's casualty estimates, telling reporters in Geneva that there is "nothing wrong with the data," and the fact that Gaza health workers and international volunteers have been working tirelessly to positively identify nearly 25,000 of those killed in Gaza "is a step forward." Learn more about the ongoing conflict and genocide in Gaza at IsraelCollapse.com. Watch this video explaining how the genocide against the people of Gaza is motivated by racism toward Palestinians. This video is from the PureTrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: COLD-BLOODED MURDER: Palestinian civilians were shot execution-style during Gaza hostage rescue operation. Poll: Muslim countries lead way in BOYCOTTING brands that support Israels genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. SNAFU U.S. gives up on failed $230 million Gaza humanitarian aid pier disassembly to begin as early as July. Sources include: TheCradle.co VOANews.com Brighteon.com Polish government claims two Russian groups actively engaging in cyberattacks against Poland Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski has announced that two Russian groups, orchestrated by the Russian military intelligence service GRU, are actively engaging in cyberattacks against Poland During an interview on the Polish news channel TVN24 on June 25, Gawkowski revealed that one of these groups is focused on spreading disinformation within Poland, while the other is targeting and attempting to paralyze the country's critical infrastructure. "They operate in coordination. On one side, they target critical infrastructures, and on the other, they spread disinformation to create panic and showcase the government's inability to cope," said Gawkowski. (Related: Cyberattack breaches software platform used by 12 ministries in Norway.) Discussing the potential worst-case scenarios, Gawkowski described attacks on critical infrastructure that could disrupt essential services such as water, electricity and sewage. He noted that there have been attempts of this nature over the past six months, which underscores the seriousness and persistence of the threat. "We are prepared for any incident, but I imagine that the Russian GRU does not prepare operations just to block my phone," he continued. Despite the potential severity of the operation, Gawkowski reassured the public that Polish security services are aware of these threats and that the country's cybersecurity operations center has already taken action to counter them. "Our services have already identified these threats, and our cybersecurity operations center has taken action," Gawkowski said. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. 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. GRU has been targeting Poland due to its connection with Ukraine The GRU, or Main Intelligence Directorate, is a significant institution within Russian military intelligence, known for its extensive cyber capabilities and strategic operations. Just like the claims of Gawkowski, the Russian GRU has been engaging in cyberattacks against Poland. In May, Poland's state-owned news agency, the Polish Press Agency (PAP), was likely the target of a Russian cyberattack, which led to the publication of a false article about military mobilization. The controversial article, which appeared on PAP's news feed twice in late May, just days before the European Parliament elections, falsely claimed that Prime Minister Donald Tusk planned to mobilize 200,000 people to fight in Ukraine. "The false article was published twice," PAP wrote. "It was withdrawn both times. After the first withdrawal, it was re-released." In line with this, PAP Deputy Editor-in-Chief Justyna Wojteczek assured the public that measures are being taken to prevent future incidents: "We have identified the source of access. We have secured this path," Wojteczek told private broadcaster Polsat News. Gawkowski also addressed the issue on Polsat News, confirming that special services, including the Internal Security Agency, are investigating the matter. "Everything indicates that we are dealing with a cyberattack that was directed from the Russian side," Gawkowski said. "The goal is disinformation ahead of [the European Parliament] elections and a paralysis of the society." These hacking incidents further heightened the tensions between Warsaw and Moscow, as Poland continues to play a crucial role in supplying military aid to Ukraine. Visit CyberWar.news for more stories about cyberattacks happening around the world. Watch InfoWars founder Alex Jones as he issues a cyberattack warning. This video is from the EARTH SHAKING NEWS channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Cyberattack disrupts operations in hospitals and clinics operated by Prospect Medical Holdings. Cyberattack shuts down all JBS beef plants in the US, showing food supply vulnerability to hacking attacks. Patients across the U.S. still unable to access lifesaving medications nearly two weeks after CYBERATTACK on UnitedHealths Change Healthcare unit. Massive cyberattack hits U.S. Big Pharma leaving tens of thousands of prescriptions unfilled. Japanese government sources confirm Chinese hackers stole classified diplomatic information during 2020 cyberattack. Sources include: RMX.news Reuters.com Brighteon.com Scientist tells lawmakers: COVID-19 Had 1 in a Billion Chance of Emerging From Nature In a historic bipartisan hearing led by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Gary Peters and ranking member Sen. Rand Paul, scientists and U.S. senators presented a "preponderance of evidence" showing that COVID-19 was a laboratory construct Despite China's withholding of crucial data from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, expert witnesses Steven C. Quay, M.D., Ph.D., and Richard H. Ebright, Ph.D., presented substantial evidence favoring a lab leak over a natural spillover. Quay, an independent scientist with no financial ties, highlighted the virus's genomic features, suggesting that there is no way the virus came from nature. The statistical probability of finding each feature in nature can be determined, Quay said, and the combined probability that SARS-CoV-2 came from nature is less than one in a billion. Senators expose the lies and coverup behind COVID-19 origins In the hearing, senators criticized inconsistencies in expert testimonies regarding the origins of COVID-19. They highlighted instances where scientific conclusions, notably from Dr. Robert F. Garry, conflicted with their opinions expressed in private emails, raising concerns about scientific integrity and public transparency. Sen. Ron Johnson called for unredacted copies of Dr. Anthony Fauci's emails, suggesting they may contain crucial evidence regarding U.S.-funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Johnson said they would issue a subpoena to obtain the withheld information, aiming to uncover "smoking gun" correspondence implicating Fauci and Garry in the pandemic's origins and coverup. 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. Senator Josh Hawley accused Dr. Robert F. Garry of being involved in efforts led by Dr. Anthony Fauci to suppress evidence of the lab-leak theory. Garry co-authored the "Proximal Origin" paper, which concluded in February 2020 that SARS-CoV-2 was not a product of laboratory manipulation, and any inquiry thereof was to be regarded as conspiracy theory followed up with a "published takedown" of any scientist that told the truth. This paper was cited by Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins to downplay the lab-leak hypothesis and censor scientists and Americans online. However, Hawley pointed out that Garry expressed doubts about the virus's natural origins in a private email communication around the time of the papers publication. Richard Ebright calls for strict oversight of gain-of-function research One of the leading expert witnesses, Richard H. Ebright, criticized the paper for scientific misconduct, alleging that its authors reported conclusions they knew to be untrue. Hawley emphasized the repercussions that occurred because of their deception, stating that individuals lost jobs and were censored on social media for questioning the virus's origins. When questioned by Hawley, Garry defended his role, stating he was merely presenting scientific opinions in the paper and couldn't control its use. Later, Senator Ron Johnson questioned Garry about his government grants, revealing that he and co-author Kristian Andersen received $25.2 million from the National Institutes of Health between 2020 and 2022. Ebright emphasized the need for stringent oversight to rein in risky gain-of-function research. He mentioned that the unethical research field is largely unregulated and poses significant biosecurity risks. He called for an independent oversight agency to manage such research to mitigate conflicts of interest and ensure public safety. Ebright is a leader at Biosafety Now, a nongovernmental organization that advocates for reducing numbers of high-level bio-containment laboratories and for strengthening biosafety, biosecurity and bio risk management for research on pathogens. The gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, that Faucis NIAID funded through Dr. Peter Daszaks Eco Health Alliance, has no civilian application, Ebright warned, adding that it's an easy and lucrative field. Researchers undertake it because it is fast, Ebright said. "It is easy, it requires no specialized equipment or skills, and it was prioritized for funding and has been prioritized for publication by scientific journals. The full hearing can be accessed here. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com 99.9% CHANCE: Top scientist predicts AI wipeout of humanity In a landmark survey conducted earlier this year, more than half of the 2,778 researchers polled expressed concerns about the existential threat posed by superhuman artificial intelligence (AI). The survey indicated a five percent chance that humanity could face extinction or other "extremely bad outcomes" due to the rise of super-intelligent AI systems One of the prominent voices raising the alarm is Roman Yampolskiy, a distinguished computer science lecturer at the University of Louisville and a respected figure in AI research. (Related: AI pioneer warns humanity's remaining timeline is only a few more years thanks to the risk that emerging AI tech could destroy the human race.) On the "Lex Fridman Podcast," Yampolskiy made a grim prediction, estimating a 99.9 percent probability that AI could obliterate humanity within the next 100 years. "Creating general superintelligences may not end well for humanity in the long run," Yampolskiy cautioned. "The best strategy might simply be to avoid starting this potentially perilous game." Yampolskiy also highlighted existing issues with current large language models, noting their propensity for errors and susceptibility to manipulation as evidence of potential future risks. "Mistakes have already been made; these systems have been jailbroken and used in ways developers did not foresee," he observed. Additionally, Yampolskiy suggested that a super-intelligent AI could devise unforeseeable methods to achieve destructive ends, presenting challenges we may not even recognize as threats until it is too late. 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. While he conceded that the probability of AI leading to human extinction is not a full 100 percent, he warned that the risk is alarmingly high. "Even with exponentially increasing our resources, the risk never fully disappears," he said, illustrating the ongoing challenge of managing a system capable of making billions of decisions per second over many years. Rapid developments in AI have profoundly transformed various aspects of human life, including the world of work. While AI promises increased efficiency and innovation, it also poses threats to numerous professions, potentially leading to widespread unemployment. This concern is not just a distant future scenario; several companies have already started cutting employees due to AI efficiency, with an estimated 44 percent wave of layoffs expected throughout 2024. Threat or opportunity? One of the main threats to the workforce is the automation of routine and repetitive jobs. Intelligent AI systems can replace roles that require standardized tasks, such as those in manufacturing and administrative sectors. Machines equipped with AI can perform these tasks more quickly and accurately than humans, leading to potential job reductions in these areas. AI also threatens creative jobs. Computer programs capable of producing works of art or writing news stories could replace human artists and journalists. AI's success in mimicking human creativity poses a serious challenge. Companies adopting AI technology may reduce their demand for human workers, opting instead for cheaper and more efficient automation systems, resulting in a decline in traditional employment. Despite the efficiency brought by AI, the presence of intelligent machines poses challenges to socialization and human interaction. Jobs requiring empathy, sensitivity to social context and communication skills may be less suitable for automation but remain crucial to the success of many professions. E ducation and training are essential Governments, educational institutions and companies need to collaborate on training programs that provide new skills to workers impacted by automation. Focusing on developing human skills, such as creativity, emotional intelligence and problem-solving, can help workers compete in the AI era. Preserving jobs that are difficult to automate is another strategy to mitigate AI's negative impact on employment. Professions requiring interpersonal intelligence, creative skills and moral judgment may be more resistant to automation. Governments need to actively shape policies that support societal adaptation to AI-driven changes, including regulations that ensure worker protection and create a business environment promoting sustainability and fairness. Integrating AI technology into the workplace in a way that supports human-machine collaboration is a positive approach. Workers can collaborate with AI systems to boost productivity and innovation while maintaining their crucial role in complex decision-making. Visit Robots.news for more stories like this. Watch this video about how the dangers of future technology are already emerging now. This video is from the Flyover Conservatives channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: AI chatbot admits artificial intelligence can cause the downfall of humanity. AI could exceed human intelligence in 3 years, top scientist warns. AI anxiety is on the rise as computers get super smart. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com Feb.UINJKT.ac.id Brighteon.com U.S. lagging way behind Russia, China in military tech as domestic hypersonic missile program gets delayed to 2025 As China and Russia grow their respective militaries leaps and bounds into the future, the United States is lagging behind as the finalization and release of its Long Range Hypersonic Weapon System (LRHW) has now been pushed back to fiscal year 2025. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on June 17 indicating that the U.S. Army will not be able to field its first LRHW battery until 2025 because of problems with both the launcher and launch sequence of the new killer technology. "The LRHW is a trailer-launched, intermediate-range missile with a projected range of more than 1,700 miles," explains Sakshi Tiwari for The Eurasian Times. "The system seeks to accomplish an incredible 'hypersonic' top speed of Mach 17, or 3.6 miles per second. The LRHW also goes by the moniker, 'Dark Eagle.'" According to the GAO, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is poorly positioned right now to field fast systems like the LRHW. The earliest possible tests involving a workable system are tentatively scheduled for before the end of fiscal year 2024. "The Army missed its goal of fielding its first Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon battery including missiles by fiscal year 2023 due to integration challenges," the GAO report explains. "Based on current test and missile production plans, the Army will not field its first complete battery until the fiscal year 2025." (Related: A new report published in the Journal of Test and Measurement Technology claims that China and Russia both possess technology to easily destroy and sink U.S. aircraft carriers with hypersonic missiles.) 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. More LRHW delays likely Even if things go as planned for a successful test launch, other problems could arise, the watchdog warned, that delay full implementation even further. Meanwhile, Russia and China will have trailed far ahead with even newer and better technologies. The GAO expects that it will take about 11 months to build the eight missiles required for a single battery. This is a best-case scenario estimate, mind you there could still be more delays caused by other unanticipated problems, which seems likely based on the rhetoric of the military-industrial complex. The original plan was to have the first LRHW battery ready by the end of fiscal year 2023. That plan failed, which is especially problematic now that world war is escalating at increasing speed. "It's a launcher problem," commented then-head of Army acquisition Doug Bush about why the fiscal year 2023 timeline failed to come to fruition. Bush assured the public at the time that the U.S. military was working on a new plan that could lead to a breakthrough in the following six months. That plan failed as well because here we are now with the can still getting kicked down the road as to when the LRHW program will be a success. "Since 2021, the LRHW has seen multiple test failures, some ascribed to missile malfunctions," The Eurasian Times further reported. "The GAO noted issues with the launcher and launch sequence resulted in the cancellation of two tests in 2023." "While China and Russia have fielded multiple hypersonic weapons, the U.S. hypersonic dream keeps slipping away due to technological hurdles. For instance, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) had to officially cancel the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) program after a spate of unsuccessful tests. The USAF has placed significant emphasis on developing the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), yet the weapon is far from deployment." The U.S. Navy is reportedly working on its own Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (HALO) program as well to upgrade that division of the military. An actual war-ready HALO weapon will reportedly not be ready until at least 2029. The latest news about the global arms race and what it will eventually become can be found at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: EurasianTimes.com NaturalNews.com The calm night in southern Peru was shattered in the early hours of Friday by the strong earthquakes. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake occurred on the southern coast, with the epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, just 5 miles west of the province of Caraveli's Atiquipa district. The exact time of the earthquake was 12:36 a.m. local time (05:36 GMT), sending shockwaves through the world beneath millions of feet. Immediate Response and Safety Measures Knowledgeable about seismic occurrences, the Peruvian authorities quickly contacted the country. Initial reports were cautiously optimistic despite the earthquake's considerable magnitude: no injuries were reported right away. Quickly after, the National Institute of Civil Defense released a statement informing the public that at that time, no reports of material or personal damages had been made. The Peruvian Navy's Hydrography and Navigation Directorate was keeping a close eye out for any tsunami danger. But no tsunami warning was issued since the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu promptly verified that the threat had gone. Impact on the Community The motion of the earthquake was in various areas: Ayacucho, Ica, and even the capital, Lima. Local media captured the marked reactions of the community as they experienced what is explained to have been moderate to strong shaking. A district to the south called Sancos, within the Ayacucho region, had reported the Mayor, Eder Allca, with rock slides obstructing roads and isolating several localities. Peru's Seismic Reality Peru is no stranger to all the activity occurring along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," and its seismic activity is legendary. The country has hundreds of detectable quakes every year, which creates a reminder of powerful forces at work beneath the surface of the earth. Again, the Peruvian people show resilience and preparedness as the nation tries to come to terms with the latest geological event. Having wrestled with nature for so many centuries, Peru now stands united to get up, move on, and be prepared for the next set of tremors. Also Read: Magnitude 6 Earthquake Shakes Southern Philippines for 40 Seconds, Aftershocks Possible What are Some of the Long-term Effects of this Earthquake? The possible long-term effects of the recent 7.2-magnitude quake that hit southern Peru are quite varied and could turn out important. The outlook regarding structural damage to buildings and infrastructure is obviously of a high order, which could only be time-consuming regarding repairs, and at the same time, offer a long-term issue concerning safety. Economically, the burdens connected with reconstruction costs and the repercussions on local businesses-i.e., those related to tourism-are likely to run into millions. Other environmental impacts could be changed landscapes: landslides and course changes in rivers, thereby affecting cultivation and the local ecosystems. One also remembers the psychological impact on citizens, some of whom might be haunted by PTSD, anxiety, and so on, many times leaving fear and trauma in people from such natural disasters. Displacement of community is also possible with people having to find temporary or permanent shelters elsewhere. It may finally lead to a revision in building codes, land-use planning, and emergency preparedness to mitigate the effect of seismic events in the future. Related article: 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake in Philippines: No Casualties, Major Damage Reported The Carnian pluvial episode also called the Carnian pluvial event, is known as a major interval or dramatic shift in Earth's global climate. However, this period in ancient history is bizarre since it was also the time when intense rainfall lasted not for hours or days, but for 1 million to 2 million years. One might not imagine this extremely prolonged wet weather in today's time, but it happened before and there is evidence of that. The sudden climate change that took place approximately 230 million years ago, during the Carnian pluvial event of the Triassic period, also coincided with major volcanic eruptions and a series of extinction events. Some of the most significant effects of the climate shift are global warming, ocean acidification, extreme humidity, and increased precipitation. Marine and terrestrial animals were also affected as well. Carnian Pluvial Episode In a 2020 study published in the journal Science Advances, an international research team led by China and the United Kingdom explored the environmental and ecological impacts of the Carnian pluvial episode. The research paper highlighted that the degree of biological replacements in marine and terrestrial ecosystems is not fully understood. Due to this knowledge gap, the research team sheds light on the mystery. By analyzing fossil data, the research team was able to determine a significant reduction in the genera and species of marine life by 33%. In addition, the scientists linked this decline in biodiversity with major radiations and changes in ocean chemistry during the Carnian pluvian event. Meanwhile, this global climate change event did the opposite for terrestrial animals at that time. Based on their research findings, the team concluded there were major biodiversity and origination events among land-dwelling creatures such as dinosaurs, crocodiles, lizards, turtles, mammals, insects, and conifers. This means that the climatic and weather impacts of the event decreased evolution in marine environments, but increased it in terrestrial ecosystems. Also Read: Aftermath of Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Were Even Worst than Previously Thought Could It Rain Again for 2 Million Years? Recent scientific research showed that the Carnian pluvial phenomenon allowed the evolution and diversification not only of animals but also of other taxa, including plants, bacteria, and fungi. While it is unclear if Earth could experience rain for 2 million years again, the inquiry was brought up again in recent years on different social media platforms, including Reddit, and other online forums. Over the past 50 years, scientists further confirmed evidence that it rained for 2 million years on Earth Carnian pluvial event. This assertion has been pointed out by geologists who discovered mysterious layers of sediments in some ancient rock samples dating back 232 million to 234 million years ago. This geological evidence suggests that the extremely wet period during the Late Triassic contributed to the diversification of life across the animal kingdom. This biological boom happened despite the preceding series of mass extinction events such as the Ordovician-Silurian extinction 440 million years ago and Permian-Triassic extinction 250 million years ago, according to the American Museum of Natural History. Related Article: Volcanic Eruptions Igniting Coal and Oil in Siberia Helped Usher the Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction Event or the "Great Dying" A meteotsunami impacted the Lake Michigan shoreline near Holland during an atypical weather occurrence, resulting in a sharp surge in water levels. The event happened on Tuesday as a result of the state's extreme meteorological conditions. The Tsunami Like Wave The Holland region was hit with a meteotsunami, a wave that resembles a tsunami but is caused by atmospheric disturbances. Meteotsunamis normally are associated with severe thunderstorms and other rapidly moving weather systems. The Ludington and Holland beaches saw a two-foot surge in water as a result of this occurrence.In the Great Lakes, meteorotsunamis happen frequently-roughly 100 times a year. Nonetheless, both locals and meteorologists expressed alarm and attention due to the magnitude and severity of this specific tsunami. Understanding Meteotsunamis Meteotsunamis, in contrast to their seismic cousins, are caused by variations in air pressure that coincide with severe weather systems. Even though these waves are usually less in size than regular tsunamis, they can still be just as dangerous. The force and speed of these waves can be seen in the video footage of the recent metatsunami that hit Holland. Meteotsunamis occur frequently, but because of their modest size, they are sometimes overlooked. However, they can do serious harm, as demonstrated in April 2018 when one in Lake Michigan caused an 8-foot change in the water level. The incident serves as a reminder of nature's strong forces and the value of being aware of the weather and prepared for it. Although there were no reports of substantial damage this time, the Great Lakes region has had considerable impacts from meteotsunamis in the past, underscoring the importance of ongoing research and monitoring of these amazing but dangerous natural occurrences. Also Read: Volcanic Tsunami Mystery Unraveled After 373 Years Kolumbo Underwater Volcano Erupted What causes Meteotsunamis? Meteotsunamis are created by meteorological disturbances that cause quick variations in barometric pressure, which push water out of its path. Storm fronts, squalls, and strong thunderstorms are examples of these disturbances that have the power to swiftly change air pressure and produce waves akin to seismic tsunamis. Usually, the process entails a migrating air disturbance interacting for several minutes to many hours with the water. Meteotsunami development is frequently associated with severe weather coming toward the coast at the same speed and direction as local wave movement. Bays, inlets, and shallow continental shelves are examples of coastal characteristics that might increase the wave's magnitude. Meteotsunamis are less powerful than major seismic tsunamis, thus their impacts are limited to the immediate area, but they can still be dangerous, particularly when resonance amplifies them. Meteotsunamis can produce waves over six feet high and resemble storm surge inundation, affecting confined basins and vast stretches of shoreline. It is essential to comprehend how these waves behave in various marine and coastal environments in order to create precise warning systems and enhance the design of infrastructure and coastal planning. How can we predict meteotsunamis? Prediction of meteotsunami is a complex process that merges weather and ocean variables. Oceanographers and meteorologists use a variety of instruments to monitor the conditions that could lead to these events. This involves the use of hydrodynamic forecast models to represent the ocean's reaction to changes in atmospheric pressure, many weather prediction models to predict changes in atmospheric pressure, and atmospheric monitoring to follow severe weather systems. Furthermore, downscaling techniques are used to refine forecasts to a more localized scale, and synoptic indices aid in the identification of possible meteotsunami incidents. It is also essential to comprehend the particular resonance situations that have the ability to intensify meteotsunamis. Through the integration of these techniques, researchers want to enhance the precision of meteotsunami predictions, which might be integrated into current early warning systems to more effectively safeguard coastal communities against their effects. Related article: Tsunami Warnings Up In PH As Magnitude 7.4 Quake Hits Taiwan European scientists observed that June wildfires above the Arctic Circle released carbon emissions that are the third highest for the time of year in the past 20 years. Severe Weather In The Arctic Circle In the Arctic Circle, multiple fires started this month, most of which were in Russia's Sakha region, where many devastating wildfires occurred last year destroying nearly 19 million hectares of forests. Russian Deputy Minister of Ecology, Nature Management and Forestry Andrey Konoplevhe said in an interview with Russian state news agency TASS that as of June 24, over one hundred sixty fires had consumed an area exceeding 460,000 hectares. From the beginning of May, fire consumed 2.5 million hectares or 1% of the whole area of Sakha-Yakutia forests at almost 170 different locations. Moreover, the region witnessed accounts of pyroconvection - strong, deep convection sometimes taking place within a fire plume - increasing the scale and thus the erratic nature of the fire. Wildfires have moved north as a result of climate change, blazing through tundra and boreal forests and releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases from carbon-rich organic soils. Data from the European Union's Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) indicated that carbon emissions for this month were at about 6.8 megatonnes. The figure was slightly lower than those of June 2019 and June 2020. Meanwhile, in the past 20 years, the northeastern Arctic has experienced the greatest increase in severe wildfires. In the Northern Hemisphere, the blaze was observed to have often peak in the months of July and August. Senior Scientists Mark Parrington said that fire emissions in the Arctic have been at typical levels during the last three summers. However, other experts have observed the recent fires developing following warmer and drier conditions and these were similar to the widespread wildfires in 2019 and 2020. Read Also: Hazardous Forest Fires Erupted Around Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Reduced Air Quality In addition to producing carbon emissions, the buildup of smoke from wildfires affects the quality of the air in high latitudes and may cause the particles in the smoke to settle on the surface. Experts said that the accumulation of soot and black carbon from wildfires could darken the surfaces of snow and ice. If this happens, this will decrease their albedo and increase their absorption of solar radiation. This will the rise the likelihood that the snow and ice will melt. Meanwhile, the large portions of Russia's far east have shown increases when it comes to aerosol optical depth (AOD) readings because of the reported rise in fires and smoke emissions. According to CAMS AOD projections, smoke from wildfires is being carried throughout the area. Since June 19, a plume has been traveling south across Magadanskaya Oblast and into the Sea of Okhotsk, then north over the Anzhu Islands and into the Arctic Ocean. Although there are comparatively high surface PM2.5 concentrations in the region, no significant population centers are currently being affected. The local area is not the only one impacted by changes in the Arctic climate since they are considered of great global relevance. Experts said that the region has an effect on the Earth's overall climate system. Professor Gail Whiteman of the University of Exeter and founder of the non-profit science organization Arctic Basecamp earlier claimed that the Arctic is the epicenter of climate change. Due to this, the growing likelihood of Siberian wildfires is a clear warning indication that the vital system is getting close to dangerous climate tipping points. She also said that what happens in the Arctic does not stay there as arctic change amplifies risks globally for the public. She added that the fires are a warning cry for urgent action. Related Article: About '100 Wildfires' Spread Across Russia's Sakha Region, Near Putin's Home in Moscow Weather experts warned that a new tropical storm in the Atlantic Ocean could develop into a hurricane and affect the Caribbean. Based on the forecast, Tropical Storm Beryl had developed in the Atlantic Ocean and it was monitored to be tracking the Caribbean Sea. If this weather system continues to develop, this will become the first hurricane of this year. Atlantic Hurricane Basin The tropical storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, was just one of several disturbances that meteorologists have been monitoring across the Atlantic hurricane basin. So far, meteorologists spotted Beryl in the tropical Atlantic less than 1,100 miles east-southeast of Windward Islands. They said that the tropical storm was not a threat to any landmasses during the next 36 hours. Beryl is seen to strengthen over the next few days and become a hurricane as it continues to move towards the west direction. Due to this development, Hurricane or Tropical Storm Watches could be enforced by officials for some areas of that region within the next 24 hours. Based on the weather track, the tropical storm could intensify into a hurricane before the Caribbean islands and it is expected to weaken on the later portion of next week. Meteorologists noted that in most instances, the atmospheric environment is unfavorable for intensification in this portion of the Atlantic basin during the later portion of June. However, they explained that the overall atmospheric and oceanic conditions have appeared to be conducive for continuous heightening of weather systems in the next few days. Weather experts stated that Beryl could become one of the farthest east-forming hurricanes. In most cases, their systems usually wait until the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico to become a Category 1 storm based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Read Also: Northeast Weather Forecast: Rounds of Rain, Thunderstorms to Bring Much-Awaited Relief From Heat Tropical Storm Conditions In Windward Islands At present, some areas in the Windward Islands are seen to experience tropical storm conditions with heavy rains, gusty thunderstorms and rough seas as early as Sunday before the center's arrival. Beryl may also track the westward direction across Central America later next week or turn northwestward and reach the western Gulf of Mexico next weekend. If that happens, it would be a concern for most areas in the United States. Due to this, all interests in the Caribbean, Central America and the Gulf Coast of the US are urged to be vigilant towards the weather system's development. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic basin, another tropical wave was forecasted to be approaching the Central America. As it tracks the northwestward direction, the system is seen to have a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression before tracking the east-central Mexico on Sunday. Moreover, it will interact significantly with the land, which may prevent development. Still, torrential downpours and locally gusty thunderstorms are still expected from the northwestern Caribbean to the shores of Mexico in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Further, there will be flash floods and mudslides threats in hilly terrains. Related Article: Central U.S. Weather Forecast: Rounds of Severe Storms To Unleash Renewed Flooding This Late Week Climate change exacerbated the heatwave in Saudi Arabia that killed 1,300 people during the hajj this month, according to a group of European scientists. Human-Caused Climate Change On June 16 to June 18, temperatures throughout the path occasionally hit 47 degrees Celsius and at Mecca's Great Mosque, they surpassed 51.8 degrees Celsius. In the absence of human-caused climate change, the heat would have been about 2.5 degrees Celsius colder, according to a ClimaMeter weather attribution analysis. ClimaMeter studies how speedily climate change is influencing particular weather occurrences. By using satellite observations for the past 40 years, the researchers compared the meteorological patterns from 1979-2001 and 2001-2023. Despite the fact that the desert region's heat levels have been occurring for a long time, they alleged that this month's extreme heat was due to global warming and that there was no way natural variability could be behind such an event. The evaluation also found that, despite temperatures being more severe in June than July, there were similar incidents of the same intensity in Saudi Arabia with other months such as May and July. Scientist Davide Faranda of France's National Centre for Scientific Research who worked on the ClimaMeter research, revealed that the most vulnerable hajj pilgrims suffered from the record high temperatures resulting from the burning of fossil fuels this year. Experts stressed that climate change has made heat waves hotter, more frequent and more prolonged. Findings of the very recent studies carried out by the experts working with the World Weather Attribution shows that the average heat wave across the globe today is 1.2 degrees Celsius, warmer as compared to periods before the industrial era. Read Also: Asia Heat Wave Update: Extreme Heat Events in South and Southeast Asia in Late March Triggered by Ocean Warming [Study] Challenges Of Hajj Pilgrimage Usually, it is heart diseases or heat-related coronaries made worse by high temperatures, rather than heat, that are typically linked by experts with deaths. Nevertheless, the experts say that many of the 1,300 haj-related deaths were probably due to extreme heat. According to Mohamed Adow, director of organization Power Shift Africa, it is imperative that people are made aware of the dangers associated with an activity that is so fundamental to the Muslim faith. The Saudi government admitted that the unregistered number of pilgrims has been a challenge to the organizers. While the majority of registered pilgrims traveled in air-conditioned buses, some unregistered pilgrims reported walking in the extreme heat. Authorities note that among the 1,301 pilgrims who died, 83% were not registered. According to pilgrims, Saudi officials would frequently inspect buses to make sure that the passengers were only authorized pilgrims. This year, around two million pilgrims performed the Hajj according to the customs established by the Prophet Muhammad fourteen centuries ago. One of the world's top oil producers, Saudi Arabia, frequently takes actions to obstruct and postpone taking action on climate change. Experts stressed that they must understand that the things they do have consequences. Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company, is the greatest corporate greenhouse gas emitter in the world while Saudi Arabia is the second-largest oil producer in the world, after the United States. Database of emissions from carbon majors opens a new tab that shows that it accounts for more than 4% of global historical carbon emissions. Related Article: Deadly Heat Killed Nearly 1,000 Worshippers in Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Indian Navy participates in world's largest international maritime exercise I ndian Navy's indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik, mission deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, has arrived at Pearl Harbour to participate in the 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise, being held in Hawaii. According to the US Navy, approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will train and operate in and around the Hawaiian Islands during the exercise -- being held under the theme of 'Partners: Integrated and Prepared' - which runs until August 1. Labelling it as yet another example of building "bridges of friendship" between India and the United States, the Indian Navy stated on Saturday that the harbour phase of the exercise will run till July 7 and will include professional interactions, cross-deck visits, insightful workshops and team building sessions. The exercise, hosted by the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, will witness the participating forces integrate and exercise a wide range of capabilities, from disaster relief to maritime security operations, and from sea control to complex warfighting. "The Rim of the Pacific exercise has grown over the years to be the world's largest and premier joint combined maritime training opportunity. The exercise's purpose is to build relationships, to enhance interoperability and proficiency and, ultimately, contribute to the peace and stability in the vitally-important Indo-Pacific region," said Vice Admiral John Wade, Commander, US 3rd Fleet and RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. Various amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air defence exercises, as well as military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations will also be conducted during the exercise. Besides India, the participating countries include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom and the USA. Earlier this month, INS Shivalik participated in the eighth edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24) held in Japan's Yokosuka. The Indian Naval Ship's deployment to the region is aimed at enhancing the degree of interoperability with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), US Navy and other partner navies participating in RIMPAC 24. Indian Navy participates in world's largest international maritime exercise Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Sanjay Mishra talks about importance of cinema, literature and pop culture in our lives A ctor Sanjay Mishra, who is known for films like Golmaal, Phas Gaye Re Obama, Welcome, Masaan and several others, has spoken up on the importance of literature and cinema in a common mans life. The actor attended the Himachal International Film Festival in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday and interacted with the media at the Sanskriti Sadan at Kangnidhar. He said, People should be involved in films, literature and paintings. They teach a lot of good things to people. The actor also thanked the government for the Himalayan Expressway as it has helped the people of Himachal Pradesh connect seamlessly with other parts of India in the north. Talking about the motive of film festivals, he said, The purpose of any film festival is to help a certain kind of cinema reach the audience. The mainstream films get the benefit of market and exhibition but the smaller films or independent films, which are equally important to our pop culture, need to be taken to the audience that they deserve. He further mentioned that such a kind of cinema appeals to people and can bring in new talents into the industry which ultimately helps the overall ecosystem of cinema to thrive and evolve. Sanjay Mishra talks about importance of cinema, literature and pop culture in our lives Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! ATP Tour: Taylor Fritz captures third title at Eastbourne A merican star Taylor Fritz did not lose a single set as he completed a hat-trick of titles at Eastbourne by winning the Rothesay International, beating Australian Max Purcell in the final on Saturday. Fritz thus became the first American to become a three-time champion in the tournament's history. The 26-year-old did not lose a set en route to his eighth tour-level title, defeating Purcell 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Fritz dropped just four points on his first serve in the title match, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Fritz relied on his booming serve and aggressive play to twice dig out of a 0/30 hole in the opening set. The top seed earned a decisive break at 5-4, with Purcell double faulting down set point. Fritz struck the ball cleanly and remained the more consistent player in baseline rallies, winning 12 consecutive points from 2-2 in the second set. The California native closed the one-hour, 10-minute final on his fourth match point and improved to 2-0 in his ATP head-to-head series with the qualifier Purcell, who was competing in his first tour-level final. Fritz, who also won Delray Beach in February, has earned multiple titles in a single season for the third consecutive year. He is up one spot to No. 12 in the ATP Live Rankings, reclaiming American No. 1 honours. ATP Tour: Taylor Fritz captures third title at Eastbourne Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! "It was a unanimous decision on our attorney's part, as well as Erin and myself, to not move forward with our case." Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. The host Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition. In what will certainly be remembered as a landmark decision, the Supreme Court's conservative majority this week overruled a 40-year-old legal precedent that required judges in most cases to yield to the expertise of federal agencies. It is unclear how the elimination of what's known as the "Chevron deference" will affect the day-to-day business of the federal government, but the decision is already sending shockwaves through the policymaking community. Administrative experts say it will dramatically change the way key health agencies, such as the FDA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, do business. The Supreme Court also this week decided not to decide a case out of Idaho that centered on whether a federal health law that requires hospitals to provide emergency care overrides the state's near-total ban on abortion. This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins schools of public health and nursing and Politico Magazine, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico. Panelists Joanne Kenen Johns Hopkins University and Politico @JoanneKenen Victoria Knight Axios @victoriaregisk Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein Among the takeaways from this week's episode: In 1984, the Supreme Court ruled broadly that courts should defer to the decision-making of federal agencies when an ambiguous law is challenged. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the courts, not federal agencies, should have the final say. The ruling will make it more difficult to implement federal laws and draws attention to the fact that Congress, frequently and pointedly, leaves federal agencies much of the job of turning written laws into reality. That was hardly the only Supreme Court decision with major health implications this week: On Thursday, the court temporarily restored access to emergency abortions in Idaho. But as with its abortion-pill decision, it ruled on a technicality, with other, similar cases in the wings like one challenging Texas' abortion ban. In separate rulings, the court struck down a major opioid settlement agreement, and it effectively allowed the federal government to petition social media companies to remove falsehoods. Plus, the court agreed to hear a case next term on transgender health care for minors. The first general-election debate of the 2024 presidential cycle left abortion activists frustrated with their standard-bearers on both sides of the aisle. Opponents didn't like that former President Donald Trump doubled down on his stance that abortion should be left to the states. And abortion rights supporters felt President Joe Biden failed to forcefully rebut Trump's outlandish falsehoods about abortion and also failed to take a strong enough position on abortion rights himself. Plus, for "extra credit," the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Post's "Masks Are Going From Mandated to Criminalized in Some States," by Fenit Nirappil. Victoria Knight: The New York Times' "The Opaque Industry Secretly Inflating Prices for Prescription Drugs," by Rebecca Robbins and Reed Abelson. Joanne Kenen: The Washington Post's "Social Security To Drop Obsolete Jobs Used To Deny Disability Benefits," by Lisa Rein. Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's "Opioid Deaths Rose 50 Percent During the Pandemic. in These Places, They Fell," by Ruth Reader. Also mentioned in this week's podcast: Credits Francis Ying Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor 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 Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Cambridge in the U.K. and collaborating institutions have shown that serotonin 2C receptor in the brain regulates memory in people and animal models. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, not only provide new insights into the factors involved in healthy memory but also in conditions associated with memory loss, like Alzheimer's disease, and suggest novel avenues for treatment. Serotonin, a compound produced by neurons in the midbrain, acts as a neurotransmitter, passing messages between brain cells. Serotonin-producing neurons reach out to multiple brain regions including the hippocampus, a region essential for short- and long-term memory." Dr. Yong Xu, co-corresponding author, professor of pediatrics nutrition and associate director for basic sciences at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor Serotonin communicates messages to brain cells by binding to receptors on the cell surface, which signal the receiving cell to carry on a certain activity. In this study, the Xu lab, with expertise in basic and genetic animal studies, and the human genetics lab of co-corresponding author Dr. I. Sadaf Farooqi, professor of metabolism and medicine at the University of Cambridge, focused on serotonin 2C receptors, which are abundantly present in the brain's ventral hippocampal CA1 region (vCA1), investigating the role of the receptor in memory in humans and animal models. "We had previously identified five individuals carrying variants of the serotonin 2C receptor gene (HTR2C) that produce defective forms of the receptor," Farooqi said. "People with these rare variants showed significant deficits on memory questionnaires. These findings led us to investigate the association between HTR2C variants and memory deficits in animal models." The team genetically engineered mice to mimic the human mutation. When the researchers ran behavioral tests on these mice to evaluate their memory, they found that both males and females with the non-functional gene showed reduced memory recall when compared with the unmodified animals. "When we combined the human data and the mouse data, we found compelling evidence connecting non-functional mutations of the serotonin receptor 2C with memory deficits in humans," Xu said. The animal models also enabled the team to dig deeper into how the receptor mediates memory. They discovered a brain circuit that begins in the midbrain where serotonin-producing neurons are located. These neurons project to the vCA1 region, which has abundant serotonin 2C receptors. "When neurons in the midbrain reaching out to neurons in the vCA1 region release serotonin, the neurotransmitter binds to its receptor signaling these cells to make changes that help the brain consolidate memories," Xu said. Importantly, the researchers also found that this serotonin-associated neural circuit is damaged in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. "The neural circuit in the Alzheimer's disease animal model cannot release sufficient serotonin into the vCA1 region that would need to bind to its receptor in the downstream neurons to signal the changes required to consolidate a memory," Xu said. However, it is possible to bypass this lack of serotonin and directly activate the downstream serotonin receptor by administering a serotonin analog, lorcaserin, a compound that selectively activates the serotonin 2C receptor in these cells. "We tested this strategy in our animal model and were excited to find that the animals treated with the serotonin analog improved their memory," Xu said. "We hope our findings encourage further studies to evaluate the value of serotonin analogs in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease." Other contributors to this work include Hesong Liu, Yang He, Hailan Liu, Bas Brouwers, Na Yin, Katherine Lawler, Julia M. Keogh, Elana Henning, Dong-Kee Lee, Meng Yu, Longlong Tu, Nan Zhang, Kristine M. Conde, Junying Han, Zili Yan, Nikolas A. Scarcelli, Lan Liao, Jianming Xu, Qingchun Tong, Hui Zheng, Zheng Sun, Yongjie Yang, Chunmei Wang and Yanlin He. The authors are affiliated with one of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, University of Cambridge, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Louisiana State University. Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. and Kirin Holdings Company, Limited are thrilled to announce their sponsored satellite program at the American Society for Nutrition's (ASN) Annual Conference, NUTRITION 2024. This groundbreaking session will spotlight the neuroprotective effects of citicoline, revealing its potential to enhance cognitive function and combat brain aging. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of how citicoline works at a cellular level, positively impacting brain health. This program will use advanced scientific techniques to examine its effects on neurons, astrocytes, and microglia to explain the significant benefits of citicoline supplementation. By the end of this session, participants will: Understand how scientists use specialized tests to assess brain health by examining brain cells. Learn about citicoline's potential cognitive and aging benefits, supported by recent research. Discuss the necessity for further studies to fully comprehend citicoline's role in maintaining brain health. Participants will also access a comprehensive analysis showcasing how citicoline can enhance cognitive function and behavior, highlighting its potential as a supplement for combating cognitive decline and promoting healthy brain aging. Karen E. Todd, RD, CSCS, EP-C, CISSN, and Vice President of Global Marketing of Kyowa Hakko USA will be the chair of the session that will feature two distinguished experts: Danielle Citrolo, PharmD, Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., who will discuss "The Beneficial Effects of Cognizin Citicoline on Cognitive Function and Behavior," and Loukia Lili, PhD, Senior Director of Bioinformatics at Thorne HealthTech, and who will lead a session on "Using Integrative Gene Expression and Pathway Modeling Analysis to Characterize the Impacts of Citicoline Administration on Brain Health." Groundbreaking new science Understanding the scientific method behind the research is crucial. A transcriptomic approach involves studying the activity of genes in cells by examining all the RNA molecules produced by the genes in a cell or group of cells. This method helps scientists understand which genes are active, their utilization levels, and how they change under different conditions. Such insights are vital for learning how cells function and respond to various factors, including treatments or diseases, potentially leading to healthier cellular aging and longer, healthy lives. Join us for this enlightening session on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM CST, room # W375B, and discover how Cognizin Citicoline can support brain health and cognitive function! For a deeper dive into science, join our poster theater session featuring Eri Nakazaki, PhD, Manager Kirin Holdings Company Limited. Investigating Specific Molecular and Functional Impacts of Citicoline on Brain Health on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 12:00 PM CT in Hall F1 (The Hub). The U.S. Supreme Court's watershed decision on homelessness Friday will make it easier for elected officials and law enforcement authorities nationwide to fine and arrest people who live on streets and sidewalks, in broken-down vehicles, or within city parks which could have far-reaching health consequences for homeless Americans and their communities. In a 6-to-3 ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, the justices in the majority said allowing the targeting of homeless people occupying public spaces by enforcing bans on public sleeping or camping with criminal or civil penalties is not cruel and unusual punishment, even if there are no alternative shelter or housing options available for them. "It's hard to imagine the chaos that is going to ensue. It'll have horrible consequences for mental and physical health," said Ed Johnson, director of litigation at the Oregon Law Center and lead attorney representing homeless defendants in the case. "If people aren't allowed to engage in survival while living outside by having things like a blanket and a pillow, or a tarp and a sleeping bag, and they don't have anywhere else to go, they can die," he said. The case, the most consequential on homelessness in decades, comes amid widespread public frustration over the proliferation of homeless encampments especially in Western cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Portland, Oregon and the unsafe and unsanitary conditions that often fester around them. An estimated 653,100 people were homeless in the United States in 2023, according to the most recent federal estimates, the vast majority residing in shanties, broken-down recreational vehicles, and sprawling tent camps scattered across urban and rural communities. The Oregon city of Grants Pass, at the center of the legal battle, successfully argued that it was not cruel and unusual punishment to fine and arrest homeless people living outdoors or illegally camping on public property. Mike Zacchino, a spokesperson for Grants Pass, issued a statement Friday that the city was "grateful" to receive the decision and is committed to assisting residents struggling to find stable housing. Theane Evangelis, the city's lead attorney, told the Supreme Court in April that if it couldn't enforce its anticamping laws, "the city's hands will be tied. It will be forced to surrender its public spaces." In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch argued that the homelessness crisis is complex and has many causes, writing, "With encampments dotting neighborhood sidewalks, adults and children in these communities are sometimes forced to navigate around used needles, human waste, and other hazards to make their way to school, the grocery store, or work." However, Gorsuch wrote, the Eighth Amendment does not give the Supreme Court justices 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," he wrote. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the decision focuses on the needs of local government and "leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested." Elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, have increasingly argued that life on the streets is making people sick and they should be allowed to relocate people for health and safety. "If government offers people help and they can't or won't accept it, there should be consequences. We have laws that need to be used," said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who is an adviser to California Gov. Gavin Newsom on homelessness, referencing laws that allow the state to require mental health and addiction treatment, for instance. The high court decision could further embolden cities to sweep encampments and could force homeless people to be more transient constantly moving around to evade law enforcement. Sometimes they're offered shelter, but often there is nowhere to go. Steinberg believes many cities will more aggressively sweep encampments and keep homeless people on the move, but he does not believe they should be fined or arrested. "I'm comfortable telling people that you can't camp in public, but I would not criminalize it," he said. "Some cities will fine and arrest people." Advocates for homeless people say constant relocations will further imperil the health of this population and magnify public health threats, such as the spread of communicable diseases. They fear conservative-leaning communities will criminalize street camping, pushing homeless people to liberal municipalities that provide housing assistance and services. "Some cities have decided that they want to fine, arrest, and punish people for being homeless, and the majority opinion tells communities that they can go ahead and do that," said Steve Berg, chief policy officer for the National Alliance to End Homelessness. "If communities really want less homelessness, they need to do what works, which is make sure people have access to housing and supportive services." As they disperse and relocate and possibly get arrested or slapped with fines they will lose connections to the doctors and nurses who provide primary and specialty care on the streets, some health care experts say. "It just is going to contribute to more death and higher mortality rates," said Jim O'Connell, the president of Boston's Health Care for the Homeless Program and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "It's tough, because there's a public safety versus public health" debate cities are struggling with. As homeless people become sicker, they will get more expensive to treat, O'Connell said. "Stop thinking about the emergency room, which is cheap compared to what we actually see, which is homeless people being admitted to the ICU," he said. "I've got 20-something patients at Mass General today taking a huge amount of money to care for." In Los Angeles, which has one of the biggest homeless populations in America, street medicine provider Brett Feldman predicts more patients will need emergency intensive care as chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease go untreated. Patients on anti-addiction medication or those undergoing treatment to improve their mental health will also struggle, he said. "People are already getting moved and camps swept all the time, so we already know what happens," Feldman said. "People lose their medications; they lose track of us." Homeless people die at rates two to six times higher than residents living in stable housing, according to a May report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Drug overdoses and coronary artery disease were the top two causes of death since 2017. Feldman said it may become harder to house people or place them into treatment programs. "We rely on knowing where they are in order to find them," Feldman said. "And they rely on us knowing where they are to get their health care. And if we can't find them, often they can't complete their housing paperwork and they don't get inside." The Biden administration has pushed states to expand the definition of health care to include housing. At least 19 are directing money from Medicaid the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people into housing aid. California is going the biggest, pumping $12 billion into an ambitious Medicaid initiative largely to help homeless patients find housing, pay for it, and avoid eviction. It is also dramatically expanding street medicine services. The Supreme Court decision could interrupt these programs, said Margot Kushel, a primary care doctor and homelessness researcher at the University of California-San Francisco. "Now you're going to see disconnections from those case managers and housing navigators and people just losing touch in the chaos and the shuffle," she said. "What's worse, though, is we are going to lose the trust that is so essential to getting people to take their medications or stop their drug use and, ultimately, getting people into housing." Kushel said the ruling would make homelessness worse. "Just having fines and jail time makes it easier for a landlord to reject you for housing," she said. At the same time, Americans are increasingly frustrated by encampments spreading into neighborhoods, ringing public parks, and popping up near schools. The spread is marked by more trash, dirty needles, rats, and human excrement on sidewalks. Local leaders across deep-blue California welcomed the decision from the conservative majority, which will allow them to fine and arrest homeless people, even if there's nowhere for them to go. "The Supreme Court today took decisive action that will ultimately make our communities safer," said Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties. Newsom, a Democrat who leads a state with nearly 30% of the nation's homeless population, said the decision gives state and local officials "the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets," ending legal ambiguity that has "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 communities." This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. Children conceived by using egg or sperm donors have the same well-being outcomes as non-donor conceived people. However, they are more likely to have identity difficulties and issues with trust. Secrecy and anonymity about their genetic parentage can have a profound impact on well-being say authors. They warn that children and adults conceived using donor gametes have not been centered in the assisted reproductive industry and more information is needed about adult wellbeing. The study is published today in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology by researchers King's College London. The study is the first systematic review of studies investigating the psychological experiences of donor conceived people through childhood and adulthood and is the largest body of evidence for this group. More than 70,000 donor conceived people have been born in the UK since 1991 when records began, and a significant unknown number before this date, however little is known about their long-term psychological outcomes. The review looked at 50 studies and 4,666 donor conceived children and adults, mostly from high-income Anglophone countries, and found most studies showed equivalent or better outcomes in donor conceived people including higher wellbeing scores, self-esteem and relationship warmth. The findings also showed children fared better when they were told they were donor conceived early. In the UK, donor anonymity has been against the law for those conceived after 2005 but children must wait until they are 18 years old to access information. However, there is no legal requirement for families to tell their children the truth about their genetic lineage. The proliferation of at-home commercial DNA testing can reveal family secrets and yield life-changing results. It is often adults, who were conceived before 2005 and have no legal right to information about their genetic identity, who have been left out of the research and been left behind by the fertility industry. First author Dr Charlotte Talbot, who graduated from King's College London and is an Academic Foundation Doctor, affiliated with the University of Birmingham, said: "This is the largest body of evidence we have for wellbeing for donor conceived children and adults but it's a complicated picture. While most outcomes are the same or better for this group than non-donor conceived people, qualitative studies revealed common themes relating to mistrust and concerns about genetic heritage." Donor conceived children are always planned for and wanted, as one or more of their parents would have had fertility issues. This might explain better relationships with their family and higher wellbeing. However, much of the conversation around innovation in the assisted reproductive industry concentrates on the customers and potential parents rather than the people they want to create. We need to be better about putting donor conceived offspring's needs and priorities at the center." Susan Bewley, Senior Author, Professor, King's College London Laura Bridgens, Founder of Donor Conceived UK (DCUK), said: "The use of a gamete donor for conception is a life-long intergenerational process with far reaching social implications. DCUK welcomes this systematic review as it highlights the necessity for further consideration for the long-term needs and outcomes of donor conceived people into adulthood. There is a duty of care by the government and the fertility industry to listen to the voices of adult donor conceived people to create a future in which charity sector intervention is not needed to repair the mistakes of the past." The paper, Comparing the psychological outcomes of donor and non-donor conceived people: A systematic review, can be read in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. As the Delhi airport witnessed a massive collapse of the roof at Terminal 1 due to rain, which left one dead and six others injured, the budget carrier IndiGo has released an advisory. The airline has announced that all its operations will take place from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. This will remain the same until further notice. While updating about the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, IndiGo says Delhi Airport Terminal 1 update- Due to structural damage caused to T1 yesterday, IndiGo will be operating all flights from T2 & T3 until further notice. We are committed to ensuring a smooth travel experience and minimizing disruptions. #6ETravelAdvisory: #DelhiAirport Terminal 1 update- Due to structural damage caused to T1 yesterday, IndiGo will be operating all flights from T2 & T3 until further notice. We are committed to ensuring a smooth travel experience and minimising disruptions. IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) June 29, 2024 The concerned ministry has already initiated an investigation regarding the deadly incident. As per the details shared by PTI, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said an inspection of the structure at the airport will be carried out. Naidu even informed that Rs 20 lakh would be given to the deceaseds family as compensation. All those 5 people who sustained serious injuries will be given Rs 3 lakh. Heres What Civil Ministry Says The civil aviation ministry blamed the heavy rain, which caused the damage, leaving 1 dead and others injured. All Operations are Stopped at T1 Meanwhile, it has been reported that the situation at Terminal 1 is under control. However, the operations at T1 are temporarily closed. Efforts are being made to shift all the flight operations from T1 to T2 and T3. Petrol and Diesel Prices On June 29, 2024: Oil marketing companies have announced updated petrol and diesel prices on Saturday, June 29. The fuel rates have fallen in Mumbai after the state government cut tax on petrol and diesel in the budget announcement on Friday. Apart from taxes, 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. Petrol Diesel Price Today In India (Check city-wise rate list below) Mumbai Petrol & Diesel Price On June 28, Friday, the Maharashtra government 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. As of June 29, the petrol price in Mumbai eased to Rs 103.44 per litre as compared with Rs 104.21 per litre on Friday, while the diesel price has fallen from Rs 92.15 per litre to Rs 89.97 per litre. Delhi Diesel Price Today As of June 29, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre. Delhi Petrol Price Today As of June 29, 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 29: Petrol-Diesel Rates in other cities (Petrol-Diesel Rates June 29, 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. 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. The CBI registered an FIR on Friday in connection with four lakh fake students detected in Haryana government schools in 2016, officials said. The case was handed over to the CBI on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 2, 2019, the officials said. The CBI had approached the Supreme Court claiming that the investigation may require huge manpower and the probe should be given to the state police. The apex court dismissed the petition recently after which the CBI registered the FIR. The High Court was informed in 2016 that a verification of data revealed that there were 22 lakh students in government schools in different classes, but only 18 lakh students were actually found and four lakh were fake admissions. The court was also told that certain benefits were being given to the students who belong to backward or poor sections of the society to encourage them to attend schools and the mid day meal scheme. The High Court had ordered the state vigilance to appoint a senior officer to enquire into the suspected siphoning off of funds for four lakh non-existent students by The bench ordered fixing of responsibility and also take action commensurate with the guilt proved as a measure of deterrence. On vigilance bureaus recommendations, seven FIRs were registered in the state. In its 2019 order, the High Court noted that after the registration of FIRS, the investigation is very slow. It then transferred the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a proper, thorough and expeditious investigation. It had asked the State Vigilance to hand over all documents within a week of its order on November 2, 2019 and had asked the CBI to file a status report within three months. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Friday sought the suspension of a professor of the Government Industrial Training Institute in Ausa in Latur for allegedly exploiting and harassing students. The RSS-affiliated students outfit submitted a memorandum to the resident deputy collector in which it claimed the professor used to make the students do household chores and clean toilets etc after giving them threats of low marks. A video of students clearing garbage in a house, purportedly of the professor, went viral on social media. The students and parents have met the ITI principal, who did not help and was supporting the professor. We want strict action, ABVP leader Sushant Ekorge claimed. Principal Indira Ranbhidkar said a memo was issued to the concerned professor after complaints were received from students and parents. The professor has claimed she had called them to fix a light in her house, Ranbhidkar said, adding higher authorities will take action on the matter. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. NEET-UG Row LIVE: How to Check Re-Exam Results Step 1: Go to exams.nta.ac.in/NEET, the official NEET UG 2024 website. Step 2: Navigate to the homepage and select the NEET UG re-exam results 2024 tab. Step 3: Enter the application number, birthdate, and security PIN for your login. Step 4: Your scorecard will appear in a new window. Step 5: Save and download the NEET UG re-exam 2024 scorecard. Step 6: Print a copy of the scorecard for future reference NEET 2024 Row LIVE: Preliminary Answer Key Challenge Candidates had the option to dispute the Preliminary Answer Key for the NEET UG re-exam online between June 28 and June 29, 2024, for a non-refundable processing charge of Rs 200 per contested answer. Candidates could challenge the OMR grade by submitting a nonrefundable processing fee of Rs 200 each question questioned. NEET UG Row: Govt Ready for Discussion on NEET But Maintain Decorum, Says Pradhan Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the government is ready for discussion on NEET but that should take place by maintaining decorum. This comes after the Lok Sabha was adjourned on Friday amid protests by the opposition demanding a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET-UG. The government is ready for every kind of discussion, but everything should happen following norms and maintaining decorum. The President spoke about the exam in her speech yesterday and it shows the governments intention that we are ready to face any issue, Pradhan said outside Parliament. When 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 nab everyone (involved). We will not spare anyone, Pradhan said. NEET 2024 Row LIVE: Where to Check Results? The NEET UG 2024 re-exam results once released, may be checked on the official website exams.nta.ac.in. Centre's High-level Committee Seeks Suggestions From Parents, Students on Reforms in NTA Exam Process Centres panel chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Former Chairman of ISRO, has sought suggestions, views, and ideas from stakeholders, particularly students and parents to recommend reforms in the agencys examination process. The suggestions can be submitted between June 27 to July 7, 2024read more NEET UG Row: Indefinite Sit-in by Students Enter 3rd Day The agitation against alleged irregularities in NEET-UG, PG, and UGC-NET continued on Friday, with protests by several student groups entering the third day of their indefinite strike here at Jantar Mantar. Left-backed student outfit All India Student Association (AISA) and Delhi Universitys Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS), along with various other groups gathered, at Jantar Mantar to protest against the alleged rigging in the exams held by the National Testing Agency. The students group demanded the scrapping of the National Testing Agency and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the issue. NEET 2024 Row LIVE: Toppers List After the results for 1563 students are released, the NEET toppers list 2024 will be revised. This year, the NTA announced 67 NEET toppers, sparking widespread controversy and student protests. NTA confirmed that students were awarded grace marks to compensate for the time missed. NEET-UG Row LIVE: Credentials Required to Check Results Application number Date of Birth NEET 2024 Row LIVE: SC Issues Notice to NTA Over OMR Sheets The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to apprise it whether there is any time limit for raising grievances regarding the OMR sheets provided to the candidates who appeared in NEET-UG 2024, reported PTI. 'My Government Committed To Fair Probe Into Paper Leak Cases': President Droupadi Murmu It is the Centres priority to give equal opportunity to all aspiring candidates. My government is committed to a fair investigation and to punish those behind paper leak incidents, President Murmu said. 'My Government Committed To Fair Probe Into Paper Leak Cases': President Droupadi Murmu It is the Centres priority to give equal opportunity to all aspiring candidates. My government is committed to a fair investigation and to punish those behind paper leak incidents, President Murmu said. NEET-UG Row: SC Raises Eyebrows Over Filing of Plea by Coaching Institute The Supreme Court on June 27 expressed reservations over the filing of a writ petition by a coaching institute alleging irregularities in the conduct of the NEET-UG, reported IANS. What fundamental rights of yours are violated to enable you to maintain a writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution? asked a vacation bench presided over by Justice Manoj Misra to the senior counsel representing Xylem Learning, a coaching institution providing assistance to NEET students. NEET-UG Row LIVE: Only 813 Candidates Appeared for Re-test Only 813 of the 1,563 applicants showed up for the NEET UG retest. According to reports, 291 of 602 eligible applicants in Chhattisgarh took the exam, while 287 of 494 in Haryana did. In Meghalaya, 234 out of 464 candidates took the exam. There was just one student present at the Gujarat centre, and there were no applicants who turned up at the Chandigarh centre. NEET-UG Row LIVE: UG Counselling Likely from July 6 To streamline the counselling procedure beginning on July 6, the NTA stated during a prior Supreme Court hearing that the NEET retest would take place on June 23 and that the results would probably be announced by June 30. NEET PG 2024 Exam Date to be Announced in a Day or Two: Pradhan Dharmendra Pradhan said the date of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Post Graduate will be announced by the NBE (National Board of Examinations) in one or two days, reported PTI. NEET-UG Row LIVE: CBI Arrests Principal, Vice Principal of Oasis School in Hazaribagh The CBI on Friday arrested the principal and vice principal of a school in Jharkhands Hazaribagh in connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case, officials said. Who were arrested? Ehsanul Haque, the principal of Oasis School, who was the city coordinator of Hazaribagh for NEET UG Vice Principal Imtiaz Alam who was designated as the NTAs observer and the centre coordinator at the Oasis School The CBI is also questioning five more people from the district in connection with the paper leak case, officials told PTI. NEET-UG Row LIVE: Re-test Answer Key and Response Sheet Released The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET UG 2024) re-test answer key has been released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates who took the retest may get the NEET provisional answer key 2024, as well as the response sheet and question paper, via the official website exams.nta.ac.in/NEET. Congress Don't Want to Discuss, They Want Chaos: Dharmendra Pradhan On NEET Row Congress doesnt want discussion they only want chaos, confusion, and obstacles in the functioning of the parliament. They are only doing politics on the issueNTA has got a new leadership now a committee has been formed under K Radhakrishnan, the education minister saidread more Maharashtra Govt to Offer Free Medical, Engineering Courses For Female Students The Maharashtra government has agreed to remove academic fees for women who want to pursue medicine and engineering at the states colleges. However, it is only applicable to families with an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh. The plan is estimated to help more than 20 lakh female students in the state.read more Many students opt to pursue a course in Master of Business Administration (MBA) after they graduate from eminent institutions across the country. Students prefer colleges that give them a good learning experience and excellent employment prospects as well. One such college, where the students need not go through the hassle of clearing the Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. On June 28, IIT Madras launched a new MBA program in Digital Maritime and Supply Chain. The IIT Madras new MBA program is designed to cater to the needs of working professionals globally. The IIT Madras Departments of Management Studies and Ocean Engineering along with industry partner i-maritime Consultancy have developed this 24-month program. The new program seeks to equip global professionals with the skills necessary to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape of maritime trade and supply chain management. Eligibility for admission The aspirants should have a Bachelors degree with at least 60 percent marks and a minimum of two years of full-time work experience. Admission Process The admission process comprises an online IIT Madras Admission Test followed by personal interviews for shortlisted candidates. Applications have already started for this program with the first batch starting in September 2024. Other important information 1. Blended studies- The aspirants will be provided with a combination of online and on-campus modules. 2. Alumni Status: The graduates receive IIT Madras Alumni status and lifetime access to learning resources. 3. Innovative Pedagogy: The curriculum will incorporate AI (Artificial Intelligence), ML (Machine Learning), IoT (Internet of Things), and Blockchain technologies. 4. Career Support: Enhanced employability and global job opportunities, along with access to IIT Madras Incubation and Start-up Platform. 5. Global Networking: International networking opportunities and on-campus immersion sessions. Previous Employment Opportunities The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has called for applications for its Executive MBA (EMBA) Degree Program, which is designed specifically for mid-career working professionals. In this course, clearing the CAT exam was not required. This two-year program was a rigorous yet practice-oriented curriculum offered by the IIT Madras Department of Management Studies. This department is ranked in the top 10 Business schools in the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) 2022 Ranking. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. It has just been a week ever since Bigg Boss OTT 3 premiered on Jio Cinema. But, it is already buzzing with drama. Among the contestants, Sai Ketan Rao has been winning the hearts of the audience. In a new promo shared on Instagram, the actor can be seen discussing his childhood days. Speaking with his fellow housemates, Sai was left teary eyed as he shed light on the situation. In a heartbreaking revelation, the Imlie actor shared that his father abandoned the family. Recalling his tough phase as a child, Sai Ketan Rao shared, After my dad left, mom faced harassment from her in-laws, as they used to question us a lot. But we grew out of it and fought back. My mom and I have gone through a lot together. During tough days, we even slept on railway tracks. He added, Mom used to work multiple jobs to make ends meet while raising two kids. Slowly we grew financially, but it was a tough ride. Hearing his story, Chandrika and Deepak consoled him and told him not to feel saddened by his past but to be proud of where he has come now. Not many are aware of Sai Ketan Raos first career choice. The talented star wanted to be a doctor at first. But, the financial crises did not allow him to pursue his career in the medical field. Later, he switched to engineering. After completing graduation from a reputed college, he started inclined towards acting. Talking about the phase, Sai Ketan Rao said, My mom was initially against me acting as it is an unstable career. She wanted me to pursue an MBA and take a corporate job. It took me eight months to convince her, after which I went to film school in Hyderabad to kickstart my acting career. Meanwhile, Anil Kapoor has been roped in to host the controversial reality show, featuring sixteen celebrities. Among the contestants who entered the house alongside Chandrika Dixit, Shivani Kumari, Sana Makbul, Armaan Malik, Payal Malik, Kritika Malik, Naezy, Sana Sultan Khan, and Ranvir Shorey among others. A canopy at the passenger pickup and drop area outside the terminal of Rajkots Hirasar airport collapsed on Saturday amid heavy rains and strong winds. No injuries have been reported due to the incident as of now. VIDEO | Canopy collapses at the passenger pickup and drop area outside #Rajkot airport terminal amid heavy rains.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/gsurfX2O1S Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 29, 2024 Repair work is currently underway at the area where the canopy collapsed. Further details of the incident are awaited. BJPs Amit Malviya Reacts BJPs IT cell head Amit Malviya took to his official X account and reacted to the canopy collapse incident at the Rajkot airport. Rajkot airports canopy cloth tearing away because of heavy wind and rain is not the same as infrastructure collapsing. And no, we shouldnt blame Nehru for it, because he didnt build airports on the scale that were required. Left to him, we would all be traveling in bullock Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 29, 2024 Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for south Gujarat, predicting the possibility of heavy showers on Saturday. Heavy showers are also predicted at isolated places in Gandhinagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Navsari and Valsad districts, and in Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli on Sunday and the wet spell would continue till July 3, said the release. With the southwest monsoon advancing further into the state, several parts of Gujarat received light to moderate rainfall between 6 am and 6 pm on Friday. This incident comes just a day after a large section of the roof at the Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed after heavy rainfall killing one and injuring six people. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Saturday announced that operations at the Airports Terminal 1 will remain suspended till further notice following a roof collapse that has left one dead and six people injured. (with PTI inputs) A civil-service aspirant was forced to cough up over 1 lakh rupees at an East Delhi cafe as his Tinder date turned out to be a plot to lure in and scam men finding love and companionship. The victim of the scam, who remains unidentified, matched with a woman named Versha on dating app Tinder and was scammed of 1,21,917.70 after the date. The incident happened in Black Mirror Cafe in East Delhis Vikas Marg area. The victim was there with his online date, Versha, to celebrate her birthday. It was all going fine until Versha had to leave citing a family emergency. Soon after Versha left, the victim called for the bill and was shocked to see that he was being charged 1,21,917.70 for food and beverages that was barely a few thousand rupees. The duo had ordered some snacks, two cakes and non-alcoholic drinks. He disputed the bill but the owners of the cafe threatened him, confined him and forced him to pay. He transferred the money online to one of the cafe owners. One of the owners, according to broadcaster NDTV who were first to report the development, was named 32-year-old Akshay Pahwa, a resident of Shahdara in East Delhi and has studied till Class 10. Once he was freed from the clutches of Akshay Pahwa and his henchmen Ansh Grover, Vansh Pahwa, Aryan and Digranshu he went straight to the police and filed a case. Delhi Polices Inspector Sanjay Gupta led a four-member team and set out to probe the case. He soon brought Akshay Pahwa in his custody. Modus Operandi Akshay told cops that the Black Mirror cafe is owned by him, Ansh Grover and Vansh Pahwa. While he and Vansh were related, Ansh was a friend. They said that they employ table managers. Aryan, an unemployed school dropout, was one such table manager. Digranshu, another person named by Akshay, is the manager of these table managers. Versha turned out to be a 25-year-old Afsan Parveen, who uses aliases like Ayesha and Noor as well. Cops tracked her down as well after they took Akshay Pahwa in custody and found her on a date with a man from Mumbai she had met on Shaadi.com in another cafe. She revealed their modus operandi to the police. Aryan reached out to the victim posing as Versha. He shared her photo using the one-time view mode feature and invited him to Laxmi Nagar on June 23 to celebrate her birthday. She pretended to be attending to a family emergency and rushed out. All of this was pre-planned and hours after her exit her date was handed the exorbitant bill. Divvying The Loot Several people have become victims of this Tinder date scam schemes in many megacities. People in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad were extorted by scammers, police officials told the broadcaster. In the civil service aspirants case, the woman named Afsan Parveen alias Versha, told the police that each player has a cut. 15% of the money taken from unsuspecting men is given to Ms. Parveen, 45% is divided among the table and cafe managers and the remaining 40% goes to the owners. These schemes rely on a smooth collaboration between cafe owners, managers, and others who swipe right on the right men on dating apps, the NDTV report said. The table managers set up fake profiles on these apps to attract men to the cafes. Once there, the men are overcharged for food and drinks. If they refuse to pay, they are threatened, assaulted, or detained until they comply, cops told the broadcaster. They further added that they have arrested Parveen and Pahwa, confiscated their phones and the cafes register. They said that the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to apprehend the other suspects, while adding that other men have not reported such incidents due to social stigma. In New Delhis Laxmi Nagara area, a thief stole a car with two children inside and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh after the parents left the vehicle running while they were at a nearby confectionery shop. According to news agency ANI, the incident occurred on Friday night and led to a three-hour police chase, resulting in the recovery of the children and the car, with the kidnapper still absconding. The kidnapping occurred around 11:40 pm when the couple left their two children, aged 2 and 11, inside a running vehicle with the AC on, parked outside Heera Sweets on Laxmi Nagar Vikas Marg. While the parents were inside the shop purchasing sweets, a suspect drove away with the vehicle. When they returned, their vehicle and children were missing. They panicked and approached the police where a complaint was registered. Upon learning about the incident, the police deployed multiple teams to track and recover the stolen vehicle. The SHO Shakarpur and the victims mother, along with SHO Laxmi Nagar and the victims father, were involved in the initial chase. The police also said that the accused demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh from the parents of the kids. The police chase spanned approximately 150 to 200 kilometres, which ultimately pressured the kidnapper to abandon the vehicle post in which the children were safely rescued. Around 20 police vehicles were involved in the pursuit, and after three hours, the car was found deserted in the Samapur Badli area with the children inside, safe and sound. Officials are now examining CCTV footage from the area to identify and apprehend the suspect. The suspect will be arrested soon, they assured. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Astana next week as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to skip it. Modi is set to visit Russia from July 8 to 9 in his first trip to that country in nearly five years. After concluding the visit to Russia, Modi is likely to travel to Austria on July 9 on a two-day trip. It is learnt that Modi decided to skip the SCO summit in view of his planned two-nation trip to Russia and Austria. There is no official confirmation on Modis visit to the two countries yet. The SCO summit to be held on July 3 and 4 is expected to focus on the regional security situation and ways to boost connectivity and trade. The Indian delegation at the SCO summit will be led by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing on Friday. The situation in Afghanistan, the Ukraine conflict and boosting overall security cooperation among the SCO member countries are expected to figure in the summit. The SCO comprising India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan is an influential economic and security bloc that has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. Generally, the Indian prime minister participates in the SCO summit. In a phone conversation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi conveyed to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Indias full support for the success of the summit. Kazakhstan is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current chair of the grouping. India was the chair of the SCO last year. It hosted the SCO summit in the virtual format in July last year. Indias association with the SCO began in 2005 as an observer country. It became a full member state of the SCO at the Astana summit in 2017. India has shown a keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan became its permanent member along with India in 2017. The family of the 45-year-old taxi driver is in shock and grief after they lost the sole breadwinner of their family in the deadly roof collapse incident at Delhi airport. Ramesh Kumar, the taxi driver, was initially rescued from the car on which an iron beam had fallen but was declared dead when he was taken to the Medanta Hospital near the terminal. Ramesh, a resident of Vijay Vihar in Delhis Rohini, died after the roof of Delhi airports terminal-1 collapsed following heavy rainfall in the national capital on Friday. He had two sons and two daughters, and he was the only provider for his family. Following the tragic incident, the deceaseds son, Ravindra, expressed concern about how the family would manage without their fathers support. We received a call on Friday morning. They told us that our father fainted at the airport and had been taken to the hospital. But they did not tell us that such a tragedy has occurred, Ravindra was quoted as saying. Me and my family members had no clue about anything. When I reached there, I got to know that my father had died after a portion of the roof collapse on his car, Ravindra was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 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 the Vijay Vihar area of Rohini close to Sector 7. Asha works as a domestic help in Rohini. Reportedly, the wedding of Rameshs daughter is upcoming, and the family is now worried about how they will manage the expenses. I also drive a cab. We were collecting money for my younger sister Rashis marriage. The announced compensation is very meager 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. Rameshs family has 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 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. Delhi Airport Announces Compensation The Delhi Airport authorities announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased, and Rs 3 lakh each to those injured. Delhi Airport is extending all support to the families of the individuals. We have announced a compensation of Rs.20 Lakh to the family of the deceased, and Rs.3 Lakh each to those injured, Delhi Airport posted on X. Delhi Airport is extending all support to the families of the individuals. We have announced a compensation of Rs.20 Lakh to the family of the deceased, and Rs.3 Lakh each to those injured.@RamMNK@MoCA_GoI Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) June 28, 2024 Additionally, the Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered an inquiry into the collapse, along with an inspection of the structural strength of airports across the country. It asked airlines to ensure the incident does not lead to a steep jump in airfares. In two separate incidents, a man and two boys died after drowning in water as incessant rainfall caused havoc in the capital. In first such incident, a man died after drowning in water at the Okhla underpass in Delhi after heavy rains continued to lash parts of the national capital on Saturday. A PCR call regarding one man drowning in water at the Okhla underpass was received at PS Okhla Industrial Area, the Delhi police informed. Soon after receiving information, the police reached the spot and found one unconscious person drowning in water. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead. Legal action is being initiated as per the procedure for the law, informed Delhi Police. In another incident, two boys drowned in the waterlogged section at an underpass in outer north Delhis SP Badali area on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred near the Siraspur underpass near the metro, which was flooded with 2.5-3 feet of water, a senior police officer said. The Delhi-NCR region on Saturday received heavy rains for the third consecutive day. The incessant rains that brought respite to the sweltering heat have wreaked havoc with scenes of cars submerged on waterlogged roads and trees uprooted. Delhi To Witness Heavy Rainfall As visuals of Delhi-NCR submerged in water emerged 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 weather department further predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in north India for the next four to five days. An 8-year-old girl died and a woman in her 60s was injured after a part of a wall of a commercial unit collapsed on an adjacent hut in Lower Parel area of Mumbai on Saturday, a civic official said. The incident happened near the Indiabulls complex at around 7pm, he said. Renuka Anant Kalsekar died while Jayshree Pawar (65) is undergoing treatment for injuries in hospital. Her condition is stable, the official said. Fire brigade personnel arrived at the spot to remove the debris. At least seven people lost their lives while three were left injured in a tragic collision between two cars on the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway near Kadwanchi village after one of them entered the road from the wrong side. The accident occurred late last night when a Swift Dzire drove the wrong way onto the Samruddhi Highway after refuelling and collided with an Ertiga, which was heading from Nagpur to Mumbai, NDTV reported. According to the eyewitnesses, the impact of the collision was so severe that it caused the Ertiga to be thrown into the air, landing on the highways barricade while passengers were thrown out onto the road. The other car involved was left severely damaged, becoming a twisted mass of metal. Seven individuals involved in the terrible crash died on the spot with visuals showing the sight of their bloodied bodies lying on the highway. Upon receiving information about the accident, both the Samruddhi Highway Police and Jalna Police promptly responded to the scene. A crane was utilised to clear the wreckage from the highway, and the injured people were immediately rushed to the district hospital for necessary medical treatment. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, a 701-km-long access-controlled expressway in Maharashtra, serves as a vital link between Mumbai and Nagpur, two major cities in the state. This project, known as one of the countrys longest greenfield road initiatives, aims to enhance connectivity and facilitate smoother transportation between these key locations. However, this is not the first such brutal accident on the Samruddhi Highway but several such major crashes have taken place over the years. In October last year, at least 12 people, including an infant, died and over 20 others sustained injuries after a speeding mini-bus they were travelling in lost control and rammed into a container on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtras Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The bus was carrying 35 passengers who were returning from a pilgrimage to Sailani Baba Dargah in Buldhana and heading back to Nashik. A 56-year-old woman from Bangalore has accused her late husbands friend, a Navi Mumbai resident, of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 30 lakh from his account, a police official said on Saturday. The woman told the police that she had moved from Navi Mumbai to the Karnataka capital due to her husbands excessive dependence on alcohol. She said her husband earlier held a senior post in a public sector oil marketing company and took voluntary retirement in 2020. Accused Amit Sudhir Singh managed her estranged husbands daily affairs, the woman said in her police complaint. Citing the FIR, the official said Singh informed the woman in November 2023 that her husband was seriously ill and hospitalised. Within a few days, her husband died. Singh was allegedly evasive when the woman asked for her husbands phones. The woman alleged that when she went to her husbands bank, she found Singh had withdrawn Rs 30 lakh from his account within hours of his death. She claimed that Singh had been carrying out transactions for her husband and had his bank details, the official said. She did not provide any reason for approaching the police so late, the official said. Based on her complaint, the police on Thursday registered a case against Singh under Indian Penal Code sections 404 (dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death) and 420 (cheating), said an official from the Kharghar police station. Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. Even though they move similarly to other planets around the Sun, they are much smaller. Asteroids can be of varied sizes, ranging from as small as 10 metres across to as huge as 530 km in diameter. Asteroids are leftovers from the formation of our solar system that move around the system. While most of the asteroids are harmless, some of them can cause a catastrophe if they collide with Earth. Every year, World Asteroid Day is celebrated on June 30 to raise awareness about the impact of a catastrophe if an asteroid collides with the Earth. As asteroids are formed at the same time as planets, they can provide a lot of evidence about other planets and their formation. World Asteroid Day 2024: History The origin of World Asteroid Day goes back to a film titled 51 Degrees North that explored what would happen if an asteroid were to strike London. To raise awareness about the threat of asteroids, the films creative team (many of whom are scientists) formed a foundation and, in 2015, celebrated the worlds first International Asteroid Day. Later in 2016, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to celebrate June 30 as International Asteroid Day. The day aims to identify the impact of an asteroid collision with the Earth. World Asteroid Day 2024: Significance World Asteroid Day is observed annually to create an understanding of the impact of asteroids on the Earth. The day also aims to understand, discuss, and speed up the process of locating new asteroids in the solar system. Over the years, scientists have discovered many asteroids in space. However, they claim that a lot of them have yet to be discovered. According to the UN website, the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) employs well-defined communication strategies and procedures that help governments analyse the impact of asteroids on Earth and how to deal with them. World Asteroid Day 2024: How To Celebrate In a recent episode of Bigg Boss OTT, Armaan Maliks second wife, Kritika Malik, made a shocking statement about her marriage with the YouTuber. It all started after Poulomi Das casually asked Kritika about her habit of using Armaans towel. Tum log ek dusre ka towel use kar lete ho? (Do you guys use each others towels?) she asked as quoted by Pinkvilla. Read More: Armaan Maliks Second Wife Kritika Makes SHOCKING Statement: Jab Dusre Ka Pati Use Kar Leti Hu Abhay Verma is currently basking in the success of Dinesh Vijans Munjya. However, he also had a chance to work with him before in Angrezi Medium, which was headlined by the late actor Irrfan. Recalling his regret about missing out on the film, Abhay said that he wouldve loved to star in the late actors last film. Read More: Munjya Star Abhay Verma Recalls Rejecting Irrfan Khans Angrezi Medium: I Regret It A Lot As Jim Sarbh clarified on Saturday that his earlier comments about actors and their methods were not specifically about Ranveer Singh, his co-star in Padmaavat. This came after Nawazuddin Siddiqui was asked about those remarks in a recent interview. That apart, Prashant Narayanan, known for his role in Murder 2, also appeared to have mocked Ranveer Singh for his statement about immersing himself deeply into his character for Padmaavat. Read More: Jim Sarbh DENIES Mocking Ranveer Singh For His Method Acting: I Only Had Lovely Things To Say 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. Read More: Sonakshi Sinha Sparks Pregnancy Rumours, AVOIDS Paps As She and Zaheer Iqbal Exit Hospital | Watch Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani on Friday hosted RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at their residence Antilia in Mumbai ahead of their son Anant Ambanis wedding with Radhika Merchant. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant will tie the knot in Mumbai on July 12. Mukesh Ambani, along with Nita, son Anant and would-be daughter-in-law Radhika, was photographed welcoming Bhagwat to his house. Read More: Mukesh and Nita Ambani Host Mohan Bhagwat at Antilia Ahead of Anant-Radhikas Wedding | Watch Pardes actor Mahima Chaudhry who was diagnosed with breast cancer and battled through it, recently came out in support of Hina Khan. The latter recently opened up on being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer through an Instagram post. Mahima took to the comments section and wrote that she will be there holding her hand right through her treatment. Mahimas comment on Hina Khans post read, Sending you all my love and strength, youre my brave one Hina. You are a fighter and I know you will be just fine! You have millions of people wishing the best for you and I will be there holding your hand right through this. Hina has been receiving an outpouring of support from the industry. Her note read, 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. She further added, 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. Celebs like Ankita Lokhande and Gauahar Khan have come forward to offer their heartfelt messages, wishing her strength and sending prayers. Ankita Lokhande wrote, Hina u r stronger than this thats it girl!!! This shall too pass !! Sending love and lots of strength to you right away God bless you. Jennifer Winget on the other hand wrote, I truly believe in your ability to overcome this challenge..stay strong and keep believing in your resilience Hina..sending lots of love. . Karishma Tanna on other hand wrote, You are a strong girl. And you will come out stronger . I know it Sending you all the loves and luck and prayers . A film shoot at the emergency ward of Angamaly Taluk Hospital flared a controversy after many patients complained of discomfort and inconvenience. The shooting of the Malayalam film Painkili, produced by actor Fahad Faasil, took place at the hospitals emergency ward on Thursday evening. The shooting was scheduled for two days. The hospital was to be portrayed as a private hospital in the film. According to media reports, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Friday registered a case against the authorities for allowing the filming at the hospital. The commission found that the patients who came to the facility were harassed by the filming. The commission took note of media reports in this regard and sought an explanation from the Ernakulam District Medical Officer and the hospital superintendent. Restrictions were imposed during the shooting of the film. Around 50 people, including artists, were present in the emergency ward. It was found that the doctors were holding consultations in the facility when the shooting was taking place. The emergency ward of Angamaly Taluk Hospital has limited infrastructure and a patient in critical condition was not allowed inside. The patients and bystanders were also instructed to remain silent, said Beena Kumari, a member of the commission. The health authorities in Ernakulam denied the allegations and stressed that the operation of the emergency department was not affected by the filming. A report on the events on Thursday night had been submitted to the Director of Health Services. According to an official of the health department in Ernakulam, a report has been submitted to the Directorate of Health Services (DHS). Further action will be taken at the state level, the official said. Officials of the Kerala Film Producers Association also refuted claims that the shooting had caused inconvenience to patients and bystanders. The production department had prior permission before starting work after paying the required fee of around Rs 10,000. Someone had taken footage of the shooting and circulated it in online media as if it was affecting hospital operations, they said. Gaurav More is an accomplished Marathi actor. The actor is well known for his appearances in the famous TV drama Maharashtrachi Hasya Jatra. Meanwhile, Gaurav More in a recent media interaction shared that he owes his popularity to Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. However, his statement is currently garnering everyones attention. Gaurav Mores childhood was a struggle. He once struggled to get work, money, and fame. But after a long time, he has achieved his place. He has a huge fan following today. But Gaurav More owes his popularity to Dr Ambedkar. In a recent interview, Gaurav said, The breath I am taking and the reason I am standing here today is only because of Babasaheb. My breath is a gift given by Babasaheb. He also added, I have everything that belongs to Babasaheb only. I am here because of him. He has given everything to us, but we are not doing much for him. What I am doing is a small effort for him. By saying this, Gaurav More has expressed his gratitude towards Babasaheb. A few days ago, Gaurav went to London, where he visited the monument of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar to pay respects to Babasaheb. Gaurav earlier shared the challenges he faced during his struggling period. In a media interaction, the actor acknowledged that he faced financial hardships during his struggling days. Gaurav More said, We used to live in Ulhasnagar in a tarpaulin house near the station. Then we moved to Vitthalwadi. But my mother says that I was suffering there, which is why we left that place too and shifted to Kalyan. In the meantime, my father was transferred to Bhandup. Later, we shifted to Filterpadi, where we used to live in a palm tree house. But, during the monsoons, it was very bad, as one person in our house used to prevent water from entering the house, whereas others used to prevent it from getting damaged. Speaking further about the challenges that he faced during his childhood, he added that he used to feel inferior because of his colour and height. But after going to school, in class VIII, he started to overcome this. One day, he went to watch TV at his neighbors house but they didnt allow him in. Later his mother scolded him for going there. During that time buying a TV was a big deal for them and due to his unawareness of the situation he used to cry for TV for 4-5 days. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani will be hosting a mass wedding ceremony for underprivileged people ahead of their son Anant Ambanis wedding with Radhika Merchant. On Saturday, news agency ANI reported that the mass wedding has been organised for July 2 and will take place at the Swami Vivekanand Vidyamandir in Palghar. As part of the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, a mass wedding of the underprivileged has been organised at 4:30 pm on 2nd July, at Swami Vivekanand Vidyamandir in Palghar, ANIs post on X read. As part of the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, a mass wedding of the underprivileged has been organised at 4:30 pm on 2nd July, at Swami Vivekanand Vidyamandir in Palghar. pic.twitter.com/tRu1h5Em6g ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024 Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant, the daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, will tie the knot at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on July 12. Guests have started receiving the Save The Date invitation, which is a traditional red and gold card, disclosing some details of the three-day function. The wedding ceremonies will kick off on July 12. The first ceremony will be the auspicious Shubh Vivah or wedding function. The dress code is Indian traditional. July 13 will be the day of Shubh Aashirwad and the dress code is Indian formal. July 14 will be the Mangal Utsav or the wedding reception and the dress code is Indian chic. All these functions will be held at the Jio World Centre in BKC. The distribution of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants wedding invite began earlier this month with Nita Ambani, chairperson and founder of the Reliance Foundation, visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer the invite and seek Gods blessings. I have just got Baba Bholenaths darshan. I am feeling very blessedAs per the Hindu tradition, we first take blessings of the Lord. I have offered the wedding invite to BabaI am very happy. I have come here after 10 years. I am happy to see the development and Kashi Vishwanath corridor, NaMo Ghat, solar energy plants and cleanliness. I am very happy to see the change, she told the media after her darshan. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant also hosted a three-day pre-wedding celebration in Gujarats Jamnagar and some of the biggest names in Bollywood were invited. The three Khans Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan performed on stage whereas Rihanna was flown down for a special performance. Diljit Dosanjh also set the stage on fire with his performance. Mouni Roy, a household name in the Hindi television industry, has soared to the top as one of the highest-paid actresses after her mesmerizing performances in Naagin and its sequel. Besides her acting prowess, she is celebrated as a fashion trailblazer, continuously wowing her fans with her unique and bold style choices. Her social media is a treasure trove of candid shots and memorable moments, always giving her followers something to look forward to. Recently, she ignited the internet once more by sharing a series of stunning, sizzling photographs, capturing the attention of everyone. On Friday, Mouni Roy took to her Instagram handle and dropped a bunch of pictures sporting an elegant brown coloured dress. She struck several poses with the backdrop of a rusty door. Mouni also accentuated her look by wearing matching footwear and bronze makeup. Keeping her caption brief, she used fingers emoji to make a heart. Take a look: Mouni Roy has come a long way ever since she made her television debut with Ekta Kapoors Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She became a popular name after she starred in Naagin. Mouni made her Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumars Gold in 2018. Last year, Mouni was seen in Ayan Mukerjis magnum opus, Brahmastra. Recently, she was also seen in a music video titled Dotara along with Jubin Nautiyal. Mouni Roy was also seen in the web-series Sultan of Delhi. She was last seen in Emraan Hashmi-starrer Showtime. In a recent interview, Mouni shared that it is projects like Sultan of Delhi and Brahmastra which changed peoples perception of her as an actor. Brahmastra was absolutely different. When you see Gold, RAW and Made In China, I had played very Indianised characters. Maybe after Naagin and Sati, people could only see me as a saree-clad Indian character. So, for Milan sir to think of me as this cabaret dancer Nayantara, at a time when Brahmastra had not even released. I think it is an exciting time to be an actor where makers can visualise you in different roles. Such great parts are being written. I really feel fortunate to be offered these parts and be able to play them on screen, she told Indian Express. Shantanu Maheshwari is gearing up for his upcoming film Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha. He will share the screen space with Saiee Manjrekar. Both the two will portray the younger versions of Ajay Devgn and Tabu. Shantanu, who is busy with the films promotions, recently opened up in an interview about what draws him to love stories. Shantanu Maheshwari told news agency IANS, For me, a good love story should ignite feelings of, I have experienced this emotion personally, hence I relate to it. Secondly, the feeling of hope, and that I want to experience this emotion. These two criteria are the ones that connect with me the most when I am watching a love-story-based film. Shantanu Maheshwari added that there has been a lack of genuine love stories recently. He expressed happiness that they are finally releasing one with their film. Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is Shantanu Maheshwaris second film. The actor made his debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Gangubai Kathiawadi alongside Alia Bhatt. His role in the film was appreciated by audiences and critics alike. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is a romantic action movie that showcases a love story unfolding between two characters Krishna and Vasudha from 2002 to 2023. It also features Jimmy Shergill, Ajay Devgn, and Tabu. The film will be released in theatres on July 5. Shantanu Maheshwari started his acting journey with Dil Dosti Dance, where he played the role of Swayam Shekhawat. Later, he appeared in several shows including Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Yeh Hai Aashiqui, Bindass Naach, and more. He has also participated in the stunt-based reality show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 in 2017 and secured the first position. The actor-dancer was also a part of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9 and Nach Baliye 9. Apart from Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, Shantanu Maheshwari will also be seen in Rahhat Shah Kazmis Love in Vietnam alongside Avneet Kaur and Kha Ngan. His other projects include Harish Rauts Cross Fire and Pratim D. Guptas Chaalchitro. Tamil-Telugu actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and invited him for her wedding with Nicholai Sachdev. On Saturday, Varalaxmi took to her X handle and shared a series of pictures in which she was seen posing with PM Modi. While one of the photos featured the HanuMan actress taking a selfie with the Prime Minister, another also had her fiance Nicholai and parents R Sarathkumar and Radikaa alongside her. What a privilege it was to have met Our Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and invited him for our reception..thank you for being so warm & welcoming.. spending so much of your valuable time with us despite your very busy schedule.. truly an honour sir..thank you daddy @realsarathkumar for making this happen @realradikaa (sic), Varalaxmi wrote. What a privilege it was to have met Our Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and invited him for our reception..thank you for being so warm & welcoming.. spending so much of your valuable time with us despite your very busy schedule.. truly an honour sir..thank you daddy pic.twitter.com/guqu6D8poG (@varusarath5) June 29, 2024 Besides PM Modi, Varalaxmi also met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and invited her also for the wedding. It was an absolute pleasure to have met Our Finance Minister Smt @nsitharaman mam..it was absolutely delightful to have conversed with you on various subjects especially art with my fiance..thank you mam for your time we know how precious it is..so happy to have invited you for our Reception @realsarathkumar @realradikaa #nicholai, she wrote. It was an absolute pleasure to have met Our Finance Minister Smt @nsitharaman mam..it was absolutely delightful to have conversed with you on various subjects especially art with my fiance..thank you mam for your time we know how precious it is..so happy to have invited you for pic.twitter.com/ellJPYts1A (@varusarath5) June 29, 2024 Previously, Varalaxmi also extended her wedding invite to superstars Rajinikanth and Allu Arjun. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar got engaged to gallerist Nicholai Sachdev in March this year. Back then, she took to her Instagram handle to share their love-filled pictures from the intimate engagement ceremony. Engaged. Love, laughter and happily ever after (with) Nicholai Sachdev, she wrote. Varalaxmi is the stepdaughter of director-actress Radhika Sarathkumar. She shot to fame first with her 2012 movie Podaa Podi. She has also starred in Veer Simha Reddy, Yashoda, Michael, Vikram Vedha, Maari 2 and Agent among others. She was last seen in Prashant Varmas HanuMan which starred Teja Sajja, Amritha Aiyer, Vinay Rai, Deepak Raj Shetty and others in key roles. KV Rajan and Atul K Thakur have produced Kathmandu Chronicle: Reclaiming India-Nepal Relations. This book offers a unique perspective, meshing the recollections and reflections of a seasoned ambassador, KV Rajan, with the real-life macroeconomic insights of policy professional, Atul K Thakur. Rajans tenure in Nepal spanned five and a half critical years, from the spring of 1995 to March 31, 2001. This period witnessed the commencement of Nepals democratisation, as the nation transitioned from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. However, this period also saw the tragic foreshadowing of the monarchys eventual end, catalysed by the mysterious massacre in Narayanhiti Durbar, that wiped out in June 2001, all but one claimant to the crown. Rajan had proven himself so indispensable to the establishment that, even after his retirement, he was asked to continue as an advisor on Nepal. His expertise was so highly valued that even after he stepped down from advising the Indian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Nepal continued to seek his counsel, prompting frequent trips back to Kathmandu. While individuals of Rajans generation are becoming fewer in Nepal, younger entrepreneurs like co-author Atul K Thakur are emerging, representing an aspirational new Nepal. Thakur is married into Janakpur: so is a better half of Nepal. He has edited former Nepal Finance Minister Madhukar Ranas book, An Alternative Development Paradigm for Nepal, and is actively involved in India-Nepal economic cooperation. The formidable Rajan-Thakur combination takes the reader on a tour dhorizon of the erstwhile Shangri-La a Hindu Kingdom turned into a federal democratic republic by the Maoists employing bullet and ballot. The book unfolds in three sections. The first is Rajans nostalgic recollections of his Nepal sojourn. The second, titled Transition of the Himalayan Kind, tracks every issue under the sun, moving back and forth in time. The third section focuses on Repurposing India-Nepal Relations. These last two sections, jointly authored, blend historical perspectives with contemporary insights. For India, Nepal is the most important Himalayan neighbour, the erstwhile buffer between China and India with geostrategic avenues leading from the Himalayas into the strategic Indo-Gangetic heartland of India. In a sense, it is the springboard of Indias security concerns. Think of this: India has played a significant role in shaping Nepals turning points. This includes restoring the monarchy and sowing the seeds of democracy in 1950, supporting the movement for the restoration of democracy in the 1990s, helping end the civil war in 2005-06, facilitating the first Constituent Assembly elections to mainstream Maoists in 2008 that led to the fruition of Nepals new constitution in 2015. However, the fracas that followed the hurriedly drafted constitution has left a scar on bilateral relations and has not gone away. The book somehow skips mention of the unpleasant incident resulting from Foreign Secretary S Jaishankars mission to delay and alter the constitution. It is also one of the clumsy errors made by India. Rajan mentions that the original anti-India feelings stemmed from the unequal Koshi and Tanakpur barrages, which led to fear and suspicion among Nepalese about hydro-resources cooperation with India. The Tanakpur barrage, built partially on Nepalese soil without authorisation, even cost GP Koirala his premiership. Rajans outstanding diplomatic achievement was the agreement in 1996 over the mega-Mahakali Treaty, negotiated with the Communist UML government and signed by the Nepali Congress-led coalition government. This treaty was ratified by an unprecedented two-thirds majority in Parliament, as mandated by the 1990 constitution. The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, a perennial irritant in bilateral relations, was also raised in 1996 when Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa arrived in New Delhi with a draft of a new treaty. This draft was rejected by the non-reciprocalist Prime Minister, Inder Gujral. Adding to the diplomatic complexities, the first significant Kalapani dispute agitation, orchestrated by UMLs Bamdev Gautam in 1999, coincided with a visit by Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, who faced uncomfortable questions on the issue. However, Rajan handled all this competently. Standing out in the book is Rajans version of the gory Palace massacre, which he calls the untold story. It is described in great detail and compounded by periodic fears expressed by King Birendra and shared with him. Excellency, addressing Rajan, I have my enemies. I am in the way of what they want to achieve. The King is referring to Dawood and Co and the ISI of Pakistan, probably in cahoots with Maoist rebels who had always wanted the elimination of the monarchy. At the time, in my copious research about the Royal massacre, I did not hear about the foreign hand as convincingly as it comes out in the book. A lovelorn, drunken Prince Dipendra sprayed bullets, killing the entire royal family except Prince Gyanendra, who was in Pokhara during the weekly Friday dinner for the Royals in the palace. Rajan says Dipendra had roped in D Company and ISI. But then who shot the Prince? Thats the question for Stieg Larsson. The ISI had built a mini-empire of fraud and intrigue under Maj Assad Bajwa, who later became DG ISI, in Hotel Karnali on Ring Road in Kathmandu. Operation Tufail, designed to subvert Gorkhas in the Indian Army, was planned from there and was busted by Nepali and Indian agencies. A comprehensive account of ISI activities in Nepal during this period, authored by me, can be found in the SUNDAY magazine issue of May 29 to June 4, 1994. So, the ISI was on the go! There is Rajans account of the hijacking of IC 814. During that time, I was trekking in western Nepal when Prime Minister Krishan Bhattarai made a flippant remark about the incident: aisa to ho jata hai (these things happen). It was during Rajans tenure that the heightened security measure of elevated ladder-point checks for flights to India was implemented in response to the hijacking. This practice persists to this day, serving as a tangible symbol of the lingering trust deficit that permeates India-Nepal relations, a recurring theme in the book. In 2005, as the civil war neared its end, the various political factions faced critical choices. UML leader Madhav Nepal, representing the Seven-Party Democratic Alliance (SPDA), outlined these options at a conference convened by Rajan in New Delhi. He proposed three possibilities: the SPDA joining forces with King Gyanendra against the Maoists; the King and the Maoists forming an alliance against the SPDA; or, the ultimately chosen path, the SPDA and the Maoists uniting against the King. The irony, as Rajan points out, is that India, having played a role in restoring the monarchy, ultimately contributed to its demise. In repurposing or reimagining India-Nepal relations, the China factor is a constant. It traces its ominous presence to the warning by the founder of United Nepal, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, in 1746 that Nepal would live dangerously sandwiched between India and China. The book dedicates significant space to Chinas growing influence in South Asia, particularly in Nepal. While Nepal once strategically played the China card, Beijing now openly interferes in Nepals internal affairs, employing its assertive Wolf Warrior diplomacy. Nepal is afraid of China but does not consider it a threat. India figures in Nepals psyche frequently as a difficult neighbour. The anti-Indianism, the book notes, needs to be addressed. Equally, India must mull over its mistakes, like spearheading the Madhesi movement and then abandoning it; the three economic blockades that hurt the people more than the intended targets; and issues over trade and transit. The areas of cooperation suggested are hydropower, implementation of power trade and power generation agreements, improved quality and timely delivery of projects, and cultivating our strategic assets like Gorkha ex-servicemen (Agnipath has shut the door to their recruitment). India can also ease issues arising from the open border, revitalise connections with the Nepali security establishment, clear the backlog of irritants like the review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, resolve the two per cent of Kalapani border disputes, and review the release of the EPG Report. Although Rajan and Thakur have not made these recommendations directly, they certainly allude to them, as these actions will diminish the trust deficit. They recommend that Nepal be treated as an equal, sovereign, and independent country, which should be respected and treated with dignity. I would say we should pamper Nepal. Maybe coalition politics in Modi 3.0 will make the PMO and Foreign Ministry genuinely focused on Neighbourhood First. Kathmandu Chronicle is rich with quotations from numerous literary giants in Nepal. It is fascinating reading, especially the bit about the unsolved puzzle of the slaughter of the Royals and their epitaph scripted by the Maoists. Ashok K Mehta is a retired Lt General of the Gorkha Regiment, Indian Army & Columnist. He writes and speaks extensively on defence and strategic affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijan relies on US support for Karabakh and East Zangezur's reconstruction efforts, Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov said at an event dedicated to the 248th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, Trend reports. "We appreciate the support of the US for Azerbaijan's efforts to ensure sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. We demonstrate our desire to achieve peace in a short period of time. The US recognition of Azerbaijan's leadership role in the region raises the importance of our relations. We hope that the US will support Azerbaijan's efforts to restore Karabakh and East Zangezur, restore the economy in these regions, and reintegrate them into the country's economy," he said. Sharifov added that the common efforts are aimed at forming reliable partnerships. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her Raj Bhavan incidents remarks against him and said that she has crossed all limits. Hitting out at Banerjee, Bose said that he would not tolerate any disrespect towards his character and stated that the Chief Minister cannot bully or terrify him. Boses warning came after he filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Calcutta High Court. His response came in response of Banerjees statement that women were afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to the activities there. Lashing out at Banerjee, Bengal Governor said, Mamata Banerjee has crossed all the limits. She has to function within the requirements of civilised conduct. As a Chief Minister, I gave her all regard and respect, considering her as my esteemed constitutional colleague. But she feels that she can bully anybody and cast aspersions on my character. My character is not to be negotiated by an individual like Mamata Banerjee. Any amount of assassination of my self-respect will not be tolerated. She cannot bully or terrify me, he added. Further accusing Banerjee of lying, Bose said, She has not grown up to that. As a chief minister, if she differs from me, certainly there are constitutional provisions to take care of that. As an individual, she has no right to do character assassination through lies. This cannot be allowed. It is not megalomania, it is Mamata mania that cannot be tolerated. Bengal Governor Files Defamation Against Mamata Banerjee West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Calcutta High Court, reported news agency ANI. Bose earlier in the day criticised Banerjee for her remarks and stated it was expected of public representatives not to create erroneous and slanderous impressions. Along with Chief Minister Banerjee, Bengal Governor also filed a defamation suit against certain TMC leaders for making similar remarks, PTI reported citing a source said. During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat, Banerjee on Thursday claimed that women had informed her they feared visiting Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents. On May 2, a female contractual employee at Raj Bhavan alleged molestation by Bose, prompting a probe by the Kolkata Police. Shameful Episode: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury The tussle between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor CV Ananda Bose was tarnishing the image of West Bengal, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters on the defamation suit filed by Bose against Banerjee at Calcutta High Court, Chowdhury said the allegations made by the Chief Minister were stunning and an investigation should take place. Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United on Saturday passed a resolution seeking special category status for Bihar. The resolution was taken up during the national executive meeting of the party in Delhi. In the meeting, the Bihar Chief Minister pledged to advocate for special category status for the state, a demand which has been raised by the party several times in the past This push for special category status is particularly noteworthy as Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP depends on support from Kumars JD(U), which holds 12 seats in the newly elected Lok Sabha, to stay in power at the Centre. This comes after the Bihar Cabinet passed a resolution demanding special status for the state last year. Special Status or Package: What are JDUs Demand For Bihar Sources revealed that the long-standing demand for a special status for Bihar was reiterated in the political proposal presented during the meeting. if not special status, then a special financial package for the state may also be sought by Nitish Kumars party. The party also sought that the central government incorporate the higher reservation for the Other Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes in the Ninth Schedule. This demand comes even after the Patna High Court invalidated the Bihar governments decision to implement a 65 per cent quota for backward classes, which was based on the states inaugural caste survey. JDUs Strategy For 2025 Assembly Polls The JDU National Meet was called to review the current political scenario and preparations for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls due in 2025. The party said for the 2025 elections, there should be flawless coordination with party officials at all levels of the organisation and continuous communication with workers, which helped JDU score better in Lok Sabha polls as well. The party also decided that JDU candidates will contest elections in all the states where assembly polls will be held in 2025 and names of 5 to 10 workers would be decided in advance for each booth. Earlier in the meeting, the party appointed Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as the JDUs working president while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would continue to be the national president. Social media operates with a dual natureboth vigilant and perilousdemonstrated vividly when Reddit became instrumental in exposing a fraudulent scheme involving an Indian student at a US university. Aryan Anand, a student at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, faced significant consequences after his deceptive practices were unearthed. In a now-deleted Reddit post, Anand shockingly admitted to constructing his life and career on lies, revealing his elaborate strategy to secure admission and a full scholarship through falsified documents. This included forging transcripts, essays, and even a death certificate for his father, who was alive. His motive, as he confessed online, stemmed from a desire for financial independence without burdening his parents: I just wanted freedom at any cost. Also Read: TCS Employee Suspended After Reporting a Security Incident, Reddit Post Goes Viral Anands admission to Lehigh University in August 2023 initially appeared successful, but his scheme unravelled when the university discovered discrepancies, particularly the fabricated death certificate. I created a completely fake death certificate of my father (I know you all are like what), but I did and sent that to my college, saying my father got cancer and is dead, so my mother would receive his pension (my dad has a govt job) and that would be almost half of this actual income so I wont be able for these 5K also, he confessed on Reddit. recently an indian student was deported from us because he forged the transcripts, rec letters, achievements, state exam results, and sent them through a school domain he bought to apply to collegehe was granted nearly a full scholarship at a top college but decided it wasnt pic.twitter.com/Rz91GUqrtL anpaure (@anpaure) June 28, 2024 The sequence of events began with Anands arrest and initial charges on April 30, during which it was revealed that the 19-year-old had even created a fake email address to impersonate a school principal. Legal consequences swiftly followed, culminating in Aryan Anand pleading guilty to forgery on June 12 and receiving a sentence of one to three months in Northampton County Prison. His defence attorney, Molly Heidorn, noted that this sentence was largely equivalent to time already served, according to LehighValleyLive News. Despite this, in response to the gravity of the fraud, Lehigh University took decisive action by expelling Anand and arranging for his deportation to India at the universitys request. In exchange for his plea deal, Anand agreed to return to India, and Lehigh University opted not to pursue restitution of $85,000 (approximately Rs. 70 Lakh). Charges related to theft and record tampering were also dropped as part of the resolution. Also Read: Mother-In-Law Is Obsessed With My Husband: Reddit Users Post Viral Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Michael Weinert highlighted the crucial role of a Reddit moderator in uncovering the fraud, explaining, 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 Weinert. Many criminals in the world have been in jail for a long time and when people learn about their crimes, they get shocked. But do you know there is a criminal who has been in jail for 50 years (Britains longest-serving prisoner in solitary confinement)? According to reports, he has been imprisoned behind 17 steel doors because he is considered to be very dangerous. But when people hear about his crime, they get confused because they cannot decide whether this person is a criminal or a saviour. Let us know more about the criminal. According to the report, the name of the criminal is Robert Maudsley. He is considered to be Britains most dangerous serial killer. He holds the record for being imprisoned for the longest time. This man has been in jail for 50 years. He is lodged in Wakefield Jail. It is an 18-foot x 15-foot cell and to reach it, one has to pass through 17 steel doors. This jail is also bulletproof. As reports suggest, in a book named Inside Wakefield Prison, authors Jonathan Levi and Emma French have given more information about the Robert Maudsley cell. The table chair in his cell is made of cardboard. The toilet sink is also fixed to the ground through bolts. There is a small slot at the bottom of the cell, with the help of which he is given food. Robert has been in jail since the age of 21. But the reason for his being in jail is quite surprising. For this, people do not understand whether to call him a criminal or a saviour. In 1974, Robert killed a 30-year-old criminal named John Farrell, who used to sexually abuse children. In 1977, Robert, along with another fellow inmate, killed another criminal named David Francis. He, too, was in jail for the crime of sexually abusing children. He killed him very brutally. Robert was put in Wakefield Jail in Yorkshire. But even there, after a year, on July 29, 1978, he killed a criminal named Sally Darwood, who had killed his wife. Robert did not stop there. He also killed another criminal, Bill Roberts, who was imprisoned for raping a 7-year-old girl. After these murders, it was considered unsafe to keep him among the common prisoners and due to this, a special glass prison was built for him when it was ready in 1983 and he was shifted to that prison. Once, he had said about his experience of being in prison that he felt as if he was locked in hell. Now Robert is 71 years old and is imprisoned in the same prison. It is often said that the best games or toys are not bought but made by kids with their creativity and improvisation. A video that proves it is now raking in likes. The amusing video shows two young siblings, against the backdrop of a partially waterlogged road. While one of the boys stands on the dry part of the road, another boy stands on a skateboard over the waterlogged part of the road. The boy on the skateboard holds a rope that is tied to his brothers waist. After taking their positions, the boy on the dry side of the road launches into a sprint and tugs on his brother who starts wakeboarding over the water. Both of them show perfect coordination and balance as they create a splash over the flooded road. This wholesome video was shared by their father Ryan Enk on his Instagram account where it got over one million likes. In the comments, many expressed appreciation for the brothers ingenuity and interest in outdoor activities. Many people pointed out how the video offered a refreshing contrast to popular perception of a phone-addicted younger generation. An Instagram user commented on it, So nice to see the boys outside playing a newly invented game, instead of being home on the sofa playing video games. Another person wrote, This is dope because its fun for the person on the board but also improves the speed of the person running. People also recalled playing the same game when they were younger. An Instagram user wrote, Kids having fun. We did this in the early 60s with a sheet of tin. Little more dangerous. Another person remarked, Very original. We played like this when I was in High school in Saint Joseph High School Trichy. The corridor was almost 250 ft long with a smooth floor. One student would lay on the floor and a friend would pull him by the hands all through the corridor. Someone observed, The Canadian prairie snowboarding legends the McMorris brothers started this way in the snow, pulling each other by a rope on the back of a snowmobile. Mark won Olympic gold cheered on by his big bro. Look up the documentary Unbroken made about Mark if you want your faith restored in human potential and the whole where theres a will theres a way vibe. A fired-up Joe Biden came out swinging Friday as he tried to make up for a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, insisting he was the right man to win Novembers US presidential election. Bidens appearance at a campaign rally in the battleground state of North Carolina came amid rumblings in his alarmed Democratic Party about replacing the 81-year-old as their nominee and shortly before the nations most influential newspaper urged him to step aside. 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 admitted to supporters in unusually confessional remarks. But I know how to tell the truth. I know how to do this job, he said to huge cheers, vowing when you get knocked down, you get back up. Bidens team was in damage-control mode after Thursdays debate when he often hesitated, tripped over words and lost his train of thought exacerbating fears about his ability to serve another term. He had hoped to allay qualms about his advanced age, and to expose Trump as a habitual liar. But the president failed to counter his bombastic rival, who offered up a largely unchallenged reel of false or misleading statements about everything from the economy to immigration. On Friday, Biden delivered the lines Democrats wished they had heard in the televised debate. Did you see Trump last night? My guess is he set and I mean this sincerely a new record for the most lies told in a single debate, Biden said. Donald Trump is a genuine threat to this nation. Hes a threat to our freedom. Hes a threat to our democracy. Hes literally a threat for everything America stands for. Trump also returned to the campaign trail Friday, speaking at a rally in Virginia and launching his familiar attacks on Biden in a rambling speech. Its not his age, its his competence, Trump said. 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. A new Democrat? Trump addressed the chances of Biden being replaced by another candidate, saying I dont really believe that because he does better in polls than any of the (other) Democrats. So far, no senior Democratic figure has publicly called on Biden to withdraw, with most toeing a party line about sticking with the existing ticket. I will never turn my back on President Biden, California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has figured prominently on lists of possible replacement candidates, said immediately after the debate. Forcing a change in the ticket would be politically fraught, and Biden would have to decide himself to withdraw to make way for another nominee before the party convention next month. Biden overwhelmingly won the primary votes, and the partys 3,900 delegates heading to the convention in Chicago are beholden to him. If he exits, the delegates would have to find a replacement. Bad debate nights happen, Bidens former boss, Barack Obama, wrote on X. But the election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. The show of Democratic loyalty and Bidens defiance in North Carolina were not enough for The New York Times, however. The daily newspaper slammed Bidens campaign as a reckless gamble in the face of the threat posed by Trump, with its editorial board which is separate from the newsroom calling for the president to stand aside. The greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election, it said. A logical but not automatic candidate to take Bidens place would be his vice president, Kamala Harris, who loyally defended his debate performance. As the Democrats scrambled, Trump allies sought to project calm assurance. US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a senior Republican figure, said it was clear Biden was not up to the job. Donald Trump is the only man on that stage thats qualified and capable of serving as the next president, he said. The election cannot get here soon enough. A second debate is scheduled for September 10. Explosions, air strikes and gunfire rattled northern Gaza on Saturday, the third day of an Israeli military operation that has uprooted tens of thousands of Palestinians and compounded what the UN called unbearable living conditions in the territory. An AFP correspondent reported ongoing explosions from the Shujaiya area near Gaza City, with a resident saying bodies were visible on the streets. Israels military on Saturday said its operations were continuing in Shujaiya where fighting above and below the ground left a large number of militants dead. A resurgence of fighting in the area comes months after Israel had declared the command structure of Hamas militants dismantled in northern Gaza. Last Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the intense phase of the war was winding down after almost nine months, but experts see a potentially prolonged next phase. The Gaza war has also led to soaring tensions on Israels northern border with Lebanon, leading Iran on Saturday to warn of an obliterating war if Israel attacked Lebanon. The war started with Hamass 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. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,834 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. It reported at least 69 deaths over the previous 48 hours. Fleeing empty-handed Mohammed Harara, 30, said he and his family, young and old, felt as though they would become part of that toll. He said they fled from their home in Shujaiya with nothing, due to the bombardment by Israeli planes, tanks and drones that they barely survived. We couldnt carry anything from the house. We left the food, flour, canned goods, mattresses, and blankets, Harara said. Israels military on Friday said it was conducting targeted raids backed by air strikes against Hamas militants in the Shujaiya area. The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA estimated that about 60,000 to 80,000 people were displaced from the area this week. AFPTV images on Saturday showed men moving belongings on a donkey cart. Some people were pushed in wheelchairs. Children walked with backpacks past piles of dusty debris. I saw a tank in front of the Shuhada mosque firing at targets, said Abdelkareem al-Mamluk. There were martyrs in the street. On Friday Hamas and the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad both said they were fighting in Shujaiya. Elsewhere in the coastal territory, the civil defence agency on Saturday said four bodies were pulled from an apartment after an Israeli strike in the central region. Further south, in the Rafah area, witnesses reported dead and wounded after a new incursion by Israeli troops. Tarek Qandeel, director of the medical centre in Al-Maghazi, central Gaza, said the facility was seriously damaged in the bombing of a neighbouring house, making it the latest Gaza medical facility affected by the war. The United Nations, in a report on Friday that cited Gazas health ministry, said about 70 percent of health infrastructure has been destroyed. No bathrooms Separately, a UN spokeswoman, Louise Wateridge, said by video-link that she had just returned to central Gaza after four weeks outside the territory. Its really unbearable, she said, describing a significantly deteriorated situation. Theres no water there, theres no sanitation, theres no food, and people are returning to live in empty shells of buildings. In the absence of bathrooms they are relieving themselves anywhere they can, Wateridge said. The UN says most of Gazas population is displaced, but fallout from the war has also uprooted people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border, where Lebanons Hezbollah movement and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire. Such exchanges have escalated this month, alongside bellicose rhetoric from both sides. Israels military said plans for a Lebanon offensive had been approved and validated, prompting Hezbollah to respond that none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict. Psychological warfare In a post Saturday on social media, Irans mission to the United Nations in New York said it deems as psychological warfare Israeli threats to attack Lebanon. But it added such a move would lead to an obliterating war that could involve all resistance fronts, a reference to Iran-backed groups in the region. Among those are Yemens Huthi rebels, who have for months been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea area. The rebels say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. On Friday the Huthis claimed a direct hit on a tanker in the Red Sea but a maritime security agency run by Britains Royal Navy reported no damage. The US Navy has retaliated against Houthi targets for such attacks, and on Friday the US military said its forces had destroyed seven drones and a control station vehicle in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the previous day. Woo May Hoe, a 54-year-old Singaporean woman, brainwashed her spiritual followers into believing she was a deity who could connect with gods and inflicted cruel punishments for disobedience on her followers. She was sentenced to jail last week after she pleaded guilty to five charges including cheating and causing grievous hurt, Channel NewsAsia said in a report. She was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison. Woo May Hoe, led a group of about 30 followers who believed in Sri Sakthi Narayani Amma, an Indian spiritual leader. She forced her followers to eat faeces and had their teeth pulled out, the report said. She led the group for about eight years since 2012 and convinced them during her so-called spiritual sessions that she could communicate with gods and spirits and told them to call her their lord. Her followers came to her to heal themselves or their relatives, prosecutors told the court. To improve their health, Woo told her followers they needed to clear their bad karma and build good karma by sending money to Amma in India. She then forced her followers to declare how much money they had and then persuaded them to hand over their money by warning them that they would be punished by the gods if they lied. Woo claimed she would gather the donations and send them to India for projects like buying cows and building temples and schools. She also directed her followers to purchase properties and vehicles as a form of worship, which she used for her own benefit. Between 2012 and 2020, she stole S$7 million (US$5.2 million) from her followers and manipulated them into taking out S$6.6 million in loans. She has repaid S$675,000 of the stolen amount, Channel NewsAsia said in its report. Pulled Out Teeth With Pliers Woo told almost ten of her followers to move in with her and serve her on a full-time basis. She forced them to move in with her and serve her on by buying her groceries, cooking for her, cleaning her house and driving her around. Some followers were instructed to quit their jobs, and all had to report their daily activities and communications to Woo. Disobedience was met with violent and degrading punishments. These included being hit with canes or paint brushes, stabbed with scissors, having their teeth pulled out with pliers, being forced to eat human faeces, and being made to jump from the second floor of a building, Channel NewsAsia said in its report. One follower damaged her eyesight after Woo hurt her eye while lashing her with canes. If a follower tried to leave the group, Woo would harass them with numerous calls and threats, causing them to return out of fear and face severe punishment. The victim whose eyesight was damaged was a 43-year-old Singaporean woman. When she told Woo about the pain, the latter gave her some holy water to wash her eyes and to drink the liquid and ordered her to stare directly at the sun. The woman obeyed Woos instructions, but her vision deteriorated over time. Woo forbade her from seeking medical attention, and when she finally did, she lied to the doctor, claiming the injury was from a fall. She will need lifelong follow-ups for possible glaucoma or optic nerve damage, and her vision in the injured eye is likely to remain worse than in the other eye, the Channel NewsAsia report said. Another victim was forced to jump down from the second floor of the building after Woo found out that she borrowed money from someone without telling her. Arrest In mid-2020, a few followers lodged police reports against Woo, alleging extensive physical abuse, loss of life savings, and unmanageable bank loans due to her actions. Woo was arrested in October 2020. The Institute of Mental Health in Singapore assessed Woo and found her to be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of her offences, which contributed to her actions. However, she was deemed aware of the illegality of her acts. Her acts of cheating were deliberate and within her control. The prosecution sought nine to 12 years of jail time for Woo, arguing that she instituted a reign of terror over her followers, exploiting their exceptional faith and trust to drain them of their life savings. She manipulated them into selling their properties, terminating their insurance policies, and taking on extensive loans they could not afford. The sirens are slowly falling silent in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. While the borders are still tense with gunfire heard every five minutes, two of Israels major cities are slowly emerging from the shadow of the war that followed the October 7 Hamas attack on Nova music festival near Gaza. Civilian life in these cities is now almost devoid of war-linked disruption. Families are back out with kids, office-goers have resumed their usual commute, nightlife is buzzing again, and even as daily life resumes, prayers continue for hostages still held by Hamas terrorists. Heavily armed Palestinian militants had rampaged through the music festival on October 7 last year, killing at least 364 people and taking more than 40 hostage. Many of them are still held in Gaza. Posters with messages like Free Them Now have been put up across Tev Aviv starting with the airport. Headquarters have been set up in Tel Aviv to help families whose loved ones were taken away by Hamas. A giant clock counts the days, hours and seconds the hostages have spent in captivity. Former diplomats, doctors, psychologists and other Israeli citizens have come together to help the families of hostages and a private company has given its office space in Tel Aviv for people working with the victims families. The three floors of the office space have become the centre of strategy to help families and work together to get hostages back home. Restaurants have tables full of messages for the victims and office buildings have pasted posters demanding the safe return of the hostages. Beaches and famous markets in Tel Aviv are witnessing heavy footfall again and the nightlife is coming alive too with locals, but the number of tourists is low. Tourism sector, in fact, has taken a big hit since the attack. Many of the shops in Jerusalem remain shut due to low tourist arrivals. We are giving 50% discount on all the items as there are no tourists. Shops remain shut even in the tourist areas, Bilal Abu Khalaf, who owns a shop in Jerusalem, told News18. Ninety percent shops in Old Jerusalem, which is a holy place for many, are close. A few are still open, waiting for tourists to come. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijan thanks the US for its support within COP29, Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov said at an event dedicated to the 248th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, Trend reports. "Azerbaijan is making a contribution to the fight against climate change as the chair of COP29. We believe that the US can play a major role in addressing funding concerns and achieving the goals of COP29," he said. To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 7080 thousand 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, 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. 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 US 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, per the AP . Antibiotics don't work at all on virusesthe 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. 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 rareunder 4%, according to the study published Thursday in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. Doctor's 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's 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. story continues below "The eye looks red and nasty, and so it's pretty striking and scary," said Shapiro, of the University of California-San Francisco. But antibiotics shouldn't be overused if they aren't going to help, he said. The study didn't 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 aren't 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. (More pink eye stories.) A pocket watch that traveled the world with a president, even going into battle, has made one more journey so it can be displayed for the first time since it was stolen in 1987. Theodore Roosevelt, who was president from 1901 to 1909, was given the watch by his sister Corinne and her husband, Douglas Robinson Jr. It was taken from a display in Buffalo and not publicly seen again until last year, when an auctioneer in Florida ran across it and contacted the National Park Service, CNN reports. As a watch, FBI agent Robert Giczy described the keepsake as "fairly pedestrian," describing its silver case as inexpensive. But it's a "historic treasure," he said, per the Guardian. Roosevelt was given the watch just before leaving for the Spanish-American War in Cuba in 1898 and had it with him during the Battle of San Juan Hill. The Park Service said he also carried it when he hunted in Africa and explored the Amazon. The Waltham 17 jewel watch will be on public view for three months at Roosevelt's home at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Long Island. (More Theodore Roosevelt stories.) Earlier this month, three people were injured in shark attacks along Florida's Panhandle. On Friday, another person in Florida, this time in the state's northeast, was bitten by a shark, leaving him seriously injured. Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said Friday that shortly after 11am local time that day, his department's Marine Unit picked up on a distress call over emergency radio, reports the Florida Times-Union . When deputies got to the boat in question, they found a man "bleeding pretty badly," with what appeared to be a nasty shark bite to his right forearm, said Leeper. "Acting swiftly, a deputy boarded the vessel and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding," the sheriff's department wrote in a Facebook post, per CNN. That deputy then drove the vessel to a nearby boat ramp, where the injured man was airlifted to a hospital. The man has been listed in critical condition, but doctors expect him to recover. According to the International Shark Attack File, this is only the ninth verified unprovoked shark attack to take place in Nassau County since 1882. The last time the county saw such an attack was in 2018, when two people were bitten. "Researchers stress that fatal shark bites are extremely rare," per the Times-Union, which adds that the odds of dying in a shark attack in the US are 1 in 3,748,06. "Humans are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning in Florida than to be bitten by a shark," notes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (More shark attack stories.) Ten Ukrainian civilians held prisoner for years by Russia arrived in Kyiv overnight Saturday after mediation via the Vatican, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said. They were freed Friday, per the AP . Some had been captured years before Russia's full-scale invasion. The pope has said the Holy See has been involved in past prisoner swaps during the Ukraine war. Among those freed was Nariman Dzhelyal, deputy head of the Mejlis, a representative body of Crimean Tatars that was relocated to Kyiv after Russia seized the peninsula in 2014. He was taken from Crimea, where he lived despite the annexation, one year before the war. The chief of the Mejlis, Refat Chubarov, and Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev embraced him after nearly three years of captivity. Dzhelyal said many Ukrainians remain in captivity, noting, "We cannot leave them there, because the conditions, both psychological and physical, are very frightening." The former prisoners, wrapped in blue and yellow flags, reunited with families in Kyiv and called those who couldn't be there. For some, the separation had lasted many years. "I really want to hug you. I'll be with you soon, Mommy," said Isabella Pekh, the daughter of freed art historian Olena Pekh, through a video call. "I'm so sorry I couldn't meet you." Two Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests were among those freed. One, Bohdan Heleta, was detained in 2022 in his church in the occupied city of Berdiansk, in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia. "There are a lot of our men and women there," Heleta said of those who remain imprisoned. "They need help, concrete help. They are waiting for it." Pope Francis in an address on Saturday called for the release of all prisoners in the war, and thanked God for the liberation of the two priests. In a post on X, Zelensky wrote that "I am grateful to everyone who helped. I thank our team working to free the prisoners. I also want to acknowledge the efforts of the Holy See in bringing these people home." According to Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 3,310 Ukrainians have already been released from Russian captivity since Russia's full-scale invasion. Many thousands, both civilians and military personnel, remain imprisoned. "It was six years of hell that words cannot describe," Olena Pekh said of her family's ordeal. "But I knew I had my homeland, I had people who loved me, I had my daughter." (More Ukraine stories.) A judge has acquitted 28 people accused of money laundering in an international case known as the Panama Papers , including the co-founder of a law firm that authorities say was at the center of a conspiracy to hide money linked to illegal activities. Jurgen Mossack founded Mossack & Fonseca with then-associate Ramon Fonseca, who died in May. Mossack was acquitted on Friday along with others after a Panamanian judge found that the evidence against Mossack didn't comply with the chain of custody after authorities raided the office of the now-defunct firm, the AP reports. Prosecutors had accused Mossack, Fonseca, and others of creating offshore companies and using complex transactions to hide money from illegal activities related to the so-called car wash corruption scandal involving Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which pleaded guilty in US federal court to a charge related to using shell companies to hide millions of dollars in bribes paid worldwide to win public contracts. The judge noted that other evidence in the Panama Papers case "was not sufficient and conclusive to determine the criminal responsibility of the accused." In addition, the judge lifted personal and property precautionary measures against all the defendants, according to a statement. "We feel satisfied in the midst of mixed emotions, because many lives were affected along the way," Guillermina Mc Donald, who was the defense attorney for Mossack and Fonseca, told the AP. Her firm also represented 80% of the accused firm's collaborators. Judge Balaoisa Marquinez had decided to combine the Panama Papers case with another known as "Operation Car Wash," a major anti-corruption investigation that began in Brazil. On Friday, she ruled that in the car wash case, "it was not possible to determine the entry of money from illicit sources, coming from Brazil, into the Panamanian financial system with the purpose of hiding, concealing, disguising or helping to evade the legal consequences of the preceding crime." (More Panama Papers stories.) The Bolivian general accused of leading a failed coup was sent Saturday to a maximum-security prison as he faces charges of terrorism and starting an armed uprising. "At some point the truth will be known," a handcuffed Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga told journalists as he was escorted by two guards to the vehicle that will take him to the Chonchocoro maximum-security prison on the outskirts of La Paz. "The rest are innocent. They are innocent people," he added. Two other former military chiefs, including former navy Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador, were taken to the same prison, the AP reports. Zuniga, who was arrested Wednesday after the apparent rebellion, said before being taken into custody, without providing evidence, that President Luis Arce ordered him to carry out the rebellionsomething that the Bolivian leader and his government have vigorously denied. Arce told the AP on Friday that Zuniga planned to "take over" the government and become president, and he denied once again that Wednesday's attack on the government palace was a "self-coup" designed to garner him political points. Authorities have arrested 21 people in all, who were in custody in La Paz. All of them face charges of armed uprising and terrorism. Fourteen of the detainees appeared on Saturday before a judge. (More Bolivia stories.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijan thanks the US for its support within COP29, Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov said at an event dedicated to the 248th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence, Trend reports. "US President Joe Biden, in his letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, emphasized the strategic partnership between the two countries in the field of energy as well as in the fight against terrorism. At the same time, he emphasized the US readiness to expand global and regional cooperation and support Azerbaijan in the successful implementation of COP29. All this indicates a solid foundation of relationships and has caused the interaction to reach a qualitatively new level. This developing relationship should give a strong impetus to increased trade," he said. "They'd have a little shake and check it out - their mates might come have a look, but then they'd be back on the boat bow riding with us," said Cawthron Institute marine ecologist Deanna Clement. The little tags record a huge amount of data - such as location, movement, acceleration, 3D imagery, and even the acoustic signals dolphins are sending and receiving. Until now these marine mammals have only been studied from above the water. "But they only spend 10 percent of their time at the surface - so we don't know what they do underneath," she said. The precarious job of sticking the tags on the dolphins is up to Mike Ogle from the Department of Conservation. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com The Cyberspace Child Protection Unit of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security has joined Interpol's international database on the sexual exploitation of children via the Internet. Brigadier General Bassam Mohammed Al Miraj, Director-General of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security, announced that joining the database aligns with directives from His Excellency General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior. The initiative reflects efforts to benefit from regional and international expertise in protecting children in digital spaces, with ongoing oversight by His Excellency Chief of Public Security, Lieutenant-General Tariq Al Hassan. He highlighted that the units integration into the database is part of Bahrains national strategy for child protection in cyberspace. This strategy, recently launched by the Kingdom, aims to shield children from online dangers and raise awareness about these threats. It also seeks to establish and promote appropriate behaviour when encountering such risks, including communication with relevant authorities. The Director-General added that several unit members completed a training course on this system, held at Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France. The 14-day course included training in reconnaissance, data downloading, and result analysis related to online sexual exploitation of children. The database aims to assist specialists in addressing cases of sexual and digital exploitation of children, facilitating information and experience sharing among member states to tackle these issues more effectively. This move also represents an expansion of the Interpol databases that Bahrain has joined, through its International Affairs and Interpol administration, to combat various types of transcontinental crimes. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Board held its 14th periodic meeting for the fourth session, chaired by Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Chairman of the Board of Directors of LMRA, with the presence of board members and Nibras Mohammed Talib, the CEO of LMRA, at the LMRA headquarters. At the outset, the board extended its congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on Bahrain achieving Tier 1 status in the US State Departments report for the seventh consecutive year. The board commended the efforts of LMRA in coordination with the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons and various government entities, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Ministry of Labour, and the Public Prosecution, emphasising the importance of continuous follow up and development to maintain Bahrains leading international, economic, and investment reputation. The board praised the ongoing efforts to continually develop the work environment in Bahrain, which contribute to implementing government programmes and plans and enhance the Kingdoms international reputation as an attractive investment environment. LMRAs efforts in combating human trafficking were commended, along with achievements in implementing the National Labour Market Plan (2023-2026) and the positive outcomes of programmes consolidating the position of the private sector as the main engine of growth, creating more quality opportunities for citizens, and advancing training and skill development to make Bahrainis the preferred choice for employment. Nibras Mohammed Talib, the CEO of LMRA, presented a report on the LMRA's strategic goals and indicators for 2024, and priority projects currently being implemented. He reviewed the latest developments in the Wage Protection System in partnership with the private sector, and initiatives to improve various procedures and services to benefit business owners and enhance efficiency and work quality. In the quarterly activity report, the CEO noted the continued intensification of inspection campaigns and visits, with ongoing coordination with government entities, particularly the Ministry of Interior, to monitor commercial markets and labour gathering places to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, thereby maintaining a productive and competitive labour market. He highlighted a nearly 26% increase in campaigns and inspections from the beginning of the year until June 20, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Joint campaigns rose from 306 to 358, and inspection visits increased from approximately 20,000 to 25,200 during this period. Employer compliance rates also rose to 97.5%, indicating a high level of awareness and successful enforcement of laws and regulations. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center have met with the Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, Trend reports. "Members of the NGIC meet with Right Honorable Gordon Brown. It was invaluable discussion on politics, multilateralism, health for all and upcoming COP29. What an honor to have you as our Member," the NGIC wrote on its page on X. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center have met with the member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Baroness Susan Greenfield, Trend reports. "Our members meet with Baroness Susan Greenfield during the London Climate Week to discuss on role of science in fight with Climate Change," the NGIC wrote on its page on X. During a recreational solo fishing trip on June 12, one fisherman had a bucket list encounter about 12 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. Travis Bogin, 39, of Little Egg Harbor had been wreck fishing for approximately four hours, mainly looking to catch thresher sharks, when a juvenile great white grabbed his bait. After wrestling with the 5-and-a-half-foot shark for approximately ten minutes, Bogin was able to reel the creature in close to the side of his Proline fishing boat. I noticed when it was about, maybe five, six feet away from the boat, the underbelly and the topside color was a little different than what I was expecting, Bogin said. I had a lot of different emotions. I was excited. I was nervous because I was by myself. After identifying the creature and snapping a few photos and videos to document the rare sighting Bogin quickly got to work releasing the shark as safely and as quickly as possible. Once he tired out the shark, Bogin cut the metal leader down at the circular hook, which would rust away and fall out after a couple days, he said. She actually let me get right next to her mouth, he said. As soon as I cut the hook, she swam away on her own power. Bogin, who has been fishing since he was five years old, described the encounter as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was something that was on the (bucket) list, but didnt think it would ever happen, Bogin said. It was definitely a different experience to see one up close and personal like that. Following the unusual encounter, Bogin said he stayed on the water for another hour, wrapping up his trip by catching a 10-foot dusky shark. Bogin, who routinely takes solo fishing trips, said he takes extra precautions for encounters with dangerous sea creatures and unpredictable weather events. I just try to be prepared, especially being out there aloneYou try to keep your head clear so that you can make the best decisions you can when youre out there, he said. A lot of bad things can happen very quickly. While Bogins recent encounter marks his first with a great white, the full-time carpenter and landscaping business owner has been testing the limits of big-game fishing for years. I used to sneak out of the house at 3 oclock in the morning just because the tide was rightIve always been adventurous and I like sharks, he said. I progressively kind of get bored of things It started with sunfish in a pond, then it was pike and pickerel, and I was like, Im over this, let me get into the saltwater thing. and then it turned into tuna and sharks. Im running out of things to catch. Nowadays, Bogin said he embarks on a fishing trip every weekend. He typically targets thresher sharks, which are known for their long, whip-like tails. I try to fish as much as possible, Bogin said. If I didnt have to work, Id be out there every day. While Bogin said great whites, which are a federally protected species, seem to be making a bit of a comeback in the area, they remain a rare sight for fishermen. It probably, honestly, will be my last (great white encounter), he said. Just to run into them like that, especially in the wild, Its just a rare thing. Bogin said he hopes to continue to check unique encounters off his bucket list, such as catching a mako shark and a swordfish. He also hopes to travel to Florida, where he once briefly resided, in search of big groupers and bonefish. You never know what youre going to see out there, he said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com. A Pennsylvania woman was charged with making false reports after she admitted to police that she lied about a boy brandishing a gun at a Jersey Shore amusement pier, city police said Friday. Taylor Erickson, 29, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, was charged with second-degree counts of causing false public alarm and filing false reports with police in North Wildwood, police said in a Facebook post. City police responded to the area of 25th Street and the beach for a report of a person brandishing a firearm who entered Moreys Pier at 2501 Boardwalk Avenue on June 22, police said. Erickson provided a detailed description of the juveniles and the gun she claimed to have scene the boy holding, police said. The juveniles were located and interviewed and did not possess any firearms, according to police who said Moreys Pier was also cleared by local and county authorities and immediately reopened once no threat to the public was discovered. Will Morey, a Cape May County Commissioner and owner of Moreys Pier amusement parks, told NJ Advance Media at the time of the incident the park was closed for about 45 minutes and approximately 750 people were evacuated as police searched the area. Interviews with witnesses at the scene and a review of surveillance footage by police could not corroborate Ericksons report, police said. Erickson later confessed to filing a false report with police after a verbal altercation with the juveniles in a follow-up interview, police said. She was issued summonses and released pending a court date. Police did not disclose the age of the boys or the others in the group. It was unclear whether Erickson had an attorney as of Saturday morning. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X Ryan Kundan, 17, of East Orange is on a mission to shed light on Guyanese culture through bringing authentic food to the community. Equipped with training from a 10-week entrepreneurship course and support from his mother, Kundan officially opened Everything Nice with Spice in his hometown on June 15. Through launching his restaurant, Kundan, a rising senior at Newark School of Fashion and Design, said he hopes to fill a long-standing void of Guyanese cuisine in East Orange. You dont see Guyanese (food) represented and thats what were trying to do, he said. Were trying to bring you a Guyanese home-cooked meal, like something that you would taste and you would think, this came straight from Guyana. The grand opening celebration, joined by East Orange Mayor Ted Green, council members from the City of Newark and several other community members, took place on June 15 at 13 North Harrison Street. It was a really exciting experience because I didnt expect to see so many people come out, Kundan said. Kundans mother, Shavana Kundan, 46, serves as the restaurants head chef. Originally from Guyana, she is bringing her native Caribbean cooking to Everything Nice with Spice. Ryan Kundan said customers can expect to find dishes like jerk chicken which is their best-seller as well as oxtail and chicken curry on the menu. While the opening marks the beginning of his journey as a restaurant owner, Kundan has always been an entrepreneur. He got his start by selling boxes of candy in elementary school, and has since embarked on various hustles over the years, he said. Kundan said his greatest inspiration in his entrepreneurship journey is his mother, who has previously owned a fried chicken restaurant. I feel like I got my entrepreneurship from her, seeing how much she works and tries to make a business for herself and for her family, he said. While his mother heads the kitchen, Ryan Kundan said his role at the new restaurant has mainly entailed managing the front of the store, running the juice bar and leading advertising efforts. Ryan Kundan was one of 27 teen entrepreneurs to kick-start their own business at the culmination of the most recent Boss Up program offered at Essex County Community College. According to Jamila Davis, the programs director, the 10-week course teaches teens the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and provides students with a $500 stipend at the end to develop and launch their own business. Whats most rewarding is to just see my students who come in, sometimes with low self-esteem or they dont know whats possible, and then to see them in the end be full of esteem and full of hope and possibility, Davis said. And then just taking them from being non-earners to earning their own money. Its a game changer for students. While Kundan said the stipend initially caught his attention, he soon realized the course had much more to offer. After I started going, I saw that it was more than the $500. It was more of what were getting from the program, Kundan said. (Davis) taught me how to make edits, how to advertise for the business, how to make connections with people and how to really network myself better. Davis, who was previously incarcerated, developed the program to empower teenagers to stay on the right path, she said. Im serious about restorative justice, Davis said. So for me, this time, it was important for me to do things the right way and teach my people how to do it the right way so that they dont go down bad paths, chasing after money and things. As the first student to launch a brick-and-mortar store at the end of the program, Davis said Kundans success has served as an inspiration to other students. It just shows students whats possible. Its an amazing achievement, Davis said. Were excited about Ryan and what he brought to the table. Ryan is now inspiring other kids and their parents to do the same. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com. A Hunterdon County man was arrested last week after he was accused of manufacturing child pornography, authorities announced Friday. An investigation was launched by the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office after it received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the office said in a release. Detectives from the office investigated the tip, with the assistance of officers from the Todd County Sheriffs Office in Kentucky, the Brunswick County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina and the New Jersey State Police. Authorities arrested Seth Maguire, 27, of Bloomsbury, on June 21, the office said. The Paterson Police Department also assisted in the arrest. Maguire was charged with one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of children for directing child sexual abuse material, and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of children for possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the prosecutor. He was also charged with two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of children for sexual conduct with a child. No other information was released by the office. A public defender listed as Maguires defense attorney could not immediately be reached for comment. Maguire is being held at the Warren County Jail. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. If there was a sure sign that many travelers will take to the skies this Independence Day, it might be this Tweet from the Transportation Security Administration about a record-breaking number of people being screened a full week before July 4. TSA officials said 83,687 passengers were screened at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday, the most ever. TSA, airline and Port Authority officials are expecting to see passenger volume take off from there on this official start of the summer travel season. BREAKING NEWS: @TSA at @EWRairport set a record yesterday for the most individuals ever screened at TSA checkpoints at the airport. 83,687 people were screened. Adding in volume at @ACYAirport and @TTNAirport brought totals to 86,275 people screened, the busiest day ever in NJ! Lisa Farbstein, TSA Spokesperson (@TSA_Northeast) June 28, 2024 Even the state Department of Transportation is warning drivers of heavy traffic on highways around the airport from Monday to Friday on video signs on I-78 and the Pulaski Skyway. Advice like - get to the airport early for your flight - has never had greater meaning. Newark is expected to see 709,100 passengers use the airport during the five-day holiday travel period between Wednesday, July 3 and Sunday, July 7, said Tom Pietrykowski, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman. The bi-state authority is expecting a record total of 2.19 million-plus passengers to use its four metro area airports, including JFK, La Guardia and Stewart airports. The authority saw passenger volume records broken at its airports in May when approximately 13 million passengers took flights. Officials reported a record Memorial Day holiday travel period between May 23 and 27, when more than 2.2 million air travelers were at the airports. The TSAs Thursday record could be broken Friday. United Airlines, Newarks largest carrier, is expecting more than 55,000 passengers will be flying the airline through the airport, said Anthony Fleet, a United spokesperson. Well be flying about 400 flights and 50,000-plus passengers per day during the holiday travel period, he said. The airline, which flies from Terminals C and A, is ready for the surge, said John Weigand, Managing Director of Newarks Station Operation Center for United Airlines. Weve staffed appropriately to manage the record crowds. Our employees have been properly briefed and come with lots of experience serving our customers effectively, Weigand said. Safety is our top priority, we wish everyone safe travels and we look forward to welcoming our customers to EWR over the holiday travel period. One tip he suggested is to download the United app to check in, check bags and get current flight status information. Travel experts recommended downloading and using airline apps. Ahead of the holiday, the TSA installed eleven new computed tomography scanners in Terminal B, said Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokesperson. The new state-of-the-art advanced CT scanners provide 3-D imaging that provides enhanced explosives detection capabilities for screening carry-on items. The first CT scanners in the airport were part of the new Terminal A. The CT scanners make the screening process more convenient for travelers by allowing them to leave their laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags. along with their small 3-1-1 liquids. TSA officials cautioned travelers to do their packing preparation work at home by checking the TSAs What Can I Bring? tool to know what is prohibited in carry on luggage to avoid delays at the checkpoint. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry. Although many Democratic voters say they would prefer President Joe Biden step aside as the partys nominee after Thursdays weak debate performance, a new Morning Consult poll reveals that Bidens support actually improved after the debate. Biden gained a point in the latest survey. #New general Election Poll - Post debate Biden 45% (+1) Trump 44% Last poll was a tie Morning Consult - 2000 RV - 6/28 Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) June 28, 2024 When the survey asked respondents to choose between Biden and former President Trump, 45% chose the President and 44% chose Trump. Chris Hayes, host at MSNBC, which has been in mourning since the debate, tweeted: shrug emoji no one knows anything ... The results were similar to a poll after Trumps criminal conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and election interference linked to a $130,000 hush-money payment to a former porn star who said she had sex with Trump. The poll shows President Joe Biden has lost no immediate ground to Trump, according to Morning Consult pollsters. Nevertheless, 57%, of those who viewed the debate said Trump outperformed Biden, which breaks out as 19% of Democrats, 60% of Independents and 93% of Republicans. In an appearance on Friday, Biden acknowledged his weak debate performance as his campaign vowed he was not stepping aside even as the New York Times and The Star-Ledger called for it. 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, Biden said. I would not be running again if I did not believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job. He added: Folks, I give you my words. 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. The stakes are too high. Donald Trump is a genuine threat to this nation. He received unconditional support from his wife, Jill: There is no one that I would rather have sitting in the Oval Office right now than my husband, she said. California Gov. Gavin Newsome, who is one of those pitched as a possible replacement for Biden, said he remained steadfastly behind the President: I would 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. And especially after tonight, we have his back, Newsom said. We run, not the 90-yard dash. We are all in. Were going to double down in the next few months. Were going to win this election. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Provocations against Azerbaijan in the European Parliament have become routine. Just yesterday, 15 deputies published a so-called "declaration", once again leveling baseless accusations against Baku. The French online newspaper La Gazette du Caucase highlights that the nationalists behind this "document" are united by their simple hatred towards Azerbaijan. "The signatories deem Azerbaijan's response to the military cooperation between France and Armenia as 'arrogant'. They once again accuse Azerbaijan of conducting so-called 'ethnic cleansing' of Armenians, who voluntarily left Karabakh, and they also criticize the European Commission for allegedly ignoring this. However, they conveniently overlook, or choose to ignore, that it was Armenian troops who invaded Azerbaijani territory after the Soviet Union's collapse, aiming to seize Karabakh and its surrounding regions. Consequently, nearly a fifth of Azerbaijan's territory was under occupation for almost thirty years," the article reads. The authors remind readers that the United Nations repeatedly affirmed these lands as the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan resolutions that France itself endorsed. "Therefore, the theories of so-called 'aggression' by Azerbaijan are mere distortions of facts absolute fabrications". The alleged "ethnic cleansing" of Armenians is another misrepresentation of the actual events, the authors note. "How could a country like Azerbaijan, known as one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural nations, commit such a crime? Armenian residents of Karabakh were not expelled but were compelled to leave by Armenian forces themselves. Maintaining their presence would have, in their view, signaled the final collapse of their imagined 'republic'. The only ethnic cleansing in the region was orchestrated by Armenians in 1987 and again in 1993, expelling nearly a million Azerbaijanis from Armenia and subsequently from Karabakh. But this hardly concerns the European MPs, who seem solely interested in the plight of the Armenians," the article concludes. Azerbaijan's concerns regarding France's active arming of Armenia are more than justified. This move by Paris is clearly aimed at solidifying its influence in the South Caucasus, making Yerevan increasingly dependent, and undermining Azerbaijan's efforts to establish peace in the region. A handful of European parliamentarians may continue to draft resolutions, declarations, and other ineffective documents. While these actions may serve their own selfish interests, they will not impact the fair and just policies pursued by Baku. 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 43-year-old intermediate school teacher has been arrested and charged with having a sexual relationship with a student, authorities said Saturday. Allison Havemann-Niedrach, of Jackson, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced. She is a a teacher at Freehold Intermediate School. Havemann-Niedrach was arrested this week and taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution where she remained pending a court detention hearing, authorities said. Investigators said the alleged criminal conduct began earlier this year. They did not provide more details. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact MCPO Detective Dawn Correia at 800-533-7443. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Calling it a big day for New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday night signed a new $56.6 billion state budget that cleared both houses of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature hours earlier. As in recent years, the budget which determines how state government will spend taxpayer money in the fiscal year that begins Monday sets a record for state spending. Its bolstered by a new tax hike on large companies, includes some new funding for property-tax relief, and features big money for public schools and pensions. The plan also calls for spending $2.1 billion more than it collects in revenue from taxes and fees at a time when the state faces uncertain financial prospects. Were gonna make a number of important investments into the future of our state, our economy and most importantly, our families, Murphy, a Democrat, said during a Friday evening press conference surrounded by top Democratic lawmakers and state Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio at the Statehouse in Trenton. Murphy said about half of the spending plan $27 billion will provide property-tax relief, whether directly or indirectly. This is a budget that will put the needs of our families ahead of special interests, he said. The most noteworthy addition is a five-year tax increase on the states wealthiest businesses designed to ultimately provide a dedicated funding source for beleaguered NJ Transit a move praised by progressive advocates but blasted by Republicans and business leaders. Murphys signature caps five months of budget negotiations, highlighted by what has become a typically hectic final week in June as leaders rush to install a plan by the July 1 deadline, the start of the new fiscal year. If a budget isnt in place by that date, the state government could shut down. The governor unveiled a proposed budget in February, followed by public hearings, and then negotiations with fellow Democrats who lead the Legislature to cut a deal on a final version (A4700). The budget is $758 million larger than Murphys original proposal, thanks in large part to spending lawmakers added on at the last minute for various projects. The plan is also $2.3 billion more than the current budget Murphy signed last June. Republicans, the minority party in the Legislature, took aim at Democrats for another budget that relies on deficit spending and drawing money from the budgets $6.16 billion surplus fund. Some of the partisan criticism got personal. If you believe we should run a $2 billion deficit and raid the surplus to funnel millions of dollars to projects in towns represented by (state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlins) law firm, this is your budget, Assemblyman Brian Bergen, R-Morris, said before the vote. I know three-quarters of you have a driver who drove you here today, and maybe a job or two, Bergen continued. If you try thinking like a working-class person for just one second, you would realize the budget is more harmful than helpful. Please do me a favor and be normal for one second and vote no. Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, D-Essex, fired back. When you say things like be normal, think of the working poor, I would ask, have you ever been hungry? Because I have, said Bagolie, a school administrator in East Newark. When you talk about whether this budget will help families, yes, it will help families that maybe you are not thinking of, she said. Those that are poor, those who are hungry, those that are lacking housing. So when you stand here today and ask us today to be normal, and when you talk about us on this side of the aisle, as if we the ones who dont understand what its like to be poor and hungry, I will tell you, you are 100% wrong. Murphy defended the budget from those worried about the spending. Were still in a fragile, post-COVID phase, he said. We are doing this deliberately. We want to make sure we jump-start and the economy gets back on its feet as fast as it can. We are also making up for decades of bad behavior in this state. That, he said, includes underfunded pensions and schools. Coughlin, D-Middlesex, added: Yes, we spend more than we took in, but the truth of the matter is: We have the reserve, the surplus to be able to cover that. Budget committees in both the state Senate and Assembly approved the bill in evening votes Wednesday, hours after formally introducing it, drawing now-annual criticism that the process is rushed and not transparent enough. The full Assembly approved the bill 55-22 and the Senate 27-13 on Friday. Both votes were largely along party lines, though a handful of Republicans voted yes. Murphy called a press conference shortly thereafter to say he would approve the plan and announced just before midnight that he signed it, two days before the deadline. TRANSIT TAX The budget contains a 2.5% corporate transit fee on the 600 companies in New Jersey that make at least $10 million. The Legislature and governor also gave final approval to that Friday. The tax (A4704), which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, will net the agency $1 billion a year before it ends in December 2028, although NJ Transit will not start receiving the money until next summer, when the states bus and rail agency, faces a $766 million financial shortfall. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association testified against the measure, warning it will give the state the nations highest business taxes while giving the most successful, job-creating companies reason to leave the state. Its a hard truth, but well say it: We believe that some policymakers have some work to do to make our job creators feel theyre more than a bottomless trough of revenue, NJBIA President Michele Siekerka said after the vote. And they should know that we will always tirelessly fight for those employers and their right to a business climate that breeds success. But it shouldnt have to be a fight, she added. We respectfully ask our leaders, once and for all, to seek more pro-business policies, rather than continually seeking to be an extreme national outlier in our taxes, costs and regulations. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Bracken said: The budget battle is over. We now have to live with the consequences. Meanwhile, NJ Transit riders are set to see a 15% fare hike starting next month. U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., called on NJ Transit to pause the increase, increase, while state Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R-Union, unsuccessfully sought a budget amendment that would delay the rate hike during the five years rich companies are taxed. The train lines have been plagued with heat-related delays, angering tens of thousands of commuters. Neia Morsy, director of advocacy group Make the Road New Jersey, said the new budget makes large multinational corporations pay a modest tax to fund the bus and train service that New Jerseyans depend on, especially immigrant communities, low-income residents, and special populations such as seniors and children. Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, R-Bergen, one of several Republicans who spoke against the bill, said NJ Transit had plenty of money it just needed to manage it better. NJ Transit is literally and figuratively off the rails, he said. SCHOOL AND PENSION FUNDING The budget provides roughly $7 billion for the public-worker pension fund, which supports the retirement of about 800,000 active and retired state and local government workers. This is the fourth straight year there has been a full payment to the long-underfunded system. Schools will receive roughly $12 billion, representing the first time a full payment has been made based on the states school funding formula, after a seven-year ramp up. Many school districts remain unhappy, including some that have cut jobs and services. Of the 593 school districts in New Jersey, 140 will see their aid decline. Munoz lamented how many districts are being forced to raise property taxes, some more than 9%. Where is all that money going? This is the peoples money, we must be better stewards of the people money, she said of the overall budget. PROPERTY-TAX RELIEF Theres more than $2 billion in the budget to cover a third year of funding for the ANCHOR tax relief program, which gives 1.3 million homeowners up to $1,750 and more than 700,000 renters up to $700 to help offset property taxes. There is also $220 million in ramp-up funding for the Stay NJ property tax cut for New Jersey seniors who make less than $500,000 a year, scheduled to take effect in fiscal year 2026. Questions remain about whether there will be enough funding for it to launch in next years budget. COMMUNITY COLLEGES Responding to an outcry from county college administrators, legislators dedicated $20 million in additional funds for New Jerseys 18 community colleges. Murphy cut $20 million from the currents years funding level of $149.1 million. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges said the money was needed to offset increases in health care costs. Sen. Joseph Cryan, D-Union, said in a statement that he fought to add the $20 million for community colleges, as well as $70 million more for public universities. These are some of the best investments the state can make, he said, noting community colleges educate four out of 10 college students in New Jersey. NURSING HOMES Nursing home operators are set to receive $586 million an additional $37.2 million more than the current year from the Medicaid program. Industry lobbyists asked for $103 million more in a letter with a dire warning that facilities will close if they did to receive more aid. The Legislature added $30 million to the $7.2 million included in Murphys original budget proposal. Nursing home operators also asked to temporarily suspend a quality incentive payment program that rewards nursing homes that maintain adequate staffing and demonstrate other improvements and share bonuses with all facilities, but the program was kept intact. PORK-BARREL SPENDING, ALSO KNOWN AS CHRISTMAS IN JUNE Its tradition in Trenton that the party in charge allocates hundreds of millions of dollars for projects in their communities back home. Republicans get some, too, but far less. After Murphy zeroed-out nearly all of the current years added spending, exceeding $1 billion, the Legislature tacked on nearly $700 million spread across hundreds of add-ons this year. The money is often derided by critics as pork-barrel spending, or Christmas tree items because its as if the holiday is arriving in June. The sponsors often arent revealed until weeks after the budget passes. Some includes funding for baseball complexes, school building construction, a crisis center, and a soup kitchen. Democrats note this year they also secured $380 million in cuts. Republicans, though, broke out the sarcasm and questioned many of the line items. This is my first time at the rodeo, and boy, did I get an education, said first-term Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, R-Sussex. Theres $4 million for recreational improvements in the city of Plainfield one municipality, $4 million, she said. Vernon is the largest municipality in Sussex County. it received $75,000. Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, praised the final budget. I hope its as good next year as it is this year, he said. But well take it one step at a time. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Jelani Gibson may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @jelanigibson1. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on an official visit to Hungary, met with the Vice President of the Hungarian National Assembly, Csaba Hende, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The meeting emphasized the special role of the heads of Azerbaijan and Hungary in the development of relations between the countries and that joint cooperation successfully continues in the military sphere, as in all spheres. The sides also held a wide exchange of views on the prospects of bilateral cooperation between the countries. Hey Blake, Your article about Uglesichs brought to mind another long-lost place, Kolbs on St. Charles Avenue. Who was Kolb and what is the history of the restaurant? Dear reader, Conrad Kolb was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1874. Orphaned at 15, he came to New Orleans as a deckhand on a French steamship. In 1894, he took a job at a saloon run by Valentine Merz, founder of the Dixie Brewery. Merzs establishment was located at 125 St. Charles Ave., the former home of the Louisiana Jockey Club. In 1899, Kolb bought the business from Merz and changed its name to Kolbs. His restaurant became well-known for its German food and decor, including a collection of beer steins and a system of ceiling fans purchased from the 1884 World Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. A stuffed Bavarian character nicknamed Ludwig appeared to be controlling the pulley system that kept the fans running. During World War I, anti-German sentiment nearly killed Kolbs business. Stories circulated freely of the prussic acid and ground glass that loyal Americans would be eating if they patronized this genial Hun, explained an October 1938 editorial in The New Orleans Item paying tribute to Kolb upon his death. The newspaper called it stupidity and scoundrelism, explaining how Kolb suffered both sentimentally and financially. Kolbs family ran the restaurant until the 1950s. It became known for its Creole and seafood dishes in addition to traditional German fare. It retained a strong local clientele, including businessmen at lunch. Kolbs changed hands several times before local investors Claude Kelly Jr., Edgar Casey and Piet Kessels purchased it in 1981. In 1994, the restaurant filed for bankruptcy and its contents were auctioned off. The building remains vacant. Some people are natural politicians, even if they dont realize it until late in their careers. Jackie Clarkson, the indefatigable former New Orleans City Council member and state lawmaker from Algiers who began a quarter-century of public service in her mid-50s, was one such politician. Clarkson died June 26 at 88. Jackie Clarkson was a one-of-a-kind trailblazer and force of nature, recalled former Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Her decades of public service set the standard for women in New Orleans politics. Jackie's leadership on the City Council after Hurricane Katrina provided a steady hand when the city desperately needed one. Clarkson genuinely enjoyed the most difficult part of public service the service part. She loved engaging with and helping constituents, even during difficult times. Clarkson began her political career after spending decades managing a real estate business in her native Algiers. Guiding first-time homebuyers through a stressful process with professionalism and empathy made her a natural for dealing with constituents often confounded by City Halls Byzantine ways. After Clarksons first visit to Gambit seeking the newspapers endorsement in 1990, my wife Margo, who was Gambits publisher, said, She reminds me of Lindy Boggs. We said as much in Gambits endorsement of her, and Clarkson promised she would always try to live up to that high standard. Like Boggs, Clarkson was gracious but effective. Her old-school manners belied a steely will, especially when others were not so gracious. I dont recall ever seeing Clarkson in a heated exchange with a colleague. She never picked a fight, nor would she back down from one. She just comported herself better. She also reminded me of the late Lt. Gov. Jimmy Fitzmorris, who likewise loved public service and pursued it with an unrivaled passion. Like Fitz, Clarkson seemed to be everywhere, all the time, and loving every minute of it. And, like Fitzmorris, Clarkson lost some nail-biting elections but she never lost hope. After one term as the District C council member, she lost a close bid for re-election to then-state Rep. Troy Carter, who now serves in Congress. She turned around and won Carters legislative seat, then succeeded him as the District C council member when he lost his bid for mayor in 2002. She lost another close race to Arnie Fielkow when they ran for an at-large council seat in 2006, but a year later she won a special election for the other at-large seat, serving two terms before retiring from politics in 2014. Carter and Fielkow joined many others paying tribute to Clarkson. Throughout her career, she was a tireless advocate for Algiers, the French Quarter, neighborhood preservation, transparency, and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. Her late father, Johnny Brechtel, co-founded NORD. During my time as mayor, Landrieu said of his trusted council ally, Jackie was always a willing partner on items big and small. Whenever we needed her, from helping rebuild NORD to balancing the budget to entertaining dignitaries, she showed up in a big way. We will all miss her dearly." We already do. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on approving the "Protocol between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Belarus on the mutual application of electronic systems for certifying the origin of goods", Trend reports. According to the decree, the "Protocol between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Belarus on the mutual application of electronic systems for certifying the origin of goods", signed on May 16, 2024, in Baku, was approved. The Ministry of Economy and the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan were tasked to ensure the implementation of its provisions upon the entry into force of the protocol mentioned in this decree. Besides, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan was tasked to notify the Government of Belarus about the completion of the domestic procedures necessary for the protocol to come into effect. Torridge District Council have announced they have marked the start of Armed Forces Week. On Monday, 24 June, staff and councillors were joined by veterans from the armed forces community to mark the start of Armed Forces Week by raising the Armed Forces Day Flag at the Riverbank House Flagpole in Bideford. John Peel, Mark Allen, and Bob Ferguson from the Royal Marines Association North Devon Branch, alongside Bernie Ridd (RAF Veteran), Trevor Evans (Army Veteran), Linda Evans (Army Veteran), and Pat Ferguson, a long-time associate member of the Royal Marines Association, were the guests of honour at the event. The event was presided over by the Reverend Kevin Beer, with Piper Mike Harper from the Bideford Youth Band also present. Armed Forces Day is observed on the last Saturday of each June, with this year's date falling on June 29 The day offers an opportunity to demonstrate our support for the members of the Armed Forces community, including currently serving personnel, Service families, veterans, and cadets. The occasion also marks the conclusion of a week-long celebration, commencing on Monday 24th June, when the public displays their support and appreciation for the Armed Forces community. Additionally, Reserves Day takes place on the 26th June, providing the country with an opportunity to acknowledge our Reserve Forces. Steve Hearse, Chief Executive Officer, Torridge District Council, said: Events like this provide us with a great opportunity to come together and remember the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel and veterans, who work tirelessly to keep us safe and secure. We take pride in raising the Armed Forces Flag at Torridge as a symbol of our support and gratitude to the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces and the families that stand by them. A new partnership between two of Devons leading educational institutions will help boost social mobility and aspiration in the county. Joint working between the University of Exeter and Petroc will boost school, college and higher education achievement and foster a culture of success for young people in Devon. The memorandum of understanding recognises the shared values between the two organisations and builds the foundation for new regional initiatives and partnerships. Stuart Brocklehurst, University of Exeter Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Business Engagement and Innovation, said: We are delighted to have signed this memorandum of understanding with Petroc. It will allow us to work together to promote social mobility and foster a culture of aspiration and success for young people in the county. Dr Jason Jones, Deputy Principal of Petroc, said: By working together, we can create an education ecosystem that not only elevates educational outcomes but also drives innovation and economic growth in the South West. We are excited about the possibilities this MOU brings and look forward to working in collaboration with the University of Exeter and other universities in the South West, the UK and beyond. Peter Morrish, Chair of the Northern Devon Economy, Innovation and Skills Board, said: Exeter University signing this partnership with Petroc College is a significant day for businesses in northern Devon. This collaboration will help ensure that the right mix of education is available across all levels and accessible to local people, bringing world-class capabilities into northern Devon and further enabling businesses to become more actively involved in research and development. Future plans include working together to improve the skilled workforce available to employers and driving inclusive and clean growth. The University of Exeter and Petroc will work together to encourage wider participation in higher education and to identify skills gaps. The organisations will collaborate to foster the success of the regional blue-green economy, initially focusing on the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre, floating offshore wind and materials innovation. The partnership will also bring about opportunities for the use of shared facilities to support research and facilitate academic networking, and work to develop and support modern practices in teaching and supporting learning including in the application of digital learning and AI. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The first meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan has begun in connection with the extraordinary parliamentary election, Trend reports. The meeting agenda includes the adoption of the calendar plan of main actions and activities for the preparation and holding of extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani Parliament, the setup of an expert group and a working group under the CEC. The agenda also included a change in the composition of some district election commissions. 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. The extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. 1st Source Bank was named to Forbes' list of Americas Best Employers for New Grads. The South Bend-based bank, which has branches in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, was one of 400 organizations the national business publication recognized as top employers for recent college graduates. It ranked 312th on the list that was based on metrics like wages, benefits, working conditions, flexibility, opportunities for career advancement, inclusion and company image. The annual national ranking was based on a Statistia survey of more than 100,000 young professionals nationwide working at companies with at least 1,000 employees. They were asked about purpose, pay, benefits and whether they would recommend the employer to others. This award speaks volumes about the culture here at 1st Source Bank, said Dan Lifferth, Chief Human Resources Officer at 1st Source Bank. We firmly believe in investing in early career talent as the future of our organization. With core values like integrity, teamwork, and community leadership, our organization is a place where people are proud to work every day. We encourage our colleagues to give back to the communities where they live and work. In 2023, 1st Source employees logged approximately 14,300 volunteer hours. 1st Source Bank is the largest bank headquartered in Northern Indiana with $8.7 billion in assets. It operates 78 branches, 18 1st Source Bank Specialty Finance Group offices, nine Trust and Wealth Advisory Services offices, 10 1st Source Insurance offices and three loan production offices, mostly across a geographic footprint in Indiana and Michigan. CROWN POINT The first of two defendants guilty of killing a 24-year-old man in 2023 was sentenced to 45 years in prison Friday. Micah Sanders, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this month to murder in connection with the death of Daqwuan Walker on Jan. 25, 2023, outside Walker's home in the 500 block of Chase Street. The sentence of 45 years was agreed upon by the prosecution and defense. Sanders and Virgil King, 24, went to Walker's house with the intent to kill him, according to the plea. They waited for him to exit his house and both fired multiple shots. King was found guilty of murder, unlawful possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon in connection with the crime after a trial concluded June 14. Walker's mother, Zsakenja Mathews, described the hurt and pain caused by Sanders' and King's acts to Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones during the hearing, at times speaking to Sanders directly. "You are evil," Mathews said. "To come to my house and shoot my son and think you would get away with it?" Sanders and King tried to ditch their weapons and clothes at the home on a friend on the 2500 block of Waverly Drive shortly after the homicide. A Gary police dog tracked the suspects from the crime scene through the backyard of a nearby residence on Taney Place to the Waverly Drive home, about five blocks from where Walker was killed, a probable cause affidavit said. "What you've done to my son, you've done to yourself," Mathews said. Deputy Prosecutor Maureen Koonce and Sanders' public defender Nick Barnes said they felt the resolution was fair, given the circumstances of the case. Koonce said this was not Sanders' first time killing someone he pleaded guilty to reckless homicide as a teenager in 2017 after he shot a friend while "playing" with a gun in an apartment in Indianapolis, records show. Barnes said 45 years is still a very hefty sentence and said the plea deal was "the right choice" for Sanders based on the circumstances of the crime. Sanders was supposed to go to trial with King until he decided to plead guilty. When given the opportunity to make a statement, Sanders apologized to Walker's family for taking their son from them and to his own family for what he did. Jones said she agreed it was in Sanders' best interest to take the plea. She agreed to the 45-year sentence and said he would be placed on parole for the remainder of his life after his release from prison. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and unlawful carrying of a handgun. As the hearing concluded, Jones offered a message to Mathews and all of Walker's family. "It takes strengtha lotto get up here and say your peace," Jones said. "I hope that you can focus on the good memories you have." CROWN POINT A Lake Criminal Court jury found a Gary man guilty Friday of murdering the man whom he believed killed his brother. Martell Flippins, 36, was found guilty of murder and a firearm enhancement after approximately two and a half hours of deliberation and three full days of trial testimony and evidence presentation. He faces between 50 to 85 years in prison. Flippins shot Pierre Patterson, 24, of Gary around 3:15 a.m. March 12, 2023 as Patterson left a bar on the 5000 block of Broadway. Flippins parked his green Chevrolet Equinox on the opposite side on the street from the now-shuttered Fatso's Pub, 5060 Broadway, as he waited for Patterson to leave a nearby bar. Patterson was crossing the street when a driver in a green Chevrolet Equinox pulled up beside him and fired shots. Jurors heard evidence about the extensive use of technology in the case, including security cameras, license plate readers and data from Flippins' cell phone that show his location at the time of the crime plus texts and social media content that show him talking about the act. The motive for the crime, according to prosecutors, was to avenge the death of his brother, 26-year-old LaVell Hughes Jr., who was shot and killed approximately one year prior. Prosecutors said Tuesday that they were set to charge Patterson with the crime right before he was killed. In closing arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Keith Anderson said Flippins had seen a Facebook post made by Patterson shortly after Hughes' death that said he knew Hughes had been struck with a bullet because he saw him "crawling all on the floor [looking back.]" Flippins responded to the post and said, "I'm gonna cut this (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) head off," according to data from Flippins' phone. Flippins sent text messages the night of the murder in which he said he needed some "hot wheels" because he was "sitting on this guy," which Anderson said shows he was trying to find a different vehicle to drive during the shooting so he wouldn't be connected. His location data placed him in the area of the homicide during the hours prior. A series of calls and texts were made during that time that referenced the area where the shooting took place, which Anderson said further implicates Flippins. However, Flippins' attorneys said he had an alibi. He was with a friend named "Blaine" that night, according to testimony from the individual. However detectives found letters in Flippins' jail cell in which he asks Blaine to lie for him so he could have an alibi. Text messages corroborated this information, as Flippins did not indicate to anyone that he texted that night that he had any plans to hang out with Blaine, but rather planned to go to the area of the crime. The jury watched video footage from security cameras that show the Equinox pull up around 12:45 a.m. near Fatso's Pub, park and turn its lights off. The car waits in the same spot until 3:15 a.m. as shown in a time lapse video and then pulls forward as a man identified as Patterson crosses the street. Multiple muzzle flashes can be seen on the video as a body falls to the ground. The vehicle in the video speeds off. During public defender Marc Laterzo's closing arguments, he said the state's case is based on circumstantial evidence. No DNA or fingerprints were collected and it's not clear in the video who is driving the Equinox. Laterzo said any of Hughes' siblings would have had a motive to kill Patterson, and alleged that they all had access to his vehicle. "The state's case is about probably," Laterzo said. "Probably's not good enough." Laterzo said the letter Flippins wrote in which he asked "Blaine" to lie for him was an "act of desperation" because he had been arrested. Anderson didn't agree. "Why would [Flippins] send this letter if he was innocent?" he asked. Anderson said no DNA tests were done because there was enough evidence on the cell phone to implicate Flippins. Flippins' sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16 in Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez's courtroom. Historic World War II airplanes will fly into the Porter County Regional Airport in Valparaiso for the Airpower History Tour. A B-29 Superfortress known as Fifi, a T-6 Texan, a PT-13 Stearman and an RC-45J Expeditor will head to the airport at 4207 Murvihill Road in Valparaiso early next month. The public will be able to check the aircraft out and go on flights from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from July 10 through July 14. The touring aviation show aims to bring the "sights, sounds, and stories of World War II aviation to life," according to a news release. The Dallas-based Commemorative Air Force, which bills itself as the world's largest flying museum with more than 12,000 volunteers nationwide, brings the AirPower History Tour to airports across North America every year and has made a pitstop in Valpo before. Attendees can buy rides on aircraft, see the historic military planes up-close and tour the B-29 cockpit when it's not flying at 9 a.m. and 10:30 am. on Saturday and Sunday. The B-29 cockpit tours will start at noon that weekend. "The Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the largest and most technically advanced aircraft of its time, was first flown in 1942," the Commemorative Air Force said in a news release. "It began active service in the US Army Air Corp in 1944, and is best known as the aircraft whose missions over Japan helped bring an end to World War II," the release said. "The B-29 also was used in the Korean War in the early 1950s and was a staple of the U.S. Air Force until 1960, according to the release. 'FIFI,' one of only two B-29s in the world still flying, was acquired by the CAF in 1971," the release said. "She began touring in 1974 and has been entertaining air show audiences across the country ever since." Attendees can also see the North American T-6 Texan, an advanced flight trainer known as the Pilotmaker that can fly more than 200 mph. Also on display will be the Boeing PT-13 Stearman, a biplane that trained more crews than any other aircraft in World War II and features an open cockpit like in the early days of aviation. The RC-45J Expeditor will also be featured. This plane was used by the military for light transport, photoreconnaissance, navigation, bombing and gunnery training. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children between the ages of 11 and 17 years old. The event is free for children 10 and under. For more information or to book a flight, visit AirPowerTour.org. Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today In true James Snyder fashion, he replied almost immediately to my text message. I reached out to him after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed his 2021 conviction for federal funds bribery by reinterpreting the $13,000 payment Snyder received from a city contractor as a gratuity, not subject to federal prosecution. Since I first met the former Portage mayor nearly 15 years ago, he has been remarkably responsive to my texts, calls, emails and face-to-face encounters. He never once ducked me or blew me off despite his dire circumstances regarding nearly a decade of dogged pursuit by federal prosecutors and all the legal entanglements that came with his complicated court case. Within minutes, or sometimes seconds, Snyder had always responded to my questions and requests for a comment. Thursdays text exchange was no different. We initially met in 2011 on the front porch of my former Portage home when he first campaigned for office. Snyder knocked on my door with a police officer at his side, asking for my vote. It didnt matter to me his political party affiliation, Republican, to lead the third largest city in Northwest Indiana, where I had lived for more than 30 years. Snyder was confident, enthusiastic, outgoing and smiling. Always smiling. Every time I met him afterward at public events, municipal meetings, casual run-ins and campaign trails he exuded those same personality traits. This continued even after federal investigators began sniffing around his office as he successfully ran for re-election in 2015. Im a little more measured than I used to be, but Im still very excited, Snyder told me that year. The married father of four appeared giddy to remain in public office, and ever-optimistic about his future. Snyder has always felt positive about himself, his mayoral achievements, and his lengthy court battle against public corruption charges. It's a common crime in our notorious Region. I believe Snyder is convinced hes innocent of all charges against him by federal authorities. Convinced. Nothing less, I wrote in a 2017 column. Many of his supporters have felt the same way since his indictment, repeatedly characterizing the relentless prosecution of his case as unfair persecution. He has been vilified in the press and the rumors have only gotten worse and worse, said Stewart McMillan, a prominent 70-year-old businessman from Valparaiso. The facts of what actually happened have been twisted to where they do not at all carry any measure of truth. What is it that people want to assume the worst of everyone? McMillan asked. What is so disgusting and I have seen it firsthand is how the government can lie in presenting their case and yet if a citizen lies they get threatened with perjury and jail. McMillan, whos been in Snyders camp since day one, said he would have never believed the risk that every American takes every day of becoming a target of the federal government. I shudder to think how many people have been forced to plead guilty and be marked for life because they did not have the financial resources to take on Uncle Sam, McMillan said. McMillan has been a longtime donor to Snyders legal defense fund, joining a notable list of other deep-pocketed donors who havent been as outspoken as McMillan about his financial contributions. I asked him just how much money he has given to Snyders legal defense. McMillan declined to specify the amount. Its unclear exactly how much Snyders high-profile attorneys have been paid over the past several years, or whos on the hook to pay what must be a staggering legal bill. Its also unclear if the city of Portage will be asked for reimbursement for some of those expenses, as Snyder previously requested, because he served as mayor at the time of the bribery charge. During his nearly two-term stint as mayor, which ended in 2019 with his conviction, Snyder consistently told me that his goal was to put Portage, Indiana, on the map. In his early State of the City speeches, he labeled 2012 as the year of correction." The next year was the year of communication to better relate with residents, and 2014 was year of construction. With the Supreme Courts 6-3 decision this week in Snyders favor, I wondered if he would label 2024 as the year of redemption or vindication. In hindsight, Snyder did indeed put Portage, Indiana, on the map. Just not the way he envisioned. The high courts ruling and his case immediately appeared on every major news network in our country, including The Daily Show on Comedy Central. The Supreme Court made it even easier to bribe elected officials oh sorry, to tip, elected officials, quipped host Michael Kosta. So if you give a politician money before they do a favor, its a bribe. But if you give it to them after, the Supreme Court says its a gratuity because they think were idiots. For Snyder supporters such as McMillan, this ongoing case and latest ruling is no laughing matter. His win was a total win for every American, McMillan said. It is not, as one justice commented, a reduction in the ability of the federal governments ability to prosecute. Snyder has been telling me this scenario for years; a win for him would be a win for any American who could be unfairly targeted by the federal government. I last heard from him in February when he sent me a text out of the blue with an attachment labeled Snyder Brief regarding his court case. Through the years, he sent me similar texts or calls without much explanation. I understood that he sought favorable publicity for his court battle. Snyder has been continually resourceful, playing every card in his deck and a few surprise cards from his suit jacket sleeves. But would he want to still talk to me after the Supreme Courts ruling, when I had nothing to help his case? I sent him a text to find out. His quick reply didnt say one word. It shared only the contact information for his attorneys. When this newspaper contacted requesting comment for a story, Snyder declined. But he shared a photo taken that day of himself and his legal staff in front of the historic court building after the decision was announced. Its the same photo he posted on his Facebook page, with supporters comments such as Hooray for justice, Praise the Lord! and Glad you fought and won. In the middle of the photo, Snyder beamed his trademark smile, the same one he flashed on my front porch when he campaigned to put Portage on the map. 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. Even a master of comedy like Martin Mull occasionally finds himself required to audition. And the sound reverberating from inside the casting room as he waited to read for The Cool Kids, the new sitcom from Charlie Day of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, made him downright nervous. I just heard peals of laughter peals! and theres nothing worse for an actor than to hear the other guy doing that well, he recalled. But when the door opened, it was David Alan Grier, one of Mr. Mulls best friends, and a potential co-star. And he said, Weve got to do this together. In The Cool Kids, airing Fridays on Fox, Mr. Mull plays Charlie, a former rambling man, who, with Mr. Grier as the overly opinionated Hank, and Leslie Jordan as the hedonistic Sid, forms a squad operating under the delusion that theyre the kings of their retirement community. Then Jerry, their regular dining companion, dies leaving an empty seat at their table. And when the brash Margaret, played by Vicki Lawrence, quickly slides into it, the inevitable high jinks erupt. Theyre insistent that she move, shes insistent that she wont, and soon the four of us are the junta running the place, he said. Four people were killed and nine were injured after a minivan crashed into a nail salon on Long Island Friday afternoon, the authorities said. Shortly after 4:30 p.m., a minivan crashed into Hawaii Nail and Spa on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park, a hamlet in the town of Babylon, N.Y., according to Mark Stone, the public information officer for the Deer Park Fire Department. One injured person was in serious condition Friday evening and was transported by helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, he said. The others sustained significant injuries, Mr. Stone said, and were taken to local hospitals. The Suffolk County Police Department said it was investigating what caused the crash. The authorities declined to say if the driver was among the injured and dead. Nine agencies responded to the crash, including fire departments from surrounding towns, and there were 150 firefighters and emergency medical responders on the scene, Mr. Stone said. NATIONAL An article on Thursday about The Episcopal Church electing its youngest leader referred incorrectly to plans for Bishop Sean Rowes installation ceremony. Washington National Cathedral has not been confirmed as the venue. The venue was still being decided. ARTS An article on Monday about a new library in Manhattan that contains affordable housing units misidentified a river near which several towers will be built. They will be built near the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, not the Hudson and East Rivers. MAGAZINE An interview on Page 11 this weekend with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer erroneously implies that neither President Biden nor former President Donald J. Trump can run for president again in 2028. There are no legal limits to how many times a candidate may run for president, only a limit to how many terms can be served. Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. Four Missouri prison guards were charged with murder on Friday and a fifth with involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the death of a Black man who died last year after they pepper sprayed him, covered his face with a mask and left him in a restraint chair, the authorities said. The man, Othel Moore Jr., 38, died of positional asphyxiation on Dec. 8 at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, according to court records, which list homicide as the cause of death. The episode that led to Mr. Moores death occurred during a sweep by the Missouri Department of Corrections Emergency Response Team of one of the prisons housing units that was being searched for contraband, according to court records. Mr. Moore was searched and stripped down to his boxer shorts, and staff members used pepper spray on him multiple times and placed him in a restraint system with a spit mask, which is supposed to prevent spit from hitting others, and a padded helmet, records show. He was then taken to a different housing unit, where he was left in a cell with the spit mask, helmet and restraint system. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The results of the extraordinary parliamentary election in Azerbaijan will be summed up by September 22, Trend reports. The issue has been reflected in the calendar plan of main actions and activities for the preparation and holding of extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani Parliament. According to the plan, the Central Election Commission, no later than 20 days from voting day, must ensure verification and summing up of the results. To note, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan 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. The extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel There have been no discussions among President Bidens campaign advisers about whether the president should step down as the Democratic nominee following his disastrous performance in Thursdays debate, a senior Biden campaign official said on Friday. No conversations about that whatsoever, Michael Tyler, the campaigns director of communications, told reporters on Air Force One when asked about calls for Mr. Biden to step aside and whether there had been any consideration to do so. The Democratic voters elected, nominated, Joe Biden, Mr. Tyler said. Joe Bidens the nominee. He acknowledged that Mr. Biden didnt have the best night on the debate stage but highlighted how frequently former President Donald J. Trump lied during it. Youd rather have one bad night than a candidate with a bad vision for where he wants to take the country, Mr. Tyler said. Ever since President Biden announced last year that he would run again, those in his inner circle closed ranks and brushed off the obvious question: No, they insisted, he was not too old to seek re-election. The news media, they said, was unfairly fixated on his age. Republicans were posting wildly distorted video clips on social media making him look more feeble than he actually is. Hand-wringing Democrats fretting over the prospect of an octogenarian president turning 86 by the end of a second term were just bed-wetters. Then the debate happened. And now the days of denial at the White House are over. No longer can the presidents confidants simply wave away concerns about his capacity after his unsteady performance at Thursday nights showdown with former President Donald J. Trump. Struggling to contain a brush fire of alarm within the Democratic Party, his team is now forced to confront the issue head on. Mr. Biden, 81, admitted himself on Friday that he is no longer a young man and that he has lost a step debating, even as he made a more forceful case for himself at an energized rally in Raleigh, N.C., than he had on the debate stage in Atlanta the night before. The Biden team seized on validation from Democratic allies like former President Barack Obama and Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina to reject calls on the president to cede the nomination to a younger candidate. And Im going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the the total initiative. And then you think hell stop there? Do you think hell stop when if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland? What do you think Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries? For the ability for the us to be able to negotiate drug prices with the big Pharma companies. Eligible for what Ive been able to do with the with the COVID excuse me, with everything we have to do with look if we finally beat Medicare. Thank you, President Biden. President Trump? He was right. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death, and hes destroying Medicare. Former President Donald J. Trump claimed during the presidential debate on Thursday that immigrants entering the United States illegally were taking Black jobs and Hispanic jobs, a claim with little basis that Democrats immediately seized on as evidence that Mr. Trump and Republicans were not serious about cultivating support from voters of color. It also touched off a host of internet jokes and memes over what, exactly, a Black job is. Theyre taking Black jobs and theyre taking Hispanic jobs and you havent seen it yet but youre going to see something thats going to be the worst in our history, Mr. Trump said on Thursday, speaking of migrants crossing the southern U.S. border. He then repeated the reference during a campaign rally in Virginia on Friday, adding that Black Americans who have had jobs for a long time are losing employment to immigrants. Black political strategists, elected officials and heads of organizations quickly joined hundreds of social media users to post photos of themselves at their workplaces and to crack jokes about the reductive and racist nature of the former presidents comments. Among them was, Stacey Plaskett, the Democratic House delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who posted a photo on X alongside two women in her congressional office on Friday that was captioned, Another day in Congress doing our Black jobs. Former President Barack Obama, who recovered from a disastrous debate performance to win re-election in 2012, publicly backed President Biden after his poor performance in Thursdays debate against former President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Obama also sought to allay concerns among Democrats about keeping Mr. Biden as their presidential nominee. Bad debate nights happen, he said in a social media post. 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. Mr. Obama continued, linking to Mr. Bidens campaign website, Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November. Kristin Lunz Trujillo grew up proud of her familys way of life. She spent summers getting ready to show cattle at the county fair. During the school year, she rushed home after class to feed the chickens on her familys corn and soybean farm. Neither of her parents went to college, but they encouraged their daughter when she decided to go to Carleton, a liberal arts school a two-hour drive from their farm in Minnesota. Despite being physically close to home, Ms. Lunz Trujillo was surprised by how foreign her upbringing seemed at the college. She was dismayed when she checked out the farm club and learned that its members wanted to brew kombucha, not milk cows. When an art history teacher asked students which famous paintings theyd seen in person, Ms. Lunz Trujillo stayed quiet, because she had never been to an art museum. This sense of cultural alienation molded her research when she became a political scientist: What is rural identity? How does it shape a persons politics? This year, Ms. Lunz Trujillo, now an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, was reading a new, best-selling book that cited her research to explore those same questions. But this recognition didnt bring the thrill she might have expected. Ever since scientists discovered influenza infecting American cows earlier this year, they have been puzzling over how it spreads from one animal to another. An experiment carried out in Kansas and Germany has shed some light on the mystery. Scientists failed to find evidence that the virus can spread as a respiratory infection. Juergen Richt, a virologist at Kansas State University who helped lead the research, said that the results suggested that the virus is mainly infectious via contaminated milking machines. In an interview, Dr. Richt said that the results offered hope that the outbreak could be halted before the virus evolved into a form that could spread readily between humans. I think this is good news that we can most likely control it easier than people thought, Dr. Richt said. Hopefully we can now kick this thing in the behind and knock it out. But Murphy made his greatest mark in movies, where he reached new heights, for comedians and Black performers, of popularity and bankability. He helped pioneer the action-comedy genre with his quippy, improvisational-feeling performances in movies like Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hrs. And then in the mid-1990s, after a bit of a career dip, he transitioned to family-friendly films like Shrek and The Nutty Professor (one of multiple comedies in which Murphy virtuosically played wildly different characters), and continued to score giant hits. All of which is to say that American pop culture looked different after Eddie Murphy came along. Now hes returning to the character that sent his career into the stratosphere with Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which comes to Netflix on July 3. It arrives 40 years after the first film in the series, in which Murphy stars as the wisecracking detective Axel Foley. He is clearly comfortable with the role and with himself. In recent years, Murphy has been a somewhat enigmatic offscreen presence, but as I found out over the course of our two long conversations in the spring, he can be open and relaxed. He was eager to reflect on what he has achieved, share some Hollywood stories, explain why doing standup doesnt appeal to him anymore and reveal the dream project he has never gotten off the ground. The West Bank village of Qusra was smoldering as I arrived. Clouds of black smoke swirled from a field where rampaging Israeli settlers had lit it on fire, while also setting fire to Palestinian homes and vehicles, according to Qusra residents. At any moment, we expect settlers to attack, said Abdel-Majeed Hassan, a salt-of-the-earth farmer in his 70s. He showed me the blackened ground where his car had been set on fire, the latest of four cars belonging to his family that he said settlers had destroyed. Six residents of this village have been killed in such attacks since October, when the Israeli government responded to the Hamas terror attack from Gaza by imposing far harsher rule in the West Bank more checkpoints, more raids, more Israeli settlements and by giving armed settlers freer rein to attack Palestinian farmers. The result is a despair and fury that every Palestinian I spoke to predicted would lead to a bloody uprising. I met Hassan here in 2015, on one of my many trips to Israel and the Palestinian territories over the years. Despite enduring repeated attacks by settlers who coveted his land, he thought then that he could hang on to his family farm. This article is part of our Pets special section on scientists growing interest in our animal companions. For 30 years, archaeologists have been digging at Jamestown, the first permanent British settlement in America. The trumpets, childrens shoes, pistols and millions of other unearthed objects have provided fresh clues to what life was like at the fort that settlers built in 1607 on the James River in Virginia. Now, some of the most intriguing clues are coming from bones not of the people who lived in Jamestown, but of the dogs. The earliest written records of European colonists make only fleeting references to dogs. Spanish and British explorers brought mastiffs, bloodhounds and water spaniels to the New World, though probably not as pets. Some European dogs helped hunt down deer and birds, while others were sent into battle: When Powhatan forces attacked Jamestown, English soldiers retaliated by setting dogs loose on Powhatan villages. The records also indicate that dogs sometimes served as food. When the Powhatan people laid siege to the settlement in 1609, the British residents suffered through a winter that came to be known as the Starving Time. The people trapped inside Jamestown resorted to eating dogs. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The upcoming parliamentary election in Azerbaijan will be held for the first time in all sovereign territories of the country, Chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said at today's CEC meeting in Baku, Trend reports. The number of polling stations will increase in the territories liberated from occupation. This is natural. Currently, the settlement of the territories is rapidly proceeding, and people are returning to their lands. In this regard, the election to the parliament will also have great historical significance, he added. To note, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan 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. The extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In January 2020, Robert Williams spent 30 hours in a Detroit jail because facial recognition technology suggested he was a criminal. The match was wrong, and Mr. Williams sued. On Friday, as part of a legal settlement over his wrongful arrest, Mr. Williams got a commitment from the Detroit Police Department to do better. The city adopted new rules for police use of facial recognition technology that the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Mr. Williams, says should be the new national standard. We hope that it moves the needle in the right direction, Mr. Williams said. Mr. Williams was the first person known to be wrongfully arrested based on faulty facial recognition. But he wasnt the last. The Detroit police arrested at least two other people as a result of facial recognition searches gone awry, including a woman who was charged with carjacking when she was eight months pregnant. Law enforcement agencies across the country use facial recognition technology to try to identify criminals whose misdeeds are caught on camera. In Michigan, the software compares an unknown face to those in a database of mug shots or drivers license photos. In other jurisdictions, the police use tools, like Clearview AI, that search through photos scraped from social media sites and the public internet. Ann Lurie, a self-described hippie who went on to become one of Chicagos most celebrated philanthropists, in one instance giving more than $100 million to a hospital where she had once worked as a pediatric nurse, died on Monday at her home in Chicago. She was 79. Her death was announced in a statement by Northwestern University, to which Ms. Lurie, a trustee, had donated more than $60 million. The statement did not specify a cause. An only child raised in Miami by a single mother, Ms. Lurie protested the Vietnam War while in college and planned to join the Peace Corps after she graduated. In interviews, she said she chafed at the trappings of wealth even after marrying Robert H. Lurie. Mr. Lurie had built a real estate and investment empire as a partner in Equity Group Investments, teaming up with a former fraternity brother from the University of Michigan, Sam Zell, whose portfolio came to include The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Cubs. Mr. Lurie held stakes in the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox. A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked Oklahoma from enforcing its new immigration law that would make it a crime to enter the state without legal authorization to be in the United States. The ruling, issued just days before the law was set to go into effect on Monday, is the latest legal setback for Republican-controlled states that have tested the limits of their role in immigration by passing their own legislation meant to crack down on people who crossed the border illegally. The Justice Department maintains that only the federal government can regulate and enforce immigration. A Texas law that would have given state and local police officers the authority to arrest undocumented migrants was put on hold by a federal appeals court in March. The Supreme Court had briefly let the law stand but returned the case to the appeals court, which decided to pause enforcement of it. Then, in May, a federal judge temporarily blocked part of a Florida law that made it a crime to transport unauthorized immigrants into the state. And in mid-June, an Iowa law that would have made it a crime for an immigrant to enter the state after being deported or denied entry into the country was put on pause by a district court. As negotiations to end the long legal brawl between Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, and the United States reached a critical point this spring, prosecutors presented his lawyers with a choice so madcap that a person involved thought it sounded like a line from a Monty Python movie. Guam or Saipan? It was no joke. His path to freedom, he was told, would pass through one of the two American-held islands in the blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Assange, who feared being imprisoned for the rest of his life in the United States, had long insisted on one condition for any plea deal: that he never set foot in the country. The U.S. government, in turn, had demanded that Mr. Assange plead guilty to a felony for violating the Espionage Act, which required him to appear before a federal judge. In April, a lawyer with the Justice Departments national security division broke the impasse with a sly workaround: How about an American courtroom that wasnt actually inside mainland America? The Democratic Partys perennially nervous donor class descended into deep unease on Friday, as some of the wealthiest people in America commiserated over President Bidens weak debate performance and puzzled over what, if anything, they could do to change the course of the race. There were discussions with political advisers about arcane rules under which Mr. Biden might be removed from the ticket against his will and replaced at or before the Democratic National Convention, according to a person familiar with the effort. In Silicon Valley, a group of megadonors, including Ron Conway and Laurene Powell Jobs, were calling, texting and emailing one another about a situation they described as a possible catastrophe. The donors wondered about whom in the Biden fold they could contact to reach Jill Biden, the first lady, who in turn could persuade her husband not to run, according to a person familiar with the conversations. A Silicon Valley donor who had planned to host an intimate fund-raiser featuring Mr. Biden this summer decided not to go through with the gathering because of the debate, according to a person told directly by the prospective host. Another major California donor left a debate watch party early and emailed a friend with the subject line: Utter disaster, according to a copy of the email. The day after President Biden melted down in Thursdays prime-time debate, Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia stood beside former President Donald J. Trump on a farm in Chesapeake, gushing. This is the best Trump rally ever! In the past, when it suited him, Mr. Youngkin kept his distance from Mr. Trump and his unpredictable behavior. Not now. Not with all this winning afoot. Hello, Virginia, Mr. Trump cooed as he took the stage before thousands of his supporters in what Republicans increasingly see as a winnable state. Did anybody watch a thing called the debate? He roared: That was a big one. On the surface, the rally in Chesapeake was a quick-turn victory lap after the debate and before the 2024 race hits a higher gear. In a striking verdict for a money-laundering case associated with the Panama Papers scandal, a Panamanian judge on Friday acquitted all 28 defendants, among them former employees of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, the source of the leaked documents that set off a worldwide furor in 2016. The verdict came eight years after a partnership of media outlets published an explosive investigation into 11.5 million documents leaked from the Panama-based firm. The leak exposed the offshore banking industry, prompted international tax investigations and brought down heads of state. Among the original 29 defendants were the shuttered firms co-founders, Jurgen Mossack, 76, and Ramon Fonseca, who died in May at age 71 while awaiting the verdict. In her 339-page ruling, the judge, Baloisa Marquinez, said that the case against Mr. Fonseca was dropped because of his death. But, more atypically, there were offers to assist in reviving the building, which had been neglected to the point where visitors had to be shuttled by bus to a back door rather than enter through its dramatic woodland bridge. The architectural firm that designed the building during the 1960s has offered to restore it free of charge. Geoffrey Hinton, one of the leading pioneers of artificial intelligence and a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, pledged 1 million Canadian dollars toward the repairs. While its fate was never quite as uncertain as that of the Ontario Science Centre, four years ago the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, slammed into a roadblock with its plan for a new building. The canoe museum wanted to replace the former outboard motor factory and offices that had been its home since 1998. As the flag of a British workers union flapped behind him on a blustery June morning, Liam Kehoe was on strike with colleagues outside Royal Liverpool University Hospital, demanding better pay for porters, cleaners and catering staff. Their wages have failed to keep up with the surge in the cost of living, and many said they were living paycheck to paycheck. Mr. Kehoe, 26, serves food in the hospital. On Thursday, the day of Britains general election, he plans to vote for the center-left Labour Party because of the economic situation and the crumbling state of the National Health Service, he said. Thinking of the life that his parents built on salaries earned as a nurse and a truck driver, Mr. Kehoe says that young people have been left with far worse prospects after 14 years of a Conservative-led government. If you go back 30 years ago, houses were a bit more affordable, life was a little bit easier, he said. Nowadays, its like you cant afford anything. A reformist candidate critical of many of the Iranian governments policies, including the mandatory head scarf law, will compete next week against a hard-line conservative in a runoff election for the countrys presidency, Irans interior ministry announced on Saturday. The runoff follows a special vote called after the death last month of the previous leader, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash. A second round of voting, which will pit the reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian, against Saeed Jalili, an ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator, will take place on July 5. The runoff was in part the result of low voter turnout and a field of three main candidates, two of whom competed for the conservative vote. Iranian law requires a winner to receive more than 50 percent of all votes cast. The majority of Iranians, 60 percent, according to the interior ministry, did not vote on Friday, in what analysts and aides to the candidates said was largely an act of protest against the government for ignoring their demands for meaningful change. A prominent Iranian economist, Siamak Ghassemi, said on social media that the voters were sending a clear message. In one of the most competitive presidential elections, where reformists and conservatives came to the field with all their might, a 60 percent majority of Iranians are through with reformist and conservatives. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The deadline for accepting documents submitted for accreditation by organizations intending to hold an exit-poll in connection with extraordinary parliamentary election in Azerbaijan, and for making a decision on the accreditation of these organizations has been clarified, Trend reports. The issue has been reflected in the calendar plan of main actions and activities for the preparation and holding of extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani Parliament. The Central Election Commission will accept the above documents no later than 20 days before voting day, that is, until August 12. The decision on accreditation of organizations that have submitted an application to conduct an exit-poll will be made no later than 10 days before voting day. To note, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan 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. The extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, was released from prison this week. He had been under confinement since 2012, when he sought asylum in which countrys embassy in London? A man has been handed a jail sentence for stealing clothes from a Penneys in the Midlands. Dean Keane (22) with an address at 48 Lacey Avenue, Templemore, Co Tipperary admitted stealing clothing valued at 109 from Penneys in Laois Shopping Centre, Portlaoise on October 21, 2022. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant took the items and proceeded to leave the shop without payment. The man had 16 previous convictions, including four for theft, he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client appreciated that he had an appalling record but he has struggled with addiction to tablets, cannabis and heroin. He is trying to make some effort to deal with these difficulties, said Mr Meagher. READ NEXT: Penneys confirms opening date of newest shop in Ireland Mr Meagher explained that his client had been stopped as he was leaving the shop. He simply would have sold the items at a nominal price, Mr Meagher said. He explained that the money would have been used to feed his addiction. Judge Nicola Andrews sentenced the man to one month in prison and backdated the sentence to June 19, when the man was arrested. She granted legal aid to Mr Meagher. Penneys has announced it will officially open the doors of its newest store in Ireland in just under three weeks' time. The retailer which has a presence across the country, will open its first-ever Wicklow store on Thursday, July 18 at 10am. Located in the Bray Central shopping centre, the new store will span 19,600 square feet of retail space across one floor. The company says 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 following the announcement, 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. 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. 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 predict "a damp, locally wet start" on Saturday "with overnight rain and drizzle gradually clearing away southeastwards. READ NEXT: 'Reunited in heaven' - Shock as Offaly couple described as 'soul mates' die two days apart "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." BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Political parties are showing interest in Azerbaijan's upcoming extraordinary parliamentary election, Chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said at today's CEC meeting in Baku, Trend reports. I believe they'll widely participate in the election, he added. To note, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan 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. The extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Necessary conditions will be created for parliamentary election observers in Azerbaijan, Chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said at today's CEC meeting in Baku, Trend reports. Local observers can also contact the CEC. Regarding the limits of a particular district, they must contact the district itself to observe the election. We have instructed district election commissions to create conditions for all applicants, he added. To note, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan 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. The extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Through our projects, we aim to assist Azerbaijan in achieving its national agenda and aligning with the goals of COP29, Ludger Schuknecht, Vice President, Corporate Secretary at the AIIB, told Trend. "The focus of AIIB includes infrastructure that is climate-friendly, supporting both climate change mitigation and adaptation. To achieve this objective, we are investing significantly in renewable energy and green infrastructure, which is our primary area of focus. Additionally, we are engaged in projects related to digital connectivity, such as upgrading communication networks, roads, railways, and ports, all while maintaining environmental sustainability. We are also pleased to discuss COP29, although preparations are ongoing and the agenda is still being finalized. Our purpose here is to understand Azerbaijan's priorities and explore how our bank can support Azerbaijan in achieving them," he said. According to Schuknecht, the Paris Agreement is crucial in this regard, ensuring that all projects adhere to national commitments under it and meet high environmental, social, and governance standards. "These measures will enable the AIIB to support its member countries and clients in meeting their climate objectives". "I believe that AIIB, along with our multilateral development partners like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, will be prepared to support the agendas of COP29 and Azerbaijan. It's truly fantastic that Azerbaijan will host COP29. There will be a need to implement agreements from previous COPs, and naturally, there's always the aspiration to develop new ideas or plans. I think Azerbaijan is ideally positioned to facilitate such consensus-building efforts, bring stakeholders together, and align efforts towards shared goals," the VP added. Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August, 2018) "A Vote for 'ABBB' (Any Body but Biden) is a Vote for Trump and Republo-Fascism" (S. Jonas, March, 2024) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Over the years, there were four .Orange. cats in our family, all called .Fred. (I, II, III, IV). (Image by kennethkonica) Details DMCA Over the years there were four "Orange" cats in our family. They were all named "Fred," I, II, III, IV. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the Presidential Debate on 6/27/24, President Biden said: "I spent 90 minutes on stage debating a guy with the morals of an alley cat." As a life-long cat-lover, I do not take kindly to this insult --- to cats. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Within the past week, the nation has been treated to two very interesting initiatives relating to religious texts. In Louisiana, Gov. Landry signed into law a requirement that "The Ten Commandments" be posted in every public school class-room in the States. And then in Oklahoma the "state superintendent" (presumably of education), "Moves to Require Teaching the Bible in Public Schools." A number of issues have been raised by these two initiatives. The first that comes to mind for both is of course the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States (with which the worthies in both states seem not to be familiar). It states, it would seem quite clearly (but apparently not clearly enough for either the Governor or the Superintendent), that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" So that clause, even though it has been severely ignored in the abortion rights debate (most notably by the supporters of abortion rights) would seem central to this matter as well. We can only hope that those individuals and organizations challenging both initiatives (like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom from Religion Foundation) will bring the First Amendment to bear this time. But that is another matter. In this column we shall deal with another issue which would seem to be relevant in both cases. That is, exactly which version of either the long document or the short one would one use? Consider first The Ten Commandments. There are at least three versions of them, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish. They do agree on certain matters, such as "Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal." But not on certain others, e.g., on which day of the week the Sabbath is kept. And by the way, while we are going through these, one has to wonder just how teaching of any of these three versions relates to Muslims, Hindi, Bahai (which for the latter, especially in Louisiana and Oklahoma who might not be familiar with it, "The Bahai" Faith is a religion founded in the 19th century that teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people "). And then, we must mention the Mel Brooks version, for in the "History of the World, Part 1" he told us that there were originally 15 Commandments, as, completing his journey down Mount Sinai he (as Moses) was dropping and cracking up (as was the audience during this segment of the movie) one of the stone tablets on which they were written, reducing the number to Ten. Further on the matter of what exactly does each Commandment mean, dealing with a sort of amalgamation of the several versions set forth above, back on December 24, 2007, one Ed Brayton posted the following quote from the "oh so genial, oh so nice, oh so down-to-earth" Mike Huckabee. You may remember him. He is the father of the current Governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who between phases of his life spent breathing fire and brimstone as a preacher (remember, this man was also a Governor of Arkansas), said this: "The Ten Commandments form the basis of most of our laws and therefore, you know if you look through them does anybody find anything there that would be all that objectionable?". Quoting from Mr. Brayton on the Governor/Preacher's remarks (with emphasis added): "Funny, but I thought that the bases of all of laws are the U.S. Constitution and those of the 50 States. He pointed out that most of the Ten Commandments would unconstitutional and the rest really matters of personal morals and principles. But let us say that Gov. Huckabee became President and would somehow be able to put them, let us say, co-equal with the Constitution. Before we could even get to their Constitutionality, there are a series of practical questions that would have to be raised. I share them with you herewith. "First, one would have to ask exactly which Ten are we talking about? Those in a particular English translation of a particular Latin translation of a particular Greek translation of a particular Hebrew translation of an original Aramaic text, known as the King James Version? There is an extensive set of variations of the Ten, depending upon which language one uses. That question would have to be settled first. But let us say that somehow it would be, let us go on to the particulars, given the translation supplied. "1. Thou shall have no other Gods before me. Which 'one God' are we talking about? The Jewish version (after all, 'he was the original,' so we are told). Or is it the Catholic version or perhaps one of a variety of Protestant versions, or even the Mormon version? Then, what does the word 'before' mean? Is this one talking about others? Oh my. "2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. How do we define 'graven'? Sculpture, painting, photo, computer image? Are all prohibited, or only some? What happens from the fifth generation on? And what is meant by 'iniquity?' Apparently, this God is jealous in nature. But I thought that that was one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Oh my. "3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. What name is that, and how is 'in vain' defined? "4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. What, exactly, does 'keep it holy' mean? Further, right now there are at least two days of the week defined as 'the Sabbath' and a wide variety of approaches to recognizing it, whichever one it is, as special. "5. Honour thy father and thy mother. How exactly are they to be honored? Gifts, speeches, flowers? And how frequently? What would count and who would do the counting? "6. Thou shalt not kill. Uh oh! There goes war, self-defense, the death penalty, and, since it doesn't say 'who,' possibly hunting and the use of animals for food. "7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Given the commonality of the practice, just how would the Gov. propose to control it, much less punish it? "8. Thou shalt not steal. Just how is 'stealing' to be defined? Does it include theft of elections [note that this inquiry was written in 2007; presumably it related to the Supreme Court's theft of the 2000 election from Al Gore], and stealing by the awarding of no-bid contracts to Presidential/Vice-Presidential cronies, or let's say, tax cuts for the rich that steal from everyone else's future? "9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Does lying one's nation into war count? And if its intention is not quite that grand, what is the definition of 'neighbour" anyway? Next door, across the street, down the block, around the world in this increasingly so-called 'globalize'" economy? 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. There's that troublesome definition of neighbour again. But before getting into any details, just how is 'covet' to be defined and what are the proposed penalties for any violations?" "So, a pack of questions. And since we would presume that the Gov. would not be so bold as to propose substituting The Ten for the Constitution en masse (at least not right away), I suppose that it would be up to the Supreme Court to sort things out. As for what, as presently constituted, it might do, we only have to notice that there are currently five seats held by Catholics who, one might presume, have similar ideas about how to answer all those tough questions. Yes indeed, that next election is really important, for more than one real reason." One could comment on Mr. Brayton 's amazing foresight, but I will refrain from doing that for the moment. Turning to the Bible, myriad questions arise. For example, it is well known that the Old Testament was written down by a number of different authors over many centuries. And it should also be noted that while Gov. Landry noted that Moses "was the original law-giver," we actually don't even know whether there was an actual figure/person who was named "Moses," or at least fulfilled the role, as an individual, given to "Moses" in one version of the Bible or another. We do know for sure, that Moses or "Moses" was not the original law-giver. Given what we do know about when the Old Testament was originally written down, over a millennium from 1500 or so to 500 or so, B.C.E., it was not the first. There were, for example, the Code of Ur-Nammu, written in 21st century B.C.E., and the Code of Hammurabi, written in the first half of the 18th century B.C.E. Returning to a consideration of the Old Testament, further questions are: was there more than one One God (writing everything down) or did he (or she) just like taking rests, and then stopped writing altogether (for unknown reasons, of course). Or is the O. T. indeed not divine at all, but rather a collection of some brilliant and not-so-brilliant writings of political pundits and politicians and historians and self-styled "holy people" of the times, and etc. to lay down the rules, justify events, set forth philosophies (the Golden Rule, etc.). Or is it divinely inspired (over the same many centuries after which the divine inspiration stopped)? Ah, questions, questions. I for one, a Humanist, not a Goddist, think that, for example, the Moses and the Ten Commandments story was just a brilliant early example of marketing. How else could a group of nomads become one the earliest groups of people to write down a set of rules, set them up as laws, and commit themselves to the Rule of Law. Just on the basis of Moses (whoever he was) and his men saying "do it?" There are of course many more questions raised by these laws and regulations relating to religious texts. The last one that I shall consider here is, in Oklahoma, exactly which English translation of the Bible will they be using? As I said in a column on the grievous Hobby Lobby Decision: ". . . what the Court has done here is to take one set of religious beliefs, that of the owners of a company incorporated under public law (and gaining the tax benefits of so doing), and placed them above the religious beliefs of their employees, all in the name of religious freedom. In pre-Enlightenment 16th and 17th century Europe, a time that [the late] Justice [Antonin] Scalia pined for in the past, Europeans of various countries slaughtered each other over similar questions of opposing religious doctrines. Back then it wasn't over such matters as contraception (or even abortion . . .). People were burned at the stake for, for example, holding that the wine and the wafer offered at the end of services really were, or were really just symbolic of, the blood and body of Christ. People slaughtered each other over whether it was predestination or 'good works' that determined whether or not one went to heaven." Turning to the Bible in English, the man who made the first English translation of the Bible, one William Tyndale, in 1536 was burned at the stake, in England, for having the temerity to do so. Under Henry VIII, who invented the "Church of England," the authorities still did not want the "common people" (some of whom mighh be able to read) to be able to interpret the "holy word" for themselves, without the intervention of clergy. In England, officially, it was not until about a century later that the Bible was first rendered into English, as "The King James" version. The "King James" version, widely used in this country, was, howefer, hardly Divine. It was translated from a variety of Latin and Greek texts and put together by a committee of 52 theologians and academics, at the beginning of the 17th century in England. The purpose was to have one officially sanctioned version of the Bible, in English, to support the installation on the English throne of the former James VI of Scotland as James I of England. And a very Church of England King was he, in comparison with his Catholic mother, Mary Queen of Scots. One need not note (but I will anyway) that the King James version was hardly a document of "divine" origin, that is, of course, unless every one of those 52 committee members were speaking directly with God. That is, in conclusion, to say nothing of the variety of other Christian Bibles, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox, or the Jewish ones. And so, Mr. Superintendent, before you mandate the "teaching of the Bible in the schools," as a first step why don't you tell us, just which version of the Bible the teaching of which is being mandated, and why that one? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post note: Of course we haven't mentioned the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Shinto holy books, and etc. I can't wait to hear just how Superintendent Walters is planning to deal with them. (Article changed on Jun 29, 2024 at 8:10 PM EDT) Heres a list of governmental office closures and service schedule changes due to the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. Looking for something to do this Independence Day holiday? Weve got you covered with a long list of rodeos, parades, and of course, fireworks across Oregon and southwest Washington: Fourth of July 2024. Government offices: Federal offices and courts: Closed Thursday, July 4, for the holiday. Oregon and Washington state offices and courts: Closed Thursday. Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Clark county offices, city of Portland and Vancouver offices, Metro regional center: Closed Thursday. Transit: TriMet: Will run buses on Sunday schedules, MAX on weekend service, WES will not run, and the Portland Streetcar will run on weekend schedules Thursday. C-Tran: Is running on Sunday/holiday service Thursday. Portland Aerial Tram: Closed. Public services: Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington county libraries and Fort Vancouver Regional Library District branches: Closed Thursday. U.S. Postal Service offices: Closed, no regular mail service Thursday. Banks: Closed, some in-store branches may be open. Portland parking meters: Free Thursday except in Portland Parks that charge for parking. Hundreds of pedestrians gather on the Hawthorne Bridge to watch the fireworks at the Blues Festival in 2019. Oregonian file photo. LC- THE OREGONIAN Bridge closures: Multnomah County will close the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges to vehicles 8 p.m.-midnight on Thursday for the fireworks show put on by the Waterfront Blues Festival. In prior years when the bridge was open to motor vehicles, crowds of pedestrians would generally gather on the bridges to watch the show and cause safety issues. Cars and trucks will need to choose an alternate river crossing during that time. Both bridges will remain open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized vehicles. Rosemarie Stein 503-221-4376, events@oregonian.com; @trafficportland Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe A Washington state man found guilty of murder for his role in the 2022 death of a police officer who was mistakenly shot by a sheriffs deputy was sentenced Friday to 29 years in prison. A Clark County Superior Court judge sentenced Julio Segura of Yakima in the death of Vancouver police officer Donald Sahota, The Columbian reported. More than a dozen people gave statements about Sahota in court before the sentencing. Oregon softball added its second transfer of the offseason. Former New Mexico State infielder Dezianna Dez Patmon, the 2024 Conference USA newcomer of the year, signed with UO on Thursday for her final year of eligibility. Shows such as Anthony Bourdains Parts Unknown, Padma Lakshmis Taste the Nation and many more have given viewers a look at how food reflects culture. Portland has been featured in some other food-centric series, including Street Food: USA and Somebody Feed Phil. Now, a Portland-made documentary series provides a genuinely local exploration of food and cooking, by focusing on residents in one of the most diverse regions in Oregon. Food Foray, from Metro East Community Media, looks at the experiences and traditions of people who are part of immigrant and refugee communities in East Multnomah County. The first three episodes director Ivana Horvat is hoping to make more will screen at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 29 at the Hollywood Theatre, as part of the Portland EcoFilm Festival. In the first three 20-minute episodes, viewers meet immigrants from the Republic of Georgia, Oaxaca, Mexico, and Myanmar. The series host, Jessica Ballard Thiessen, and the East County residents visit grocery stores such as Babushka Russian Deli and Bakery, Supermercado Mexico, and Mingala Market. Then, Jessica visits the documentary subjects homes, to eat foods traditional to their cultures, and to talk about their countries of origin, and the challenges of adapting to a new home in a new place. Horvat, a documentary filmmaker who is herself a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, says the idea for Food Foray came about after one of the producers at Metro East Community Media was interested in doing a studio-based cooking show. That evolved into the approach that Food Foray episodes take, which go into the community and highlight people as they prepare and serve food. Food kind of disarms us, and connects us, says Horvat. We all rely on food, and we all have stories connected to it, whether theyre cultural or not. When I visit other countries, I find you can always talk about your food. It gives you something to prepare together. In Food Foray, the conversations in kitchens and over the dinner table lend themselves to a more intimate atmosphere, Horvat says. As a refugee who came to the United States in 1994, Horvat says, Im obviously pro-immigration. I think its really important to humanize immigrant stories, and immigrant experiences. Horvat also wants Food Foray to help raise awareness about East Multnomah County and Gresham. There are issues in the community around food deserts, and areas that have limited access to nutritious food, she says. But there are a ton of international markets, and her hope is that Food Foray may inspire people who dont ordinarily shop in those stores to check them out. While Portland is known as one of the biggest food cities in the world, Horvat says, with national media attention showered on Rose City restaurants and food carts, East Multnomah County has its own authentic, no-frills food scene, provided by a lot of the people that were resettled here, Horvat says. The food theyre making is fresh from their country. Jessica Ballard Thiessen, a creative project manager who hosts the first three Food Foray episodes, says getting involved with the series made perfect sense because my love language is food. In the first episode, Ballard Thiessen, whose heritage is Black and Indigenous, says she can relate to a refugee from the Eastern European country of Georgia, who talks about feeling torn between cultures. The series, she hopes, can help people learn more about other cultures and about some of the challenges immigrants face. On a less serious note, Ballard Thiessen encourages everyone to try shopping at some of the international grocery stores spotlighted in Food Foray. Going into homes and sampling food was amazing, she says. The Georgian food, the way they used walnuts, Ive never tasted anything like that. And from the Oaxacan episode, Ive been dreaming of the black bean tetelas. I would all of it, again and again. Nino Tvauri, who lives in Gresham, appears in the first Food Foray episode, in which she shops for ingredients for an elaborate Georgian meal she and her mother later prepare. Tvauri got involved after she saw a notice on Facebook that described an idea and vision for the show, and they were kind of scouting for people that wanted to partake. I said, hey, Im an immigrant, I live in East County, and I would love to do this. At first, Tvauri says, she was motivated by curiosity. But after speaking with Ivana, her vision resonated with me, and I said, what a great way to bring community together. Because were all so different, and we come from different places culturally. But we still have so much in common, and sharing that and making that public I felt was important. Tvauri hopes that her Food Foray episode can also help answer questions and clear up misunderstandings people may have about immigrants. I think food is just an international language, Tvauri says. You dont have to speak a language to enjoy something, and all get on the same page. When you come to the table, youre appreciating something together, and that is unifying in itself. The first three episodes of Food Foray will screen at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at the Hollywood Theatre. The event is also scheduled to include food featured in the episodes, and conversations with the filmmakers and participants. For tickets: https://hollywoodtheatre.org/show/food-foray/ Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 29. 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. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the state's stringent abortion law is valid, instructing a lower court to remove a brief bar on the law. This decision permits Iowa to hinder most abortions after about six weeks of gestation, a time frame before many females are aware they are pregnant. Iowa with Other States' Strict Abortion Laws The 4-3 decision indicates a win for Republican lawmakers, aligning Iowa with over a dozen states that have legislated restrictive abortion laws following the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Presently, 14 states have almost complete restrictions on abortion at all levels of gestation, while three states prohibit miscarriages at around six weeks. The Iowa Supreme Court's majority highlighted that there is no lawful right to miscarriages. Additionally, they directed courts to assess whether the government has a justifiable interest in restraining the measure, rather than evaluating the stress of those looking for abortion access. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds immediately released a declaration commemorating the ruling. She said she is pleased that the Iowa Supreme Court has supported the will of Iowa's citizens. Chief Justice Susan Christensen strongly objected, stating that today, most of our court has divested Iowa females of their bodily autonomy by ruling that there is no basic right to stop a gestation under our state constitution. She cannot support this decision. Iowa Law Permits Limited Exceptions to Six-Week Abortion Ban The Iowa law allows for limited exceptions to the six-week abortion ban: cases of rape, if reported to law enforcement or a healthcare provider within 45 days; incest, if reported within 145 days; if the fetus has a fatal abnormality; or if the pregnancy endangers the patient's life. The state's medical board recently defined guidelines for doctors to comply with the law. This ruling signals the conclusion of a prolonged legal battle over abortion restrictions in Iowa, which intensified in 2022 when both the Iowa Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court overturned decisions that had established a constitutional right to abortion. The law was enacted solely by Republican lawmakers in a single-day special session last July. The next day, Planned Parenthood North Central States, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a legal challenge. The law was briefly in effect before a district court judge paused it, a decision that Governor Reynolds appealed. During that period, Planned Parenthood North Central States extended their hours and made hundreds of phone calls to prepare patients amidst the uncertainty, rescheduling abortion appointments in other states. Court documents indicated that Iowa clinics had several hundred abortion appointments scheduled over two weeks last July, most beyond the six-week pregnancy mark. Since then, Planned Parenthood has ceased providing abortion services in two Iowa cities, including one in Des Moines. The remaining Des Moines location cannot currently serve abortion patients, so services are being provided about 36 miles (59 kilometers) north in Ames. Before Friday's ruling, Planned Parenthood providers had been informing patients with upcoming appointments about the potential outcomes of the high court's decision. Masie Stilwell, the director of public affairs, said in early June that this included the possibility that abortion might no longer be legal in their cases, and they would need to coordinate with staff to reschedule in other states. Oklahoma teachers who refuse to teach students about the Bible could endanger losing their teaching licenses, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. Superintendent Walters Mandates Oklahoma Schools to Teach the Bible Walters released a memo on Thursday directing all Oklahoma schools to educate students in grades five through 12 on the Bible's influence on the nation's founding and key American historical figures. Additionally, schools must have a Bible available in every classroom. Walters stated that teachers who refuse to comply with the Bible instruction mandate could face consequences similar to those who fail to teach about the Civil War, potentially resulting in the revocation of their teaching licenses. This process requires approval by the Oklahoma State Board of Education, which Walters chairs. "Any teacher who knowingly and willfully disobeys the law and our standards will face repercussions," Walters affirmed. "Teachers are obligated to adhere to Oklahoma Academic Standards, which will certainly be part of them." Walters' actions to incorporate Bible instruction into school curricula have flared instant opinions from civil liberties and religious groups. Both the Jewish Federation of Tulsa and the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations released declarations blaming Walters for improperly encouraging Christianity in schools. The group Americans United for Separation of Church and State also criticized Walters' actions, declaring that he was misusing his public office to dictate his religious beliefs on students. They stated that they are assessing their legal options. According to Walters, the Oklahoma Department of Education has been developing guidelines on using the Bible in classrooms for nine months. He emphasized the importance of this initiative, noting that the Bible is facing challenges and needs protection. Read Also : Louisiana Mandates Displaying Ten Commandments in Every Public School Classroom Responding to concerns, a spokesperson from the Oklahoma Attorney General's office clarified that existing law already permits teachers to use Bibles in classroom instruction and that there is no legal basis for the Superintendent's memo mandating specific content. Walters expressed confidence in the legality of his directive, citing the Supreme Court justices appointed by former President Donald Trump as supportive of such state-level actions. He suggested that a potential second term for Trump would further advance their agenda. Bible Integration in Oklahoma Classrooms Defies Supreme Court Rulings Oklahoma's Department of Education mandated that every teacher in the state must keep a Bible in their classroom and incorporate it into their teaching, defying U.S. Supreme Court rulings that bar state endorsement of religion. Ryan Walters, Oklahoma's superintendent of public instruction, announced the directive during Thursday's Department of Education board meeting, emphasizing a focus on the Ten Commandments. He stated, "Every teacher and classroom across Oklahoma will have a Bible, ensuring every student gains this historical understanding." Walters described the Bible, sacred in Judaism and Christianity, as a cornerstone of Western civilization, noting its influence on figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. The Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits state promotion of specific religions, a principle reinforced by Oklahoma's constitution, which mandates that public schools remain secular and avoid favoring any religious group. Walters' initiative faced criticism from Oklahoma's main teachers' union, asserting it violates state law allowing school districts to determine classroom materials and warning against religious indoctrination in public education. The Biden administration has announced a temporary suspension of student loan payments and interest charges for approximately 3 million borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. This decision comes in response to recent injunctions blocking key components of the plan, issued by federal judges in Kansas and Missouri. Legal Challenges and Impact on Borrowers The SAVE plan, designed to link monthly payments to earnings and family size, has faced legal scrutiny from Republican-led states. Lawsuits argue that the administration overstepped its authority in creating a repayment plan potentially costing over $230 billion. The injunctions, temporarily preventing significant payment reductions slated for July, reflect ongoing legal battles over the plan's implementation and financial implications. This week, U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree in Kansas issued an injunction preventing the final component of the SAVE plan from taking effect. This component was set to reduce most enrollees' monthly payments by half starting in July. Judge Crabtree's ruling pointed out that the Education Department had not sufficiently demonstrated that Congress had authorized such an extensive repayment plan and emphasized that the economic implications necessitated congressional input. As a result, borrowers who were expecting reduced payments will now see their payments and interest accrual postponed. This suspension affects enrollees with higher earnings, while those with low earnings, approximately 4.5 million borrowers who qualify for $0 monthly payments, will continue to benefit from the plan. The Education Department has not specified the duration of this forbearance but assured that affected borrowers would be informed in the coming days. Department of Education's Response and Future Steps In response to the injunctions, the Education Department is taking steps to comply with the legal rulings while continuing to support borrowers. The department plans to temporarily remove the online application for all income-driven repayment programs and loan consolidation options. This move aims to update the system and ensure borrowers have accurate and up-to-date information about their loans, a process expected to take four to six weeks. The department intends to temporarily take down the online application for all income-driven repayment programs and loan consolidation options. This action is intended to modernize the system and provide borrowers with precise and current details on their loans, with completion estimated in four to six weeks. A representative from the Education Department affirmed their dedication to helping borrowers and following the terms of the injunction. The department will inform impacted borrowers about the halt in payments and interest fees and offer instructions on what to do next. The Biden administration is also actively defending the SAVE plan in court. On Thursday, Justice Department attorneys filed a motion to set aside the injunction in Kansas. The administration argues that the SAVE plan is the most affordable repayment option in history, designed to ease the financial burden on millions of borrowers. Broader Implications To Borrowers The temporary halt of student loan payments through the SAVE plan has initiated a more extensive discussion regarding the federal government's responsibility in handling student debt. Republican officials argue that the Biden administration's strategy involves an excessive use of presidential authority, necessitating approval from Congress because of its sizable economic consequences. They believe that Congress, not executive action, should be responsible for enacting significant modifications to the student loan repayment system. Conversely, advocates of the SAVE plan emphasize its ability to offer crucial assistance to borrowers who are having difficulties with student loan debt. They highlight that the plan's repayment model based on income guarantees that payments are affordable and linked to borrowers' financial circumstances, reducing the risk of defaults and financial difficulties. A North Carolina mother is now facing charges for involuntary manslaughter for losing her 8- year-old son in a hot car death. The mother, Ashlee Stallings, is facing serious felonious charges for leaving her daughter inside the car while was at work. This fatal incident yet again highlights the real dangers of leaving young children in cars alone during high temperatures. Swift Emergency Response To The 8-Year-Old Girl On June 26, on a Wednesday night, Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Department officers took a distress call for help regarding a young child that was reportedly left alone and in a critical condition in a vehicle in Charlotte. The police officers quickly arrived at the scene and discovered an 8- year-old girl who wasn't responsive. She was swiftly taken to the closest community hospital, where she was declared departed Thursday morning, according to the arrest leave affidavit. As per the police report, Ashlee Stallings, a 36- year-old mother, apparently abandoned her daughter in the vehicle while she was working. Stallings allegedly informed authorities that she had left the car running with the air conditioning on, thinking her daughter had turned it off due to feeling cold. The temperatures in Charlotte reached the high 90s on that day. North Carolina Mother's Involuntary Manslaughter Charge Likewise, the affidavit has bared distressing information about the last moments before the child's passing. Stallings discovered her daughter lying on the backseat floor, breathing lightly and foaming at the mouth, around ninety minutes after receiving her last text. In a last-ditch effort to rescue her, Stallings smashed the rear window with a hammer and tried to drive to a hospital but pulled over seeking assistance at a nearby business. Hospital staff found that the girl endured brain herniation from hyperthermia, a result of excessively high body temperature. After the death of her child, Stallings was taken into custody and indicted of involuntary manslaughter and purposeful child abuse resulting in serious injury. According to court documents, she's presently confined in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center on a bond set at$ 250,000, and her forthcoming court appearance is set for July 16. Hot Car Death Across the Country Amazon, where Stallings works, verified her job at their site and said they're collaborating with the current inquiry. Amazon offered their sympathies in a statement and noted that they're offering support services to their workers during this grueling period. Amazon issued a statement describing the incident as extremely heartbreaking and stated they're providing support to their workers and making counseling resources easily accessible during this grueling period. According to kiddies and Car Safety, this is the fifth hot car death reported in the United States in 2022. The National Weather Service cautions that in just half an hour, a car can heat up to a fatal temperature of 124 degrees Fahrenheit when the weather is 90 degrees, pressing the serious peril of leaving children alone in vehicles. The inquiry is still in progress, with the community grieving the loss and advocating for further awareness and preventative measures to help a similar tragedy from passing again. Yesterday marked an important anniversary in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And so does today: May I humbly suggest that tonight, or this weekend, or Monday night, or sometime during the next week would be an excellent occasion to watch or to re-watch Witnesses and/or Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon? Or to introduce one or both of those films to your family, neighbors, or friends? Two new pieces have just gone up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: Further Evidence from the Book of Mormon for a Book of Moses-Like Text on the Brass Plates, written by Jeff Lindsay Abstract: Students of the Book of Mormon have long mined the Old Testament as a rich source of influence on Nephite writers. However, surprising recent finds suggest that an ancient text related to the Book of Moses may have been an especially significant influence as well. That possibility was raised in Noel Reynoldss early analytical paper, The Brass Plates Version of Genesis. He found thirty-three proposed parallels between the Book of Moses and the Book of Mormon, some of which pointed to a one-way connection with the Book of Moses as the source. Our recent collaboration resulted in identifying a total of nearly one hundred parallels that cannot be readily explained based on influence from the KJV Bible, some of which further point to a text like the Book of Moses as the source for influence on Nephite writers. That prior work was not as exhaustive as we believed. Thirty-six prospective new parallels are proposed here. Finally, a reasonable challenge to the hypothesis of a Book of Moses text on the brass plates is also considered: why didnt Book of Mormon preachers quote from the Book of Moses more directly? Interpreting Interpreter: A Brass Book of Moses, written by Kyler Rasmussen This post is a summary of the article Further Evidence from the Book of Mormon for a Book of Moses-Like Text on the Brass Plates by Jeff Lindsay in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreterseries is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway: Lindsay provides further intertextual evidence that a Book of Moses-like text was present on the Brass Plates. He also considers why its detailed prophecies of Christ were not directly quoted by Nephite prophets. Lindsay notes that the text comes with warnings that it should not be shown to non-believers, positing that the brass-plates version may not have been widely distributed among the Nephites. With our core filmmaking team and several others last night, my wife and I watched a third iteration of the Interpreter Foundations forthcoming dramatic film, Six Days in August. I was very pleased with the changes that have been made in it as a result of feedback from those (including us) who have seen the previous versions. Its cleaner, and the chronology of events is clearer. I look forward to seeing it again when the music is added that Sam Cardon has been composing for it. I didnt watch the presidential debate last night. Which, for those who knew me at any point up until just a few years ago, might seem rather odd. Prior to 2016, I would never have missed such an event; Ive always been deeply interested in political matters. But circumstances have changed. My principal reason for not watching is that I knew, in advance, that I would find the performances of both candidates excruciatingly, unbearably, bad and that, anyhow, I had already long-since determined that I would vote for neither of them. (In the state where I live, my vote is extremely unlikely to affect the electoral outcome. So I have the luxury of calling down a plague upon both parties houses and casting a consequence-free protest vote.) Moreover, happily, I had something else that I much preferred doing instead. See above. The reports and the commentary that I read before going to bed and upon rising this morning tell me that my decision to skip the debate was a wise one, though not merely for the reasons given above. The clear consensus is that the performance of one of the two candidates was a catastrophe, something savoring of elder abuse. I take no pleasure in that, even though I have voted against that candidate in every single federal election where Ive had the opportunity to do so. I remember watching him masterfully (indeed, to my view, rather demagogically) handling a crowd back when he was a senator and I was a new member of the faculty in the Varsity Theater of BYUs Wilkinson Center. As someone solidly at the other end of the American political spectrum a free-market, federalist, socially conservative, strict constructionist conservative with strong libertarian sympathies he worried me. He seemed a potent threat. Now, though, he worries me for other reasons. Watching the public humiliation of an elderly man who while some of his critics gleeful claims that hes fully senile are both false and mean-spirited is visibly suffering cognitive decline would have been acutely painful. It would certainly not have been an occasion for partisan triumph even if I were an ardent supporter of his rival, which I am emphatically not. The losses attendant upon old age are human tragedies that, for me at least, are far more profound than party politics. I grieve for this man. And Im indignant at those who pretended for years that any recognition of his decline was mere nasty ideological politics, a malicious slander put out by his opponents. My attention was called this morning to a quotation from HBOs miniseries Chernobyl that makes a powerful point that is applicable far beyond the issue raised in last nights disastrous debate performance: When the truth offends, we lie and lie until we can no longer remember it is even there, but it is still there. Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later, that debt is paid. As Ive recently said on several occasions, I look forward to the pending presidential election with all the enthusiasm of a condemned man who has been observing the erection of the gallows outside of his cell window. Im genuinely, deeply, concerned for the future of my country. Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,600+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading! *** Thanks to the anti-Catholic Protestant polemicist James Swan for this find. Luthers words will be in blue. Martin Luther contrary to John Calvin apparently believed in the heresy of soul sleep, which in turn was part of his rationale for rejecting purgatory. The following is an excerpt from Luthers Easter Tuesday sermon in 1533 on Luke 24:36-47 (in which the risen Jesus denies that He is a spirit). It is useful and necessary to know that we are not so alone, as if the devil were a hundred miles or more removed from us; he is everywhere around us and sometimes puts on a mask. I have seen him myself appearing as if he were a pig, a burning wisp of straw, or something like that. You have to know this, and it prevents us from making a superstition out of it and considering such spirits to be souls of men, as has happened up to now, . . . For when the devil lets himself be seen or heard in this way, everybody mistakes it for human souls . . . The devil disguised himself and appeared here and there in various ways, and everyone believed it to be not the devil but a human soul. Otherwise, if they had known it to be the devil, they would have been slow to believe him, for everyone knows that he is a murderer and a liar. (from The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, Volume 6; Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000, pp. 32-40) This view is, of course, contrary to Holy Scripture. Yes, the devil can disguise himself; even, sometimes, as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14, RSV). But as usual, Luther goes to the extreme and seems to deny all ostensible manifestations of ghosts of dead human beings as mere satanic deceptions. And in so doing, he expressly contradicts the Bible. Matthew 17:1-3 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. [2] And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. [3] And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (cf. Mk 9:2-4) How does Luther explain away the ghosts of Moses and Elijah, I wonder? This is before the general resurrection, so they are spirits without bodies, or ghosts, and its in inspired Scripture, and they appear with Jesus Himself. There is no way out of this. Luther couldnt claim they were demonic or satanic manifestations, since Jesus accepted them and engaged in conversation. 1 Samuel 28:12-20 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? You are Saul. [13] The king said to her, Have no fear; what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth. [14] He said to her, What is his appearance? And she said, An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe. And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. [15] Then Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? Saul answered, I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do. [16] And Samuel said, Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? [17] The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. [18] Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. [19] Moreover the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines. [20] Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. The current consensus among commentators is that this is Samuel the prophet, after his death, not a deceptive satanic or demonic impersonation (see, e.g., New Bible Commentary, p. 301; Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 292). This was also the view of the ancient rabbis, St. Justin Martyr, Origen, and St. Augustine, among others. Samuel was in Sheol or Hades, which explains his being brought up and saying that Saul would be with him when he dies. Samuels true prophecy of the Israeli defeat and Sauls death (28:19) mitigates against an impersonating demon, as does the mediums stunned reaction (28:12-13). Samuel speaks prophetically just as he did while on the earth. The biblical account refers to him as Samuel. There is no reason to doubt its literal truth. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: [M]any eminent writers (considering that the apparition came before her arts were put in practice; that she herself was surprised and alarmed; that the prediction of Sauls own death and the defeat of his forces was confidently made), are of opinion that Samuel really appeared. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: Samuel pronounces Sauls doom. Adam Clarkes Commentary: That Samuel did appear on this occasion, is most evident from the text; nor can this be denied from any legitimate mode of interpretation: and it is as evident that he was neither raised by the power of the devil nor the incantations of the witch, for the appearances which took place at this time were such as she was wholly unacquainted with. Her familiar did not appear; and from the confused description she gives, it is fully evident that she was both surprised and alarmed at what she saw, being so widely different from what she expected to see. . . . As he [the LORD] spake by me [28:17] Here was no illusion; none but Samuel could say this. Expositors Bible Commentary: Saul sees that it is really Samuel. But what was it that really happened, and how did it come about? That the woman was able, even if she really had the aid of evil spirits, to bring Samuel into Sauls presence we cannot believe. Nor could she believe it herself. If Samuel really appeared and the narrative assumes that he did it must have been by a direct miracle, God supernaturally clothing his spirit in something like its old form, and bringing him back to earth to speak to Saul. In judgment it seemed good to God to let Saul have his desire, and to give him a real interview with Samuel. . . . Saul was made to see from Samuels communication that there was nothing but ruin before him; . . . Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary: Understood that it was Samuel. It is the more common opinion of the holy fathers, and interpreters, that the soul of Samuel appeared indeed; and not, as some have imagined, an evil spirit in his shape. Not that the power of her magic could bring him thither, but that God was pleased for the punishment of Saul, that Samuel himself should denounce unto him the evils that were falling upon him. . . .. . . nor was he adduced by the power of the devil, but (Du Hamel) by a just judgment of God, to denounce destruction to the wicked king. (St. Augustine, &c.) . . . That Samuel really appeared, is the more common opinion of the fathers. (St. Augustine, Cura. xv.). Jesus assumed the existence of spirits, or ghosts: Luke 24:37-39 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. [38] And he said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? [39] See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have. On a StackExchange page on this specific topic, one person observed: if He didnt believe in spirits I would think He would have said something like Im not a disembodied spirit since those arent real, o ye of little faith, instead of a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you plainly see that I have. The author of Hebrews refers to the spirits of just men made perfect (12:23). Related Reading Bible and Catholicism on Ghosts and Messages from God in Dreams [2-7-06] * *** 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. Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,600+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading! *** Martin Luthers words will be in blue ; the words of the Council of Trent in green . Further they object: The church has accepted the four gospels, others they have not accepted. Thus the church is master over them. If not, who would know which gospel were true, perhaps Bartholomews gospel or another? That sounds just as if we had the gospels from the church and not from God. Christianity has accepted the book, they say, therefore Christianity is over the book. I accept the teaching of Paul, therefore I am over his teaching. Oh, that they had made the distinction between confessing and having authority! The Christian church confesses that the teaching, the Gospel, the book are true. But thereby the church is not given the authority over it. Then I could also say: I accept Christ, therefore I am over Christ. . . . * So they conclude quite foolishly: The Christian church confesses that this book and its teaching are true, therefore it is over them. These are rotten hoaxes. . . . I cannot conclude: Because I accept Johns gospel, I am over the same. For this reason say: It is not true; the Christian church does not have the authority to change a single letter. For it is written in Matthew 5:19, Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Add nothing and take nothing away. It should remain as Christ has ordered it. (Irving L. Sangberg, translator, The 1529 Holy Week and Easter Sermons of Dr. Martin Luther, St. Louis: Concordia Academic Press, 1999, 40-41; my italics and bolding) This is all well and good; that is, until we consider one very important thing: the Catholic Church does not and never did teach such an outrageous falsehood. Perhaps thats why Luther per his usual flawed modus operandi never documented that she did do so: at least not in this excerpt. What a novelty! Imagine citing some actual (magisterial) source before making a sweeping false charge! Well, I shall cite three that contradict his straw man caricature. * received by the Apostles from the mouth of Christ himself, or from the Apostles themselves, the Holy Ghost dictating and have come down even unto us, transmitted as it were from hand to hand; (the Synod) following the examples of the orthodox Fathers, receives and venerates with an equal affection of piety, and reverence, all the books both of the Old and of the New Testamentseeing that one God is the author of both and that they were dictated, either by Christs own word of mouth, or by the Holy Ghost, and preserved in the Catholic Church by a continuous succession. Luther died on 18 February 1546. Less than two months later, on 8 April, the Council of Trent in its Fourth Session, issued the Decree Concerning the Canonical Scriptures , in which it affirmed that the books of Holy Scripture wereandand that they were * There is nothing whatsoever here of this false charge that the Catholic Church regards itself as an authority higher than inspired revelation, or that it vainly thinks that created Scripture, etc. God the Holy Spirit did that, as it clearly states. The Catholic Church merely receives that which was God-breathed; it has come down to the Church. Far from lording it over the Bible, the Church venerates it and receives it with reverence and it is lovingly preserved by the Church. The Catholic Church went on to reaffirm these thoughts in more explicit terms in its next two ecumenical councils: First Vatican Council (1870) These the Church holds to be sacred and canonical; not because, having been carefully composed by mere human industry, they were afterward approved by her authority; not because they contain revelation, with no admixture of error; but because, having been written by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, they have God for their author, and have been delivered as such to the Church herself. (Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, chapter II; emphasis added) Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) The divinely-revealed realities which are contained and presented in the text of sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. For Holy Mother Church relying on the faith of the apostolic age, accepts as sacred and canonical the books of the Old and New Testaments, whole and entire, with all their parts, on the grounds that they were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn. 20:31; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 3:15-16), they have God as their author, and have been handed on as such to the Church herself. (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation [Dei Verbum], Chapter III, 11; emphasis added) What the Catholic Church does contend, is that an authoritative Christian tradition and Church were necessary to establish the canon of Scripture. Sacred Scripture teaches that it is inspired and infallible, but never provides its own canon (list of books). Scripture is what it is. 1 Timothy 3:16 and other passages clearly teach inspiration. The Catholic Church simply acknowledges what is already (by its very nature) Scripture, or inspired revelation from God; it doesnt and doesnt claim to make it so. * It doesnt follow that Catholics are placing Church above Scripture, in pointing out that human authority was needed in order to determine the canon. An analogy or comparison might be in order, to further explain this. All agree that the Bible must be properly interpreted. Protestants, to their credit, place a huge emphasis on learning to study the Bible wisely and intelligently (the sciences of exegesis and hermeneutics). Just because learning and study are needed to correctly read the Bible and to attain to truth in theology, doesnt mean that, therefore, the Bible did not already contain truth, or that human interpretation is higher than God-breathed biblical inspiration. * Likewise, it was necessary for human church councils to decide on the specific books that were to be included in the biblical canon. This doesnt imply in the least that the councils (let alone the Church) are above Scripture, any more than a Christian communion authoritatively declaring in its creed that Jesus is God in the flesh, makes them higher than He is, or superior. Proclamation of an existing reality has nothing to do with some supposed superiority of category. Both the Bible and theological truth remain what they are at all times. * Such reasoning is not even exclusively Catholic. The great Reformed Protestant theologian G. C. Berkouwer has expressed virtually the same idea: Hollard Ghana, the countrys favourite insurer, with its subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life, has made a profound difference in the lives of young girls in Tema, Sunyani, Takoradi, Kumasi, and Tamale. Through reproductive health education and the distribution of sanitary pads, the company has commemorated World Menstrual Hygiene Day and empowered the youth to take charge of their health and education. The beneficiary schools are across five regions in Ghana, including Methodist Day Senior High School, Tema, Sunyani, Nwawasua M/A Basic School, St Anselms Anglican Cluster of Schools, Sunyani, Methodist Basic School, Tanoso, Methodist Basic School, Yamfo, Mbredane STMA Basic, St James Anglican Basic Akromakrom, Mampong Stma Basic, Atwiman Kwanwoma Senior High Technical (AKASS), Trede, Kumasi and Vitting Senior High School, Tamale. After successfully coordinating multiple events across the country, Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo, Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Hollard Ghana, stated that as an insurance company, Hollards goal is to provide care to its community. She said, We are thrilled to commemorate World Menstrual Day with over 5000 students nationwide. Recognising teachers invaluable role in reproductive education, we are here to complement their efforts and advocate for an inclusive community where girls can confidently manage their menstrual cycles while receiving support from their male counterparts. It is essential to distribute sanitary pads and provide health talks by qualified health practitioners, and it is equally important to involve young boys in this advocacy. When boys have a comprehensive understanding of the female reproductive system, they can be valuable supporters for their sisters, friends, mothers, and future spouses., she added. Samuel Agyekum, Acting Clinical Coordinator and Chairman of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee at the President Medical Center and CEO of Prevenza Health Consult, emphasised the importance of proper menstrual hygiene for girls overall health. He stressed that it is crucial for their education and future success and that its essential to ensure that no girl misses school due to her period. After the intervention, Fusieni Alhassan, the Assistant Headmistress Domestic of Vitting Senior High Technical School in Tamale, one of the recipient schools, praised the timeliness of the effort. She thanked the insurance group for selecting the school as a beneficiary. She mentioned that some girls had never seen a sanitary pad before and were thankful for this gesture. Additionally, she advocated for a more comprehensive education package in the future, including family planning. About Hollard Ghana The countrys favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market, having previously operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance, with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand in 18 countries worldwide. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customised to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard offers various life and general insurance products, including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more. Reach Hollard via 0800 444 999. Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh, www.melcom.com/hollard-insurance and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs. 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 Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the Running Mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has assured Ghanaians that the Free Secondary Education Policy will not be abolished by the next NDC government. She urged Ghanaians to disregard the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government's propaganda that the next Mahama administration would cancel the policy. A statement issued by James Agyenim-Boateng, the spokesman for the NDC Running Mate, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, stated that Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made this assertion during her address to NDC members and supporters at New Tafo Zongo, as part of her one-day tour of the Abuakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang affirmed that the NDC would not cancel the free education policy, which began as 'progressively free' under the Mahama administration. "They are going around peddling falsehoods that Mahama will cancel Free SHS. It is not true. Mahama is not a wicked person to cancel the policy," she said. She emphasized that the next NDC administration would instead improve the free education system by working diligently to ease congestion in schools and provide learning materials and adequate food for students. 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 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 The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic insists that the governing party is attractive to young people. According to Salam Mustapha, this feature of the NPP will be a major determinant of the partys victory in the 2024 polls. He made this known when a delegation of the international youth democratic union paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Staff ahead of the unions meeting in Ghana aimed at coming up with ideas on how center-right parties like the NPP can grow, win power, and facilitate development in their respective countries. For Salam Mustapha, this conference being held in Ghana is a testament to the attractiveness of the NPP. The vice chair of IYDU, Nana Asafoagyei who doubles as the NPPs deputy director of external affairs and NPPs parliamentary candidate for Bosome Freho revealed that the meeting in Ghana will also provide an opportunity for delegates to engage with the NPPs base. Meanwhile, chief of staff Frema Osei Opare who welcomed the delegation, reiterated the presidents promise to ensure a free and fair election in 2024. According to her, even though the President is committed to the NPPa agenda of breaking the eight, he will not compromise on the peace of the country. She made this known during a courtesy call on the Presidency by delegates of the international young democratic union. Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An ecstatic Ghanaian in a viral video has proudly displayed how the Ghana Card helped him to board a flight back home. From the airport in Doula, Cameroon, the man, who said he was struggling to return home, revealed how the Ghana Card became his savior saying "the Ghana Card is actually a passport. The doubting Thomas's should understand. I am currently at the Doula Airport in Cameroon, struggling back to Ghana and I used my Ghana Card. "Kudos to the NPP Government; kudos to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. May God richly bless Ghana and may God richly bless Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, he happily stated. Ghana's national biometric identity card, also known as the Ghana Card, contains machone readable chip which makes it function as an international travel document approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Due to lack of electronic visa services agreement between Ghana and many countries, Ghanaians, for now, are unable to use the Ghana Card to travel out of Ghana to countries requiring proof of entry visas. However, for countries Ghanaians can travel to without entry visas such as West African countries, holders of the Ghana Card are able to use it for travel. Also, from every airport in the world, Ghanaians who have lost their passports can use their Ghana Cards to board a flight back to Ghana. At it was introduced over a year ago, some members of the opposition NDC expressed doubts over the ability of the Ghana Card to function as an international travel document. However, many Ghanaians have proved the opposition wrong by providing concrete evidence of they using it to travel aboard various flights across the globe. 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 Ghana's premium Specialist Surgeon and the Chief Executive Officer of Ridge Medical Center, Dr. Emmanuel Gyimah Amankwa has been crowned Ghana's Most Outstanding Personality in Healthcare at the just-ended Business Executive Excellence Awards 2024 held at the Ghana Marriot Hotel in Accra. The remarkable award reflects his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare in the country, as well as his esteemed advocacy for best business practices in the sector. The 10th edition of the event, held on Friday, June 28th, 2024 seeks to identify and publicly recognize private enterprises, public institutions and individuals that have displayed exemplary conduct and chalked up extraordinary accomplishments concerning their business activities over the previous one year period. Speaking to the media after receiving the all- prestigous honour, CEO of Ridge Medical Center, Dr. Emmanuel Gyimah Amankwa said, the award means a lot to his consistent determination to build a formidable and Proficient brand. For Dr. Amankwa, the honour authenticates the company's continuous growth and contribution to the Ghana Health Industry and the Ghanaian economy. According to him, this is a testament to the team's dedication to excellence in every aspect of their operations and also demonstrate their unwavering determination on meeting and exceeding customers expectations. " I am extremely grateful for such a wonderful milestone at this highest magnitude. I will continue to work hard to achieve the vision of becoming the best healthcare facility across the globe. I dedicate this award to our cherished clients ", Dr. Amankwa noted. PROFILE OF DR. EMMANUEL GYIMAH AMANKWA (CEO, RIDGE MEDICAL CENTER) Dr Emmanuel Gyimah Amankwa is the CEO and specialist surgeon at Ridge Medical Center. He also renders surgical services in hospitals in the Eastern Region including Nsawam Government Hospital. He deals in medical logistics through his enterprise called AGE Healthcare and Logistics. Dr Amankwa is a member of the Ghana College of Surgeons and West Africa College of Surgeons. And holds an Executive Diploma in International Healthcare Administration and Diploma in Public Health. A compassionate and focused caregiver with extensive experience in his field over the past 10 years. He has fostered beneficial business partnerships in both the public and private health industry. Dr Amankwa has many accolades including, CEO of the year (private healthcare) at the Gh-West Africa Healthcare Excellence Awards 2022 and the winner for the forty under 40 awards (Health and wellness Category) 2023. He has collaborated with notable television and radio stations like GHone, Metro TV, HD+TV, Starr FM, Kasapa Fm and Agoo FM respectively and business organisations such as Quick Credit/ Bills microfinance investment, Quick Holdings, Pizzaman, Chickenman, Atlantic International holdings company, Webhelp + Concentrix etc to organise outreaches and screening for health conditions of public health importance including Breast cancer, that has enabled him to screen and test thousands of people of respective conditions. He also served as a venue medical officer (VMO) in the 13th African Games, Accra 2023. He consistently displays values of humanitarianism, honesty, and public service. *Some of his work in the community include: Wildaland Shai Hills(2021) EIB Breast Cancer Awareness Screening (Oct - Nov 2022) Prostate Cancer - September 2022 Cervical Cancer awareness January 2023 EIB legacy month expo Medical screening and support - March 2023 Oral and Dental Health Awareness- March & April 2023 Ghana Inter Schools Festival - June 2023 Prostate cancer awarenessSeptember 2023 Breast Cancer AwarenessOctober 2023 Cervical Cancer AwarenessJanuary 2024 Oral Health Awareness-- February 2024 Dr Amankwa aims to continue his public health advocacy and create more beneficial partnership avenues in the health industry. 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that for drug policies to be effective, they must be grounded in scientific research, respect human rights, and demonstrate compassion and a profound understanding of the social, economic, and health implications of drug use. He highlighted the global socio-economic situation that compels individuals to make risk-taking decisions, such as drug trafficking and abuse, noting that the dimensions and impact of drug trafficking are intensive, extensive, and complex. The President made these remarks in a speech delivered on his behalf by Mr. Henry Quartey, the Minister for Interior, at the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day (WDD), in Accra. The event, which also marked the launch of the 2023 World Drug Report, was themed "The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention." World Drug Day is observed annually on December 7, as designated by United Nations General Assembly resolution 42/112 in 1987, for Member States to raise awareness of the risks and effects of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, as well as to consider the most effective countermeasures. The President explained that the theme aims to draw global attention to the urgent need to intensify efforts to prevent trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, which have caused devastating health conditions for millions worldwide. He pointed out that drug trafficking facilitates drug consumption, leading to the development of substance use disorders (SUDs), a highly destructive and concerning health condition. According to the 2023 World Drug Report, drug use disorders are damaging health, including mental health, safety, and well-being. The President noted that stigma and discrimination reduce the likelihood of individuals with drug use disorders receiving the help they need, with fewer than 20 percent currently in treatment and access being highly unequal. President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that Ghana has not been spared the impact of drug trafficking, abuse, and related health problems. However, he expressed satisfaction that Ghana recognizes the challenges associated with implementing international and domestic drug policies, particularly concerning the health and safety of Ghanaian society. He affirmed the government's commitment to continue providing necessary resources to the Narcotics Control Commission and other security agencies to perform their mandates efficiently, thus ensuring the safety and security of all Ghanaians. The President highlighted Ghana's proactive steps in reforming the country's drug policies, including the enactment of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), which addresses the nation's drug challenges. He urged everyone to support law enforcement agencies in combating the drug menace. Mr. Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), reported that last year, NACOC's Demand Reduction Directorate sensitized a total of 308,312 students across 1,322 educational institutions at all levels. Furthermore, NACOC engaged 63 communities and 73 faith-based institutions, achievements made possible through collaboration with other relevant state institutions. The Director-General revealed that NACOC is working with partners to establish Drop-In Centers in some regional capitals to offer counseling services to individuals suffering from SUDs, providing essential support for addiction recovery. "NACOC is committed to ensuring that a scientific evidence-based approach is used in developing prevention outreach programs that are tested and effective in addressing drug use among the youth," he concluded. Source: ghanaweb.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 ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 29. Public discussions are planned in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan ahead of a referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP), Trend reports. According to the press service of the regional administration, industry experts from the nuclear sector will participate in these public discussions. Citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions on both the safety of the technology and the socio-economic aspects of building the NPP. Earlier, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that the referendum would take place this autumn. On September 1, 2023, Tokayev first stated that the country would hold a referendum regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant. "In my 2019 election platform, I promised that the most important strategic issues would be decided through referendums. The construction or rejection of the NPP is an extremely important issue for the future of our country. Therefore, I propose to put it to a nationwide referendum. Specific timelines will be determined later," he said. 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 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 The National Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Richard Ahiagbah has expressed in a social post his perplexity over the National Democratic Congress (NDC)s stance on the governments successful external debt negotiations. The NDC has stated that there should be no celebration of the successful external debt negotiations. However, Mr Ahiagbah challenged this position by questioning what the NDC would have done if they had been responsible for negotiating the significant savings of $4.7 billion off Ghanas debt. He highlighted that this amount is five times more than the $918 million the NDC borrowed in 2015 from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilize the economy. Ahiagbah pointed out that the $4.7 billion saved from Ghanas debt includes amounts borrowed by the NDC, yet they argue against celebrating this achievement. Considering the substantial financial relief it brings to the nation, he found this stance perplexing. In his post on his X platform, Mr Ahiagbah also extended commendations to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his leadership, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam for successfully concluding the negotiations, and Ken Ofori-Atta for laying the foundation for this positive outcome. Ghana has completed three major debt restructuring operations: domestic debt restructuring, external bilateral debt restructuring, and negotiations with commercial bondholders. Commenting on this matter, President Akufo-Addo said In the face of these adversities, Ghana has shown remarkable resilience. He added, We have embarked on a comprehensive strategy to revive our economy, and I am pleased to note that our efforts are bearing fruit. The President cited an impressive growth rate of 4.7% in the first quarter of 2024, surpassing the IMFs forecast of 3.1%. This growth, driven by the industrial sectors 6.8% expansion and a 4.1% rise in the agricultural sector, underscores the effectiveness of the governments economic policies. President Akufo-Addo also emphasized the significance of Ghanas successful debt restructuring initiatives. "We have completed three major debt restructuring operations, he noted. The domestic debt restructuring, which achieved a high participation rate of almost 95%, reduced coupon rates from 21% to 9% on average and extended maturities. This provided the government with much-needed breathing space and set the domestic debt-to-GDP ratio on a clear downward trend, expected to reach 55% by 2028. The President also outlined the successful negotiations with external bilateral creditors, which resulted in a cash flow relief of approximately $2.8 billion. This relief, spanning from 2023 to 2026, allows the government to reallocate funds towards critical infrastructure and development projects that had been stalled due to financial constraints. Our economic recovery is strongly on course, the President affirmed, attributing this progress to both governmental initiatives and the resilience of the Ghanaian people. He praised the collective effort and unyielding spirit demonstrated by Ghanaians during these challenging times. The Ghana CARES Obaatampa Programme, launched in 2021, continues to play a pivotal role in the nations economic strategy. This ambitious program focuses on supporting commercial farming, building the light manufacturing sector, developing engineering and ICT industries, fast-tracking digitalization, and creating jobs for young people. The President also outlined the successful negotiations with external bilateral creditors, which resulted in a cash flow relief of approximately $2.8 billion. This relief, spanning from 2023 to 2026, allows the government to reallocate funds towards critical infrastructure and development projects that had been stalled due to financial constraints. Our economic recovery is strongly on course, the President affirmed, attributing this progress to both governmental initiatives and the resilience of the Ghanaian people. He praised the collective effort and unyielding spirit demonstrated by Ghanaians during these challenging times. The Ghana CARES Obaatampa Programme, launched in 2021, continues to play a pivotal role in the nations economic strategy. This ambitious program focuses on supporting commercial farming, building the light manufacturing sector, developing engineering and ICT industries, fast-tracking digitalization, and creating jobs for young people. The Ghana CARES Obaatampa Programme sets out our roadmap towards the strong revitalization of the Ghanaian economy, President Akufo-Addo explained. Each of you must help and contribute to the success of this programme, by facilitating, amongst other things, as much foreign investment into the country as you can. President Akufo-Addo added If you will recollect, I did say, at the height of the pandemic, that we knew how to bring the economy back to life, but did not know how to bring people back to life, President Akufo-Addo reminded the audience. This remark was made to justify the extraordinary expenditures that the Government was forced to make during the pandemic to afford relief and protection to the population. I believe, in all humility, that the nation is today appreciative of the validity of my statement, as our economic recovery is strongly on course. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa 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 Mona Faiz Montrage, alias Hajia4Reall was sentenced to jail by an American court on June 28, 2024, in a romance fraud case that started in 2023 with her extradition from the United Kingdom. She pleaded guilty earlier this year and has now been sentenced to one year and one day in prison in the United States of America. Her lawyers had earlier argued for three months jail term citing her little daughter and the fact that she did not have previous criminal record. The prosecution argued that a lengthier term will serve as deterrent for others involved in similar schemes. According to Inner City Press, an American outfit that has followed the case since its inception, Hajia4Reall shed tears at a point during sentencing expressing that she was ashamed of being a mother of an 8-year-old. "I want to pay them back. I feel shame as a mother of an 8 year-old daughter. [Sobs] Please have mercy on me," she is quoted to have said when he lawyer sought a lower jail term. Read an excerpt from proceedings on the final day: Judge: The guideline is 37 to 46 months. Assistant US Attorney (AUSA): The victims were vulnerable senior citizens. Some were promised marriage; they sent and lost money. Middlemen received 10%. AUSA: Defendant participated in this scheme fir six years. 32 victims lost $1.4 million. Meanwhile Ms. Montrage reinvented herself in Ghana. Judge: She blames an abusive former boyfriend. AUSA: He was arrested and deported. She continued. One victim confronted her... Judge: She will be deported. Defense lawyer: 3 months incarceration would be enough. She didn't know the money going into her account was from romance fraud. Judge: She created multiple bank accounts. Defense: She's never before disclosed her abuse by her ex boyfriend. Montrage: I want to pay them back. I feel shame as a mother of an 8 year-old daughter. [Sobs] Please have mercy on me. AUSA: She started opening these accounts at different banks at an earlier time. Many in Ghana are following this case. General deterrence is needed Defense: Victim-1 tracked her from her instagram photos - her video had a voice dubbed over, Victim-1 was catfished Judge: I sentence Ms Montrage to one year and one day in prison, the extra day to allow "good time." Defense: We propose she be allowed to fly back to Ghana as soon as she is released, with no ICE detention AUSA: We consent What is ICE? ICE stands for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It essentially is the agency that makes a custody determination. Information on its website stated: "ICE uses its limited detention resources to detain noncitizens to secure their presence for immigration proceedings or removal from the United States as well as those that are subject to mandatory detention, as outlined by the Immigration and Nationality Act, or those that ICE determines are a public safety or flight risk during the custody determination process. "When a noncitizen is not subject to mandatory detention or is not deemed to be a public safety or flight risk, ICE exercises its discretion in making custody determinations to release noncitizens with conditions. These custody decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and after considering the totality of circumstances primarily considering risk of flight, national security threat and risk to public safety. "ICE also takes other factors into consideration including when a noncitizen has a serious medical condition, is the primary caregiver of minor children, or other humanitarian considerations," it added. Hajia4Reall was charged and extradited from the United Kingdom where she was arrested to the USA for her role in a romance scheme. According to reports available to this website, the socialite who had been talking about her rise through entrepreneurship was involved in a romance scam to the tune of $2 million. She is said to have spoken to one of her victims several times and received wire transfers to the tune of $89,000 to help fund her fathers farm. The socialite was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of money laundering, she was also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money. VLOG II June 28: Ghana influencer Mona Faiz Montrage a/k/a @Hajia4Reall was this afternoon sentenced to a year and a day in US prison then flight straight back to Ghana, no ICE - @SDNYLIVE Inner City Press thread: https://t.co/nv5NDDuPCK pic.twitter.com/SAOVBRrS6D Inner City Press (@innercitypress) June 28, 2024 OK - now at sentencing of #Ghana "influencer" Mona Faiz Montrage for romance scsms. She's asked for 3 months in prison: US wants 37 months. As only media here, Inner City Press will live tweet, thread below https://t.co/JyWx1OULRY Inner City Press (@innercitypress) June 28, 2024 Source: Twitter/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 By Dan Nephin, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS) A Lancaster County judge appointed a temporary receiver to oversee the company that runs Retreat Behavioral Health operations in Pennsylvania, including an Ephrata center. Judge Jeffrey Conrads order Thursday follows the abrupt shuttering of Retreats addiction and mental health treatment centers in three states within the past week, leaving in limbo nearly 650 employees and the discharge of patients. That was followed by the deaths by suicide of its CEO and founder Peter Schorr, and second-in-command, Scott Korogodsky, both in the past week. If you or someone you know is at risk for suicide, contact the national crisis hotline by calling or texting 988. Conrad said receivership would work to ensure Retreats Pennsylvania employees are paid, have insurance coverage and potentially continue the outstanding services to the community that the Retreat had been able to provide. Conrads order does not apply to Retreat operations in Connecticut, which has a different ownership structure, nor the companys Florida operations. A roughly $712,000 premium payment is due today to the health insurance provider that covers Retreats employees. The insurer was not identified during Thursday afternoons hearing, which lasted about three hours. Conrad said appointing a receiver was a drastic remedy, but that not appointing a receiver would cause greater damage. Lapis Advisers, a Denver, Colorado-based investment firm, which won a judgment of more than $4.8 million against Retreats owner, NR Pennsylvania Associates, in New Yorks Supreme Court, was seeking receivership. The case was transferred to Lancaster County Court in April. Thursdays hearing came after Conrad denied an emergency request on June 20 by Retreat attorneys to free company funds in a bank account that Lapis had frozen so it could begin collecting its judgment. According to a Retreat court filing on June 18, it wanted the money freed so it could meet payroll and other obligations. Because its account had been frozen, Schorr had been personally providing the funds necessary for (the Retreat) to meet their bi-weekly payroll and related obligations. ... Mr. Schorr has funded a total of three (3) payroll and benefit periods and has contributed a total of $4,100,000 since Lapis froze the funds at Fulton, all in an effort to keep Defendants doors open and protect the health, safety, and welfare of their patients. The filing accused Lapis of being fixated solely on the fastest possible repayment of its debt, even at the expense of the health, safety and welfare of (Retreat) patients, both short term and long term. Two days later after seeking the release of funds and a day after Conrad denied it, Schorr killed himself. Conrad acknowledged the suicides of Schorr and Korogodsky at the start of Thursdays hearing and noted that the company was in disarray. Partway through the hearing, Matthew Haar, an attorney representing the Retreats owners, said his intent had been to seek debt refinancing with Lapis, but admitted being kind of lost here. ... From my perspective, the only two people I ever worked with are deceased. A receiver, Walker said, could determine if the business should be sold, could be rehabilitated or whether its situation was the result of bad acts. Schorrs partner On Thursday, Walker called only one witness, David Silberstein, who testified via video from his home in Brooklyn, New York. He owns a 33% ownership in NR Pennsylvania Associates and the companys Florida unit through his Coal Capital Group, of which he is the sole member. Schorr controlled the other 67% through DRPS Management, of which he was the sole member. Silberstein said after Schorrs and Korogodskys deaths, he took over the financial aspects of figuring out what happened. Silberstein acknowledged NR Pennsylvania Associates had not made any payments toward Lapis $4.8 million judgment, nor met payroll in recent weeks. Conrad said it was clear from Silbersteins testimony that he had no ability to pay any of the Retreats obligations. Conrad scheduled a hearing for Aug. 14 to get an update from the receiver. Silberstein tax lien in Pa. Silberstein and his spouse are being sued by Pennsylvania for payment of unpaid personal income taxes plus interest and legal fees, totaling $359,643. The state first filed suit to enforce tax liens in 2022, but withdrew and refiled the case multiple times because, as the attorney representing Pennsylvania wrote in a letter to the judge overseeing the case, the Commonwealth was unable to effectuate service on Mr. Silberstein, due to the defendants successfully evading service. A schedule posted on the New York courts website shows the next hearings in the tax matter will occur in mid-August. A central Pennsylvania attorney was suspended by the state Supreme Court after an investigation found he failed to disclose multiple DUI convictions, misappropriated payments from clients while working at several law firms and sent inappropriate messages including soliciting drugs to clients who retained him between 2022 and 2024, according to a report from the courts Office of Disciplinary Council (ODC). James F. Logue, 44, of York, has been practicing law in Pennsylvania since April 2006. He last worked at Christopher Reibsome Law in Greencastle, Pa., but the ODC noted he has not been employed since February and worked at four different law firms in the last year. The ODC said Logue did not disclose three convictions, two for DUI at the highest rate of alcohol and a contempt of court conviction, and has shown progressively concerning misconduct. At one law firm he was terminated after four days for not being honest about his convictions, the ODC report said. Logue was jailed for 30 days in October 2022 for his first DUI and was required to report to a probation officer after his second DUI conviction, according to documents in the report. He was arrested on April 27 for violating his probation after becoming a defendant in two separate criminal matters with his ex-wife and current wife. A civil lawsuit filed by Logue against the York County District Attorneys Office regarding the DUI convictions also played a role in his misconduct, the ODC said. Logue on several occasions sent disparaging emails to the opposing party even after being asked to stop. The ODC said Logue, on several occasions, called his clients and would berate them with profanities, often about conflicts between Logue and his wife. Logue was terminated from a law firm in March 2023 due to erratic conduct, before being let go from another law firm in November 2023 for not reporting to work. His peers said his behavior led them to believe he was drinking, despite being in an substance abuse program, such as leaving his car in the law firm parking lot for as long as two weeks and sending threatening emails to coworkers. Logue is also accused of accepting more than $12,000 in payments on five occasions for legal services through his personal Venmo/PayPal accounts and failing to transfer the funds into the law firm accounts. The ODC also said Logue lied to a client in March 2023, while accepting payments to his personal accounts, about his employment status at a prior law firms. Only when the client reached out to the firm did it come to light Logue was no longer employed there. In one case, Logue sent several inappropriate messages to a client, which the ODC described as Logue seemingly trying to start a sexual relationship. The messages included the following, I like you. Its why Im in trouble now, Sweet dreams (kiss face emoji) and And I loved the outfit yesterday, just sayin. A woman who retained Logue for a custody matter in September 2022 told the ODC she received a plethora of concerning messages from Logue, including a solicitation for drugs and derogatory statements about the opposing counsel. Some of the messages Logue sent to the woman included: Off the record. I got placed on house arrest as their final [expletive] you to me. Im only on alcohol monitor. Are you able to line me up with a snack of sorts. Ill take whatever, just not weed, Ok I sent an email to his Rastafarian attorney and I will see what response I get and His attorney is a fun one. Im not racist, but he is one of the proud black ones that made it, so yea. Logue also sent messages saying, Unless you hire a hit man, I gotta deal with it civilly, the report said. Logue was convicted of contempt of court after failing to appear at a scheduled hearing. As for Logues criminal matters regarding his ex-wife and wife, he was found guilty of one count of harassment subject other to physical contact on May 2 and has a plea hearing scheduled in the York County Court of Common Pleas on July 17 for one charge of harassment communicated lewd, threatening, etc. language, court documents show. A 27-year-old York County woman was arrested earlier this week after posted several files depicting the sexual abuse of young children on social media, the Attorney General said Friday. Victoria M. Carney, of Fairview Township, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with 19 felony counts of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. This proactive investigation of online file-sharing allegedly uncovered a cache of disturbing files depicting very young children, Attorney General Michelle Henry said. My office is committed to finding predators who lurk in online forums and seek to exploit our most vulnerable citizens, children. Carney was linked to the lewd files which were uploaded to X, formerly Twitter based on a tip investigated by the Office of the Attorney Generals Child Predator Section. After receiving a search warrant for Carneys home on Rose Hill Drive, agents seized multiple electronic devices that contained child pornography, according to the release. Carney was arraigned and had her bail set at $250,000. Lou Koller, the frontman for popular punk rock band Sick of It All, took to social media Friday to announce that he is locked in a serious health battle. Whats up everybody? Koller said in a video posted to the bands Instagram page. Lou here. As you may or may not know, we had to cancel our full European tour this summer. Theres some rumors going around as to why, and we are here to set the record straight, but we wanted to wait until we got all the information before making an announcement. That is when he got right to what he is dealing with. The reason that it is cancelled is because they found a tumor in my esophagus that goes into my stomach, and Ill have to be getting treatment all summer, he said. Of course, I had full support of the band. As soon as they heard it, they were like forget the tour. Just get healthy. We really feel sorry, he added. I feel sorry for the fans. All of our crew was banking on we were going to have another fun summer together, all the promoters. Everyone who knows has been very supportive. That is the reason. No other reason you heard is the truth. This is the truth. So, yeah, thanks for the love and support. Hopefully, beat this thing and see you at the end of the summer, or maybe the winter. Fans were most than supportive. Lou, NEVER EVER APOLOGIZE for taking time to take care of yourself, one person responded. Youll beat this and come back stronger. Sending you massive amounts of love! I am so sorry to hear this news, another wrote. So glad you are staying home to take care of yourself! Youve got this! Sending much love, strength, and courage! No doubt you truly are Built to Last. There were plenty more responses like that and you can see them, along with Kollers video, here. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. As part of its Middle Corridor initiative, the European Bank for Reconstruction and initiative (EBRD) is funding improvements to Kyrgyzstan's road network, Regional Head of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan for the EBRD, Ayten Rustamova told Trend. "Our bank plans to spend 1.2 billion euros in Trans-Caspian Corridor (Middle Corridor) infrastructure and transport solutions over the next 23 years. We have funded several transport infrastructure projects, including a 44.2 million euro sovereign loan to rebuild a 30 km part of the Issyk-Kul Lake ring road in Kyrgyzstan (Balbay Batyr-Karakol). The renovated route will boost transit and regional connectivity as part of the Trans-Caspian Corridor," she said. Rustamova specified that, supported by the Turkiye-EBRD Cooperation Fund, the project will help reduce annual CO 2 emissions by 16,000 tonnes by 2050. "We would also like to mention the financial package of up to 11 million euros to the Kyrgyz Railways (Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, or KTJ) organized by the EBRD. It consists of a 12-year sovereign loan of 8 million euros and a 3 million euro grant provided by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. The funds will allow KTJ to replace its obsolete open-railcar rolling stock for the transportation of construction materials and agricultural produce," she said. The regional head pointed out that the KTJ will also use the funds to restore critical railway infrastructure, such as the avalanche protection gallery in the Boom gorge. "In a wider Central Asia region, we are exploring a number of public-private partnership initiatives and sustainable infrastructure projects, that will contribute to the fluidity of cargo traffic across the country and along the Trans-Caspian route," she added. The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor. The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe. Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying his companys business records to keep information from voters that he knew would harm his 2016 presidential campaign. Lying on official business filings is a serious criminal offense and another clear example of Trumps pattern doing anything to gain or stay in power. No one is above the law, and any other American would be punished if they committed the same crime. Despite the guilty verdict, Trump is still very much running for president. If he is elected to a second term, our democracy would be in serious peril. Dont just take my word for it: Trump has pledged to weaponize the Department of Justice to seek revenge against his political opponents, pardon himself and his allies for crimes they commit, and deploy the military against demonstrators exercising their First Amendment rightsall while purging the federal government of anyone who doesnt agree with him. Theres too much at stake to let Trump return to the Oval Office. Its up to us to make sure we hold Trump accountable at the ballot box in November. On Saturday at 4:38 p.m. a tornado watch was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 8 p.m. for Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Tornado watch vs. Tornado warning: Know the difference When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Here's a breakdown: Tornado watch: Be prepared! A Tornado watch is your advance warning that conditions are ripe for tornado formation. It's your signal to review your emergency plans, ensure your supplies are in order, and identify your safe room. While it doesn't indicate an imminent tornado, it's a heads-up to be prepared to take swift action if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching. Watches come from the Storm Prediction Center and often cover a large area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states. Tornado warning: Take action! A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar. This is the real deal there's an immediate threat to life and property. Your response should be quick: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. If you're in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, find the nearest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or by trained spotters and law enforcement. Knowing the difference between these two alerts is essential in staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger approaches. Get ready for tornadoes Be weather-ready: Check the forecast regularly to see if you're at risk for tornadoes. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings. Sign up for notifications: Know how your community sends warnings. Some communities have outdoor sirens. Others depend on media and smartphones to alert residents of severe storms capable of producing tornadoes. Create a communication plan: Create a family emergency plan that includes a designated meeting place and important contact information. If your home lacks a basement, identify a nearby safe building, like a church or a relative's house, that you can reach quickly. Choose a secure shelter: Pick a safe room within your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor without windows. Establish a communication plan: Conduct regular family drills for severe thunderstorms so everyone knows what to do when a tornado threat arises. Ensure that all family members are aware of the safe location to seek shelter, and don't forget about your pets if time permits. Prepare your home: Consider reinforcing your safe room for added protection. You can find plans for fortifying an interior room on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website. Help your neighbor: Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries. Staying safe during a tornado: Quick actions to take When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service: Stay informed: Stay vigilant and stay informed by tuning in to local news broadcasts or using a NOAA Weather Radio to receive updates on tornado watches and warnings. At home: If you are at home and a tornado warning is issued, make your way to the basement, a designated safe room, or an interior space away from windows. Don't forget to ensure the safety of your pets if time allows. At work or school: In the workplace or at school, adhere to tornado drill procedures and proceed promptly and calmly to your designated tornado shelter. Avoid areas with large, open spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums, and stay away from windows. Outdoors: When you are outdoors and a tornado is approaching, seek immediate refuge inside a sturdy building. Remember that sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe options. If there is sufficient time, make your way to a secure structure. In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is highly unsafe. Your best option is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine. Remember, acting swiftly and following safety protocols are essential for your well-being when a tornado is imminent. Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 1:11 p.m. on Saturday in effect until 8 p.m. for Crawford and Erie counties. Tornado watches and warnings: Your safety guide When it comes to tornadoes, understanding the distinction between a Tornado watch and a Tornado warning can be a matter of life and death. Heres a breakdown: Tornado watch: Be prepared! A Tornado watch serves as an early warning that conditions are conducive to tornado formation. Its your signal to review your emergency plans, ensure your supplies are in order, and identify your safe room. While it doesnt indicate an imminent tornado, its a heads-up to be prepared to take swift action if a Tornado warning is issued or if you suspect a tornado is approaching. Tornado Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center and often encompass a broad area, potentially spanning multiple counties or even states. Tornado warning: Take action! A Tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected by weather radar. This is the real deal theres an immediate threat to life and property. Your response should be quick: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. If youre in a mobile home, a vehicle, or caught outdoors, seek the nearest substantial shelter and shield yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office and pinpoint a much smaller area, typically the size of a city or a small county, where a tornado has been identified, either by radar or through reports from trained spotters and law enforcement. Knowing the distinction between these two alerts is paramount for staying safe during tornado season. Stay informed, have a plan, and act promptly when danger looms. Prepare for a tornado Stay weather-ready: Keep an eye on the weather forecast to stay informed about tornado risks. Tune in to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updates on tornado watches and warnings Sign up for notifications: Know how your community sends warnings. Some communities have outdoor sirens. Others depend on media and smartphones to alert residents of severe storms capable of producing tornadoes. Establish a communication plan: Have a family plan that includes an emergency meeting place and related information. If you live in a mobile home or home without a basement, identify a nearby safe building you can get to quickly, such as a church or family member. Choose a secure shelter: Pick a safe room in your home, such as a basement, storm cellar, or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Practice your plan: Conduct regular family drills for severe thunderstorms so everyone knows what to do when a tornado threat arises. Ensure that all family members are aware of the safe location to seek shelter, and dont forget about your pets if time permits. Secure your home: Consider reinforcing your safe room for added protection. You can find plans for fortifying an interior room on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website. Help your neighbor: Encourage your neighbors and loved ones to prepare for possible tornadoes. Consider taking CPR training to be of assistance in case of injuries. Tornado safety: What to do when the twister hits When a tornado strikes, taking swift action is crucial to ensuring your safety and minimizing potential harm. Follow these guidelines from the weather service: Stay informed: To ensure your safety during a tornado, remember that acting promptly is crucial, according to the weather service. Stay informed about tornado watches and warnings through regular updates on local news or a NOAA Weather Radio. At home: If you are at home and a tornado warning is issued, make your way to the basement, a designated safe room, or an interior space away from windows. Dont forget to ensure the safety of your pets if time allows. At work or school: In the workplace or at school, adhere to tornado drill procedures and proceed promptly and calmly to your designated tornado shelter. Avoid areas with large, open spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums, and stay away from windows. Outdoors: If youre outdoors and a tornado is approaching, seek immediate shelter inside a sturdy building. Sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe. If theres time, make your way to a secure structure. In a vehicle: Being inside a vehicle during a tornado is highly unsafe. Your best course of action is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching shelter is not possible, either stay inside your car while covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek safety in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine. Always keep in mind that taking swift action and following established safety procedures are crucial for your well-being when a tornado threat is imminent. Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service. A total of 157 players returned to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas today in hopes of winning Event #69: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better at the 2024 World Series of Poker. Among them were bracelet winners, first time hopefuls, and players from all over looking to play one of the most popular split-pot variants. Only 92 players were able to get a piece of the $815,685 prize pool, with only 17 still in the hunt for the gold bracelet and the $153,730 to first place. Leading the way is Christian Roberts, who bagged 2,380,000. The bracelet winner came into the day as the third biggest stack, but eventually dropped to one of the shorter stacks with four tables left. A key double up kept him alive and he won a couple of sizable pots off of Gregory Yohn (190,000) late in the night to put him up towards the top. Roberts other bracelet is in no-limit hold'em, but he has cashes in mixed-game tournaments dating back many years. He looks to put some variety into his bracelet collection with his run here. Sitting behind him is Jon Turner, who ended the day with 1,730,000. Like Roberts, Turners day was not all smooth sailing, as throughout most of the day he hovered around the shorter stacks, despite coming in with the chip lead. Fortune smiled on the talented player as he looks to take home his first bracelet and add to his impressive $3,889,575 in lifetime earnings. End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts Place Player Chip Count Country 1 Christian Roberts 2,380,000 Venezuela 2 Jon Turner 1,730,000 United States 3 Dekel Balas 1,620,000 United States 4 Thomas Taylor 1,400,000 Canada 5 Yuval Bronshtein 1,135,000 Israel 6 Joey Couden 970,000 United States 7 Nikolay Ponomarev 915,000 United Kingdom 8 Kenneth Kemple 880,000 United States 9 James Cheung 800,000 Scotland 10 Daniel Blum 735,000 United States Eli Elezra Bracelet winners Yuval Bronshtein (1,135,000) and Joey Couden (970,000) shot their way up the leaderboard towards the end of the night in their hunt to get more jewelry. Some interesting implications are in play as both are on teams in the $25k Fantasy Draft. Five-time bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra (450,000) also remains in the hunt to take home his sixth bracelet and add more to his already deeply decorated career. Others that found bags included Dekel Balas (1,620,000), Thomas Taylor (1,400,000), last years fourth place finisher James Cheung (800,000), and mixed game phenom and bracelet winner Ryutaro Suzuki (375,000). Day 2 Action The first two levels saw a quick flurry of eliminations as many names fell short of cashing. Among them were Brian Hastings, Matt Grapenthien, Mark Gregorich, and Patrick Leonard. Eventually the players reached the hand-for-hand portion of play, and only one hand was played. That saw the elimination of Russell Hudson after his queens up could not hold up against James Hoeppners three tens. The bubble burst and the final 92 players all secured a minimum of $3,020. After that, eliminations came fast. Players like David Bakes Baker (88th), Phil Hellmuth (87th), Max Pescatori (86th), Adam Friedman (84th), and Phil Hui (83rd) all collected the minimum of $3,020. Others that fell throughout the day include bracelet winners Tom Koral (48th-$3,407) and Barry Greenstein (34th-$4,240). Jon Kyte (25th-$4,904) fell short of another split-pot final table as he finished just outside of the three table redraw. Once down to the final three tables, eliminations sped up. Michael Candeloro (24th-$4,904), Barry Grime (23rd-$5,807), William Kakon (22nd-$5,807), Martin Engels (21st-$5,807) and last woman in the field Mojgan Stringham (20th-$5,807), all busted within the same level. The final elimination of the night was Vincent Calicchia, who got all of his chips in with three ace-high spades, only for Jon Turners set to take down a sizable pot as the night came to a close. Calicchia collected $5,807 for his run and the remaining 17 players bagged up for the evening. Players will return tomorrow at 1 p.m. to the Horseshoe. They will come back to Level 26 with a 10,000 ante, 15,000 bring in, with limits at 50,000-100,000. Play will continue until a winner is crowned so stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates on the 2024 WSOP. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 29. The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, held a meeting with representatives of US companies under the aegis of the US-Kyrgyz Business Council, Trend reports. According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the meeting focused on discussing measures to further develop and strengthen cooperation between the business communities of Kyrgyzstan and the US. Key areas of discussion included interbank cooperation, investment collaboration, digitalization, and the energy sector. Japarov highlighted that during his working visit to the US in April 2024, he invited US business representatives to visit Kyrgyzstan for a familiarization tour. In turn, the US companies expressed their interest in contributing to the expansion of business ties between the two countries. The meeting was attended by representatives from companies such as Abbott, Coca-Cola, GE Vernova Inc., OpenWay, Thomas Greg & Sons Limited, VISA, White & Case, and the Jones Equity Fund. Abbott is a global leader in medical and diagnostic equipment, while Coca-Cola is a food company and the largest producer of non-alcoholic beverages worldwide. GE Vernova Inc. is a leading producer and service provider of energy equipment. OpenWay is a global provider of recognized digital payment solutions. Furthermore, Thomas Greg & Sons Limited offers services for the protection of printed products and various technological solutions and services across all economic sectors. VISA is a world leader in digital payments, and White & Case is an international law firm with a global presence, specializing in various legal services. The Jones Equity Fund is a global market creator for technology companies. Within minutes of the debate's conclusion on CNN, it was David Axelrod, the longtime advisor to former President Barack Obama, who gave a public voice to those private fears. "There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue," he said. But it didn't take long for South Carolina's lone congressional Democrat to come to Biden's defense. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, whose coveted endorsement helped pave the way for Biden's 2020 White House bid, swatted away arguments that Biden should step down. Clyburn, D-S.C., told Washington reporters on June 28 he planned to speak with Biden and said he would tell him to "stay the course." He said there was "no better Democrat" and advised anxious Democrats to "chill out." "That was strike one," Clyburn said. "If this were a ballgame hes got two more swings." South Carolina Democrats interviewed for this story told The Post and Courier they aren't giving up on Biden, either. But they also did not hide their disappointment. For Harpootlian, who is a member of the Biden campaigns national finance committee, it was especially disappointing to watch. Hours before the CNN debate, a confident Harpootlian predicted on FOX News that Americans would tune into the face-off for the same reason that people go to NASCAR races. "They're going to watch for the spectacular wreck," he said, forecasting the Trump-Biden debate as a bloodsport. "And by the way, I like our odds, because, you know, Donald Trump at a NASCAR race is obviously going to smash into the wall several times as erratic as he is." But the morning after the debate, Harpootlian said he didn't know what happened to Biden onstage, and that he didn't ever want to see it happen again. "Whoever prepared him for that debate should not be allowed to near him between now and November," Harpootlian said during a phone interview. "I just can't believe that anybody rehearsed him. I've known Joe Biden for 30 years. I don't believe anyone gave him any meaningful instruction. Perhaps turning the pressure up so much he just seemed overly anxious." ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 29. The Government of Turkmenistan and the OPEC Fund for International Development have signed Country Partnership Framework Program for international development for the period 20242029, Trend reports. According to an official source, the document was signed by Chairman of the Board of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan Rahimberdi Jepbarov and President of the OPEC Fund for International Development Abdulhamid Alkhalifa within the framework of the third annual OPEC Fund Development Forum. Within the framework of the forum, which gathered more than 400 delegates, the parties discussed issues of further development and strengthening long-term cooperation between Turkmenistan and the OPEC Fund for International Development. The program is aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation with multilateral financial development institutions and includes the following areas: - evaluation and financing of priority projects in the fields of transport, industry, telecommunications, healthcare, banking, and financial services, as well as other sectors; - provision of financing and technical support (grants) for the development of the infrastructure of the city of Arkadag, the country's first 'smart city', including technology parks, research centers, medical centers, and other types of urban infrastructure; - provision of technical assistance for capacity building, knowledge transfer, and technology transfer. This agreement is intended to further strengthen economic cooperation between Turkmenistan and the OPEC Fund for International Development. Meanwhile, the OPEC Fund for International Development, established in 1976, is a multilateral development finance institution comprising 12 member countries, including Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Venezuela. PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-29 02:47:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 406 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Rising Afrobeat and Afropop sensation Amirror is set to captivate music lovers with her highly anticipated EP "Reflxns," releasing on June 28, 2024, along with the official music video. Signed to Akon's Konvict Kulture label, Amirror's new EP showcases her unique sound and artistic evolution, featuring 11 tracks predominantly produced by Akon and Nektunez, with a special production contribution from Spotless, who also lends his voice to the song " Morocco." 'Reflxns' 'Reflxns' Album CoverBorn in West Virginia, Amirror's musical journey began with family karaoke sessions and soulful gatherings, evolving through talent shows and festivals. Her path took a significant turn when global superstar Akon discovered her, impressed by her distinctive sound and undeniable talent. This pivotal moment led to her signing with Konvict Kulture and a transformative visit to Senegal, which profoundly influenced her artistic vision."Amirror is a powerhouse of talent and creativity," said Akon. "Her new EP 'Reflxns' is an exciting, vibrant journey through her unique musical landscape. It's been an absolute blast working on this project, and I can't wait for the world to experience her extraordinary sound." "Reflxns" blends dynamic Afrobeat rhythms with soulful melodies, resonating deeply with Amirror's roots and the influential artists she admires. Her fans, affectionately known as "Reflxnss," will find a deep connection to her lyrics and beats in this EP."I'm beyond excited to share 'Reflxns' with my fans," said Amirror. "This EP is a celebration of my musical journey and heritage. Each track is infused with energy, passion, and a piece of my heart. I hope everyone feels the love and joy that went into making it." Amirror's career has already seen international tours and collaborations with artists like Mase, Teni, and Rotimi. With "Reflxns," she continues to break boundaries and redefine the music landscape, offering both up-tempo and soulful tracks that speak to the heart.Don't miss the release of "Reflxns" on June 28, 2024. For more information and to listen to the EP, visit: https://vyd.co/Reflxns About Amirror:Amirror is an Atlanta-based music artist known for her electrifying Afrobeat and Afropop sound. Signed to Akon's Konvict Kulture label, she has captivated audiences worldwide with her powerful performances and deeply personal music.Contact InformationKatina FieldsPublicist - KFields PR Agencykatina@ kfieldspr.com (714) 865-5690 SOURCE: AmirrorView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-29 22:33:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 584 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Dogelend, a revolutionary meme coin that's capturing attention due to its unique concept, "The World's First Loan Giving Doges." The platform will launch its presale soon.LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2024 / In the latest record, DogeLend will launch its presale soon and aims to revolutionize the memecoin with the crypto sensation. The platform allows $DOGELEND token holders to take part in this presale and get better returns.Holding DogeLend offers several advantages:Exclusive Deals: Dogelend holders gain access to special offers and promotions that aren't available to the general public.Value Appreciation: Experience the potential for tokens to appreciate in value, making your DogeLend tokens not just fun but potentially rewarding.Community Engagement: Join a vibrant community of fellow enthusiasts. Connect, share, and grow with others who share your passion for crypto.These benefits makeDogelendan investment as well as a gateway to a rich and engaging experience. The platform's presale aims to simplify crypto investments across multiple networks like Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Solana, and Avalanche. By bridging these blockchains and communities, DogeLend ensures a fun and accessible experience for all users.Apart from that, Meme coinsDogeLendbring a playful aspect to the often serious world of cryptocurrency. They combine humor with functionality, creating a more engaging and relatable investment opportunity. DogeLend's mascot, a friendly doge, embodies this spirit, making it a delightful addition to any crypto portfolio.The platform operates by leveraging its unique lending model and multi-chain approach. This innovative strategy allows users to lend and borrow across different blockchain networks seamlessly. By integrating various ecosystems, DogeLend enhances liquidity and accessibility, making it a versatile and user-friendly platform.Crypto experts have high hopes for meme coins in 2024, especially with Bitcoin's halving event in April. DogeLend has already made a strong start, and its early adopters could see significant gains. If the token continues to grow in popularity and secure listings on more exchanges, it could reach $0.00065 by the end of 2024. Looking further ahead, DogeLend might even soar to $0.0016 by the end of 2025 and an impressive $0.0071 by 2030. The future looks bright for DogeLend and its investors. Participating in the $DOGELEND presale is straightforward. Follow these steps:Buy ETH or USDT: Purchase ETH or USDT from a central crypto exchange.Transfer to a Crypto Wallet: Set up a wallet like MetaMask or Trust Wallet and transfer your ETH or USDT.Connect to DogeLend Presale: Visit the DogeLend presale website and click 'Connect Wallet.' Follow the prompts to authorize the connection.Buy DogeLend: Enter the amount of ETH or USDT you want to exchange for $DOGELEND and click 'Buy $DOGELEND.'Claim $DOGELEND: After the presale ends, reconnect your wallet to the presale site to claim your tokens.About DogeLend:DogeLend, a pioneering force in the crypto industry, where the future of DogeLend is bright, and its growth potential is immense. By investing in Dogelend, the investors contribute to a groundbreaking project as well as joining a community of like-minded enthusiasts. With its innovative approach and strong community focus, DogeLendis set to make waves in the crypto world.The world of meme coins is buzzing with excitement and DogeLend is well-positioned to follow suit. With its advanced trading bot and engaging doge-branding, DogeLend could see gains ranging from 10 times to 100 times.Helpful links:Buy Presale Coin: DogeLending.com Telegram:Join us on TelegramMedium:Read our articlesTwitter:Follow us on TwitterWhitepaper:Explore our WhitepaperCompany: DogeLendContact name: John YangEmail:support@ dogelending.comCity , Country: London, United KingdomWebsite/URL: https://dogelending.com SOURCE: DogeLend PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-29 17:32:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 582 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Contact Hagens Berman by July 1, 2024 Deadline to Join Class ActionSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Globe Life Inc. (NYSE: GL) investors who suffered substantial losses to act now by submitting your losses here.Class Period: May 8, 2019 - April 10, 2024Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 1, 2024Website: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/gl Contact An Attorney Now: GL@ hbsslaw.com Phone: 844-916-0895Globe Life Inc. (GL) Securities Class Action and Activist Short Sellers' Investigative Reports:McKinney, Texas-based insurance giant Globe Life is facing a multi-pronged crisis, grappling with explosive allegations of fraud at its American Income Life (AIL) subsidiary, a federal investigation, and a new securities class action lawsuit.The lawsuit, filed on behalf of investors, alleges that Globe Life made misleading statements and failed to disclose crucial information concerning potential widespread insurance fraud at AIL and a pervasive culture of sexual harassment.The fraud began to emerge on Apr. 11, 2024, when short-seller Fuzzy Panda Research issued a scathing report accusing AIL of rampant fraudulent practices. The report, based on interviews with former executives and agents, outlined concerning misconduct:Issuing policies for deceased or fictitious individuals to inflate business metrics.Forging signatures on policy documents, compromising operational integrity.Unauthorized withdrawals from customer bank accounts.Generating fake policies using fictitious accounts to meet performance targets.Fuzzy Panda further implicated AIL leadership, alleging fraudulent practices escalated under CEO Steve Greer (appointed 2017) and President Dave Zophin (joined in 2018). Their interviews suggest AIL sales teams wrote over $200 million in fraudulent annual life insurance premiums.The report also unearthed a potential $43 million bribery and kickback scheme orchestrated by Globe Life executives. The alleged scheme involved concealing ownership of an insurance licensing testing vendor (Xcel Testing) and directing recruits to use their services for licensing exams.These allegations triggered a significant stock price plunge, with Globe Life shares dropping $55.76 (roughly 53%) on April 11.Further complicating matters, the company disclosed a Department of Justice (DOJ) probe into AIL's business practices, specifically sales tactics used by agents, in late April. Subpoenas were reportedly issued in late 2023, raising concerns about potential wrongdoing.Adding to the turmoil, another short-seller, Viceroy Research, commenced a ten-part investigative report series targeting Globe Life on April 30. The initial report detailed:Extensive background checks on AIL's top-performing agents revealing allegations of kidnapping, assault, and child grooming.A high number of fraud accusations against AIL and its agents, often surfacing in wrongful termination or sexual harassment/assault claims.How AIL's operational methods impact churn rate, structural cash flow issues, employee misclassification risks, and the use of offshore captive reinsurers for potential liquidity against impaired assets."We're looking into whether Globe Life may have concealed widespread fraudulent business practices at AIL," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Globe Life and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Globe Life investigation, read more # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 29. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on the construction of the second stage of Arakadag city, which is the new administrative center of the Ahal region of the country, Trend reports. According to the official source, the document allows relevant institutions and enterprises to conclude contracts with local construction companies for the design, construction, and improvement of buildings and structures, as well as adjacent territories. The decree prescribes to begin construction work in June this year and to hand over buildings and structures with full readiness for operation in September 2026. Furthermore, the document was created in order to successfully solve the tasks outlined in the program 'Revival of a New Era of a Powerful State: The National Program of Socio-Economic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022-2052', enhancing the beauty of the architectural and urban appearance of the city of Arkadag. Meanwhile, Arkadag is a city of national importance and a separate administrative-territorial unit of Turkmenistan. The city, with a projected population of more than 64,000 people, has the rights of the region and is in the second stage of construction. PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-29 02:30:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1077 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. (TSXV:LMG) (the "Company" or "Lincoln Gold") is pleased to announce that in response to strong investor demand the Company has increased the size of the Company's previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") from up to $750,000 to up to $862,500. Under the upsized Offering, the Company will issue up to 3,450,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.25 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $862,500. The Company previously closed a first tranche of the Offering for aggregate gross proceeds of $206,000 (the "FirstTranche"). Please refer to the Company's news releases dated March 21, 2024 and May 14, 2024 for additional details regarding the Offering.Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one non-transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable by the holder to acquire one additional Common Share for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance at a price of C$0.50 per Common Share.Closing of the second tranche of the Offering (the "Second Tranche") is expected to occur in early July, 2024, and is subject to certain customary conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Units issued pursuant to the Second Tranche will be subject to a four month hold period.None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering have been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.The Company utilized the proceeds of the First Tranche for general and administrative expenses and to fund preparation of a technical report in respect of the Bell Mountain gold project in Churchill County, Nevada (the "Project"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the balance of the Offering to fund costs related to the acquisition of the Project (the "Acquisition"). In the event that the Company is unable to complete the Acquisition, some or all of the balance of the proceeds of the Offering may not be used to fund costs related to the Acquisition or the Project and may instead be reallocated by the Company for other corporate purposes. Please refer to the Company's previous news releases dated August 10, 2023, October 27, 2023, November 6, 2023, January 5, 2024 and March 15, 2024 for additional details regarding the proposed Acquisition.About Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.: Lincoln is a Canadian precious metals exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC. Lincoln holds 100% interest in Pine Grove gold project located in Nevada, US, renowned for its mining-friendly regulations. Lincoln received conditional approval from the TSXV on its Acquisition of the Bell Mountain from Eros Resources Corp. The anticipated completion of this transaction will mark a pivotal moment for Lincoln, enabling a potent operational synergy between these two properties. Lincoln is committed to maintaining steady and robust progress towards its goal of becoming a mid-tier gold producer.For further information, please contact:Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. Paul SaxtonPresident and Chief Executive OfficerPhone: 604-688-7377 Email: saxton@ lincolnmining.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the ability of the Company to complete the Second Tranche on the proposed terms or at all, the anticipated closing date of the Second Tranche, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering and receipt of regulatory approvals with respect to the Offering and the Acquisition..Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof.Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will be able to complete the Second Tranche on the terms as anticipated by management, that the Company will use the proceeds of the Offering as anticipated, the expected closing date of the Second Tranche, and that the Company will receive regulatory approval with respect to the Offering and the Acquisition. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include the risk that the Company will not be able to complete the Second Tranche on the terms as anticipated by management or at all, that the Company will not use the proceeds of the Offering as anticipated, that the Company will not receive regulatory approval with respect to the Offering, risks relating to the Acquisition of the Bell Mountain gold project, including the risk that the Company will not receive regulatory or TSXV approval to close the transaction, that the Company will not comp PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-29 01:45:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 988 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 /VICTORY BATTERY METALS CORP. (CSE:VR)(OTC PINK:VRCFF)(FRA:VR6) is pleased to announce that it has significantly expanded it's focus on uranium, with the acquisition of the Yellow Chief uranium property in Utah, and a portfolio of four uranium properties in Saskatchewan. When combined with the previously announced Chariot River property in Saskatchewan, the companies holdings comprise 3,643 hectres.Terms of the Option Agreement are:The Option Agreement dated June 26, 2024, subject to CSE approval, provides Victory the sole exclusive right to acquire 100% interest in the Property in accordance with the following terms: by making aggregate cash payments of $200,000 to Yellow Chief, issuing an aggregate of 16,000,000 common shares to Yellow Chief and incurring aggregate exploration expenditures of $500,000 on the Property as follows:(a) Paying $200,000 in cash to Yellow Chief as follows:(i) $100,000 within 14 days of signature;(ii) $50,000 on the first anniversary of the initial payment;(iii) $50,000 on the second anniversary date;(b) Issuing 16,000,000 common shares of Victory Battery Metals Corp as follows:(i) 8,000,000 common shares upon signature of the Agreement;(ii) 4,000,000 common shares on or before the 1st anniversary of the Effective Date;(iii) 4,000,000 common shares of on or before the 2nd anniversary of the Effective Date;c) Incurring aggregate exploration expenditures of $600,000 on the Property as follows(i) $100,000 on or before the first anniversary date of the Agreement(ii) an aggregate of $200,000 on or before the second anniversary date of the Agreement(iii) an aggregate of $300,000 on or before the third anniversary date of the Agreement.YELLOW CHIEF URANIUM PROPERTY- Located in mining-friendly Juab County in western Utah, the Yellow Chief property comprises 28 claims covering 130 hectares. Juab county is an active exploration and mining area, with beryllium produced by Materion from the Spor Mountain mine, gold exploration and production at the Tintic mine by Osisko Development Corp, and drilling and exploration at the Tintic project by Ivanhoe Electric (Utah Geological Survey Circular 134, 37 pages).The property covers the northern portion of the past producing open pit, and prospective volcanic tuff units trending to the northeast of the pit. The Yellow Chief Mine was developed from 1959 to 1962 as an open pit," ..which reached horizontal dimensions of 1,200 by 300-500 feet (366 m by 91-152 m) and a depth of 100-150 feet (30-46 m). Approximately 100,000 tons (90,700 metric tons) of 0.20-0.23 percent uranium ore was produced from the deposit (Bowyer, 1963)." ** As reported in; (URANIUM MINERALIZATION IN FLUORINE-ENRICHED VOLCANIC ROCKS, Burt, D. M. et. Al, 1980, prepared for the U. S. Department of Energy. Subcontract No. 79-270-E)"Uranium mineralization at the Yellow Chief mine occurs as lenses of disseminated secondary uranium minerals (mostly beta-uranophane) in a 100-to 120-foot (30-37 m) thick sequence of conglomerate and tuffaceous sandstone that directly underlies the "beryllium tuff member" of the Spor Mountain Formation." **** As reported in; (URANIUM POTENTIAL IN UTAH, Gloyn, R. W. and Krahulec, K, 2004, UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY)The Yellow Chief uranium mine is only 6 kilometers east of Materion Corp.'s open pit operations for beryllium (Be) ore. Beryllium is a high-value, essential, light metal with wide applications in the aerospace, computer, telecommunications, electronics, medical, satellite and defence sectors. The Spor Mountain operations are the largest source of beryllium in the United States, accounting for approximately 63 per cent of the world's annual production in 2020.Little information is available regarding previous exploration programs in the area. The Company will conduct mapping and sampling of the open pit sites, with a focus on planning a drill program to test for the favorable uranium (+/- Be) units, North and Northeast of a mapped East to North-East trending fault mapped in the pit.PK Property - The PK property covers 1 claim comprising 1090.0 hectares located northeast of the Athabasca Basin, within the Charlebois-Higginson uranium district. Also known as the "Pinkham East" property, the claims were last explored in the late 1970's. Assessment reports indicate the PK property high (to 100 times background) radioactivity in pegmatite. Radioactivity is reported to be associated with a coarse-grained, off-white leucocratic pegmatite. This rock contains white feldspar and local large biotite books. The pegmatite may extend along strike more than 1700 m. Only limited sampling (3 samples) was completed with uranium values of up to 0.035% U3O8.Fine-grained, reddish brown sandstone boulders cover the grid area of the PK property with boulders reported up 1 metre in diameter and friable, that are unlikely to have survive glacial ice transport over large distances. It was interpreted that they may be sourced from an outlier of the Athabasca Formation. If found insitu, this would be the furthest north occurrence of Athabasca Formation and the unconformity would be an attractive target for uranium mineralization.Mozzie Halo East and Mozzie Halo West Properties - This package comprises three blocks of claims, located around the core Mozzie East and West Properties. The Mozzie East and West Properties are held by other land owners. Combined the Company's three properties total 445 hectares with two blocks adjacent to the Mozzie West property, and one claim adjacent to the Mozzie East property. The Mozzie West and East properties were previously held by Pegasus Resources Ltd. (refer to Pegasus Press Release, October 20, 2021):"The Mozzie Lake property consists of two claim blocks that are situated approximately 25 and 40 km northeast of the edge of the Athabasca basin. It is located within the Charlebois-Higgingson Lake uranium district. Highlights: - Historical resource estimate at the 20A zone with 204,200 tons at 0.119 per cent triuranium octoxidem at an average width of 15.8 feet (4.8 metres), containing 535,718 pounds of uranium*;The mineralization is hosted within pegmatite intrusions. The pegmatite deposits of the Charlebois-Higgingson Lake uranium district have remained largely dormant since it was first explored in the 1940s to 1960s era. There are historical references to rare-earth-element-(REE)-bearing minerals in the region, including at the Pinkham Lake prospects on the Mozzie Lake property. The company believes that a re-evaluation of the district with respect to REE mineralization should be conducted to potentially bolster the uranium po Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has revealed reasons she would never accept an opportunity to return to the Aso Rock Villa. Mrs Jonathans husband was Nigerias president from 2010 to 2015. Before becoming Nigerias president, Mr Jonathan served as the vice president to the late President Umar Yaradua. He initially stepped in as the acting president when Mr Yaradua fell ill, and fully assumed the presidents position when Mr Yaradua died in 2010. However, he lost his reelection bid, which would have enabled him to stay in the Aso Villa for another four years, to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. At an event in Abuja on Friday, Mrs Jonathan reminisced about her time as the presidents spouse and key figure of the first family in the Aso Villa. The event was a colloquium arranged to mark the 60th anniversary of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). The 58-year-old, known for her humorous but confident English-speaking quirks during her husbands administration, said: The stress of Nigeria is too much. I wont go there if you call me now for the Villa. I wont. Dont you see how young I am looking? The stress is so much. The stress of Nigeria is so much. If God manages to bring you out of it, you should glorify God and thank him. It is the Lords doing, and (it is) marvellous in our eyes. He took you there once, so why do you want to go there again? I wont go. Election Aftermath Sharing her reflections about her husbands defeat in 2015, Mrs Jonathan said she encouraged her husband not to cling to office. 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 2015, there were speculations before the election and the release of the polls full results that Mr Jonathan would not leave office even if he lost the election to Mr Buhari. Refuting the speculation, Mrs Jonathan said his husband never opted for such a path but gracefully accepted the outcome and conceded defeat to his opponent, Mr Buhari, without resistance or public outcry. When we failed the election, we were together in the room when we were told we had lost. I did not whisper to him that we must stay because we would shed blood. Innocent people would die, and we didnt know who would die. It might be me, it might be you or my brother and sisters. We didnt need anybody to die, she added. After completing the late Mr Yaraduas four-year tenure as president, Mr Jonathan won election for a fresh four-year term in 2011. However, he lost his reelection bid to former President Buhari in 2015. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will revoke the drivers licences of recalcitrant drivers. The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, made this known on Friday in Abuja while addressing journalists on the outcome of the 2024 Eid-el Kabir Special Patrol Operations, which took place between Friday, 14 June, and Sunday, 23 June. He said that the corps had realised, more than ever, the increasing need for collective participation and collaboration of all stakeholders. He also said the corps leveraged this as a necessary variable tool to help achieve the mileage recorded within the periods under consideration. According to him, prominent amongst these activities is the strengthened ongoing Inter-agency Joint Task Force (JTF) to mitigate the excesses of trailer drivers. Enforcing compliance on indiscriminate use of trailers to convey human beings. This also includes aggressive public enlightenment, robust media engagement and aggressive advocacy campaigns carried out in motor parks across the federation. 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 Finally, there was also the identification and mapping of strategic routes across the country and effective deployment of appropriate personnel and logistics to cover them, he said. The FRSC boss said that the corps had a robust engagement with the leadership of the various transport unions and security agencies. These, he said, included State Traffic Management Agencies and the FCT Department of Road Traffic Services. All these were done to ensure that every stakeholder, both in the public and private sector, plays a cardinal role in entrenching safety on the highways. On the strength of the foregoing, may I bring to your notice that we have added to the conventional enforcement of traffic regulations on articulated vehicles. We have gone a step further by commencing prosecution of recalcitrant drivers through mobile court operations in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. Subsequently, more drastic measures including suspension and withdrawal of the national drivers license will be carried out, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prior to the commencement of the year 2024 Sallah special patrol, the FRSC Corps Marshal had spoken on the mileage to achieve in bringing down the curve of road traffic crashes. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sixty per cent of the 1 million applicants under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS) have received the N50,000 grant. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, made this known in a post on her official X handle on Thursday. Mrs Uzoka-Anite noted that only one million beneficiaries can be accommodated out of about four million Nigerians who applied for the grant. She explained that beneficiaries are selected using random numbers generated by computers. This, the minister explained, will help give everyone an equal chance. The disbursement process is still ongoing, and we have allocated about 60% of the 1 million grants. You can track the number of beneficiaries per LGA paid so far on grant.fedgrantandloan.gov.ng/learn-more/dis. Its important to note that almost four million Nigerians applied for the Palliative grant of 50k, but only one million beneficiaries can be accommodated. This means not all applicants will receive the grant. The selection is not based on who applied first; everyone has an equal chance but by random computer generated selection, she stated. 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 While thanking applicants for their patience, Mrs Uzoka-Anite noted that the complete disbursement of N50,000 to one million applicants was delayed due to issues ranging from incorrect data to duplicate applications. The teams in my office and BOI have worked tirelessly to ensure this process is fair and accurate. Testimonial videos are already being shared, showcasing how the grant has positively impacted lives and we will share many more. We have prioritised accuracy over speed to ensure every Nigerian who applied has a fair shot. We had hoped to complete all one million disbursements by now but the process has been delayed due to incorrect or missing data, duplicate and spurious applications, which we have had to meticulously clean up to ensure eligibility and validation. We are also at the final stages of vetting for the MSME and manufacturing loans. Applications remain open, and disbursement will begin by July ending, she noted. As part of efforts to tackle the economic hardship in the country, the Federal Government launched the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS). The grant is a one-off payment of N50,000 to one million small business enterprises in the 774 local government areas of the country. The target sectors of the scheme include traders, food services, ICT, transportation, creatives and artisans. According to the government, eligible candidates must own a small business, operate a business with progressive economic potential, and be willing to engage at least one additional staff member if turnover increases. Other conditions include proof of residential/business address in the Local Government Area as well as relevant personal and bank account information, including Bank Verification, (BVN) for verification of identity and National Identification Number (NIN). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described state governors desire to determine their states minimum wage as divisive and capable of deepening poverty in the country. It said the notion was dictatorial and undermined the essence and model of creating a national minimum wage in Nigeria. It urged President Bola Tinubu, who had promised the workers a living wage, not to allow himself to be blackmailed or boxed into a corner by the unpatriotic governors. NLCs Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, stated this on Friday in a statement titled, Governors cannot dictate what to pay! He noted that the concept of a national minimum wage was not arbitrary, as it represented a national wage floor, a baseline below which no worker should be paid. He said the threshold was a collective agreement that ensures a minimum standard of living for every worker by law. Mr Upah noted that the governors demand to unilaterally determine the minimum wage in their respective states negates the principle of a minimum wage and threatens the welfare of workers as well as the national economy. 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 said the stance of many governors to determine their states minimum wage would deepen poverty and cause varying dimensions of insecurity. He contended that the fate of Nigerian workers could not be left solely in the hands of employers, whether public or private. The spokesperson of the NLC further observed that what the governors were asking for was akin to allowing numerous companies and organisations in Nigeria to pay workers whatever they like. According to him, 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. He urged the federal government to stop dithering on the issue of the national minimum wage. Mr Upah urged the governors to abandon any inclination toward dictatorial practices as the process of fixing a minimum wage remains a tripartite one involving the government, workers and private employers. He called for policies and actions driven by equity and fairness. Ensuring a fair minimum wage is not only a matter of economic justice but also a fundamental aspect of maintaining social stability and national cohesion. Nigerian workers should not be reduced to beggars. 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 needs of ordinary citizens. We are deeply concerned by this blatant display of ignorance regarding the global best practices for a 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 illustrates why our nation is poorly governed, resulting in the unacceptable suffering of Nigerians, he said. PREMIUM TIMES reported that state governors from the southern part of Nigeria, under the aegis of the Southern Governors Forum, called for the consideration of the cost of living and ability of each state to pay in reaching an agreement on the new minimum wage. In a communique issued at the end of their recent meeting in Abeokuta, the governors advocated that each state be allowed to negotiate the new wage with the labour unions. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, Wahab Azeez, has accused some unionists on the campus of engaging in activities that constitute a threat to his life and his immediate family members. He said the unionists, under the umbrella of concerned staff had locked up his office and offices of other management members since 27 May, claiming his tenure had ended as the colleges provost. Mr Azeez, who spoke during a media briefing on Thursday evening, pointed accusing fingers at the Chairman and Secretary of the colleges chapter of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN), Augustine Nwachukwu and Kazeem Qadri respectively. He said Messrs Nwachukwu and Qadri, among others, have consistently led daily protests for more than four weeks against his leadership of the college over a tenure system that has since been clarified in my favour by the Federal Ministry of Education. The provost said apart from denying him entry into his office since 27 May, the protesters on Wednesday stormed his official residence on the campus and threatened to eject him within seven days. They even posted a banner on the building that I should vacate within the next seven days or that I would be forcibly removed from the building. That is the height of it. My family including my wife who is also a lecturer on the campus has been placed under serious threat, Mr Azeez said. But the protesting workers have denied the allegation of constituting a threat to either the life of the provost or his family members, saying their activities have been within the laid-down procedures for agitation and protests against what they perceived as improper conduct of the provost. 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 Speaking on the telephone with PREMIUM TIMES, the SSUCOEN Chairman, Mr Nwachukwu, said the protesters conduct has been civil. How crisis started Mr Azeez was appointed the provost of the college in May 2019 for a four-year term of office but his letter of reappointment for another four-year term in office was dated 23 January 2023. Following the new appointment by the government, Mr Azeez said he resumed the second term on 26 May 2023. However, on 12 June 2023 an amended Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, which recommended a five-year single term for management officers education colleges nationwide, came into effect. He said: So some individuals who thought they would have the opportunity to become the provost if my second term was truncated by the new Act mobilised the workers against me and sought clarification from the Federal Ministry of Education. But because the Act came into effect after I had resumed, it clearly stipulates that all of us who already started our second tenure should finish the second term of four years. And this is the exact interpretation the ministry gave in its response to their letter. PREMIUM TIMES obtained copies of the letter addressed to the Education Minister, Tahir Mamman, by the workers and the response by the ministry which was signed by the Director of Legal Services, Enonebi Azorbo. Dated 4 December 2023, and signed by both Messrs Nwachukwu and Qadri, SSUCOEN wrote Mr Mamman and sought an interpretation of the Act in connection with the tenure of office of principal officers of the college, particularly, the provost. A similar letter written under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Staff Unions on the college was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education. The signatories to the letter by JAC were Messrs Nwachukwu and Qadri for SSUCOEN, and Chairman and Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Olasunkanmi Alonge and David Odukunle respectively. Minister clarifies Meanwhile, in its response to the inquiries dated 23 May, and referenced: SAF36/S.511/T/143/, the Minister of Education, Mr Mamman, explained the contents of the new Act and the interpretation by the ministrys legal department. Signed on behalf of the minister by the Director of the Legal Services Department of the ministry, Mr Azorbo, the letter reads in part: The passage of the Federal Colleges of Education (amended) Act, 2023 provides for one single term of 5 years as tenure of office for the Provosts of Federal Colleges of Education as reflected in section 13 (6). The Act made further provisions to cover the appointments of those Provosts who have been appointed prior to the assent of the amended Act Section 13(7)(a)(b) provides: If on the commencement of this section, a Provost appointed before the commencement of this Act has held office for: (a) Less than five (5) years, the Provost shall be deemed to be serving the five year single term and shall not have the right for the renewal of his appointment for a further term of four (4) years; and (b) more than five (5) years and serving the second term of office, be deemed to be serving the last term of office without any further extension. The minister said the sections referenced provided two scenarios for those appointed before the new Act came into force, and the other for those appointed after the act came into force. The second scenario which is the case at hand is where a Provost has completed the first tenure of four years and has been re-appointed for another tenure of four years when the amendment Act commences, he shall be deemed to be serving his last term of office of four years without further extension. The non-further extension in this case is that he cannot enjoy five years under the second tenure as enjoyed by the Provost in the first scenario. He will therefore complete the four-year term of the second tenure, the minister further clarified. The minister further noted that the wordings in the sections quoted are unambiguous which does not require any other interpretation than the literal meaning. This suggests that the word in a status should be given their plain, ordinary, and literal meaning NASU directs members to abide by the ministers directive Reacting to the interpretation offered by the minister, the leadership of NASU addressed a memo to its members urging them to comply with the ministers directive and avoid any act of violence. The notice, which was signed by the unions secretary, Mr Odukunle, reads in part: This is to inform NASU members that the FCE(T), Akoka branch received the final response to our joint letter with our sister union SSUCOEN from the Federal Ministry of Education referenced SAF 36/S.5ii/t/143 dated 23rd May 2024 which affirm the 2nd term of office for four years from 26th of May 2023. We, therefore, thank our members for their maturity and urge them to go about their activities within the college peacefully and shun any act that may disrupt the peace of the college as the Honourable Minister has finally spken. JAC metamorphoses to concerned staff Meanwhile, following the withdrawal of NASU leadership and other stakeholders from the agitation against the tenure of the provost, other workers, particularly the leadership of SSUCOEN continued the agitation under the umbrella of a new forum tagged concerned staff. The protesters have since then continued daily assembly on the campus, resisting any attempt to reopen the locked offices. Provosts allegation The provost accused the protesters of not only barring him from accessing his office but also mobilising forces against other workers and unions whose positions are against theirs by organising illegal congresses and staged impeachment of officers of the unions. Mr Azeez said: A few days ago, the protesters mobilised random students and said the President of the students union was impeached simply because the unions leadership did not join their protest. On Thursday, they threatened an impeachment process against NASU leadership for heeding the ministers directive. They have also accused me of being dictatorial or being stubborn but despite their excesses not a single one among them has been queried or sanctioned. I have remained an activist all my life and that is why I have remained quiet over the matter. But I think they should know that I am still the chief security officer of the college and it is still my responsibility to provide security for staff and students. A few individuals cannot take laws into their hands. The provost said the official residence where the protesters had posted a quit notice for him was part of his many infrastructural projects on the campus, questioning how employees would have the effrontery to constitute themselves to an illegal authority. He said he already submitted a petition against the protesters to the police command in Lagos State, and that he is awaiting the ministrys directive to avoid degeneration of the matter. No threat against provosts life -Nwachukwu The chairman of SSUCOEN, Mr Nwachukwu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the concerned staff do not agree with the response from the minister over the continued stay in office. He said: Before April this year, which was meant to be towards the end of the Dr Azeez-led administration, we agreed to endure his sole administrator style of leadership, not until the ministry replied to our letter that he should continue in office until 2027. When they said the Act doesnt remove him, we have not gone too far with our approach and nobody has threatened his life. This matter has consumed three people. As we speak, the entire Congress impeached the executives of COASU because they didnt come out with the might of the union to oppose Azeez. A few days ago, the secretary of the student union claimed she was coerced to say they have not been teaching them. The parliament has impeached the students union president for that. In summary, we dont want Azeez to continue as provost. These issues have been on the ground for a long time and we were patient that at least next year, it would be over not until the ministry responded that it is until 2027. Ministry intervenes again Towards addressing the conflict, the Federal Ministry of Education recently sent a delegation led by the Director of Colleges of Education Department, Uchenna Uba, to meet with the warring factions. The delegation visited the college on 12 June. PREMIUM TIMES is aware that the report of the committee has been submitted to the minister, and the parties are currently awaiting the ministers verdict. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The tents accommodating Nigerian pilgrims in Muna, Saudi Arabia, are set to undergo a major expansion and renovation. The service provider, Ithraa Alkhair Group, has announced a substantial investment of $200 million to enhance the facilities and provide a more comfortable experience for pilgrims. Chairman of the group, Ahmed Sindi, said at an event hosted by his company to honour the Nigerian Hajj 2024 delegation in Jeddah on Friday that the move is expected to significantly improve the living conditions of Nigerian pilgrims during the Hajj season. The Muna tent city, a temporary residence for pilgrims during the Hajj, is a crucial stopover for three days before proceeding to Jamarat for the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual. However, the overcrowding and inadequate facilities in the tents have been a longstanding concern, drawing the attention of several high-ranking Nigerian dignitaries who participated in this years Hajj pilgrimage. The subpar conditions in the tents have been a subject of concern, prompting calls for improvement and upgrading of the facilities to ensure a more comfortable and safe experience for pilgrims. We have already set aside the sum of a billion Saudi Riyals, over $200 million, to improve the facilities in Muna and together with our partners, Kidana, we are talking to see how many of the two-level tents we can deploy, Mr Sindi said. 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 Speaking about the conduct of the Hajj this year, Mr Sindi said, as far as we are concerned, we have witnessed and experienced the most successful Hajj in many years so far. Is it the ultimate service? No, but to us, it is the ultimate best effort. The Nigerian delegation at the event was led by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi. The event provides a platform for pilgrims to converge and celebrate the success of the Hajj season. Muna overcrowded camp Pilgrims, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, shared their disappointing experiences while staying in Muna this year. They described the general conditions of the place as unpleasant. I wasnt sure human beings could live in that manner. The arrangement at the camp was not conducive at all, Hakimi Mamman, a Nigerian pilgrim, said, He said there were situations when 200 people slept crammed in a small place. So risky. This is quite a good time to fix that, he said Another Nigerian pilgrim, Khadija Sani, who spoke to our reporter in Makka, said, Yes, I was scared when I saw my accommodation in Muna. It was not a pleasant one. But we were here for just Ibadah. It is over now. Those who are supposed to fix that place should do that. However, some pilgrims praised the swift action Ithraa Alkhair took to address the challenging situation in Muna and transform it into a more comfortable and enjoyable living space for future pilgrims. This development came after Niger State Governor Umar Bago publicly expressed his disappointment and frustrations with the deplorable conditions at the Muna camp. Mr Bago also advocated for decentralising the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), proposing that state governments take on more responsibility for managing certain aspects of their pilgrims experiences. Despite their difficulties at Mua, many Nigerian pilgrims hailed NAHCON for regularly providing them with food throughout the three days stay at the tents, Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Medical Womens Association of Nigeria (NWAN) and other stakeholders have called for collaboration among medical practitioners to strengthen healthcare delivery in the country. The experts made this call on Thursday in Abuja at the associations Women in Medicine, Health, and Wellness conference themed: Strengthening Networks for Prompt Diagnosis and Care. The event was organised in collaboration with Focus Africa. The groups National President, Rosemary Ogu, said the conference is aimed at enhancing collaborations to optimise patient care. According to Ms Ogu, collaboration and knowledge-sharing are essential for achieving optimal outcomes, adding that by combining our respective expertise and insights, we can leverage our collective strengths to produce superior results and enhance patient care. Speaking on healthcare provision at the grassroots and universal health coverage, the Mandate Secretary of Health and Environmental Service, Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), Fasawe Adedolapo, noted that health campaigns have been taken to the grassroots, emphasising the importance of prevention over treatment. She stated that the tireless advocacy and health promotion efforts have yielded positive results, with the FCT community fully embracing the message. 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 Government efforts Mrs Adedolapo highlighted some of the efforts made by the government to ensure a better healthcare outcome. She said: What we have done is that we have tried to increase our opportunities at capacity training. We have a lot of development partners, USAID, DFID, UNICEF, World Bank and we are not only taking medical equipment and instrumentation from them, but we are also taking new ideas, new ways of medical practice, the best approach to prompt diagnosis and early treatments. She added that the primary healthcare system in the FCT is notably robust, with an impressive 362 primary healthcare centres serving a population of less than 5 million. She explained that the FCT health insurance scheme has made significant strides, registering vulnerable individuals and recently extending free coverage to all pregnant women and their babies for the first year of life. She noted that these initiatives have positively impacted health outcomes, contributing to a reduction in maternal mortality. According to her, with a strong primary healthcare infrastructure and inclusive insurance coverage, the FCT is poised to achieve improved health outcomes and reduced maternal mortality rates. Networking for health Also in her remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Ipalibo Banigo, noted that networking is critical to achieving sustainable and best healthcare outcomes in the country. Mrs Banigo, the Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District, emphasised collaboration among healthcare workers, institutions, and communities. In our interconnected world, the power of networking cannot be overemphasised. We need to share knowledge, resources, and best practices and ensure no one is left out, she said. We must leverage on strengthening networks to bridge the gaps in accessing healthcare. We cannot leave the communities because they are the grassroots. Improving healthcare delivery President Bola Tinubu in 2023, announced that his administration is prioritising the improvement of Nigerias healthcare sector through significant investments and increased funding in the proposed 2024 budget. Speaking at the launch of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the signing of the Health Renewal Compact in Abuja, the President reaffirmed his commitment to delivering quality healthcare, a key promise of his Renewed Hope agenda. Mr Tinubu emphasised the crucial role of primary healthcare in developing a robust and integrated healthcare system, and unveiled plans for a comprehensive overhaul of primary healthcare infrastructure, equipment, and workforce development, commencing in 2024. The initiative aims to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of frontline health workers, ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services and strengthening the foundation of Nigerias healthcare system. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has condemned the implementation of four national budgets running concurrently, describing it as a recipe for chaos and frivolity. Both chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday approved President Bola Tinubus request to extend the implementation of the capital component of the 2023 budget and the Supplementary Appropriation Act. The 2024 budget is also being implemented while the president is expected to transmit this years supplementary estimates soon. Writing on his X handle on Saturday, Mr Obi said it is a flagrant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability. According to the former Anambra State governor, All available evidence has confirmed that the Nigerian government is implementing four national budgets concurrently. This is in blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. It is also a recipe for chaos, confusion, and catastrophe. This intentional action will lead to frivolous items in the approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources, further exacerbating the suffering of the Nigerian 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 It indicates that the leaders are out of touch with reality and lack the competence to manage our nations finances effectively. Unfortunately, this deliberate act of fiscal recklessness is being undertaken by elected representatives of the people, thereby betraying one of the cardinal pillars of democracy. Leaders are elected to responsibly manage public resources in an organised way. I respectfully appeal and in fact, demand that this situation be reversed immediately in preference for a more responsible and transparent approach to budgeting. We must prioritise the needs of the Nigerian people, not the selfish interests of a few. This is a call to action for all leaders to desist from actions that will further drive the country into economic chaos. Neither the National Assembly nor the executive has any excuse to promote or condone such unconscionable behaviour. We seek and insist on a nation governed by leaders who are frugal and responsible in their handling of public resources. This is the only way we can build a great nation. Signed Yunusa Tanko POMR Spokesman June 29, 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 29. Turkmenistan is ready to consider specific proposals from South Korean Daewoo E&C for the development of the chemical industry, in particular the production of phosphorous, ammonia, and urea fertilizers, Trend reports. According to an official source, this was stated by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov during a meeting in Ashgabat with the President of Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., Jung Wan Baek. During the meeting, among the priority areas of cooperation, the parties identified the gas and chemical industries, transport, high technology, investment, and more. They placed special emphasis on the great opportunities of bilateral partnership in terms of creating a new look for Turkmen cities, the participation of South Korean companies in the second stage of the construction of Arkadag city, and the implementation of the 'Ashgabat City' project. Jung Wan Baek noted that Turkmenistan, which has gained a reputation as a reliable business partner on the world stage, has created a solid foundation for the effective work of foreign companies and the implementation of joint investment projects. Meanwhile, in November last year, South Korean Daewoo Engineering & Construction opened its branch in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat to work more effectively in the fast-growing market of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan is implementing 14 investment projects with the participation of South Korean companies, the amount of which currently exceeds $11 billion. A court in Panama has acquitted 28 people charged with money laundering in connection with the Panama Papers scandal, BBC reported. The ruling brings to an end the trial that began in April. Among those exonerated were Jurgen Mossack and the late Ramon Fonseca, founder of Mossack Fonseca, the defunct law firm at the centre of the Panama scandal. The Panamanian judge found that the evidence against Mr Mossack was not sufficient and conclusive to determine the criminal responsibility of the accused. The judge also added that the evidence in this case did not comply with due process after authorities raided the office of the now-defunct firm. Prosecutors had accused Mr Mossack, Mr Fonseca, and others of creating offshore companies and using complex transactions to hide money obtained from illegal activities related to a car wash corruption scandal involving Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. The Mossack Fonseca trial stemmed from Panama Papers, an ICIJ-led investigation that exposed the widespread use of offshore accounts for tax evasion and money laundering. That investigation led to global tax reform, the recovery of more than $1.36 billion in tax revenue and a sharp decrease in corporate registrations in Panama. During the trial, the prosecution sought the maximum sentence of 12 years for money laundering for both Mr Mossack and Mr Fonseca, who died in hospital in May, according to Reuters. 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 Both Mr Mossack and Mr Fonseca denied they, their firm, or their employees had acted illegally. The trial took testimony from 27 witnesses and considered over 50 pieces of documentary evidence, according to Panamanian local news reports. The judge has now dropped all criminal charges against the accused and lifted personal and property precautionary measures against all the defendants, according to a judicial statement quoted by ABC News. The Panama Papers saw a leak of more than 11.5 million financial and legal records exposing a system that enables crime, corruption, and wrongdoing, hidden by secretive offshore companies. PREMIUM TIMES was part of the investigations that saw the ICIJ publish a searchable database that strips away the secrecy of nearly 214,000 offshore entities in 21 jurisdictions. The database also displays information about more than 100,000 additional offshore entities ICIJ had already disclosed in its 2013 Offshore Leaks investigation. ICIJ said it was publishing the information in the public interest. More than 370 reporters in nearly 80 countries participated in the investigation. Their efforts uncovered the secret offshore holdings of 12 world leaders, more than 128 other politicians and scores of fraudsters, drug traffickers and other criminals whose companies had been blacklisted in the US and elsewhere. The Panama Papers underscore the fundamental injustices and inequalities created by the offshore system, media commentators and political leaders say, the ICIJ said. In responding to the Friday court ruling, Gerard Ryle, executive director of the ICIJ, said: This outcome underscores the challenges in prosecuting financial misconduct. While the court did not hold these defendants accountable, the enduring impact of our investigation persists. By revealing hidden truths, as we did in the Panama Papers, we empower the public with information they need to demand accountability and push for reforms. Financial misconduct affects everyone, especially those who rely on public services and safety nets. Tax evasion and money laundering exacerbate inequality and diminish governments ability to provide essential services such as education and health care, Mr Ryle said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In expressing solidarity with him and the millions across the world who campaigned for his release, I specially salute his wife, Stella, a Swedish-Spanish lawyer and human rights defender. Apart from standing firmly by his side, she showed remarkable commitment, taking care of their children, Gabriel and Max, while he was in prison. Julian Assange, an innocent man, walked out of an American-staged court this Monday, 24 June, a free man after spending 1,901 harrowing days in British captivity. He spent those hellish days in the British Belmarsh maximum security prison in a 23 metre cell, isolated for 23 hours a day. Not even a dog deserves such inhuman treatment. The sin of Assange is that as editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, he exposed the war crimes perpetrated by the United States in Iraq, human rights abuses, corruption, and the serial lies of the powerful. This was before Donald Trump, who told 21 lies every single day he was American president, made falsehood a state policy. The dehumanisation of Assange, and his being held hostage, negates the fundamental teachings of the West on journalism. One is that facts are sacred. But in this situation, facts are harmful and should be teleguided by nuclear missiles of lies. Another is that: It is the business of government to keep its secrets secret, and the business of the press to expose those secrets. But for Western powers like Britain and the US, the public should know only what the government wants it to know. To them, a press that keeps the people informed, is an enemy of the state. In fact, as is the case of Assange, a journalists who exposes what government wants covered up, is no different from a spy, and should be so treated. The West used to claim it stood by the truth; and didnt the Holy Scriptures state that Thou shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free? But we now know that as far as the powerful are concerned, Thou shall know the truth, and the truth shall send you to prison. An hostage of Western hypocrisy, the attempt to destroy Assange physically and mentally is a testimony to the lies of the Western press about freedom, justice and the commitment to human rights. In the gathering of Western cocks led by the United States and Britain, Assange was essentially a cockroach pleading his innocence. Only a miracle could save him, as he had been held hostage by British Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Britain acted at the behest of US Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. 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 their mindless attempts to break Assange, the Western powers violated Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. the US violated the First Amendment of its constitution, which states that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. They also raped several articles of the Declaration, including the fundamental right to the dignity of the human person; freedom of thought; conscience; movement; fair hearing; personal liberty; and family life. Also, Britain, the jailor, violated its own laws, including its Human Rights Act 1998, which guarantees the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. Similarly, the US violated the First Amendment of its constitution, which states that: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Although Assange spent five years in British prison, in all, he spent fourteen years in that country mostly fighting against extradition to Sweden for what, in my view, were bizarre cases of suspected rape and alleged sexual molestation. He had visited Sweden in 2010, during which two Swedish women Ms Annan Ardin, 31, in whose home he lived and, Miss W, a staff of Wikileaks discovered he was sleeping with them simultaneously. The latter complained that on an occasion, he had unprotected sex with her, and Miss Ardin recalled that the condom broke while they were also having sex. The ladies demanded that Assange took a test for sexually transmitted infections. But he allegedly declined on the basis that he hadnt the time. So, on 20 August, 2010, the ladies went to the police to compel him to take the test. But the police said it could not do so unless there was a criminal complaint. The case was then reported as alleged rape and sexual assault. The latter complaint came from Miss Ardin, who also claimed that Assange had one morning exposed himself to her, and went on to rub his body against her. To the Swedish authorities, such an act amounted to Assange having deliberately molested her. While the complainants agreed that they had consensual sex with Assange, yet they claimed not to have consented to unprotected sex. Assange was interviewed by the police. Twenty-seven days after the complaint and on the legal advice that he was free to travel, he left for London. The same day, he was arrested in his absence. An European Arrest Warrant was then issued and extradition proceedings initiated. While Britain held Assange, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that Britain and Sweden were holding Assange in arbitrary detention. In 2019, Sweden dropped the charges against him, but Britain continued holding him until 24 June when, under arrangement with the US, he was granted bail, taken before an American judge and sentenced to time already served in British prison. However, Assange who the US was trying to arrest for exposing its classified secrets, said it was: actually an attempt to get me into a jurisdiction which will then make it easier to extradite me to the US. He asked Sweden for guarantees that he would not be extradited to the US, but the later declined. So for seven years, he took refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. While Britain held Assange, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that Britain and Sweden were holding Assange in arbitrary detention. In 2019, Sweden dropped the charges against him, but Britain continued holding him until 24 June when, under arrangement with the US, he was granted bail, taken before an American judge and sentenced to time already served in British prison. The release of Assange and return to his Australian home is a victory for press freedom and fundamental human rights. It shows that no matter how long dark clouds seize the sky, sooner or later the sun will shine. In expressing solidarity with him and the millions across the world who campaigned for his release, I specially salute his wife, Stella, a Swedish-Spanish lawyer and human rights defender. Apart from standing firmly by his side, she showed remarkable commitment, taking care of their children, Gabriel and Max, while he was in prison. The couple had met while he was holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy. So, this will be the first time the family will be meeting, away from the prying eyes of prison guards. Assange has been prised out of the hands of the powerful. But the hounds are still out there waiting to snap journalists who dare publish the truth and make governments uncomfortable. Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print students who aligned with politicians or military regimes were strongly opposed and kept out of the leadership positions of NANS and, in many cases, campus students unions. This was done by portraying them to the rank-and-file as opportunists, hedonists, reactionaries, degenerates, retrogrades, retrogressives, and desperate petty bourgeois elements. The difference between the Student Union Movement of the 1980s and early 90s, and todays Student Union Government, is like one between daylight and night. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) rose from the ashes of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), which was incinerated in April 1978 by General Olusegun Obasanjo-led military despots. NUNS and NANS, however, shared some commonalities. They saw themselves as: the conscience of the nation; the thermometer and barometer of public opinion; the voice of the voiceless; and the loudspeaker of the oppressed. Both shared the same programmatic methodology of struggle, namely Operations Consultation, Consolidation and Confrontation (O3Cs). Their leaders and activists were fond of evoking the same quotations in their mobilisation activities against school authorities and the state. One popular one, was: justifiable justice against unjustifiable injustice is justifiable injustice; at this stage, confrontation is conformation with natural law. They also fondly quoted Algerian revolutionary, Franz Fanon: Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it. Another was: The future will have no pity for those men and women who, possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak words of truth to their oppressors, have instead taken refuge in an attitude of passivity, of mute indifference and sometimes of cold complexity. Both organisations unapologetically stood and fought for education, democracy, development, Pan-Africanism and humanism. They were thoroughly anti-imperialist and identified with the national liberation struggles within and outside Africa. Yet, there were differences. Whereas NUNS saw students as leaders of tomorrow, NANS saw students as workers of tomorrow. While the former believed that it was partners in progress with the government, the latter was for Workers-Students Alliance to be concretised through students-workers solidarity. Student union leaders fraternising with governments and school administrations, or opposing popular causes, were described as traitors to students and peoples cause, and often impeached. In some cases, they were politically excommunicated by the majority of the students. In a few cases, those identified as spies were chased out of the campuses. Whereas the NUNS adopted the three-dimensional motto of Commendation, Condemnation and Recommendation (CCR), NANS adopted Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta; An injury to one is an injury to all; and Everything for the struggle, victory for all. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Thus, governments made concrete efforts to befriend both organisations. But NANS leaders and activists were ever suspicious of politicians and militicians (or military politicians). Between the 1980s and the early 1990s, NANS propagated that politicians and militicians were anti-students, anti-working people, parasitic, dangerous, subversive, hostile and antithetical to progress, democracy and development. It proclaimed that these groups were responsible for the poverty, ignorance and diseases bedeviling Nigerians. It held these forces as primarily responsible for the authoritarianism in the country, Nigerias all-round underdevelopment, and its subservience to imperialism. It also posited that these elites were responsible for the underdevelopment of education, the subversion of academic freedom, the destruction of the autonomy of educational institutions, and the humiliation of the entire academic community. Hence, that they should be isolated from the students movement and the campuses. Consequently, students who aligned with politicians or military regimes were strongly opposed and kept out of the leadership positions of NANS and, in many cases, campus students unions. This was done by portraying them to the rank-and-file as opportunists, hedonists, reactionaries, degenerates, retrogrades, retrogressives, and desperate petty bourgeois elements. NANS pronounced that the student-politician was a fissiparous and cankerous element. It argued that his primary objective was to bourgeoisify and balkanise the students population along partisan, ethnic, and regional lines. And in so doing, to subordinate students interests to those of the state, school authorities and other anti-peoples forces, for his selfish interests. All these, it argued, would weaken students unity and their solidarity with the working peoples. The Buhari and Babangida military regimes, apart from condemning students activism, proscribed NANS, which disdainfully disregarded the proscription and called on its rank-and-file to do same. Its leaders and activists maintained that NANS, unlike NUNS, was not registered by government. As such, government lacked the legal right, political power or moral authority to proscribe it. Student union leaders fraternising with governments and school administrations, or opposing popular causes, were described as traitors to students and peoples cause, and often impeached. In some cases, they were politically excommunicated by the majority of the students. In a few cases, those identified as spies were chased out of the campuses. The civilian and military governments politically feared and respected the students movement. They went the extra mile to win NANS to their side but usually failed. Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, for instance, lambasted the widespread student activism. He stated at the May 1981 convocation ceremony of the Bayero University, Kano that students protest-demonstrations were incidents of lawless behaviour and misdirected aggression, which were destructive, violent and hostile to constituted authority. He added: Our campus revolutionaries are familiar with test-book cliches of what a revolution is all about and demonstrate by utterances and actions that they are strangers to the real conditions and needs of the Nigerian masses. The Buhari and Babangida military regimes, apart from condemning students activism, proscribed NANS, which disdainfully disregarded the proscription and called on its rank-and-file to do same. Its leaders and activists maintained that NANS, unlike NUNS, was not registered by government. As such, government lacked the legal right, political power or moral authority to proscribe it. Besides, it pointed out that students have the human, civil and constitutional rights to organise in defence, protection and promotion of their rights, interests and welfare. Therefore, that proscription and non-recognition of NANS by government was inconsequential, null and void. The NANS president in 1990, Opeyemi Bamidele now, Senate Leader buttressed this point when he told the press: NANS exists; it enjoys international recognition by International Student Organisations. Recognition by government is a non-issue. No regime can ban NANS. It has more roots than the military, which shot its way to power or civilians who rigged elections to get to the top. NANS has more credibility than any regime Nigeria ever had We maintain that we owe our existence to the Nigerian students not the governments. Rather than NANS being weakened by the hostility towards the association by the government, NANS has continued to grow stronger and more equipped to champion the popular course of the Nigerian students and people NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) was banned in 1988 with a decree. It remained so until the ban was lifted. ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) was banned in 1988 again by a decree and it remained so since then. No decree banned NANS. Anyway, no decree created NANS in the first instance. No decree is even capable of banning NANS. NANS withstood state repression because it was students-rooted, well-informed, ideas-driven, and was led by ideologically informed students leaders and activists. This can be discerned from former Education Minister, Professor Jibril Aminus media interview in 1988, in which he stated that: It was found that wherever there was trouble they (NANS leaders) took over the institution of learning. If the Vice-Chancellor or Rector or the Provost talked to the student union, his own student union executive, they would tell him that they were waiting for instructions from the National Secretariat (of NANS). They would not even listen to him at all. Those were the days when the Students Union was a movement, not today that it styles itself a government. Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf worked as deputy director, Cabinet Affairs Office, The Presidency, and retired as General Manager (Administration), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet). Email: aaramatuyusuf@yahoo.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Going forward, it will be important for public figures and policy makers to steer clear of simplistic victim/perpetrator dichotomies that risk eroding empathy for the almajirai and their teachers. Trust building exercises between sangayya schools and different government institutions can help safeguard against rights abuses in the future. Quranic schools, or sangayya schools in Kanuri, have long been the scapegoat of choice in Nigeria. In such schools, boys and young men from mostly poor rural backgrounds study the Quran under the tutelage of a teacher or malam, often depending on charity and odd jobs for their upkeep. Suspicions and misgivings about Quranic schools have been voiced in the context of different societal crises, including bouts of religious and political violence and the COVID-19 pandemic. In many cases, accusations against the almajirai, the students of such schools, go without much reference to empirical evidence. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, the almajirai have been depicted as vectors of disease, even in the absence of relevant epidemiological data. Often, the term almajiri is used loosely to refer to any child begging on the streets, or anyone without Western education. In the context of the Boko Haram conflict in North-East Nigeria, suspicions against the almajirai have reached new heights. Their depictions as guileless foot soldiers of violence, and their schools as breeding grounds for terrorism, have become commonplace among commentators both in Nigeria and beyond. We wanted to know how much truth there is in allegations that sangayya schools were central to the Boko Haram conflict. To find answers, we conducted a total of 75 interviews and group conversations with Islamic school teachers and their students, parents, former members of the Boko Haram insurgency, and academics, government officials and traditional rulers in Borno and Yobe states in 2021 and 2024. What we found confirms conceived wisdom to some extent, but also urges a more nuanced approach to the question of almajiri involvement with the insurgency. Many of our respondents, including many former insurgents, agreed that people with only Quranic education made up a significant share, if not the majority, of members of insurgency groups. Yet, correlation is not proof of causation: That almajirai joined does not automatically mean that almajirci made them join. Over 60 per cent of adults in Borno and Yobe states had no Western education when surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2013. How surprising is it then that people with no Western/only Quranic education figured prominently among the insurgents? To illustrate the point, most of the people who participated in the armed insurrection at the US Capitol on 6th January, 2021, held a high school degree, as do some 90 per cent of the US population. Few people would argue that high school education was responsible for their joining in the violence. While almajirai had a large presence within Boko Haram, our data suggest that the insurgents recruited members from a range of educational backgrounds, as well as among those without any education, throughout all the phases of the insurgency. The findings of other researchers corroborate this. A narrow focus on sangayya schools as main culprits for the conflict leaves us ill prepared to fully understand, and tackle, its root causes. 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 is not to say that the almajirai did not present specific vulnerabilities that need addressing. Our respondents discussed a lack of exposure to Western education and Islamic knowledge beyond the Quran, and a lack of monitoring from parents and teachers as factors making the almajirai vulnerable to recruitment. Almajirai were attracted by the focus of Mohammed Yusufs movement on doing Gods work (aikin Allah) and restoring the dignity of Quranic memorisers, as well as by the economic incentives offered by the insurgents. Also, if a sangayya teacher joined, often his whole student body would follow suit. That way, many young almajirai found themselves recruited into the insurgency without having had much say or agency in the process. Our research also suggests that almajirai, like their counterparts in Western schools, have been particularly vulnerable to forced recruitment. With many insurgency members injured or killed in violent clashes with the military, the insurgents specifically targeted male youths for abduction to replace lost fighters. Our respondents had witnessed mass kidnappings of sangayya students from their schools, notably in rural areas occupied by the insurgents. a key theme emerging from our research is that the view that sangayya schools supported the insurgency has seriously eroded trust in them, with tangible consequences. Respondents highlighted how conflating the sangayya system with Boko Haram made sangayya students and teachers vulnerable to violence by the security forces. Many sangayya students were harassed, detained, and even killed, especially during the early phases of the insurgency. Insurgents also attacked sangayya schools and their teachers for presumably teaching the wrong Islamic knowledge, and to silence Quranic teachers speaking up against them. The religious practices commonly associated with the sangayya system of education, such as the use of wooden boards (allo) to write verses of the Quran on, and the utilisation of the Warsh recitation style, were mostly dismissed as backward and forbidden within the insurgency. This evidence cautions against assuming too comfortable a relationship between the insurgents and the sangayya system. This does not diminish the power of perceptions of such links though. Indeed, a key theme emerging from our research is that the view that sangayya schools supported the insurgency has seriously eroded trust in them, with tangible consequences. Respondents highlighted how conflating the sangayya system with Boko Haram made sangayya students and teachers vulnerable to violence by the security forces. Many sangayya students were harassed, detained, and even killed, especially during the early phases of the insurgency. Mistrust has also led to a decline in the support sangayya schools receive from communities in the form of accommodation and food offerings. Going forward, it will be important for public figures and policy makers to steer clear of simplistic victim/perpetrator dichotomies that risk eroding empathy for the almajirai and their teachers. Trust building exercises between sangayya schools and different government institutions can help safeguard against rights abuses in the future. Notes The research underpinning this piece was funded by a British Academy Humanities & Social Sciences Tackling Global Challenges grant and was co-led by Professor Yagana Bukar at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, and Dr Hannah Hoechner at the University of East Anglia, UK, with assistance from Ali Galadima and Sadisu Salisu. Yagana Bukar is a professor of Geography (Resources and Development) at the University of Maiduguri, who has undertaken several studies on gender, environment and women in conflict situations in northern Nigeria particularly on issues related to the Boko Haram insurgency, while Hannah Hoechner is an associate professor in Education and Global Development at the University of East Anglia, UK. She has been researching Quranic education in northern Nigeria since 2009, authored a monograph entitled Quranic schools in northern Nigeria and produced a participatory docu-drama about almajirais perspectives and experiences. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is set to bestow on Governor Uba Sani of the state the award of Excellence in Healthcare and Grand patron of the NMA, for his commitment to the healthcare sector. The honour was announced through a letter sent to Mr Sani and signed by Madaki David Sheyin, Chairman NMA Kaduna State chapter. Mr Sheyin explained that the award is also a recognition of Governor Sanis commitment to the welfare and progress of all medical professionals even in the midst of the economic crisis in the country and strangulating debt burden in the state. The prestigious award will be presented to Governor Sani at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Kaduna on 10 August, 2024. The NMA Kaduna State Chapter further highlighted Mr Sanis strides and remarkable achievements in the healthcare sector since he assumed office in May 2023,which made him the best choice to be selected for the honour. Notable among the governors strides outlined by Mr Sheyin are : 15% annual budgetary commitment to the health sector. Distribution of medical equipment and consumables to 290 Primary Health Care Centres in Kaduna State. 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 Inauguration of 5 mobile medical trucks equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for rural areas. Ongoing process for the employment of 89 medical doctors to enhance healthcare delivery. Commencement of payment of the 100% 2014 CONMESS salary structure for doctors in the state to encourage retention. Payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for resident doctors. Partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to address substance abuse in Kaduna state. Renovation, reconstruction, and equipping of 6 general hospitals in Kaduna: Rigasa, Maigana, Gwantu, Kafanchan, Giwa, and Ikara (two in each senatorial zone),amongst others. Worthy of note is the fact that Kaduna State recently became the first state in Nigeria to achieve 100% public healthcare facility coverage in Nigeria. The Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency, (KADHSMA), has also successfully completed the on-boarding and distribution of malaria, maternal, newborn and child health medicines to the primary healthcare facilities in the state, including hard to reach centres. This great feat was completed on the 30th April, 2024 as all the 1,062 public facilities in the state are currently enrolled in the drug revolving fund scheme. These achievements have been lauded as a sign of the unwavering commitment of Governor Sani, to improving access to quality healthcare services, especially at the grassroots level. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The successful execution of the 2024 Hajj operation in Kaduna State has been attributed to Governor Uba Sanis foresight in establishing a robust and versatile committee to oversee the affairs of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency. The committee members dedication to their tasks and the cooperation of the pilgrims themselves were instrumental in achieving a hitch-free and successful pilgrimage. The collective efforts of all stakeholders ensured a seamless experience for the pilgrims, reflecting the governors commitment to excellence in governance. The Amirul Hajj who is leader of the Kaduna State delegation to the 2024 Hajj, the Emir of Lere, Suleiman Umar, made this known in a press briefing in Makka, on Friday. He especially thanked Allah (SWT) for the overall success of the pilgrimage. Mr Umar also pointed out that early preparations played a big role in the entire exercise, adding that the committee commenced plans for this years Hajj about ten months ago. He further disclosed that the Agency organised a series of sensitisation programmes about how Hajj is conducted in accordance with Islamic rites for intending pilgrims, as well as rules and regulations of the Holy Land. The emir also disclosed that the committee came to Saudi Arabia and negotiated decent accommodation in Makka for Kaduna State pilgrims and at a reasonable price. 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 According to him, the price negotiation was so transparently done that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) adopted the Kaduna State template for other states. The Amirul Hajj further said that the success story of the 2024 Hajj began with the airlift of pilgrims at the Mando Hajj Camp, adding that pilgrims didnt waste time waiting for their flights and they were fed throughout their stay, unlike in the past. The leader of the delegation also commended the intending pilgrims for being patient with the officials and following laid down instructions at both the Hajj Camp and at the airport. Mr Umaru also praised the Hadaya committee which negotiated a downward review of the rams that were sacrificed in Makkah from $150 to $100, leading to the refund of $50 to pilgrims who paid for the Hadaya through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency. The Amirul Hajj described their efforts as unprecedented, stressing that the Hadaya committee members also ensured that the correct number of rams were slaughtered. He disclosed that the outbound airlift to Nigeria would soon commence and that pilgrims will be conveyed on first to come, first to leave basis. He added that the first batch of pilgrims that arrived in Saudi Arabia will be the first to be airlifted back home. The Amirul Hajj counselled the pilgrims to exhibit the same orderly conduct that they demonstrated throughout their stay in the Holy Land, as the airlift back to Nigeria begins. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Four suspected female suicide bombers believed to be members of Boko Haram killed an unspecified number of people including a soldier when they detonated their explosives at different locations in Borno State. A source familiar with the insurgents operations in the northeastern state told PREMIUM TIMES that the first bombing was recorded at a wedding ceremony in Mararaban Gwoza. The second one took place at a security checkpoint, killing a soldier and two civilians, the source told our reporter. According to him, the third incident happened at a shopping mall and the fourth one at a burial ground. The incidents, he said, took place between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday around the same area. READ ALSO: Suspected suicide bomber dies in Ebonyi The Borno State Commissioner of Police (CP), Yusuf Lawal, confirmed the attacks, estimating the casualties at six. The police boss added that about 15 others were injured and evacuated to the hospital. 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 locations of the four incidents are areas where the Boko Haram faction led by Ali Ngulde operates. The group has been suppressed by its breakaway faction, Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), following the death of its leader, Abubakar Shekau. The group under late Shekau had used female members and captives to carry out suicide bombing attacks. Click here for updates on this story. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Zamfara State Government has rejected the appointment of one of the newly named eight federal permanent secretaries. The presidency announced the appointment of Maryam Ismaila Keshinro and seven others as permanent secretaries in a press statement on Friday. The new appointees have yet to be officially deployed to federal ministries. Announcing the appointment, presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale stated that the appointees were to fill existing and impending vacant slots for some states and geopolitical zones in the top administrative cadre of the Civil Service of the Federation. Mrs Keshinro, a vastly exprienced consultant paedetrician, was appointed to represent Zamfara State. The rest of the appointees with the states or regions they represent are Emanso Umobong Okop (Akwa-Ibom) Obi Emeka Vitalis (Anambra), Mahmood Fatima Sugra Tabia (Bauchi), Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi (Jigawa), Olusanya Olubunmi (Ondo), Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma (South-East), and Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen (South-South). The presidency said the appointees were picked after a diligent selection process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. 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 Rejection However, the Zamfara State Government said Ms Keshinro is not an indigene of the state and, therefore, not qualified to be appointed to represent the state. Its protest goes back to May when the Zamfara States Head of Service, Ahmad Liman, wrote to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, claiming that Mrs Keshinro is not an indigene of Zamfara State. The Zamfara State governors spokesperson, Suleiman Idris, repeatedly told our reporter over the telephone on Saturday and Sunday that he has yet to receive a briefing about the governments stance regarding the matter. In the letter dated 24 May seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, the Zamfara State Head of Service Mr Liman said Mrs Keshinro, not being from the Zamfara State, could not legitimately represent the people of the state and, hence, must be dropped. The letter cited eligibility criteria in the Public Service Rules and a 2023 tenure policy circular. Consequent upon the commencement of the appointment process of the Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service, issues arose that stirred the collective attention of the good people of Zamfara State as the par representative capacity of candidates deployed in the process, most especially the potential candidate pencilled for the appointment on the post of a permanent secretary purported from Zamfara State, the letter read in part. It added that moves to appoint her selection failed to meet the requirements provided under the eligibility criteria enshrined in the Public Service Rules (as revised). It also said the selection offended the requisite for the said post offends the content of a recent Federal Government Circular No. MH.7205/T/31 dated 7 September 2023, on tenure policy regarding clinical Officers/Personnel since the potential candidate that wrongly claimed representation of the good people of Zamfara State is clinical personnel. Its worthy of note to clarify from the onset that the candidate infracted the key provision of Eligibility Criteria of the PSR, especially Rules 020811 (e) (f), which linked the requirements to indigeneship. For all purposes and intendment, the candidate is never an indigene of Zamfara State and would not legally claim or enjoy representation for the sake of the good people of Zamfara State. Furthermore, no purported documentation in that respect will legally qualify her to be a bona fide indigene of Zamfara State, the letter stated. The letter added that the state was unfairly treated at the federal level, and the appointment of Mrs Ismaila would continue the long cry of marginalisation of the state regarding representation at the federal level. Secondly, the circular cited above haplessly deprived the candidate of taking undue advantage of representation of the good people of Zamfara State, most especially the Federal Civil Servants of Zamfara extraction, since the candidate is a clinical officer/personnel exempted from tenure policy, thus, could not legally vie for the post of a permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service by the extant circular. Its against this background that I am, therefore, directed to appeal to the collective conscience of the offices of the Head of the Federation and indeed all critical stakeholders to drop the candidacy of MARYAM IBRAHIM ALIYU or by whatever name called (Keshinro Maryam Ismaila) for the post of a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service in representation for the good people of Zamfara State to allow indigene of Zamfara extraction in the Federal Civil Service to legally and positively compete for the post. Lest we may recover from being the least represented state in the Federal Civil Service and at the same time seek the satisfaction of the Constitutional requirements enshrined in section 14 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the state Head of Services letter also stated. Appointees profile According to her LinkedIn page, the new appointee is an experienced paediatrician with over two decades of working and leadership in medical practice at different levels. She is keenly interested in Preventive Pediatrics and skilled in Childhood infectious diseases, Nutrition and Development. She holds a masters in science (Public Health) focused on Health System Policy and Management from KIT Royal Tropical Institute/VU, Amsterdam. Before her latest appointment, she was a consultant Pediatrician/Director at State House Clinic, Consultant Paediatrician at Kaduna State Health Management Board, and Consultant Paediatrician at the Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital Zaria from June 2009 to December 2020. She was also the central facilitator for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) at Tofa Local Government Area, Kano State. Appointees true state of origin Although the Zamfara State Government claimed that Mss Ismaila is not from the state, PREMIUM TIMES understands that she hails from the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state. Her paternal and maternal grandparents were from Tsafe town. PREMIUM TIMES has learned that Keshinro is the surname she adopted from her husband, who is Yoruba. Mrs Keshinros late parents were Christians from the Hausa minority Christians in Tsafe LGA. Her late father was an ECWA church pastor and a famous clergyman. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police in Edo State, South-south Nigeria have arrested a suspect, who killed a student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City, Edo State. The victim, Glory Adekolure, a 22-year-old fresh graduate of the university went missing on 13 June after she had gone to school to submit her project. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Funsho Adegboye on Friday told Channels Television that the suspect had been arrested in Asaba, the capital of Delta State. The arrest came 15 days after the victim was killed. Mr Adegboye did not give the name of the suspect but said investigation was still ongoing. He told the television station that the suspect confessed to the killing of at least seven other young women. PREMIUM TIMES on 20 June reported how Edo State Government condemned the rape and gruesome murder of the fresh graduate. 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 22-year-old was reportedly raped and killed at Iyowa Community on 13 June. According to a source, the victim was on her way home after processing clearance forms when she was raped and tortured to death. Her remains was dumped near her mothers house. The Edo State Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, had in a statement expressed shock and sadness over the killing. Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the commissioner of police to fish out the perpetrators of the evil act within seven days, Mr Nehikhare had said. The incident is one of the many reported cases of rape in Edo State. PREMIUM TIMES reported that BraveHeart Initiative, a not-for-profit organisation based in the state as of last November said it has facilitated court convictions of 29 sex offenders in 26 cases. This newspaper last November reported how a Magistrate Court in Edo sentenced a man, Dele Eric, to 14 years in prison after he was found guilty in a gang rape case involving a woman with disability. The victim, this newspaper reported, was physically assaulted and sexually violated by four young men in Ikpeshi Community, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state in January 2020. A Magistrate Court in Benin had in July 2022 sentenced a 20-year-old man, Augustine Obasi to three and a half years in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl, PREMIUM TIMES reported. The convict was arraigned in November 2020 on a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful abduction and rape. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, have arrested two suspects over the invasion and looting of properties at Western Delta University in Oghara on 20 June. The police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday. Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, identified the suspects as Okoro Udochukwu, 36, and Sunday Dickson, 32 both from Ore II Community in the state. The suspects, Mr Edafe said, were trailed to a hotel in Aziza junction in Sapele Road, where they were arrested on Monday. He said the suspects are members of a six-man gang terrorising Warri, Sapele, Oghara and other parts of Delta and they specialise in breaking into churches, companies and warehouses while armed with guns. Preliminary investigation revealed that on Wednesday, they allegedly robbed a warehouse in Warri and stole 112 bags of rice and have sold some of them, the police said. Mr Edafe further said that the suspects led the police to the arrest of the people who bought stolen items from them, including Arinze Ezisi, 44, and Titus Chinedu, 47, of Okumaga community. 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 Diligent search was conducted at their stores/houses which led to the recovery of 38 bags of rice, one silver crest blender, one inverter engine with two inverter batteries, three sharp photocopying machines and two sharp standing AC and five LG home-theaters. READ ALSO: Police recover weapons in Delta Other recovered items include one Hisense air conditioner, three inter-com machine, one 50 inches black LG television, two shovels, one black Hisense speaker, eight yards of armoured cable, six generators, five stabilisers three Kenstar A/C, two Hisense standing AC, three Hisense inverter AC, peculiar professional mixer, three Kenstar standing AC one Panasonic AC, one pumping machine, five sound prinex , one Yamaha piano, five gas cylinders, twenty-one amplifiers, four guitars, four LG speakers, five microwave, two MP3, one OX standing fan, three chusion chairs, one large vita foam mattress and large quantity of copper. The police said the suspects carry out their operations using two Sienna vehicles and one shuttle bus which they used to carry the stolen items. Efforts are on to arrest other members of the gang, and recover their operational vehicle, the police said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) engages regularly with the government of Turkmenistan in the framework of the Eurasia Competitiveness Program (ECP), a source in the OECD told Trend. "The OECD engages regularly with the government of Turkmenistan in the framework of the Eurasia Competitiveness Program (ECP) through bilateral meetings, working-group and capacity-building events (in-person or virtual), and fact-finding missions," the source said. The representative of the organization noted that the OECD also cooperates with Turkmenistan within the framework of the Central Asia Initiative of the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Program (ECP), the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the GREEN Action Task Force. "Turkmenistan is currently included in regional OECD work on private sector development, trade, and transport connectivity: Improving the Legal Environment for Business and Investment in Central Asia and also Trade Facilitation in Central Asia," the representative added. Meanwhile, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization founded in 1961 that aims to promote policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world, providing a platform for governments to collaborate, share experiences, and seek solutions to common problems. With a focus on issues such as economic growth, financial stability, trade, education, environment, and innovation, the OECD collects data, conducts analyses, and produces recommendations and guidelines to inform policy-making, with its member countriesmany of which are among the world's most advanced economiesworking together to foster sustainable economic development and global prosperity. Gunmen have killed two police operatives in a fresh attack in Abia State, south-east Nigeria. The gunmen were said to have attacked the operatives at their checkpoint at about 5:30 p.m. on Friday in Aba, the commercial hub of the state. The development occurred barely 48 hours after gunmen killed six persons in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, another state in the South-east. The Okigwe killing also happened hours before a separate attack on a police facility in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, another state in the South-east. Five persons were confirmed dead in the Ivo attack. How the operatives were killed Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the latest attack occurred at Opobo Junction along Ikot Ekpene Road, Ogbor Hill in Aba. A resident of the area, Tochukwu Ogbuagu, said the operatives were conducting routine stop and search operations when the hoodlums attacked them. They were there doing their check, those gunmen swooped on them with a Sienna Vehicle, stepped out and started firing at them. 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 Unfortunately, their team leader was gunned down and also one other police officer whom I knew very well, Mr Ogbuagu narrated. They didnt take their guns, they just gunned them down and took off. The resident said the operatives were from Azuka Police Divisional Headquarters in the state. Another resident of the area, who asked not to be named, said several traders in the area ran away during the attack. Many people were running helter-skelter to avoid being hit by stray bullets. Many abandoned food items and ran away. Some were matching those food items while running away, he said. The police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking her comments. However, a police operative in the state, who asked not to be named because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES Saturday morning. Yes. It is true. Two of them were killed yesterday (Friday), the operative said. He argued that the attackers, often linked to Biafra agitation, were not agitators but criminals hiding under the cloak of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to commit crimes. Worsening insecurity Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Abia State with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The latest attack occurred barely a month after gunmen killed five soldiers in the state on 30 May. The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of the south-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Oyo State Government has scheduled Friday, 12 July, for the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the Olubadan-designate, Owolabi Olakulehin, as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland. Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. Mr Olakulehin will be installed as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland at the ceremony slated to be held at the ancient Mapo Hall. Mr Oyelade urged the people of Ibadan to learn to be patient and believe in an administration that has not let them down in five years. He stated that insinuations and mischievous innuendos that dogged the process leading to the installation of the new Olubadan did not deter the governor from toeing the path of justice and fairness. Mr Oyelade also called on the people of Oyo State, particularly those in Ibadan, to look forward to the spectacle of the coronation ceremony. The Olubadan stool became vacant following the demise of the late Oba Lekan Balogun on 14 March. 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 Ibadan kingmakers had nominated Mr Olakulehin at a meeting on 12 April as the Olubadan-designate in accordance with the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print La Jolla senior community reflects on its past, present and future with special events LA JOLLA, Calif., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Casa de Manana, a Front Porch Community in La Jolla, California, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024. Originally opened as a resort hotel and listed by San Diego as a historic landmark in 1987, Casa de Manana continues its legacy of hospitality by being named among the top five senior communities nationwide and top three in the west by Seniorly earlier this year. Located in the La Jolla Park Coastal Historic District directly across the street from La Jolla Harbor, Seal Rock Reserve and the Children's Pool on the Pacific Ocean, Casa de Manana was the brainchild of Isabel Morrison Hopkins, a socialite who came to southern California from Colorado and invited architect Edgar V. Ullrich to join her in developing the project. Hopkins, along with her pet macaw, lived at Casa de Manana which became a social center through the 1920's and 1930's, hosting dances with live orchestras and sponsoring the La Jolla Rough Water Swim. After the end of Prohibition, Hopkins swiftly opened two bars in the hotel, but the Depression caused financial difficulties for Hopkins and her pet project. During World War II, the resort operated to provide R&R for returning military personnel. However, continuing financial losses forced Hopkins finally to sell the property to a prominent hotel owner in 1944. Less than a decade later, the hotel was sold to Pacific Homes Foundation and became a retirement community, a service it still provides to this day. Now owned and operated by Front Porch Communities and Services, Casa de Manana offers independent and assisted living options and an array of services and programs, from fine dining to guided meditation to trips to San Diego Padres games. The community will celebrate its centenary with special events on July 1 and 2, 2024, including 1920's themed activities, a history presentation, and special guests and speakers from La Jolla and Front Porch Communities and Services. Front Porch CEO Sean Kelly said, "Casa de Manana is a beautiful community, not only because of its building or location or history, but because of the wonderful people who live and work there and who give their best every day to Casa de Manana, and to the greater community around it. I'm proud to join Casa de Manana in celebrating 100 years of making an impact on La Jolla and making this beautiful place an even better place to live." Front Porch is a dynamic not-for-profit organization, dedicated to empowering individuals to live connected and fulfilled lives through community and innovation. In support of this vision, Front Porch provides high quality, accessible and affordable human services through senior living communities, affordable housing communities and other programs and services throughout the United States. Media Contact: Laura Darling, Vice President of Communications [email protected] 818-482-7597 SOURCE Front Porch BOGOTA, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) ("Ecopetrol" or the "Company") informs that the Board of Directors, at its meeting held on June 28, 2024, appointed independent Director Gonzalo Hernandez Jimenez as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Board of Directors. The members of the Audit and Risk Committee are: Luis Alberto Zuleta Jaramillo (Chairman) Alvaro Torres Macias Guillermo Garcia Realpe Angela Maria Robledo Gomez Juan Jose Echavarria Soto Gonzalo Hernandez Jimenez Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Carolina Tovar Aragon Email: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications Marcela Ulloa Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. Read this notice carefully as it may affect your rights TORONTO, June 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This Notice is directed to all persons and entities, excluding certain persons associated with the defendant, Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. ("ReconAfrica") wherever they may reside or be domiciled, who purchased or otherwise acquired common shares of ReconAfrica listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and Frankfurt Stock Exchange, on or after May 30, 2020 (the "ReconAfrica Securities"), and held some or all of those securities until after the close of trading on September 7, 2021 ("Canadian Settlement Class Members" and the "Canadian Class Period"). PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE A proposed class action (the "Canadian Action") brought on behalf of the Canadian Settlement Class Members has been settled. The Canadian Settlement has been approved by the British Columbia Supreme Court (the "Canadian Court"). This Notice provides Canadian Settlement Class Members with information about how to submit a Claim Form to the Canadian Claims Administrator in order to participate in the distribution of the Canadian Net Settlement Fund. THE ACTION The plaintiff in the Canadian Action (the "Canadian Plaintiff") alleges that commencing May 2020, ReconAfrica negligently signaled planned fracking by referencing "unconventional" resources and "shale" deposits within Namibia. In industry parlance, "unconventional" resources and/or "shale" deposits refer to oil and gas deposits requiring extraction by fracking. The Canadian Plaintiff alleges that ReconAfrica was made these statements negligently because it failed to disclose to investors that: (1) ReconAfrica had not determined whether Namibia would allow fracking, which had never been done in Namibia, and which was central to ReconAfrica's business plans; and (2) ReconAfrica possessed data from its test wells that revealed poor prospects for achieving oil and gas production that would be commercially viable. These alleged omitted material facts undermined ReconAfrica's public statements made during the Canadian Class Period, rendering them misleading. When publicly corrected, the markets' reaction was allegedly immediate and harsh. ReconAfrica denies all such allegations. The settlement of the Canadian Action, without an admission of liability on the part of ReconAfrica, was approved by The Honourable Justice Francis on June 20, 2024. This notice provides a summary of the settlement. SUMMARY OF THE SETTLEMENT TERMS ReconAfrica will pay CAD $5,075,000 million (the "Canadian Settlement Amount"), in full and final settlement of all claims against it in the Canadian Action. Canadian Class Counsel Fees, including out-of-pocket expenses and taxes, were fixed by the Court as a first charge on the Canadian Settlement Amount in the amount of thirty (30) percent of CAD $5,075,000 million, plus disbursements, plus taxes. The Canadian Settlement Amount for the Class, less the Canadian Class Counsel Fees and disbursements, administrator's expenses, and taxes, (the "Canadian Net Settlement Amount") will be distributed to the Canadian Settlement Class in accordance with the Court-approved Canadian Plan of Allocation. The Global Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement dated February 27, 2024 (the "Settlement Agreement") and Canadian Plan of Allocation may be viewed at https://bergermontague.ca/cases/reconnaissance-energy-africa-ltd/ . HOW TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION: CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 28, 2024 Each Canadian Settlement Class Member must submit a completed Claim Form on or before October 28, 2024 in order to participate in the settlement. The Claim Form can be accessed or downloaded at https://bergermontague.ca/cases/reconnaissance-energy-africa-ltd/ or obtained by calling the Canadian Claims Administrator at 647.598.8772 extension 6. If you do not submit a completed Claim Form by October 28, 2024 2024, you will not receive any part of the Canadian Net Settlement Amount. The Canadian Court appointed Berger Montague (Canada) PC as the Administrator of the settlement to, among other things: (i) receive and process Claim Forms; (ii) decide eligibility for compensation; and (iii) distribute the net Canadian Settlement Amount to eligible Class Members. The Claim Form should be submitted to the Administrator by using the secure Online Claims System at https://bergermontague.ca/cases/reconnaissance-energy-africa-ltd/ . You may submit a paper Claim Form only if you do not have internet access. The paper Claim Form may be sent by mail or courier to: ReconAfrica Claims Administrator 330 Bay Street, Suite 505 Toronto, ON M5H 2S8 Email: [email protected] INTERPRETATION If there is a conflict between the provisions of this Notice and the Settlement Agreement, the terms of the Settlement Agreement will prevail. This notice has been approved by the Court. Questions about matters This notice should NOT be directed to the Canadian Court. 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 Sanaa, June 29 : Warplanes of the US-British coalition launched four airstrikes on the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah airport in western Yemen, the media reported. The Houthi-run al-Masirah TV did not provide further details, but residents said on Friday that 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, Xinhua news agency reported. The coalition has not made any comments on the matter yet. Earlier on Friday, 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 US 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 US-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. New York, June 29 : Nikhil Gupta, the Indian national accused in an alleged murder-for-hire plot, has appeared for the first time before the trial judge as lawyers laid out the preliminary steps. Federal Senior Judge Victor Marrero set the next court date for September 13 during the brief hearing on Friday at which he ordered the prosecution to share the evidence it had with the defence. At the September court date by which the defence would have had an opportunity to go through the government evidence to prepare its case, further trial proceedings will be determined. Wearing khaki shirt and pants, Gupta was escorted in by US Marshals and sat at the defence table where he conferred with his lawyer Jeffrey Chabrowe before the proceedings began. He had been arrested in the Czech Republic last June at the request of the US and was extradited and brought to New York on June 14. He was produced on June 17 before Magistrate Judge James Cott, who ordered him held without bail. One of the prosecutors in the case, Assistant District Attorney Camille Latoya Fletcher, outlined on Friday the trial judge the government's case against Gupta. She reiterated the allegations that he participated in a plot with an Indian government employee against a US citizen of Indian origin, both of whom she did not identify. The alleged intended victim is reported to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer with US and Canadian citizenships, who lives in New York and leads the 'Sikhs for Justice' group which is the hub for the campaigns for Khalistan. The Indian government has designated Pannun a terrorist. Fletcher said that Gupta negotiated with a person he thought was a "hitman", $100,000 as the price for the alleged assassination plot and arranged to give him an advance of $15,000 and the details to identify the alleged intended victim. But the person he thought was a "hitman" was, in fact, a secret undercover agent, she said. She added that the government evidence included the phone seized from Gupta, which had his interactions with the Indian government employee. There were also electronic communications that had been seized as well as material from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Agency, she said. In addition, there were videos and audios of Gupta's interactions with the "hitman", she added. Chabrowe requested an order of protection for Gupta, but did not ask for bail. Marrero said that there would be an exclusion to the legal provisions for a speedy trial in order to allow the defence adequate time to prepare for the case. That is routine as also his reiteration of the duties of the prosecution under US law to share all evidence and information it has with the defence, including those that can help the defence, and the penalties for not doing so. The courtroom was packed with Sikhs, most of them white-bearded older men, while across the street from the courthouse, a group of Khalistanis held a protest holding their yellow flags. Marrero, 82, holds the senior judge position that allows older judges to continue with a lower case load. (There is no mandatory retirement age for federal judges who can continue as long as they want in a regular role or in a senior status.) He was nominated to the bench by former US President Bill Clinton in 1999 to fill the vacancy in the Southern District Court of New York when Sonia Sotomayor, now a Supreme Court Justice, was elevated that year to a federal appeals court. In 2010, Marrero assumed the senior judge status. Marrero has a broad international perspective as he did stints as a diplomat before becoming a judge working as the US Ambassador to the Organisation of American States and as one of the envoys to the United Nations. A major verdict Marrero delivered concerned the Patriot Act, the post-9/11 anti-terrorism legislation. His 2015 ruling limited the level of secrecy in the FBI's surveillance operation. More recently in 2019 and 2020, Marrero ruled against former US President Donald Trump's appeals to block a demand by former local New York prosecutor Cyrus Vance to his accountants for his tax records. The Supreme Court upheld the ruling when Trump made a further appeal. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 29. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will embark on a visit to Central Asian countries on June 29, Trend reports. According to the UN, in each of the countries, the UN Secretary General will meet with the head of state and other senior government officials, as well as review projects related to the fight against climate change and talk to local activists. Antonio Guterres will start his visit in Uzbekistan. The UN Secretary-General will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana on July 4. In his speech, Antonio Guterres will remind the forum participants to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He will emphasize that the pursuit of peace must be at the center of these efforts. The UN Secretary General also intends to warn the international community that geopolitical differences do not allow them to effectively address common threats, including the fight against climate change. Earlier in 2017, Antonio Guterres paid a visit to Central Asian countries. Tehran, June 29 : Voting for Iran's 14th presidential election ended at Friday midnight after 16 straight hours, said Spokesman of Iran's Election Headquarters Mohsen Eslami. He made the remarks in a live interview with Iran's state-run IRIB TV, noting that though the polling stations' doors were closed, those people who had come before the end of the voting process and were waiting for their turns, could still cast their ballots. The voting began at 8 a.m. Friday local time at about 58,640 polling stations across the country, with four candidates vying for the top position at the country's executive branch, Xinhua news agency reported. The candidates were 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. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cast the first ballot at a polling station and made a brief speech calling for the unity of the Iranian people during the election. The voting was initially scheduled to end at 6 p.m. local time, but was extended three times, with each extension lasting for two hours. More than 61 million people were eligible to vote in the election, according to Iranian authorities. A total of 344 polling stations were also set up in more than 95 foreign countries for Iranians to cast their votes, the official news agency IRNA reported. Eslami said the counting process at the stations would begin upon making sure that the very last voter had cast his vote, adding the winner should collect an absolute majority of the votes, or at least 50 per cent plus one vote, otherwise the run-off would be held next Friday between the two top candidates. In remarks at a televised interview on Thursday, Mohammad-Taqi Shahcheraghi, head of Iran's Election Headquarters, said efforts would be made to announce the election's results before Saturday noon. Iran's 14th presidential election, initially set for 2025, was rescheduled following the unexpected death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage in a helicopter crash on May 19. Sanaa, June 29 : Yemen's Houthi group has said in a statement that they have launched multiple attacks against an oil tanker and other cargo ships, including a joint attack with the Iraqi Islamic Resistance. "Our armed forces carried out several qualitative military operations, including a joint military operation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted the oil tanker WALER in the Mediterranean Sea with several drones while it was on its way to Haifa Port," Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesman, said on Friday in the televised statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "Our naval forces carried out a military operation targeting the American ship DELONIX in the Red Sea with several ballistic missiles. The operation led to a direct hit on the ship," Sarea added. "We also targeted the ship JOHANNES MAERSK in the Mediterranean Sea with a winged missile, and the operation achieved its goal successfully," he said as reported by Xinhua news agency. "The operation was carried out simultaneously with the naval forces carrying out another military operation in the Red Sea against the ship LOANNIS. The ship was targeted by several unmanned boats," he added. Since November last year, the Houthi group has been conducting drone and missile attacks in shipping lanes, claiming these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In response, the US-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group, but this only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include US and British commercial vessels and naval ships. Tripoli, June 29 : The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said it has provided critical support for more than 4,800 Sudanese refugees in Libya so far this year. "Critical support such as access to medical assistance, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, solar lamps, and cash assistance has been provided to over 4,800 Sudanese refugees so far this year," UNHCR said on Friday in a statement, adding that care arrangements have been offered to 80 unaccompanied children from Sudan, Xinhua news agency reported. "As more refugees continue to arrive, UNHCR and its partners are stepping up efforts to support those in need," the statement noted. It confirmed that more than 40,000 Sudanese refugees are now registered with UNHCR in Libya. A large number of displaced Sudanese people have been seeking protection and assistance in Libya since the onset of a civil war in their country in mid-April 2023. Ulan Bator, June 29 : Mongolia's ruling party, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), declared victory in the parliamentary elections held 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 ninth parliamentary elections. According to preliminary results, the MPP won at least 68 seats," Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, chairman of the MPP, told media early 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 reported by Xinhua news agency. 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. Tehran, June 29 : Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned recent "meddlesome" remarks by a US official about Iran's 14th presidential election. Kanaani made the remarks on Friday on social media platform X, reacting to a series of posts by US 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, Xinhua news agency reported. Kanaani said Paley's remarks were a "flagrant interference and absurd," adding the US 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 added that people worldwide had witnessed the impacts and results of the "American diplomacy" inside the US and in other parts of the world and have tasted its "bitter flavour". He said that 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. Aden : , June 29 (IANS) The UN is set to facilitate a new round of negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group representatives concerning prisoner and detainee exchanges, a government official told the media. The local government official, who asked to remain anonymous, said on Friday that the talks are scheduled to commence on Sunday in Muscat, Oman, to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis surrounding prisoners in the conflict-ridden nation. He clarified that the negotiations will proceed under the auspices of the UN and with oversight from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) convened an extraordinary meeting to discuss the preparations for the forthcoming prisoner exchange negotiations. In an official statement released through the state-run Saba News Agency, the PLC reaffirmed its dedication to resolving the humanitarian crisis surrounding detainees, abductees, and forcibly disappeared individuals. The PLC advocated for a comprehensive "all-for-all" exchange principle, with particular emphasis on securing the release of prominent politician Mohamed Qahtan, whose case is specifically addressed in a UN Security Council resolution. During the meeting, the PLC also addressed the recent surge in abductions of UN agency employees and NGO workers by Houthis in Sanaa, condemning these actions as violations of national and international laws and calling for intensified pressure on the Houthis to unconditionally release all captives. This upcoming negotiation round follows a series of UN-sponsored talks between the Yemeni government and Houthis over the years. The most recent discussions, held in Amman in June 2023, ended without an agreement. However, a previous round in Switzerland in March 2023 led to a successful exchange in April 2023, resulting in the release of more than 800 prisoners and detainees from both warring Yemeni sides. As Yemen continues to grapple with a protracted conflict that began in late 2014, these negotiations represent a crucial step towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis and potentially paving the way for broader peace talks. New York, June 29 : Four people were killed and nine others were injured when a minivan crashed into a nail salon in US state of New York, authorities said, citing media reports. Officials say the minivan drove all the way through the strip-mall business, Hawaii Nail and Spa, on 796 Grand Boulevard in Deer Park on Long Island on Friday around 4:30 p.m., ABC7 New York reported. The cause of the crash is still unknown. All of the deceased were inside the nail salon, authorities added. "It's horrible, it's going to be tough for the community...tough for the volunteer fire department, but we're going to get through it...just a horrible thing to see especially at this time of the year with all the good things happening, graduations and what not," said Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese. The driver was taken to the hospital and was partially conscious, ABC7 New York reported. The people who were trapped were extricated and taken to the hospital. Named Hawaii Nail & Spa, the nail salon is one of several stores in a shopping area in Deer Park. Canberra, June 29 : Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he and his family were threatened by an accused teenage terrorist. Albanese said on Friday that he and his family were among those threatened in an extremist manifesto in which 19-year-old Jordan Patten allegedly outlined his intention to kill Members of Parliament from the governing Labour Party, Xinhua news agency reported. "There is no place for extremism in Australia. That documentation that was made is very concerning, including threats not just to Labor MPs but to others, to my family," he told reporters in Canberra. Patten was on Wednesday arrested by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) in the city of Newcastle -- nearly 100 km north of Sydney -- after allegedly entering the office of Tim Crakanthorp, a Labour MP in the New South Wales state parliament, armed with knives and tactical equipment. He has been charged with one count of preparing for, or planning, a terrorist act. Authorities said that following Patten's arrest, they became aware of the manifesto that expresses anti-immigration, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic views and a list of grievances against the Labour Party and Albanese. "It's another reason why families should be off-limits from the media. It's something that is of concern. I applaud the security agencies and police for the swift action they undertook," Albanese said. Under Australian law anyone found guilty of preparing for, or planning, a terrorist act can be sentenced to imprisonment for life. Los Angeles, June 29 : Hollywood couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who are reportedly experiencing a rough patch, are "focused on their separate lives" this summer amid tensions in their marriage. A source close to Jennifer said that at the moment, the couple "don't have any summer plans together," reports People magazine. JLo recently returned to Los Angeles from her trip to Europe. The source said that the actress "enjoyed her trip to Europe" and that she "has more travel planned but is back in Los Angeles for now." According to People, a source previously reported that the Academy Award-winning filmmaker moved all of his belongings out of the couple's Beverly Hills mansion before Jennifer returned from her European trip. "Ben continues to live at the Brentwood rental. He's been there for about two months now," another source said. "He seems okay. He's been at his office every day and seems focused on work. He's also spending time with his kids." On June 26, the couple reunited after the 'Atlas' actress returned from her trip and were photographed separately entering a building in West Hollywood where they both maintain offices. Tokyo, June 29 : Public prosecutors in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa have indicted a 21-year-old US Marine on charges of yet another non-consensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury. On Friday, the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office said that they filed charges against Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton on June 17, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the indictment, Clayton tightened a woman's head with sexual intent in the village of Yomitan on May 26, causing subconjunctival haemorrhage and other injuries that required about two weeks to heal. The news follows the revelation earlier this week that a US Air Force member has been indicted for allegedly kidnapping a girl under the age of 16 and committing non-consensual sexual intercourse. 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 non-military personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals. The latest incident is expected to further inflame local opposition to the US military presence in the prefecture. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Two policemen were killed and five others were injured in an armed attack on a minibus carrying ballot boxes in the Rasq district of Sistan and Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran, Trend reports. According to information, the incident was carried out by unknown militants. Extraordinary presidential election were held in Iran today. The presidential election, which was supposed to end at 18:00 local time, lasted until 00:00. The counting of votes began after the end of voting.. Four candidates are vying for the presidency: Masoud Pezeshkian, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Saeed Jalili, and Mostafa Pourmohammadi. Los Angeles, June 29 : American star and comedian Martin Mull, who has worked in shows such as 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch', 'Roseanne', and 'Clue', has passed away at the age of 80. Martin died at his home after reportedly a "valiant fight against a long illness," his daughter, Maggie Mull, announced on social media. In a tribute on Instagram, Maggie wrote that her father "was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and for doing Red Roof Inn commercials." "He would find that joke funny," she added. "He was never not funny." Martin's first notable role was in 1976, playing Garth Gimble on the soap opera spoof 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman', which led to two additional spin-off roles, including in the series 'Fernwood 2 Night'. He then landed the role of army officer Colonel Mustard in the black-comedy film 'Clue', inspired by the board game of the same name, reports BBC.com. He also voiced advertisements that his daughter mentioned in her tribute. On the small screen, the actor worked on 'Roseanne', where he played the titular character's boss, Leon Carp, and on 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch', where he played Principal Willard Kraft. He also appeared on the critically acclaimed satirical sitcom 'Arrested Development', playing hapless private detective Gene Parmesan. Martin made appearances in numerous television shows, such as 'The Simpsons', 'Family Guy', 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit', 'The Golden Girls', and 'Two and a Half Men'. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for 'Veep' in 2016. The Chicago-born actor started his career in showbiz as a songwriter and became known as a musical comedian. He opened for Frank Zappa and Bruce Springsteen in the early 1970s. He is survived by his daughter Maggie, a TV writer, and his actor-composer wife, Wendy Haas. Washington, June 29 : Denying that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), the US space agency and Boeing officials have said they are currently "not in any rush to come home." Washington, June 29 (IANS) Denying that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), the US space agency and Boeing officials have said they are currently "not in any rush to come home." Amid multiple reports claiming that the two astronauts, sent to the orbiting laboratory onboard Boeing Starliner spacecraft earlier this month, are stranded after suspected helium leaks, NASA and Boeing officials said they are using "the luxury of time" to learn more before the astronauts return to Earth. "I want to make it real clear that we're not in any rush to come home," Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew programme manager, was quoted as saying during a press conference late on Friday (US time). "The station is a nice, safe place to stop and take our time to work through the vehicle and make sure we're ready to come home,' he added. NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate Starliner's propulsion system performance before returning to Earth from the orbiting lab. The US space agency said they are now targeting the end of July for the next spacewalk outside the space station. This change allows teams on the ground to continue to troubleshoot and understand the water leak in the service and cooling umbilical unit that forced an early end to a spacewalk on June 24. Originally slated to spend eight days on the orbiting space laboratory, the astronauts reached the ISS on June 6. According to NASA, the spacecraft requires seven hours of time to perform a normal end-of-mission and it "currently has enough helium left in its tanks to support 70 hours of free flight activity following undocking." Mumbai, June 29 : Actress Nargis Fakhri treated her fans on Saturday with a motley of pictures, dazzling in a dress in shades of red, which she described as not just a colour but also a "mood." Mumbai, June 29 (IANS) Actress Nargis Fakhri treated her fans on Saturday with a motley of pictures, dazzling in a dress in shades of red, which she described as not just a colour but also a "mood." Nargis took to Instagram and shared a gamut of pictures from a photoshoot, dressed in red. In the first image, she is seen sitting and smiling at the camera, captioned with a red emoji. The actress then shared a close-up image of herself, flaunting her perfect skin. To complete her look, Nargis chose beach waves, natural makeup, and added a hint of gold with earrings. "Ready to paint the town red," she captioned, adding two smiling emojis. In another close-up picture, she wrote: "Red is not just a colour. It's a mood." Nargis made her debut in 2011 with the critically acclaimed blockbuster romantic drama 'Rockstar'. She was then seen playing a war correspondent in the political thriller 'Madras Cafe' in 2013. The following year, she worked in commercial hits such as 'Main Tera Hero' and 'Housefull 3'. The 44-year-old actress also starred in a Hollywood spy action comedy film titled 'Spy by Paul Feig', alongside Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Serafinowicz, Morena Baccarin, and Allison Janney. 'Spy', which was released in 2015, tells the story of an unorthodox secret agent, Susan Cooper, played by McCarthy, who tries to trace a stolen portable nuclear device. Nargis was last seen in 'Shiv Shastri Balboa', a comedy-drama directed by Ajayan Venugopalan, also starring Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, and Jugal Hansraj. She will next be seen in 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 Sword vs Spirit', a period film starring Pawan Kalyan. Kolkata, June 29 : CPI(M)'s safe stand of being virtually silent, on the recent hawker eviction drive undertaken earlier this week jointly by police and the municipal authorities in different pockets of West Bengal, has raised several questions in the political circles. Barring issuing some statements by some leaders, there had not been many instances of on-ground resistance or even protests against this eviction drive, which now had been kept on hold for a month as announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The only exception was CPI(M) councillor from Rampurhat Municipality in Birbhum district, Sanjib Mallick, who stood in front of an approaching bulldozer brought during the joint operation to demolish illegal hawking structures in the area. Now the question that has surfaced is, whether this safe stand is prompted by the realisation of the CPI(M) leadership of the party's weaknesses in carrying out an aggressive on-ground resistance to such eviction drives, or is it because of some other tactical reasons that prompted this virtual silence. Political observers feel that the silence was probably prompted by the disinclination of the party leadership to resurrect the memories of a similar hawker eviction drive undertaken in 1996 by previous CPI(M)-led Left Front regime in Bengal under the banner of 'Operation Sunshine'. For years, the CPI(M) and the previous Left Front government, always claiming to be the "party and government of proletariats", had to face criticisms on two grounds. The intellectual section ridiculed the banner of hawker eviction drive in 1996, since "Operation Sunshine' globally relates to the scientific expedition conducted by the United States Navy in the summer of 1958, where a crew of just over 100 sailors piloted USA's first nuclear submarine under the North Pole. Secondly, serious questions were raised on how genuine was the CPI(M) and the Left Front government's claims of protecting the interests of the downtrodden and subaltern sections of the society. Now any active and on-ground resistance to the recent hawker eviction drive of the current Trinamool Congress regime had all the possibilities of resurrection of the same old and uncomfortable questions and that is why probably, the CPI(M) leadership maintained a safe stand on the issue, feel observers. There could be yet another reason behind this virtual silence. Illegal encroachment of public spaces especially the pavements, footpaths and roadsides has long been an issue that has bothered the educated, urban and middle-class voters in the metros and urban pockets in the state. At the same time, despite successive election disasters and massive erosion in their vote banks, the CPI(M) influences a section of these educated, urban and middle-class voters, who continue to be the party supporters. So, feel observers, a thought might have worked among the CPI(M) leadership that any aggressive and on-ground resistance to the eviction drive might offend these continuing dedicated voters as well. Kolhapur : , June 29 (IANS) NCP(SP) President, Sharad Pawar, alleged on Saturday that the Maharashtra Budget 2024-2025 - presented by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the legislature on June 28 - had leaked in advance, and the proposals were made with an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections. Kolhapur (Maharashtra), June 29 (IANS) NCP(SP) President, Sharad Pawar, alleged on Saturday that the Maharashtra Budget 2024-2025 presented by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the legislature on June 28 had leaked in advance, and the proposals were made with an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections. Speaking to media-persons here, Sharad Pawar said that a day before the state budget was tabled, there were many media reports on the kind of schemes/sops/projects that were expected from the ruling Mahayuti alliance government. "Schemes like free education for girls, the Rs 1,500 per month dole for poor women, the Rs 20,000 per procession going for the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage, and other details had become common knowledge before the proposals were tabled in the budget. This means that the budget secrecy was not maintained," said Sharad Pawar. On the flood of freebies and sops, plus the grandiose proposals made by his nephew and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, the senior Pawar took a swipe saying "with just Rs 70 in the pocket, how will they be able to spend Rs 100." He said that the schemes announced by the Mahayuti government have little meaning. Terming the state budget as 'election-oriented', he also expressed doubts on the electricity bill waiver proposal for farmers, asking "what is the financial condition of the power companies and unless their losses are compensated, it will be unviable." "An impression is sought to be created that the budget is very good But there are many things in the budget which seem impractical and are unlikely to be implemented," cautioned Sharad Pawar, on the lines of similar reactions by the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP(SP) leaders on Friday. Referring to the prickly question on the Opposition's 'CM-face' Sharad Pawar quipped that "the united MVA itself will be the face" in the October Assembly elections, and predicted a total sweep by the Opposition on the lines of the Lok Sabha 2024 polls. "We (MVA-INDIA bloc) have bagged 31 of the 48 LS seats in the state Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 18 rallies in the state and 14 of the NDA-Mahayuti candidates lost there. A similar picture will be visible in the Assembly elections. People have lost faith in the BJP," declared Sharad Pawar. The NCP(SP) supremo started a two-day tour of the drought-hit areas of Kolhapur and surroundings accompanied by local leaders and farmers' representatives. New Delhi, June 29 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday expressed grief over the death of five Indian Army soldiers while they were attempting to cross a river in Ladakh, and said that the nation stands firm with their families. In a post on X, the Defence Minister said, "Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh." "We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief," the Defence Minister added. Five Army soldiers were killed during a tank warfare exercise in the Ladakh region when the stream through which the tanks were passing suddenly got flooded on Friday. Army officials said while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got struck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to a sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission did not succeed and the tank crew lost their lives, the officials said. The Indian Army regrets the loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway. Patna, June 29 : After five months of consideration, the censor board has finally approved the Bhojpuri film 'Jaya', according to the film's producer. The film had been under review by the censor board for the last five months. Now that it has been approved, the filmmakers will soon announce its release date. "Our movie 'Jaya' was pending with the censor board for the last five months. Now, the board has approved the film and given it a U/A certificate," said Ratnakar Kumar, the producer of the film. Kumar did not share details about the story but assured that the film is interesting and will appeal to the Bhojpuri audience. The lead roles are played by Mahi Srivastava and Hindi film actor Daya Shankar Pandey, who portrays Mahi's father. The film's trailer has been released and is receiving a positive response. In addition to the lead actors, Sukesh Anand, Manu Krishna, Mahesh Acharya, Dharmendra Singh, Rao Ranvijay, and others have important roles in the film. Jaya is directed by Dheeru Yadav, and written by Sharmendra Singh, with music composed by Dheeru Yadav and Shahil Singh. Jammu, June 29 : Nine SPOs, who assisted the security forces eliminate two terrorists in the Hiranagar area of Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua district have been regularised as constables in J&K Police. Two terrorists were killed on June 12 in Sukhal village of Hiranagar in Kathua district after they crossed the international border. One CRPF trooper also died while one civilian was injured in that encounter. J&K DGP R. R. Swain rewarded these nine SPOs by regularising them as constables at a function in Kathua on Friday. The DGP, flanked by Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGPs) M. K. Sinha and Anand Jain, regularised SPOs with ranks of constables and appointment letters at a function organised by the Kathua district police. The SPOs who are regularised include Amit Sharma, Karanveer Singh, Sumeet Verma, Anil Choudhary, Sham Lal, Pankaj Sharma, Mukesh Rajput, Lovepreet Jatt, and Sahil Singh. "The SPOs are regularised for the good work they did. We have an SPO component in the police that must be taken care of separately and in a fast-forward mode. We went out of the usual procedure to regularise them on a fast track to reward them," Swain said. "The SPOs are performing well. We have an SOP to bring everyone together, whether SPO or otherwise, through conversion or felicitation", the police chief added. The DGP also appreciated the role of other police officers and said that medals and awards for other constables or officers would be proposed separately. He said that the senior leadership of the police has decided to strengthen village defence groups in Kathua and other areas. "SPOs will also be strengthened," he added. R. R. Swain recalled the days when he was SSP (Kathua). He praised the locals for their patriotism and bravery. "There is a feeling of homecoming. When I travel from here, I feel happy. My heart is filled with happiness because Kathua is a place where people are always filled with patriotism. I have served here as an SSP for two years and have seen people with a strong commitment to safeguarding their country. It is a natural behaviour among the people of this district," he said. He recounted stories told to him by the people about the 1965 and 1971 wars, and how the people of Kathua stood firm against the enemy and fully supported the armed forces. "They have performed exceptionally important roles during these periods. Police and public work in close coordination and are a great power to defeat all forces inimical to the safety, integrity and security of the country," he added. He announced that the village defence groups and SPOs will be further strengthened in Kathua and other areas of Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi, June 29 : Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday extended his condolences following the tragic death of five Indian Army soldiers during a tank exercise in Ladakh. In a post on X, Kharge expressed his distress over the incident, stating: "Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh." Kharge also conveyed his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers: "Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who fell victim to this painful tragedy." He went on to write: "In this hour of grief, the nation stands together in saluting the exemplary service of our valiant soldiers." On Friday, five soldiers lost their lives during a tank warfare exercise in the Ladakh region when the Shyok river, through which the tanks were passing, got flooded due to a sudden increase in the water levels because of a cloud burst in the higher reaches. Despite the rescue team's efforts, the mission did not succeed due to the high current and water levels, leading to the death of the five personnel. Mumbai, June 29 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said that the Central government has taken serious note of the malpractices pertaining to NEET. "The Centre and the state government have taken serious note of the malpractices, action has been initiated by various agencies and the culprits have been arrested. The Centre has already notified the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country," the Deputy Chief Minister said while addressing the state assembly after he intervened when the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Vijay Wadettiwar, Congress legislator Nana Patole and other legislators raised the NEET issue. Wadettiwar in his submission said that the fate of students after the NEET paper leaks hangs in the balance. He made a strong case for strict measures to avoid malpractice. Patole demanded that the state should bring in its legislation proposing strict action against those involved in paper leaks and related malpractices. The Deputy Chief Minister, in his response, assured the Assembly to consider Patole's suggestion. He said that the state government is committed to ensure that the students, who study day and night honestly and appear for the exams, are not harmed. "NEET should be conducted transparently and in a corruption-free manner," the Deputy Chief Minister said. He said that the state government had urged the Centre to hand over the responsibility of medical course entrance examination to the states. He added that the Centre has assured to decide after due consideration. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Israeli aviation carried out strikes on a number of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, the press service of the Israeli army reported on its Telegram channel. "Over the past few hours, the Israeli Air Force has carried out strikes on numerous Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon," the statement said. It is noted that the targets of the strikes were a military facility in the Zibqin area, two operational infrastructures in the Khiam and Hula areas, as well as a military facility in the Odise area. Kolkata, June 29 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted raids at multiple locations in Kolkata related to a money laundering case of 2021, which was earlier investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Sources said that the raids which were conducted related to money laundering has also some overseas links. When this report was filed, parallel raids and search operations were being conducted at eight different locations in the city including New Alipore, South City Residential Complex at Jodhpur Park, Lake Town and Jadavpur among others. The ED teams are being escorted by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel. Sources said that the main charge in the case is about illegally collecting public deposits under different multi-level marketing schemes similar to that in Ponzi scam cases like Saradha Group and Rose Valley Group among others. Sources said that besides West Bengal, such deposit collections were also made in states like neighbouring Odisha, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The operators have offices and agentsa networks scattered in different important cities in these states. The financial involvement in the case is thousands of crores of rupees. Mumbai, June 29 : In an exclusive interview, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance and planning portfolios, denied the Opposition's charges that the budget proposals were eyewash and misleading. Mumbai, June 29 (IANS) In an exclusive interview, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance and planning portfolios, denied the Oppositionas charges that the budget proposals were eyewash and misleading. Instead, he told IANS, that the budget proposals were announced after taking into account all legal and financial aspects and especially in the wake of the expected increase in tax revenue. He said that through the budget the state government has reiterated its commitment and determination to scale up growth and achieve an ambitious target of a $1 trillion economy. IANS: The Opposition has slammed the state government over the budget proposals terming them eyewash and misleading. What is your take? Ajit Pawar: This is the Opposition's fake narrative. I am not new to all these things. This is my tenth budget and I have taken into account all technical, legal and financial aspects. Due care has been taken on fiscal management, especially restricting the revenue and fiscal deficit within the prescribed limit of 3 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product. It seems the Opposition's reaction stems from its fear of loss in the forthcoming Assembly elections. The government is committed to effectively implement the budget proposals so that the eligible beneficiaries benefit. IANS: Women, youth, farmers, Muslims, Dalits, who have voted against the Mahayuti in the General Elections, have been given weightage in the budget. What is your comment? Ajit Pawar: Maharashtra has achieved development by placing women at the centre, following the legacy of progressiveness of Shiv- Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar. It is our duty, as the government, to open the doors of opportunity to our sisters and encourage them. Keeping in mind this aspect, the government has proposed the comprehensive aMukhya Mantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana,a to provide Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women between 21 to 60 years of age, for their overall progress, including economic independence, self-reliance, health and nutrition. The aMukhya Mantri Annapurna Yojanaa which will provide three free gas cylinders per household per year, aims to give clean fuel to reduce the health issues of women. In order to help farmers in distress, the government has proposed among other things, free electricity of up to 7.5 horsepower capacity for agriculture pumps with a provision of Rs 14,761 crore that will be earmarked for subsidy. Besides, as per the aMukhya Mantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojanaa the burden of the power bills of farmers for using pumps will be borne by the state government. This will benefit 44.06 lakh farmers. The government plans to give solar pumps to 8.5 lakh farmers. The government is committed to supporting the farmers at various levels, keeping the motto aSelf-reliant farmers, prosperous farmers.a A number of proposals for the youth stress on skilling and entrepreneurship development while the financial support is proposed to make the youth more competent and tech-savvy. IANS: These schemes will put an additional burden of Rs 96,000 crore on the Treasury at a time when a revenue deficit of Rs 20,051 crore and fiscal deficit of Rs 1.10 lakh crore are estimated. Is there enough legroom for these expenses? Ajit Pawar: The government has enough legroom to bear the additional burden. This is because the state expects tax revenue of Rs 4,19,972.28 crore in 2024-25 against Rs 3,96,051.50 crore in 2023-24. Maharashtra has been on top in the GST collection since it was introduced in 2017. The state is expected to mobilise Rs 2,20,000 crore through GST (Rs 154,000 crore), VAT (Rs 62,500 crore) and professional tax (Rs 3,500 crore). In addition, the government expects higher collection from Excise, Stamp Duty and Registration Fee and other taxes. The government is not compromising fiscal management, instead it is strictly adhering to various parameters. IANS: Is a $1 trillion economy achievable? Ajit Pawar: I am of the view that a government or industry or an individual should aim high and take necessary steps to achieve it. The state has been successful in keeping debt within the prescribed fiscal indicators by achieving a balance between deposits and expenditures. Keeping the financial health of the state sound is the governmentas policy. Capital investment in the state is being ramped up for a $1 trillion economy. Infrastructure projects will be completed in a timely manner through various public enterprises, special purpose companies and municipal corporations in the state. (Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in) Mumbai, June 29 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said that the government will continue with its bulldozer operations till all the cities in the state become drug-free. "The bulldozer operation will continue till our cities become drug-free. Wherever drugs are being sold in the state, the peddlers will not be spared," Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said. He said that action is being taken against those who sell drugs, those who keep drugs, as well as the hotels where drugs are sold and those who are responsible for ruining the lives of the young generation not only in Pune but also in other cities. "They (peddlers) will not be spared wherever drugs are being sold be it Thane, Nashik or other parts of the state. Police administration, district collectors, and municipal commissioners are doing the work of uprooting drug cartels," the Chief Minister said. He said that it does not matter who is the supplier of drugs and no matter how big he is, he will not be spared. "We will not allow them to ruin our young generation. This bulldozing operation will continue," the Chief Minister said. Beijing, June 29 : Four people were killed and another four injured as a heavy truck crashed into four cars early Saturday morning in east China's Zhejiang Province, local authorities said. According to the public security bureau of Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, the accident occurred at 6.27 a.m. local time at an intersection, reports Xinhua news agency. Four cars were waiting to pass when a heavy truck hit them. The truck driver, surnamed Yang, is in police custody. Investigations are underway. A preliminary investigation ruled out any suspicion of Yang's drunk or drug driving. Mumbai, June 29 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday announced that the state government will soon launch a special pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens. Making an announcement regarding the same in the state Assembly, he said that the government will put in place necessary policies and regulations which will enable the senior citizens to visit pilgrimages. CM Shinde intervened during a discussion on the calling attention motion moved by Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik. "Maharashtra is the land of saints. Many people visit the pilgrimage centres every year. Chief Minister's Tirtha Darshan Yojana will be launched to make it easier for senior citizens to visit pilgrimage sites. For this, a comprehensive policy will be prepared and its rules will be made. The scheme will be implemented by inviting online applications in a rotating manner," said the chief minister. CM Shinde said the MahaYuti government belongs to the common people, and in the additional budget presented on Friday, various provisions have been made for farmers, labourers, workers, women and youth. Ahmedabad, June 29 : The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy rain across various districts of Gujarat from June 29 to July 3. As the monsoon remains active over the state, the IMD has forecast heavy downpours in several regions, accompanied by light to moderate rain across the entire state. According to the latest bulletin, on June 30, districts including Porbandar, Junagadh, Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli are expected to experience heavy rain. On July 1, heavy rainfall is predicted in Junagadh, Somnath, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Panchmahal, Dahod, and Chhota Udepur. July 2 will likely see heavy rain only in Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli, with lighter showers expected elsewhere in the state. Finally, on July 3, heavy rainfall is forecast for Banaskantha in North Gujarat, along with Navsari, Valsad, Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli, while other regions may receive light rain. Meanwhile, in Rajkot, a canopy collapsed at the passenger pickup and drop area outside the departure terminal of Hirasar-based Rajkot airport amidst heavy rain. The temporary terminal, operated by the Airport Authority of India since last year, is awaiting the completion of a permanent terminal expected by August this year. This incident, following a recent fatal collapse at Delhi airport, raises concerns over structural safety measures amid ambitious architectural designs. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the cause of the collapse as Gujarat prepares for continued heavy rainfall in the coming days. New Delhi, June 29 : India Meteorological Department on Saturday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over Northwest India including Delhi & the Northeast states during the next 4-5 days. IMD also said that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of East Uttar Pradesh and some more parts of West Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. The northern limit of the monsoon now passes through Jaisalmer, Churu in Rajasthan, Bhiwani, Delhi, Aligarh, Hardoi, Moradabad, Una (Western UP), Pathankot in Punjab and Jammu. The weather office said conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest Monsoon into some more parts of West Rajasthan, Haryana-Chandigarh & Punjab and remaining parts of West Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during the next 2-3 days. Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Delhi, Haryana Chandigarh, Punjab Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and East Rajasthan from June 29 to July 3; West Rajasthan on June 29, July 2 and 3; Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha on June 29 and 30 and Bihar during June 30-July 2, the weather bulletin states. The IMD bulletin has forecast widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, and lightning very likely over Northwest, Central and East India during the next five days. IMD also said that widespread moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is very likely over Kerala, Karnataka, Konkan and Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra; isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall over Marathwada, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Telangana, during the next five days. Widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during next five days, IMD added. The heavy rainfall is expected to lead to localised flooding of roads, water logging in low-lying areas and closure of underpasses mainly in urban areas. Occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall and disruption of traffic in major cities due to water logging in roads is expected to result in increased travel time. There are also possibilities of damage to vulnerable structures. IMD has suggested that travellers need to check for traffic congestion on their route before leaving for their destination and avoid going to areas that face water logging problems often. Bengaluru, June 29 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore Tribal Welfare Board case has recovered Rs 10 crore from the accounts of gold shops, bars, and other commercial establishments that had allegedly been transferred from the Board's account, sources said on Saturday. Police sources said Rs 10 crore was seized from 193 bank accounts and the SIT arrested one Srinivas on Saturday. The funds were transferred into bank accounts of gold shop owners and bar owners, from where they were withdrawn after giving small commissions, sources said. Srinivas has also been accused of creating fake accounts in the names of other people without their knowledge; and helping the accused carry out transactions. Four complaints in this regard have been filed in Bengaluru by people in whose names the fake accounts were created, and all four FIRs have been transferred to the SIT, sources stated. To date, Rs 28 crore has allegedly been recovered in the case. Meanwhile, former minister and BJP leader B. Sriramulu has staged a protest opposite the District Commissioner's office in Bellary with his supporters, demanding action in connection with the scandal. Sriramulu has submitted three demands to the state government. "First, the state government should recover all the money transferred into fake accounts from the Board's account. Second, former minister B. Nagendra, who resigned recently, must be arrested, and third, the state government should hand over the case to the CBI," he stated on Saturday. "If CM Siddaramaiah fails to ensure this, let him resign from his post and go home. I will not allow the funds reserved for the development of STs to be misused," Sriramulu stated. The Karnataka BJP had staged a statewide protest condemning the handling of the tribal welfare case by the state government. The scam in the corporation came to light following the suicide of Chandrashekaran (50), who was working as an Account Superintendent in the Tribal Welfare Board. He was allegedly pressured to move large sums of money to various illegal accounts and committed suicide because of it. Jaipur, June 29 : Uncertainty is looming over 19 new districts in Rajasthan created under the tenure of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot last year with present Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma approving the formation of a committee under retired IAS officer Lalit K. Panwar to look into their status. Sources said the Rajasthan government could cancel the status of around a dozen districts for not fitting the criteria regarding demarcation and population. The Panwar committee will submit a report to the Cabinet sub-committee constituted earlier this under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa for reviewing the status of the 19 districts and three divisions. The previous government had formed 19 new districts last year, taking the total number of districts in the state to 50. The process to form three more districts was also initiated, but the present state government led by CM Sharma has informed the Assembly that due to the dissolution of the Ramlubhaya committee, no further action will be taken on the proposal. Sources confirmed that there are about 12 districts that do not fulfil the criteria of a separate district status in terms of demarcation and population, as per the records of the Revenue Department. The districts are -- Dudu (Jaipur), Khairthal-Tijara (Alwar), Shahpura (Bhilwara), Sanchore (Jalore), Deeg (Bharatpur), Gangapur City (Sawai Madhopur), Kotputli-Bahror (Jaipur), Salumber (Udaipur), Neemkathana (Sikar), Kekri (Ajmer), Anupgarh (Bikaner), and Phalodi City (Jodhpur). Bengaluru, June 29 : Amid various voices in and outside the party being raised in favour of making Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar the Chief Minister, the Karnataka Congress President on Saturday categorically stated that he doesn't need anyone's recommendation and that the high command would decide based on his work. Speaking to reporters at his residence in Bengaluru on Saturday, Shivakumar said, "There is no discussion about Deputy Chief Ministers, and there is no question of discussing the Chief Minister's position too. The pontiff (Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swami) has spoken out of love for me. I request that no one make any recommendations. The party high command will decide based on my work." Shivakumar further stated, "AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, the Chief Minister, and I have come to a consensus along with the high command on how to proceed in the interest of Karnataka. There is no need for MLAs, ministers, or any religious pontiff to talk about the matter." "If they want to support me, let them pray for me, and this should end here. I don't want any minister to talk to the media about matters of Dy CM posts or the post of the CM. If they continue to issue public statements, I can't do anything but issue notices to them from the AICC," Shivakumar warned. Shivakumar emphasised that discipline was crucial for the party and that without discipline, there was nothing. "We know how hard we worked to bring the party to power. In the interest of the party, I am telling everyone that keeping quiet will be a service to the party. I humbly request religious pontiffs not to interfere in politics," Shivakumar said. When asked about the meeting with MPs and Union Ministers in New Delhi, Shivakumar said, "We met all our MPs and the Union Ministers. Except for two, all of them, including five Union Ministers, attended the meeting. Everyone put aside political differences and assured cooperation in the interest of Karnataka. They have also stated that if officers and concerned ministers approach them, they will follow up on the issues." "Honourable Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman attended the meeting for over two hours and assured that her commitments to Karnataka from the central government would be fulfilled. "They claimed there are some technical issues regarding the Upper Bhadra Project. We provided all the required documents to them," Shivakumar said. "Regarding the Mahadayi project, the two former CMs (Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar) have information at their fingertips. "I assume that, along with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, they will follow up on the matter in the interest of Karnataka," he stated. "On Friday afternoon, we met Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways, Nitin Gadkari. He told us about roadblocks in the state for the implementation of projects. We are speaking to local MLAs and ministers to resolve the issues. The farmers are demanding deviations of the projects, which is not possible. We will call them and speak with them. "This evening at 8 P.M., a meeting has been fixed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and I will also be joining the CM," he stated. The day before, on June 28, Russian troops hit a high-rise building in Dnipro, destroying several floors in one of the entrances. The search and rescue operation at the site of the hit lasted all night, and as of 8 a.m. on June 29, one person was reported dead and 12 wounded. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, five people are still missing. This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that search and rescue operations in the high-rise building damaged by a missile strike by Russian troops were ongoing: people were being searched for under the rubble throughout the night. "As of this morning, we know about one dead person and 12 wounded. Among the injured are a baby and a pregnant woman. Two people have been rescued... The fire has been extinguished. 190 tons of construction waste have been removed," the statement said. ADVERTISIMENT An apartment building in the regional center was hit by the invaders after 6 p.m. the day before. An enemy missile destroyed apartments from the 8th to the 11th floors. The Interior Ministry also reported that 11 cars were damaged. At the same time, the list of victims may not be final: the fate of five people is still unknown, they are considered missing. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, cited the police as saying. ADVERTISIMENT The night before, forensic experts took materials from the relatives of the missing for DNA examinations. In particular, they can help identify the body of the victim found under the rubble the day before. In addition to Dnipro, Russia also shelled Kherson. A woman and a man were injured as a result of the attack by Russian war criminals. On the night of June 29, Russia attacked Ukraine with kamikaze drones. In total, the enemy launched 10 Shahed drones from Primorsko-Akhtarsk. The air defense forces shot down all targets. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Bhopal, June 29 : A three-member Congress committee on Saturday arrived in Bhopal on a two-day visit to review the recently concluded Lok Sabha poll debacle of the party. The committee comprises Prithiviraj Chawan, former Maharashtra Chief Minister; Saptagiri Shankar Ulka, former Odisha MP; and Jignesh Mewani, Gujarat MLA. After a brief welcome ceremony by the state Congress unit at party headquarters in Bhopal, the committee started the process of one-to-one meetings with party leaders. MP Congress Chief Jitu Patwari left the party headquarters soon after having a closed-door meeting with the committee. The committee will also investigate the role of Jitu Patwari, especially after the Congress Indore candidate Akashay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination papers at the last minute. The high command has also tasked the committee to find out reasons why several party leaders, including some sitting MLAs, had switched to BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha election. Sources told IANS that the role of senior party leaders including two former Chief Ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh along with other senior Congress leaders like Ajay Singh (Rahul), Arun Yadav, Kamaleshwar Patel, and Kantilal Bhuria will also be investigated. The committee will also visit different parts of the state and hold meetings with senior leaders, district heads and candidates of the Lok Sabha elections. The committee visit comes at a crucial time as a major reshuffle of Congress' state unit is on the cards, and the final report will hold significance. Congress lost all 29 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP in the state. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party won only one seat and also suffered a humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections held in November last year. Ulaanbaatar : , June 29 (IANS) An Indian delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar concluded its five-day visit to Mongolia on Saturday after observing the process of elections in the strategically-located country. Representatives from 40 countries were invited by the General Election Committee of Mongolia as international observers for the 2024 general elections of the Great Khural of Mongolia. The delegation from the Election Commission of India, along with the Indian Ambassador to the country, Atul Malhari Gotsurve, also met P. Delgernaran, Election Commissioner of Mongolia, at the headquarters of the General Election Committee, as both sides discussed various issues of mutual cooperation. The head of the General Election Committee thanked the delegates who came to observe the regular elections and emphasised that the electoral bodies of the two countries exchange experience and cooperate. "I went to the polling station to observe the regular elections of the Great Khural of Mongolia. The process is very orderly, clear, and understandable. It is important that representatives of political parties and civil society organisations observe and supervise," CEC Kumar was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Mongolian poll panel. India-Mongolia relationship has continued to scale new heights ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic trip to the country in 2015. Last year, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited Ulaanbaatar on a three-day visit at the invitation of his counterpart Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia. The first oil refinery in Mongolia is being built via India's single-largest project of assistance under a Line of Credit (LoC) of $1.236 billion. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju, then a Law Minister, also visited the strategic neighbour in 2022. New Delhi, June 29 : Indian Navy's indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik, mission deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, has arrived at Pearl Harbour to participate in the 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise, being held in Hawaii. According to the US Navy, approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will train and operate in and around the Hawaiian Islands during the exercise -- being held under the theme of 'Partners: Integrated and Prepared' - which runs until August 1. Labelling it as yet another example of building "bridges of friendship" between India and the United States, the Indian Navy stated on Saturday that the harbour phase of the exercise will run till July 7 and will include professional interactions, cross-deck visits, insightful workshops and team building sessions. The exercise, hosted by the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, will witness the participating forces integrate and exercise a wide range of capabilities, from disaster relief to maritime security operations, and from sea control to complex warfighting. "The Rim of the Pacific exercise has grown over the years to be the world's largest and premier joint combined maritime training opportunity. The exercise's purpose is to build relationships, to enhance interoperability and proficiency and, ultimately, contribute to the peace and stability in the vitally-important Indo-Pacific region," said Vice Admiral John Wade, Commander, US 3rd Fleet and RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. Various amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air defence exercises, as well as military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations will also be conducted during the exercise. Besides India, the participating countries include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom and the USA. Earlier this month, INS Shivalik participated in the eighth edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24) held in Japan's Yokosuka. The Indian Naval Ship's deployment to the region is aimed at enhancing the degree of interoperability with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), US Navy and other partner navies participating in RIMPAC 24. New Delhi, June 29 : Having meaningful social interactions with peers is associated with lower loneliness and greater affective well-being, a new study has shown. To conduct the study, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, the researchers followed three cohorts of university students over three years, collecting data on their social interactions and momentary well-being. "Our research indicates that engaging in meaningful social interactions has net positive outcomes for affective well-being, stress, and loneliness," said lead author Mahnaz Roshanaei, of Stanford University. "Spending more time in substantive and deep conversations with anyone with either strong or weak ties, results in benefits for the average person's well-being outcomes," she added. The study found greater benefits for well-being when meaningful social interactions happened in person (or face-to-face), compared to other communication channels like direct messaging and texting. Meaningful social interactions while resting resulted in higher well-being than those occurring during activities such as studying or dining. The researchers acknowledged that their study had limitations, including the fact that it focused on university students and may not be generalisable to the general population or outside of the US. "In the future, the results of this study can be used in designing personalised intervention-oriented strategies for encouraging healthy social lives, such as personalised recommendations for maintaining social support and connections," said Roshanaei. Shivamogga, June 29 : Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra announced on Saturday that the party legislators and workers would lay siege to the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding the resignations of Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil and Chairman of the tribal board Basavaraja Daddal in connection with the alleged multi-crore Tribal Welfare Board scam. The alleged scam came to light following the suicide of Chandrashekaran (50), who was working as an account superintendent in the tribal board. He was allegedly pressured to move large sums of money to various illegal accounts and committed suicide because of it. Speaking to reporters here, Vijayendra said, "On July 3, all MLAs, MLCs will lay siege to the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah." After the BJP's agitation, the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra had been taken. However, the SIT has not bothered to investigate Nagendra till now. In continuation of our agitation we will lay siege It's not only Minister Sharan Prakash Patil or MLA Basavaraja Daddal, even CM Siddaramaiah must resign, Vijayendra stated. They have looted the money reserved for scheduled tribes. Siddaramaiah himself is in charge of the finance portfolio. "How can a scam amounting to Rs 187 crore take place during the Lok Sabha election without the knowledge of the Chief Minister?" Vijayendra questioned. The BJP had staged a statewide agitation on Friday. The party workers had laid siege to the district commissioners offices across the state. The struggle against the tribal welfare board scam will continue. The suicide note of Chandrasekar contains many facts but the state government has not taken it seriously, Vijayendra stated. Kochi, June 29 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reiterated that the Kochi-based mining company Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) had paid Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions -- the IT firm owned by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter, Veena -- in the name of software services without rendering any service. The ED made this disclosure in a recent statement filed in the Kerala High Court against the CMRL of having committed cognizable offences under the money laundering act, and this was one such payment. The issue of Veena Vijayan's IT firm receiving a hefty amount first surfaced last year in a media report which attributed the findings to a statement of the Income Tax Department. The matter was then actively and aggressively taken up by Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan. Eventually, the top brass of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) dismissed all allegations as baseless, terming the entire matter 'a business deal between two professional companies'. However, Kuzhalnadan continued sticking to his position. The Congress MLA was later also accused of usurping government land, and a case was registered against him. The ED made these remarks after some officials of CMRL approached the court to quash the proceedings that had been initiated. The court will take up the matter for a hearing again on Monday. Besides ED, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office and the Registrar of Companies have also been looking into the matter. Political observers believe that things are getting tough for both the Kerala Chief Minister and his daughter, with the ED once again saying it has "evidence" in the matter. Bengaluru, June 29 : A court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) on Saturday remanded former JD (S) MP Prajwal Revanna, prime accused in sex video scandal, to judicial custody till July 8. Prajwal was produced before the court by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) as his police custody had ended on Saturday. Prajwalas counsel submitted that Prajwal needed to be shifted to a private hospital in the backdrop of illness. However, the court instructed him to submit a plea in this regard to jail authorities. The court stated that if the jail authorities permit, the matter will be taken up on Monday. Prajwal will be shifted to the Central Prison of Parappana Agrahara on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The SIT sleuths had taken Prajwal into their custody in connection with the fourth sexual case filed against him. Prajwalas brother JD (S) MLC Suraj Revanna was also arrested and is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with forceful unnatural sex cases lodged by the JD (S) male workers. Their father H.D. Revanna, a JD (S) MLA, was jailed and released on conditional bail. Mother Bhavani Revanna is also out on conditional bail in connection with a kidnap case linked to the sex video scandal. Pune, June 29 : A 14-year-old boy allegedly took a water tanker for a short joyride, lost control and knocked down at least two women in the Kondhwa area of the city here on Saturday, a police official said. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. when the boy climbed on to the driver's seat, started the tanker and went off for a ride, virtually unnoticed by many around. Barely had he gone a few metres when he lost control of the massive vehicle and hit a husband-wife on a scooter and a female jogger before grinding to a halt. "We were informed of the incident by some people out on a morning walk and rushed a police team there. We have seized the water tanker, detained the boy and sent him to a juvenile home," Kondhwa Police Station Inspector Santosh Sonavane told IANS. The tanker owner Mahendra Borate and the minor's father who is also the tanker driver Shabbir Pathan were also arrested and produced before a court on Saturday evening, Sonavane added. The scooterist Santosh Dhume emerged unscathed but his wife Geeta, riding pillion, was flung a few feet away suffering injuries. The jogger, Sonia Rathod, was also hurt and both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses claimed that the tanker owner Borate allegedly attempted to bribe the injured duo by promising to foot their medical expenses in return for not lodging a police complaint, but they refused. The people in the vicinity with narrow roads and lanes, questioned why the tanker was left unattended with the ignition key and how the boy managed to climb up undetected, go for the joyride that led to two people being injured. The incident comes 40 days after the high-profile Porsche hit-and-run case involving a 17-year-old boy in which two techies from Madhya Pradesh were killed on May 19, resulting in nationwide furore. New Delhi, June 29 : Sanjay Kumar Jha, a Rajya Sabha MP and a trusted aide of Nitish Kumar, was appointed the national Working President of the JD(U) during the National Executive meeting of the party held in New Delhi on Saturday. The decision was made in the presence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Lalan Singh, Ram Nath Thakur, and other senior party leaders. Jhaas appointment is notable because of his close ties with the BJP leadership. With extensive experience in organisational management and having served thrice as the Water Resources Minister of Bihar since 2019, Jha brings significant administrative expertise to his new role. He began his political career with the BJP before joining the JD(U) in 2012. Known for his strong association with Nitish Kumar, Jha played a crucial role in the formation of the NDA government in Bihar earlier this year, leading to his elevation to this prestigious position. In his new capacity, Jha will serve as a bridge between the JD(U) and BJP at the national level, capitalising on his established relationships with key BJP figures. His appointment also underscores his strategic importance in aligning JD(U) with the broader NDA objectives. Additionally, Jha's vocal criticism of the Congress, despite JD(U) having allied with the party on multiple occasions, aligns with the political stance often taken by Nitish Kumar's administration. Sanjay Kumar Jha unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Darbhanga against BJPas Kirti Azad, securing 12.61 per cent votes. He is recognised within the JD(U) as a skilled crisis manager. His pivotal role was evident when Nitish Kumar rejoined the NDA in 2017, with Jha playing a crucial part in solidifying the alliance. Similarly, when Nitish Kumar broke away from the Grand Alliance earlier this year, Jha again played a significant role in facilitating the new alliance formation. Having been groomed politically within the BJP, Jha's stature in JD(U) is underscored by his appointments: He became a member of the Legislative Council through the Governoras quota and also served as a Cabinet minister in Bihar. These roles affirm his influence and importance within the party's hierarchy. Born on December 1, 1967, at Araria Sangram village in Madhubani district, Jha holds an MA degree from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was elected as an MLC in 2006 and subsequently served as Bihar's Water Resources Minister on three occasions -- June 2, 2019, to November 16, 2020; February 9, 2021, to August 9, 2022; and August 16, 2022, to January 28, 2024. His influence extends beyond ministerial roles; he has held positions such as JD(U) national General Secretary, MLC, and Rajya Sabha MP. Jha also led the party's parliamentary board in the Rajya Sabha. In summary, Jha's elevation to national Working President of the party underscores his strategic importance within JD(U), particularly in forging and maintaining ties with the BJP under Nitish Kumar's leadership. New Delhi, June 29 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Qatar on Sunday (June 30), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday. During the one-day visit, EAM Jaishankar will meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. "India and Qatar share historic and friendly relations which are marked by regular exchange of high-level visits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Qatar on February 14-15, 2024, and held discussions with Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani," said MEA. "The EAM's visit will enable both sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations including political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural and people-to-people as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest," the Foreign Ministry added. During his Doha visit, Prime Minister Modi thanked the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for taking care of the over eight lakh strong Indian community in Qatar and conveyed India's commitment to further expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation with the country. The Emir reciprocated PM Modi's sentiments and expressed appreciation for India's role as a valued partner in the Gulf region. The Emir also appreciated the contributions of the vibrant Indian community in Qatar's development and their enthusiastic participation in various international events held in Qatar. "India-Qatar bilateral trade roughly stands at close to $20 billion and the two countries also have a multi-faceted partnership in the field of energy, which includes energy trade as also other segments of energy-supply chain contributing to a stronger partnership in the field of energy security," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra had said after the PM's visit. In February, on the sidelines of India Energy Week held in Goa, the two countries signed an agreement for supply of 7.5 MMtpa LNG from Qatar to India for 20 years, year 2028 onwards. This will be EAM Jaishankar's third official visit during the third term of Narendra Modi-led government. He had earlier visited Sri Lanka (June 20) and UAE (June 23). The US Congress has called on President Joe Biden's administration to lift all restrictions on the use of US weapons from Ukraine. In particular, American lawmakers believe that Washington should allow the Ukrainian military to use ATACMS to strike military targets deep in Russia. ADVERTISIMENT This demand, which is supported by representatives of both parties, was voiced during a hearing in Congress by Republican Congressman Thomas Kean. This was reported by the Voice of America. During his speech, Kean criticized the administration of the current president for "half-measures" in the case of Russia's war against Ukraine. "The change in policy to allow Ukraine to strike targets on Russian territory occurred after Russian troops opened a new front near Kharkiv. And even then, the administration took half-measures. The policy has been revised, but in general, Congress still doesn't understand what the policy is," Kean said. He also believes that the recent US authorization for Ukraine to strike targets in Russia up to 100 kilometers inland is insufficient. The congressman suggested that with such restrictions, the Ukrainian military will not be able to hit a significant number of Russian air bases from which Russian military aircraft take off to strike Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT "Recent reports indicate that the administration is limiting the use of U.S. weapons in Russia to within 100 kilometers of the Ukrainian border. This is significantly less than the full range of ATACMS, which is over 300 km. How many Russian air bases are within the ATACMS range that the administration is preventing Ukraine from hitting?" the congressman asked Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs James O'Brien. In response, the State Department spokesman said that the restrictions have been revised several times, and if Russia tries to expand its offensive, it will happen again. "Our priority was to provide weapons and concentrate them in the areas of greatest need. So, at first, it was the area where Russia was conducting an offensive near Kharkiv. And now, as Jake Sullivan said last week, if Russia tries to expand this front, Ukraine will be allowed to reach targets at a greater distance," he said. ADVERTISIMENT Regarding the number of air bases of the aggressor state that Ukraine cannot "reach" due to current restrictions, he could not give exact figures but emphasized that previous permits have already hurt Russia. "If we talk about specific numbers, I think we need to involve a military representative for a separate discussion. But in general, we're seeing dramatic changes in Russia's ability to sustain its campaign against Ukraine because of the loss of facilities in the area where it is allowed to fire," O'Brien summarized. As a reminder, on June 13, Biden answered the question whether the United States would allow ATACMS missiles to be fired at Russia. He reminded that the United States has already authorized strikes on military targets in Russia along the border with Ukraine. However, this does not apply to long-range US weapons such as ATACMS missiles: Washington's position on this issue remains unchanged. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Panchkula : , June 29 (IANS) With the ruling BJP in Haryana in a battle mode for the Assembly elections slated in October, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a brainstorming session of the party and announced that the BJP will go to the polls under the leadership of Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini. BJP leaders said that two sessions were convened in Panchkula to review the party's preparations for a 100-day roadmap to ensure that it retains power in the state for the third time on the trot. The sessions saw the gathering of nearly 4,500 BJP workers in the presence of Chief Minister Saini, his Cabinet colleagues, Union Minister and former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and the party's election co-incharge for Haryana, Biplab Kumar Deb, the former CM of Tripura. With a focus on the strategy to intensify the party's campaign to strengthen its 'emotional bond' with the people, Amit Shah told the gathering to reach out to the masses by going to their doorsteps across all the 90 Assembly constituencies in the state. The Home Minister urged the party workers to highlight the government's policies and programmes to empower the common masses even in the far-flung villages, particularly those who were denied the benefits of different social welfare schemes by the previous governments. "Amit Shah told the gathering that the main aim of the outreach programmes is to know about the problems being faced by the people and find solutions to them. He categorically said that the masses at the grassroots level should greet the 'Panna Pramukhs' as their family members, and not as party men," a source told IANS. Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta told the media that 50 workers from every Assembly constituency were invited to the meeting. The new government in Haryana was formed in March this year after the BJP severed its four-and-a-half-year-old tie with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) led by Dhushyant Chautala, with Naib Singh Saini succeeding Manohar Lal Khattar as the Chief Minister. The Assembly has a total strength of 90 legislators. However, after the death of Badshahpur legislator Rakesh Daultabad, the resignation of Power Minister Ranjit Singh, and the resignation of Mullana legislator Varun Chaudhary after his election from the Ambala Lok Sabha seat, the House has 87 MLAs now. The BJP, which has 41 MLAs, enjoys the support of Haryana Lokhit Party's (HLP) lone legislator Gopal Kanda, and Nayan Pal Rawat, an Independent legislator. In the Opposition, the Congress has 29 legislators, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) has 10, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has one legislator. Three Independents have extended their support to the Congress, while another Independent MLA, Balraj Kundu, has been voicing his opposition to the BJP. Patna, June 29 : Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday said that the government is closely monitoring the bridge collapse incidents in Bihar. "The state and central governments are closely monitoring such incidents. Those contractors or engineers involved in wrongdoings will be penalised. Why have bridges started to collapse only after the Lok Sabha elections? Why are they collapsing now? Is there any conspiracy to defame the state government?" Manjhi told media persons in Gaya. He said that various bridges collapsing across the state is a matter of concern. "But why were such incidents not taking place 15 or 30 days before?" the Union Minister asked. On Friday, a girder of an under-construction road bridge collapsed in Bihar's Madhubani district. The construction of the bridge was underway on the Bhutahi Balan River at Lalwarhi village under the Madhepur block of Madhubani district and the installation of the girder was completed only two days ago. This was the fifth incident of bridge collapse in the last 11 days in Bihar. On June 18, a bridge worth Rs 12 crore on the Bakra river in Sikti block of Araria district collapsed. On June 22, a bridge built on the canal connecting Daraunda and Maharajganj blocks in Siwan collapsed. On June 23, the third incident of bridge collapse came to light in the Ghodasahan block of East Champaran. On June 27, a 70-meter-long bridge collapsed in Kishanganj. Seoul, June 29 : Medical school professors and community doctors in South Korea decided on Saturday to convene a one-day nationwide debate next month on the government's medical reform, a decision that will apparently result in a collective one-day walkout. A doctors' consultative group, known as the "special committee for upright medical care", resolved to hold the debate on July 26 with participation from doctors of every discipline, including medical school professors, reports Yonhap News Agency. Represented by medical professors as well as trainee and community doctors, the committee was launched earlier this month as the representative body to negotiate with the government over medical reform. Committee officials said the debate will inevitably lead to a one-day suspension of medical services by participants, who are likely to be mostly medical professors at general university hospitals. Committee members also reiterated their call for the government to abandon its medical school quota hike, which they said was decided without scientific justification. The decision came amid the continuing standoff between the government and the doctors' community over the government's decision to increase admission quotas across medical schools nationwide by about 1,500 seats for next year in an effort to address a shortage of doctors. Medical professors at three major hospitals of Yonsei University have been on an indefinite walkout since Thursday, demanding "tangible measures" from the government to resolve the ongoing health care crisis. Since late February, trainee doctors nationwide have also been staying off their duties at general hospitals in protest, significantly reducing medical service capacities at the hospitals. Imphal, June 29 : The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), the apex body of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribals in Manipur, on Saturday reiterated that a separate administration or Union Territory for the tribals is the only solution to the ethnic crisis in the northeastern state. Referring to Friday's rally in Imphal organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of civil society groups of the Meitei community, the ITLF said that peace in Manipur would only come when the total separation is officially acknowledged and formalised by the Central government. "By granting us a separate administration in the shape of the Union Territory with a legislature under Article 239A, justice will then be served for the Kuki-Zomi communities," said Ginza Vualzong, senior leader and chief spokesman of the ITLF. He said that the Meitei wanted Kuki-Zomi eliminated from Manipur, and "they have succeeded by driving us out of their territories". "We are now physically and demographically divided. Any remaining Kuki-Zo in the Meitei territories were slaughtered mercilessly by the Meitei. It is evident that Kuki-Zo and Meitei cannot coexist. We must be separated," the ITLF leader told the media. The tribal organisation said that the rally held on Friday in Imphal reflects the views and attitudes of the majority of the Meitei, who want to exterminate and slaughter every Kuki-Zo in Manipur. "It is obvious that the Kuki-Zo are not welcome in Manipur among the Meitei." Meanwhile, thousands of people including students, women, youths, elderly persons and village volunteers in Manipur participated in a rally in Imphal on Friday demanding territorial and administrative integrity of the state and strongly opposed the demand for division of the state. The participants in the rally, which was organised by the COCOMI, shouted slogans against illegal immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar, militancy, encroachment of forest land and drug smuggling. Non-tribal Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley comprising five to six districts. Nagas and Kukis constitute a little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts, comprising 10 to 11 districts. In the over year long ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi tribals, over 220 people were killed, 1,500 injured and over 70,000 people displaced after the ethnic hostility 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. Panchkula : , June 29 (IANS) A memorandum of understanding between Haryana and the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar was signed here on Saturday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, paving the way for a scientific base to the criminal justice system. In his address, Home Minister Amit Shah said in association with NFSU, work has been done to give a scientific base to the criminal justice system of Haryana. He said three laws of the British era were governing the Indian judicial system and they have been changed with the concept of speedy justice and justice to all. He said as part of these changes, forensic team visits have now been made mandatory for offences carrying a sentence of seven years or more. "This will increase the demand for forensic experts across the country, which the NFSU will cater to." He said human resources have to be created to implement these new criminal laws. It was with this approach that the National Forensic Science University was taken forward and at the same time, the framing of these new laws was also underway. Amit Shah added so far campuses of this university have been opened in nine states and work will be done to take this university to about 16 states. This, he said, would create trained manpower and help in speeding up the pace of solving crimes and improving the conviction rate. He said this will not only result in trained human resources but will also be of great benefit in getting the new laws implemented at the grassroots. The Home Minister said having a laboratory, university and training institute in same campus itself will greatly simplify both the instructor and the trainee. He said that if a training institute is planned to be opened here, then the government of India will provide good arrangements for training in forensic science at its own expense. He said the Forensic Science University not only works to educate children and prepare trained manpower but also helps in strengthening the forensic infrastructure. He said this will help police Sub Inspectors, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police-level officers and judges of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed confidence this initiative will bring changes in the criminal justice system of Haryana in the coming days. --IANS vg/dan Bengaluru, June 29 : Union Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday said that the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi has lied about his mic being muted during the NEET discussion in Parliament. "It is a lie. His (Rahul Gandhi) mic was not muted during the discussion on NEET. He had the opportunity to speak in Parliament. We have made it very clear that the Central government is ready for debates and discussions on any issue," Shobha Karandlaje told media persons. She said that there is plenty of scope for MPs to raise the issues inside the Parliament during discussion. "The budget session is likely to take place on July 22. So, there is a lot of time. Despite the time, Congress, with the intention of insulting the President, is doing all this," she said. She said that there is a procedure in Parliament. Following the President's speech, for three days, various leaders speak during the motion of thanks over the President's address to the joint session. "One can speak about development, allegations or over any other issue during the motion of thanks. After the speeches, we have the tradition of adopting the motion thanking the President for the address. But the Congress is trying to disturb everything," she said. Victoria : , June 29 (IANS) Indian Navy's indigenously-built Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) grabbed the spotlight as Seychelles celebrated its 48th National Day on Saturday. The ALH, which arrived at Port Victoria onboard Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sunayna on June 26, participated in the flypast organised as part of the Seychelles National Day celebrations. An Indian Navy marching contingent and the Naval band also participated in the military parade organised on the occasion. According to the Indian Navy, the ALH is also scheduled to undertake joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with INS Sunayna and Seychelles Defence Forces towards fostering closer interoperability and seamless conduct of coordinated maritime operations. On Friday, Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan and Vice President Ahmed Afif attended a demonstration of the Advance Light Helicopter at the Seychelles Air Force Handguard. "An air experience sortie and SAR demonstration showcasing the versatility and capability of the indigenous aircraft, was undertaken for President Wavel Ramkalawan, Vice President Ahmed Afif and Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles," stated the Indian Navy. Following the ALH live demonstration, the Indian High Commissioner presented a token of gratitude to Ramkalawan. The CO of INS Sunayna and a delegation from HAL also presented their crests to the country's President. On Saturday, INS Sunayna organised a special Yoga session onboard with locals, diaspora members and Seychelles Defence Forces personnel. The Indian Defence Ministry has asserted that the deployment of INS Sunayna, currently on a long range deployment in the South West Indian Ocean Region, marks sustained participation of an Indian military contingent in a parade organised as part of Seychelles National Day since 1976. Earlier this month, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif travelled to Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the council of ministers. Facing common security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India and Seychelles have enhanced cooperation in several fields over the last few years. The partnership is founded on the principles of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the 'Five S' vision of Sammaan (Respect) a" Samvaad (Dialogue) - Sahyog (Cooperation) a" Shanti (Peace) and Samriddhi (Prosperity) articulated by PM Modi. As reported by IANS, Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan hoped that PM Modi's third term will not only strengthen bilateral relations but also help in strongly addressing the "multiple global and regional challenges" that confront both nations in the IOR. "On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Seychelles, as well as on my own behalf, I extend our warmest congratulations on your re-election as the Prime Minister of the Republic of India," Ramkalawan said in his congratulatory message to PM Modi on June 5. "This outcome is a testament to the confidence that the Indian people place in your visionary leadership and the remarkable progress that India has made under your stewardship, as well as the high regard in which you are held," he added. Manila, June 29 : A total of five persons were killed while 20 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a firecracker warehouse in Zamboanga city in the Philippines on Saturday, the media reported. According to officials, the blast also damaged houses and commercial establishments near the warehouse, Xinhua news agency reported. Zamboanga Mayor John Dalipe, who rushed to the blast site, told reporters that five persons died, and rescuers rushed 20 others to hospitals. Of the injured, eight are said to be in a critical condition. A police officer said that a child was among those killed in the blast. She told reporters that firefighters and the police are investigating the cause of the explosion. Mumbai, June 29 : Actor Sanjay Mishra, who is known for films like 'Golmaal', 'Phas Gaye Re Obama', 'Welcome', 'Masaan' and several others, has spoken up on the importance of literature and cinema in a common man's life. The actor attended the Himachal International Film Festival in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday and interacted with the media at the Sanskriti Sadan at Kangnidhar. He said, "People should be involved in films, literature and paintings. They teach a lot of good things to people." The actor also thanked the government for the Himalayan Expressway as it has helped the people of Himachal Pradesh connect seamlessly with other parts of India in the north. Talking about the motive of film festivals, he said, "The purpose of any film festival is to help a certain kind of cinema reach the audience. The mainstream films get the benefit of market and exhibition but the smaller films or independent films, which are equally important to our pop culture, need to be taken to the audience that they deserve." He further mentioned that such a kind of cinema appeals to people and can bring in new talents into the industry which ultimately helps the overall ecosystem of cinema to thrive and evolve. Dharamsala, June 29 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who underwent a successful knee replacement surgery at a New York hospital, was discharged on Saturday. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama underwent successful knee replacement surgery on Friday, June 28, at the Hospital for Special Surgery," said David J. Mayman, MD, Chief of the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) said in a statement. "He is expected to make a full recovery and was discharged on June 29. His Holiness' personal medical team and office were in constant communication with the surgical and medical staff at HSS. We are grateful for their trust and assistance," Mayman added. The office of the Dalai Lama on Friday released a video statement stating the spiritual leader has successfully undergone knee surgery and he is in good health after the operation. Tibetans worldwide rejoice over the 14th Dalai Lama's successful knee surgery. Special prayers from followers of Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Buddhism were held at the Tsuglagkhang temple here. The Nobel Peace Laureate departed Dharamsala on June 21 for the US via Switzerland to undergo medical treatment for his knee. Revered by the Tibetans as a 'living god' and idolised in the Orient and the West, the elderly globetrotting Buddhist leader will turn 89 on July 6. Scores of Tibetans and his followers worldwide are hoping the spiritual leader will be invited by President Joe Biden to sign the Resolve Tibet Act into law on his birthday. Despite criticism by China, the US government has extended security service equivalent to a head of state to His Holiness. Since the beginning of the day, most of the Russian occupants' attacks took place in the Pokrovsk sector. Almost 30% of the total number of combat engagements along the entire frontline took place there. ADVERTISIMENT A total of 47 combat engagements were recorded at the front. This is stated in the operational summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 13:00 on June 29. Our defenders are responding decisively to the enemy's assault and offensive actions, destroying infantry and equipment. Russian terrorists continue shelling Kharkiv region with guided aerial bombs from their territory. In particular, the enemy attacked Vovchansk with six UAVs, Vesele with four, and dropped one bomb near Lyptsi. In the Kharkiv sector, four occupants' attacks near Vovchansk were repelled, and two more attacks are ongoing. Fighting continues in the Kupyansk sector near Stelmakhivka. Russian terrorists are also bombarding the areas of Kupyansk, Stelmakhivka, and Petropavlivka, using a total of eight multiple rocket launchers. ADVERTISIMENT In the Lyman sector, the enemy has tried to improve the tactical situation near Nevske three times since the beginning of the day, and the fighting continues. In the area of Siversk, the enemy launched three air strikes with three UAVs. The highest intensity of enemy attacks is observed in the Pokrovsk sector. The number of combat engagements has increased to 13 since the beginning of the day, with five firefights taking place in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Vozdvyzhenka, and Prohres. ADVERTISIMENT In the Orikhivsk sector, the enemy attacked twice in the areas of Novodanilivka and Mala Tokmachka, fighting continues near the latter. The situation remains unchanged in other areas. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Agartala, June 29 : Even as the Tripura government along with the other states of the country gears up for the three new criminal laws coming into force from July 1, the All India Lawyers Union (AILU), a Left-backed lawyers' body, held a protest against the new laws here on Saturday. The new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively, from July 1. AILU's Tripura unit secretary Haribal Debnath said that Saturday's protest was part of a nationwide agitation against the new laws. The three new criminal laws were passed in the Parliament in December last year after suspending a large number of MPs from the House, who, Debnath said, wanted to discuss and register their opposition to the new laws. Terming them as 'draconian laws', Debnath said, "The three new laws are undemocratic and anti-people. They will alter the basic structure of the legal system in the country, which says anyone is innocent until proven guilty. The AILU was fighting against the laws even before they were passed in the Parliament. We want the three new criminal laws to be scrapped." Meanwhile, Tripura Home Secretary Pradip Kumar Chakraborty said on Saturday that the new laws would speed up the judicial process and ensure quick justice for the victims. "Over 3,000 officials from different departments have been given training on the applicability of the new laws in the state," Chakraborty told the media. Kochi, June 29 : The Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is on a high after a stunning victory by Suresh Gopi -- a Union Minister -- from the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat on Saturday discussed strategies to taste more success in the upcoming local body and Assembly polls. In the meeting on Saturday, the party set its eyes on 52 of the 140 Assembly constituencies in the state. Union Health Minister and BJP president J.P. Nadda will be holding a brainstorming session with the Kerala unit BJP leaders to chalk out an effective strategy. The local body poll is scheduled for 2025 and the Assembly polls the year after that. Suresh Gopi's victory came after the entire top brass of the BJP's rivals -- the ruling CPI-M-led Left Front, and the Congress-led UDF -- predicted a poor showing for the party. However, not only did the BJP win one seat, the silver lining was the 19.24 per cent vote share that the party got in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, up from 15.64 per cent compared to the 2019 general elections. Meanwhile, compared to the 12.36 per cent votes the BJP got in the 2021 Assembly polls, the fresh electoral gains are impressive. The meeting on Saturday also decided to come out with the "best candidate" for the soon-to-be announced dates for Assembly by-elections to two constituencies in Palakkad and Chelakkara. The bypolls are due after two sitting legislators resigned after winning Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has high hopes from the Palakkad seat, as in the 2021 Assembly polls, 'Metro Man' E. Sreedharan gave a close fight to Shafi Parambil, who has now resigned. Sreedharan, however, eventually lost to Parambil by around 3,000 votes. Jaipur, June 29 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh on Saturday appreciated the role of 'Vistaraks' in the party's performance in the recently concluded elections. A 'Vistarak' is a party functionary who is tasked with gathering ground-level feedback about the political situation of a particular Parliamentary or Assembly constituency. The concluding meeting of BJP 'Vistaraks' was held at the party office here in the presence of B.L. Santhosh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, among other senior leaders. Speaking on the occasion, Santhosh said that BJP's 'Vistaraks' have worked at the grassroots level in line with the party's ideology. He said that the suggestions of each Vistarak are important for the party. Rajasthan unit BJP president C.P. Joshi said that the party had selected Vistaraks for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state with the aim of taking the party's ideology to the masses. "Each Vistarak poured in his time and worked hard and made better efforts to strengthen the ideology of BJP. The task given to the BJP Vistarak by the central and state unit was completed on time," he added. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, while addressing the meeting, said the identity of an individual is also created if one works in the party. "The state Vistaraks of BJP gave time to the party... along with the work of the party, a new identity of the Vistaraks has also been created. Every vistarak of the state worked with their heart and emotions and therefore, the party and the organisation have become strong at the grassroots level," the Rajasthan CM said. Toncontin Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras [ TGU / MHTG ] If you are planning to travel to Tegucigalpa or any other city in Honduras, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. 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TGU - Toncontin Airport IATA Code and MHTG - Toncontin Airport ICAO code At a lengthy June 28 hearing in New York, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit heard oral arguments in the Internet Archive's appeal of a March 2023 court decision finding its program to scan and lend print library books to be copyright infringement. And while the court clearly appeared skeptical of the Internet Archive's arguments, the panel was deeply engaged and well-prepared, peppering both sides with a wide array of questions. The hearing comes after federal judge John G. Koeltl last year found the Internet Archive infringed the copyrights of four plaintiff publishers by scanning and lending their books under a legally contested practice known as CDL (controlled digital lending). At bottom, IAs fair use defense rests on the notion that lawfully acquiring a copyrighted print book entitles the recipient to make an unauthorized copy and distribute it in place of the print book, so long as it does not simultaneously lend the print book, Koeltl wrote in his March 24 opinion granting the publisher plaintiffs motion for summary judgment and denying the Internet Archives cross-motion. But no case or legal principle supports that notion. Every authority points the other direction. At Fridays appeal hearing, IA lawyer Joe Gratz made it less than a minute into his argument before the court cut to the chase with a foundational question: If [print and e-book formats] are considered distinct things and there are separate markets for them, why shouldn't the law recognize that converting the paper book into a digital book isn't just the same thing as passing around the paper book? Gratz countered that the IA and libraries were simply using technology to do what they traditionally dolend the books theyve legally acquiredbut more efficiently and conveniently, and that such efficiency is favored by the courts as transformative. But the court pushed back. In the real world, there's a lot more friction in the sort of market for passing a paper book from one person to another. And I'm imagining that that's priced into the price of the paper book, the court said. Your premise is that a scanned, digital version of that paper book is tantamount to the same thing as the [print] book, but we know there's a distinct market for those digital books. They're priced separately. So you're taking something from one market and you're inserting it into another market without ever having paid the premium in that new market. Arguing for the publishers, Elizabeth McNamara had an easier time. Internet Archive is asking this court to disregard the controlling law of this court, as well as the Supreme Court, and what it is seeking is a radical change in the law that, if accepted, would destabilize the digital economy, she began, restating the publishers core claim. Not just for books, but for movies, for music, for TV and the like. Without license or payment, Internet Archive is making a complete, exact digital copy of the publishers' print books and distributing them around the world so that they can be read, the exact same purpose for which the publishers are publishing these works. But the court also vigorously probed the publishers legal arguments for nearly half an hour, and at one point pushed back on the narrative offered by McNamara that the IA and its allies got together in a room and contrived CDL to rationalize their illegal conduct. Thats what fair use is, right? the court retorted. Like, people get together and decide, like, can we use it to this extent? What are the limits of how the fair use factors will be applied? I mean, it's not nefarious to sit down and decide whether you're proposing to do something that's covered by fair use or not. The court did not decide the case from the bench and gave no time frame for when it would issue a ruling. At a post-hearing press conference, Gratz said a decision could come as early as fall, or could take a year. IA co-counsel Corynne McSherry acknowledged the courts deep engagement (the arguments were scheduled for 10 minutes per side yet went on for 90 minutes) and said that the questions suggested the court was taking its work seriously. They get it. They understand this is an important decision, she said. In a statement, a rep for the Association of American Publishers expressed confidence the outcome would go their way. We thought it was a strong day in court, and we look forward to the opinion. After the Myanmar army (Tatmadaw) overthrew the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1, 2021, the country was plunged into chaos and violence. Peaceful protests against the government were violently suppressed, resulting in thousands of arrests and hundreds of civilian deaths. Minority militias have been fighting for partial or full independence from the central government for decades, increasing the resistance of the army and making internal conflicts more comfortable. The United Nations and various human rights organizations have repeatedly reported human rights violations by the military, including executions, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on the population. The Security Council passed several resolutions condemning this, but direct sanctions were hampered by the joint veto power of Russia and China. The two superpowers have strategic and economic interests in the region and are therefore reluctant to support policies that could jeopardize their relations with Myanmar and the Tatmadaw (which supplies arms to Moscow). Rebel groups under the protection of the Federal Government and the People's Defense Forces have stepped up resistance in recent months, but they are seeking greater control, with the military still controlling major cities and key construction sites. The harsh countryside and mountains have deep ethnic groups. Myanmar's geostrategic position with China and India has long placed it in the middle of the interests of regional and world powers. Its rich natural resources, including oil products, mineral deposits, and forests rich in valuable trees, make it a popular destination for many players around the world. China sees Myanmar as an important gateway connecting its territory to the Indian Ocean route via the Belt and Road. In this context, Beijing has made significant investments in the development of infrastructure in the country, such as the Kyaukpyu port and the network of oil and water pipelines that cross Myanmar from north to west and connect the Bay of Bengal to China's Yunnan Province. That's why Myanmar's security is so important to China, which has given the government a vague nod that both gauges political support and ensures the country's stability. Myanmar's security is very important to China because Myanmar is rich in jade, copper, gold, and other precious minerals, which are very important to China. The Chinese market is one of the main exporters of raw materials and one of Myanmar's most important economic resources. This economic cooperation enabled Beijing to gain government approval, equal political support (including using a veto in the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on the Tatmadaw), as well as actions to be taken in an effort to stabilize the country. It undermines the junta's decision. At the same time, India sees Myanmar as a friend who can strengthen its relations in Southeast Asia as part of its "Act East" policy. New Delhi is ready to counter Chinese influence in the region and provide military support to the Tatmadaw and humanitarian assistance to the people. It also maintains good relations with the political government and minority activists operating in the eastern part of the country. India is particularly concerned about the security of its northeastern border, which has been destabilized by various ethnic insurgencies and internal rebellions. In this regard, support for ethnic minorities in Myanmar could help create an Indian territory that is immune from arms, drug trafficking, and influence. New Delhi is also investing in infrastructure in Myanmar to improve relations and promote trade between the two countries. These projects include the tripartite highway connecting India, Myanmar, and Thailand, and the Sittwe port, which is part of the Kaladan Corridor plan that will provide India with direct access to the Bay of Bengal. Domestic ethnic conflicts constitute a significant part of Myanmar's civil war. The country consists of more than 135 recognized ethnic groups, each with its own geography, culture, and politics. Among them, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), and Arakan Army are the main armed forces. The group, which controls mostly semi-controlled territory, saw in the crisis following the attack an opportunity to continue its historic fight against the government in Naypyitaw. All alliances are weak, and now only the importance of the "enemy" can stabilize them. Decades of military conflict and failed attempts to establish national unity have increased tensions between the Tatmadaw and nationalist forces. All parties to the conflict are trying to maintain their positions ahead of the peace process, which makes the peace process very difficult. In this case, the real victims of the conflict are citizens. Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Refugees living on the borders of Thailand, India, and China often live in overcrowded and harsh conditions. A solution to the current compromise seems unlikely. Internal differences, foreign interests, and bad military practices make the path to peace very difficult. However, the international community cannot ignore the crisis in Myanmar. Encouraging and uniting for the protection of human rights, providing humanitarian aid, and encouraging dialogue with all parties are important steps that will bring the country closer to a solution. Matteo Balzarini Zane, bachelor degree in Political Science, International Relations and Human Rights at the University of Padua (Italy). His X account is @m_balzarinizane. On the night of June 29, Russia attacked Ukraine with Shahed kamikaze drones again, targeting peaceful Ukrainian towns and villages. ADVERTISIMENT Air defense forces destroyed all 10 drones. This was reported by the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk. "On the night of June 29, 2024, the enemy launched 10 Shahed-131/136 strike UAVs at Ukraine from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk region of the Russian Federation. As a result of combat work by attack aircraft units, anti-aircraft missaile units, mobile fire groups and electronic warfare units of the Air Force of Ukraine, all 10 targets were shot down," Oleshchuk said. He added that enemy kamikaze drones were destroyed over Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipro, Kropyvnytskyi, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions. ADVERTISIMENT In Cherkasy region, one drone was shot down in the Zvenyhorod district. "There were no casualties and no damage to infrastructure," said Ihor Taburets, head of the Cherkasy Regional Military Administration. Another Shahed drone, according to the Dnipro Regional Military Administration, was eliminated in Kryvyi Rih district of the region. According to local authorities, two enemy kamikaze drones were shot down over Kherson region at night, and the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration reported the destruction of another. The head of the Kropyvnytskyi Regional Military Administration, Ihor Raykovych, did not name the number of drones destroyed over the region, but said that "there were no consequences." As a reminder, the air alert in Ukraine began to spread on the evening of June 28. The reason was the launch of Shahed drones by Russian troops from the south. The Ukrainian Air Force also warned of the launch of guided aerial bombs in the Kharkiv region. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, the night before, Russians attacked a residential building in Dnipro. 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He argued that they are taking into account "Russia's slow but steady successes on the battlefield, Ukraine's lagging ammunition supply, and the likely reduction of Western security assistance to Ukraine." Zygar said that Russian elites have even begun to speculate about the outcome of the war, which would mean a Russian victory. One unnamed Russian oligarch, who had previously criticized the war, allegedly stated that "Russia must win the war, otherwise they will not allow us to live and Russia will fall." ADVERTISIMENT The ISW noted that it was impossible to independently verify any of Zygar's statements. At the same time, analysts emphasized that the elites sided with dictator Vladimir Putin in support of the war after the crackdown on the Russian elite intensified. The information that Russian elites now assess that Russia can win on the battlefield and even discuss victory indicates that elites may also support Putin's stated theory of victory. It argues that the occupiers will be able to continue their gradual advance indefinitely, prevent operationally significant Ukrainian counteroffensives, and eventually win a war of attrition. As a reminder, the Kremlin's nuclear rhetoric is aimed at preventing further Western support for Ukraine and undermining the international community's efforts to agree on a strategic vision. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, it was reported that Russia is not interested in negotiating in good faith and only pretends to do so in specific cases as part of a broader information campaign against Ukraine that would affect its partners. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Classic City is home to one of the most diverse, lively music scenes in the state of Georgia, and the Athens Music Walk of Fame has memori The real estate sector wants high-impact measures, like special schemes and tax breaks for developers, to revive the fortunes of the affordable housing segment in the country, multiple executives told Business Standard. This segment has been struggling since the Covid-19 outbreak, in contrast to larger and costlier homes which have been selling like hot cakes. The demand comes at a time when the government is taking suggestions from industry players before tabling the General Budget in the Parliament next month. According to the data from real estate consultancy Anarock, the sales share of affordable housing in India reduced significantly from over 38 per cent in 2019 to 20 per cent this year. Due to low demand, the share of affordable homes in the overall supply also fell to 18 per cent this year, from nearly 40 per cent in 2019. Considering the specific housing needs of Indias lower-income groups, this momentum cannot ride solely on higher-priced homes while affordable housing continues to languish, said Anuj Puri, chairman at Anarock Group. He said that this segment must be revived with high-impact measures like tax breaks for developers so that they can focus more on affordable housing, and for buyers, to improve affordability. Himanshu Jain, vice president, sales, marketing & CRM, Satellite Developers Private Limited (SDPL) added that special schemes and subsidies should be introduced for affordable homes in metro cities. Strengthening policies and providing additional incentives to developers engaged in affordable housing projects will ensure that more citizens can achieve their dream of home ownership, Jain said. Metro cities, particularly Mumbai, face unique challenges due to high land and construction costs. "We urge the government to introduce special schemes and subsidies tailored for affordable housing in metropolitan regions, he said. Some executives also said that the definition of affordable homes must be changed. We are also seeking a redefinition of affordable housing. The present limit should be increased from 90 square metres and Rs 45 lakh in terms of space and pricing, respectively, said Manoj Gaur, CMD at Gaurs Group. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, affordable housing is defined based on property size, price, and buyers income. Affordable housing is a house or flat with a carpet area up to 90 square metres in non-metropolitan cities and towns, and 60 square metres in major cities and valued up to Rs 45 lakh for both. The Reserve Bank of India, on the other hand, defines it based on the loans given by banks to people for building a house or buying apartments. The government must seriously reconsider revising the pricing of homes within the affordable housing budget, taking into consideration city-specific market dynamics, Puri said, adding that the size of units is appropriate but prices are not viable across most cities. He said that in Mumbai, it would need to be increased to at least Rs 85 lakh. In other top cities, the budget should be increased to at least Rs 60-65 lakh. With such price revisions, more homes would qualify for the affordable price tag, so more buyers can avail of benefits such as lower GST rates at 1 per cent without ITC, government subsidies, etc, he said. Dhruv Agarwala, group chief executive officer at Housing.com, PropTiger.com said that the state governments should be motivated to reduce stamp duty on affordable housing to make these homes more accessible. Introducing interest subsidy programs could incentivise potential homebuyers effectively, he added. Some other demands include granting industry status to the sector and raising tax exemption limits on home loan repayments. 'Those betting against PSUs will likely be punished in this upswing.' Shares of public-sector undertakings (PSUs) should be accumulated at lower levels after they took a beating on June 4, when Lok Sabha results gave a reduced mandate to the government, say analysts. They argue that the stocks will continue being the prime beneficiaries of the government's focus on capital expenditure. "Significant investments in infrastructure, energy, and defence projects have created a predictable order pipeline for PSUs, boosting revenue streams," said Ajit Mishra, senior vice-president for research at Religare Broking.. "Furthermore, PSUs have demonstrated steady earnings growth, consistent dividend payouts and hold strategic importance in critical sectors, which strengthens investor confidence," Mishra added. Investors should take advantage of market dips in sectors with robust growth prospects, such as renewable energy, infrastructure and defence, he said. PSU stocks, down and up When the Bharatiya Janata Party fell short of a clear majority in Parliament on June 4, PSU stocks tumbled up to 30 per cent in intraday trade. Sensex and Nifty indices closed nearly 6 per cent lower each. Since then the Nifty PSE index has gained 12 per cent with individual stocks such as Container Corporation of India, BHEL, ONGC, GAIL, Coal India, and NHPC surging up to 20 per cent in six sessions (till June 12). The frontline 50-stock index, on the other hand, has recouped around 6.6 per cent. Analysts say the view that a coalition government may put the brakes on PSUs' growth is misplaced as the BJP remains the largest party in the National Democratic Alliance. "I do not think that a coalition government will affect the premium much in the PSU space as PSU stocks are in a bull run,' said Anirudh Garg, partner and fund manager at Invasset. "While one should be cautious of the premium valuations that certain sectors may operate on, overall those betting against PSUs will likely be punished in this upswing," Garg added. Market experts believe the BJP's NDA partners will likely support budgetary allocations to the PSU-related sectors and their indigenisation. Historical data shows that the Nifty PSE index has outperformed the benchmark Nifty50 in the tenures of four out of eight coalition government. This was during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's governments in 1996 and 1998; H D Deve Gowda's tenure as prime minister in 1996; and Narendra Modi's second government in 2019. Analysts believe that the premium valuation of such stocks may see limited upside if PSU reforms slowdown. Sluggish decision-making may affect operations and delay privatisation and divestment, which may lead to a reassessment of PSU valuations, they said. Investment strategy The Nifty PSE index is trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 13x as against its 5-year trailing twelve month (TTM) P/E of 9x. Most PSU stocks, including Gail India, BHEL, SAIL, Hindustan Aeronautics and BEL, are trading above their five-year P/E average. Analysts said investors should select stocks based on their earnings visibility, valuation, and order execution efficiency. Sanjeev Hota, head of research at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas, recommended defence specialists like BEL, HAL, Mazagon Dock; commodity firms like SAIL, NMDC, MOIL; housing plays like LIC Housing, Canfin Homes, Hudco; financials like SBI, BOI, PFC, REC; power stocks like NTPC, Powergrid, Coal India; and BPCL, HPCL, Oil India. Anirudh Garg, an analyst with Invasset, prefers sectors such as railways, defence, infrastructure, and power. "We see defence and railway PSUs closer to fair value, while power and banking are at significant discounts. Within the pack, PSU banks are at the highest discount to intrinsic value," said Vikas Gupta, smallcase manager and chief executive officer of Omniscience Capital. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com 'The BJP's numbers in this government are almost the same as those enjoyed by the Congress under P V Narasimha Rao when the reform process was kicked off in 1991.' 'As before, the only constraints on the prime minister's actions are internal, not external.' 'They come from his own assessment of the political consequences of any action,' points out Mihir S Sharma. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who head the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal-United respectively, the Bharatiya Janata Party's main allies in the National Democratic Alliance government. Photograph: ANI Photo The biggest takeaway from the last month appears to be that Indian policy making is back in the age of coalitions. So far, the National Democratic Alliance's pivotal constituents -- the Telugu Desam Party of N Chandrababu Naidu and the Janata Dal-United of Nitish Kumar -- have largely laid low and made few demands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The prime minister has chosen to emphasise continuity in governance by reappointing much of his Cabinet. But it is far from certain how long this honeymoon will continue. The ministries allocated to the coalition partners may be of interest. The TDP has been assigned that old mainstay for 'allies', the ministry of civil aviation. Interestingly, the ministry of railways -- usually much in demand -- remains with the former civil servant Ashwini Vaishnaw. Other ministries granted to the constituent parties include the ministry for panchayati raj, for fisheries and animal husbandry, for steel and heavy industry, for food processing, for small and medium enterprises, for skill development, and for traditional healthcare systems. On the one hand, none of these might immediately strike one as major policymaking ministries. Those have been retained with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Some of them have a major rural or 'rurban' focus, such as food processing, making them useful vehicles for patronage. Others have a closer relationship with big business -- civil aviation and steel, for example. At least one of them -- skill development and entrepreneurship -- should certainly be a major location for policy making in the coming term. That has been given to the Rashtriya Lok Dal's head, the Jat leader Jayant Chaudhary. Mr Chaudhary's party as recently as two-and-a-half years ago had no elected representatives at all, whether at the Union or the state level. Partly thanks to his ability to curb dissatisfaction among young people in the areas around the national capital, he has now risen to considerable responsibility. It is uncertain whether him being assigned this ministry is a sign that the BJP's leadership trusts his efficiency more than it does those of its other allies, or that unfortunately skill development remains a low priority for this government. But the fear nevertheless will be that coalition allies, protecting their turf, will play blocker for broader government-wide policy. Suppose, for example, the ministries of finance and environment together can come to some agreement on what domestic carbon pricing would look like. Will the minister of steel and heavy industry, H D Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal-Secular, play along? Or will he seek to block any changes that his bureaucrats tell him might reduce the profits and revenue of the big steel companies, both public and private? Mr Kumaraswamy has already made headlines for questioning the scale of the subsidy that the government has set aside for semiconductor fabrication. His criticism -- that every job created in Gujarat under the semiconductor scheme would cost Rs 3.2 crore (Rs 32 million) -- is not mistaken. As a job creation scheme, many of the production-linked incentives to sunrise or strategic sectors are hopelessly inefficient. Yet, as Mr Kumaraswamy was himself forced to acknowledge subsequently, the idea behind the scheme is not job creation per se, but a very expensive attempt to move some production of a critical component in supply chains onshore. His criticism is, however, a taste of how coalition governments can and should operate. How many years has it been since we heard a minister criticise, with sound reasons, government policy? More discussion of government initiatives in the open will not be a bad thing. If anything, the past decade has been something of a disappointment when it comes to such initiatives. If you think back to 2014, much of the relief surrounding Mr Modi's first election was precisely to do with the fact that India had a majority government after a quarter century. Too much reform had been held back, so the thinking went, because of 'coalition dharma. Every ministry had turned into a blocker, and the prime minister's office was not powerful enough to push things through. Certainly, the mechanics of this process changed. The PMO became far more powerful under Mr Modi, and secretaries in ministries were empowered to speak directly to the centre of power. But, in effect, the quality of legislation was neither improved nor speeded up. Labour law, for example, still took far too long to rewrite, made too few changes -- and the four new labour codes are yet to be properly passed and implemented. The hope that controversial reform, such as land acquisition, could be swiftly passed was dashed early on when the prime minister himself retreated on it after pressure from the Opposition. Meanwhile, the quality of proposed Bills -- such as the new criminal codes -- suffered because there was inadequate discussion in public, across departments, and in the Cabinet of their usefulness. There is a distinct possibility, therefore, that this new coalition age will be as productive as the last decade if not more. The largest constituent of the NDA other than the BJP, Mr Naidu's TDP, after all has a reputation for being a forward-looking party when it comes to reform and growth. Mr Kumar of the JD-U has built his reputation on competent administration. Both of these may need to be given specific fiscal concessions, which make the task of fiscal consolidation harder -- but may not stand in the way of progressive change. It is also worth noting that the BJP's numbers in this government are almost the same as those enjoyed by the Congress under P V Narasimha Rao when the reform process was kicked off in 1991. As before, the only constraints on the prime minister's actions are internal, not external. They come from his own assessment of the political consequences of any action. Perhaps this closer-than-expected election will serve as a reminder that such political consequences cannot always be managed perfectly. It is time to take some risks and reform -- the coalition will not stand in his way. Mihir S Sharma is director, Centre for the Economy and Growth, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com On June 26, for the likes of me, the music died. Any impression of potential change held forth by the outcome of the 2024 general election, was vaporised, states Shyam G Menon. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi speaks during the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, June 26, 2024. Photograph: SansadTV/ANI Photo As in the song, it was the day the music died. Twenty-two days after the results of the 2024 general elections, on June 26, the sense of relief, I felt thanks to majoritarianism disciplined by the poll verdict, evaporated. The Modi government's ways seemed little altered. Within days of the results, hints were available in the form of a ministry sporting pretty much the same old faces with even portfolios retained unchanged. For those anxiously watching the third Modi government for signs of change, the final nail in the perception coffin was courtesy the ruling dispensation's choice for the post of Lok Sabha speaker. It was the same person under whose watch record number of elected representatives were suspended and important laws passed without proper discussion, in the previous Lok Sabha. That last bit -- laws passed without adequate discussion -- is a terrible worry, for laws set to take force so include some that have implications on human rights. By the evening of June 26, it seemed apparent that the country may be heading into yet another period of political confrontation with the only panacea offered by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies being a test of endurance to see which side outlives the mutual taunting and disagreements. Speaking for myself, I am fatigued by the BJP's talent for distraction and obfuscation. As the party revived its criticism of the Nehru-Gandhi years and commenced attacking the Emergency imposed under Congress rule 49 years ago in 1975, one wondered for a minute if the Parliament of this country had been reduced so swiftly post-polls into an advertisement for a film on said 49-year-old subject due for release later this year. Otherwise, who cares for Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's spiel on the Emergency in 2024, when his decade-old rule and the penchant for one-sided decisions, witch hunting and the authoritarianism it betrayed, survive more immediate and rawer in memory? Or for that matter, what about all that transpired in this country as a consequence of what happened in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992? Is there no cumulative cost to any of that, which the political Right-Wing must acknowledge? One could only hang one's head in shame; not merely at the level of intellect displayed by the BJP and its allies but also the Opposition, for the defeated and conciliatory tone it seemed to show in the early days of the first session of the new Lok Sabha. The latter, which did not seek a count of votes in the election to choose the new Lok Sabha Speaker as a gesture of conciliation, would be failing in its duty if it doesn't recognise the blunt truth that the BJP won't change its ways. In fact, in the interval between June 4 and the commencement of new Parliament session, there were attacks on minorities, which reportedly, neither the government nor the Opposition condemned suitably. Questions have been raised if the Opposition is too lost in its new found importance post polls, to notice these developments. IMAGE: Modi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju accompany newly elected Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to the chair, June 26, 2024. Photograph: SansadTV/ANI Photo For a proper picture of what the BJP has done to itself, one needs to set politics aside and take an aerial view of how the 2024 poll verdict provides the party a misplaced sense of security. On the map, India's political colours (as decided by elections) have altered since 2019. While the colours from assembly elections still favour the BJP, the more peripheral layer of parliamentary colours have shifted thanks to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On June 26, while Modi was lecturing the country on the Emergency, outside Parliament, the case against alleged corruption by Delhi's elected government was dragging on. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been in jail since April 1 for an alleged excise policy-linked money laundering scam, save a brief period when he was out to lead the Aam Admi Party's election campaign. This probe was initiated by the Enforcement Directorate, an agency closely identified with the Modi regime's investigation of its opponents. The same day the Emergency became a heated topic of discussion in the Lok Sabha (right down to a resolution presented on the same), Kejriwal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation. His application for bail, initially approved by the lower Court was stayed by the high court after the ED sought the same. The arrest by the CBI was a further embellishment to proceedings. By the evening of June 26, news reports cited Kejriwal's wife Sunita saying that the whole system was working to make sure her husband stayed in jail and that the situation smacked of 'dictatorship' and 'Emergency'. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Modi at Parliament House, June 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Delhi has been a major political battlefield for the BJP. Control of Delhi has remained a prestige issue for the party. In the 2024 general elections, Delhi delivered the BJP a clean sweep of all the Lok Sabha seats on offer from there. It is quite likely that the BJP hopes to have a resounding win in Delhi's next assembly elections, which must be held on or before February 2025. What a victory in Delhi -- including the Lok Sabha election sort -- affords the BJP in times of push-back elsewhere is that it lets the party sit securely in the national capital, protected by a BJP stockade and engage in pointless acts like lecturing the country on the Emergency and continued attack of the Nehru-Gandhi era. Not to mention -- the BJP's signature alchemy of polarising themes. This architecture of stockaded comfort in Delhi harks of trends witnessed globally in the planet's politics. If viewed through the lens of the Capitol stormed during Donald Trump's presidency in the US, non-BJP members in our Parliament would seem reminded daily of its encirclement by saffron territory. On the other hand, if viewed through the lens of what happened recently in Kenya -- coincidentally, the same day as Modi and his party were lecturing us on the excesses of Emergency -- the BJP in Parliament would seem protected by aforesaid BJP dominated territory outside. Whipped in larger country, the BJP seems to draw confidence from its muscularity in the capital. IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal being brought out of the courtroom for tea and biscuits after his sugar level dropped at the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi, June 26, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Neither of these images attract an ordinary citizen like me, who expects Parliament to decide policy wisely and administer this country; not provide a protected venue for any party to hijack the collective power of India's 1.4 billion people and hang on to it. Still, shielded by Hindutva, sycophancy and Delhi's saffron-washed electoral verdict, the BJP with its fixation on distractions like the Emergency, appears to rule from Delhi like a Nero who doesn't know what is happening on the Roman empire's streets. As it battles itself more and more into a corner, the ruling dispensation's avenues of information will shrink to telegraph lines owned by the government and the party's cohorts. Will the BJP be informed about what the public feels? Yes, it will be; a battery of informants will ensure that. Will it engage with the public for said information? I doubt it; because aside from the party's many clubs of sycophants ever eager to praise and please, nobody else will welcome it. That is the future foretold for BJP and Modi. They risk being shut out. What's a government if it gets shut out? Problem is -- such a script playing out at its own pace with expenses paid by the national exchequer is an absolute waste. Any set of people should be able to understand this. Sadly, not the current ruling dispensation. They continue to bait, taunt and revive ghosts from the past having handed themselves and country over at the same time, to a future decided by the cold pragmatism of capital. As if we formed this country for a victory by tradition, religion and money! Very simply put -- the BJP has no idea what a modern country is, except in caricatured forms like GDP, G-this number and that, superpower and. of course, majoritarianism. On June 26, for the likes of me, the music died. Any impression of potential change held forth by the outcome of the 2024 general election, was vaporised. The BJP has nobody to blame but itself. But then quite likely, it doesn't even know if anything is wrong. Why should it try to know, when there's always the Emergency and Nehru-Gandhi to point fingers at? Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'Three of my grandparents had cancer. That was the reason I entered the protests and later led it.' IMAGE: Demonstrators gather near the Kudankulam nuclear power project during a protest, September 12, 2012. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project had a very long gestation period, thanks to the protests from local fishermen who said it would interfere with their fishing and also in the event of an accident they would be the first to die. The nuclear plant in Tirunelveli district in southern Tamil Nadu survived the collapse of the Soviet Union, with successor-State Russia standing by it. The agitation was led by S P Udayakumar who has a doctorate in political science and spent many years abroad teaching. A strong advocate of clean environment, Dr Udayakumar was a regular speaker at international forums on environment. He is a native of Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district, which neighbours Tirunelveli. He travelled to Kudankulam and addressed villagers there about the dangers of the nuclear power and what would happen in case of an accident. He had the examples of Chernobyl and Fukuyama to support his lectures. He set up camp in Idinthakarai, village two km from the plant. He was supported by the local church. Sitting in a small village, he rattled then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh's government. The protests lasted for years and was initially supported by then Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. When Jayalalithaa later withdrew her support the protests lost steam. Former President A P J Abdul Kalam visited the site and declared that the plant was totally safe. This gave the plant a much needed boost in the face of public protest. Finally, in 2013, the Kudankulam plant started operations. Eleven years later the activists led by Dr Udayakumar are still being harassed, which emphasises the fact that governments, whether at the state or Centre, do not like anyone who challenges their decisions. "I do not regret leading the protest even though I have been harassed for more than a decade now," Dr Udayakumar tells A Ganesh Nadar. You have said that there are 63 cases out of 400 still pending in court. Are all these in one court? How many people are being prosecuted in these cases? Most of the cases are in the Radhapuram court for all activists. I also have cases against me in the Nagercoil court. I also had an attempt to murder case which was heard every fortnight. Luckily that case is closed now. I don't know the exact number of activists still being sued, but I can check and let you know. How often do these cases come up for hearing? At Nagercoil court I have to appear every fortnight and the Radhapuram court every month. At the moment the cases in Radhapuram have been paused as they are shifting some documents from Valliyoor to Radhapuram and vice versa. Photograph: A Ganesh Nadar for Rediff.com IMAGE: Fishermen from Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari protest at sea to show solidarity with anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar, October 8, 2012. Have you and other activists engaged lawyers or do you fight your own case? How expensive are the lawyers? We all have lawyers. Most of them are free. They are fighting for us as they too are supporters for a clean environment. We do pay for their travel, food and court expenses. It works out to about Rs 500 every hearing. If you are convicted what is the sentence period in these cases? It depends. There are UAPA, waging war against the State and sedition cases which have heavy penalties and long periods of incarceration. The others are around three years or less. You have repeatedly petitioned the Tamil Nadu chief ministers, both from the AIADMK and DMK, but to no avail. We were not protesting for a wage hike or provident fund. We were protesting for the safety of the larger population. There was no personal gain. We are not petty criminals. We were protesting against policy. The Tamil Nadu government opposes the central government on every issue but doesn't support us. This is because the Tamil Nadu police functions under Home Minister Amit Shah and not Chief Minister M K Stalin. IMAGE: Demonstrators being detained during a protest against the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, October 29, 2012. Photograph: Babu/Reuters The Supreme Court stayed most of the cases, so why don't you approach the apex court again? We did petition the high court and our advocate was Prashant Bhushan. The court said our cases come under PPDP (Prevention of Damage to Public Property) Act and as such cannot be dismissed. What public property did we damage? We were sitting quietly in protest, or we gheraoed the plant peacefully. We never entered the plant or touched anything there. Don't know how our cases come under PPDP law. The speaker of the Tamil Nadu assembly Appavu told the press that cases against us should be withdrawn. He could walk into Stalin's chamber and tell him this. This is all drama in preparation for the next election as he is the local Tirunelveli MLA. IMAGE: The Kudankulam nuclear power project plant. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters You have a doctorate in political science. You are a well known teacher, and internationally respected speaker on the environment, you run your own school, but what about the other protestors? Tell me about them. There are priests, green environment activists and fishermen. How do you think this will end and when do you expect it to end? We worked for the INDIA bloc because their victory would have ended our woes but that did not happen and we have the same set of vindictive rulers. Dr S P Udayakumar Dr S P Udayakumar Have you ever regretted leading the protest? You know, there was a lookout circular against me. The Madurai bench of the Madras high court stayed it. The Tirunelveli SP tried to appeal against it. They did not allow me to renew my passport. I went to court and initially got a passport for one year and then appealed again and got it for three years. When the lookout notice was not stayed even after the court order, I filed a contempt of court plea against the Tirunelveli SP and Tamil Nadu DGP. I received a letter from the Tirunelveli SP today that they have taken out the lookout circular. I will know the truth at the airport if I go abroad. Let me tell you another incident of harassment. In 2008 I received 5,000 dollars from abroad. It was deposited in my school trust account and I used it to pay for a van loan I had bought for the school. They have chargesheeted me now in this case for receiving foreign funds unlawfully without permission. You need permission only if you receive funds from abroad regularly. This was a one-off incident. The UAPA case says I asked for a separate flag for Tamil Nadu. I have never regretted leading the agitation. I used to travel abroad regularly and attend conferences on the environment, now I cannot do that as I have to appear in court regularly. Three of my grandparents had cancer. That was the reason I entered the protests and later led it. I will never regret it. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Friday filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Calcutta high court, a day after she said that women complained to her saying that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there, a source said. IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Governor C V Ananda Bose, at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo Bose earlier in the day criticised Banerjee for her remarks and stated it was expected of public representatives not to create 'erroneous and slanderous impressions'. The Bengal Governor also filed defamation suit against certain Trinamool Congress leaders for making similar remarks, the source said. During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat, Banerjee on Thursday claimed that 'Women have informed her they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there'. "Governor C V Ananda Bose on Friday moved the Calcutta high court and filed a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders for their comments," the source told PTI. On May 2, a contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan had alleged molestation by Bose following which the Kolkata Police also started a probe. When contacted, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen said that she would not be able to comment on the matter without discussing it with the party leadership. "I have to talk to my party leadership to find out what actually happened. This is quite a sensitive matter," Sen told PTI. Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that Bose took the right decision. "I think Governor Bose has taken the right decision. He should have taken this decision long back. I fully support him for this," Sinha said. Veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sujan Chakraborty said that the tussle between Bose and Banerjee is not helping the state. "It's actually taking us down. They seem to have forgotten their Constitutional responsibilities. Their acts are damaging West Bengal's image at the national level," Chakraborty. The Central Bureau of Investigation conducted searches at seven locations in Gujarat on Saturday in connection with the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam and arrested a journalist in Jharkhand, officials said. IMAGE: An Indian Youth Congress (IYC) supporter holds a placard during a protest against NTA, Education minister and NEET paper leak, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursda. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo According to them, Jamaluddin Ansari, a journalist with a Hindi newspaper, was arrested on Friday for allegedly trying to help the principal and vice principal of a Hazaribagh school, both of whom are accused in the paper leak case. Oasis School's principal Ehsanul Haque and vice principal Imtiaz Alam have already been arrested by the federal probe agency in connection with the medical entrance exam paper leak case. The CBI on Saturday searched the premises of suspects in Anand, Kheda, Ahmedabad and Godhra districts of Gujarat. The probe agency is investigating a larger conspiracy spread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi and Jharkhand. A special CBI court in Godhra on Saturday granted the probe agency four-day custody of Jay Jalaram School's principal Purushottam Sharma, teacher Tushar Bhatt, and middlemen Vibhor Anand and Arif Vohra, all of whom are alleged to be involved in irregularities in the May 5 NEET-UG exam in Godhra. The Gujarat police had arrested five people, including the principal and the teacher, in connection with the paper leak case. The CBI investigation has shown that the examination centres in Godhra and Kheda chosen by the National Testing Agency (NTA) were controlled by the same school administration, officials said. According to sources, the accused allegedly asked candidates arranged by them from Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to mark Godhra as their examination centre and choose Gujarati as their language, they said. "Investigation conducted till date has revealed that the accused persons who were given the responsibility of carrying out the examination in a free, fair and transparent manner were themselves involved in arranging candidates and facilitating them to attain good marks in the NEET exam for a hefty consideration," an official in the known of developments said. The candidates arranged by the accused allegedly showed Panchmahal and Vadodara in Gujarat as their addresses, officials said. The agency has claimed "a larger conspiracy" involving "interstate links" in the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, they said. The officials said the CBI would interrogate Purushottam Sharma, Tushar Bhatt, Vibhor Anand and Arif Vohra, who are understood to possess crucial information pertaining to "exposing the broader conspiracy orchestrating the manipulation of the NEET-UG exam". The probe agency informed the court that it was essential to further the investigation, unearth the larger conspiracy and bring the masterminds to justice. The CBI wants to probe the "extent of the connections" of arrested persons in other states from where they have arranged the candidates and their conspiracy with the accused persons of the other FIRs lodged by CBI in other states, officials said. The CBI has registered six FIRs in the case. The FIR from Bihar pertains to leakage of paper while remaining from Gujarat and Rajasthan pertains to impersonation of candidates and cheating. The agency's own FIR on a reference from the Union Education Ministry pertains to a "comprehensive investigation" into alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination. NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions. This year, the exam was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. More than 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the test. On the evening of June 28, it became known that 10 more Ukrainian citizens were returned from Russian captivity. The Security Service showed an exclusive video of the Ukrainians returning home. ADVERTISIMENT The Ukrainians returned from the territory of Belarus. This was reported by the SBU press service. The Security Service noted that the return of our citizens is the result of the work of the Joint Center for the Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War, which implemented the decision of the Coordination Headquarters on the treatment of prisoners of war. "The life of every Ukrainian is the highest value. We are working to fulfill the order of the President of Ukraine and return every Ukrainian from captivity," the SBU said. The Head of State also posted touching footage of Ukrainians who were returned from Russian captivity. The citizens of our country expressed gratitude for being returned from Russian captivity. ADVERTISIMENT On June 25, Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange with the aggressor country Russia. It was held in the format of 90 to 90 this is the number of our defenders who were returned from Russian captivity. As OBOZ.UA reported, on June 28, it became known that Ukraine managed to return 10 more civilians from Russian captivity. Nariman Dzhelal, Valerii Matiushenko, Olena Pekh, Bohdan Geleta, Ivan Levitsky, Mykola Shvets, Natalia Zakharenko, Pavlo Kuprienko, Liudmyla Honcharenko, and Kateryna Briukhanova returned from captivity. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday recalled what they went through during the dark days of Emergency and said that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi put many of the leaders behind bars, but she never abused them. IMAGE: Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Photograph: ANI Photo In a post shared on X, the RJD chief shared an article "The Sangh Silence in 1975" written by him and journalist Nalin Verma. In the article, they attacked the BJP-led central government and said that although 1975 is a stain on the country's democracy, let's not forget who doesn't respect the Opposition in 2024. "I was the convener of the steering committee that Jayaprakash Narayan had constituted to carry forward the movement against the excesses of Emergency imposed by the then PM Indira Gandhi. I was in jail under the Maintenance of Security Act (MISA) for over 15 months. My colleagues and I did not know many of the BJP ministers speaking about the Emergency today. We hadn't heard of Modi, J P Nadda, and some of the PM's other ministerial colleagues who today lecture us on the value of freedom," he posted on X. "Indira Gandhi put many of us behind bars, but she never abused us. Neither she nor her ministers called us "anti-national" or "unpatriotic". She never enabled vandals to defile the memory of Babasaheb Ambedkar--the architect of our Constitution. 1975 is a stain on our democracy but let's not forget who doesn't respect the Opposition in 2024," the RJD leader added. On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, imposed a 21-month state of emergency. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which is considered one of the most controversial periods in India's political history. A face-off between the government and the opposition was erupted on Wednesday after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla read out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency and termed the decision by then prime minister Indira Gandhi an attack on the Constitution. President Droupadi Murmu too in her address to the joint sitting of the Parliament mentioned the imposition of Emergency. Amid raging debate over the possibility of change in Chief Minister and demand for three more Deputy Chief Ministers in Karnataka, state Congress President D K Shivakumar on Saturday asked partymen and leaders to refrain from issuing public statements on the issue and warned of disciplinary action. IMAGE: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Photograph: ANI Photo Shivakumar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister urged partymen to "shut their mouth" in the interest of the party, as he also requested seers not to interfere in political matters. Minister K N Rajanna, who is at the forefront of the issue of three Deputy Chief Ministers, wondered what was wrong in asking for it, and said he won't heed the warnings. There is growing demand within the state cabinet to have three more Deputy Chief Ministers -- from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST and minority communities. Currently, Shivakumar from the dominant Vokkaliga community is only the Deputy Chief Minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet. A Vokkaliga seer Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji of Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamastana Math on Thursday had publicly urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down and make way for his deputy Shivakumar. Following this a Veearashaiva-Lingayat seer -- Srisaila Jagadguru Channa Siddharama Panditaradhya Swamiji on Friday said ministers from his community should be considered for the CM's post in case there is a leadership change, while also pitching for them to be given priority in the event of creation of additional Deputy CM posts. "There is no discussion on any Deputy Chief Minister nor there is any question about the Chief Minister. Swamiji (Vokkaliga seer) out of affection towards me might have spoken about me. That's all. I request -- I don't need anyone's recommendation. For the work we have done our party high command will decide," Shivakumar said in response to a question whether he had taken up with the party high command the demand for more Deputy CMs during the Delhi visit. Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I, in the interest of the party, have decided how to function. So there is no need for any MLA or Minister or Swamiji to speak. If they (seers) bless us it's enough..." There is no need for any minister to comment on the CM or Deputy CM issue in public or before the media, Shivakumar said and warned that "if any MLA or anyone from the party raises it, the AICC or I will be forced to issue notice and take disciplinary action. Discipline is important in the party. There is nothing without discipline." Responding to a query, the Deputy CM said, "in the interest of the party I'm telling everyone -- if you shut your mouth it will be good for the party." Asked about seers interfering in politics, he said, "no swamiji had spoken other than now... I request all of them with folded hands not to interfere in political matters." A section within the Congress is of the opinion that the statement issued by the ministers seeking three more Deputy CMs, was part of a plan by Siddaramaiah's camp to keep Shivakumar in check, amid talks that he might seek the CM post after two-and-half years of this government's tenure, and to counter his influence both in the government and party. There is also a feeling that the Vokkaliga seer publicly urging Siddaramaiah to step down and make way for Shivakumar, is a counter to the CM from the KPCC President's camp. Reacting to Shivakumar's warning, Co-operation Minister Rajanna said, "Let the notice be issued, I will respond to it. He (Shivakumar) may suggest that certain controversies should not be created publicly, which I agree and so do others... What's wrong if we speak? Shouldn't we ask (demand)? Is it wrong to ask? If asking is wrong, I'm ready to face any action." "Will I heed the warning? Rajanna is Rajanna... Everyone should shut their mouth, if everyone follows we too will follow. If everyone keeps quiet, we will also keep quiet. Can we keep quiet listening to someone saying that Siddaramaiah should resign to make him (Shivakumar) Chief Minister?" Rajanna asked. He pointed out that CM and Deputy CM were chosen by Congress high command and the legislators. There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May last year, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the deputy chief minister. There were some reports at the time of a compromise having been reached based on a "rotational chief minister formula," according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-half years, but they have not been officially confirmed by the party. Shivakumar has made no secret of his ambition to become the CM, while Siddaramaiah had sought public support during the Lok Sabha polls so that the Congress wins the maximum number of seats in the state, which would strengthen his position. You are the owner of this article. The US Presidential Administration will announce a new $150 million military aid package to Ukraine next Monday. In particular, the package will include HAWK interceptor missiles and 155 mm artillery ammunition. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by two American officials to Reuters. The package will be provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority program, which allows the US president to quickly transfer defense goods and services from US stockpiles to support allies. This is the Biden administration's response to Ukraine's desperate requests for air defense support as Russia has been conducting air strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities in recent weeks. This is how US officials commented on the content of the new aid package. The number of missiles and rockets is not disclosed for security reasons. But in addition to HAWK interceptors and 155 mm artillery ammunition, the package will include other munitions and equipment to support Ukraine's defense needs, the officials added. The United States began supplying MIM-23 HAWK interceptor missiles to Ukraine in 2022. ADVERTISIMENT HAWK is an abbreviation for Homing All the Way Killer, which means "homing all the way through the flight." However, the US military prefers to call the missiles "hawk". The United States first demonstrated such missiles in the 1950s. Since then, the "killer missiles" have been modernized many times. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Finland has announced a new, 24th package of military assistance to Ukraine. Its cost will be 159 million euros. The decision on the new aid package was made by President Alexander Stubb on June 28 at the suggestion of the government. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! 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. Over the past two months, Mexico has experienced one of the most extreme heat waves ever recorded. At the end of May, in the municipality of Cunduacan in the north of the state of Tabasco more than 150 howler monkeys died, apparently because they couldnt adapt to the high temperatures. At the national level, since March 2024, at least 125 deaths due to heat and 2,308 cases of heat stroke have been reported. In the Yucatan Peninsula, in southern Mexico, a record maximum temperature of 125F was reached on June 13. The situation wasnt very different in neighboring countries. There were monthly records set for high temperatures in Guatemala and annual temperatures in Honduras. On the other hand, in the southwest of the United States, more than 34 million people live in areas where authorities have issued heat alerts and dozens have suffered heat exhaustion at political rallies, explains a recent analysis carried out by the World Weather Attribution (WWA). This academic project also warns that, due to climate change caused by human activities, these deadly heat waves are 35 times more likely to occur in North and Central America. In a press conference, Dr. Friederike Otto of the WWA explained that the mission of this group of scientists is to answer as quickly as possible a question that arises during an extreme climate event: what role did climate change play? Looking at the recent heat wave that was experienced across this region, everything indicates that climate change played a significant role. If the climate crisis increased the probability of heat waves occurring by 35 times during the day, for night temperatures, its even greater, with the analysis showing a 200-fold increase in probability due to global warming. A father and his son cool off in the fountain at the Monument to the Mexican Revolution, in Mexico City, on April 16, 2024. Marco Ugarte (AP) To reach this conclusion, the team which includes researchers from Mexico, Panama, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden examined the five days with the maximum temperatures (day and night) that the region experienced during May and June. They ran a model to find out how this behavior could be influenced by climate change. During that five-day period, maximum temperatures were, on average, 1.4C higher during the day and 1.6C higher at night. However, we must remember that this is the average for the North and Central American region: in some areas of Mexico, there were even more unusual heat records, in which climate change led to up to 2C more, clarifies Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and one of the co-authors of the study. Although the study hasnt yet been peer-reviewed, it used methodology that has been. Based on the conclusions, it can be said that were at the height of a crisis. In 2000, such extreme heat in the region was expected to occur during the months of May and June once every 60 years. That is, a person would only have to face this scenario once in their lifetime. But, with the global warming that has been recorded, it is estimated that these temperatures will be repeated once every 15 years. This means that a person will experience hot, deadly high temperatures five to six times in their life. An electronic billboard shows the temperature above 100 degrees in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 5, 2024. Justin Sullivan (Getty Images) Central America isnt prepared The regions extreme heat was fueled by several factors, scientists say. The area has been lying under a large and lingering region of high pressure, known as a heat dome, the document states. Added to this is the fact that Mexico, for example, was experiencing a drought that didnt allow moisture in its soil. This generated whats known as a feedback loop, i.e. the heat worsens drought, which in turn worsens the heat. On top of this, both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans recorded surface temperatures above average, resulting in increasing humidity and increasing discomfort that adds to the already excessive temperatures. But what made the situation fatal is that there are no policies, adaptation plans or preparations to deal with these temperatures. In Mexico and Central America, theres no governance in the face of heat waves, nor the ability to adapt the electrical systems, which were strongly affected, laments Karina Izquierdo, urban advisor for the Latin American and Caribbean region of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center. Among the things that are pending, for example, is to protect vulnerable populations such as newborns and those over 60 years of age who tend to be more susceptible to heat. Theres also a need for policies to support mobile and rural workers when they face high temperatures. In the short-term, school and work schedules could be adapted to avoid heat waves, Izquierdo added. The most disturbing thing, however, is seeing how the heat becomes deadly. Although so far 125 deaths have been recorded in Mexico, its likely that there are many more fatalities and not only in this country, but throughout North and Central America. Deaths due to heat arent always reported as such, while there are often no records that highlight the problem. The heat especially when its exacerbated by climate change is leading to a public health crisis. Extreme heat increases rates of cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney disease and threatens the stability of our electrical grid, impacting communities and healthcare facilities, explains Dr. Catharina Giudice, MD, who wasnt involved in the analysis conducted by the WWA. Weve broken heat records year after year. This concerns me deeply as an emergency physician. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 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. Students injured by projectiles fired at a university womens dormitory in Sudan. A U.N. school in the Al Maghazi refugee camp in the Gaza Strip bombed by Israel. Two primary school students killed in a Myanmar village on their way home from class. Some 350 people trapped by Russian military forces in a Ukrainian school. Teachers and students threatened inside their classrooms by an armed group in the region of Santander, in Colombia. Every day, an average of eight attacks against education are recorded globally. These range from assaults against students or teachers, to the military use of schools. This is according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), which has just published its report for 2022 and 2023. Over the course of those two years, more than 10,000 students and educators died violently, were injured, or were kidnapped, a figure that represents an increase of 10% compared to the 2020-2021 period. In addition, at least 6,000 attacks against schools, universities, students and teachers as well as cases of military use of educational establishments were identified. That is, 20% more than in the previous two years, according to the GCPEA, which was formed in 2010 by various entities dedicated to education in contexts of emergency and conflict. In 2022 and 2023, the countries with the highest number of attacks against education were Palestine, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Myanmar. In total, weve analyzed 28 countries in conflict. This is the seventh report weve done and the increase in global attacks has been more significant than in previous ones, says Jerome Marston one of the authors of the research in an interview with EL PAIS. The countries that recorded the greatest increase in attacks against education compared to the previous two years were Ukraine, where the war worsened; Sudan, where conflict broke out in April 2023; Palestine, due to the war on Gaza; Syria where students were recruited by armed groups and attacks against educational centers increased and, finally, Nigeria, where the number of schools converted into barracks, bases, or weapons depots increased. In total, the GCPEA recorded 1,000 cases in which educational centers were used for military purposes a figure that clearly increased compared to the previous period. In addition to Nigeria, a significant number of these incidents were recorded in Afghanistan and Myanmar. What qualifies as an attack on education? The study identifies several types: attacks against educational centers, against students and teachers, the military use of educational centers, recruitment of boys and girls to be used as child soldiers, sexual violence in classrooms and women attacked in the educational field for the simple act of being women. Female students and educators were directly targeted because of their gender in more than 10 countries. Girls are the first to drop out and the last to return to classes after attacks on education, making these attacks a gender equality issue, the authors emphasize. Schools attacked in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza She always said, Even if I am killed, let it be in the name of education, says the father of a 19-year-old Afghan woman. She died at a private educational center in Kabul, in September 2022, when an attacker detonated an explosive belt. The bombing left a total of 54 fatalities and more than 100 injured. Most of the victims were young women from the Hazara minority community. Recently, in mid-June, 1,000 days passed since the Taliban closed the doors of secondary education to women, after having previously denied them the possibility of continuing to study at university. Less than three years after the return of the fundamentalists to power, in August 2021, women have practically no presence in public and professional spaces in Afghanistan. According to this report released by the GCPEA, Afghanistan is also one of the countries where women along with the educational centers where they study or work are especially targeted. The GCPEA also identified more than 140 attacks in 2022 and 2023, a period in which at least 98 Afghan women and girls both students and higher education teachers were also detained. The study counts specific attacks on students or centers, but it cannot reflect, for example, that the doors of the universities have been closed to women, which is an immense offense, Marston explains. I was afraid to go to class every day in Afghanistan, but I was even more afraid not to go. Schools were frequent targets of attacks and we knew that we were exposing ourselves to a tragedy every day. It was an act of courage. But in a society dominated by men, the school was my refuge, said Mina Bakhshi, an Afghan refugee in the United States, during the presentation of the report, in reference to the months before the return of the Taliban, who last held power in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. Now, girls in Afghanistan are more vulnerable, because they dont have school as a refuge. They have no choice. Thousands of young women locked in their homes dream of going back to school, she added. Palestine also recorded disturbing results as a result of the Israeli bombardment and razing of schools and universities. At least 640 attacks were registered in the period that was studied. Marston warns that the study concluded on December 31, 2023. Since then, education in Gaza where the war continues has come under renewed attack. Between the escalation of hostilities in October and December 2023, the U.N. reported that at least 352 schools were damaged in the Gaza Strip, representing more than 60% of all schools, the report states. In Ukraine, 700 attacks on schools by Russian forces were recorded between 2022 and 2023, mainly in the southern and eastern regions, involving the use of explosive weapons, including airstrikes. But this is not unusual: attacks on schools occur in many other places around the world. We were terrified because it was the first time it happened, and most of the students there were traumatized because the bomb exploded right on the roof of the school, a student from a school affected by clashes between the army and an armed group told GCPEA investigators in the Philippines, in March 2023. In-person classes were suspended in many schools. The clashes affected 112 educational centers and more than 30,000 students. Informing, protecting and prosecuting At the same time, there were some countries where the attacks against education were reduced, thanks to the calming of conflicts. The report highlights the cases of the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali and Mozambique. To reduce the number of attacks, the coalition recommends signing and putting into practice the Safe Schools Declaration, an intergovernmental political agreement dedicated to protecting education in armed conflict. Started in 2015 and led by Norway and Argentina, it has already been signed by 120 countries. In addition, states are advised to report more on these attacks, prosecute those responsible, provide assistance to survivors and place special emphasis on the duty to anticipate and mitigate the impact of attacks. The Declaration also asks that states guarantee the operation of schools to the greatest extent possible during armed conflicts, while protecting educational centers and minors. Finally, the report warns of the long-term repercussions of disruptions to education due to conflict and attacks. In 2022, the conflict in North Kivu a province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) forced Muhawe Wimana to flee the village where she lived with her seven-year-old son, Isaac. He was unable to finish the school year. In 2023, temporary learning centers were established in the Bushagara displacement camp, so that boys and girls could continue learning. The children will be busy at school during the day. They will come home, do their homework and then go to bed. This routine gives us a bit of normalcy and it keeps the children out of harms way, the mother said, with a sigh of relief. Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition High Court reporters A 30-year-old woman has failed to persuade the High Court she is entitled to back payments for unpaid child benefit for her childhood. Romanian-born Elena Drutu, who moved to Ireland as a child, alleged her family experienced financial difficulties due to the lack of child benefit, adding she had to take up part-time employment to contribute to family expenses, which negatively affected her studies. In a ruling published on Friday, Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger held that Irish law provides for child benefit being limited to the person with whom a qualified child normally resides and is not conferred on the child. Ms Drutus 2022 application for child benefit arrears was refused because she was not the qualified person to claim, said the judge. This basis is created and permitted by Irish law and does not contravene Ms Drutus EU rights, Ms Justice Bolger added. The judge said Ms Drutus father had been refused child benefit in respect of her several times during her childhood. At first this was because he did not have a work permit, but later on he was told the application had to be made by her mother. Ms Drutus mother was refused the payment in 2007 and 2009, as it was asserted Ireland was not her habitual residence. The family lived in Co Carlow, but Ms Drutus left in 2012 to move to Germany. Ms Drutu said she continues to live with her father and has had no contact with her mother since 2012, the judge said. In 2021, her father applied for child benefit arrears but was again refused as it should have been made by the mother of the household. Ms Drutu then applied and was refused, as she was not a qualified person to make the application. Ms Justice Bolger said Ms Drutus lawyers argued a decision of the Court of Justice of the EU entitles the child of a migrant worker to directly invoke entitlement to a family benefit such as Irish child benefit. The judge said the EU court has recognised that conditions for granting a family benefit remain a matter for national law. Here, she said, Ms Drutus rights were the same as any child in Irish law, and her application for arrears was refused because she was not the qualified person to claim. This is nothing to do with her status as the child of migrant workers and the decision does not discriminate on grounds of her parents exercise of their right of free movement and*is not contrary to EU law, Ms Justice Bolger said, dismissing the application. 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) June 29, 2024 A roundup of the main international and local news Newsflash Newsroom, 29.06.2024, 13:45 OSCE Until July 3rd Bucharest is hosting the 31st annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE. High on the agenda is the Parliamentary prospects regarding the OSCE role in the present security architecture. The participants MPs from over 50 member states of the organization are expected to endorse the statement in Bucharest, a document to comprise the resolutions of the general commissions and the additional ones initiated by the members. These will include a resolution on the worsening situation of the human rights in the breakaway region of Transdniester, in the Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova. Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the Bucharest meeting. DAY Christians in Romania are today celebrating the holy apostles Peter and Paul, the most important apostles of Jesus Christ. St. Peter disseminated Christianity in Palestine and Rome, while St. Paul founded many churches in the territories presently owned by Turkey and Greece. The two died as martyrs in Rome during the anti-Christian persecutions initiated by the mad emperor Nero in the year 67 a.d. Over 450 thousand Romanians are bearing the names of the two great apostles. VOTE The opposition Save Romania Union is today electing its leading structures and nominating its candidate in the presidential election. Earlier this week, a new leader was elected online, Elena Lasconi, after the former leader Catalin Drula had stepped down amid the poor results obtained by his group in the election of June 9th for the local administration and the European Parliament. Lasconi is one of the three vying for the nomination of the groups candidate in the presidential election. In another development, the Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu on Friday announced he would invite the leaders of all political parties for talks on the election timetable. The announcement comes after the ruling PSD and PNL, which are forming the ruling coalition in Bucharest, had failed to agree over the election date for the highest position in the state. SIBIU Seven artistic personalities are today being awarded a star on the Star Alley in Sibiu, central Romania during the International Theatre Festival underway there. Some of these celebrities are the US actor John Malkovich, French actress, Isabelle Adjani, and Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse, a recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature last year. The festivals schedule includes numerous indoor and outdoor shows. Tonight on the stage of the Museum of Traditional Civilisation, one of the largest in Romania, the Madrigal choir will be presenting a preview of an extraordinary performance known as Rituals. The 31st edition of the International Theatre Festival in Sibiu kicked off on June 21st and is due to end on Sunday night. WEATHER The weather is hot in most parts of Romania, especially in its south, which has seen a lot of hot days this month, quite unusual for this time of the year. The comfort index is expected to clear the 80 unit threshold. The highs of the day are ranging between 28 and 30 degrees centigrade in most of the regions expect for the south where they will rise up to 35 degrees. The sky is overcast and showers and even thunderstorms are expected in the north, west and in central Romania. Hail is expected on isolated areas and the noon reading in Bucharest stands at 32 degrees Celsius. (bill) By Nazuna Nagai, KYODO NEWS - Jun 29, 2024 - 10:09 | Arts, Feature, All, Japan, World Until the 1960s, few knew of a special unit of Navajo code talkers in the U.S. Marine Corps who helped ensure the secrecy of U.S. military communications in the Pacific theater during World War II. For the past several decades, however, their story has been chronicled by a photographer from Japan, the country with which they were at war, who has not only celebrated their pivotal wartime contributions but also shed light on the complex legacy of cultural suppression they endured. The young Native American men experienced combat in several battles including the Battle of Okinawa, which raged for nearly three months until June 1945 and is widely considered the war's bloodiest conflict in the Pacific theater. One of his photos, taken in 1987, is of a man named King Mike, a code talker who served in the Marines' sixth division in fierce battles including in Guam and other places. Mike was also called to duty when his division landed on Okinawa in April 1945 and served there for several months. In the black-and-white photo, the elderly former Marine holds a Japanese Hinomaru flag inscribed with Japanese handwritten messages including the kanji characters for Okinawa as well as the Ryukyu Islands -- the name for Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan. Mike had taken the silk cloth flag back with him to his Navajo reservation in Arizona as a keepsake. Normally, the rules of the tribe would have prevented the former Marine from taking an article from the battlefield, Kawano said, but Mike had explained that a "kind person" had written the words on the flag and presented it to him as a gift. Mike, who according to Kawano was born in 1916, told him that Japanese people's faces were similar in appearance to the Navajo and so they felt "an affinity" toward them. He said he was "impressed with their dedication to education." According to the National Museum of the Marine Corps and other sources, the U.S. military developed a code using the Navajo language to stop Japan from intercepting its communications. In 1942, the U.S. military recruited Navajo troops to form a unit and developed a complex code -- including substituting some words for others and a method called compounding in which new words were created with coded meanings. In major operations in the Pacific theater, code talkers stationed in strategic locations and special regiments at all levels of the Marine Corps communicated via radio with other Navajo troops in remote areas where the messages were then translated into English. In World War II, 723 Native Americans were assigned to the Marines with a little more than 400 becoming Navajo code talkers. Initially starting with 211 code words in the pilot group, there were nearly 700 words in the encrypted language by the war's end. The existence of the unit was kept secret after the war and only became public knowledge after being declassified by the U.S. government in the late 1960s. Born in 1949 in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, Kawano went abroad to the United States in his 20s to hone his skills as a photographer. In 1975, a Navajo who had picked him up hitchhiking revealed he had fought against the Japanese in the war. The men became fast friends and Kawano, who was later introduced to the man's fellow Navajo code talkers from the Marine Corps, began snapping their photos. He published a photo album featuring about 70 of them in the United States in 1990. Kawano, who permanently settled on a reservation in Arizona after marrying a Navajo woman, continues his photography work today. In all, he has profiled roughly 120 of the former code talkers and now plans to publish a Japanese edition. Many of his subjects were from a generation where the Navajo language was forbidden in schools due to policies mandating assimilation, and where violators were subjected to corporal punishment. Kawano believes it is his mission to shine his own light on the history of oppression of Native Americans, who faced barriers to full citizenship until 1924 and did not achieve full suffrage across the nation until New Mexico became the last of the 50 states to allow indigenous people the right to vote in 1962. "I want to leave behind these photographs of the living witnesses who were at the mercy of the U.S. government," said Kawano. Navajo Nation, the Native American reservation of the Navajo people, spans three states, including parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. A sovereign nation with its own government, its capital is based in Window Rock, Arizona. Related coverage: FEATURE: Famed U.S. artist Gates melds Black, Japanese cultures in Tokyo show FEATURE: Film shows rural Japan's changing face through eyes of mythic critter FEATURE: Palestinians in Japan raising voices in defense of their homeland June 29, 2024 UPDATE A roundup of the main local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 29.06.2024, 19:33 OSCE Until July 3rd Bucharest is hosting the 31st annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE. High on the agenda is the Parliamentary prospects regarding the OSCE role in the present security architecture. The participants MPs from over 50 member states of the organization are expected to endorse the statement in Bucharest, a document to comprise the resolutions of the general commissions and the additional ones initiated by the members. These will include a resolution on the worsening situation of the human rights in the breakaway region of Transdniester, in the Romanian-speaking Republic of Moldova. Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the Bucharest meeting. DAY Christians in Romania on Saturday celebrated the holy apostles Peter and Paul, the most important apostles of Jesus Christ. St. Peter disseminated Christianity in Palestine and Rome, while St. Paul founded many churches in the territories presently owned by Turkey and Greece. The two died as martyrs in Rome during the anti-Christian persecutions initiated by the mad emperor Nero in the year 67 a.d. Over 450 thousand Romanians are bearing the names of the two great apostles. SIBIU Seven artistic celebrities on Saturday were awarded a star on the Star Alley in Sibiu, central Romania, during the International Theatre Festival underway there. Some of these celebrities were the US actor John Malkovich, the French actress, Isabelle Adjani, and the Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse, a recipient of the 2023 Nobel Prize in literature. The festivals schedule included numerous indoor and outdoor performances. The 31st edition of the International Theatre Festival in Sibiu kicked off on June 21st and is due to end on Sunday night. POLICE According to Romanian police sources, 10 internationally wanted persons, with arrest warrants issued in their names, have been brought to Romania in the past week. The ten criminals who have been flown in from France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Britain were indicted, among other things, for attempted murder, rape, statutory sexual assault, drug trafficking or theft. The criminals have been taken into custody and are ready to serve their sentences. WEATHER The weather will remain warm, even hot in the countrys western, southern and eastern regions and isolated in the center with a higher thermal discomfort. The highs of the day will be ranging between 28 degrees Celsius on the Black Sea coast and around 37 in the countrys south. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected in the mountains. The weather remains hot in Bucharest with a comfort index above 80 units. The noon high in Bucharest will be around 37 degrees centigrade. VOTE The new leader of the opposition USR, Elena Lasconi, on Saturday was designated the partys candidate in the presidential election. Lasconi, who got more than 94% of the votes, believes the Right is the only solution to prosperity for Romania. In another development Social-Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced he will invite the leaders of all political parties to talks over the presidential elections schedule. The announcement comes after the ruling PSD and PNLs failure to agree upon the presidential election date. (bill) US servicemen meet Romanian high-school students in Bucharest US servicemen from the 1511 US Civil Affairs Team shared their experience with students from a couple of major high schools in an event hosted by the American corner at Romanias National Library in Bucharest. US servicemen meet Romanian high school students in Bucharest; photo: bill Daniel Bilt, 27.06.2024, 14:00 The companys new TVS Apache RTR 310 pushes the boundaries of technology and innovation at the price point and segment it resides in One of Indias leading 2W and 3W vehicle manufacturers, TVS Motor, has ended the month of May 2024 with a positive YoY growth and a MoM decline. As reflected in the sales charts, scooters and mopeds are TVS best friends, with Jupiter and XL 100 taking 1st and 2nd positions, followed by the Apache series of motorcycles. TVS Sales Breakup May 2024 Jupiter range of scooters from TVS is the companys best-selling product with 75,838 units sold last month. When compared to the 57,698 units sold in May 2023 and 77,086 units sold in April 2024, Jupiter registered a 31.44% YoY growth gaining 18,140 units in volume and a small 1.62% MoM decline losing 1,248 units in volume. Jupiter contributed to 27.91% of TVS total sales. In 2nd place, we have the XL 100 with 40,934 units and it contributed to 15.07% of TVS total sales. However, XL 100 followed the same sales pattern as Jupiter as it witnessed a 14.22% YoY growth and a 2.36% MoM decline. Volume gained YoY was 5,097 units and volume lost MoM was 990 units. Apache range is TVS best-selling motorcycle lineup and sold 37,906 units in total to secure a 13.95% market share within this list. It is the first entrant on this list to fall into the red completely with 9.65% YoY and 16.73% MoM decline when opposed to 41,955 units sold a year ago and 45,520 units sold a month before. Volume loss was 4,049 units YoY and 7,614 units MoM. Sharing the same engine, we have Raider 125 motorcycle and Ntorq 125 scooter selling 37,249 units and 29,253 units respectively. Both vehicles registered YoY growth of 8.16% and 6.16% respectively and MoM decline of 27.10% and 3.81% respectively. Raider 125 contributes 13.71% of TVS total sales and Ntorq 10.77%. TVSs iQube electric scooter range recently witnessed an overhaul with the launch of top-spec ST variants. Sales stood at 17,230 units. Opposed to 17,913 units from a year ago and 16,713 units from a month before, TVS iQube registered a 3.81% YoY decline, but it is the first and only vehicle on this list to show positive MoM growth of 3.09%. Ronin sold 1,708 units In 7th and 8th positions on this list, we have TVS Sport and Radeon with 12,757 units and 10,465 units respectively. Both vehicles fell into the red completely. For Sport, it was 13.68% YoY and 18.74% MoM decline with volume loss of 2,022 and 150 units respectively. For Radeon, it was a 1.41% YoY and 15.03% MoM decline with volume loss of 2,942 and 1,851 units respectively. Zest scooter sold 8,061 units in May 2024 and registered an impressive 43.13% YoY growth with 2,429 units gained in volume and a 0.84% MoM decline, losing a mere 68 units in volume. Ronins sales stood at 1,708 units, with a 19.81% MoM decline as opposed to 2,130 units sold in April 2024, losing 422 units in volume. Companys flagship Apache 310 range sold 279 units last month, with a 4.49% YoY growth, but a 33.89% MoM decline. In total, TVS sales breakup May 2024 chart accounted for a total of 2,71,680 units. When compared to 2,52,690 units sold in May 2023 and 3,01,449 units sold in April 2024, TVS witnessed 7.52% YoY growth with 18,990 units gained in volume and 9.88% MoM decline losing 29,769 units in volume. KYODO NEWS - Jun 29, 2024 - 21:37 | All, Japan Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako thanked the British government and King Charles in a statement on Saturday for hosting them during their weeklong visit, expressing hopes for deeper ties between the two nations. "Through our visit, we have been able to deepen our understanding of how the friendship that the peoples of our country and Britain cultivated over many years has come to be," the imperial couple said in the statement issued after they landed at Tokyo's Haneda airport. The statement from the Imperial Household Agency concludes with the hope that the visit will "further deepen cooperation and friendship between Japan and Britain." Their itinerary included a three-day official portion during which King Charles escorted them on a tour of the Mall ceremonial route in horse-drawn carriages and hosted a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, among other engagements. After concluding the official portion of the tour, the couple visited Oxford University together for the first time since their separate studies there decades ago. The imperial couple's tour of Britain was their second goodwill overseas trip since Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne in 2019. The visit was initially planned for 2020 but was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Related coverage: Japan emperor, empress visit alma mater Oxford colleges Q&A: Ties between Japan's imperial family, British royal family KYODO NEWS - Jun 29, 2024 - 10:02 | All, World, Japan Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Friday visited the Oxford University colleges where they studied decades ago, before wrapping up their trip to Britain and leaving for home. Recalling his days as a student at Oxford around 40 years ago, the emperor expressed hope that young people in Japan can also experience studying abroad and learning from the world. The empress toured the university's Balliol College, where she studied international relations as a Foreign Ministry official from 1988 to 1990. She was accompanied on the visit by her teacher at the time, emeritus professor Adam Roberts, among others. After the luncheon, she was awarded an honorary degree during a ceremony that the royal couple attended in red gowns and black hats. The couple then moved to the nearby Merton College, where the emperor had researched the history of river transport on the Thames. He studied at the college from 1983 to 1985, when his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, was on the Japanese throne. The emperor and empress, who married in 1993, also visited locations the emperor had frequented in his student days such as the Bodleian Library as well as a bookstore, before taking off from the British air force's Brize Norton base later Friday. Related coverage: Q&A: Ties between Japan's imperial family, British royal family Japanese imperial couple bids farewell to British king, queen British king welcomes Japan's imperial couple at start of state visit Saturday, June 29, an asteroid the size of a skyscraper will fly by Earth very close, coming within three-quarters of the distance to the moon. The name of this asteroid is 2024 MK. It isn't considered a threat right now, but it demonstrates how deadly space rocks are and how to avoid them. Why 2024 MK's Flyby Is Important On June 16, astronomers discovered 2024 MK in South Africa. It is 146 meters (480 feet) wider than the Great Pyramid of Giza. At its closest approach, this gigantic space rock will pass within 184,000 miles (295,000 kilometers) of Earth, speeding at an astonishing 21,000 mph (34,000 km/h). While it poses no immediate threat, NASA has designated 2024 MK as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" because its size and orbit periodically cross Earth's path. Observing NEOs such as 2024 MK is critical. NASA is monitoring over 35,000 alien objects. NEOs are space objects that frequently circle the Earth and are fewer than 195 million kilometers (120 million miles) from the Sun. No known asteroids will likely endanger Earth for at least the next century. However, regular observation is required to detect them early and prepare. Recent Close Encounters and Knowing About Asteroids The pass of 2024 MK comes right after another major event close to Earth. The even bigger asteroid 2011 UL21 went by Earth on June 27. It was about 4.1 million miles (6.6 million kilometers) away and was between 1.1 and 2.4 miles (1.7 to 3.9 kilometers) wide. Even though it was thousands of kilometers away, it was the closest a big asteroid has been to Earth in 110 years. These close flybys show how important World Asteroid Day is, held annually on June 30. World Asteroid Day was created by the UN in 2014 to raise awareness about asteroids and the risks they may cause. In 1908, an asteroid hit Siberia and destroyed a lot of land. We're celebrating the anniversary of that event today. Finding and avoiding asteroids will need better tools after this worldwide event. READ ALSO: Potentially Hazardous Asteroid the Size of Washington Monument To Come Closer to Earth, NASA Warns Is it Possible to Stop an Asteroid Impact Event? It is possible, but very hard and very expensive, to keep an asteroid from hitting Earth. Altering an asteroid's path is more important than destroying it because the bits left behind could be dangerous. Due to this, several different methods are being considered and tested: Kinetic Impact: Using a projectile that doesn't hurt the asteroid is one way to change its direction. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2021 changed an asteroid's path to show that this was possible. Gravity Tractor: A high-mass spaceship can gently tug the asteroid into a new orbit via gravitation. Laser Ablation: High-power lasers could melt away a chunk of the asteroid's surface, giving it thrust that would change its path. Nuclear Explosions: Setting off a nuclear weapon close to the asteroid could steer it away from the Earth. Surface Rockets: Small rockets attached to the asteroid's surface can give it the thrust it needs to change its path. For each of these ways to work, they would need to be found early and have a lot of time to prepare-at least five years. Because of this need, ongoing efforts to watch and prepare for asteroids are even more important. The close pass of the asteroid 2024 MK is a good example of how dangerous things that are close to Earth can be. While this asteroid doesn't directly threaten, its path shows how important it is to keep an eye out for them and buy tools to find and avoid them. It's important to remember that the best way to protect Earth from asteroids is to stay ahead of them and make scientific progress on World Asteroid Day. RELATED ARTICLE: 'Planet Killer' Asteroid To Skim Past Earth This Week; Here's What To Know About the Mountain-Sized Space Rock Check out more news and information on Asteroids in Science Times. YANGON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- At the Yangon Convention Center in Myanmar, over 100 booths were showcasing products from the agriculture and livestock, power and machinery, food and beverage, and hotel, restaurant and catering sectors. The three-day trade expo attracted engineers, business owners and onlookers, all drawn by the promise of innovation, affordability, discounts and promotions. Among the attendees was a 61-year-old engineer, Min Naing Nyunt, who came to find the latest in solar technology for his diverse clients. "I want to give the best products to my customers, so I came here to choose the products," he explained. When Xinhua's reporter asked him about China's innovation, he recalled, "The one thing that impressed me was when LED lights first came into the Myanmar market years ago." Naing Lin Aung, 39, who attended the event with friends, was also attracted by the variety of milling equipment and spare parts at the expo. "Most of the milling products here are China-made," he noted. "China-made products are affordable. They are about three times cheaper than products from other countries. Quality depends on the price. I also like the solar products here," he said. He also said that he was now using a range of Chinese products including motors, milling parts, color sorters and drying machines, adding that he was particularly impressed with the Meyer color sorter during the trade expo. "The quality is good. If the products are good, the prices are also high," he said. Nang Aye Moh Moh Khan, 35, sought machines and spare parts for both home and office use. "Among the China-made products, rice milling machines are very useful for Myanmar people. The milling machines imported from China are very good. My younger sister is also now using a China-made milling machine," she said. Praising the fair pricing and quality of Chinese products, she said, "The products I like here are milling machines, spare parts, solar panels and solar products. The prices and quality of China-made products match. They are worth using." She also said that she used many Chinese products at home, saying that their value and quality match. "Solar products innovated in China are very useful for Myanmar people," she added. Traveling from Maubin Township of Ayeyarwady Region, Ko Zaw Lin, a 48-year-old rice miller, said that he had planned to purchase a color sorter during the expo. "I used to use China-made products. My milling machine is also China-made," he said. Myat Kyaw Kyaw, 51, a businessperson, initially came to view locally produced dairy products but found himself drawn to Chinese rice milling machines and spare parts. "Chinese products are now being used around the world, including in Western countries. China is close to us, and the prices of Chinese products are affordable. In the past, China-made products were cheap, and the quality was not good. Now, the quality has improved, and the prices are higher," he explained. Over 90 organizations, including over 60 companies and associations, and more than 30 small and medium-sized enterprises, are participating with over 130 display booths at the trade expo in Yangon. The expo runs from Friday to Sunday. LA PAZ, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A Bolivian court on Friday sentenced General Juan Jose Zuniga and two other former military chiefs to a six-month preventative detention over a failed coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce, said the local authorities. While the investigation continues, the former commanders, who are charged with crimes of terrorism and armed rebellion, are being held in custody in the maximum security prison of Chonchocoro in the Department of La Paz. The prosecution team argued that the danger of escape and the possibility that the accused would hinder the investigation were reasons for their detention. According to the Bolivian government, Zuniga on Wednesday led the attempted coup in Palacio Quemado, the government palace, which is located in Murillo Square in the city of La Paz. It made us wonder just how Summer Reading has progressed in a world where excitement has been the rule and where nothing has remained as it was.... Gone are the days when the unambitious reader would lie in the grass in a semi-coma and meander blankly through a volume of trashy lovemaking and trashier thrillers. --New York Times, August 15, 1920 At Betty's Books What is the big question when it comes to Beach Reads for the summer of 2024? Maybe this: "Is Elin Hilderbrand Really Retiring?" Yes, summer reading season is here and filling everyone's TBR (Tempting Beach Reads) list is big biz. Indie booksellers count on those sunny weather sales, including White Water Books, Carbondale, Colo., which posted on Facebook: "If you're looking for the perfect beach read, check out our collection of Emily Henry books! These lighthearted novels make great airplane entertainment, and are good company by the pool." And Inkwell Books & Threads, Rockton, Ill., noted: "Weve got your pool or beach day essentials! Freshly restocked with new locally made tumblers and of course, you definitely need a coordinating book! See you at the bookstore!" The impending wave that is July 4th weekend unofficially launches beach reads season. It's a longstanding tradition in the book trade. Even in the 19th century, the challenge included a perennial quest for "cool covers," literally. "Look which way one may the words 'Summer Reading,' 'Outdoor Books,' 'For Tourists,' 'Summer Series,' etc. meet the eye," the American Bookmaker reported in 1888. "It need hardly be said that these books are all complete in one volume, and mostly in paper or flexible covers.... But there is one thing which the book for summer reading should have and that is a cool cover. By cool cover is not necessarily meant a paper one. Some cloth covers have a trim and airy look about them, pleasant to the eye, agreeable to the touch." At Riverbend Books In the Los Angeles Times, Shannon Reed recently offered an alternative summer reads take: "Ive been a reader for nearly all of my life, yet I always feel perplexed at the beginning of summer, when the term 'beach reads' enters the chat.... As a college professor, I prefer to dig into lighthearted reads during the school year, when I need a break from reality." Perhaps Reed is just in the wrong hemisphere. With another winter rolling into Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald suggested "10 great books to cozy up with this winter" and Secret Sydney highlighted "15 charming bookshops in Sydney to get you through winter." Rosetta Books in Maleny, Queensland, even shared a photo of the shop's book snowman Olof, who offered "some great ways to support local bookshops this Buy Local Sunshine Coast Day." But if you prefer your reading summery, this is the hemisphere for you. Lists are rampant, as usual. Every media outlet that covers books at all (and many that don't) offers a variation on the "beach books" theme ("These books offer breezy escapism. That doesn't mean they're silly"; "Summer reading: 50 of the best new books to dive into"; "19 of the Best Beach Reads to Lose Yourself in this Summer"; "10 Food-Filled Beach Reads for Your Summer Vacation"; and, of course, "Where to Start with Elin Hilderbrand Books for a Summer Full of Beach Reads." At Commonplace Books My favorite grumpy summer read recommendation thus far is from author Oliver Burkeman, who touts Sara Kuburics book It's on Me in the Guardian by calling it "a rarity among self-help books" and "as bracing as walking into a stiff breeze, and therefore an excellent British beach read." If such alternative summer reading is your priority, maybe you can find something in "Beach Reads for Personal Finance" or "Beach Reads for Busy Bees: Dive into These 12 Productivity Books This Summer." Fortunately, indie bookstores offer a lot more variety in summer reading vacation offerings for their communities. Read Between the Lynes, Woodstock Ill., asked: "How are your TBR (To Be Read) lists/stacks/shelves/carts looking this summer? Do you have room to add some more books? We invite you to peruse our Summer Catalog! Shop the catalog via our dedicated shop display or online at the link in our bio. Check it out for summer (and beyond) reading options." Adult Summer Reading Club at Schuler Books Betty's Books, Webster Groves, Mo., has a Summer Reading Challenge "in full swing and more lowkey than ever"; Mabel's Fables Bookstore, Toronto, Canada, offers a Middle Grade Book Club that "will meet every 2 weeks via Zoom (meaning participants can join from the cottage too!)"; Schuler Books, with four stores in Michigan, is "introducing the Adult Summer Reading Club! For the first time ever, we're involving the adults in summer reading this year because why should kids have all the fun?!" Big Red Books, Nyack, N.Y., agrees: "Okay Adults. Start reading." My first beach read was F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. During the swelter of July 1968, I dove into those pages because the book was on an incoming Freshman summer reading list for college. Thus, Fitzgerald's novel remains a summer book in my memory (J.L. Carr's A Month in the Country is another, as is, strangely, The Exorcist). But what if I'd stumbled upon Gatsby in January? Would it have become a winter novel in my recollections? Or what if I'd first read it in Australia in July? Beach reads can be confusing. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD released the name and photo of a man with ties to Staten Island who is sought for questioning in connection with a police-impersonation incident where an individual allegedly pepper sprayed a man at the South Ferry-Whitehall Street subway station in Manhattan. Detectives have identified Dominic Ogrady, 35, as a person of interest in the incident that reportedly occurred on Sunday at about 6:35 p.m. on the northbound R train platform at the station near the Whitehall Terminal that is used by riders of the Staten Island Ferry, according to statements from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. While police do not have a current address for Ogrady, he previously lived on our borough, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. The victim lives on Staten Island and the police shield that the individual allegedly wore is believed to be fake, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. An unknown individual wearing an NYPD detective shield displayed from a chain around his neck was unlawfully stopping commuters from entering the transit system and attempting to detain them while identifying himself as a police officer, according to the police statement. The individual allegedly attempted to stop a 46-year-old man who was trying to walk away from him. The individual allegedly discharged pepper spray from a can toward the back of the 46-year-old mans head, according to the police statement. The individual then fled on a northbound R train and was spotted on surveillance video at the 8th Street-NYU subway station prior to exiting the transit system. The 46-year-old victim suffered burning and swelling on his face and traveled by private means to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan where he was treated and then released, police said. Police previously described the individual sought for questioning as a man seen with NYPD detective shield number 694 attached to a chain hanging around his neck. He also was wearing ripped denim shorts, a T-shirt that was black and yellow and a yellow hat. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. An individual allegedly impersonated a NYPD detective and pepper sprayed a victim at the South Ferry subway station near the Whitehall Terminal for the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on Sunday, June 23, 2024. The individual allegedly fled on a northbound "R" train and exited at 8th Street-NYU subway station. (Courtesy of NYPD)Courtesy of NYPD An individual allegedly impersonated a NYPD detective and pepper sprayed a victim at the South Ferry subway station near the Whitehall Terminal for the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan on Sunday, June 23, 2024. The individual allegedly fled on a northbound "R" train and exited at 8th Street-NYU subway station. (Courtesy of NYPD)Courtesy of NYPD The inventor of Polly Pockets, Chris Wiggs, has died at 74, per a report in the New York Post. Wiggs had recently been diagnosed with a rare form of neurological cancer and passed away peacefully on June 20 at his home in France, surrounded by his family, noted the Post. Born in East London, Wiggs conceived the idea for Polly Pocket in 1983 during a business trip to New York. His innovative creation a compact, portable dollhouse captured the hearts and imaginations of children worldwide and became a significant influence in the toy industry. The colorful, little self-contained playscape hit the market 1989. Polly Pockets would go on to become one of Mattels most successful properties. Polly Pocket figures are displayed at the TTPM Holiday Showcase, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. With three months until Christmas, toy companies are racing to get their toys onto store shelves as they face a severe supply network crunch. Toy makers are feverishly trying to find containers to ship their goods while searching for new alternative routes and ports. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)AP $180 MILLION IN WORLDWIDE SALES Although Polly Pocket never surpassed the phenomenal success of Barbie dolls, by 1994 it had achieved impressive worldwide sales of $180 million, according to the Mirror. The high demand for the coveted mini doll sparked Wiggs creativity, with the number of individual compact designs increasing from 17 in 1989 to 26 by 1994. In 2018, there was a relaunch of the popular toy, with Mattel selling more than 10 million mini dollhouses throughout the years. The first time I saw a fully packaged, ready-to-go Polly Pocket it was an odd experience, his daughter told the Mirror It was kind of knowing what the package contained, the potential of what it contained for all these imaginary worlds for the kids, but also I just felt really proud of my dad. BELGRADE, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A gendarmerie officer was injured on Saturday while on duty at the Israeli Embassy in Serbia after being shot with a crossbow, according to Ivica Dacic, deputy prime minister and minister of internal affairs of Serbia. Dacic said that an unidentified person fired a crossbow at the gendarmerie officer, striking him in the neck. The officer, identified as M.J., responded in self-defense, using his firearm to subdue the attacker, who later died from his injuries. The officer was conscious when transported to the Emergency Center, where a surgery is planned to remove the arrow. Dacic said that investigations are underway to determine the circumstances and motives behind the attack. RIVER ROUGE, MI An 11-year-old girl lost several fingers after a firework blew up in her hand in River Rouge. Fox 2 in Detroit reports the firework, possibly an M-80 or something larger, was lit on Superior Street around 5 p.m. on Thursday. The girl and her sister had found the firework in their home and thought it was something smaller, police told the TV station. The 11-year-olds sister suffered minor injuries from the explosion and there was some structural damage to the home, according to police. The girls were both taken to a hospital and are expected to recover, according to the TV station. The incident is under investigation and police are using the incident to remind the public to properly store fireworks, especially with the Fourth of July fast approaching. Fireworks in N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul this week reminded residents that the possession and use of sparkling devices, often referred to as sparklers, is illegal in cities with populations of more than one million people and in parts of that state where they are prohibited by local law. This includes New York City and the following counties; Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Erie, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange (prohibited in the Cities of Middletown and Newburgh only), Queens, Richmond, Schenectady, Suffolk, Warren and Westchester. That means Staten Islanders, and anyone else living in the aforementioned counties, would need to travel to other parts of the state to use sparklers legally. The NYPD encourages residents to anonymously report the delivery, sale or storage of fireworks. New Yorkers can call 911 for emergencies in progress and 311 to report information. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Health-conscious snackers beware: One item is being recalled over a possible salmonella contamination. Sunco and Frenchie LLC is recalling its Terrafina brand Macadamia in the Raw product because it has the potential to be contaminated, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Though headquartered in New Jersey, Sunco and Frenchies Terrafina brand is distributed across New York, mostly in retail stores. Consumers should be on the lookout for Terrafina brand 6 oz plastic containers with a light green colored front label and a best-by date of May 2025. While no illnesses have been reported to date, according to the FDA, the agency still warns that salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Most people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis. The product was flagged for potential contamination in response to routine testing through the State of New York Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory. The source of the contamination is still being investigated, according to the FDA. Consumers who have bought the affected macadamia nuts should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Those with questions may contact the company at 973-478-1011 during regular business hours. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Those looking to celebrate Independence Day this weekend might want to keep an eye on the forecast. New York City is predicted to see thunderstorms at numerous points throughout the coming days. While Friday featured a mild, sunny day with a high of only 77 degrees, as reported by the Advance/SILive.com weather station, the next couple of days take a turn for the worse. A timeline for the weekend: Saturday The threat for showers and thunderstorms first roll in around Saturday afternoon, according to National Weather Service (NWS) Lead Meteorologist John Cristantello. Looks like by sunset youre right around a 50-50 shot, but the better chances actually happen overnight, Cristantello said. A National Weather Service graphic shows expected rainfall amounts for New York City from Saturday, June 29 through Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Courtesy of the National Weather Service)(Courtesy of the National Weathe Saturday looks to feature a mild high of 80 with gusts reaching as high as 28 mph in New York City, the NWS reports. Proceeding into the evening hours, Saturday will drop to a low around 74, the chance of precipitation marked at 80%. The NWS notes that showers will take place after 11 p.m. with a thunderstorm possible. Rainfall amounts are believed to measure up to half-an-inch. Sunday For Sunday, it looks like the morning is probably okay, Cristantello said. I cant rule out a potential shower, but I think its going to be again where in the afternoon its more likely. I would say the later afternoon to early evening hours. Thats when your chances ramp up again to at least better than 50-50. The NWS reinforces Cristantellos forecast: at this time there is a chance at showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., but showers do not become likely until after 2 p.m. The days temperatures will come in quite a bit warmer than Saturdays, the NWS calling for a high of 89 degrees. Rainfall amounts are anticipated to measure somewhere between a quarter and half of an inch; the chance of precipitation sitting at 70%. It isnt until Sunday evening that the NWS seems confident of thunderstorms. Prior to 11 p.m., both showers and thunderstorms become likely; a chance at showers persists through 2 a.m. Monday. The low for Sunday evening is forecast to rest around 67 degrees by the NWS. As with any thunderstorm, elevated wind speeds and rainfall amounts should be expected. Although clouds may persist into Monday morning, the day looks to give way to a mostly sunny sky. A shift in the weather pattern This latest chance at thunder is amidst a recent change in weather patterns that saw New York City move from surging temperatures to more seasonable conditions. Were in a pattern now, at least for the short term, for the next week to 10 days or so, were in this pattern where its kind of a back and forth, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek said on Tuesday. Its more typical, I would say its a very typical early summer pattern, where you got little surges of heat and humidity that last for a day, they might last for a couple of days, and then they get knocked back by a front that comes through. And then you get a day or two where its more comfortable, and lower humidity, and you know, you knocked the temperatures down and then you sort of repeat the whole process over again. This wash, rinse, repeat type pattern can also spark thunderstorms as a result of either the increase in humidity and heat or incoming cold fronts, as reported by Dombek. This pattern is expected to persist into, and potentially through, the coming week. Its thanks to this early summer pattern that the Fourth of July has proved difficult to pin down with a specific forecast. To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets 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) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra in Beijing on Friday. Li said that since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Peru in 2013, the two sides have continuously deepened political mutual trust and expanded practical cooperation, setting a good example of unity, cooperation and common development between China and Latin American countries. Noting that China attaches great importance to relations with Peru, Li said China is willing to work with Peru to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, push the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and bring more benefits to the two peoples. China stands ready to further strengthen exchanges and dialogue with Peru at all levels, and continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, Li said. Li said both sides should strengthen the synergy of development strategies, continue to expand trade and deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as mining, electricity, ports and infrastructure, under the guidance of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Li also called on the two sides to expand cooperation in emerging areas such as new energy, communications, digital economy, digital healthcare and artificial intelligence to ensure the steady implementation of major projects, and continue to deepen people-to-people and cultural cooperation and promote friendship between the two countries. Li said China supports Peru in hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Peru in multilateral mechanisms such as the UN and APEC to make positive contributions to maintaining world peace and development, safeguarding the common interests of developing countries, and promoting the building a community with a shared future for humanity. Hailing the friendship between the two peoples, Boluarte said the investment and cooperation of Chinese enterprises has effectively promoted Peru's economic and social development. Peru actively participates in Belt and Road cooperation, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Peru, and is willing to further expand practical cooperation with China in infrastructure construction, new energy, green development, education and other fields, Boluarte said, adding that the Peruvian government is willing to provide a favorable environment for this. Boluarte noted that Peru abides by the one-China principle, supports the Global Security Initiative and is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China to jointly promote world peace and development. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets 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) Property fund and landlord ISPT is waging war on waste by re-using office furniture and fit-outs as it upgrades its vast portfolio. Instead of knocking down a property and rebuilding, the fund is upgrading and retrofitting its assets, sending unwanted desks, ceiling tiles, chairs, carpets and even kitchen sinks to use in other buildings across the country. The office building at 270 Pitt Street is being renovated and ISPT is recycling as much of the office furniture as possible. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Items that cannot be relocated are being donated to charities or sold, with the cash generated funnelled back to the charities. This will be the case for its site at 270 Pitt Street, Sydney, where it will invest $170 million to create an A-grade, 25-storey tower with 22,660 square metres of office space while retaining the buildings internal structure and facade. Last week, the publicity hype machine was set to fiesta mode with much fanfare over the Guzman y Gomez listing on the ASX. However, investors should be wary of piling into initial public offerings (IPOs) because for every Nvidia, Google, Apple or Microsoft that turns out to be a big winner, there are thousands of losers. Guzman y Gomez Co- CEO Steven Marks at the Guzman y Gomez floating at the ASX in Sydney. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Take it from someone who learnt the hard way, the cards are stacked against us retail investors. Much unlike trading, where success stems from years of work and effort, success in the IPO game depends on your existing wealth and connections. Its essentially a legal pump and dump scheme transferring the overvalued bags to the masses (you and me). The nations largest wildlife rescue charity is yet to spend the vast majority of more than $100 million raised to care for burnt and injured animals during the Black Summer bushfires, and is now trying to reduce oversight of the remaining $69 million. WIRES collected $102.5 million in donations from all over Australia and the world during the 2019-2020 fires, in a fundraising campaign promoted by former United States president Barack Obama and TV host Ellen DeGeneres. Now the fur is flying between the management of WIRES and a substantial part of its member base over control and oversight of the funds, and the rights of members within the organisation. A WIRES volunteer with a koala joey in Sydney. Credit: Nick Moir One member, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said: Within WIRES, were not seeing any of the benefits of bushfire donations. All we can see is that their head office is getting bigger and bigger, and theres more and more staff. An obscure Chinese-backed property developer has made a dramatic legal threat over the planned redevelopment of Penrith Stadium, claiming it has been ignored as a key stakeholder and its mega-project next door will be overshadowed and is at risk. SHMH, whose parent company is Shanghai-based and has completed at least one previous Sydney project, owns 7.8 hectares of land next to the stadium. It has plans, but as yet no approval, for 2000 units in towers up to 14 storeys, in what would be one of Sydneys biggest housing propositions. Penrith Stadium, which will be redeveloped in 2025, and behind it the SHMH site at 164 Station Street. Credit: Getty Images The Labor state government last year ditched plans to completely rebuild Penrith (commercially known as BlueBet) Stadium on an adjacent site, opting instead for a $309 million refurbishment which will involve a new western grandstand and a significantly rebuilt eastern grandstand, with capacity increasing to 25,000. The detailed plans went on exhibition in May and attracted only 11 submissions, which were published on Thursday. One was a fire-and-brimstone letter from SHMH through consultant Tomasy Planning to Planning Minister Paul Scully and his department alleging a despicable failure to consult it about the plans. An investigation has been launched into why it took police nearly an hour to acknowledge a triple-zero call to a house where a woman lay dying. The womans partner has since been charged with murder. A call was made to triple zero shortly after 1.30am on Saturday after neighbours reportedly heard screaming from a residential home in Casino in the Northern Rivers. The scene in Casino on Saturday afternoon. Credit: Ness Kerton Police failed to acknowledge the emergency call until 2.25am. When they arrived at the home two minutes later, they found the woman, aged in her 40s, unconscious but still breathing. An ambulance was called, but the womans condition deteriorated and she died at the scene. Compassion fatigue is among the factors contributing to poor mental health, burnout and high suicide rates among veterinarians, a NSW parliamentary inquiry has found. The report on the veterinary industry workforce shortage found that unmanageable workloads, inadequate pay, and poor working conditions were common, and many vets left the profession within five years of graduating. Released on Friday, the inquiry recommended that the state government consider subsidising veterinary care to low-income earners, pensioners, and animal rescue groups to relieve the burden on vets to cover shortfalls in costs. Dr Amy Lee said subsidies for pet care for those on low incomes would help alleviate ethical dilemmas vets face. Credit: Rhett Wyman Australian Veterinary Association NSW division president Dr Amy Lee, who runs the West Blacktown vet clinic, said it was not uncommon for vets to pay from their own pockets to treat animals rather than turn them away. Sydney parents are joining forces to stop children using smartphones, which they say are addictive, increase the risk of anxiety and depression and put kids at greater risk of bullying. More than 300 parents have pledged on the Wait Mate website to delay giving their kids smartphones in the two days after it launched, as a leading child psychologist says children should have a licence before using a mobile device. Wait Mate unites parents who do not want to give their kids a smartphone at least until they are in high school. Wait Mate co-founders Amy Friedlander and Jessica Mendoza-Roth want to help parents delay giving smartphones to their children. Credit: Wolter Peeters Co-founder Jessica Mendoza-Roth said smartphones are changing childhood, with kids spending up to seven hours a day on their mobile device instead of time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family. Australias top-earning vice chancellors are pocketing six times the salaries of their universitys most senior professors, as the tertiary education union calls for an inquiry into growing wage theft scandals. The latest annual reports reveal that five of Victorias eight universities paid their vice chancellors more than $1 million last year, as did about half of Sydneys universities. Analysis by this masthead found about half of Australias vice chancellors have now cracked the million-dollar club, often outstripping the salaries of their counterparts at some of the worlds most prestigious institutions. Monash Universitys former vice chancellor, Margaret Gardner, topped the list before her departure last year, earning nearly $1.6 million about $190,000 more than she was paid in 2022, including entitlements, in a role later taken over by acting VC Susan Elliott. A 36-year-old man has appeared in court after being charged with murder over the death of a fisherman on Frankston pier on Saturday morning. Officers were called to the popular swimming spot following reports of an assault halfway down the pier just after 6am. Police said officers arrived at the pier to find Andres Pancha, a 45-year-old man from Cranbourne North, critically injured. He died at the scene. A witness told Nine News that the deceased man had been fishing at the pier. VIENNA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo hosted a spectacular giant panda-themed cultural event on Friday night, attracting hundreds of participants. Themed "Adorable Pandas, Beautiful China," the event showcased an exhibition of award-winning panda-themed artworks from a recent competition organized by the Chinese Embassy in Austria. Attendees also engaged in quizzes on giant panda conservation efforts. At the event, Chinese Ambassador to Austria Qi Mei said giant panda is a window for the world to learn about China and a "non-governmental envoy" that promotes China-Austria friendship. Highlighting the long-standing bilateral cooperation in giant panda conservation and the fruitful results, Qi said that the recent announcement by both sides to extend the collaboration underscored their sustained joint efforts to protect endangered species and promote global biodiversity, and demonstrate the friendly strategic partnership between the two countries. On Wednesday, Schoenbrunn Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) signed an agreement to strengthen their cooperation, which dates back to 2003, on giant panda protection and related research. Pandas Yang Yang and Yuan Yuan now reside at Schoenbrunn Zoo, which co-organized the cultural event with the Chinese Embassy in Austria. Under the new agreement, a new pair will be sent to the zoo under a 10-year project after Yang Yang and Yuan Yuan's return to China later this year. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck, director of Schoenbrunn Zoo, told Xinhua Friday that Yang Yang and Yuan Yuan are among the most popular animals in the zoo, and that the giant pandas have a unique ability to bring people together, connecting different countries and cultures and fostering friendships across borders. "We are very, very proud because we have great cooperation with the CWCA since over 20 years ago, and we are very happy because through this cooperation, a lot was done for the conservation of the giant panda... we have also managed to have some very good scientific results," Hering-Hagenbeck said, adding that he looks forward to another 10 years of friendship and cooperation with the CWCA. He also said Schoenbrunn Zoo will renovate and upgrade its facilities to welcome the new panda pair. At Friday's event, Qi and Hering-Hagenbeck also presented awards to the creators of the artworks on display. "I love giant pandas and enjoy visiting the two pandas at Schoenbrunn Zoo, so I drew this painting to show the cute and funny side of giant pandas," said Mario Schuster, a resident from the state of Lower Austria and author of the painting titled "A panda holding balloons." He told Xinhua that he looks forward to visiting China and seeing pandas in their home country. For decades, Riddells Creek has been a sleepy rural town beneath the picturesque Macedon Ranges where geese wander freely and a trip to the shops means bumping into plenty of familiar faces. But big change is now coming for this country community, which has been earmarked for a residential explosion. Plans for a property development would double the size of Riddells Creek, which lies just beyond Melbournes northern outskirts. The wandering geese of Riddells Creek. Credit: Justin McManus Residents are now hitting back at the development plan, arguing it would destroy the rural character and undermine the close nature of their community. The Victorian government is considering new planning conditions and a permit application allowing for residential development at a large site in Amess Road in Riddells Creek. 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 Ora Degani is finishing up her weekly shop at the Queen Victoria Market, her shopping trolley laden with bread, fruit, vegetables and fish. One of the beautiful things of going shopping at a market is you never know what you are going to get, she says. We always try to get whats fresh and what looks the best. A shopper buys bread at the Queen Victoria market on Friday. Credit: Wayne Taylor Degani has been shopping at the Queen Victoria for 40 years and, like many Melburnians, she feels a particular loyalty towards her market of choice. Its cheaper and the choice is much greater there than a supermarket, she says. In a supermarket you have one orange to choose, here there are so many oranges. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, Melbournes market traders say they are seeing an increase in new customers joining the regulars. The Sunday Age visited six of Melbournes most popular markets over the course of a week: the Queen Victoria Market, South Melbourne Market, Preston Market, Prahran Market, Footscray Market and Dandenong Market. Advertisement We compared the experience at each a vibe check, if you will and looked at prices across stalls to get a taste of the cost of a basket of goods: broccoli, bananas, potatoes, beef mince, a leg of lamb, flathead tails and prawns. Prices differed markedly between the markets and from stall to stall, but Footscray and Dandenong were the cheapest overall, with bargains including a leg of lamb for $9.99 a kilo and bananas at $1.99 a kilo. Dandenong Market Women wearing hijabs browse the aisles of the Dandenong market where stores sell heaps of fragrant spices and bags of different varieties of nuts. The customers reflect the suburbs multicultural makeup with large Afghan, Indian, Sri Lankan and Pakistani populations in Dandenong. In the fruit and vegetable aisles a sign warns please ask before eating while a spruiker calls out one dollar, one dollar, one dollar standing over bags of small, plump eggplants. Advertisement In the section named The Bazaar there are stores selling ugg boots and puffer jackets, another selling cacti and a watch repair store. Prices across markets and from stall to stall, but Dandenong was one of the cheapest. Credit: Simon Schluter Bakery Kabul Kitchen owned by friends Ali Haidari and Mohammad Sarwari, who came to Australia as refugees by boat and spent time in the same detention centre on Christmas Island before finally meeting years later has a cult following at the market. They specialise in hot naan bread, baked in the tandoor oven and served still warm. Footscray Market The seafood stallholders are starting to pack up at the Footscray market, emptying trays of ice as live lobsters and fish regard them from giant tanks. John and Kevins Fresh Seafood, or Buttacavolis as its known by locals, has already shut up shop for the day. Advertisement Its an institution at the market the only stall still owned by the same owners and trading for over forty years. It also claims to be the only fishmongers in Australia without a freezer. Play and purchase at Footscray Market. Credit: Justin McManus All the fish they buy from the wholesale markets they sell fresh that day, says Footscray resident and long-time market shopper Joyce Watts. Once theyre sold out they shut the shop. If you go early enough they will fillet your fish on the spot and all their salmon is sashimi grade. In the food court, customers are transported to Asia by the air fragrant with the smell of fresh mint and short metal stools clustering around stores selling bowls of pho and bun. Loading Produce on offer at the fruit and vegetable shops include green papaya, custard apples, bitter melon and carefully packaged but potent smelling durian. Gold lucky cats are a popular ornament for stallholders, their paws waving slowly in the air and contemplating the shoppers headed for the adjoining nail salon or Tattslotto store. Advertisement Watts says when the market opened in 1982 it was dominated by the Italian, Greek and Maltese communities, but now its known for its Asian produce with many hard to get and unusual ingredients. Its still a place where migrants come to make a living for themselves and thats the story of the whole market, she says. Prahran Market Its a quiet weekday lunchtime at the Prahran market but there are still queues for the gourmet cheese toasties at Anthony Femias cheese store Maker & Monger. Customers at the Prahran market this week. Credit: Simon Schluter Prahran bills itself as the market for foodies with specialty shops such as the Mushroom Man who stocks 40 different types of mushrooms and Nahedas dips which has become popular on social network TikTok. Have you been here before? the woman behind the counter at Nahedas asks. You have to try the bomb, she says a combination of two dips layered in one tub which she describes as bombtastic. Advertisement One of the great joys of working in an office is leaving the office and getting coffee with a colleague. Its a moment of tiny protest, a reminder that your time is still yours (its not), and proof that you can still do whatever you please, whenever you please. More importantly, its over coffee outings that work friendships are born, grievances are shared, secrets traded, and personalities revealed. How quickly a relative stranger can become a close confidant when you learn you both love long blacks and hate the weird guy in sales. However, occasionally, this act of bonding can backfire; you cross the coffee threshold with a colleague only to realise theyre not the person you thought they were. Last week, while venturing out for a first-time coffee with a soon-to-be new work friend, I did the honourable thing and offered to pay. Ordering a long black doesnt make you a good person, but having a hot chocolate does make you a bad person. Credit: Michael Howard After ordering my regular normal person drink, a large soy flat white, I asked what theyd like, to which they replied: Can I get a hot chocolate? Can you? Yes. Should you? Absolutely not. The east coast of Australia will need 13 gigawatts of new gas fired electricity generation - the equivalent of building 26 new gas plants - within the next 25 years to back up the rollout of renewables. The Australian Energy Market Operators (AEMO) finding that an extra 13 gigawatts would be needed was contained in its latest energy grid road map, released last week. It also warns that eastern Australias gas supply is running so low that emergency diesel fuel supplies would need to be built next to each new gas plant. The energy grid will need a massive roll-out of new gas plants to back up renewable energy. Credit: Louie Douvis AEMOs warning is a high stakes challenge to the Albanese government and Peter Duttons opposition given just one gas plant was completed in the past 10 years, with one more in development at Kurri Kurri in NSW. With 10 months before the election, neither major party has detailed their plans to build crucial energy infrastructure or boost gas supplies. In 2014, the Scottish novelist Andrew OHagan published in the London Review of Books a 92-page essay narrating his relationship with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, as they worked together on Assanges autobiography in 2011. Assange had signed a 600,000 ($1,144,000) contract with Canongate to deliver the book. It was also sold to the New York publishing house Knopf, as well as a slew of other publishers around the world. The total value of the book, which didnt yet exist, was more than $US2 million (more than $3 million). WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives in Canberra on Wednesday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Assange chose OHagan, an award-winning author and a passionate believer in the WikiLeaks cause, to be his ghostwriter. OHagan attempted to work with Assange over a five-month period before the project derailed. A book was eventually published, without OHagans or Assanges cooperation, as an unauthorised autobiography. During those five months, Assange was holed up in Ellingham Hall, a 19th-century manor in Norfolk, under what was jokingly called mansion arrest following charges of sexual assault flowing from allegations made by two Swedish women in 2010. Warning: racist language. 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 f---ing Paki a British racial slur for people of South Asian descent. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the latest televised debate. Credit: Getty Images 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. BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China and Singapore have vowed to deepen digital cooperation, as highlighted by the inaugural meeting of a bilateral digital policy dialogue mechanism. The two sides agreed to use the mechanism as a platform to bolster exchanges and collaboration in the digital sphere. The meeting highlighted the importance of encouraging exchanges between participants from various levels, including government agencies, colleges and universities, research institutes and enterprises, according to a statement released by China's National Data Administration after the meeting. The two sides also discussed potential areas for cooperation, including sectors that can facilitate cross-border flow of enterprises' data, foster new industries and models of the digital economy, and promote the high-quality development of digital trade. Suspected leaders of failed Bolivian coup remanded in custody La Paz, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Three suspected leaders of a failed coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce were remanded in custody on Friday for six months, the country's top prosecutor said. Former army chief Juan Jose Zuniga, former head of navy Juan Arnez and Alejandro Irahola, former head of the army's mechanized brigade, will be held in a high-security prison not far from the capital La Paz. "This pre-trial detention ordered by the judge will undoubtedly set a precedent, and is a good signal for the investigation to move forward," said Attorney General Cesar Siles. The three officers face charges of engaging in an armed uprising and terrorism and face up to 20 years in prison, Siles said on state television. A total of 21 active, retired and civilian military personnel were arrested in connection with Wednesday's attempted coup, in which troops and tanks were deployed in the heart of the capital, where they tried to break down a door of the presidential palace. Zuniga said his goal was to "restructure democracy" in Bolivia. He was soon captured and the troops pulled back. - 'Coup on one's self'? - In an unusual twist, Zuniga claimed he was following Arce's orders and that the president had hoped for the coup to trigger a crackdown that would boost his popularity. Arce denied the allegations. "How could one order or plan a coup on one's self?" he told reporters. 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 powerful former president Evo Morales ahead of the 2025 election. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Thursday that he would soon visit his "friend" Arce to support him following the unrest. 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. Fighting for third day in north Gaza as thousands displaced Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Explosions, air strikes and gunfire rattled northern Gaza on Saturday, the third day of an Israeli military operation that has uprooted tens of thousands of Palestinians and compounded what the UN called "unbearable" living conditions in the territory. An AFP correspondent reported ongoing explosions from the Shujaiya area near Gaza City, with a resident saying bodies were visible on the streets. Israel's military on Saturday said its operations were continuing in Shujaiya where fighting "above and below the ground" left a "large number" of militants dead. A resurgence of fighting in the area comes months after Israel had declared the command structure of Hamas militants dismantled in northern Gaza. Last Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the "intense phase" of the war was winding down after almost nine months, but experts see a potentially prolonged next phase. The Gaza war has also led to soaring tensions on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, leading Iran on Saturday to warn of an "obliterating" war if Israel attacked Lebanon. 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 37,834 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. It reported at least 69 deaths over the previous 48 hours. - Fleeing empty-handed - Mohammed Harara, 30, said he and his family, young and old, felt as though they would become part of that toll. He said they fled from their home in Shujaiya with nothing, "due to the bombardment by Israeli planes, tanks and drones" that they barely survived. "We couldn't carry anything from the house. We left the food, flour, canned goods, mattresses, and blankets," Harara said. Israel's military on Friday said it was conducting "targeted raids" backed by air strikes against Hamas militants in the Shujaiya area. The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA estimated that "about 60,000 to 80,000 people were displaced" from the area this week. AFPTV images on Saturday showed men moving belongings on a donkey cart. Some people were pushed in wheelchairs. Children walked with backpacks past piles of dusty debris. "I saw a tank in front of the Shuhada mosque firing" at targets, said Abdelkareem al-Mamluk. "There were martyrs in the street." On Friday Hamas and the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad both said they were fighting in Shujaiya. Elsewhere in the coastal territory, the civil defence agency on Saturday said four bodies were pulled from an apartment after an Israeli strike in the central region. Further south, in the Rafah area, witnesses reported dead and wounded after a new incursion by Israeli troops. Tarek Qandeel, director of the medical centre in Al-Maghazi, central Gaza, said the facility was seriously damaged in the bombing of a neighbouring house, making it the latest Gaza medical facility affected by the war. The United Nations, in a report on Friday that cited Gaza's health ministry, said "about 70 percent of health infrastructure has been destroyed". - No bathrooms - Separately, a UN spokeswoman, Louise Wateridge, said by video-link that she had just returned to central Gaza after four weeks outside the territory. "It's really unbearable," she said, describing a "significantly deteriorated" situation. "There's no water there, there's no sanitation, there's no food," and people are returning to live in "empty shells" of buildings. In the absence of bathrooms they are "relieving themselves anywhere they can", Wateridge said. The UN says most of Gaza's population is displaced, but fallout from the war has also uprooted people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border, where Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire. Such exchanges have escalated this month, alongside bellicose rhetoric from both sides. Israel's military said plans for a Lebanon offensive had been "approved and validated", prompting Hezbollah to respond that none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict. - 'Psychological warfare' - In a post Saturday on social media, Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York said it "deems as psychological warfare" Israeli threats to "attack" Lebanon. But it added such a move would lead to an "obliterating" war that could involve "all resistance fronts", a reference to Iran-backed groups in the region. Among those are Yemen's Huthi rebels, who have for months been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea area. The rebels say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. On Friday the Huthis claimed a "direct hit" on a tanker in the Red Sea but a maritime security agency run by Britain's Royal Navy reported no damage. The US Navy has retaliated against Huthi targets for such attacks, and on Friday the US military said its forces had destroyed seven drones and a control station vehicle in Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the previous day. burs-it/dv Fighting for third day in north Gaza as thousands displaced Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Explosions, air strikes and gunfire rattled northern Gaza on Saturday, the third day of an Israeli military operation that has uprooted tens of thousands of Palestinians and compounded what the UN called "unbearable" living conditions in the territory. An AFP correspondent reported explosions from the Shujaiya area near Gaza City, and a resident saying bodies were seen on the streets. The armed wings of both Hamas and the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said they were engaged in ongoing fighting with Israeli forces there. Israel's military, meanwhile, said its operations were continuing in Shujaiya where fighting "above and below the ground" left a "large number" of militants dead. It said "dozens of terrorists" were killed and weapons, drones and observation posts were found, as well as a long-range rocket launcher and tunnel shafts. A resurgence of fighting in the area comes months after Israel declared the command structure of Hamas militants dismantled in northern Gaza. Last Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the "intense phase" of the war was winding down after almost nine months, but experts see a potentially prolonged next phase. The Gaza war has also led to soaring tensions on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, leading Iran on Saturday to warn of an "obliterating" war if Israel attacked Lebanon. 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 37,834 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. - Fleeing empty-handed - Mohammed Harara, 30, said he and his family felt they too would become part of that toll. He said they fled their home in Shujaiya with nothing, "due to the bombardment by Israeli planes, tanks and drones". "We couldn't carry anything from the house. We left the food, flour, canned goods, mattresses, and blankets," Harara said. Israel's military said Friday it was conducting "targeted raids" backed by air strikes against Hamas in the Shujaiya area. The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA estimated that "about 60,000 to 80,000 people were displaced" from the area this week. AFPTV images on Saturday showed men moving belongings on a donkey cart, people being pushed in wheelchairs and children with backpacks passing piles of debris. "I saw a tank in front of the Shuhada mosque firing" at targets, said Abdelkareem al-Mamluk. "There were martyrs in the street." Elsewhere, Gaza's civil defence agency on Saturday said four bodies were pulled from an apartment after an Israeli strike in the central region. Further south, in the Rafah area, witnesses reported dead and wounded after a new Israeli incursion. Tarek Qandeel, director of the medical centre in Al-Maghazi, central Gaza, said it was seriously damaged when a neighbouring house was bombed, making it the latest Gaza medical facility affected by the war. The United Nations, in a report on Friday citing Gaza's health ministry, said "about 70 percent of health infrastructure has been destroyed". - No bathrooms - Separately, a UN spokeswoman, Louise Wateridge, said by video-link she had just returned to central Gaza after four weeks outside the territory. "It's really unbearable," she said, describing a "significantly deteriorated" situation. "There's no water there, there's no sanitation, there's no food," and people are returning to live in "empty shells" of buildings. In the absence of bathrooms they are "relieving themselves anywhere they can". The UN says most of Gaza's population is displaced, but the fallout from the war has also uprooted people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border, where Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire. Such exchanges have escalated this month, alongside bellicose rhetoric. Israel's military said plans for a Lebanon offensive had been "approved and validated", prompting Hezbollah to respond that none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict. - 'Psychological warfare' - In a post on social media Saturday, Iran's mission to the UN in New York said it "deems as psychological warfare" Israeli threats to "attack" Lebanon. But it added such a move would lead to an "obliterating" war that could involve "all resistance fronts", a reference to Iran-backed groups in the region. Among those are Yemen's Huthi rebels, who have for months targeted international shipping in the Red Sea area, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. On Friday the Huthis claimed a "direct hit" on a tanker, but a maritime security agency run by Britain's Royal Navy reported no damage. The US Navy has retaliated against Huthi targets after such attacks, and on Friday the US military said it had destroyed seven drones and a control station vehicle in Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen. burs-srm/dcp Thales offices in 3 countries searched in corruption probe Paris, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Police in three countries searched the offices of French defence company Thales this week over suspected corruption involving arms sales abroad, notably to Brazil, a judicial source said Saturday. Officers in France, the Netherlands and Spain carried out the searches between Wednesday and Friday, the source told AFP, confirming a report from French broadcaster BFMTV. The police searches were triggered by two separate investigations, said the source. The first, opened at the end of 2016, into suspected corruption of a foreign official, criminal association and money laundering involved the sale of submarines and the construction of naval base in Brazil. The second, opened in June 2023, concerned similar offences linked to the sale of military and civilian equipment abroad, the source added. Thales and its lawyer, contacted for comment, have so far not responded. gd/jj/gv Fighting for third day in north Gaza as thousands displaced Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Explosions, air strikes and gunfire rattled northern Gaza on Saturday, the third day of an Israeli military operation that has uprooted tens of thousands of Palestinians and compounded what the UN called "unbearable" living conditions in the territory. An AFP correspondent reported explosions from the Shujaiya area near Gaza City, and a resident saying bodies were seen on the streets. The armed wings of both Hamas and the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said they were engaged in ongoing fighting with Israeli forces there. Israel's military said fighting "above and below the ground" in Shujaiya left a "large number" of militants dead. It said "dozens of terrorists" were killed and weapons, drones and observation posts were found, as well as a long-range rocket launcher and tunnel shafts. The military on Saturday reported two soldiers killed and two severely wounded in combat in northern Gaza. A resurgence of fighting in the area comes months after Israel declared the command structure of Hamas militants dismantled in the north. Last Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the "intense phase" of the war was winding down after almost nine months, but experts see a potentially prolonged next phase. The Gaza conflict has also led to soaring tensions on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, leading Iran on Saturday to warn of an "obliterating" war if Israel attacked Lebanon. 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 37,834 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. - Fleeing empty-handed - Mohammed Harara, 30, said he and his family felt they too would become part of that toll. He said they fled their home in Shujaiya with nothing, "due to the bombardment by Israeli planes, tanks and drones". Israel's military said Friday it was conducting "targeted raids" backed by air strikes against Hamas in the Shujaiya area. The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA estimated that "about 60,000 to 80,000 people were displaced" from the area this week. AFPTV images on Saturday showed men moving belongings on a donkey cart, people being pushed in wheelchairs and children with backpacks passing piles of debris. "I saw a tank in front of the Shuhada mosque firing" at targets, said Abdelkareem al-Mamluk. "There were martyrs in the street." Elsewhere, Gaza's civil defence agency on Saturday said four bodies were pulled from an apartment after an Israeli strike in the central region. Further south, in the Rafah area, witnesses reported dead and wounded after a new Israeli incursion. Tarek Qandeel, director of the medical centre in Al-Maghazi, central Gaza, said it was seriously damaged when a neighbouring house was bombed. The United Nations, in a report on Friday citing Gaza's health ministry, said "about 70 percent of health infrastructure has been destroyed". - No bathrooms - Separately, a UN spokeswoman, Louise Wateridge, said by video-link she had just returned to central Gaza after four weeks outside the territory. "It's really unbearable," she said. "There's no water there, there's no sanitation, there's no food," and people are returning to live in "empty shells" of buildings. The UN says most of Gaza's population is displaced, but the war's fallout has also uprooted people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border, where Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire. Such exchanges have escalated this month, alongside bellicose rhetoric. Israel's military said plans for a Lebanon offensive had been "approved and validated", prompting Hezbollah to respond that none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict. - 'Psychological warfare' - On social media Saturday, Iran's mission to the UN in New York called Israeli threats to "attack" Lebanon "psychological warfare". But it added such a move would lead to an "obliterating" war that could involve "all resistance fronts", a reference to Iran-backed groups. Among those are Yemen's Huthi rebels, who have for months targeted international shipping in the Red Sea area, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. On Friday the Huthis claimed a "direct hit" on a tanker, but a maritime security agency run by Britain's Royal Navy reported no damage. The US Navy has retaliated against Huthi targets after such attacks, and on Friday the US military said it had destroyed seven drones and a control station vehicle in Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On Israel's domestic political front, at a Tel Aviv mass rally against Netanyahu's government Saturday former hostage Noa Argamani said "we must do everything to bring them back home", referring to the hostages still in Gaza. Israeli forces rescued her and three other hostages on June 8 in a raid on Nuseirat in central Gaza. burs-srm/dcp Thales offices in 3 countries searched in corruption probes Paris, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 French defence group Thales faced fresh questions Saturday after police in three countries searched its offices this week as part of two separate corruption investigations, a judicial source told AFP. Officers in France, the Netherlands and Spain carried out the searches between Wednesday and Friday, said the source, confirming a report from French broadcaster BFMTV. The police searches were triggered by two separate investigations, the source added. The first, opened at the end of 2016, into suspected corruption of a foreign official, criminal association and money laundering involved the sale of submarines and the construction of naval base in Brazil. The second, opened in June 2023, concerned similar offences linked to the sale of military and civilian equipment abroad, the source added. "Thales confirms that the searches have taken place," the company told AFP Saturday. "The group is cooperating with the competent authorities." During an official visit to Rio de Janeiro in 2008, France's then president Nicolas Sarkozy signed a contract with Brazil for the sale of four Scorpene-class submarines for 5.2 billion euros. The vessels incorporated parts supplied by Thales and three of the submarines have already been delivered. The second element of the deal was the construction of a naval base and a submarine construction site at Itaguai, which was inaugurated in 2018. - Different investigations - The second investigation opened in June 2023, said the judicial source. This case is a collaboration by investigators in France, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as official from Eurojust, the European Union agency for criminal justice cooperation. Thales, in its response to AFP Saturday evening, stressed that it "strictly conforms to national and international regulations". The company had developed and implemented a programme designed to ensure it met the highest industry standards, it added. Thales has previously been investigated for alleged corruption. A Paris investigating magistrate is due to decide shortly whether to follow the recommendations of the prosecutor at the financial crimes office and put a subsidiary of Thales on trial. The DCNI, part of the group's naval wing, is under investigation over the sale of submarines to Malaysia in 2002. And it emerged in May 2023 that financial prosecutors had also opened a preliminary investigation into how Thales won a contract to refit India's Mirage-2000 fighter jets. Thales has denied any wrongdoing in the affair. Another investigation, opened in December 2020, is looking at the transfer of a former Thales employee to a key post at the United Nations, one of the defence company's clients. gd-sm/jj/gv BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Though a work of fiction, the 2024 dystopian film "Civil War" resonates unsettlingly with Americans' real anxieties over escalating political and social polarization facing their country. The film depicts a harrowing scenario where 19 states secede from the Union, the Lincoln Memorial is blown to pieces, and the White House falls. The New York Times said it reflects "the bipartisan sense of unease that has permeated American politics." The fear of political violence and chaos has long gripped Americans. Back in August 2022, an Economist/YouGov poll showed that over 40 percent of surveyed Americans believed a civil war was likely in the next decade. Having captured American discourse, the scenario of "civil war" exposes the increasing divisions and flaws in the American democratic system. POLITICAL CHAOS, PUBLIC FURY Scenes in "Civil War" have been echoed in reality. Earlier this year, the southern U.S. state of Texas, which in the movie unites with California to overthrow the president, found itself in an armed standoff with the federal government over immigration tensions. More than 20 Republican-led states openly opposed the federal government, reviving memories of America's Civil War. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has lambasted the White House over illegal border crossings, which he described as an "invasion," claiming the state has the right to self-defense due to what he sees as President Joe Biden's failure to secure the U.S. border. However, Texan Democrats view this as another political maneuver to exploit the immigration issue, a major Republican agenda point in an election year rife with partisan strife. Ultimately, it is the migrants, used as political pawns, who bear the brunt of these conflicts. Recent American history has been marred by a series of unprecedented political incidents: the Capitol was stormed by protesters on Jan. 6, 2021; two consecutive presidents faced impeachment; a former president, who is campaigning for re-election, was criminally convicted; and a sitting president's child has been convicted of a crime for the first time. Political conflicts have exacerbated social divisions, pitting movements like Black Lives Matter against white supremacists, gun control advocates against opponents, and liberals against conservatives on issues like abortion rights. "The U.S. is now more divided along ideological and political lines than at any time since the 1850s," Bruce Stokes, an associate fellow with the Chatham House, a London-based policy institute, remarked in February. "The United States has become a Disunited States. There are effectively two Americas -- and they are at war," he said. Beneath the turmoil lies a profound erosion of livelihoods. In the United States, 37.9 million people live in poverty, while 26 million remain without health insurance. Over 650,000 individuals find themselves without a home, and the average student borrower faces a daunting 20-year struggle to extinguish their educational debt. The health and safety of American citizens are increasingly imperiled by drugs and firearms. If alcohol and tobacco users are included, the number of people in the United States who are abusing substances totals 165 million. More than 100,000 Americans succumbed to drug overdoses in 2022, and nearly 43,000 died from gun violence in 2023. Additionally, the nation grapples with a suicide rate of 14.8 per 100,000 people. ILLUSION OF VOTING Despite the dire situation, American politicians remain entrenched in bipartisan conflicts instead of offering effective solutions. Both parties leverage issues like immigration, climate change, and gun control to deepen polarization and expand their political bases. This partisanship has hindered the legislative process, with a Republican-controlled House and a Democrat-controlled Senate making consensus and effective lawmaking almost impossible. Harlan Ullman, a senior adviser at the Atlantic Council, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, wrote in January that the United States, faced with "the dilemma of democracy," is "incapable of finding rational solutions, or for that matter any solutions to its most pressing problems at home," be it immigration, energy, or gun control. Ong Tee Keat, former deputy speaker of the lower house of the Malaysian Parliament, criticized the current U.S. election system, noting that candidates are far from representing the common people. Ideally, candidates should be "people's choice," but in reality, they are "cherry-picked" by contesting parties, with some of them even being "novices remaining unknown to the people," Ong told Xinhua. Moreover, candidates are usually mandated through rhetoric like "populist appeals, bold and undeliverable promises," and administrations often fail to address public needs after taking office, Ong said. A Medill School of Journalism/NPR/Ipsos survey on non-voters in the 2020 presidential election found that two-thirds agreed "voting has little to do with the way that real decisions are made in this country," and 53 percent agreed that "it makes no difference who is elected president -- things go on just as they did before." DEMOCRACY FOR THE PRIVILEGED The malaise of today has deep historical roots. The "American democracy" system was not designed to foster consensus but to ensure the power and interests of monopolistic capitalists. James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, once said, "In England, at this day, if elections were open to all classes of people, the property of the landed proprietors would be insecure. ... Landholders ought to have a share in the government, to support these invaluable interests, and to balance and check the other. They ought to be so constituted as to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority." Friedrich Engels, in 1891, noted that nowhere do "politicians" form a more separate, powerful section of the nation than in North America. "The nation is powerless against these two great cartels of politicians, who are ostensibly its servants, but in reality exploit and plunder it," he wrote. Ideally, American democracy allows various parties to represent different groups. However, in reality, politicians often align with interest groups, manufacturing divisive issues and trapping citizens in mutual antagonism. As a result, politicians and interest groups exploit divisions over race, immigration, gender, social care, and environmental protection for economic and political gains. In "Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism and Wrecked the Middle Class," Ian Haney Lopez, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, argues that politicians and plutocrats deploy veiled racial appeals to persuade the middle class to support political candidates who promise to crack down on crime and curb undocumented immigration. Once elected, they slash taxes for the rich, give corporations regulatory control over industry and financial markets, and aggressively curtail social services. In 1944, Hungarian economic sociologist Karl Polanyi lamented the decay of American democracy in his book "The Great Transformation," stating: "In spite of universal suffrage, American voters were powerless against owners." "The separation of powers ... was now used to separate the people from power over their own economic life," he said. According to a Pew Research Center survey last September, only 16 percent of Americans said they trusted the federal government, the lowest in over 70 years of polling. Nearly two-thirds of Americans said they always or often felt exhausted when thinking about politics, which they described as "divided" and "corrupt." * 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. It is wholly unbelievable that by complete coincidence Channel 4 were performing an undercover investigation and by chance were paired up to go canvassing with a man who was pretending to be someone else, using a false voice and saying almost exclusively racist and bigoted remarks. A voter shows a voter card at a polling station in Nouakchott, Mauritania on June 29, 2024. The first round of Mauritania's presidential election began Saturday at 7:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). Voters are casting their ballots to elect their new president from among seven candidates, including the outgoing president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and his main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, who finished second in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections. (Photo by Cheikh Ahmed/Xinhua) NOUAKCHOTT, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The first round of Mauritania's presidential election began Saturday at 7:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). Voters are casting their ballots to elect their new president from among seven candidates, including the outgoing president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and his main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, who finished second in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), responsible for organizing the election, announced that there are more than 1.9 million registered voters. Voting will conclude at 7:00 p.m. local time. Preliminary election results are expected to be announced in the evening, with official results to follow within the next two days. A possible second round of voting is scheduled for July 14. People gather outside a polling station in Nouakchott, Mauritania on June 29, 2024. The first round of Mauritania's presidential election began Saturday at 7:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). Voters are casting their ballots to elect their new president from among seven candidates, including the outgoing president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and his main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, who finished second in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections. (Photo by Cheikh Ahmed/Xinhua) Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani votes at a polling station in Nouakchott, Mauritania on June 29, 2024. The first round of Mauritania's presidential election began Saturday at 7:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). Voters are casting their ballots to elect their new president from among seven candidates, including the outgoing president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and his main rival, Biram Dah Abeid, who finished second in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections. (Photo by Cheikh Ahmed/Xinhua) 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. The Save Romania Union (USR) is holding on Saturday an extraordinary congress that is to elect the members of the formation's National Bureau and the party's candidate for president. 600 delegates are expected to attend the meeting. USR's Electoral Commission greenlighted on Thursday three bids for the party's presidential candidate: Elena Lasconi, Dumitru Stanca, and Octavian Berceanu. 52-year-old Elena Lasconi is a trained economist and has a 25-year career in television. Since 2020 she has been serving as mayor of the Campulung Muscel municipality, a position in which she was re-elected in 2024. Dumitru Stanca is 59 and is a reserve officer, currently working as a compliance officer at a private company in Bucharest. He deals with ensuring the compliance of in-house regulations and procedures with the anti-money laundering law. Octavian-Alexandru Berceanu is 48 years old and is an engineer by profession. He works as a consultant for the European Investment Bank in Moldova's Forest Expansion and Rehabilitation National Program (PNERP) and coordinates the activity of the working group for the reform of the forestry sector. During the PNL-USR government Berceanu served as a General Commissioner with the National Environmental Guard. USR spokesman Ionut Mosteanu announced that approximately 200 people registered for one of the 24 seats in the National Bureau, on various lists or as independents. In the aftermath of the June 9 local and European parliamentary elections, USR Chairman Catalin Drula stepped down from the party's helm. After his resignation, ten USR members submitted their candidacy for party leader, among them Elena Lasconi and Cristian Seidler. Elena Lasconi was elected USR Chairperson by direct vote cast online by each party member, as stipulated by the party's statute. Save Romania Union (USR) Chairwoman Elena Lasconi said on Saturday that Romania is not a poor, but an impoverished country, and urged party members and supporters to continue what the Romanians started in 1989. "Romania is not a poor country, Romania is an impoverished country. How long will we still tolerate a health system that lets us give birth on the sidewalk in front of the hospital, or that lets a woman die in terrible agony," she said referencing several notorious cases of healthcare service failures which caused public outcry at that time. "How long will we still tolerate an education system that keeps our children in school for the longest time in all of Europe, but puts them on the second spot by functional illiteracy? (...) How long will we still invest with the power to decide over our lives these politicians who are only adept at amassing more for themselves?," Lasconi said in the opening of the USR extraordinary congress that is to elect today the party's National Bureau and its candidate for the presidential bid. The new USR Chair emphasized that she wants to create a movement to continue what was started in December 1989. "I'm coming forward to you not seeking to lead a party, I'm coming to you to create a movement, to continue what we started in 1989, to open the cage we've been locked up in for so long. I'm not here to advise patience to you, I'm here to tell you 'That's enough, brothers, drum up the fight, the time for change is now'," was Elena Lasconi's message to the audience. She made it clear that Romania can have a better future. "The politicians who rule us today are afraid of us, they are afraid of the power of the people, they fear that the many of us will unite and bring them down. The only ones who can change something are you, the Romanian people. The only ones who can decide how our country's history will be written are you. We have the duty to do this because, brothers, it is worth it," Lasconi said, exhorting grassroots support. "When a thief breaks into your home, you don't leave the house but kick him out instead. We can have better salaries in Romania, a health system that truly offers quality treatment, that handles people with empathy and respect. We can have a real education system for our children. We can do all this. We can ensure a future for Romania," Lasconi concluded her speech. This undated photo shows staff members posing for a group photo to celebrate the launch of the cargo flight in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. The Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), a global express giant, has recently launched two new flights to the United States from the two coastal cities of Qingdao and Xiamen, China.(FedEx China/Handout via Xinhua) BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), a global express giant, has recently launched two new flights to the United States from the two coastal cities of Qingdao and Xiamen, China. The company also plans to establish international gateway facilities at Qingdao of Shandong Province and Xiamen of Fujian Province to enhance operational and clearance efficiency, responding to the increasing business and trade demands of local customers, according to the press release issued by FedEx China. Each flight will initially operate once a week. The flight departing from Qingdao connects major U.S. hubs via Osaka, Japan, shortening the transit time of outbound parcels and freight shipments from Shandong Province to North America by one day. The flight departing from Xiamen stops in Incheon, Republic of Korea before landing in Anchorage, Alaska in the United States. "The launch of these two new cargo flights is a proactive move by FedEx to meet the growing demand of China's foreign trade and deepen cooperation with the local market," said Poh-Yian Koh, vice president of operations, FedEx China. "The new flights will effectively enhance connectivity between China's major second and third-tier cities and the Asia-Pacific and North American markets, enabling local enterprises to better connect to the global market," she said. Xiamen Iport Group, the operator of Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and the partner of FedEx in launching the new cargo route, said the new route will significantly boost cargo transportation capacity of Xiamen airport and enhance the cargo transit efficiency. It will also provide more convenient and efficient logistic services to cross-border e-commerce enterprises while shortening the transit time of outbound parcels and freight shipments from Fujian to North America, according to Xiamen Iport Group. FedEx currently operates more than 300 weekly flights in and out of the Chinese mainland. This undated photo shows staff members uploading cargos to a flight in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. The Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), a global express giant, has recently launched two new flights to the United States from the two coastal cities of Qingdao and Xiamen, China.(FedEx China/Handout via Xinhua) JENNINGS Former Jennings City Attorney Sam Alton has sued the city and Mayor Gary Johnson, contending that the mayor created intolerable working conditions which forced him to resign last year. In the suit, filed Wednesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court, Alton alleged that Johnson tried to get the City Council to fire him and some others at a meeting called with less than the 24 hours advance notice required by state law. The suit says the effort to dismiss Alton was in retaliation for his recommending that the mayor get administrative warrants before towing vehicles from private property. Alton said such warrants are required by the city code and a constitutional provision against unlawful search and seizure. Alton also complained in the suit that Johnson in news interviews and at public meetings had falsely claimed that Alton and others who resigned or were fired left because Johnson had uncovered some unlawful or unethical behavior by them. The suit also alleges that the race of Alton, who is white, was a motivating factor in the decision to illegally terminate and constructively discharge him and that violated Missouris human rights law. The suit alleges that Johnson, who is Black, favored hiring Black employees and contractors and has repeatedly exhibited a racial animus directed at people that are not African-Americans. The suit also alleges that the city violated state law by not responding to Altons request for copies of certain documents. Johnson could not be reached for comment about the allegations in the suit, which seeks damages exceeding $25,000 and back pay. Also listed as defendants are three council members Lorraine Clower, Kimberly Morton and Denise Woods and two city staffers. None of them could be reached for comment. Altons lawsuit is an offshoot of ongoing political tension between council factions at Jennings City Hall after Johnson narrowly defeated incumbent Mayor Yolanda Austin in the April 2023 election. Jennings is one of several municipalities Alton has done legal work for at the same time he has been serving as chief of staff for St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. That spurred criticism from a county councilman who questioned the extent of Altons work on side jobs while holding his county position. Alton earlier this month announced he would leave his county job on July 22 to join a St. Louis law firm. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, 19th Air Force commander, gives closing remarks during the 19th Air Force change of command ceremony August 19, 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Stewart oversees top level instruction and flying operations manning, contracts, logistics and maintenance trends. (Tyler McQuiston/U.S. Air Force) FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas A jury Saturday found an Air Force general not guilty of sexually assaulting a female subordinate but convicted him of dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming stemming from a night of sex and alcohol at an air base in 2023. Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart had pleaded guilty Monday to adultery and a second count of conduct unbecoming for pursuing an unprofessional relationship with the woman, a lieutenant colonel who worked in his office at the 19th Air Force. Military judge Col. Matthew Stoffel sentenced Stewart to a reprimand, restriction to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Air Force Base in Texas and a $60,000 fine. Stewart will not be dismissed from the service. Youve thrown a lot away as a result of your actions, Stoffel said. You owe it to those individuals (who support you), your family and the U.S. to return yourself to a productive member of society. The sentence landed in the middle of what both sides asked for during a sentencing hearing following the verdict. Lt. Col. Pete Havern, a prosecutor, had called for a $50,000 fine, dismissal from service and some months confinement for Stewart. Stewarts legal team requested the judge to consider jail time before dismissal. Stewart, a fighter pilot, addressed the judge during sentencing and tearfully pleaded not to be dismissed from the service. He also noted during his five-minute statement that it was the sixth birthday of his younger of two daughters. Its hard to think about life outside the service, Stewart said. I am so much more than this. I apologize for letting the Air Force down. He spoke of the more than three years hes spent deployed during his 31-year career to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan and that he is the fourth generation of Stewart men to serve in the military. Stewarts service history and lack of any previous discipline were part of the sentencing decision, Stoffel said. Because alcohol was involved in the allegations against Stewart, the judge encouraged him to seek treatment. Stewart earns roughly $18,000 a month and his fine will be forfeited from his pay for six months. Air Education and Training Commands Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson will write the reprimand as he decided to court-martial Stewart. Rachel VanLandingham, a former Air Force attorney, said she agreed with the verdict of the jury but the sentence seemed disproportionately light given that Stewart commanded thousands of airmen. Instead, this meager sentence exposed the rank hypocrisy present in senior officers seemingly living by a different set of rule. This woefully light sentence also demonstrates a grave procedural defect in the military justice system the lack of independent judges who, under their robes, are military officers concerned about their careers and as supplicant to senior rank as everyone else. Im disgusted, she said. A special victim counsel read an impact statement from the lieutenant colonel who accused Stewart of misconduct and described the impact the reporting process and court-martial had on her marriage and career. She is retiring in November. Reasonable, sober belief The jury of two women and six men, all three-star generals, deliberated for roughly eight hours Friday afternoon and Saturday morning before reaching the verdict about the sexual encounter that occurred in April 2023 at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. There was no dispute that the two had sex, leaving the jury to decide whether the womans compliance without verbal consent was sexual assault or if she only felt guilty for cheating on her husband. During the night the two had sex, the subordinate officer accepted an invitation to share a glass of wine alone with Stewart at his Altus hotel, according to testimony in court. In the weeks between the encounter and her reporting to the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, the woman and Stewart sent personal messages to each other. The judge instructed the jury to consider a defense known as mistake of fact, which meant they should consider if a sober, reasonable person would have believed there was consent. The jury selection began June 18 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in Texas with 18 general officers coming in person for selection. It took six days to seat the jury. They began hearing testimony Monday from the officer who accused Stewart of assault. She spent nearly seven hours answering questions. Stars and Stripes does not name individuals who identify as victims of sexual assault. Eleven more witnesses testified before final arguments were heard Friday morning. Among them were the officers husband, two enlisted members who were also drinking at Stewarts hotel the night the sexual encounter occurred, and the captain who was in charge of the flight at Altus where Stewart took the controls after a night of heavy drinking. Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, III Armored Corps Commander, Maj. Gen. Monte L. Rone, right, and Maj. Gen. John V. Myer III, left, march during the inspection of troops on Cavalry Parade Field, Fort Riley, Kansas, on June 28, 2024. Meyer relinquished command of the 1st Infantry Division to Rone during Fridays ceremony. (Joshua Fish/U.S. Army) FORT RILEY, Kansas (Tribune News Service) Soldiers lined up on Fort Rileys Cavalry Parade Field, and the families of two major generals stood with them Friday as the First Infantry Division changed command. Maj. Gen. Monte Rone took over command after ceremonially receiving the colors from Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, who received them from outgoing commander Maj. Gen. John Meyer, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility to a new leader. The change in command ceremony offers us the opportunity to recognize the outgoing commander and the incoming commander, the accomplishments of the team and the soldiers and leaders, Bernabe said. There is no shortage of accomplishment of the Big Red One in the last couple years. Bernabe said when Meyer took command in May 2022, there was conflict in Europe, as Russia had invaded Ukraine three months prior. The brigades in the First Division deployed troops to support the NATO allies. The brigades of this division showed the entire Army to really join forces, what it means to be ready to deploy anywhere in the world, Bernabe said. When John Meyer took command in May 2022, he was stepping into a role that was crucial to maintain the stability of an extremely dynamic situation in Europe. Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer III passes the 1st Infantry Division colors to Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, III Armored Corps Commander, on Cavalry Parade Field, Fort Riley, Kansas June 28, 2024. (Dawson Smith/U.S. Army) Maj. Gen. Monte L. Rone receives the 1st Infantry Division colors from Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, III Armored Corps Commander, on Cavalry Parade Field, Fort Riley, Kansas June 28, 2024. (Joshua Fish/U.S. Army) Meyer deployed overseas about a week after taking command. With most of the division gone in 2022 and 2023 stretched between Fort Riley, California, the Middle East and Europe Bernabe said it was a challenge during his tenure to command everyone. Despite the challenges in geography, despite the challenges in time zones, despite the challenges of competing priorities, John made it look easy, Bernabe said. Meyer was supported by his wife, Kelly, who helped look after Fort Riley soldiers and their families while raising their two children. Meyer acknowledged the love and support of his family and the Fort Riley community as well as his faith in God. All the friends from the Flint Hills region and the state of Kansas, thank you for the support for soldiers and families of this division, Meyer said. You are the reason why this division is not an Army post, but a home. Meyer welcomed the Rone family to the First Infantry Division and Fort Riley. Maj. Gen. Monte L. Rone salutes the colors during pass in review on Cavalry Parade Field, Fort Riley, Kansas, on June 28, 2024. Maj. Gen. Rone is taking command of the 1st Infantry Division. (Dawson Smith/U.S. Army) Rone has been in the military for 34 years and served in all four infantry divisions during his career. He said he looks forward to meeting everyone on the installation as well as the community leaders he will collaborate with during his tenure. He also eager to provide a purpose for everyone at Fort Riley and called it the assignment of a lifetime. The one thing I hear about Fort Riley is that it is the best hometown in America, so I look forward to being a part of this community, Rone said. My No.-1 goal is to take care of soldiers, their families and the civilians on the installation. (c)2024 The Manhattan Mercury, Kan. Visit The Manhattan Mercury Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Left to right, incoming commander Brig. Gen. James Turinettim IV, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Conaty, and presiding official, Lt. Gen. Christopher Mohan attend the Assumption of Command ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., on June 28, 2024. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Baltimore Sun/TNS) Aberdeen Proving Ground welcomed a new top commander Friday. Brig. Gen. James Turinetti IV officially took his place as commander of U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and senior commander of Harford Countys largest employer and key military installation from Maj. Gen. Edmonson, who held the post since August 2021. Turinettis most recent assignment was as the Director for J-6 U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Turinetti has served 30 years with the Army and previously deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom. The world is a messy dangerous place, but we need leaders like Jim that understand how to lead through very complex scenarios, said Lieutenant General Christopher Mohan at the ceremony. He knows how to keep an organization moving forward. He understands the outputs he needs to achieve. He understands how to lead soldiers, civilians and contractors because we are all human beings who have roles. The assumption of command is a 249-year tradition for the Army, one marked with the presentation of a red and yellow banner from the acting commander to the new commander. Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Conaty acted as senior commander after the retirement of Edmonson on June 7. Conaty handed CECOMs banner to Turinetti, formally relinquishing command to him. Turnetti said hes looking to make the most of his time at APG as he gets up to speed on what has been in the works for the community. As he senses the momentum of the base, he hopes to support the armed forces readiness and ensure the future armys transformation is sustainable. I am truly humbled and honored to serve as the 18th commander of this fine organization, Turinetti said. I am looking forward to leading the team in supporting the readiness of our armed forces. 2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Carnival Pride cruise ship passed in 2015 under the Key Bridge after leaving the Port of Baltimore Cruise Maryland Terminal. (Algerina Perna/The Baltimore Sun/TNS) BALTIMORE Baltimores corner of the Chesapeake Bay has had a fixed ceiling of sorts the 185-feet vertical clearance of the areas bridges for the past 70 years. Soon, authorities will decide if they want to raise that limit and by how much. Its a once-in-a-century opportunity, a decision that will define the vertical limits of the corridor for decades. Determining an optimal height for market and societal needs generations from now requires collaboration from state and federal entities, harbor pilots, and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. as well as predicting the size of ships and the rise of sea levels over the decades to come. The Bay Bridge near Annapolis opened at roughly 185 feet in 1952. When another span was added in 1973 and the Key Bridge constructed in 1977 in Baltimore, each was built to about the same height. To date, thats been sufficient for the Port of Baltimores cargo and cruise industries. But with an eye to the future, owners of other bridges leading to East Coast ports have raised or are considering raising their bridge clearances, despite the high costs of doing so. Potential builders submitted proposals by a Monday deadline to replace the Key Bridge, which collapsed March 26 when it was stuck by a container ship. The state of Maryland will select a winning team by the end of summer. That means that during the 150-year period from 1952 to well past 2100, this is likely to be the most opportune time to make a permanent change to Baltimores ceiling. Too low and it could jeopardize the ports future commerce, if shipping lines redirect cargo to rival ports with higher clearances. Too high and it needlessly increases construction costs and potentially makes for more dangerous conditions for vehicle drivers on the bridge deck. Increasing the shipping channels ceiling also means computing its floor: Chesapeake Bay waters are expected to rise between 3 and 5 feet by 2120, according to a federal task force on sea-level rise. Thats higher than the global average. The new Key Bridge, projected to open in 2028 and cost $1.7 billion, will be built to have a minimum of a 75-year life, although some engineers project it will stand at least 100 years. Meanwhile, the older of the two Bay Bridge spans only has about 15 or 20 years of life left so it, too, will need to be replaced. A new Bay Bridge almost certainly would be made to the same height as the new Key Bridge and that span would, similarly, be built to last more than 75 years. Vertical clearance the space between the water and the bottom of a bridges roadway is one of many factors that will be decided as state officials work with a selected Key Bridge builder. Were in the middle of that process right now looking at the market today, the future market, whats happening in the industry, and what makes sense for the Port of Baltimore, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said in an interview earlier this month. The Key Bridge was knocked down after the cargo ship Dali lost power and smashed into a support pier, killing six road workers and partially blocking the shipping channel for months. The calamity illustrated the importance of planning or at least trying to for the future; the bridge wasnt built with 100,000-ton ships in mind and was ill-prepared for vessel strike. It prompted a National Transportation Safety Board investigation into what went wrong and a Coast Guard probe into national port infrastructure. Rebuilding the Key Bridge with the same, 185-foot clearance would probably suffice for the immediate future. But as public entities along the East Coast spend millions and billions to stretch out their spans and dredge channels deeper to accommodate larger vessels, planning likely will call for a taller bridge. Big ships, rising tides There are few things physically stopping container ships themselves which doubled, then tripled and now have increased ten-fold in capacity since the 1960s from growing. In fact, there is an economic incentive for them to get bigger. But external factors could stall their growth. Its not unlike semitrucks in the U.S. They could be built longer than 53 feet, but external factors (various states laws) limit them, said Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a Texas A&M University professor whose research focuses on transportation and logistics. In the case of cargo ships, it isnt laws that could restrict their size, but infrastructure. For one thing, there are barriers directly below and above them. Most shipping channels into ports are no deeper than 50 feet, and bridges often set a maximum height. Capt. Jeffrey Monroe, a master mariner and education director for the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives, said that as ships have grown, we began to dig deeper. Baltimores channel has been 50 feet deep since the 1970s, but Charleston recently deepened its channel to 52 feet and New York/New Jersey is studying the possibility of dredging to 55 feet. Then we began to realize that now our biggest limitation is not the depth of the channel, said Monroe, who consulted on a project to greatly increase the vertical clearance of the Bayonne Bridge, which connects New Jersey and Staten Island, New York. Our biggest limitation is the infrastructure that flies over the top of it. Aside from channel depths and bridges, there are limitations to international shipping. The narrowness of a vital shipping channel near Singapore, the Malacca Strait, as well as the width of the Panama and Suez canals would complicate efforts to make ships larger. But there are already ships built today that cant fit into the Port of Baltimore. And its not just bridge height that limits them. Channel dimensions and the capacities of a container terminal also determine the size of a ship that a port can handle, said Richard Scher, spokesperson for the Maryland Port Administration. Its about accommodating the right-sized ship, more than just a big ship, he said in a statement. Monroe also noted that logistical concerns mean it would not behoove many East Coast ports to aim to receive ships much larger than they already do. But never say never, he added. If it was up to him, hed make the new Key Bridge 225 feet tall, to give optimal flexibility. But theres another vertical limitation on a ships way into the port: BGE power lines that run parallel to the Key Bridge and have a vertical clearance of 214 feet. When asked about the potential height of the new bridge, Wiedefelds first thought were those cables: It starts with the BGE line, thats a certain height, he said. Before BGE erected those lines between 2020 and 2022, it received input in 2018 from the port administration regarding current and potential future clearance requirements for shipping vessels, BGE spokesperson Stephanie Weaver said in a statement. BGE is in close communication with officials regarding the reconstruction of the Key Bridge, she added. Another variable is that, even if the Port of Baltimore never receives any ships taller than the ones it does now, the rising sea adds a challenge. Thats a whole nother issue to weigh in, as well, Wiedefeld said of Bay waters rising. Thats definitely part of the analysis. You have to look at that. William Sweet, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oceanographer, used to live in Annapolis and frequently took a sailboat under the Bay Bridge. Bay waters are just about guaranteed to rise a foot over the next 30 years, Sweet said. Unless swift changes are made to carbon emissions, theyre expected to rise at a faster rate after that. A century from now, Bay waters are projected to be up at least 3 feet, and could be more than 5 feet higher. It depends on factors well beyond the Chesapeake Bay, including, Sweet noted, if ice sheets in Antarctica become unhinged. It could be higher, he said of the Bay waters rising. Building bridges to last a century requires educated guesswork. For example, decades from now, vehicular traffic patterns could look much different, noted Norma Jean Mattei, a University of New Orleans engineering professor and member of the White Houses National Infrastructure Advisory Council. The Bay waters are no different. The world gets fuzzier the further out you go, she said, and bridges are one of those pieces of infrastructure that we design for longer life. East Coast bridges grow In a way, bridge height is simply a multibillion-dollar-industry version of keeping up with the Joneses. When recently discussing the possibility of replacing a bridge in Savannah, Georgia, with a taller one, local officials there referenced the high vertical clearances of bridges leading to New York/New Jersey, a competing port. The Georgia Department of Transportation is looking to increase the height of that Savannah span, the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, which is 185 feet tall the same as Marylands Bay Bridge. As the fastest-growing port in the nation, the Port of Savannah is a significant economic engine for the Savannah region, Georgia, and the rest of the Southeast, a spokesperson for Georgias transportation department said in a statement. Potentially stifling future growth, however, is the Ports accessibility to larger ships. Georgia also is considering replacing the bridge which opened only 33 years ago with a span that has 230 feet of vertical clearance. A neighbor to the north of Baltimore already has changed a bridges height. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey increased the clearance of the Bayonne Bridge from 150 feet to 215 feet a project that cost $1.7 billion. We raised the Bayonne Bridge in 2019 knowing that container ships were only growing bigger and demand for goods was only getting stronger, port director Bethan Rooney said in a statement. It paid off soon after, when the pandemic drove cargo volumes to numbers we werent expecting to see for another 10 years. Another New York-area bridge has even higher clearance: Big ships can easily fit under the 228 feet afforded by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The 1,200-foot container vessels that call on New York typically have an air draft of about 175 feet to 195 feet, said James Mercante, president of New Yorks Board of Commissioners of Pilots. Cruise ships can come in even higher. The MSC Meraviglia, which sails under the Verrazzano, is 214 feet tall, according to the cruise line. How tall the new Key Bridge will be remains undetermined, but one potential builder suggested a height of 213 feet in a May news release. The Association of Maryland Pilots also might have hinted at the measurement its members prefer. The pilots, who guide large ships in Maryland waters, declined to comment for this article. But a representative discussed the possible height of a replacement Bay Bridge during a 2023 meeting of the Baltimore Harbor Safety and Coordination Committee a joint industry-government advisory panel. Minutes from the meeting said pilots have recommended a minimum bridge height of 228 ft, but preferably higher. Whatever height is chosen would not alter shipping traffic into Baltimore immediately, since the Bay Bridge remains 185 feet tall. Increasing the current Bay Bridges height would not be logical nor feasible, given its age. But those bridges are basically coming to end of life, regardless, said Wiedefeld, the transportation secretary. The older of the two Bay Bridge spans has about 15 to 20 years left, he said. So, its possible that the Chesapeake Bay will see two new bridges in the coming decades; in doing so, the corridors ceiling might be altered for the next century. 2024 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A video screen grab shows an accident scene on I-5 near Camp Pendleton, Calif, where two Navy sailors were among the three killed in the chain-reaction crash on June 27, 2024. (YouTue) LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service) Two motorcyclists killed in a fiery chain-reaction crash on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton on Thursday morning were active duty sailors, the U.S. Navy confirmed Friday. The pair were riding southbound on Interstate 5 shortly after 3 a.m. when they and two other motorcyclists crashed into 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 guard rail near Las Pulgas Road. The vehicle was then disabled on the side of the road, according to Officer Jake Sanchez with the CHP. 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 of them were sailors based in Southern California, according to U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer Brian ORourke. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The names of the crash victims have not yet been released by the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office. 2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A sailboat carrying a group of more than 100 migrants from Haiti is shown after they arrived off Key West, Fla., on June, 26, 2024. (Monroe County Sheriff's Office) MIAMI (Tribune News Service) 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 Miami 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. 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. 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. 2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Vehicles move in and out of the construction zone for a Marine Corps runway being built at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, on Nov. 16, 2023. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa - A security guard was killed, and an anti-base protester injured Friday when they stepped into the path of truck outside a port in northern Okinawa, according to Japanese police. The guard, Yoshikazu Usami, 47, and an unidentified 72-year-old woman stepped from the sidewalk for some reason around 10 a.m. and were hit by a truck turning left from the port in Awa, Nago city, an Okinawa Prefectural Police spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Friday. A bystander at 10:14 phoned the Nago Fire Department to report two persons were injured after being hit by a truck, a department spokesman said by phone Friday. Usami suffered severe head injuries and was declared dead at a local hospital at 11:09 a.m.; the woman was treated for a broken leg, the spokesman said. The reasons of the accident are under investigation, the spokesman said. Protestors opposed to the U.S. military presence on the island are a regular presence outside the port. Landfill material is trucked from the port to the Marine Corps airfield under construction at Camp Schwab in the Henoko district, according to a statement by the prefectural assembly in December 2018. It is not certain, but it is highly likely that the truck was transporting landfill materials to Henoko, the police spokesman said. Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki on Friday said the accident is extremely regrettable, public broadcaster NHK reported that day. Tamaki waged a years-long legal fight against the airfield construction that was turned back last year by Japans courts. As a prefecture, we will ask Okinawa Defense Bureau to stop transporting landfill materials until the reason of the accident becomes clear and it is possible to take preventive measures, Tamaki said. He also urged the protestors to comply with the law and consider the safety and security of the local citizens. The defense bureau, an arm of the Japan Ministry of Defense, did not respond to a phone call seeking further information Saturday morning. KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Two tourists were killed following a tourist bus accident in Malaysia's Pahang state, local authorities said on Saturday. Initial investigations revealed that the two tourists died on the spot, while 19 others were injured, Ismail Abdul Ghani, deputy director of Pahang state's fire and rescue department, said in a statement. The bus had been travelling downhill before landing on its side around 10:40 a.m. local time. The bus, owned by a third-party operator, was descending from popular tourism destination Genting Highlands, Resorts World Genting said in a statement. "Our response team is also on-site to manage the situation and assist where required. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the deceased," it said. Mohammad Sabbah, who left Gaza with his wife and four children, smokes in his Cairo apartment. Rent in Egypt is expensive, he says landlords see us like a bag of money. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) CAIRO After the Israel-Hamas war erupted, Cairo was adamant: It would not accept Palestinian refugees. Yet more than 115,000 Gazans have crossed into Egypt since October, the Palestinian Authoritys embassy here estimates. Most remain in limbo, with no legal status and nowhere else to go. They are members of a new diaspora of Palestinians, a people already haunted by memories of displacement. While several thousand sick and wounded have been treated in Egyptian hospitals, the vast majority of evacuees came with the help of foreign embassies or via Hala Consulting and Tourism - an Egyptian company reportedly linked to state security services that charges a hefty coordination fee to help Palestinians escape. Once in Egypt, nonmedical evacuees have largely been left to fend for themselves. Tens of thousands have illegally overstayed their 45-day tourist visas, making them ineligible for public education, health care and other services. The U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees doesnt cover those in Egypt. And the United Nations broader refugee agency said it cant help new arrivals because Cairo doesnt recognize its mandate for Palestinians. A spokesman for Egypts foreign press center declined to comment. Egyptian officials have previously denied government involvement with Hala and said they do not condone charging Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza. Washington Post reporters visited displaced Gazans at their homes and workplaces around Cairo, where they have found sanctuary and a measure of calm, but are unable to build a future. The solo parent Papers are everything for Palestinians, determining where they can live, work, travel and obtain services. A 42-year-old woman and four of her six daughters gather in their apartment in a suburb of Cairo. People here are so kind to us, said one of the girls, but its a new life its hard. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) Mona Adnan Al-Ghalayini, 55, a businesswoman from Gaza, works with employees to prepare her new restaurant for its opening in Cairo. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) For a 42-year-old mother of six daughters, who had moved to Gaza when she married, her Jordanian passport may have been the difference between life and death. In December, after the family endured a harrowing journey to southern Gaza, the woman received a call. Her name was on the list to evacuate to Egypt, the Jordanian official said. Her daughters names were not. The woman spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized by her employer to speak publicly. Jordanian women cannot pass their nationality down to their children; all six of the womans daughters hold only Palestinian passports, severely limiting where they can go. At the Rafah border crossing, she pleaded with Egyptian officials to let her daughters through. After hours of waiting, customs agents ushered them across. Her husband, who works in a hospital, stayed behind. The woman spent her first month in Cairo trying to secure permission to travel to Jordan. But the country already hosts more than 2 million Palestinian refugees and wont accept those fleeing this war. We are stuck here in Egypt, she said. The woman took her daughters to Alexandria for the spring, hoping the sight of the sea would ease their homesickness. Without Egyptian residency, she has been unable to find stable work. In May, the family moved to a quiet desert suburb an hour from downtown Cairo. Her younger daughters, barred from enrolling in Egyptian schools, have tuned in virtually to classrooms in Ramallah, through a program set up by the Palestinian Authoritys embassy. A view of Cairo, now home to many of the more than 115,000 Palestinians estimated to have left Gaza for Egypt since October 2023 (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) But the girls missed months of instruction because of the war and are struggling to catch up. Math, once the favorite subject of Batoul, 15, has become a source of frustration. The people here are so kind to us. When they know that we are from Palestine, specifically from Gaza, sometimes they wont let us pay for coffee, taxis, treats, Batoul said. But its a new life - its hard. Her mother is trying to help the girls adjust. We are very connected to [Egyptians], and we love them, she said. But they need to do much, much more. The businessman On a recent Monday evening, El-Khozondar falafel restaurant was packed with Gazans looking for a taste of home. Waiters carried trays piled with salads, falafel and fatteh - a Palestinian dish of pita bread, chickpeas and meat. Majid El-Khozondar, 60, began planning to open a Cairo branch of his famous restaurant chain even before he left Gaza, while sheltering with his children and grandchildren in tents over the winter. They had been displaced several times and were nearly killed in an Israeli airstrike. All three of his restaurants in Gaza were destroyed by the fighting - as was the five-story house he had built with his life savings in 2021. But the family - and brand - had survived war and displacement before: Majids grandfather, who founded the flagship falafel shop in Jaffa, opened the first branch in Gaza after he was expelled during the creation of Israel in 1948, an event Palestinians call the Nakba, or catastrophe. After paying $25,000 to Hala, Majid crossed the border to Egypt with two of his sons, their wives and a young grandchild in February. Another son and his Egyptian wife had already left Gaza. He opened the falafel shop in Nasr City, the eastern Cairo neighborhood where many Gazans have ended up. Most of his customers and staff are displaced Palestinians, for whom the restaurant has become a community center. Some people come here just to meet up. Some people spend too much time at a table - its a problem for business, he said with a rueful smile. Majid sends his earnings to the rest of his family trapped in Gaza. He still hopes he can bring them to safety. But eventually, he said, hed like to return home. I love Egypt. I used to spend half the year in Egypt, he said. But I cant replace Palestine. The poet Mosab Abu Toha, 31, knows he is one of the lucky ones. His stature as a poet - he holds an MFA from Syracuse University and won an American Book Award last year - meant the global literati rallied to his aid when he was detained by the Israel Defense Forces as he tried to flee northern Gaza with his young family in November. Abu Toha with, from left, Mostafa, 4. Yazzan, 8, and Yaffa, 7. With wife Maram, they live in an apartment provided by a university where Abu Toha had a writing residency. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post) Two weeks after his release, they were able to cross into Egypt - a departure aided by his son Mostafas U.S. citizenship. Abu Toha, wife Maram and children Yazzan, 8, Yaffa, 7, and Mostafa, 4, stayed with friends before moving into an airy apartment provided by the American University in Cairo - part of Abu Tohas writing residency there in the spring. Abu Toha taught a poetry course and savored the quiet space to write. His next collection is to be published on Oct. 29 - almost a year to the day since an Israeli airstrike destroyed his home. He calls it a response to the loss of his library. Poetry for me is a poetry of witness, Abu Toha said, holding a copy of his first collection, the one book he brought with him from Gaza. The children made Egyptian friends. Yazzan, a quiet boy with dark hair, stopped asking whether his uncles and aunts back in Gaza are still alive. On an afternoon in early June, Yaffa sang a French song she had learned at the private international school where the children were enrolled. But Mostafa, the redhead, still wakes up in the middle of the night, crying and pointing at something his parents cannot see. Even with support from friends and the university, life in Egypt hasnt been easy, Abu Toha said. He hasnt been able to get residency. The private school cost nearly $6,000. Applying for visas to travel abroad was a nightmare. Whenever you talk to people here in Egypt, they talk about loving Gazans. When it comes to bureaucracy, you are nothing, you are alien, he said. His inability to protect his father and siblings still in Gaza - even with his international contacts - haunted him, Abu Toha said. Unable to stay in Egypt, the family is headed back to Syracuse, where Abu Toha secured a professorship. He plans to give readings of his upcoming book in the United States. The role of poetry is to document the suffering and the misery of the human experience, he said, in the hope it will not be repeated. The human rights worker Mohammad Sabbah, 44, felt suffocated in Gaza well before the war. After 2007, when Hamas took over the strip, life in Gaza was not a life, he said. Electricity was sporadic, poverty was rampant, freedoms were limited. Sabbah worked as a researcher for BTselem, an Israeli human rights organization, for nearly two decades. He rushed to the scenes of Israeli airstrikes in previous wars to document civilian deaths, and shined a light on abuses under Hamas, which arrested him in 2012. Hed thought about leaving Gaza before, but family ties and a commitment to his work - my baby, he called it - kept him there. But after the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, he said, Israeli forces want blood, they want revenge, they want to teach people a lesson. As Israeli troops began to wind down ground operations in central Gaza in February, Sabbah knew that Rafah, where he was sheltering with his wife and four children, would be next. With help from a cousin in Egypt, he paid $22,500 to register his family with Hala in early March. He spent his last night in Gaza with his 82-year-old mother, a diabetic with breathing difficulties. She wasnt happy I was leaving, he said. With a few clothes, some olive oil and an electric bread oven, the family crossed into Egypt in April. Their bus dropped them off in Nasr City, and Sabbah took his wife and children to the residential quarters of the Palestine Hospital. He didnt know where else to go. Through word of mouth, he soon found an apartment. Rent in Egypt is expensive, he said; landlords see us like a bag of money. In June, Sabbah learned via WhatsApp that his mother had died, having fallen ill when she was displaced by Israels invasion of Rafah. He hasnt been able to get in touch with his siblings since. In Gaza, we lived through an emergency situation, Sabbah said. It still feels like that in Egypt. Everything is closing in on us. Heba Farouk Mahfouz in Cairo contributed to this report. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., arrives for trial at Manhattan Federal Court on June 11, 2024, in New York. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/TNS) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) Federal prosecutors rested their corruption case against Sen. Bob Menendez on Friday, wrapping up testimony that stretched over seven weeks as they sought to prove his role in an alleged yearslong bribery scheme. Jurors heard from FBI employees, government officials, the chief counsel and staff director of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, and an insurance broker who testified that he bribed the senator in an attempt to influence state-level investigations to benefit people close to him. Jose Uribe, the insurance broker, told the jury that Menendez during a dinner in 2020 appeared to acknowledge that he sought to influence the investigations. He said: I saved your ass twice. Not once, but twice, Uribe recalled Menendez saying. Defense attorneys sought to weaken the evidence at trial and poke holes through testimony, seeking to hurt Uribes credibility and portray him as a recurring liar. I will say that I have lied in the past, Uribe said during cross-examination. The prosecution resting Friday means defense lawyers could start presenting any witnesses next week, according to multiple news reports. Menendez is on trial in Manhattan along with two New Jersey businessmen who were also charged in the wide-ranging corruption case brought by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors have alleged that Menendez and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, which included cash, gold bars and a luxury vehicle. The senators wife is also charged in the case, but a federal judge overseeing the matter rescheduled her trial. Prosecutors chronicled their case against the senior senator from New Jersey over seven weeks. The prosecutions case started slowly last month with an FBI agent walking through how authorities seized gold bars and about $486,000 in cash during a 2022 search of the New Jersey residence the senator shared with his wife. Authorities counted the cash with machines, said FBI special agent Aristotelis Kougemitros. I had to call in reinforcement from the city. Two agents came with cash-counting machines, Kougemitros said. I was directed that if I seized the cash, that I needed to count it in place. So I called in reinforcements. Menendez himself is facing 16 criminal counts that include bribery, extortion and acting as a foreign agent. Prosecutors have argued that Menendez and his wife used his influence and were motivated by greed. Key testimony Key testimony in the prosecutions case came from Uribe, the insurance broker who pleaded guilty in the case earlier this year. Authorities have accused Menendez of agreeing to take action because of the bribes, saying he attempted to interfere in a New Jersey state criminal prosecution of an associate of Uribes and a state criminal investigation that involved an Uribe employee. Uribe testified that he agreed to provide a car for Menendezs wife in order to get the power and influence of the senator. The aim, he said, was to get a better resolution for an associate of his in a criminal matter, and to stop an ongoing investigation that could spell trouble for another business associate. Did you plead guilty to committing federal crimes? asked Lara Pomerantz, a federal prosecutor. Yes, I did, Uribe responded. Does that include bribery of a public official? Pomerantz asked. Yes, I did, he responded. Who was that public official? Pomerantz asked. Senator Robert Menendez, he said. Uribe was worried about the criminal prosecution of his friend, and worried authorities would also come after a business associate of his who he thought of as a daughter, he testified. Uribe said he provided Menendezs wife with $15,000 in cash given to her in the parking lot of a restaurant for a down payment on a Mercedes-Benz and arranged for monthly payments on the vehicle in exchange for trying to help disrupt the investigations. I remember saying to her, if your problem is a car, my problem is saving my family and we went into the agreement of helping each other, he said about the deal. Uribe told the jury he later met with Menendez at the senators home in New Jersey, where the senator asked him to write down the names of the relevant parties on a piece of paper. Later, during the 2020 dinner, Menendez said he didnt have to do much, and said he relayed the message that the prosecution was against Latinos, Uribe testified. Under cross-examination, the defense pointed out that Uribe previously pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and lied on an application to get a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. I will say that I have lied in the past, Uribe said. Senate mentions Prosecutors have also accused Menendez of using his power to recommend that the president nominate a person as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey who he thought could be influenced to disrupt a criminal case involving co-defendant Fred Daibes, a real estate developer who was a longtime fundraiser for the senator. Philip Sellinger told the jury he was interested in becoming the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey when he met with Menendez in December 2020. The two talked about Sellingers vision for the office, Sellinger said, and Menendez brought up a case involving Daibes. It was the only particular case that came up in the meeting, Sellinger said. Senator Menendez believed that he was being treated he, Mr. Daibes was being treated unfairly, and Senator Menendez hoped that if I became U.S. Attorney that I would look at it carefully, Sellinger testified. Sellinger later told the senator he might have to be recused from the Daibes case if he got the job, due to an unrelated matter in his private practice, Sellinger testified. Menendez ultimately told Sellinger he would not be recommending him for the post because he was unable to have the White House nominate him. When he told me that I was not going to get nominated, he didnt get into any specifics, Sellinger said. Sellinger was eventually nominated for the role and the Senate confirmed him in December 2021. The prosecution also sought to show that Menendez did not report certain information on his Senate financial disclosure forms. Menendezs legal team has argued that when the senator learned of car payments from Uribe, the senator was told they were a loan and insisted that his partner pay the man back. Shannon Kopplin, chief counsel and staff director of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, testified that Menendez did not report a car loan liability on the financial disclosures presented to her by the prosecution. 2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., and Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., seen attending a briefing in November 2021, were at the top of Democratic leadership in the House for 17 years. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., struck the biggest moment of his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination on June 27, 2019. He did it by quoting from a Joe Biden speech in 1987 about passing the torch to a younger generation. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago. Hes still right, Swalwell, then 38, said in a nationally televised debate during the Democratic primary race. Biden, then the 76-year-old former vice president, smiled at the young Turk. Im still holding on to that torch, the future 46th president retorted onstage. What seemed like a big win for Swalwell quickly fell apart and, less than two weeks later, he dropped out of the race. Biden won the nomination. His biggest rival until the end of the 2020 Democratic primaries was Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who turned 78 during that campaign. Biden then defeated Donald Trump by more than 7 million votes in the popular vote in the 2020 presidential election. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., remained House speaker through age 82, shepherding several major Biden initiatives into law and adding to her legacy before stepping aside in late 2022. Experience, as Pelosi, Sanders and Biden have all said, could overcome questions about age. Yet exactly five years after the Swalwell exchange, the worst nightmares came to pass for that young crop of Democrats. Bidens debate performance against former president Trump confirmed the worst fears for the next generation. There were misstatements, audible stumbles, and - most worrying of all to many Democrats - very little pushback from Biden, now 81, against a series of misstatements and mistruths from Trump, who just turned 78, and has some questioning his age and acuity. I mean, I think people are panic-stricken, said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., a 20-year incumbent who serves as a minister. Cleaver, 79, is cautioning his younger colleagues to take a breath: Theyre panic-stricken, and I dont think thats a good time to think. Swalwell, now a 43-year-old father of three, tried to look philosophically Friday at the state of the fall general elections and the future of the nation. The sun came up, my kids still fought me to get out of bed, and its going to be okay, he said. We have been through a lot the last eight years. And we will get through this. Swalwells 2019 pass-the-torch moment seemed to grasp the zeitgeist of the emerging Democratic Party, which had just scored a major midterm victory that claimed the House majority with record numbers of young and diverse lawmakers riding the anti-Trump energy to a blue wave. Those young Democrats even forced Pelosi to make concessions before granting her the votes to reclaim the speakership, including a term-limit pledge of just four more years with the gavel. That class of 2018 quickly found other soul mates pushing for generational change, particularly among the Democratic class of 2012. That was another large, diverse group that, while it didnt win back the majority, cut into the House GOPs majority on the coattails of Barack Obamas reelection win. Together, the classes of 2012 and 2018 exude ambition. Swalwell was joined by three other 2012 classmates in running for the 2020 presidential nomination. Among the 2018 class, five Democrats are running for Senate this year, while a couple more will run for governor of Virginia and New Jersey next year. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., who was one of the agitators pushing Pelosi to move aside, ran a long-shot race against Biden for the Democratic nomination this year, in part hoping to spark other, more-seasoned Democrats to jump in against an incumbent. And the 2018 class played a major role in determining the caucuss future leadership lineup. When Democrats gathered for leadership elections after the 2018 midterms, the incoming freshmen threw much of their weight behind Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., in a highly contested race against a much longer-tenured party elder for what is considered the No. 4 leadership post. Serving under Pelosi and Reps. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., and James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., Jeffries, first elected in 2012, was then on track to become minority leader once that older trio stepped out of leadership together at the end of 2022. Jeffriess top lieutenant, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., 60, won a special election in 2013 and became a de facto class of 2012 member. These two younger blocs of Democrats saw Obama, the first Black president, first elected at the age of 47, as their partys future. Its a sharp contrast to Republicans in Congress, where the younger and newer GOP lawmakers are, the more likely they are to be devout Trump acolytes, seeing his unabashed pugilism as their preferred brand despite being a generation or two older than them. For young Democrats, as Obama faded from the scene, their party kept sticking with the previous generation as its torchbearers. In 2016, Democratic voters selected Hillary Clinton, 69 at the time, a former senator and secretary of state who had been in the national spotlight since 1992. And for all the complaining from the far-left progressives about older white candidates running the party, they coalesced around Sanders - who was 74 during that campaign, a member of Congress since 1993 - as the alternative. Once the dust settled in the House and Pelosi began reasserting her power, the party focus shifted by the summer of 2019 to the presidential race and finding the right nominee to challenge Trump. The field grew to 20 Democrats who qualified for debates. There were rising Black senators who were stars (Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala D. Harris of California). There were prominent female senators (Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts), a prominent Latino candidate (former mayor of San Antonio Julian Castro) and a prominent gay mayor (Pete Buttigieg). But, again, primary voters went with the older, reliable hands. After some stumbles, Biden was the clear front-runner, particularly after Clyburns endorsement helped him win the primary in South Carolina, the most senior Black congressman delivering in a primary where about half the primary voters are Black. And, again, the progressive left rallied behind Sanders, who was a few months removed from a serious heart attack. Bidens first two years in office brought some major legislative successes, and he found new allies in the Congressional Progressive Caucus as he fought for major actions to combat climate change. But the process was ugly and, despite the seeming popularity of the proposals, voters gave Democrats little credit for the agenda. When the 2022 midterm elections went better than expected, the party got something that it had lacked for many years: a bench filled with Democrats coming into prominence. Michigan reelected Gov. Gretchen Whitmer by a double-digit margin, while Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers won another term by a smaller margin. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro won in a landslide, while Maryland made Gov. Wes Moore its first Black governor, also in a rout. Sen. Raphael G. Warnock (D) has won twice, in 2020 and 2022, in Georgia, the first Black Democratic senator from the Deep South since Reconstruction. And, at that same time, Pelosi bowed out of leadership, prompting Hoyer, now 85, and Clyburn, 83, to join her. Together, those three octogenarians had ruled the Democratic caucus for 17 years. We fixed it, we fixed it, and they helped fix it, Cleaver recalled Friday of how the top three made way for Jeffries, Clark and Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., to take over. When Biden sent word that he would run for another term, party leaders in Congress applauded. All of the Democrats other rising stars stood down, perhaps thinking 2028 would give them time to hone their image for the national stage. Sanders has been loyal to Biden, as he barnstormed Wisconsin the past few days trying to gin up excitement for the president in a key battleground state. One of his more prominent supporters, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.), who ran as an anti-establishment progressive and defeated an incumbent in 2016, has become one of Bidens top surrogates to youth voters on college campuses across the nation - a key voting bloc that has been wary of voting for Biden. Approached by reporters on Friday, Khanna, 47, found little good to say about Bidens debate performance. He described his approach to courting young voters as one that mentions little about the incumbent. I can vouch for the policies that our party stands for. You know, when youre president, you have a team of 4,000 people, he said. And our party is about providing affordable housing, capping rents, about making sure that were going to increase wages, about bringing back manufacturing. Donald Trump is about tax breaks for the very, very wealthy. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., is one of the few politicians whose career predates Biden, winning a state legislative seat in 1966 four years before the president won his first race for county council. Now 80, Cardin decided early last year to not run for reelection and retire after three terms in the Senate, a decision that is the most personal one for politicians. Each person makes their own decision, he said. He saw the debate and remains confident Biden can do the job, especially when Trump is the alternative. Its now up to the voters to decide if Biden made the right choice to run again. I think each person has to judge that for themselves, Cardin said. And I am very comfortable that the choice is clear to me. Even at 100 years old, Betsy Jeffords is both strong enough to hang on to a salmon-tugging rod and excited enough to scream with delight as her daughter, Susan Jeffords, helps her reel. (Bill Monroe/TNS) Oh no! I think I lost it......WHOA! WHEEeee... As Betsy Jeffords, a 100-year-old WWII veteran of the U.S. Navy Air Corps took a firm grip on her joystick, an angry 10.7-pound spring chinook salmon charged the boat, then turned and headed back to sea as the 107-pounder fought back. She screamed, her reel screamed, everyone screamed and pandemonium erupted as Jeffords daughter, Susan, stepped in to help her mother with reeling as the altimeter fluctuated wildly. Chairs out of the way, rods to put up, net flying, keep the kicker away from the line, grab a camera, watch out for other boats... Several minutes and two tearing runs later, the first salmon ever caught by the oldest person in the boat was deftly netted by the youngest (and, even at 16, arguably the best angler), deckhand Mason Waddle of Longview. (The salmons tenth of Jeffords weight is estimated since it tipped the scale a bit more than 10 pounds after bleeding, which accounts for less than an additional pound.) WOW! she exclaimed as Waddle and his grandfather, host John Shmilenko of Portland, checked to ensure it was a legal hatchery fish, then high-fived and lifted it into the boat. Centenarian Betsy Jeffords is amazed at her catch, skillfully netted for her by 16-year-old Mason Waddle of Longview, Wash. (Bill Monroe/TNS) The animated centenarian sat for a moment in complete silence, staring at her prize. The best metaphor for Navy Air might be that the 100-year-old became an ace. With six rods deployed and the pressure on, the extremely elusive fish came to the rod closest to her My own rod! she would later accurately note. I didnt know at first why I had to get up so early, Jeffords said. They (Susan, 70, and her husband, Greg Powell, 67,) told me we were going fishing and I wondered why would I want to do that, but they said Id have fun. Its amazing, she said. Here we are on a boat eating salmon (smoked snacks), catching a fish less than 30 minutes from the house. Jeffords is determined to remain active. Noting other WWII veterans are aging and passing, shes proud to be moving up the list of survivors. Recalling a recent story about one of the worlds oldest living humans at 114, Jeffords said, I can beat that. Jeffords enlisted in the Navy in 1943, an 18-year-old from a small town in eastern Pennsylvania stricken by patriotism and reading news of fallen neighbors and classmates. Staying in a small town wasnt going to do anyone any good, she said. She wasnt a pilot, although she often got to fly at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. Jeffords was one of the new Waves in a program signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942. It was totally oddball, she said. At first, they didnt really know what to do with us. The Navy educated her as a box trainer, technically, a link trainer also known as a blue box and pilot trainer. It was a precursor to todays modern flight simulators. Pilots were enclosed in a windowless box with nothing but gauges in front of them as Jeffords taught them how to use the dials. They had to find their way back to a base or an aircraft carrier, she said. Its not a very big place at sea so they needed their instruments. Her students (those young men) sometimes took her up in fighters, bombers, all kinds of planes she recalled. I once thought flying looks so easy! But of course, it wasnt. It was an exciting time for a young woman in Florida, with parties, dancing, beaches and sightseeing, but also too often sobering as she and other Waves were drawn to the base bulletin board, grimly recognizing the names of airmen lost in action theyd known and trained. It was so sad that some of those boys didnt come back, she said with a small shake of her head. Her vital service is largely unsung to the public, but not at the top of the chain of command. Jeffords received congratulatory letters from both President Joe Biden and Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy, thanking her for her service to the country and congratulating her on the 100-year milestone (shell launch another in September). After the war, Jeffords married a Marine pilot and war veteran, Thomas Watson TWJeffords, who passed in 1988. Today, Jeffords is simultaneously pragmatic, irritated and determined to win her current battle with lung cancer Waves, sailors, pilots, everyone smoked during the war, she said. Im going to fight it, she said. Ive still got things to do. Next up? Maybe a jet boat tour of the Willamette River, then a visit to a trout farm (she loves rainbow trout). Jeffords lives in Portland with her daughter and son-in-law and will move with them to California in the fall (she prefers the heat), then return next spring to a second home in Bend, near her grandson. Id like to go back to Hawaii, she said. And Ive always wanted to go on a safari; and Australia, it seems so different. While catching a salmon may not have been on her bucket list, it was clearly a welcome addition for all three Wednesday, not to mention a joy for Shmilenko, Waddle and myself to witness. I can see why you like to fish, she said. I feel like Im far away, like Im a different person. Its like an openness on the water. 2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. TEHRAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed early Saturday in an attack by armed assailants targeting a vehicle carrying a ballot box in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, following the first round of Iran's 14th presidential election, the official news agency IRNA reported. The attack, which took place in Jakigur village, Rask County, was intended to seize the ballot box in the rural area, according to a statement from the Sistan and Baluchestan Police Department cited by IRNA. The statement said the gunmen fired on the vehicle from multiple directions, injuring five passengers, including law enforcement officers and election officials. However, the ballot box remained secure due to "the bravery of the police forces." Two of the injured policemen, identified as Farhad Jalil and Ebrahim Marmazi, later succumbed to their wounds after being transferred to a hospital. The first round of Iran's 14th presidential election was held on Friday, a vote that had originally been scheduled for 2025 but was rescheduled following the unexpected death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19. With no candidate winning more than 50 percent of the votes, the presidential election will see a run-off on July 5, pitting Masoud Pezeshkian against Saeed Jalili. Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has seen a series of terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces in recent years. Judge Colm Roberts said This is almost the worst case Ive heard A woman who repeatedly drove without insurance has been sent to prison after she pleaded guilty and was convicted of the offence for the 14th time. Prosecuting, Inspector Tony OSullivan told Fermoy District Court that Justyna Jozwiak, 43, of Convent Road, Doneraile, Co. Cork was observed by gardai driving into the carpark of Tesco in Mitchelstown Co. Cork on November 23, 2023. The court heard that when Ms Jozwiak realised she had been spotted, on leaving the store she tried to avoid gardai. CCTV footage of Ms Jozwiak confirmed she had driven into the carpark and upon investigation it was also confirmed that she was banned from driving at the time and she was also the subject of a bench warrant. Her solicitor Cathal Lombard said that she had pleaded guilty to the three charges of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to appear in court. He said she was the mother of three children who ranged in age from their teens to twenties. Judge Colm Roberts said: This is almost the worst case Ive heard. Shes been sent to prison for this before, she has 13 convictions and she just keeps doing it. I dont really see how I cant send her to prison for this. For driving while disqualified Justyna Jozwiak was sentenced to six months in prison with two months suspended for two years, for driving without insurance she was sentenced to five months in prison with three months suspended for two years. The sentences will run consecutively. Her failure to appear in court was taken into consideration and recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed in her own bond of 1,000, with 500 required in cash. Judge Kelly jailed Wendy Gifford for eight months after hearing she already had 150 previous convictions. A grandmother stole more than 3,000 worth of clothes from city centre stores in what a judge described as almost industrial-scale shoplifting. Staff at one particular shop Wendy Gifford (45) targeted must have had a sense of dread whenever she appeared on the horizon, District Court president Paul Kelly said. Judge Kelly jailed her for eight months after hearing she already had 150 previous convictions. Gifford, of Liberty House, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to multiple theft charges at shops in central Dublin on dates last year and this year. She also admitted to possession of stolen property. Dublin District Court heard many of the thefts were at Quiz in the Ilac Centre, where Gifford took clothing worth 494 and 298 in two incidents on May 20 last year. On other dates, she stole six dresses worth 450 and other clothing worth 1,017 and 636. She took 437 worth of clothes from Penneys on OConnell Street and dresses valued at 184 from H&M, College Green on other dates. Gardai saw Gifford pushing a pram loaded with clothing at Marys Abbey in the north city centre. When they stopped her, gardai discovered that the 982 worth of clothes were stolen. Of the thefts, only the dresses at H&M were recovered when the accused was stopped by security staff. In the other cases, she left without being apprehended and was later identified on CCTV. Giffords 150 previous convictions included 52 for theft and eight for handling stolen property. The accused held her hands up to the offences and realised her behaviour was completely unacceptable, her lawyer said. Gifford had suffered from addiction issues in the past and served a prison sentence. On release from jail in 2023, she got sober but then the tragic deaths of two close friends set her off again, her lawyer said. She acquired a lot of debt during this time and turned to theft to get money to repay it. Gifford was now on methadone and wanted to continue with her sobriety, the court heard. As well as her two children, she had four grandchildren. This is almost industrial-scale shoplifting, Judge Kelly said. Quiz in the Ilac Centre must have a sense of dread when she appears on the horizon, she seems to have targeted them on a number of occasions. The judge said many of the offences had been committed while Gifford was on bail. He imposed consecutive and concurrent sentences totalling eight months in prison on four of the charges, with the rest taken into consideration. Jonathon Strogylos is one of 12 men convicted of the plot in which the drugs were hidden in printer-ink cartridges. THE ringleader of a cocaine smuggling gang used by rogue Irish haulier Thomas Maher and his network of transporters has been jailed for 31 years. Jonathon Strogylos is one of 12 men convicted of the plot in which the drugs were hidden in printer-ink cartridges as part of a service to organised crime gangs. The drugs were collected in The Netherlands, taken to another location and then hidden in printer toner cartridges. A member of the network, Paul OBrien, received a 21-year sentence last November for conspiracy to import drugs in the UK after the gang was busted thanks to the Encrochat hack. Messages intercepted from the encrypted phone system showed the gang had been running the route every week for three years. Strogylos ran and controlled the smuggling network which he used to ship his own drugs while offering the service to other organised crime gangs. Paul O'Brien (Photo: NCA) Dealers would pay for their drugs to be hidden within these consignments and imported at a fee per kilo, according to the UKs Crown Prosecution Service. London-based OBrien worked for wealthy Irish haulage boss Thomas Maher, who is now serving a 14-year sentence imposed in 2020. OBrien was convicted of organising the transport of cocaine and 900,000 in cash from the Netherlands to the UK. Rogue haulier Thomas Maher organised for 300,000, belonging to OBrien, to be collected in Louth and taken to The Netherlands by car. A second pick-up of 600,000 was arranged by Maher for OBrien, again to be taken by couriers from Ireland to the Netherlands. The handover at a bus station in Drogheda was under surveillance by gardai, which led to the arrests of Jason Reed, Thomas Rooney and Catherine Dawson. Thomas Maher Yesterday, Strogylos was handed down a hefty 31-year sentence at Isleworth Crown Court, one of 12 men convicted over the illegal operation.. The drugs were taken to a storage unto in the UK controlled by the group and distributed across the UK and Ireland from there. Investigators focused on a three-week period in 2020 in which three shipments were made, bringing in stg132 million worth of cocaine. The undercover investigation began as part of Operation Venetic, a National Crime Agency-led probe into encrypted EncroChat phone conversations. Giorgina Venturella of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said yesterday: Jonathan Strogylos refused to admit his involvement in this organised drug importation and distribution operation. "The messages uncovered in this case made it clear that the organised crime group, led by Strogylos, had a sophisticated process in place to import and subsequently manoeuvre colossal quantities of cocaine across the UK. Our Proceeds of Crime team have now commenced confiscation proceedings to ensure the group do not financially benefit from their criminality. Strogylos co-conspirator OBrien is not the first Irish-linked criminal to be caught as a result of UK investigations into crime gangs uncovered by the Encrochat hack. Anthony Terry and the seized drugs Anthony Terry, described as the kingpin of an outfit which provided the transporter services to underworld drugs gangs, was caught in 2021 and jailed for 25 years. Officers from the UKs NCA had traced the gangs movements in 2020 and 2021 after their encrypted Encrochat phones were hacked by police. Limerick man Terry was seen as the man who directed two drivers to smuggle drugs in concealed vehicles from mainland Europe into Ireland. Terrys time on the run came to end in February 2021 when he was caught with 1.8 million worth of cocaine in Belfast. Similarly, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh already serving 21 for conspiracy to import 30 million into the UK is facing trial over a weapons cache. The plot in which it is alleged Encrochat was also used to organised the movement of weapons cash with Kinahan Carte figure Liam Byrne and Bombers son Jack Kavanagh. Vincent Maher told the gardai there was a threat on his life and that was why he had the weapon, his lawyer said. A grandfather caught carrying a blade in central Dublin had it for his protection as there was a threat on his life at the time, a court heard. Vincent Maher (52) began carrying the weapon after he was told about the threat amid an ongoing feud. Judge Fiona Brennan gave him a six-month suspended sentence. Maher, with an address at a city-centre hostel, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife for use as a weapon. Dublin District Court heard gardai were on patrol at Loftus Lane in the north city centre on March 23 when they saw Maher standing beside a vehicle with his face partially hidden. He hid something in his right hand and put it in his pocket before throwing it on the ground. Gardai retrieved it and discovered it was a Stanley blade. Maher told the gardai there was a threat on his life and that was why he had the weapon, his lawyer said. He had previous convictions for offences, including possession of weapons and drugs, and had served time in jail. Maher had done his time for his past offences and apart from this incident, he had not been in trouble since his release from prison, the lawyer said. The only reason he had the blade was because there was an ongoing feud and someone had called to his door and told him about the threat. Judge Brennan said the explanation that he was going to use the blade for his protection could only be of concern to the court and was not mitigation. The court heard the accused had six children and six grandchildren. His lawyer asked the judge for leniency and to incentivise his rehabilitation. Speaking as he jailed Portrush man Jamie Mitchell for nine months, District Judge Peter King told the 23-year-old the fact that he could jail him for anything up to two years, even in the Magistrates Courts, should give you some sense of the seriousness of this offence. A judge has warned that for anyone convicted of non-fatal strangulation, no matter how brief, it is almost impossibleto avoid custody. Speaking as he jailed Portrush man Jamie Mitchell for nine months, District Judge Peter King told the 23-year-old the fact that he could jail him for anything up to two years, even in the Magistrates Courts, should give you some sense of the seriousness of this offence. Once you put your hands round somebody's neck and apply pressure it is life-threatening. It is almost impossible for someone who fights it to avoid custody, declared the Coleraine Magistrates Court judge. Read more Leader of cocaine shipping gang used by Irish smugglers is jailed for 31 years Following a short contest earlier this year Mitchell, from Glenmanus Park in the harbour town, was convicted of NFS in that he had intentionally applied pressure on or to the throat or neck intending to affect her ability to breathe or the flow of blood to her brain. In court on Thursday a prosecuting lawyer reminded Judge King how the offence had unfolded on 12 November last year when Mitchell had taken umbrage during a verbal argument with his female victim and had grabbed her by the throat with both hands and applied pressure. During police interviews and at his contest in May Mitchell denied the offence and lodging a plea in mitigation on his behalf, defence counsel Alan Stewart revealed that he maintains he is innocent and intends to lodge appeals against the conviction and sentence. Describing the contested hearing as unusual, he also told the court Mitchell had quite a bad workplace accident and ended up in the Royal for five months; losing his job during Covid. He has worked as hard as he can since then in hospitality positions across the North Coast, said the barrister, revealing that although Mitchell did in his youth abuse substances but in the last three years he has deliberately avoided his peers from that time this is the first offence of a domestic nature. There is absolutely nothing about him that would cause any red flags to be raised. He has been assessed as at a low likelihood of reoffending and has a stable life. There are no issues with alcohol or drugs or any concerning attitudes. It is an unusual scenario. Community service would be available to him and he could do that around his employment, suggested the barrister. Referring to the offence, Mr Stewart stressed: It was very, very brief, he voluntarily desisted and became apologetic, according to the victim. There was not any harm, some marks were left and it was not reported for a while. He fought the case; not withstanding that it is not inevitable he should get a custodial sentence. Judge King disagreed however and emphasising how Mitchell has shown no empathy to his victim for the offence which had been committed in front of a child, it is almost impossible for someone who fights it to avoid custody. In addition to the jail sentence Mitchell was also handed a five-year restraining order but following a defence application, he was released on his own bail of 500 pending an appeal. Stephen Lennon co-founded the English Defence League Anti-immigrant campaigner Tommy Robinson is an Irish citizen whose real name is Stephen Lennon, leaked Canadian arrest documents have revealed. Robinson was arrested in Canada this week for alleged immigration offences and ordered to hand over his passport. Footage posted online showed him being nicked by cops and put in the back of a squad car. Leaked document Leaked documents posted on social media show how Robinson who previously wore a badge supporting an ex-British soldier facing prosecution for two murders on Bloody Sunday is an Irish citizen. The right-wing figure was held on Monday before being released. Footage posted online showed him being handcuffed and led to the back of a waiting car. A man who appeared to be a plain clothes police officer told him he was being arrested under an outstanding immigration warrant. Stephen's arrest Robinson said on X, formerly Twitter: None of this makes sense, Im now detained in Calgary, prevented from leaving the city, these conditions stop me from continuing my tour of Canada and meeting with guests for podcasts. Im not even allowed to leave to travel home. The 41-year-old had been booked to speak in three Canadian cities by an outlet called Rebel News. Leaked document of 'Tommy Robinson' Robinson has been active in far-right politics for many years. He was a member of the British National Party (BNP) from 2004 to 2005. For a short time in 2012, he was joint vice-chairman of the British Freedom Party (BFP). He co-founded the English Defence League (EDL) in 2009 and led it until 8 October 2013. In 2015, he became involved with the development of Pegida UK, a now-defunct British chapter of the German far-right Pegida. Robinson has regularly posted about immigration levels in Ireland and came here in 2023 to shoot a documentary. Following his arrival Dublin, Robinson said he was in Ireland to ask questions and put together a piece, to show whats happening. He denied he was invited here and said that he travelled to Dublin as a journalist to go where the news is. At the time, he said he was not here to take over the anti-immigration movement. Robinsons visit to Ireland underlined the involvement of serious criminal figures in the rise of the far-right in here. On the night of his arrival he posed for pictures, arm in arm, with notorious Ballyfermot heroin dealer Anthony Harpo ODriscoll. Robinson, who has been banned from most major social media platforms at one time or another, was previously kicked off Facebook for dehumanising language and calls for violence targeted at Muslims. In 2021, he lost a libel case taken against him by a Syrian schoolboy who was filmed being attacked at school. Probe focuses on belief that a pig being harmed on site means Muslims cannot live there Gardai at the entrance to the Thornton Hall site, which has been earmarked as a possible site to house asylum-seekers. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Gardai have launched a criminal investigation after two pigs had to be put down after they were stabbed at a site set to house asylum-seekers. The incident happened on lands at Thornton Hall in north Co Dublin, where protests have taken place recently against plans to house migrants there in encampments. The incident on Wednesday is being investigated as animal cruelty and trespass, and one man has been charged. Emergency services were called to the north Dublin site at around 5.30pm after receiving reports of trespassers on the property. Two pigs and a piglet were found at the scene, and the two larger animals had been stabbed. A vet was called to the scene and, after tending to the animals, it was determined that their injuries were too severe to survive. The two pigs had to be put down while the piglet has been taken into care. A short time later a male, aged in his 30s, was arrested and detained for public order offences. He has since been charged and is due to appear in court next month, while investigations are ongoing into the animal cruelty aspect of the incident. Earlier this month, some Irish far-right activists shared social media posts which claimed that plans to build a mosque in Spain were scrapped after pigs were buried on the proposed land, because pigs are regarded as unclean in Islam. Many of the international protection applicants arriving in Ireland are coming from predominately Muslim countries, and gardai are probing whether the incident is connected to the planned housing of migrants at Thornton Hall. One source said: This is a sad incident, the pigs had to be put down because there was nothing more that could be done for them. It is being looked at if this was done out of some belief that a pig being harmed on the land would mean Muslims cannot live there. The whole thing is cruel and bizarre. Protests have been taking place at Thornton Hall, which had previously been identified by the Government as the site of a proposed super-prison, ahead of plans to move hundreds of asylum-seekers there. In a statement on Wednesdays incident, a garda spokesperson confirmed that the force was called out to a premises in Killsallaghan, Co Dublin. Two animals discovered at the location with injuries were attended to by a vet and subsequently euthanised. A third animal was taken into care, the spokesperson said. Shortly afterwards, a man (30s) was arrested and detained at a north Dublin garda station for an alleged offence under the Criminal Justice, Public Order Act, 1994. He has since been charged and will appear before Swords District Court on Tuesday, July 16. Investigations are ongoing. An Garda Siochana would appeal to any person with any information on this incident to contact investigating gardai at Swords garda station 01-6664700 or the garda confidential phone number 1800 666 111. Its understood an object was thrown through a downstairs window of the serving officers home in Trim last Friday afternoon as he undertook duty at the Donegal International Rally. Details surrounding a criminal damage incident on a serving garda's home in Meath while his wife and young children were inside has been branded a "cowardly" attack by locals. Gardai have launched a manhunt for a cowardly gang of vandals who carried out a broad daylight attack on a gardas home in Meath while his wife and young children were inside. Its understood an object was thrown through a downstairs window of the serving officers home in Trim last Friday afternoon as he undertook duty at the Donegal International Rally. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, but Gardai have since appealed for information in the hope potential eye witness evidence or dashcam footage could unlock vital clues in identifying those involved. Follow Independent Meath on Facebook Gardai in Trim are investigating a criminal damage incident which occurred at a house on the Kells Road, Trim on Friday June 21 at approximately 4.55pm, said a garda spokesperson. Anybody who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the Kells Road/Athboy Road areas around that time or in the minutes prior to the incident or anyone who may have dashcam footage are asked to please contact Trim Garda Station on 046-9486140 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. Local councillor Noel French, who lives a short distance away from the scene of the incident, launched a stinging attack on its perpetrators as he urged anyone with information to come forward. I wasnt at home myself on the date, but it is a cowardly, cowardly attack on a woman and small children when they were on their own, he said. I am lucky enough to have very good neighbours on this street and if anybody saw anything at all please come forward. Tommie loved people and he treated each one with a care and a kindness that was like the Sacrament of friendship. Arlene Foster and Peter Robinson at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Sligo Rovers committee members at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Arlene Foster at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Teresa Mannion and Sharon Ni Bheolain at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Gerry Adams at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Michelle O'Neill arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. An Taoiseach Simon Harris TDl arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Tommie Gorman's funeral procession flanked by a gaurd of honour from Sligo Rovers arrivIing s at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. The funeral of RTE broadcaster Tommie Gorman was told he was man who loved people and who introduced the sacrament of friendship during his life. Hundreds of mourners packed Our Lady Star of the Sea chapel in Ransboro for the funeral of Tommie Gorman the Sligo man this afternoon. And in a witty and highly humorous eulogy his son Joe said that Tommie got all the green lights when he married our mother Ceara. Taoiseach Simon Harris arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan But today, in the shadow of Knocknarea, the people of Sligo and Ireland gathered to say one last farewell to one of its own. Tommie belonged to everybody, he was the face in our living rooms all over the land and his passing is like the death of a dear old friend. There were no frontiers in Tommies eclectic world as he walked with all the captains and the kings but never forgot where he was from. And it was fitting that his beloved Sligo Rovers rose so magnificently to the occasion by beating Shamrock Rovers 2-0. It was also fitting that he was brought into the Showgrounds for a last farewell to the Bit ORed at 1.15pm. A total of 20 seats were reserved for the distinguished mourners who came from all over the land and abroad to say slan to a true man for all seasons. Representatives from the political, business, legal, sport, arts and media from Sligo and all over Ireland were among the huge crowd who came to pay their respects. Among the many dignitaries at the funeral were An Taoiseach Simon Harris, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill, former First Ministers of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster. Former Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, ex-SDLP leaders Mark Durkan and Alasdair McDonnell were also present along with RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst. President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide de camp Captain Paul ODonnell. Michelle O'Neill arriving at Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan RTE broadcaster Sean ORourke was also among the mourners along with many former colleagues. Cathaoirleach of Sligo Co Council Cllr Declan Bree and his wife Margaret were among many local representatives from all sections of the community who filled the church. Meanwhile key political and business figures were among the thousands of people who paid their respects at Sean Feehilys Funeral Home on Friday evening. They included Tanaiste Micheal Martin, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin and former Tanaiste and EU Commissioner Ray MacSharry and his son Marc, Sligo/Leitrim Independent TD. Also among the thousands queuing were former European MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher and Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan. Businessman Denis OBrien flew in from Belgium to pay his respects. Before the funeral mass began, representatives of Sligo Rovers walked with the coffin in a guard of honour for what was described as their 12th man. Tommie Gorman In a deeply personal and moving eulogy, Chief Celebrant Fr Christopher McCrann, who was a close friend of Tommies, extended a special word to his wife Ceara, his daughter Moya and his son Joe as well as his brother Michael and his sister Mary. Know that our hearts go out to you, he said. Fr McCrann said when he heard the news his heart sank, and it was shocking. So many people felt that same sadness and it took so long to sink in. Tommie loved people and he treated each one with a care and a kindness that was like the Sacrament of friendship. Our community has lost a friend and a very good neighbour. We all had a mentor whose life witness will continue to bear fruit in our lives, and he has given us all part of his life and left us part of it. Tommie Gorman's funeral at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro, Sligo. Photo: Carl Brennan Fr McCrann added that where you invest your love, you invest your life. Tommie invested a big part of his life in our community, he said. Tommie was a journalist and a very good one and again we see a gift. He was a very particular and unique force towards mediation and unity and always with a sense of great hope for a better future. And this influence will come alive with the passing of time and history will be pleased with the part that Tommie Gorman played. And Tommie suffered a lot with illness, but he never allowed it to be his identity. His faith he embraced and supported cancer patients all over Ireland and further afield. There are many people we know who are very grateful for his personal closeness to them. Fr McCrann added that Tommie had great faith and was never afraid to show it. He loved Knocknahur and he loved all things Sligo, his home place of Cairns Road and his own Sligo Rovers and Sligo rightly honoured him as a Freeman of the City. But Tommie never had sheep, he quipped. Tommie was a great talker but also a quiet and discreet man. In the words of Yeats, it is long since we began to call up to the mind this wise and simple man. And so, we all say Tommie, may God to whom you entrusted so much of your life, let you both now recognise each other as you meet face to face. And as your God embraces you and sees you in your decency, your honour, your diplomacy, your truthfulness, your humility, your kindness and kiss you as only God can kiss a truly beloved son with love and tears of joy in your eyes and be forever at peace. And we who remain thank you Tommie Gorman because you have walked with great nobility among us. His eulogy was warmly applauded At the end of the Mass Tommies wife Ceara and her sisters sang an emotive beautiful song and his son Joes eulogy was greeted with huge applause. Tommie Gorman is survived by his wife, Ceara, daughter Moya, son Joe, brother Michael and sister Mary. He was predeceased by his parents Joe and Maureen and by his sister Paula. After Mass, he was interred in Kilmacowen Cemetery. The majority on the Army Council are not interested in peace and Reillys plan was rejected, said our source. Terror chief Carl Reilly is in the crosshairs of a dissident feud. Dubbed Renegade Reilly, he has lost control of Oglaigh na hEireann (OnH) and now finds himself at odds with his former comrades. His attempt to bring in two brothers from Derry and a suspected rapist in Belfast set him at odds with the OnH Army Council. He has even lost the support of one-time close pal and trusted sidekick Tony McDonnell. The pair fell out after Reilly said he intended to apply for peace funding from the International Fund for Ireland. The majority on the Army Council are not interested in peace and Reillys plan was rejected, said our source. His rejection was so quick and so severe he didnt stand a chance. He has been trying to recruit but in truth his downfall is his belief that hes untouchable. Its a far cry from the days when McDonnell and Reilly were inseparable comrades in arms. The Sunday World snapped the pair in west Belfast last August as they emerged from an OnH meeting. The picture was taken just before Reilly went to jail for terrorist-related offences. Sources say it was the start of the disintegration of the pairs friendship. Secretive Mc Donnell complained that he became the target of increased police attention in the wake of the picture and his association with Reilly. The relationship is so fractured that insiders are predicting a feud. For the moment, Reilly is gagged and has refrained from getting involved in social media exchanges as under the terms of his release he is barred from associating with known criminals. Personally, if I was asked if I would side with Reilly or the others, Id say Ill go with whoever has the guns, said our source. In an ultimatum, Reilly was given 72 hours to stand down, but he refused, which has only ramped up tensions. There is a real chance of a full-on feud and if that happens Reilly will be the loser, our source said. But the convicted republicans fallout has had devastating consequences for OnH and their political wing Republican Network for Unity (RNU), with dozens of members walking away with McDonnell. Sources say the break-up could have far-reaching consequences, with the security forces ready to exploit the divisions. Theres a massive split within RNU and OnH in Belfast, said a source. Carl and Tony have come head to head over funding that Carl is getting from a peace project. Tony is not happy with the peace money and wants to go in a different direction. This has been going on for some time now. Tony has had enough. Carl viewed Tony as his most trusted confidante but thats gone now. McDonnell stepped in as chair of RNU while Reilly was in jail, but in the absence of his terror pal he took the organisation in a different direction. Reilly finds himself in a place he has never been before. He has been in control of OnH and the RNU in Belfast for years and his position has been unchallenged until now. Rival McDonnell is a veteran republican who commands considerable respect. He has done time for collecting information on serving police officers and is regarded as a diehard republican. ZARANJ, Afghanistan, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police discovered 1,500 kg of illicit drugs, including opium and heroin, and arrested 120 alleged drug smugglers in western Afghanistan's Nimroz province over the past six months, the provincial police office said in a statement Saturday. The statement without providing more details said, the dossiers of the suspects were referred to the judiciary for further investigations and possible legal process. Afghan authorities have intensified crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the business. Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan had dropped by an estimated 95 percent since the country's caretaker government imposed a drug ban in April 2022, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime last November. A 48-year-old Bay of Plenty woman has been summonsed and will be appearing in the Rotorua District Court, charged with driving with excess breath alcohol. Rotorua Police want to thank members of the public who reported a vehicles erratic driving on State Highway 30, Friday, June 28. "Thanks to the information provided by those concerned people, Police were able to intercept the vehicle as it drove towards Rotorua," says Inspector Phil Gillbanks. Disturbingly, the driver was found to be more than five times the legal breath alcohol limit. "Even worse, officers discovered she had travelled from New Plymouth and been the subject of numerous driving complaints along the way." Inspector Gillbanks says the descriptions Police received of the vehicles manner of driving "are beyond concerning" and oncoming drivers were forced to take evasive action to avoid collisions. "If you were one of the people who called Police about this driver, we cant thank you enough your actions likely saved lives. "We cant stress enough: if youre drinking, do not get behind the wheel." Across this weekend, a large number of Police will be patrolling roads across the country to make sure everyone gets to their destination safely. The patrols will have a particular focus on unsafe driving behaviour, including: Utica, N.Y. A 13-year-old boy shot and killed by a Utica police officer Friday night had a pellet gun and was shot during a ground struggle, said Utica Police Chief Mark Williams The shooting happened at about 10:18 p.m. when police stopped two juveniles who were walking in the 900 block of Shaw Street, police said. One of the youths, the 13-year-old boy, fled from officers, he said. As he was fleeing, the boy displayed what appeared to be a handgun, the chief said Saturday at a news conference held at Utica City Hall with Mayor Michael P. Galime. A police officer shot the boy once during a ground struggle the chief said. He was shot in the chest, he said. The boy was rushed to Wynn Hospital in Utica, but he died there. Police, who described the victim as Asian, did not release his name at this time. A replica Glock pellet gun with a detachable magazine was found, he said. The three officers involved have been placed on paid leave, he said. The officers were on the Crime Prevention Unit. Officers on that unit have to have at least five years of experience, he said. The other juvenile with the boy was questioned by police and released, he said. Police refused to say why they stopped the two kids other than it was part of an investigation. The news conference was chaotic as community members repeatedly interrupted and crowded the lobby of City Hall and shouted at the chief. When Williams said the child had what appeared to be a gun he was overcome by the shouting and had to start over. When the chief continued, he explained it was discovered afterwards the gun was a replica. As an interpreter translated the news conference into Burmese, the victims mother, who was crying, screamed in her native language. Originally the conference was going to be just for media, the mayor said. When they saw the large group of community members gathered, they allowed in the public in the interest of transparency, he said. Over 50 family members of the boy and community members gathered in the lobby during the news conference. Family members of the boy arrived at the door and the mayor spoke with them. He told the boys mother he was sorry for the boys death. After the news conference, the mayor again approached the boys mother and tried to explain that the body camera footage would be released and that the Attorney Generals office would investigate any possible wrong doing. While the mayor spoke with the boys mom a man yelled in the background that the officers need to be charged with first-degree murder. One person was seen holding a sign that said our parents did not flee war for their kids to be shot by police Another person in the crowd yelled about the community members having run from the persecution from the Burmese army. Utica has a large Burmese refugee community. At a later date police will release complete body-worn camera footage, the chief said. Police said that they were aware of a video circulating of the incident. The video does not portray the incident in its entirety, police said in a news release. The video, posted on Facebook at about midnight by a person who lives in Utica, shows an officer chasing a boy down a dark street. A woman watching or filming can be heard yelling Careful, careful, yo, careful. Youre on camera. The officer tackles the boy to the ground and punches him at least once as two other officers appear in the video. Two officers are struggling with the boy on the ground and a third officer appears. Then a gunshot could be heard. It is not clear which officer fired the shot. The woman can be heard yelling, Oh my God, he just shot him. Other people can be heard screaming. The struggle between the officers and the boy lasted 5 seconds before the shot could be heard. After the shot, the video cuts to officers appearing to give the boy CPR. The officers who stopped the two kids were part of the citys Crime Prevention Unit. The shooting will be investigated by the state Attorney Generals Office, which reviews all deaths involving police officers, the chief said. It will also be investigated internally by the police department, he said. This is a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved, the police chief said. A Utica police officer shot and killed a 13-year-old boy on Friday, June 28, 2024 in the 900 block of Shaw Street.Kenny Lacy Jr. Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. Utica, N.Y A 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by a Utica police officer Friday night after the boy fled police who had stopped him, authorities said. The boy was rushed to Wynn Hospital in Utica, but he died there, Utica police said in a news release Saturday morning. The shooting happened at about 10:18 p.m. when police stopped two youths in the 900 block of Shaw Street, police said. One of the youths, the 13-year-old boy, fled from officers, police said. As he was fleeing, the boy displayed what appeared to be a handgun, police said. A police officer shot the boy as he struggled with officers on the ground. A video posted on Facebook at about midnight by a person who lives in Utica shows an officer chasing a boy down a dark street. A woman watching or filming can be heard yelling Careful, careful, yo, careful. Youre on camera. The officer tackles the boy to the ground and punches him at least once as two other officers appear in the video. Two officers are struggling with the boy on the ground and a third officer appears. Then a gunshot could be heard. The woman can be heard yelling, Oh my God, he just shot him. Other people can be heard screaming. The struggle between the officers and the boy lasted 5 seconds before the shot could be heard. The police release included this statement: Our thoughts are with our officers involved, and the family of the deceased juvenile. The police department is holding a news conference at 10 a.m. at Utica City Hall. Check back on Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard for more on this shooting. A Utica police officer shot and killed a 13-year-old boy on Friday, June 28, 2024 in the 900 block of Shaw Street. This photo taken Saturday.Kenny Lacy Jr. Steven Billmyer is the Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard breaking news editor. He can be reached at 315-470-3274 or sbillmyer@syracuse.com . Fayetteville, N.Y. A middle school teacher at the Fayetteville-Manlius School District attempted to solicit sex from his former students, police said Friday. Tucker McKeown, 27, of Syracuse, a teacher at Wellwood Middle School, sent two of his former students illicit messages on Snapchat, Manlius police said in a news release. Forward-looking: Data centers, the crux of all things digital, are also enormous energy and water hogs. While the industry has been putting in place more sustainable operating practices, they don't touch the eco-friendly benefits offered by another idea: data centers that operate in space. A new European study has found that not only is this concept technically feasible, but it could also eventually deliver a significant return on investment. The demand for data centers is surging, thanks in large part to the explosion of AI. Unfortunately, this growth comes with enormous pressure on energy supplies and resources. Data centers are responding by implementing new technologies to reduce the energy required to power and cool their servers. However, one initiative takes things much further into space, to be precise. Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between aerospace-and-defense companies Thales of France and Leonardo of Italy just unveiled the ASCEND (Advanced Space Cloud for European Net zero emission and Data sovereignty) study that looked at the feasibility of space-based data centers. One advantage was immediately apparent: space data centers would not need water to cool them. "The idea [is] to take off part of the energy demand for data centers and to send them in space in order to benefit from infinite energy, which is solar energy," said Damien Dumestier, manager of the project. The study compared the environmental impacts of both space-based and Earth-based data centers as well as exploring whether operating such a center in orbit was even technologically feasible. The project would require the development of a launcher that is ten times less emissive over its lifecycle, which the study found to be possible. ArianeGroup, one of the 12 companies participating in the study, is working on this aspect of the project, with the first eco-launcher set to be ready by 2035. Modular space infrastructures would be assembled in orbit using robotic technologies provided by the European Commission's EROSS IOD (European Robotic Orbital Support Services in Orbit Demonstrator), led by Thales Alenia Space. This project is scheduled to fly its first mission in 2026. These facilities would orbit at an altitude of around 870 miles, or three times the altitude of the International Space Station. Dumestier said that ASCEND aims to deploy 13 space data center building blocks with a total capacity of 10 megawatts in 2036. Each building block includes capacity for its own data center service and is launched within one space vehicle. Ultimately, the objective is to deploy 1,300 building blocks by 2050 to achieve 1 gigawatt of capacity. The study also found that space-based data centers are economically viable, with the potential for a return on investment of several billion euros by 2050. The case for space-based data centers has caught the attention of others as well. Microsoft is collaborating with Loft Orbital and other companies on such a potential project to "lay the groundwork for future data management solutions in space," according to a spokesperson from Redmond. JOHANNESBURG, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The South African government said on Saturday that the country achieved its first primary budget surplus in 15 years due to the implementation of prudent fiscal measures. "The last time government had a budget surplus was before the 2008 global financial crisis," said a statement issued by the South African Government Communication and Information System. According to the statement, the government under President Cyril Ramaphosa implemented prudent financial measures to record the budget surplus. "The 6th government administration put in place prudent fiscal measures aimed at mitigating the country's dire economic situation, including the implementation of cost-cutting measures within the government, fewer bailouts to state-owned entities, strong monitoring of key performance measures to improve their performance, and the deployment of multidisciplinary intervention teams that included the private sector where applicable," Nomonde Mnukwa, acting government spokesperson, said in the statement. "State-owned enterprises were propelled to impactful turn-around plans implementation, which has resulted in green shots in self-sustaining business models," she said. Mnukwa pointed out that the country achieved a budget surplus while recovering from the global economic crisis, state capture, and prolonged financial constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the July 2021 unrest. "Critical economic growth drivers, such as infrastructure development, received necessary support and focus," said the spokesperson. She also said the government continued to engage regularly with business and labor leaders to grow the economy. "As the 7th administration begins its work, it does so with the advantage of a budget surplus, which will support the implementation of outstanding goals of Vision 2030 -- the National Development Plan," Mnukwa said. "The government reiterates the importance of collaboration to achieve faster economic growth through job creation and public-private partnerships, among other strategies," she added. A new leak shows the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6's renders of what they would supposedly look like in this latest update, offering fresh designs for the foldables. This latest leak appeared ahead of the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for July 10, announced by the company, which gave hints about the foldables' dedicated unveiling. With the yearly updates from Samsung, it will unveil a new set of foldable smartphones this year, with many speculations behind new improvements and, possibly, Galaxy AI. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, Z Flip6 Renders Leak Show New Looks Renowned leaker and analyst Evan Blass shared new photos depicting the vertical folding Z Flip6 and the horizontal folding Z Fold6, which are new renders of the upcoming smartphones from Samsung. As depicted in the latest leaks, the devices have slight design changes and refreshes, offering an updated look compared to last year's. First, the Z Flip6 will still feature flat edges. Its rear display will be similar to last year's design, with a bigger interactive screen for users. Next, the Z Fold6 showed off a sleeker body but offers a larger cover screen. Like previous releases, it has a three-camera lens setup. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event: What to Expect? While design-wise, there were only minor changes and tweaks; it is expected that the Samsung foldable that will be released in early July will equip the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processors as part of its upgrade. As for Galaxy AI, these devices may also feature the latest capabilities, following the Galaxy S24 series released earlier this year. Samsung's Upcoming Foldables and Its Features There have been many leaks and talks about what the new Samsung foldables will deliver for this release, particularly as the South Korean tech giant will shake things up with these models. First, there are beliefs that Samsung will introduce a new variant for the Galaxy Z Fold6, the first entry-level variant of its foldable that will make it more affordable for users. However, leaks suggest that it will not bring another variant and would only center on one of each from both lineups of the foldable. This is because the company felt like there was not much distinction between the entry-level lineup and the other versions from its release. Its second reason centers on the "market conditions" and how it may outshine other variants. The upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event will answer the many questions people have about the new Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, centering on the company's upcoming releases for this year. The latest leaked renders evidently show a design refresh, but the leaker did not reveal much more about what the device will deliver, with the nearing event debuting it for all. Tesla is now defending its Model 3 electric vehicle after it was involved in a 2022 fatal crash where the driver was allegedly unable to steer in the right direction because of Autopilot, which resulted in a massive fire. The vehicle burst into flames after it hit the tree, with the plaintiff, the driver's widow, claiming that the Model 3 was a defective vehicle and should have been recalled. However, Tesla said that it was not defective and was working as advertised, but later, its statement was also contradicted. Tesla Model 3 2022 Crash: EV is Not Defective, Company Defends Tesla has responded (via Ars Technica) to a recent lawsuit filed by the aggrieved widow of a 2022 Model 3 crash that claimed the life of Hans von Ohain, the driver and owner of the said electric vehicle. The company said that the Model 3 was not defective, contrary to the claims of the victim's wife, Nora Bass, in a recent lawsuit she filed against the company last May. The company claimed that the 2021 Model 3 EV, the car that von Ohain drove during the crash that claimed his life, was not defective and did not need to be recalled. Moreover, Tesla said that when von Ohain bought the vehicle, no alterations or changes were made to the Model 3. However, a contradictory statement from the company suggested that the car may not have been in the same condition as when it was bought. 2021 Model 3 Burst Into Flames: Who is in the Wrong? The said 2021 Model 3 crash claimed the life of von Ohain as while using the Autopilot, his car steered in the wrong direction, and Bass claimed that he tried to steer it in the right direction, but the assistive driving tech did not permit him to do so. This led to him crashing into a tree, with the Model 3 bursting into flames afterward, which led to his death two years ago. Tesla EVs and Its Autonomous Driving Scrutinies While Tesla has been cleared of previous accidents and crash lawsuits, various complaints against the company have centered on federal regulators and their opposition to the company's development of its EVs. Last May, the NHTSA ordered Tesla to recall its clean energy cars and fix its Autopilot by July, and failure to do so could result in a massive $135 million fine. However, not only that, the recent decision of an administrative judge has now allowed the agencies looking to pursue a case against Tesla about false advertisement of its Full-Self Driving (FSD). This centers on another massive case against Tesla's self-driving technology, with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) interested in pushing this case. Several crashes involving Tesla electric vehicles have centered on different accidents, including swerving, hitting trees, and crashes that led to the EV bursting into flames, but none yet have led to the company being held liable. A new case against Tesla is fighting against its technology, including its alleged misleading claims regarding its safety, which the company is looking to defend. In the world of online gaming and streaming, a person's reputation can be made or broken not just by their gameplay skills but also by their behavior behind the scenes. Dr Disrespect, a popular figure known for his dynamic personality in the gaming community, has recently faced a significant controversy that has impacted his career. After news surfaced about his ban from Twitch, his transition from streaming stardom to being suspended on YouTube highlights the challenges and outcomes of being a digital celebrity in today's social media-driven era. Fallout Over Twitch Ban, YouTube Suspension YouTube has suspended Dr Disrespect's channel from making money after recent revelations about his 2020 ban from Twitch. The streamer, known as Dr Disrespect but whose real name is Guy Beahm, confirmed that his Twitch ban was due to sending inappropriate messages to a minor. In a statement to The Verge, YouTube spokesperson Nicole Bell announced that the platform has demonetized Dr Disrespect's channel for violating their Creator Responsibility policy. Additionally, Beahm has been removed from YouTube's partner program due to the serious nature of the allegations. The allegations detail that Beahm was banned from Twitch in 2020 for inappropriate communications with a minor using Twitch's Whispers app. The reason for his ban was not disclosed at the time, leaving fans in the dark for four years. However, last week, former Twitch employee Cody Conners revealed on social media that Beahm was banned for attempting to meet up with the minor at TwitchCon, shedding light on the long-standing mystery. This was confirmed by a second former Twitch employee who was part of the trust and safety team during the incident. Previous reports also cited two additional Twitch employees who supported the allegations. Dr Disrespect's Response Following Conners' tweet, Beahm denied the accusations on social media, stating that the matter was resolved without any admission of wrongdoing and that Twitch had honored his contract financially. In a recent statement on X, Beahm admitted to exchanging Twitch Whisper messages with a minor in 2017, acknowledging that some of these messages were sometimes leaning too much in the direction of being inappropriate. Beahm announced his plans to take an extended vacation but assured his followers of his eventual return to streaming. After his Twitch ban, Beahm launched a YouTube channel in August 2020 with over 4 million subscribers. Despite his denial, brands such as Turtle Beach and Midnight Society, a game studio co-founded by Beahm, have started to distance themselves from him. In response, Beahm returned to social media to defend his reputation. Ryan Wyatt, former head of YouTube's gaming partnerships, revealed that YouTube chose not to offer Beahm a partnership deal due to the rumors surrounding his Twitch departure. This decision meant Beahm missed out on special YouTube resources and monetization features, unlike other creators such as Valkyrae and DrLupo. Wyatt stated there was no reason to consider a deal with Beahm because of these rumors. In today's digital world, the intersection of creativity, ownership, and technology is central to a major legal dispute. The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) has filed a lawsuit against tech giants OpenAI and Microsoft. This case raises important questions about intellectual property rights in an era where AI is rapidly evolves alongside traditional copyright laws. CIR's Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Microsoft The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), which operates Mother Jones and Reveal, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for alleged copyright infringement. Following similar suits by other media entities, this legal action accuses the tech giants of using CIR's stories without permission or compensation to enhance their products. Monika Bauerlein, CEO of the Center for Investigative Reporting, emphasized that while other organizations typically license their content, OpenAI and Microsoft allegedly used CIR's work without authorization, describing this as unfair and a clear violation of copyright law. In the lawsuit, CIR's legal team claims that OpenAI and Microsoft replicated its content, damaging relationships with readers and partners and causing financial losses. CIR is among several entities taking legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft. Artificial intelligence products gain greater value by incorporating diverse viewpoints and harnessing human creativity across a wide spectrum. The Center for Investigative Reporting consistently centers its journalism on exposing abuses of power and advocating for social justice, distinguishing its content as uniquely valuable. The legal action centers on OpenAI's breaches of the Copyright Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Mother Jones magazine, established in 1976, holds copyright over each issue's content. Meanwhile, CIR has been publishing online since 1993, with its radio program, Reveal, debuting in 2013. Legal Battles, Financial Investments The New York Times has already invested $1 million in its legal battle against the tech giants. Other plaintiffs include a consortium of eight publications owned by hedge fund Alden Global Capital, such as the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, The Intercept, Raw Story, AlterNet, and The Denver Post. Groups of writers have also taken legal action against OpenAI, with a lawsuit involving comedian Sarah Silverman being partly dismissed. Several media companies have entered into agreements with OpenAI, including The Associated Press, Axel Springer, the Financial Times, Dotdash Meredith, News Corp, Vox Media (parent company of The Verge), The Atlantic, and Time. Read Also : Elon Musk Withdraws Lawsuit Against OpenAI Over Contract Breach Allegations An OpenAI spokesperson mentioned collaborating with the news industry and partnering with global news publishers to feature their content in products like ChatGPT. This involves presenting summaries, quotes, and attributions to direct traffic back to the original articles. The recently filed lawsuit is significant in the ongoing discussion about digital content and intellectual property rights. It underscores the importance of protecting journalistic integrity and creative works from unauthorized use in the age of artificial intelligence. The outcome of this legal action might influence how media and technology companies interact in the future, establishing standards for respecting and valuing intellectual property in an increasingly AI-driven landscape. Many individuals arrested and charged based on facial recognition scan results often feel compelled to plead guilty, especially if they have a criminal record. This situation can lead to longer sentences and increased scrutiny from law enforcement and prosecutors, contrasting with the case of Robert Williams in Detroit City. Detroit's recent $300,000 settlement with Williams raises broader concerns about how facial technology is used to solve crimes. It underscores increasing worries about privacy rights and the importance of establishing protections as technology advances. Robert Williams Sued the Detroit Police Department After being Mistakenly Identified as Theft Suspect Detroit has agreed to pay $300,000 to Robert Williams, who was wrongly accused of theft due to flawed facial recognition technology. Williams sued the Detroit Police Department after he was wrongfully arrested in front of his family and jailed for 30 hours in 2020, The case was dismissed on Friday when the settlement between Williams and the city was filed in federal court. As part of the lawsuit settlement, the Detroit Police Department will also have to change its policies on how police will utilize this technology to prevent future misidentifications. The Associated Press reported that Williams, whose driver's license photo was wrongly flagged as a match to a suspect in a 2018 shoplifting case at a Shinola store, expressed relief at the settlement. In a press briefing on Friday, Williams expressed optimism that the new safeguards would improve the facial recognition technology and photo lineup policies. However, he preferred that the police would not use the technology. The settlement, announced by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative at the University of Michigan Law School, highlighted persistent concerns regarding the technology's imperfections and its disproportionate impact on Black individuals, such as Williams. According to the ACLU, Detroit police have agreed to new restrictions barring arrests solely based on facial recognition outcomes. The policy also prohibits arrests based on photo lineups derived from facial recognition searches. ACLU attorney Phil Mayor said police could use facial technology to generate leads and then conduct traditional investigative procedures to determine whether the identified person committed a crime before making an arrest. Policy Reforms of the Detroit Police Department In August, Chief of the Detroit Police Department James White introduced new policies on facial technology amid ongoing litigation, prompted by an incident where a pregnant woman was mistakenly charged with carjacking. At the time, White emphasized that police must have additional evidence beyond facial recognition technology to establish a suspect's capability, opportunity, and intent to commit a crime. Under the terms of the agreement with Williams, Detroit police will review cases involving facial recognition use from 2017 to 2023. They will notify prosecutors if investigations reveal that arrests were made without corroborating evidence. As Detroit grapples with the aftermath of settling with Robert Williams, the effects extend beyond the city's borders. This agreement signals a move towards accountability and changes in how facial recognition technology is used, highlighting the need to balance innovation with civil rights. Using this technology responsibly to pursue justice is crucial to prevent harm to individuals like Williams and promote fairness in communities. This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows the construction site of the Grand Ring, the symbol for Expo 2025 Osaka, on the Yumeshima artificial island in Japan. The stakes are high for Expo 2025 Osaka in less than a year away, as preparations are picking up the pace amid concerns over pavilion construction setbacks, low public interest and uncertain economic outcome. The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka City, western Japan, is scheduled to run for six months from April 13 through Oct. 13, 2025, under the theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." Though Japan aims to use the international platform to showcase its technological and cultural prowess, multiple practical challenges have posed extreme uncertainties to the result. (Xinhua/Zhong Ya) TOKYO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The stakes are high for Expo 2025 Osaka in less than a year away, as preparations are picking up the pace amid concerns over pavilion construction setbacks, low public interest and uncertain economic outcome. The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka City, western Japan, is scheduled to run for six months from April 13 through Oct. 13, 2025, under the theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." Though Japan aims to use the international platform to showcase its technological and cultural prowess, multiple practical challenges have posed extreme uncertainties to the result. PREPARATIONS GATHERING PACE A total of 161 countries and regions as well as nine international organizations have confirmed participation in the expo. With around ten months until the event begins, construction on the Yumeshima artificial island in Osaka's Konohana Ward is in high gear. The Grand Ring, the symbol for the venue, is currently more than 90 percent complete. Once constructed, the circular structure will become one of the largest wooden buildings worldwide with an outer circumference of around 2 km. Jun Takashina, deputy secretary-general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, told the press Thursday that construction of the pavilions sponsored by event organizers will be completed in July and that of the private section and thematic project pavilions will be around November. Tokyo-headquartered corporation Pasona Group will display a living heart model developed by Osaka University professor emeritus Yoshiki Sawa at the expo. By maintaining an optimal temperature, the heart with a diameter of around 2 cm and thickness of 0.1 mm could continue to beat for approximately two weeks. PAVILION HEADACHES During a press tour of the construction site of the Expo, Xinhua reporter saw much space remains empty. So far, 40 countries have found Japanese contractors to build their own pavilions, which are called Type A pavilions and are considered the highlight of the expo as they feature authentic and aesthetic exterior designs created by participating nations, a significant fall from the original number of 60 countries, while another about 10 nations have not yet found appropriate contractors. According to Japanese media, construction delays reflect structural problems such as labor shortages and overtime restrictions that will plague the world's fourth-largest economy for years to come. India and Iran among other nations have decided to quit Type A and go for Type X, simply-constructed pavilions sponsored by expo organizers, thus incurring an extra 7.6 billion yen in costs. The organizers are now building nine Type X pavilions, six of whose fate are still at stake, provoking criticism by the public as spending waste. Mexico, Estonia and Argentina, which were set to build their own pavilions, have decided to withdraw their participation in the expo. The Diplomat magazine said in a report that the delay in pavilion construction has thrown a spanner in Japan's ambition to show it can hold a world-class event and win influence. UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC PROSPECTS Although the organizer released its plan for the expo around four years ago, the world fair has generated little buzz in Japan. An Asahi Shimbun survey conducted among 2,859 readers showed 81 percent of respondents have no intention of visiting the expo; even among locals in Osaka, 62 percent remained uninterested. Lack of cutting-edge technology as well as vague themes and relevance in the modern era are among the reasons for dampening public enthusiasm. A Tokyo female surnamed Tanatsugu told Xinhua reporter, "I will not travel to Osaka to attend the expo. Till now I could find nothing that is attractive enough for me to do so. To watch the expo online will be similar and I can't say the organizer has publicized the event enough." Recalling her adventure at the 1970 Osaka Expo, she said, "It is a shame that nowadays you can't see something as amazing as deceased artist Okamoto Taro's 'The Tower of the Sun,' which represents the decline of Japan's national power." Osaka Expo aims to attract 28.2 million visitors, among whom 3.5 million are from overseas. Whereas according to the official website, around 2.8 million tickets have been sold online till now, far less than the target of 14 million. The expo organizer has decided to start selling paper tickets at convenience and tourism stores as of October at the same time in order to meet the target. Yet it means an extra 2.1 billion yen added to the budget. "With prices in Japan soaring and the yen sliding, most Japanese people might not afford to attend the expo," Hidetoshi Tashiro, chief economist at Japan's Sigma Capital Ltd., told Xinhua. In addition to the unclear ticket revenues, escalating costs have become a pressing concern for Japan as it hosts global events. The expo association has nearly doubled the construction cost to 235 billion yen, about the size of the economy of a small country like the Solomon Islands. The costs will be shared by Japan's national government, Osaka prefecture, the city and the business community. Residents of the city will bear the heaviest tax burden, at 19,000 yen per person, according to Osaka estimates. "Only a small portion like pavilion building companies could benefit from holding the expo. The majority of Japanese people are unable to share a piece of the cake," said Tanatsugu. Still, the fate of the pavilions, especially the signature Grand Ring, is yet to be decided. To be dismantled is reportedly a mainstream solution. According to Japanese media, only less than one-fourth of the wooden material could be reused. This might put extra pressure on the Expo's economic outcome. Mayuko Sano, a professor at Kyoto University, said it is wrong to expect Japan to capture the times, promote Japan or boost the economy; if the expo could inspire visitors to think about life or change their views on life, then the expo could be said to be a success. Nonetheless, Sano's opinion is harshly criticized by Japanese news site Diamond online, arguing that for taxpayers, the effect of the expo is judged by whether it will benefit all sectors of the economy in the long run. This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows the construction site of pavilions on the Yumeshima artificial island in Osaka, Japan. The stakes are high for Expo 2025 Osaka in less than a year away, as preparations are picking up the pace amid concerns over pavilion construction setbacks, low public interest and uncertain economic outcome. The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka City, western Japan, is scheduled to run for six months from April 13 through Oct. 13, 2025, under the theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." Though Japan aims to use the international platform to showcase its technological and cultural prowess, multiple practical challenges have posed extreme uncertainties to the result. (Xinhua/Zhong Ya) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows the construction site of the Grand Ring, the symbol for Expo 2025 Osaka, on the Yumeshima artificial island in Japan. The stakes are high for Expo 2025 Osaka in less than a year away, as preparations are picking up the pace amid concerns over pavilion construction setbacks, low public interest and uncertain economic outcome. The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka City, western Japan, is scheduled to run for six months from April 13 through Oct. 13, 2025, under the theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." Though Japan aims to use the international platform to showcase its technological and cultural prowess, multiple practical challenges have posed extreme uncertainties to the result. (Xinhua/Zhong Ya) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows the construction site of pavilions on the Yumeshima artificial island in Osaka, Japan. The stakes are high for Expo 2025 Osaka in less than a year away, as preparations are picking up the pace amid concerns over pavilion construction setbacks, low public interest and uncertain economic outcome. The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka City, western Japan, is scheduled to run for six months from April 13 through Oct. 13, 2025, under the theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." Though Japan aims to use the international platform to showcase its technological and cultural prowess, multiple practical challenges have posed extreme uncertainties to the result. (Xinhua/Zhong Ya) Togo tightens Covid controls after hajj deaths Lome, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Togo has become the second West African country to implement Covid screening tests and face masks for pilgrims returning from the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. Senegal became the first country in the region to implement voluntary tests, suspecting that a number of the some 1,300 deaths -- according to a Saudi tally -- are down to a respiratory syndrome ailment such as Covid-19. A Togolese government statement on Friday said hajj pilgrims would have to undergo compulsory Covid tests and "limit contacts, wear masks, wash regularly and avoid large gatherings" for 10 days after their return. Saudi Arabia's official SPA news agency reported 1,301 deaths at the annual pilgrimage, attended by some 1.8 million faithful from all over the world, where temperatures climbed as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit). More than 80 percent of pilgrims attending mainly outdoor rituals were "unauthorised" and walked long distances in direct sunlight, according to SPA. About 18 percent of Togo's eight million population is Muslim. This year, some 2,500 Togolese went to Saudi Arabia for the hajj. They left in June and are returning between June 29 and July 3 on special flights chartered by the government of this tiny coastal nation adjoining Ghana. Caribbean on alert as Beryl set to become major hurricane Washington, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Much of the southeast Caribbean went on alert Saturday as forecasters projected Tropical Storm Beryl would rapidly strengthen over the next 24-48 hours to become the year's first hurricane. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Beryl -- currently situated in the Atlantic Ocean about 785 miles (1260 kilometers) southeast of Barbados -- would become a "dangerous major hurricane" by the time it reached the Windward Islands late Sunday into Monday. Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada all had hurricane watches in place, the NHC said. A major hurricane is considered a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of at least 111 miles per hour. Such a powerful storm forming this early in the hurricane season -- which runs from early June to late November in the United States -- is extremely rare, experts said. "Only 5 major (Category 3+) hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic before the first week of July. Beryl would be the sixth and earliest this far east in the tropical Atlantic," hurricane expert Michael Lowry posted on X, formerly Twitter. The NHC said as of Saturday afternoon that Beryl had "maximum sustained winds... near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts" and that tropical storm force winds were extending outward up to 45 miles. "Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch areas Sunday night or Monday morning, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Sunday," it said, warning of rain and life-threatening storm surge. The Saffir-Simpson wind scale designates Category 1 hurricanes as having wind speeds at least 74 miles per hour, up to Category 5 storms with winds of 157 mph or higher. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in late May that it expects this year to be an "extraordinary" hurricane season with up to seven storms of Category 3 or higher. The agency cited warm Atlantic ocean temperatures and conditions related to the La Nina weather phenomenon in the Pacific for the expected increase in storms. In recent years, extreme weather events including hurricanes have become more frequent and more devastating as a result of climate change. Caribbean on alert for Hurricane Beryl, first of 2024 season Bridgetown, Barbados, June 29 (AFP) Jun 29, 2024 Much of the southeast Caribbean was on alert Saturday as Beryl strengthened into the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, with forecasters warning it will swiftly become a major storm. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Beryl -- currently churning in the Atlantic Ocean about 720 miles (1160 kilometers) east of Barbados -- would become a "dangerous major hurricane" by the time it reached the Windward Islands late Sunday into Monday. Barbados was under a hurricane warning, while St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada all had hurricane watches in place, the NHC said in its latest advisory. In the Barbadian capital Bridgetown, cars were seen lining up at gas stations, while super markets and groceries stores were crowded with shoppers buying food, water and supplies. A major hurricane is considered a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of at least 111 miles per hour. Such a powerful storm forming this early in the Atlantic hurricane season -- which runs from early June to late November -- is extremely rare, experts said. "Only 5 major (Category 3+) hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic before the first week of July. Beryl would be the sixth and earliest this far east in the tropical Atlantic," hurricane expert Michael Lowry posted on X, formerly Twitter. The NHC said as of Saturday afternoon that Beryl's maximum sustained winds had increased to near 75 miles per hour (120 km/h) with higher gusts. "Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area beginning Sunday night," it said, warning of heavy rain, flooding, and "life-threatening winds and storm surge." "Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater," the NHS said. The Saffir-Simpson wind scale designates Category 1 hurricanes as having wind speeds at least 74 miles per hour, up to Category 5 storms with winds of 157 mph or higher. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in late May that it expects this year to be an "extraordinary" hurricane season with up to seven storms of Category 3 or higher. The agency cited warm Atlantic ocean temperatures and conditions related to the La Nina weather phenomenon in the Pacific for the expected increase in storms. In recent years, extreme weather events including hurricanes have become more frequent and more devastating as a result of climate change. NEW DELHI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and several others injured Saturday in a massive explosion at a firecracker factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials said. The blast took place in Banduvarpatti village near Sattur of Virudhunagar district, about 553 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. According to police, the victims were working in the factory at the time of the explosion. The blast also triggered a blaze in the factory. Following the incident, fire and rescue service personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the fire. Officials said the factory had 15 rooms, with at least three of them being completely gutted in the fire. Police have ordered an investigation into the explosion. ISLAMABAD, June 29 (Xinhua) -- At least one child was killed and 41 others sustained injuries after a school bus plunged into a ditch in Pakistan's northwest Swat district on Friday, said rescue officials. The spokesperson of Rescue 1122 Shafiqa Gul said in a statement that the bus was taking the children home from their school when it encountered an accident in the Asala area in the Khwazakhela region of the district. Locals, police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to nearby hospitals. Medics in the hospitals feared that the death toll might further rise as six of the injured were in critical condition. District Police Officer Swat Zahidullah told local media that the accident occurred after the careless and unfit 70-year-old driver lost control on a narrow road. According to local reports, the bus driver had been involved in another bus accident previously, which killed four children and left 30 others injured in the district in 2021. The police officer added that an immediate inquiry had been launched into the incident and strict action would be taken against the school's management and the driver who jumped from the bus and ran away. JLL agents Nick Peden, Josh Rutman and MingXuan Li are handling the expressions of interest campaign. Its expected to fetch about $35 million. Highlander II The former Highlander nightclub is back on the market and waiting for a fresh 2020s reinvention. Up Flinders Lane and down another alley near the King Street nightclub strip, the historic three-storey warehouse neighbours the Highlander Mews townhouse complex which is part of a Flinders Street facing development site. 11a Highlander Lane Colliers agents Nick Garoni and Matt Stagg have picked up the listing for No.11a on the back of their campaign for the neighbouring site which has a permit for a 24-level tower. The now vacant nightclub comes with a coveted 3am liquor licence. It is expected to fetch around $5.5 million. Records show it last changed hands during the depths of the 1990s recession in 1996 for just $360,000. Porsche dealership In a first for the automotive retail industry, two Porsche dealership freeholds are on the market. Porsche Centre Brighton and Porsche Centre Doncaster covering petrol heads north and south of the Yarra have hit the market following purchase of the dealerships by US auto giant Penske in April. Their former owner, the Preston Motor Group, is now selling the freeholds, which come with fresh 12-year leases. Porsche Doncaster at 839 Doncaster Road. Porsche Centre Brighton has a plum spot on the Golden Mile at 855-859 Nepean Highway, on a 4049-square-metre parcel of land. Further down the road is Brightons Mazda and Audi dealerships. In the north, the Porsche Centre at 839 Doncaster Road is on a 1674-square-metre plot on the eastern side of shopping centre behemoth, Westfield Doncaster. JLLs Stuart Taylor, Tom Noonan, Jarrod Herscu, and MingXuan Li have the listing, with Mark Wizels Advise Transact are acting as transaction manager. Porsche Brighton at 855-859 Nepean Highway PM Group chairman James Bergmuller, who opened the Brighton business in 2009, said: We are not in the property investment business, we are in the automotive business, and since our interest in the dealerships has been divested, the property has become non-core. The two properties together are expected to change hands for about $50 million but are available individually. Sale yards sell Meanwhile, another automotive group is getting into the property business, paying $25 million for the Victorian Livestock Exchanges 6.8 hectare sale yard in Pakenham. Records show HFH Automotive Groups Jonathan Hardwick has slapped a caveat on the property at 39 Exchange Drive. The sale yard there was one of Victorias biggest sale yards, running more than 100,000 head of cattle through its pens every year. Loading It closed this month with all its gear transported to the Leongatha sale yard in south-east Gippsland. The deal means graziers will no longer have a sale yard close to the city to sell their cattle. The VLE, which is owned and operated by players in the cattle industry, had built and operated the Pakenham sale yard since 1999. It had replaced a facility in Dandenong which operated for 20 years after the closure of the Kensington sale yards. Now an inner-city suburb, it was one of the smellier inner-city industrial sites of the mid-20th century. Other sale yards in Victoria are located in Ballarat, Hamilton, Swan Hill and Wodonga. The deal was negotiated by Colliers agents Daniel Telling and Gordon Code, with Facey Property. Loading Its understood, HFH Automotive, which has several dealerships in nearby Berwick, will occupy part of the site and redevelop the remainder in the future. Telling and Code have also sold a rare main road property in Dandenong South for $16.95 million on a tight yield of 4.54 per cent. The property covers only 16 per cent of the 20,690-square-metre parcel of land 65-75 Princes Highway. Suburban office Listed property fund Centuria is bowing out of its Mulgrave office investments five years after paying $27.8 million for 13-15 Compark Circuit. The two office buildings make up almost 10 per cent of Centurias unlisted $215 million Diversified Property Fund and have a book value of $21 million. The acquisition was the Centuria funds first foray into the Melbourne market back in 2019 when suburban offices in the Monash Innovation Cluster seemed like a safe bet. 13-15 Compark Circuit in Mulgrave. Centuria Head of Funds Management Jesse Curtis said the fund is rebalancing its portfolio to provide a greater exposure to industrial and social infrastructure sectors. Fashion statement or prescription for lazy dressing? Whatever your view, there are few winter garments that divide opinion and attract as many memes as the humble puffer jacket. The jacket, which has been around for roughly a century, has become its own cultural touchpoint, whether its Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry in coordinating ones, Rihanna at the 2023 Super Bowl or the Pope wearing a cream puffer, courtesy of AI and Balenciaga. But whether you prefer standard black, or the wild colours and patterns of brands such as Gorman and Unreal Fur, one thing is clear: when it comes to the sustainability credentials of the humble puffer, there are shades of grey. Theyre quite complex garments, says Professor Alice Payne, dean of RMIT Universitys School of Fashion and Textiles. Payne, whose research has a sustainability focus, says the shell of puffer jackets is often made from one (synthetic) fabric, while the filling is made of another material, which can include animal feathers (such as duck or goose down), recycled plastic bottles, or fossil fuel-derived nylons. Both parts can pose environmental problems in their manufacturing, and challenges for recycling the garment. Choosing well is made more confusing for consumers by the fact that price alone doesnt indicate whether a garment is sustainable. Still, at the cheaper end of the market, its highly likely a compromise has been made on anything from material sourcing to the labour conditions of the workers who made the jacket. Payne says consumers must decide which values are most important to them in a jacket, then buy accordingly. A man has been charged with murder following a fatal drive-by shooting in Melbournes south-east in April. A 30-year-old Cranbourne man was found with a gunshot wound in a car on Bride Avenue, Hampton Park on April 27. The man died at the scene. The scene of the drive-by shooting in Hampton Park where a 30-year-old man was killed. Credit: Nine News On Friday, a 21-year-old Cranbourne North man was charged with murder over the incident. He has also been charged with conduct endangering life, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit a kidnapping in relation to separate incidents. 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 critical $10 million upgrade to Victorias oldest school for deaf children has been stalled for four years amid a financial stoush between the state government and the charity that controls the historic St Kilda Road site. The Victorian College for the Deaf says its 53 students are being denied educational opportunities available to other children and are forced to learn on a site that is dilapidated in some parts and unsafe in others. Victorian College for the Deaf school council president Gabrielle Quinlan with her daughter Zoe (left) and student Sophie. Credit: Eddie Jim Deaf Children Australia wants the state government to pay market rent for the 164-year-old schools occupation of the site which would replace the $1-a-year peppercorn deal thats been in place since the 1920s before the charity will agree to a new lease for the school. Neither party would confirm the sums being discussed, but it is understood that the charity is prepared to accept an annual rental value determined by the states Valuer-Generals office. President Joe Bidens debate performance is raising new questions about whether Democrats have any other options in November if the 81-year-old president is no longer willing or able to campaign. With Biden having already secured a presumptive nomination, Democrats prospects for a course change are diminishing. Joe Biden: Should he step aside? Credit: nna\NPearson Speaking hoarsely and suffering from what aides said was a cold, Biden spoke in a halting and sometimes disjointed manner, a performance that is only renewing questions about his ability to serve four more years. Biden told reporters afterwards he would stay in the race. He did get stronger as the debate went on but by that time, I think the panic had set in, David Axelrod, a former campaign strategist to 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. Doves are released to the sky at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) "The Five Principles are China's commitment to developing peacefully and to coexisting with other countries, which are often very different from China. And I think this is a key question in today's world," French entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand said. BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The world is at a critical crossroads where solidarity and unity under the values embodied in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are essential to tackling global challenges and building a future of multilateralism that benefits everyone, French entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand has said. "The Five Principles are China's commitment to developing peacefully and to coexisting with other countries, which are often very different from China. And I think this is a key question in today's world," he said. "The Principles are actually closely linked to the UN Charter. For instance, one of the key principles is mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs. That's also part of the UN charter, (which prohibits interference by states in the internal affairs of others,)" he said. "Its being part of the UN Charter shows that, in fact, a lot of countries share the values in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," he added. The global order stands at a crossroads, where humanity has to choose between a world respecting the UN Charter and international law or a unipolar world dominated by one country that sets the rules, he said. "I very much hope that the world will evolve in the first direction where all countries are considered equal, mutually respect each other, do not interfere with each other, and are committed to a peaceful resolution of conflicts," he added. Bertrand highlighted the cultural exchanges and mutual learning in history between China and France, the first major Western country to establish formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. "If you look, for instance, back to the Enlightenment with thinkers like Voltaire, we have this mentality of trying to understand China and being inspired by China. And vice versa," he said. Bertrand, who lived in China for seven years and once studied acupuncture at a traditional Chinese medicine school, is now working on an entrepreneurial project with his wife to develop a range of products inspired by traditional Chinese herbalism. "In order to learn it (acupuncture), you have to do all the points on yourself. So I literally tried all the acupuncture points on myself. Every single one of them," he said with a big smile, pointing at the back of his hand. Bertrand believes his project will contribute to bridging Chinese and European cultures. "At the heart of our business, it is about explaining a key part of Chinese culture to the West," he said. "When you try to understand Chinese medicine, you also understand the very root of Chinese culture." "By helping people grow interested in traditional Chinese medicine, we also help them understand a bit more about how China perceives the way the human body works, and also in general, key concepts in Chinese culture like harmony, which is to find the right equilibrium between yin and yang," he added. He speaks enthusiastically of China's visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from a dozen countries, including France, to enter and stay in China for up to 15 days for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit. "I think it's a very, very good policy because at the end of the day, in order to understand China, the single best way is to come here and see the country with your own eyes. And it's also a show of confidence by China to tell the world: Come and see the country for yourself, we have nothing to hide, and we are proud of our country," he said. WUHAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Shennongjia Forestry District in central China's Hubei Province has reported population growth of golden monkeys thanks to efforts in habitat protection. The area is now home to 1,618 golden monkeys, 147 more than the previous survey five years ago, according to the results of the fourth survey conducted by the district administration. As the easternmost habitat of golden monkeys, Shennongjia saw only 501 golden monkeys with a habitat of 164 square km in 1990. The figures improved over the years, with 1,282 monkeys living an area of 189 square km in 2005, and 1,471 residing in an area of 354 square km in 2019. More than 40 people contributed to the latest survey, carrying out field investigations and laboratory analysis for over two months. During this process, they explored 240 survey routes, covering a total distance of 58,800 km. Feng Wei, secretary of the Party committee of Shennongjia Forestry District, said the survey suggested 1,618 golden monkeys belonging to 11 groups now live in a habitat of 401 square km in the district. 1st batch of Amarnath Yatra with 4,603 pilgrims arrives in Kashmir SRINAGAR/JAMMU, THE FIRST batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra reached the Kashmir Valley on Friday amid stringent security arrangements, officials said. After their arrival in Srinagar, senior officials in police and civil administration, and local people welcomed the 4,603 pilgrims at the Navyug tunnel in Qazigund area of south Kashmirs Kulgam district, they added. 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. 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 early Friday morning. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha wished the pilgrims a safe journey. May the blessings of Baba Amarnath ji bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyones life, he said. They reached Srinagar in a cavalcade of 231 light and heavy vehicles, the officials said. Kulgam Deputy Commissioner (DC) Athar Aamir Khan told reporters that upon their arrival, the pilgrims who would travel via both the axis, Baltal as well as Pahalgam, were welcomed by the administration, 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 said. Biden, Trump trade charges during 1st presidential debate ATLANTA, PRESIDENT Joe Biden and his Republican rival Donald Trump sparred over the economy, border, foreign policy, abortion and national security during the first of presidential debates as they called each other a liar and the worst president in the history of the US. During their roughly 90-minute debate defined by personal attacks on Thursday night, 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 dont want to go in there, because theyre a bunch of losers and suckers. My son was not a loser. Hes not a sucker. Youre the sucker. Youre 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, 81-year-old Biden reminded that 78-year-old Trump is just three years younger than him. 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 hes done, hes done horrible things. This man is a criminal. This man, youre lucky, youre 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. He has no idea what the hell hes talking about. Ive never heard so much foolishness. This is the guy who wants to get out of NATO. Youre going to stay in NATO? Hes going to pull out of NATO, Biden said. Biden alleged that Trump has the morals of an alley cat. CAT upholds promotion of IFS Officer V S Rao citing merit Staff Reporter RAIPUR, The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has dismissed the appeal of Sudhir Kumar Agrawal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) challenging the promotion of a junior officer, V.Srinivasa Rao, to the position of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) in the Apex Scale. The order was delivered by the judicial member Justice Akhil Kumar Srivastava and administrative member Kumar Rajesh Chandra. Agrawal, represented by Advocate Akshat Agrawal, filed an application against the order dated September 4, 2023, which promoted Rao, an officer from the 1990 IFS batch, despite Agrawals seniority and consistent Outstanding performance ratings. Agrawal, a 1988 IFS batch officer, argued that Raos promotion was discriminatory and violated the principle of No Supersession in Selection/ Promotion as outlined in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) memorandum dated February 8, 2002. Agrawal contended that his outstanding service record and seniority made him the rightful candidate for the post. He pointed out that Rao, being junior and holding the position of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Level 16) only since January 1, 2022, was ineligible for the promotion to the Level 17 Apex Scale before July 15, 2024. Agrawal alleged that the selection process was influenced by political interference and arbitrary decisionmaking. The respondents, represented by Senior Advocate Naman Nagrath and Pawan Kawre, argued that the selection process adhered strictly to the guidelines and rules. They emphasized that the Special Selection Committee (SSC), constituted according to MoEFCC guidelines dated April 16, 2009, selected Rao based on merit, not seniority. The SSC included the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, the Principal Secretary (Forests), and a nominated PCCF, and it evaluated the candidates Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) for the past five years. According to the respondents, Raos average ACR grading was 49.62 out of 50, compared to Agrawals 48 out of 50, justifying Raos selection as the most meritorious candidate. They also clarified that the selection process for the HoFF (Apex Scale) position is not bound by the DoPTs seniority guidelines but by merit-based evaluation as per the Indian Forest Service (Pay) Rules, 2016. The Tribunal, after reviewing the submissions and evidence, upheld the respondents arguments. It concluded that Raos promotion was based on merit, as evidenced by his superior ACR ratings over the last five years. The Tribunal dismissed Agrawals claim of arbitrary and discriminatory actions, stating that the SSCs decision did not involve any procedural lapses or irregularities. The Tribunal also addressed Agrawals challenge to the SSCs composition, noting that the serving PCCFs voluntary retirement necessitated an alternative member, which did not invalidate the committees proceedings. The Tribunal highlighted that Agrawal did not question the committees validity until after Raos promotion, indicating a reactionary challenge rather than a substantive procedural objection. In its final ruling, the CAT dismissed Agrawals application for lack of merit, affirming that the selection of Rao was conducted in accordance with established rules and based purely on merit. This ruling underscores the judiciarys role in upholding transparent and fair administrative processes while addressing grievances within the public service framework. Court convicts Adv for defaming IPS officer Prasanna By Dheeraj Fartode A court in Mumbai convicted an advocate in a defamation case filed by an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, currently serving as Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Establishment) in the Maharashtra State Police. The Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, 64th Court, Esplanade, Mumbai, presided over by Judge Hemanat Joshi, sentenced Advocate Naveen Ramakant Chomal to one month of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000. In default, he will serve an additional seven days of imprisonment. The complainant in the case is K M M Prasanna, IPS, who was the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) in Mumbai Police at the time of the incident. He filed a complaint under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code against Advocate Chomal and Advocate Jayesh Wani. The complainants case is that he served as Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Mumbai, between 2014 and 2016. On March 10, 2014, Satara police arrested Head Constable Dharmaraj Kalokhe in connection with the possession of approximately 112 kg of narcotic substance. Later, the Marine Drive Police Station transferred Kalokhe to Mumbai and secured a court warrant in relation to the seizure of 11.976 kg of narcotics. On March 25, 2015, Kalokhe was brought before the court and remanded to police custody. During this process, he was not represented by any advocate. However, while Kalokhe was being escorted from the courtroom by the Marine Drive Police, the accused obtained Kalokhes signature on a typed application and vakalatnama in the presence of police personnel, with court permission, and submitted it to the court. The application alleged threats to Kalokhes life and made defamatory statements against Additional CP Prasanna. Based on this application, Mumbai newspapers published and circulated news that defamed Additional CP Prasanna, referring to alleged interrogations of Kalokhe by Satara police regarding the complainants involvement in the crime in Satara which caused irreparable damage to his reputation. Complainant K M M Prasanna raised the matter with the Director General of Police, Maharashtra, who conducted inquiries with Satara police. Satara police confirmed that they had neither interrogated Kalokhe regarding the complainants alleged involvement in the crime nor had any occasion to question Kalokhe in relation to it. Subsequently, the present complaint was filed by the complainant under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code against Advocates Chomal and Wani. Meanwhile, Adv Wani tendered an unconditional apology to K M M Prasanna. In its judgment, the court noted that the allegations leveled against complainant K M M Prasanna were baseless and were included in the application with ulterior motives, likely to influence the investigation. Ultimately, the court convicted Advocate Chomal and sentenced him to one month of simple imprisonment. Advocate Amol Phoujdar represented the complainant. Delhi records highest rainfall in 88 yrs NEW DELHI, DELHI recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall on Friday, the highest since 1936 for the month of June, and the weatherman predicted more spells over the weekend in the national capital. The Safdarjung Observatory recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Friday, more than three times the June rainfall average of 74.1 mm and the highest for the month in at least 16 years. An India Meteorological Department (IMD) press release mentioned the causes of heavy rainfall in Delhi on Friday. The heavy rainfall activity over Delhi during the early hours of 28 June can be attributed to the following -- ?Considering the monsoon circulation, the advance of the monsoon was stalled over eastern India for quite a long time due to a weaker monsoon current over the Bay of Bengal. It revived becoming stronger gradually from 25 June onwards with the development of an upper air cyclonic circulation over central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal in middle tropospheric levels, the IMD said in the statement. At the same time the Southwest Monsoon current over the Arabian Sea also strengthened with increase in wind speed and strengthening of offshore west coast trough. An east-west Shear Zone lay across northern peninsular India at the middle troposphere, it added. The above situation continued on 26th June and 27th June leading to strong southeasterly winds blowing from Bay of Bengal towards Northwest India. The upper air cyclonic circulation which developed in the middle tropospheric levels extended from surface to middle tropospheric levels over Westcentral & adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal on 27th June, it said. NEW YORK, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and nine others injured as a minivan slammed into a nail salon on Long Island, U.S. state of New York, on Friday afternoon, local authorities said. Four people were found dead inside the nail salon upon firefighters' arrival, said Dominic Albanese, chief of Deer Park Fire Department in Suffolk County. Nine people, including the driver of the minivan, have been transported to hospitals, said Albanese. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was intentional, according to Albanese. Named Hawaii Nail & Spa, the nail salon is one of several stores in a shopping area in Deer Park. From Telecom Sector to tomato farming By Sanghamitra Ghosh DHAMTARI, Samarika Chandrakar from Dhamtari district has transformed her familys traditional paddy farming into a flourishing tomato business. Her story is now inspiring the youth across Chhattisgarh and the entire country. Samarika, a resident of Charmudiya village in Kurud block, holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from Raipur and an MBA from Pune. After her studies, she joined the telecom sector in Pune. However, during the pandemic, she moved back to Raipur and began working with international NGOs to support her family. In 2020, she decided to apply her skills and knowledge to her family's farming business, focusing on vegetable production, particularly tomato farming. For generations, her family primarily cultivated paddy, with occasional vegetable farming for personal use. Over the past three years, with Samarika's innovative approach, they expanded their tomato and brinjal farming over 20 acres, generating an annual revenue of more than 1 crore. This venture has also provided significant employment opportunities for locals, thereby contributing to the community's economic growth. The Chandrakar family cultivates the Sugenta Sahu breed of tomatoes, known for its resilience, high productivity, and suitability for various growing conditions. This breeds improved resistance to common diseases and pests makes it an efficient option for increasing tomato production. Additionally, these tomatoes have a longer shelf life, which is beneficial for transportation and storage, reducing post-harvest losses. The family employs drip irrigation, a method that conserves water by delivering it directly to plant roots through pipes. This technique allows precise control of water delivery, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency. The key benefits of drip irrigation include improved water use efficiency, reduced weed growth, and better plant health due to consistent moisture levels. Besides tomatoes, the family grows vegetables such as brinjal, cauliflower, bitter gourd, gourd, and chillies, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce to the market. By using minimal pesticides and compost as fertilizer, they produce healthier fruits and vegetables. Samarika emphasizes that their farming model provides over 100 employment opportunities to local residents. Her success story inspires the youth to venture into agriculture with minimal capital investment for substantial profits. Her journey from a job in an MNC to leading her family's farming business stands as a testament to the potential of agriculture as a profitable and fulfilling career. By returning to her roots, Samarika is not only supporting her family but also fostering a sense of patriotism and community among the youth. Samarika Chandrakar's achievements have earned her recognition across the nation, positioning her as a role model for aspiring agripreneurs. HC clears path for export of 79,250 metric tonne of non-Basmati rice By Dheeraj Fartode The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has issued a stay order against a government notification that prohibited the export of Non-Basmati Rice under certain conditions. With this order, the petitioners would be allowed to export 79,250 metric tonne of rice. The courts decision came in response to petitions filed by companies belonging to the Greta Group, involved in the business of rice and related products. The petitioners challenged the notification issued by the Union of India on July 20, 2023, under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. The notification effectively amended the export policy and previously allowed free export of Non-Basmati Rice, to now prohibit its export under most circumstances. Key arguments presented before the court highlighted several critical points. Firstly, the petitioners contended that the sudden prohibition severely impacted their existing contracts with foreign buyers, which were based on the previous free export policy. These contracts, totaling 79,250 metric tonne of rice, were entered into prior to the notification and are crucial for the petitioners business commitments. The petitioners argued that the governments decision lacked due process and alleged a violation of natural justice as no prior notice or consultation with exporters was conducted. They also asserted that the retrospective application of the notification was unjust which potentially led to a major financial losses and legal disputes. The counsel of the petitioners stressed that the petitioners had a legitimate expectation, under Article 14 and Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India, to honour their contractual obligations as per the existing export policy. They pointed out that similar issues had been addressed favourably in previous cases related to export policy changes. The Division Bench of Justices Avinash Gharote and M S Jawalkar stated in the order, The restriction imposed vide clause 2 of the notification dated July 20, 2023, denying the benefit of para 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 regarding transitional arrangement to the petitioners, is clearly not justified, in absence of any reasons in that regard, forthcoming from the respondents, specifically in view of the fact, that it is not disputed that the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, is applicable to the petitioners. It further said, We therefore, hold and declare, that the impugned notification, dated July 20, 2023, insofar as it denies the benefit of the transitional arrangement as contained in para-1.05 of the FTP 2023, is bad-in-law and the benefit of this transitional arrangement would be available to the petitioners, in case the requirements, as indicated in clause (b) therein are complied by the petitioners. Sr Adv M G Bhangde, Adv i/b Shyam Dewani, Adv S Sarda, Adv A Bangde represented petitioners. DGGI N S Deshpande, Adv S N Bhattad represented State. NEW DELHI, A CAB driver died and six people were injured after a portion of a canopy at Delhi airports Terminal-1 collapsed on cars amid heavy rain early on Friday, leading to suspension of flight departures, according to officials. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu visited Terminal-1 (T1) to take stock of the situation. He said he was monitoring the situation and the injured had been hospitalised. Investigation has begun. We will also bring experts from the department to investigate this. Action will be taken based on the report that will come, Naidu said. 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. 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, they 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. Work was underway to clear the debris. 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. 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. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu visited the airport terminal and took stock of the situation. 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, he said in a post on X. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing, he added. The Civil Aviation Ministry said flight operations at T1 have been suspended till further notice. Humidity, rainy weather driving patients to hospital Staff Reporter With extreme weather conditions, people are lining up at hospitals and private clinics complaining of wheezing, month-long coughing, headache and fatigue. Doctors estimated the increase in daily influx of such patients at around 40 per cent. Many patients are complaining that their normal cough and cold is taking a month to cure. According to doctors, on an average, out of five, every two people are suffering from cough and cold that is not easily curable. Dr Sumit Bansal from a private clinic in New Market said, during day hours people are soaking in sweat with extreme humid weather and then they sit in front of AC or cooler. During evening and night hours, temperature is declining with rainfall and this is making people ill. Medicine and OPD of government hospitals are flooded with patients suffering from seasonal disease. Doctors said, especially in case of cough, a new trend has been noticed. They said that earlier cough was being easily cured within a week but the latest coughing variant is taking two to three weeks to get cured. Dr Anil Dubey, from private hospital of city said, during rain people should avoid using air conditioner or water coolers as it is giving us internal infection. He said that with weather fluctuation, there is an increase in number of patients coming with complications like cough, cold and fever. Especially in Government hospitals, 70 per cent patients are visiting from the slum areas. According to civil surgeon Dr Rakesh Srivastav, 842 patients contacted with the doctors in JP Hospital on Friday. Most of them were suffering from cold, cough, fever and breathing issues. If we talk about general days, around 700 to 800 patients visit the OPD every day. For past four days, day temperature in Bhopal is hovering around 37 degrees Celsius and humidity is rising with excessive rainfall in night hours. The combination of cold and humidity is making the people ill. Gandhi Medical College (GMC) saw recorded break number of patients since morning hours. On Friday, around 1,200 patients visited the OPD and 130 visited the doctor with Abha Id. The hospital administration said that for past one week around 1,800 to 2000 patients are visiting every day and out of this 70 percent patients are coming from the slum areas. Dr Rakesh said, during rain diarrhoea and vomiting is very common but month long coughing is the latest trend. Katangi Bandh against mass killing of animals Staff Reporter residents led by Bajrang Dal activists staged Katangi Bandh and road blockade against brutal killing of mammals and finding dozens of skeletons. The demonstrators refuted the administrative report which confirmed killing of only five bovines and rest of the skeletons of other animals. It may be noted that total 57 skeletons of animals were found on Tulla Baba Ki Pahadi in Katangi area, on June 26. The repeated incident of mass killing of animals led to commotion amongst residents while a large numbers of activists of Bajrang Dal gathered at the spot and raised the demand of taking stern action against those involved in such inhuman act. Taking prompt action into the case, team of veterinarians was called on the spot for further scientific investigation. The investigation report revealed that there were only five skeletons of bovines amongst 57 skeletons. Senior leaders of Bajrang Dal refuted the report and called Katangi Bandh, on June 28, for more investigation into the case, apprehending the accused and taking stern action against them to avoid further repetition of such kind of incidents. On the call of Bajrang Dal, a large numbers of residents were gathered on Katangi Square and staged road blockade. In order to maintain law and order arrangements during the demonstration, Additional SP (Rural), Suryakant Sharma along with Additional Police Force reached the spot and tried to maintain law and order situation in the area. Collector Deepak Kumar Saxena reached the spot of demonstration and assured the demonstrators to apprehend those involved in killing of animals and taking appropriate action against them. Modi is matchless: Sudhanshu Trivedi NEW DELHI, PRIME Minister Narendra Modi is matchless and cannot be compared with Jawahar Lal Nehru as he has been elected unanimously to lead his party, unlike the Congress leader who got zero votes despite Mahatma Gandhis push, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Initiating a discussion on a motion thanking President Droupadi Murmu for her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Trivedi sought to counter opposition assertions that Modi cannot equal the feat of Nehru, saying Modi is atulniya (matchless) and there a vast difference in his approach to dealing with issues facing the nation and the one adopted by the first Prime Minister. The Opposition keeps asserting that Nehru cannot be compared with Modi. I also believe that there can be no comparison, he said. Modi ji Nehru ji kay tulna me ek atulniya PM hain aur unhone yeah atulniya uplabdhi haasil ki hai (Modi is matchless and cannot be compared to Nehru. Modi has also had matchless achievements), he said. Nehru, he said, came from an affluent background while Modi came from a very humble family. Woh jawaharat ke lal the, aur Modi ji gudri ke lal the, he said. Trivedi said while Nehru jailed people for criticism, the Modi Government has not taken any action against his critics. He further said Nehru awarded Bharat Ranta to himself, while Modi has conferred the highest civilian award to people across party lines, including three leaders associated with the Congress party. On the Congress claim of working to save Constitution of India, Trivedi said the Constitution was always came under threat when the grand old party was in power. He said the Congress Government changed the Preamble of the Constitution and misused provisions of the Constitution to dismiss elected state Governments of ruled by the opposition parties. Referring to the Shah Bano case, when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister, Trivedi said the Congress party placed Sharia above the Constitution. Two of their (opposition) leaders were arrested, and they think democracy is in danger, Trivedi said, and listed out names of several leaders who were arrested by the Congress Governments. Naxal activitiessteadily decreasing in Chhattisgarh: CM Sai Staff Reporter Raipur, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that Naxal activities are steadily decreasing in Chhattisgarh while speaking at the Unified Command meeting at Circuit House Raipur. The CM credited this decline to the successful joint operations conducted by the Central Security Forces and Chhattisgarh Police and their effective coordination. Besides the ongoing anti-Maoist operations, the Governments new Niyad Nellnar Yojana is accelerating development projects, boosting public confidence in the Government and administration. Chief Minister Sai prioritised development in Naxal-affected areas, instructing that roads, bridges, and other Government construction projects be completed with high quality and on schedule to ensure smooth transportation. He also stressed the importance of providing necessary security to expedite these projects. In the meeting directives to strengthen the police information system in Maoist-affected regions and to involve local villagers in anti-Maoist campaigns was also stressed. Discussions covered the issues faced by central and state security forces stationed in these areas, with orders to provide essential facilities and resources to soldiers in security camps. Chief Minister Sai also highlighted the need for better coordination with neighboring statesMaharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. This includes joint operations in border areas, continuous monitoring by security forces, and sharing information with these states. The Chief Minister instructed that efforts against Maoists should not cause inconvenience to local villagers. Present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma, Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Director General of Police Ashok Juneja, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Manoj Pingua, senior officers from the Union Home Ministry and State Government, Central Security Forces, State Police, and various development agencies. NON-SENSE ! THE assertion of the Samajwadi Party (SP) that Sengol, so honourably positioned in Parliament, is a symbol of monarchism that prevailed in the country once upon a time, is utter nonsense. The demand that Sengol be removed from Parliament, therefore, also is brazen and intended to create uncalled for disturbance in the proceeding of the two Houses. For, when Sengol was installed in its position of honour some time back when the new building of Parliament was inaugurated, there were no protests against it. Obviously, therefore, the demand now is purely political and intended to create disturbance and controversy and to keep the national discourse trapped in non-issues. We condemn all such attempts ! For, making the accusation that Sengol is a symbolism of monarchism of the past and thus against democracy, is nothing but an attempt to connect two unrelated things or thoughts or issues. Sengol may have been the name of the royal sceptre used by some monarchic dynasties of some southern states in the past. But every historical reference to Sengol is to it being a symbolism of good governance -- which countless numbers of monarchs habitually offered. Monarchy might have had its own faults and foibles. But that did not make monarchy as a villainous system. By that token, even democracy has its own defects, but we have accepted those as an unavoidable fait accompli. Thus, treating Sengol as an undesirable symbolism of an evil system is nothing but irrational. By this standard, it is equally irrational and cantankerous to expect Sengol to be removed from Parliament. This kind of partisan argument serves no purpose for anybody -- even for its promoters. At best -- or at worst -- it serves a terribly negative purpose of trapping the national discourse in wrong places and not allowing a free-flow of criss-cross ideas -- for which democracy is known to act as a sanctuary. Again, by the same token of the Samajwadi Partys demand, the slogans such as Satyameva Jayate or Yato Dharmastato Jayah (put up in different places in Parliament or other governmental institutions) should also be banished posthaste. For, those slogans, too, point to a cultural legacy that many political parties often tend to discard and reject -- and even hate. The same logic would then be applicable to the symbolism of the Trimurti to lion-heads that has been accepted by the nation as the official logo of the State. For, the Trimurti, too, points to a historical connect with old-time dynastic rules -- of some (benevolent) kings and queens. Then, possibly, the same idea could be harboured about Ashok Chakra as well. It is pointless, therefore, to fall prey to political obstinacy of a handful people and allow our institutions to be sullied unnecessarily. Sengol is a positive addition to the parliamentary ecosystem and stands as a symbolism of a good connect with the past. But when a political party from North India wishes to resist the installation of Sengol only to please parts of its vote-bank, then that conspiracy needs to be defeated with an iron hand (since it points to a possible north-south cleavage). There is every reason to believe that the Samajwadi Party may not get much support from other constituents of the I.N.D.I. Alliance on this issue. If political expediency plays its role, there may be a little storm in the tea cup, all right. But in the overall political discourse, this issue may not hold much water. It must, however, be stated that Indias domestic politics often gets stuck in non-issues of this kind and gets trapped in purposeless debate that actually serve no end for anybody. Shukla fired shots at Vinay Poonekar after a casual meet Staff Reporter After drinking water offered by Vinay, also known as Bablu Poonekar, shooter Hemant Shukla fired two shots at him, killing him on the spot. The first shot was fired at of Poonekars neck, followed by another one to the head. This information surfaced during the custodial interrogation of Shukla by the Sadar Police. The city police brought the arrested shooter Hemant Shukla from Ludhiana, Punjab, to Nagpur for questioning regarding the murder of Poonekar. He was produced in court and remanded to police custody until July 2. A senior police official stated that Shukla was evasive during the initial interrogation but confessed after intense questioning by the police. According to Shukla, he went to Poonekars house after calling him. Upon entering, Shukla shook hands with him and they briefly discussed the triangle involving Sakshi Grover, Hemant Shukla, and Poonekar. During the discussion, Poonekar denied any friendship with Sakshi, the police said. However, Shukla became enraged and a physical altercation broke out between them. During the scuffle, Shukla pushed Poonekar onto the bed and fired the first shot at Poonekars neck and the second shot to the head from the front. Afterward, he left the house and fled the scene on Sakshis two-wheeler. Shukla visits Ayodhya twice, travelled without ticket in trains MUMBAI, A MONTHLY allowance of Rs 1,500 to women in the 21 to 60 age group, three free LPG cylinders a year for households, farmer-friendly steps and a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month to youths for skill training were highlights of the Maharashtra Governments Budget for 2024-25 presented in the Assembly on Friday, four months ahead of the State polls. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance portfolio, presented a Rs 20,051 crore revenue deficit Budget for the current fiscal even as he announced several sops for women, youths and farmers, among other sections, entailing an expenditure of more than Rs 80,000 crore. A outlay of Rs 1.92 lakh crore was proposed under the scheme expenditure in the annual plan 2024-25. Presenting his first full Budget as the Finance Minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP Government, Pawar announced a financial assistance scheme for women, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. He had presented an Interim Budget in February in view of the Lok Sabha polls. Under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, eligible women in the age group 21 to 60 years will get a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500. The scheme is aimed at ensuring overall development and empowerment of women, including economic independence, self-reliance, health and nutrition, he said. An amount of Rs 46,000 crore will be made available every year for this scheme, which will be implemented from July, Pawar announced. Announcing another welfare measure aimed at women, Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, the Deputy CM said, there is a close connection between fuel used for cooking and womens health. It is our responsibility to provide clean fuel to reduce health issues for women. The use of LPG should be intensified as it is a safe fuel. The Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana will provide three gas cylinders free per household a year, he maintained. This scheme will benefit 52,16,412 families. Pawar declared that a start-up scheme to help small women entrepreneurs, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Mahila, will be launched this year. He 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 Rs 8 lakh will be fully reimbursed by the Government. The programme, which will cover admission to professional degree and diploma courses in engineering, architecture, pharmacy, medicine and agriculture, will benefit 2.05 lakh girls. The scheme will start from the academic year 2024-25 and cost the State exchequer around Rs 2,000 crore, Pawar said. The Government will make available solar power pumps to 8.5 lakh farmers under Magel Tyala scheme to provide them free electricity. This initiative is part of a project for separation of agricultural electricity grids and solarise them to provide uninterrupted power to farmers during day time, said the Finance Minister. He said the Government will bear the burden of electricity bills of farmers and provide free power to run agriculture pumps up to 7.5 horse power capacity. This will help 44.06 lakh cultivators and a provision of Rs 14,761 crore will be made in form of subsidy for the scheme, said Pawar. Pawar also announced a skill training programme, Mukhyamantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana, aimed at youths. The scheme will provide job training in industrial and non-industrial establishments to 10 lakh youths every year. It will help in creating employment opportunities for youths and make available trained manpower to industries, he stated. Under the scheme, each trainee will be given a stipend up to Rs 10,000 per month by the Government and it will entail an expenditure of around Rs 10,000 crore, Pawar said. Pawar proposed to reduce VAT on diesel and petrol from 24 per cent to 21 per cent in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. This will make diesel cheaper by around Rs 2 per litre and petrol by 65 paise a litre in the Mumbai region. The tax cut will cost the State exchequer Rs 200 crore. The Finance Minister said an outlay of Rs 1.92 lakh crore was proposed under the scheme expenditure in the annual plan 2024-25. This includes an outlay of Rs 15,893 crore for scheduled caste plan and Rs 15,360 crore for tribal development sub-plan. An outlay of Rs 6,12,293 crore was proposed for the total expenditure in 2024-25. Revenue receipts are proposed at Rs 4,99,463 crore, revenue expenditure at Rs 5,19,514 crore and estimated revenue deficit at Rs 20,051 crore, he told the Assembly. Pawar said the Government has been successful in keeping the States fiscal and revenue deficit within the limits set by the Fiscal Responsibility and Fiscal Management Act. The fiscal deficit for 2024-25 was Rs 1,10,355 crore. DAR ES SALAAM, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Four people, including three children, were killed on Friday night after their motorcycle knocked down a truck in the Iringa municipality in Tanzania's southern highlands, police said on Saturday. Acting Iringa Regional Police Commander Alfred Mbena said the three children riding on the motorcycle and its rider died on the spot at 7:00 p.m. local time after the bike knocked down the truck at Ipogolo hills along the Iringa-Dodoma highway. Mbena said the dead children were aged 5, 9, and 12 years old, adding that they were all pupils at Ipogolo Primary School in the Iringa municipality. He said the motorcycle hit the truck after it had attempted to overtake the car using the wrong site and failed. Mbena said the truck was heading to the Dodoma Region from the Ruvuma Region. Staff Reporter In the last budget of the incumbent Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra, among a host of announcements with applicability across the State, there are some major announcements relating to Vidarbha region. Apart from agriculture and related sectors, an amount of Rs 211 crore has been allocated in the State Budget for Ramtek development in Nagpur district. The budget speech of Ajit Pawar, Finance Minister, mentioned the ambitious Wainganga-Nalganga inter-linking project. Irrigation benefits will be provided to 3,71,277 hectares in Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola and Buldhana districts of Vidarbha by diverting 62.57 TMC water from Gosikhurd national irrigation project through the inter-linking project. Monthly cash amount is paid in lieu of foodgrains to the farmers holding orange-coloured ration card in 14 disaster-affected districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. An amount of Rs 113.36 crore has been paid to 11.85 lakh beneficiaries till the end of May 2024, Pawar said in his budget speech. Further, in the first phase of Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Prakalp, various projects in 16 districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions costing Rs 5,469 crore have been completed successfully. The second phase of this project costing Rs 6,000 crore will be implemented in 21 districts. There are various schemes that are applicable to various parts of Maharashtra and Vidarbha region also will benefit from them. But, as far as specific provisions are concerned, it has been approved to set up Centre of Excellence in technical education institutions located in Nagpur, Amravati, Yavatmal districts of Vidarbha apart from in Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Karad in Satara district, and Avasari Khurd in Pune district. Ramtek in Nagpur district is a revered pilgrimage site. Shri Ram Mandir, popularly known as Gadh Mandir, is visited by countless devotees throughout the year. In the Phase-I of the development plan, works worth Rs 150 crore were approved and the works are in progress. In Phase-II, works worth Rs 211 crore will be undertaken, it was announced in the State Budget on Friday. Also, a development plan of Rs 77 crore will be prepared for memorial of spiritual guru and social reformer Baba Jumdevji at Pawaddauna in Mouda tehsil of Nagpur district. Nagpur, Bhandara and nearby areas have a large number of Baba Jumdevjis followers. The e-panchnama system for quick and transparent assessment of crop loss due to natural calamities has been tested successfully in Nagpur division. In the budget, it was announced that this system will be replicated across the State. It may be mentioned here that an amount of Rs 15,245.76 crore has been provided to the affected farmers since July 2022. Assistance amounting to Rs 2,253 crore was provided to 24.74 lakh farmers affected by unseasonal rains during November-December 2023. The ceiling of land-holding for grant of relief was increased from 2 hectares to 3 hectares. This assistance was provided at a rate higher than that in the State Disaster Response Fund norms. Drought was declared in 40 talukas, and drought-like situation in 1,021 revenue circles for Kharif-2023 season and various concessions have been provided in these areas. In Amravati district, a memorial to Sant Ruplal Maharaj will be built at Anjangaon Surji. Considering 84 per 1 lakh population availability of doctors in the State, the Government plans to increase this ratio to more than 100 per 1 lakh population by the year 2035. Hence, it has planned to increase the admission capacity of medical colleges. In this regard, approval has been given to establishment of new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) with intake capacity of 100 students with 430-bedded hospitals affiliated to them in six locations in Vidarbha. These six locations include Amravati, Buldhana, Washim, Wardha, Bhandara, and Gadchiroli. A provision of Rs 125 crore will be made available for construction and renovation of office buildings at Wardha and Amravati under the office of the Charity Commissioner. As per the State Budget announcement, a new Government Ayurvedic College will be established in Buldhana district. State seeks to regularise construction of Swami Vivekananda Statue Residents react sharply Staff Reporter Ambazari flood victims are left in agony as the State Government has filed an affidavit stating that a decision regarding the Swami Vivekananda statues removal or shifting would depend on the results of a hydraulic study commissioned from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune. While the residents are demanding immediate shifting of the statue as it becomes an obstruction point for the smooth flow of the water of the Ambazari dam, the State Government is trying to protect the statue, alleged a resident. The Urban Development Department (UDD), filed an affidavit before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court regarding the statue on Thursday and the Court is scheduled to conduct the hearing on the Public Interest Litigation in the first week of April. The affidavit addressed concerns over the statues potential impact on flooding in the area. Dr K H Govinda Raj, Principal Secretary of (UDD), as per the affidavit, stressed that a decision regarding the statues removal or shifting would depend on the results of a hydraulic study commissioned from the CWPRS. This study aims to assess whether the statue could exacerbate flooding issues in the region. The High Power Committee has directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to prepare for immediate action pending the CWPRS report, the affidavit stated. It highlighted that if the study finds no major contribution to flooding, the government might consider exempting the statue from prior resolutions that deemed it an obstruction. However, this stance has sparked strong opposition from Ambazari residents, who recalled the devastating floods of the previous year. They argue that the statue obstructs water flow and creates flood risks during monsoons. Advocate Tushar Mandlekar, representing petitioners in the High Court, criticised the governments inclination to potentially regularise what he described as an illegal structure. TOKYO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Public prosecutors in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa have indicted a 21-year-old U.S. Marine on charges of nonconsensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury. The Naha District Public Prosecutors Office said Friday that they filed charges against Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton on June 17. According to the indictment, Clayton tightened a woman's head with sexual intent in the village of Yomitan on May 26, causing subconjunctival hemorrhage and other injuries that required about two weeks to heal. The news follows the revelation earlier this week that a U.S. Air Force member has been indicted for allegedly kidnapping a girl under the age of 16 and committing nonconsensual sexual intercourse. Okinawa hosts 70 percent of all the U.S. military bases in Japan while accounting for only 0.6 percent of the country's total land area. Crimes committed by U.S. service members and nonmilitary personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals. The latest incident is expected to further inflame local opposition to the U.S. military presence in the prefecture. CAIRO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Saturday strongly condemned an Israeli plan to legalize settlement outposts in the West Bank and impose sanctions on the Palestinian Authority (PA). In a statement, he labeled the Israeli plan as a "complete coup against the Oslo agreement," and accused the Israeli government of trying to dismantle the PA and having no interest in promoting peace in the region. As the international community aspires to expand the recognition of the Palestinian state, the AL chief said Israel's actions appear "embarrassing and humiliating." On Thursday, according to Israeli state-owned Kan TV, the Israeli security cabinet in a session discussed a plan proposed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to address the recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries and measures taken against Israel in international courts. The plan involves taking punitive measures against the PA, legalizing five settlement outposts in the West Bank, and issuing tenders for constructing thousands of housing units in the settlements. According to Smotrich's proposal, five settlement outposts will be legalized in response to the five countries that recognized a Palestinian state following the outbreak of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. Some ministers and military personnel reportedly expressed opposition to the plan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not state his position on the matter but temporarily suspended the session for consultations, according to Kan TV. Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and has since established settlements there, which are widely regarded as violations of international law. UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), on Friday said that a transition from the current armistice to a peace mechanism is key to the settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue. "In order to fundamentally resolve the question of the Peninsula, it is necessary to realize the transition from the armistice to a peace mechanism, which China has been calling for and actively working for for many years," Geng told the Security Council briefing on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Geng expressed deep concern over the ongoing tension and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula, highlighting the broader regional and global implications of instability. "If there are war and chaos on the Peninsula, the entire Northeast Asia will be deeply affected," he noted, adding that "a peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula serves the common interests of the countries in the region and the common expectations of the international community." "Certain countries use the Peninsula issue to advance their geopolitical strategies, increase their military presence, and strengthen their extended deterrence. Such actions will only lead to camp confrontation, exacerbate tensions, and make it more difficult to achieve the goal of long-term peace and security in the region," he said. Geng called for rational and pragmatic joint efforts to find a solution, citing the United States as an example, saying it "should end the myth of deterrence and pressure, and demonstrate sincerity in unconditional dialogue through concrete actions." Highlighting the historical context, Geng referred to the Cold War legacy impacting the Peninsula, underscoring the absence of a peace mechanism as the crux of ongoing issues. "The Peninsula issue has dragged on for decades," he said. "The crux of the problem is the lack of mutual trust between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the absence of a peace mechanism." Geng defended China's position and efforts toward peace on the Peninsula, responding to criticism from the U.S. representative to the UN: "Just now, the U.S. representative, in his statement, again attacked and made accusations against China's position and role on the Peninsula issue. China strongly rejects this and absolutely does not accept it." Geng concluded by reiterating China's commitment to peace in the region. "As a close neighbor of the Peninsula and a responsible major country, China will play a constructive role in its own way for the realization of long-term peace and stability on the Peninsula and in Northeast Asia," the envoy said. He called for cooperation from all parties, especially the United States, and urged them to reconsider their approach to international relations and conflict resolution. SAN FRANCISCO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Air tankers and helicopters on Friday helped fight a wildfire northeast of Phoenix, Arizona, local officials said. Near Phoenix, where the high temperature reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) on Friday, about 60 residents were evacuated from the Boulder Heights subdivision overnight after the human-caused fire broke out Thursday afternoon about 5 miles (8 km) east of Carefree, on the edge of the Tonto National Forest. Arizona fire officials said that air tankers armed with red retardant and helicopters hauling giant buckets of water helped ground crews keep the flames away from power lines in the area so far. While the flames threatened scores of homes and forced dozens of residents to evacuate, there were no immediate reports of any injuries or structure damage, fire officials said, adding that they were investigating exactly what sparked the blaze. The Red Cross set up an evacuation center at a high school in Scottsdale. Authorities expanded the evacuation area on the northeast outskirts of Scottsdale, and closed roads. They shut down part of a nature preserve as gusty winds continued to fan the flames in sweltering, dry conditions. The National Weather Service said above-normal temperatures will persist well into next week. NEW DELHI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- At least five workers were killed and 10 others injured in an explosion inside the glass-making factory in the southern Indian state of Telangana, officials said Saturday. The explosion took place Friday evening in Shadnagar town of Ranga Reddy district, about 54 km southwest of Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana. The blast is believed to be caused by high pressure in the autoclave, an official said. The deceased were identified as laborers hailing from Bihar. The injured have been hospitalized. SINGAPORE, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Health Science Authority and Red Cross launched a joint initiative on Saturday, encouraging young people to donate blood to meet the growing demand in the aging city-state. The "YouthInspired" initiative aims to engage 500 youths between 16 and 25 over the next five years in blood donation activities and empower them to recruit their peers to donate blood. Singapore Red Cross hopes to increase the youth donor pool to 25 percent by 2030 from the current 15 percent. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends and addresses a luncheon commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed a luncheon commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing on Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that President Xi Jinping's important speech at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friday morning comprehensively elaborated the essence and the values of the times of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, pointed out the direction of building a community with a shared future for mankind amid the profound changes unseen in a century, and sent out the strong message that the "Global South" will work with people around the world to create a better future. The speech is of far-reaching significance in drawing on the historical wisdom of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and pooling consensus and joint efforts to solve the difficult problems and challenges in today's world, Wang added. "The implementation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is an ongoing process with no endpoint, and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity is under way," Wang stressed. China stands ready to work with other countries to consolidate the foundation of friendly cooperation through mutual respect, build universal security through joint contribution and shared benefits, promote development and prosperity through openness and cooperation, expand the picture of human civilization through inclusiveness and mutual learning, and guide the future of global governance with fairness and justice, Wang said. All parties spoke highly of China's role as a responsible major country and its contribution to peace and development, and said that the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by President Xi is a development, innovation and sublimation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and the new measures announced by President Xi to support the "Global South" cooperation will inject strong impetus into the unity and development of developing countries. The international community should work together to uphold peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, safeguard sovereign equality, fairness and justice, and promote win-win cooperation and inclusive development, they said. WMC pins hope on PM | IMPHAL, Jun 29 : The World Meetei Council (WMC) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested him to visit strife torn Manipur so as to mark the beginning of a peaceful way forward. In a memorandum signed by its chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam, the WMC claimed that the Indian state has allowed this violence to persist and the same has descended Manipur into utter lawlessness. Saying that things will begin to improve once the violence is over, the council expressed belief that the Prime Minister can stop this violence by visiting Manipur and conveying his commitment to end the unrest. "Your visit and words can bring peace within 24 hours as the perpetrators of violence seem to have a good rapport with the Army and the Assam Rifles," the WMC said. The Government of India can also abrogate the Suspension of Operation agreement with the Kuki militants and activate the Army, Assam Rifles, etc to restore order, WMC said and added the issue of Meetei youth taking up arms to defend their families, on the other hand, can be resolved once the migrant Chin-Kuki perpetrators are controlled. The WMC also recounted the statement given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 17 last to resolve the crisis in Manipur by talking to both the warring communities viz; Meetei and Kuki. Unfortunately, Chief Minister N Biren Singh appears to have been at a loss since the beginning of the violence, the council said and added that N Biren often speaks as a Meetei leader and it causes more harm to Manipur, particularly the Meetei community. Further stating that the protracted crisis in Manipur has drastically deteriorated the State's condition despite the presence of thousands of Central security forces in addition to the State police, the WMC added that the Central security forces are ineffective in handling the situation despite identifying the sensitive zones possibly due to the SoO arrangement. It seems the SoO agreement is still in effect though the same officially lapsed in February 2024, it said. The council also said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah didn't explain why the Assam Rifles, Army etc didn't take up prompt action to arrest the violence while speaking about Manipur on the floor of the Parliament on August 9, 2023. Saying that the situation in Manipur is worse than the Middle East as Meetei and Kuki cannot even see one another, the WMC urged the Prime Minister to visit Manipur so as to mark the beginning of a peaceful way forward. 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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 BERLIN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Two police officers were seriously injured during a mass demonstration against the AfD party congress in Germany's western city of Essen on Saturday, while several others were slightly injured, local media quoted police as saying. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today hailed the release of former Jharkhand chief minister Mamata Banerjee Soren by Jharkhand High court. The CM was arrested in connection with PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering case) by the Enforcement Directorate. In a tweet, the chief minister said, 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. Mr Soren was arrested by the ED on 31 January allegedly in connection with the money laundering case. Advertisement His subsequent bail petition on 13 May had, however, been rejected by the special ED court at Ranchi . He then moved Jharkhand High Court and was granted bail today. With the increased use of digital platforms by children and the spike in online child abuse cases since the Covid-19 outbreak, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has taken up mass awareness campaigns and decided to recommend age-appropriate digital literacy in schools to make students aware of the risks involved in using social media platforms. Children are becoming vulnerable and many incidents of child trafficking, child marriage, child abuse and child pornography have been happening after the traffickers take to the internet to dupe them. At this stage, it is necessary to make the children aware of the pitfalls of careless sharing of personal information and photo on the internet by making it a part of school curriculum, Chairperson of WBCPCR, Tulika Das said on the sidelines of the programme to observe State Child Protection Day in collaboration with UNICEF here today. Many incidents of child trafficking, child marriage, child abuse have been happening as a result of rampant sharing of personal information by children. The traffickers and other unscrupulous persons use fake identities on social media platforms to lure children into their traps, she said. Advertisement A growing number of child abuse cases were tracked to have roots in careless sharing of personal data on social media. We will recommend digital literacy to be included in the school curriculum and taught in a child-friendly way to safeguard them when they study or play or make friends on the internet, the chairperson said. To curb this growing menace, the commission released anti-trafficking posters, audio messages and music video in the programme on the theme of stay safe online held at Gorkha Rangamancha Bhawan in Darjeeling. Children of Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda and Murshidahad districts performed to build awareness on childrens issues. Five police personnel and two child care institutions were given awards for being child-friendly. Urging children not to believe anyone on the internet, superintendent of police of Darjeeling Praveen Prakash said that personal information, private photographs, personal address, personal phone number, location, school name should never be posted or shared with anyone on the social media platforms. Update your privacy setting on social media platforms and hide your identity, block the identity sharing option and delete all unknown persons from friend list, Prakash, who was DCP of cyber crime in Kolkata, said these practices as cyber hygiene to be followed by everyone. UNICEF, which collaborated with the child rights body in organising todays programme, works closely with WBCPCR on various child safety programmes in the state. Chief of UNICEF in West Bengal Prabhat Kumar also urged the children and adults to be careful when working on the internet. You must think before posting, sharing and accepting any picture, information or data on the internet. Always inform your friends or relatives or police or authorities when you find someone being a victim of cyber bullying, he said. Mayor of Siliguri Goutam Deb, WBCPCR Secretary R Arjun, district magistrate of Darjeeling Preeti Goyel, secretary of Gorkha Territorial Administration, ST Bhutia, principal magistrate Juvenile Justice Board of Darjeeline Aparna Chatterjee, director child rights and trafficking Nilanjana Dasgupta, CMOH Dr Tulsi Pramanik and WBCPCR advisors, members and consultants were also present at the programme. Pramod Boro, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam, on Saturday in a veiled attack on the previous Congress government in the state, said the previous regime did not had any plan or programme for the region. Boro, who is also the President of United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL), said things have changed since the BJP-led government came to power in the state. Speaking at a programme organised by the North East Media Forum (NEMF), Delhi at the Press Club of India (PCI), the CEM spoke on a wide range of issues including challenges and his vision for the BTR, recently concluded Lok Sabha polls and over Manipur issue. Advertisement In an apparent reference to the previous Congress government in Assam, he said, The previous regime did not have any plan or programme (for the BTR). Because of the instability (in BTR) for a long time there was no development. Stating that the situation has changed since after the BJP rode to power in the state, Boro said, We are working together under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma. He has a good vision. We need to develop the region. Notably, UPPL is a part of the BJP-led coalition government in Assam. Talking about his functioning in BTR, the CEM said, Economic and livelihood is a big challenge in our region. Youths are going out. We are trying to skill them so that they can become entrepreneurs. I always try to reach out to the people. Boro said one of his main focuses is on education. Referring to the law and order situation in the region, Boro said, This is the first election (Lok Sabha) after 30 to 40 years, where there was no fear and bloodshed. This time for the first time, the democratic situation was there and people voted with their choice. In response to a question on the Manipur issue, the CEM said, It is a very sensitive issue. We should avoid violence. I request every community to rethink. Still we have time for reconciliation. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva welcomed the decision of a city court to send Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the excise policy case. In a statement on Saturday, Sachdeva said, The law is doing its work and the court is giving its verdict based on the evidence presented by the investigating agency. It is now clear that crores of rupees were embezzled through the liquor policy. The Delhi BJP chief claimed that Kejriwal was not answering the questions asked by the CBI as he knows the probe agency has a strong case against him and he is certain to be punished. Advertisement Why didnt Kejriwal explain his relationship with Vijay Nair, why didnt he tell the commission that the liquor policy was increased from 5 per cent to 12 per cent? Why was the liquor policy made during the second wave of COVID-19 when the people of Delhi needed hospital beds, medicines, and gas cylinders, he asked. Referring to AAPs protest, he said, To divert attention from waterlogging in Delhi, the AAP is protesting to save a corrupt person. If Arvind Kejriwal or Manish Sisodia is honest, why are they not getting bail from the court, he asked. The Delhi high court had clearly stated on April 9 that Arvind Kejriwal is involved in the entire liquor scam, and therefore, the AAP leaders are playing the victim card by protesting. He has committed corruption and is bound to be punished, Sachdeva asserted. Congress leader Karti Chidambaram won the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu, the seat from where his father P Chidambaram had been the parliamentarian a record seven times. In an interview with The Statesman, Karti shares how he entered politics, from being part of his fathers election campaigns to later helping him out during crucial political developments in the country. He also highlighted the importance of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Congress leader Rahul Gandhis efforts that helped in reviving the grand old party in the recent general election. The businessman-politician also advises young entrepreneurs and start-ups to be very careful about taking money from the right investor, and claims that venture capitalists only look for good valuation and not good service delivery. Advertisement Q. You were a successful businessman. Why did you decide to enter politics? A: I grew up in a political environment, where one sees politics up and close. It had an impact on me, so I always wanted to be a politician, and it was not some late realization. I have worked with my father very closely and particularly during his elections since I came back from England in 1995-96. The year 1996 was very exciting as we broke away in Tamil Nadu to form a regional outfit of the Congress. When my father contested the assembly election after that, he lost and we learnt our lesson. As a kid I was part of the campaign and had recited a poem written by my maternal grandmother, who was a poet. So I have always been around politics, and I am not surprised that I got into electoral politics. I have myself contested three elections. Q. How would you define your political ambition? A: I really want to be in state politics, I personally feel that state governments are closer to people, and delivery of services is easier. They are also answerable. For a long time, people in Tamil Nadu have not seen a Congress government. My personal political ambition is to see the Congress party govern the state or be at the helm of affairs as part of a coalition. Q: You have been re-elected from Sivaganga. The BJP has increased its vote share in Tamil Nadu considerably. Is it not a cause of concern for the Congress? A: It is a misreading of the data because firstly, the BJP contested very few seats in 2019, compared to 2024, as in 2019, they were part of the AIADMK alliance, and now they have contested more seats. Secondly, this time they had alliances with many community and caste outfits, and these outfits have contested on their symbols, so these candidates are not pure BJP candidates. It is a complete misreading of the data. The BJPs vote share would have gone up, but not as much as it is being portrayed by the media. Q: The BJP has opened its account in another southern state, Kerala. Dont you think the BJP could be a strong challenger for all other parties in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the next Lok Sabha polls? A: I must give it to them (BJP) that they have tried very hard, using men, material and all kinds of means. In Kerala, the man who has won is Suresh Gopi who is a popular film actor. He was a losing candidate earlier, but he sort of camped there (Thrissur) for five years and there were personality votes for him. I am sure the vote share for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gone up, I am not denying that, it has possibly gone up in Tamil Nadu, but not to the extent that is being talked about. Q: The Congress may be on the revival path but is still far away from becoming the force it used to be. Are you satisfied with the partys performance? A: I think we are close to 100 right now, and in 2014 and in 2019, collectively we did not even win the kind of numbers we have now. So it is a huge improvement. It is not enough, but it is giving us something to share about. Punjab was a singularly stellar performance. I must admit that there are concerns in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. It is in the northeast, not noticed very much, but we had success in the region as well. Q: What is your reading of Rahul Gandhis performance? A: I think his effort of doing two Bharat Jodo Yatras is commendable. It takes tremendous physical energy to do it, and also great will to set aside six months of your life. Doing this is not easy. I think it has earned him a lot more respect and those who are not necessarily his fans had to respect him for the effort that he made. The entire route he took was also a big morale booster for the organization. I always believed that the leadership needs to go to the doorstep and not be at the mountain, and the Bharat Jodo yatra was taking the leadership to the doorstep. And this role of taking the leadership to the doorstep had a big role in our electoral success. Q: Your comments on Rahul Gandhi becoming the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. A: He should be the LoP, whatever may be the chatter in the social media and circles outside. Within the Congress party, the Gandhi family has a very special place, they bind it together. I personally feel, especially after the performance in the LS polls, Rahul Gandhi should take the role of the Leader of Opposition. Q: Where do you see the Congress in the next five years? Do you think the party will become a strong challenger to the BJP? A: The fact is that the Congress was able to revive itself after a huge crisis. We need to have sharper campaigns and relations, and I feel that the upcoming state elections, like in Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra, will be good for us. We need to have a middle class urban push as well. Q: Apart from being a politician, you are also a successful businessman. Do you invest in start-ups? What is your advice to young entrepreneurs? A:When we are celebrating entrepreneurship in India, my only advice to young entrepreneurs and start-ups is that be very wary of these venture capitalists, they will not stand with you when there is a crisis. When things are going good, they will be with you, otherwise they will abandon you, as they are obsessed with valuation and not with quality of delivery. Be very careful from whom you take money. I do invest in start-ups and have had a fair share of successes. Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Jai Ram Thakur said here on Saturday that law and order in the state has completely collapsed and anarchy is at its peak. Addressing media persons at Nalagarh on Saturday, he accused the Congress government of giving protection to criminals. Around 132 cases are registered against a Congress candidate from Nalagarh. Incidents of the shootout are taking place in broad daylight in the court premises, in which the involvement of a Congress leader and former MLA and his son is coming to the fore, he alleged, adding that such a situation is unfortunate and cannot even be imagined in a peaceful state like Himachal Pradesh. Advertisement Slamming the state government, he said, Had the resignations of the three independent MLAs been accepted earlier, these elections could have been held along with the Lok Sabha elections and by-elections in six Assembly constituencies. The Congress government delayed accepting the resignations of the independent MLAs by pressurizing the assembly speaker, due to which the people of Himachal Pradesh have faced an additional electoral burden. Thakur, while addressing two public meetings in Nalagarh, said the state chief minister considered the independent MLAs helpless and wanted to forcibly take their support for all his work. The independent MLAs supported him as much as they could but it is not necessary to support everything. During the Rajya Sabha elections, he asked the independent MLAs to vote for the Congress candidate but most of the MLAs supported the BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan, who hails from Himachal. Congress lost despite having a majority. Irked by this, the chief minister started harassing the MLAs on the strength of his power, he charged. It has never happened in the history of Himachal wherein the political leaders are harassed, their business, family and relatives were targeted and a conspiracy was hatched to demolish their houses and block roads, he said. Due to the harassment of the government, all three independent MLAs were forced to resign and join the BJP so that they could avoid the Chief Ministers forced support in the House, he claimed. In the Lok Sabha elections the people of the state rejected Congress by giving the BJP an edge in 61 out of 68 assembly seats, he said. Thakur accused the Congress government of Himachal Pradesh of corruption and said the state is lagging far behind in terms of development. When the BJP was in power, a lot of development work was done in Nalagarh, but the Congress government stopped those schemes, he blamed. He said there is an atmosphere of loot in the industrial sector under the patronage of the Congress government due to which industries are forced to leave the state. Putting the CPI-M in a spot, CPI Kerala Secretary Binoy Viswam on Saturday issued a strong statement in the wake of the underworld allegations linked to CPI-M strongman P Jayarajan. He said the news coming from Kannur is an insult to red flag. Binoy Viswam said that the Left families cannot tolerate the knowledge that the people who pretend to be protectors of the movement are agents of the underworld. The news coming from Kannur hurts the relatives of the communist movement. It is the traditional soil of Kayyur, Karivallur and Thillankeri. The stories of gold busting and underworld rampage coming out from there, is an insult to the red flag, said Viswam. Advertisement The relatives of the Left cannot tolerate the knowledge that those who wear the guise of saviours of the Left on social media are stewards of the underworld, added Viswam. Binoys statement comes at a time when the CPI-M has been embroiled in a controversy raised by former DYFI leader Manu Thomas, who has accused P Jayarajans son Jain Raj of controlling a gang involved in illegal gold business. Manu Thomas, former Kannur district president of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). has accused the party of having an unholy nexus with criminal gangs and gold smuggling networks. Thomas has specifically alleged that party state committee member P Jayarajans son Jain Raj and Akash Thillankeri, a CPI-M worker accused in several criminal cases including murder, control various gangs in the Kannur district and are involved in gold smuggling activities. The former DYFI leader has demanded a high-level inquiry by central agencies into the alleged criminal connections within the CPI-M. His revelations have received support from both the Congress and the BJP leadership in Kannur. Responding to Manu Thomas serious allegations, P Jayarajan has said that he will take legal action against Manu. Akash Thillankeri, in a comment under a Facebook post of Red Army page, wrote: Dont think that one can say anything against the party. It wont take long for the Kannur party to make him understand. Then the businessmen and media who are now with him wont be there to protect him. In a major blow to CPI-M in the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) temporarily attached the partys Porathissery office land and eight bank accounts in Thrissur district. A provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been issued by the ED for attaching the assets on Friday. .The total value of attached properties is Rs 29 crore. The properties include CPI-M Porathissery party offices 10-cent land registered in the name of district secretary M M Varghese. Advertisement The ED says that the CPI-M purchased the property in Porathussery using the proceeds of the money laundering carried out by the accused in the Karuvannur case. Apart from this, the Central probe agency has reportedly attached around Rs 60 lakh spread across eight bank accounts. These include five bank accounts of the CPI-M in the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank, and two fixed deposit accounts of the CPI-M Thrissur district committee and a savings account of the party Irinjalakuda area committee in three other banks. This is the third attachment notice brought by ED in connection with the case. So far, the agency has attached properties to the tune of Rs 87.85 crore. Most of these properties, including movable and immovable assets, belonged to the prime accused persons, including local CPM leaders. The ED had named CPI-M as a key accused in the case after the probe revealed that money involved in the scam was diverted to party bank accounts.It is for the first time in Kerala that a political party has been made an accused in a money-laundering case. Earlier, the ED had arraigned the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) as an accused in the Dellhi liquor policy case . The ED sources said following the investigation, it was revealed that proceeds of crime from the Karuvannur bank were diverted to various bank accounts of the CPI-M. The party also maintained bogus accounts in the Karuvannur bank. Thus we arraigned CPM as the accused in the case. As part of the proceedings, the party properties were attached, they said. The alleged fraud in the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank, which was under the control of the CPI-M, came to light in 2021, with the suicide of a former panchayat member TM Mukundan. He was asked to repay a loan of Rs 50 lakh by the bank, which he had never taken. The Crime Branch took over the investigation from the local police in July 2021. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) started an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into the scam which is probing the bank fraud estimated to be above Rs 300 crore. Meanwhile, CPI-M Kerala secretary Secretary MV. Govindan said that he is yet to receive any notice from the ED about the agencys purported move to arraign his party as an accused of the Karuvannoor Service Cooperative Bank scam. He said in New Delhi that the Central Government has ruthlessly used the ED to silence dissent and the CPI-M is the latest victim of the BJPs political witch-hunt using agencies. However, Govindan said the Central Government would fail in its bid to intimidate the CPI-M into silence. CPI-Ms Thrissur district committee secretary MM. Varghese said that he is unaware of the EDs move to name the party as an accused in the case. The CPI-M is wary of the political fallout of the EDs action against the party leadership in the the Karuvannur cooperative bank scam. The Congress and the BJP exploited the bank scam to assail the CPI-M and mar its public image in the state. Honouring the meritorious students of the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized on Saturday that it is the collective responsibility of people to ensure that no student is deprived of education. He stated, We must fulfill this duty, as it is the greatest service to the country. He further added, In the Shrimad Bhagwat Gita, educating someone is regarded as the most sacred work. At a program organized at Lok Bhavan, the Chief Minister also initiated the transfer of Rs 1200 per student for the purchase of uniforms, shoes, socks, sweaters, stationery, and school bags through DBT to the bank accounts of their parents or guardians. Advertisement Addressing teachers and the Education department officials, he stated, You are involved in this sacred work. Your conduct should be that of a guide to society, not merely a government official. CM Yogi stressed the importance of establishing schools as new centers of innovation and research and preparing students to face the toughest challenges. After felicitating the brilliant students, CM Yogi expressed that there is no greater honour for a Guru than to see those he has guided achieving high positions in the country, state, and district. He stated, Through these programs, we are honouring our talented students and presenting them as role models to the new generation, showing that if they also work hard, they will earn respect. Sharing his success mantra with the students, CM Yogi emphasized that no matter which field they choose in life, there is no substitute for hard work. He said, A person who takes shortcuts in life can never reach their destination. Therefore, you should strive to work as hard as you can in life. The students who put in the effort made it to the merit list. Success confirms that we are on the right path and should remain focused and undeterred. CM Yogi stated that students from Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Sanskrit Education, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) New Delhi, and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) New Delhi have been honored here. He remarked, A total of 170 students, including 112 girls and 58 boys have made it to the merit list of high school and intermediate. This success demonstrates that our daughters have made significant strides, and there is a need to pay more attention to their education and development. He mentioned that in the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education high school examination merit list, 4 boys and 13 girls made the cut out of a total of 17 students. In the intermediate merit list, 14 boys and 22 girls were among the 36 students. For the high school examination of the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Sanskrit Education Council, 2 boys and 9 girls were listed among the 11 students in the merit list. Additionally, in the intermediate merit list of 11 students, there is 1 boy and 10 girls. Among the 26 students from Uttar Pradesh in the CBSE class 10 merit list, there are 11 boys and 15 girls. In the CBSE 10+2 merit list, out of 22 students, 3 are boys and 19 are girls. For ICSE, out of 30 students, 18 are boys and 12 are girls, while in the ICSE 10+2 category, out of 17 students, there are 5 boys and 12 girls. CM Yogi emphasized that the government is awarding certificates, tablets, and one lakh rupees in cash to all these meritorious students. Moreover, he announced that the roads in the villages or localities where these students reside will be named after them, or the government will undertake road construction projects in their honour. They will also have the opportunity to lay the foundation stone for these initiatives alongside the MLA and MP. Highlighting the launch of several programs by the Basic Education Council today, Yogi remarked, Under these initiatives, Rs 1200 per student has been disbursed to the bank accounts of parents of over 88 lakh students. The Basic Education Council has pioneered numerous innovations over the past 7 years. Reflecting on the state of education under previous governments, Yogi stated, Before 2017, just as the government lived in darkness, they also allowed education to languish in darkness. Today, we have successfully conducted copy-free examinations within 12 days in a fair manner, with results available within 14 days. He contrasted this with the past, saying, Previously, examinations took three months, results took another three months, admission took an additional three months, and the remainder was spent on festivals, marking a whole year. Emphasizing the strides taken by the Basic Education Council in advancing the next phase of Operation Kayakalp, which includes the introduction of modern PM SHRI Schools, Yogi announced, We have established 18 Atal residential schools across 18 commissionerates. Additionally, we are set to inaugurate 57 new Mukhyamantri Composite Schools in various districts across the state. He continued, Today marks a significant leap forward for the Basic Education Department under the Nipun Bharat Abhiyan in Uttar Pradesh. The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Inter Colleges have also been upgraded to include classes 9 through 12, providing a new platform for girls education. Union Minister of State of Corporate Affairs; Road, Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra on Saturday made a site visit to review the progress of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. Malhotra made the site visit along with Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari, Member of Legislative Assembly Mohan Singh Bisht & Area Councilors of Municipal Corporation of Delhi and National Highways Authority of India officials on Saturday. The minister also inspected National Highway 709B to address the water logging issue and other issues related to stretches on this National Highway. Advertisement The site visit started from Geeta Colony near shamshan ghat of the NH-709B and continued to Sonia Vihar and Sabhapur village. Malhotra expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and stated that the expressway would be instrumental in decongesting East Delhis Gandhi Nagar area and would also reduce the load on Delhi-Meerut Expressway. He directed timely completion of the Expressway so that it would be opened for the general public as per the schedule. Regarding waterlogging on National Highway-9, NHAI officials informed that there is a parallel master drain of MCD/PWD alongwith the NH which is stagnated and over flooded for many years. Further, the surface drain of NH is also connected to the parallel master drain for disposal of surface water of the highway portion. Since the parallel master drain of MCD/PWD is stagnated, the surface water of NH instead of going into the master drain (which is already flooded because of stagnation and limited capacity) hits back and floods the service road of NHAI. The minister directed the NHAI officials to take up this issue with MCD/PWD for taking necessary action by them. Malhotra took cognizance of the issues raised by the residents at the spot and directed the NHAI officials to ensure speedy progress of the developments while ensuring that the works do not cause any sort of problems to the local residents. He directed to provide two additional U-turn to provided necessary access on both sides to LMVs in the proximity of two U-turns which have already been proposed near shamshan ghat Geeta colony, Delhi (one near elevated flyover and one near existing flyover). The minister also assured the public that a green belt area would be developed underneath the flyover which would in turn be a boon for the environment. In response to the request of Sonia Vihar residents for shifting of toll plaza, Malhotra assured that the toll plaza would be shifted 300 meters towards Uttar Pradesh to ensure that local residents of Sonia Vihar, Delhi do not pay any toll tax. The Minister also assured that the drain from Uttar Pradesh side would be rechanelised. In Sabhapur village, the minister directed the NHAI officials for quick resolution of the water logging issues and to ensure that the work starts from today itself. Directions were also given to the officials for reviewing the pipelines there and resolve the issues as soon as possible. The minister further assured that the service road would be constructed so that the local residents do not face any hardship in commuting to nearby villages. Spanish, Chinese architects explore smart, cultural, sustainable urban development Xinhua) 09:19, June 29, 2024 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) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Lee Hae-chan, who is in China for the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, in Beijing, capital of China, June 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Hae-chan in Beijing on Saturday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Lee is a senior ROK politician, and the Chinese side highly appreciates his years' dedication to the development of friendly relations between the two countries. Wang said the ROK is a close neighbor of China, and the two sides are natural partners. China is willing to work together with the ROK to promote the healthy, stable, and continuous development of China-ROK relations. It is hoped that friends from all walks of life in the ROK will continue to play an important role in this regard, to promote a correct understanding of China in the ROK society, and strengthen the ties and friendship between the two peoples. Wang added China is highly concerned about the recent battery plant fire in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, which caused casualties of Chinese nationals. The ROK side should promptly investigate the cause of the accident, handle it responsibly, and prevent similar tragedies from happening again, said Wang. Lee, who came to China to attend the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, said China has always adhered to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, worked for the peaceful settlement of various disputes, led and maintained peace and stability in the Asian region. The ROK attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to continue strengthening exchanges at all levels with China and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations, Lee added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Lee Hae-chan, who is in China for the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, in Beijing, capital of China, June 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) On the third edition of Royal Ranthambore International Tiger Week in Sawaimadhopur, Rajasthan, former Punjab governor and wildlife expert V P Singh Badnore said on Saturday that human settlements close to tigers territory are dangerous for both. He pointed out that Initiatives have always been taken to relocate villages near tiger movement areas, reducing human-tiger conflict. If territories become smaller and tiger populations increase, they will end up fighting each other to death, he added. He said tigers now cover long distances to reach other forests to avoid conflict with humans. An example of this is tigers from Ranthambore going all the way to Sariska to expand their population. Advertisement Speaking on the occasion, IFS Somasekhar and WWFs Director General Ravi Singh dwelt at length on ways to check poaching and illegal trafficking to ensure conservation. He mentioned about poachers killing tigers and sending their body parts to China and other countries via Nepal for use in medicine. It is crucial for local people and the administration to be vigilant against tiger poaching. The Forest Department is using foreign tracking technology and camera monitoring, he said. Another big cat expert A K Raha highlighted the impact of climate change on the reproduction of tigers. Each region has its own flora and fauna, air, and water, which, when changed, cause physical changes in animals, Raha said. Tigers near the Sundarbans delta survive on salty water, while tigers in Rajasthan cannot, emphasizing the need to save forests and climate. It is worth mentioning that whenever the topic of tiger population comes up, the worlds attention turns towards India. At the core of Indias ethos lies the value of wildlife conservation, which is why we have been able to secure 70 per cent of the worlds tiger population here. To make the world of tigers beautiful and safe and to celebrate this mission as a festival, the third edition of Royal Ranthambore International Tiger Week, organised by the organization Live4 Freedom founded by Anand Bhardwaj, Navroze D. Dhondy, and Sunil Mangal, saw experts discuss various topics during the deliberations. Individuals, who have excelled in tiger and environmental conservation, were honored. A documentary of internationally acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Subbiah Nalla Muthu was screened for everyone to see the life of tigers up close. Schoolchildren also participated in the event while nature enthusiasts enjoyed the tiger safari. The chief guest for the occasion, Badnore, conservationist Rajpal Singh, and IFS Somasekhar shed light on tiger population and management. A junior commissioned officer (JCO) was among five Army personnel killed late Friday night when a T-72 tank was swept away in the Shyok river near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the Eastern Ladakh. Confirming the mishap, a defence spokesperson said in a statement; On 28 June night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got struck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didnt succeed and the tank crew lost their lives. Indian Army regrets loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway, he added. Army sources said that the tank belonged to the 52 Armoured Regiment. Advertisement The tank was moving towards Tangste in the Leh district and the mishap occured some distance away from the Galwan valley where clashes between the Indian Army and Chinese troops took place in 2022. The T-72 tank turned turtle in the river near Mandir Morh at about 3 am and the strong current of water swept it away. Bodies of the killed soldiers have been recovered, reports said. It is believed that the mishap occured as it was pitch dark in the area and the tank went out of control in the fast flowing river. The killed JCO has been identified as MRK Reddy. The four jawans have been identified as: Bhupender Negi, Akdum Taibam, Havaldar A Khan (6255 Fd work shop) and Nagraj P. Reports said that the regiment was moving to Secunderabad in Telengana. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed grief over the mishap. He wrote on X; Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief. A delegation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal-United (JDU) will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming time and put forth their demand of special status and economic package for Bihar, state minister Dr Ashok Choudhary said on Saturday. Speaking to reporters after the National Executive meeting of the JDU, Choudhary said that the demand of special status for Bihar is not new and a delegation of party MPs-led by Union Minister Lallan Singh and JDU working president Sanjay Kumar Jha will meet PM Modi in this regard. He, however, did not reveal when they will meet the prime minister. Advertisement Special status and special package for Bihar is our old demand and it is still there. Our leaders Lallan Singh, Sanjay Jha, who are here in Rajya Sabha and the party leaders in Lok Sabha, they will meet the Prime Minister in the coming time and put forth their point strongly, he said. Besides the special status issue, the JDU National Executive also decided to move the Supreme Court, challenging Bihar High Courts stay on the 65 per cent reservation in the state announced by the Nitish Kumar government. We will go to the Supreme Court regarding the reservation stayed by the Bihar High Court, senior JDU leader KC Tyagi told reporters after the meeting. The JDU National Executive also appointed Sanjay Kumar Jha as the partys working president. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday justified his action in having the search committees to select Vice Chancellors for six state-run universities without their nominees, saying that he was performing his responsibility as the Chancellor. The Governor said that the universities did not provide their representatives to the search committees despite repeated requests and therefore he proceeded further in the matter to perform his responsibility as the Chancellor of the universities in the state. The Governor on Friday constituted search committees to select Vice Chancellors for six state-run universities without their nominees. The move may further escalate tension between the Governor and the LDF government in Kerala. Advertisement The Raj Bhavan issued notifications constituting the search committees for Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS). Distinguished technocrats have been appointed to the selection committees. S Somanath, Chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation, has been appointed Chancellors nominee and convener of the search committee tasked with selecting the next V C of Kerala University. Prof Battu Satyanarayana, Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Karnataka, represents the University Grants Commission (UGC) on the panel. For Mahatma Gandhi University, the search committee members are Dr KRS Sambasiva Rao, former Vice Chancellor of Mizoram University, and Anandharamakrishnan, Director at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. The search committee for Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies includes Prof Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu, Dr PK Abdul Azis, former Vice Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology and Aligarh Muslim University, and Dr JK Jena, Deputy Director General (Py Science), ICAR, Pusa, New Delhi. APJ Abdul Kalam Technological Universitys search committee comprises Prof Kshiti Bhushan Das, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jharkhand, Prof P Rajendran, former Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, and Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. The search committee for Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University includes Dr Jancy James, former Vice Chancellor of Central University of Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi University, and Prof Battu Satyanarayana, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Karnataka. For Kerala Agricultural University, the committee members are Dr CV Jayamani, former Professor at Cochin University of Science and Technology, Prof Alok Kumar Rai, Vice Chancellor of University of Lucknow, and Dr Himanshu Pathak, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday endorsed Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhis write-up slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several issues including the recent election of the speaker of the Lok Sabha, 1975 Emergency and NEET-UG exam 2024. Kharge, who is also the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, while sharing the editorial in a national English daily titled Preaching consensus, provoking confrontation in a post on X, quoted Gandhi as saying, There is no evidence that the Prime Minister has come to terms with the electoral outcome or has reflected on the message sent to him by voters. Referring to the results of the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the CPP chairperson wrote in the editorial that the verdict of the country signaled a personal, political and moral defeat for a prime minister who had awarded himself a divine status during the election campaign. Advertisement Notably, earlier this month at the CPP meeting, she had said the prime minister who sought the mandate solely in his name to the exclusion of both his party and its allies had suffered a political and moral defeat. In reality, he has lost the mandate he sought and thereby lost the right to leadership as well. We do not expect him to change the substance and style of his governance, nor take cognizance of the will of the people, the CPP chairperson had said. Mentioning about the election of the Speaker in the Lower House, Gandhi in her editorial wrote, He (Modi) preaches the value of consensus but continues to value confrontation. She also narrated how the ruling dispensation refused to give the post of the deputy speaker to the INDIA bloc in lieu of support to its candidate for the post of Speaker. On raking up the 1975 Emergency issue by the BJP-led NDA government, Gandhi said, This was an attempt to divert attention away from the assault on the Constitution, on its foundational principles and values. It may be mentioned here that the INDIA bloc has been accusing the ruling BJP of attacking the Constitution of India. Alleging a scam in the NEET-UG exam 2024, the CPP chairperson questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis silence over the matter. The prime minister who does Pariksha pe charcha has been conspicuously silent on the leaks, she wrote. Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar chaired his partys National Executive meeting in Delhi on Saturday. The meeting is currently underway. The JDU National Executive meeting, first after the Lok Sabha elections, is being attended by all the party MPs, including Union Minister Lalan Singh, along with senior leaders of Bihar. According to sources, the meeting has been called to discuss the recently concluded Lok Sabha election results. Advertisement Besides, the demand of special status for Bihar, and the state Assembly elections scheduled to be held next year will also be discussed. Some media reports also suggested that Nitish Kumar may step down as JDU President and give the responsibility to senior party leader Sanjay Jha. Nitish had taken over as JDU President in December last year, days before announcing split from the Oppositions INDIA bloc and switching to NDA. The JDU National Executive Meeting comes two days after party MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Had a great meeting with @Jduonline MPs. Our Parties have a long history of working together and fighting poor governance, corruption and criminalisation in Bihar. The leadership of Shri @NitishKumar Ji has taken Bihar on the path of development. We will keep working together for good governance, Modi had said after meeting with the JDU MPs. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U), on Saturday appointed its senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as the partys working president. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, however, will continue to lead the party as its national president. The decision to appoint Jha as working president was taken at the JDU National Executive meeting chaired by Nitish Kumar. The meeting was held in New Delhi and attended by top party leaders, including newly elected Lok Sabha MPs and Union Minister Lalan Singh. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha has been made national executive president, JD(U) leader KC Tyagi told reporters after the partys national executive meeting. Advertisement Tyagi said during the meeting, Nitish Kumar reaffirmed his commitment to stay in the NDA. He (CM Nitish Kumar) has announced in front of the national executive that now he will always be a part of the NDA alliance, he said. He informed that the party has also decided to move the Supreme Court to challenge the Bihar High Courts stay on the reservation. The issue of special status and economic package for Bihar was also discussed in the meeting and a delegation of the JDU will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard. Special status and special package for Bihar is our old demand and it is still there. Our leaders Lallan Singh, Sanjay Jha, who are here in Rajya Sabha and the party leaders in Lok Sabha, they will meet the Prime Minister in the coming time and put forth their point strongly, Bihar Minister and JD(U) leader Dr Ashok Choudhary said after the meeting. Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday welcomed the second mountaineering expedition of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Vijay, here on its return from a successful climb of the 21,625 feet high Mount Manirang in Himachal Pradesh. He hailed the NDRF jawans for their successful expedition and said that such strenuous operations by the jawans with indomitable courage increase efficiency of individuals and the force as a whole. He said arduous campaigns inculcate a habit of accomplishing goals, conquering and overcoming unimaginable difficulties to reach the goal. Mr Shah said that it is the habit of victory that makes a person and force great. Advertisement The Home Minister said that some jawans have achieved success in this operation today, but in the true sense, this success belongs to the entire NDRF. He said that the jawans have not only conquered the heights of Mount Manirang but have worked to boost the morale of the entire force. He said that mountaineering is not just a skill but an art of living and mastering this art forms an education for the whole life. The Home Minister congratulated the 35 personnel who achieved success in Operation Vijay and the Director General, NDRF for the achievement as a symbol of the force. The Home Minister announced on the occasion that 16,000 personnel of NDRF will get Risk and Hardship Allowance at the rate of 40 per cent. There was a demand for this allowance for a long time and the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accepted it on Friday. Mr Shah said that the Prime Minister is very concerned and aware about disaster management and the success achieved by India in this field is the result of this. He said that in 10 years between 2004 and 2014, a total budget of Rs 66,000 crore was allocated to SDRF and NDRF for disaster relief, which has been increased to Rs 2 lakh crore in the 10 years from 2014 to 2024. Mr Shah said that at one time, our approach to disaster in India was only relief-centric, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now a zero casualty approach is being adopted for disaster management, not a relief-centric approach. In the last 10 years of Prime Minister Modis tenure, best practices from around the world have been put in place in India to deal with disasters, he said. The Home Minister was briefed by team leaders of various disaster response incidents in India and Turkey on the occasion. He said that achievements should never become a reason for satisfaction, but inspire achieving more difficult goals. In future, he said, challenges can come due to climate change, and threats of avalanches, landslides, floods and storms are going to increase everywhere. Keeping this in mind, we should move firmly towards the goal of Zero Casualty by resorting to science. He said that we still have to increase our efficiency in many areas and also bring results, such as forest fires. He said that saving human lives is not the only objective during forest fires, but we have to bring experiments happening all over the world on how to save forests and what we can do so that there is no fire on the ground. He said that there is need to prepare for the floods caused by cloudbursts. The Home Minister took keen interest in various NDRF operations in flood water rescue, landslides, collapsed structure search and rescue, chemical biological radiological nuclear response mechanism (CBRN), mountain rescue, borewell rescue and cyclone response. He was shown various initiatives taken for improvising equipment by the NDRF for their better utilisation. Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Director General, NDRF Piyush Anand were present on the occasion. Bringing spirituality and rich heritage of Uttar Pradesh together, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department organized the Bodhi Yatra conclave in New Delhi on Friday to commemorate the extraordinary journey of Lord Buddha. The event highlighted Uttar Pradeshs significance as a Buddhist pilgrimage destination and the tourism potential of the state. Ambassador of Singapore, H.E. Simon Wong, Ambassador of Thailand, H.E. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Myanmar, H.E. Moe Kyaw Aung and ambassadors from many other countries like Bhutan, Japan, Indonesia, Argentina, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam etc. graced the conclave reflecting Indias strong international ties. Advertisement In his address, the Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhwat said, India is not the land of war, but the land of Buddha. This holy land gave the message of truth, non-violence, kindness and compassion to the entire world and Uttar Pradesh is a prominent part in this legacy. The Prime Minister had envisioned creating various tourist circuits in the country. The first circuit in that is the Buddha Circuit. I want to congratulate Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh that the UP government did important work to bring the Prime Ministers vision to reality. UP Minister of Tourism and Culture, Jaiveer Singh said, UP is the fourth largest state in terms of area. It is the largest state with a population of 25 crores and is equal to the fifth country in the world in terms of population. Fortunately, all the places from the birth of Lord Buddha to his education, attainment of knowledge, preaching and religious awakening campaigns and Mahaparinirvana (death) are located here. Under the guidance of our Chief Minister, we are developing the Buddhist circuit propagating the strong historical, cultural and spiritual ties of Buddhism with Uttar Pradesh on the world map and attracting Buddhist pilgrims from India and abroad in large numbers. UP Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said, Uttar Pradesh is cradle of Buddhism and this Bodhi Yatra is an initiative to make you experience the serenity and divinity of Lord Buddha. The significant events of Buddhism took place in UP and this event aims to promote these Buddhist sites on the global map. Working under the vision of our Prime Minister and through constant efforts of the State government and the Tourism Department, we have developed infrastructure and world class tourist facilities at these sites emerging as the top tourist destinations in the country Through our investor-friendly tourism policy, the stake holders can become a significant part of this transforming journey of Uttar Pradesh in the tourism sector. Speaking at the event, Union Secretary, Union Ministry Of Tourism V. Vidyavati said, Buddha resides in the heart and soul of UP. Govt of India in collaboration with the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh aims to not only create a memorable experience for the buddhist pilgrims but also ensure the development and better employment opportunities for the local communities. We are also keen to enhance the infrastructure and amenities of Buddhist Museums in the state as they are a living source of history. In his speech UP Principal Secretary, Department Of Tourism and Culture Mukesh Meshram said, UP has emerged as a popular tourist destination attaining number one spot in domestic tourism and we are hopeful of attracting a higher number of inbound foreign tourists as well in near future. He said, We wanted to reveal the spiritual and cultural connection with different countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia and improve cultural diplomacy with the support of the Ministry Of External affairs and promote Foreign Direct Investment in the state. We have already allotted 02 acres of land in Varanasi to Bhutan Govt. for the construction of temples and guest houses. Through this platform we also offer all the other countries to invest in the hospitality and tourism sector of all these six sites and we assure you that we will provide all the mutual cooperation needed. Attendees were treated to a cultural show depicting the life of Lord Buddha, from his birth to his enlightenment and attaining Mahaparinirvana. It highlighted the foundation of Buddhism and celebrated its rich historical, cultural and spiritual connection with Uttar Pradesh. It also underlined how the Buddhist circuit is one of the favorite travel destinations for both National and International visitors. The high-level meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Myanmars Deputy Prime Minister Than Swe underscores the complex and multifaceted relationship between the two neighbouring countries. Amid Myanmars on-going civil war and political turmoil, the discussions reflect Indias strategic and humanitarian concerns, which are rooted in both regional stability and bilateral interests. One of the central themes of the meeting was the impact of Myanmars civil war on Indias North-eastern states. The protracted conflict, involving pro-democracy militias and Myanmars military government, has spilled over into border regions, exacerbating security and humanitarian challenges. For India, this poses significant threats, not just in terms of cross-border violence but also through the influx of refugees. The shared ethnic ties between border communities in the two countries add another layer of complexity, as the exodus of Myanmar citizens into Indian states necessitates a sensitive and coordinated response to maintain regional harmony. Indias concerns are further amplified by the surge in illegal activities emanating from the conflict zones. Narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking have reportedly escalated since Myanmars political crisis deepened. These illicit activities not only undermine regional security but also threaten Indias internal stability. By highlighting these issues, Mr Jaishankar signals Indias intent to curb these transnational crimes and calls for stronger bilateral cooperation. The plea for Myanmars cooperation in securing the safe return of citizens trapped in conflict zones like Myawaddy is indicative of Indias proactive stance in protecting its nationals abroad. This humanitarian concern also aligns with Indias broader regional strategy, which emphasises the protection of human rights and the promotion of democratic values. Advertisement Mr Jaishankars call for a return to democratic governance in Myanmar reflects Indias consistent advocacy for democracy in its neighbourhood, even as it navigates the complexities of engaging with Myanmars military regime. Indias diplomatic approach, as evidenced in this meeting, is marked by a delicate balance of principled standpoints and pragmatic engagement. While India continues to press for democratic transition in Myanmar, it simultaneously retains functional ties with the current military government. This dual strategy ensures that India remains a relevant and influential player in the region, capable of addressing immediate security concerns while advocating for long-term political solutions. Furthermore, the recent suspension of the free movement regime and the decision to fence the IndiaMyanmar border illustrate Indias shift towards a more controlled and secure border management system. This move, while potentially straining traditional cross-border interactions, is aimed at mitigating the security risks posed by the current instability in Myanmar. Indias multifaceted approach, which combines humanitarian concerns, security imperatives, and democratic advocacy, underscores its strategic depth in handling the situation. As Myanmar grapples with its internal challenges, Indias engagement will likely continue to be a blend of support for democratic ideals and pragmatic measures to safeguard its national interests. This nuanced strategy not only strengthens Indias position as a regional power but also contributes to broader efforts for peace and stability in Southeast Asia. BERLIN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Two police officers were seriously injured during clashes at a mass demonstration against the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party congress in the western German city of Essen on Saturday, while several others sustained minor injuries, local media quoted police as saying. When riot police officers escorted an AfD delegate on Saturday, two officers were kicked "in the head" by unknown perpetrators, said the Essen police, adding that the officers "were attacked even while lying on the ground" and had to be taken to hospital with serious injuries. There was another clash during the protests against the two-day AfD party congress in Essen, which began on Saturday. According to police, several tens of thousands of people initially protested peacefully. However, a blockade action in the morning turned partly violent, resulting in injuries to eleven other police officers. "Against right-wing extremism and racism, we need strong democratic forces and peaceful protest," wrote Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on the social media platform X on Saturday. The minister emphasized that violence is "unjustifiable." Faeser thanked the police for their efforts. Among the plethora of regional and inter-regional organisations with leading nations as influential members of the worlds political and economic policy-making bodies such as Nato, Quad, SCO, Asean, Brics and many others, the possible expansion of the last names by welcoming new members has generated considerable interest in global politics. Some of the successful members of the Asean bloc have expressed interest and are considering joining the group. This has sparked considerable debate as there is both hope as well as fear. Hope because any decision to welcome new members to the grouping would be a step forward to integrate more countries into the global economy. Fear and concern because this may lead to over-dependence on China. What generates interest in some members of the Asean bloc to join the organization is the desire to diversify options in order to remain engaged actively in global economic activities. Malaysia is the latest member to express interest. Sometimes internal political dynamics of the countries evincing interest to join come into play. For example, leaders in Malaysia aim to sell to their electorate that becoming a member of the Brics grouping would elevate their countrys standing in the international community. These countries wish to benefit from the collective potential of the present Brics members. This consideration lies at the core of their national interests. Thailand submitted a formal request to join Brics in early June 2024. Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told a Chinese news portal on 16 June that his country has made a decision to join Brics as per procedure. Interestingly, Anwars comments came before Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang made a three-day official visit to Malaysia from 18 to 20 June 2024. After President Xi Jinping, Li is the second most powerful leader, and was the first Chinese Prime Minister to visit Malaysia since 2015. Advertisement What factors drive Anwar to cultivate relations with China and garner the international spotlight? It could possibly be because he is keen to manage resuscitating the stalled relationship with China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which he felt suits Malaysias interests. Indonesia is studying the benefits it can garner from joining Brics. While Malaysia and Laos have expressed interest in joining the bloc, Vietnam is closely monitoring the process of Brics membership. As regards Singapore and the Philippines, both have yet to make their positions known. As it transpires, the Asean bloc members are influenced by the potential for cooperation with the Brics group in terms of investment, trade and infrastructure financing, especially by India and China. These countries see India and China as potential traditional markets. As regards the background, Brics, an economic bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India and China was established on 16 June 2006. South Africa joined the group in December 2010. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were invited to become members from 1 January 2024. Together, five of the largest developing countries in the world represent 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of global trade. The combined members economies are worth more than $28.5 trillion, or about 28 per cent of the global economy. The Asean bloc members want to tap this potential. What is the procedure for Brics membership? A country is considered interested in joining the grouping when its leader or foreign minister formally communicates its interest in becoming a member state to the Brics Chair. The Chair then circulates the communication of the interested country to existing member states. An interested country becomes a prospective Brics member state when Sherpas ~ a select group of leaders representing their countries within the bloc ~ recommend it positively for consideration by Brics foreign ministers. They in turn consider the application and make a recommendation for consideration by Brics leaders. Thus, leaders will decide on Brics membership expansion on the basis of full consultation and consensus. A prospective Brics member state becomes an invited member state when the Chair announces the consensus of leaders on countries to be invited to become full members. The Chair will inform an invited Brics member state of the decision of the groupings leaders and request the appointment of a Sherpa, the main channel for communication amongst the nations. An invited member state becomes a Brics member state when its leader or foreign minister formally conveys to the Chair its decision to accept the invitation for membership. However, there are warning signals that are too risky to overlook. If the Asean countries believe that joining Brics would embolden China to play a bigger role in its trade war with the US and conflict in the South China Sea, it would be credulous to believe that such an outreach to China would ease escalation of the conflict in the Taiwan Straits. In such a situation, China could be emboldened to be more adventurous to adopt a hard-line stance towards Taiwan. That would be detrimental to regional interests. There is also an economic dimension that needs to be noted. Besides the fear of overdependence on China, it cannot be overlooked that the Chinese economy is slowing down. There is a property crisis as well. If this slowing down process continues for the next three years or so, it will have an impact on the economic growth of countries in the Asean region. There are also other challenges. Bilateral issues such as the festering ties between India and China on boundary issues, or Saudi Arabia and Iran, could vitiate politics. Brics as an organisation would be incapable of dealing with such contentious issues. Also, not all the members of the Asean bloc are enthusiastic about Brics membership. For example, Singapore feels that even without joining Brics, it has already become an investment and financial hub for many Chinese companies and therefore Brics membership would be duplication of bilateral and multilateral agreements with China and other Brics countries. The Philippines position is more difficult as its relationship with China over the South China Sea shows no sign of early resolution. Therefore, relationships between countries and those within the Brics bloc carry the potential of denting the relevance of Brics as well. The considerations for welcoming new members to Brics would depend on whether their expectations of real economic benefits are met. These could include investment packages, lower export barriers, an increase in the knowledge exchange between people and political leaders, certainty on loans for mega-projects and others. These are high expectations and there could be severe bottlenecks. (The writer is former Senior Fellow at Pradhanmantri Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi) When someone mentions Chinatown, one immediately thinks of the numerous Chinatowns all over the world. There is one in Kolkata; there is one in New York; and there are so many more in different cities around the world. But Chinatown is also a great film that first opened in June 1974. In its five decades, it has merely gone on to become a great, great classic, its spirit enduringly loveable, much like Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Roman Holiday and Ben-Hur. Directed by Roman Polanski, Chinatowns legend also stems from its great star castJack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. He plays a Los Angeles private detective Jake Gittes and is hired by Evelyn Mulwray to spy on her husbands philandering ways. Gittes feels that it is a routine, open-and-shut case, but when he runs into the real Evelyn Mulwray (Dunaway), he realises that he has been taken for a ride by an imposter. Mr Mulwrays sudden death pushes the detective into a web of deceit, corruption and sinister secrets. And Evelyns father becomes a prime suspect. Advertisement The movie became a money spinner for Paramount, a much-celebrated return to Hollywood for Polanski after the various charges of sexual misdemeanours he faced, and an Academy Award winner for screenplay writer Robert Towne. It also fetched Oscar nods for Nicholson and Dunaway. Much like Casablanca (with Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, both of whom had the most memorable lines that have been enshrined in the annals of cinematic history), where the makers were unsure how to end it, so too was Towne. He wanted a grander exit for Gittes and was also against him returning to Chinatown, where he ran into another mysterious happening. But there has been a change in this thinking now. Towne, now in his eighties, is working with American auteur David Fincher on a prequel series for Netflix. Gittes would be back in Chinatown, but we are not sure who would replace Nicholson. However, the episodes have all been written. The prequel follows a young Gittes and partner Lou Escobar as they patrol Chinatown, and then a tragedy happens. Chinatown, with all its implications for an evolving Los Angeles, is central to understanding the evolving Jake Gittes, as is his friendship with and dependence on his partner Lou Escobar, Towne said in a recent interview. It was enlightening to delve into their backstory, Escobars in particular. Small details that are touched on in the film are given life and breath in a way that surprised even me. Im fond of the prequel that places Gittes newly in Los Angeles. It is to this young Jake Gittes that I am particularly drawn, Towne continues. Because for all his bravado his not playing by the rules, his penchant to be in charge he controls events far less than events control him. And by the time he figures it out, its much too late to do anything about it, which seems to me the plight of the very young and the very old, Towne affirmed. When David and I first started talking, we agreed we wouldnt try to replicate Noah Cross, Towne said about the villain of the series. But we did want to keep in mind that the crimes that history considers monstrous are those that will not remain in the past but insist on visiting the future, and I think we managed that. What is also interesting is how Nicholsons personality was a huge influence on the way Gittes was written. Towne and Nicholson had been friends since the late 1950s, when they first met in an acting class. They stayed as roommates, and their association helped Towne write the script for Hal Ashbys The Last Detail, which gave Nicholson his most memorable role ever! Towne once said that the moment he met Nicholson, he knew that the actor had great star qualities. And he could not think of anybody else essaying Gittes. Chinatown is now available in Blu-ray. The writer is a senior film critic Nature has been constant and irreplaceable despite the artificial luxuries in this cyber age, and therefore has been personified as our mother. Amid the bustling urban jungle and digital screen, we, be it through short rambles or literary works of eminent individuals like Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Kalidas, Robert Frost, or William Wordsworth, or through gadgets that translate ultrasonic plant waves into music, have always found avenues to connect with our mother on a deeper level. Manikbabur Megh (The Cloud and the Man), a film directed by Abhinandan Banerjee, explores the journey of a socially unfit man, going back to naturewhere it all beganto uncover the entire existence of life, attaining a pursuit of purity in the process. It will be released in theatres on 12 July this year. The film presents a contemplative black-and-white setting that incorporates different contours of genres and emotions, from thriller to horror to romance to tragedy. Apart from the few minimal talkie sequences, the film mostly travels through a silent milieu, a meditative pace, instinctive usage of foley, prop instrumentals, and Indian classical background musicall of it resembling and reflecting the psyche of Manikbabu himself. Advertisement The film casts Chandan Sen as Manikbabu, alongside other characters portrayed by Bratya Basu, Debesh Roy Chowdhury, Nemai Ghosh and Arun Guhathakurta. I specifically chose the element of cloud away from the other elements of nature. With the rise of AI, we have gradually drifted away from conscious living to virtual reality. What if we had a companion who was a totem of nature? A cloud can be considered as one. It is lifeless, but it can be full of life if we consider its ability to move and change its shape and appearance, much like humans, says Banerjee to the Statesman. The film has been featured at 38 film festivals, including the Edinburgh Film Festival and Kolkata International Film Festival, received 14 awards and nominations, and premiered on five continents. It has also been honoured with awards for Best Asian Film (NETPAC) and Best Experimental Film (FICMARC, Venezuela). The trailer for the film was launched on 26 June this year, along with actor Anirban Bhattacharyas newly-released song, Tomar Aamar Golpo Hoto Jodi, to honour the film. The song incorporates a black-and-white video, much like the film, in its thematic depth and seriousness. The historic span of Bengali music and songs extends to more than two centuries. The tradition of Bengali vocal renditions has been continuously revived across generations. Present-day exponents breathe new life into the classic compositions of Bengali maestros, preserving and celebrating the rich cultural heritage they inherited. These modern practitioners not only honour the legacy of their predecessors but also enhance the melodic beauty of the songs, showcasing the timeless musical creativity of Bengali culture. Earlier exponents of the genre, like Dwijendralal Roy, Rajani Kanta Sen and Atul Prasad, have left their mark through their distinctive singing style coupled with the easy-flowing flexibility of the melody, whose lyrics are noted for their simplicity, subtlety, softness and sentimental value, blending a king of intensity that is mind-boggling. In this context, these composers had rendered their vocal compositions on the other side of the border in Opar Bangla, receiving instant recognition. A revival of nostalgia is deemed vital to enlightening the new generation of aspiring vocalists and captive listeners. To perpetuate memories of that foregone era of Rajani Kanta Sen, Surnandan Bharati, under the stewardship of Ritish Ranjan Chakraborty, arranged a musical soiree on Saturday, 22 June, this year, in Kolkatas Indumati Sabhagriha (Jadavpur). According to Ritish Ranjan Chakraborty, Rajani Kantas sons and daughters kept their fathers musical tradition alive through their remembrance and contemplation. Dr Sukamal Das, Supreme Court lawyer Samarendranath Dutta and elocutionist Anita Roy Mukherjee spoke at the inauguration. Advertisement Vocalists Jaba Mukherjee, Indrani Chakraborty, Amitaditya Sanyal, Kamalini Barua, Yudhajit Roy, Amitabha Basu, Tanav Mukherjee, Rupali Bhattacharya, Ushashi Roy and Biswajit Dey gave their separate individual interpretations of the old master composer. This was followed by a dance presentation by Soumita Roy, who synchronised her rhythms with the songs of Rajani Kanta. The audience gave her a round of applause in appreciation of her elegant dance movements. The child artist gave an admirable account of her recital. A watercolour painting of Rajani Kanta Sen by Arjita Das was showcased before the audience. Pt Shivnath Bhattacharya, sarodist Bhavani Shankar Dasgupta and musician Amitaditya Sanyal were special guests at the function. Debashish Sarkar and Anita Roy Mukherjee anchored the musical soiree. Behind the scenes, Ritish Ranjan Chakraborty, Pritam Kundu, Shantanu Mishra and Jaydev Mondal were instrumental in making the musical event dedicated to the memory of Rajani Kanta Sen by reaching out to the audience. The writer is an independent contributor 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. Advertisement 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. 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: Lets 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. Its hard to debate a liar. The New York Times pointed out he (Trump) lied 26 times. Advertisement 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 OMalley 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 Bidens performance on CNN. David Plouffe, another adviser to Obama, called Bidens 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 its 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 Obamas 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns and has intimate experience of presidential debates. Replacing Biden will be difficult if not impossible. The Democratic partys 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 The Sri Lankan government disbursed nearly 12 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($39 million) to the bank accounts of people selected as beneficiaries under Aswesuma welfare benefit payment program, the Presidents Media Division (PMD) said. The PMD said on Friday that money was deposited in the accounts of 622,495 beneficiaries for payments due in June, Xinhua news agency reported. In the first phase of the programme, eligible beneficiaries in the vulnerable category received 5,000 Sri Lankan rupees ($11) monthly from July 2023 to March 31, 2024. Those beneficiaries selected under the transitional category received 2,500 Sri Lankan rupees ($5.5) from July 2023 to December 31, 2023. Advertisement 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 added. 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 programme to cover 2.4 million families under different categories because of the difficult economic situation in the country earlier. LUSAKA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The recent surge in public health outbreaks in Africa highlights an urgent need for countries to strengthen health systems anchored on coordinated epidemic preparedness and response activities, a senior Zambian government official said on Saturday. While acknowledging the progress made in combating health outbreaks and infectious diseases, Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo said new threats have continued to emerge, worsening the burden on health systems, adding that there is a need to build and strengthen health systems to ensure that they are resilient, equitable and empowering communities to thrive. "We need to participate in regular engagements in order to advance efforts toward strengthening our health systems," she said at the start of the third Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, organized by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). She said strengthening health systems is crucial as Africa moves toward a future where inclusive, accessible, and sustainable healthcare will become a reality for all. She commended the Africa CDC for its support in helping countries build resilient health systems by advancing a comprehensive health security agenda aligned with the transformative vision of the new public health order for the continent. According to her, the visionary approach is a game changer that will revolutionize the way Africa addresses its public health security agenda. She added that this will enable African countries to respond more effectively to health threats and improve the health and well-being of citizens. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa CDC, said it is important for African countries to speak with one voice in tackling the public health outbreaks on the continent. He said the continuous public health outbreaks are weakening the continent's healthy systems, hence the need for more cooperation. According to him, the establishment of a joint emergency preparedness and response action plan last year was meant to contextualize Africa's preparedness and response to outbreaks as well as ensure accountability for the resources received. He commended Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi for their remarkable achievements in reducing a cholera outbreak through strong leadership and effective coordination, adding that other countries should learn from such responses. 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 World Bank will give India $1.5 billion to finance a second operation to help accelerate the development of low-carbon energy. This is the second operation which is being supported by the World Bank and cleared by the executive directors' board. The first tranche of $1.5 billion was sanctioned in June last year. The operation will help promote developing a green hydrogen market as well as scaling up of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. The Second Low-Carbon Energy Programmatic Development Policy Operation aims to support reforms to boost the production of green hydrogen and electrolysers, critical technology needed for green hydrogen production. The operation also supports reforms to boost renewable energy penetration; for instance, by incentivising battery energy storage solutions and amending the Indian Electricity Grid Code to improve renewable energy integration into the grid. The World Bank is pleased to continue supporting Indias low-carbon development strategy which will help achieve the countrys net-zero target while creating clean energy jobs in the private sector, said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank country director for India. Indeed, both the first and second operations have a strong focus on boosting private investment in green hydrogen and renewable energy. The reforms supported by the operation are expected to result in the production of at least 4,50,000 metric tonnes of green hydrogen and 1,500 MW of electrolysers per year from the next financial year. In addition, it will also significantly help to increase renewable energy capacity and support reductions in emissions by 50 million tonnes per year. The operation will also support steps to further develop a national carbon credit market. India has taken bold action to develop a domestic market for green hydrogen, underpinned by rapidly expanding renewable energy capacity. The first tenders under the National Green Hydrogen Missions incentive scheme have demonstrated significant private sector interest, said Aurelien Kruse, Xiaodong Wang, and Surbhi Goyal, Team Leaders for the operation. The financing for the operation includes a $1.46 billion loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and a $31.5 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA). June is marked as a time to observe and admire the struggles and challenges faced by the queer community. This one-month-long celebration aims to spread awareness and extend the acceptance of LGBTQIA+. Indian films have changed over the years in portraying queer community. These films not only represent the queer community but celebrate their resilience, love and quest for acceptance. Here are ten Indian movies that discussed subjects sorrounding the lives and struggles of sexual minorities. 1. Deshadanakili Karayarilla Language: Malayalam Director: Padmarajan Padmarajan, is mainly known for his scripts that travel ahead of time. The film was released at a time when homosexual relationships were not acknowledged socially. It revolves around two teenage girls, Nirmala and Sally, played by Karthika and Shari, respectively. The movie explores the life of these teenagers who dont have anyone to trust or guide them regarding their sexual identity. 2. Kapoor and Sons Language: Hindi Director: Shakun Batra The director represents Rahul (played by Fawad Khan), the elder son in the family, as mature and responsible. But the family cant come to terms with reality when his sexual identity is revealed. The film shows how Indian family deals with their childs sexuality and the dramas that follow. Kapoor and Sons can be considered as one of the first films made in Bollywood that represents queer community without any stereotypes. 3. Kaathal- The Core Language: Malayalam Director: Jeo Baby The drama focuses on the life of a bank manager, Mathew Devassy (Mammootty), and how his life is disturbed when his wife (Jyotika) files for divorce. The film shows the life of people who are still forced to hide their sexual identity and live according to societal stereotypes. Kaathal- The Core suggests it is never too late to open your mind and accept yourself. The title of the film shows breaking the shell of a loveless marriage and finding the core, which is the main characters homosexual identity. 4. Aalorukkam Language: Malayalam Director: V. C. Abhilash The movie is the story of a father named Pappu Pisharadi (Indrans), who waits for his long-lost son to return. But when he finally finds himn, he cant come to terms with the fact that his son has undergone gender reassignment surgery. Also, his son, now Priyanka, has a partner, and an adopted child. Aalorukkam tries to show that LGBTQ+ community members wish to lead normal lives like everyone. 5. Mumbai Police Language: Malayalam Director: Rosshan Andrrews This crime drama unfolds the story of a gay police officer, ACP Antony Moses (led by Prithviraj), who betrays friendship to avoid societal backlash. When released, the movie was considered not family-friendly, but later, the role played by Prithviraj was appreciated. One of the finest investigative thrillers made in Malayalam to date, Mumbai Police is a must-watch when it comes to movies that break stereotypes. 6. Aligarh Language: Hindi Director: Hansal Mehta The film is based on a real-life incident when Srinivas Ramchandra Siras (played by Manoj Bajpayee) was removed from his chairman position, accusing him of his homosexual identity. What Siras experienced at the Aligarh Muslim University shows the reality faced by a group of people to this day. The negligence and humiliation Siras faces from society is the story of many other in modern India. 7. Moothon Language: Malayalam Director: Geethu Mohandas Moothon is a drama that unfolds the ties of gender identity and love. The film depicts the homosexual romance between Akbar and Amir (played by Nivin Pauly and Roshan Mathew) with its beauty and honesty. Amir is mute in this story, where critics acclaim that his voicelessness can be showing the muted lives led by the queer community. Moothon shows the lives of many people who are marginalised by society and people who are purposefully invisible to the eyes of society. 8. Badhaai Do Language: Hindi Director: Harshvardhan Kulkarni The film shows the lives of Shardul (Rajkumar Rao) and Sumi (Bhumi Padnekar), both part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They decid to get married to each other just for the sake of their family, and then they could continue with their homosexual identity. The movie depicts the life of many people in rural India, where families are still not ready to accept sexual orientations. 9. Super Deluxe Language: Tamil Director: Thiagarajan Kumararaja Super Deluxe is a Tamil anthology that shows gender representation and resets social standards and norms. The subplot discussing the story of Shilpa, played by Vijay Sethupathi, shows the hurdles faced by a transwoman in the society. She was rejected by everyone in the society but accepted by her son. The film shows that changing one's sex is not a betrayal of the family or society, but it is a realisation and acceptance of self. 10. Fire Language: Hindi Director: Deepa Mehta This movie can be considered one of the first movies in India based on the theme of lesbianism. The protagonists of the story, Radha and Sita, are daughters-in-law of the same family, and both were treated miserably in the family. They had a lesbian relationship and used to find comfort in that relationship than with their partners. The movie was released when the topic of homosexuality was forbidden, and it was believed that it would destroy the institution of marriage. Still, the movie questioned age-old practices and attempted to change peoples orthodox perspective. Amid the ongoing controversy over alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive exams, the National Testing Agency (NTA), on Friday night, announced fresh dates for examinations that were either cancelled or postponed. Accordingly, the UGC-NET will now be held from August 21-September 4. The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) is a test to determine the eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowship, for appointment of assistant professors and admission to PhD courses. It was cancelled a day after being conducted on June 18 as the education ministry was informed that the integrity of the exam was compromised. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said the question paper was leaked on the darknet and circulated on social media. The matter is being probed by the CBI. The exam was conducted in offline mode this year and on a single day. However, the rescheduled exam will now be conducted according to the earlier pattern of Computer Based Test (CBT) spread across a fortnight. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) UGC-NET, which was postponed as a preemptive measure amid the controversy over alleged irregularities in the conduct of exams, will now be held from July 25 to July 27. The CSIR UGC-NET is accepted for PhD admissions in Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. The National Common Entrance Test (NCET) for admission to the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), which was postponed hours before its scheduled commencement on June 12, will now be conducted on July 10. The test is held for select central and state universities or institutions, including IITs, NITs, RIEs, and government colleges. In the line of fire over the alleged irregularities in medical entrance examination NEET-UG and PhD entrance NET, the Centre had last week notified a panel to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA. The Uttar Pradesh has suspended six officials under various departments following potholes in the recently constructed Ram Path leading to Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended six officials of civic agencies for gross negligence following road cave-ins and waterlogging at several sections of the newly-built Ram Path in Ayodhya. Authorities said repair works have been carried out in the stretch. The suspended officials are Dhruv Aggarwal (executive engineer), Anuj Deshwal (assistant engineer) and Prabhat Pandey (junior engineer) of the Public Works Department (PWD) and Anand Kumar Dubey (executive engineer), Rajendra Kumar Yadav (assistant engineer) and Mohammad Shahid (junior engineer) of the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam. About 15 bylanes and streets along the Ram Path were flooded after rain on June 23 and June 25. Even homes along the road went under water. Portions of the 14-kilometre road stretch also caved in at more than a dozen places. Aggarwal and Deshwal were suspended on the orders of special secretary Vinod Kumar on Friday. Pandey's suspension order was issued by PWD chief engineer (development) V.K. Srivastav. Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam Managing Director Rakesh Kumar Mishra issued the orders for the three engineers' suspension. The state government has also issued a notice to Ahmedabad-based contractor Bhuvan Infracom Private Limited in connection with the matter. The PWD's office order stated that the upper-most layer of the Ram Path was damaged shortly after its construction, showing laxity in the work done under top priority of the Uttar Pradesh government and damaging the image of the state among common people. A further probe is underway, PWD principal secretary Ajay Chauhan said. Ayodhya mayor Girish Pati Tripathi told NDTV that efforts to flush out the rainwater were launched soon after the waterlogging was reported. Earlier, Acharya Satyendra Das, Ayodhya Ram temple chief priest said water was leaking from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum following heavy rains and there werent measures to drain water from the premises. However, Nripendra Mishra, Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman said the leakage was expected due to ongoing construction work in the temple. I saw the rainwater dropping from the first floor. This is expected because Guru Mandap is exposed to the sky as the second floor and completion of Shikhar will cover this opening. I also saw some seepage from the conduit as this work on the first floor is in progress. On completion, the conduit will be closed. There is no drainage in the Sanctum Santorum because all the Mandaps have measured slope for clearance of water and the water in Sanctum Santorum is manually absorbed. Moreover, the devotees are not performing Abhishek on the deity. There is no design or construction issue, he had said. -with inputs from agencies. When Barack Obama sought a rerun to the White House, many US citizens got phone calls from the President seeking their backing for a second term. While they were surprised, many did ask the then most powerful man on earth, how did he get hold of their phone number? Today, voters in India are used to getting similar recorded voice calls from MLA and MP hopefuls ahead of the polling day. Many may cut the call sans waiting for the message to finish but hardly ask the question, even to themselves, that US citizens did a decade ago. How did they find his/her personal number? This, in a nutshell, illustrates the state of data security and awareness about it amongst Indians, Nandakishore Harikumar, CEO & Founder of cyber security firm Technisanct, explained. Data breaches are happening in public limited companies that partner with the Government of India even in crucial sectors like defence. Thus, these internal loopholes within the public-owned companies become a matter of national security. Then there are the ransomware attacks targeting the pharma and health sector where India has made huge investments. Not just the personal data of patients but the intellectual property concerning ongoing research in the medical sector are leaked and put on sale online by phishing groups, he said. It is high time India comes up with a data protection policy to safeguard India's innovations and intellectual property, he believes. It is not when the image of the Prime Minister or an opposition leader is tarnished online that a country should feel it has suffered a cyberattack. The growth potential and targets that a country is expecting to achieve in a certain period can be pulled down through data breaches, Nandakishore told THE WEEK during an interview. Excerpts... Question: Technisanct has reported multiple ransomware attacks targeting the Indian pharma sector and hospitals recently. Is India's health sector being targeted? How big a threat is it? Many leading Indian pharma companies have suffered ransomware attacks. Cyber attacks targeting the sector happen in large volumes. 10-15 firms reported ransomware attacks in the past 1 to one and a half years. The point that interests me is the fact that it is not just the patient data that is leaked. Intellectual property -- the research they do in these institutions is compromised and made available to the public. The government and big Indian brands are unaware of this intellectual property aspect of phishing. Indigenous research that is happening in India is threatened as the pharma sector is continuously under attack. Such attacks have become a trend and both public holding and private companies are threatened. It is important that we address this issue as it is as pharma is a sector that we boast about. The West is watching India's pharma innovations. Q: This gives the impression that India is not serious about data breaches... When I speak about data, I am not just speaking about data breaches. There is something called the right to data. An Indian citizen's data is collected across platforms. If an individual or a bank is collecting our data are they supposed to keep the data after the purpose is served? Is it deleted afterward or not? How are they processing the data? We don't have a framework to deal with all that in India. Even the proposed data protection bill is sans such a framework. The growth potential and targets that a country is expecting to achieve in a certain period can be pulled down through data breaches. India should focus on data protection policy. In the long run, a lack of data protection guidelines can even cost us foreign investments. But we don't seem serious enough when it comes to addressing this aspect. Q: Ransomware attacks have remained a sword of Damocles for some time now. Why are the agencies unable to get rid of this cyber threat for good? Ransomware has become a service and phishing (scam emails that contain links to malicious websites) remains the popular model to breach targets. Anybody can hire these groups to launch an attack on anybody. ALSO READ | 72 million users face personal data leak onto dark web, AT&T reveals In 2023, around 2 TB of military data was leaked from Nagpur-based Solar Industries India Ltd by a group called BlackCat. The data was then put on sale in the public domain. Shockingly, the GoI is not auditing such companies frequently to ensure the data is safe in their hands. There is an audit at the physical level to prevent breaches at such centers. But why can't the same be done at the data level? Q: Can you elaborate on more such instances of data breaches from the recent past in the public sector that can shed some light on the gravity of the situation? Earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu Police Department suffered a data leak. Its Facial Recognition Portal (frs.tnpolice.gov.in) was breached and info including names of officers, phone numbers, and FIR details were compromised. About 1 GB of data was made available in the public domain for just 2 euros. What action did the government take afterward, were the vendors pulled up and held responsible? Was the company that designed and maintained the system booked or at least fined? Safety first: Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (third from right) at the Cyber Security Grand Challenge Awards ceremony in November, 2021. In 2021, Technisanct found that data of 5.2 million users, which included 49,19,668 Aadhaar numbers, was leaked from Tamil Nadu's public distribution system. Even VIPs' data were accessed from tnpds.gov.in by a group that goes by the name 1945VN. According to the Aadhaar policy, if data is saved, it should be stored in an encrypted format. Even after the leak was reported, the Aadhaar authorities didn't pull the department responsible for not following the rules. Why? Q: How are data breaches reported in India? Is there a nodal agency? Usually, it is the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) or if it is critical infrastructure, you have the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC). They do have a bug bounty program but the kind of reaction you receive depends on the mood of the people concerned. We can't quantify data breaches in India as CERT has no investigation authority. Brands are supposed to alert CERT instead of hiding data leaks. But if they do hide them from government agencies, then companies like ours may act as a watchdog and tip off CERT. But we do have limitations. ALSO READ | Data Protection Bill is here, but it may not protect your data like you think It surprises me that even large organisations with huge funding are not keeping their data safe. They should show a more civic sense, and if they are giving you no choice but to be taught with an iron fist, then the government should consider fining them and hold them responsible for leaks. Unless we implement strict systems we can't expect far-reaching changes. Q: Why is data security vulnerable in India? If a data breach happens in the US, they can appoint an investigation agency or a private party to research and see what data has been leaked. Meanwhile, if a company here tells the government that one of our machines has been compromised, they are going to believe it and move on... They tend to close it fast instead of verifying if it was just one system afterall. By reporting it to the government neither is it prevented nor a solution is found. This leads the brands to think -- why we should report it anyway? For them, it is a bad PR if the news breaks. So they want to hide it when a data breach happens. Another major issue in India is that even if the data with the government is not secure, it is not questioned. The regular security audits remain applicable only to private players and government departments and their vendors get out easily. I am not differentiating between the central and state machineries, they are all least bothered about people's data at their disposal. Either they are unaware or not bothered. They just don't want to open another Pandora's box. Inking safety: The UAE-based EliteCISOs signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel-based Cyber Together as part of a strategic cyber security partnership. Q: What is the root cause of this lackluster approach? We don't understand why data is important. There is no system in place in this country to understand about data leaks. People get a lot of hoax calls on a daily basis, have you ever wondered how they caught hold of our number in the first place? These guys are buying data. Research shows it is the digital footprints of Indians that are most easily available. Unless it is an obvious scandalous cyber crime, nobody cares about it in this country. Q: What can the government ideally do to ensure private players and public-funded organisations take data security seriously? I have personal experience of having found a security loophole and flagging it to the Centre. They felt offended, Sadly. this attitude needs to go away. The government's cybersecurity is always almost from a surveillance perspective. Crime prevention seems their sole objective. It should be understood that there is much to do beyond monitoring social media activities. In many cases, no initiative takes place even when a possible data breach or ransomware attack is pointed out. Internet is very cheap in India, so we should have a strong data regulation policy. Secondly, state governments should venture and form their own policies, This can solve a part of the crisis. They should decide that the data they are holding is highly protected and must come out of the belief that since all their data is stored in the central government's Network Operations Center (NOC) server, it is New Delhi's responsibility to safeguard the same. Q: In your opinion, how should the state governments approach data security? Instead of taking part in blame games when a crisis emerges, state governments should decide to have a data protection law. The state governments should ensure that their third-party vendors run audits and their certifications should be verified before bringing them on board. Such technical auditing and policies can positively expand the data regulation umbrella. I prefer to pick Kerala as an example because it already has something like Cyberdome (technological research and development centre of Kerala Police) in place. An active bug bounty program will ensure even private data breaches are reported. When you have resources at your disposal, why can't they use them? Q: So, is there a model state in India that is getting the basics right when it comes to cyber data? A model to emulate amongst our ranks, maybe? No. States with bigger industries face bigger cyber threats. No matter how we try to sugarcoat it, India's cybersecurity is, at the end of the day, weak. We can't show a 100% safe or foolproof model anywhere in the world. Here, there is no regulatory machine that stands ultimately for the safety of data. Why can't we have a standalone ministry for cybersecurity? Q: Where do you think India should look for a role model when it comes to data security? Some European governments are very vocal about their initiatives surrounding data. Singapore also has a replicable example. When details of HIV patients got leaked, the Singapore govt fined its health department. Can we even think about a govt fining its branch here? In these countries, governments pull up departments and launch investigations against them over data leaks. Here, when a leak happens, the government decides to hide it instead. It prefers to cover up while it should take responsibility. How can there be transparency when you are not owning up? This is the kind of data regulatory framework we need to build. Q: How can cyber security firms and ''hacktivists'' contribute to making the data of Indians safer? What is your tribe doing to walk the talk in the Indian scenario? Ethical hackers turn ''hacktivists'' when the state turns a blind eye towards them and offers no backing. There is always scope for public-private partnerships in data protection and cyber security. For example, imagine the Kerala Police Cyberdome decides to join hands with cybersecurity experts who can run vulnerability monitoring programs across the Kerala government's infrastructure. These teams can do a thorough job and in return earn certifications from the department. Such players would love to have a certificate of collaboration with a state government or police force and feel their morale boosted. And such collabs are not going to cost the exchequer a bomb. Q: In your experience, who/ which countries are behind attacks targeting Indian institutions? Russia is home to most ransomware groups -- state-controlled or independent. Every government will try to acquire as much data as possible from the cyber world. There are no allies and foes in this world. Anybody can tie up with anyone because only data matters. At least some of these groups would have started as cybersecurity professionals who would have tried to play the nice guy card and report cybersecurity issues to the government. they received no attention and they decided to go rogue. ALSO READ | Shortage of skilled professionals policy gaps key challenges for cyber security Report Q: Is it the spending part that is holding governments back from strengthening data security? It is a misconception that cybersecurity is expensive. It is a set of policies plus strategies. A security audit is not going to cost a government department more than a few lakhs, it is no question of affordability. In fact, the government is spending crores on cybersecurity products. However, after implementing such tools, they should be properly monitored. Analyzing the data from the tools, there need to be revisions of policies and strategies. Gone are the days when government offices used pirated versions of operating systems. Our offices too have gradually started spending on paid VPNs, antivirus software, and the like. The complete adoption of such a culture might not be way ahead of us, but we are not moving fast enough either. By the time, we reach there most of our organisations would have faced a data breach already. Nandakishore Harikumar of cyber security firm 'Technisanct' We are constantly under attack and it feels like we are unaware of it. A Delhi Court on Saturday reserved orders on the Central Bureau of Investigations plea seeking to remand Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody as his police custody ended on Saturday. The Court permitted Kejriwal to meet his family in Court premises. The Aam Aadmi Party leader is already serving remand in a related money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate. Kejriwal was produced in Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on expiry of his three-day custody period with the CBI on Saturday. The central agency took custody of the Delhi CM from Tihar prison in connection with the probe into an alleged scam in scrapped Delhi liquor policy. When the CBI first registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2022 in the Delhi liquor policy scam, it did not name Kejriwal as an accused. The role of the chief ministers office has come under cloud as the CBI sleuths are examining evidence against Kejriwals close aide Vijay Nair who was allegedly given the responsibility to coordinate the meetings with the south group including the BRS leaders from Hyderabad. The AAP government is allegedly accused of tweaking the excise policy to allegedly benefit the south group. The report prepared by the close aides of Kejriwal, says CBI, became the policy in which profit margins were increased from six to twelve per cent. And those papers, where certain officers refused to sign on the changes, have gone missing, explained the CBI which has in its possession several WhatsApp chats exchanged by the accused as well as details of travel meetings with the south group at a convention centre of a five-star hotel in south Delhi. The Delhi CM was arrested by ED on charges of money laundering on March 21 for his alleged role in the excise policy scam. Though the trial court granted him bail recently, the Delhi High Court stayed his release and observed the trial court did not rightly discuss the conditions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and vicarious liability of Kejriwal under section 70 PMLA. While granting relief. In his first public interaction after launching his political outfit, actor-politician Vijay urged the students to say no to drugs. He also slammed the ruling DMK government for failing to control the sale of drugs in the state. Speaking at the meet and greet event to felicitate the Class X and XII students who fared well in the exams, the actor urged students to become good leaders in their respective fields. Many of you think of medicine or engineering as successful fields. In Tamil Nadu, we already have world-class doctors, engineers and lawyers. We currently lack good leaders. I dont mean political leaders, but also those who can climb the ladder and become a leader in their respective fields, he said. Urging the students to dream of a future in which politics can become a viable career option for the educated youth, he asked them to read news and views and understand politics better. Advising the students not to indulge in bad habits, he told them not to lose their identity at any cost. There is an increase in consumption of drugs in Tamil Nadu, especially among youngsters. I am worried about this trend both as a parent and as the leader of the poetical party. Say no to drugs, he said. Criticising the ruling DMK dispensation indirectly, Vijay said the next generation has to be self-disciplined as the government alone cannot be held responsible for the drug menace. However, during his eight-minute speech, Vijay did not speak about NEET or the medical entrance examswhich had always been an emotive issue in the stateat a time when the controversy around NEET irregularities is rocking the country. Vijays advice to the students asking them to politically equip and empower themselves to become leaders may not cut ice with Tamil Nadu voters, as the actor neither opposed or criticised the state or the Central government. He did not criticise any of the party leaders in the state, even when he touched on the drug issue. Vijays Thamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam will face its debut election in 2026, where Vijay will be pitched as the chief ministerial candidate by his fans. Though Vijay targets the young and first-time voters, Tamil Nadu politics have always thrown surprises for the actors. While most cinema actors in Tamil Nadu aimed at the CMs chair, none of them other than MGR and Jayalalithaa have proved successful. MGRs politics apparently grew with the Dravidian movement, deep-rooted in the Dravidian ideology and all his movies talked about uplifting the downtrodden. He had a long career in cinema and politics simultaneously and launched his own party only a decade after he got into active politics. However, for Vijayakanth, Kamal Hassan or Thalapathy Vijay, the Tamil Nadu political ground is not the same as it was for MGR. The state has come a long way in terms of reservation, education, women empowerment and livelihood. In such a situation it remains to be seen what will be Vijays political ideology. This photo taken on June 29, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Houla, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member was killed and three others wounded on Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on the southeastern Lebanese village of Houla, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) BEIRUT, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah member was killed and three others wounded on Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on the southeastern Lebanese village of Houla, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said an Israeli drone targeted, with three air-to-surface missiles, a house and a store in the center of Houla, killing a Hezbollah member and wounding two others. They added that another Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle on the main road linking Houla and Mays al-Jabal village, also located in southeastern Lebanon, wounding its driver by firing two missiles. Meanwhile, Lebanese Civil Defense reported that a separate Israeli drone attack hit a farm in the village of Wazzani, leading to a massive fire. Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border have escalated since 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. This photo taken on June 29, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Houla, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member was killed and three others wounded on Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on the southeastern Lebanese village of Houla, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on June 29, 2024 shows buildings destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Houla, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member was killed and three others wounded on Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on the southeastern Lebanese village of Houla, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on June 29, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Houla, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member was killed and three others wounded on Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on the southeastern Lebanese village of Houla, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee urged that judiciary must be pure, honest and there should not be any political bias. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was also present. Addressing a conference on contemporary judicial developments in Kolkata, Banerjee said, All those in the judiciary are an asset to the country and the world. It is not my intention to humiliate anyone but my kind submission, please see that there is no political bias in the judiciary. The chief minister added it must be pure, honest, sacred and people should worship it. Banerjees comments come after a former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigned to contest Lok Sabha polls. He contested the polls as a BJP candidate and won from the Tamluk constituency. During his tenure, he had come down heavily against the state government. In the deathly hour sometime between 1am and 2am on Friday night, five Indian Army soldiers fought a losing battle as they, along with the about 45-ton heavy T-72 tank, submerged under the raging waters of the Shyok River in Eastern Ladakh. The accident spot is about 7km north of Kilometre148, near the Indian military base of Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) located near the Karakoram Pass. One junior commissioned officer and four other ranks got drowned in the flash flood as the water level suddenly rose in the Shyok River, a source told THE WEEK. The tank and its crew were de-inducting from a military training activity. A boat sent for the rescue operation also capsized in the heavy current, the source added. The T-72 tank was part of the deployment that had been airlifted over the years to be deployed in the oxygen-depleted and heavily mountainous Eastern Ladakh region. While a very small tank presence has been there in Ladakh since 2014, the move to fly sizeable numbers of tanks to the Leh airportat more than 11,000 feetand from there to their place of deployment in east Ladakh started in earnest from the summer of 2015. Since then for a year, these tanks were airlifted first in single numbers and then in twos in Globemaster C-17 military transport aircraft with the Indian Air Force undertaking even two sorties in a day. The tank presence in Eastern Ladakh now comprises T-90 tanks too. While tanks in the high craggy mountains may sound like an anomaly, it has to be kept in mind that the terrain in eastern Ladakh also comprises expanses of totally barren rocky wasteland and plateau-plains like in Chushul, or in Demchok which offer ideal terrain for tank warfare. India has a mix of T-72, T-90 and Arjun tanks. Relying for more than three decades on the Russian T-72 tanks, Indias mainstay is now the T-90 tank with the DRDO-made main battle tank (MBT) Arjun being the third foil in the countrys tank regiments. Zorawar tanks The latest option in the form of the light weight Zorawar tank is undergoing trials. Weighing just about 25 tons, the Zorawar is seen as an effective counter to the Chinese Type 15 light tanks that weigh around 33 tons. Named after the legendary 19th century Dogra general Zorawar Singh who led blitzkrieg-type attacks in Ladakh and present day Gilgit-Baltistan, the Zorawar is to be equipped with state-of-the-art niche technologies including artificial intelligence, drone integration, Active Protection System, surveillance and communication capabilities and a high degree of situational awareness. Even as a few MLAs from Manipur BJP and its allies are camping in Delhi and amid rumours of a possible leadership change in the state, Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh ruled out the possibility of his resignation. According to media reports, a section of MLAs from the ruling BJP and its allies, National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF) have been seeking the resignation of the chief minister. There have also been speculations about Singh's possible resignation after he was left out of a security review meeting on the state convened by the Centre in Delhi earlier in June. However, Biren Singh claimed there is no such move to oust him. Almost 35 MLAs had met with me on Thursday and the decision was taken to seek an appointment for a meeting with the prime minister and home minister. That is all, The Hindu quoted him as saying. Singh said he will also head to Delhi soon for the meeting. The MLAs entrusted me with getting the appointment, but since the Parliament is on and things are so hectic, I thought why should I disturb? When the meeting happens, I will also go. But some people have gone ahead. This has nothing to do with a resignation, NDTV quoted the chief minister as saying. He also thanked the prime minister and the home minister for putting Manipur on their list of priorities for the first 100 days of the new NDA government. A few days ago, Manipur BJP president A. Sharda Devi met Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and held an extensive discussion on the current situation in the ethnic strife-hit state. "Met Hon'ble Home Minister, Mananiya Shri @AmitShah 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 tranquillity to the state, while appreciating the ongoing efforts," she posted on X. "Additionally, highlighted the need for resettling IDPs (internally displaced persons) and providing maximum support for smooth rehabilitation," she added.#en as a few MLAs from Manipur BJP and its allies are camping in Delhi and amid rumours of a possible leadership change in the state, Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh ruled out the possibility of his resignation. The police arrested a class 9 student for allegedly stabbing his classmate inside a classroom in Odisha's Ganjam district on Saturday. The incident happened on Friday morning at Raghunath High School of Ganjam's Ramchandrapur. The teenager, who had a knife in his school bag, attacked his classmate inside the classroom. There was no teacher when the incident took place, news agency PTI said. Initially, it was assumed there was a possible romantic motive behind the attack. However, after probing further, students told the cops that the incident was sparked by sudden provocation, the news agency said. The victim is now undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital. His condition was stated to be stable. The 14-year-old boy was apprehended after a case was registered against him following a complaint by headmaster. BJP leader Uma Bharti on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should not be blamed for the party's poor performance in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections. The party had fared badly in the state even after the demolition of the Babri masjid, the former Union minister said here. The saffron party won only 33 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 elections. "It is not right to blame Modi and Yogi for the Lok Sabha election results in Uttar Pradesh. BJP had lost even after the demolition of the Babri structure on December 6, 1992. Despite this, we did not drop the Ram temple in Ayodhya from our agenda....We never associated Ayodhya with votes. Similarly, now we are not associating (disputes regarding religious places at) Mathura-Kashi with votes," Bharti said while replying to a reporter's question. To another question, she said one needs to understand the nature of the Hindu community which does not conflate the social system with the religion. "It is the Islamic society which works by uniting the social and religious systems. That is why they vote according to the social system," the BJP leader claimed. The results in Uttar Pradesh did not mean people's devotion for Lord Ram had dwindled, Bharti further said. "We should not have this arrogance that every Ram devotee will vote for the BJP. We should not think that the one who does not vote for us is not a Ram devotee. This (the poll result) is the outcome of some negligence and nothing else," she added. Running a coalition government at the Centre with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu would not be difficult as in the past the BJP had run governments successfully with them as allies, she said. Earlier in the day, Bharti met local BJP leaders in Shivpuri on her way to Bhopal from Gwalior. It was a historic moment for Portugal and the European Union (EU) as former prime minister of Portugal, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, has been elected as the President of the European Council in Brussels. He became the first Portuguese leader to hold this position, and the appointment marks a significant milestone in European politics. The appointment was almost a certainty but was only confirmed during the leaders' meeting in Brussels. But who is Antonio Costa, and what does his presidency mean for the EU? Born in 1961, Antonio Costa was a lawyer turned pro-politician with a strong socialist background and a member of the Partido Socialista or Socialist Party (PS) of Portugal. During his tenure as the prime minister of Portugal, he carried out packages to revitalize Lisbon and Portugal as a whole. His leadership style combines pragmatism with a commitment to social justice, making him a respected leader both locally and internationally. Before becoming the prime minister, he served multiple terms as a cabinet minister in Portugal, became the vice president of the European Parliament, and later the mayor of Lisbon. Nicknamed Gandhi of Lisbon for his frugal lifestyle and his Indian roots, in 2017, he was presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India. He also holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. The news of the presidency was confirmed by the current President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who in a tweet on X announced Antonio Costa as the new President of the European Council. Notably, Costas name wasnt initially on the table. The council chose him despite his absence from the initial list of candidates, signalling a willingness to consider unconventional options and also Portugals growing influence in the EU. At a press conference, Charles Michel praised the speed of the election process for Antonio Costa. He considers it a strong sign of European democracy and unity. Diplomatic sources report that the decision was made during a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, where leaders of the European Union (EU) also put forward a proposal for Ursula von der Leyen to lead the European Commission for a second term. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated following her nomination for a second term (which is contingent upon the European Parliament's final approval) that she was "honoured and delighted" to be sharing the appointment with Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas (Estonian prime minister) to top EU positions. In the European Councilan institution that convenes the heads of government and state from EU member statesCostas appointment was made by a qualified majority vote (55 per cent of the 27 member states) representing 65 per cent of the total population. Sense of mission Through X (formerly Twitter), Antonio Costa announced that it will be "With a huge sense of mission" that he will assume the responsibility of being the next president of the European Council. Costa also thanked the council members for their support and trust. He also guarantees that his priority will be unity and harmony between member states. The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has already congratulated this decision, in a statement published on the Presidency's website. He added that the European Commission's decision to appoint Antonio Costa as the next president was a "remarkable decision" for Europe as well as Portugal and also mentioned, EU would be in good hands. The current prime minister of Portugal, Luis Montenegro, also congratulated his predecessor on his appointment as President of the European Commission, saying "The decision would be more cohesive and capable of building bridges". Costa's personal commitment and work already showed harmony and progress in Portugal and the EU. After resigning following a judicial investigation over a corruption scandal, the former Portuguese prime minister said he was not going to be in politics for a while. However, later the accusations against Costa were ruled out. The recent elections seemed to have had concerns over Costa's standing as a candidate. Also, just 10 days ago, uncertainty loomed as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk raised questions about Antonio Costas competence and the need for legal clarification. However, recent developments suggest that these concerns no longer pose an obstacle to his appointment. The roles of the President of the European Council were established by the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on December 13, 2007. Herman Van Rompuy, also former Belgian prime minister, was the first to hold this position for two terms, from December 1, 2009 to November 30, 2014. Now, the former PM Antonio Costa is all set to succeed the Belgian Charles Michel (in office since 2019). Costas policies have always focused on prioritizing social well-being, economic stability and environmental sustainabilitya departure from the more conservative leadership that has been observed in recent years. And further, as a socialist, he is also expected to bring a fresh perspective to the role. With the first presidential debate going not so well, United States President Joe Biden on Friday hit back at the criticism flooding on social media and acknowledged his age and bad debate. While addressing a rally in North Carolina, Biden vowed to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump and said he knows how to do his job well. "I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," he said. "I dont walk as easy 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 [and] I know how to do this job," said Biden. ALSO READ | First US Presidential debate: Biden stumbles as Trump scores a win During the presidential debate of the 2024 elections, Biden gave an overall shaky performance. He stumbled while replying to the questions, his voice hoarse and his train of thought was interrupted. The debate fiasco had not only opened up criticism in his own party but has also raised concerns among Biden supporters regarding the future. Meanwhile, Trump on the other hand hailed the first debate as a "big victory". "Biden's problem is not his age...He's grossly incompetent," said Trump while addressing a rally in Virginia. "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 in the White House," Trump said. With the Democrats concerned about its candidate's strength, there were also rumours that Biden would drop out of the race. However, it was shot down by the party officials and dismissed such claims. Former Democratic House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, had said that "from a performance standpoint it wasn't great." Biden's former communications director Kate Bedingfield also called it "a really disappointing debate performance." However, senior Democrats and Biden allies showed support and defended his performance. Former President Barack Obama wrote on X that "bad debate nights happen." "This election is still a choice between someone who fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself," said Obama. Being confident in the way ahead, the Biden campaign said it raised $14 million on Thursday and Friday after the debate night. While, Trump raised $8 million during the debate night on Thursday. I had heard of the stadiumGreen Parkwhen I was young, and I thought that it was because the whole ground was green. I had not seen any stadiums at the time. Akash Deep cricketer, on playing at Green Park in Kanpur Somehow I am stuck with a lot of perception problems. I feel that people perceive me in a certain way because of the part I have played as a talk show host. Karan Johar filmmaker I do not cheat, lie, or mislead. I recognise that some people have become accustomed to falsehoods and have been voting based on those lies, but I speak the truth, which only a few may comprehend. Ghulam Nabi Azad Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief, at an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir If he wants to talk to me, thats a good choice because I am a pretty decent person. There are a lot of things that happen, and these things have nuance; they are very complex. They are not matters that can be discussed in a broad public way. He is a very erudite, intelligent, sharp-witted man and in many realms, a very good poet. Salman Akhtar author-psychoanalyst, on his brother and lyricist Javed Akhtar New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will roll out revised mobile service tariffs increasing rates in the range of 10-24 per cent from the first week of July. Bharti Airtel announced a 10-21 per cent hike in prepaid and postpaid mobile tariffs from July 3, a day after larger rival Reliance Jio announced an increase in rates. Later in the day, loss-making telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) also announced its plan to raise mobile tariffs by 11-24 per cent from July 4. Vi, however, has not made any changes across its several plans comprising Rs 1,799 and Rs 3,099 plan with 365 days validity as well as some of the data add-on packs. Bharti Airtel said it has maintained that the mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) needs to be upwards of Rs 300 to enable a financially healthy business model for telcos in India. "We have ensured that there is a very modest price increase (less than 70 paise per day) on entry-level plans, in order to eliminate any burden on budget-challenged consumers," Airtel said announcing revision in its mobile tariffs. The tariff hikes from mobile operators come immediately after the 10th spectrum auction, which ended in just two days with muted response from the industry. Jio, India's largest telecom operator, announced a 12-27 per cent hike in mobile tariffs on Thursday. That said, a look at the tariff and rate hikes announced by the two telcos respectively, indicates that most of the Airtel mobile plans will still cost more than that of Reliance Jio. According to a UBS report, Airtel's new price across plans will cost 3-22 per cent more than that of Jio's plan which will be effective from July 3 onwards. Among the unlimited voice plans, Airtel has raised tariffs in the ballpark range of about 11 per cent, and accordingly rates are revised from Rs 179 to Rs 199; from Rs 455 to Rs 509; and from Rs 1,799 to Rs 1,999. In the daily data plan category, the Rs 479 plan that comes with a 56-day validity and 1.5 GB data per day, has been increased to Rs 579 (20.8 per cent hike). The 1GB per day plan with 28-day validity has been tweaked from Rs 265 to Rs 299, whereas the 1.5 GB per day offering has increased from Rs 299 to Rs 349. In the longer 84-day validity plans, subscribers will have to shell out Rs 140 more (in absolute terms) depending on the offering. Here, the 1.5 GB per day offering has been raised from Rs 719 to Rs 859, while the 2 GB per day offering has been raised from Rs 839 to Rs 979. Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced changes across most of its plan from July 4. "In line with its commitment to provide its consumers with simple and comprehensive plans, Vi has curated an optimum range of feature-rich plans to meet the diverse needs of its consumers. Staying true to its philosophy of supporting entry-level users and progressively linking higher prices to increased usage, changes in entry-level plans are nominal," Vi said. The company has raised the entry-level plan, minimum recharge value for 28 days of mobile service, by about 11 per cent to Rs 199 from Rs 179. Vi has raised the price of a popular 84-day validity plan with 1.5 GB data per day to Rs 859 from Rs 719 earlier. The company has increased the price of its annual unlimited plan by about 21 per cent to Rs 3,499 from 2,899 at present. It has made no change in its 365-day validity plan with 24 GB data limit, which costs users Rs 1,799 as well as a high-end annual prepaid plan of Rs 3,099 which offers 2GB data per day. "Vi is planning significant investments over the next few quarters to further enhance the 4G experience as well as launch 5G services," the statement said. SHANGHAI, June 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From June 26 to 28, 2024, the Mobile World Congress Shanghai (MWC Shanghai) grandly opened at the New International Expo Center. Themed "Future First," this year's conference focused on cutting-edge topics such as "5G and Beyond," "AI Economy," and "Manufacturing DX." Under the theme "Dedication, For A Smarter Future", H3C comprehensively showcased its innovative products and solutions in the fields of "Cloud-Network-Security-Computing-Storage-Terminal," as well as the practical outcomes of AI technology applications across various industries. During the exhibition, H3C's booth attracted close attention from domestic carriers and industry customers, as well as overseas customers and partners from Spain, Turkey, KSA, Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They delved deep into H3C's full-stack technical strength and its successful cases and practical experiences in the global market. Computing Power Connectivity: Unleashing the Infinite Potential of AIGC Amidst the explosive growth in computing power demand, H3C, through technological innovation, has achieved a deep integration of diversified computing power and standardized connectivity, breaking the "invisible barriers" within AIGC infrastructure. This allows for more flexible scheduling and release of computing power, providing more efficient and stable support for model training and inference. LinSeer Intelligent Computing Solution: H3C fully demonstrated the industry-leading LinSeer Intelligent Computing solution, fully leveraging the multiplying effect of "computing power x connectivity." Anchoring the "1+N" large-scale model strategy (LinSeer private large-scale model + N selected ecological large-scale models), it accelerates the formation of new quality productive forces across various industries. Multi-Heterogeneous Computing Power: Facing the continuous growth in computing power demand from generative AI, H3C introduced the new multi-heterogeneous computing power platforms H3C UniServer R5330 G7 and H3C UniServer R5500 G7. With multiple advantages such as diverse heterogeneity, powerful computing capacity, flexible architecture, and strong scalability, these platforms provide robust support for different AI workloads, contributing to the high-quality development of the digital economy. The AMPHA Computing Power Platform 3.0: Centered around "computing power as service," the platform achieves efficient utilization of computing resources through unified intelligent scheduling of heterogeneous computing power, AI full-cycle development services, and large-scale intelligent computing center operations management. Supporting the scheduling of unified computing power across large-scale clusters and compatible with various architecture acceleration cards, it significantly enhances resource utilization. Additionally, it provides AI full-cycle development services from data processing to application deployment, accelerating the practical application of AI technologies. Intelligent Computing Center Network: Aimed at AI large-scale model training scenarios, H3C's end-to-end collaborative intelligent computing network solution features large-scale networking capabilities, highly efficient computing communication, and superior operational capabilities. With an advanced DDC (Distributed Data Center) architecture, it offers innovative zero-congestion lossless solutions, enhancing computing communication efficiency. H3C also teamed up with China Mobile to launch the industry-leading Global Scheduling Ethernet (GSE) solution, jointly creating a new intelligent computing network. H3C showcased the world's first single-chip 51.2T 800G CPO silicon photonics switch, capable of supporting an AIGC cluster size exceeding 32,000 nodes and improving GPU computational efficiency by 25%, ensuring maximum AIGC cluster computational performance. Wide Area Computing Network: Addressing the computational power needs of customers across various scales and industries, H3C has built a high-speed, low-cost, computational power-adapted "computational power highway" by upgrading 400G ports and incorporating computational power factors into routing algorithms. Additionally, it launched service-based computational power private lines, providing elastic, differentiated computational power transmission services for sudden large-scale computational power demands, enabling on-demand construction and significantly enhancing the cost-effectiveness and service flexibility of government and enterprise customers, promoting the inclusive supply of computational power resources. Converged Edge Cloud Network: H3C provides critical technical support for the business transformation of To C/To H/To B through computational power sinking to build ecological platforms, attracting multiple businesses to settle at the edge. On the cloud side, edge application servers adopt a modular design, enhancing GPU inference capabilities, adapting to various environments, and ensuring green and efficient delivery. On the network side, the edge cloud gateway's control-separation design and large-capacity high-density characteristics support multi-business offloading, achieving cloud-edge collaborative optimization. AI Future: Building a New Intelligent Era During the exhibition, H3C fully showcased its innovative technologies and applications in the AIGC field. Based on the "AI for All" industry empowerment strategy, H3C actively supports the practical application of AI technology in various industries, creating a more intelligent world. Rooted in the needs of the AIGC era, H3C, in collaboration with ecosystem partners, established the Hangzhou Turing Town AIGC Intelligent Computing Center, promoting the LinSeer private large-scale model in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, and other locations, as well as pilot applications in several large enterprises. The AIGC LinSeer integrated machine showcased on-site serves as the smallest unit for implementing large-scale model applications, helping various industry users quickly realize model privatization delivery. In deepening government-enterprise cooperation, H3C relies on its layout in cutting-edge technologies such as computational power networks and deterministic networks, helping carriers achieve computational-network integration and cloud-network integration, jointly creating competitive scenario-based solutions. By integrating full-chain resources, H3C collaborates with carriers to provide solutions for key areas such as public sector, healthcare, education, and enterprises, promoting the digital transformation of industry development and social governance. Digital Life Within Reach H3C brought the latest products and solutions from its commercial and intelligent terminal series to the scene, providing users with a seamless digital life experience through innovative technology and leading product experiences in key areas such as smart homes, smart education, and smart healthcare. Among them, the brand-new FTTR series solution revolutionizes the network experience for homes and businesses. Furthermore, H3C also showcased a deeply integrated, experience-prioritized, secure and reliable, and intelligently empowered digital workspace. Through mobile cloud computers and innovative "cloud + software + terminal" solutions, H3C intuitively delivers to users in desktop form, enabling them to enjoy instant cloud computer services anytime, anywhere with just one terminal, meeting diverse scenario needs. As a trusted core strategic partner for carriers, H3C deeply participates in the cloud infrastructure and network construction of the three major carriers and collaborates with them to fully engage in fields such as smart cities, intelligent manufacturing, smart education, and smart healthcare, creating a series of industry benchmark projects and contributing to the construction of "Digital China." Looking to the future, H3C will adhere to the philosophy of "Dedication, For A Smarter Future," deeply engaging in AIGC technology innovation and application expansion. In the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, H3C will continue to create value for customers in collaboration with partners, jointly building a more intelligent, efficient, and beautiful future. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR by Yi Xin When speaking of China-Africa cooperation, the word "kaleidoscopic" comes to mind. Recent years have seen fruitful outcomes of bilateral cooperation in multiple fields. Among them, infrastructure is one. From the plateau in the east to the coast in the west, from the landlocked countries in the sub-Saharan region to the small island states in the Western Indian Ocean, roads, railways, bridges, ports, schools, hospitals and power stations built with Chinese assistance are paving the groundwork for a better future for a land of promise and potential. Transport projects drive a more connected future. "To get rich, build roads first." This is not just a popular Chinese proverb, but an important takeaway from China's own development. Drawing on this experience, China has spent decades working with Africa to build the transport backbone necessary for driving economic growth. It would be remiss not to mention the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, a transport artery connecting Ethiopia and Djibouti and the first electrified transnational railway in East Africa. It is a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, and one of the two main lines of transport in the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa which China put forward in 2022 to support regional countries in addressing security, development and governance challenges. The railway greatly improved the access of countries along the route to the outside world. It has cut transport time for freight goods from more than three days to less than 20 hours, and reduced the cost by at least one-third. To date, the railway has transported 680,000 passengers and 9.5 million tons of cargo, with an average annual growth rate of 39 percent in revenue. As countries in the region grapple with soaring oil prices, the electrified railway has played an increasingly important role in delivering essential materials such as edible oil and fertilizers to meet the needs of socioeconomic development. In May this year, Chinese contractors handed over the railway's management and operation to the African side after six years of smooth operation. Ethiopian Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide said, "The Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway line is an example of the ever-flourishing Sino-African relations. The Sino-African partnership has passed the test of time, demonstrated its resilience, and marks a brighter and strong future." In recent years, more and more infrastructure projects in Africa undertaken by China have yielded tangible benefits, often exceeding the traditional transport domain. Since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, according to the "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals" white paper, Chinese companies have helped African countries build or upgrade more than 10,000 km of railways, nearly 100,000 km of highways, roughly 1,000 bridges, almost 100 ports, 66,000 km of power transmission and distribution, an installed power-generating capacity of 120 million kW, a communications backbone network of 150,000 km, and a network service covering nearly 700 million user terminals. Blue economy cooperation cultivates talent. The ocean connects countries, bearing infinite hope. In recent years, under the "Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative" and the "Belt and Road Blue Cooperation Initiative," China has taken concrete steps to forge a blue partnership with Africa. In the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035 released at the eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference in 2021, cooperation on the blue economy is listed as a "new growth area" that can "add value to and sustainably utilize marine resources." The infrastructure projects in this field have created many local jobs and helped train much-needed engineers, technicians and other skilled professionals for Africa. The Lamu port project in Kenya is an example. It has an important place in Kenya's Vision 2030, the country's long-term development blueprint. Built by a Chinese company, the port is part of Kenya's bid to become a major trading hub in East Africa. Over three-quarters of the project's hires were African. Chinese companies send experienced and skilled Chinese workers to provide on-the-job training to local recruits. This was met with great enthusiasm among young Africans. More than 2,500 job opportunities with such tailored training have produced many skilled workers. After the project was completed, they were able to find new jobs and lead better lives with the skills they mastered. Green economy cooperation supercharges energy transition. China has been an important partner in Africa's green transition. To date, China has undertaken more than 100 clean energy projects under the FOCAC framework, supporting African countries in making better use of clean energy such as solar, hydro, wind and geothermal power. The De Aar Wind Farm has changed the energy landscape of South Africa. As the first wind power project financed, constructed and operated by a Chinese company in Africa, it supplies 760 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, meeting the electricity needs of 300,000 households. This has contributed to closing the gap caused by unstable clean energy and addressing the electricity shortage in South Africa. China's continuous efforts to help develop infrastructure in Africa over the decades are rooted in Confucian philosophy. To quote The Analects, "The man of virtue, while establishing himself and pursuing success, also works to establish others and enables them to succeed as well." In other words, in pursuing its own development, China sincerely hopes to see African countries, which are also important members of the Global South, become prosperous and strong. Editor's note: Yi Xin is a Beijing-based observer of international affairs. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency. Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) India's goods and services exports are expected to cross USD 800 billion this fiscal despite global challenges, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. In 2023-24, the shipments stood at USD 778.2 billion (goods USD 437.1 billion and services USD 341 billion). He said that the global situation is serious as war is still ongoing between Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas, and the Red sea crisis. The minister added that there are also elections in some of the major democracies like in Europe. "In such a situation it's a positive sign that our exports are growing (9 per cent growth in May) and ...this also reflects that the world wants to do trade and investments with India. We are confident that this year we will have over USD 800 billion exports and it will be a historic record," Goyal told reporters here. He was here to participate in a programme of gems and jewellery exporters. Goyal added that for the USD 800 billion exports, the ministry is working on specifics with Indian missions abroad and export promotion councils. He added that last year the current account deficit (CAD) has also reduced...our exports will increase, manufacturing will get a boost India recorded a current account surplus of USD 5.7 billion or 0.6 per cent of GDP in the March quarter. This is the first time in ten quarters that the crucial metric of the country's external strength has turned into surplus mode. In the year-ago period, the current account deficit stood at USD 1.3 billion or 0.2 per cent of GDP, and the same was USD 8.7 billion or 1 per cent of GDP in the preceding quarter ending December 2023. India's merchandise exports rose by 9.1 per cent to USD 38.13 billion in May even as the trade deficit widened to a seven-month high of USD 23.78 billion during the month, according to the latest government data. He added that focus on electric vehicles will help in reducing oil imports. The ministry is also holding a series of meetings with plantation boards, including spices, rubber, tobacco, tea and coffee, to promote exports especially those of value added goods. Further, he said that India has taken up on priority the issue of ban on imports of Russian-origin unpolished diamonds by the European Union (EU) and G7 nations to protect the interest of the domestic diamond polishing industry. "Our ministry and the gems and jewellery export promotion council are continuously in touch with the European Union and G7 nations," Goyal said, adding in the last meeting, India took up the matter strongly. "Still we are in touch with them to ensure that Indian industry does not have an impact," the minister said. G7 countries -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US -- are major markets for Indian diamond exports. Johannesburg, June 28 (PTI) South Africa has asked the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to consider what the country called unscientific and discriminatory measures placed on citrus imported from the African nation by the European Union (EU). The regulations are being challenged by the South African government to protect the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people in the local citrus industry, said a joint statement by The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA). Currently, South African citrus growers are spending billions of rands per year to comply with measures that the industry considers unscientific and unnecessarily restrictive, as South Africa already has an effective world-class risk management system that ensures safe citrus exports. Emerging citrus growers are especially hit hard by the EU measures, the statement added. South Africa earlier this week requested the establishment of two panels at a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to address the EUs regulations on two separate plant health issues -- Citrus Black Spot and False Codling Moth. The bodies said this was the first time that South Africa has taken a dispute to the WTO because a request by it to the EU for consultations had not produced any results. They said that besides the EU measures not being based on scientific principles and maintained without sufficient scientific evidence, the EU has failed to apply the measures in a uniform, impartial and reasonable manner. The measures are more trade-restrictive than required to achieve protection, and there are reasonably available alternatives which are technically and economically feasible, that would achieve protection in a significantly less trade-restrictive manner. Last year we exported 36 per cent of all our citrus to the EU. That shows what an important market it is for our growers. It is the very foundation of citrus profitability in South Africa. Should the EU continue with the implementation of these measures, or intensify them in any way, the profitability of hundreds of growers will be negatively affected and the industry will suffer severe revenue and job losses, they said. The citrus industry supports 140,000 jobs at farm level alone. The government is acting to safeguard these livelihoods and the central role the citrus industry plays in so many of our rural communities," explained DALRRD Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi. Justin Chadwick, CEO of the CGA, said the action was also potentially good news for the European consumers. Their orange prices last summer were at an all-time high. However, if their supply is unfettered, consumers will benefit, Chadwick said. South Africa is the worlds second-largest exporter of citrus, with its exceptional quality making it sought-after internationally. The local citrus industry is currently entering its peak winter export season with oranges heading to the ports. It is estimated that South Africa will export a total of 170 million 15 kg cartons this year. Bilaspur (HP), Jun 29 (PTI) Private sector banks in the district should give more benefits to people under various government schemes, especially pension schemes, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Bilaspur Nidhi Patel said. During a meeting with bankers' committee on Friday, she said as compared to government banks, private banks are opening very few accounts under social security pension schemes of the central government, which was shocking and asked why private lenders were lagging in this field. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana are some of the important schemes of the central government. She directed officials of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank to ensure opening of maximum number of accounts under the major social security pension schemes of the Centre, before the next quarterly meeting. She said that the credit deposit (CD) ratio of private banks increased from 25.49 per cent to 26.92 per cent in the last quarter. Still at a low level, this CD ratio means that private banks are giving less loans to people and due to this, the pace of development in the district suffers. Patel instructed the officials concerned to increase their CD ratio and give maximum loans to people. The ADC also instructed the officials to provide maximum loans in the agricultural sector and expressed concern over less loans given by SBI in the sector. She directed officials of the industry department and all the banks to organize as many awareness camps as possible in rural and urban areas regarding central and state schemes. She informed the attendees that during Rabi season 2022-23, as many as 13,444 farmers of Bilaspur were given benefits under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, whereas during Kharif season, 14,405 farmers received benefits. Washington, Jun 29 (AP) Two NASA astronauts will stay longer at the International Space Station as engineers troubleshoot problems on Boeing's 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. We're not in any rush to come home, said NASA's 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 astronaut's 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 capsule's 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 aren't 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 won't 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 Musk's 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. (AP) ANB ANB (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Washington, Jun 29 (AP) In the last 10 days of June, on a frenetic pace of its own making, the Supreme Court touched a wide swath of American society in a torrent of decisions on abortion, guns, the environment, health, the opioid crisis, securities fraud and homelessness. And, with the court meeting for the final time this term on Monday, an unusual push into July, the most anticipated decision of the term awaits: whether former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for his role in the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol. The court also will decide whether state laws limiting how social media platforms regulate content posted by their users violate the Constitution. The immunity case was the last case argued, on April 25. So in one sense, it's not unusual that it would be among the last decided. But the timing of the court's resolution of Trump's immunity may be as important as the eventual ruling. By holding on to the case until early July, the justices have reduced, if not eliminated, the chance that Trump will have to stand trial before the November election, no matter what the court decides. In other epic court cases involving the presidency, including the Watergate tapes case, the justices moved much faster. Fifty years ago, the court handed down its decision forcing President Richard Nixon to turn over recordings of Oval Office conversations just 16 days after hearing arguments. Even this term, the court reached a decision in less than a month to rule unanimously for Trump that states cannot invoke the post-Civil War insurrection clause to kick him off the ballot over his refusal to accept Democratic President Joe Biden's victory four years ago. Delaying the start of trials has been a primary goal of Trump's lawyers in all four criminal cases against him. Only one trial has been held and it resulted in his conviction for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made during the 2016 presidential election to a porn actor who says she had sex with him, which he denies. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony. The Supreme Court's handling of the immunity case, which began when the justices rejected a first plea to take it up in December, have led critics to say the court has so far granted Trump immunity by delay. A federal appeals unanimously rejected Trump's immunity claim in February, and the justices agreed a few weeks later to hear Trump's appeal. Then, too, the court considering the case has three justices nominated by the Republican Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Two other justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, have rejected calls to step aside from the case over questions about their impartiality. On Friday, the justices voted 6-3 to narrow a federal obstruction charge that has been used against hundreds of January 6 defendants, as well as Trump. In that case, Alito and Thomas again took part and five conservatives were in the majority. Chief Justice John Roberts, Kavanaugh and Gorsuch were the other three. Conservative justices don't usually side with criminal defendants, said University of Pennsylvania law professor Kim Roosevelt. But it's a Trump case, and so the lineup is less of a surprise and more of a disappointment, Roosevelt said. "Increasingly, it looks as though a majority of this Court is willing to bend the normal rules to favour Trump. The other major unresolved issue state laws to regulate social media platforms also could have an ideological tinge. The court is weighing efforts 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. The Florida and Texas laws were signed by Republican governors in the months following decisions by Facebook and Twitter, now X, to cut Trump off over his posts related to the Capitol riot by his supporters. On Wednesday, the justices dismissed a lawsuit filed by other Republican-led states against the Biden administration over claims that federal officials improperly coerced the platforms to take down controversial posts related to COVID-19 and election security. (AP) RUP RUP Washington, Jun 29 (PTI) A day after Joe Bidens dismal showing at the first presidential debate against Donald Trump, leading US media outlets have commented that the incumbent US President should leave the race for the White House for the future of American democracy and prevent a second innings for his Republican rival. Biden, seeking a second term in the White House, stumbled and fumbled during the televised presidential debate with his predecessor Trump on Thursday night in Atlanta, setting off alarm bells among top Democrats about whether the 81-year-old president can stay atop the gruelling months ahead of the elections on November 5. The 78-year-old Trump, who is the presumptive Republican Party candidate for the presidential election, clashed right from the start with Biden and by the end of the 90 minutes debate, gave enough fodder for serious editorials and opinions as well as memes on social media. The New York Times Editorial Board on Friday went on to say how President Biden has repeatedly and rightfully described the stakes in this Novembers presidential election as nothing less than the future of American democracy and how Trump has proved himself to be a significant jeopardy to that democracy and someone who has systematically attempted to undermine the integrity of elections. Mr. Biden has been an admirable president. Under his leadership, the nation has prospered and begun to address a range of long-term challenges, and the wounds ripped open by Mr. Trump have begun to heal. But the greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election, it said. The Washington Post editorial, How Biden and the Democrats should think through what to do now said its incumbent on this incumbent (President Biden) to determine, whether continuing to seek re-election is in the best interests of the country as it continued: Former president Donald Trump proved emphatically on Thursday why preventing another Trump presidency is the paramount consideration. The Los Angeles Times editorial For the sake of the nation, Biden must reassure Americans he is up to a second term presented a gloomy picture but with a ray of hope. 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, it said. But it also added: 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. The Chicago Tribunes editorial titled As America sank into the couch, Joe Biden and Donald Trump combined for a depressing farce. Enough. was the most uncharitable as it said, By all means, defend the honour and service of the man. But to pretend he (Biden) is the partys best choice for four more years? For a party that loves to accuse Republicans of mendacity, its pretty rich. Biden, if weve not made that clear, should announce that he will be a single-term president who now has seen the light when it comes to his own capabilities in the face of the singular demands of being the president of the United States. He can do so with honour, but he is the only person who can do so. Certainly, his family can help. But, again, he is the only one, it asserted. The Wall Street Journal started by saying the Trump-Biden debate was painfulfor the United States. President Bidens halting, stumbling debate performance Thursday night showed all too clearly that he isnt up to serving four more years in office. For the good of the country, more even than their party, Democrats have some hard thinking to do about whether they need to replace him at the top of their ticket, were its scathing remarks only to be added with a disclaimer: This isnt a partisan thought; its a patriotic one. No one spared Trump either. Apart from pointing out how Trump repeated and brazenly lied about so many things, The New York Times editorial did not forget to point out how he refused to promise that he would accept defeat, returning instead to the kind of rhetoric that incited the January 6 attack on Congress. But it also had a word of advice for the Democrats: There is no reason for the party to risk the stability and security of the country by forcing voters to choose between Mr. Trumps deficiencies and those of Mr. Biden. Its too big a bet to simply hope Americans will overlook or discount Mr. Bidens age and infirmity that they see with their own eyes. The Washington Post editorial said, Mr. Biden bowing out would not guarantee a Democratic victory in November. History does not provide any precise precedents and took to examples from the past, way back from 1952 and 1968, when the then Republican challengers prevailed after the then incumbent presidents opted out not to seek re-election. The editorials had all but warnings for a danger supposedly clear and present. The Los Angeles Times said, 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. The warning by the NYT was even clearer. If he (Trump) is returned to office, he has vowed to be a different kind of president, unrestrained by the checks on power built into the American political system, the NYT Editorial Board warned about Trump and later added: If the race comes down to a choice between Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden, the sitting president would be this boards unequivocal pick. That is how much of a danger Mr. Trump poses. Washington, Jun 29 (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 Biden's 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 he's 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 doesn't, 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 anyone's 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 Biden's 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 doesn't do it in real-time, people watching don't know what's 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. (AP) ANB ANB Jerusalem, Jun 29 (AP) Humanitarian workers have started moving tons of aid that piled up at a United States-built pier off the Gaza coast to warehouses in the besieged territory, the United Nations said on Saturday, an important step as the US considers whether to resume pier operations after yet another pause due to heavy seas. It was not clear when the aid might reach Palestinians in Gaza, where experts have warned of the high risk of famine as the war between Israel and Hamas militants is in its ninth month. This is the first time trucks have moved aid from the pier since the UN's World Food Programme suspended operations there due to security concerns on June 9. Millions of pounds of aid have piled up. In just the last week, more than 10 million pounds were moved ashore, according to the US military. A WFP spokesperson, Abeer Etefa, told The Associated Press this is a one-time operation until the beach is cleared of the aid and is being done to avoid spoilage. Further UN operations at the pier depend on UN security assessments, Etefa added. The UN is investigating whether the pier was used in an Israeli military operation last month to rescue three hostages. If WFP trucks successfully bring the aid to warehouses inside Gaza, that could affect the US military's decision whether to reinstall the pier, which was removed due to weather Friday. US officials said they were considering not reinstalling the pier because of the possibility that the aid would not be picked up. Even if the UN decides to keep transporting aid from the pier into Gaza, lawlessness around humanitarian convoys will be a further challenge to distribution. The convoys have come under attack in Gaza. While most aid deliveries come by land, restrictions around border crossings and on what items can enter Gaza have further hurt a population that was already dependent on humanitarian aid before the war. The June 9 pause at the pier came after the Israeli military used a nearby area to fly out hostages after their rescue in a raid that killed more than 270 Palestinians, prompting a UN review over concerns that aid workers' safety and neutrality may have been compromised. Meanwhile on Saturday, a senior Biden administration official said the US has presented new language to intermediaries Egypt and Qatar aimed at trying to jump-start the stalled Israel-Hamas negotiations. The official, who requested anonymity to discuss the effort that the White House has yet to publicly unveil, said the revised text focuses on negotiations that are to start between Israel and Hamas during the first phase of a three-phase deal that President Joe Biden laid out nearly a month ago. The first phase calls for a full and complete cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one. Under the current proposal, Hamas could release all the remaining men, both civilians and soldiers. In return, Israel could free an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The releases won't occur until sustainable calm takes effect and all Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. The new proposed language, which the official did not detail, aims to find a workaround of differences between Israel and Hamas about the parameters of the negotiations between phase one and phase two. Hamas wants those negotiations centred on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners who will be released from Israeli jails in exchange for remaining living Israeli soldiers and male hostages held in Gaza, the official said. Israel wants the negotiations to be much broader and include the demilitarisation of the territory controlled by Hamas. More than 37,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war since it began with Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its toll. The ministry said the bodies of 40 people killed by Israeli strikes had been brought to local hospitals over the past 24 hours. A child was among the wounded being treated Saturday after an Israeli strike on the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The October 7 Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and another 250 people were taken hostage. Israeli forces have been battling Palestinian militants in an eastern part of Gaza City over the last week. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes, according to the UN. It's like the first weeks of the invasion, one resident, Mahmoud al-Masry said of the intensity of the fighting. Many people were killed. Many houses were destroyed. They strike anything moving. The Israeli military acknowledged an operation against Hamas fighters in Shijaiyah and on Saturday noted close-quarters combat. Elsewhere, thousands of Palestinians who remained in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah fled on Friday for Muwasi, a crowded coastal tent camp designated by the Israeli army as a safe zone. Some told the AP they evacuated because Israeli gunfire and missiles had come close to where they were sheltering. Over 1.3 million Palestinians have fled Rafah since Israel's incursion into the city in early May, while aid groups warn there are no safe places to go. With the heat in Gaza reaching over 32 degrees Celsius (89 Fahrenheit), many displaced people have found tents unbearable. The territory has been without electricity since Israel cut off power as part of the war, and Israel also stopped pumping drinking water to the enclave. Death is better than it, it is a grave, said Barawi Bakroun, who was displaced from Gaza City, as others fanned themselves with pieces of cardboard. (AP) PY PY Colombo, Jun 29 (PTI) Sri Lanka's election commission has asked authorities to prepare for the Presidential election in the coming months, a media report said on Saturday. The election commission had earlier declared that the presidential polls would be held somewhere between September 17 and October 16. A statement from the commission quoted the chairman of the Election Commission R M A L Rathnayake saying that all relevant government institutions for logistics and preparations including manpower, vehicles, polling stations and printing. News portal NewsFirst.lk said that Rathnayake has sent a letter to the government press, police, Ceylon Electricity Board, National Water Supply and Drainage Board and other institutions apart from the District Assistant and Deputy Election Commissioners were asked to prepare a document on the number of officers and vehicles required. The circular also informs the District Assistant Election Commissioners to prepare the polling stations via local rural officials. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, hasnt made any public statement on his bid for re-election. Since mid-July 2022, he has been serving the balance term of the ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe intends to contest as an independent candidate backed by all political parties who are bent on maintaining the economic reforms programme set in by him. The other two main opposition leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the Marxist JVP have already announced their candidacy. DODOMA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's anti-corruption watchdog on Saturday vowed to fight corrupt practices during the civic polls slated for later this year and the general elections scheduled for October 2025. Salum Hamduni, director general of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), said the bureau is well prepared to fight any corrupt practices by politicians during the two forthcoming elections. "We will leave no stone unturned in dealing accordingly with politicians that will be implicated in engaging in corrupt practices to earn votes," Hamduni told a news conference in the national capital of Dodoma. He said the PCCB, in cooperation with electoral stakeholders, is educating people ahead of the elections on the consequences of electing leaders through corrupt practices. Electing political leaders through electoral corruption resulted in getting leaders that lacked integrity, competence, and commitment, Hamduni added. Kyiv, Jun 29 (AP) Russian attacks across eastern Ukraine killed at least 11 people on Saturday, while rescuers in the city of Dnipro dug through rubble after a Russian strike ripped through a nine-story residential building, leaving one dead, officials said. The attacks came as Russia continues to stretch out Ukrainian forces in several areas along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. Moscow has stepped up airstrikes in a bid to drain Ukraine's resources, often targeting energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. The shelling of the front-line village of Niu-York in the Donetsk region also injured five people, said Gov. Vadym Filashkin. He said that Russian forces had shelled populated areas 13 times over the past 24 hours. A further seven people were killed on Saturday afternoon in Russian shelling on the town of Vilniansk, including two children, said Gov. Ivan Fedorov. Ten more were injured, while infrastructure was also damaged, he wrote on social media. Meanwhile, in Dnipro, at least one person died and 12 were injured, including a 7-month-old girl, after a Russian strike destroyed the top four floors of the apartment bloc Friday evening, said regional head Serhii Lysak. Rescuers confirmed that several residents remained missing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Dnipro attack was a reminder to Ukraine's allies that the country needed more air defense systems. The Ukrainian air force said on Saturday that it had downed 10 Russian drones overnight. This is why we constantly remind all of our partners: only a sufficient amount of high-quality air defence systems, only a sufficient amount of determination from the world at large can stop Russian terror, he said. Russian officials also reported Ukrainian attacks, with a drone strike killing five people in Russia's Kursk region, local officials said on Saturday. A Ukrainian drone strike killed at least five people in Russia's Kursk region, local officials said on Saturday. Two children were among the victims of the attack in the village of Gorodishche on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Gov. Alexey Smirnov said on social media. In its morning statement, the Russian Defence Ministry said that six Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over the country's Tver, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. It did not give information on the reported strike in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian government also responded on Saturday to a statement from the Belarusian military saying it had increased its forces along Ukraine's northern border in response to what it described as security threats. The announcement came after Belarus' border agency claimed its troops downed a Ukrainian drone that had flown across the border to gather intelligence. Kyiv denied the accusations, which it described as Russian propaganda. The Russians' task is simple to draw more of our forces (to the Belarusian border), Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation said in a statement. Any information about our activity in the border area is a lie. Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko has close ties with Russia and allowed Moscow to use his country's territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022. (AP) PY PY Colombo, Jun 29 (PTI) Those wounded among the Sri Lankan mercenaries in Russia are reluctant to return to the island nation as they hope to receive Russian citizenship, a minister said on Saturday. Many Sri Lankan mercenaries had left for Russia through agents and were forced to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine. "Many Sri Lankan mercenaries fighting in the Ukraine front have become Russian citizens, making it difficult to give them diplomatic support," Economy Next quoted Foreign Minister Ali Sabry as saying. They have taken Russian citizenship at the moment, Sabry said on Friday. If you take another countrys citizenship you lose Sri Lankan citizenship, so if you are no longer a citizen of Sri Lanka we lose the right to represent you, that is the problem unless they apply for dual citizenship, Sabry said. While some appeared to have been misled that they would be camp helpers in support roles and pushed into combat, others may have known the actual stakes involved, he said. The State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, who has just returned from Russia after having led a high-powered delegation to discuss with the Russian authorities the human smuggling operation of ex-military men, said: We were provided details of 464 of them. As many as 17 have died. We also discussed the issue of paying compensation to them." The Sri Lankan minister said the two days of talks with Russian authorities were centred on the 17 Sri Lankans killed in action, payment of compensation for the deceased and the wounded, the plight of the uncontactable Lankans, the possibility of voluntary returns, early termination of contracts and regularisation of remuneration. An initiative to prevent Sri Lankan retired military personnel from being illegally recruited and trafficked to fight in the war between Russia and Ukraine was tabled during the visit, according to a News First Lanka report. MP Gamini Valeboda said discussions were held with high-ranking Russian officials, including the Deputy Minister of Defence and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and a joint committee comprising representatives from both countries' relevant ministries and the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia has been established. Valeboda also highlighted the seriousness of the situation and said smugglers were charging families of these veterans over Rs. 1 billion to facilitate their illegal deployment. The government blamed foreign employment agencies for carrying out a racket of people smuggling. Many retired military officers and foreign employment agency personnel are remanded for the racket. Ahmedabad, June 29 (PTI) K Kailashnathan, chief principal secretary to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, will step down on June 30 after holding the post for more than a decade after his retirement. The IAS officer has been serving in the chief minister's office since 2006 when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat. While Gujarat has had three chief ministers -- Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani and incumbent Bhupendra Patel -- after Modi became prime minister in 2014, Kailashnathan has been the chief principal secretary in the CMO since 2013. "After serving in my office for many years, Chief Principal Secretary Kailashnathan has decided to hang his boots on June 30," CM Bhupendra Patel said in a post on X. "After retiring as IAS officer in 2013 as additional chief secretary, he served in the CMO as chief principal secretary...," the CM noted. His strength was administrative efficiency, a unique way of solving problems and discreet working style, the CM noted. "I wish him a healthy and peaceful retired life," Patel said while also posting photos of a farewell ceremony held in the CMO. Thane, Jun 29 (PTI) A 56-year-old woman from Bangalore has accused her late husbands friend, a Navi Mumbai resident, of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 30 lakh from his account, a police official said on Saturday. The woman told the police that she had moved from Navi Mumbai to the Karnataka capital due to her husbands excessive dependence on alcohol. She said her husband earlier held a senior post in a public sector oil marketing company and took voluntary retirement in 2020. Accused Amit Sudhir Singh managed her estranged husbands daily affairs, the woman said in her police complaint. Citing the FIR, the official said Singh informed the woman in November 2023 that her husband was seriously ill and hospitalised. Within a few days, her husband died. Singh was allegedly evasive when the woman asked for her husbands phones. The woman alleged that when she went to her husband's bank, she found Singh had withdrawn Rs 30 lakh from his account within hours of his death. She claimed that Singh had been carrying out transactions for her husband and had his bank details, the official said. She did not provide any reason for approaching the police so late, the official said. Based on her complaint, the police on Thursday registered a case against Singh under Indian Penal Code sections 404 (dishonest misappropriation of property possessed by deceased person at the time of his death) and 420 (cheating), said an official from the Kharghar police station. Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Saturday announced that visitors would be allowed inside the Vidhan Bhavan premises only two days a week during legislature session. Narwekar told the assembly that visitors would be allowed only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The decision has been taken to reduce crowding in the complex and the strain on the legislature security and those ensuring the safety of the chief minister and the council of ministers, he said. In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two visitors jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour in December 2023, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs. Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) After the arrest of a Lieutenant Commander rank officer by Mumbai Crime Branch for alleged involvement in trafficking people to South Korea on forged documents, the Indian Navy on Saturday said it would fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies. The Navy remains committed to holding its personnel to maintaining the highest standards of conduct always, a defence spokesperson asserted. Lieutenant Commander Vipin Kumar Dagar (28) was arrested from Colaba in south Mumbai on Thursday for allegedly being part of a gang that was sending people to South Korea on forged documents for money. As per police, Dagar's associates had confessed they had sent 8-10 people to the East Asian country in this manner and had charged Rs 10 lakh per case. In a statement, the defence spokesperson said, "A complaint on misconduct of an officer was received by the Navy from the Republic of Korea (RoK) Consulate in Mumbai. On investigation by the Navy, it was found that the case had possible links to a fraudulent visa racket gang." "Accordingly, Indian Navy informed the Civil Police with their concerns and information held, which started a detailed investigation. The Navy is fully cooperating with the law enforcement agencies and remains committed to holding its personnel to maintaining the highest standards of conduct always," the spokesperson added. Police said Dagar, who is a resident of Haryana and is the son of an air force personnel, has been remanded in police custody till July 5. Thane, Jun 29 (PTI) The parents of a nine-year-old boy from Shahapur in Maharashtra's Thane district have complained to the police that doctors at a government-run hospital wrongly performed a surgery on his private part instead of an injured leg. Following their allegation, a health official assured an inquiry into the episode, and the police said they are carrying out a probe. The minor's parents said, "The boy suffered an injury on his leg while he was playing with his friends last month. He was admitted to the sub-district hospital in Shahapur on June 15 and was undergoing treatment. The doctors recently performed a circumcision surgery on his private part instead of the injured leg." Later, after realising their goof-up, the doctors conducted a surgery on his injured leg soon afterwards, they told reporters. The parents also lodged a complaint with the Shahapur police. Although no case has been registered so far in this connection, a police official said that a probe into the complaint was underway. District Civil Surgeon Dr Kailas Pawar said the health authorities will conduct an inquiry into the allegations. Medical officer at the hospital, Gajendra Pawar, told reporters that besides his leg injury, the boy also had a problem of phimosis (tight foreskin). "We had to carry out two operations," he said. As regards informing the parents about the second operation, he said the doctors might have forgotten to tell them or they might have told the other relatives of the patient. What the doctors did was right and there was nothing wrong in it. But the parents refused to accept the explanation given by the doctors, Pawar said. On the same day, two patients from the same age group underwent surgery at the hospital, doctors said. Mumbai, Jun 28 (PTI) A Naval officer was arrested for allegedly forging documents to send people to South Korea. a Mumbai police official said on Friday. Lt Cdr Vipin Kumar Dagar (28) was arrested from Colaba by the Crime Branch on Thursday and he is suspected to be a member of a gang sending people illegally to South Korea using forged documents, the official said. "His associates have confessed to sending 8-10 people to South Korea after charging up to Rs 10 lakh per case. Dagar is the son of an Air Force official and hails from Haryana. He is remanded in police custody till July 5," the official informed. Ranchi, Jun 29 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who arrived here on Saturday to participate in a meeting of BJP leaders, said that the development of Jharkhand and the welfare of tribal people is the priority of the saffron camp. Sarma, who is BJP's election co-in-charge, would meet party leaders to discuss its strategies for the upcoming assembly polls in the state. "The party's priority is development of Jharkhand and the welfare of the scheduled tribe community here. There has been no government in the state for past five years. Atrocities on women and tribal people increased manifolds in the state in the past five years," he said. When BJP's manifesto comes out, one can see how much work the party has planned for tribal people in the next five years, Sarma said. Asked about the bail granted to former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Hemant Soren, he said the "BJP does not keep accounts of who is going to jail and coming out on bail". Responding to a query about whether Soren's presence would impact the BJP in the upcoming polls, Sarma said that the saffron party won nine seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections when he was in jail. "We will win more seats when he is out of jail," Sarma said. Soren was released on Friday after the state high court granted bail to him in a money laundering case, observing that he was prima facie not guilty, and there was no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence on bail. 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 linked to the illegal possession of 8.36 acres of land. Sarma, in his day-long visit to Jharkhand, is scheduled to meet prominent leaders from tribal communities such as former union minister Arjun Munda, former Rajya Sabha MP Samir Oraon, former union minister Sudarshan Bhagat, former MP Geeta Kora and former MLA Sita Soren, sister-in-law of Hemant Soren, a party statement said. Of the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand, 28 are reserved for the Scheduled Tribe community. The JMM-led alliance had won 26 tribal seats in the 2019 assembly polls. Sarma would also hold meetings with different committees of the party, besides the women and youth wings, the release said. This was Sarma's second visit to Jharkhand after being appointed as election co-incharge for the state. On June 23, Sarma and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a series of meetings with party leaders, MPs, MLAs and workers to prepare a roadmap for the assembly polls due later this year. Chouhan has been appointed as BJP election in-charge for Jharkhand. Patna, Jun 29 (PTI) Union minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday asserted that the government was in touch with "all stakeholders" in the NEET paper leak case and a decision "in the best interests of students" will be taken at an "appropriate" time. Talking to reporters here, he also slammed the opposition for stalling Parliament's proceedings over the issue, alleging that it reflected a "flawed mindset" (galat soch). "The NEET case is being probed by agencies concerned and the matter is also before a court of law. Nonetheless, the government is holding talks with all the stakeholders. An appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time, in the best interests of students", Paswan said. He was responding to queries about the ruckus in Parliament a day ago, when the uproar by the opposition led to repeated adjournments. The young leader said, "The opposition is displaying a flawed mindset. If it wants to raise issues concerning the public, it must allow the House to run properly and take part in debates and discussions". The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president was on his first tour of Bihar, his home state, since he was inducted into the Union cabinet earlier this month. Replying to another query, Paswan said NDA ally Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister who heads the JD(U), will "lead" the coalition in state assembly polls due next year. Asked about the opposition's charge that recent spurt in crime in Bihar signaled a worsening of law and order, the Hajipur MP said, "the situation may be a cause for concern but the government in the state is competent to tackle it". Paswan also addressed a function where newly elected MPs of his party, which won all the five seats it had contested, were felicitated. He expressed delight that unlike in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, in Bihar "the people were not swayed by false propaganda of the opposition that the NDA was out to scrap the Constitution and do away with reservations". Paswan also announced that the party will hold a rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan in November to celebrate the foundation of Lok Janshakti Party floated by his late father Ram Vilas Paswan. by Chen Dongshu, Wu Yue COLOMBO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Global South has long desired an equal and orderly multipolar world, and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence put forward by China have shaped the stance and voice of the Global South today, several Sri Lankan experts told Xinhua recently. Looking at the past, Uditha Devapriya, chief international relations analyst at the Sri Lankan foreign policy think-tank Factum, said that the five principles emerged when the European colonial powers were fast diminishing, and the United States was becoming a big global superpower in the 1950s. "So it was a very important intervention when there are perceptions about Western countries meddling in the affairs of emerging countries including China and Sri Lanka," he said. "Back then, the Global South wanted a multipolar world that promotes a more just and equitable international order and partner country model, that's why countries across the world widely accepted and recognized the five principles," said Maya Majueran, director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka. Rathindra Kuruwita, a Sri Lankan contributing author for The Diplomat, emphasized that the five principles retain significant relevance in today's multipolar world. This is evident as many nations assert their sovereignty and resist external influence, particularly amidst increasing assertiveness from the West towards the Global South. "With initiatives like the Belt and Road, China aims to illustrate these principles by promoting economic cooperation and infrastructure development," said Kuruwita. Majueran pointed out that the West has historically exerted and continues to exert influence over the global order through its own values and policies, often under the guise of promoting "democracy" and "defending" human rights. This influence includes launching smear campaigns against countries with different political systems and pressuring emerging markets and developing countries to take sides in disputes orchestrated by Western powers. "The five principles are still a very good corrective to the abusers of world power even today," Devapriya said. Majueran said that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, along with the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, collectively aim to provide strategic direction for shaping a new world order. Bhubaneswar, June 29 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for a UAE consulate in the state. Majhi raised the demand while meeting Jaishankar at his residence in New Delhi. The meeting was also attended by Deputy CMs Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Since many people from Odisha are working in Dubai, a UAE consulate will be very helpful, Majhi said. He also drew the attention of Jaishankar to the eight people from Odisha stranded in Dubai and sought his support for their safe return. Jaishankar promised the CM that he would take urgent steps in this regard, the statement said. Majhi also discussed measures to attract foreign tourists to the state, including the setting up of an international tourism centre. Later, the CM met Union Health Minister JP Nadda, whom he urged for setting up medical colleges in those districts of the state that don't have one. Expansion of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and the proposal to set up another AIIMS in Sambalpur were also discussed, the statement said. "The meeting also discussed the early implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Odisha. It will be beneficial for the poor and elderly people of the state," Majhi said. New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat along with senior officials of his ministry on Saturday took part in an intensive brainstorming session on the proposed Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum, and the minister also visited the site in Delhi with a French delegation. The museum will be housed in the British-era North Block and South Block of the Raisina Hill complex. "This museum will stand as a testament to India's rich heritage and its unwavering spirit of progress, as it draws inspiration from its past as a blueprint," Shekhawat said. He along with Union Culture Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials of the Culture Ministry took part in a meeting held on the last day of the four-day session hosted at Bharat Mandapam, the ministry said in a statement. Stakeholders of the museum ecosystem such as high-level management from government museums, private experts such as conservation architects, scenographers, exhibition designers, publishers, conservationists, educators and many others took part in the session over the last four days The intensive brainstorming session and workshops held over the past few days provided invaluable insights into the core operational elements of a world-class museum. These sessions focused on critical areas such as collection management, curatorial practices, administrative best practices, and the strategic integration of technology, it said. The knowledge gleaned will be instrumental in shaping the development of the Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum, the ministry said. The final day of the deliberation was attended by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, senior officials of the ministry and French Ambassador to India Thierry Mathou, the statement said. "The Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum will transcend the traditional museum experience, embodying the spirit of inclusivity. It will be a museum of the people, centring community narratives, a testament to India's legacy as the mother of democracy," Shekhawat was quoted as saying in the statement. He later also posted some photographs of the session on X. "A special meeting was held on the proposed Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum and opinions were sought from the officials of the Ministry of Culture and other experts. In this sequence, talks were held with French Ambassador Thierry Mathou during lunch break. I also visited North and South Blocks with the French delegation," he wrote on the social media platform. The upcoming Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum, billed to be the largest museum in the world, will have eight thematic segments telling the story of India spanning over 5,000 years. The new national museum of India is set to come up at North Block and South Block as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project that seeks to revamp India's central administrative area, the ministry said. The museum will be spread over 1,54,000 sqm, making it the largest museum in the world, the statement said. The museum is to be developed through adaptive reuse, in collaboration with France owing to their expertise in similar projects such as the Louvre museum, which too once housed the France's Ministry of Finance, it said. France is a partner for this project owing to the long-standing friendship between the two countries, which had contributed to a Letter of Intent being signed between both the governments in 2020 that emphasised museum and heritage co-operation, the statement said. The video walk through of the museum was first unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the first International Museum Expo hosted by the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) division of the Ministry of Culture on April 18 last year. Pursuant to this, the GLAM division spearheaded a series of capacity building workshops that aimed to foster these critical objectives -- alignment among stakeholders and generation of synergy for a unified vision, officials said. The first of these was a brainstorming session held on the June 14, bringing together other ministries and departments of the government of India. This not only fosters interdepartmental coordination but also ensures the project resonates with various facets of Indian society, the statement said. "This collaborative spirit, fostered through intensive discussions and knowledge exchange, will propel the project forward towards the next development phase, giving rise to a space that resonates not only with India but with the international community," the Culture Ministry said. New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Senior RSS functionary Sunil Ambekar on Saturday recalled the days of Emergency imposed in 1975 and said it must be remembered to understand the kind of people, propensities and the reasons that lead to the creation of a situation when democratic system and rights come under threat. Without naming the Congress party which was in power then, Ambekar said that the Emergency, imposed within 25 years of India becoming a sovereign republic, had put the countrys democratic system and democratic rights of the people under threat. We must remember the days of Emergency because it will remind us again and again as to what kind of people, propensities and reasons lead to the creation of such a situation when our democratic system and rights would come under threat, he said. Such a threat to the countrys democratic system and peoples democratic rights had not come from abroad but our own political system with the imposition of Emergency, Ambekar added. He was addressing an annual event, organised by the RSS-affiliated Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra (IVSK) here to present awards to media persons for their outstanding work under various categories. During the Emergency period, I was very young. I was with Vidyarthi Parishad for many years. Students of the country and Sangh (RSS) volunteers and people of the society, everyone, proested against the Emergency coming together, Ambekar said, adding people had to face various kinds of harassment during the period of Emergency. He said that India is the biggest democracy in the world today and the Constitution has provided people with the rights to live their life with freedom and equality. Its been 75 years since the adoption of this Constitution. And its important on this occasion that we must remember that Constitution as well, he said. Ambekar, who heads the RSS national publicity department, said that the Emergency was put to an end by the people of the country including those from RSS with their struggle. Therefore people should understand that if such a situation arises, society is capable of fighting against it, he added Without naming anyone, Ambekar said it has become a fashion these days for some people to make statements from their own political point of view. But, I think, society should be clear that we need to understand that we have to remain vigilant. It's because a vigilant society can only protect its democratic rights. It's time to pay constant attention, he added. Shimla, Jun 29 (PTI) A 27-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing a Jharkhand native woman in Himachal Pradeshs Solan district, police said on Saturday. The woman was found dead inside her house in the Kleen area of the city on Friday. Her body bore multiple stab injuries and was found by her children when they returned from the school, they said. The police on Friday nabbed a suspect from Solan market within six hours on the basis of call details of the victim, Solan SP Rajkumar Chandel told the media persons here. During investigation, the accused, Jitu, confessed to the crime and told police that he spoke to the woman before the murder, he said. Jitu was under the influence of alcohol. The weapons, two kitchen knives, have been recovered, SP Chandel said. According to the police, both the accused and the victim hailed from Jharkhand. They knew each other and lived nearby. A case under the IPC Section 302 (murder) has been registered on the complaint of the womans husband. The body has been sent to IGMC Shimla for post-mortem, they said. Jaipur, Jun 29 (PTI) Three alleged drug smugglers were arrested in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district in possession of over 5.10 kg heroin with an estimated value of Rs 22 crore in the international market, an official said. According to the police, smuggler Saddam Hussain was intercepted by the Srikaranpur police and 4.80 kg heroin was allegedly recovered from him. During preliminary investigation, the accused revealed that he had brought the consignment after it was dropped by drone from Pakistan. In another action at Sadar police station, two smugglers Puneet Beniwal and Balkar Singh were arrested and allegedly 330 gram heroin, provided by Hussain, was recovered from them. "Three smugglers were arrested by the police teams in the district. A total of 5.10 kg heroin was recovered in the action. The estimated value of the heroin is Rs 22 crore," Sriganganagar SP Gaurav Yadav told PTI. He said that the accused have been arrested and a case has been registered against them under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act and are being further interrogated. Chennai, Jun 29 (PTI) The translation of new criminal laws into Tamil has already been taken up and it is likely to be completed soon, official sources have said. Requisite training has been provided to police personnel for implementation of the new criminal laws from July 1, 2024. All efforts have been taken to ensure that the police personnel do not have any difficulty in invoking appropriate sections for specific offences, sources said. Official sources told PTI that the work of translating all the three new criminal laws is going on and it is likely to be completed soon. Following completion, the Tamil version will be sent to the Union government for its approval and certification as an authentic translation of the laws in English. After certification, the government translated Tamil version will be available for sale in the state. Tamil versions of the three new laws, authored by individuals and some publishers, have started reaching the shelves of book sellers, sources added. The three new criminal laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, seek to replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1898, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively. Chief Minister M K Stalin had on Friday said that in order to ensure proper enforcement of the new criminal laws in the state from July 1, 2024, expeditious training was being provided to judicial and police personnel During its enactment itself, the DMK had staunchly opposed these new laws in Parliament. Stalin had earlier written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking deferment of the implementation of new laws and also urged proper consultation with states. However, the new laws are set for nation-wide enforcement from Monday and the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) software will be accordingly modified. Considering such aspects, appropriate and expeditious training on the new laws was being provided to judicial and police personnel in order to ensure proper enforcement from July 1, 2024, he had said. Amethi (UP), Jun 29 (PTI) The brother of a village head was allegedly murdered near the Benipur area of this Uttar Pradesh district, police said on Saturday. Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Singh said Ajay Singh (45), a resident of Kadergaon in the Amethi police station area, was travelling to Kadergaon on a motorcycle with his friend Saurabh late on Friday. During this time, two people, including one Monu Pasi, attacked him near the Benipur canal on the Amethi-Sultanpur Road. Ajay Singh was seriously injured in the attack and taken to the hospital where doctors declared him dead, the police said. Ajay Singh was the brother of Pawan Singh, the village head of Kadergaon. Singh said initial investigations revealed that the attackers had a dispute with Ajay Singh. A case has been filed and a search is underway for the attackers, he added. Kolkata, Jun 29 (PTI) Bangladeshi smugglers attacked BSF jawans near a border outpost in West Bengal's Baharampur sector with sharp weapons on Friday night. According to a BSF statement on Saturday, jawans of the 73rd Battalion were on duty when one of them was targeted by smugglers wielding sharp weapons and sticks. The jawan challenged the smugglers to stop, but they ignored his warnings and forcefully crossed the border and entered India. Their accomplices from the Indian side also charged towards the jawan. In retaliation, the jawan fired two rounds from his firearm, prompting the smugglers to flee back to Bangladesh, while their Indian accomplices escaped into the dense crop fields. During subsequent searches supervised by the commanding officer, a sharp-edged weapon was found at the scene. Similar attacks have recently occurred in the South Bengal Frontier, including an incident at Border Outpost Kaijuri, 102 Battalion, where a woman constable was attacked by seven smugglers. Following these incidents, BSF recently held a meeting with Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) to strongly protest the unprovoked attacks by Bangladeshi smugglers. New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Two bike-borne men opened fire at a car in Dwarka's Dabri area Saturday evening, but its sole occupant was not hurt, police said. The incident took place at Chanakyapuri Chowk around 6.42 pm when the person was going to meet somebody, they said. The two attackers came on a motorcycle and fired multiple shots at the car, a police officer said, adding no one was hurt. He said it is suspected that an old enmity between the occupant of the car and the attackers could the reason behind the attack. A case of attempt to murder has been registered and investigation is underway, the officer added. A terrorist shot a crossbow at a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade, Serbia on Shabbos. The officer opened fire, injuring the terrorist who died shortly later. The officer was evacuated to the hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the arrow from his neck. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the incident was undoubtedly a terrorist attack, and that several people tied to the incident have been arrested. He added that the suspects are already known to the police and security services it is about members of the Wahhabi movement. He was carrying a bag with him and he took out a crossbow from the bag and shot the gendarme in the neck with the arrow, Dacic said. The gendarme reacted immediately, as much as he could until he fell to the ground he took out his gun and fired several shots at the assailant. The attacker died after half an hour. On Motzei Shabbos, Dacic said that one of the detained suspects was arrested two years ago after he was identified as the administrator of several websites that called for jihad. However, he was subsequently released from custody. It is suspected that he directly participated in the logistical support and organization of this terrorist act, Dacic said. Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz stated on Motzei Shabbos: I would like to thank the Government of Serbia and all those involved in the prompt response, for their strong support and cooperation following the attempted terror act on the Embassy of Israel in Belgrade today, during which a Serbian guard was injured by the terrorist. I would also like to send my wishes for a quick recovery to the injured guard. Terrorism cannot be tolerated! (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) SYDNEY, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A man has been arrested after a woman's body was located in Australia's eastern state of New South Wales (NSW), local police said on Saturday. About 2:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, police attended a home on Johnston Street, Casino, in the state's north following reports of a concern for welfare, NSW Police said in a statement. Officers attached to Richmond Police District arrived and assisted the woman, who is believed to be aged in her 40s. However, she died at the scene, police said. A 31-year-old man, believed to be known to the woman, was arrested at the scene and taken to Lismore Police Station where he is assisting police with inquiries, according to the police statement. A crime scene has been established and a critical incident team from Tweed/Byron Police District will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including all aspects of the response from NSW Police. Alf and Linda Morley: She faced a 300 penalty plus 10-a-day fines over a late tax return she couldn't fill in herself A woman with Alzheimer's and her husband have had an apology from HMRC after it threatened her with 10-a-day fines over a late tax return. Alf Morley, pictured left with Linda, says he tried to tell the taxman she could not fill in the return herself, and he held power of attorney to do it for her. But his efforts got nowhere, and he told us: 'I am unable to complete the form online and HMRC have failed to send me a paper copy, despite several requests and reassurance that one is in the post.' Mr Morley says this resulted in his wife being notified by letter in mid-June she now faced a 300 fine. She was also incurring further 10 daily fines from 1 May, and would do so until she completed a tax form. When he contacted This is Money the retired taxi driver, 76, told us it was hard to sleep because of the worry, adding: 'This is causing me undue stress and I cannot see a way around the situation.' After we raised his case with HMRC, it found the power of attorney Mr Morley had submitted for his wife was not properly recorded on its systems due to an isolated administrative error. A spokesperson said: We'll be speaking to Mr Morley to apologise profusely and confirm we have now recorded the power of attorney fully on our systems. 'Once he submits a self assessment return for Mrs Morley with an appeal against the penalties, we will cancel the penalties.' Mrs Morley, 77, a retired teaching assistant, receives a state pension and two small private pensions that amount to less than the 12,570 personal allowance which is the threshold to start paying income tax. Normally, this means she should not have to fill in a tax return. But the couple, who live in London, jointly owned a property which was sold in October 2022 and they paid capital gains tax. Tax return deadlines and penalties Not everyone has to file a tax return - HMRC explains how to check. There is a series of tax return deadlines - for telling HMRC you need to complete one if you have not done so before, submitting a paper or an online return, and paying any tax owed. You face a late filing penalty of 100 if it is up to three months late, and more if it's later, or payments are late. HMRC explains tax return penalties here and says you can appeal if you have a reasonable excuse. > What to do in a dispute with the taxman: Our resident tax expert HEATHER ROGERS explains Mr Morley says he made a 100 error when filing this for which he was fined. However, they also both received late payment penalties, which they appealed. His appeal was successful after he explained the very difficult circumstances at the time, but he says Mrs Morley's was not because she hadn't signed the letter. However, this was because she was unable to and he had power of attorney. After we asked HMRC to investigate, it said a tax return for Mrs Morley for 2022/23 does need to be filed due to the property sale. However, once that is sent along with an appeal the late penalties will be cancelled. It confirmed no other penalties are outstanding either, and a request for a 2023/24 tax return and any future years is cancelled. In late May, nearly a month before contacting This is Money, Mr Morley wrote to HMRC about his wife's situation and protested against her fines. He said in his letter: 'The fact you did not write to me in acknowledgment of my power of attorney I can't understand.' He explained how he had tried to fill in his wife's tax return online, but never received the code to their phone or email in order to proceed. 'I have also called to try and resolve this issue. After a long wait on the phone I spoke with an individual who informed me I would receive a paper copy. This was eight weeks ago. 'I phoned again five weeks ago and was told I would receive one in a few days through the post. However, I am still waiting.' And he added: 'I have my hands full caring full time for my wife and could really do without the added stress of this hanging over me.' After HMRC subsequently wrote saying it was imposing daily fines, Mr Morley got in touch with This is Money because we previously helped him sort out a delay to getting his state pension started. Although the state visit of Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, brought central London to a near standstill last Tuesday, it didn't delay the annual general meeting of investment trust Vietnam Enterprise Investments. While crowds thronged outside Claridge's in Mayfair to catch a glimpse of the emperor and empress before they were welcomed by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Horse Guards Parade, more than 100 shareholders rocked up at the Stationers' Hall in the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral to learn more about their investments. They weren't disappointed as lead portfolio manager Tuan Le and Dominic Scriven (founder of Dragon Capital, the investment house that runs the trust), articulated the case for investing in Vietnam. For those who stayed on for lunch, me included, they were treated to refreshing Vietnamese beer (I resisted the urge) and a delightful array of Vietnamese food. Idyllic: But picture postcard Vietnam is actually one of the world's few engines of economic growth The choice of venue home of The Stationers' Company, the City of London Livery company for the communications and content industries was rather apt. This is because the trust is on a mission to get its investment story across to a wider audience, hence its first AGM in London since the trust listed in the UK eight years ago. In theory, the 1.2billion trust should have strong investor appeal. Vietnam is currently one of the few engines of economic growth to be found in the world. It is a beneficiary of massive inward investment as big international companies shift their manufacturing bases southwards out of China and into North Vietnam. Without breaking the bank, the Government is also heavily investing in the country's infrastructure while greater urbanisation is creating a burgeoning middle class with money to spend. The population (100 million) is also young, with an average age of 33, so it has no millstone like the NHS around its neck. Put all this in a pot, and you have an economic environment ideal for companies to thrive and make money for shareholders. Furthermore, with the country heading towards emerging markets status (it's classified as a frontiers trust), interest in the stock market, especially from foreign investors, should rise. But it's not quite happening for Vietnam Enterprise Investments. The fund's efforts to grow and make money for investors are being impaired by the fact that its shares are languishing somewhat in the doldrums. They are trading at a significant discount (20 per cent) to the value of the trust's underlying assets. This undervaluation is not a result of anything that the trust has done wrong, although it did have a difficult 2022. Shares in rival trust VinaCapital also trade at a discount in the high teens. It's more a reflection of the wider malaise in the UK stock market, resulting in a swathe of listed companies (not just investment trusts) trading at dirt cheap prices in turn making them attractive to predators such as private equity. Maybe this market cheapness will disappear as the UK economy improves. Maybe, maybe not. We just don't know. Scriven, who has lived in Vietnam since the 1990s, is determined that Dragon Capital's flagship investment fund will fly again, although the board will ask shareholders next year whether they want it to continue. Scriven, fluent in Vietnamese, is nothing but resourceful. So, the board has just reduced the fund's annual management charge from around 1.75 per cent to 1.5 per cent. A move that is shareholder-friendly. Further reductions should be made if the trust's assets grow. Dragon is also establishing a London office to help promote the fund. Scriven's view is that Vietnam's bamboo diplomacy (flexible but strong roots) makes it a simultaneous friend of China, India, Russia and the US. This, he adds, works economically in the country's favour, boosting imports and exports. In a nutshell, Vietnam Enterprise Investments is a super investment trust which gives investors exposure to one of the world's economic growth hotspots. Over the past year, despite the share price discount issue, it has generated shareholder returns of 8.3 per cent 44.1 per cent over the past five. Yes, it should only be a periphery investment in a private investor's portfolio, but it's a trust with an exciting mandate. For many reasons (some moral), I would pick it (or its rival, VinaCapital) over a Chinese trust every time. Six banks on one high street? It'll never catch on... Thank you for your observations on the withdrawal (or not) of bank branches from our high streets as Lloyds announced 60 more closures two days ago. Alan Hartley, a 78-year-old retired finance officer for the NHS, rang to say he had just spent a wonderful time travelling on the Settle to Carlisle railway by steam train. While wandering around Carlisle city centre, he was surprised to see branches of six banks and building societies within 500 yards of each other on the town's English Street Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Newcastle, Santander and Virgin Money. There is also a post office. Bank on steam: Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle to Carlisle railway 'It makes a change to see a high street so well supported by the banks,' says Alan, who lives in Ewloe, just outside Chester. 'Long may it continue.' Absolutely. In contrast, 68-year-old retired accountant Karen Robinson bemoans the lack of banks in her hometown of Immingham in Lincolnshire. To make matters worse, she says, the town is without a post office as a result of a collapsed ceiling. A pop-up replacement opened in the civic centre, only to be withdrawn last month. Karen is with Lloyds, which was the last bank to withdraw from the town in 2022. She has to travel into Grimsby a round trip of 40 minutes if she wants to do any banking. 'It's so frustrating,' says Karen. 'Immingham is a bustling town with a busy dock, two oil refineries and plenty of new houses. It deserves a bank.' She would like a banking hub a shared bank branch installed and has contacted cash machine network operator Link about it. The chances of success are limited. Link assessed the town when Lloyds walked away and deemed it not big enough to support a hub. More imperative is that the Post Office re-establishes a presence in the town. Finally, it is disappointing to learn that Lloyds continues to withdraw staff from its branches who assist customers with queries that can't be dealt with by cashiers. They will now work from home. Peter Wall, a retired solicitor from Birmingham, says it is happening at his Lloyds branch in Harborne. 'It's another blow for elderly customers,' he says. Spot on. HM Revenue & Customs is under fire for stifling enterprise by denying genuine claims for tax breaks on research and development from innovative small firms. The taxman is rejecting valid submissions, delaying payments and grabbing back tax credits as part of a wider attempt to crack down on fraud, numerous sources told The Mail on Sunday. The Government's flagship scheme provides a vital financial lifeline for many start-ups and small firms which need financial support to grow. The scheme is key to Government plans to make the UK a 'tech superpower' by 2030. HMRC estimates that 7.6billion in R&D tax relief was claimed by more than 90,000 firms in 2021-22. Tough approach: HM Revenue & Customs is under fire for stifling enterprise by denying genuine claims for tax breaks on research and development from innovative small firms But the tax authority also reckons more than 1billion of that was paid out to fraudsters, or in error. It recently adopted a much tougher approach to claims and now checks one in five applications compared with one in a 100 previously. Experts warn this increasingly onerous regime is resulting in genuine claims being thrown out and could force future tech champions to move offshore. 'There is a real risk that the handling of some R&D tax relief claims is undermining the Government's own policy to support investment here in the UK,' said Natasha Frangos, managing partner at accountants Haysmacintyre. 'We should be removing hurdles to innovation, but this is hindering rather than helping.' HMRC has hired hundreds of staff to enforce the clampdown, which has provoked howls of protest from firms and their advisers over the way some claims are being torpedoed. They say newly-recruited case workers are poorly trained, lack experience and assume applications are fraudulent unless proven otherwise. 'Nobody has any faith in the system any more,' said tax credit consultant Vicky Kwenda. She cites the case of a client in the defence sector who developed a camera that operates at temperatures as low as minus 30C. HMRC refused a 70,000 claim for R&D tax relief because it argued there were 'similar' cameras available even though none of them worked below temperatures of minus 15C. Her appeal was rejected because 'similar' technologies worked in temperatures of between plus 400C and minus 1500C, HMRC said. 'Common sense would tell you that these numbers seem off,' Kwenda said. 'The reviewer mixed the data relating to the temperatures a thermal camera can capture with the data relating to the environmental temperatures in which the camera can operate.' HMRC declined to comment on specific cases, but chief executive Jim Harra recently told MPs that his staff were not tech experts. 'My people are tax inspectors. They are not software engineers or rocket scientists,' he said. Two-thirds of HMRC inquiries occur after R&D tax credit awards have been made, according to Adam McCann of Claimer, whose software helps submit and handle claims. In one case, a genuine claimant had to hand back 300,000 as junior case workers played 'judge, jury and executioner'. An HMRC spokesman said the tax authority recognised the importance of R&D in driving innovation and economic growth. Claimants went through a 'risk screening process,' and most were paid without an inquiry, the spokesman said. 'All claims are handled professionally by colleagues with the relevant level of expertise.' Sir Peter Wood, one of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs, is unhappy. He is speaking from his Palm Beach villa, a short distance from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, where he is having a few days of relaxation in the US after attending a board meeting of a Boston insurer. After that, he is returning to the UK to vote, with a sense of trepidation. He fears Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government may force him to leave the country, even though he has always willingly paid UK taxes on his self-made wealth. Patriotic: Sir Peter Wood has always willingly paid UK taxes on his self-made wealth Wood created three businesses that were all FTSE 350 companies in their time insurance firms Direct Line, Esure and GoCompare and prides himself on having always paid his taxes in his home country. Indeed, for several years, he has featured high up the list of Britain's top taxpayers. His bills have been in excess of 200million when he has sold businesses. 'I have been in the top ten for years,' Wood says. 'I am the sort of person who always pays my UK tax. It's the patriotic thing to do.' Wood knows his estate, which includes shareholdings in funeral homes firm Dignity and stamp auctioneer Stanley Gibbons, will be hit by 40 per cent inheritance tax. But he fears Labour, in a desperate grab for tax revenues, is about to target the wealthy again. So the entrepreneur, who spends five months in his homes in the US and Spain, is now thinking of shielding his wealth overseas. Paradoxically the chemicals billionaire and Manchester United shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, one of the rich who has come out in favour of Labour ahead of the election, opted some years ago to move his personal tax status to Monaco. Wood regards this as the height of hypocrisy: 'Jim Ratcliffe is not paying any income tax in the UK. His companies do, but he personally won't pay any tax. Now he supports Labour. That's a bit rich.' Wood is not alone in his fears over Labour wealth taxes. A friend who is still working hard in textiles in his late 70s tells me that his son-in-law, a billionaire real estate magnate, decided some months ago amid expected rises in taxes on capital and wealth to move his family and his tax domicile from Britain to Monaco. He was not prepared to see an empire, which owns some of the nation's most recognisable property assets, broken up to pay UK taxes. Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves speak often of closing tax loopholes. This is shorthand for imposing new levies. Fear of what is to come already is driving fortunes overseas. The Thatcher revolution, which saw Britain's exiled rich return to spend and invest, is in danger of being reversed. Labour's election vows of 'wealth creation' stand to founder before it has taken office. The UK's entrepreneurs and super-rich fear the onslaught. It is tempting to say good riddance. But if Labour is serious about firing up growth and restoring stability to economic policy attacks on the well-heeled can only dampen spending, saving and investment. Labour is publicly targeting what it considers privilege with a 20 per cent VAT levy on school fees. And North Sea oil exploration has been brought to a halt by plans to close so-called investment loopholes on an industry already paying a headline tax rate of 75 per cent. But there could be much more to come from Labour as the fragility of the costings in its manifesto and the great hole in the public finances is exposed. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies describes a 'toxic mix' in public finances. Labour's triple tax lock, which bars rises in VAT, Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions, requires Reeves to find other targets. Pre-announced are plans to focus on non-doms and private equity barons. Other targets are likely to be on her unannounced agenda. In 1997, when Labour inherited far more stable public finances, it funded new spending from taxing dividends paid to pension funds and power utilities. This time a popular suggestion is to tax capital at the same rate as income. Tax relief on pension fund contributions may also be at risk, discouraging already inadequate savings. Changes started by Jeremy Hunt to the non-domicile regime have already seen many super-rich pack their bags. One source told me in three years they will all be gone, and a huge amount of money spent and invested in the UK will have vanished for ever. Entrepreneurs such as Wood are exasperated. 'I have paid UK taxes because I could afford to do so,' he says. One of Wood's daughters is a top interior designer, and he adds: 'Her business is drying up because non-doms and top salespeople are fleeing the country.' Britain faces both a public and private investment shortfall essential for growth. Driving our most brilliant business brains away can only stunt recovery. MANILA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos' political party signed an alliance with the second biggest political party in the Philippines on Saturday with the 2025 mid-term election in mind. In a speech during the signing of the alliance between Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) headed by Marcos, and the National Unity Party, Marcos said the unity forged between the two parties aims to transform the Southeast Asian country into "a new Philippines." "Our ideology is unity," Marcos said, stressing the alliance is not "a marriage of convenience," but "an understanding that we must come together if we are to transform our country into the modern, safe, sustainable, growing country that we dream of." Marcos also stressed the need to organize for the next year's midterm elections. In May, the PFP signed an alliance accord with Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, the biggest party in the House of Representatives. Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte resigned as education secretary on June 19, dissolving the UniTeam alliance that brought Marcos and Duterte to victory in the 2022 elections. MANILA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A powerful explosion ripped through a firecracker warehouse in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines Saturday afternoon, killing five and wounding at least 20. Local authorities said the blast, which happened shortly after 4 p.m. local time, created a 1.14-km impact radius and damaged houses and commercial establishments near the warehouse. City Mayor John Dalipe, who rushed to the blast site, confirmed to reporters that five people died and rescuers rushed 20 more to hospitals. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office listed eight patients in critical condition. Police Colonel Kimberly Molitas, the officer-in-charge director of the Zamboanga City Police, said that a child was among those killed in the accident. She told reporters that firefighters and the police are investigating the cause of the blast. A glimpse at excuses and realization from the former Missouri Senator . . . "The president had to reassure America that he was up to the job at his age. And he failed. "Does that mean that Biden is not the right candidate? I think we'll know a lot more in a few weeks. But I know I'm not the only one who watched the debate last night and felt terribly for Joe Biden. How did we get here?" Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . McCaskill says Biden stumbles raise question of Harris or Newsom at top of Democratic ticket Former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) raised concerns about President Biden's debate performance, suggesting Vice President Harris or Gov. Gavin Newsom could be better suited for the 2024 ticket. Claire McCaskill: Why last night's presidential debate felt like a "gut punch" Presidential surrogates get to focus on the positives. But my job now is to be really honest about Joe Biden's debate performance. MSNBC's Claire McCaskill admits Biden 'failed' to prove he's fit for office during debate: 'Heartbreaking' MSNBC pundit Claire McCaskill said President Biden "failed" to prove during Thursday night's presidential debate that he has the strength to do the job. Fmr Dem Sen. Claire McCaskill: We're Confronting Crisis Former Missouri Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill says her party is "confronting a crisis" following President Joe Biden's widely panned effort in his debate with former President Donald Trump. Developing . . . Press Release June 29, 2024 Sa Wakas!: Villanueva lauds approval of BulSU's Doctor of Medicine program Senator Joel Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, lauded the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for approving Bulacan State University's (BulSU) Doctor of Medicine program. "Sa wakas! Tagumpay po ito hindi lamang ng mga Bulakenyo kundi ng lahat ng mga kababayan natin sa mga karatig lalawigan sa Central Luzon na nagnanais mag-aral ng kursong medisina," Villanueva said. BulSU is the first State University and College (SUC) in Region III that has been authorized by CHED to offer a Doctor of Medicine program starting in the academic year 2024-2025. Aside from BulSU, CHED announced that it has given the green light for the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in La Union to offer a Doctor of Medicine program next academic year. "We started with eight SUCs in seven regions and now we have 22 SUCs offering the Doctor of Medicine program in 15 regions in the country," Villanueva said. The senator also reported that since the passage of the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, the country's doctor to population ratio has increased to 3.7 doctors per 10,000 Filipinos from 2.64 doctors per 10,000 Filipinos. "Malayo pa pero malayo na. We are on the right track in achieving the World Health Organization's (WHO) prescribed ratio of 10 doctors per 10,000 population," Villanueva said. "Our vision of making medical education accessible to aspiring doctors is becoming the country's reality day-by-day," he added. Republic Act No. 11509 establishes a medical scholarship and return service program, which covers expenses such as tuition, allowances for books, uniform, transportation, and accommodation, internship costs, medical board review, and licensure examination fees. Scholars are required to render a return service equivalent to the years they received the scholarship. The law also provides that after passing the physician licensure examination, the medical scholar shall be integrated into the public health and medical service system, through the Department of Health, and shall receive the appropriate civil service rank, salary and related benefits. Villanueva pinuri ang pag-apruba ng Doctor of Medicine program ng BulSU Ikinatuwa ni Senador Joel Villanueva, principal author at sponsor ng Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, ang pag-apruba ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sa Doctor of Medicine program ng Bulacan State University (BulSU). "Sa wakas! Tagumpay po ito hindi lamang ng mga Bulakenyo, kundi ng lahat ng mga kababayan natin sa mga karatig-lalawigan sa Central Luzon na nagnanais mag-aral ng kursong medisina," pahayag ni Villanueva. Ang BulSu ang kauna-unahang State University and College (SUC) sa Region III na pinayagan ng CHED na mag-alok ng Doctor of Medicine program na magsisimula sa academic year 2024-2025. Maliban sa BulSU, binigyang permiso na rin ng CHED ang Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) sa La Union na mag-alok ng Doctor of Medicine program sa susunod na academic year. "We started with eight SUCs in seven regions and now we have 22 SUCs offering the Doctor of Medicine program in 15 regions in the country," sabi ni Villanueva. Mula nang ipasa ang Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, iniulat ni Villanueva na ang doctor-to-population ratio sa bansa ay tumaas na sa 3.7 doktor kada 10,000 Pilipino mula sa 2.64 doktor kada 10,000 Pilipino. "Malayo pa pero malayo na. We are on the right track in achieving the World Health Organization's (WHO) prescribed ratio of 10 doctors per 10,000 population," ani Villanueva. "Our vision of making medical education accessible to aspiring doctors is becoming the country's reality day-by-day," dagdag pa niya. Sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 11509, nagtatag ng isang medical scholarship at return service program, kung saan sasagutin nito ang iba't-ibang gastusin gaya ng tuition, allowances para sa libro, uniform, transportation, accommodation, internship costs, medical board review, at licensure examination fees. Kapalit nito, ang mga iskolar ay obligadong maglingkod sa mga pampublikong ospital at health facilities ng hindi bababa sa isang taon para sa bawat scholarship year na na-avail. Nakasaad din sa batas na matapos makapasa sa physician licensure examination, ang medical scholar ay isasama sa public health at medical service system, sa pamamagitan ng Department of Health, at makakatanggap ng karampatang civil service rank, salary at iba pang benepisyo. by Jonathan Edward, Wang Yi, Mao Pengfei KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Xinhua) -- As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, Malaysia expects more Chinese companies to bring experience and technology, promote Malaysia's industrial upgrading, and facilitate closer economic and trade cooperation in the future, a Malaysian official told Xinhua in a recent interview. Citing his recent visit to China, Malaysian Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong said he was impressed by China's cutting-edge technologies. In the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen, he visited high-tech enterprises and their automated production lines. "I can see how technology has taken root and how technology has propelled exponential growth in Shenzhen particularly. Shenzhen is an experience that is very worthy of learning for us," said Liew. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years and is also one of the major sources of foreign investment for Malaysia. In recent years, Malaysia has introduced a series of policies to promote the upgrading of traditional industries and expand high-value manufacturing industries, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in the global value chain. China-Malaysia cooperation in emerging industries such as digital economy, new energy, and e-commerce has gradually strengthened. For future bilateral relations, Liew has many expectations. He hopes more Chinese companies will help drive technology development in Malaysia, especially help Malaysia's manufacturing industry achieve automation and digital development, reduce the manufacturing industry's dependence on labor, and increase added value. Liew said Malaysia's areas of interest also include the green economy, in which China commands a huge lead, especially in electric vehicles and other aspects of mobility including public transport. "China has a lot of experience in mobility. We're happy to work with China on different fronts, and we hope to see that we can really do green transition," he stressed. Speaking of Malaysia's advantages, Liew noted that Malaysia occupies a middle position in the regional and global industrial chain, upholds neutrality, enjoys a superior geographical location, and is committed to increasing the number of middle-class people in the future. He believes that the economies of Malaysia and China can be complementary and achieve win-win cooperation. He also expressed hopes that Chinese firms will establish their regional headquarters in Malaysia and in doing so empower Malaysia in its development efforts. "From there, we can build high-end services as well as high-end manufacturing to work together," he said. In Liew's view, China not only has a sufficient market, but also is a source of new technologies and investments, which will benefit Malaysia's development. A legal decision should/might have consequences for Kansas City. The big picture thanks to BEST & BRIGHTEST TKC READERS who sent word our way . . . SUPREME RULING IMPACTs KANSAS CITY'S APPROACH TO HOMELESS "SOLUTIONS" AND POLICY!!! Here are the basics that should now inform 12th & Oak . . . It is the court's most significant decision on homelessness since at least the 1980s, when many experts say the modern US homeless crisis began. The ruling says that local governments can enforce laws against people sleeping in public places without being in violation of the US constitution's limits on cruel and unusual punishment. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Supreme Court allows cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside The Supreme Court has ruled cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking. Supreme Court rules cities can ban homeless from sleeping outside The court found that the ban did not violate the constitution's limits on cruel and unusual punishment. In major decision, Supreme Court allows cities to ban homeless camps The Supreme Court's decision comes as record numbers of Americans lack permanent housing and cities struggle to control encampments. Developing . . . We don't know if we'll ever find a model with a body of work that love as much as hottie Jordan but that won't stop us from trying as we check pop culture, community news and top headlines for our blog community. For closer readers, we know this news link overview update might not be comprehensive as our others but it's a good look at where we stand right now. Check TKC news gathering . . . Progressive Radio Presents Nicer Image Of Downtown KC Two doves in love made a home at Kansas City's downtown library. Their eggs are about to hatch Librarians at the downtown branch named the pair of mourning doves after Carrie Westlake Whitney, the "mother of the Kansas City Public Library," and her longtime companion Frances Bishop. Staff want visitors' help naming the two hatchlings. This Town Needs To Lighten Up Brighter days in Kansas City: 90,000 LED lights installed around the city City celebrates $25 million investment for a greener community Lots Of Draws & Highlights KC Current sets NWSL record, 17 games unbeaten The Kansas City Current set a new NWSL record Friday with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dash at CPKC Stadium, marking the Current's 17th consecutive game without a loss. Vampire Aware?!?! Clay County Public Health Center revealed a bat found in the county tested positive for rabies The Clay County Public Health Center said Friday a bat recently found in the county tested positive for rabies. Questionable Season So Far . . . How are the Kansas City Royals doing, halfway through the 2024 season? The Kansas City Royals have made a huge comeback this year after a disastrous 2023 season. Here's how the team is performing so far, and how management plans to approach the MLB's July 30 trade deadline. Jordan's Most Recent Coverage Bayern's 'sexiest fan' offered to chauffeur Marco Reus if he quit Dortmund Marco Reus never made the jump from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich like many others - despite being given a tempting offer to do so by a German glamour model White House Admits OBVIOUS Blunder For Once . . . Biden acknowledges weak debate performance as Democratic questions swirl over whether he'll stay in the presidential race | CNN Politics President Joe Biden's campaign insisted Friday he will not drop out of the 2024 race, but fractures between the president's orbit insisting on trudging forward and the broader Democratic world seeking a last-minute change were growing after Biden's disastrous debate performance. MAGA Makes Case Trump says 'biggest problem' not Biden's age, 'decline,' but his policies in first appearance since debate In his first rally following the debate, former President Trump told Virginia voters the "biggest problem" for the U.S. is not Biden's "decline" but his policies. Paper Of Record Statement NYT editorial board calls on Biden to drop out The New York Times editorial board called on President Biden to suspend his campaign after his shaky debate performance against former President Trump on Thursday. "Mr. Biden has said that he is th... Vlad Still Fights Forward A grinding Russian assault appears telling about Putin's plan to defeat Ukraine ISW's conflict experts warned that the West must "challenge Putin's belief that he can gradually subsume Ukraine." Holy Land Conflict Update Israeli forces push deeper into southern and northern Gaza Israeli forces deepened their incursion 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. South Of Border Scorched Scorching heat in the US Southwest kills three migrants in the desert near the Arizona-Mexico border Three Mexican migrants have died in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona near the U.S.-Mexico border. The deaths come as temperatures hit the triple digits across parts of the Southwest. Hipsters Share Savory Fare Eat This Now: Steak Frites at The Classic in Hotel Kansas City The Classic, the Hotel Kansas City lobby bar, already well-known for dinner, now offers lunch service. Storm Aftermath Update . . . Reports of storm damage in Miami County, Kansas and Cass County, Missouri Hail, wind and tornadoes are all possible with Friday night's storms. Lisa -Rockstar is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. This is a bad move and yesterday we tried to warn Mayor Q against it. Like it or not . . . KCMO MAYOR Q HAS INVESTED TOO MUCH IN SUPPORTING THE WHITE HOUSE AND NOW HE'S DOUBLING DOWN AMID OPEN REVOLT BY MANY DEMOCRATIC PARTY LOYALISTS!!! More than anything . . . This a fight for control and the DNC in turmoil and there's a very good chance the current Prez won't politically survive a demand for change within Democratic Party ranks. Meanwhile . . . The KCMO Mayor is MISTAKENLY showing his hand . . . Day-tripping to Michigan this weekend in support of @JoeBiden to remind swing state voters of the stakes for all of our communities and the importance of their voices this fall. Results over bluster. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com screencap . . . Developing . . . Aer Lingus, a big airline, has had to cancel almost 400 flights because their pilots are on strike. The pilots are unhappy with their pay and have stopped doing extra work like working overtime. The strike has been going on for a while, and now Aer Lingus had to cancel 122 more flights that were supposed to fly by July 7. Aer Lingus Pilots Strike for Fair Pay The pilots, who are part of a group called the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association, are asking for better pay because they say the cost of living has gone up a lot. They did say they would take a smaller pay increase than the rise in living costs just to solve the problem, but they still haven't reached an agreement with Aer Lingus. According to BBC, strikes are becoming a big problem for travelers. For instance, the canceled flights affected students and teachers of Shimna Integrated School, Northern Ireland. They slept on the floor and had to seek other means of reaching home. Aer Lingus is attempting to assist the passengers somehow by providing them with other flights or refunding their money. They are also in negotiations with representatives of the pilots with the hope of putting and end to the strike. More discussion will be held later on Monday when they have another meeting. The airline apologizes for all the trouble this is causing everyone. They are working hard to fix things as quickly as they can. Meanwhile, the pilots hope their strike will make Aer Lingus listen to their problems and come up with a fair solution. Related Article: Aer Lingus Flight Forced to Turn Back to Dublin After 7 Flight Attendants Fall Ill Family's Dream Trip Falls Apart A father, Andrew McKee, shared how his family's dream trip to Disney World was ruined when Aer Lingus canceled their flights. The airline has called off over 220 flights due to ongoing strikes by its pilots. The action started after pilots, part of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA), demanded better pay. They decided not to work overtime and planned a strike for eight hours on a Saturday. In another report by BBC, McKee, from Bangor, County Down, was supposed to travel to Orlando, Florida, with his family of nine on Wednesday. He had to break the sad news to his children, Lucy and Toby, who were eagerly counting down the days to their Disney adventure. Lucy, especially, was looking forward to meeting her favorite Disney princesses. When they learned about the cancellation, it felt like their excitement was swept away suddenly. Despite the disappointment, Aer Lingus offered McKee options to either reschedule his flights or get a refund. However, this solution didn't cover other prepaid holiday expenses like park tickets and hotel stays. Aer Lingus and IALPA plan to attend meetings in Dublin to discuss the dispute. In the same region, McKee affirms the pilots' decision to go on strike due to performing hard work deserving of fair wages. He is now indeed thinking of redoing the holiday next year. As for those affected by the cancellations, Aer Lingus is reaching out to provide alternate travel arrangements or refunds. The airline emphasizes its commitment to reducing the inconvenience caused to passengers and continues to invite pilots for negotiations to resolve the issue swiftly. A woman from Texas says she was taken off a United Airlines flight because she used the wrong pronouns for a flight attendant. Jenna Longoria was traveling from San Francisco to Austin with her mother and her young son. She shared her story through videos on social media. United Airlines Pronoun Mix-Up Sparks Outrage Longoria explains that while carrying her son and managing their luggage, she mistakenly referred to a flight attendant using the wrong pronoun. She apologized and corrected herself, but the situation escalated, as reported by People. According to her, the flight's captain decided she and her family could not board the plane. This decision left them unable to travel as planned. The videos of Longoria explaining her side of the story gained attention online. She expressed frustration over the incident, particularly because it made traveling more difficult for her family. She was also worried because their luggage, including necessary medications, was already on the plane. This incident has sparked discussions about the importance of understanding and using correct pronouns. United Airlines has policies to support inclusivity, including allowing employees to wear name tags with their preferred pronouns. However, this situation shows that misunderstandings can still lead to significant consequences. Carry-On Dispute Stops Boarding Jenna Longoria was stopped from boarding a United Airlines flight, but the reason given by the airline was about something other than a misunderstanding involving pronouns, as initially thought. United Airlines clarified that the main issue leading to her removal was Longoria's too many carry-on items. The incident unfolded when Longoria, traveling with her mother and young son, prepared to board the flight from San Francisco to Houston. During the boarding process, Longoria was distracted by her son's meltdown and the management of their luggage. Despite an earlier interaction where she mistakenly used the wrong pronoun for a flight attendant-an error for which she apologized immediately-the real complication arose over her luggage. According to Daily Mail, a male flight attendant informed her that she could not board because of the excess carry-on items she had with her. This part of the confrontation was captured on video, where Gabriella Chidom, a United operations manager experienced in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, is seen explaining to Longoria that she couldn't board due to "what came out of her mouth" which might have referred to the discussion about the luggage. United Airlines' statement emphasized that the decision to prevent Longoria from boarding was strictly related to the airline's carry-on policy. This explanation led to confusion and frustration for Longoria, who felt the reasons behind her removal were misrepresented. After Longoria shared her experience on social media, the airline arranged for her and her family to take a later flight. Throughout the incident, Longoria highlighted that her primary concerns were caring for her son and helping her mother. Despite initial beliefs that the pronoun mistake was the cause, the issue with the carry-on luggage ultimately led to the boarding denial. There is much to see in Europe, even outside the usual favorite destinations like Paris, London, Madrid, and Rome. In particular, those who'd like to venture eastern Europe have a number of such destinations to choose from. One example of which is the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the whole of Europe, Belgrade is home to some of the continent's must-visit tourist attractions. Here are some of them. Avala Tower First on the list is a telecommunications tower known as the Avala Tower. Located on Mount Avala, the original tower was destroyed during the NATO bombing of Yugoslovia in 1999. The tower has been rebuilt and facilities have been added to accommodate the travelers who wish to visit. Among these facilities are a restaurant and a souvenir shop. Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park Fortresses and castles are aplenty in Europe, and one of the fortresses that are a must-visit in Serbia is the Belgrade Fortress. Located in Stari Grad, the Belgrade Fortress is an officially declared cultural monument in the country. An important historical landmark as well, it is the most visited tourist attraction in the capital. Found within its grounds in the Kalemegdan Park. The park as a whole is split into two parts, the Great Park and the Little Park. Its presence often leads to people wrongly believing that the fortress is called Kalemegdan Fortress. Church of Saint Sava Many travelers who visit Europe do so with the purpose of church hopping. For those who are into visiting churches, Belgrade's Church of Saint Sava is one that you shouldn't miss. The church is dedicated to Saint Sava, who is the founder of the Serbian Orthodox church. In fact, the location where the church is built is believed to be where Saint Sava is buried. This photo taken on June 14, 2024 shows an external view of TAM in Maribor, Slovenia. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) MARIBOR, Slovenia, June 29 (Xinhua) -- TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. In Slovenia's second largest city, Maribor, a fleet of huge trailers on Friday carried TAM's latest range of productions from the company's manufacturing facility to European customers. Its latest products are almost unrecognizable from the first petrol-powered vehicles that rolled off the line at the company's inception nearly 80 years ago. Following the company's acquisition by a Chinese firm, TAM now plays an important role in the European electric bus production. One of the company's latest clients is Paris Charles de Gaulle international airport. The 24 buses ordered by the French company from TAM will be put into service during the Olympic Games that begin on July 26 in order to ensure efficient airport operations during the Olympics and support the transportation needs of athletes and associated personnel. "Getting the order for the Olympic Games is of great significance for us. It reflects TAM's influence throughout the region and plays a positive role in our future expansion on international markets," Ma Fuxiong, CEO of TAM Europe, told Xinhua in an interview recently TAM was established in 1947 and became well-known as a producer and exporter of trucks, trailers and military vehicles in the former Yugoslavia, and also provided parts for aircraft. It is an important part of the economy of Maribor, employing more than 8,000 people at its peak, equivalent to one-tenth of the city's total population. However, after Slovenia's independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, TAM faced major challenges from market changes and economic downturn. After multiple rounds of restructuring, it was finally declared bankruptcy in 2011. "I was really stressful at that time, and also sad because of this big brand almost shut down," said Gorazd Bubic, head of production, PS, and technology at TAM-Europe. A 30-year veteran of the company, he said he still remembers how he felt when the company was on the verge of bankruptcy more than 10 years ago. "But later the Chinese company took over TAM, and I was really satisfied to see that TAM brand will go further, and the TAM brand has a bright future right now," he added. In 2011, TAM was taken over by the Chinese company which retained the company's original Logo, resuming production in 2013. Local employees are regularly dispatched to Chinese factories to learn new technologies, while Chinese technicians frequently visit the Slovenian factories to provide on-site guidance and support. Bubic, who has undergone training in China multiple times, expressed his admiration for the Chinese people, describing them as "really nice and pleasant, with a lot of respect." From an assembly line team leader to head of the production technology department, Bubic believes that in addition to "language, culture and cooperation with Chinese colleagues", his professional skills have "improved a lot" and he is very happy with his growth experience in TAM (Europe). The partnership has brought about new technological advancements for the Slovenian-based company. Bubic said that in the past, the company manufactured internal combustion engine buses, but now focuses on green solutions such as electric buses and hydrogen fuel buses. "The overall energy trend in Europe is the transition from European 5 standard to European 6. From this year, the bus standards in European airports have all been upgraded to European 6," said Ma, adding that they have "upgraded in terms of environmental protection," which was important in getting the order from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport." TAM successfully cooperates with more than 100 international airports, and operates a high-quality after-sales service of more than 40 maintenance centers established across the EU. After the takeover, TAM is committed to deepening local user needs, upgrading local industrial chain, and strengthening local operations. Customized services have always been the characteristics of TAM (Europe). "In the field of new energy, the European supply chain has shortcomings," Ma said, adding that the company is capable of providing technical support to its local auto part suppliers and assists them in producing parts that meet its standards. Bubic believes that the current achievements have exceeded expectations and has high expectations for the future. "Right now we have a lot of orders. The brand is more and more recognizable," Bubic said. Enditem A TAM worker works on the production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) A TAM worker works on the production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) TAM's production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is pictured in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) TAM's production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is pictured in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) TAM workers work on the production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) TAM workers work on the production line of electric buses for the needs of the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14, 2024. TAM, a leading bus and commercial vehicle producer in Slovenia, is experiencing a significant revival after its acquisition by China. From bankruptcy following years of decline, the company is once again thriving on the European market. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The world is at a critical crossroads where solidarity and unity under the values embodied in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are essential to tackling global challenges and building a future of multilateralism that benefits everyone, French entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand has said. "The Five Principles are China's commitment to developing peacefully and to coexisting with other countries, which are often very different from China. And I think this is a key question in today's world," he said. "The Principles are actually closely linked to the UN Charter. For instance, one of the key principles is mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs. That's also part of the UN charter, (which prohibits interference by states in the internal affairs of others,)" he said. "Its being part of the UN Charter shows that, in fact, a lot of countries share the values in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," he added. The global order stands at a crossroads, where humanity has to choose between a world respecting the UN Charter and international law or a unipolar world dominated by one country that sets the rules, he said. "I very much hope that the world will evolve in the first direction where all countries are considered equal, mutually respect each other, do not interfere with each other, and are committed to a peaceful resolution of conflicts," he added. Bertrand highlighted the cultural exchanges and mutual learning in history between China and France, the first major Western country to establish formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. "If you look, for instance, back to the Enlightenment with thinkers like Voltaire, we have this mentality of trying to understand China and being inspired by China. And vice versa," he said. Bertrand, who lived in China for seven years and once studied acupuncture at a traditional Chinese medicine school, is now working on an entrepreneurial project with his wife to develop a range of products inspired by traditional Chinese herbalism. "In order to learn it (acupuncture), you have to do all the points on yourself. So I literally tried all the acupuncture points on myself. Every single one of them," he said with a big smile, pointing at the back of his hand. Bertrand believes his project will contribute to bridging Chinese and European cultures. "At the heart of our business, it is about explaining a key part of Chinese culture to the West," he said. "When you try to understand Chinese medicine, you also understand the very root of Chinese culture." "By helping people grow interested in traditional Chinese medicine, we also help them understand a bit more about how China perceives the way the human body works, and also in general, key concepts in Chinese culture like harmony, which is to find the right equilibrium between yin and yang," he added. He speaks enthusiastically of China's visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from a dozen countries, including France, to enter and stay in China for up to 15 days for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit. "I think it's a very, very good policy because at the end of the day, in order to understand China, the single best way is to come here and see the country with your own eyes. And it's also a show of confidence by China to tell the world: Come and see the country for yourself, we have nothing to hide, and we are proud of our country," he said. Currently, 35,203 MWh of electricity is expected to be imported. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Ministry of Energy. For the current day, electricity imports are forecasted at 35,203 MWh. No exports are expected. Yesterday, to partially cover the electricity shortage, Ukraine additionally attracted emergency assistance from the power systems of Poland, Romania and Slovakia. On Saturday, 29 June, the hourly power outage schedules will apply from 0:00 to 24:00. If the situation changes, the information will be updated. As the Ministry of Energy stressed, the main reason for the restrictions is the Russian attacks on energy infrastructure and the negative consequences of these attacks. The ministry urged consumers to consume electricity responsibly during the hours when it is available. This will strengthen the resilience of the power system. In the Zhytomyr and Kharkiv regions, regional power company employees were killed while maintaining the power grids. In Zhytomyr region, a 31-year-old electrician operating distribution networks was electrocuted while inspecting an overhead line. In Kharkiv region, a 40-year-old distribution network foreman was electrocuted. Paramedics pronounced him dead. In Donetsk region, a distribution system operator's overhead line was damaged by Russian shelling. The substation and the household consumers and a mine connected to it were cut off. At the time, 73 workers were in the mine and were brought to the surface. All consumers were reconnected. In the Lviv region, a metal ball with a diameter of 15 cm was found on the territory of one of the high-voltage substations - a fragment of a cluster munition from a Russian X-101 missile. The SES workers removed the munition from the substation. In Chernihiv region, 413 customers in six settlements lost power at once due to shelling overnight. In Cherkasy region, equipment at one of the regional power company's substations was disconnected for technological reasons. As a result, household and industrial consumers in two districts lost power. All consumers have been supplied with power. As Ukrinform reported earlier, DTEK Energy does not consider any of its facilities to be beyond repair. However, the restoration work may take years. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan at a meeting on Saturday discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties between Ukraine and Armenia. The Ukrainian minister reported this on X, according to Ukrinform. During the meeting, the two discussed the security situation in Europe and the South Caucasus. "We also focused on ways to deepen our bilateral ties and international cooperation, particularly in light of Ukraine's future EU membership," Kuleba wrote. Kuleba thanked Armenia for attending the first Peace Summit in Switzerland and informed his counterpart about further work on implementing the Peace Formula "on the path to a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine." Kuleba is on a visit to Croatia to participate in the 17th Dubrovnik Forum and hold a number of bilateral talks. CAIRO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- European companies, participating in the Egypt-EU Investment Conference in Cairo on Saturday and Sunday, are signing with Egyptian partners more than 20 new deals and MOUs worth over 40 billion euros (nearly 42.9 billion U.S. dollars) in various fields. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement in her speech at the opening session of the two-day conference themed "Unlocking Egypt's advantages in a fast-changing world," which was attended by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. "At this conference, European companies and Egyptian partners will sign deals worth over 40 billion euros," said von der Leyen, noting, "The stability of Egypt is important for the region." In his opening speech, Sisi highlighted the positive developments in Egypt-EU relations. "This progress was crowned with the signing of the political declaration to elevate the relation between both sides to the level of strategic and comprehensive partnership in March," he said. The Egypt-EU Investment Conference 2024 will give European countries and economic entities the opportunity to explore the available investment potential in Egypt, especially in areas that stimulate economic growth and employment, such as the sectors of communications and information technology, manufacturing industries, clean and renewable energy production and the circular economy, he added. BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Claiming to be a "beacon of democracy," the United States has been transplanting its political system to other countries and interfering in their internal affairs over the past century, despite significant differences in economic development, history, and culture. However, the so-called "democratic transformations" and color revolutions engineered by the United States often escalate into turmoil and lead to endless wars in affected regions. DISASTER FOR HAITI Haiti, perhaps less known to many than once war-torn Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, has long suffered from U.S. intervention under the guise of democracy. For over a century, the United States has continuously meddled in Haitian politics. In 1915, under U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the United States initiated a nearly 20-year military occupation of Haiti, under the guise of leading Latin America to democracy and freedom. In 1994, amidst political turmoil in Haiti, the United States dispatched over 20,000 troops in "Operation Uphold Democracy." Following these interventions, Haiti was coerced into opening its markets to the United States in exchange for external financial support. Decades of unemployment, gang violence, and hunger ensued. This year, over 300,000 civilians have been displaced by inter-gang warfare, with gangs controlling 80 percent of the capital, according to United Nations (UN) estimates quoted by CNN. "Every person CNN approached said they had been brutalized one way or another," the news outlet reported. America's century-long efforts to export democracy to Haiti have not fostered genuine democracy but have instead plunged the nation into poverty. "Haiti is a story that appears to repeat itself while also growing inexorably worse over time," said James Foley, former U.S. ambassador to Haiti. Robert Fatton Jr., a professor at the University of Virginia and an expert on Haiti, argued in his article "Killing Haitian Democracy" that "the United States' repeated interventions in Haiti have left a legacy of despotism." GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES Haiti's plight mirrors the United States' relentless push for American-style democracy worldwide, a tool in its quest for global dominance. The United States has often framed this as a battle between democracy and authoritarianism, but this rhetoric primarily serves U.S. hegemony and its political, economic, and security interests. Lindsey O'Rourke, an associate professor at Boston College, found that between 1947 and 1989, the United States conducted 64 covert operations to topple other governments, with about 30 percent targeting "democratic governments" by Western standards. Notable instances include U.S.-instigated coups in Iran in 1953, Guatemala in 1954, and Chile in 1973, which subverted democratically elected governments. In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq under the banner of "spreading democracy," resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe and continued regional turmoil. Many observers believe the root cause of the escalation of the Ukraine crisis is the continuous eastward expansion of the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), disregarding Russia's security concerns. The United States' repeated vetoes of ceasefire resolutions in the UN Security Council expose its hypocrisy in promoting peace. WAR BUSINESS So who benefits from the U.S. export of democracy? U.S. President Joe Biden has emphasized America's support for Ukraine and Israel as a defense of democracy. In a primetime address last year, he said, "just as in World War II, today, patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom." The term "arsenal of democracy," coined by former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, reflects the significant increase in the U.S. production of war materials during World War II, which cemented the bond between the defense industry and the government, creating the military-industrial complex. This complex now includes the military, defense contractors, Congress, academic institutions, think tanks, and the media, all leveraging their influence to shape national policies. This relationship has made "war economics" a significant aspect of U.S. foreign policy. One major reason the United States has intensified its involvement in conflicts in the Middle East and the Ukraine crisis is that prolonged warfare serves the interests of the American military-industrial complex. On April 20, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a 95-billion-U.S. dollar legislative package for security assistance to Ukraine and Israel, with 14.1 billion dollars in aid to Israel and 60 billion to Ukraine. The majority of these funds benefit U.S. defense contractors. In 2023, U.S. military equipment sales to foreign governments surged by 16 percent, reaching a record 238 billion dollars. What has "American-style democracy" brought to the world? It has fostered "neo-Monroeism" in Latin America, "color revolutions" in Eurasia, and the "Arab Spring" in the Middle East and North Africa. William Hartung, a senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, noted that the military-industrial complex thrives on continuous revenue and unwavering support from Washington, arguing that weapons companies are complicit in ongoing humanitarian crises. This practice "in no way fits the category of defending democracy." When a 19-year-old Indian student, Aryan Anand, put up an entirely fabricated application to gain a full scholarship at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, a lid was blown off the academic community. The tale of forged transcripts and financial statements, complete with even a death certificate, has brought to the fore the extraordinary extent to which students can sometimes go merely to achieve the most esteemed dream-studying abroad. His scheme unraveled following a Reddit confession, and the posting landed him in jail, where he is facing expulsion and eventual deportation. A Web of Lies What has sent ripples through the academic world is the story of Aryan Anand, a 19-year-old student from India who fabricated his entire application and attracted a full scholarship at Pennsylvania's Lehigh University. According to Lehigh Valley News, Anand meticulously crafted his deception by forging transcripts and financial statements, even going so far as to create a fake death certificate for his father. However, his plan fell apart after he confessed on Reddit in a post titled "I have built my life and career on lies." Defrauded documents for admission and aid in the form of financial aid were described by Anand in the Reddit post, stating that desperation to study in the United States got the better of him. "I haven't told anyone how I got to the point where I am right now. It would destroy everything I have," he wrote before detailing the multistep process he used to con the system. Anand's brazenness didn't stop with simply forging documents for his application; the student went on to create a fake email address, which he would use to pose as his school principal, adding another layer of deceit to his fraudulent application. The Reddit Confession That Unraveled It All It all began with Anand's own admission. Although he did not mention his name and the name of the university, a vigilant moderator on Reddit came across the post and became suspicious. The moderator conducted some research and discovered that Anand was a student at Lehigh University. "The defendant only followed one other university, which was Lehigh University. So, the moderator actually reached out to Lehigh to give them a heads-up," explained Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Michael Weinert. The moderator then contacted the university, providing them with all of the evidence that had been gathered. From there, an investigation began which ultimately led to Anand being taken into custody on April 30. Anand was picked up on several counts of forgery and theft of services which were severe offenses in their own right. He pleaded guilty to forgery charges on June 12, 2024. While the severity of his offenses called for a 10- to 20-year prison sentence, a plea agreement with the college called for slightly lighter punishment: his admission to Lehigh was revoked, and he faced expulsion and deportation back to India. The Fallout and Ethical Implications Right after the moderator's report, Lehigh University did not waste any time. It released a statement thanking the report to its ethics hotline, and the institution praised the excellent investigation done by the Lehigh University Police Department. The university reaffirmed its commitment to integrity and ethical practices in its admissions process. "We take these matters very seriously and are grateful for the vigilance of our community members who help us uphold our values," a statement read. Anand's case illustrates that what students may do to seek learning opportunities is not trivial and raises significant ethical questions. It also underlines that careful vigilance combined with community involvement is a critical tool in maintaining academic integrity. However, if certainly wrong, the actions taken by Anand also illustrate that there is tremendous pressure and challenge for students who wish to pursue further studies abroad, much more so from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds. The consequences of Anand's lying extend beyond his personal consequences. This case would again enlighten institutions worldwide of the need for educational establishments to implement firm mechanisms of verification so that they do not fall prey to fraud. It raises a bigger question regarding the pressure on students and the kind of ethical boundaries they may be compelled to overstep in fulfilling their dreams. The case of Aryan Anand is a lesson for all about the viciousness of dishonesty and the value of integrity within the halls of learning. His actions drew upon him serious personal punishments in terms of expulsion and deportation but at the same time, constituted an opener for the eyes of the institutions of learning and their students to become honest and ethical while pursuing their academic and professional aspirations. The Biden administration faced significant hurdles this week in its efforts to ease student loan debt, as two federal judges issued rulings blocking crucial elements of the President's relief initiatives. The legal challenges brought a temporary halt to provisions of the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan (SAVE Plan), thereby affecting millions of American borrowers and putting a huge question mark over student debt relief in the United States. Legal Challenges and Court Rulings The SAVE Plan, revised by the Biden Administration in response to the Supreme Court's invalidation of a previous loan forgiveness initiative, tries to correlate monthly payments to the income and size of the borrower's family. It has already saved millions of Americans from paralyzing debt by trimming and sometimes even reducing the payments of borrowers down to zero. Yesterday, however, U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree in Wichita, Kansas, joined by US District Judge in St. Louis, Missouri, District Judge John Ross, issued rulings significantly affecting how the plan will be implemented. Judge Crabtree has blocked a U.S. Department of Education plan from moving forward, with parts of it set to begin July 1, that aims to slash monthly payments and expedite loan forgiveness for millions of Americans. Crabtree was swayed by arguments of several Republican-led states saying the plan exceeded authority provided by Congress and financially harmed their interests, particularly for the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority. However, Judge Ross issued a preliminary injunction against further loan forgiveness under the SAVE Plan, ruling that the provision to cancel debt for borrowers with original balances of $12,000 or less and minimal qualifying payments exceeded the administration's authority. This ruling brought to the fore some legal and procedural predicaments for this provision in Biden's administration on debt relief. READ MORE : Biden Administration Halted Student Loan Forgiveness Plan As Courts Issue Injunctions, Leaving Millions In Limbo Effect on Borrowers and Political Consequences Looking first at these rulings, what is realized is a huge impact, where close to 4.6 million borrowers already have availed themselves under the SAVE Plan and $160 billion in relief has already been approved. These court decisions place uncertainty and potential financial strain on those expecting either further debt cancellation or reduced monthly payments. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona criticized the rulings, stating that the Department of Justice would "vigorously defend" the SAVE Plan. He maintained that the SAVE plan represents a continued source of millions of borrowers who can lower their monthly payments and be saved from regular interest-on-interest if they are regular payers. Despite these present legal setbacks in student debt relief, the administration won't back down from the fight. These rulings also have far broader political ramifications. Republican officials and allies of the court decisions are billing that as a win for the rule of law and fiscal responsibility-arguing that the president doesn't have the unilateral authority to cancel student loans without congressional approval. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, one of the lawsuit's filers, hailed the ruling as a victory for constitutional principles and American taxpayers. The Future of Student Debt Relief The legal battles the administration is waging highlight one reality. Should a mass student debt relief program be enacted, it would undoubtedly be fraught with complications and obstacles. The Biden administration has advanced dramatically in terms of debt relief, having forgiven hundreds of millions of dollars of debt under various programs, including the SAVE Plan. Last month, officials announced $613 million in debt cancellation for more than 54,000 borrowers as part of larger efforts that so far have wiped out $167 billion in loans for 4.75 million people through administrative actions. Governance officials believe in the administration despite the legal blows that student debt relief is taking at the moment. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in an emailed statement that the Department of Education would keep enrolling more Americans into SAVE, helping borrowers unlock available benefits, including $0 payments for people earning $16 an hour or less and protections from accumulating interest. The fate of student debt relief in the US now rests in the hands of the courts as legal battles ensue. The staunch will of the Biden administration to do the same for millions of borrowers will receive aggressive opposition from lawyer Republicans and the legal opposition. Conversely, the administration's perseverance in securing relief through every avenue available indicates that student debt is an important issue for many Americans struggling to pay off their educational loans. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Saturday agreed to enhance bilateral trade, improve connectivity (including direct flight operations), and establish a Joint Chamber with Pakistan. Both sides also discussed visa issues for the business community and sector-specific barriers, said a press release issued here. The Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan, and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan organised the Pakistan - Uzbekistan Logistics Forum on 29th June, 2024 in Tashkent. The speakers of the event included the First Deputy Minister of Transport for the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Omarov Mamanbiy and Deputy Chairman Railways of Uzbekistan Mr Rakhmatov Khitmatullah as well as prominent representatives from the Uzbek and Pakistani government and private sector. The Forum was followed by B2B meetings between the Pakistani and Uzbek companies from the Logistics and Transport Sector. More than 300 B2B meetings took place between the 14 participating Pakistani companies and 50 plus Uzbek companies who attended the Forum. The participants greatly appreciated this initiative and hoped that similar events will be organised in the future as well for fortifying the trade and transit relations between the two countries. On the sidelines CE TDAP, Zubair Motiwala, held a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz approved Murree Development Plan that includes mega projects of development, beautification, transport, construction and rehabilitation schemes RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz approved Murree Development Plan that includes mega projects of development, beautification, transport, construction and rehabilitation schemes. Rawalpindi to Murree Tourist glass train project has also been approved for which it was decided to hire an international consultant for the project. A decision was made to remove high-rise hotel buildings obstructing the natural scenery of Mall Road. According to the details, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday chaired a special meeting on various development projects of Murree. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb gave a detailed briefing. The meeting in which President PML-N Nawaz Sharif was also in the chair along with the CM, lasted for five hours to comprehensively discuss the development projects. It was agreed in the meeting to relocate the hotels from GPO Chowk to an alternative location. Uniform appearance, signs, and colour schemes for old buildings on Mall Road were instructed to be implemented. The meeting decided to restore the old Names of cities, areas and historical buildings including that of Murree. Amendment to the building laws for construction in Murree and transferring the power of approval to the provincial level were approved. The decision was made in-principal to take action against officials who were involved in illegal constructions. Moreover, comprehensive short, medium and long-term plans for the supply of drinking water were also presented in the briefing. It was informed that the existing system would be repaired and restored, making it possible to supply over 600,000 gallons of clean water daily in Murree. RCC and tough tiles will be installed on 53-kilometre-long streets of different villages in Murree. A project to store rainwater for domestic use was approved, with the government supporting over 1,100 homes in storing rainwater. The construction and expansion of old Rawalpindi-Murree-Kashmir Road was approved and temporary parking spaces will also be created on Old Murree Road. The remodelling of Jhika Gali Chowk, removal of encroachments and construction and restoration of Lawrence College Road, Boostal Mor to Brewery Road were approved as well. In Banser Gali Wildlife Park, tree houses, camping sites, walkways and terrace parking areas will be established. PIA and Bagh-e-Shaheedan Park's entrances will be renovated and attractive walkways for tourists will be built. Murree Biodiversity Park will provide natural habitats for plants, birds and animals, along with picnic areas and tourist huts. Establishment of an artist's corner, walkways, walking tracks and eco-tourism promotion were also decided during the meeting. It was informed that the task of constructing and repairing 16 internal roads in Murree had been completed. Briefings were also given on the upgradation of Samli Hospital, street lights and public toilets. Addressing to the meeting participants, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed immediate legislation to restore old names and install memorials in every city in accordance with their history and traditions. She stated that Murree has improved significantly and would be made the best tourist sites. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif emphasized not to trouble the poor saying the government will set up stalls itself. During the meeting various proposals for parking yards in Murree were also reviewed. it was also informed in the meeting that thirteen illegal constructions and encroachments were demolished in Murree. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ministers Sohaib Ahmad Malik, Zeeshan Rafiq, Bilal Akbar, Special Assistant Rashid Nasrullah, Usama Sarwar Raja MNA, Bilal Yamin Satti MPA, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Kamran Lashari, secretaries, commissioner, deputy commissioner and others attended the meeting. The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) Saturday cleared the re-alignment of KKH between Thakot and Raikot at a rationalized cost of RMB 13.067 billion as well as the revised PC-I of New Gwadar International Airport ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) Saturday cleared the re-alignment of KKH between Thakot and Raikot at a rationalized cost of RMB 13.067 billion as well as the revised PC-I of New Gwadar International Airport. The new Gwadar airport is scheduled to become operational within the current calendar year. Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at Prime Ministers House, due to other pre-occupations of the Prime Minister, the meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) was attended by Finance Minister, Planning Minister, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, representatives of provincial governments as well as senior officers. The meeting considered 21 agenda items recommended to it in various meetings of Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and accorded approval for 19 projects. To expedite the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood affected areas in Balochistan, the forum accorded approval to 4 sub-components of $400 million World Bank funded Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Programme (IFRAP). This included $155 million housing reconstruction and restoration sub-component, $50 million road infrastructure sub-component, $40 million livelihoods component and $30 million irrigation infrastructure component. An amount of Rs 11.2 billion has been allocated in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024-25 for reconstruction projects in Balochistan. The forum directed that reconstruction activities in Balochistan be undertaken expeditiously while ensuring top quality. A number of projects being undertaken in Sindh were also approved by the forum, including the revised Flood Response Emergency Housing Project at a cost of Rs 296 billion, including Rs 50 billion committed by the federal government. An amount of Rs 30 billion has been allocated in PSDP 2024-25 as federal share for housing reconstruction in Sindh. The Chair informed the forum that the federal government remained committed to providing its share in housing reconstruction efforts in Sindh. Other projects included in Sindh ADP that were approved included Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project Phase-II and Competitive and Livable City of Karachi. The forum also cleared revised PC-I of operationalization of Green Line BRTS in Karachi at a rationalized cost of Rs 13.502 billion while observing that Sindh government consider increasing the fare to reduce subsidy being borne by the federal government as well as NHA executed rehabilitation and reconstruction of 86-km long stretch of national highway (N-5) between Moro and Ranipur. Other projects approved by the forum included electrical and mechanical works and allied buildings as well as access roads of Lowari tunnel at a cost of Rs 33.257 billion and 48 MW Jagran hydro power station at Rs 13.995 billion so that the project is completed by December 2024. The forum also extended the Sehat Sahulat Program till end December 2024 with the direction to Ministry of National Health Services to submit by 15 September its recommendations regarding shifting the program to current budget, improving its fiscal sustainability and reforming the regulatory and monitoring framework. Prime Ministers Programme for Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection was also approved at a cost of Rs 68.25 billion to be shared equally between federal government and provinces. The Ministry of National Health Services was tasked to prepare an implementation plan with well-defined targets and measurable indicators within 3 months. The forum also directed the Planning Commission to carry out an exercise for reviewing the Public Sector Development Programme in view of the shrinking fiscal space available with the federal government and timely completion of on-going projects. The forum did not clear the re-modified PC-I for the up-gradation of Railways main line-1 (ML-1) and advised the Pakistan Railways to consider preparing smaller projects and packages with specific for financing and implementation. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam on Saturday condemned the United States (US) Congress for passing a resolution concerning Pakistans elections. In a statement, he criticized the US, saying, "Among the wonders of modern ignorance is that a country prevents ceasefire resolutions by veto and supports the genocide of the people of Gaza by providing all kinds of lethal weapons to the Zionist regime. Yet, the Congress of this country passes a resolution questioning the nationwide election in an independent member of the United Nations (UN)." He further described the US Congress resolution as an interference in the domestic affairs of an independent UN member, calling it "a sort of extortion under the guise of supporting democracy." (@ChaudhryMAli88) BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) A milestone in the educational cooperation between China and Pakistan was achieved last week with the formation of the China-Pakistan Digital Education Alliance. The alliance, jointly initiated by ITMC Technology Co., Ltd. and UNI International, along with over 160 Chinese and Pakistani technical and vocational education and training (TVET) partners, aims to strengthen Pakistan's TVET system and transform it into a leading digital education hub. The formation of the alliance was announced during the International Digital Skills Exchange Seminar of the 2nd Belt and Road International Skills Competition held in Chongqing, China from June 24 to 26, local media reported. Over 200 experts from both countries, representing more than 140 colleges and universities, witnessed the historic event both online and offline. Rao Rashid Ali, Director General of Punjab TEVTA is leading the alliance from Pakistan. Rashid Ali highlighted the importance of this collaboration in bridging the digital skills gap in Pakistan and highlighted its potential to transform the education landscape in the country. From China, Professor Xue Maoyun, former president of Jiangsu Commerce Vocational and Technical College, assumed the role of chairman of the alliance. He stressed the shared vision of advancing digital education and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships. Muhammad Omar, Counsellor and Head of Chancery at the Pakistani Embassy in China and Afifa Shajia Awais, Counsellor of Education also attended the seminar. Praising China's achievements in talent transformation, especially in the development of highly skilled talent, Omar expressed the hope that Pakistan could leverage China's experience in digital transformation to enhance its educational institutions. APP/asg Gaza Strip, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) Explosions, air strikes and gunfire rattled northern Gaza on Saturday, the third day of an Israeli military operation that has uprooted tens of thousands of Palestinians and compounded what the UN called "unbearable" living conditions in the territory. An AFP correspondent reported ongoing explosions from the Shujaiya area near Gaza City, with a resident saying bodies were visible on the streets. Israel's military on Saturday said its operations were continuing in Shujaiya where fighting "above and below the ground" left a "large number" of militants dead. A resurgence of fighting in the area comes months after Israel had declared the command structure of Hamas dismantled in northern Gaza. Last Sunday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the "intense phase" of the war was winding down after almost nine months, but experts see a potentially prolonged next phase. The Gaza war has also led to soaring tensions on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, leading Iran on Saturday to warn of an "obliterating" war if Israel attacked Lebanon. Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) So-called cannabis clubs will be allowed to sell the drug legally in Germany starting Monday, but in practice it will be some time before the associations get up and running. Germany legalized cannabis in April, allowing adults to possess 25 grammes (0.9 ounces) and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home. As the next step in the reform, from July 1 it will be possible to legally obtain weed through regulated "cannabis clubs" in the country. The associations will be allowed to have up to 500 members each and will be able to distribute up to 50 grammes of cannabis per person per month. Mariana Cannabis, an umbrella organization for around 180 future cannabis clubs across Germany, already has around 20,000 members. But at the group's production site in Leverkusen, just north of the western city of Cologne, there are no seeds or cuttings to be seen. That is because before the clubs can begin operating, they must apply for a license that can take up to three months to obtain. "We are impatient, but we still have to wait," Keno Mennenga, a spokesman for Mariana Cannabis, told AFP. WestJet airplane mechanics stand in the picket line at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, June 29, 2024. Canada's second largest airline, the WestJet Group, said Friday it is outraged at an unexpected strike by its aircraft maintenance engineers. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), representing about 670 WestJet maintenance engineers, has commenced strike action as of 4:30 p.m. local time Friday (2330 GMT). (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) VANCOUVER, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Canada's second largest airline, the WestJet Group, said Friday it is outraged at an unexpected strike by its aircraft maintenance engineers. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), representing about 670 WestJet maintenance engineers, has commenced strike action as of 4:30 p.m. local time Friday (2330 GMT). "The government has officially stepped in to provide binding arbitration and ensure we get to a resolution; the only reason for this union to continue with a strike action is to create damage, disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the July long weekend and to inflict significant costs on our business," said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet. "Given arbitration has been ordered, a strike has no leverage on the arbitration's outcome, so it is pure retaliation of a disappointed union. We are extremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100 percent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result," Pen said. Severe travel disruption is to be expected if the strike is not called off immediately, the airline said in a statement. Passengers are seen at the WestJet check-in area at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, June 29, 2024. Canada's second largest airline, the WestJet Group, said Friday it is outraged at an unexpected strike by its aircraft maintenance engineers. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), representing about 670 WestJet maintenance engineers, has commenced strike action as of 4:30 p.m. local time Friday (2330 GMT). (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) A traveller waits for a flight at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, June 29, 2024. Canada's second largest airline, the WestJet Group, said Friday it is outraged at an unexpected strike by its aircraft maintenance engineers. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), representing about 670 WestJet maintenance engineers, has commenced strike action as of 4:30 p.m. local time Friday (2330 GMT). (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) WestJet Boeing 737-800 aircraft are seen parking at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, June 29, 2024. Canada's second largest airline, the WestJet Group, said Friday it is outraged at an unexpected strike by its aircraft maintenance engineers. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), representing about 670 WestJet maintenance engineers, has commenced strike action as of 4:30 p.m. local time Friday (2330 GMT). (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) A passenger walks past WestJet airplane mechanics as they stand in the picket line at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, June 29, 2024. Canada's second largest airline, the WestJet Group, said Friday it is outraged at an unexpected strike by its aircraft maintenance engineers. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), representing about 670 WestJet maintenance engineers, has commenced strike action as of 4:30 p.m. local time Friday (2330 GMT). (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua) (@FahadShabbir) Kanyabayonga, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2024) Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized a strategic town in the Democratic Republic of Congo's volatile east, a local official told AFP on Saturday. "Kanyabayonga has been in the hands of the M23 since Friday evening," the administrative official said under condition of anonymity. Kanyabayonga lies on the northern front of the conflict in North Kivu province, which has been rocked by violence since 2021 when the M23 (March 23 Movement) resumed its armed campaign in the region. The town is considered a pathway to the major commercial centres of Butembo and Beni in the north. Kanyabayonga is home to more than 60,000 people as well as tens of thousands of people who have fled there in recent months, driven from their homes by the advance of the rebels. The town is in the Lubero territory, the fourth territory in the North Kivu province that the group has entered after Rutshuru, Nyiragongo and Masisi. "The population is there (in Kanyabayonga), especially those who had moved from the territory of Rutshuru to Lubero," the administrative official said. "They no longer have anywhere to go, it is total desolation, the population is tired," he added. One resident told AFP that the M23 asked residents to stay in Kanyabayonga during a meeting in the centre of the town held by M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma on Saturday. "They are going to reach Kinshasa, how far will we continue to flee?" the resident said, adding that the rebels are "promising us peace". "We are seeing an influx of displaced people from Miriki, Kirumba and Luofu towards the North," military administrator of the Lubero territory Colonel Alain Kiwewa said. "It is a situation that worries us," he added. Local sources told AFP on Friday that fighting between Congolese forces and the rebels was intensifying around the town. Those in towns outside of Kanyabayonga also witnessed fighting. "All night bullets rang out," a youth leader in Kayna which lies some 17 kilometres (10 miles) north of Kanyabayonga said. The youth leader, who did not wish to give his name, said those who had come to the town from the Kanyabayonga area "spent the night under the stars" and were fearful. "We no longer know which saint to turn to," he said. In Kirumba, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Kanyabayonga, the population is in a "state of panic", one civil society leader said on condition of anonymity. "We can't move anymore, where will we go? We don't know where to go," he said. Clashes "are causing displacement of civilians," the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office said in its monthly report on Friday. "Humanitarian organisations providing support to the displaced have suspended their operations for security reasons," it said. The Taliban on Saturday ruled out any discussions on internal issues of Afghanistan, including womens rights, with international envoys at a crucial United Nations-hosted meeting in Doha, Qatar. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesperson and head of its delegation attending the conference in the capital of the Gulf state, said before his visit to Doha that the two-day talks commencing Sunday would primarily center on Afghan economic issues and counternarcotics efforts. We acknowledge women are facing issues, but they are internal Afghan matters and need to be addressed locally within the framework of Islamic Sharia, Mujahid told a news conference in the capital, Kabul, when asked whether Afghan womens rights would be on the meeting agenda. Our meetings, such as the one in Doha or with other countries, have nothing to do with the lives of our sisters, nor will we allow them to interfere in our internal affairs, he noted. Special envoys from around two dozen countries, including the United States, will gather in Doha Sunday to interact with Taliban representatives for the first time since U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated what is referred to as the "Doha process" a year ago. The dialogue is aimed at developing a unified and coherent international approach to increase engagement with the fundamentalist Afghan authorities. The Taliban stormed back to power in August 2021 as the U.S.-led foreign forces departed the country after almost two decades of involvement in the Afghan war. They have imposed their harsh interpretation of Islamic law, banning girls from schools beyond the sixth grade and many Afghan women from public and private workplaces, including the U.N., among other restrictions on their freedom. The international community has refused to formally recognize the male-only Taliban government until it removes the restrictions on women and girls. The Taliban defend their governance, saying it is aligned with Afghan culture and Islamic law. They were not invited to the first Doha meeting in May 2023, and they refused an invitation to the second in February. Both events were hosted by Guterres himself. The U.N. is under fire for excluding women Afghan representatives from Sundays talks. The decision has triggered outrage among global human rights groups and female rights advocates, who argue that the Talibans curbs on women and girls should be a central focus of any discussions about the future of Afghanistan. Mujahid defended the decision to skip previous Doha talks, saying Taliban representatives were invited only for limited interactions and they were refused a meeting with the U.N. secretary-general. He said that other groups promoting violence and disharmony in Afghanistan also were invited to those sessions as representatives of the country despite Taliban objections. Now the [Taliban] conditions have been accepted that this time it will not happen, Mujahid claimed. The U.N. spokesperson announced on Friday that Rosemary DiCarlo, its undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, will host the Doha meeting of special international envoys on behalf of Guterres and raise womens issues. In addition, Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York that DiCarlo and special international envoys will meet on Tuesday with representatives of Afghan civil society, including human rights and women's organizations and advocates a day after the two-day session with the Taliban ends. The undersecretary-general will raise the rights of women and girls, human rights in general, and political inclusion in the discussions in Doha that she will be having with the de facto [Taliban] authorities, Dujarric said. The ultimate objective of the process is an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors, fully integrated into the international community and meeting its international obligations, including on human rights, and particularly on the rights of women and girls, Dujarric said. Mujahid insisted that the Taliban's participation in Sundays Doha meeting would mutually benefit Afghanistan and the world and help restore the countrys dialogue with the West. The U.S. and Western countries at large have isolated the Taliban over their harsh treatment of Afghan women and other human rights concerns. They moved their diplomatic missions to Doha after the Taliban takeover, terminated economic development aid for the country, and isolated the Afghan banking sector over terrorism-related sanctions on many leaders of the de facto government in Kabul. However, most of Afghanistans neighbors, including China, Iran and Pakistan, and many regional countries such as Russia and Turkey have retained their embassies and increased diplomatic engagement with the Taliban. The Taliban maintain they have restored peace in war-torn Afghanistan, and their crackdown on narcotics, including a nationwide ban on poppy cultivation, has almost ended illicit drug production in the country. The U.N. has endorsed those claims, stating that the prohibition has resulted in a 95% decrease in drug production in a country that was previously the world's largest producer. The United States wrapped up its first multidomain exercise with Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea on Saturday, a step forward in Washington's efforts to strengthen and lock in its security partnerships with key Asian allies in the face of growing threats from North Korea and China. The three-day Freedom Edge increased the sophistication of previous exercises with simultaneous air and naval drills geared toward improving joint ballistic-missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and other skills and capabilities. The exercise, which is expected to expand in years to come, was also intended to improve the countries' abilities to share missile warnings increasingly important as North Korea tests ever-more sophisticated systems. Other than Australia, Japan and South Korea are the only U.S. partners in the region with militaries sophisticated enough to integrate operations with the U.S. so that if, for example, South Korea were to detect a target, it could quickly relay details so Japanese or American counterparts could respond, said Ridzwan Rahmat, a Singapore-based analyst with the defense intelligence company Janes. Thats the kind of interoperability that is involved in a typical war scenario, Rahmat said. For trilateral exercises like this, the intention is to develop the interoperability between the three armed forces so that they can fight better as a cohesive fighting force. Such exercises also carry the risk of increasing tensions, with China regularly denouncing drills in what it considers its sphere of influence, and North Korea already slamming the arrival of the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier group in the port of Busan home to South Koreas navy headquarters and its Gimhae Air Base in preparation for Freedom Edge as provocative and dangerous." On Wednesday, the day after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the Roosevelt in Busan, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to board a U.S. aircraft carrier since 1994, North Korea tested what it said was a multiwarhead missile, the first known launch of the developmental weapon, if confirmed. South Koreas military said a joint analysis by South Korean and U.S. authorities assessed that the North Korean missile launch failed. The defense cooperation involving Japan and South Korea is also politically complex for Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, due to the lingering resentment over Imperial Japans brutal occupation of Korea before and during World War II. The two countries have the largest militaries among American allies in East Asia and together host some 80,000 American troops on their territories but the U.S. has tended to work with them individually rather than together due to their history. Kishida's increase of defense spending and cooperation with South Korea have generally been well received by the Japanese public but has caused friction with the right wing of his own party, while Yoon's domestic appeal has weakened, but he has stayed the course. South Koreas shift under the Yoon administration toward improving its relations with Japan has been extremely significant, said Heigo Sato, international politics professor and security expert at Takushoku University in Tokyo. Both leaders are seen to be trying to fortify their defense relationships with Washington ahead of the inauguration of a new president, with South Korean officials saying recently that they hope to sign a formal security framework agreement with the U.S. and Japan this year that would lock in a joint approach to responding to a possible attack from North Korea. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has also long been working to increase cooperation between South Korea and Japan something that many didn't think was possible at the start of his presidency, said Euan Graham, a defense analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Credit where its due the fact that its happening is a significant achievement from the administrations regional policy, he said. Former U.S. President Donald Trump caused friction with both allies during his time in office by demanding greater payment for their hosting of U.S. troops while holding one-on-one meetings with North Koreas Kim Jong Un. Under Biden, Washington is seeking to solidify its system of alliances, both with increasingly sophisticated exercises and diplomatic agreements, Graham said. Tensions with North Korea are at their highest point in years, with the pace of Kim Jong Uns weapons programs intensifying, despite heavy international sanctions. China, meanwhile, has been undertaking a massive military buildup of nuclear and conventional weapons, and now has the worlds largest navy. It claims both the self-governing island of Taiwan and virtually the entirety of the South China Sea as its own territory and has increasingly turned to its military to press those claims. China and North Korea have also been among Russias closest allies in its war against Ukraine, while Russia and China are also key allies for North Korea, as well as the military leaders of Myanmar who seized power in 2021 and are facing ever-stiffer resistance in that countrys civil war. In Pyongyang this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim concluded a mutual defense pact, agreeing to come to the other's aid in the event of an attack, rattling others in the region. Despite a greater number of ships overall, China still only has three aircraft carriers compared to the U.S. fleets 11 probably the most effective tool a country has to bring vast amounts of power to bear at a great distance from home. Chinas advantage, however, is that its primary concern is the nearby waters of the Indo-Pacific, while Washingtons global focus means that its naval assets are spread widely. Following the exercises in the East China Sea with Japan and South Korea, the Roosevelt is due to sail to the Middle East to help protect ships against attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels. That has made strong security partnerships even more important, not only with Japan and South Korea but with Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan and others in the region, and building those up has been a priority for the Biden administration. Seen from the air, they ripple across the landscape a river of antelope racing across the vast grasslands of South Sudan in what conservationists say is the world's largest land mammal migration. The country's first comprehensive aerial wildlife survey, released Tuesday, found about 6 million antelope. The survey over a two-week period last year in two national parks and nearby areas relied on spotters in airplanes, nearly 60,000 photos and tracking more than a hundred collared animals over about 120,000 square kilometers. The estimate from the nonprofit African Parks, which conducted the work along with the government, far surpasses other large migratory herds such as the estimated 1.36 million wildebeests surveyed last year in the Serengeti straddling Tanzania and Kenya. But they warned that the animals face a rising threat from commercial poaching in a nation rife with weapons and without strong law enforcement. "Saving the last great migration of wildlife on the planet is an incredibly important thing," said Mike Fay, a conservation scientist who led the survey. "There's so much evidence that the world's ecosystems are collapsing, the world resources are being severely degraded and it's causing gigantic disruption on the planet." The east African nation is still emerging from five years of fighting that erupted in 2013 and killed nearly 400,000 people. Elections scheduled for last year were postponed to this December, but few preparations are in place for those. Violence continues in some areas, with some 2 million people displaced and 9 million 75% of the population reliant on humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations. The migration is already being touted as a point of national pride by a country trying to move beyond its conflict-riddled past. Billboards of the migration recently went up in the capital of Juba, and the government has aspirations that the animals may someday be a magnet for tourists. South Sudan has six national parks and a dozen game reserves covering more than 13% of the terrain. The migration stretches from east of the Nile in Badingilo and Boma parks into neighboring Ethiopia an area roughly the size of the U.S. state of Georgia. It includes four main antelope, the white-eared kob of which there are some 5 million the tiang, the Mongalla gazelle and bohor reedbuck. The survey said some animals have increased since a more limited one in 2010. But it described a "catastrophic" decline of most non-migratory species in the last 40 years, such as the hippo, elephant and warthog. Associated Press journalists flying over the stunning migration of thousands of antelope last week saw few giraffes and no elephants, lions or cheetahs. Trying to protect the animals over such a vast terrain is challenging. In recent years, new roads have increased people's access to markets, contributing to poaching. Years of flooding have meant crop failures that have left some people with little choice but to hunt for food. Some 30,000 animals were being killed each month between March and May this year, African Parks estimated. The government hasn't made a priority of protecting wildlife. Less than 1% of its budget is allocated to the wildlife ministry, which said it has few cars to move rangers around to protect animals. Those rangers say they haven't been paid a salary since October and are outgunned by poachers. South Sudan President H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit said the country is committed to turning its wealth of wildlife into sustainable tourism. He called on the Ministry of Wildlife to prioritize training and equipping rangers to fight poaching. Matthew Kauffman, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey and a professor of zoology at the University of Wyoming, said the work fits a growing global effort "to map these migrations." One benefit is to be smarter when landscapes are developed to make way for these seasonal movements, he said. Villagers near the parks told AP they mostly hunted to feed their families or to barter for goods. A newly paved road between Juba and Bor the epicenter of the illegal commercial bushmeat trade has made it easier for trucks to carry large quantities of animals. Bor sits along the Nile, about 45 kilometers from Badingilo Park. In the dry season, animals coming closer to the town to drink are vulnerable to killing. Officials at the wildlife ministry in Bor told AP the killing of animals had doubled in the last two years. Even when those involved in the industry are caught, the consequences can be minor. A few years ago, when wildlife rangers came to arrest Lina Garang for selling animals, she said they let her go, instead telling her to conduct business more discreetly. Garang, 38, said her competition has only grown, with 15 new shops opening along her strip to buy and sell animals. Part of the challenge is that there is no national land management plan, so roads and infrastructure are built without initial discussions about where best placed. The government's also allocated an oil concession to a South African company in the middle of Badingilo that spans nearly 90% of the park. African Parks is trying to square modernizing the country with preserving the wildlife. The organization has been criticized in the past for not engaging enough with communities and taking an overly militarized approach in some of the nearly two dozen areas it manages in Africa. The group says its strategy in South Sudan is focused on community relations and aligning the benefits of wildlife and economic development. One plan is to create land conservancies that local communities would manage, with input from national authorities. African Parks has set up small hubs in several remote villages and is spreading messages of sustainable practices, such as not killing female or baby animals. Peter Alberto, undersecretary for the ministry of wildlife, conservation and tourism, said the government hopes the migration can become a point of pride, and reshape how the world thinks of South Sudan. As for tourism, that may take a while. There aren't hotels or roads to host people near the parks, and the only option is high-end trips for what one tour company official called a "high-risk" audience. There's fighting between tribes and attacks by gunmen in the area, and pilots told AP they've been shot at while flying. Will Jones, chief exploration officer for Journeys by Design, a U.K.-based tour company, charges roughly $150,000 per person for a weeklong tour in South Sudan. He said there isn't strong demand. Locals trying to protect the wildlife say it's hard to shift people's mentality. In the remote village of Otallo on the border with Ethiopia, young men have started buying motorbikes. What had been an all-day trip on foot to cross the border to sell animals now takes just five hours, allowing them to double the number of animals they take and make multiple trips. One of them, Charo Ochogi, said he'd rather be doing something else but there are few options, and he's not worried about the animals disappearing. "The kob isn't going to finish. They'll reproduce," he said. Crime empires embedded in Asias Golden Triangle border areas are getting richer and more powerful, blurring the lines between the illicit economy and the legitimate one as they diversify from drugs to wildlife trafficking, cyber scams and money laundering, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Golden Triangle, which cuts across the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, is home to an array of transnational crime organizations that run multibillion-dollar enterprises with virtual impunity and they are embracing new technology to make more profit. Myanmar, which borders five countries, has long been the epicenter of many illegal Asia-Pacific trades. It has sunk into chaos since a 2021 coup, allowing crime groups to flourish in the lack of governance, especially in remote Shan State, which borders Thailand to the south and China to its east. Some of the challenges in Myanmar are really at the heart of the criminality we are seeing in and around the Golden Triangle, said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC deputy regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. At the same time, Myanmars border areas are now much more connected to the rest of the region, and the spillover into Southeast Asia is growing, he told VOA. Fortunes carved out on unfettered methamphetamine production are now being multiplied with cyber scam parks and illicit wildlife trafficking including bear bile and elephant ivory into southern China and then laundered through casinos, the U.N. agency said in its annual World Drug Report earlier this week. In the absence of serious law enforcement threats to their empires, the criminal networks working alongside armed groups in the Golden Triangle are getting bigger and more sophisticated in the ways they wash their money. They have been using an underground banking infrastructure of casinos, crypto and traditional currency exchanges to clean billions of dollars, Hofmann said. The line between the formal economy and criminal business is increasingly blurred, and corruption weakens governance systems in the region, he said. Increased Golden Triangle meth production is pushing drugs into new markets, as the price of yaba addictive caffeine-laced meth pills taken across the Mekong River crumbles to as low as $1 to $2 per pill, or less than a can of coke. But cheaper meth has not come with fluctuations in purity, the study stated, driving up addiction rates in a region with limited resources and patchy political will for drug treatment and rehabilitation. There is a stronger focus now on a more balanced approach to drug control, taking into account both supply and demand of illicit drugs, Hofmann said. But as drugs are getting cheaper and more accessible, including for very poor and young people, it is clear much more needs to be done in resourcing prevention and treatment systems that take care of those amongst the most vulnerable parts of society, he said. Myanmars conflict and chaos have exacerbated poverty in the border areas, in turn driving a surge in opium poppy production by poor rural communities. Just this week, Myanmars Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant General Yar Pyae said in a statement: "In 2023, Myanmar saw a slight increase in illegal opium poppy cultivation. Therefore, the persuasion by the Myanmar Tatmadaw, Myanmar Police Force, and various departments to local ethnic communities in drug prevention efforts through educational activities has led to the destruction of a total of 6,181 acres of poppy fields during the 2023-2024 opium poppy cultivation season. The alternative development management sector is continuously carrying out the implementation of opium alternative development activities, the crop substitution sector, and the livestock breeding sector." Yet, Myanmar is now the worlds number one opium producer, as the Taliban cracks down on poppy cultivation the base ingredient of heroin in Afghanistan, the study said. The report also warned of mounting environmental damage caused by the rampant meth trade. While there are no studies in hard-to-reach areas, the UNODC said as a rule, every kilogram of methamphetamine produced creates 5 to 10 kilograms of toxic chemical waste. Thailand alone burned upwards of 340 tons of seized narcotics in December and a further 20 tons on June 26, world drug day. The kingdom has launched a renewed drug crackdown, but methamphetamine, ketamine and heroin continue to pour through its borders and ports to the rest of Southeast Asia. The drug producers are still operating along the borders, pumping out hundreds of thousands of pills a day, Krisanaphong Poothakool, a prominent criminologist and former senior Thai police officer, told VOA. The latest seizures with new packets of branding point to new players entering the meth trade, as traffickers get increasingly skillful in the way they move their drugs. Producers in Thailand are also making the pills on the go in moving vehicles. Its nearly impossible to intercept them all, he said. Insulated from crackdowns by remote Golden Triangle locations, alliances with powerful armed groups and easily corrupted officials, the crime organizations of Southeast Asia show no sign of slowing down. Security experts warn that cyber scams with bases in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia have made new fortunes for the crime lords and are becoming increasingly advanced with artificial intelligence and the reach of the internet. "We are only at the beginning of a technology-driven revolution of the criminal ecosystem here, with implications for people far beyond this region," Hofmann said. An attacker with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade on Saturday, Serbias interior ministry said. The officer responded by fatally shooting the assailant. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said in a statement that the attacker shot a bolt at the officer, hitting him in the neck. He said the officer than "used a weapon in self-defense to shoot the attacker, who died as a result of his injuries. The policeman was conscious when he was transported to Belgrade's main emergency hospital, where an operation to remove the bolt from his neck will be performed, it said.The identity of the attacker is still being determined. "All the circumstances of the attack and possible motives are being investigated, Dacic said. Serbia has maintained close relations with Israel amid its armed intervention in Gaza. Ana Ruiz was dismayed seeing migrants from some countries released in the United States with orders to appear in immigration court while she and other Mexicans were deported on a one-hour bus ride to the nearest border crossing. "They're giving priority to other countries," Ruiz, 35, said after a tearful phone call to family in Mexico's southern state of Chiapas at the San Juan Bosco migrant shelter. The shelter's director says it is receiving about 100 deportees a day, more than double what it saw before President Joe Biden issued an executive order that suspends asylum processing at the U.S.-Mexico border when arrests for illegal crossings reach 2,500 a day. The asylum halt, which took effect June 5 and has led to a 40% decline in arrests for illegal crossings, applies to all nationalities. But it falls hardest on those most susceptible to deportation specifically, Mexicans and others Mexico agrees to take (Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans). Lack of money for charter flights, sour diplomatic ties and other operational challenges make it more difficult to deport people to many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the U.S. is working with countries around the world to try to get them to accept more of their deported citizens, citing challenges from diplomatic relations to the slowness in production of travel documents. "The reality is that it is easier to remove individuals to certain countries than other countries," he said in an interview Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona. "We do remove individuals to Senegal, we do remove individuals to Colombia, we do remove individuals to India. It can be more difficult." Mexicans accounted for 38% of border arrests in May, down from 85% in 2011 but still the highest nationality by far. The Border Patrol's Tucson sector has been the busiest corridor for illegal crossings for much of the last year. Last month, nearly three of every four arrests there were of Mexicans, helping explain why the asylum ban has had more impact in Arizona. U.S. authorities say the seven-day average of daily arrests in the Tucson sector fell below 600 this week from just under 1,200 on June 2. Border agents in Arizona have been severely tested since late 2022 by nationalities that are difficult to deport first from Cuba and later Mauritania, Guinea and Senegal. Many cross near Lukeville, about a four-hour bus ride to a major processing center in Tucson. Many Mexicans cross illegally much closer to Tucson in Nogales, Arizona, some by climbing over a wall with ladders made from material at a seatbelt plant on the Mexican side to try to disappear into homes and businesses within seconds. Others turn themselves in to border agents to claim asylum, entering through gaps in the wall that are being filled in. On Tuesday, a group of 49 predominantly Mexican migrants were waiting for agents. Some are taken to the Border Patrol station in Nogales, where they can be held for six days if they express fear of being deported under the asylum halt and seek similar forms of protection that would allow them to remain but that have a much higher bar, such as the U.N. Convention Against Torture. Most are taken to a cluster of giant white tents near Tucson International Airport, which opened in April 2021 for unaccompanied children. It now has space for 1,000 people, including single adults and families, who sleep on foam mattresses or raised beds. On Tuesday, about a dozen people who said they feared deportation sat on benches in a cavernous room to hear instructions on the screening interview, which includes a four-hour window to call attorneys or others to prepare. They were then directed to one of 16 soundproof phone booths. The Tucson processing center didn't even conduct screenings before Biden's asylum halt. That resulted in more migrants being released with orders to appear in U.S. immigration court, a practice that has plummeted in recent weeks. The screenings by asylum officers take about 90 minutes by phone. Many migrants who fail interviews are deported to Nogales, a sprawling city in the Mexican state of Sonora, and end up at San Juan Bosco, where a giant fan in a former chapel offers relief from blistering summer heat. Francisco Loureiro, who runs the shelter in a hardscrabble hillside neighborhood, said word has gotten out among Mexicans that they will be deported if they surrender to agents to seek asylum and that more will try to avoid being captured. He said one deported migrant accepted a smuggler's offer outside the shelter Tuesday to try to sneak across undetected. Ruiz said she did not get a chance to explain to an asylum officer that she feared returning to Mexico because of cartel violence. "They were very direct, yes-or-no questions. You couldn't explain why you were afraid," she said. Mayorkas said complaints about the screening predate Biden's June order. "I have confidence in our agents and officers that they are abiding by the guidelines, that our guidelines are strong," he said. Anahi Sandoval, 30, said she tried to avoid capture after crossing the border in Nogales and was abandoned by her smuggler in the desert. She said she fled Chiapas after she and her husband, who owned a doors-and-windows business, refused to be extorted by gangs; her husband was killed and she left her daughter with a relative. "The Colombians get a pass but not the Mexicans," said Sandoval, who failed her screening interview. "It makes me angry." Araceli Martinez, 32, said she fears returning home with her 14-year-old daughter to a physically abusive husband, but no one asked her and she didn't know that she had to ask until she was on a bus to Mexico. Previously, Border Patrol agents had to ask migrants if they feared returning home. Under new rules, migrants must ask unprompted or express obvious signs of distress, such as crying. Martinez was eager to spread a message to others: "People come thinking there is asylum, but there isn't." Bolivian President Luis Arce said Friday a former general planned to "take over" the government and become president in a failed coup, and he denied that the Andean nation was in an economic crisis. In an interview with The Associated Press, the embattled leader denied once again that Wednesday's attack on the government palace was a "self-coup" designed to garner him political points. "I didn't escape. I stayed to defend democracy," Arce said. Arce washed his hands of claims by relatives of the 21 people detained by the government that they were innocent of attempting a coup and had been tricked by ex-Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga. "It's a problem of those who were involved, it's not the government's problem," Arce told AP. Arce said also his government has been "politically attacked" by his one-time ally turned rival, former President Evo Morales, saying the infighting has snarled legislative activities and hamstrung his government confronting economic problems. Despite that, he said, Bolivia's economy is growing and his administration is working to "diversify" means of producing, investing in things like lithium and industrializing. Bolivia has the largest reserves of lithium a metal known as "white gold" and considered essential in the green transition in the world that has gone largely untapped, in part due to government policy. Arce said the government "has taken action" to address intermittent gasoline and dollar shortages and other hurdles ailing the South American nation's economy. "Bolivia has an economy that's growing. An economy in crisis doesn't grow," he said. He said it was "completely normal" for Bolivians to run to stockpile food in supermarkets and make a run on ATMs upon seeing an emerging coup in the capital, instead of following his call to take to the streets in support of the government. He said Bolivians were traumatized by the political turmoil in 2019 that led Morales to resign as president and flee and also caused 37 deaths. "Where there is a political situation, this rupture, a coup d'etat, of course people will be scared that there won't be food so they'll go get money to go stock up," Arce said. He added that the government was investigating if the attack was organized by the country's political opposition. That same day, Arce's governmental minister, Eduardo del Castillo, said the government claimed that there were "snipers who did not arrive in time to the Murillo square" where the coup was staged. Canada's second largest airline, WestJet, says it has cancelled at least 150 flights affecting 20,000 passengers beginning Saturday after the union of maintenance workers announced it has gone on strike. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said its members started to strike Friday evening because the airline's "unwillingness to negotiate with the union" made it inevitable. The strike came after the federal government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday. That followed two weeks of turbulent discussions with the union on a new deal. On Thursday, WestJet said the union "confirmed they will abide by the direction. Given this, a strike or lockout will not occur, and the airline will no longer proceed in cancelling flights." The surprise strike affecting international and domestic flights is happening during the Canada Day long weekend. Calgary, Alberta-based WestJet said it was "extremely outraged" and will hold the union 100% accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs. In an update to its membership, the union negotiating committee referenced an order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board that does not explicitly bar any strikes or lockouts as the tribunal undertakes arbitration. Description Come support and kickstart our 2024 US Tour for THESE DAYS. Links below to purchase the tickets! We will host a meet and greet, followed by the screening and a Q&A. About the film: Burgeoning muralist Jay (Billy Mayorga Reyes) lives in Brentwood, NY, where his neighborhood of Salvadoran immigrants offers a rich tapestry of stories, traditions, and perspectives that have often been marginalized and overlooked. At age 15, he is involved in a local youth program aimed at both healing generational trauma and combating the lure of gang violence. While his survival depends on street smarts, his loving single mother (Carla Vila) uses tough love to keep him on the right path. A heartfelt debut from director Junior Gonzalez, THESE DAYS is a thoughtful, moving docudrama portrait of a vibrant Long Island community, as seen through the eyes of a promising young artist. - Excerpt from Hampton's International Film Festival Awards won include: "2023 Next Exposure Grant" 32nd Annual Hamptons International Festival in East Hampton, NY "Best Picture", "Best Director", "Best Young Actor", 11th Annual Chelsea Film Festival in New York, NY "Best Director", 7th Annual Golden State Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA See you there! As Beijing weaves its web of roads and railways through Southeast Asia, a massive Chinese-financed infrastructure project in Laos is quietly reshaping the regions geopolitical landscape. The $6 billion China-Laos railway, which opened in December 2021 and will soon provide a direct route from Kunming, China, to the Gulf of Thailand through connections with previously existing rail lines in those countries, stands as a symbol of Beijing's ambitious regional expansion strategy. Initially planned with 32 stations, the railway currently boasts 10 passenger stations and 10 freight stations, with further expansion in progress. The railway is managed by the Laos-China Railway Company, a joint venture in Vientiane. Laos holds a 30% stake through the Lao National Railway State Enterprise, with Chinese state-owned enterprises, led by China State Railway Group Company Ltd., covering the remainder. Funding includes a 60% loan from Eximbank of China and 40% equity investment from each nation. Laos' $1.79 billion share includes $730 million in equity and $1.06 billion in debt, supplemented by a $480 million Eximbank of China loan and $250 million from the state budget. While the project promises economic growth for Laos, it is also part of China's strategic Belt and Road Initiative aimed at extending the country's influence. Daniele Carminati, a visiting lecturer at Bangkoks Mahidol University International College, acknowledged the potential economic benefits of increased Chinese investment in Laos. He said that while there are opportunities for local employment and business growth near railway stations, there is also the risk of deepening dependence on China. "China will still have a major role in the operations of the railways, and this can result in political influence, even if passively. Laos could hardly take a tough stance with China because there is a lot to lose," he told VOA by email. Given Laos location bordering China, a tough stance would be unlikely anyway, he said. "It is sensible for Laos to 'accept its status' and try to reap the benefits accordingly," he said. The influx of Chinese investment may bring short-term gains, but the long-term consequences could entrench Laos in a cycle of debt and subservience. Grace Stanhope, a research associate in the Lowy Institutes Indo-Pacific Development Centre told VOA, "The railway was intended to increase economic activity and facilitate cross-border exports and tourism for Laos. However, reports indicate that most of the exports on the railway to China are from Chinese companies operating in Laos, rather than Laos-owned businesses." According to Laos-China Railway Company figures, the Laos-China Railway recorded over 10,000 trains and 8.7 million passengers from January to May, a 17.5% increase over last year. Looking ahead, Laos and Thailand are preparing to initiate a trial run of a Vientiane-Bangkok railway link on July 13-14, with plans for it to become the first rail link between Thailand and China. Influence at the local level Despite regulations requiring payments in Lao kip, railway stations display prices in both kip and Chinese yuan. Vendors often accept yuan, given the high number of Chinese tourists and business travelers, said Phetsamone Mone Vilaysack, a cashier at a small shop in the Vientiane train station. "The train and its operation are mostly run by Chinese companies, it makes sense that we should allow them to pay in yuan," Mone told VOA. A train hostess, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was unaware of the currency law but was instructed by her employer to ask for payments in kip first but accept yuan. "When customers pay, I always tell them the price in kip first. If they say they have only yuan, I allow them to use it," she said. She said that since she started working for the Laos-China Railway in early 2022, there has been a massive increase in Chinese visitors. "There are so many businessmen from China traveling by train now. I can recognize some of them. I guess they must have some big businesses in Vientiane or Bokeo," she said. "When I see them, I know they would pay in yuan." Bokeo is the one of the most controversial areas in the region. It is home to the biggest Chinese-run special economic zone in Laos and is well known as a drug trafficking center with allegations of human trafficking, forced labor, prostitution, and illegal scam rings and gambling. Jeuan, who prefers to be known by his nickname, has operated a restaurant in the Bokeo zone since 2021 but lives with his family in China, close to Laos' northernmost border. "I often use the train to cross to Laos. Its fast and cheap. Its not necessary for us [his family] to move to Laos. I can just invest here," he told VOA at the Vientiane station while waiting for his train to Bokeo. Jeuan said he travels to Bokeo and Vientiane up to three times a month, personally handling business paperwork with local authorities. "I can consider investing in more businesses in Bokeo, or even Thailand, if the train will go there in the future," he said. Regional influence, debt concerns Meanwhile, concerns over the railway's financial implications loom large. Financed largely through Chinese loans, the project has raised apprehensions about Laos mounting debt to China, estimated to be over half of Laos' external debt, exceeding 100% of its gross domestic product, according to Stanhope. Critics also say such projects could spur increasing alignment of Lao economic and political decisions with Chinese interests and that the project increases Beijing's leverage over Lao infrastructure and resources, potentially compromising Laos' sovereignty. "The main challenges, beyond technical ones, would be for China to build a credible/persuasive narrative ensuring they will not take advantage of their role while respecting the receiving countries' sovereignty, aware that the United States and allies will keep warning the region of such risks," Carminati wrote in his email. The project is part of Chinas vision for the KunmingSingapore Railway, also known as the Pan-Asia Railway, a flagship BRI project in mainland Southeast Asia. The vision includes three routes linking Kunming to Singapore via Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Carminati cited the potential geopolitical impact of extending the line all the way south to Malaysia and Singapore. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore would not stop defending their national interests, he wrote, "but it is hard to deny that ... a softer stance is expected if these major infrastructure projects are to be completed, maintained, and 'exploited' in the long term." Top Chinese leaders will gather in Beijing next month for a key political meeting that will likely reveal details of China's attempts to boost and reform its troubled economy. The Third Plenum, originally expected to be held last autumn, will occur July 15-18. The party conclave will "examine issues related to comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization," according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency. The announcement comes as China struggles to raise economic growth back to pre-pandemic levels, with consumption remaining low and troubles in the property sector persisting. Data from China's National Bureau of Statistics show that property investment fell 10.1% in the first five months of 2024 from a year ago. New home prices have also been dropping for almost a year. Meanwhile, consumption in the world's second-largest economy remains persistently weak, with retail sales increasing only 2.3% in April. Some economists predict consumer confidence in China will remain low throughout 2024. Some analysts say the significant delay in holding the key party conclave suggests a lack of consensus over how to address the long list of domestic economic challenges that China is facing. "My best guess is that the Third Plenum will propose measures to address the housing market, the restructuring or re-profiling of local government debt, and weak household consumption," Michael Pettis, an expert on the Chinese economy at Peking University, wrote in a report for business consultancy Global Source Partners. Some experts say that instead of initiating a big structural reform to the Chinese economy, Chinese authorities will focus on boosting consumer and business confidence and rolling out some fiscal reform. "The Chinese government will try to reassure foreign investors, build up confidence in the labor market, and roll out measures to tackle the fiscal crisis at the local level," said Dexter Roberts, director of China affairs at the University of Montana's Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center. Ahead of the Third Plenum, Chinese state media have been highlighting the government's efforts to boost domestic consumption. Xinhua reported that a consumer goods trade-in program the government initiated in March had triggered a rise in sales of cars and home appliances, while another report talked about Beijing's attempt to boost consumer demand in the tourism and automobile sectors. Chinese President Xi Jinping also tried to reassure investors that China will always remain "open." "We will ... form a more market-oriented, legal and international business environment," he said during a speech marking the 70th anniversary of the government's "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," which guide China's foreign relations. Some analysts say Beijing aims to implement the policy agenda that Xi set out for China during the 20th Party Congress in October 2022. "I think the key theme is likely to be trying to [roll out] structural reforms that help China to become an industrial innovation superpower and boost productivity to combat lagging growth and increase sustainability," Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the New York-based Asia Society Policy Institute, told VOA by phone. Apart from the domestic challenges, China is also facing mounting economic pressure posed by foreign countries. The United States has been coordinating with some of its allies, including Japan and the Netherlands, to restrict China's access to advanced technologies, such as semiconductor chips. Meanwhile, the U.S. and European Union have both imposed tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, while Canada is considering following suit. To cope with this pressure, China has begun to emphasize letting scientific and technological innovation drive the economy. During a major science and tech conference in Beijing on June 24, Xi said China needs to "strengthen top-level design and overall planning" and "expedite high-level sci-tech self-reliance" to help China become a leading country in science and technology by 2035. "The country must further enhance its sense of urgency and intensify its efforts in sci-tech innovation, so as to secure a leading position in sci-tech competition and future development," he said during the conference. Some experts say Xi's emphasis on science and technology innovation likely suggests the Chinese government will pour more funding into research and development, offer tax incentives for tech companies, and introduce policies during the Third Plenum aimed at fostering a robust innovation ecosystem. "This will involve creating more favorable conditions for venture capital and private equity investments and improving access to financing for startups and innovative enterprises," Lizzi Lee, a fellow on the Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, told VOA in a written response. Apart from doubling down on the key role of innovation, Xi said China must further centralize the power of leading scientific and technological innovation in the Chinese Communist Party. Lee said the Chinese government needs to ensure "innovation can thrive within the parameters set by the party" while fostering an environment where "bottom-up, grassroots innovations can emerge." Judging from the wide range of domestic and international challenges China faces, Thomas in New York said, one of Xi's top priorities will be to strengthen his position in the Chinese Communist Party and further enhance his leadership of the country. "I expect there'll be further institutional reforms to more deeply embed the party and Xi's leadership over the Chinese economy," he told VOA. In the first presidential debate, Republican Donald Trump skimmed over the January 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, shifted blame for the violent mob siege and declined repeatedly to state unequivocally that he will accept the results of this years White House election. And President Joe Biden, who has said the work of his presidency is to restore the soul of the nation, flubbed and floundered, failing to forcefully confront, contradict and hold Trump, the indicted former president, accountable for the attack on the election and democracy. It is an extraordinary moment, or lack of one, that is alarming to democracy advocates, the far-reaching effort to overturn the 2020 election and the subsequent insurrection that defined the Trump presidency fading from view during the opening debate of the general election campaign. Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Democrat who chaired the Houses January 6 committee investigation in the last Congress, said it is a deeply unfortunate situation. We could have a January 6, 2.0, Thompson said Friday outside the Capitol. The outcome underscores the choice Americans face this fall as the riot over the 2020 election remains fundamental to the 2024 campaign, but also obscured by it, despite the four-count federal indictment against Trump for working to overturn the results four years ago in the run-up to the violent siege and despite the convictions of more than 1,000 people in the Capitol attack. It comes as the Supreme Court is weighing cases involving January 6, including a decision Friday that makes it easier for some rioters to contest their charges and convictions, and another expected Monday on whether Trump can claim immunity in the federal election case. All told, what seemed politically untenable, as the defeated Trump departed Washington downcast on Bidens inauguration day on January 20, 2021, is now within reach as the president who tried to overturn an election is the Republican Partys presumptive nominee, edging toward an Oval Office return. We are four months away from the first presidential election since a violent attack on our Capitol. ... And the man responsible for that Donald Trump is currently the leading candidate, said Ian Bassin, executive director of the advocacy group Protect Democracy, which works to counter authoritarianism. Youd think that alone would be disqualifying, or at a minimum would be the central focus of the election, he said. And yet, Bassin said, the topic was relegated to an afterthought in the debate, and the current president is struggling to press the case on why this issue should be of existential importance. The forum itself is not necessarily to blame. The moderators pressed the candidates, asking Trump not once, but repeatedly, whether he would commit to not having another January 6 and accepting the results of the election this time. Trump insisted he had virtually nothing to do with the storming of the Capitol on January 6 and tried to shift blame to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, repeating his false claims about the delay in sending in the National Guard. Biden, whose underwhelming debate performance of stunted answers and trailing thoughts has sent the Democratic Party into turmoil, struggled to deliver a cohesive response, despite having given high-profile speeches about January 6, including on the first anniversary. Look, he encouraged those folks to go up on Capitol Hill, Biden said on the debate stage. Thompson, whose committee produced a lengthy, 1,000-plus page report on its investigation into Trumps monthslong attempt to overturn the election and the storming of the Capitol, said Biden missed a golden opportunity to set the record straight as millions of people watched the debate. It was left to the people who actually experienced January 6, the lawmakers who fled to safety as the mob of Trump supporters approached, to respond. Rioters, many wielding flag poles and with tactical gear, engaged in brutal, bloody hand-to-hand combat, fighting the U.S. Capitol Police to gain access to the building. January 6 was a dark day, said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, on social media. Trump-inspired insurrectionists sought to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power, he said. Schumer decried Friday's shameful decision from the Supreme Court that he said "will embolden anti-democracy radicals and make it harder for our judicial system to try insurrectionists." Pelosi said Trump presented another pack of lies during the debate. How dare he place the blame for January 6th on anyone but himself, the inciter of an insurrection? On Friday, the Supreme Court limited a federal obstruction law that has been used to charge Trump, alongside hundreds of Capitol riot defendants. While the ruling is certain to cause a reconsideration of some cases against the rioters, it is unclear how it will impact Trump's indictment, which includes other charges. Trump, during a rally Friday in Chesapeake, Virginia, said a great thing just happened in response to the decision in the obstruction case, to the roar of USA! chants from the crowd. They should be immediately released immediately, Trump said about the defendants he called the J6 hostages. A more energized Biden, at his own rally in the swing state of North Carolina, said, The choice in this election is simple. Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it. A senior official of the militant Islamist group Hamas, Osama Hamdan, said Saturday there has been no progress in cease-fire talks with Israel about the war in Gaza. Hamdan spoke at a news conference in Beirut. Arab mediators' efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to conclude a cease-fire, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the impasse. 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. Hamdan also blamed the United States for pressing Hamas to accept Israel's conditions. "Once again, Hamas is ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent cease-fire, a comprehensive withdrawal from Gaza Strip and a serious swap deal," said Hamdan, referring to a potential swap of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinians in Israeli prisons. When Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 they killed about 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages, according to Israel. Israels military offensive into Gaza has killed at least 30,000 people, mostly combatants, Israel said. The Gaza Health Ministry puts the figure at 38,000 people, mostly women and children. Israel has lost more than 300 soldiers in Gaza and says at least a third of the Palestinian dead are fighters. Palestinian health officials said Israeli military strikes across the enclave Saturday have so far killed at least 35 people and wounded others. The Israeli military announced Saturday the death of two soldiers killed in combat in northern Gaza, as Israeli forces pressed on with an offensive in the Shijaiyah neighborhood in Gaza City. Residents said tanks advanced deeper into several districts including the area around the local market and there was heavy fire from the air and the ground. The armed wing of Hamas and the allied Islamic Jihad reported fierce fighting, saying fighters fired anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs against the forces operating there. The Israeli military said dozens of Palestinian gunmen were killed over the past two days in close quarters combat and airstrikes in Shijaiyah, after forces encircled what it described as a civilian area converted by Hamas into a militant compound. "In the area, the troops located observation posts, weapons, enemy drones and a long-range rocket launcher near the schools," the military said in a statement. Hamas has denied assertions that it operates in civilian areas such as schools and hospitals. More than eight months into Israel's air and ground war in Gaza, militants continued to stage attacks on Israeli forces, operating in areas that the Israeli army said it had gained control over months ago. Israeli leaders have said in the past week that the intense phase of the war is approaching its end, and that the next stage of the offensive will mainly be smaller-scale operations meant to stop Hamas from reassembling. Meanwhile, Israeli forces operating in several districts in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, killed several Palestinians and forced families living in the far western edge of the city along the coastal areas to head northward, according to Palestinian medical officials and residents. Israel has said its military operations in Rafah are aimed at eradicating the last armed battalions of Hamas. Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille left Port-au-Prince on Friday to travel to Washington and New York, as freshly deployed Kenyan police officers began patrolling the city as part of a U.N.-backed mission to battle armed gangs that have taken over the capital. Conille's office said he would travel with Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy, Finance Minister Ketleen Florestal and Chief of Staff Nesmy Manigat, while Justice Minister Carlos Hercule would stay as acting prime minister on his behalf. "The delegation will have important work meetings with officials from international financial institutions, among others. It will also inspect Haiti's embassy in Washington," theoffice said, without giving further details. A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council said Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer would meet with Conille on Monday. The United States is the principal financial backer of a Kenya-led international security force the United Nations has ratified be sent to Haiti to help its police battle armed gangs that have plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis. Haiti's former government first requested the force in 2022, and a first deployment of Kenyan police arrived this week, although it is unclear when the rest of the force expected to number over 2,500 is set to arrive. As armed khaki-clad Kenyan police in bullet-proof jackets and helmets patrolled the city in black armored vans, Port-au-Prince residents said they hoped the force could stop the indiscriminate killings and allow business to restart. "We need peace. If the Kenyan police forces are here, it's so we can return to the lives we used to have. We hope they've come to work seriously," said resident Kloud Dine. "We need the Kenyans here a while because the gang members make us suffer too much," added Louise Baret, a painter. "Enough is enough." In a video shared on social media on Wednesday, gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier rallied armed men, telling them to fire on Kenyan police and pledging to fight to the death: "I don't care if they are white or black. If they're not Haitian and they're on Haitian soil, they're invaders," he said. Over half a million people have fled their homes due to the violence, and around half the population is going hungry. Iran on Saturday warned that "all Resistance Fronts," a grouping of Iran and its regional allies, would confront Israel if it attacks Lebanon. The comment from Iran's mission to New York comes with fears of a wider regional war involving Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed 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, alongside bellicose rhetoric from both sides. Israel's military said plans for a Lebanon offensive had been "approved and validated," prompting Hezbollah to respond that none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict. In a post on social media platform X, the Iranian mission said it "deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regime's propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon." But, it added, "should it embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue. All options, incl. the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, are on the table." The war in Gaza began in October when Hamas Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel. Iran, which backs Hamas, has praised the attack as a success but has denied any involvement. Alongside Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel, Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have repeatedly struck commercial ships in the Red Sea area in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. Iran also backs other groups in the region. The Islamic republic has not recognized Israel since the 1979 revolution that toppled Iran's United States-backed shah. Fears of regional war also soared in April, after an air strike that leveled Iran's consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals. Iran hit back with an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13 and 14. Iran's state media later reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan as U.S. media quoted American officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival. Tehran downplayed the reported Israeli raid. Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene declared victory early Saturday in parliamentary elections, after a contest dominated by deepening public anger about corruption and the state of the economy. People across the vast, sparsely populated nation of 3.4 million, sandwiched between China and Russia, voted Friday to elect 126 members of the State Great Khural. With 100 percent of votes counted by machine, the prime minister told a press conference in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, a few hours after polls closed that his ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) had won a majority of seats. "According to the pre-results, the Mongolian People's Party has 68 to 70 seats," he said. The vote, he said, represented a "new page" in "democratic debate." The votes were being counted by hand, and an official result was expected later Saturday. If the preliminary results hold, the MPP will see its overall share of parliamentary seats fall, from a supermajority of 79% in 2020 to about 54% in the new one. Results tallied by local media outlet Ikon based on official data also showed the MPP winning 68 seats, with the main opposition Democratic Party winning 42. The minor anti-corruption HUN party won eight, Ikon reported. Voter turnout was 69.3% nationally, a screen at the country's Electoral Commission headquarters showed. Julian Dierkes, a professor at the University of British Columbia and an expert on Mongolian politics, wrote that "everything points to a reduced MPP majority with a surprisingly strong showing" by the Democratic Party. "The relatively strong turnout," he said, also suggests "desire for some change." Deep frustration Analysts had expected the MPP to retain the majority it has enjoyed since 2016 and govern for another four years. They say the party can credit much of its success to a boom in coal mining that fueled double-digit growth and dramatically improved standards of living, as well as to 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 The streets of Ulaanbaatar, home to almost half of Mongolia's population, have been decked out this week with colorful 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% of candidates are women in a country where politics is dominated by men. Preliminary results Saturday suggested that 25% of seats in the new parliament would be held by women, up from 17% in 2020. 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. Children in sandals trudge through water contaminated with sewage and scale growing mounds of garbage in Gaza's crowded tent camps for displaced families. People relieve themselves in burlap-covered pits, with nowhere nearby to wash their hands. In the stifling summer heat, Palestinians say the odor and filth surrounding them is just another inescapable reality of war like pangs of hunger or sounds of bombing. The territory's ability to dispose of garbage, treat sewage and deliver clean water has been virtually decimated by eight brutal months of war between Israel and Hamas. This has made grim living conditions worse and raised health risks for hundreds of thousands of people deprived of adequate shelter, food and medicine, aid groups say. Hepatitis A cases are on the rise, and doctors fear that as warmer weather arrives, an outbreak of cholera is increasingly likely without dramatic changes to living conditions. The U.N., aid groups and local officials are scrambling to build latrines, repair water lines and bring desalination plants back online. COGAT, the Israeli military body coordinating humanitarian aid efforts, said it's engaging in efforts to improve the "hygiene situation." But relief can't come soon enough. "Flies are in our food," said Adel Dalloul, a 21-year-old whose family settled in a beach tent camp near the central Gaza city of Nuseirat. They wound up there after fleeing the southern city of Rafah, where they landed after leaving their northern Gaza home. "If you try to sleep, flies, insects and cockroaches are all over you." More than a million Palestinians had been living in hastily assembled tent camps in Rafah before Israel invaded in May. Since fleeing Rafah, many have taken shelter in even more crowded and unsanitary areas across southern and central Gaza that doctors describe as breeding grounds for disease especially as temperatures regularly reach 32 degrees Celsius. "The stench in Gaza is enough to make you kind of immediately nauseous," said Sam Rose, a director at the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Conditions are exacting an emotional toll, too. Anwar al-Hurkali, who lives with his family in a tent camp in the central Gazan city of Deir al-Balah, said he can't sleep for fear of scorpions and rodents. He doesn't let his children leave their tent, he said, worrying they'll get sick from pollution and mosquitoes. "We cannot stand the smell of sewage," he said. "It is killing us." Basic services breakdown The U.N. estimates nearly 70% of Gaza's water and sanitation plants have been destroyed or damaged by Israel's heavy bombardment. That includes all five of the territory's wastewater treatment facilities, plus water desalination plants, sewage pumping stations, wells and reservoirs. The employees who once managed municipal water and waste systems have been displaced, and some killed, officials say. This month, an Israeli strike in Gaza City killed five government employees repairing water wells, the city said. Despite staffing shortages and damaged equipment, some desalination plants and sewage pumps are working, but they're hampered by lack of fuel, aid workers say. A U.N. assessment of two Deir al-Balah tent camps found in early June that people's daily water consumption including drinking, washing and cooking averaged under 2 liters, far lower than the recommended 15 liters a day. COGAT said it's coordinating with the UN to repair sewage facilities and Gaza's water system. Israel has opened three water lines "pumping millions of liters daily" into Gaza, it said. But people often wait hours in line to collect potable water from delivery trucks, hauling back to their families whatever they can carry. The scarcity means families often wash with dirty water. This week, Dalloul said, he lined up for water from a vendor. "We discovered that it was salty, polluted, and full of germs. We found worms in the water. I had been drinking from it," he said. "I had gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea, and my stomach hurts until this moment." The World Health Organization declared an outbreak of hepatitis A that, as of early June, had led to 81,700 reported cases of jaundice a common symptom. The disease spreads primarily when uninfected people consume water or food contaminated with fecal matter. Because wastewater treatment plants have shut down, untreated sewage is seeping into the ground or being pumped into the Mediterranean Sea, where tides move north toward Israel. "If there are bad water conditions and polluted groundwater in Gaza, then this is an issue for Israel," said Rose, of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. "It has in the past prompted actions by Israel to try and ameliorate the situation." COGAT said it's working on "improving waste management processes" and examining proposals to establish new dumps and allow more garbage trucks into Gaza. Where can garbage go? Standing barefoot on a street in the Nuseirat refugee camp, 62-year-old Abu Shadi Afana compared the pile of garbage next to him to a "waterfall." He said trucks continue to dump rubbish even though families live in tents nearby. "There is no one to provide us with a tent, food, or drink, and on top of all of this, we live in garbage?" Afana said. Trash attracts bugs he's never seen before in Gaza small insects that stick to his skin. When he lies down, he said, he feels like they're "eating his face." There are few other places for the garbage to go. When Israel's military took control of a 1-kilometer buffer zone along its border with Gaza, two main landfills east of the cities of Khan Younis and Gaza City became off-limits. In their absence, informal landfills have developed. Displaced Palestinians running out of areas to shelter say they've had little choice but to pitch tents near trash piles. Satellite images from Planet Labs analyzed by The Associated Press show that an informal landfill in Khan Younis that sprung up after October 7 appears to have doubled in length since January. Since the Rafah evacuation, a tent city has sprung up around the landfill, with Palestinians living between piles of garbage. Cholera fears Doctors in Gaza fear cholera may be on the horizon. "The crowded conditions, the lack of water, the heat, the poor sanitation these are the preconditions of cholera," said Joanne Perry, a doctor working in southern Gaza with Doctors Without Borders. Most patients have illnesses or infections caused by poor sanitation, she said. Scabies, gastrointestinal illnesses and rashes are common. More than 485,000 diarrhea cases have been reported since the war's start, WHO says. "When we go to the hospital to ask for medicine for diarrhea, they tell us it is not available, and I go to buy it outside the hospital," al-Hurkali said. "But where do I get the money?" COGAT says it's coordinating delivery of vaccines and medical supplies and is in daily contact with Gaza health officials. COGAT is "unaware of any authentic, verified report of unusual illnesses other than viral illnesses," it said. With efforts stalled to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Dalloul says he's lost hope that help is on the way. "I am 21 years old. I am supposed to start my life," he said. "Now I just live in front of the garbage." Panama's President-elect Jose Raul Mulino announced Friday that he wanted an agreement with the United States on deporting migrants who cross into the world's busiest migration route, the perilous Darien Gap, along his country's border with Colombia. In a visit to the jungle region, Mulino said he would discuss the possible deal with a U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, that's expected to attend his inauguration next week. 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 traversed the corridor last year, and 186,000 people are estimated to have crossed so far in 2024, with most of the migrants hailing from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and China. Until now, Panama has helped speedily bus the migrants across its territory so they can continue their journey north and reports of abuses, human rights violations and testimonies of deaths along the route have persisted. I hope to sign a respectful and dignified agreement with the United States so the two countries can begin the repatriation processes of all these people who are accumulated here, Mulino said during the visit Friday. He did not elaborate on the details of such an agreement or say how the migrants would be deported to their home countries. Ive seen other crises in the Darien, but this is the worst Ive seen. It breaks my heart to see children my grandchildren's age ask me for a bottle of water, he told a news conference at the migrant camp of Lajas Blancas. 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, pathway 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, to stop migrants flying into the country just to continue toward the U.S. border. Still, masses of people took the challenge and set out on foot through the jungle spanning the Colombia-Panama border. A crossing that initially could take a week or more was whittled to two or three days as the path became more established and entrepreneurial locals set up a range of support services. Mulino, who was accompanied by members of his future Cabinet, visited a temporary reception center where thousands of migrants arrive every week, including pregnant women and children. On Thursday night, 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. 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. With the government we have [in Venezuela], we never had a life, another migrant, Jorbys Ocampo, told The Associated Press. He left his family and 8-year-old daughter in Venezuela's coastal city of Maracaibo. My daughter was born with a heart problem," he said. "There are no supplies, there is no money, there is not enough for anything. It would be good if they gave more legal ways for people to migrate and to not have to make this terrible journey, Ocampo said. Asked what would happen if the Darien Gap was closed, he said, If they close it on one side, it will open on another. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for resuming production of intermediate- and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles banned under a now-scrapped treaty with the United States. Under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF), signed by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan in 1987, the two superpowers agreed to abandon their nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (about 310 to 3,410 miles). The accord eliminated an entire category of nuclear weapons and initiated comprehensive on-site inspections for verification, according to the Arms Control Association. Under the terms of the treaty, the U.S. and Russia destroyed 2,692 short-, medium- and intermediate-range missiles by the treaty's June 1, 1991, implementation deadline, according to the Arms Control Association. Beginning in 2014, the U.S. accused Russia of being in noncompliance, and the two countries exchanged noncompliance allegations and denials for several years. The Trump administration withdrew from the treaty in 2019 after citing misgivings about Russia's noncompliance and concerns about China's missile stock. Renewed production of the missiles is now necessary, Putin said Friday during a televised session of Russia's Security Council, because the U.S. has resumed production and deployed missiles to Denmark and the Philippines. "Today, it is known that the United States not only produces these missile systems, but has already brought them to Europe for exercises, to Denmark. Quite recently, it was announced that they are in the Philippines," the Russian leader said. The U.S. Army announced in April that it had successfully deployed a Mid-Range Capability missile system to Northern Luzon, Philippines, as part of a military exercise. It said the "landmark deployment marks a significant milestone for the new capability while enhancing interoperability, readiness and defense capabilities in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines." "We need to start production of these strike systems and then, based on the actual situation, make decisions about where, if necessary to ensure our safety, to place them," Putin told the council. News of the possibility of the resumption of production of the nuclear-capable missiles comes amid Russia's war on Ukraine. Putin recently threatened to deploy conventional weapons within striking distance of the U.S. and its European allies if their long-range weapons supplied to Ukraine allowed Ukraine to strike deeper within Russia. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Here are 10 of Dave Ramsey's most savage one-liners As a personal finance expert and host of the nationally syndicated The Ramsey Show, Dave Ramsey is well known for his no-nonsense advice and savage one-liners. Weve collected 10 of Ramseys spiciest financial advice quotes and the stories behind them so you can have a taste of what hes talking about when he fires these quotable shots. Don't miss Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year but you can be smarter than that. Here's how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free) 'You didn't want to risk it': 80-year-old woman from South Carolina is looking for the safest place for her family's $250,000 savings. Here's Dave Ramsey's response These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how You cant outearn stupidity Despite the vital role they play in society, school teachers annual income is unfairly low. That being said, according to the National Study of Millionaires, a research project by Ramsey Solutions whose CEO is Dave Ramsey teachers rank third, behind engineers and accountants, on a top-five list of careers most likely to have millionaires within their ranks. The top five list came out of a survey of millionaires that drew upon answers from 10,000 participants. The majority 79% had not received inheritance. Eight out of 10 had invested in a 401(k) plan. And contrary to expectation, most millionaires surveyed didnt have high-salary jobs. Instead, 3 out of 4 said theyd created wealth simply by working hard. In other words, you cant earn your way out of stupidity, Ramsey said of the study results, musing that people in these professions are systems people who dont have free rein to make up their own rules. Read more: 'It's not taxed at all': Warren Buffett shares the 'best investment' you can make when battling rising costs take advantage today Youre not bankable When 27-year-old Michael from Atlanta, Georgia, found himself at a crossroads, he called into Ramseys show to get some advice. He can either continue working for someone else or dive into small-business ownership by purchasing an ice business. But as Ramsey tells him, he needs to make sure his financial foundation is solid before he can think about building a business. Michael told Ramsey he was looking for advice on how best to secure the funds to buy out the owner of an ice business he currently works for. No bank's going to loan you this, Ramsey bluntly stated. You dont have the assets, you dont have the income youre not bankable. Story continues Momma can't protect you More young adults are choosing to live at home with their parents but many of them are using what they are saving on rent to splurge on designer handbags and expensive jewelry instead. Personal finance author and radio host Dave Ramsey criticized the trend on The Ramsey Show, calling it a trainwreck. Momma can't protect you he said. The problem is youve got debt, youre not earning enough money and youre not doing enough to go out and change it. Mom and dad cant do this for you. You dont get a pass on math When a seemingly money-stable man named Robert called into The Ramsey Show to question the host about how to stick to his mortgage advice in pricey metropolitan markets like southern California, Ramsey said: You dont get a pass on math because you live in an expensive market. Ramsey settled into his argument. If you end up with a house payment that is a large percentage of your take-home pay, youre going to struggle financially, he said. We call that house-poor. Work your brains out The 28-year-old newlywed Abdel from Fort Worth, Texas, called into an episode of The Ramsey Show for advice on how to manage multiple debts. He explained to finance guru Ramsey how his money situation has gotten out of control: an expensive wedding, coupled with the cost of raising a baby, all while living on a single income has resulted in a mountain of debt. All together, Abdel shared he had $20,525 in credit card debt, $22,000 in student loans and a deferred auto loan of $20,211. Ramsey had some rather harsh words of wisdom, as he told Abde to work your brains out to recoup his financial losses, emphasizing that his spending habits indicate he has a hard time saying no. Live on Beans and Rice In a popular episode of The Ramsey Show, a 73-year old Arizona resident named Robin shared that she has no 401(k) or mutual funds and more than $12,000 in outstanding student loan debt but is considering a home purchase within the next three years. Ramsey then asks, How would you be able to buy [a house] if you dont have any money? Robin says she expects to pay off the student loan by March of next year and is setting aside a modest amount for a down payment every month. Ramsey suggests she cash in her insurance policy, pay down her student loan faster and maximize her down payment savings right afterward. Basically, youre going to live on beans and rice for the next three years, he said. Honey, its always been expensive! In an episode of Theo Vons podcast, This Past Weekend, Dave Ramsey talked about how he believes the American Dream is still alive and well for those willing to work for it. Specifically, Ramsey focused on housing affordability, talking about how Gen Z and millennials complain about feeling hopeless because housing is so expensive, before adding, Honey, it's always been expensive! Ramsey is of the mind that the economic hardships faced by younger Americans today are not unique compared to previous generations, hence the brusk nudge that young Americans just need to be working harder. Well call that debt a stupid tax Ashley from Jacksonville, Florida, called it to describe how her husband went from owning a fully paid-off modest car to an expensive electric vehicle (EV) that has changed their financial situation and led them into a complete financial dilemma. Dave Ramsey couldnt believe how expensive the car was. $72,000 for a Kia?! he gasped. The purchase left the couple tens of thousands of dollars in debt, but Ramsey thinks this financial situation offers enough flexibility for them to take out a personal loan and buy a cheaper car to get rid of the expensive Kia. We'll call that debt a stupid tax, he said, which is what I have to pay when I do something stupid. You guys need to get off the internet Caller Shane from Denver expressed that he and his wife are concerned the housing market in their city is due for a crash in six months or so. He described how he and his wife arrived at their conviction based on online research, citing doom and gloom media headlines. You guys need to get off the internet, Ramsey pushed back. Instead of getting caught up in online conspiracies, Ramsey encouraged Shane to look at the facts of the housing market. There are no facts in the marketplace indicating a housing crash in Denver in six months, absolutely zero facts, Ramsey said. Thats all just mythology and bull crap. Dave Ramseys career story is a rollercoaster. Hes gone from millionaire to bankrupt to personal finance celebrity with a syndicated radio show that helps others with their money problems, according to his website Ramsey Solutions. Along the way, hes developed his own recipe for success, and in an episode of The Ramsey Show, the host shared two of his secrets to gaining wealth that hes learned from 30 years of working with wealthy people. He claims the first is hard work, sharing that almost no one statistically becomes a millionaire from an inheritance, he said. Thats all just mythology and bull crap. Ramsey is a huge proponent of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, and this advice is a nudge to anyone out there who thinks they can take the easy way out. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Russia protested to Japan on Friday about Tokyo's plans to hold joint military exercises on the island of Hokkaido and accused Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of placing his country "on a path to dangerous escalation." Russia's Foreign Ministry, in a note on its website, said a protest had been issued to Japan's embassy in connection with the announcement that drills would be held with Germany and Spain later this month. The note said Tokyo was told it was "categorically unacceptable" to engage in military activity off Russia's far eastern coast, particularly taking into account the participation of NATO members located far from the region. "We view such activity as a potential threat to the security of the Russian Federation," the ministry statement said. "It was stressed that the irresponsible policy of the administration of Prime Minister F. Kishida is placing Tokyo on a path of dangerous escalation in Northeast Asia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region." Russia, the statement said, had warned of countermeasures to be taken to ensure the country's defense capability. Japan has thrown its support behind Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor more than two years ago. Tokyo and Moscow have failed to resolve a territorial dispute over four islands off Hokkaido described by Japan as the Northern Territories and by Moscow, which controls them, as the Kuril Islands. The dispute has prevented the two sides from concluding a peace treaty since the end of World War II, when the islands were seized by the Soviet Union. Japan has periodically expressed unease about Russia strengthening its military infrastructure on the disputed islands. The largest dam removal project in U.S. history was completed Wednesday, marking a major victory for tribes in the region who fought for decades to free hundreds of miles of the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border. Through protests, testimony and lawsuits, local tribes showcased the environmental devastation due to the four towering hydroelectric dams, especially to salmon, which are culturally and spiritually significant to tribes in the region. The dams cut salmon off from their historic habitat and caused them to die in alarming numbers because of bad water-quality conditions. Without the tribes' work "to point out the damage that these dams were doing, not only to the environment, but to the social and cultural fabric of these tribal nations, there would be no dam removal," said Mark Bransom, chief executive of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, the nonprofit entity created to oversee the project. Power company PacifiCorp built the dams to generate electricity between 1918 and 1962. But the structures halted the natural flow of the waterway that was once known as the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast. They disrupted the life cycle of the region's salmon, which spend most of their life in the Pacific Ocean but return to the chilly mountain streams to lay eggs. At the same time, the dams produced only a small fraction of PacifiCorp's energy at full capacity enough to power about 70,000 homes. They also didn't provide irrigation, drinking water or flood control, according to Klamath River Renewal Corporation. Since breaching the dams, salmon regained access to their habitat, water temperature decreased and its quality improved, said Michael Belchik, senior water policy analyst for the Yurok Tribe. But tribal advocates and activists see their work as far from finished, with some already refocusing their efforts on revegetation and other restoration work on the Klamath River and the surrounding land. Here's a look at just a few of the many tribal members at the center of this struggle for dam removal: 'I really felt an urgency' When Karuk tribal member Molli Myers took her first major step into the fight for Klamath dam removal, she was six months pregnant, had a toddler in tow and was in a foreign country for the first time. It was 2004 and she had organized a group of about 25 tribal members to fly to Scotland for the annual general stockholders meeting for Scottish Power, PacifiCorp's parent company at the time. For hours, they protested outside with signs, sang and played drums. They cooked fish on Calton Hill over a fire of scotch barrels and gave it out to locals as they explained why they were there. "I really felt an urgency because I was having babies," said Myers, who was born and raised in the middle Klamath in a traditional fishing family. "And so for me I was internalizing the responsibility to take care of their future." The initial trigger for her to act came two years before that when she saw some of the tens of thousands of salmon die in the river from a bacterial outbreak caused by low water and warm temperatures. "Looking back on it now I wonder where would we be if that hadn't happened," said Myers, 41. "Looking back on it now I can say, 'Was this our creator's call to action?' " She spent the next two decades protesting and flooding state and federal meetings with tribal testimony, including waiting with other tribal members at the doors of a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting at 4 a.m. in 2007 to ask Warren Buffett what he was going to do about the dams. PacifiCorp was at that point part of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. conglomerate. Today, those same children with her in Scotland are 21 and 19, and with the dams gone Myers said she sees the hope they and her other three children have about the future. "They can do whatever needs to get done because they saw it happen, they lived it, so now there's no impossible for them," she said. 'His vision became reality' For Yurok elder Jacqueline Winter, her feelings on the newly free-flowing river are more complicated. The 89-year-old's son, Troy Fletcher, was the tribe's point person for dam removal for two decades, testifying in front of the U.S. Congress and presenting to state and federal regulatory committees. But his true power came through his ability to bring people with radically conflicting viewpoints from farmers to commercial fishers to tribal members together. Winter said that came from his belief that everyone living along the river are relatives and deserve to be heard. "We're all family. None of us can be left hurting and all of us have to give a little," she said was his message. But at 53, the former executive director for the Yurok Tribe died unexpectedly from a heart attack, nearly a decade before that vision of a free-flowing river would finally be realized. Winter said when she saw the dams breached last month, it felt like his spirit was there through those he touched and she could finally let him go. "His vision became reality and I think he never doubted it," she said. "He never doubted it. And those who worked closely with him never doubted it." 'Protect those fish' Former Klamath Tribes Chairman Jeff Mitchell's work since the 1970s for dam removal came out of the belief that the salmon are their relatives. "They were gifted to us by our creator and given to us to preserve and to protect and also to help give us life," said Mitchell, chair of the tribe's Culture and Heritage Committee. "As such, the creator also instructed us to make sure that we do everything in our power to protect those fish." The Klamath River's headwaters lie on the tribe's homelands in Oregon, and members once depended on salmon for 25% of their food. But for more than a century their waters have not held any salmon, he said. Mitchell and other tribal members' fight to bring them back has cycled through several forms. There were the years of protesting, even gathering carcasses of fish after the 2002 fish kill and leaving them on the doorsteps of federal office buildings. There were his days of walking the halls of the state Legislature in Salem, Oregon, meeting with lawmakers about the millions in funding needed to make dam removal happen. Today, he said he feels like they achieved the impossible, but there's still more work to do. "I'm happy that the dams are gone and we have passage," he said. "But now I'm thinking about what are those fish coming home to. And that's really the focus now, is how do we get the parties to start taking restoration actions and making that the top priority in all of this?" Three suspected leaders of a failed coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce were remanded in custody on Friday for six months, the country's top prosecutor said. Former army chief Juan Jose Zuniga, former head of navy Juan Arnez, and Alejandro Irahola, former head of the army's mechanized brigade, will be held in a high-security prison not far from the capital, La Paz. "This pretrial detention ordered by the judge will undoubtedly set a precedent and is a good signal for the investigation to move forward," said Attorney General Cesar Siles. The three officers face charges of engaging in an armed uprising and terrorism and face up to 20 years in prison, Siles said on state television. A total of 21 active, retired and civilian military personnel were arrested in connection with Wednesday's attempted coup, in which troops and tanks were deployed in the heart of the capital, where they tried to break down a door of the presidential palace. Zuniga said his goal was to "restructure democracy" in Bolivia. He was soon captured, and the troops pulled back. In an unusual twist, Zuniga claimed he was following Arce's orders and that the president had hoped for the coup to trigger a crackdown that would boost his popularity. Arce denied the allegations. "How could one order or plan a coup on oneself?" he told reporters. 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 powerful former president Evo Morales ahead of the 2025 election. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Thursday that he would soon visit his Arce to support him following the unrest. Russia "strongly" condemned the attempted military coup, its foreign ministry said Thursday, warning against "destructive foreign interference" in the South American country. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres "welcomes the peaceful resolution of the situation," his spokesperson, 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. 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, 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 party is riven by internal conflict between supporters of Arce and his former mentor, Morales. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sparred over Afghanistan in their Thursday night debate, but both were silent on the worsening human rights crisis following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. During the presidential debate hosted by CNN, Trump blasted Biden for his handling of the August 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden defended his record, but neither of them discussed the human rights and women's rights crisis in the South Asian nation under Taliban rule. The fundamentalist group stormed back to power as the U.S.-led foreign forces departed the country after almost two decades of war with the Taliban. The de facto Afghan rulers have imposed their harsh interpretation of Islamic law, banning girls from schools beyond the sixth grade and many Afghan women from public and private workplaces, among other curbs on their freedoms. "Since the U.S. withdrawal, Afghanistan has sadly become out of sight and out of mind in both public and policy debate in the U.S., so it's not that surprising that the two candidates would fixate on the last days of the pullout instead of the broader and quite depressing state of play in Afghanistan today," Michael Kugelman, the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, told VOA. The U.S. presidential debate came as the United Nations prepares to host crucial talks between Taliban and international envoys in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday. Afghan civil society and women representatives will not be involved, however, a move drawing strong backlash from global human rights defenders. "It's hardly surprising that neither Trump nor Biden has a word to spare for the rights of Afghan women and girls," said Heather Barr, women's rights associate director at Human Rights Watch. "I wish the moderator had asked them specifically about the contributions they both made to creating what is now the world's most serious women's crisis, and a crisis that deepens every day," Barr told VOA via email. She noted that Trump oversaw the Doha agreement his administration signed with the then-insurgent Taliban in 2020, and those negotiations did not involve Afghan women, nor were their rights on the agenda. The pact set the stage for all American and allied troops to pull out from what is described as the longest war in U.S. history. "Now Biden is sending his diplomats off to the Doha 3 meeting, where it will be exactly the same no women on the agenda, no women at the table," Barr said. 'Doha process' The two-day conference will be the third in Qatar's capital since U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated what is referred to as the "Doha process" a year ago to try to establish a unified international approach to increase engagement with the Taliban. The de facto Afghan leaders were not invited to the first Doha meeting in May 2023 and refused an invitation to the second in February. John Fortier, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said Afghanistan and post-withdrawal issues facing the country are no longer high on the American people's agenda. "I think American institutions and foreign policy experts have concerns, but as a political matter we are not thinking about Afghanistan in the same way as we were after the events of September 11 [2001]. For many years, we do not have troops in the same way that we had for many years," Fortier told VOA. Speaking on Thursday, Trump accused Biden of being responsible for the deaths of 13 American soldiers in an Islamic State group-claimed suicide bombing of the Kabul airport just days before the last American troops left Afghanistan. "No general got fired for the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country, Afghanistan, where we left billions of dollars of equipment behind; we lost 13 beautiful soldiers. And by the way, we left people behind, too. We left American citizens behind," Trump stated. "I was getting out of Afghanistan, but we were getting out with dignity, with strength, with power. He got out, it was the most embarrassing day in the history of our country's life," he claimed. Biden defended his Afghan exit policy, saying he "got over 100,000 Americans and others out of Afghanistan during that airlift" and sharply criticized Trump's blistering attacks. "I've never heard so much malarkey in my whole life," the president stated. VOA's Afghan Service contributed to this report. Despite the war, schools across Ukraine are celebrating the end of the academic year. Some of them have a military air to them. About 7,000 Ukrainian teenagers are studying in more than 20 military academies around the country. Omelyan Oshchudlyak has the story. Videographer: Yuriy Dankevych. U.S., European and Arab mediators are pressing to keep stepped-up cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militants from spiraling into a wider Middle East war that the world has feared for months. Iran and Israel traded threats Saturday of what Iran said would be an "obliterating" war over Hezbollah. Hopes are lagging for a cease-fire in Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza that would calm attacks by Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias. With the stalled talks in mind, American and European diplomats and other officials are delivering warnings to Hezbollah, which is far stronger than Hamas but seen as overconfident about taking on the military might of Israel, current and former diplomats say. The Americans and Europeans are warning the group it should not count on the United States or anyone else being able to hold off Israeli leaders if they decide to execute battle-ready plans for an offensive into Lebanon. And Hezbollah should not count on its fighters' ability to handle whatever would come next. Strikes appear to level off On both sides of the Lebanese border, escalating strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, one of the region's best-armed fighting forces, appeared at least to level off this week. While daily strikes still pound the border area, the slight shift offered hope of easing immediate fears, which had prompted the U.S. to send an amphibious assault ship with a Marine expeditionary force to join other warships in the area in hopes of deterring a wider conflict. Despite this past week's plateauing of hostilities, said Gerald Feierstein, a former senior U.S. diplomat in the Middle East," it certainly seems the Israelis are still ... arranging themselves in the expectation that there will be some kind of conflict ... an entirely different magnitude of conflict." The message being delivered to Hezbollah is "don't think that you're as capable as you think you are," he said. Potentially 'terrible consequences' Beginning the day after Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel triggered the war in Gaza, Hezbollah has launched rockets into northern Israel and vowed to continue until a cease-fire takes hold. Israel has hit back, with the violence forcing tens of thousands of civilians from the border in both countries. Attacks intensified this month after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander and Hezbollah responded with some of its biggest missile barrages. United Nations humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths used the word "apocalyptic" to describe a war that could result. Both Israel and Hezbollah, the dominant force in politically fractured Lebanon, have the power to cause heavy casualties. "Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said as he met recently with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon. "Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East." Gallant, in response, said, "We are working closely together to achieve an agreement, but we must also discuss readiness on every possible scenario." Analysts expect that other Iran-allied militias in the region would respond far more forcefully than they have for Hamas, and some experts warn of ideologically motivated militants streaming into the region to join in. Europeans fear destabilizing refugee flows. And if it looks like any Israeli offensive in Lebanon is "going seriously south for the Israelis, the U.S. will intervene," Feierstein said. "I don't think that they would see any alternative to that." While Iran, which is preoccupied with a political transition at home, shows no sign of wanting a war now, it sees Hezbollah as its strategically vital partner in the region, much more so than Hamas, and could be drawn in. Upping tensions, Iran's U.N. mission said in a posting Saturday on X that an "obliterating" war would ensue if Israel launches a full-scale attack in Lebanon. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded by pledging his country would move against Hezbollah with "full force" unless it stopped attacks. While the U.S. helped Israel knock down a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones in April, the U.S. likely would not do as well assisting Israel's defense against any broader Hezbollah attacks, said General Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is harder to fend off the shorter-range rockets that Hezbollah fires routinely across the border, he said. The Israeli army is stretched after a nearly 9-month war in Gaza, and Hezbollah holds an estimated arsenal of some 150,000 rockets and missiles capable of striking anywhere in Israel. Israeli leaders, meanwhile, have pledged to unleash Gaza-like scenes of devastation on Lebanon if a full-blown war erupts. White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein, President Joe Biden's point person on Israel-Hezbollah tensions, has not been successful so far in getting the two sides to dial back the attacks. The French, who have ties as Lebanon's former colonial power, and other Europeans also are mediating, along with the Qataris and Egyptians. White House officials have blamed Hezbollah for escalating tensions and said it backs Israel's right to defend itself. The Biden administration also has told the Israelis that opening a second front is not in their interest. That was a point hammered home to Gallant during his latest talks in Washington with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Austin, CIA Director William Burns, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Hochstein and others. "We're going to continue to help Israel defend itself; that's not going to change," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "But as for a hypothetical specifically with respect to the northern border line ... again, we want to see no second front opened, and we want to see if we can't resolve the tensions out there through diplomatic processes." White House officials, however, are not discounting the real possibility that a second front in the Mideast conflict could open. In conversations with Israeli and Lebanese officials and other regional stakeholders, there is agreement that "a major escalation is not in anybody's interest," a senior Biden administration official said. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about White House deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity, bristled at the "purported logic" of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah arguing that Israel would see an end to Hezbollah attacks by reaching a cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza. But the official also acknowledged that an elusive cease-fire deal in Gaza would go a long way in quieting tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border. American forces destroyed seven drones and a control station vehicle in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the past 24 hours, the U.S. military said Friday. The strikes were carried out because the drones and the vehicle "presented an imminent threat to U.S. coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on social media platform X. The Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in attacks they say are in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for attacks on four vessels, including a "direct hit" on the Delonix tanker in the Red Sea after an operation involving a number of ballistic missiles. However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said five missiles were fired on Friday in "close proximity" to this vessel, which it said reported no damage. The Delonix was located around 277 kilometers northwest of the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida when it was attacked, according to UKMTO, which is run by Britain's Royal Navy. The Houthis also claimed attacks on the Waler oil tanker and Johannes Maersk container ship in the Mediterranean Sea and the Ioannis bulk carrier in the Red Sea. The United States in December announced a maritime security initiative to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks, which have forced commercial vessels to divert from the route that normally carries 12% of global trade. CENTCOM said its strike on Friday was carried out "to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure." "This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden." The attacks have sent insurance costs spiraling for vessels transiting the Red Sea and prompted many shipping firms to take the far longer passage around the southern tip of Africa instead. It's not just a book. Back in the 1450s, when the Bible became the first major work printed in Europe with moveable metal type, Johannes Gutenberg was a man with a plan. The German inventor decided to make the most of his new technology the movable-type printing press by producing an unprecedented version of the scripture for wealthy customers who could interpret Latin: leaders of the Catholic Church. Though he planned on printing 150 Bibles, increasing demand motivated him to produce 30 extra copies, which led to a total of 180. Currently known as the "Gutenberg Bibles," around 48 complete copies are preserved. None is known to be kept in private hands. Among those in the United States, a paper Bible can be seen at the Morgan Library & Museum, in New York City. Two more copies in vellum lie in the underground vaults, next to 120,000 other books. Why should anyone religiously observant or not feel compelled to see a Gutenberg Bible up close? Here's a look at how its printing influenced the history of books and the religious landscape. And what a 500-year-old volume can still reveal. What is a Gutenberg Bible? The term refers to each of the two-volume Bibles printed in Gutenberg's workshop around 1454. Before that, all existing Bibles were copied by hand. The process could take up to a year, said John McQuillen, associate curator at the Morgan Library. In contrast, it is believed that Gutenberg completed his work in about six months. Each Gutenberg Bible has nearly 1,300 pages and weighs around 60 pounds. It's written in Latin and printed in double columns, with 42 lines per page. Most were printed on paper. A few others on animal skin. When a Bible came off the press, only the black letters were printed. Hand decorations and bindings were added later, depending on each buyer's taste and budget. Some ornamentations were added in Germany. Others in France, Belgium or Spain. Therefore, each Gutenberg Bible is unique, McQuillen said. Why were these Bibles a turning point? Gutenberg's invention produced a massive multiplication of complete copies of biblical texts. The first impact was among scholars and learned priests who had easier access than ever before, said Richard Rex, professor of Reformation History from the University of Cambridge. "This massive multiplication even led to the wider adoption of the term 'Bible' (Biblia) to describe the book," Rex said. "Medieval authors and others do speak sometimes of 'the Bible', but more commonly of 'scripture.'" Psychologically, Rex said, the appearance of the printed text its regularity, precision and uniformity contributed to a tendency to resolve theological arguments by reference to the biblical text alone. Later on, the printing of Bibles in vernacular languages especially from Luther's Bible (early 1520s) and Tyndale's New Testament (mid 1520s) onwards affected the way that ordinary parishioners related to religion and the clergy. The limits of literacy still meant that access to the Bible was far from universal. Gradually, though, religious leaders stopped being its main interpreters. "The phenomenon of lay people questioning or interpreting the biblical text became more common from the 1520s onwards," Rex said. "Although the early Protestant Reformers, such as Luther, emphasized that they did not seek to create an interpretative 'free for all,' this was probably the predictable consequence of their appeal to 'scripture alone.'" More than a book Three times per year, a curator from the Morgan Library turns the page of the Gutenberg Bible on display. It's leaves not only tell a tale of scripture, but of those who possessed it. A few years ago, by studying its handmade initials, McQuillen was the one to figure out the origin of its decoration: a German monastery that no longer exists. Similarly, in the 2000s, a Japanese researcher found little marks on the surface of the Old Testament's paper copy. Her findings revealed that those leaves were used by Gutenberg's successors for their own edition, printed in 1462. "For as many times as the Gutenberg Bible have been looked at, it seems like every time a researcher comes in, something new can be discovered," McQuillen said. "This book has existed for 500 years. Who are the people that have touched it? How can we talk about these personal histories in addition to the greater idea of what printing technology means on a European or global scale?" he said. Among the thousands of Bibles that J. P. Morgan acquired, owners made various annotations. Individual names, birth dates, details that reflect a personal story. "A Bible is now sort of a book on the shelf," McQuillen said. "But at one point, this was a very personal object." "In a museum setting, they become art and a little bit distanced, but we try to break that distance down." After more than eight months of low-scale conflict, Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are threatening all-out war. The United States and the international community are lobbying for calm and hopeful for a diplomatic solution. They have not been successful so far and time for a political settlement could be expiring. Should war break out, Israel would face a much more formidable foe in Lebanon than it faced in Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel last week that his group has new weapons and capabilities, and it has published surveillance drone footage taken deep inside northern Israel that showed the port of Haifa and other sites far from the Lebanon-Israel border. A look at how Hezbollah became what many call the strongest non-state force in the region. What is Hezbollah? Founded in 1982 during Lebanon's civil war, Hezbollah's initial objective was ending Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon. It achieved that in 2000. Shiite Muslim Hezbollah is part of a collection of Iranian-backed factions and governments known as the Axis of Resistance. It was the first group that Iran backed and used as a way to export its brand of political Islamism. In its early days the group attacked U.S. targets, causing Washington to designate it a terrorist organization. "Iran's support has helped Hezbollah consolidate its position as Lebanon's most powerful political actor as well as the most-equipped military actor supported by Iran in the whole of the Middle East," said Lina Khatib, the director of the SOAS Middle East Institute in London. Hezbollah fighters ambushed an Israeli patrol in 2006 and took two Israeli soldiers hostage. Hezbollah and Israel fought a monthlong war that ended in a draw but Israeli bombardment wreaked widespread destruction in southern Lebanon. Israel's objective was eliminating Hezbollah but the Lebanese group came out stronger and became a key military and political power on Israel's northern border. Domestic opponents have criticized Hezbollah for maintaining its arsenal and for coming to dominate the government. Hezbollah's reputation also suffered when it briefly seized a section of Beirut in May 2008 after the Lebanese government took measures against its private telecommunications network. Hezbollah's military capabilities have also surged, and it has played a key role in the Syrian civil war, keeping President Bashar al-Assad in power. And it has helped train Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq, as well as Yemen's Houthi rebels. What are Hezbollah's military capabilities? Throughout its latest conflict with Israel, Hezbollah has gradually introduced new weapons to its arsenal, especially after Israel began its ground invasion of the southern city of Rafah in Gaza in early May. While Hezbollah initially began launching Cornet anti-tank missiles and salvos of Katyusha rockets, it later started using rockets with heavy warheads, and eventually introduced explosive drones and surface-to-air missiles for the first time. Nasrallah said the drones are locally manufactured, with many at their disposal. The group notably released the two videos of footage from drones over Haifa and other sites in northern Israel, showing critical civilian and military infrastructure in a move intended to showcase new access and capabilities and deter Israeli attack. In a televised address last week, Nasrallah said that the group will continue resorting to this tactic. "We now have new weapons. But I won't say what they are," he said. "When the decision is made, they will be seen on the front lines." How does Hezbollah compare to other Iranian-backed groups? Hezbollah is the Arab world's most significant paramilitary force with a robust internal structure as well as a sizeable arsenal. Israel sees it as its most direct threat, and estimates that it has an arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles. In recent years, Hezbollah sent forces to Syria to help fellow Iranian ally President Bashar Assad against armed opposition groups. It also supported the growth of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Yemen and Syria. Khatib of the SOAS Middle East Institute in London likened Hezbollah to a "big brother" of fledgling Iranian-backed groups that "do not enjoy the same level of infrastructure or discipline." Hezbollah is bound to Iran by doctrine. However, its relationship with Hamas, an offshoot of the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood movement, is based on pragmatism. In recent years, some Hamas officials, including its former second-in-command, Saleh al-Arouri, have since moved to Lebanon, where they have Hezbollah's protection and a presence across Lebanon's multiple Palestinian refugee camps. Arouri was killed in an Israeli drone strike in a southern Beirut suburb in January. Who Is Hassan Nasrallah? Born in 1960 into a poor Shiite family in the Beirut suburb of Bourj Hammoud and later displaced to south Lebanon, Nasrallah studied theology and joined the Amal movement, a Shiite political and paramilitary organization, before becoming one of Hezbollah's founders. He became Hezbollah's leader in 1992 after his predecessor was killed in an Israeli strike. Idolized by many for presiding over Israel's withdrawal from the south and leading the 2006 war, his image appears on billboards and on gadgets in souvenir shops in Lebanon, Syria and other countries across the Arab world. But he also faces opposition among Lebanese who accuse him of tying their country's fate to Iran. Nasrallah is also considered to be pragmatic, able to make political compromises. He has lived in hiding for years, fearing Israeli assassination, and delivers his speeches from undisclosed locations. 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. The Houthis said they also targeted three other vessels including two in the Mediterranean. 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." However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitor said earlier in the day that the ship, which was targeted 278 kilometers 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. valentinrussanov / iStock.com Arianna Valencia of Santa Clarita, California, is a longtime renter who yearns to own a home. I want to buy a house for my son to grow up in, Valencia told GOBankingRates. We have had a lot of changes in the last three years, with his father and I ending our marriage and a lot of other difficulties that we have endured. Its really important for me to provide stability for him. I dream of watching him play in a backyard and hosting his birthday parties. Explore More: Cheapest Places To Buy a Home in Every State Try This: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them. Even Working Three Jobs May Not Provide Enough Income To Buy a Home Valencia, 29, works two jobs sometimes three and pulls in about $54,000 a year. My income is definitely a factor in not being able to purchase a home, Valencia said, adding that she pays $3,158 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. It feels like I work so hard and never really get to see it pay off. Its something that eats at me everyday, because I spend most of my time missing out on the days with my son and still cant give him what Im working for. Its easy to feel like giving up, because owning a home and providing that stability for him seems impossible. Is it impossible? Can you afford to buy a home if you make under $75K a year? It wont be easy, not by a long shot. But there are some actionable tips to consider. Be Aware: 7 Worst States To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years, According to Real Estate Agents Get Your Finances in Shape Anyone looking to buy a home needs to get their finances in shape, no matter how much they earn. Make sure you have savings in place for a down payment of at least 3%-5% of the purchase price saving more will help you be more competitive, but its not necessary, said Coldwell Banker Realty sales associate Laura Kaplan. Assess your financial situation, calculate monthly income and expenses to determine how much you can afford and, most importantly, want to afford to live comfortably. Your real estate agent can help you with some scenarios to help you decide your budget. Set a Realistic Budget Creating a budget you can stick to is essential. To do this, Kaplan recommended considering the local market and whether you will have to offer above asking price when determining your budget. Look for neighborhoods that are within that budget and have potential growth in property value, Kaplan said. Be Flexible You may have your picture perfect dream home in mind. Let go of this image, to an extent, so that you can be open minded and embrace opportunities where you may not expect them. Story continues The more flexibility you have in terms of cosmetic work needed, etc., the more options you will have with potentially less competition, Kaplan said. Dont overlook an ugly duckling. Sometimes simple and inexpensive upgrades can bring huge equity returns. Be Open to Other Locations You may have your heart set on one particular neighborhood, but being attached to just one location limits your search. The difference of just a few blocks could mean the difference of tens of thousands of dollars. Consider being flexible in the location of the home, if possible, said Seamus Nally, CEO of TurboTenant. This is where working remotely really comes in handy! Home prices are vastly different in different areas of the country, so while a person making under $75K a year may not be able to afford a home where they currently live, they may be able to more realistically afford one elsewhere. Look Into Mortgage Assistance Programs I would also look into mortgage assistance programs, Nally said. There are many options on the local, state and federal level that may be able to help. It never hurts to check and see whats available for you and your financial situation. Stay Committed This isnt an expert tip so much as a true story. Stay committed to making your dream of home ownership come true, even if it cant happen for a while. Valencia is currently in the process of finishing a degree in business finance, which is another thing added to my plate, she said. But I am doing it so I can grow within my full-time job and hopefully achieve the dream of owning a home for my son. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Tips If You Make Less Than $75K and Still Want To Buy a Home Five members of the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) led by Job Sikhala have been arrested in Harare in what appears to be a national crackdown on the opposition amid claims that they are attempting to cause instability in Zimbabwe. But the opposition claims that the government is attempting to cover up massive corruption linked to the ruling elite, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his inner circle. In a statement, the NDWG said it is concerned over machinations, alarmism, despondency and overzealousness of police as government becomes "increasingly paranoid following revelations of shocking levels of corruption involving very senior civil servants and elite politicians. The NDWG said its arrested members were distributing monthly food handouts to less privileged Kuwadzana residents. The arrested activists who are currently in police custody are Edmore Svinurai, Emily Mwali, Isaya Ndawana, Patience Ndoro and Regina Aniwute. The NDWG said, The police are pressing charges of gathering without police clearance. The meeting was never a political gathering but a social justice interaction of persons who have been doing good for poor and the vulnerable at a private residence of one of its members. NDWG comprises churches, students, businesses and others. Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unreachable for comment on his mobile phone. Seventy-nine CCC activists arrested two weeks ago for attending an event in which they were commemorating International Day of the African Child are currency in remand prison facing charges of attending an illegal meeting at Jameson Timbas Harare residence. Mnangagwa and Information Minister Jenfan Muswere have come up guns blazing threatening to deal ruthlessly with political activists and non-governmental organizations said to be planning to stage anti-corruption protests. There have been several corruption incidents linked to the ruling party elite of late which have resulted in the locking up of businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe. They are facing charges of defrauding the government of 7.3 million in a poverty-alleviation program under the Presidential Goat Pass-on scheme. The two who were tasked with purchasing over 600,000 goats for rural household allegedly converted the money to their own use after buying only 4,200 low-grade goats. They are also linked with a US$40 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission tender which has sucked in Wicknell Chivayo, a man who has been getting many government tenders and giving Zanu PF-linked individuals top range vehicles. But Chivayo has distanced themselves from this deal allegedly reached with a South African company for the supply of election materials in last years polls. Photo: Adam Rose/Netflix New York subscribers got exclusive early access to this story in our Gold Rush newsletter. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. In the nine years that Outstanding Talk Series has existed as an Emmys category, having spun off from Outstanding Variety Series in 2015, only two shows have won the award: The Daily Show and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. But this year, ahead of the trophys tenth birthday, Emmy forecasters are looking at a new late-night host whose unconventional, six-episode pop-up-season show could bust up the hegemony. His name is also John. John Mulaneys loosey-goosey live experiment, Everybodys in L.A., aired for a week on Netflix in early May and had comedy nerds enraptured. (Just ask anybody at Vulture who spent a week extolling the virtues of prickly guest interactions, random expert appearances from the field of coyotes and earthquakes, and the unbeatable presence of Richard Kind.) Initially, folks with an interest in the Emmys race assumed that the show with its fair share of pre-recorded sketches and choreographed onstage segments would get slotted into the Outstanding Scripted Variety Series category, competing against the likes of SNL. But according to sources close to the show, the Emmys thought differently and placed Everybodys in L.A. in the Talk Series category, where it will compete against The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Was this a deliberate decision on the part of the television academy to rattle a historically static late-night Emmy category? Well, its not the first shake-up the categorys seen. In 2023, John Olivers Last Week Tonight was moved out of Talk Series and into Scripted Variety, where it continued its domination by winning immediately. That resulted in The Daily Show returning to its own winning ways, capping off Trevor Noahs tenure with one last Emmy. Since Noahs retirement, the show has remained without a permanent host, only bringing back Jon Stewart to anchor once a week. In other words, an Everybodys in L.A. insurgency would be an accomplishment, but not an entirely surprising one. The late-night categories are some of the most dynastic in Emmys history, but every reign has to end some time, and The Daily Shows has never felt more vulnerable. The Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series categories originated in 1951 as the singular Best Variety Series. Over the course of 73 years, the category has evolved, split, adopted new rules, and cycled through 25 distinct names (you would not believe how many times the name shifted between Outstanding Variety or Music Series and Outstanding Music or Variety Series). You can pretty much track the history of genuinely popular television over the years through the winners of this category. The early years honored the likes of Ed Sullivan, Dinah Shore, Dick Van Dyke, and Andy Williams. The 70s tracked The Carol Burnett Show, The Flip Wilson Show, and Laugh-In through the debut of Saturday Night Live, which won for its very first season. Variety specials continued to dominate through the 1980s. And then Johnny Carson announced his retirement from The Tonight Show in 1992, kicking off the Late Night Wars between David Letterman and Jay Leno, in which the Emmys played their part. Carson won for his swan-song year in 92, then after Letterman made his move to CBS, he and Leno traded wins in 1994 and 1995. But starting in 1998, Emmy voters made their preference for Dave known, with The Late Show With David Letterman winning five years in a row. During the last two of those years, Letterman beat out the cable show that during the 2000 presidential election especially had established itself as Americas go-to late-night show for current-events comedy: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. When TDS finally won in 2003, it felt like the young upstart taking its place at the grown-ups table. Then that young upstart became the establishment, with The Daily Show embarking on a ten-year winning streak in the category, only unseated by its own spinoff series, The Colbert Report. Of course, after the category was split between Sketch Series and Talk Series in 2015, The Daily Show came back to win again. Then Jon Stewart retired, Donald Trump got elected, and Emmy voters needed to turn somewhere else for their political humor and, increasingly, to vent about the new administration. Enter another Daily Show alumnus, John Oliver, with Last Week Tonight. For the first time since 1997 when Tracey Takes On won in what was, in retrospect, the last cultural lull before the Clinton-impeachment scandal kicked off the era of 24/7/365 political-outrage comedy a weekly show, rather than a nightly, had taken the Emmy. As The Daily Show had before it, Last Week Tonight grabbed the trophy and hasnt let go since. When the show was moved out of the Talk Series category and into the newly named Outstanding Scripted Variety category in 2023, Last Week Tonight won for the eighth consecutive year. Votings Over, Baby. After a short 11-day window, voting for the 2024 Primetime Emmy nominations closed on June 24. Adjust your social-media posts accordingly! Youre no longer begging people to vote for your faves; you are now shaming them for not voting for your faves. The key upcoming dates on the Emmys calendar are as follows: July 17: Nominations are announced. August 15: Final-round voting begins. August 26: Final-round voting ends. September 78: The Creative Arts Emmys are awarded. September 15: The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards airs on ABC. And now were in the present, when voters in the Talk Series category have fallen back on an old habit casting ballots for The Daily Show. If youre keeping score, thats a 20-plus-year streak of political comedy dominating this category. Which is among the many reasons it would be such a big deal to have Everybodys in L.A. win. Mulaneys anything-goes, determinedly loose talk show doesnt draw from traditional political comedy. Its precedent is offbeat shows like The Chris Gethard Show as much as it is Lettermans style of delightfully immaterial mid-show segments. (Letterman himself guested on the Earthquake episode of Everybodys in L.A., the episode that Netflix submitted in the Writing category at the Emmys, and his presence felt like a blessing.) Political comedy in late night can be funny (see Seth Meyers) and important, but the fact that its become the only way to do late-night has been suffocating. But Mulaneys isnt the only show that could unnerve the usual late-night lineup. Enter the YouTube talk series Hot Ones, which has steadily grown in popularity and awareness, with bigger and bigger stars showing up to chat with host Sean Evans and scorch their insides with increasingly spicier chicken wings. YouTube series have only recently been considered for inclusion in this category, and to date, the only streaming series to be nominated in the Variety Talk category have been last years nod for Apple TV+s The Problem With Jon Stewart and 2016s nomination for Crackle and Jerry Seinfelds Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. It would feel deeply appropriate if Hot Ones got its first nomination on the back of the highly touted Conan OBrien episode, considering OBriens long history of his shows getting passed over for the Emmy. Its worth noting that while Everybodys in L.A. would be a genuine shakeup for the category in terms of format, Mulaney is far from an outsider when it comes to the Emmys. Hes actually a 20-time nominee, with about half of those nominations coming from his time at Saturday Night Live. Hes also been nominated for Documentary Now, Netflixs John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch (another formal comedic experiment that incorporated a dash of Richard Kind), and multiple stand-up specials. Hes won two Emmys for Writing for a Variety Special for his stand-up specials Kid Gorgeous and Baby J. This is a guy who Emmy voters like. A lot. But again, an Everybodys in L.A. (or even a Hot Ones) win would still be a feat, as the hill to victory only got steeper with the release of the nominations ballot. With only 13 shows in contention for Outstanding Talk Series, the rules stipulate that there will only be three nominees. That means that among Mulaney, Kimmel, Meyers, Colbert, Stewart, and the purveyors of Da Bomb hot sauce, at least three will be getting bad news on Emmy-nomination morning. The hope for Mulaney, Netflix, and fans of true variety in the Variety categories is that Emmy voters will respond to the refreshing raggedness of Mulaneys late-night experiment. For Richard Kinds sake, if no one elses. Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done? Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Treatt implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 15 shareholders own 50% of the company Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock If you want to know who really controls Treatt plc (LON:TET), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 83% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Treatt, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Treatt What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Treatt? 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 Treatt 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 Treatt's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Treatt. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is abrdn plc with 7.2% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 6.2% and 4.1% of the stock. Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 50% of the ownership is controlled by the top 15 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership. 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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Treatt While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. 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. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Treatt plc. It has a market capitalization of just UK261m, and the board has only UK65k worth of shares in their own names. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 15% stake in Treatt. 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. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Treatt 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 Treatt , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. 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 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. 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 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. 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. 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 At the Hardmission electronic music festival in January, people just started dropping after taking party drugs on the 33-degree day at Flemington Racecourse. Victorian Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt already didnt need to be personally convinced that pill testing was good policy. But the mass overdose, and those that followed, convinced her the time to act was now. Five months later, new Premier Jacinta Allan announced a drug-checking trial with one fixed and 10 mobile sites. It followed years of hostility to the social reform under then-premier Daniel Andrews. Its been a bit of, to be honest, an evolution, Allan said. The Hardmission Festival at Flemington Racecourse, where nine people overdosed on MDMA in January. The Age has spoken to more than 20 people in Labor and in the sector mostly on condition of anonymity to be frank about internal discussions to understand the key moments that led the government to act. The story goes back more than 12 months, and it follows years of advocacy, including from grieving families. But the dam broke when a string of young people overdosed on party drugs in the heat last summer. The overdoses was the big push, one minister said. Advertisement More Labor MPs started making representations. Some got the feeling Allan was listening. And unionists, advocates and crossbench MPs were loudly pointing to repeated coronial inquiries that called on the state to try the reform. Suddenly, Allan shifted her tone. She said she had asked the Health Department for advice. In an interview with The Age on Friday, Stitt said she personally already supported drug checking before she came to the portfolio in October. Not long after that, we had the festival season, summer, Stitt said. So I had this sense of urgency about this issue because of the harm that was going on last summer. She viewed the issue through a harm-reduction lens, accepting that people took drugs, with concern for an increasingly volatile market. All of my personal views, in some ways, when youre a minister responsible for government policy and decisions, you have to put that to one side a little bit. Advertisement But the evidence around whats been happening overseas with fentanyl, just the explosion in opioid synthetics, that convinced me that not that I needed much convincing but it convinced me that the time was now, we had to get on with this. Loading Paramedics dealt with 20 overdoses at six festivals in Victoria between January and March, exceeding the 18 in all of 2023. By mid-March, a man had died from a suspected overdose at Pitch festival in the Grampians during a heatwave. Three days later, another two coronial inquiries recommended a drug-checking trial. Allan was said to have already personally backed the reform by then, and had supportive staff in her new office. And she put her stamp on it by announcing her view before it had cabinets sign-off. It means another key to this weeks announcement was her ascension to premier, taking over from Andrews. I dont think you can take these drugs at any level and be safe, Andrews said in some of his public comments over the years. Drug checking was never debated in cabinet under Andrews as a result, three ministers who served during his leadership explained. He made [his view] publicly known before we even had a debate, one said. Advertisement He wouldnt have a bar of it, another said. And it wasnt at the top of many peoples to-do list: You picked your battles. Stitt rejected the view that the change of leadership gave the government a clean slate to move, and repeated her view that the summer overdoses had created an urgency. The explosion in opioid synthetics convinced Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt that the time for pill testing was now, we had to get on with this. Credit: Jason South While Victoria fancied itself the progressive state, Queensland last year joined the ACT to trial drug checking. Then, a rump of crossbench MPs that Labor relies on in the Victorian upper house made drug reform the main focus of debate in the final sitting week of 2023. The Greens, Legalise Cannabis and Animal Justice Party jointly called for a drug-checking trial, and a separate bill on cannabis led Allan and others to admit they had smoked pot earlier in life. It was a kumbaya moment on drug policy, one advocate joked, even if it was deflecting from the government going cold on the promised CBD safe-injecting room that would be dumped months later. In April, the government formally walked away from that plan, despite a rise in heroin-related deaths in the City of Melbourne and fears that dangerous nitazenes (synthetic opioids) and fentanyl could circulate more widely. The government remains committed to the North Richmond facility, and the April announcement included a drug strategy with expanded pharmacotherapy. Advertisement By then, there was a growing belief in the sector that drug checking would happen and a suspicion it was a trade-off for the injecting room. The government has always rejected this. Its certainly not the case, Stitt said. I dont accept that its been a trade-off. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell (left), Aiv Puglielli from the Greens, and Rachel Payne from Legalise Cannabis brought a bill before parliament last year. Credit: Justin McManus Four Labor figures told The Age they viewed the injecting room as a bigger priority. Those users were at greater risk of harm, and were more vulnerable compared to weekend party-drug users who sometimes shelled out hundreds of dollars for a festival ticket. Given the injecting room was canned because of backlash to any possible location, two of those sources speculated Allan had made a political calculation on what was easiest. After left-wing policies fell by the wayside, one source said she needed to put her mark on being progressive, on doing something in announcing the trial. Labor is under threat from the Greens in key metro seats. Advertisement The Council of Ministers of Bulgaria has approved the country's participation in the joint venture to implement the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Europe "green energy" corridor, known as "Black Sea Energy," which will traverse the bottom of the Black Sea. Azerbaijan's ambassador to Bulgaria, Huseyn Huseynov, shared this information on his account on the "X" social network. "The Council of Ministers has approved Bulgaria's participation in the joint venture for the Green Energy Corridor project, aimed at supplying 'green energy' from Baku to Central Europe," the diplomat wrote. He emphasized that with a 20% stake, Bulgaria can play a significant role in the project due to its advanced electricity transmission system, interconnections with neighboring countries, developed energy market, investment opportunities in renewable sources, and increasing demand for "green energy." According to him, the Black Sea Energy Corridor initiative is based on a strategic partnership among the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary for transmitting "green energy" through an undersea cable in the Black Sea. "This project aims to enhance regional energy security, diversify energy supplies, leverage renewable energy potential in the Caspian Sea region, and increase the share of renewable energy in national energy portfolios." It's worth noting that on December 17, 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement to establish an energy bridge from the Caucasus region to Europe. As part of this agreement, plans include laying the "Black Sea Energy" undersea electric cable, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts and stretching 1,195 kilometers. The cable will transmit "green electricity" produced in Azerbaijan to Romania through Georgia and the Black Sea, potentially delivering up to 4 gigawatts of "green energy." Speaking to Azernews economist-expert Eldeniz Amirov noted that Bulgaria will be the fifth country to join this Corridor. "This Corridor is established through a memorandum signed between Romania, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Recognizing the potential future benefits, Bulgaria is eager to seize this opportunity, as it lies right on the border of this Corridor." According to him, Bulgaria's 20 percent share in the project is significant, representing one-fifth of the total. "This is a notable indicator. Although this accession might not have an immediate decisive impact on the Bulgarian economy, it is still a promising start. If Bulgaria can position itself as a transit country in the future, it stands to gain more, as Central Asia's energy resources will be transported to Europe through this energy corridor," economist said. "This Corridor strengthens the relationships between the participating countries, and these enhanced relationships can create opportunities in other economic sectors. However, I believe it has not yet generated additional opportunities from this perspective," E.Amirov concluded. From the above, it can be mentioned that Bulgaria's participation in the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Europe "green energy" corridor marks a significant step forward for the country's strategic positioning in the region. By securing a 20 percent share, Bulgaria not only underscores its commitment to sustainable energy but also sets the stage for potential long-term economic benefits. While the immediate impact may be limited, the strengthened relations with neighboring countries and the strategic importance of becoming a transit hub for Central Asia's energy resources highlight the future opportunities this Corridor presents. As Bulgaria continues to invest in its renewable energy infrastructure and leverage its geographical advantages, it stands poised to play a crucial role in enhancing regional energy security and driving economic growth through this innovative initiative. Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies Arthur J. Gallagher's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions The top 16 shareholders own 51% of the company Recent sales by insiders If you want to know who really controls Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 86% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Arthur J. Gallagher. View our latest analysis for Arthur J. Gallagher What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Arthur J. Gallagher? 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. Arthur J. Gallagher already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Arthur J. Gallagher's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Arthur J. Gallagher. Our data shows that The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the largest shareholder with 12% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 7.9% of common stock, and Capital Research and Management Company holds about 7.5% of the company stock. Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 16 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership. Story continues While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Arthur J. Gallagher While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. We can see that insiders own shares in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.. It is a very large company, and board members collectively own US$670m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 12% stake in Arthur J. Gallagher. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Arthur J. Gallagher that you should be aware of before investing here. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com If you are building a properly diversified stock portfolio, the chances are some of your picks will perform badly. Long term Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP) shareholders know that all too well, since the share price is down considerably over three years. Unfortunately, they have held through a 70% decline in the share price in that time. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 26% in the last 90 days. After losing 3.7% this past week, it's worth investigating the company's fundamentals to see what we can infer from past performance. See our latest analysis for Advance Auto Parts 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 flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the three years that the share price fell, Advance Auto Parts' earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 66% each year. In comparison the 33% compound annual share price decline isn't as bad as the EPS drop-off. So the market may not be too worried about the EPS figure, at the moment -- or it may have previously priced some of the drop in. With a P/E ratio of 176.21, it's fair to say the market sees a brighter future for the business. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. 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. As it happens, Advance Auto Parts' TSR for the last 3 years was -68%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective Investors in Advance Auto Parts had a tough year, with a total loss of 8.5% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 23%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, longer term shareholders are suffering worse, given the loss of 9% doled out over the last five years. We would want clear information suggesting the company will grow, before taking the view that the share price will stabilize. 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 3 warning signs with Advance Auto Parts (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of undervalued small cap companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 To say that Aisling Neary has helped others is a massive understatement. The Castlebar native has had a positive impact on the lives of so many people in her lifetime, so much so that the true number would be impossible to calculate. A nurse by profession, Aisling had a calling to volunteering and helping others from a young age, and that journey saw her work in Romania, India, Moldova, Nepal and Africa. She fundraised to help the most poverty-stricken in those countries, to help improve their lives in the short and long term. Aisling is an amazing woman she has been recognised for her work by various bodies but you can tell that was never the motivation behind what she did. We sat down in her native Castlebar to chat about her experiences. Angelina: Aisling, thanks for talking to me. Tell me a little about yourself. Aisling: I'm from Castlebar, and I'm the youngest of four in the family. When I finished school, I trained to be a general nurse in Dublin. I always had a keen interest in volunteering so my life took on that path for many years afterwards. My first volunteering project brought me to an orphanage in Romania for three months following my qualification. Angelina: How did you get involved in that initial project, Aisling? Aisling: During my nursing training, I embarked on a 12-week programme, teaching adults literacy skills, and I volunteered at a Focus Ireland creche for children affected by homelessness. These experiences ignited my desire to volunteer and help others. A friend of mine told me they were looking for people to go to Romania and to work with children in an orphanage and asked me to go. And that was the start of it. On that initial trip, I spent three months in Romania and returned at least ten times with different projects. I had developed a relationship with all of the children and I was interested to know what became of them. A lot of them actually left that orphanage and went to group homes through the work of a great charity called Cross Cause and Tanner Romanian Mission. I met a beautiful lady in Romania called Natalia - the children used to call her Mama Telly. She worked down in the sewers in Bucharest with street children. I had the privilege of working with her for about 10 days and helping her out. We used to go out every morning. There are man-made sewers and the children lived down there. They have underground piping in the sewers which radiate a lot of heat. So I went down manholes and I remember being a bit afraid going down because it was so dark, but the children were lovely and they were just introducing themselves. We brought them up and to a place that had hygiene facilities for washing and baths. Then Mama Telly would always bring food to them. Angelina: Where else did your volunteering take you, Aisling? Aisling: The girls I trained with were all then going to Australia for a year, so I joined them. Further ventures volunteering took me to Moldova, working with United Christian Aid on a few occasions. I travelled to India and worked in Mother Teresa's place for Christmas. I travelled around, and then I found Nepal. I loved Nepal, and it was probably one of my favourite places that I ever did a project in. I worked in a place called The Little Angels Home, and it was just gorgeous. It was up in the Himalayan Mountains, and they had an organic farm, and these children were so happy. I also went to Ghana in West Africa where I built two schools. Angelina: How long did you spend in these places on average, Aisling? Aisling: I was in Nepal for three months and another time for ten weeks and then on another occasion, I went for three weeks. I did different projects over there as well. I met a beautiful girl - Trish Ginnelly. She's from Newport and had an amazing charity called Sathi Nepal and I worked with her for a bit. She introduced me to another lovely Irish man from Cork with a charity called Just One, and that was in Kathmandu, and he was trying to get the street boys in group homes. Then I went to Africa. I was working in Galway at the time and decided to go to Ghana for two weeks. My friend Conor told me about a lovely man who was a pastor there, who needed help with his eye screening project. So I went out for two weeks and that changed my life completely. It brought me in a whole different direction. I loved Ghana - the people were full of love and everyone was so happy and it was just such a joyful spot. But there was severe poverty. One day the pastor called me and said there was a village in a very bad way. In Ghana, in these villages, there's a chief and a queen mother. You always have to ask permission from them to do anything in their village out of respect. So the chief and the queen mother met us and they were telling us that there are loads of children and they had no school. As the days went on, it became clear that I was going to have to do something. So I went back to the chief and I said there's a lot of work to do. But we will do something for you. I went to the people that actually would be able to tell me how much it would cost to build the school and they said probably about 20,000. I came home and I remember saying to my Mam, I actually really want to go back and build these people a school. And she was saying where will you get that money? I said, I don't know but I really feel it's going to happen. So I just started fundraising and it happened. Angelina: So what came next? Aisling: I had my flight booked and said I'd go for around five months. So I went out and we sat down and we met the chief. I said we would build a six-classroom school with a principal's office. And that was what we went about doing. It was a long journey and everything runs so differently there to here but we got it done. All in all, it took about five and a half months. I handed the school over to the government. They provided uniforms and they did tell me that they would do a food programme for the children. I'm still chasing that up. But it's doing what it's meant to do. I got a call from the principal to ask if I could go back and build more classrooms. I actually did go back and when I got there, they had the foundation dug for another school. They saw me coming! Anyway, I managed to build that. So now there are two schools out there now. I met with the principal and I said what would you like to call it? He said everyone has a soul, and everyone is full of light. So it became Soul Light School. I've kind of closed that chapter now. Angelina: Aisling, you've been honoured a number of times for your work. Aisling: I never did it for that reason but it was lovely to receive the recognition. The first one was when a lovely friend of mine, Stephen, put me up for Mooney's Magic Moments. And then in 2012, I got the JCI - Junior Chamber Ireland award. I was picked in Mayo the category was Humanitarian and Voluntary Leadership. Then I heard I had won an Irish Award and then they were saying there are ten people picked from all over the world. So I got to Taiwan in 2012 with Junior Chamber Ireland. Then I came home and I received Mayo Person of the Year award. But the last one, I have to say was just so lovely and so unexpected. Only recently, I was presented with the Mayo Diaspora Award. They have a strong hold in my heart because they are fabulous. The Emigrants Society, they are so good. Over the years, they've brought so many people who are homeless over from England, treated them to the best time. It's so heartfelt. They give me an International Humanitarian Award. Angelina: What is it like to settle here after all that work abroad? Aisling: I really enjoyed it, but it's hard coming home from those projects. I'm three years married and everything has changed and everything is fabulous, and he's a wonderful man. We're living in Cong. I'm settled and I don't feel that draw anymore, even though it's fabulous work. And I could do two weeks somewhere again if I wanted. The art of fundraising is hard, and it's getting harder and harder. Over the years, I have been blessed to be able to fundraise and thank the people of Mayo for their generosity. One thing I will say is that I self-funded every single trip. My food, my accommodation, my flights were my responsibility, and I was able to just get some agency work beforehand or whatever and get all that sorted. Every penny went to the various projects. Angelina: What would you say to someone who has that draw to do work like you did? Aisling: I would say do it. If you're drawn to do it, it's your path. It certainly was my path, and I wouldn't change one thing. There's no greater joy than seeing joy in others. The Dalai Lama spoke about the true meaning of life - we are visitors on this planet. We're here for 90 to 100 years at the very most. During that time, we must try to do something useful with our lives. If we contribute to other people's happiness, we find the true goal, the true meaning of life. And that is what I've always stood by. And all these awards are lovely, but it was about seeing the joy in someone that wouldn't normally have it. (Reuters) -Alaska Airlines said on Friday it has returned to Boeing the 737 MAX 9 plane that in January was involved in a mid-air door panel blowout. "They have taken possession of it and the registration has been changed," an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said, adding an order for a new 737-10 has also been placed. Boeing has informed its suppliers there will be a delay in a key production milestone for its 737 jet family by three months, sources told Reuters' earlier this month. U.S. investigators on Thursday sanctioned Boeing for revealing details of a probe into the blowout and said they would refer its conduct to the Justice Department, prompting the planemaker to issue an apology. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler and Chris Reese) 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. Auto-Enrolment Pensions Pension auto-enrolment rules were introduced by the Government in 2012 to get more people saving for their retirement through a workplace pension. It means that eligible workers are now automatically enrolled into a workplace pension scheme, with employees and employers paying a combined minimum contribution of 8pc. Previously, it was up to workers to decide whether they wanted to join their employers pension scheme. The aim is that more people will start saving for their retirement at a younger age, giving them a larger income in their twilight years. Telegraph Money explains how auto-enrolment pensions work, the eligibility criteria and whats involved in the enrolment process. What are auto-enrolment pensions? Auto-enrolment pensions refer to the workplace pension scheme that UK employers are legally required to set up. Employers must automatically enrol their eligible workers into their workplace pension scheme, and make their own contributions on top. Auto-enrolment pensions are usually defined contribution pensions. This means the amount you receive in retirement depends on how much you and your employer have contributed to your pension pot, and how well the investments have performed. How do they work? When you start a new job, your employer will automatically enrol you into its workplace pension scheme if you meet the eligibility criteria (more on that below). Both you and your employer will need to pay in a percentage of your salary each month. Youll only pay on the proportion of your annual earnings over 6,240. The minimum contribution is set at 8pc, which is usually split as your employer paying 3pc, while you pay 5pc. However, your employer may choose to pay more than this, and you can also increase your own contribution. Your pension contribution will automatically be deducted from your salary, so you wont need to make any transfers to deposit the money into your pension. A bonus is that youll get tax relief on what you pay in, boosting your pot further. If youre a basic-rate taxpayer, youll get 20pc tax relief. This means that to make a 100 contribution, youd only need to pay in 80 and the Government would make up the remaining 20. If youre a higher-rate taxpayer, youll get 40pc tax relief and for additional-rate taxpayers, its 45pc. However, youll need to claim the extra tax relief above the standard 20pc by either submitting a self-assessment tax return, or in some cases you may be able to call or write to HM Revenue & Customs to make the claim. Story continues Whats the eligibility criteria? You must be automatically enrolled into your workplace pension scheme if you work full or part-time and you: Work in the UK Arent already in a suitable workplace pension scheme Are at least 22 years old and under state pension age (currently 66 for men and women, but rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028) Earn more than 10,000 a year for the 2024-25 tax year If you meet these conditions and are on a short-term contract or maternity, adoption or carers leave, youll still be eligible. Anyone earning less than 10,000 but more than 6,240 for the 2024-25 tax year doesnt need to be enrolled into a scheme, but you can ask to join. You wont be enrolled into a pension scheme if youre self-employed. If you dont want to pay into a workplace pension, you can also opt out of auto-enrolment at any time. What contributions do you and your employer make? As a minimum, the contribution from you and your employer must add up to 8pc of your pre-tax salary. Of this, at least 3pc must be from your employer, so you will need to pay a minimum of 5pc. However, many employers will pay higher contributions, which means your minimum contribution could be less. For example, if your employer pays in 5pc, you will only need to pay in 3pc. But its a good idea to pay in as much as you can, as many experts suggest that 8pc pension contributions are unlikely to leave retirees with enough money to fund a comfortable retirement. The minimum contribution applies to anything you earn over 6,240 and up to 50,270 for the 2024 to 2025 tax year. These are your qualifying earnings. If you were earning 25,000, your minimum contribution would be based on 18,760 (50,270-6,240). That means at least 1,501 would be paid into your pension (18,760 x 8pc). The more you pay into your pension pot and the younger you start, the longer your money has to grow and the more you will have to live off in retirement. Enrolment process for employees Your employer must enrol you into a pension scheme on your first day of employment, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. Your employer must also inform you of how auto-enrolment works and what your choices are. Once enrolled, both you and your employer will start making contributions. Make sure youre clear on your employers pension scheme and the contribution theyll make while some employers will stick to the minimum 3pc contributions, some will be much more generous, and may opt to match your own contributions up to a certain amount. Making the most of perks like this could unlock a way to easily double your contributions. If you would prefer to opt out of auto-enrolment, you will need to get an opt-out form from your pension provider. Your employer will be able to give you the details. You must then return this form to your employer, not the pension provider. You can opt out at any time. But your payments will only be refunded in full if you opt out within the first month. After this, payments youve made will stay in your pension pot until retirement. You can access your pension from age 55, rising to 57 in 2028. If you are thinking about opting out, its worth considering the impact this will have on your retirement savings; stopping payments even for a short time could mean missing out on thousands in your pension savings. Enrolment process for employers If you run a business and are hiring employees, youll need to choose and set up a workplace pension scheme. This is even the case if you hire a nanny, as you become their employer. You can get help on The Pensions Regulators website or speak to an independent financial adviser or your accountant. Your next step is to assess employees to see if they are eligible for the scheme. You will need to work out how much each employee earns and how old they are, so you can work out the cost of contributions. Employers are required to inform their workers about auto-enrolment before they start enrolling them. In some cases, auto-enrolment can be postponed for up to three months for some or all of your workers. This can be beneficial for employers with temporary staff who will be leaving within three months or those who need longer to set up a pension scheme. But staff must be informed of this postponement. Employer compliance Once an employer has set up a workplace pension scheme and enrolled eligible staff, they are required to assess non-eligible employees each pay period. As soon as a non-eligible employee qualifies, they must be automatically enrolled into the workplace pension scheme. Employers must also check that pension contributions are paid each pay period. Any requests from employees to join the scheme must be dealt with within one month of receiving the request. Additionally, employers are required to inform The Pensions Regulator (TPR) that theyve met their auto-enrolment duties and declare their compliance online here. Every three years, an employers workforce must be reassessed for re-enrolment and a declaration of compliance resubmitted. Any employees who previously opted out or left the scheme will be re-enrolled. Employers that dont meet these regulations could be fined. Benefits and options Auto-enrolment essentially gives you free money to help you boost your retirement income. But if youre struggling financially or already have a retirement plan in place, you might prefer to opt out at least, for now. Weigh up the pros and cons to help you decide. If youre looking for an alternative way to save for retirement, you could consider a lifetime Isa, a cash or stocks and share Isa, or a self-invested personal pension (Sipp). However, it can be worth speaking to an independent financial adviser to discuss your options first. 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. Beijing's changing behaviour towards Europe has compelled Berlin to re-evaluate its China policy, a top German diplomat said on Friday. Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Thomas Bagger, state secretary at the German foreign ministry, declared that Germany's stance towards Beijing has moved to a heightened rivalry, a response to Beijing's actions rather than pressure from Washington. "It's quite clear that the emphasis has shifted from a focus on partnership and cooperation to more competition," Bagger said as he acknowledged that decoupling from China would "hurt our economy tremendously". 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. Even so, Germany seeks to reduce its dependency vulnerabilities in areas like technology, critical minerals, even medical equipment, Bagger noted: "China's approach to us, to its neighbours, to the international arena has changed in a way that forces us to revisit our own China policy". Bagger reiterated that European officials don't agree with the US "on everything": "Our policy or China strategy or changing approach is a reaction to your policies, to your actions ... We're not America's poodle," he said. German State Secretary Thomas Bagger. Photo: Handout alt=German State Secretary Thomas Bagger. Photo: Handout> Nor does Europe regard China as a "geopolitical challenge" to its "primacy", he said. "Europeans don't look at ourselves as No 1." Last week, after a nine-month investigation into alleged unfair state subsidies, the European Union imposed new tariffs of up to 38 per cent on Chinese electric vehicles. The decision came a month after the US imposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese EVs. Beijing has retaliated by launching an inquiry into European pork products. And, fearing action against its own auto industry, which is heavily dependent on the Chinese market, Berlin has opposed EU tariffs. Negotiations between Beijing and Brussels are underway; the new taxes take effect on July 4. Yet Bagger warned that China's support for Russia in its war on Ukraine would have repercussions for its relationship with Berlin. "If and when China continues to violate Europe's core interest in security on the European continent, this will have an increasing cost on China," he said. Story continues "That cannot be compartmentalised," he added. "If you continue to support Russia's war effort against Ukraine, that will have consequences also for our bilateral and European-Chinese relationship." An apartment building hit by a Russian air strike in Toretsk in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Friday. Photo: AP alt=An apartment building hit by a Russian air strike in Toretsk in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Friday. Photo: AP> Led by the US, Western nations contend that, despite their sanctions, Russia is meeting nearly 90 per cent of its semiconductor needs for tanks, missiles and aircraft through dual-use imports from China. Bagger was visiting Washington ahead of the Nato summit here, scheduled for July 9-11, when the transatlantic alliance's 32 members are expected to pass a US$107 billion multi-year aid package for Ukraine. The issue of the war is far from settled in Washington. Donald Trump, the former US president and presumptive Republican nominee for the presidential election in November, vowed to withdraw US military aid to Ukraine during his debate on Thursday evening with President Joe Biden. Last week, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that more than 20 Nato countries will have met the alliance's target of raising their military budgets to at least 2 per cent of their GDP this year. Asked how Europe, in particular Germany, was preparing for a potential Trump return to the White House, Bagger said that every European capital was carefully monitoring the US elections and that a "reflection process" was going on "behind closed doors". Bagger acknowledged that the EU had a tough time working with Trump, but said that some of those issues were not "as relevant anymore" because Europe had "re-examined" its "own assumptions". "Russian gas is one of them, Iran in some ways is another one, I think our 2 per cent is a third one," he said. "I think what would remain is certainly, you know, very different opinions on trade issues and a number of economic issues," he added. 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. You could have made a ton of money over the years by following Warren Buffett's stock picks. He invested early in many iconic companies, including American Express and Coca-Cola. But he also has shown an ability to profit from already massive companies, like his more recent investment in Apple. What are Buffett's best ideas right now? Three stocks in particular stick out. This could be the next superstar Buffett stock Quite often, companies that operate outside the U.S. fall under the radar, even if those companies are listed on U.S. stock exchanges, are run by American founders, and backed by American investors. Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU) is a primary example. This fintech company has a $60 billion market value and more than 100 million users, yet most Americans have never heard of it. That's because it operates exclusively in Latin America, which boasts more than 650 million residents. If you want to invest in a company with decades of growth ahead of it, Nu is for you. The company got its start in 2013 after co-founder David Velez, then a member of Sequoia Capital's investment team, recognized a giant opportunity in Latin America's banking sector. For years, the region's banking sector was dominated by a handful of powerful incumbents charging customers high fees for simple services. Nu's strategy was simple: Bypass the existing financial system by offering low-cost financial services directly through a smartphone. In 2014, the company had essentially zero customers. Today, it has more than 100 million, including more than half of all Brazilian adults. Sales continue to grow by double digits every year, and there's very little competition forming to slow Nu's advance. In recent years, it entered the Colombian and Mexican markets, with hundreds of millions of additional Latin Americans remaining as potential customers. According to Berkshire Hathaway's recent filings, Buffett's holding company currently owns roughly 107 million shares worth around $1.3 billion. Buffett has owned the stock since the company's initial public offering (IPO) in 2021. So far, he hasn't sold a single share. Putting $10,000 to work by purchasing Nu stock is a fantastic way to follow this Buffett stock with decades of growth ahead. Bet on these terrific businesses What should you do with your remaining $20,000? Consider splitting it evenly between Visa (NYSE: V) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) stocks. These two companies have been some of Buffett's best investments this century, and it's not hard to see why. Story continues Visa and Mastercard are, of course, competitors. But it's not that simple. In combination, these two companies control 86.5% of the U.S. credit and debit card market. Just two companies round out the rest of the market. This extreme market consolidation makes sense. The payment industry is all about networks. Merchants need to accept what customers can pay with, and customers need to pay with something merchants can accept. The result is natural industry consolidation. Both Visa and Mastercard are considered "asset light" businesses because most of their business is software, which is infinitely scalable at very low cost. This typically results in higher profit margins as the business expands. This is exactly what we've seen. Since 2010, Visa and Mastercard's profit margins have gone from roughly 30% to 35% to between 45% and 55%. In a nutshell, this is a type of business that only gets stronger over time. The best option is likely to split an investment into both. That way, you'll diversify your investment away from the actions of a single company, betting instead on the industry's natural dynamics over the long term. That's exactly what Buffett has done. According to the latest filings, Berkshire Hathaway currently owns $2.3 billion of Visa stock and $1.9 billion in Mastercard shares. Don't have $30,000? No problem. Try starting with $3,000. Even $300 will do. The main goal should be getting your money to work in high-quality businesses like this. Then, like Buffett often does, you can add to your stakes over time. Should you invest $1,000 in Nu Holdings right now? Before you buy stock in Nu Holdings, 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 Nu Holdings 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 $757,001!* 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 American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Nu Holdings and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $370 calls on Mastercard and short January 2025 $380 calls on Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Best Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy With $30,000 Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool By Allison Lampert SEATTLE (Reuters) -Boeing's financial and production challenges following a January mid-air panel blowout will not change its workers' readiness to strike to make gains in bargaining, a union local president said on Thursday. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represents more than 30,000 Washington state workers building Boeing jets, wants better retirement benefits and wage increases exceeding 40% over three to four years after what it termed years of stagnant earnings. "We are going to maximize this opportunity no matter what," Jon Holden, president of the IAM's District 751 representing the Seattle-area workers, said in an interview with Reuters. "Our members want an agreement, they want a good agreement but they are willing to strike if they have to." IAM workers are scheduled to vote for a strike authorization mandate on July 17, but they cannot strike before the contract expires on Sept. 12. Boeing did not respond to a request for comment on the union's potential strike plans. The planemaker is trying to manage a sprawling crisis that erupted after a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet on Jan. 5. Boeing's chief financial officer said last month the company would burn rather than generate cash in 2024 and deliveries would not increase in the second quarter. Workers held a noisy rally on Tuesday at Boeing's Renton plant outside Seattle, coinciding with a media visit to showcase quality improvements at the factory. Holden said the IAM's talks with Boeing have not resolved any significant points yet and the planemaker has pushed back on union demands for higher wages and to gain a seat on the company's board of directors. "They're not open to it at this point," he said of the board seat. "But it's important for us to continue to push because it is about ensuring that those at the highest level of this company understand that they are missing the voice of workers." U.S. investigators on Thursday sanctioned the planemaker for revealing details of a probe into the panel blowout incident at the media event, prompting Boeing to apologize. Holden said he was not aware of changes at the Renton factory described by Boeing to reporters and had not yet seen the planemaker's 90-day plan to improve quality that has been submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration. He said he expected to get a copy of the plan and had held earlier discussions with Boeing as it was being developed. Story continues "I don't see a difference," Holden said of factory changes. "I haven't seen the 90-day plan yet. We're still trying to get a copy of it." Boeing said in a statement that it had hosted Holden in its factory multiple times to walk him through its safety and quality plan and to listen to his concerns and feedback. (Reporting by Allison Lampert in Seattle; Editing by Sandra Maler and Jamie Freed) Boots chief to step down after sale falls through The chief executive of Boots has quit Britains biggest pharmacy chain after its US owners shelved plans for a multibillion-pound sale for the second time. Sebastian James, who took over in 2018, will leave the company in November after owners Walgreens abandoned plans to sell or list the company on the stock market for the second time in two years. The Telegraph understands Mr James will remain in his post until November to help oversee the company through its planning for the Christmas trading period before departing to a new role at European eye clinic chain Veonet. Bootss encouraging performance has been an outlier for Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) who announced plans to close a large number of stores in the US this week and saw its share price fall to its lowest level since 1997. Like-for-like sales at Boots rose by 6pc during the quarter to the of May across its retail operation, the 13th consecutive quarter of market share growth. However, this was not enough to prevent Walgreens from slashing its profit forecast for the year which led to its share price tumbling by 25pc its biggest one-day fall since 1980. Last year the group announced plans to find cost savings of up to $1bn (790m) which includes a commitment to close around 650 Boots stores in Britain. It said 484 have already been shuttered as of February this year, leaving it with 1,900 in total. Walgreens had first attempted to offload Boots in 2022 but abandoned its plans after suitors failed to meet its asking price of 7bn. Mr James had previously promoted the retailers chances of listing in London. Prior to joining Boots, he spent four years at the helm of Dixons Carphone, the electronics retailer now known as Currys which was a publicly listed company. Last month the business leader dealt a major blow to Rishi Sunak by endorsing Sir Keir Starmer, despite his close connection with foreign secretary Lord Cameron and Boris Johnson. Mr James, who is the son of the 5th Baron Northbourne, attended Eton alongside the two former prime ministers and became particularly close to Lord Cameron while both members of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford University. In 2011 Lord Cameron is said to have holidayed with Mr James in the businessmans 10,000-a-week luxury 15-bedroom Italian villa, although his trip was cut short as the then prime minister had to fly home to deal with the London riots. In a pre-recorded message shared at a Labour rally event, Mr James endorsed Rachel Reevess plan to put more money in peoples pockets and praised Sir Keir for visiting a Boots store earlier in the year and pledging to look after our high street. 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. SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday signed into law a 20% tax on international purchases of up to $50, despite having previously criticized the measure. Lula signed the bill into law during a meeting of his Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development in Brasilia. The tax on online international low cost purchases was a request from Brazilian retailers who argue that they are being victims of unfair competition, mainly against Chinese e-commerce giants. In May, Lula had said he was willing to negotiate with lawmakers about taxing cross-border low cost purchases of up to 50 dollars, but he did not rule out the possibility of vetoing the measure. At the time, the president pointed out that the measure could impact people with lower income. The highly controversial tax was attached to a bill that creates the so-called Green Mobility and Innovation program (Mover). (Reporting by Eduardo Simoes; Writing by Luana Maria Benedito; Editing by Sandra Maler) 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 on Friday called on the international community to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence under the new circumstances and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity. Xi made the remarks when addressing the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing. Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over the conference. Senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi attended the conference. Around 600 people, including former foreign political figures, representatives of international and regional organizations, envoys from more than 100 countries, experts and scholars, and media and business representatives, attended the conference. A luncheon and four sub-forums were held on the same day. Becoming Basic Norms for International Relations Noting that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have transcended time and space and overcome estrangement over the past 70 years, Xi said they have become open, inclusive, and universally applicable basic norms for international relations and fundamental principles of international law. He said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence 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, and contributed historic wisdom to the reform and improvement of the international order. These principles were initiated with the purpose of protecting the interests and pursuits of small and weak countries from power politics, Xi said, adding that they categorically oppose imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism, and have laid an important intellectual foundation for a more just and equitable international order. 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] Having traversed an extraordinary journey of 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are a common asset of the international community to be valued, inherited and further promoted, he added. Former Myanmar President U Thein Sein said these principles have received widespread recognition from various countries and international organizations, and have been incorporated into many joint statements between countries. Gao Fei, vice president of China Foreign Affairs University, said these principles bear enduring importance in addressing international relations, maintaining global peace and stability, and promoting the development and progress of humanity. Sustaining, Upgrading the Five Principles Noting that the world today faced the historic question of "what kind of world to build and how to build it," Xi said China has answered the call of the times by proposing a community with a shared future for humanity, and the vision is the most effective move to sustain, promote and upgrade the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the new circumstances. Xi said the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity carries forward the same spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and both demonstrate the broad vision of the Communist Party of China to contribute more to humanity, and manifest China's firm resolve to follow the path of peaceful development. "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 humanity," Xi said. He 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. 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] The vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity reflects the broadest common aspiration of people worldwide for peace, development, and stability, and also embodies the most widely held consensus among nations, former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome said. It underscores China's commitment to contributing to global peace and prosperity, offering a strategic framework that resonates with the international community's goals and aspirations for a better future, he added. Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian president, said that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity provide a robust foundation for fostering mutual respect and development among nations, and contribute to addressing the common challenges faced by humanity. Contributing More to Global Peace, Development "We 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," Xi said. 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 humanity. 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. 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] To better support Global South cooperation, Xi announced eight initiatives covering such areas as personnel training, youth exchanges, economic development, free trade, agriculture, digital economy and green ecology. Under the initiatives, a Global South research center will be established, and 1,000 scholarships under the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Scholarship of Excellence and 100,000 training opportunities to Global South countries will be provided in the coming five years. These measures are expected to provide innovative solutions for global development and governance, and highlight the crucial role of developing nations in shaping a fairer and more equitable international system, Rousseff said. In today's world, both South-South cooperation and South-North cooperation are crucial for ushering in a new era of multilateralism based on mutual benefits, equality, and respect, said Dominique de Villepin, former French prime minister. Upholding the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence has significant practical importance in promoting cooperation among the Global South countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the luncheon that the eight initiatives demonstrated China's unwavering commitment to solidarity and shared destiny with the Global South, and reflected China's firm resolve to promote the development and revitalization of the Global South. China will actively collaborate with all parties to implement these initiatives to inject stronger impetus into the common development and unity of the Global South, Wang said. Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh; former Myanmar President U Thein Sein; former Brazilian President and President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff; former South African President Petrus Kgalema Mothlanthe; former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome; former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa; former Guyanan President Donald Ramotar; former Slovenian President Danilo Turk; former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic; Igor Dodon, president of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova, also former Moldovan president; former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama; former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema; former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin; former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Lee Hae-chan; former Prime Minister of Egypt Essam Sharaf; and former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Kubatbek Boronov attended the conference. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Lei Yang 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] (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Lei Yang Doctors accept Welsh Government pay offer ending ongoing dispute This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jun 29th, 2024 Junior and specialist doctors in Wales have accepted Welsh Government pay offers today, ending ongoing disputes. The British Medical Associations (BMA) consultants, junior doctors, and SAS (specialist, associate specialist, and specialty doctors) committees voted in favour of the pay deals, concluding three separate pay disputes affecting secondary care doctors. In a decisive vote, 96% of junior doctors voted to accept a 7.4% additional uplift, resulting in a total 12.4% pay increase for the 2023/24 financial year. This adjustment will be backdated to April 2023. Additionally, 86% of consultants approved a revised pay scale that enhances early career pay and increases career average pay, aimed at retaining senior doctors. Meanwhile, 82% of SAS members agreed to a pay increase ranging from 6.1% to 9.2%, along with an additional uplift for associate specialists on closed contracts. The acceptance of these offers officially resolves the ongoing pay disputes, which have been a focal point since April this year. The negotiations, prompted by sustained pressure from BMA Cymru Wales and involving three strikes by junior doctors and planned industrial action by senior doctors, have now borne fruit. Dr. Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr. Peter Fahey, co-chairs of the BMAs Welsh Junior Doctors Committee, stated, This pay deal and the emphatic vote by members to accept it shows how far we have come on our journey to fight for the future of our profession. For too long, junior doctors have been undervalued. We chose to stand up and be counted, refusing to accept further cuts to our pay. While we are pleased with the progress we have made, the fight for full pay restoration is far from over. Dr. Stephen Kelly, chair of BMA Cymru Wales Consultants Committee, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying, Were pleased to have been able to reach a fairer settlement for senior doctors in Wales. We hope this significant offer will help retain doctors currently working in Wales and attract more, ultimately benefiting patients. Dr. Ali Nazir, chair of BMA Cymru Wales SAS Doctors Committee, highlighted the overdue recognition for SAS doctors, noting, For far too long, the invaluable contribution of SAS doctors in Wales has been disregarded. Reaching a fairer deal for this experienced part of the workforce is very much welcomed. We will continue to fight for the rights of SAS doctors. In response, the Welsh Government confirmed the pay offers and expressed commitment to swiftly implementing the pay awards. We are pleased to confirm that the pay offers we made to consultants, SAS doctors, and junior doctors to end the strikes and settle the pay dispute in 2023-24 have been accepted, stated Vaughan Gething MS and Eluned Morgan MS, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. They also thanked the BMAs negotiating teams and NHS Wales Employers for their constructive talks. Sam Rowlands MS, the Shadow Minister for Health, criticised the Welsh Governments handling of the situation, stating, The Welsh Labour Government has acted shamefully throughout this episode. By only releasing the funds for a pay deal when it was politically advantageous, Labour caused the strikes that led to missed operations, extra pressure on our NHS, and undue stress on Wales consultants, SAS doctors, and junior doctors. Vital Farms expands to Indiana with second egg-washing facility Vital Farms in Springfield has announced the expansion of its supply chain with a second egg-washing facility in Seymour, Indiana. The 72-acre future site of Egg Central Station Seymour will follow the success of the brand's first facility in Springfield. The new plant is expected to create 150 jobs for the Seymour, Indiana, community in its first phase. It will also help generate more than $350 million in addition revenue for the company, pushing it closer to its 2027 target of $1 billion in company revenue. The 72-acre future home of Egg Central Station (ECS) Seymour follows the award-winning success of the brands first facility in Springfield, Missouri. The new facility enables Vital Farms to continue growing its pasture-raised egg business, create 150+ jobs for the Seymour community in its first phase, and will help generate over $350 million in additional revenue for the company, pushing Vital Farms closer to their 2027 target of $1 billion in company revenue. This is an exciting milestone for Vital Farms. We continue to invest in our robust and resilient supply chain to expand our network of family farmers and continue our mission to bring ethical food to the table, said Russell Diez-Canseco, president and CEO of Vital Farms. We are grateful for the outpouring of support weve received from the City of Seymour, Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation, and Indiana Economic Development Corporation. We look forward to deepening our relationship and building an even stronger connection to Southern Indiana and its surrounding communities in the years ahead. United Way of the Ozarks names Drury University president to board of directors Dr. Jeff Frederick started his roll as the 19th president of Drury University on June 1st. United Way of the Ozarks' board of directors has announced the selection of the organizations newest director, Dr. Jeff Frederick, Drury University president. Frederick's appointment is effective July 1, 2024 and his term runs through March 31, 2027. United Way of the Ozarks embodies the spirit of working together to make our communities better and serve our people, Frederick said. Im thrilled to join the board and, more importantly, to join the work of providing pathways out of poverty and championing children. Together, we can achieve more. According to Brandi VanAntwerp, president-elect at United Way of the Ozarks, UWO is excited to welcome Dr. Frederick to the community and organization. Springfield Symphony Orchestra announces auditions The Springfield Symphony Orchestra has announced auditions for the 2024-2025 performance season. String auditions will be held the evening of Monday, August 19, and woodwind auditions will be held the evening of Tuesday, August 20. Auditions are open for the following positions: Story continues Assistant Concertmaster Principal Cello Assistant Principal Viola Section Bass (2 position) Flute 3/Piccolo Bassoon 2 To receive an audition packet and reserve an audition time, send a one-page resume and a $30 refundable credit card deposit to operationsmanager@springfieldmosymphony.org no later than August 10. Deposits may be made by telephone to (417) 864-6683. For further questions, contact the Springfield Symphony Orchestra operations manager by email. Hamra Enterprises opens 24/7 Panera Bread at Boston Childrens Hospital Springfield-based Hamra Enterprises has opened a new Panera Bread bakery cafe in Boston Children's Hospital, the company's 19th Panera location in Massachusetts. The new Panera location, which opened Thursday, June 20, is in the main campus lobby of BCH and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is Hamra Enterprises' second 24/7 location in a hospital. Our bakery cafes have been embraced throughout New England over the past 23 years, and we look forward to providing healthy food options in a clean, warm, and welcoming environment 24 hours a day and seven days a week for all Boston Childrens Hospital physicians, nurses, staff, patients, and caregivers in support of the wonderful work being done at the hospital," said Mike Hamra, CEO of Hamra Enterprises. KPM announces four employee promotions, six new hires KPM CPAs & Advisors has announced the following promotions: Madison Moore , CPA to Manager. Moore has more than five years of experience and provides audit services to clients in the non-profit and governmental industries. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from College of the Ozarks. Sarah Lee , CPA to Supervisor. Lee provides tax services to clients in a variety of industries. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and a MAcc degree from Missouri State University. Ethan Whiteis to Senior. Whiteis has more than two years of experience and provides audit services to clients in the non-profit and governmental industries. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from College of the Ozarks and is pursuing CPA certification. Duke Johnson to Senior. Johnson has more than two years of experience and provides audit services to clients in a variety of industires. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Missouri State University. KPM has also announced six new hires: Colton Thomas has been hired as a staff accountant after perviously serving as an intern. He provides audit services to clients in a variety of industries. Thomas holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in accounting with an emphasis in taxation from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Destiny Louis has been hired as a staff accountant after previously serving as an intern. She provides audit services to clients in governmental, education, and non-profit industries. Louis holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Evangel University. Holly Lemon has been hired as a staff accountant after previously serving as an intern. She provides audit services to clients in governmental, education, and non-profit industries. Lemon holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Eli Fearn has been hired as a staff accountant after previously serving as an intern. Fearn provides tax services to clients in a variety of industries. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Drury University. Grace Percival has been hired as a staff accountant. She provides audit services to clients in a variety of industries. Percival holds bachelor's degree in accounting from Southwest Baptist University. Miguel Preciado has been hired as a staff accountant. He provides tax services to clients in a variety of industries. Preciado holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from College of the Ozarks. Springfield BDS director to take Oklahoma City job The City of Springfield's Building Development Services Director Brock Rowe is leaving to take a job as the Development Director in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Rowe has been with the city for three years and became director in 2022. City Manager Jason Gage said Rowe made a difference in his work to help address chronic nuisance properties and helping the city be more efficient. As I announce my resignation as the Director of Building Development Services for the City of Springfield, I want to express my deep appreciation for the time I have spent in this role. The dedication and hard work of our staff have been truly inspiring, and their efforts have significantly contributed to the growth and development of our community," Rowe said. A search for Rowe's replacement will begin later this month. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Vital Farms expands to Indiana; Drury president joins United Way board Candidates state top issue for Wrexham and their position on it General Election 2024 This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jun 29th, 2024 Candidates looking for your support have been invited to share their views on a range of issues. As part of our election coverage ahead of the poll on Thursday we asked all candidates a range of questions, with a theme based collection from all candidates below. You can also read individual answers to all the questions here on our Election 24 page, plus links to party manifesto, supplied bios for candidates and links to find out where exactly your polling station is! Question: What is the top issue you feel the people of Wrexham will want you to represent them on, and what is your position on it? The single top issue? Expectations are all wrong. The people of Wrexham, of Wales, and of the UK, should be entitled to expect a decent level of warmth, comfort, food, education, income, public service, and happiness. But, the system is not providing that level of expectation. The Green Party has a fully costed manifesto that shows how everyone yes everyone could be in a better and fairer place. The size of the problems are huge, and so The Green Party are proposing ambitious investments, paid for only by the super-rich, that will address all of those problems. Life for many right now is hard, through no fault of the individual. Society deserves to be more hopeful. Wrexham should be entitled to expect better. If, like me, you believe that the people of Wrexham are worthy of ambition then please let the incoming Government know, by voting for The Green Party. I think the state of the NHS is probably the number one issue that comes up on the doorstep. While health is devolved to the Welsh Government, we have suffered locally from a poorly managed health board coupled with inadequate funding. As Wrexhams MP, I would press for increased funding for the NHS across the UK while seeking to hold the Welsh Government to account for the poor management of the health board and press for rapid improvements to waiting times. Since January 2023 I have been visiting and listening to thousands of residents across the new Wrexham constituency to learn about their lives, aspirations, and concerns. Without doubt the top issue that they tell me about consistently has been the cost-of-living crisis stagnating wages and rising bills and the challenges that brings to their daily lives. The feeling that the UK economy is broken and does not work properly for everyone whilst public services have been stretched to breaking point is one that has been conveyed to me repeatedly and consistently for the past 18 months. When I ask people the question Are you, your family and your community better off after 14 years of Conservative government?, the answer is always No!. The key to tackling this is bringing the stability and growth to our economy so that we can then invest in our public services, our infrastructure and businesses will have more confidence to invest too creating the skilled jobs of the future. This will lead to greater productivity and improved pay. We need to fix our broken housing market so that having a home is truly affordable for everyone and that we provide the homes to buy and rent that people need. I will work both in Parliament and locally to ensure that this is brought about working to bring communities, businesses, the third sector and elected representatives together to deliver for the people of Wrexham. I feel the main issue for people are surrounding the NHS and social care: Lack of accessibility to GPs, long waiting lists, cancellations for treatments and excessive waits in A & E. Not to mention a lack of support once discharged that inevitably ends with repeated re-admissions. In my role as a county councillor I have advocated for people struggling with getting appointments and the care they need but this is merely fire fighting. The entire NHS here in Wales needs a complete overhaul. Plaid Cymrus plan is to hire, and train 500 GPs to ensure accessible appointments, an uplift in pay for NHS workers to encourage retention and a more integrated health and social care system meaning better care within our communities. Addressing the lack of community social care whether in your own home or in community hospitals frees up hospital beds and staff and that, in turn, releases ambulances from queuing outside the Maelor. More accessibility to GPs means fewer people going to A & E and fewer people needing hospital admissions. Although health is devolved under Labour here in Wales, there is also a massive issue with privatisation in England. Underfunding the NHS over the past 14 years is down to Westminster so we need an MP that will fight for fairer funding for Wales in order to make the changes needed. No response to our Q&A has been received. No response to this specific question. The economy, we need to stop waging war on poor people and wage a war on the causes of poverty. Nearly 8000 (7853) children in Wrexham are living in poverty, that equates to 26.7% of youngsters in the county. You can read more Q&A answers here on our Election 24 page along with more election information remember to GO VOTE ON THURSDAY! Note: Unlike some publications Wrexham.com does not accept any political advertising. Our election pages also should be devoid of any advertising. All candidate promotion on this site has been provided for free with the same offer to every candidate. Anyone who wishes to use our election coverage content (text, video or images) please feel free, all we ask is a link back to this site if it is used online, or an equivalent prominent credit if in print or other mediums. We would also request that you use it without misrepresenting the context of candidate answers. The top Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr issue and what your candidates think about it! This article is old - Published: Saturday, Jun 29th, 2024 Candidates looking for your support have been invited to share their views on a range of issues. As part of our election coverage ahead of the poll on Thursday we asked all candidates a range of questions, with a theme based collection from all candidates below. You can also read individual answers to all the questions here on our Election 24 page, plus links to party manifesto, supplied bios for candidates and links to find out where exactly your polling station is! Question: What is the top issue you feel the people of Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr will want you to represent them on, and what is your position on it? My top issue would be the NHS. The NHS is in crisis at the moment, ambulances queueing outside hospitals, enormous waiting lists, no access to NHS dentists. The Green Party is the only party that has the courage to say that the only solution is to put more money into the NHS, and this would be funded by a new tax on wealth that would only affect the very richest. I am sure that there are inefficiencies in the NHS, but if these were easy to solve this would have been done by the Conservatives in England, or the Labour administration in Wales, so while we would commit to trying to make the NHS more efficient, but we cannot rely on finding cash this way to solve the present problems. So the simple decision is either we leave the NHS in its present state of collapse, or we invest more in the NHS and raise a bit more tax to do this. Nobody likes tax, but if that is what it takes to make the NHS fit for purpose again that is what we must do. The immediate priorities are to bring down waiting lists, to make it easier to get a GP appointment, and to make it easier to access a NHS dentist. The NHS is a devolved issue so the most that Westminster can do for the NHS in Wales is by the release of additional funds. It is up to Welsh Government how this is spent. From my conversations on the doorstep, healthcare is definitely the number one priority across the constituency. Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are rather unique because a large majority of our residents will access healthcare on both the Welsh and English side of the border through GPs and hospitals such as Wrexham, Shrewsbury & Telford and Aberystwyth, and further afield for specialist care. In this sense, we sometimes unfortunately get the worst of all worlds with both the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay and the Conservative Government in Westminster letting us down. Ambulances are often left queuing for hours and its really difficult to get a GP or NHS dentist appointment. The Liberal Democrats big focus when it comes to fixing this is on social care. Despite the fact we are the only party focusing on it, its a huge problem. Our A&E departments are overwhelmed for two reasons: first people cannot access primary care (GPs) so end up deteriorating until they need to go to hospital and then secondly, social care is in crisis so people cannot be discharged from A&E into the community meaning beds become blocked. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to make social care free at the point of need for all who need it, funded by reversing the Conservatives tax cuts for big banks. We will also raise the minimum wage for social care workers to 2 above the standard minimum wage, recognising there is a recruitment crisis and we need to value the role more as a society. Our constituency has a large ageing population and social care forms a huge amount of what local council budgets are being spent on so this really would be my top priority if I am elected. The Cost-of-Living Crisis whilst not the only thing coming up on the doorstep, it is by far the most prominent. It will be my highest priority along with supporting Labours Green New Deal if I am elected. Im fed up with working people being told that they will be irresponsible asking for a pay rise whilst big corporations (including food retailers) post record profits and pay record dividends. They are profiting from our misery and it must stop! The same can be said for Utilities and Energy companies who make excess profits whilst people must make decisions between paying for food and heating! The creation of Labours new publicly owned Great British Energy will invest in cheaper renewable energy and share the gains with us all helping to reduce bills whilst addressing the climate emergency. At the same time, the new deal for working people should eliminate zero hours contracts and address low pay a vital step in improving working peoples cost of living! The NHS is the main issue and there are a number of aspects to it. That is why i have been active in the campaign to secure the future of the Air Ambulance and arguing for a extra RRV Rapid Response Vehicle based at Wrecsam. Also helping a mental health charity for young people and on a personal level im well aware of the challenges facing many with MS. What is particularly concerning is the research by leading health think tank Nuffield Trust this week, that has indicated the policies of Keir Starmers party outlined in Labours manifesto would leave the UK Government struggling to pay existing staff costs, let alone planned increases in the NHS long-term workforce plan agreed last year. The Nuffield Trust said that the manifestos imply increases [in annual funding for the NHS] between 2024-25 and 2028-29 of 0.9% [a year] for the Conservatives and 1.1% for Labour. Both Conservative and Labour proposals would represent a lower level of funding increase than the period of austerity between 2010-11 and 2014-15. That would be a disaster. That is why we would: Focus on recruiting 500 GPs Support the Infected Blood Scandal report and its actions Support a new dental school at Bangor to increase number dentists Support reform of the Mental Health Act Id press for much needed investment at Wrecsam Maelor hospital and secure the Wales Air Ambulance base at Welshpool to serve the rural communities and have a new RRV at Wrexham There are so many issues for our region it is hard to choose just one. However, I would say that the regions backward infrastructure is the main priority for me. Our roads and railways are beyond appalling. I am committed to ensuring Mid-Wales benefits from a trunk road connection to England, just as North Wales and South Wales have had for decades, and electrification of the railway from Wolverhampton to Aberystwyth and Chester. This would improve connectivity and thus transform the areas economy and living standards, as well as help with the access to specialist healthcare issues (because residents would be able to reach these faster than they can now). No response to our Q&A has been received. You can read more Q&A answers here on our Election 24 page along with more election information remember to GO VOTE ON THURSDAY! Note: Unlike some publications Wrexham.com does not accept any political advertising. Our election pages also should be devoid of any advertising. All candidate promotion on this site has been provided for free with the same offer to every candidate. Anyone who wishes to use our election coverage content (text, video or images) please feel free, all we ask is a link back to this site if it is used online, or an equivalent prominent credit if in print or other mediums. We would also request that you use it without misrepresenting the context of candidate answers. Germanys biggest industrial trade union, IG Metall, has agreed with the supervisory board and executive of Thyssenkrupp to cut several thousand jobs in the companys steel sector. Thyssenkrupp spokespersons had already announced the job cuts along with the engagement of the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in Thyssenkrupps Stahl AG at the end of April. At that time, IG Metall had taken to the barricades, assembling several thousand steelworkers from various factories in front of the ThyssenKrupp steel headquarters in the north of Duisburg and the head office in Essen to listen to the bluster from the works councils and IG Metall. Protest in front of the ThyssenKrupp headquarters in Duisburg The protest, however, had nothing to do with the planned destruction of the livelihoods of thousands of steelworkers and their families. It was aimed at preserving the lucrative posts of the union bureaucrats in the joint venture that will be created when Kretinskys EP Corporate Group (EPCG) takes over 50 percent of ThyssenKrupps steel shares. The bureaucrats feared the new company could situate its headquarters outside Germany and that the legally regulated corrupt system in Germany known as coal and steel co-determination would therefore no longer apply. Now an illustrious circle has assured the Thyssenkrupp-IG Metall apparatus that its income and privileges will remain secure. Thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel Lopez, Steel CEO Bernhard Osburg, the billionaire Kretinsky and the HR directorsOliver Burkhard of the entire Group and Markus Grolms of the Steel Group (both former IGM officials)have signed a three-page declaration, made available to the local WAZ (Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung) newspaper. It emphasises one sentence: Transfer of the current co-determination regulations of Thyssenkrupp AG to the new parent company. This was the sole concern of the IGM apparatchiks. The works councils and union supervisory boards receive large salaries of up to six-figures per year. The job becomes really lucrative for them when they take over the chair of personnel director. Many functionaries can then become millionaires in no time at all. Markus Grolms and Oliver Burkhard are just two examples. Thats why the IGM functionaries and works councillors fight passionately when it comes to their own interests. The workers are merely a means of exerting pressure in their dispute with the companys management. They are literally being led by the nose. On Friday morning last week, for example, the trade union and works council had employees protest with whistles, drums and red IGM flags in front of Villa Hugel, the headquarters of the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation. With a stake of around 21 percent, the foundation is the largest single shareholder in Thyssenkrupp. Its chairwoman of the Board of Trustees, Ursula Gather, had backed the reorganisation plans of CEO Lopez. The chairman of the General Works Council, Tekin Nasikkol, referred to the historic responsibility of the Krupp Foundation towards the steel workforce in front of the Krupp Villa. Its serious, said Nasikkol, looking at the worried and angry faces of the workers. Thats why the foundation should not desert us now. The head of the works council remained silent about the approval of the job cuts. He left it to the chairman of the supervisory board of the entire group, former Social Democratic Party (SPD) chairman and vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, and the deputy chairman of the supervisory board of the steel division, former IGM boss Detlef Wetzel, to announce the agreement. While Nasikkol was talking big in front of Villa Hugel, Gabriel and Wetzel were chatting with the WAZ newspaper not far away about the agreement that seals the job cuts. Gabriel and Wetzel had been instructed by the Thyssenkrupp Steel supervisory board to set out the principles of co-operation between Thyssenkrupp AG, Thyssenkrupp Steel and Kretinskys EPCG as laid down in the paper that has now been signed. Co-determination is retained and at the same time the downsizing demanded by Lopez is agreed to. As always, this is justified with reference to the exclusion of compulsory redundancies. Wetzel told the WAZ: The fact that we can rule out compulsory redundancies at Thyssenkrupp Steel as part of the restructuring is an important step. However, it is also foreseeable that many people in the company will still have to play their part. In fact, half of all jobs in the German steel industry have been destroyed since reunification in 1990, a total of 90,000 jobs. Not one steel worker has been made redundant for operational reasons. The renunciation of compulsory redundancies is the modus operandi with which the trade union apparatuses wipe out jobs in a spirit of social partnership. They use numerous other ways to drive workers out of the company. In the coming weeks and months, IG Metall, the General Works Council under Nasikkol and the Steel Works Council under Ali Guzel will push through the massive job cuts. They will have a regulated exchange via an accompanying commission agreed in the paper for the entire duration of the preparation and realisation of the planned restructuring and will be comprehensively involved in the redundancies. At Thyssenkrupp Stahl alone, with its 27,000 employees, up to 5,000 jobs are said to be on the line, although Thyssenkrupp and IG Metall are not disclosing exact figures. The fate of Huttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) in the south of Duisburg is unclear. Thyssenkrupp holds a 50 percent stake in the smelter, which still employs around 3,000 people. Other shareholders are the steel group Salzgitter from Lower Saxony (30 percent) and the French tube manufacturer Vallourec (20 percent). Vallourec has now withdrawn completely from Germany and last year closed its two tube plants (formerly Mannesmann) in Dusseldorf and Mulheim/Ruhr, which once employed 2,000 people. Thyssenkrupp has not yet commented on its plans for HKM. Around 90,000 remain employed in the steel industry in Germany. The global growth of wars and trade wars is driving competition for raw materials, energy and sales markets dangerously high. This is putting the steel industry in Germany and throughout Europe under considerable pressure. In the Czech Republic, the insolvency of the countrys largest steelworks was confirmed by the courts last week. The Liberty Ostrava plant belongs to Liberty Steel, which in turn is part of the GFG Group owned by British-Indian billionaire Sanjeev Gupta. GFG acquired the plant from Luxembourg-based Arcelor Mittal in 2019. With more than 5,000 employees, it is one of the most important employers in the region. In Italy, Arcelor Mittal ditched the insolvent steelworks in Taranto, one of the largest in Europe, four months ago. Acciaierie dItalia (ADI)the Italian steel company formerly known as Ilvawas only acquired by Arcelor Mittal in 2018. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has now placed it under state supervision and 8,000 employees fear for their jobs. In this situation, steelworkers must not allow themselves to be chained to the companies and the federal government by IG Metall. They are in the process of sacrificing their livelihoods to the ruling elites war plans. Immediately after the start of the war in Ukraine, IG Metall Baden-Wurttemberg issued a joint statement with the Sudwestmetall employers association in support of the NATO proxy war against Russia and announced: These measures will demand sacrifices from all of us. Last year, the IGM also took part in the concerted action convened by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss how the billions involved could be passed on to the working class. Together with the defence industry, the union is calling for the build-up of the countrys war and weapons industry. Oliver Burkhard, a former trade union official, is head of one of Germanys largest defence companies, namely Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). At Thyssenkrupp, this cabal of works councillors, IGM officials, supervisory board members and personnel board members now wants to augur in the next round of cutbacks. Steel workers at Thyssenkrupp, HKM, Salzgitter, Arcelor Mittal, Georgsmarienhutte and other companies are confronted with this common front and are being called upon to pay for the war policy with their jobs. This must not be allowed to happen. The fight against job cuts must be combined with the fight against war. This is only possible against IG Metall, not with it. It is therefore necessary to set up non-union action committees in all companies at all locations. These must network with each other and organise the strugglein Germany, Europe and internationally. We call on all employees of Thyssenkrupp and the other steel companies to get in touch with us. Write a WhatsApp message to mobile number +491633378340 or register directly using the form below. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Asia South Korea: Hyundai Motor workers vote to strike over failed wage talks On Monday, almost 90 percent of the 43,000 union members at Hyundai Motors Ulsan plant, 300 kilometres south of Seoul, voted in favour of taking strike action following the collapse of negotiations for wage increases and extension of the retirement age. The union called off negotiations after failing to reach agreement in eight rounds of negotiations. If the strike proceeds it will be the first in six years. The union wants a minimum basic monthly pay increase of 159,800 won ($115.14) and performance pay equating to 30 percent of Hyundais 2023 net profit. It is also demanding an increase in the retirement age to 64, up from 60, as South Korea's rising life expectancy and inadequate retirement pension payments prompt demands to be able to work for longer. Hyundai has offered a basic monthly salary increase of 101,000 won ($US73.5) and an additional bonus package, which includes an incentive of 350 percent of an individual's monthly salary, as well as the issuance of 20 shares of company stock. India: Punjab Roadways bus drivers and conductors strike over unpaid wages Around 230 contract workers from Punjab Roadways held a one-day strike on June 19 in Ludhiana. A Punjab Roadways Punbus Contract Union representative said drivers and conductors had not been paid for the past month. He said the state government had not released their wages despite repeated requests and forcing workers to resort to a strike. Around 114 buses were parked in the depot because of the walkout. Punjab water and sanitation workers protest privatisation Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Contract Workers Union members met in Mohali on June 23 to protest the planned privatisation of water and sanitation services and the rural water supply board. The outsourced workers, who have been employed at the board for 15 to 20 years, would be terminated. They demanded a stop to privatisation and for permanent jobs. Punjab social health workers protest in Ludhiana In response to the cancellation of incentives, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers protested in Ludhiana on June 26 threatening strike action on July 7 if their demands were not met. They want restoration of incentives worth 1,500 rupees ($US17.95), the honorarium raised by 100 percent, increase in the retirement age from 58 to 65 years and a monthly pension of 10,000 rupees after retirement. The action followed a similar protest in Tarn Taran district last week by ASHA workers with the same demands. Pakistan: Punjab hospital medics remain on strike over false arrest of colleagues Doctors and nurses at Punjab government hospitals are maintaining their strike begun on June 14. They are protesting the arrest of senior medics at the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, in Sahiwal, and suspension of nurses at the Khanawal District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. Nurses at the DHQ stopped work to protest the arrest of a colleague, Apsa Afaq, who has been accused of negligence for the alleged reaction of antibiotics which caused the death of three children at the facility. The Khanewal Young Doctors` Association (YDA) blamed poor medicines for the childrens deaths and demanded immediate release of the arrested nurse. A fire broke out in the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital due to an electrical fault causing the death of 11 children. YDA and major associations and societies of the medical fraternity, including the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), called for strike action. The PMA Lahore president said, It has been established that the fire [in Sahiwal hospital] broke out due to faulty wiring, hanging wires and poor-quality air-conditioning [system] and it was all part of the revamping spectacle. Doctors and paramedics spoke about the death of children due to the antibiotic injection and accused the government of supplying the medicine to the hospital that is responsible for the deaths. PMA leaders demanded a judicial inquiry into the Sahiwal and Khanewal incidents and release of all arrested hospital medics. Thousands of Sri Lankan public sector workers continue strike action More than 13,000 public sector university non-academic workers remain on strike after 50 days of industrial action and a sit-down protest outside the University of Peradeniya and other universities. The workers are protesting a 15 percent salary cut imposed on non-academic employees, salary anomalies and non-receipt of allowances, among other issues. Hundreds of public sector workers across Sri Lanka held sick leave strikes on Monday and Tuesday over long outstanding demands. Western Province workers struck on Monday and were joined on Tuesday by workers from Kandy District of Central Province, North Central Province and North-Western Province. Non-academic workers struck on Wednesday to demand a national policy for non-academic service in education. The strikers have accused the government of dividing education workers by integrating some into the government service and placing others in non-integrated services, such as provincial and national schools. School development officers are also on strike and protesting outside Colombos Fort Railway Station. They want absorption into the teaching profession with immediate effect and complain that they have been employed on lower wages than those in the teaching profession for four years. Government executive officers held a national sick leave strike on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those participating include accountants, state engineers, agricultural and local revenue officers and 18 other government services. They demonstrated outside the ministry of finance in Colombo carrying a banner that called for economic justice. Nepal: Federal parliament workers strike for overtime payments Workers employed at the federal parliament in Nepal are refusing to work longer than seven hours a day without being paid overtime. According to the Employee Union of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, the government is refusing their request after many approaches. The industrial action prevented the government from passing the federal budget on Sunday evening and other parliamentary functions have been disrupted or cancelled. Australia Quantem bulk fuel supply workers at Australian ports strike for pay rise United Workers Union (UWU) members from bulk fuel supplier Quantem held one-hour work stoppages and imposed indefinite overtime bans at four ports around Australia in their dispute for a pay increase. Stoppages were held at Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Workers want Quantems proposed new enterprise agreement to include a cost-of-living pay rise, wage parity at all ports and maintenance of existing conditions. UWU claimed that Quantem is not only refusing fair pay rises, but is trying to decrease some workers take-home pay by more than $20,000 a year. The workers are highly specialised and do extremely dangerous work providing critical fuel for aviation and general transport from 12 storage sites in Australia and New Zealand. Callide power station workers in Queensland begin industrial action About 60 members of the Mining and Energy Union from the Callide Power Station, 400km north of Brisbane, began protected industrial action on Thursday as negotiations for a new enterprise agreement have dragged out. The power station, which is slated to close in 2027, is state-owned and managed by CS Energy. Workers want guarantees from CS Energy and the state Labor government that they will be able to operate the power station safely to closure and fulfil their obligations to provide fair redundancy and training to transition their workers. Industrial action could include work stoppages, bans on overtime and on the use of technology and devices in relation to work. Union shuts down Air Liquide strike after accepting pay deal Fifteen members of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) employed by Air Liquide in Victoria have been taking 24-hour stoppages and holding protests in front of the companys headquarters in Melbourne since June 20 demanding $18,000 in back pay and better conditions. The workers previous agreement expired in February. Their last pay rise in March 2023 was only 3 percent, an effective pay cut compared to the consumer price index inflation rate at the time of 7 percent. On Thursday, the union announced it had accepted the companys latest pay offer, claiming the offer included back pay, a $9,750 wage increase over three years, enhanced leave provision, improved overtime conditions and voluntary redundancies options. The workers are yet to vote to accept the deal. Air Liquide operates in 75 countries, employing 67,800 workers. Last year it reported a net income of $US4 billion from the processing and transporting of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and other gases. Western Australian TAFE teachers take industrial action for pay rise Technical and Further Education (TAFE) teachers in Western Australia began a campaign of industrial action on June 10 in support of a pay rise and reduced workload in a new enterprise agreement. Teachers current agreement expired six months ago but the State School Teachers Union (SSTU) has been unable to reach a deal with the state Labor government after nine months of negotiations. Teachers want reduced workloads, a reduction in growing class sizes and more support to meet the increasing demands for digital, literacy and numeracy education. Another demand is for wage parity with state public school teachers. The union claimed that TAFE teachers are paid around $5,000 a year less than public school teachers with similar experience and that many of their students are earning more than its members. The SSTU has restricted industrial action to bans on entering student results into IT systems, not attending meetings, and not answering internal emails. DM Road maintenance workers in Victoria strike for better pay and conditions About 90 workers from road maintenance and management contractor DM Roads in Melbourne stopped work for 24 hours at 6 p.m. on Thursday over stalled negotiations for a new work agreement. The Australian Workers Union has been attempting to reach a deal with DM Roads since November. Workers want wage increases, increased allowances, five weeks annual leave for shift workers, the ability to swap shifts and same job-same pay. The union claimed that some workers are paid up to $10,000 a year less than others doing the same job. DM Roads is part of the asset management company Downer. It claims to be Australias largest road maintenance provider with 17 different contracts to manage 28,000 km of roads across Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to sicken millions of people, with a growing surge driven by the newly evolved KP.2 and KP.3 variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The surge impacts multiple countries, including the US, Australia and the UK. In Australia, COVID is surging along with two winter respiratory viruses, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Surveillance data show increases in the numbers of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, nursing home outbreaks, and healthcare provider absences due to illness, as well as increased levels of the virus in wastewater. In the United Kingdom, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are up 24 percent in the past week. In addition, the percentage of COVID-19 tests that are positive has risen from 8.4 to 10 percent. According to Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, This is a wakeup call. The virus hasnt gone away and is certainly not a seasonal infection. In the United States, there are 15 states seeing high or very high levels of the virus in sewage, according to the CDC. The CDC maintains a map of current virus levels, shown below, which it updates on a regular basis. COVID-19 Current Wastewater Viral Activity Levels Map (Source: CDC) [Photo: CDC] The 15 states are concentrated mostly in the Southern and Western US and include the nations three most populous states: California, Texas and Florida. In California, the surge comes earlier than experts anticipated, with current cases of COVID-19 already nearing last summers peak. Californias percentage of COVID-19 tests that are positive is 7.7 percent, exceeding the national average of 6.6 percent. With COVID-19 surging in California, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass proposed banning the wearing of masks. This follows proposed mask bans in New York and the passage of this reactionary measure in North Carolina. The mask bans have nothing to do with their stated purpose of public safety, but instead are retaliatory measures aimed at suppressing widespread demonstrations against the genocide in Gaza. Their goal is to intimidate protestors by stripping them of anonymity. Indeed, the proposed mask ban in New York is broadly supported by several Zionist groups. A few days after proposing the mask ban in LA, Mayor Bass herself contracted COVID-19. Her office announced that she will be working remotely, something denied to the vast majority of American workers. In Hawaii, there are very high levels of the virus in sewage, and there is a statewide average test positivity rate of 16.7 percent. The city of Honolulu has an even higher test positivity rate at 20.1 percent. The number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Hawaii, 126 per week, is the highest level in the state since last August. In response to the surge, Kaiser Permanente and other healthcare systems in Hawaii have resumed masking requirements for all healthcare providers and staff. The surge in Hawaii coincides with a major event held on the island of Oahu from June 6 to 16. FestPAC is the largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders. Ironically, it had been postponed from 2020 due to the onset of the pandemic. Over 500,000 people from 28 island nations converged on the small island for the 10-day event. Given the confluence of the event and the emergence of the new viral variants, which have been shown to escape existing immunity, it was a recipe for widespread transmission of the virus. The test positivity rate among festival attendees during the event was 13 percent. The state department of health offered testing and N95 masks to attendees. Texas and Florida, despite having high and very high levels of the virus in wastewater, have test positivity rates of 5.5 and 4.1 percent respectively, below the national average. However, these states have been at the forefront nationally of dismantling their public health infrastructure, especially as it relates to COVID-19. Thus, the stark contrast between their wastewater levels of virus and other traditional public health metrics is to be expected when the virus is spreading uncontrolled in their regions. This COVID-19 surge is driven by the emergence of two new viral variants called KP.2 and KP.3. At the end of March, these two variants made up less than 4 percent of cases in the US. Per the most recent data on June 22, they together are projected to make up 53.9 percent of cases, with KP.3 comprising 33.1 percent of cases, while KP.2 comprises 20.8 percent. Over the same time period, the previously dominant JN.1 variant dropped from 52.9 percent of cases to a projected 1.6 percent of cases. In the United Kingdom, KP.2 and KP.3 currently make up 22 and 44 percent of cases, respectively. In New South Wales, Australia, KP.2 and KP.3 together make up over half of cases. Early data have shown that immunity to previous variants provides less protection against KP.2 and KP.3. A new preprint which is undergoing peer review confirms early analysis of the new variants. Namely, antibodies developed by either vaccination against, or infection with, previous viral variants do not neutralize the new viral variants as effectively as they do prior variants. Neutralization means the antibodies bind to the virus in such a way as to prevent it from infecting cells. Thus, the spread of these new variants is occurring because they escape pre-existing immunity. This phenomenon is typical of viruses that are not eradicated: They continue to evolve into new forms to overcome pre-existing immunity in their host populations. The emergence of the new viral variants and the consequent surge of COVID-19 that is currently underway has been enabled by a ruling class indifferent to the suffering caused by the virus. To push their genocidal agenda, the ruling class is further destroying what little protections individuals have available to them by imposing cruel mask bans that disproportionately impact societys vulnerable elderly and immunocompromised people. To eradicate SARS-CoV-2 and thus prevent newer, potentially more dangerous variants of the virus with associated surges in disease and death, the working class must overthrow capitalism and reorganize society on the basis of human need instead of private profit. The Biden administration has sent Israel more than 10,000 city block-destroying 2,000-pound bombs since October, Reuters reported Friday. Pallets of BLU-117 2,000-pound general-purpose bombs on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman [Photo: Airman Ricardo J. Reyes] Each of these bombs has a blast radius of up to 500 feet and is highly lethal up to 250 feet. In some cases, they can be lethal up to 1,200 feet away. If dropped on a city block, one of these bombs would damage nearly every building on the block and potentially kill dozens or hundreds of people. Among the most notorious uses of this weapon was the October 31 strike that destroyed the Jabalia refugee camp, killing or wounding over 400 people. The use of these massive bombs has largely been phased out by the American military, nominally because of their massive potential for collateral damage. These 14,000 2,000-pound bombs have a combined yield of 7.8 kilotons, equivalent to half to the power of the Little Boy atomic bomb that the US used to destroy Hiroshima in 1945. The provision of these weapons demonstrates the genocidal intent of the Biden administration. Knowing full well that Israel has been dropping these bombs on densely populated urban areas, the Biden administration has provided 14,000 of them. In addition to the 2,000-pound bombs, the US has provided 6,500 500-pound bombs, as well as 2,600 Hellfire guided missiles, 1,000 bunker-buster bombs and 2,600 small-diameter bombs. To date, the US has provided $6.5 billion in weapons, which it distributed in over 100 separate tranches in order to bypass congressional oversight. The revelation of the exact composition of the munitions sent exposes the complete fraud of the Biden administrations claim that it opposes Israels use of heavy munitions inside cities. In December, Biden condemned the Netanyahu government for carrying out indiscriminate bombing. Given the fact that the US gave Israel more 2,000-pound bombs than all other types of bombs and missiles combined, it is clear that the intent of the United States was to level Gaza, as Israel has done. In January, the BBC reported that more than half of the buildings in Gaza had been destroyed or damaged. By this point, the figure is likely to be closer to three-quarters. One troubling interpretation is that the United States sees Gaza as an experiment in the total destruction of a densely populated urban area. Given the horrific scale of mass urban destruction that has been unleashed, the use of nuclear weapons in a future war cannot be seen as such a qualitative leap. Reuters report was published one day after the presidential debate, in which the two candidates scrambled to paint themselves as the greatest defenders of Israel and the Gaza genocide. Biden declared, We provide Israel with all the weapons they need, and when they need them, declaring, we are the biggest producer of support for Israel of anyone in the world. Trump, for his part, praised the Netanyahu government for opposing any negotiated settlement of the war, declaring, let them finish the job. Trump called Biden, the author of the Gaza genocide, a Palestinian. The debate came the same day as Axios reported that the Biden administration will imminently release a shipment of 1,700 500-pound bombs that were put on hold for delivery over the White Houses alleged concern that they would be used in an offensive on Rafah. The White House has fully endorsed Israels assault on Rafah, which has displaced over 1 million people. The offensive has largely cut off food shipments through the southern Rafah border crossing, accelerating mass starvation throughout Gaza, and halted emergency medical evacuations over the border, leaving thousands of critically ill people stranded in Gaza with insufficient medical care. To date, 37,765 Palestinians have been killed and 86,429 have been injured in Gaza, according to Gazas Ministry of Health. The news that the Biden administration will green-light the sending of more bombs to Israel followed the meetings by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with high-ranking Biden administration officials in Washington. Gallant was welcomed by senior White House officials Wednesday, after the lead prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applied for charges against him last month, accusing the Israeli defense minister, alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Gallants trip sets the stage for the visit by Netanyahu to Washington on July 24, when he is set to address both houses of Congress. In a readout of the meeting between Gallant and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the White House wrote, Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed the United States ironclad commitment to Israels security, including in the face of threats from Iranian-backed terrorist groups such as Lebanese Hezbollah. The White House praised the purported humanitarian efforts of Gallant, the man who has pushed the population of the narrow enclave to the brink of starvation by declaring a complete blockade of food into Gaza because the Palestinians are, in his words, human animals. The readout declared: Mr. Sullivan and Minister Gallant discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the need to increase and sustain the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Mr. Sullivan recognized Minister Gallants personal efforts and leadership to support these efforts. On June 28, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on an official visit to Hungary, met with the Minister of Defense of Hungary, Mr. Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Azernews reports. First, Heroes' Square located in Budapest was visited and a wreath was traditionally laid. 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. At the end, a press conference was held for media representatives. Key Insights Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis' estimated fair value is CHF46.79 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of CHF40.70 suggests Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis is potentially trading close to its fair value Peers of Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis are currently trading on average at a 519% premium Does the June share price for Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis AG (VTX:TIBN) 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. 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. 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. View our latest analysis for Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis Crunching The Numbers We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (CHF, Millions) CHF7.10m CHF7.41m CHF7.65m CHF7.82m CHF7.95m CHF8.05m CHF8.12m CHF8.18m CHF8.22m CHF8.26m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 6.28% Est @ 4.45% Est @ 3.17% Est @ 2.28% Est @ 1.65% Est @ 1.21% Est @ 0.91% Est @ 0.69% Est @ 0.54% Est @ 0.44% Present Value (CHF, Millions) Discounted @ 5.3% CHF6.7 CHF6.7 CHF6.6 CHF6.4 CHF6.2 CHF5.9 CHF5.7 CHF5.4 CHF5.2 CHF4.9 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CHF60m Story continues 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 0.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = CHF8.3m (1 + 0.2%) (5.3% 0.2%) = CHF163m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CHF163m ( 1 + 5.3%)10= CHF98m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is CHF157m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CHF40.7, the company appears about fair value at a 13% 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 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 Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis 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 5.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.103. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. 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 Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis, we've put together three additional factors you should assess: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 1 warning sign for Bergbahnen Engelberg-Trubsee-Titlis we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does TIBN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every 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 Nearly three-and-a-half years after Trump and the Republican Party tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election, the architect of the coup is the current Republican front-runner for president and his co-conspirators on the Supreme Court are issuing rulings in his favor that will further shield him and his fascist foot soldiers from the legal consequences. Former President Donald Trump stands while a fascist song, "Justice for All," is played during a campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Waco, Texas. The song features a choir of men imprisoned for their role in the failed January 6, 2021, coup singing the national anthem and a recording of Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal prosecutors had improperly charged hundreds of pro-Trump zealots with obstruction for storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021 in an attempt to prevent the certification of the presidential election. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined five of the six conservative justices in the majority decision. Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote the courts ruling which, alongside Jackson, was joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Justice Amy Coney Barrett dissented, along with Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Fridays case was brought to the Supreme Court by Joseph Fisher, a former Pennsylvania police officer, who was charged with seven counts related to his actions on January 6, including disorderly conduct, entering a restricted building and obstruction. Fisher was filmed inside the Capitol urging fellow rioters to charge into police lines and to hold the line against the motherf******. Of the over 1,400 people who are currently facing criminal prosecution for their role in trying to block the transfer of power, more than 355, including Trump, have been been charged with corruptly obstructing an official proceeding, a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. However, not a single person convicted of obstruction in relation to the coup has faced a sentence nearly that long, with the Washington Post recently reporting that those convicted of obstruction have received an average sentence of 24 months. The obstruction law has two major clauses, the first subsection states that it is a crime to corruptly obstruct, destroy, mutilate, or conceal a record, document or other object, or attempt to do so, while the second subsection adds that is also a crime to otherwise obstruct, influence, or impede any official proceeding, or attempt to do so. That Fishers case even made it to the Supreme Court is an expression of the growing right-wing dominance over the judicial system. As explained in an earlier article on the case by the WSWS, Trump-appointed Judge Carl Nichols initially dismissed the obstruction charge against Fischer. Prosecutors appealed Nichols decision to the D.C. Court of Appeals, where Judge Florence Pan, writing the lead decision for the court, declared that the meaning of the statue is unambiguous and that it applies to all forms of corrupt obstruction of an official proceeding. However, in a dissenting opinion, Judge Gregory Katsas, arguing along the same lines as Nichols, ruled that the law only narrowly applied to corrupting or destroying documents or evidence. This was the same argument Fisher made before the Supreme Court. While the law was passed in 2002 in the wake of the Enron scandal to punish those who destroyed financial records to hide their criminality, after January 6, federal prosecutors argued that subsection 2 applied to the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, since it was attempting to obstruct the official counting of electors. In Fridays majority decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that this interpretation would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison, something that has not happened once in the more than 20 years since the law was written. Nevertheless, Biden appointee Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her concurring opinion, argued along similar lines, writing that it beggars belief that Congress would have a 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. Writing the dissenting opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett observed that 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. 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, wrote Barrett. She explained that while subsection 2 of the obstruction criminal statute is a very broad provision, she added, statutes often go further than the problem that inspired them, and under the rules of statutory interpretation, we stick to the text anyway. Using far fewer paragraphs compared to the majority and concurring opinions, Barrett explained: Fischer allegedly participated in a riot at the Capitol that forced the delay of Congresss 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. Fischers alleged conduct thus falls within (c)(2)s scope. Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to Fridays ruling with a statement noting that a vast majority of the more than 1,400 defendants charged in relation to January 6 will not be affected by the ruling because they are facing multiple charges besides obstruction, although for a small number of defendants, 27, it is their only felony charge. An elated Trump posted on his social media network, Big News! along with a post from a supporter that read, in part, massive victory for J6 political prisoners. Of the four charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith against Trump, two are based on obstructing an official proceeding. On Monday, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on Trumps immunity claims, which will have an impact on his obstruction charges. Unlike many of the rioters, Trump was specifically charged with attempting to submit bogus ballots from fake electors in states won by Biden while Vice President Mike Pence was presiding over the Electoral College count. President Volodymyr Zelensky has replaced Ukraines Joint Forces Commander Lt. General Yuriy Sodol with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov at the behest of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. Sodol was also in charge of ground forces along the frontline in the eastern Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov (Kharkiv) regions, where Ukrainian forces have continued to incrementally lose territory to Russia for the past year. Andrii Hnatov [Photo by Ministry of Defense of Ukraine / CC BY 4.0 Following his dismissal, Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda obtained a letter from Bohdan Krotevych, Chief of Staff of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard, that had been sent to the State Investigation Bureau of Ukraine (SBI) and published its key points. In the letter, Krotevych blamed Sodol for the loss of Mariupol, a major shipping port now under Russian control. In addition to poor planning and communication attributed to Sodol, Azov did not receive a single extra cartridge prior to the defense of Mariupol, according to Krotevych. He also blamed Sodol for having killed more Ukrainians than Russians due to his use of undermanned and outgunned counterattacks. Krotevych wrote that the Lieutenant General commands the troops inadequately. For a junior officer such as Krotevych to publicly criticize a senior commander during war time would be highly unusual and grounds for discipline, as the Kyiv Post reported: In most NATO armies an officer making public charges in wartime would have been arrested for insubordinationat least. But to date, Krotevych, an open neo-Nazi, has not been sanctioned. On the contrary, bloggers with hundreds of thousands of followers that are allied with Zelensky repeated Krotevychs charges, arguing the Azov officer had an excellent point, and Zelensky himself responded to Krotevych by dismissing Sodol. Zelenskys bowing to the Azov Battalion on the appointment of a key general underlines both the highly unstable situation and the reactionary character of his regime. Under conditions of growing anti-war sentiments and an ongoing bloody debacle at the front, Zelensky is relying ever more heavily on far-right forces, allowing them to call the shots. Although Ukraine is constantly touted as a bastion of democracy by the NATO war propaganda, in reality, fascist forces such as the Azov Brigade have been given extraordinary powers at the highest levels of the state. This policy has been encouraged by the imperialist powers which have played the central role in promoting and arming Azov. Azov Battalion soldiers with Nazi flag. [Photo by Heltsumani / CC BY-SA 4.0 Earlier in June, the United States lifted a ban on sending weapons and training to Azov under the Leahy Law, which prohibits the US government from using funds for assistance to units of foreign security forces that may have committed human rights violations. This is a new page in the history of our unit, Azov said in a statement following the news of its now official assistance from United States imperialism. Eligibility for US assistance will not only increase Azovs combat effectiveness, but, most importantly, will help save the lives and health of the brigades personnel, the unit said. Azov is becoming more professional and more effective in defending Ukraine against the invaders. The State Department justified its decision by blaming Russian disinformation, which has actively worked to discredit the unit. It also stated that while vetting Azov for military assistance they found no evidence of Gross Violations of Human Rights committed by the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade. Around the time that the ban was lifted, the elite Stanford University welcomed the Azov Battalion at its Slavic Department and removed the Azov Battalion from the website of its Mapping Militants Project, an influential government-funded initiative that tracks extremist groups. Francis Fukuyama (left) with Arsenyi Fedosiuk, Julia Fedosiuk and Kateryna Prokopenko. [Photo: Facebook page of the Ukrainian Student Association at Stanford] While American news outlets such as CNN and NBC uniformly claim that Azov had moved on from its neo-Nazi background and attributed its former stigma to Russian disinformation, the truth is that its leaders continue to support neo-Nazism. The organization traces its heritage back both to Nazism and far-right Ukrainian nationalist organizations, such as Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN-B) and the Ukrainian Insurgency Army (UPA), which were responsible for the massacres of tens of thousands of Jews and Poles, as well as Ukrainians during World War II. Its founder Andriy Biletsky, previously the leader of the fascist paramilitary Patriot of Ukraine organization, is an outright white supremacist who in 2010 stated that the mission of Ukraine is to lead the white races of the world in a final crusade against Semite-led Untermenschen [subhumans]. Despite the State Departments assurances regarding Azovs supposedly sparkling human rights record, between 2015 and 2016, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights connected Azov with war crimes, including mass looting, unlawful detention and torture. As for Krotevych, who personally intervened to remove Sodol, X user and Azov investigator Moss Robeson revealed that Krotevych recommended that new Azov recruits read a 1953 memoir by Nazi war criminal Albert Kesselring and has clearly not moved on from neo-Nazism, as suggested by the pro-NATO Western media. At the same time, the removal of Sodol also speaks to ongoing intense conflicts within the Ukrainian ruling class and military leadership. Sodol himself was reportedly an old school member within the leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and promoted by former top General Valery Zaluzhny. Meanwhile his replacement Hnatov is younger and part of Zelenskys plans of cleaning house and replacing Soviet-trained senior officers with a new, younger generation of generals, as the Kyiv Post reported. Zaluzhny, who reportedly refused to order major attacks the presidential administration wanted, was himself removed in February after months-long public conflicts with the president. The empowering of neo-Nazi figures such as Krotevych and the open backing of fascism by Western imperialism comes as the Zelensky regime is escalating the persecution of opponents of the war and suppression of democratic rights. On April 25, the Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk, who has fought for the unification of the Ukrainian and Russian working class, was arrested on bogus charges by the fascist-infested secret service, SBU, and now faces life in prison. Only weeks later, the Ukrainian government officially banned the World Socialist Web Site, for which Syrotiuk was writing. The attacks on democratic rights have become so blatant that even the New York Times had to admit some of them in a recent article titled A Big Step Back: In Ukraine, Concerns Mount Over Narrowing Press Freedoms, in which it reported on systematic spying on journalists by the SBU and bans on interviews with opposition politicians. However, as the WSWS already noted, neither Bogdans arrest nor the banning of the WSWS in Ukraine were mentioned in either report even though they were published days after the publication of an Open Letter by David North to the Ukrainian government and the organization of pickets at Ukrainian embassies in half a dozen countries demanding the freedom of Syrotiuk. Just as the State Department is attempting to cover up the crimes and history of Azov, the New York Timesas the official mouthpiece of the US intelligence and military apparatusis tasked with running cover regarding the true nature of the attacks on democratic rights in Ukraine whose primary targets are left-wing opponents of the war such as Bogdan Syrotiuk. By joining the New Popular Front formed by Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed party and the big-business Socialist Party (PS) after President Emmanuel Macrons calling of snap elections for July 7, the New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) has again exposed itself as a tool of imperialism. It is pushing the workers behind the political trap set by Melenchon and former PS President Francois Hollande, who aim to intensify war with Russia abroad and class war at home. Jean-Luc Melenchon comments on preliminary results of the first round of the presidential election in Paris, France, Sunday, April 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) The NPA justifies its support this for alliance, arguing it will build left unity against the danger of the neo-fascist National Rally (RN) coming to power. The RN now has growing support in the ruling class, particularly in the faction of the The Republicans (LR) party around Eric Ciotti that calls for alliances with the RN. The NPA states: At this time, as the RN and its allies are in a position to take power, the Popular Front is giving hope for the social and political left, against neo-liberal reforms, for the antiracist, ecological, feminist, LGBTI struggles and for all movements for the equality of rights. The victory against the far right and Macron is only possible on condition of a large mobilization of the population, notably in workplaces, popular neighborhoods and youth. The trade union movement, the environmental struggles, the feminist movement, the movement of solidarity with Palestine, the decolonial and antiracist struggles, must profoundly nourish the program of the Popular Front. They must constitute its living force. But the New Popular Front is not a great hope for the left. By supporting it, the NPA is joining in the right-wing restructuring of the ruling establishment that Macron aims to carry out via the snap elections. Macron called his snap elections for July 7, shortly after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called snap elections for July 4, to prepare the ruling establishment for a massive escalation of the war against Russia and of the class war at home. The newly-elected British and French governments will send officials to the July 9 NATO summit in Washington that is preparing to send troops to Ukraine for war with Russiaa policy that Macron has repeatedly advocated. NATOs war calendar is in fact dictating the election calendar in France and Britain, as well as the NPAs political maneuvers. The NPAs claim that the New Popular Front is nourished by anti-colonial struggles is a political lie. It is an alliance with forces like Hollande, an undisguised enemy of the working class who brutally repressed social protests at home while waging neocolonial wars from Syria to Mali. The New Popular Fronts program calls to build up the French military police and intelligence services and to send troops to Ukraine, ostensibly as peacekeepers. The New Popular Front is not the Popular Front of 1934-1938. The Popular Front was not, it must be said, an anti-colonial force. It was an alliance of Stalinist and social-democratic parties with the liberal bourgeois Radical party. The price of the alliance with the Radicals was not only to renounce socialist revolution, but also to acquiesce in Frances rule over its then-vast colonial empire, stretching from Indochina to Syria and Algeria. The Popular Front was, nonetheless, far to the left of the New Popular Front. Todays New Popular Front, unlike its predecessor in the 1930s, does not contain any party with a mass base in the working class and does not even have the pretense of proposing major social reforms like the 8-hour day or paid vacations. It is a pro-war alliance that, if it formed a government under a Macron presidency, would slash workers living standards to arm and prepare France for high-intensity warfare with Russia. In the 1930s, the Trotskyist movement could enter into the mass working class base of the French social democracy to openly carry out political work opposing imperialism, colonialism and capitalism. The NPAs decision to join the New Popular Front today testifies to its deep-rooted hostility to Trotkyism. It is joining an alliance with the PS, a big business party founded in 1971 and that since then has been one of French imperialisms main parties of rule. The PS lead candidate in this months European elections, Raphael Glucksmann, publicly denied the genocide in Gaza and called to arm Ukraine against Russia. Indeed, the PS is at the heart of imperialist war intrigue in Ukraine. Under Hollande, for whom Macron was economy minister, the PS worked with Washington and Berlin to topple pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich in a far right coup that triggered a conflict in Ukraine that now is rapidly escalating to nuclear war. The NPAs emergence in an open alliance with the PS is the outcome of its support, ever since its foundation in 2009 based on an explicit rejection of Trotskyism, for the military adventures of French imperialism and NATO. It backed wars in Libya, Syria and Mali and also the 2014 putsch in Ukraine. Shortly after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war two years ago, NPA leader Olivier Besancenot went to Ukraine. On his return to France, he promoted NATOs arming of the Ukrainian regime and financial sanctions against Russia as anti-fascist resistance, declaring: We understand that Ukrainians are demanding weapons deliveries, especially defensive weapons that allow to have control of the skies. Those with whom we spoke over there stress that they do not plan for forces other than theirs to substitute themselves for the Ukrainian resistance. On the question of economic sanctions, we are fighting for sanctions against the oligarchs, but we are still falling far short. In Britain, in Cyprus, we are at only 1 percent of what could be done. This brief for war with Russia is a pack of lies that exposes the anti-fascist pretenses of the NPA and the entire New Popular Front. The Ukrainian regime is not a democratic, anti-fascist regime but a far-right dictatorship. Its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has suspended elections and rules based on a network of intelligence agencies and far-right militias led by operatives loyal to the memory of the Ukrainian Nazi-collaborationist Stepan Bandera. Against the NPAs utterly fraudulent presentation of their Ukrainian war policy as a hope for the left, workers and youth can only orient themselves by turning to the history of the great struggles of the Trotskyist movement. A class gulf separates Pabloite support for NATO wars from the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals (ICFI) Trotskyist opposition to both NATO imperialism and the post-Soviet Russian capitalist regime. Pabloism emerged in an international split with the ICFI, the defenders of the continuity of Trotskyism, in 1953. Michel Pablo and Ernest Mandel rejected the Marxist conception of the working class as an independent revolutionary force and called on the Trotskyist movement to liquidate itself into Stalinist, social-democratic or bourgeois nationalist movements. After the 1991 dissolution of the USSR by the Stalinist bureaucracy, which the Pabloites had previously promoted as revolutionary, it oriented to support for imperialist war, in line with the interests of their affluent middle class base. The NPAs evolution since its founding in 2009during which the Pabloites publicly liquidated its predecessor, the Ligue communiste revolutionnairehas confirmed the assessment made by the ICFI at the time on the WSWS. In 2009, it explained: The LCRs real target in liquidating itself is, in fact, Trotskys political heritage: an insistence on the complete political independence of the working class, revolutionary internationalism, and an irreconcilable opposition to collaboration with the bourgeois state, the Stalinist and social-democratic bureaucracies, and all brands of bourgeois nationalism and petty-bourgeois radicalism. The LCRs selection of anti-capitalism as its guiding ideology is, in the context of European and especially French politics, a colossal step backwards and to the right, towards the cheapest coin of the realm. Politically indistinct, it embraces all manners of social discontent, regardless of class basis or orientation. It is a term that can be embraced in large sections of the petty-bourgeoisie, both left and righteverything from the anarchism proposed by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon in the mid-19th century to the violent right-populist protests of Pierre Poujade of the mid-20th. The escalation of NATO and Macron against Russia will provoke explosive mass opposition. After polls in February showed 68 of French people opposed Macrons call to send troops to Ukraine, a Eurasia Group poll showed 88 percent of Western Europeans oppose escalation and want a negotiated settlement of the Ukraine war. But these events are an urgent warning. A movement against war and dictatorship can only be built from below, mobilizing rank and file workers independently of labor bureaucracies tied to pseudo-left parties like the NPA. The political basis of such a movement is a struggle for Trotskyism against Stalinism and the New Popular Front. This requires above all building the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), the French section of the ICFI, as the Trotskyist opposition to the New Popular Front and the NPA. Just as there can be no socialism without democracy, there will not be democracy without a Trotskyist struggle by workers in France and internationally for socialism. Since the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 bird flu) was first detected among dairy cows in late March, a total of 132 herds across 12 states have now officially been impacted. In the last 30 days, an additional 65 infected herds have been confirmed across eight states. Despite repeated assurances given by the federal government that every resource is being utilized to eliminate the threat, scientists are increasingly concerned that far too little is actually being done to protect humanity from another pandemic. Number of dairy cow herds infected with H5N1 weekly in the US (Source: USDA) [Photo: USDA/WSWS] To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only tested 51 people potentially exposed to H5N1, a figure which has remained essentially static since the outbreak was detected. This only confirms in the negative that little has been done to conduct surveillance, testing, and serological studies of communities where people and livestock live in close proximity, which are necessary for epidemiologists to comprehend the scope of the ongoing threat. More recently, a Michigan initiative is underway with the support of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin testing a wider range of dairy products and a human serology study to assess the impact on workers after exposure to sick cows. The CDC stated that the objective of these efforts is to determine the efficacy of antivirals on the circulating clade of the bird flu, understanding infection in people, estimating the incubation period and potential mechanisms to mitigate the possibility of an H5N1 pandemic. In a recent social media post on Twitter/X, molecular biologist and social science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt commented on research being conducted in a high security lab in Germany where cows were infected with the H5N1 strain circulating in US dairy cows and strains from H5N1-infected wild birds. He wrote, In both cases they infected the udders directly through the teats and in both cases the animals got sick. They showed clear signs of disease such as a sharp drop in milk production, changes in milk consistency and fever. A dairy cow. [Photo: Keith Weller/USDA] Kupferschmidt noted that the preliminary results imply that wherever H5N1 is circulating, the virus can spill over into cows. The researchers also indicated that transmission among cows may be a result of human activity, in which contaminated equipment is causing transmission through direct contact. However, he said that more research is needed on the potential for cow-to-cow transmission, and he is awaiting the results of the research to be published soon. In a special report published in STAT News, based on interviews with numerous experts and federal representatives, the authors concluded, The country still does not have a sufficient testing infrastructure in place, nor a full understanding of how the virus is moving within herds and to new herds, experts say. Government officials also have not secured the cooperation from farmers and dairy workers that would be required to rein in the outbreak. In another interview, former CDC director in the Trump administration Dr. Robert Redfield said, I really do think its very likely that we will, at some time, its not a question of if, its more of a question of when we will have a bird flu pandemic. He added that a bird flu pandemic would have considerably greater mortality than COVID-19, placing the figure at somewhere between 25 and 50 percent mortality, while the death rate for COVID-19 has been estimated at 0.6 percent. As CDC director under Trump, Redfield botched the initial rollout of mass testing and contact tracing and was instrumental in the dismantling of public health infrastructure. He discouraged COVID-19 testing, advocated the deadly reopening of schools in the fall of 2020, lied about the airborne nature of the virus and denigrated masking. One must ask, when the next pandemic ignites, will Redfield call for an elimination strategy or endorse a forever bird flu policy? Redfields decades of experience in public health and discussions with experts on flu viruses and the evolution of H5N1 over nearly three decades underscore the significance of his warnings. That this particular virus has insinuated itself into livestock and animals, such as cats and mice, known to habitate homes and farms, indicates the potential ability for the virus to mutate further and potentially evolve to easily infect people via respiratory pathways. The case of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and its emergence from the wild animal market in Wuhan, underscores these concerns. According to the EcoHealth Alliances 2022 study published in Nature, the authors found an abundance of SARS-and SARS-CoV-2-related bat coronaviruses across a broad geographic region in Southern China, home to 300 million people. Their estimates indicated approximately 66,000 people were exposed to these viruses annually. Given that 16 million people were engaged in the wild animal trade industry in China at that time, estimated at $73 billion by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, brings to the fore the connection between economics, human activity, the need for sources of alternative proteins given the prohibitive cost of basic foods and the threat of pandemics. That SARS-CoV-2 has the ability to infect a wide array of animals besides humans suggests that the virus had already been well established in intermediary hosts before it had erupted in a self-sustaining outbreak in December 2019. Such is the case with H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, which emerged in 2020 when the virus reassorted between wild birds and poultry and has led to the mass killing of hundreds of millions of birds, as well as dozens of animal species. As the STAT News report highlights, private dairy farms and agricultural businesses see the need for a thorough public health investigation into the outbreak of H5N1 as an intrusion into their profit-making. That is why the statement by the USDAThe actions we have taken to limit movements, improve biosecurity and encourage testing are expected to establish the foundation for eliminating this virus from the dairy herdmust be taken with a massive grain of salt. While the USDA advocates for a sound scientific approach, it is ultimately invested in the corporate structure. It is precisely because the US cattle industry is struggling to break even that the call to investigate H5N1 on their farms and among their workers and livestock is met with trepidation. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, cattle inventories are at historic lows. A March 29, 2024 report notes: Cattle producers may face challenges maintaining or restocking herds, as higher interest expenses on cattle and input purchases in 2022-23 have constrained profit margins. Although feed costs have decreased slightly, higher costs for financing and other operating expenses could continue to put pressure on cattle production and profitability. The STAT News piece indicates the cool response from farmers to public health measures that might cut into their profits, noting: But the governments own data indicate the efforts have holes large enough for the virus to run through. In one USDA survey, 60 percent of farms acknowledged moving cows within a state even after the animals had started showing symptoms of infection. Federal officials have acknowledged theyre not getting much cooperation from dairy producers and workers. Despite the clear and growing dangers of a bird flu pandemic, there is now a repeated refrain that the threat posed thus far remains low. However, one should recall a report from 2010 by influenza virologist Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka and colleagues from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying potential reassortments between co-circulating H5N1 and human H3N2 influenza viruses, which noted: Our data demonstrate that the gene segments of these two viruses are largely compatible, resulting in 184 reassortant viruses with different replicative abilities. Pathogenicity experiments performed with 75 H5 reassortant viruses showed that 22 viruses were more pathogenic for mice than the parental SK06 virus. Strikingly, three viruses exhibited substantial lethality for mice. As H5N1 continues to spread deeper into US dairy farms, one can ask how might the flu season evolve if these two flu viruses co-circulate, thereby allowing H5N1 to gain respiratory transmission potential with its pathogenicity intact? Are such possibilities being considered, and what preparations should US and World Health Organization (WHO) authorities undertake to prevent such a catastrophic development? To suggest, as many political mouthpieces have, that the US and the world will somehow be prepared to vaccinate their way out of a pandemic scenario is utterly depraved and dangerous. As Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced R&D Authority, recently told Fortune, A head-in-the-sand approach to influenza readiness will not serve the public well when there is a need to respond to an influenza pandemic. The time to commence serious action is now, not when the country is staring down the barrel of a full pandemic. Socialist Equality Party members distributed Sinhala and Tamil versions of the statement below to a protest of striking Sri Lankan teachers in Colombo on Wednesday, June 26. The nationwide action was for higher wages. Striking teachers protest at Fort Railway Station in Colombo, June 26, 2024 The government responded by unleashing a brutal police attack on the protesters while President Wickremesinghe declared that day in Kandy that there would be no salary increase for teachers or any public employees this year. Wickremesinghe also warned that if teachers deprive students of their education, steps will be taken to designate teaching as an essential service. In other words, the repressive Essential Public Services Act would be unleashed against teachers, with harsh penalties, including the dismissal, jailing and the fining of striking teachers. These developments powerfully confirm the SEPs call for a working-class counter offensive against the Wickremesinghe regimes austerity measures and the preparation of a political general strike based on the fight for socialist policies. Beginning early this month, a series of protests have occurred in Sri Lanka involving tens of thousands of public sector employees. These include railway, postal and electricity workers, Samurdhi development officers, and public-school teachers. On Monday and Tuesday this week thousands of public-school non-academic workers held a two-day sick leave strike, while over 250,000 teachers and principals are holding a sick-leave protest today [Wednesday]. The indefinite strike by non-academic employees has now entered its eighth week. The trade unions have been compelled to call these actions amid mounting anger by their members over the continuous deterioration of living and social conditions. Many of these protests have demanded higher wages and opposed the privatisation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the slashing of government funds to public health and education. These demands are in direct conflict with the governments savage austerity program as ordered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The aim of the IMF program is to place the burden of Sri Lankas unprecedented economic crisis onto the backs of the masses, increase state revenue so as to repay outstanding foreign debts and boost big-business profits. The trade unions, however, have called these isolated, scattered and limited actions, while falsely claiming that workers can defend their wages, jobs and living conditions by pressuring the government in the lead-up to the forthcoming elections. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led trade unions and their backers are openly campaigning for workers to withhold industrial action, telling them that the solution is to bring their National Peoples Power (NPP) candidate to power in the upcoming presidential elections. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls upon the Sri Lankan working class to reject all attempts by the trade unions to derail its struggles and subordinate it to the capitalist parliamentary framework. Protests and strikes by every section of the working class point to the objective need for a common struggle to defeat the Wickremesinghe regimes social attacks. The SEP urges workers to prepare a political general strike to defend their wages, jobs, living conditions, democratic rights and for increased funding for public health and education. None of these demands can be won without a political fight against the Wickremesinghe and its IMF measures as part of the struggle to overthrow the capitalist system. Early this month, the IMF released $US336 million, the third installment of its $US3 billion bailout loan, insisting on the need for a continuation of its brutal program. On June 14, Peter Breuer, the IMFs senior official for Sri Lanka, declared that despite some positive developments, the economy is still vulnerable and the path to debt sustainability remains on a knife edge. Responding to claims by some political parties that they would renegotiate the IMF program, Breuer warned: A key priority in the time ahead is to persevere with the reforms While the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the NPP, the JVPs electoral front, have called for renegotiating the IMFs program, this is to hoodwink the masses. Both these parties, and the trade union bureaucracies, are fully committed to the IMF measures. Sri Lankas economic turmoil is the sharp expression of a global economic crisis, which was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, the intensifying US and NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, and the imperialist backing of Israels genocidal war against the Palestinians. These conflicts are part of the imperialist powers slide into a catastrophic third world war. Figures from the World Bank reveal that poverty has rapidly increased in Sri Lankadoubling from 13 percent of the population in 2021, to over 25 percent in 2023. Colombos ongoing austerity measures will worsen this situation. To secure the third installment of the IMF loan, the government has agreed to impose more taxes, including on property, as well as taxes and levies on services such as software exports. In refusing any wage rise to non-academic workers, President Wickremesinghe previously told the parliament that the government has no funds for higher salaries for any public sector worker and that any such claim could only be considered in 2025. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, March 12, 2024 [Photo: Twitter/X @RW_UNP] The consensus of the capitalist class is to repay the defaulted foreign debts of April 2022 to international capital and foreign governments at the expense of the working class. To secure this money, the government must impose further cuts to vital funding for social welfare, sell the SOEs and to raise taxes. The working class is not responsible for the huge foreign debts accumulated by successive capitalist governments, and which were used to maintain the capitalist system. Nor is the working class responsible for the capitalist crisis. Why should the working class and the poor be made to suffer the burden of this crisis by sacrificing their wages, jobs, pensions, public health and education and other social welfare programs? The governments austerity attacks have already reduced the social situation facing the masses to an unbearable level. Workers cannot defend their rights by pressuring the Wickremesinghe regime or any other capitalist government. Yet the trade union bureaucracies insist that this is the only alternative. The JVP-controlled trade unions are vociferously calling on workers to bring an NPP government to power, claiming this will solve their problems. A statement issued by Niroshan Gorakana, the leader of the JVP-controlled Port Trade Union Collective and the All-Ceylon Port Workers General Union, warned Wickremesinghe: You have only four months. In the same breath, Gorakana told workers: Dear brothers and sisters, until that day has dawned, we will do whatever we can. On June 6, when the parliament passed its new Electricity Bill to dismantle the Ceylon Electricity Board, the JVP-controlled All-Ceylon Electricity Employees Union leader Ranjan Jayalal said: This government will have to go home, and they deserve a defeat, and insisted it only had four months. In line with the JVPs agenda, these union leaders have insisted that workers not take industrial action against the governments attacks, but wait until the scheduled presidential election. The Sri Lankan working class went through a tremendous experience during the mass uprising in 2022. While President Gotabhaya Rajapakses government confronted a rising tide of mass struggles, the trade unions called two one-day general strikes and then diverted workers into supporting SJB and JVP calls for an interim government. This subordination of the working class to this perspective, which was fully backed by the fake-left Frontline Socialist Party, was one of main reasons for the defeat of the mass uprising. This opened the way for Wickremesinghe to be elevated into the presidency. To avoid another such debacle, workers must take the struggle into their own hands and prepare a political general strike. We call upon workers to form democratically-elected action committees at all workplaces, factories and plantations, independent of the trade union bureaucracies and the capitalist political parties to which they are aligned. The SEP proposes the following demands as the driving force for the political general strike: * Scrap all the austerity measures dictated by the IMF! * Guarantee a livable wage for all workers starting from 100,000 rupees and indexed to the cost of living! * Repudiate all foreign debts! Instead of paying debts, funds should be used to reduce the price of food, fuel, electricity, water, medicines and other essentials needed by working people! * Reinstate all subsidies to provide adequate funds for effective education, decent healthcare and fertiliser for rural farmers! Guarantee adequate prices for farmers harvests! * Seize big businesses and put them under workers control to provide jobs and fulfill the social needs of the working population! * Guarantee jobs for all with decent and safe working conditions! * Cancel the debts of rural farmers and small business holders! The success of a political general strike depends on the building of a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses based on democratically elected delegates from action committees of workers and the rural poor throughout the island. The SEP advanced this program in mid-July 2022, during the mass uprising, to counter the capitalist onslaught. Workers do not need a capitalist government of the present ruling parties, or the opposition SJB or JVP, or any other party that will implement IMF austerity. They need a workers and peasants government that will implement the above program. The Democratic and Socialist Congress would prepare and mobilise the revolutionary power of the working class to overthrow the capitalist state and pave way for a workers and peasants government. Sri Lankan workers should also understand that in this fight they need to unite with their international class brothers and sisters as part of an internationally coordinated struggle against the economic domination of global capitalism, imperialist war and the danger of a nuclear conflagration. Action committees in Sri Lanka must be coordinated with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees initiated by the International Committee of the Fourth International. We urge workers and youth: Join the SEP to fight for this revolutionary program. The Philippine ambassador to Washington has warned of the danger of a US-led nuclear war against China as tensions intensify over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez [AP Photo/Andrew Harnik] Clashes between Chinese coast guard ships and Philippine vessels seeking to take supplies and materials to the Sierra Madrea Philippine hulk grounded on the tiny reef and manned by Philippine troopshave escalated in recent months. In an article published on Wednesday, Jose Manuel Romualdez told the Financial Times: Its the most dangerous time weapons of mass destruction are very real. You have several countries, major powers that have large arsenals of nuclear power. He warned: If anything happens, the entire Asian region will be completely included. Asked how a dispute over a reef could spark a major conflict, Romualdez referred to the incident that provided the immediate trigger for World War I, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo. Its an analogy, but it could happen that way, he said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has warned that the killing of a Filipino in clashes near the shoal would cross a red line. Romualdez declared that China was testing US resolve with its actions around the reef. I dont think China should just simply dismiss [the US-Philippines military alliance] as something that is not serious, because it is serious, he said. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday, US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell declared the crisis over the Second Thomas Shoal was caused by one of many Chinese provocations that could spark conflicts that would devastate the global economy. The Biden administration has warned Beijing that the 1951 US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to the Sierra Madre and its crew. Campbell did not specify the conditions under which the Philippines or US would invoke the treaty, but he said it was important to draw very clear, public and private lines about what could trigger a military conflict. While Washington and its allies denounced Chinese provocations, US imperialism has been instrumental for more than a decade in transforming the South China Sea into a dangerous flashpoint for war with China. For decades, the US paid scant attention to the longstanding territorial disputes over islets, reefs and other small features in the South China Sea, involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Manila grounded the Sierra Madre, a World War II landing craft, on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 in a bid to bolster its claim to the reef in response to Chinas reclamation of Mischief Reefanother part of the disputed Spratly Island group. In 2010, the Obama administration ratcheted up tensions over the South China Sea as it was preparing to announce its pivot to Asiaa diplomatic, economic and military strategy aimed at confronting and preparing for war against China. Speaking at the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) security forum in July 2010, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton declared that the US had a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. In doing so, Clinton effectively declared Washingtons intention of challenging Chinas territorial claims. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi responded by declaring that the US, by internationalising the disputes in South China Sea, was carrying out virtually an attack on China. Since then, the US has deliberately exacerbated the situation by sending US warships and warplanes close to Chinese-controlled islets in the South China Sea on the pretext of asserting freedom of navigation. Washington also provided crucial support for the Philippines to mount a case against Chinas maritime claims in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, based on the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In 2016, the court found against Chinas historic claims to most of the South China Sea as well as the existence of any territorial waters around tiny features such as the Second Thomas Shoal. While the US and its allies routinely assert that the 2016 ruling against China vindicated Philippine claims, UNCLOS only applies to maritime issues and not to disputes concerning the ownership of land features. Moreover, Washingtons hypocritical demands that Beijing abide by international law ignore the fact that the US itself has not ratified UNCLOS. The current confrontation around the Second Thomas Shoal takes place amid intensifying geo-political tensions fuelled by the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, US backing for Israels genocidal war in the Middle East and the Biden administrations escalating economic war against China. Since Obamas announcement of the pivot to Asia in 2011, the US has engaged in a comprehensive military build-up and restructuring throughout the Indo-Pacific and systematically strengthened its military alliances, basing arrangements and forged new military pacts throughout the region. Romualdezs warnings of nuclear war are not far-fetched and, if anything, are understated. The wars underway in Europe, in the Middle East and the reckless US-led confrontation with China are fronts in an unfolding global conflict involving nuclear-armed powers. Driven by the deepening global crisis of capitalism, US imperialism is engaged in a desperate attempt to shore up its global hegemony by all means, including military ones. The Marcos regime in the Philippines is a willing stooge in the Biden administrations reckless provocations against China in the South China Sea. Since coming to power, Marcos has extended the US military presence in the Philippines to include four new bases and greatly expanded joint military exercises with the US, including in the South China Sea. Marcos has also overturned the understanding reached with China by his predecessor, President Rodrigo Duterte, who agreed to maintain the status quo in the South China Sea as he sought to boost Chinese trade and investment with the Philippines. In the case of the Second Thomas Shoal, that gentlemans agreement signified that the Philippines would not reinforce or fortify the Sierra Madre. China justified its blockade of the shoal by declaring that the Philippines was sending construction materials in breach of the agreement, which the Marcos administration has vehemently and repeatedly denied. It claimed that its vessels were only providing food and other essentials to the handful of Marines on the Sierra Madre. In an interview last week, however, the Philippine ambassador Romualdez admitted that construction work had taken place. He claimed it was not strengthening the ship, but rather carrying out needed repairs. Were just doing a humanitarian act of giving these people a decent place to be in because theyre stationed there, he said. Contrary to Romualdez, the Financial Times noted that people familiar with the situation said Manila had secretly reinforced the ship in ways that would extend its life. Such moves, certain to inflame tensions with China, confirm in practice what Marcos declared last year, referring to Dutartes deal with China: I am not aware of such agreement. If there was, I rescind it as of this moment. Romualdez has declared the disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea to be more dangerous than the situation in the Taiwan Strait, no doubt to bolster the case for greater US military aid to the Philippines. Since 2011, however, US imperialism has transformed the entire region into a tinder box, deliberately inflaming tensions with China not only over the South China Sea and Taiwan, but also the East China Sea, North Korea and Indias disputed borders with China. Amid the current acute geo-political crises, any one of these volatile flashpoints has the potential to become the Sarejevo incident that precipitates a catastrophic war throughout Asia and internationally. The sudden release of Julian Assange and his return to Australia last week have been greeted with warmth and enthusiasm by ordinary people, who have long viewed the WikiLeaks founder as a courageous journalist persecuted for exposing war crimes. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange waves after landing at RAAF air base Fairbairn in Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, June 26 2024 [AP Photo/Rick Rycroft] The response of the Australian ruling elite, on the other hand, has been a nervous one. Liberal Party figures have slandered Assange as a felon and a risk to national security, together with media commentators closely aligned with the US state. One such, Peter Hartcher, warned in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning that With Assange comes a campaign, a movement and a cult. The Labor government has sought to balance between the two reactions. On the one hand, its leaders have claimed substantial credit for the plea deal and travel arrangements that resulted in Assanges freedom. On the other hand, they too have expressed their commitment to national security and their hostility to WikiLeaks disclosures and have kept an arms length. Several articles in the Labor-aligned press have encouraged the government to avoid further mention of the matter. One, referring to Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, said that The PM would be wise to take the win and move on. In political terms, Assange could be sticky fly paper. As Assange was touching down in Australia on Tuesday evening, Albanese gave a press conference presenting his government as having played a key role in Assanges liberation. It was confirmation, Albanese stated, of the correctness of his approach of quiet diplomacy. We dont shout, were not in a contest of machismo, what we do is we get things done, he stated. In a phone call, Assange reportedly thanked Albanese. His supporters, including wife Stella Assange and lawyer Jennifer Robinson did the same, with both noting that the Labor governments calls for the case to be brought to a close beginning after its election in May 2022 had marked a shift. Several points should be made. Labors conditional statements, combined with limited representations to the Biden administration could only represent a shift because all previous administrations, including past Labor governments, abandoned Assange and aided his persecution. Labor only made a shift under the impact of mass pressure, resulting from a sustained campaign by supporters of Assanges freedom. A Herald poll in May last year, for instance, indicated that 79 percent of Australians wanted Assange to be freed, while another placed the figure even higher. Then there is the question of what exactly Labors representations consisted of and how frequently they were made. A detailed article in the Herald, outlining the behind-the-scenes developments leading up to the plea deal, reported five specific instances on which Labor ministers had raised the issue with their US counterparts over a period spanning more than two years. That is not exactly the unflagging campaign that some have touted. The same Herald article noted that At no point, say those aware of the talks, did the Australian government say how the case should be resolved. That is, the matter was left up to the US government, which was seeking Assanges extradition so that it could prosecute him for exposing war crimes and imprison him for life, in what was clearly a monstrous witch hunt. What Labor was actually angling for was indicated on several occasions. Departmental briefing notes for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in June 2022, i.e., a month after Labor came to office, referred only to the possibility of a prison swap involving Assange. That would have meant accepting his extradition to the US and prosecution on the Espionage Act charges. Over the following months and years, Labor leaders would repeat deliberately vague talking points, enough is enough and this matter must be brought to a close. Labor MPs declared that their options to intervene were limited, describing the frame-up proceedings against Assange as a legal process that had to be respected. In an interview last November, Albanese publicly acknowledged that he had not asked President Joe Biden to drop the prosecution of Assange. Albanese made a tortured argument about respecting the separation of powers, fraudulently presenting the US pursuit of Assange as a bona fide legal case exclusively involving the Department of Justice, when in reality it was clearly a political persecution. Labors decision to accept the legal process and its refusal to call for the charges to be dropped helped to create the conditions where Assange could only be freed through a plea deal. An Australian Broadcasting Corporation article this morning noted that the pressure of Labors representations over Assange wasnt necessarily just on the US. It was likely also placed on Assange and his legal teams. Last year, Albanese publicly stated that a resolution would require compromises on both sides, while other Labor figures openly called for Assange to plead guilty. That meant that the government accepted the precedent that the US was seeking to set through its prosecution of a journalist for exposing war crimes. Labor was undoubtedly intensely fearful that the successful extradition of Assange to the US would inflame mass anger. But, its ambiguous line and failure to forthrightly demand Assanges unconditional freedom at any point meant that the decision was in the hands of the US government. Ultimately, it is clear that the plea deal, which represented a major backdown by the US and a victory for Assange, was the result of two intersecting factors: fears in the US state that Assanges extradition would intensify a political crisis there and internationally, and a recognition that the frame-up legal case would never stand up in court. Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that Department of Justice lawyers working on the case were increasingly convinced that it would be lost. They made panicked representations to the leadership of Justice in April for a plea deal to be finalised. The fears were intensified by the decision of the UK High Court in May to allow Assange to appeal extradition. Those court hearings, which were scheduled for July, would have been the first time in years that the substantive issues in the case, including its assault on press freedom and innumerable US violations of the law, would have been heard in an open court. The Labor government chartered a private jet for Assange to travel to Saipan, where the plea deal was signed off on by a US court, and on to Australia. In a decision which has provoked considerable anger, it refused to foot the bill, leaving the Assange camp with the task of crowdfunding the $A782,190. Labors role in the persecution of Assange Whatever one's assessment of Labors role over the past two years, its record over the fourteen-year US pursuit of Assange is a rotten one. In 2010, WikiLeaks published the documents for which Assange would be charged, exposing massive war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and American imperialisms daily diplomatic conspiracies and black operations on a global scale. Labor was in office at the time. Its Prime Minister Julia Gillard denounced the WikiLeaks publications as grossly irresponsible and declared: Its clear that the theft of those documents is an illegal act. Labors then Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, who, as ambassador to the US, accompanied Assange to Saipan and back to Australia, asked the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to investigate whether criminal charges could be laid against Assange, i.e., the Labor government prefigured the later US prosecution. The AFP was compelled to note that Assange had not violated any Australian laws. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2011 Gillard nevertheless threatened to seize Assanges passport and pledged to assist the US campaign against him. This was under conditions where senior US politicians, including then vice-president and current President Joe Biden were denouncing Assange as a high-tech terrorist, while others, including Hillary Clinton, were suggesting that he be assassinated. WikiLeaks reportedly had concerns at the time that if Assange returned to Australia, Labor would either prosecute him or hand him over to the American authorities. Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other current Labor leaders were also prominent in the Gillard administration. They thus bear a central responsibility for all of the persecution he has suffered over more than a decade. Labors line was not confined to 2010, but persisted, including after Assange was compelled to seek political asylum in Ecuadors London embassy in 2012. Labors foreign minister from early 2012 to September 2013, Bob Carr, has welcomed Assanges freedom. But, when he was in high office, Carr angrily rejected calls for his government to defend Assange, instead slandering the WikiLeaks publisher as amoral, accusing him of having released information without inherent justification, and declaring that there was not the remotest possibility that the US was seeking his extradition. As late as April 2019, when millions of people were shocked when Assange was violently dragged from the embassy by British police, senior Labor figures, including current Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, publicly gloated over Assanges dire plight and denounced his supporters. The record amply demonstrates that to the extent that Labor played a role in the outcome of the case, it did so reluctantly and as a result of a movement involving thousands of ordinary people and the sentiments of millions more. Labor is a government of war and repression Labors hostility to Assange was not simply a matter of following US instructions. WikiLeaks had exposed not only US war crimes, but those of its allies, including Australia which under conservative and Labor administrations participated in the criminal assaults on Iraq and Afghanistan. As it was joining the campaign against Assange, moreover, the Gillard Labor government was aligning Australia with the US pivot to Asia, a vast military build-up directed against China. This process, transforming Australia into a frontline state for a catastrophic war aimed at ensuring US global hegemony, has accelerated greatly in the intervening years and is being completed by the Albanese administration. That is the significance of the AUKUS war pact with Britain and the US, under which Australia is acquiring a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, as well as Labors urgent program of overhauling the entire military with offensive capabilities, so that it can engage in impactful projection throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond. This program is part of an eruption of imperialist militarism globally, to which Labor is also a party. It has fully backed the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, which threatens nuclear war, as well as Israels genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. The war drive is incompatible with democratic rights. As in the other imperialist centres, Labor has viciously attacked opposition to the genocide, threatening to ban protests and villifying ordinary people as antisemites for taking a stand against the war crimes. In 2017, Labor joined hands with the then conservative government to pass sweeping foreign interference laws. In addition to creating a McCarthyite atmosphere over purported Chinese influence in Australia, the legislation potentially outlaws national security journalism, containing major penalties for whistleblowers that could also be directed against publishers. At the time, some conservative MPs said the laws were necessary to prevent future WikiLeaks-style exposures. David McBride speaking at a protest demanding freedom for Assange in May, 2023 The fraud of Labors posturing over Assange is summed up in the case of David McBride. In May he was sent to prison for more than five years, with Labors explicit support, for having exposed confirmed Australian war crimes in Afghanistan, including the murder of civilians and prisoners. McBride is the first, and so far the only, person to be imprisoned over the atrocities, most of which were perpetrated under the Gillard government. As a WSWS statement explained last week, Though Assange is free, the global capitalist offensive against democratic rights is only accelerating. For every tactical retreat by imperialism, there is a more brutal counterattack. The conditions that underlay the monstrous persecution of Assange, of massive social inequality and global war, had only intensified, posing a threat to the democratic rights of everyone, including Assange. That underscores the necessity to develop an international movement of the working class, opposed to war, authoritarianism and all of the governments, based on a socialist perspective directed against the source of the deepening barbarism, the capitalist system itself. About 20 students at the University of Melbourne (UofM), one of Australias most prestigious universities, have this week been threatened with disciplinary action for their involvement in the student encampment on campus against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, perpetrated by Israel which has been supported by imperialist governments including in Australia. Anti-Gaza genocide protest camp at the University of Melbourne The move at UofM is the latest in a series of coordinated attacks by university managements, the corporate media and the political establishment in Australia against the rights to protest and freedom of expression of students on campus. UofM management is attempting to discipline its students a month after the encampment on campus was shut down. That has a vindictive and intimidatory character, given that whatever events management claims were associated with the encampment are in the past and have no impact on campus now. The UofM move is part of a broader crackdown. It follows the expulsion of two pro-Palestinian students by the Australian National University (ANU) in the nations capital Canberra and the forced shutting down of the student encampment and slander of students at the University of Sydney. According to the Age, other Melbourne universities have also sent misconduct notices to students involved in protests against the genocide. Monash University has reportedly issued nine, while La Trobe University and Deakin University have sent two each. Working with the government, the university administrations are seeking to make an example of the students to dissuade broader layers from taking up a fight against the genocide and war. This was highlighted by the hysterical campaign by the Labor federal government over peaceful protests at their electorate offices over the past weeks. A dangerous precedent is being set in the targeting of students. Peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters are being vilified and the democratic rights of anyone who opposes genocide and war are being trampled. In other countries, like the US, Germany, and Canada, peaceful anti-genocide protests on the campuses have been met with brutal police repression and thousands of students violently arrested. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE)the youth and student arm of the Socialist Equality Partycalls for the immediate dropping of the misconduct charges against pro-Palestinian students at UofM and other universities. The IYSSE demands that disciplinary action already levelled against students who protested the genocide be revoked. Already an updated petition calling for the disciplinary charges against the UofM students to be withdrawn has been signed by more than 18,000 people. The petition states: We, the community, condemn these threats and intimidation made by the University of Melbourne to these brave students and staff, who have been peacefully calling for disclosure and divestment of the University of Melbournes ties to weapons manufacturers supplying Israeli Occupation Forces. It notes that the students face potential failure of subjects and expulsion. The university administrations decision comes about a month after the encampment at UofM was ended through a mutual agreement between management and the encampment organisers, Unimelb for Palestine (UM4P). UM4P put out a statement on Thursday on the universitys disciplinary notice. It states that the anti-genocide students were given general misconduct notices for their involvement in the occupation in late May, of the Arts West Building on campus. According to UM4P, the university has included CCTV footage and location tracking of the students through their use of the universitys Wi-Fi network in compiling its evidence against students. If accurate, these revelations constitute a serious breach of students privacy by the university. It also raises questions about the potential involvement of the state in assisting the university administration in monitoring students activities on campus. Such attacks on the student protesters were threatened a month ago by Michael Wesley, UofM deputy vice-chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement). In a leaked video produced after the Arts West occupation began, Wesley declared: red lines have been crossed. In the video, which circulated on social media, Wesley baselessly claimed the student protesters were intimidating people and had caused considerable damage. Wesley menacingly stated that police would regularly be patrolling the campus and ending the protest would be a very substantial operation. While the encampment has long since been wound up without police involvement, Wesleys ominous threats highlight the attitude which has carried over into the universitys substantial operation to punish students who have purportedly crossed red lines. University administrations at UofM and other campuses are attacking student free speech in coordination with the highest levels of the state. Their actions are in line with a venomous campaign against the encampments which is being spearheaded by Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese. Last month, he branded the peaceful student protests as divisive displays of hatred. Albanese declared the anti-genocide protests do not have a place in society. These declarations clearly apply beyond the campuses. Indeed, in a bid to prevent broader engagement by workers and youth in anti-genocide protests, the UofM administration has put up notices prohibiting members of the public from protesting on campus. The attacks on the democratic rights of students in Australia follows the same pro-war program as the Albanese government not only supports the mass murder in Gaza, but also the associated militarist build up in this region aimed against China. Student encampments were set up at more than a dozen campuses. Now just a handful remain including at ANU, the University of Newcastle and the University of Tasmania. The shutting down of the encampments has been directly arranged or acceded to by the middle-class leaderships of the protest movements on the campuses. They have either openly worked with university management to pen deals which commit the universities to nothing, or they have refused to mount a broader struggle against the attacks against students, including their own members. At the University of Melbourne itself, the deal between UM4P and the university administration to end the encampment last month was the first of its kind in the country. In response to the encampment organisers acceptance of the demand that the protest be shut down, the university agreed to disclose some research ties with defence companies. The caveat from management is that it will not disclose anything it deems would go against confidentiality or national security considerations. This was touted as a victory by the encampment organisers. This week the university administration revealed some ties to weapons manufacturers. It lists nine projects involving five different companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Electric from the US; Mitsubishi from Japan; Nova Systems from Australia). Three of those projects have no dollar value associated with them due to confidentiality. Moreover, the university states that, over multiple years, a further $27.8 million worth of research funding is coming from the Australian Department of Defence and $15.4 million from the US Department of Defence. Neither of these sums is itemised. Neither does the university make any declarations that these projects with defence companies or government departments will cease or be pegged back. Indeed, that was not part of the deal. All the university was compelled to do was enumerate publicly some of what has been open knowledge for the past decade or more: that UofM, like all the universities in Australia, is intimately tied to the growth of militarism. Students must draw lessons from these experiences. The genocide in Gaza and the broader war drive of imperialism cannot be stopped by making plaintive appeals to universities any more than it can by appealing to governments. The bankrupt line of pressuring the Labor government to end its support for the genocide has been put forward at protests for the past eight months, by the Greens and various pseudo-left groups such as Socialist Alternative and Solidarity. This perspective has served only to subordinate workers and young people to the very government that continues to back the mass murder, while covering up the connection between the Gaza genocide and the broader eruption of militarism, including the war drive against China and the US-NATO proxy conflict with Russia that threatens nuclear catastrophe. To fight the genocide and attacks on democratic rights, students and youth must turn to the working class, and take up the fight to mobilise its immense social and political power. Such a turn must involve a political fight against Labor, imperialist war globally and the capitalist system itself, which is responsible for the descent into barbarism. Join the IYSSE to take up this socialist program today. We recently compiled a report on the 15 Countries with the Most Domestic Tourism in the World, and in this article we will look at the top country. Domestic Tourism in a Post-Pandemic World Domestic tourism refers to trips that individuals take within their own countries and thus, involves no crossing of international borders. Both international and domestic tourism suffered drastically when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), 2020 saw a 73% decline in international tourist arrivals. However, the situation for domestic tourism was a bit different. In 2020, Lin et al. conducted a study on 65 regions in four countries, namely Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Their analysis showed that domestic overnight stays had a 30% decrease in densely-populated areas, whereas a 15% increase in sparsely-populated areas. A 2020 report from WTO noted that as the tourism industry rebounded, the demand was more likely to shift towards domestic tourism and nature-based outdoor tourism. The organization also anticipated that recovery for domestic tourism would be much stronger than international travel. This is why boosting domestic tourism became a COVID-19 policy for many tourism-based economies. The IMF reported that the government of Thailand devised $700 million for advancing domestic tourism. The country also subsidized hotel accommodations by 40% for five million nights in total. Costa Rica moved all national holidays to Mondays, in an attempt to extend weekends and thus encourage domestic tourism. Malaysia spent $113 million in allocating discount vouchers for domestic travel. These initiatives helped many countries deal with the blow of losing international travel. Domestic tourism was already a big industry in many nations, with the WTO noting that 75% of tourism expenditure in OECD countries is domestic. In 2022, Grand View Research valued the global domestic tourism market to be worth $1.6 trillion. The market was projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% from 2023 to 2030, reaching $5.8 trillion by the end of the forecast period. According to the 2023 Economic Impact Report by the World Travel and Tourism Council, domestic visitor spending saw an increase of 18.1% in 2023, surpassing 2019 levels. Airbnb and its Impact on Domestic Tourism As travelers flock to domestic locations, companies such as Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) play a huge role in helping them plan their trips. The company offers a diverse range of locations to stay, from cheap to lavish, which allows individuals to control the amount they want to spend on accommodation. During the 2020 pandemic, Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) commissioned a survey of 2,200 US respondents, half of whom mentioned that once the lockdown lifted, they would prefer their first trip to be within a days drive. The company also reported that by May 2020, the percentage of Airbnb bookings within 200 miles had grown to cover half of total bookings. This value was only one-third in February 2020. Keeping these trends in view, Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) launched its Go Near campaign, encouraging individuals to travel nearby. The company partnered with agencies such as the National Park Foundation and Visit North Carolina to make this possible. Furthermore, Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) had been contributing to domestic tourism even before the pandemic. According to a 2021 report by the company, its platform saw a six-fold increase in domestic tourism from 2016 to 2019. The same report also elaborated that during COVID-19, Airbnbs rise in domestic tourism generated R8 billion for the South African economy, urging economic recovery. This trend has continued well into 2024 as well. On February 22, 2024, Airbnb reported that Canada saw eight million domestic arrivals on its platform in 2023, an increase of 30% from 2019. This insight falls in line with a 2024 report by Abacus Data, which noted that within the group of Canadians who plan to travel in 2024, 71% are aiming for domestic locations. A similar situation was seen in the US as well. According to Airbnb, US-based residents traveled to more than 15,000 domestic cities and towns in 2023. You can also check out 20 Countries That Have The Potential To Be Major Tourist Destinations. Among other things, one of the reasons why travelers prefer Airbnb is for the experience it offers. A February 2024 report by Airbnb showed that 64% of the companys guests felt like an Airbnb accommodation provided them a closer insight into local culture, as compared to a hotel. 22% mentioned that they chose Airbnb because it provides a local experience. Meanwhile, 48% mentioned that their Airbnb Hosts helped them find hidden gem locations, which they would not have found out about otherwise. Thus, in order to improve its domestic experiences further, Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) introduced a bunch of new features in its 2024 summer release, which occurred on May 1. One of the latest exciting features is the option to plan group trips, where individuals can create shared wishlists, send travel invitations, and access in-app messaging. The company also launched Icons, a specific category for one-of-a-kind stay experiences across movies, sports, food, and more. Examples of Icons include Barbies Malibu Dreamhouse in California and the Inside Out 2 Headquarters in Las Vegas. According to Brian Chesky, the CEO, the Icons category managed to get 371 million social media impressions and 8,100 pieces of global media coverage within just one week of its launch. As companies like Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) continue making strides in domestic tourism, certain countries are also taking the lead in local travel numbers. You can also take a look at some of 2024s fastest-growing tourist destinations, as well as 20 beautiful places ruined by overtourism. The Country with the Most Domestic Tourism in the World The Country with the Most Domestic Tourism in the World Methodology To generate this list of the 15 countries with the most domestic tourism in the world, we conducted the official database of the UNWTO. We have considered values from 2021 and 2022, to paint an accurate picture of domestic tourism post-pandemic. For the purpose of this article, domestic trips refer to both overnight stays and same-day trips. The countries are ranked in ascending order of the most domestic trips taken by the residents. 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 Country with the Most Domestic Tourism in the World 1. United Kingdom Total Number of Domestic Trips (2022): 2.9 Billion According to the 2023 Great Britain Tourism Survey, residents spent 5.3 billion in domestic overnight trips from January to March. However, according to an April 2024 report by Visit Britain, in 2023, overnight trips declined by 7% in Great Britain. A major reason for this was the decline in holiday trips, which hold the second largest segment share in the UKs domestic trips. Despite this decrease, the United Kingdom still ranks number one on our list of countries with the highest number of domestic tourists. Curious to learn about other countries with high levels of domestic tourism? Check out our report on the 15 Countries with the Most Domestic Tourism in the World. At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy According to Brad Gerstner. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) stands against the other tech stocks. Gerstner is Bullish on Tech in 2024 On December 1, 2023, Brad Gerstner, the CEO of Altimeter Capital, appeared in an interview on CNBC where he explained that tech stocks are expected to outperform non-tech stocks in 2024. Over the past 10 years, tech earnings have compounded at almost 16% and non-tech earnings have compounded at 6%. 2023 was a rebound year for the tech industry after a downturn in 2022 due to rising interest rates. Big Tech companies and their operational efficiencies have poised them for strong growth. While inflation and interest rates will determine what goes down, companies that have invested in augmented intelligence will experience secular growth. Gerstner thinks that the spread between 16% and 6% will be a recurring trend in 2024. Gerstner Thinks Now is the Right Time to Invest in Tech On June 11, Brad Gerstner made another appearance on CNBC and addressed the speculation surrounding the software industry. Gerstner suggested that despite headwinds, the software industry is still valuable as companies and startups are still making deals. Gerstner believes there are three main reasons for the downward trajectory of the software industry. He thinks that CEOs and CTOs are cautious when it comes to making investments in software. Executives want a clearer picture of the AI boom before making risky investments. Moreover, interest rates are higher than expectations, due to delayed rate cuts and compressing multiples. Lastly, general uncertainty about the future has been detrimental to the growth of the software industry. Gerstner pointed out that since the software industry is trading at 20% below its ten-year average, this may be the best time to allocate stakes in software companies. You can also take a look at the best Robinhood stocks under $20. Gerstner thinks data and databases are extremely vital to AI applications. He thinks that companies using data to power AI are far ahead of companies simply automating services. Big Tech companies have data at the forefront of all their artificial intelligence applications. You can also read our piece on the stocks hedge funds are crazy about right now. Brad Gerstner is bullish on tech, and particularly software and AI. In Q1 2024, he initiated 6 new positions and also raised his stakes in 2 stocks, ending the quarter with a portfolio of $6.5 billion in 13F securities. With that, let's discuss his top tech stock picks. Story continues Our Methodology We scanned Altimeter Capital's Q1 portfolio and picked growth stocks from the funds top 13F holdings. Additionally, weve also added overall hedge fund sentiment, as of Q1 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). Note: All pricing data is as of June 28. A woman holding a laptop, wearing a graphic t-shirt, casually checking her e-commerce order. Altimeter Capital's Stake Value: $70,570,173 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66 Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) is Brad Gerstner's 10th largest holding. Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) is an e-commerce company based in South Korea and Washington. The company has more than 100 unique fulfillment centers that have millions of products. Coupang's AI enables fast deliveries, volume order production, and system coordination. Its automated guided vehicles (AGVs) can bring hundreds of items to workstations within 2 minutes or less, reducing employee workload by 65%. The company is also home to a rapidly growing fleet of electric vehicle Coupang Cars, accounting for 50% of the company's fleet in Jeju, South Korea. While software companies are experiencing decelerating growth rates, Gerstner holds a positive outlook on the industry and expects companies with data at the forefront of software and AI to stand out. In the words of Brad Gerstner, "Smart money, I think, is to buy into software." Aligning with his views, Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) is making conscious use of AI to advance its operations and deliver enhanced customer experiences. At the close of Q1 2024, 66 hedge funds were bullish on Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG), with total stakes amounting to $3.09 billion. Wall Street analysts hold a consensus buy opinion on CPNG. Shares have gained 34.08% year-to-date. Based on price targets from 18 analysts, the Street's median price target of $27.69 implies an upside of 31% from current levels. Overall CPNG ranks 10th on our list of the best tech stocks to buy according to Brad Gerstner. You can visit 10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy According to Brad Gerstner to see the other tech stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of CPNG 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 CPNG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. It's going to be an exciting week on General Hospital. If you want to see what's coming up in Port Charles for Independence Day, or if you missed a story last week and need to know what happened, we've got you covered with our General Hospital spoilers for the week of July 1-5. More Soaps News The Bold and the Beautiful spoilers week of July 1-5 The Young and the Restless spoilers week of July 1-5 Days of Our Lives spoilers week of July 1-5 Take a look at the General Hospital spoilers for the week of July 1, courtesy of Soap Opera News: Monday, July 1 "Ava plays dirty. Josslyn comforts Trina. Nina does some eavesdropping. Alexis makes a big move. Jordan shares intel with Drew." Tuesday, July 2 "Ava tries to cover her tracks. Blaze is crushed. Sonny meets with Diane. Kristina and Alexis have a heart to heart. Natalia is in the hot seat. " Wednesday, July 3 "Alexis is confrontational. Josslyn gets upsetting news. Natalia confides in Sonny. Sasha provides perspective. Maxie steps up for a friend." Thursday, July 4 "Tracy wont take no for an answer. Liz and Portia catch up. TJ and Molly cleaer the air. Kristina makes a bold suggestion. A shot rings out at the Metro Court pool!" (NOTE: This episode originally aired July 7, 2023) Friday, July 5 "Dante tries to talk Sonny down. Kristina unleashes her anger. Maxie and Brook Lynn strategize. Trina and Josslyn move into their new home. Nina updates Drew." And in case you missed out on last week's episodes, here's what happened on General Hospital for the week of June 24, courtesy of Soap Opera News: Monday, June 24: "Tracy issues an ultimatum. Chase and Brook Lynn seek legal advice. Carly plots a bold move. Molly and TJ have a heart-to-heart. Ava gets an earful." Tuesday, June 25: "Jason and Elizabeth discuss their son. Carly opens up to Brennan. Anna makes a discovery. Valentin makes a proposal. Finn suffers a setback." Wednesday, June 26: "Trina delivers bad news. Ava is on the warpath. Mac visits Cody. Alexis makes a revelation. Gio is alarmed." Thursday, June 27: "Chase supports Finn. Jason and Danny bond. Dante voices his concerns to Sam. Dex surprises Josslyn." Friday, June 28: "Carly and Jason clash. Sonny and Natalia get closer. Ava seeks out Laura. Brook Lynn and Chase make a big decision. Blaze has some tough questions for Kristina." General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and is the available on-demand the following day on Hulu. Check your local listings to see when it comes on where you are. Jared Leto formed the band with his older brother Kevork Djansezian/Getty Jared Leto and Shannon Leto at the Oscars Governors Ball on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. Jared Leto and Shannon Leto are more than just brothers they're bandmates. Shannon Leto was born on March 9, 1970, to Constance Leto and Tony Bryant in Bossier City, Louisiana. Jared entered the world soon after, on Dec. 26, 1971. According to a 2022 interview with The Telegraph, Bryant left the family when the brothers were infants. Their mother married Dr. Carl Leto, an ophthalmologist, in 1979 and moved the family to Virginia. After Carl and Constance welcomed their daughter, Jamie, the doctor adopted Jared and Shannon. The couple went on to have another boy named Mateo, and the brothers also have a brother named Matthias, whom they met at their father's funeral. Constance and Carl divorced in 1981, and the family moved to a commune in Colorado. They also lived in Haiti for a year before returning to Virginia. During their childhood of moving around, Jared and Shannon started making music together. They created their rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars in 1998 and have since released six albums with Jared as the frontman and Shannon on the drums. "Sometimes life is easy," Jared posted on X (formerly Twitter) in 2023. "Sometimes its not. But Im lucky because I have my brother to share this journey with. No matter how hard life might seem at times we always have each other to turn to. Feeling grateful for that." So, who is Shannon Leto? Here's everything to know about Jared Leto's brother and his relationship with the actor. They were born in Louisiana Jeff Vespa/VF14/WireImage Jared Leto, Constance Leto, and Shannon Leto attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. Shannon and Jared were born in Bossier City, Louisiana. Jared told The Telegraph that their father left them when he was an infant and that his last words were: I'll see you, kid, just going to the store to get a carton of milk." "We came from a very humble blue-collar background, with a vagabond hippy mother," the Oscar winner said. "It's an experience that informs us to this day." In a 2013 interview with James Franco for Interview Magazine, Jared said that his family moved around every couple of years and that he grew up around creative people. "Creativity, for us, was always a way of life," he said. "It was never a job." He's a drummer Jim Dyson/Getty Shannon Leto and Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds To Mars perform on stage at The O2 Arena on June 04, 2024 in London, England. Jared told The Standard in 2014 that music saved his brother's life. In their teenage years, the siblings experimented with drugs and while Jared eventually stopped to study art in Philadelphia, Shannon fell deeper into addiction and got into trouble with the police. It wasn't until he joined his younger brother, who had gotten cast in the teen series My So-Called Life, in Los Angeles that he got sober. After a few years of making music together, the pair formed Thirty Seconds to Mars in 1998. "It was either that or prison," Jared said. "It saved both of us really. Shannon started drumming on pots and pans from an early age; I played a broken, second-hand piano." Before forming Thirty Seconds to Mars, the brothers played together under a different name every night. They told Ink 19 in 2005 that their band names included Boiled Hard, Boiled Cabbage and Boiled Boiled. They were both on My So-Called Life Mark Seliger/Abc Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock Claire Danes and Jared Leto on 'My So-Called Life'. After appearing in a few minor roles, Jared got his first break starring opposite Claire Danes in the 1994 ABC drama My So-Called Life. But he wasn't the only Leto brother on the series, as Shannon appeared in two episodes as Shane. The older Leto brother also had small appearances in a few of Jareds films, including the 1997 biopic Prefontaine and the 2002 crime drama Highway. He's a photographer Jason Kempin/Getty Shannon Leto and Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds to Mars attend the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. Shannon's creativity isn't limited to his drum kit. He told The Denver Post in 2010 that he's also a photographer, though he doesn't currently share his photos. However, his younger brother has bragged about his work. "My incredibly talented brother Shannon Leto took this photo of me at our old place in Hollywood, California," Jared wrote on Facebook in 2016, alongside a photo of him sitting in a bathtub. "We were living together in a beat up little house with two dogs and we would rehearse relentlessly for hours and hours in a dilapidated garage that seemed to always be either flooded, freezing or 110 degrees." The drummer also started his own coffee line in 2016 called Black Fuel Trading Co. Shannon told NBC News that he was inspired by his grandfather, who was "very serious about his coffee." According to its website, the company has since stopped production. He's dating Cara Santana Phillip Faraone/Getty Cara Santana and Shannon Leto attend The Art of Elysium's 25th Anniversary HEAVEN Gala on January 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Daughter of the Bride actress Cara Santana was rumored to be dating Shannon after the couple were photographed kissing. Though they didn't confirm their relationship at the time, Santana regularly posts photos of her and Shannon on her Instagram. In 2023, Santana shared on Instagram that they had adopted a puppy together named Cali. Jared joked that Thirty Seconds to Mars could never break up Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Shannon Leto and Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds to Mars pose during KROQ Absolut Almost Acoustic Christmas 2018 on December 8, 2018 in Inglewood, California. During a 2023 interview with Forbes, Jared said he was asked if Thirty Seconds to Mars would ever break up. His answer? "It's kind of impossible." "We could decide we're not gonna continue touring or doing it or something, but it's kind of hard to divorce your brother," the frontman joked. He also talked about how impactful the band had been on his relationship with Shannon. "I don't think we would have the relationship we have as brothers if we didn't have Thirty Seconds to Mars, and I don't think Thirty Seconds to Mars would still be here if we weren't brothers, he said. It's a family project. It's like having a f------ pizzeria or something." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Jill Biden Hypes Up the Crowd in Dark Suede Pumps at Presidential Rally Held in North Carolina with President Joe Biden More from Footwear News First Lady Jill Biden attended a rally accompanying her husband President Joe Biden in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday. The rally follows the first 2024 presidential debate hosted by CNN wherein the President spoke in opposition against former President Donald Trump. For the rally, Jill wore a pair of deep blue almost black suede pumps, a staple silhouette in her wardrobe. The style featured sharp triangular toes, textural suede uppers and arched soles. The set was all sat atop thin but sturdy 3 to 4-inch stiletto heels that gave Biden a conservative and walkable boost. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk off the stage after a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 28, 2024. The endlessly versatile pump is widely available from both low and high-end brands and comes in a range of both styles and colors. The style is traditionally favored for its sharp silhouette and sleek stiletto heels, which can dress up both casual and formal ensembles. Jill has made the suede silhouette a go-to, donning the style for both formal and casual occasions. Making a statement, the First Lady donned a blue and white crepe dress hailing from New York-based designer Christian Siriano. The garment featured an eye-catching VOTE print, urging all audience members watching to show up to the polls on Nov. 5. A closer look at Jill Bidens shoes. Sirianio took to his socials to speak about his statement-making look for Jill. Dr. Biden wearing my dress sends a clear message to us all. A vote for Biden is a vote for human and civil rights. As a young American brand and designer, what we can do is give our clothes a voice and I hope this speaks to you. Now lets get to work! When it comes to footwear, Jills choices are classic and chic. The first lady frequently favors pointed-toe pumps in nude and black tones from brands including Dior, Valentino and Stuart Weitzman. Oftentimes, Jill color coordinates her footwear with her ensemble for the day. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk off the stage after a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 28, 2024. Launch Gallery: Jill Biden's Style Through the Years Best of Footwear News Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Lupita Nyong'o is a multi-hyphenate talent much like her parents Christopher Polk/Getty Dorothy Nyong'o, actress Lupita Nyong'o, and Peter Anyang' Nyong'o backstage during the Oscars on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. Lupita Nyongo has her parents, Anyang and Dorothy Nyongo, to thank for her love for the arts. The pair raised their five children in Kenya, where going to the theater was a weekly activity and listening to their dad recite Shakespeare in the car was routine. Though theyre thespians at heart, Anyang and Dorothy pursued careers in the humanitarian space, respectively working in politics and philanthropy areas Lupita continues to explore in her own work with nonprofits. Lupitas father was a visiting professor in Mexico City when the Black Panther star was born. The family moved back to Kenya around a year later, where Lupita grew up with her parents as sources of inspiration. I definitely feel very fortunate for having such strong role models in my immediate family, Lupita said in a 2022 interview with The Talks. My parents raised us with the conditioning that we could do whatever we put our minds to. They did not limit us by gender or age necessarily. From supporting her acting career to raising a family of five, heres everything to know about Lupita Nyongos parents, Anyang and Dorothy Nyongo. They work in politics and philanthropy Lupita Nyong'o Instagram Lupita Nyong'o and her mom Dorothy Nyong'o. Early in his career, Anyang, whose full name is Peter Anyang, was a professor at the University of Nairobi, where he taught courses in political science and acted as a visiting professor in other institutions. In the early 80s, he was invited to help establish an African studies center at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City, where Lupita was born. He then transitioned into a career in politics in the early 2000s, serving as the Minister for Medical Services in the government of Kenya and Minister for Planning and National Development. By 2013, Anyang became a member of the Kenyan senate, representing Kisumu County. Four years later in December 2017, he was elected as governor of the county and he still assumes the role. As for Lupitas mother, Dorothy, she currently serves as the managing trustee of the Africa Cancer Foundation and is also the managing director of her own communications company, 7th Sense Communications Limited. Dorothy also acts as the First Lady of Kisumu County alongside her husband. They share five children Lupita Nyong'o/X Lupita Nyong'o and her siblings Zawadi, Fiona, Esperanza, and Peter. Anyang and Dorothy raised a big family and welcomed five children into their lives four girls and one boy. Their eldest, Zawadi, is a yoga practitioner and meditation specialist who founded her own African yoga-inspired social enterprise in Kenya, ZeroByZawadi. Lupita is the second eldest of the bunch, and she is followed by her younger sisters, Fiona and Esperanza, and younger brother, Peter Junior, who is also an actor. Back in 2014, Peter Junior, who professionally goes by Junior, went viral for being a part of Ellen DeGeneres Oscar selfie that saw him smiling next to Bradley Cooper while Lupita was peeking behind him. In an interview with DeGeneres following the Academy Awards, Lupita opened up about her brothers viral moment. He lives life in an exclamation point, and he just saw that opportunity and he was like Im getting in, this is my only chance!' " she said. Lupita often posts TikToks and pictures with her siblings on social media, and she even shared a sweet photo of them all together to celebrate National Siblings Day in 2022. My siblings. Fully grown, fully cheesing and full of love, she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Happy #NationalSiblingsDay." They supported Lupitas love for acting as a child Lupita Nyong'o Instagram Lupita Nyong'o and her mom Dorothy Nyong'o. The Oscar winning actress love for the craft began in her youth in Kenya, and she often credits her parents for opening that world to her. In a 2014 interview with USA Today, Lupita shed light on her artistic upbringing, sharing that her father used to act in high school and would often read Shakespeare to her growing up. According to Lupita, the family always went to the theater and their get-togethers at home typically included rallying up all the kids to put on a performance for fun. Lupitas love for acting didnt go unnoticed by her father, who reflected on his daughters early talent in a 2014 interview with NPR. I remember in kindergarten, when she was 5, we went to a parents day, and she was leading a bunch of kids on the stage, singing and entertaining parents, he recalled. Then she came on stage singing this Swahili song and she just did wonders. Thats when we realized that this child is in for something. Her parents were ultimately supportive of her pursuing theater as a career. All of [my children] kind of took to the arts really, because I myself was a student of literature, political science and philosophy in college, Anyang' explained to NPR. And I kind of didnt see that it is necessary to steamroll a kid into a particular career. They named her Lupita to honor her birthplace Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Dorothy Nyong'o, Lupita Nyong'o, and Peter Anyang' Nyong'o at the world premiere of Disney's 'A Queen of Katwe' as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival. Much like her dual citizenship in Kenya and Mexico, Lupitas name is also a blend honoring both cultures. Her family are from the ethnic group Luo, where its tradition to name a child after the events of the day surrounding their birth. When Lupita was born in Mexico, her parents decided to honor her birthplace by giving her a name thats a diminutive of the patron saint of Mexicans, Guadalupe. Lupitas name also honors her father by combining his first name, Peter, with the verb to follow. My fathers name is Peter, and in our language to luo means to follow. So [my parents] thought it was a cool play on words of I followed Peter to Mexico, Lupita explained of her creative name in a 2014 interview with The Daily Beast. Anyang was targeted for political activism VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Lupita Nyong'o and Peter Anyang' Nyong'o at the Governor's Ball following the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. Although Lupita typically recalls the more positive sides to her upbringing, the Nyongos havent shied away from sharing the details surrounding political oppression that directly affected their family. Her fathers brother, Charles Nyongo, was a prominent student activist who opposed the regime of then Kenyan president, Daniel arap Moi. He mysteriously disappeared in 1980, which prompted Anyang to flee to Mexico for his familys safety. My brother disappeared in 1980. It was a very difficult time politically. We never recovered his body and it was never resolved who was behind the murder, Anyang said in a 2014 interview with The Independent. Even now, no information has come to light. I know he was on a ferry in Mombasa and witnesses who I managed to talk to told me clearly that it was not an accident and he had been attacked and pushed off the ferry. But the witnesses were too terrified to testify to the police. When the Nyongos moved back to Kenya, Anyang was subject to harassment and arrest, which forced the family to hide out in safe houses. It was a very insecure time. We were moving from one place to another, which was not good for Lupita and Peter Junior, Anyang recalled to The Independent. I was being picked up monthly and weekly. It would depend on the period. It was mainly psychological for me, although it was physical for others, he said. You could not wash for days, you were harassed, threatened, you couldnt sleep and it becomes unbearable. In a 2016 conversation with Trevor Noah for The New York Times, Lupita reflected on this period of unrest in her childhood. My parents shielded us from a lot, she began. It would be dangerous for us to know things because then we could be a target. So they raised us with a semblance of normalcy. There were times when we were under house arrest and couldnt go to school. I knew we were in a different situation than my friends. Her mother was adamant about keeping things as normal as possible in their home, however. Even when things were out of sorts, my mother ran the house like always," Lupita said. "You were in that bathtub at 6, you were in bed at 7. I remember my father being gone for long stretches when he was detained without trial. But I was optimistic enough to hold onto my mothers saying, Hell be back. I wasnt allowed to lean into it. They support Lupita on red carpets Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Lupita Nyong'o and her mother Dorothy Nyong'o attend the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 1, 2014 in Santa Monica, California. From film premieres to award shows, Lupitas parents are no strangers to supporting their daughter on the red carpet. The pair, particularly Dorothy, have attended numerous events alongside their daughter, including the 2014 BAFTA awards and the 2018 world premiere for Black Panther, where Lupita also co-designed her mothers dress for the evening. Dorothy even pulled through for the premiere of Jordan Peeles Us in 2019, despite not being a fan of horror. Im happy she was there, I can assure you thats not her favorite film of mine, Lupita told PEOPLE in 2019. But, she is supportive until the day she dies. She will sit through, despite the fact that she doesnt have the spine for it. That kind of thing warms my heart because I know shes my number one fan whether she can handle my madness or not. Anyang and Dorothy also watched their daughter take home a statue at the 2014 Academy Awards, where she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her work in 12 Years A Slave. As a parent you get kind of taken aback at how wise the little ones have become and we almost shedded tears when we heard those words of wisdom, Anyang said to NPR at the time, as he reflected on Lupitas acceptance speech during the ceremony. It was quite a wonderful evening. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Producer Steven Paul who is said to be among suitors to take control of Paramount Global and has a deal to co-produce and finance films with the National Amusement-controlled company has been found liable for copyright infringement in a lawsuit accusing him of manufacturing and distributing counterfeit DVDs of faith-based film I Believe, a jury has concluded. A Riverside jury on Thursday ordered Paul and his affiliated distribution companies Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp and SP Releasing to pay roughly $150,000 to independent production company, Harvest Aid, which brought the lawsuit. More from The Hollywood Reporter In a statement, Echo Bridge vice president Matt Otto said the decision will be appealed. Even though the amount is small and has no effect on our businesses, Echo Bridge is obviously disappointed in the result in this nuisance suit and were surprised at a jury decision contrary to the evidence, he added. Weve never even been accused of pirating DVDs and it is unthinkable that we would ever do so especially when we have free access to real ones, as in this case. Occasionally juries get things wrong. I watched the trial, and this one of those unfortunate times. The defense moved for a mistrial, which will be considered at a July hearing. SP Releasing didnt respond to requests for comment. In a statement, Stephen Doniger, a lawyer for Harvest Aid, said, Our client is so appreciative of the jurys time and hard work. We are thrilled to have been able to hold Defendants to account for their infringement of the film I Believe and hope this case sends a message that even independent film makers and other artists of limited means have recourse to protect their rights. Paul is widely known as producer of independent films, with credits on Baby Geniuses, Ghost Rider and Ghost in the Shell. In June, Pauls group vying for control of Paramount sent a letter to National Amusements Inc. stating that he had the necessary funding to acquire a majority interest in the holding company, Bloomberg reported. According to the complaint, Harvest Aid in 2017 entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Wax Works to manufacture DVDs of I Believe. Wax Works subsequently agreed with Pauls SP Releasing to sell DVDs of the movie at Walmart. The lawsuit revolved around accusations that Paul and his companies made counterfeit DVDs after the first batch sold out at the retailer. Even though Harvest Aid only provided 39,400 authentic discs, accounting records showed that at least 46,000 DVDs were shipped to Walmart, according to the complaint. Some discs, however, were returned. After counterfeit DVDs were returned from Walmart, the complaint also alleged that Paul resold them. Best of The Hollywood Reporter From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Heres what happened in the Latin music world this week. Yandel Returns to the Roots More from Billboard Yandel has returned to his beginnings by going full barber mode in the streets of Spain. Currently touring the European country with his Yandel 2024 Tour, the Puerto Rican artist surprised fans in the Gran Via (a street in central Madrid) by offering free haircuts. The sweet gesture took Yandel back to his roots, when he was first a barber in Puerto Rico before kicking off his singing career as part of the reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel. Watch the clip here. Master Chris Introduces La Nueva Cepa Last year, the Premios Heat brand unveiled its new franchise called La Nueva Cepa, an initiative in partnership with Warner Music Latina and hitmaker Master Chris to help promote newcomers making a name for themselves in their countries. This week, all of those talented and aspiring acts can be heard in La Nueva Cepa debut album produced by Master Chris. The 12-track set includes songs such as Te Lo Mereces by Dayanara, Caducaste by Andreina Bravo, and Dije Que No by Scarlet Evangall Premios Heat darlings. Its an idea weve been around for a long time and basically celebrates Master Chris 25 years as a music producer, Heat founder Diana Montes previously said to Billboard. Instead of making a record with artists he has produced like Alexis y Fido, Greeicy, and J Balvin, he wanted to follow the Heat Awards philosophy and discover the talent that exists in Latin America. We are not a record label but on our platform, we have developed many talents. With this initiative, what we are going to do is record them, make videos for them, and put them on HTV. Stream and listen to the album below: This embedded content is not available in your region. Latinos at the MLB All-Star Game This week, the MLB unveiled the first lineup for its 2024 All-Star Celebrity Softball Game. Confirmed for the single-day event taking place July 13 are a wave of music stars such as Eladio Carrion, Myke Towers, Grupo Fronteras Payo Solis and Julian Pena Jr., and Kane Brown. They will be joining the confirmed actors Gina Rodriguez and Marcello Hernandez, among other celebrities. Presented by Corona, this years All-Star Celebrity Softball Game will be held July 13 at the Globe Life Field in Texas. Tickets and more information is available at allstargame.com. Natalia Jimenez Makes a Dream Come True During her concert in Venezuela, Natalia Jimenez shared a sweet moment on stage with a fan named Maria Gabriela Silva, whos also an aspiring artist known locally as The Venezuelan Ranchera Queen. In a video posted on social media, Jimenez is seen calling Silva on stage to sing together. The two ladies then crooned audience members with a powerful and improvised rendition of Luis Miguels Si Nos Dejan. I dreamt of this moment for 15 years, to sing with the artist that has inspired me for many yearsmy idol, Silva expressed on her Instagram account. The wait was worth it. It was worth the effort and dreaming with faith in my God. Natalia is just as I imagined her, in addition to being a unique artist, she is a wonderful person, with a human quality, simplicity and humility that surpasses . I love and admire you with all my heart Nath. You made me very happy. I will never forget this. Watch their impromptu performance below: Best of Billboard When this Malibu home first appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills back in 2013, the Mediterranean-inspired villa generated plenty of buzz for its poshly decked-out interiors. Viewers particularly swooned over the glass-front produce fridge, which even had its own social media accounts. Its then-owner Yolanda Hadid has since moved on to other residential circumstancesfirst to a penthouse in L.A. and then a farm in Pennsylvaniaand her TV-famous former digs have just popped up for sale, asking a speck under $35 million. The former model and TV personalitymother to models Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadidacquired the property in 2007 for $4.5 million. She then set about extensively rebuilding every inch of the place that she would go on to share with her erstwhile Grammy-winning composer husband David Foster, working in collaboration with a reported team of 100 builders. Hadid sold the six-bedroom, 11-bath mansion eight years later, in 2015, for $19.5 million to Vista Equity Partners founder Robert F. Smith and his model wife Hope, who leased it out for $450,000 a month in 2019 to reality TV star and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner. More from Robb Report The estates palm tree-laced grounds are spotlighted by an infinity-edge swimming pool. Personal touches added to the residence during Hadids tenure include resort-style grounds spotlighted by an infinity-edge pool, a fire pit, an al fresco dining area, and a hillside lemon orchard. Theres a kitchen featuring an eat-in island, top-tier stainless appliances, a breakfast room, and that ever-popular fruit and vegetable refrigerator (aka a frantry), plus a formal dining area that sits across from a glam living room. Resting on a 3.2-acre bluff-top parcel across Pacific Coast Highway from the ocean, the stucco and terracotta-roof structure is described in the listing held by Daniel Milstein and Aaron Kirman of AKG | Christies International Real Estate as the spot where Mediterranean charm meets Southern California perfection. Featured is nearly 11,700 square feet of living space on three levels punctuated by soaring ceilings, dark hardwood floors, and walls of glass overlooking sweeping views of the Pacific and Santa Monica Mountains. RELATED: Real Housewives Star Sonja Morgan Is Selling the Furniture From Her Famed Manhattan Townhouse The houses infamous produce fridge (right) is still prominently featured in the current kitchen. Some of the other standout features include a cozy family room that opens to a covered terrace warmed by a fireplace, as well as a wood-paneled study, a plush movie theater, and a wet bar-equipped game room. Theres also a tricked-out primary suite, which boasts a fireplace, a private balcony, a shelf-lined office nook tucked off to the side, and dual designer showroom closets and luxe baths. Relaxation is the name of the lower levels game. Down there, youll find a double wine cellar with room for about 2,000 bottles and a spa oasis replete with a full mirrored gym, massage and cold-plunge rooms, and steam and sauna facilities. The amenities continue outdoors, with an attached four-car garage and a gated motorcourt that has additional parking space for at least 20 vehicles. The Dutch-born 60-year-old appeared on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for four seasons, from 2012 to 2016. She reportedly left the show to focus on her recovery from Lyme disease and was divorced from Foster in 2015. Today, Hadid reportedly lives a peaceful life on her Pennsylvania farm. Click here for more photos of Yolanda Hadids former Malibu house. Yolanda Hadid Former House Malibu 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. Welcome to Startups Weekly Haje's weekly recap of everything you cant miss from the world of startups. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Editor's note: This post has been altered to remove its most offensive language; it does not meet our standards of integrity. This post was also sent to subscribers as a newsletter. We apologize to readers for this serious error. I just came off recording an episode of Equity, where I learned about the newest wave of stupidity. The tech industry's DEI allergy has hit a new low, as Silicon Valley leaders are once again waving their "meritocracy" banners high and wide. Scale AI's Alexandr Wang has decided that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are passe and replaced them with his shiny new acronym MEI: merit, excellence, and intelligence. I cringed so hard I'm going to need a chiropractor. Of course, the ignorance inspired enthusiastic applause from tech titans like Elon Musk on X, while LinkedIn's startup crowd rolled their eyes so hard they were practically doing backflips. Critics argue that Wangs post misses the mark (no shit!) by ignoring systemic barriers and reducing complex social dynamics to a simplistic and dangerously naive ideal of meritocratic purity. Meanwhile, back at Scale AI's headquarters, annotators in economically depressed regions toil away for pay that wouldnt cover a decent brunch in Silicon Valley. But sure, lets talk about how "objective" hiring practices will save us all from the tyranny of fairness and inclusion. Yours truly, Haje (@Haje on X. Feel free not to message me about your thoughts on the above. Also: The above thoughts are mine and don't reflect the stance of TechCrunch or any of the other writers, and all the usual blah-blah people say when they write an enraged op-ed.) Most interesting startup stories from the week Ever wonder what keeps a top-tier venture capitalist up at night? Spoiler alert: Its not his hefty investment portfolio or his packed schedules. Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the brains behind Khosla Ventures, recently revealed his biggest worry and it's not what youd expect from someone with a $50 million bet on OpenAI that paid off big-time. I loved Connie's candid chat with Khosla about AI's future, regulation woes, and why Europe's tech scene might be snoozing while the rest of the world races ahead. Buckle up; it's an enlightening (and surprisingly entertaining) ride! Story continues Most interesting fundraises this week Volkswagen is taking a leap of faith (and cash) into the electric future by investing up to $5 billion in Rivian's software development, starting with an initial billion-dollar infusion. This partnership seems like a win-win: Rivian gets the financial boost it needs to navigate its ambitious path forward, and VW finally has a shot at brushing up its somewhat rusty software skills. In their new bromance, these two auto giants will share tech secrets like school kids trading lunch snacks VW even gets access to Rivian's sleek electrical architecture. The collaboration could infuse some much-needed pizzazz into Volkswagens lineup while giving Rivian a European flair in a deal that kinda started from the two companies nerding out about building cars in Georgia (the state, not the country). Imagine spending your summer break not behind the bike sheds smoking weed (or whatever the yout' are doing these days), but in a VC office negotiating half a million dollars. Sounds like the plot of a teen drama, right? Well, for Christopher Fitzgerald and Nicholas Van Landschoot, this is real life. Instead of perfecting their cannonballs or binge-watching Netflix, these two 18-year-olds have convinced seasoned investors to back their AI-powered API startup with $500,000. Coming in hot : In a world where instant gratification apparently knows no bounds, Zepto just nabbed a whopping $665 million to ensure you never have to wait more than 10 minutes for your groceries or your electronic gadgets. Investors are tripping over themselves as if theyve never seen a grocery app before! Much CRM. Such smart : Forget everything you know about CRMs being glorified, soul-sucking spreadsheets. Christopher O'Donnell, the former HubSpot exec who helped put that company on the map, is back with a vengeance and this time he's armed with AI. The $50 million buy-now button: Ever feel like online shopping is akin to searching for a needle in a digital haystack? Well, Daydream seems to think so, too, and has decided to tackle this conundrum head-on. Armed with a whopping $50 million seed funding and an arsenal of AI-powered tools, it's setting out to make e-commerce searches as effortless as finding cat videos online. Meow, indeed. Other unmissable TechCrunch stories Every week, theres always a few stories I want to share with you that just dont fit into the categories above. Itd be a shame if you missed em, so heres a random grab bag of goodies for ya: (NerdWallet) This years Atlantic hurricane season might be one for the books. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts up to 13 hurricanes between June 1 and Nov. 30, with as many as seven reaching at least Category 3 status. If the prediction is accurate, this year will be one of the most active Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. For coastal homeowners, this could mean home damage even if they live inland. You can still see wind damage, even if youre not experiencing those maximum winds, says Sarah Dillingham, senior meteorologist at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, which researches structure safety. With slower-moving storms, homeowners who live farther inland might have roof and soffit damage or lose some trees, Dillingham says. Many homeowners who live in hurricane zones tend to wait until a storm is tracking toward them to get ready, but that can cause expensive mistakes. Being well-prepared for hurricane season is a process that takes time and thought, says Mellanee Roberts, deputy emergency management coordinator for the City of Pearland in Texas, by email. Here are seven tips to put you ahead of the weather. 1. Trim or remove trees near your home Homeowners should be sure to trim away any tree branches and landscaping that would hit the house in heavy wind, Roberts said. According to NOAA, a Category 1 hurricane (the weakest category) is strong enough to break large tree branches. When combined with rain-saturated soil, the winds can also uproot entire trees. Branches that are weak or dead are the most vulnerable to high winds and can take out your roof or guttering on their way down. Signs that a tree is in bad shape may include cracking in the trunk, loss of leaves before the appropriate season, abnormally soft roots or a hollow sound when knocking on the trunk. If you need help removing large branches or taking down an entire tree, Dillingham says, consider calling a licensed arborist. 2. Look for loose or damaged fence boards Winds over 39 mph are enough to turn items into projectiles, according to the National Weather Service. That means loose or damaged fence boards will be more susceptible to high winds than their secured counterparts. To give your fence its best chance, fix or replace pieces that wont stay attached or that show signs of damage. Securing your fence can also protect your home. If fencing comes loose during a hurricane, the boards can become projectiles that hit your house. By ensuring your fence is prepared for high winds, you are also reducing the chance that storm debris will damage your home. 3. Inspect your roof for loose or damaged shingles Your roof takes the brunt of hurricane winds, which can exceed 157 mph, according to the National Weather Service. That can lead to missing shingles or tiles, holes from debris and damage where the wind rips away solar panels, satellite dishes or other attachments. If you see sections of your roof that are discolored after rain, loose or damaged shingles, loose or bent flashing that connects your chimney to the shingles, or cracked vents, it might be time to call in a professional. Leaks in your attic after a heavy storm are also a sign that your roof could use some professional attention. 4. Clean out your gutters Slow-moving hurricanes that sit over areas for a long time can dump several inches of rain an hour, as Hurricane Harvey did in Texas in 2017. That means gutters need to be ready to divert the water. Making sure that that water can easily be transported off your roof and away from your home thats going to be helpful, Dillingham says. Removing debris from your gutters will allow water to drain quickly from your roof, and clearing out downspouts will help it flow away from your home, Dillingham says. Also look for signs of damage, such as cracks or loose sections, and call a gutter company for a repair if you notice any potential problems. 5. Check your windows and doors Hurricane-force winds can drive rain into your home through small gaps in windows and doors. If youve got a vulnerable opening, your waters going to try to find a way in, Dillingham says. For windows and doors, check that the flashing a strip of special material installed around the exterior of the openings isnt damaged or pulling away from the house. Look for spots where sunlight is coming through and close them with weatherstripping. Add caulking to fill spots along the windowsill that have worn away, Dillingham says. Dillingham also recommends paying special attention to access points that open inward, such as French doors, which can fail more easily in high winds. 6. Clean out space in your garage Although bringing loose items indoors is essential before a hurricane arrives think of all the YouTube videos of trampolines going airborne, Dillingham says many homeowners dont think of this step until a storm is on its way. To get a head start, set aside space now in your garage or shed to store patio furniture, yard decor and kids toys so you can quickly clear your property. Not only does this make things easier when a hurricane is on its way, but also youll have space to store items during other weather events, such as strong thunderstorms (and you wont have to buy another trampoline). 7. Dont forget the insurance Learn about the flood risks in your area, even if you dont think youre in a floodplain. Make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage to cover hurricane damage. Homeowners insurance is not going to cover any losses from storm surge or inland flooding due to rainfall, Dillingham says. Also, dont count on a home warranty to help with repairs after a hurricane. Most plans dont cover any damage related to wind, rain, floods or fire. That includes roof damage from strong winds. If you need flood or wind insurance, make sure you buy it in time. Most insurers stop issuing insurance policies once a storm is imminent, Roberts 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 PIX11. This Bedroom Makeover Has the Best Hack for Making IKEA BILLYs Blend In ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER HOME TYPE: House PROJECT TYPE: Children's Room & Nursery STYLE: Colorful SKILL LEVEL: DIY RENTAL FRIENDLY: No As kids grow up, its natural for them to want their bedrooms to reflect their stage of life. Homeowner Emy Stenudds (@emysrenovations) daughter, Adina, had a similar experience when they were renovating her room in their uber-colorful home in Sweden. She [Adina] was getting a big room, so I wanted to have it all in there, Emy says. A small walk-in closet, good storage space, a desk, and some cozy spaces as well. The rooms original layout had two closets that took up valuable real estate. So Emy and her partner, Joakim Johansson, decided to remove one and save the other for hanging clothes. Tearing the additional closet out allowed them to learn more about their homes history. The couple discovered water damage behind the closet, but luckily, the previous homeowner fixed it. Removing a closet didnt take away from Adinas storage space, though. The couple took IKEA BILLY bookcases and transformed them to look like built-in shelving. They fit all of her things, and it looks great, Ely says. The IKEA bookcases look like built-ins because theyre painted the same color as the wainscoting, doors, and crown molding (which are painted in Jotuns Industrial Blue). A white textured pattern on the glass doors blends seamlessly into Fargkungens Newbie wallpaper, too. What was once a somewhat boring space was transformed into a bright, eclectic room thats perfect for Adina. Ely is likely proud of her and her husbands work, too, and being able to make memories in the room with her daughter. I love how cozy it is with the place by the window where she can sit and read or play with her stuffed animals, Ely says. And also her hanging chair. She still likes to play a lot, but she wants me to be near. So sometimes Im sitting by her desk or laying in her bed while she is playing with her Maileg mouses house. The room is complete with a bed that came with the house and a secondhand desk and chair. And Adinas room isnt the only colorful room in this home; vibrant hues are the norm. To see more of the splendidly colored space, visit the full house tour on Apartment Therapy. This post originally ran on Cubby. See it there: Before & After: A Once-Bland Kids Room Is Transformed by Striking Blue Paint Groucho Marx once joked, Anything that cant be done in bed isnt worth doing at all. You might think he was referring to sleeping and sex. But humans, at one time or another, have done just about everything in bed. And yet, despite the fact that we spend one-third of our lives in bed, theyre more of an afterthought. I certainly didnt think much about beds until I found myself talking about their history with the executives of a mattress company. These humble artifacts, I learned, had a big story to tell one thats 77,000 years old. Thats when, according to archaeologist Lynn Wadley, our early African ancestors started to sleep in hollows dug out of cave floors the first beds. They wrapped themselves in insect-repelling grasses to avoid bed bugs as persistent as those of todays seedy motels. Much about our beds have remained unchanged for centuries. But one aspect of the bed has undergone a dramatic shift. Today, we usually sleep in bedrooms with the door shut firmly behind us. Theyre the ultimate realm of privacy. No one else is allowed in them, aside from a spouse or lover. But as I show in my forthcoming book, What We did in Bed, it wasnt always this way. Beds full of buck and babble The structure of the bed has remained remarkably consistent: We know that raised frames with mattresses were being used in Malta and Egypt by 3000 B.C., which means that people have been using them for over 5,000 years. Early Egyptian beds were little more than rectangular wooden frames with legs and leather or fabric sleeping platforms. The upper end was often angled slightly upwards. Grass, hay and straw stuffed into sacks or cloth bags served as a scratchy mattress for centuries. But one thing that has changed is who has occupied the bed. For most of human history, people thought nothing of crowding family members or friends into the same bed. The 17th-century diarist Samuel Pepys often slept with male friends and rated their conversation skills. One of his favorites was the merry Mr. Creed, who provided excellent company. In September 1776, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin famously shared a bed in a New Jersey inn with only one small window. Adams kept it shut, but Franklin wanted it open, complaining that he would suffocate without fresh air. Adams won the battle. Travelers often slept with strangers. In China and Mongolia, kangs heated stone platforms were used in inns as early as 5000 B.C. Guests supplied the bedding and slept with fellow tourists. Bedding down with strangers could lead to some awkwardness. The 16th-century English poet Andrew Buckley complained of bedmates who buck and babble, some commeth drunk to bed. Then there was the Great Bed of Ware a massive bed kept in an inn in a small town in entral England. Built with richly decorated oak around 1590, the four-post bed is about the size of two modern double beds. Twenty-six butchers and their wives a total of 52 people are said to have spent a night in the Great Bed in 1689. An 1877 drawing of the Great Bed of Ware. Harper's New Monthly Magazine Holding court While regular people crammed into beds, royalty often slept alone or with their spouse. But their bedrooms were hardly bastions of privacy. The ceremonial bedding of newlyweds was a public spectacle for a royal court. After a royal wedding, a form of symbolic intercourse often occurred in front of numerous witnesses. After the feast, the bride was undressed by her ladies and put to bed. The groom would then arrive in his nightshirt, sometimes accompanied by musicians. The bed curtains were then drawn, yet the guests sometimes wouldnt leave until they saw the couples naked legs touching, or heard suggestive noises. The following morning, the stained bed linen was displayed as proof of consummation. And why go to an office when you can rule from the bedroom? Each morning, Louis XIV of France would sit in his bed, bolstered by pillows, and preside over elaborate gatherings. Surrounded by courtiers like the gossipy Lord Saint-Simon, he composed decrees and consulted with high officials. King Louis XIVs bedroom was a royal staging ground. V_E/Shutterstock.com From public to private During the 19th century, beds and bedrooms gradually became private spheres. A major impetus was rapid urbanization during the Industrial Revolution. In cities, compact row houses were constructed with small rooms, each with a specific purpose, one of which was sleeping. Another reason was religion. The Victorian era was a devout age, and Evangelical Christianity was pervasive by the 1830s. Such beliefs placed great emphasis on marriage, chastity, the family, and the bond between parent and child; allowing strangers or friends under the covers was no longer kosher. By 1875, Architect magazine had published an essay declaring that a bedroom used for anything other than sleeping was unwholesome and immoral. Bedrooms reserved for adults and children became commonplace in affluent 19th century homes. Husbands and wives sometimes even had separate bedrooms, perhaps connected by a door, each with their own adjoining dressing rooms. Self-help books advised Victorian housewives about how to decorate their bedrooms. In 1888, writer and interior decorator Jane Ellen Panton recommended bright colors, washstands, chamber pots and, above all, a long chair, where a wife could rest when overwhelmed. Tech knocks down the door Today, bedrooms are still considered sanctuaries a calming place to recuperate from the chaos of everyday life. Portable technology, however, has wormed its way under our covers. A survey from earlier this year found that 80% of teens brought their mobile devices into their bedrooms at night; nearly one-third slept with them. In a way, technology has reverted the bed to its earlier role: a place to socialize chatting with friends, maybe even strangers late into the night. And we can only wonder how many tweets President Trump has composed while burrowed under his blankets. But in some ways, the effects of these glowing bedmates seem to be a bit more pernicious. One study surveyed couples who brought their smartphones to bed with them; more than half said the devices caused them to miss out on quality time with their partner. In another study, participants who banished smartphones from the bedroom reported being happier and having a better quality of life. Maybe thats because these devices eat into our sleep. Then again, Im not so sure my sleep would be much better if I were to bed down with drunk strangers, as Andrew Buckley did. Nadia Durrani is a contributing author of this article. [ Thanks for reading! We can send you The Conversations stories every day in an informative email. Sign up today. ] 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: Brian Fagan, University of California, Santa Barbara Read more: Brian Fagan 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. CNN names unexpected Washington city among best towns in US PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Pacific Northwest destination located less than 150 miles away from Portland was dubbed one of the top towns to visit in the U.S. CNN published its inaugural list of Americas Best Towns to Visit earlier this week. The media companys travel editors named 10 destinations nationwide that offer loads of personality and plenty to see and do without the elbow-to-elbow crowds of the big tourist cities. Each place holds between 50,000 and 225,000 residents. Late art collector Arlene Schnitzer honored with Oregon Historical Society exhibition The top three towns were Richmond, Va., Providence, R.I. and [checks notes] Tacoma, Wash. The Washington destination was recognized for its landscape, outdoor access and arts community. It was also celebrated as a more relaxed alternative to Seattle, which is just over 30 miles north with more than triple the number of residents. It received bonus points for its central location between Puget Sound and Mount Rainier. Cascadia Subduction Zone study reveals area at particular risk for massive quake There are some pretty spectacular sights in the city, too, thanks to Dale Chihuly, the art glass master and Tacoma native, CNN wrote. At the Museum of Glass, exhibits and glassblowers at work in its hot shop tell the story of the medium. And flightseeing tours will give you a good look at the sacred ancestral lands of the Puyallup Tribe. The media company recommended Tibbitts at FernHill and The Table as must-visit food spots. The latters Derek Bray was selected as a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundations Best Chef in the Northwest award. Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma and Hotel Murano were recommended as the best hotels in the area. YouTube video leads to $10K of spray paint in alleged graffiti artists home Portland Maine, not Oregon and San Luis Obispo, Calif., rounded out CNNs top five for the best American towns. Flagstaff, Ariz., Macon, Ga., Grand Rapids, Mich., Knoxville, Tenn., and Duluth, Minn. were also listed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Our favorite dog-friendly bars in Rhode Island, and why your pooch will love them, too Nothing says summer like a cold beer, the outdoors and a dog. Luckily, there are numerous spots in Rhode Island where you'll find that trifecta. Consider this your guide to dog-friendly bars, where you can unwind with your furry friend and soak up some rays. This isn't a full guide to every dog-friendly watering hole, but a handful of solid spots where you can find a drink, good grub, and always, a good dog. A few are even approved by the reporter's beagle mix, Buddy. Where is it? Several places. Check out the spacious scene at The Guild's Pawtucket beer hall or catch a picnic table at its Providence beer garden. You can also visit the brewery's Warren location, but dogs are asked to stay outside there. Why humans love it: Craft brews, spacious digs and live music have earned The Guild strong reviews. Food is fairly basic think pizza, pretzels and nachos but this is more a spot for a tasty brew and a some munchies rather than a full dinner. Why your dog will love it, too: This is a great place for your pooch to socialize. On any given day, there may be a few furballs hanging around the bar. Buddy relaxes by the counter at The Guild's Pawtucket location. Where is it? 155 Westminster St., Providence Why humans love it: Funky decor, affordable prices and plenty of parking give Ogie's a good rep. Expect colorful cocktails topped with umbrellas and flamingos, down-to-earth bartenders and no-frills dining from a pickup window serving seasoned tots and more. Why your dog will love it, too: This joint actually has a separate menu just for dogs, apparently named after the one-toothed, cowboy-hat-wearing "Simpsons" character Gummy Joe. Your doggo can chow down on a hamburger, chicken breast, bacon, or better yet, "the champ," a bacon cheeseburger. The Providence Journal has not consulted a veterinarian to see whether that is advised. Buddy sits at Ogie's, where he ordered a plate of grilled chicken. Where is it? 75 South St., Providence Why humans love it: This mainstay is unpretentious, with great live music. Stop in to hear local bands, play a round of pool and grab a cheap drink. Just remember to bring cash as this bar doesn't take cards. There is, however, an ATM as backup. Why your dog will love it, too: Nick-a-Nees is well known as a place for pups, so you know it's guaranteed to be a friendly environment for your pooch. This bar isn't quite as spacious as other spots on this list, but still has a wide array of seating for you and your canine, from tables to stools to outdoor space. Buddy roams near the pool table at Nick-A-Nees, where patrons offered him Milk Bones. Where is it? 334 Knight St., Warwick Why humans love it: Apponaug pours a variety of beers on tap every day in various sizes so you can taste several or enjoy one. There's also a long menu of tacos, sliders, salads and more to suit a variety of tastes. Why your dog will love it, too: The brewery has a wide terrace that will give your dog some room to stretch out. As a bonus, it overlooks the Pawtuxet River. Your dog won't be allowed to stay inside the bar, but there is a dog park across to way from the front door if your companion needs space to run. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Dog-friendly bars in RI: Where to grab a drink with your furry friends In case you missed it: The Ledger's salute to graduates - galleries and graduation lists Polk County's high school graduates of 2024 were born amid a global war on terror. They took their first steps at the dawn of the mobile revolution, when social media and smartphones connected the world as never before. But a home-lending crisis wreaked havoc on the economy. Graduates process into the 2024 Lake Wales High School 103rd Commencement Exercise at Legion Field in Lake Wales Fl. Thursday May 30, 2024. Ernst Peters/The Ledger In their freshman year, the world was turned upside down by a global pandemic disrupting the educational system. Through all these years, through the trials and triumphs, Polk County has watched them grow, with a strong sense of dignity, compassion and community service. Look no further than the 2024 Silver Garland winners. The Silver Garland Awards, started by The Ledger in 1976 and now administered by Visit Central Florida, honor high school seniors that have used their talents to give back to their communities. See this year's winners here. Now these young women and men are headed into the world to college, the military, to learn a trade, to start families, to build stronger communities. We speak for all parents when we say we're proud of you. And we can't wait to see what you add to the world. Winter Haven High School graduates celebrate as they are honored for their grade achievement during their 2024 Commencement Exercises at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland Fl. Wednesday May 22, 2024. Ernst Peters/The Ledger On June 23, The Ledger ran its 2024 Graduates special section in print. It included the complete graduating classes for each of Polk's public schools, public charter schools and participating private schools. Each of those graduating classes are found below, just click on the links. All Saints Academy Auburndale High School Bartow High School Bartow International Baccalaureate Bibleway Royal Christian Academy Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School Davenport High School Discovery High School Excel Christian Academy Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School Frostproof Middle-Senior High School Fresh Start Community School Gause Academy George Jenkins High School Haines City High School Haines City International Baccalaureate Harrison School for the Arts Jean O'Dell Learning Center Kathleen High School Karen M. Siegel Academy Lakeland High School Lakeland Christian School Lake Gibson High School Lake Region High School Lake Wales High School Landmark Christian School McKeel Academy of Technology Mulberry High School New Beginnings High School Polk GRAD Academy Polk State Collegiate High School Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Polk Virtual School Ridge Community High School Ridgeview Global Studies Academy Roosevelt Academy Santa Fe Catholic High School Summerlin Academy Tenoroc High School Victory Christian Academy Victory Ridge Academy Winter Haven High School This article originally appeared on The Ledger: The Ledger's graduation memories: Photo galleries and graduation lists HOLLAND A relatively new pumpkin patch in Holland will not return in 2024, as operators decides to prioritize time with family. Holland Hilltop Acres was a favorite for parents with young children, located on a manageable lot at 6022 138th Ave. The farm had pumpkins, a straw maze for children, a corn box (kernels of corn instead of sand), fresh donuts and coffee for sale, a barrel train and a hayride. The business had also recently added a one-acre corn maze. Admission was $7 per person or $35 for a family of five or more. Holland Hilltop Acres owners Kristin and Josh Coffman pose for a portrait in their pumpkin patch Thursday, Oct. 15, 2021. Josh and Kristin Coffman said, when launching the business in 2021, they wanted to help families make memories. "After a lot of discussion with our family and friends, we have decided not to continue Holland Hilltop Acres," the business wrote on social media Friday, June 28. "It has been a great three years providing fall fun for the community. We appreciate all of the support and those who showed up each year, even in the cold and rainy weather at times. "One of our goals was to provide a place for families to come together and make memories together, and we feel like we accomplished that in a really neat way. It was so fun helping you choose your pumpkins and seeing all the kids running around our farm, enjoying donuts and the barrel rides. "The biggest reason for not continuing the pumpkin patch is we see these years flying by when our kids are still young, and we want to prioritize this time with our family. Thank you for understanding our decision." Other sites for fall fun in West Michigan have recently included Crane's Orchards in Fennville, Virtue Cider in Fennville, the New Salem Corn Maze in Dorr, Bethke Farms in Grand Haven and Post Family Farm in Hudsonville. Cassandra Lybrink is the local editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at clybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @CassLybrink. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Hilltop Acres announces it won't return in 2024 This weekend provides action, food and other fun for visitors as LeClaire celebrates its 190th anniversary. Heres the schedule: 1. Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, June 29-30: Immerse yourself in living history with Buffalo Bill, June 29-30. See amazing trick shooting, expert horseback riding stunts, and so much more! Looking for family fun that blends history and excitement? Set up the wagon and mosey on down to Buffalo Bills Best of the Wild West hosted by the Buffalo Bill Museum! During this ticketed event, you will meet cowboy legends like Annie Oakley, Buck Taylor, and Buffalo Bill himself and watch them perform feats of skill and strength behind-the-back trick shots, side-saddle horseback riding, a full-blown arena show extravaganza and more. Be sure to visit the period-accurate vendors selling old-world wares, take a historic teepee tour, or pan for gold with prospectors. Watch history come alive with the whole family in LeClaire, Iowa this weekend! There is limited parking at Cody Elementary School, which is why there will be shuttle buses running both days from the Levee in front of the Buffalo Bill Museum (right on the riverfront) up to Cody Elementary School. There will be additional parking available at the LeClaire Fire Department, 201 N. 15th Street, with shuttle bus service. You can purchase tickets at the Museum before boarding the bus to save time or purchase them at the gate of the event. The show starts promptly at 12:30pm both days. No pets. No coolers. No alcohol. There is hay bale seating, but feel free to bring your own lawn chair or blanket. The grounds open at 10:30am and close at 4pm on Saturday; close at 3pm on Sunday. There will be a pop-up concert both days by Jordan Mohr and Cale Bowe. Food trucks will have food and beverages for sale. Boomtown (the re-enactors campsite area and other fun displays) will be open during the day. To purchase tickets online:https://events.humanitix.com/buffalo-bill-brings-the-wild-west-home Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/466055285807639 2. Join us for a FREE party celebrating LeClaires 190th Birthday were going to party like its 1834! Enjoy FREE fun for the whole Family on Saturday, June 29, 4-9pm. In LeClaire, we are partying like its 1834 in celebration of our treasured Mississippi Rivertowns 190th birthday. Join us for this FREE event on Saturday, June 29 from 4-9pm on the LeClaire Levee following the Buffalo Bill Best of the Wild West Show and enjoy all the birthday fun! There will be a petting zoo, face painting, balloon animals, and street magic performances alongside live music, bingo, and a fireworks show that the whole family is sure to love. And dont forget to pick up some free ice cream Happy Joes Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor will be dishing up their tasty treats (while supplies last)! Where: LeClaire, Iowa Levee Schedule of Events June 29: FREE ice cream social while supplies last: starting at 4pm The Hot Dog Guy will be selling food and water and pop will be available for purchase. Nut N Fancy Farm petting zoo: starting at 4pm (mini horses and cows, sheep, pigs, and more) Face painting for kids: 4-6pm Bingo at the Levee Pavilion presented by the LeClaire Civic Club: 4-9pm Wapsi Wrangler Shoot-out: 4:15-4:45pm Balloon animals for kids: 4:30-6:30pm Street magic performances: 5-6pm Live Music by Jordan Mohr: 5pm & 6pm Live Music by Jubilo: 7-9pm with Contra Dancing instruction Uncle Norms Fireworks show: After 9pm (at the north end of the Levee) LeClaires 190th Birthday Party Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/480035911157740/ 3. Get your whiskey on and meet some of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show performers at the Celebration Center during the Wild West Whiskey Night: Come and experience the thrill of the Wild West at the Mississippi River Distilling Company! Meet the talented performers from the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, dressed in full authentic outfits, enjoy specially crafted cocktails, an Old Time photo booth, and participate in a $5 Raffle to win a Whiskey Barrel and $50 gift card! Dont miss out on delicious offerings from two local food trucks. Facebook event page: https://facebook.com/events/s/wild-west-whiskey-night/6466692943455942/ 4. Enjoy Wild West Sips at Wide River Winery Tasting Room, Mississippi River Distilling Company, Green Tree Brewery, and Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery and enter for a chance to win some great prizes. Saddle up for some Wild West Sips in LeClaire June 28th-30! Mosey on over to these local favorites and quench your thirst with a taste of the West: **Green Tree Brewery Craft beers sure to hit the spot **Mississippi River Distilling Company Sample their fine, handcrafted spirits and cocktails. **Wide River Winery and Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery Delight in a glass of delicious wine at either of our wonderful wineries! Heres the best part: Grab a drink, get your card stamped at EACH location, and youll be entered to win FOUR incredible prize packages thats right, FOUR CHANCES TO WIN! Each prize pack, valued at over $100, is filled with goodies from each establishment. Turn in your completed card at any of the four participating locations for your chance to win! Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1239873013661014/ 5. Sightseeing cruises aboard the Riverboat Twilight on June 29 at 11am, 1:30pm, and 4pm. The 90-minute cruises take place every Saturday now through the end of August, except for August 10. Tickets available online at www.riverboattwilight.com or at the ticket office on 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Anna Schlecht knew she was a lesbian when she first had language. At 3, she told her mother she was in love with Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. She was going to marry her when she grew up. Her parents wouldnt have any of that sort of talk at the time, and they fought against Schlechts queerness. Schlecht now has been fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and other mis- and under-represented communities in Olympia for nearly 50 years. At 67, she and Steve OConnor, 65, her co-chair of the Sound Alliance of Older LGBTQ+ (SAOL), look back on what it took for them to live out and proud, and how Olympia has become more welcoming to queer people. Were not finished by any means, OConnor said. And its not easy by any means. From the Midwest to the Northwest Schlecht, from Madison, Wisconsin, said her parents worked with her on gender assignment, reminding her that mothers are women, fathers are men, and shes a girl who will one day be with a boy. She said it really messed her up. Shes still not sure what her gender identity might have been if her parents didnt put her through what they did. Back then, identifying as transgender didnt seem like a choice for her. So she bided her time and at 17, as soon as she could move out, she did. So I identified as a political bisexual because in my mind it was a forerunner to the term queer, which is all inclusive, she said. And then a friend of mine said, This is just a pile of (expletive). You only want to sleep with women. Come on, youre a lesbian. I said, OK, well yeah, youre right. So I kind of was out my entire life. It wasnt until later in life that her parents tried to atone for their misguided efforts in her childhood. But they did. Schlecht moved to Olympia soon after leaving home, but it wasnt any more welcoming to queer people than Madison. She said the country was still divided after the Stonewall riots, and even the idea of creating a safe space seemed impossible. But she found her people nonetheless. She and other lesbians in Olympia shared housing, created workspaces together and shared each others cars. Schlecht has lived in the same house for more than 45 years, a place that has seen generations of women helping raise children together. It was kind of natural for lesbians and trans women to focus on the needs of children as the core elements of a chosen family, she said. Our house was just packed with as many as five kids at any given time. The women started a number of lesbian carpenter collectives, she said. The first was called Janes of All Trades, a play on Jack of All Trades. The second was Nozama, a play on Amazon. Schlecht said the women always found support in Olympia, but they still had trouble finding people who would hire them to work on their houses. They ended up working on a lot of houses of friends and relatives. Then Schlecht went to work for the city of Olympia on housing and homelessness issues. Pride in Olympia Schlecht said it felt like there was a nationwide shift in the early 1990s in the wake of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that moved the queer community forward. Our community had gone through HIV/AIDS and was still going through it and we decided, were going to die in the closet, she said. We have to come out, we have to fight for our rights. Nobodys going to fight for you. In 1991 she helped found Capital City Pride, the first small-town festival outside the now-50-year-old Seattle Pride festival. She was helped by a group of students at The Evergreen State College and Lacey drag queens. We realized it took as much effort to carpool to Seattle Pride as it did to (establish) our own, Schlecht said. She said the city of Olympia and the state have always been partners in organizing Pride, but its smaller organizations and individuals who continue to threaten the festival. The group has had to employ marshalls to keep people safe and protesters within their rights. People still show up with triple-decker signs with religious, anti-gay messages written across them. People are like, Really, you have to do that here? Cant you just go to Seattle or somewhere else and go do your gay thing out of town? she said. No, we live here. Even the Sound Alliance of Older LGBTQ+ gets hate, Schlecht said. Sometimes their luncheons will be met with folks walking up to tables and sharing their unwanted beliefs. How accepting is Olympia? OConnor said not all religious people share anti-gay beliefs. He moved to the west side of Olympia from Los Angeles a year ago, and works for St. Johns Episcopal, a South Capitol church he says is extremely welcoming. He said he has found Olympia to be welcoming to not just LGBTQ+ people, but to minority people, those with disabilities, and aging people. And there are nearly a dozen faith-based organizations that hes seen work with groups who serve underrepresented communities, and take those people in directly. I come from that side of the world, the helping side of the world, OConnor said. I see a lot of that happening in general, but especially in Olympia, and Im pretty proud of that. I think it speaks a tremendous amount about the work thats been done in the last 50 years. Schlecht said some members of SAOL said they intentionally moved to Olympia because its so friendly. One of them said he moved from South Carolina after seeing Gov. Jay Inslee raise the Pride flag on the Capitol Campus nine years ago. SAOL alone has a mailing list of more than 500 people. Some of the groups get-togethers see dozens of people, if not hundreds. And Capital City Pride draws crowds of thousands. Were in a different day now for the queer community in terms of their acceptance, OConnor said. I applaud that greatly but were not finished by any means. But theres tangible evidence of progress. Connecting across generations Schlecht said one of the most prevalent issues among older people, whether theyre gay or straight, is social isolation. She said for older adults, social isolation is almost as lethal as a heart attack. Thats why she and OConnor work so hard to keep SAOL alive, to ensure folks have a sense of community. Some folks drive dozens of miles to have an hour-long lunch with fellow older LGBTQ+ people. Schlecht shared the story of one member who suffered from dementia and whose wife was her caregiver. The SAOL gave her wife a reprieve from her duties and also gave the woman a chance to connect with people like her. She said the woman had begun to forget a lot of aspects of her life, but she remembered she was a lesbian. Schlecht said some parts of the queer community see them as invisible, too old to keep up. They dont go out dancing or to clubs anymore, something Schlecht misses from her youth. Schlecht said she thinks younger queer people believe older folks have given up the fight for rights. They think were selling out and we got ours, good luck getting yours, she said. She tries to share with younger queer people that its good to pause to enjoy how far the community has come, not just focus on the struggles. But she recognizes the fight is never over, and theres an active war on trans youth. Its still a battlefront for parts of our community, she said. And that certainly belongs in Pride and it certainly belongs at the center of our attention. But I would like to sit back in the sun and enjoy life, because all these protests, all this work, its hard on the joints. Schlecht said a lot of older LGBTQ+ folks dont have children of their own and feel cut off from younger generations. Thats why she finds Pride to be so important, because its a chance for inter-generational connection. Advice for queer youth Schlecht said queer youth need to find their friends and allies. She said she thinks sometimes theres a tendency to fixate on a small group of people that 100% agree with you, but she said to think of it like family. Dont give up on us older farts, even if we forget pronouns, she said. Help us remember, help us understand. She said its always the way of the world that younger people take us further as a civilization, and in doing that, sometimes step away from older generations. But the generations can learn from each other, she said, and should be taking the time to listen more to each other. OConnor also spoke about finding community, but also about finding and accepting yourself. You were made that way. And dont let whatever pressures that are surrounding you lead you into a place where youre denying yourself, he said. Its OK to be queer. Its you, youre born that way. An elk herd roams the sprawling oak savannas of Northern California with a member who isnt an elk at all. His name is Diesel, and he is a donkey. The story about how an unassuming pack animal became something approaching a hoofed Tarzan started hundreds of miles away, involved a decades-old federal program and required the heartbreak of two people who had welcomed Diesel into their family. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. But some donkeys arent meant to be caged. Hes earned his freedom, said Terrie Drewry, Diesels former owner. Diesels story has made headlines for years. It first did so in 2019 when he ran away from Terrie and her husband, Dave, who after months of searching for their new pet, gave him up for dead. Five years later, video of Diesel roving the California wilderness as a fully enmeshed member of an elk herd has gone viral, having been viewed about 3.2 million times in the three months since it posted, KOVR reported this month. The footage buoyed the Drewrys hopes that they might see him again. The video, taken by a hunter, shows Diesel turning, trotting and running with his more graceful-looking herd mates. It was almost like synchronized swimming, Terrie said. The Drewrys got Diesel in November 2018 through the U.S. Bureau of Land Managements wild horse and burro program. An avid backpacker, Dave was in his mid-50s and looking for a way to carry his gear - tents, cots, camping stoves, pots and pans - on days-long treks through the wilderness. The Drewrys spent months training Diesel, who weighed about 500 pounds and could haul a fifth of that. They drove more than 500 miles to Palm Desert to get the 3-year-old gray-brown donkey with a white belly who already had the name Diesel because hes a powerhouse. He was a bit standoffish at first, but once the Drewrys, who live on a 4-acre hobby farm near Auburn, Calif., gained his trust, Diesel followed them everywhere, always at their hip asking for a hug or a treat, Terrie said. In the five months they had him, the Drewrys took him on increasingly long hikes with more and more weight until he could go out three to four times a week carrying gear. On April 20, 2019, Dave was taking Diesel on his final training pack trip. Around noon something spooked him, causing him to take off. With Dave holding his lead, Diesel dragged him behind for about 300 feet until Dave was forced to let go. Banged up, Dave nevertheless tracked Diesel for miles to try to recapture him but could never get close enough. He finally gave up and called his wife with bad news, a moment that Terrie said will be etched in my memory forever. Terrie posted to a Facebook group dedicated to finding missing pets in the area, and starting at dawn the next morning, the Drewrys and about eight others formed a search party that scoured the wilderness for about 12 hours. There was no sign of Diesel. It was like he had just disappeared - some alien machine had picked him up and moved him off, she said. But the Drewrys didnt give up. They searched again the next weekend. They posted pleas for help on social media. Local TV stations ran stories about their plight. A drone pilot went out two to three times a week for a month in a vain effort to find Diesel. I was defeated, she said. I was beside myself lots of tears. After two to three months of failed searches, Terrie resigned herself to never getting Diesel back. She assumed he was dead, killed by a predator, vehicle or injury. Months turned into years. Then, around 2021, the Drewrys got a call from a wildlife biologist who said hed seen a donkey running with an elk herd. That oddity led him to the internet, where he learned about what happened to Diesel and the Drewrys in 2019. He contacted them with the coordinates of his possible sighting, but when the Drewrys went to investigate, they found nothing. Last September, they got another tip. Someone sent a grainy video of a donkey with an elk herd, and while a subsequent ride turned up hoofprints, there was no sign of elk or Diesel. Then, about three months ago, the Drewrys started getting calls about a video circulating on Instagram showing a donkey running with an elk herd. They watched it, and all of the near misses and maybes melted away - it was Diesel. We knew for sure, Terrie said. Max Fennell, a businessman and professional triathlete, was hunting just before 9 a.m. March 30 during the opening weekend of turkey season when he crested a ridge. He noticed a herd of about 15 elk about 60 feet away. Looking closer, his eyes homed in on a donkey amid the herd. Im in complete shock, he said, recalling his reaction. Amy McLean, an assistant professor of equine science at the University of California at Davis, said she wasnt at all surprised about a donkey joining an elk herd when friends started sending her posts about Diesel this month. Donkeys are intelligent, so much so that theyre one of the few animals that can survive in Death Valley, where temperatures often top 120 degrees in the summer, she said. Unlike horses, which mindlessly graze on whatevers in front of them, donkeys deliberately seek out roughage that is more nutritious. McLean said that Diesel could have reasoned that he had a greater chance of surviving by joining a group of fellow large-hoofed herbivores, even if they arent exactly like me. Theyre amazing animals, McLean said. It was an odd enough sight for Fennel, an experienced hunter whos familiar with the area, to whip out his phone and record video. A day later, he posted a 41-second compilation to Instagram, news of which would eventually make it back to the Drewrys and confirm that the pet they had long given up for dead was in fact alive. And thats enough for Terrie. She said she would love to have Diesel back as a pet because he was awesome but getting him now would be like catching a wild animal. Without using invasive methods, no one will be able to get close enough to Diesel before he and his herd run off, she said. Plus, she added, he seems to have found his people, so to speak. When she watches Fennels video, she sees how Diesel moves in unison with the herd. In another video, Diesel comes out from the main herd to two elk who react to his shepherding by getting up and returning to the fold. Terrie is just happy Diesel has found family and purpose, even if it wasnt with her. He was born wild, captured, got away and now hes wild again, she said, and thats where he deserves to be. Related Content Black men helped power Bidens 2020 Georgia win. Some are wavering. He wanted to throw an Idaho towns first Pride. Angry residents had other ideas. For millionaire and four hunters, a wild Western lawsuit over public land (Bloomberg) -- European Union antitrust officials asked Chinese online shopping sites Temu and Shein to show they are complying with the blocs key regulations of technology companies, including how the sites are protecting minors. Most Read from Bloomberg The companies have been asked to provide information on their compliance with the Digital Services Act by July 12, European Commission regulators said Friday in a statement. The commission will assess its next steps after receiving the information and could open a formal investigation, according to the statement. Temu and Shein must show how they are protecting European consumers from illegal products, among other issues, the regulators said. The commission said it was responding to a complaint against the online sites from consumer organizations. The EUs Digital Services Act has strict rules to prevent the spread of misinformation for what the commission calls very large online platforms, defined as having over 45 million active users. Temu, a unit of PDD Holdings Inc., made a leap in awareness in the US after a major advertising campaign tied to the Super Bowl in February. Online fashion site Shein had been considering an initial public offering in the US, but changed those plans to focus on going public in London. (Updates with explanation of the act in the fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The return of Zooella: The elephant in the zoo and at the ice cream shop The return of Zooella: The elephant in the zoo and at the ice cream shop SPENCER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Its been 46 years since the only elephant ever housed at John Ball Zoo died. Now, shes making a return. After coming to the Grand Rapids zoo in 1965, Zooella the elephant was beloved by the people who came to see her. She died in 1978 a rumor circulated it was due to a broken heart because her trainer, Harry Maxim, had left the zoo due to an illness. The two died within a few months of each other. After her death, visitors could remember Zooella thanks to a large, fiberglass elephant statue on display at the zoo into the early 1980s. The statue went to auction in 1983 and was purchased by a family in northeastern Kent County. They moved it to their plot of land along Lincoln Lake Avenue in the Gowen area, where it remained for decades until earlier this year. A photo of Zooella, the only elephant to ever live at John Ball Zoo. (John Ball Zoo) Sisters Taylor, Trinity and Abi Kraal grew up in Holland but spent many summers in Gowen going to Charleys Ice Cream on Lincoln Lake Avenue. They recalled driving past that statue for years. In 2019, the sisters decided to buy the ice cream shop and run it themselves. Around that time, they got the idea to ask the owners to buy the statue and bring it to Charleys. They went to the front door of the property where it stood, but didnt get a response. They left a note saying they were interested. Little did we know that that note had been sitting on the refrigerator for about five years, Taylor Kraal said. So we got a call a couple of months ago and they finally agreed to part ways with it. While they finally had their elephant, it was not the statue that proudly stood at the zoo. Years of wear and tear had plagued it. The tusks were damaged and the fiberglass seams were coming apart. There was a bees nest inside. So the Kraals enlisted the help of Stans Signs to restore it. The elephant was brought to contractor John Frueh Jr.s backyard, where it has sat for the past few weeks while he carefully restored and pieced it together. But it had long been a fixture in Gowen. Many wondered where it had gone. The funny thing is my wife works at the school in Greenville and the girls started talking to each other and she heard them say, The elephants gone off of Lincoln Lake Road. Does anybody know what happened to the elephant? And she says, Its at my house,' Frueh said. Though the statue needed a mountain of work, Frueh was up for the challenge. He has spent years doing work with Scotts Signs and years ago painted logos on trucks for the Grand Rapids Fire Department, where he was also a firefighter. It was something I was comfortable doing, Frueh said of the statue restoration. (But also) something new. Its just a lot of square footage, is all. It wasnt anything different than what Im used to doing. Now, after weeks of work, the statue is set to be unveiled at its permanent new home in front of Charleys. The Kraals will be hosting a celebration Saturday for the occasion, complete with some special menu items and plenty of photo opportunities. The elephant the statue was inspired by may be gone and the statue itself may look different it is now adorned with a pink Charleys T-shirt but the Kraals hope the spirit of Zooella lives on through the art. At Charleys, were really big on bringing in community and family, too, and I think that was a theme when Zoella came to the zoo. She was a huge part of what brought people in there to see her exhibit. (We) really hope that the statue continues to do the same thing that Zooella did at the zoo, but for Charleys, Taylor Kraal said. The refurbished statue of Zooella the elephant. The same excitement is felt by John Ball Zoo. The excitement around the statue goes to show that John Ball Zoo has been a treasured part of the West Michigan community for many years, the zoos chief operating officer, Andy McIntyre, said in a statement released to News 8. For more than 133 years, we have been dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wild places, providing excellent care for over 200 species, operating sustainably and leading conservation projects locally and around the world. We deeply appreciate our communitys passion about the Zoo and our conservation mission. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Welcome to Checking In, a new review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best new (and revamped) luxury hotels based on a rigorousand occasionally tongue-in-cheek10-point system: Each question answered yes gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below. Mango House is nestled in the lush landscape and small rocky cliffs. In three words: Serene, tropical oasis. More from Robb Report Whats the deal? Nestled into a silent cove on Seychelless largest island, Mahe, Mango House is the place to be if youre on the hunt for some much-needed TLC. Famed Italian photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri built the propertys airy main house (named, apparently, for a mango Barbieri was given when visiting the site, as well as the surrounding fruit trees) as a personal getaway; eventually, the locale landed in the hands of LXR Hotels & Resorts, a luxe travel brand under the Hilton umbrella. The low-key Mango House now offers up 41 rooms and suites, replete with light wood and breezy linens to frame magnificent views of the surrounding turquoise waters. Here, its all too easy to unwind and take in the islandand use it as a luxe launch point to get to any other isles (114 others, to be exact) and activities in the archipelago. Its about an hour drive to the nations capital of Victoria and to any of the lovely beaches on the northern part of the isle, but the Mango House team can easily arrange any transport youd like. The area around the hotel isnt buzzing with activity, but thats really the point: to provide a secluded, tranquil experience for any guest. And its a rather romantic experience at that, with glorious sunsets, lush greenery, and privacy abound; a plethora of couples staying at the resort certainly cemented the image of a honeymooners paradise (though there were some children around, too). The hotel also celebrates the areas cultural roots, with its cocktail bar and four restaurants paying homage to local delicacies and offering fresh takes on well-known dishes. Youll also find creations from local artist Alyssa Adams dotting the property, from vibrant paintings in the lobby to the colorful design found on the rooms bathrobes, which are available for purchase. Elsewhere, youll find a spa and three pools to relax beside during your stay. The best room: Mango Houses best room is actually not a room at all. The Bay House is a three-bedroom villa that youll have all yourself, whether you chose to bring the family along (it can sleep up to eight) or just want the upmost privacy during your stay. The four-poster beds with breezy linens are a welcome sight at the end of every day, and the rooms are filled with woven tapestries, blue accents popping in the rugs and pillows, and a soft muted neutral palette that oozes relaxation. The main perk of the villa is the sizable outdoor space, complete with a private plunge pool. Or you can retire to the upstairs balcony in the evenings and enjoy some vibrant sunsets. The bathroom, meanwhile, is done up in a cool stone; its home to a separate soaking tub and shower, as well as a dual sink. Also, honorable mention here for the two-bed Cliff House, which comes with panoramic vistas of the bay below and the greenery beyond. Mango Houses rooms are full of ocean-blue hues and airy linens. The Rundown Did they greet you by name at check-in? Yes, they didand did so every time I return to the hotel on one of my many excursions about the island. Welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived? (Bonus point if it wasnt just fruit juice) A mango passionfruit drink immediately found its way into my hand as I took in the property, as well as a cool towel that was very much needed after a long travel day. The team also offered up tea or coffee, too, if you need a caffeine boost to fend off that pesky jet lag. Private butler for every room? Not every room has its own Jeeves, but the hotels service is superb enough you wont be missing him in the slightest. The staff does an impeccable job of always being there when you need them without feeling intrusive. Its just the right amount of attention; call it the Goldilocks method. If you are looking for a private butler, though, the luxe three-bed Bay House is where you should rest your head. With views like these from nearly every restaurant, youll barely be able to focus on your food. Is the sheet thread count higher than 300? The thread count is right at 300and made of 100 percent Egyptian cotton to boot. Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet? No heated floor here (though would you want one in a country where the temperature stays between 75 and 86 degrees all year long?). You will, however, find a bidet waiting for you in your en suite. Lucky you. Are the toiletries full-sized? Yes, and they give off a deliciously fruit scent. Better still, theyre sourced from a local, eco-friendly beauty brand called Belliche and housed in reusable stone canisters. Mango House is big on sustainability, as you might expect from an island property: Youll only find cloth hand towels, not paper, in the bathrooms, for instance, and the hotel has a zero-waste initiative with its cocktails and cuisine. One of the propertys pools, which may be its most private. Is there a private pool for the rooms exclusive use? The propertys one-bedroom Bay House, one-bedroom Ocean House, and the aforementioned three-bed Bay House all have their own pool, meaning you can lounge in complete privacy for hours on end. You wont find one with every room, though, but the hotels three pools should more than satisfy your craving for a mid-day dip. Plus, theres two (small) spots to hop in the Anse Aux Poules Bleuesthe bright-blue bay responsible for the hotels spectacular water viewsif you so desire. Is there caviar on the room-service menu? Whats lovely about a hotel like Mango House is that you can have whatever dish youd like sent up to your roomand that includes some delicacies from Rova Caviar, which comes from a lake perched at an altitude of almost 4,600 feet near Madagascars capital city of Antananarivo. Are the restaurants worth their salt? There are four different restaurants to check out during your stay at Mango House: Italian spot Muse (where youll also grab breakfast each morning); Japanese-focused Azido; Creole locale Moutya; and the poolside Soley. All are lovely, but Moutya is the star. Not only are you sat right beside the ocean on plush chairs, but the eatery allows you to fully experience Seychelless local cuisine, one thats packed with plenty of spice and seafood. I was a fan of the Seafood Platter myself, full of sensationally seasoned lobster, crab legs, and shrimp. Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar? Oh, definitely. The second floor of the Main House is home to Kokoye, the propertys cocktail lounge. Here, tropical green motifs, wooden accents, and stunning views of the sunset are your company as you indulge in an array of delicious aperitifs. The space is moody, with dim lighting and small lamps adorning each table. Much like the rest of the hotel, its not a place to get particularly rowdy; its somewhere to sit back and sip without a care in the world. You can also learn a few tricks of the trade from the bar staff thanks to an intimate cocktail-making class. Speaking of spirits, Seychelles is known for its beloved Takamaka Rum, so thats a must-try. The Blanc is particularly outstanding, as were any cocktails the bartenders created with it. But if gin is more your speed, check out the Flutter-By, a butterfly peainfused cocktail thats as sweet as can be. A glimpse into Kokoye, the hotels cocktail bar. Would you buy the hotel if you could? Lets see: Would I want to purchase a property where relaxation reigns supreme, each dish is more scrumptious than the next, and the white-glove service is second to none? All while getting to gaze out over vibrant blue waters all day long? Ill let you sort out the answer to that one. The Verdict Forget the journey (which is a bit of a schlep from the good old US of A). For me, its always about the destination, and Mango House is certainly worth any pains it takes to get there. The attentive white-glove service, the food, and the views are all spectacular, of course, but what really makes the property special is the aura of relaxation, the ability to truly unwind, that it imbues upon its guests. That is something that cant be easily replicated, no matter how much a place may try. As one local puts it: This is paradise on Earth. Why would you ever want to leave? And, as we all know, paradise is not so easily found. Rates: From $650 (600 euros). Score: 8 What Our Score Means: 1-3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here. 4-6: Solid if youre in a pinchbut only if youre in a pinch. 7-8: Very good. Wed stay here again and recommend it without qualms. 9-10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently? 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. Thanks to a Hoggard High student, you can now find beach toy libraries at Carolina Beach Jake Allen's Beach Toy Libraries can be found at lifeguard stands 15, 17, 19 and 21 along Carolina Beach near the boardwalk. When thinking about an idea for his Eagle Scout project, Hoggard High School junior Jake Allen knew he wanted to bring something unique to the Wilmington area that would positively impact the community. Allen found out about beach toy libraries after seeing one online that was built at a beach in Florida. The libraries have been popping up along the East Coast with one in St. Cloud, Florida, and another in Rhode Island that was inspired by the Little Free Library. Every scout has to complete a project before they get the honor of Eagle Scout. Allen, who is a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 26 chartered by Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, got to work around the end of May 2023 to bring Beach Toy Libraries to the Wilmington area. Allen said Carolina Beach was the perfect fit because of its family-friendly atmosphere and how eager the town council, specifically Mayor Pro Tem Deb LeCompte, was to help his project become a reality. The libraries encourage playtime on the beach under "borrow, play, return" guidelines and are meant to help families that might not want to haul toys to the beach along with their other beach items. The libraries can also be helpful to visitors because they don't have to buy new beach toys that they will eventually have to carry back home with them. More: These little Wilmington libraries offer books and community. Here's where to find them After seeing the idea popping up along Florida beaches, Wilmington Eagle Scout Jake Allen brought the Beach Toy Library to four lifeguard stands along Carolina Beach. The libraries are located at stand near the boardwalk. Allen said the libraries can also be a help to the environment because some people will leave toys out on the beach and sometimes they will end up in the ocean. Any toys left on the beach can be picked up by lifeguards or anyone on the beach and put in the library for future playtime. Allen chose lifeguard stands close to the Carolina Beach Boardwalk to attach the libraries to so that they would be right on the beach and because those areas are the most populated. According to Shawn Kelly, Carolina Beach's ocean rescue captain, people can use the following accesses to find the lifeguard stands if they are in search of a Beach Toy Library: stand 15 at Hamlet Avenue, stand 17 at Cape Fear Boulevard, stand 19 at Harper Avenue and stand 21 at Pelican Lane. Allen said that while the hope is that everyone will return toys to the libraries, that might not always be the case. He said he would be interested in having a toy drive in the future to gather more toys for the libraries. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Hoggard High student brings beach toy libraries to Carolina Beach, NC COOK COUNTY A man killed in a fatal Ford Heights shooting, where a Lynwood police officer was also shot, has been identified. The Lake County Coroners Office confirmed the victim was 22-year-old Issac McGee, a resident of Gary, Indiana. According to the Cook County Sheriffs Office, Cook County Sheriffs police responded to a report of shots fired in the 1400 block of Ambassador Lane around 3 a.m., where they found a man had been shot, who was later identified as McGee. After police rendered aid, McGee was taken to Franciscan Hospital in Indiana, where he later died. The CCSO also said police were fired upon by unknown offenders after they arrived and an officer with the Lynwood Police Department suffered a graze wound, before law enforcement on scene returned fire. The police officer was taken to Franciscan Health Munster, where he was treated and later released. No other injuries have been reported from this incident. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call Sheriffs Police Detectives at 708-865-4896. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALMENA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) One man is in the hospital and another is in jail after a Friday evening stabbing in Almena Township. Around 9:10 p.m., deputies with the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office were sent to the area of M-43 near 29th Street for a stabbing. Responding deputies learned that there had been a fight about food and employment between two men who lived at the home and one of them had been stabbed. Both men were under the influence of alcohol at the time. The victim, a 21-year-old, was taken to the hospital with an apparent stab wound to the chest. The sheriffs office said he was last listed in stable but serious condition. The suspect, a 22-year-old from Guatemala, was arrested and is being held in the Van Buren County Jail on a charge of assault with intent to commit murder. This embedded content is not available in your region. The stabbing 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 WOODTV.com. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) One person was brought to a hospital with serious burns Friday after neighbors reported a fire in an abandoned house on Salt Lake Citys west side. Cpt. Brandt Hancuff, a spokesperson for Salt Lake City Fire Department, said crews were called around 1 p.m. to a fire in a boarded-up property on Chicago Street, in the citys Poplar Grove neighborhood. One seriously injured in Salt Lake City barn fire, nearby road closed Witnesses reported seeing someone leaving the home with pretty significant burn injuries, Handcuff said. Emergency crews brought the wounded person to a local hospital in critical condition. Because they heard reports that other people might be inside the building, firefighters ventured into the burning structure. But when they found no one during their search, they shifted tactics and fought the fire from the outside. The good news is weve been able to stop it from spreading to neighborhooding homes, Handcuff said, noting the firefighters were quickly able to knock down the initial flames. Forty firefighters battled the flames amid 80-degree heat, stopping periodically to rest and rehydrate. They mopped up the remaining hotspots before leaving the scene. None of them were hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation. According to Hancuff, the fire department was stretched thin Friday as crews also battled a fire in a hay-filled barn on the citys west side, not far from the Salt Lake City Airport. Crews were expected to remain at the barn fire into the night, as haybale fires can burn for hours and hours. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Ukraine's National Resistance Center has reported that the Russians continue to systematically militarise teenagers in temporarily occupied territories. Specifically, about a hundred Ukrainian teenagers have joined the so-called Yunarmiya (the All-Russia Young Army National Military Patriotic Social Movement Association) in Donetsk Oblast. Source: Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC) Quote: "The TOT [temporarily occupied territories] is building a network of 'Yunarmiyas' the Russian equivalent of the Nazi 'Hitler Youth' movement, a militaristic movement of teenagers that is to become the basis of the Russian armed forces in the future. In June, up to a hundred Ukrainian teenagers took the oath of allegiance to the enemy movement at Savur-Mohyla. In the future, they will become the basis for training in military schools under the Russian Ministry of Defence." Details: The NRC noted that the Russians lure teenagers by promising their parents social advancement for their children. Quote: "However, the enemy does not say that it is Ukrainians and other enslaved ethnic groups of the empire that became the basis for assault units in the Kremlins wars." Support UP or become our patron! Local agencies warned of dangerously high temperatures coming to parts of San Luis Obispo County next week, with some spots even having the potential to up up to 118 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, a heat wave is expected across much of California throughout the next week. In San Luis Obispo County, the NWS said a reasonable worst case scenario was that Paso Robles could hit 118 degrees on Friday and 117 degrees next Saturday. Temperatures beginning next week may be dangerously high for parts of SLO County. Although this is worst case, we urge you to prepare accordingly. https://t.co/qywDNAO9vt SLO County OES (@slocountyoes) June 29, 2024 In response, the agency issued an excessive heat watch. The watch is expected to be in effect from Tuesday morning through Saturday, and will include the Fourth of July. The highest temperatures are expected after Wednesday. San Luis Obispo is expected to stay mostly in the high 80s to low 90s throughout the event, according to the NWS. Coastal areas like Morro Bay will see temperatures in the high 60s to mid 70s. The NWS predicted that surrounding areas could also reach triple digit temperatures with Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Ojai, Santa Ynez and Van Nuys all hitting 100 degrees or higher this week as well. Police Friday night fatally shot a 13-year-old boy following a foot chase in a residential neighborhood in the upstate New York city of Utica after the teen displayed what appeared to be a gun, authorities said. Police later determined the teen was carrying a replica handgun. Three officers stopped the two teenagers at around 10 p.m. local time Friday as part of an investigation into several recent robberies, Utica police said in a news release Saturday night. While the authorities were questioning the teens, one of them fled on foot, police said. As the victim ran, police spotted what "appeared to be a handgun," Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said in a Saturday morning news conference, during which he was frequently interrupted by outraged community members. One of the officers fired his gun and struck the teen, described as an Asian male. "A Utica police officer ultimately discharged his firearm once, striking the male, during a ground struggle," Williams said. The teen, identified as 13-year-old Nyah Mway, was given immediate first aid by officers on scene and was brought to Wynn Hospital, where he died from his wounds, Williams said. Following the shooting, according to Williams, officers recovered a pellet gun resembling a Glock 17 handgun with a detachable magazine. "This replica handgun was ultimately found to be a pellet gun," Williams disclosed. A pellet gun, a replica of a Glock 17, recovered from the scene of a fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy by a police officer in Utica, New York, on June 28, 2024. Police said the boy was carrying the replica handgun while being chased by officers. / Credit: Utica Police Department The officer who fatally shot Mway was identified as Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran of the department. Two other officers, Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, were also involved in the incident, police said. In their release Saturday night, police said that the three officers were patrolling the area in response to at least two recent robberies "in which the suspects were described as Asian males who brandished a black in color firearm and forcibly demanded and stole property from victims" the latest of which had occurred Thursday. The three officers approached the two teens because "they matched the robbery suspects' descriptions and were in the immediate vicinity of the previous robbery at nearly the same time of day," police said. Police Saturday night also released several minutes of footage from the body cameras of all three officers, along with a photo of the replica handgun which was recovered. In the footage, the teen identified by police as Mway takes off running from the scene almost immediately after being stopped by the officers. While running, he appears to briefly point what police say was the replica gun at the pursuing officers. Within about 15 to 20 seconds of when the foot chase started, the footage shows Patterson tackle Mway on a sidewalk, and while the two wrestle on the ground, Husnay approaches them and fires a single shot. Separate cell phone video of the incident captured by a neighbor has been obtained by CBS News. Regarding that video, police said in a statement that it was "aware of a video of the incident circulating on social media platforms, which does not portray the incident in its entirety." The New York attorney general's office also announced Saturday night that it has opened an investigation into the shooting. Utica police said it is conducting its own investigation. All three officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave. An interpreter was at the contentious news conference to translate for the victim's family and community members. At one point, Utica Mayor Michael Galime took the microphone, calling for calm. "We understand the weight of this situation and want to ensure that every single piece of this is understood," Galime said. The ethnicity of the victim's family has not been provided, but Utica has resettled large numbers of refugees in recent years. According to the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, one of the largest numbers of Asian refugees Utica has resettled are from Burma, including from the Karen ethnic group, as well as other groups. Other Asian refugees include Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodians along with Bosnians, Dominicans and more, the center said. Just over 19% of the once rapidly declining industrial city is now foreign-born, the center said. "This tragedy reminds us of the tremendous challenges our community faces, particularly our partners in law enforcement, who tirelessly strive to ensure our streets remain safe," Utica City School District interim superintendent Dr. Kathleen Davis said in a statement Saturday. Utica, a city of about 65,000, is located approximately an hour's drive from Syracuse. California announces largest land return in state's history Zero chance" Supreme Court will rule that Trump has "absolute immunity," Jan Crawford says Students making history The 14th Amendment has been used to dismantle race-based programs. Historians say there are clashing interpretations The Supreme Courts decision to gut affirmative action in college admissions one year ago has opened the door for numerous legal challenges against race-based grant programs, internships and scholarships across the country. Many of those lawsuits are being filed by conservative groups who insist that its unconstitutional to design and operate a program exclusively for a certain racial group. They argue that the programs particularly disadvantage White and Asian Americans, by preventing them from obtaining the jobs, funding or opportunities that these programs offer to other racial groups. Some lawsuits invoke the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment which was ratified after slavery was abolished and says no state may deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The amendment was notably cited in Justice Clarence Thomas concurring opinion in the landmark affirmative action ruling, who described it as a crowning accomplishment of Congress. Thomas argued that the 14th Amendment ensures racial equality with no textual reference to race whatsoever. In the wake of the Civil War, the Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment charted a way out: a colorblind Constitution that requires the government to, at long last, put aside its citizens skin color and focus on their individual achievements, he wrote. But some historians argue that the history of centuries of slavery and racism that ultimately led to the ratification of the 14thamendment is often lost in the conversations around affirmative action. The amendment, they say, was never intended to be colorblind. Why was the 14th amendment passed? The 14th amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868, to grant citizenship and equal protection of the law to anyone born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved Black people. At the time, the passage of the amendment was necessary because millions of Black people were newly freed and their legal and civil rights had not been established. Eric Foner, a historian and professor at Columbia University who specializes in the Civil War, Reconstruction and slavery, said the 14th amendment enabled Black people to legally enjoy freedoms such as getting an education, owning land and riding street cars. Foner also said the amendment was created to ensure that programs specifically for newly freed Black Americans were able to continue. One example, he said, was the Freedmans Bureau, which was established in 1865 to provide aid such as food, clothing and medical services to formerly enslaved people. Certainly, this notion of equal protection of the law was both a general principal applied to everybody and a particular justification for assistance to Black people, Foner said. You have to look at the broad historical context. But even after the amendment was ratified, Jim Crow laws, segregation and racial violence prevented Black Americans from gaining equality. Some racial disparities persist today and now, more than 150 years later, the same amendment that paved the way for programs that help many Black people is being used as justification to dismantle them. How is it being interpreted in todays legal challenges? The 14th amendment has been cited in several lawsuits filed by conservative groups challenging the constitutionality of programs specifically for people of color. Some of these legal challenges successfully forced defendants to open their programs to people of all races, either voluntarily or through a court order. Earlier this year, legal strategist Edward Blum, through his legal advocacy group the American Alliance for Equal Rights, sued the director of the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Latino and the director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services over an internship program that was open only to Latino applicants, saying it violated the US Constitution. The complaint cited both the 14th amendment and the Fifth amendment while arguing that the internship program violated the right of Americans, like Plaintiffs members, to equal protection under the law. Artifacts and description displays of the American Latino exhibition of the National Museum are seen at the Molina Family Latino Gallery in Washington, D.C., June 9, 2022. - Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post/Getty Images/File When asked for comment about the settlement, David Coronado, a spokesperson for the National Museum of the American Latino said in an email to CNN, said the museum has now added language to the programs website and scoring rubric that spells out what had been our practice already, CNN previously reported. The National Museum of the American Latino reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all internship applicants, regardless of race or ethnicity, Coronado said. In a statement to CNN this week, Blum said the 14th amendments equal protection clause has been interpreted to mean that individual Americans should never be treated differently because of their race. Blum said, in his view, any program or policy such as college admissions, fellowships, internships, grants, financial aid and employment that excludes someone because of their race is usually in violation of the 14th Amendment. The museum settled with Blum in March and now states its internship program is equally open to students of all races and ethnicities. The 14th amendment was also invoked in a recent lawsuit filed by the conservative group Judicial Watch against the city of Evanston, Illinois over a reparations program for Black residents meant to correct past discriminatory housing practices. Under the program, Black residents who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 as well as their direct descendants can apply for up to $25,000 in housing assistance or a direct cash payment, CNN previously reported. But the lawsuit, filed on behalf of six people whose parents or grandparents lived in Evanston during the outlined time period but do not identify as Black, argues that solely limiting the cash payment to eligible Black Americans violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because Evanston is discriminating against each member on the basis of the members race. Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said the reparations program is a brazen violation of the 14th amendment. You get equal protection of the law under our constitution irrespective of your race, Fitton told CNN in an interview earlier this month. There are no exceptions for denying people equal protection of the law. Why are there clashing interpretations? David Blight, a history and African American studies professor at Yale University, said he believes the 14th amendment was written in a way that leaves it open to different interpretations. Blight said while it was initially ratified to help formerly enslaved Black people, the language in the amendment is vague. Its also unclear how it should be enforced, Blight said. This has allowed conservatives today to use it to their advantage in legal challenges against race-based programs, he said. The 14th amendment is, without any question, malleable, Blight said. It can be twisted and used all kinds of ways and thats what has happened with affirmative action. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (This June 28 story has been corrected to say Fisker recalled thousands of cars, not more than 18,000 cars, earlier in the month of June, in paragraph 8) (Reuters) - Electric-vehicle firm Fisker is recalling more than 12,000 Ocean vehicles to fix an issue where exterior door handles can stick and fail to open, the company said on Friday, marking its third recall this month. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has four open investigations into a variety of issues related to the Ocean SUV that was meant to compete with Tesla's best-selling Model Y crossover. Once a high-flying EV startup, Fisker filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month after burning through cash in an attempt to ramp up production and deliver its Ocean SUVs. "A door that fails to open can prevent occupants from exiting in an emergency, increasing the risk of injury," the regulator said, adding that the company will replace the faulty door handles free of charge. Fisker in a notice asked its dealers in the United States, Canada and Europe to stop sales of the Ocean vehicles in inventory and inspect for the issue. The company said in a statement 8,204 Ocean SUVs in the United States, 513 in Canada and 3,806 in Europe were being recalled, taking the total figure to 12,523 units. Customers have complained widely on social media platforms of issues regarding the key fob not unlocking the car at times and the door failing to open. Earlier this month, Fisker recalled thousands of cars in North America and Europe due to faulty software and non-compliance with safety standards. Fisker is the second automaker by famed car designer Henrik Fisker to file for bankruptcy protection. The first outfit, Fisker Automotive, filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after a battery failure in its Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle resulted in a recall and substantial associated costs. (Reporting by Chandni Shah and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath) NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Two Chesapeake men were each sentenced to seven years in prison for bank fraud, identity theft and armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. Court documents show that on Dec. 18, 2022 postal inspectors and the Chesapeake Police Department (CPD) observed as two people got out of the vehicle and used a U.S. Postal arrow key to access the blue mail collection boxes. Dahnico Jharon McCoy (Courtesy of Western Tidewater Regional Jail) The two men grabbed the stolen mail from the collection boxes and then ran back to the vehicle where the driver was waiting. However, law enforcement stopped the vehicle from leaving. At that point, the two individuals, tossed the bag filled with over 250 pieces of mail, and ran away on foot. Postal inspectors detained the driver 24-year-old Isaiah J. Card and police were able to locate, 22-year-old Dahnico Jharon McCoy, one of the men who ran away. Officers recovered numerous stolen checks and Western Union Money Orders that from the vehicle. Some of the money orders had been washed and made out in McCoy and Cards names. These forged money orders contained the names and account numbers of various victims who had their mail stolen. Isaiah J. Card (Courtesy of Western Tidewater Regional Jail) On April 19, 2023, Card and McCoy robbed a mail carrier at gunpoint in Raleigh, North Carolina. The next day the pair stole mail from a number of postal boxes in the Raleigh area. Card and McCoy were arrested during a traffic stop was conducted on April 27, 2023. Authorities found the stolen arrow key, a handgun and at least 180 stolen checks. On Feb. 8, 2024, McCoy and Card pled guilty to possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Both men were sentenced to seven years in 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 WAVY.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Police found two people dead at a North Nashville home Saturday following what investigators said was an apparent murder-suicide. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), officers were sent to the 4000 block of Cato Road just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, June 29 after receiving reports that a man had assaulted a woman and pointed a gun at her. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Then, police said they received a call from another individual around 2 a.m. stating that a man had shot a woman and then himself. Authorities reported a man and woman were both pronounced dead at the scene. MNPD identified them as 51-year-old Christopher Minchey and 42-year-old Heather Nelson. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County Investigators said a preliminary investigation indicates that the couple had argued before the deadly shooting. A witness reportedly told officers that Nelson walked to the end of the driveway, Minchey followed her, and then they heard gunshots and saw her fall forward first, followed by him. Homicide and Domestic Violence detectives reportedly responded to the scene to investigate and interview the witness. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com According to officials, the police department had no prior involvement with the couple. No other information was immediately released. For anyone in a crisis, help is out there. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. 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. 4 dead, at least 9 injured after minivan crashes into Long Island nail salon NEW YORK Four people are dead and at least nine others are injured after a minivan crashed through a Long Island nail salon Friday afternoon. Suffolk County fire officials said the vehicle drove all the way through Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park around 4:30 p.m., but did not immediately say what caused the major accident. The vehicle plowed into the salon and stopped only once it reached the rear of the business, according to CBS News. All four of the dead were inside the salon at the time of the crash and were pronounced deceased at the scene, Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese said in a evening news briefing. Nine other victims were rushed to local hospitals, with one of the victims being airlifted by rescue helicopter, Albanese said. The minivans driver was among those injured and was said to be partially conscious when taken to an area hospital, according to ABC 7. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. "Upon arrival, we immediately identified this as a mass casualty incident," Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese said CBS New York/ Youtube Image of the scene following the crash Four people are dead and at least nine others are injured after a minivan crashed into a nail salon in Long Island, N.Y. on Friday. Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese explained at a press conference that the incident happened shortly before 5 p.m. at the Hawaii Nail & Spa, which is part of a strip mall. "Upon arrival, we immediately identified this as a mass casualty incident. We transported nine patients to area hospitals, one by aviation," Albanese said. "There were four patients who were deceased upon arrival. We had nine departments total respond and eight ambulance companies, and we had about 150 firefighters and EMS personnel on scene to handle this incident." CBS New York/ Youtube Image of the scene following the crash The fire chief said that it appeared the minivan driver who was "partially conscious" when officials arrived on the scene and later transported to the hospital drove "all the way through the building." "Almost all of the way to the back of the salon, the vehicle traveled," he later emphasized. Getty Stock image of an ambulance Related: 3 Killed, Including 2 U.S. Navy Sailors, in California Motorcycle Accident The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Suffolk County Police Department major case unit detectives, per the Associated Press. PEOPLE has reached out to the department for comment. Witnesses told WABC-TV that before the incident, the minivan "raced" through the parking lot, seemingly in an effort to leave the area. It reportedly then went around another car that was stopped at a traffic light and crashed into the salon while trying to turn onto the street. Related: Patagonia Honors Climber, 38, Who Died on Mount Fuji 3 Years After Near-Fatal Heart Attack Albanese said that it appeared that the people who were killed were inside the building at the time of the crash and noted that some individuals had to be "extricated" before also being taken to local hospitals. "This was very difficult for all the firefighters and EMS personnel on the scene, and we will be meeting with the crisis team this evening for anybody that needs it [and] for all departments involved," Albanese said. Getty Stock image of a police car and fire truck While the identity of the driver or the victims has yet to be released, Albanese said that the incident is a "horrible" situation. 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. "Its going to be tough for the community, tough for the volunteer fire department, he said. But were going to get through it." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Four people were killed and ten were injured after a vehicle crashed into a Long Island nail salon on Friday, authorities said. Steven Schwally, 64, was driving a Chevy Traverse southbound at a high rate of speed through a parking lot in Deer Park at around 4:30 p.m. when he crossed a roadway and continued into another parking lot, Suffolk County Police said Saturday. Schwally then crashed through the front window of Hawaii Nail & Spa. The vehicle traveled nearly all the way through to the back of the nail salon, authorities said. Three women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene. Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens; Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park; Yan Xu, 41, of Flushing, Queens; and Meizi Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens, were identified by police Saturday as the four people who were killed in the crash. PHOTO: Authorities respond after a vehicle crashed into a building in Deer Park, New York, June 28, 2024. (WABC) Rennhack was an off-duty New York police officer, according to WABC in New York. The 30-year-old officer was assigned to the 102nd precinct, the station reported. "The NYPD mourns the loss of @NYPD102Pct Police Officer Emilia Rennhack," the police department said on X. "She was tragically killed yesterday while off-duty on Long Island. Please keep her family, friends, and co-workers in your thoughts. Rest in Peace." Ten people, including the driver, were transported to area hospitals. MORE: At least 11 injured as bus crashes into Seattle building, fire department says Schwally, of Dix Hills, Long Island, was "partially conscious" following the crash. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and remains hospitalized, according to police. He has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated and will be arraigned at a later date, police said Saturday. Four of the injured victims were hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Five others, including a 12-year-old girl, were treated at area hospitals for injuries. New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday offered his "deepest condolences and prayers" to the family and loved ones of Officer Rennhack. "It is never easy to get word that we have lost one of our own dedicated public servants no matter the circumstances," Adams said in a post on X. Detectives with the Suffolk County Police are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the department's major case unit. 4 dead after vehicle crashes into Long Island nail salon, suspect charged with DWI originally appeared on abcnews.go.com SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (PIX11) Four people are dead and nine others are injured after a minivan crashed into a nail salon in Deer Park, New York, Friday afternoon, police said. The crash happened at a nail salon on Grand Boulevard around 4:42 p.m., according to police. More Local News Four people were pronounced dead at the scene. Nine others, including the driver who crashed into the Long Island nail salon, were hospitalized with injuries, officials said. The four people who died were inside the nail salon at the time of the crash, police said. Its unknown at this time if they were customers or employees of the nail salon. The cause of the crash is under investigation. A section of Grand Boulevard from Commack Road to Brandywine Drive is currently blocked off to traffic. A row of police cars are lining the street as multiple fire trucks and people surround the active scene. A video posted to Citizen showed a swarm of first responders outside the nail salon. This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates. 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. All lanes of Highway 101 back open in Mountain View (KRON) Four northbound lanes of Highway 101 were blocked in Mountain View after a crash on Friday evening, according to California Highway Patrols traffic log. All lanes have since reopened. The crash happened at about 5:41 p.m. near North Shoreline Boulevard. There are injuries from the crash, but CHP has not said how severe they are. Drivers are told to expect delays and avoid the 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 KRON4. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Middle Tennessee officials announced Thursday that charges have been filed against four men in connection with schemes to defraud Medicare of millions of dollars. According to officials, the charges which have been filed in federal court as part of the the Department of Justices (DOJ) 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action stem from schemes to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic tests, medical equipment and medications that were obtained through kickbacks used to obtain doctors orders and patient information. Fraud and abuse continue to plague our federal health care programs and divert funds away from deserving patients, said U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. As United States Attorney for the nations health care capital, I am proud of my offices leadership on health care fraud enforcement and I am very appreciative of Attorney General Garland highlighting our efforts during his remarks earlier today. RELATED: Justice Department charges nearly 200 people in $2.7 billion health care fraud schemes crackdown 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 Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. 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. The DOJ said that the charges announced on Thursday, June 27 by Leventis are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 193 people for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. Those defendants are accused of defrauding programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. In addition, the government reportedly seized more than $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold and other assets as part of the two-week law enforcement action. Several of the Health Care Fraud Units strike forces, along with U.S. Attorneys Offices in 21 states and State Attorney Generals Offices for 10 states plus Puerto Rico, are prosecuting the cases in the National Enforcement Action, with some help from the Health Care Fraud Units Data Analytics Team, according to officials. To find descriptions of each case involved, click here. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said it worked with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the FBI to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the enforcement period. CDC warns of disruptions to ADHD meds after $100M fraud arrest We will not tolerate fraud that preys on patients who need and deserve high quality health care, said HHS Inspector General Christi A. Grimm. The hard work of the HHS-OIG team and our outstanding law enforcement partners makes todays action possible. We must protect taxpayer dollars and keep Americans safe from harms to their health, privacy, and financial well-being. Health care fraud is a crime that hurts all of us and each dollar taken from programs that help the elderly and the disabled is one dollar too many, said Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Memphis Field Office. The FBI is committed to fighting fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars, and with our law enforcement partners we will continue to identify and investigate the criminals who target the systems each of us depends on. The DOJ said four individuals have been charged in the Middle District of Tennessee, including 44-year-old James Brandon Brady Washburn of Franklin, and 43-year-old Robert Houston McDowell of Murfreesboro. The department said Washburn and McDowell were indicted for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and paying and receiving health care kickbacks in connection with their role in selling doctors orders for medically unnecessary genetic tests, medications, and durable medical equipment (DME) to laboratories, pharmacies, and DME companies. The defendants also owned and operated their own DME companies in Franklin and Brentwood, Tennessee, and bought doctors orders for orthotic braces and submitted claims for medically unnecessary items to Medicare. The defendants obtained the orders by paying kickbacks and bribes to purported telemedicine companies and marketers in exchange for doctors signing orders for DME, officials explained. The indictment alleges that the defendants and their co-conspirators received over $1 million in kickbacks for selling doctors orders to laboratories, pharmacies, and DME companies; that they submitted and caused to be submitted, through their DME companies, over $6 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME; and that their DME companies were paid over $2 million on those claims. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Meanwhile, two Florida men 36-year-old Paulo R. Costa of Palm City, and 35-year-old Mark J.W. Carr of Lighthouse Point were each charged in Middle Tennessee by separate information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to pay and receive health care kickbacks in connection with a more than $9 million scheme involving multiple pharmacies, including locations in Mt. Juliet and Goodlettsville, the DOJ said. Costa and Carr allegedly obtained patient information by using call centers where telemarketers persuaded Medicare beneficiaries to accept prescriptions for expensive meds, which the beneficiaries neither needed nor wanted. According to officials, the defendants obtained signed prescriptions by paying kickbacks to marketers and telemedicine companies and then billed Medicare Part D plan sponsors for these medically unnecessary prescriptions. These cases are reportedly being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah K. Bogni and Robert S. Levine of the Middle District of Tennessee. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICAGO Police say a 74-year-old man who went missing on Sunday has been located. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Officers did not provide details on where the man was found or what led to his disappearance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It's not just one of the world's best-known brand names. Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has also been -- and continues to be -- one of the world's more rewarding investments. Plenty of buy-and-hold investors have become millionaires while sitting on a long-term stake in Coca-Cola stock, well-rewarded for their patience. The biggest name in the beverage business, however, isn't the company behind the industry's most rewarding stock. That honor actually belongs to shares of rival PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP). And the underpinnings of its superior performance aren't apt to change in the foreseeable future either. Numbers (and pictures) don't lie Surprised? It would be a little surprising if you weren't. Coca-Cola is viewed by most as the premier name in the drinks business, after all. But, it's true. Over the past 50 years, PepsiCo's share price has outgained Coke's nearly threefold. KO Chart Veteran investors will point out that Coke is dividend royalty -- literally. It hasn't just paid a quarterly dividend for decades now. It's also raised its full-year payout every year for the past 62 years, qualifying it as a Dividend King. As it stands right now only 53 stocks are eligible for the title. Care to guess one of the market's other Dividend Kings? If you said PepsiCo, you're right! It's raised its total yearly dividends for 52 consecutive years now. While its dividend-growth track record isn't quite as lengthy, the company's been upping its payouts at a measurably faster clip. KO Chart The big question here, of course, is how? How is PepsiCo able to do what its bigger rival couldn't for its respective shareholders? The answer is multifaceted, but it isn't complicated. PepsiCo is different than Coca-Cola in all the ways that matter To fully understand how PepsiCo has achieved the unthinkable, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. PepsiCo isn't just a beverage company. Roughly half of its top line is actually driven by its snack foods segment made up of several familiar brand names including Doritos, Rold Gold pretzels, Fritos, Cheetos, and of course, Lay's potato chips. The North America snack foods division alone accounts for roughly half of the entire company's operating profits thanks to its far greater profit margins than the highly competitive beverage business could ever support. All told, Frito-Lay's operating profit margin is consistently in the ballpark of 25% of sales. Coca-Cola's operating margin is similar at around 20% of revenue, for the record. But, Coke's business is distinctly different than PepsiCo's drinks and snacks operation. Whereas PepsiCo does most of its own bottling and handles the bulk of its own food production, Coca-Cola's business model is largely royalty-focused -- the company punts the bulk of its production work to third-party bottlers that simply purchase Coke's concentrated syrups and pay franchise fees for the right to distribute its brand-name products. Story continues It's a high-margin business model to be sure. But its revenue potential is also modest. Although Coca-Cola's brands of beverages easily outsell PepsiCo's in terms of the total amount of revenue produced, the company itself only collected $45.8 billion worth of sales last year, turning $11.3 billion of that into operating income. PepsiCo banked greater operating profits of just under $12 billion in 2023, reporting cash flow of $13.4 billion versus Coca-Cola's $11.6 billion. No, PepsiCo isn't producing leaps and bounds more earnings and higher profit margins than its top beverage rival is. The nickels and dimes add up over time, however. It's worth adding that while Coke's royalty/franchise model punts much of the risk of being a bottler to its partner bottlers, it also means Coca-Cola loses a bit of control of the production process. PepsiCo may not like operating its own production facilities, but having complete oversight of them still offers a strategic advantage. One of these advantages is being able to serve as a bottler for other brands including competing soft drink brands like Dr. Pepper, energy drink upstarts like Celsius, as well as juice brand Ocean Spray. PepsiCo's stock-buyback and stock-retirement programs are also consistently more shareholder-friendly than Coca-Cola's. Since mid-2004, PepsiCo has reduced its share count by more than 20%, versus Coke's reduction of just a little more than 11%. KO Average Diluted Shares Outstanding (Quarterly) Chart Just buy PepsiCo stock and forget about it already Past performance is no guarantee of future results, of course, meaning there's no assurance PepsiCo shares will continue minting more millionaires than more popular Coca-Cola stock does. Besides, there's more to stock-picking than mere numbers. The underpinnings of these two stocks' different performances are largely rooted in each companies' products, operations, and corporate ethos though. Those are things that are unlikely to change anytime soon. And PepsiCo's management certainly doesn't want them to. Bottom line? If you're considering a new position in either of these companies to round out the consumer goods portion of your portfolio, PepsiCo is (surprisingly enough) the better option at this time. That's particularly true in light of the fact that you'd be plugging in while its shares' forward-looking dividend yield stands at 3.24% versus Coke's lesser yield of just over 3%. Don't overthink this. More than that though, don't let your investing judgment be clouded by your personal preference or nostalgia for a particular brand of beverages. Should you invest $1,000 in PepsiCo right now? Before you buy stock in PepsiCo, 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 PepsiCo 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 James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Celsius. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Forget Coca-Cola: This Stock Has Made Far More Millionaires was originally published by The Motley Fool LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) An 8-year-old boy, one of nine people injured in the June 15 mass shooting at a Rochester Hills splash pad, is out of the hospital and back at home. The boy suffered critical injuries in the shooting, which officials said was random. Officials with the Oakland County Office of the Sheriff said theyre not releasing the boys name. An officer with the Oakland County Sheriffs Department secures the scene of a shooting at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Rochester Hills, Mich. (Katy Kildee, The Detroit News/Detroit News via AP) His mother, a 39-year-old woman from Rochester Hills, suffered serious injuries while trying to shield her children from the gunman. The 39-year-old mother and another woman, age 30, are the only two victims of the shooting who are still in the hospital. The gunman, a 42-year-old man from Shelby Twp., killed himself not long after 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 WLNS 6 News. (Photo by Astrid Riecken/Getty Images) A proposed constitutional amendment to protect the right to an abortion has qualified for Nevadas November ballot, Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar announced Friday. The Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom petition has 127,865 verified signatures, Aguilar said more than the 102,362 required by state law. The petition would guarantee the right to abortion until the time of viability, or the age when a fetus is likely to survive outside the womb. Abortions after that time could be performed to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual. The right to an abortion is already codified in state law, which offers protections similar to those provided by Roe v Wade, the court decision that guaranteed abortion rights to Americans for almost 50 years until the Supreme Court struck it down two years ago. Ongoing attacks on abortion rights and reproductive health care including IVF and contraception nationally and in states across the country underscores the urgency of passing permanent state constitutional protections to keep politicians out of Nevadans personal medical decisions, Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom said in a news release Friday afternoon. Amending the state constitution would provide greater protection for abortion rights in Nevada, say supporters of the measure, which must be approved by voters in 2024 and again in 2026 to become a constitutional amendment. The support this initiative has received from Nevadans throughout the signature collection process shows what weve known to be true: Nevadans believe that healthcare decisions about abortion are best left to women, their doctors, and those they love and trust not politicians, said Lindsay Harmon, president of Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom. The PAC is expected to get help from national abortion rights organizations in promoting the measure. Abortion is expected to be a top issue for many voters in Nevada and across the nation this election cycle. Prominent abortion-rights groups rallied around President Bidens reelection campaign Friday, arguing that his administrations record on reproductive health and the existential threat of another Trump administration outweigh a poor debate performance. As Democratic lawmakers, strategists and activists spent the day panicking over Bidens ability to lead the party heading into November, abortion-rights leaders said theyre confident he is the best person for the job. Were extremely confident that uniting behind him is the most strategic move, said Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All. I can say with certainty that it must come down to Joe Biden, the only candidate for president who believes in a future will where people have the freedom to decide whether when, if and how they build families, said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Biden squared off against former President Trump in a debate Thursday night in what turned into a disastrous performance, including on abortion. While abortion has been one of the top issues Democrats want to highlight, Biden offered a confusing and muddled response on the subject. When asked if he supports any limits on abortion, Biden awkwardly defended Roe v. Wade. Codifying the standards under Roe has been a key tenet of the Democratic Party this cycle. I support Roe v. Wade, which had three trimesters, Biden said. 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. Biden called the end of federal abortion protections a terrible thing but did little to push back against Trumps false claims about so-called late-term abortion. Were in a state where, in six weeks, you dont even know whether youre pregnant or not, but you cannot see a doctor, have you, and have him decide on what your circumstances are, whether you need help, Biden said. Abortion-rights leaders on Friday acknowledged Biden had a rough debate, but they said his administrations track record in the two years since Roe was overturned show he will be a bulwark against future efforts to limit abortion access. Donald Trump is an existential threat to women and to this entire country, said Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Womens Law Center Action Fund. A weak debate performance doesnt put womens lives in danger, but a second Trump presidency? That does. Timmaraju praised the Biden campaigns use of surrogates, including abortion storytellers like Amanda Zurawski and Kate Cox. Their voices, plus actual, you know, content showing Donald Trump bragging about Roe are the most effective ways for us to fight back, and I think theyre doing a great job of that, Timmaraju said. But in a separate interview, Nourbese Flint, president of the group All* Above All and the All* Above All Action Fund, which focuses on reproductive justice for women of color, said she was hoping for more from Biden. It was the opportunity that the president didnt seize, when being able to define the difference between him and Trump and what this moment means, and what this election means and whats at stake, Flint said. Flint said restoring Roe is a step back in time to 1973 and is not moving forward. [Biden] missed the mark last night, but theres a lot of time between now and the election, Flint said. I think its just even more important to hear from the campaign, to hear from the president himself, the differences between him and Trump [on] abortion access, and particularly how the solutions that he is offering rise to the moment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Protesters gather outside a Missouri clinic in 2019. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images) Abortion surveillance is something former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has said is up to states. But for abortion providers and advocates, surveillance and monitoring by anti-abortion activists has long been the reality. And post-Dobbs many states are actively trying to expand government surveillance. There is a lot of confusion in our patient population because most of them are coming from states that have banned abortion about the legality of coming to another state, said Michele Landeau, chief operating officer of Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois. Just across the border from St. Louis, Missouri, Hope Clinic serves as one of the closest abortion clinics to several banned states in the Midwest and the South. After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, the clinic increased its staff and capacity to accommodate an influx of patients, more than 80% of whom are coming from outside of Illinois, Landeau told States Newsroom. She said the clinic has also seen an influx of protesters, especially on Saturdays, who can sometimes be heard shouting patients out-of-state license plates. That can cause a lot of anxiety and fear, Landeau said. I believe the protesters know that, and thats why they do it. Since Dobbs, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that specializes in digital civil liberties, has seen a spike in doxing of abortion providers and assistance groups, said staff attorney Lisa Femia. Another increased privacy threat since Dobbs, she said, is police sharing automated license plate reader data with police in states where abortion is not legal. Illinois is among several states that have adopted abortion rights in the lead-up to and since Dobbs, most recently travel data privacy protections. A law that went into effect earlier this year prohibits the sharing of data from automated license plate readers with law enforcement for the purpose of investigating or enforcing a law that denies or interferes with a persons right to choose or obtain reproductive health care services. But even in this abortion-haven state, Mark Lee Dicksons Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn initiative helped pass an ordinance banning the mailing or shipping of abortion pills in Danville, a town along Illinoiss eastern border with Indiana, where abortion is not legal. The ordinance (which the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois says is unlawful and unenforceable because it violates state law) was passed the same month an anti-abortion extremist drove a car loaded with gasoline-filled containers into the building of a planned abortion clinic in Danville. Femia said increased legal challenges have so far not upheld laws that attempt to restrict interstate abortion-related travel or information. But its still early, she said. I think we also have to remember that in sort of the scheme of the legal system, it hasnt really been very long since Dobbs and since states have actually started implementing extremely abortion restrictive laws, Femia told States Newsroom. So were still in sort of the nascent stages of abortion prosecutions. To fight for reproductive health privacy, Femia said the Electronic Frontier Foundation has tried to put pressure on government to enforce privacy protections on the books as well as educate the public. This week, the nonprofit MSI Reproductive Choices launched a digital guide for safely searching abortion-related information online in partnership with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, called the Vagina Privacy Network, and as part of the launch handed out free burner phones at three different reproductive rights marches in Indiana, Tennessee, and Georgia. The post Abortion surveillance isnt new but monitoring has increased post Dobbs, activists say appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. (Getty Images) LINCOLN Abortions reported to have occurred in Nebraska last year dropped 25% in the seven months after a more restrictive law took effect, compared to the same period in 2022. The new data, released Friday by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, reports a total of 2,325 abortions in 2023, down 8.72% from the year prior. Physicians are required to report any abortions they perform or attempt to perform to DHHS, and the information is compiled in an annual report per state law. The total number of abortions was greater than the number of procedures reported annually between 2012 and 2019 but lower than between 2020 and 2022. A tremendous start to ending abortion Gov. Jim Pillen signed Legislative Bill 574 on May 22, 2023, which halved the allowable window for abortions from about 22 weeks gestational age to 12 weeks gestational age. The Preborn Child Protection Act took effect the next day. He celebrated the 2023 statistics as a tremendous start to ending abortion in Nebraska that resulted in a victory for our culture of life and love. Passage of the Preborn Child Protection Act was an historic and significant day for commonsense social conservatives, Pillen said in a statement. I applaud those senators who stood up for the protection of kids, including pre-born boys and girls. Out-of-state patients Between June and December in 2023, an average of 158 abortions were reported each month. In the same period in 2022, the monthly average was 209 reported abortions. Overall, fewer patients traveled to Nebraska for the procedure in 2023, at 498 patients, but they represented a higher percentage of total abortions: 21.4%. In 2022, 532 patients residing outside Nebraska sought abortions in the state, or 20.9% of total abortions. Nonresident patients came from 19 states compared to 16 states in 2022. Most came from neighboring Iowa (222), Missouri (86), Kansas (51) and South Dakota (50). There were also multiple patients from Texas (46) and Oklahoma (22). Out-of-state patients were also reported to come from: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. We will never give up Ruth Richardson Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said the report confirms what we knew our new reality has made it harder for Nebraskans to receive the health care they need and deserve. Planned Parenthood has worked diligently to ensure every patient that comes through our doors can receive the essential health care they need, whether they are from Nebraska or have traveled from out of state, Richardson said. We will never give up the fight to preserve Nebraskans right to make deeply personal medical decisions without the interference of politicians who lack any sort of medical expertise. As for the reason or reasons given for the procedure, 22.6% of patients declined to answer, more than in the year prior, at 16.6%. The number of patients citing no contraception decreased from 62.3% to 12.4%. Socioeconomic reasons jumped from 4% of abortions in 2022 to 42% in 2023. Sixteen patients cited a fetal anomaly as a reason, which is more than in the year prior. State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston tried to add an exception for fatal fetal anomalies to state law this year, apologizing for not fighting harder to include it in the previous law he had voted to support. His 2024 proposal failed to advance from the Judiciary Committee. The current law includes some exceptions for emergency situations incest, sexual assault and the life of the mother. More patients reported one of those exceptions as reasons for seeking an abortion in 2023. An estimated 78 abortions were performed after 12 weeks gestational age, or about 10 weeks post-fertilization. That includes abortions reported between January and May 2023, before LB 574 was in effect. The post Abortions in Nebraska dropped 25% in 2023, months after more restrictive law passed appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A mid-Michigan company is largely offline after detecting unusual activity in its network systems. Accident Fund, an insurance company headquartered in Downtown Lansing is currently attempting to make their system more secure. In the meantime, the insurance company has been reduced to a very basic homepage. The homepage of the companys website A company spokesperson tells 6 News that there has not been an impact on customer information at this time. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is aware of the situation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. More than 150 video game testers who worked at Lionbridge in Boise were laid off in April. The workers say they were fired in retaliation for trying to unionize. Lionbridge employees test and provide feedback on some of the most-anticipated video games long before theyre released to the public. The company has testing sites in Boise; Mexico City; and Warsaw, Poland. The 160-person team Lionbridge laid off in Boise on April 18 provided quality assurance services to Activision, a Microsoft subsidiary and leading developer, publisher and distributor of video games, including the Call of Duty franchise. Labor union files charges Communications Workers of America, a national labor union, filed unfair labor practice charges against Lionbridge with the National Labor Relations Board on June 10, alleging the workers were fired for raising issues regarding their working conditions and engaging in protected organizing activities, according to a news release. Lionbridge offered the employees a severance package that required them to agree to overly broad confidentiality terms and to waive rights safeguarded by the National Labor Relations Act, the union said. Lionbridge did not respond to multiple calls and emails requesting comment. One worker who was laid off, Al Bussabarger, told the Idaho Statesman that his team was told the reason for termination was that the project they were working on had ended. But other teams engaged in the same project in Mexico City and Warsaw continue to work, the union said. Bussabarger said he did not accept the severance package. Some workers made $14 an hour As a test associate working the night shift, Bussabarger made $15 an hour. Other employees who worked the day shift made less, starting at $14 an hour, he said. Other, similar job roles paid more money, he said by phone. So we thought we were entitled to more for the work we did. We were also fed up with the attendance and paid-time-off policies, which were getting radically changed. Bussabarger said a number of employees on the team were classified as temporary, including some who had been there for years. Those employees did not receive health care or retirement benefits. The employees worked in person at Lionbridges office at 5777 N. Meeker Ave. in Boise. Bussabarger declined to discuss certain aspects of the job, citing a nondisclosure agreement. Lionbridge has a video game testing site at 5777 N. Meeker Ave. in Boise. The team that was laid off was the largest at Lionbridges Boise site; its members worked on what Bussabarger called the big project. More than 100 people assigned to other projects still work at the site, he said. He recalled a projectwide meeting that occurred a few weeks before the layoffs, at which employees on his team voiced concerns about their working conditions. Not long after, corporate executives visited the Boise office, inquiring with project managers as to whether there was union activity or support, he said. Our site was specifically shouted out multiple times by our client because we were picking up slack from the other sites and doing a really good job, he said. We had higher ratings. So, it seemed very abrupt. Former worker cites longstanding battle Jaymz Joiner, who was also laid off, started working at Lionbridge as a temporary employee in July 2022. They were promoted a few months later to senior test engineer and became a full-time employee. Joiner was promoted again last September, to quality assurance test lead, where they oversaw two teams on the day shift and night shift. Joiner told the Statesman employees would bring complaints to them and they would try to help resolve the issues with upper management. Joiner cited poor pay, and a lack of communication and transparency as major issues. This has been a longstanding battle for us, Joiner said by phone. Back when I started, we had tried to unionize. The day before they were laid off, workers were told not to come in the following day because of scheduled server maintenance, Joiner and Bussabarger said. They were emailed a phone number that they were supposed to call to learn whether they could come in, but when they called that number, they were given an automated message telling them theyd been laid off, they said. The company then sent them emails with details about the severance package. After the layoffs, Joiner created a Discord group to chat with other workers who had been affected. The group grew to around 100 members, and they started helping each other find new jobs. There was also a second Discord group that Joiner found out about and joined after the layoffs; in that group workers had been discussing efforts to unionize, Joiner said. I cared about a lot of these people, Joiner said. We came together as sort of a small community to help each other out. And we would discuss what happened. Their official reason for laying us off was that it was the end of a temporary project. But we all knew that didnt seem right. Labor union alleges history of union-busting Its not the first time Lionbridge has been accused of firing workers over union activity. In 2016, Lionbridge laid off members of a union in Bellevue, Washington, about two months after they completed their first contract, GeekWire reported. That team had also provided subcontracted labor to Microsoft. The Communications Workers of America said in its news release on the Boise Lionbridge layoffs that it expects Microsoft to hold its contractors to the same standards the company sets for itself. Though the Boise team was working to unionize, it had not officially done so. We brought our concerns to management and organized with our co-workers to improve our working conditions, Bussabarger said. In response to these complaints, Lionbridge chose to lay off our entire team, in violation of our rights as workers. The company did not file a worker adjustment and retraining notification, or WARN, which the U.S. Department of Labor requires if at least 50 full-time employees in an operating unit are affected. Everyone went crazy about this Boise doughnut shop. Now, it plans to expand in Nampa Popular Boise pizza shop labeled premier redevelopment spot. What next for SW downtown? A year ago, she drank battery acid to escape life under the Taliban. Today, she has a message for other Afghan girls Editors Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US by dialing 988 to connect with a trained counselor, or visit the 988 Lifeline website. For support outside of the US, a worldwide directory of resources and international hotlines is provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide. Holding a mirror steady in one hand, Arzo carefully applies pencil to her brows as she gets ready for an English lesson a short walk from her home on the outskirts of Pakistani megacity Karachi. Every step toward the classroom takes her closer to a future she no longer thought possible almost a year ago when she walked downstairs at her familys home in Afghanistan and tried to take her own life. On that day, I felt like everything was over. I was overwhelmed by hopelessness, and thats why I drank acid, convinced it would end my life, said Arzo, whom CNN first met last November as she lay in bed, too weak to speak. At the time, she was 15 years old but weighed as much as a 4-year-old, her limbs painfully thin after months of starvation despite her siblings best efforts to feed her through a tube inserted in her stomach. Now, after an extraordinary intervention, Arzo is making a remarkable recovery but she faces a new threat that could force her family to return to Afghanistan, and a life under Taliban rule that has become so intolerable for women and girls that some would rather die. Pakistan, a place of refuge for millions of Afghans, is carrying out a mass deportation program that has already seen more than 600,000 people cross the border since September 15 with the threat that more could follow in July, when another class of visas expires. What awaits them is a system of gender apartheid violations against women and girls so severe and extensive that a senior United Nations official says they may amount to crimes against humanity. It was what drove Arzo to try to take her own life. For months, Arzo's siblings fed her fluid through a tube direct to her stomach but it wasn't enough. - Javed Iqbal/CNN The gravity and scale of the crimes cannot be overstated, Richard Bennett, the UNs Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, told a Human Rights Council meeting on June 18, as he presented his damning report on the Talibans rule. We have a collective responsibility to challenge and dismantle this appalling system and to hold those responsible to account, he said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the report as an attempt to tarnish perceptions of Afghanistan before a rare meeting this weekend between UN member states and Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar. Despite strong condemnation of the Taliban by most UN member states, the issue of womens rights will not be on the formal agenda. Instead, talks with Taliban officials will focus on counternarcotics and the private sector. Afghan women and other civil society members werent invited to the meeting theyll meet separately with member states, without the Taliban, the next day, according to a UN official. Rights groups are furious the Taliban meeting is going ahead without Afghan women, and say it legitimizes Afghanistans leaders and fails to hold them to account for grave injustices. Smuggled across the border Arzo is not her real name. She and her older brother and sister, Ahamad and Mahsa, are using aliases to protect their family members in Afghanistan from reprisals from the Taliban, who have sought to silence critics of their repressive rule. Theyre also hiding from Pakistani authorities, who have threatened to arrest and deport undocumented foreigners, making every trip outside their rented room fraught with risk. After Arzo drank the acid in Afghanistan last July, a doctor told her family shed likely die if treated there, so they smuggled her across the border to Pakistan, where another doctor inserted a feeding tube into her stomach. For a year, the siblings have spent almost every hour inside a rented room in Karachi with three single beds, a ceiling fan and a carpet where they eat, study and read. For most of that time, Arzo has been confined to bed, unable to eat, after the acid created a stricture or a blockage in her esophagus. Every three hours, including through the night, Ahamad and Mahsa said they fed their little sister fluids nutritional milk powder and juice through the tube direct to her stomach. But it wasnt enough, and by November, Arzo weighed just 25 kilograms, or 55 pounds. By then, most of their money was gone, too, on rent and private medical bills. We are financially broken here. Whatever we had, we spent it, Arzos brother Ahamad, a 27-year-old journalist under threat from the Taliban due to his occupation, told CNN in November. I dont cry in front of her, but I kiss her and cry while she sleeps at night, for her future, for her treatment, so she can survive this sickness, he said. A lifesaving intervention Within hours of Arzos story airing on CNN last December, an email arrived with the offer of help. A non-profit organization volunteered medical care on the condition that its name wouldnt be published due to potential repercussions in Pakistan for aiding an Afghan who is residing in the country illegally. She was 20 to 22kg at the time that we saw her, said the doctor who treated Arzo, whom CNN has also agreed not to name. She had come to us on a wheelchair and was bedridden at that point. She was essentially one influenza, or cold, or other kind of infection away from essentially dying, he said. Doctors told her siblings to increase her caloric intake threefold, so shed be strong enough for her first medical procedure an endoscopic examination that revealed severe damage to her esophagus, so that it had almost closed, making it impossible to eat. Using X-ray guidance, the doctors passed a wire through a gap the size of a pinhole and inflated a tiny balloon to slowly widen the passage. Over the course of two months or so, with multiple staged procedures, we were able to open it up to the point where she was able to eat by mouth, which itself was a game changer, the doctor told CNN. Arzos brother Ahamad sent CNN regular WhatsApp messages. These lives are not worth anything During an interview this month, Arzo sat upright on the bed, straightened her head scarf and spoke for the first time about why she tried to take her own life. It was July 2023, and she was sitting on the second floor of her familys two-story home, in a remote Afghan province, eating what would be her last meal for months. As I ate food at home, I glanced at pictures of my classmates and felt a deep sense of longing for them, she said. Arzo told CNN what drove her suicide attempt. - Javed Iqbal/CNN Arzo hadnt seen her classmates since the Taliban banned girls from secondary education after seizing power in August 2021, and rarely messaged them because the internet connection was cut to her familys village. So, in a moment of grief for the friends and the life that she loved, she walked downstairs to the battery her family used to power their home and drank its contents. Her sister Mahsa found her and forced her fingers down her throat to make her vomit. When I asked her why she had done such a thing, her response was heartbreaking, said Mahsa. Arzo had told her: These lives are not worth anything, she said. At the time, Arzo was just 15. Mahsa also lost everything with the Taliban takeover. She was 22 and had graduated from high school before the Taliban banned girls from getting an education beyond elementary school. She held ambitions to become a dress designer or to work in a beauty salon, but those career paths were soon shut down. When I went to Kabul, I enrolled in a tailoring program. However, for three months, I lived in constant fear as the Taliban would visit our workshop daily and criticize us for not wearing the hijab. They eventually forced us to shut down the workshop, she said. The Taliban ordered beauty salons to close in July 2023. Arzos sister Mahsa wanted to work as in fashion or in a beauty salon but both careers are no longer an option in Afghanistan. - Javed Iqbal/CNN Instead of working, Mahsa found herself in Pakistan caring for Arzo, who was in constant pain with no medication to ease her suffering. When she was asleep, it provided a brief respite from the distress, but the moments when she was awake during our meals were particularly challenging for us to endure, Mahsa said. Arzos treatment has allowed them both to think about their future, and for the first time in years, theyve glimpsed the possibility of a better life. When hope is lacking and life seems directionless, unexpected events can present themselves, Mahsa said. Arzo is determined to put the past behind her and has urged other girls in Afghanistan not to follow her lead. My message to all girls in Afghanistan who cant continue their education or go to school is to stay strong and dont lose hope. No safe haven in Pakistan While the Taliban is in power, Arzo does not want to go back to Afghanistan, but she and her siblings are not wanted in Pakistan. Last October, Islamabad gave around 1 million undocumented Afghan migrants one month to leave the country or face arrest and deportation. More than 600,000 people fled most voluntarily, though 89% said they did so for fear of arrest, according to UN data. Of the total, more than 30,000 people were arrested and deported. On the outskirts of Karachi, residents in one Afghan community thought they were safe from the deportation drive. Security officials came to their area late last year and painted red numbers on their homes to show how many people lived there and their visa status. At the beginning, the local people were happy over the markings because it would certify that only registered Afghan refugees were living in a specific premises, said lawyer Moniza Kakar, who showed CNN the markings. Some houses were marked with ACC (Afghan Citizen Card), others with POR (Proof of Registration) both forms of identification issued to Afghans long before the Talibans return. But then in April, the government added around 800,000 ACC holders to its removal list. And the expiry date for POR cards was set to June 30, putting another 1.35 million people at risk of deportation. Rain had already washed away some of the red paint, then residents tried to scrub it off to avoid encounters with police, said Kakar, managing partner at Abbas and Kakar Law Offices, who helps community members navigate Pakistans immigration system. They feel fear and uncertainty about what should happen to them, she said. Pakistans policy on illegal foreigners is no different to that of other nations, Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told CNN. Individuals who are here illegally have to be dealt with according to Pakistani laws, and that includes fines, imprisonment and deportation, she said. Baloch told CNN on Friday that the government still hadnt decided whether to extend POR visas that were set to expire on Sunday, and had earlier said that Pakistan was considering the implications of all the various options. Amanullah (left) was six years old when his Afghan family sought refuge in Pakistan in the 1980s. Hes been living there for decades and now has a family of his own. - Javed Iqbal/CNN Many of those at risk of deportation know little of Afghanistan. Amanullah was just a boy when his family sought refuge in Pakistan during the former Soviet Unions invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, an event that ultimately plunged the country into four decades of near constant conflict. Now hes firmly settled in the Afghan community in Karachi with seven children of his own, and two grandchildren. We have nothing left in Afghanistan anymore, Amanullah told CNN. My children have grown up here and know little about their homeland. A member of the Mughal tribe, Amanullah sells watermelon at a fruit stall, but he said some other residents had closed their businesses for fear of being deported with no notice. Pakistan has sheltered Afghan migrants for decades but now, amidst a surge in militant attacks on its territory, government officials say they present a security risk. The Taliban has denied any involvement, and relations between the two countries are worsening as they trade accusations and in some cases retaliatory strikes. Our room is like a prison In March, as Arzo began to regain strength, her brother Ahamads messages turned to the threat of deportation and what that could mean for their family. There are ways out of Pakistan for people like Arzo, Ahamad and Mahsa, but they typically involve taking risky journeys across borders, or joining lengthy waiting lists to be relocated to a third country that agrees to receive them. Afghans without visas cant legally work in Pakistan, and many who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover have already run out of money. Arzo and her siblings survive on handouts from a small number of supporters outside Pakistan, who are trying to raise enough money to sponsor them to move to Canada. But its an expensive and time-consuming process, with no guarantee they wont be arrested and deported while they wait. Just six months ago, Arzo weighed as much as a four-year-old child, after damaging her esophagus by drinking acid. - Javed Iqbal/CNN Arzo realizes how lucky she is to be alive and says shes willing to go anywhere she can continue her education, to become a doctor like those who saved her life. I really thank all the doctors from the bottom my heart, she said. My message to my friends is to be patient. One day, the Taliban will leave Afghanistan, and we will be able to pursue our goals. But until then, women and girls live in a suffocating silence, where the Taliban have issued at least 52 new edicts since last June, tightening their control over the female population, according to the UN report. It should shock all of us that that theres a country on this planet that denies girls access to education beyond sixth grade, that denies women access to most paid employment, said Heather Barr, associate womens rights director at Human Rights Watch. Women cant go to a park. They cant walk in the sunshine; they cant exercise; they cant play sport, she said. You know, all of these things that make you feel human. Barr is scathing of the UN process and says its clear that engaging with the Taliban has not worked. Diplomatic engagement in terms of getting the Taliban to respect womens rights has been a 100% failure, she said. Its achieved nothing. And so, its time now for us to be talking about other strategies. She said countries could bring a case against the Taliban in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), much like South Africas allegations of genocide against Israel over its military actions in Gaza, or Taliban leaders could be charged with gender persecution in the International Criminal Court (ICC). It (also) means diplomats and countries listening to the Afghan womens rights defenders, who are calling for the crime of gender apartheid to be recognized under international law, Barr added. In his report, UN special rapporteur Bennett also backed calls for gender apartheid to be a punishable offense and predicted a dystopic future for women and girls should the world fail to act. Left unchecked, the Talibans institutionalized system of gender oppression will become more robust, as those resisting it suffer increasing violence, as memories of female role models and notions of female independence fade, and as new generations are raised and radicalized in a society unquestioning of its dehumanization and exploitation of women and girls, he wrote. Arzo doesnt want a life like that for herself, her sister, or the women and girls still in Afghanistan. Shes learning English, hopeful that one day soon shell be able to leave Pakistan for a safe country. I dont know what the future holds, but as long as I am in Pakistan, I will continue my lessons, she said. Im determined to achieve my goals Now I am not scared of anything. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com the body shop The former boss of Mothercare is spearheading a daring rescue bid for what remains of The Body Shops stricken high street operations. Turnaround outfit Gordon Brothers, which is led by Mark Newton-Jones in the UK, is understood to be among those that have submitted bids for what is left of the cosmetics chain after its failed takeover by private equity outfit Aurelius. Mr Newton-Jones previously had two stints as chief executive of Mothercare, the second of which saw him bring down the shutter on its British stores in 2020 after it went under. The firm is understood to be among a small group of competing outfits that have tabled offers in recent days. Mark Newton-Jones brought down the shutter on Mothercare's British stores during his second stint as boss - Mothercare/PA City sources say Alteri, another investor that specialises in buying distressed businesses, and Modella Capital, which is part of private equity house R Capital, along with an existing franchise partner of The Body Shops operations in Asia, are also in the running. The Body Shop collapsed into administration in February, just three months after Aurelius struck a 207m agreement to take control. It capped a remarkable period of decline for a business that the late entrepreneur and environmental campaigner Anita Roddick had forged into a trailblazer of fair and sustainable trading, together with her husband, Gordon. Administrators at FRP have closed 75 of its worst-performing stores, resulting in hundreds of job losses among a workforce of around 2,200. However, it still has roughly 100 high street shops, meaning any buyer will be taking a serious bet on the viability of a business that has struggled in recent years. Administrators at FRP previously blamed the retailers woes on an extended period of financial challenges under past owners, coinciding with a difficult trading environment for the wider retail sector. Late environmental campaigner Anita Roddick forged The Body Shop into a trailblazer of fair and sustainable trading - Jacques M. Chenet/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images The Body Shops businesses across most of Europe and parts of Asia said to be loss-making were sold to a family office prior to its UK arm declaring insolvency. Aurelius bought the chain from Natura & Co, a Brazilian company that paid more than $1bn for it in 2017. The Telegraph revealed earlier this year that Natura received just 3.5m upfront from Aurelius, leaving the business facing steep losses from the deal. According to a recently published administrators report, after taking over The Body Shop, Aurelius was immediately faced with a series of crises. It said the companys short-term cash position was adverse to that that had been forecast, driven by poor results in the 2023 financial year and the unwinding of the companys working capital. Ms Roddick opened her first shop in Brighton in 1976, expanding quickly through a franchise model and sticking to strict moral principles. 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. Slates guide to the most important figures in politics this week. Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, the only politics newsletter that would CRUSH either Joe Biden or Donald Trump on the golf course and thus, under biblical law, has a claim to the presidency that must be honored. Reader, it was a week to remember, and were not even lying this time. A Squad member was primaried out of Congress for the first time. And yet, Lauren Boebert survives. One Republican is on a lonely quest to screw up his entire partys messaging around in vitro fertilization. But thats all back-end stuff, for the suckers and losers. Lets begin with the agonizingly consequential debate that America had the misfortune of watching Thursday night. Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for DNC. 1. Joe Biden Catastrophe. President Joe Biden turned in a debate performance Thursday night so dreadful that the Democratic Party is now deciding whether he should be replaced before its August nominating convention. This did not come out of nowhere. As the Surge has tried to point out, to limited reception, it was the Biden campaignnot the Trump campaign!that had to be dragged into agreeing to debate, that trimmed the standard number of debates from three to two, and that moved them up to a more forgettable time in the cycle. And why would they do that? Well, anyone who has tried to watch Joe Biden speak without cards for more than 30 seconds in the past couple of years should have seen that such a performance was well within the range of possibilities. The inability of Democrats to have this conversation earlier has delved the party into panic several months before Election Day, and its made Trump the favorite to win. Those Democrats who enforced this strategy of suppressing discussion of Bidens fitness may want to spend the next few days in quiet reflection. 2. Donald Trump Surpassing the worlds lowest bar. For arguably the first time in his nearly 10-year political career, Donald Trump wasnt the main story coming out of a political event in which he participated. Even if thats good news for him, it probably pisses him off. Trump, at least in the first half of the debate, appeared to be uncharacteristically willing to heed advice from his advisers; you could tell that he was summoning all of his energy not to do a malevolent mock stutter of Biden as the president floundered for his words. Its not as if Trump was reborn as the perfect candidate, though. He delivered more than enough obvious lies, dodges, sneers, and racism, especially as the debate went on, to remind voters that just because Biden has his own serious problems, Trump remains repellent. Were interested to see how long Trump can allow himself to remain in the background as the Democratic Party melts itself into a radioactive puddle. Can he make it, say, 48 hours without getting bored and deciding to streak at a Yankees game? His resolve will be tested. 3. Kamala Harris Do I get to be president now?? The Surge still has a hard time seeing Democrats ditching Biden. Getting Biden to agree to withdraw would be the easy part, and that wouldnt be anywhere close to easy. The convention would be a mess. Republicans would file all sorts of lawsuits protesting Democrats switcheroo, and even if these suits were scurrilous, well, we do have a Supreme Court that punched homeless people, allowed a jailbreak for Jan. 6 defendants, and gutted the regulatory state just on Friday morning. There could be tricky ballot access questions. The other oft-cited source of consternation is that Bidens replacement atop the ticket would almost certainly be Vice President Kamala Harris, for a few reasons. Shes already on the ticket. Shes already ingrained in the campaign and wouldnt have to start a presidential run from scratch. Shes next in line. And, within Democratic politics, skipping over the first Black woman to serve as vice president for a lesser-known white candidate would be unacceptable. The only reason it wouldnt be Harris as the replacement is if Harris decided to withdraw on her own. All that said, Democrats whove decided that Harris is unacceptable atop the ticket may want to give her a second look. For all her faults as a politician, she would not have had trouble rebutting what Trump said about abortion, about Medicare and Social Security, about Jan. 6, or about any of Democrats other bread-and-butter issues in that debate. She can get the damn message out, something the current top of the ticket apparently cannot do. Shes not the end of the world. 4. Jamaal Bowman The fire alarm gets even. Left-wingers in the Squad have faced a barrage of House primaries over the years since their formation after the 2018 election cycle. This year, for the first time, one of those primaries was actually successful. Moderate Westchester County Executive George Latimer comfortably ousted Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New Yorks 16th District, which covers a chunk of Westchester County and a sliver of the Bronx. The race was the most expensive House primary in history, with the major player being the American Israel Public Affairs Committees super PAC, which supported Latimer with a whopping $14 million. This is one of those races that the Surge wishes it could run a controlled experiment of in an alternate dimension, in which both Bowman and Latimers side each spent, say, $2 million. Because Bowman was vulnerable well before AIPAC ran an adwhich is why AIPAC saw its marquee opportunity in the first place. Bowmans left-wing, activist politics were never a great fit for the districts upscale Westchester suburbs, and he would often put his foot in his mouth or his hand on an alarmed door. Will Bowman be the only successfully primaried Squad member this year? AIPAC has its eyes next on Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, whose primary is on Aug. 6. 5. Lauren Boebert And she wouldve gotten away with it too, if it werent for you meddlingoh, she did get away with it. Hands-on patron of the arts Rep. Lauren Boebert, who ran for reelection in a new district on the other side of Colorado due to the likelihood of her getting roasted in her current one, successfully pulled off a comfortable primary victory on Tuesday night. Shell likely be safe for November reelection in the new, redder district covering the eastern half of the state (although never say never). The results, though, speak less to her strength as a politician than a lack of coordination among her numerous competitors. Boebert earned a 44 percent plurality, while her five opponents earned 14, 14, 11, 11, and 7 percent of the vote. In other words, a little collective action to consolidate the anti-Boebert vote behind one candidate couldve made this a competitive race. But the problem with collective action, at the core of which is self-sacrifice, is its complete lack of fun. And so, the Boeb is back. 6. Matt Rosendale Did he lose a bet or something? No one likes Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale, and hes not returning to Congress. Now, on his way out, he seems focused on losing whatever scintilla of goodwill he had among his colleagues. This week, he introduced an amendment to a spending bill that, in his words, defunds assisted reproductive technology that includes any infertility treatments or technologies including IVF to ensure human life is protected. As he put it, if you are opposed to abortion, you should be opposed to the practice of IVF. He has gone so far as to decorate the exterior of his office with posters explaining how IVF destroys more life than Planned Parenthood. Now, Republican leadersand the rank and fileand most other conservativeswell, just about every other Republican besides Matt Rosendalefind this pursuit of his to be wildly irritating. Republicans from frontline House members up through Donald Trump have put an awful lot of messaging work into their supposed support for IVF in the face of Democratic warnings that the GOP wants to ban it. Fortunately, the Surge has a solution to all of this: Put Rosendales amendment up for a vote. Hey, call it up as a stand-alone bill! Then the rest of the House GOP can vote against it en masse, going on the record to express its love for IVF. Why not? Scared of the Southern Baptists? 7. Warren Davidson Another castoff on Marjorie Taylor Greene Island? Exciting internal drama in the House Freedom Caucus this week, on which the (still uncalled!) primary of chairman Bob Good continues to wreak havoc. Ohio Rep. Warren Davidsons membership in the gang is reportedly hanging by a thread as the Freedom Caucus considers booting him from their ranks. Davidsons immediate sin was to endorse Goods primary opponent in Virginia, state Sen. John McGuire, whom Donald Trump and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had also endorsed. The HFC is determining whether Davidson shall remain a member in good standing after his betrayal, which, if he is found not to be, would lower the threshold for his removal from 80 to 50 percent. (The group has an awful lot of bylaws for a glorified treehouse club.) But, as it was with the groups removal of Greene last year, this didnt sprout out of nowhere for Davidson. Like Greene, Davidson was a steadfast ally of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy whos channeled the resentment over his ouster into hostility toward his replacement, Speaker Mike Johnson. And, like Greene, Davidson was eager to endorse an opponent to Good, given that Good was one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy. If Davidson is removedor walksit will end a chapter of sorts for the Freedom Caucus. The group made its first big splash in 2015 by cornering then-Speaker John Boehner into retirement, and then recruited the successor to Boehners House seatWarren Davidsoninto their group. Nothing beautiful can last forever. Ukrainian air defense shot down all 10 of the Shahed-type attack drones that were launched by Russia overnight on June 29, the Air Force reported. Russia reportedly launched the drones from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia's Krasnodar Krai. Mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force were involved in repelling the air attacks. The drones were shot down over Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, and Vinnytsia oblasts, the Air Force said. Throughout the night, the Air Force warned of the threat of drone attacks in multiple regions. In Vinnytsia Oblast, sounds of explosions were heard around 3 a.m. local time, Suspilne reported - although the explosions did not amount to any reported damage or casualties. Drone attacks are a daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions across the country. In recent months, Russian attacks on critical infrastructure have increasingly targeted Ukrainian energy facilities. Ukraine began implementing rolling blackouts on May 15, but they have dramatically increased in the weeks following. Overnight on June 29, Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed that its air defenses had shot down six Ukrainian-launched drones over Bryansk, Tver, and Belgorod oblasts, as well as occupied Crimea. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claim. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kremlin claims provocations from US drones over Black Sea, prepares potential response Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The U.S. Supreme Court has recently decided that enforcing generally applicable bans on camping on public property is not cruel and unusual punishment. The decision applies to a case in initiated in Oregon, but has implications for Albuquerques ability to tackle encampments. In the case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, the City of Grants Pass had an ordinance prohibiting camping on public property and parks. The ordinance allowed the city to fine campers and even jail repeat offenders that return to the parks. Some argued that that was unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court says the fines are not cruel and unusual. The implication is that similar ordinances in New Mexico would likely be interpreted in the same light, that Albuquerque can fine homeless individuals if they violate city ordinances. Rio Rancho Public Schools partnering with UFO record collection to promote historical research I know there will be mixed reactions to this ruling in our community, so I want to be clearthe City will continue to do everything in our power to get people the help they need and to deal promptly with illegal encampments, Mayor Tim Keller said in a press release. Recently, interactions with encampments have been primarily handled by Albuquerque Community Safety, rather than the police department. You can read more about the police departments role in enforcement in this KRQE story. Some city leaders say the recent Supreme Court decision means Albuquerque can start more enforcement actions against unauthorized homeless encampments. We didnt need a supreme court decision to enforce our own city laws, City Councilor Dan Lewis (District 5) told KRQE. The mayor has used this as an excuse for a lot of years, and its time to enforce our own laws. Others agree that the court decision opens the door for enforcement, but that walking through that door might not be the right choice for the community. I have mixed feelings. On the plus side, it clears ambiguity. It allows the cities to create their own policies to address issues, I think thats a good thing, Councilor Joaquin Baca (District 2) said. Simultaneously, it opens up the door to criminalize homelessness and that doesnt help anyone. Councilor Nichole Rogers (District 6) worries this decision will cause city leaders to become more punitive when it comes to encampments: Im not surprised based on the makeup of the Supreme Court. But definitely this makes it harder for municipalities to, I think in my opinion, to come up with a solution that is humane and just for folks who are suffering being unhoused. New Mexico ranked as No. 1 state for pedestrian deaths in 2023 The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) also responded to the Supreme Court decision, calling on the city to focus more on investing in housing and support services. Its difficult to conceive of a crueler example of punishment than imposing fines and imprisonment on someone for the fundamental human need of sleeping. Punishing people for merely trying to survive in public spaces does nothing to tackle the root causes of homelessness. This approach only entrenches the cycle of poverty and criminalization, which is both inhumane and ineffective. We call on local New Mexico governments to abandon these damaging practices that deprive unhoused individuals of their inherent dignity and to invest in meaningful solutions like affordable housing and comprehensive support services. Arresting our way out of homelessness is not a viable strategy. Here in New Mexico, we believe our state constitution provides broader protections than its federal counterpart and we will continue to push back against municipalities that criminalize people for simply existing in public spaces, Maria Martinez Sanchez, the legal director at ACLU-NM, said in a statement. The debate over enforcement of no camping rules is compounded by the fact that homelessness isnt easily solved by one solution, according to University of New Mexico School of Law Professor Joshua Kastenberg. He spoke about the issue on the KRQE News Podcast, where he noted that removing homeless encampments removes the encampment, but it doesnt really remove people . . . their encampment may be destroy, but theyre going to go somewhere. Can they be forced into a shelter? Well, I mean, look, you have enough shelters, and if those shelters are safe, thats a difficult question to answer because there are a lot of ifs. Currently, staff from the City of Albuquerque respond to over 50 camps per day, the city says. Those responses include welfare checks, and offering a list of referrals to services like medical care, shelters, and behavioral health services. The city says that process will continue. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller sent this statement: I know there will be mixed reactions to this ruling in our community, so I want to be clearthe City will continue to do everything in our power to get people the help they need and to deal promptly with illegal encampments. The City of Albuquerque has made historic investments over the last few years to increase the number of shelter beds, resources, and pathways out of homelessness. Prior to this administration, the Westside Emergency Housing Center was only open at night and during the winter. We made it year-round, 24/7 and increased the bed capacity. We opened the Gateway and have shelter for families, providing wrap around services for people get into permanent housing faster. The Gateway will nearly quadruple in size by next spring and will serve 1,000 people a day. The City has also tripled supportive housing vouchers since FY18, one of the most effective ways to ensure a permanent exit from homelessness. Since 2018, the City has also invested more than $71 million to bring over 2,200 new housing units to market and is buying and converting underutilized hotels into housing, like Los Altos Lofts. This summer we are dedicating $23 million to help developers build affordable housing. Mayor Tim Keller Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Alec Baldwin faced another setback in court on Friday, with a judge rejecting a motion to toss his case after the FBI destroyed a key piece of evidence: the firearm that mistakenly discharged on set. Baldwin, who was involved in a 2021 accidental shooting on the set of his film Rust that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, will face a July 9 trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled. His attorneys sought to have the case tossed after the gun, which Baldwin claims malfunctioned due to damage or a construction error, was mutilated during FBI testing, rendering it unexaminable for the case. They argued that since the evidence wasnt properly, the defense couldnt prove that the weapon had a defect. They [the FBI] knew it would be destroyed, and they did nothing to preserve the evidence for the defendant, Baldwins attorney, Josh Bash, said, per the BBC. It's outrageous and it requires dismissal. Weighing an interview in which Baldwin, charged with involuntary manslaughter, told OSHA investigators the gun had no mechanical failures, the Judge denied the dismissal. Judge Sommer wrote in the Friday order that a jury would weigh whether the defendant had a criminally negligent state of mind." Baldwin, who was re-indicted in January after charges were dismissed in 2023, has faced significant public backlash for the incident, beyond legal trouble. In April, he was accosted in a Manhattan coffee shop by a woman who asked why he kill[ed] that lady. Baldwin faces a civil lawsuit for Hutchins death, as well. The films armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in the death of Hutchins. Allegiant Air to end crew base at Austin airport but will continue to fly in and out Allegiant Air has a strong presence in the Southeast especially in Florida, where four of its most popular airports can be found. Allegiant Air will eliminate its crew base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport early next year due to the planned closure of the South Terminal, the airline announced last week. The airline made it clear that it will not cease operations in Austin but will simply no longer employ a crew base here. The budget airline has operated in Austin since 2013 and has a strong presence in the Southeast especially in Florida, where four of its most popular airports can be found. The airline has not provided specifics about how the loss of the base will affect operations. However, it did imply that effects would be minimal as it plans to use nearby bases to continue to serve Austin which could mean more layovers. Austin-Bergstrom saw record numbers in 2023 As Austin grows more popular with young professionals, eventgoers and vacationers, its airport has posted record-high traffic year over year. In 2023, Austin-Bergstrom saw upwards of 22 million travelers, making it the busiest year on record, according to the airport's self-reported data. It's the second year in a row that the airport has broken records for the number of passengers. Texas' home state darling, Southwest Airlines, continued its dominance in Austin last year, as it served more than 8.5 million passengers. It had a comfortable lead over American Airlines, which finished second with more than 5.2 million passengers. Delta Air Lines rounded out the top three with about 2.7 million passengers. Last year, Allegiant was the seventh-most popular airline at Austin's airport. It flew 377,091 passengers in 2023, putting it ahead of JetBlue (285,194) and British Airways (191,181). Expansions coming to Austin's airport While Austin-Bergstrom continues to become more crowded, there are plans to expand the airport on several fronts. An entirely new concourse with 20 gates has been in the planning phase for years and is expected to open by 2030. In April, the Austin City Council approved the first of many new steps to address additional shortcomings at the airport. The unanimous vote paved the way for subsequent decisions at least eight more votes are expected this year to increase capacity at the airport. If approved, Austin-Bergstrom will be able to sign a $162 million construction contract, funded by the city, to build a new utility plant for the city-run airport. The current utility plant was built in 1997 and powers the airport's heating and cooling. That plant has reached its peak cooling capacity, meaning it will not be able to accommodate further growth, according to airport officials. In addition to expanding the ceiling for the airport's growth, current plans for the new plant aim to cut down on the carbon footprint. Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Allegiant Air to ax its Austin crew base but will continue to fly Biden administration adviser Anita Dunn said President Biden is focused on whats next after his lackluster debate performance this week. Dunn joined MSNBCs The Weekend on Saturday, where she continued the Biden campaigns attempt to tamp down the panic after the debate. A debate is one moment in the campaign, she said. And the reality is that I think voters experienced this debate a little differently than perhaps some of the insiders. She added, The conversation we had is, OK, what do we do next? Dunn said the campaign is looking at ongoing research and the key issues that are important to voters. So, I think that what you will see, as you often see after these debates, are not huge changes, Dunn said. The president is going to continue to be out there and he can make his case for why Donald Trump is a threat to this country and why there is a better bath ahead of America. Dunn argued that Bidens vision includes a country where everyone is included and the federal government is not seen as an instrument of retribution. We have a true democracy where people can disagree but at the end of the day, we all come together behind certain basic American values. So, thats what hes going to continue to talk about, Dunn said. After Bidens shaky performance Thursday, there have been calls from both sides of the aisle for him to step aside and allow someone new to take on former President Trump this fall. The White House and the Biden campaign have squashed those calls and said the president is not going anywhere. On Friday, he gave an energetic speech to a crowd in North Carolina, where he said he knows how to get back up after hes been knocked down. 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. But I know what I do now. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. The debate was seen as a pivotal moment for Bidens stagnant campaign and since he underdelivered, Democrats are questioning his ability to lead for another four 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 The Hill. An explosion occurred near the city of Zaporizhzhia during an air raid for the second time on 29 June. Source: Ivan Fedorov, the Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration; Ukraine's Air Force; Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Quote from Fedorov: "The Russians are attacking [Zaporizhzhia] Oblast once again. An explosion [occurred] outside the city". Details: At 17:16, an air-raid warning was issued in Zaporizhzhia and several other Ukrainian oblasts due to a missile threat. Suspilne reported that an explosion occurred in Zaporizhzhia. Background: On 29 June, Russian forces struck a critical infrastructure facility in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Another security agreement: Ukraine's foreign minister holds talks in Balkans Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has met with Timco Mucunski, the newly appointed Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, in Croatia to discuss the preparation of a bilateral security agreement between the two countries. Source: Kuleba on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Kuleba reported that the talks focused on expanding bilateral cooperation and facilitating Ukraine's and North Macedonia's accession to the EU. "We also focused on the preparation of our bilateral security agreement," Kuleba said. Background: On 27 June, Ukraine signed three new security agreements with the EU, Estonia and Lithuania in Brussels. Ukraine is expected to sign a security agreement with Poland before the NATO summit in July. Support UP or become our patron! General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) has announced that it will be increasing its periodic dividend on the 1st of August to $0.60, which will be 1.7% higher than last year's comparable payment amount of $0.59. This makes the dividend yield 3.7%, which is above the industry average. Check out our latest analysis for General Mills General Mills' Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Based on the last payment, General Mills was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This indicates that a lot of the earnings are being reinvested into the business, with the aim of fueling growth. The next year is set to see EPS grow by 17.7%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 47% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward. General Mills Has A Solid Track Record Even over a long history of paying dividends, the company's distributions have been remarkably stable. The annual payment during the last 10 years was $1.52 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was $2.36. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.5% a year over that time. Although we can't deny that the dividend has been remarkably stable in the past, the growth has been pretty muted. General Mills Could Grow Its Dividend Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. General Mills has impressed us by growing EPS at 8.9% per year over the past five years. Since earnings per share is growing at an acceptable rate, and the payout policy is balanced, we think the company is positioning itself well to grow earnings and dividends in the future. General Mills Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that General Mills is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For instance, we've picked out 1 warning sign for General Mills that investors should take into consideration. Is General Mills not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks. 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 SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A contingent of anti-fascist demonstrators involved in a 2021 clash with supporters of former President Donald Trump in Pacific Beach were sentenced in court for various felony charges on Friday. The sentencing officially ends a high-profile criminal case that involved nearly a dozen defendants who were claimed members of the anti-fascist group, antifa. The eight defendants sentenced on Friday received jail time ranging from 180 days to two years in prison, according to District Attorney Summer Stephans Office. This included two men, Jeremy White and Brian Cortez Lightfoot Jr., who were found guilty of assault charges following a weeks-long trial earlier this year. The other six defendants sentenced on Friday previously pleaded guilty to receive reduced charges and jail time. Camp Pendleton Marine sentenced for attempting to entice a child into sexual activity Three additional defendants are already serving out jail time, ranging from two years, eight months to five years behind bars, prosecutors said. I dont know for any minute that the Trump supporters were offensive to the defendants and others in Pacific Beach that day, the judge presiding over Fridays sentencing said. But thats the nature of political speech. That does not mean that individuals with offensive speech cannot assemble, congregate and protest ANTIFA could have done that. The charges stem from a melee at a counter-protest to the so-called Patriot March in Pacific Beach on Jan. 9, 2021. The antifa-affiliated demonstrators were accused of tear-gassing and attacking the pro-Trump protestors with other weapons. A grand jury handed down indictments against 11 people about a year later, in 2022. All defendants were either convicted of the charges or entered a guilty plea to them, prosecutors 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 5 San Diego & KUSI News. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A man, who is in Arizona jail, has been accused of committing crimes in Albuquerque. On May 14, 2024, Timothy Ruffin was shot and killed in the 1100 block of Pennsylvania Street NE. A witness reported seeing two men in a physical fight before hearing a loud pop with several other pops following. The witness explained one man stood up, gathered things in the area (including a black backpack), and drove away in a van that was nearby. APD said the van was registered to Ruffin, and there was additional evidence in a Nissan Rogue found at the scene. Albuquerque officials hope to install baby boxes in city fire stations Law enforcement determined the incident was a road rage situation that turned into a carjacking. The men in the altercation were identified as Ruffin and Jon Marquez, 45. Marquez is in jail in Arizona on unrelated charges. When he was questioned, authorities claimed he didnt remember his whereabouts when Ruffin was murdered. Bullets from the murder were linked to Marquez, police said. Now, Marquez is being charged with an open count of murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm. Officials are working to bring him to Albuquerque to face the charges. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Recent archaeological discoveries made by accident in Mexico are shedding light on the countrys pre-Hispanic era, Ancient Origins reported. Last month, workers at a site in Janitzio in Lake Patzcuaro, Mexico unearthed a traditional boat, known as a tepari. Its believed that this vessel sank as it carried a load of firewood from Erongaricuaro to Janitzio. The outline of the tepari, which measures about 48.5 feet, can be seen here. CINAH Michoacan That discovery led to further dredging operations across the site, which have unearthed a number of other artifacts which predate a Hispanic presence in Mexico. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is spearheading the efforts along with The Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico. A multitude of human remains were discovered across the site. A number of human bones collected by officials were photographed, placed neatly beside each other in a cardboard box. Human remains found at Lake Patzcuaro. CINAH Michoacan Also discovered were a plethora of objects made of stone and ceramic. Officials surmise these items were likely thrown into Lake Patzcuaro as a spiritual offering, which offers an unprecedented glimpse into the religious practices of Patzcuaros ancient community. One of many pieces of pottery recovered by archaeologists. CINAH Michoacan A separate tapari was also found on the site, and officials are working to ensure its preservation. The INAH, as well as the city of Janitzio and Mexicos Ministry of Culture, hope to establish a community museum to display the groundbreaking discoveries, as well as to remind the small island community of their cultural lineage. Local residents who happen upon something they believe may be a significant archaeological discovery are urged to immediately notify the INAHs Michoacan Center so that proper preservation methods may be taken. FILE - Demonstrators holds cardboard posters showing images of family and friends killed during anti-government protests, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 18, 2014. An Argentine federal court in Buenos Aires on June 28, 2024, concluded testimony from Venezuelan victims as part of an investigation into probable human rights abuses allegedly committed by security forces during the 2014 clampdown on mass anti-government protests. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File) BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Frustrated by the limits of the laboriously slow International Criminal Court and determined that the security officers who allegedly killed their loved ones not enjoy absolute impunity, Venezuelans have brought their crimes-against-humanity case to a federal court 3,000 miles from home in Argentina. In a first for Venezuela under the repressive rule of President Nicolas Maduro, a federal court in Buenos Aires concluded two days of testimony from Venezuelan victims on Friday as part of an investigation into probable human rights abuses they claim were committed by security forces in 2014, the year after Maduro took power. Earlier in the year, Argentine prosecutors moved to revive a criminal complaint lodged in 2023 by the Clooney Foundation for Justice on behalf of survivors and the family members of those killed in what lawyers called a systematic plan by the state to crush dissent. Prosecutors declared that the crimes committed by high-ranking members of the Venezuelan National Guard were of extreme seriousness and required an immediate investigation. Several people flew from Venezuela for the first pre-trial hearing, which began Thursday in Argentina a nation that has grappled with its own legacy of war crimes and has become committed to pursuing war criminals operating beyond its borders. Those testifying are people who have sought justice in Venezuela for a very long time, and have reached the end of where they can go, said Yasmine Chubin, legal advocacy director at the Clooney Foundation, a nonprofit founded by George and Amal Clooney that provides free legal support to victims of human rights abuses. Theyre continuing to fight to hold those responsible to account, and that led to us filing this case. Security forces used harsh tactics to clamp down on mass anti-government protests that rocked Venezuela in 2014 arresting, torturing and killing those suspected of dissent. At least 43 people, including security officials and protesters, were killed in that crackdown. Venezuelans have struggled to challenge Maduro in their own country, where legal experts say that cases against the government often punish low-level officers while protecting those in power. The International Criminal Court in 2018 opened an initial investigation into abuses in Venezuela following an unprecedented referral by five Latin American countries and Canada but years later, the probe remains in its early stages. In March, the Hague-based tribunal rejected Venezuelas appeal, upholding its decision to investigate alleged atrocities committed in the country. Maduro's government denies accusations of large-scale crimes and says it's already reviewing some alleged abuses internally. Human rights lawyers around the world have increasingly pursued cases in national courts under what is called the principle of universal jurisdiction, saying the ICC often moves too slowly to have a real-time effect on current events. The capacity of the ICC is limited as it can only handle a handful of cases, said Chubin. The scale of atrocities in Venezuela, spanning thousands of deaths and numerous other violations like persecution, arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence calls for a broader approach. Among the handful of countries that have adopted the principle in their legal systems, Argentina stands out in the region for its unusually favorable record of applying the legal concept to investigate alleged crimes against humanity committed in Spain, Nicaragua and Myanmar. The foundation said it chose to file its case complete with 15,000 pages of documentation in Argentina because of the country's proximity to Venezuela, its large community of Venezuelan immigrants, and its broad interpretation of universal jurisdiction, a product of its 1983 transition to democracy from a brutal military dictatorship. Under the legal principle, neither the defendants nor the plaintiffs need to be residents of the country where the trial is held. The foundation declined to provide details about the Venezuelans who testified Friday, citing the continued dangers facing them at home. Theres no saying how long the process might take, but lawyers say theyre encouraged by the speed with which Argentina decided to launch its investigation just one month after the foundation filed its complaint. While the case is unlikely to produce arrests ahead of Venezuela's elections on July 28, any risk of a messy dispute in the Argentine courts could overshadow the vote. Depending on the situation with universal jurisdiction, you might be looking for symbolic results. That's not our case, said Ignacio Jovtis, senior program manager at the Clooney Foundation for Justice. We are very determined to see things through to completion and achieve concrete results. In other words, Jovtis said, the plaintiffs hope to see senior Venezuelan security officials extradited and standing trial in Buenos Aires. The foundation has declined to publicly name the accused, wary of giving the defendants advance notice of the case against them. The Argentine federal prosecutor who took on the case, Carlos Stornelli, could not immediately be reached for comment. The hourslong hearings Thursday and Friday exhausted the plaintiffs, many of whom broke down as they recounted horrors that they endured, Chubin said. But in the Buenos Aires court on Friday, they said they felt something like hope. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A Friday ruling could affect almost every aspect of peoples lives, from the food they eat and the cars they drive to the air we breathe and the homes they live in. In a 6-3 ruling, the United States Supreme Court overturned a landmark decision, Chevron v. Natural Resources, opening the federal regulations many live by every day to the possibility of being changed or challenged. Chevron takeaways: Supreme Court ruling removes frequently used tool from federal regulators For Arkansans, the decision may change the regulations they hunt under and regulations on farms and agriculture. For the retirement community in Arkansas, this could impact Medicaid and Medicare regulations as well. John DiPippa, Dean Emeritus and distinguished professor of law at the William Bowen School of Law, explained how far of an impact the ruling could have. Pretty much everything you touch all day long will have some connection to a federal regulation, DiPippa said. Supreme Court takes sledgehammer to federal agency power in Chevron case The ruling for the past 40 years has been there are experts at different regulatory agencies who might be better suited to make certain decisions on regulations, rather than courts. However, thats all being overturned, with the judge having the final say on how a law is interpreted. In some way, it opens up all these regulations to challenge and undermines the ability and the efficiency, of the court, or the government to regulate, all these areas of health, safety, agriculture, etc, DiPippa said. He said the ruling impacts even current legislation. The Clean Air and the Clean Water Act were decided in the early 70s, DiPippa said. That was way before, for example, the science of carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide creating global warming, so now the question is can the Environmental Protection Agency regulate the emission of carbon dioxide because thats fouling in the air or thats a threat to health and safety. What it means for the Supreme Court to throw out Chevron decision, undercutting federal regulators The courts ruling makes decisions like this more difficult for the EPA, requiring Congress to update the law, not the agency to interpret how to apply the law through regulations. This could lead Congress to be more precise when writing legislation, which DiPippa said is good news. The bad news is, the more precise you are, the easier it is to say, You didnt say this. You said X, Y, Z, but you didnt say something else, so thats not covered, DiPippa said. As for how this impacts the future, DiPippa believes there could be hundreds if not thousands of legal challenges ahead. Now its can you convince a judge that your interpretation of the law is better than the agency one, DiPippa said. Here are the cases left to be decided by the Supreme Court The Supreme Court argues that allowing federal agencies to interpret laws gives too much power to the executive branch, a reason as to why the Chevron case was overturned. This also could lead to different opinions between courts if each individual judge has the final say. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. ATCEMS: One dead after wilderness rescue near Pennybacker Bridge AUSTIN (KXAN) One person is dead after an attempted rescue near Pennybacker Bridge, the Austin-Travis County EMS said on social media Friday. Around 8:20 p.m., ATCEMS medics said it responded to a wilderness rescue at the Pennybacker Bridge overlook at 5200 North Capital of Texas Highway northbound. This embedded content is not available in your region. The Austin Fire Department were first to arrive and helped to move the adult person from the trail. About halfway down, medics said the person went into cardiac arrest. After extensive resuscitative efforts in an austere environment, medics pronounced the person dead. No other details were released 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 KXAN Austin. Atlanta Restaurant Ordered To Pay Former Employee Over $100K In Racial Discrimination Lawsuit After He Reportedly Faced Verbal Abuse And More | Photo: Hennadii Havrylko via Getty Images A former employee of a restaurant in Georgia just won a settlement due to racial discrimination. Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant, a Delaware-founded restaurant chain, opened one of its two Georgia locations in December 2020, according to Atlanta Black Star. Jerrell McGirt started working as a line cook at their Buckhead location a month before its grand opening. In just a few months he was promoted to sous chef-in-training. Once he began the training for his new role, he became disgruntled by the way he and other minorities were being poorly treated by the trainers on staff. According to the cases documents, McGirt contacted the eaterys regional management on June 3, 2021, to notify them about the mishandling of employees. McGirt never heard back so he decided to inform the restaurants leadership team, which included the general manager, the interim executive chef and his acting supervisor on June 8. Nothing was done after they were told, so he sent two more complaints to regional management on June 12 and June 28. His complaints were ignored again. The lawsuit stated that the restaurants management team singled out the plaintiff instead of investigating the situation. On July 2, 2021, McGirt was sent home early for telling his director to treat him like a human being. That same day, McGirt emailed Iron Hill management to report the verbal abuse, verbal assault, discrimination and mistreatment because of gender; and discrimination and mistreatment because [of] both race and citizenship. Despite never having a write-up, McGirt was instructed not to return to the location because they needed to assess his previous write-ups. Three days later, McGirt received a response and was asked to share evidence of accusations. He sent proof the next day and was issued a final written warning for being aggressive for requesting fair treatment. On June 11, he was involved in another degrading situation when his sous-chef told him to tone it down and to stop being a coon. Not wanting to lose his job but still wanting to be treated with respect, he texted the trainer. Im not going to do anything fireable, and I wont be intimidated to quitIm no coon no thug to be taken advantage of, McGirts message read, which led to his termination. To hold the restaurants discriminatory leaders and staff accountable for their actions and lack thereof, McGirt disclosed his grievances with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to formally report what he encountered while at Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant. After a thorough investigation, the government entity ultimately concluded that there was reasonable cause to believe that Title VII had been violated. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act addresses employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. To avoid litigation, the EEOC contacted the restaurant in September 2023 in hopes of finding a solution for this matter. Since there was no movement, the organization sent a Notice of Failure of Conciliation two months later, the final step in their process for resolution before filing a legal claim, which was done on March 25, 2024. On June 17, 2024, McGirt came out on top when a judge ruled the food chain would be required to pay him a $115,000 settlement. In addition, they were ordered to enforce an anti-retaliation policy and host a yearly national course on complying with Title VII discriminatory laws. Furthermore, the company must give McGirt a letter of recommendation that states he performed well in his position and was a good employee. Before this ruling, the Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurants Atlanta location shut down in May 2024. The franchise said a lack of customers and post-pandemic challenges is the reason they closed their doors, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The presidential candidate of Front National, Marine Le Pen, addresses her followers after the first round of the election. Kay Nietfeld/dpa German companies are looking nervously on as France goes to the polls on Sunday in the first round of snap parliamentary elections that could deliver a blow to the country's political centre. "When analysing the economic policy announcements of the right and the left, German and French companies have come to the same conclusion: France's attractiveness would suffer," said Patrick Brandmaier, managing director of the Franco-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, in Paris. Marine Le Pen's far-right nationalist National Rally (RN) has seen its standing strengthen in the final voter surveys ahead of the election, which will determine the balance of power in the National Assembly. The election will be held in two rounds. President Emmanuel Macron called the poll nearly three weeks ago after the stinging defeat of his centrists to the far-right in the European Parliament elections, a historic result that reverberated far beyond France. The risky move could put the RN in power for the first time. Macron's decision rattled financial markets and raised fresh concerns about France's fiscal challenges. Investors are worried that wins by either the RN or the leftist New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, which is also polling strong, could threaten the French economy, the second-biggest in the European Union after Germany. Brandmaier said the possibility of sharp increases in government spending by Paris, which would likely further rock the market, has spooked companies already concerned about the sustainability of France's fiscal path. Rising premiums on French government bonds would put even more pressure on the already strained French state budget, analysts have pointed out in recent days. Brandmaier said the potential for the far-left or far-right to roll back business-friendly reforms implemented under Macron's presidency, plus the likely increase in taxes, also had German businesses on edge. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The essential and revolutionary tool often goes overlooked but after half a century of utility, the barcode is evolving with the times. The first ever product to be scanned was a 10-pack of Wrigleys Juicy Fruit gum at a grocery store in Troy, Ohio in 1974. Since then, barcodes have become ubiquitous with shopping. Bob Carpenter, president and CEO of GS1 US, a not-for-profit and authorized source for UPC barcodes, estimates around 10 billion items get scanned using barcodes every day. And its not just at the grocery store or shopping mall. The barcode and the GHS one standards that are used within the barcode are used across 25 different industries, Carpenter explained. But some areas that you might not associate a barcode to be used are in areas like the movement of cash between Federal Reserve banks and retail establishments or barcodes used within hospitals to open and close doors. Hospitals started using the barcode almost immediately after its invention. The barcode is really instrumental in connecting the patient with either the medical device and or the pharmaceutical product that that patient is receiving, Carpenter said. And so, that helps to increase patient safety to make sure that the right medication or the right medical device is paired with the right patient. GS1 US found 54% of people would be open to getting a barcode tattoo to share personal information like health records, memories of a loved one or their dating profile. Carpenter believes that QR codes and phone usage will allow the barcode to evolve with the times. Were seeing the first generation of what is going to be multiple generations of new and improved barcodes powered by QR, powered by radio frequency identification tags that are going to be able to allow us to interact with products not just in the four walls of a retail establishment, but through the entire life experience from source to store, to recycle, to renewal of a product that we use in all sorts of different retail industries, whether its food, health care or also, the apparel space, Carpenter said. Examples of the type of information that could be available through codes in the future include allergens, sustainability measures or current recalls. Carpenter said, Were just getting started, even though were celebrating our 50th anniversary. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The situation on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border is characterised by increasing tension, stated the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. Source: BelTA, a Belarusian state-owned news outlet, citing Colonel Vadim Lukashevich, Deputy Commander of Belarusian Special Operations Forces, and Andrei Severinchik, Chief of of the Air Defence Missile Forces of the Air Force and Air Defence Command of Belarus Armed Forces. Quote from Lukashevich: "The situation on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border is characterised by escalating tensions. The coalition of Western countries has sparked a hot conflict near our territory. Attempts are being made from their side to drag our country into war. In these challenging conditions, our country is doing everything possible to maintain peace on Belarusian soil. We have information that Ukraine is mobilising troops, weaponry, and military equipment towards our borders. Specifically, in Zhytomyr Oblast, American infantry fighting vehicles, multiple-launch rocket systems, heavy long-range artillery, and other equipment are deployed." Details: They also express outrage that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have deployed radio-electronic surveillance systems and used UAVs for reconnaissance in Belarus, from where tanks and infantry entered Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Belarus allegedly also deployed additional air defence forces and assets to areas near Zhytomyr Oblast. Quote from Severinchik: "We are prepared to decisively deploy all available forces and means to defend the territory and population of the Republic of Belarus from potential provocations in the airspace." Background: On 20 June, after Belarus' State Border Committee reported that it was seeing an increase in the number of Ukrainian troops on the border, Ukraines border guards emphasised that the defence forces are protecting sovereign territory from the aggressor and there is no provocation in doing so. Support UP or become our patron! Sir Keir Starmer faces a growing benefits bill if he fails to restore the dream of home ownership - Alastair Grant/AP Rob Trewhellas biggest worry ahead of his 68th birthday in August is that there will come a time when he is no longer able to work. After he has paid for housing costs, he has 15 left of his state pension every month. Two years ago, to make ends meet he decided to become a cab driver where he lives in Penzance, Cornwall. I absolutely love it. Its wonderful because Im meeting people from different walks of life, from different countries. I couldnt wish for anything better, he says. Trewhella rents a one-bedroom flat. He has tried to apply for somewhere more secure to live through a housing association, but was told he was number 286 on the waiting list. It was not always like this. Years ago I was on the property ladder, but circumstances dictate that youre no longer on there, and of course I am now too old and too broke to even consider it, really. Life has got a bit of a habit of kicking you where it hurts, Trewhella says. When his parents passed away, any potential inheritance had been eaten up by care costs. So being able to go to work is crucial even at this age. My work situation could change at any time. When you get older you know theres certain things that drop off and go wrong with your body, Trewhella says. If I get into a situation where I can no longer work and Ive just got my state pension to live on, it is going to be pretty grim. Therell be no niceties in life. For a man who has always taken pride in working, the thought of having to apply for housing benefits and other help is bleak. I will have to [apply eventually]. At the moment Im not a burden on the state. Working is absolutely essential for my mental health as well. So thats a scary prospect to think about, he says. Stories like his will become a lot more common in the years and decades to come. The Government will spend around 6.7bn on housing benefit for pensioners this year, compared with less than 2bn in todays money in 1980. Boosts to the state pension and freezes to local housing allowance mean that the number has come down slightly over the past decade. But an ageing population and falling levels of home ownership for every generation under the age of 75 are storing up problems for the future. Already by 2033, the number of private renters aged 65-plus could soar past 1m from around 400,000 currently, according to Hamptons, an estate agent. It means that if the next government likely led by Sir Keir Starmer fails to dramatically increase housing supply and restore the dream of home ownership, the bill will start to mount. We should have started yesterday and tomorrow is better than the day after. Its one of those things that the sooner we get on with it, the better the outcomes will be, says Neal Hudson, the director of Residental Analysts. Exposed to the market Pension age renters are still relatively rare. Some 402,700 households aged 65 and older lived in rented homes in 2021-22, according to the latest figures from the English Survey. It marks an increase from 257,000 in 2008-09. But the past 15 years have been characterised by soaring housing costs, stagnating wages and a failure to build enough homes stretching back decades. The impact is visible in the rise of people living in rented accommodation where their monthly payments will bolster their landlords retirement rather than their own. The share of private renters has risen among every age group under 75 between 2008-09 and 2021-22. Home ownership rates have recovered somewhat among younger adults since a low point in 2015, but they still remain far lower than at the start of the century. Some 39pc of people aged 25 to 34 owned their own home in 2022, down from 59pc in 2000, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. This will eventually lead to far more pensioners renting, according to Darren Baxter from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Because we are seeing a higher rate of people in their 20s, 30s and 40s unable to access home ownership, it is likely that trend is going to get worse. While we are not seeing big increases in housing benefit to that group now or in next few years, it is logical that costs will increase significantly in the future, Baxter says. Research from Independent Age has found that around half of all private tenants aged 65 and older are in receipt of housing benefit. Public spending on housing benefit could rise by as much as 153pc by 2060 in a worst case scenario, the Resolution Foundation found in 2018. This would result in annual spending rising from 6.3bn to 16bn a year, meaning money that could otherwise have been spent on schools, hospitals and roads would go towards housing. The most important thing about home ownership is that it is a hedge against future housing costs. It means that you have certainty in terms of what your housing costs are going to be in retirement. If youre in the private renting sector, you are exposed to the market, says Hudson. Rents will keep growing. If youre living on a pension then you may well find yourself squeezed and unable to afford it and in need of greater government subsidy. So it is a big issue for governments in the future. Rents have soared since Covid, rising 8.7pc in the year to May across the UK. Such jumps make it hard for anyone to plan how much money they would need in retirement. A private renter needs to save 391,000 more throughout their lifetime to fund their retirement than someone on the property ladder, according to Standard Life, a pension firm that is part of Phoenix Group. The research also noted that less than a third of current renters expect to buy a home, leaving close to 11m needing to fund ongoing rental costs in retirement over their lifetime. Risk of eviction Not only will the share of people renting into old age grow, but there will also be more older people overall as the population ages. Projections from the Office for National Statistics show that while there were around 10.8m people aged 65 to 84 in 2020, this figure will rise to 14.4m by 2040. Meanwhile, analysis by the Pensions Policy Institute suggests the share of homeownership in retirement will fall from 78pc to 63pc by 2041. The proportion renting privately will rise from 6pc to 17pc, they believe, meaning there could be close to 2.5m older renters by then. For those who do spend their old age at the mercy of a private landlord, life quality often suffers as a result. Theres a real human cost to it as well. You have a situation where people who are retired on low income risk being evicted. We know that can lead to homelessness. The other problem for older people is that they develop additional needs or disabilities like dementia. Expecting an individual landlord to manage those things is unrealistic, Baxter says. Labour has pledged to tear up planning rules and build 1.5m houses while in government, some of which will be for social rent. Its manifesto does not go far enough and is not broad enough given the scale of the problem, says Hudson. It is a little bit too focused on planning reform, hoping that will fix everything when we know its going to need a broader range of policies to actually be effective, he says. Unfortunately, there are no quick solutions because it all ties into the wider issues facing the housing market and the unaffordability of it. It will take years if not decades to have a substantial impact on it. Back in Penzance, Trewhella says it is hard to feel positive about the future. Sometimes I think, Whats the point? Whats the point in still carrying on when youre dead tomorrow? Im not depressed. Its just a matter of fact, he says. My advice to any youngster nowadays is get a really good job and save for your future. Dont think its a long way away, because you could go in for a cup of tea one day and then you realise, Blimey, wheres the time gone? 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 Scene EAU CLAIRE, Wis. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders rejected calls for Joe Biden to end his presidential campaign on Friday, telling Semafor that Thursdays debate had gone poorly but there was time to retool. Hes not a great debater, hes not necessarily a great speaker, Sanders said. People are just gonna have to say: Okay, you know what? Yeah, hes old. Yeah, hes not as articulate as he should be. But youre voting for somebody whose policies will impact your life. Asked about the New York Timess editorial board urging Biden to quit, and whether a different nominee could win the election, he refused to speculate. Biden needed to get more specific about how hed improve the lives of working people, not step down. Biden is the candidate, he said. I suspect he will be the candidate. Ill do my best to get him elected. Know More Sanders had spent debate night in Wisconsin, part of a four-day swing throughout the state that wasnt sponsored by the Biden campaign. But his analysis synced up with theirs that 90 shaky minutes on a CNN stage shouldnt define the president, or start a scramble to replace him. In Stevens Point, where hundreds of Wisconsinites gathered in the rain to see Sanders, he said he had to be very honest with them: Donald Trump lied and lied and lied on Thursday, but the president was not terribly articulate when he responded. He was not focused. He did not defend a very strong record, Sanders added. He should have been loud and clear in telling the American people that he was the first president in American history ever to walk on a picket line. In Eau Claire, where he spoke and took questions at a local technical college, Sanders opened with a joke about the debate: Lets talk about last night. Mmmm not great! The race was still close, he said, and winnable, though. I know that there is not a lot of enthusiasm for either of these candidates, in some places. Davids view In the last 24 hours, Democrats have undergone a collective near-death experience. Not all of them emerged in the same way. A handful of Bidens old primary opponents have said that he should have spared the party this crisis, and not run for re-election, including Andrew Yang and Julian Castro. The others have echoed, by plan or accident, what Biden said in Raleigh: Hes old, hes not the debater he used to be, deal with it. Sanders, who endorsed Biden as soon as he declared for re-election, is on his third cycle of telling frustrated progressives that they have to settle for a different nominee, a task that got harder on Thursday. The Times editorial might end up helping with that. Like Biden, Sanders didnt like the coverage he got from the papers news side; both mens editorial board interviews got a little salty. (You didnt take me too seriously, Sanders reminded the board in 2019, remembering exactly which page it had reserved for his 2016 campaign announcement.) There has never been so much media pressure at this point in a presidential campaign for a Democratic nominee to quit. Its not likely to convince him. Notable Congressman Jim Clyburn, a top Biden ally, said the debate was only strike one for the president. Everybody remembers Babe Ruth being the home run king, he told Semafors Kadia Goba. Few people remember how many times he struck out. Who knows? On strike two he may knock it out of the park. South Florida weather was sizzling this weekend with above-normal heat and an eye on the tropics, where the National Hurricane Center is predicting that Tropical Storm Beryl will become a major hurricane as it reaches the Windward Islands late Sunday or early Monday. Beryl, which reached tropical storm status late Friday, was rapidly strengthening into a hurricane Saturday and on a path that would take it into the Windwards. A hurricane watch was in effect Saturday for Barbados and much of the Windwards, and the NHC was predicting a path that would take the cyclone over Jamaica late Wednesday or early Thursday. Beryl is projected to become a major hurricane with winds of at least 115 mph, and the storm's track is expected to bring it south of Jamaica, which is about 620 miles south of West Palm Beach. It is unclear what, if any, impacts the storm could have on South Florida. "At this point, it is far too early to speculate on impacts on South Florida," Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said Saturday. "It is something to monitor." Excessive heat, however, was in the forecast. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory Saturday for Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties on the east, and Collier County on the west. The "feels like" temperature in Collier on Saturday was expected to reach 110 degrees. The predicted path of Tropical Storm Beryl as of 11 a.m. Saturday. The National Hurricane Center predicts rapid strengthening into a major hurricane as the cyclone heads toward Barbados. Saturday's high temperatures were in the lower 90s for most of southeast Florida, and that was expected to repeat 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 Beryl'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 40% chance of formation. Saturday, the NHC said that a broad area of low pressure was expected to form over Mexico's Bay of Campeche by Sunday, and that a tropical depression could form before the disturbance moves inland over Mexico. 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 Beryl and its companion are at such low latitudes they are avoiding the bulk of the dust. In the short term, if a heat advisory is issued for Palm Beach County on Sunday, 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 this month 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 advisory 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: Tropical Storm Beryl soon to be hurricane as heat bakes South Florida Remnants of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Photo from the Maryland Department of Transportation Flickr account. The White House on Friday reiterated its support for full federal funding to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge, as part of a request to Congress for $4 billion in emergency disaster relief funding. The letter from Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young to House Speaker Mike Johnson said the money, an add-on to an October supplemental budget request, is needed to respond to the Key Bridge disaster, the wildfires in Maui and tornado victims in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and the Midwest. It also cited the need to be prepared ahead of what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted will be an extraordinary hurricane season. Of the requested $4 billion, the letter asks for $3.1 billion for repairing and rebuilding highways and roads that have been damaged in disasters and other emergencies across the Nation, including the cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. While the letter does not specify a particular amount of funds for the Key Bridge, it repeats the administrations intent to fully fund the replacement at federal expense, as has been done in bridge disasters in the past. The letter also encourages Congress to fund the cleanup efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers that allowed for the reopening of the shipping channel into the Port of Baltimore on June 12, almost three months after the container ship Dali slammed into the Key Bridge and sent it tumbling into the Patapsco River. And it said it planned to work with Congress on tax relief for longshoremen who were forced to draw on their retirement plans when work at the port dried up. Initial estimates on costs of replacing the Key Bridge replacement have put the price tag at upwards of $1.7 billion and projected that it will take years to complete. The state and the White House have said that they expect to recoup at least some of those costs through insurance payments from the shipping company that caused the crash. While the Biden administration has pledged full funding, that decision will be largely in the hands of the Republican-controlled House. Rep. David Trone (D-6th), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statment Friday that the House must put politics aside and deliver results. That was echoed by Gov. Wes Moore (D). Now, its time for Congress to come together and pass the critical measures necessary to rebuild the bridge for the good of our nations economy, Moore said in a statement released by his office. The post Biden administration asks for emergency funds for Key Bridge replacement appeared first on Maryland Matters. Ongoing peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia could thwart the ambitions and hegemonic desires of many powers in the South Caucasus. It's worth noting that the longstanding Garabagh conflict between Baku and Yerevan has drawn the attention of numerous countries to the region. Alongside the West, Iran, which neighbors Azerbaijan and Armenia, has also been somewhat emboldened by this conflict. Iran's proximity to Armenia, its controversial policies, and its silence over massacres in Azerbaijani territories over the past 30 years are regrettable. During the resumption of the Israel-Palestine war, Iran was among the Muslim countries that initiated protests against Israel. Interestingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran did not mention the existence of mosques converted by Armenians into cowsheds and pigsty, where Muslim Azerbaijanis expelled from their homes by Armenians were relocated. Despite Azerbaijan sharing a border with Iran and Garabagh being in very close proximity, Iran turned a blind eye to Armenia's actions. In 2020, when the Azerbaijani Army halted Armenian provocations and launched a counteroffensive, Iranian leadership refrained from celebrating it. Even this year, in April, Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Subhani, held a press conference stating that Armenian soldiers were killed with Israeli weapons during the Second Garabagh War. It's important to note that Azerbaijan purchased this weaponry and military equipment from Israel with its own funds to liberate its territories from occupation. Official Tehran, however, sent substantial amounts of weaponry and military equipment to Armenia during the 44-day Patriotic War to maintain Azerbaijani territories under occupation. Interestingly, all official statements from Iran indicate their support for peace. However, Tehran does not specify the form in which they support achieving peace. It seems that the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia does not align with Iran's interests. Just yesterday, another provocative statement by Iran's ambassador in Armenia was reported in the media. He mentioned that the results of Iran's presidential elections today will not bring any change in relations with Armenia. When asked about Azerbaijan, he emphasized that Azerbaijan should avoid using "threatening" language toward Armenia. By making such provocative statements at a time when events related to border delimitation and demarcation processes are intensifying, he serves the interests of the state he represents. It's worth noting that Armenia's current leadership's steps towards seeking peace have also caused a cooling in Iran's relations with Armenia. On June 21, Armenia's recognition of Palestine's independence was praised by many Muslim countries. Even President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally expressed his approval of Armenia's step, stating that he applauded Armenia. Subsequently, all Arab countries declared their positive attitudes towards Armenia's decision. However, Iran, which has consistently claimed to support Palestine and has established close relations with Armenia as its last ally, drew attention. The fact that Iran did not officially respond to Armenia's decision until a week later, merely stating "applauded," was perceived as ambiguous. It is evident that Armenia's decision to announce this after the phone call between Pashinyan and Erdogan on June 18, and the statements by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan regarding normalizing relations with Turkiye, have provoked Iran. It appears that Iran is displeased with Armenia's intentions to normalize and develop relations with Azerbaijan and Turkiye. While Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have been in a state of war for many years, have not discussed a peace agreement in the region for the years, the power dynamics are now changing. The peace process between these two ciountries in the South Caucasus is on the agenda, and whether other regional or foreign countries should accept this reality sooner or later remains to be seen. Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Good Drinks Australia Limited (ASX:GDA) Co-Founder, John Hoedemaker, recently bought AU$106k worth of stock, for AU$0.25 per share. Although the purchase is not a big one, increasing their shareholding by only 7.0%, it can be interpreted as a good sign. View our latest analysis for Good Drinks Australia The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Good Drinks Australia In fact, the recent purchase by John Hoedemaker was the biggest purchase of Good Drinks Australia shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at around the current price of AU$0.26. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider purchases were made at close to current prices. While Good Drinks Australia insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Good Drinks Australia is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying. Does Good Drinks Australia Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that Good Drinks Australia insiders own 22% of the company, worth about AU$7.6m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. What Might The Insider Transactions At Good Drinks Australia Tell Us? The recent insider purchases are heartening. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. But we don't feel the same about the fact the company is making losses. Insiders likely see value in Good Drinks Australia shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Good Drinks Australia (including 1 which is a bit concerning). But note: Good Drinks Australia may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday, after the fallout of his damaging debate performance in late June, in which he repeatedly tripped over his own words and failed to rebut Donald Trumps many false claims. Some commentators had called for replacing Biden as the nominee even before the debate, largely citing the presidents age as a potentially decisive vulnerability in the election. (Biden is 81, and Trump is 78.) But the groundswell, in both public opinion and in Democratic party leadership, grew in July until Biden decided to end his bid and he has now endorsed his vice-president, Kamala Harris. Related: Could Kamala Harris be a winner for the Democrats if Biden steps aside? With all of the presidential primaries over, the process for replacing Biden could be complicated and politically volatile. Biden had already won far more delegates than he needed to secure the nomination, and the Democratic national convention, which will bring a formal end to the primary process, is next month. Heres everything you need to know about the process for replacing Biden: Have Democrats already officially named Biden as their nominee? No. Democrats will convene in Chicago from 19 to 22 August to formally select their presidential nominee, so until now Biden was still considered the presumptive nominee at this stage. The Democratic national committee had plans to virtually nominate Biden via an electronic roll call before the convention. New plans have not yet been released. What happens to Bidens pledged delegates now that he has withdrawn from the presidential race? Bidens pledged delegates will probably arrive in Chicago uncommitted to any specific candidate, which could kick off a frenzied fight to win their support. Senior Democrats, such as the former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, had called for an open nomination process, which would allow several candidates to vie for the nomination, in the event of Biden dropping out. Candidates who step into the breach hoping to take the place of the fallen candidate will find out who these delegates are and woo them in as many ways as they can. The outcome will be a convention where the result may not be known ahead of time, Elaine Kamarck, a member of the Democratic National Committee rules committee and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, wrote in January. Democrats have not seen a floor fight for the presidential nomination since 1968, when their convention was coincidentally (and infamously) held in Chicago. In a potentially eerie parallel to 2024, then president Lyndon Johnson decided against seeking re-election just months before the election. The assassination of Robert F Kennedy left Hubert Humphrey, Johnsons vice-president, as the main opponent against Eugene McCarthy, the anti-Vietnam war candidate. The fraught nominating process was overshadowed by the violence on Chicagos streets, as tens of thousands of police officers and national guard officers confronted anti-war protesters. In the end, Humphrey won the nomination even though he had never appeared on a state primary ballot but he went on to lose to Richard Nixon in the general election. Does Kamala Harris automatically win all of Bidens delegates due to his endorsement? No. The delegates will now be uncommitted and could theoretically vote on the floor for any candidate. Biden has already endorsed Harris, but in the days since the debate, a number of names including Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, and Michigans governor, Gretchen Whitmer have been floated as possible replacements for Biden. Harris will still probably go to the convention as a strong favorite for the nomination. As the vice-president, she has the largest national profile of any potential candidate, and Bidens pledged delegates are mostly party loyalists who would be looking for the safest possible choice if he stepped aside. How would a nominee be chosen on the floor? On the first ballot, a winning nominee would need to secure the votes of a majority of Democrats roughly 4,000 pledged delegates. If no candidate won a majority on the first ballot, Democrats would continue on to a second ballot, in which so-called superdelegates would have an opportunity to vote. Superdelegates are mostly senior Democratic party leaders, and they would go to the convention not pledged to any candidate. With the roughly 700 superdelegates added to the voting pool, the winning candidate would then need to secure about 2,300 delegates to capture the nomination. Although superdelegates would make up a relatively small share of the delegate pool, they could play an important role in choosing the nominee. Their support for a particular candidate would speak volumes and could sway fellow delegates. Read more about Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 election: If there was a winner in Thursdays alarming presidential debate it was Robert Hur, the Republican special counsel who, after declining to charge President Joe Biden with mishandling sensitive government records, wrote in his report that a jury was unlikely to convict because Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Vice President Kamala Harris said, The way that the presidents demeanor in that report was characterized could not be more wrong on the facts. After Thursdays debate, Hurs description looks kind. Biden opened the debate appearing and sounding confused. He mangled numbers, veered off on tangents and lost his train of thought. Somehow, he managed to look even older than this 81 years. Former President Donald Trump, who had set the bar low for Biden by saying he couldnt put two sentences together, watched with wonder as the president fell short of the bar. Trump glibly spouted lies that Biden ignored or failed to effectively expose. At one point, the two debated who was the worst president ever. Trump has earned that title, but Bidens performance ranked as the worst ever in a presidential debate. What should really rankle Democrats isnt Bidens failed performance, but those who have refused to concede his failing abilities beginning with himself and First Lady Jill Biden and extending outward to prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama. Someone should have stopped Biden from seeking a second term. Trusted figures said he was up to four more years. On Thursday, we saw that he isnt. Now it looks like Bidens best chance for reelection is that the prospect of Trump back in the Oval Office will be too terrible for a majority of voters in swing states to accept. As Bidens substantial accomplishments have not resonated strongly with voters, he is increasingly offering himself as the protector of the democratic process that Trump threatens. But a system that has produced Trump and Biden as the choices appears already broken. After the debate, a focus group member told MSNBC its now a choice between, Hell, no! and Oh, no! In a healthy democracy, Biden would have stepped down gracefully after one effective term and allowed the smooth passage of power to a younger generation. His stubbornness and ego blocked that. Now it also seems unlikely that the Democrats will select a more capable and popular nominee at their August convention in Chicago. In the Windy City, there will be many Democrats and little democracy. On Friday, Biden rolled into Raleigh trying to erase Thursday. There was a boisterous crowd at the State Fairgrounds event. Gov. Roy Cooper gave a rousing warmup speech, but the message was undercut by the truth behind one the rallys opening songs, Bruce Springsteen singing, You cant start a fire without a spark. Biden tried to ignite the crowd and reignite his campaign. Speaking in a stronger voice, he read from a Teleprompter that gave him a coherence he lacked during the debate. Speaking in a state he narrowly lost in 2020, he said North Carolina could decide the upcoming election for him: We win here, we win the election. But Biden also knew that his debate performance had made such a victory less likely. He addressed the age issue directly. I know Im not a young man, 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 and I know how to do this job. Biden is a man of integrity. He does know how to tell the truth. But in seeking reelection, he was unable to accept the truth. He is a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man. All he and his supporters can hope for now is that voters also find Trump to be who he is -- an unsympathetic, ill-meaning, elderly man. Associated opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com By Steve Holland and Jarrett Renshaw EAST HAMPTON, NY (Reuters) -President Joe Biden embarked on a series of fundraising events across two states on Saturday as he works to stamp out a crisis of confidence in his re-election campaign following a feeble debate performance that dismayed his fellow Democrats. The events are being held as many nervous Democratic donors are lamenting Bidens weak showing against Republican rival Donald Trump on Thursday night and wondering what, if anything, they could do to change the course of the race, according to interviews with more than a dozen Democratic fundraisers. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited the upscale New York beach enclave known as the Hamptons for a campaign fundraiser hosted by hedge-fund billionaire Barry Rosentein. Later in the day, he will travel to New Jersey for a fundraiser hosted by wealthy New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat. I understand the concern about the debate. I didnt have a great night," Biden told the room of about 100 supporters gathered in the Hamptons. The point is I didnt have a great night, but neither did Trump. He added, "I promise you we're going to win this election." Another hedge-fund founder, Eric Mindich, and his Tony Award-winning producer wife Stacey, celebrity couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, and actor Michael J. Fox were all listed as members of the host committee at the New York event, according to an invitation seen by Reuters. Biden told a rally in North Carolina on Friday he intended to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in the November presidential election, giving no sign he would heed calls from Democrats who want him to drop out of the race. The race is very close, according to polls, and will likely come down to voters in a few battleground states. Biden's verbal stumbles and occasionally meandering responses during the debate heightened voter concerns that the 81-year-old might not be fit to serve another four-year term. Trump, meanwhile, unleashed a barrage of criticisms, many of which were well-worn falsehoods he has long repeated, including claims that migrants have carried out a crime wave, that Democrats support infanticide, and that he actually won the 2020 election. The Biden campaign on Saturday boasted it had raised more than $27 million between debate day through Friday evening, but questions remain about whether the debate performance will hurt fundraising, at least in the short term. The donor class is being closely watched for signs of whether he can ride out the doubts. Biden held a $100 million advantage over Trump just a couple of months ago, but the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee entered June with $212 million in the bank, compared with $235 million for the Trump operation and the Republican National Committee. Many top donors called political advisers in recent days to inquire about little-known rules under which Biden might be removed from the ticket against his will and replaced at or before the Democratic National Convention in August, according to two people who fielded the inquiries. Some donors were actively trying to reach Jill Biden, the first lady, who in turn could persuade her husband not to run, the New York Times reported on Saturday. Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn and one of the Democratic Partys most influential donors, wrote in an email to friends on Friday evening that he had been inundated. I got a lot of emails in the last 24 hours asking whether there should be a public campaign to pressure President Biden to step aside after his (very) bad debate performance last night, he wrote in the email, which was seen by Reuters. It certainly delivered a blow to the mood among donors and organizers. He said it was up to Biden and his family to make a decision, adding, If anything, a public effort might compel the Bidens to try to prove the doubters wrong. One major fundraiser for the Biden campaign said some donors were learning fast how little influence they have in this situation. There are a lot of people who think they are more important than they actually are, the fundraiser said. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose; Editing by Daniel Wallis) RED BANK, N.J. (AP) President Joe Biden looked to recapture his mojo and reassured donors at a Saturday fundraiser that he is fully up to the challenge of beating Donald Trump. I didnt have a great night, but Im going to be fighting harder, Biden told attendees at the home of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Donald Trump is a genuine threat to the nation, he emphasized, saying that his predecessor would undermine democracy if returned to the White House and his economic ideas would worsen inflation. The 81-year-old's troubling performance at the first presidential debate Thursday rattled many Democrats, who see Trump as a continuing danger after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Biden's meandering answers and struggles to respond to Trump prompted The New York Times editorial board to declare Friday that he should exit the race and that staying in would be a reckless gamble. A White House official said Saturday that Biden had preplanned time at Camp David on Sunday and Monday for a family photo, disputing the premise of an NBC News report suggesting that Biden would be discussing the future of his reelection campaign with his family. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss Biden family matters. Biden was seen talking by phone with Jon Meacham, the historian, on his way Saturday night to Camp David. Biden and his wife, Jill, earlier attended an afternoon campaign event in East Hampton, New York, the Long Island beach town where the real estate firm Zillow prices the median home at $1.9 million. Based on public records, the event that was closed to the news media was at the home of Avram Glazer, an owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team. The couple then went to a second event in East Hampton at the home of investor Barry Rosenstein, whose wife, Lizanne, said the president was a role model for what it is to get knocked down over and over and over again and get up. We can waste time comparing debate nights, she continued. But you know what? Its more meaningful to compare presidencies. Addressing the gathering, Biden tore into Trump over his presidential record including his treatment of veterans and pointed to Trump's own poor performance on Thursday night. Biden contended that the polling hes seen shows that Democrats moved up after the debate, saying of Trump: The big takeaway was his lies." In the aftermath of that debate, Biden flashed more vigor in speeches in North Carolina and New York on Friday, saying he believes with all my heart and soul that he can do the job of the presidency. The Biden campaign said it has raised more than $27 million on Thursday and Friday, including $3 million at a New York City fundraiser focused on the LGBTQ+ community. Jill Biden told supporters Friday that he said to her after the debate, You know, Jill, I dont know what happened. I didnt feel that great. The first lady then said she responded to him, Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that youve been president. The Democratic president still needs to allay the fears stirred by the debate as it seeped into the public conscience with clips and memes spreading on the internet and public pressure for him to bow out of the race. Democratic donors across New York, Southern California and Silicon Valley privately expressed deep concerns about the viability of Bidens campaign in the wake of his debate performance. In a series of text message chains and private conversations, they discussed the short list of possible replacements, a group that included Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris. But on Friday, there was no formal push to pressure Biden to step aside and some suspected there never would be given the logistical challenges associated with replacing the presumptive nominee just four months before Election Day. Some donors noted they were going to pause their personal giving. They said receipts from Bidens weekend fundraiser would almost certainly be strong because the tickets were sold and paid for before the debate. ___ Peoples reported from New York. President Biden praised the LGBTQ community in remarks at Stonewall on Friday, a day after his presidential debate against former President Trump. Friday marked the 55 years since the start of the Stonewall riots, which were demonstrations against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn and was largely considered the start of the U.S. gay rights movement. Biden traveled to New York City to mark the anniversary and attend the opening of the new Stonewall National Monument Visitors Center at the end of Pride Month. This beloved bar became the site of a call to cry for freedom, dignity and equality and respect. Rebellion that galvanized the LGBTQ+ community all across the nation and quite frankly, around the world, Biden said. He added that the course of history was changed forever after the demonstrations. The new monument, located in Greenwich Village to mark the site of the 1969 riots, is open to the public, CBS reported. You marked a turning point in civil rights in America, Biden said at the site. To this day, Stonewall remains a symbol of legacy of leader of the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans women of color who, for generations, have been at the forefront of helping realize the promise of America, for all Americans. Biden also received a boost from other Democrats at his visit to Stonewall. During the debate Thursday evening, the presidents voice was raspy and he lost his train of thought a few times, leading some Democrats to panic over their prospects in November. White House and Biden campaign officials sought Friday to shut down any notion that Biden will step aside or drop out of the race. At the start of his remarks at Stonewall, Biden looked for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) from the stage, and she jumped up to hug him. He then asked if Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) was present, and she ran on stage to hug him. Hes the best! Hes a fighter! Gillibrand yelled on the way off the stage. Biden closed his remarks by introducing legendary musician Elton John, an advocate for the LGBTQ community who owns a charity that works to protect those with AIDS. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden told deep-pocketed donors in New Yorks Hamptons that he acknowledges worries about his debate performance against Donald Trump, and he vowed to stick with his reelection bid. Most Read from Bloomberg I understand the concern about the debate, Biden said Saturday at the oceanfront Hamptons estate of hedge fund manager Barry Rosenstein and his wife, Lizanne, who hosted him at a fundraiser. I get it. I didnt have a great night. With about 150 people in attendance, Biden repeated that he wouldnt be running if I didnt believe I could win as he seeks to rebuild momentum after the debate debacle on Thursday, which has spread alarm among Democrats. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, hosted a reception for Biden later Saturday. Democratic donors, lawmakers and strategists were rattled by Bidens debate performance, with some urging the president to consider stepping aside. After Biden said Friday he has no plans to do so, the fundraisers are a chance to reassure supporters that hes capable of serving another four years in the White House. Bidens debate performance also risks diminishing his fundraising ability as Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, gains ground. Bidens campaign downplayed those concerns, saying it raised $27 million between the debate day and Friday evening. On the guest list for the East Hampton event with the cost of entry topping out at $250,000 were Goldman Sachs Group Inc. alumni Eric Mindich and Nicole Davison Fox as well as actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Loews Corp. co-chairman Jon Tisch, Tiger 21 founder Michael Sonnenfeldt and film and television producer Darren Star. Also attending was Skybridge Capital managing partner and founder Anthony Scaramucci. A bundler working on the event, who wasnt authorized to discuss it publicly, said the campaign wasnt aware of any donors pulling out. The Biden I saw today was different from the debate, said investor and venture capitalist Alan Patricof, 89, who attended the East Hampton event. My only feeling is that were left with a choice between Trump and Biden, whos a not perfect person but someone who will at least represent this country honorably, he said. With Biden exuding defiance, several people outside the Hamptons venue held up signs urging him to drop out, even while expressing sympathy. Paul McIsaac, 84, a self-described political independent, urged Biden to step aside for the higher priority of the country, saying he should take this moment to be a world historic figure, go against all his political instincts and do the really morally and tactically smart thing to do. At Murphys mansion in Middletown, New Jersey, the governor gave Biden a brief, encouraging introduction. Youre on fire and we are all with you 1,000%, Murphy said. Attendees included Agnes Hsu-Tang, who leads the New-York Historical Society, and Andy Berndt, who heads Googles Creative Lab. Also on the guest list was Carlyle Groups James Attwood. The event raised $3.7 million, New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy said. Biden, 81, told supporters at a post-debate rally in North Carolina on Friday hes committed to winning the November election, while acknowledging his age. Manhattan Stops That evening, he and first lady Jill Biden received a warm welcome at an LGBTQ+ gala in Manhattan, where he was introduced by musician Elton John. Tickets ranged from $250 to $500,000 for seats closest to the stage. Jill Biden, speaking at a Greenwich Village fundraiser on Friday hosted by author Adriana Trigiani, acknowledged the debate was on the minds of attendees but relayed the private support she had offered her husband. After last nights debate, he said, You know, Jill, I dont know what happened. I didnt feel that great. And I said, Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years that youve been president, the first lady said. Trump outraised Biden in May for the second consecutive month, fueled by a surge in donations after his 34-count conviction in his New York trial for falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments to an adult film actress. (Corrects Hsu-Tangs affiliation in 12th paragraph of story published June 29.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. If you've been reading up on Social Security, you've probably heard that the program's latest Trustees Report wasn't too encouraging. That report confirmed that Social Security is looking at a financial shortfall as older workers exit the workforce in droves, stripping the program of much-needed payroll tax revenue. Social Security has trust funds it can use to keep up with scheduled benefits for a period of time. But once those trust funds run dry, benefit cuts will be on the table. The timing of that isn't so far off. Using the depletion date of the program's combined trust funds, the latest Trustee estimate has benefit cuts happening as early as 2035. Image source: Getty Images. Of course, benefit cuts aren't a given. There's a chance lawmakers will find a way to prevent them like they've done before. But I can't bank on that happening. I think a smarter move is to assume that I won't get as much Social Security as I'm currently entitled to. But I'm also taking steps to ensure that a smaller monthly Social Security check isn't a problem. My game plan Since I have the privilege of writing about retirement planning for a living, I know a bit about it. I've known for a long time that relying heavily on Social Security for retirement income is a less-than-stellar plan, even if benefit cuts are taken out of the equation. But given the potential for those cuts and the generally unpredictable future of Social Security, my retirement game plan is simple: I'm aiming to have access to enough income that I can retire without Social Security at all. Since the program isn't at risk of disappearing completely, one can argue that I'm going to a bit of an extreme. But the way I see it, I'd rather write off Social Security and save enough to function without it. That way, any monthly benefit I'll collect will be extra money I can use for whatever purpose I please, whether it's to rescue dogs (can't really get enough of that) or take classes on topics that interest me. But let's get back to the savings bit for a minute. In a nutshell, I'm saving as much of my income as I can after paying my essential expenses. I'm currently housing my savings jointly in a solo 401(k) and a brokerage account. The reason I don't have all of my money in the 401(k) is that there can be penalties for withdrawing funds before turning 59 1/2. I'm hoping to keep working well beyond that age but, well, you never know. I also have a small health savings account (HSA) I hope to carry into retirement and use to cover healthcare expenses. I could spend the money now, but I'm better off reserving it for later and letting the money grow tax-free. Story continues In addition, I'm trying to set myself up to continue working in retirement to some degree. I feel that this is necessary not just for the financial benefit, but for the sake of alleviating boredom. (I'm admittedly not a "chill out on the couch watching TV for hours on end" kind of person.) My current career -- writing -- will hopefully lend to that if robots don't take over my job. But I'm also exploring backup careers, such as getting my license to become a Certified Financial Planner. Don't let Social Security cuts ruin your retirement The idea of getting less money out of Social Security than expected can be upsetting, frustrating, and downright scary. That's why I'm trying to take Social Security out of my personal retirement equation. And doing the same might be a good thing for your financial and mental health. If you still have a good number of working years ahead of you, aim to ramp up your retirement plan contributions so you'll be less reliant on Social Security down the line. You may also want to sit down with a financial advisor to map out a personal savings plan that accounts for Social Security cuts. Of course, lawmakers may very well come to the rescue and make it so Social Security can continue paying benefits in full. And if that comes to be, it won't change my strategy. I'm aiming to be able to support myself without Social Security. If I can pull that off, any monthly benefit I'll collect is apt to make my retirement that much more rewarding. The $ 22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Here's What I'm Doing to Plan for Social Security Cuts. My Strategy Could Save Your Retirement, Too. was originally published by The Motley Fool ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) With a very active news week between crashes, arrests, and more, one story stayed at the top of our readers list. Take a look at the full breakdown of our top five local stories on web. LAST TIME Big Country Beat: 2 die in 3 Taylor County crashes This weeks top 5 in BCHs Big Country Beat 5. 19-year-old indicted in connection to fatal 4-vehicle crash in Callahan County 19-year-old Theophilus Heryanto was indicted this week in connection to a March crash along Highway 36 in Callahan County in March, which took two lives in the process. He has been charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 4. Is it easy being homeless in Abilene? A local business man sparked some controversial conversation in June by asking a question along the lines of, Is it easy being homeless in Abilene? Of course, its never easy to do without in any city. John Hill told reporter Tobin Smith he thinks local resources for those in need may be doing more harm than good. What is the way we tell folks no? Because it seems like we have serial individuals who time and time again come back and keep taking advantage of the the hospitality of the community, Hill said. 3. Caught on the tracks: Semi-trucks stall out on railway in Tye, Abilene 1 day apart For the second week in your top 5 is a trainwreck last Wednesday in Tye. Thankfully, no one was hurt in this crash. Tye PD told reporter Noah McKinney, due to the absence of markers informing truckers not to use the crossing, it was an honest mistake. 2. Abilene Pastor Scott Beard fined $3,500 by Texas Ethics Commission for campaign violations Well-known Abilene pastor, Scott Beard was fined last week by the Texas Ethics Commission in connection to his 2023 run for Abilene City Council. TEC wrote in its order that Beard made extensive contributions from corporate resources to his own campaign. 1. Suspected drunk driver charged with manslaughter for death of Baird teens Clyde woman, Ashlie Haynes, was charged with manslaughter this week in connection to the May crash which took the lives of three Baird teenagers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Was it a bear? Or maybe Bigfoot? A group of recent Houma graduates called for help Friday night after hearing a growl and seeing glowing eyes in the Kisatchie National Forest in Natchitoches Parish. A group of Houma high school graduates had quite the scare in the Natchitoches Parish woods, but deputies made sure they made it out safely. A group of graduates had traveled to the Kisatchie National Forest to camp about a mile-and-a-half off the Backbone Trail in the southern part of the parish near the communities of Derry and Gorum. They intended to camp out in the area, according to a Facebook post from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office. But one of the group, all 17 to 18 years old, called 911 call around 9:20 p.m. Friday. The caller was frightened, reads the news release. The caller asked for help "because they reportedly heard a growl and saw what appeared to be an animal that had glowing eyes and stood about 5 feet tall." Researcher: There are sasquatches among us. It's a matter of paying attention 'If you choose to believe, great': Researchers search for Bigfoot in Kisatchie National Forest Two deputies were sent to the area "and began to walk towards the camp site looking for any suspicious activity or glowing eyes," it reads. The group whistled for the deputies, who found them all safe. But, as the post stated, it could have been Bigfoot or a bear, so they escorted the whole group out of the forest. Deputies found nothing growling and no glowing eyes, it reads. The post signed off sending congratulations to the graduates, good luck in their futures and thanks for visiting Natchitoches Parish. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Did Houma kids hear bigfoot in Louisiana? Bill Maher Says Joe Biden Is 'Going To Lose' Election And 'S**t The Bed' In Trump Debate Bill Maher, who has long called for President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic candidate in this years election against Donald Trump, reiterated that stance on Fridays episode of Real Time following Bidens disastrous performance during Thursdays presidential debate. Joe, he famously loves trains just not of thought, said Maher. Just all night, confused and halting and trailing off. Ive seen beauty pageant contestants answer questions better. I dont want to say he shit the bed, but his new Secret Service name is Amber Heard. What should the Democratic Party do? he asked later on the show. I advocate for them and I said it nine months ago, with my editorial called Ruth Bader Biden, that he should step down. Thats my position [and] thats some peoples positions today. Maher pointed to a growing chorus of political pundits, plus the editorial board of The New York Times, who have recently pressed Biden to drop out. And while he vowed to vote for Bidens head in a jar of blue liquid if it meant once again defeating Trump, Maher didnt hold back. I feel the whole rationale for Biden running has always been Im the only guy who can beat [Trump], he told his panelists Chris Matthews and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (I-Hawaii). Now I think its inverted. I think hes the only guy who could lose to him. The comedian played a clip from the debate in which Biden was asked about his record on the economy but trailed off incoherently. Maher, who compared the blunder to a knockout from boxer Mike Tyson, said it was the moment he knew this election is over. Matthews argued a Biden victory is essential to protect U.S. democracy and that stepping down is his decision. Gabbard, who has expressed interest in being Trumps running mate, suggested Biden will lose if he maintains Thursdays stance that climate change is the only existential threat. President Biden, seen here at a campaign rally in North Carolina one day after the debate. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty Images This is a guy who has the nuclear codes, she said, and yet is not present enough, and is actually insane and so far out of touch with reality, that he doesnt recognize that the true existential threat is the fact that were closer to nuclear holocaust now than ever. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly warned earlier this year that he wouldnt rule out nuclear war if Russian territory is threatened by western allies of Ukraine amidst his ongoing invasion. Maher also expressed concern about Bidens post-debate polling. A flash poll from CNN found that 67% of viewers found Trump performed better than Biden. Of those same voters, 55% expected him to do so before the debate began. Thats the number you always see of the people who are just always with their party, Maher said. You see it on the right. They used to call them Birthers, Tea Party, MAGA nation, whatever, they never move. And now I feel like thats a third of the Democrats, he continued. Theyre going to stick with this guy and they are going to regret it. He is going to lose. The second 2024 presidential debate will air live on ABC at 9 p.m. on Sept. 10. Related... First-responders tend to an unidentified boater's injuries after a shark attack late Friday morning along Florida's Atlantic Coast. Photo courtesy Nassau County Sheriff's Office June 29 (UPI) -- A shark bit a boater's arm in waters off Florida's Atlantic coast, causing critical injuries and prompting an airlift to a local hospital. The Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit received a distress call at about 11:15 a.m. EDT Friday while patrolling coastal waters in northeastern Florida. Officials for the sheriff's department said its marine unit responded and found a man in a boat bleeding from a "severe bit to his right arm" and rushed him to a nearby boat ramp. A helicopter airlifted the victim to a local hospital to treat his injuries. The hospital staff has the man listed in critical condition and expects him to survive. The attack comes after a woman and two teen girls were attacked by sharks in separate incidents along northwestern Florida's Gulf Coast earlier this month. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission cautions residents and visitors to be wary of shark activity and other dangers while swimming in coastal waters. Florida officials reported 16 shark attacks in 2023, which is 44% of all shark attacks in U.S. coastal waters last year and 23% of global shark attacks. A total of 36 shark attacks were reported in the United States in 2023 and about 70 globally. Florida's Volusia County reported the most shark bites in Florida. Bob Woodward, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and associate editor of the Washington Post, is calling on reporters to very aggressively seek an explanation for President Joe Bidens disastrous performance during Thursdays debate against Donald Trump. Woodward, who said so Friday on MSNBCs The Beat, told Ari Melber he was shocked. Bidens performance was so bad, so awful, the way I look at it as a reporter, there must be some explanation, Woodward told Melber. What really happened? He was preparing for this a long time, he knew it was consequential, and then it was this bad. The answer here is in reporting in seeking, very aggressively, an explanation, the Post editor added. Woodward, known for uncovering the 1970s Watergate scandal involving then-President Richard Nixon, argued this explanation shouldnt come out in some book in the future, but that the public needs it now and likened Bidens performance to a political hydrogen bomb. I sat there and watched it, and I could not believe it, Woodward told Melber, likening Bidens poor showing to a political hydrogen bomb. Woodward has joined a growing chorus of political pundits casting doubt on Bidens ability to win the upcoming election. Those voices now also include the New York Times editorial board, whose op-ed calling for Biden to step down was published during Woodwards interview Friday. Well, its inevitable, said Woodward when Melber broke the news on-air. Noting Biden must have been holed up for days to prepare for the debate, Woodward said he didnt want to speculate on possible explanations for the presidents performance but said that question is what journalists should focus on answering. President Biden, seen here Friday at a post-debate campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. Allison Joyce/Getty Images Thats where the reportorial energy should go, he told Melber, adding: If a building blows up in downtown of some city, the story will be what happened, and then the story will be how did this happen, why did it happen? And thats where Im very, very curious, he continued, because this was a mega-disaster. Woodward finished by urging Democrats not to downplay the visible realities of Thursdays debate after which a CNN flash poll found that 67% of viewers felt Trump performed better than Biden by merely telling voters, Oh, well, it was just a bad night. It was an incoherent night, the 81-year-old Woodward concluded. Related... Bolivias leader says the general accused of leading failed coup wanted to 'take over' as president Bolivia's President Luis Arce pauses during an interview in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, June 28, 2024, two days after Army troops stormed the government palace in what Arce called a coup attempt. (AP Photo/Juan Karita) LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) Bolivian President Luis Arce said Friday a former general planned to take over the government and become president in a failed coup, and he denied that the Andean nation was in an economic crisis. In an interview with The Associated Press, the embattled leader denied once again that Wednesday's attack on the government palace was a self-coup designed to garner him political points. I didnt escape. I stayed to defend democracy," Arce said. Arce washed his hands of claims by relatives of the 21 people detained by the government that they were innocent of attempting a coup and had been tricked by ex-Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga. Its a problem of those who were involved, its not the governments problem, Arce told AP. Arce said also his government has been politically attacked by his one-time ally turned rival, former President Evo Morales, saying the infighting has snarled legislative activities and hamstrung his government confronting economic problems. Despite that, he said, Bolivia's economy is growing and his administration is working to diversify means of producing, investing in things like lithium and industrializing. Bolivia has the largest reserves of lithium a metal known as white gold and considered essential in the green transition in the world that has gone largely untapped, in part due to government policy. Arce said the government has taken action to address intermittent gasoline and dollar shortages and other hurdles ailing the South American nation's economy. Bolivia has an economy that's growing. An economy in crisis doesn't grow, he said. He said it was completely normal for Bolivians to run to stockpile food in supermarkets and make a run on ATMs upon seeing an emerging coup in the capital, instead of following his call to take to the streets in support of the government. He said Bolivians were traumatized by the political turmoil in 2019 that led Morales to resign as president and flee and also caused 37 deaths. Where there is a political situation, this rupture, a coup detat, of course people will be scared that there wont be food so theyll go get money to go stock up," Arce said. He added that the government was investigating if the attack was organized by the countrys political opposition. That same day, Arce's governmental minister, Eduardo del Castillo, said the government claimed that there were snipers who did not arrive in time to the Murillo square" where the coup was staged. Associated Press reporter Paola Flores in La Paz contributed to this report. This article was originally published in Arkansas Advocate. Nearly 3,000 Arkansas teachers can expect a boost to their paycheck by the end of the month, according to an announcement from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Tuesday afternoon. The bonuses are part of the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program, which was created through a major education overhaul in 2023, the Arkansas LEARNS Act. The law also raised the minimum starting salary for all Arkansas teachers to $50,000 a year. Great education starts with great teachers. Thats why one of my first acts as governor was to raise teacher pay across the board and reward our best educators, Sanders said in a statement. This years merit bonuses will incentivize teachers to continue tackling our states toughest assignments and help every Arkansas student thrive. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Bonuses will reach approximately 10% of Arkansas certified teachers with Cross, DeWitt and McGehee school districts reporting the highest percentage of their staff receiving bonuses. Statewide, the average bonus is approximately $3,300, and nearly three dozen educators will receive the maximum $10,000 bonus provided through the program. A total of $10 million in bonuses will be distributed, Sanders said. Awarded teachers include those who demonstrated outstanding growth in student performance, served as a mentor to aspiring teachers who participated in yearlong residencies or taught in a subject, geographical, or designation area experiencing a critical teacher shortage, according to the governors office. The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education identified recipients through a variety of state systems and student assessment data. We know for a fact that the teacher in the classroom has the biggest impact on student learning, said Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. The best educators deserve recognition for their excellence, and we are proud to recognize these educators for demonstrating a commitment to learning and ensuring their students succeed in the future. While the Cross, DeWitt and McGehee districts have a higher percentage of teachers receiving bonuses, those districts do not also have the highest average bonus in the state. In the Clinton School District, for example, just 5% of teachers will receive a bonus through the program, but the average bonus is valued at $4,000. The average bonus at the Genoa Central district in southwest Arkansas is $6,429, and 7.1% of teachers can expect a boost. At least 16 school districts have no teachers receiving a bonus, according to the state education department. Among those schools are Cedarville in Northwest Arkansas, Mammoth Spring along the northern border and Marvell-Elaine along the Mississippi River. Arkansas Advocate is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sonny Albarado for questions: info@arkansasadvocate.com. Follow Arkansas Advocate on Facebook and X. From Bornean elephants to Chilean cacti: Red list of threatened species jumps by 6,000 From Bornean elephants to Chilean cacti: Red list of threatened species jumps by 6,000 Over 45,000 species are now threatened with extinction - 1,000 more than last year - according to an international conservation organisation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its latest Red List of Threatened Species on Thursday. It blames pressures from climate change, invasive species and human activity such as illicit trade and infrastructural expansion for sending more species to the brink of existence. Now in its 60th year, the list sounds the alarm about animals and plants at risk of extinction, but it also highlights conservation success stories such as the Iberian lynx. The list now includes 163,040 species in total, an increase of about 6,000 from last year. Copiapoa cacti, native to Chiles Atacama coastal desert, the Bornean elephant and the Gran Canaria giant lizard are among the threatened species, IUCN revealed. Social media trend among extinction drivers Copiapoa cacti have long been coveted as decorative plants, driving an illegal trade that has been amplified by social media where enthusiasts and traders showcase and sell the cacti. A staggering 82 per cent of the species is now at risk of extinction, a significant jump from 55 per cent in 2013, the report said. IUCN said that the decline is due to the surge in demand for the Chilean cacti in Europe and Asia as ornamental species. The smugglers and poachers facilitating the trade, the organisation said, have gained increased accessibility to the plants habitat due to roads and housing expansion in the Atacama area. It is easy to distinguish if copiapoa cacti have been poached or grown in a greenhouse, said Pablo Guerrero, a member of the IUCN's group on the plants. Poached copiapoa have a grey tone and are coated in a dusty-looking bloom that protects the plants in one of the driest deserts on Earth, whereas cultivated plants appear greener. The 2024 update also highlights the Asian elephant in Borneo as an endangered species. It is estimated that only about 1,000 Bornean elephants remain in the wild, according to IUCN analysis. The population has decreased over the past 75 years primarily due to extensive logging of Borneos forests, destroying much of the elephants habitat. Conflicts with humans, habitat loss due to agriculture and timber plantations, mining and infrastructure development, poaching, exposure to agrochemicals, and vehicle collisions also threaten the species, the IUCN said. The list also revealed the staggering decline of endemic reptiles - the giant lizard and skink - on the Canary Islands and Ibiza due to predation by the invasive snakes. One species' 'greatest recovery' A pair of Iberian Lynx play together in the surroundings of the Donana National Park in Aznalcazar, Spain, 2018. - Antonio Pizarro/AP In a contrasting tale, conservation efforts have revived the Iberian lynx from the brink of extinction, with the population increasing from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022 and more than 2,000 now. Once considered one of the most endangered wild cat species in the world, their population declined by 87 per cent and the number of breeding females dropped by more than 90 per cent between 1985 and 2001, according to Canada-based International Society for Endangered Cats. The species was revived by restoring the Iberian lynxs natural Mediterranean scrub and forest habitat as well as increasing the abundance of its primary prey, the European rabbit. Conservation efforts have also involved increasing the lynxs genetic diversity by relocating them to new areas and breeding them in controlled environments. Since 2010, more than 400 Iberian lynx have been reintroduced to parts of Portugal and Spain, IUCN said. It is the greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation, said Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, who led the conservation action for the Iberian lynx. But with threats remaining, mainly from fluctuations of their prey's population, poaching and road kills, Salcedo Ortiz said there is still a lot of work to do to ensure that Iberian lynx populations survive." Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Manawa Energy Limited (NZSE:MNW) shareholders, since the share price is down 49% in the last three years, falling well short of the market decline of around 8.6%. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. View our latest analysis for Manawa Energy There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During the unfortunate three years of share price decline, Manawa Energy actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 5.8% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics. We note that the dividend has declined - a likely contributor to the share price drop. In contrast it does not seem particularly likely that the revenue levels are a concern for investors. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. If you are thinking of buying or selling Manawa Energy stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). 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. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Manawa Energy's TSR for the last 3 years was -38%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective We regret to report that Manawa Energy shareholders are down 12% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 2.3%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 5% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Manawa Energy (1 is potentially serious!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course Manawa Energy may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on New Zealander 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 FILE - Encontro das Aguas park stands in the Pantanal wetlands near Pocone, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, Nov. 17, 2023, after wildfires burned part of it in the Pantanal biome, the world's biggest tropical wetlands. Typically the worlds largest topical wetlands dry out and are prone to fires from July to September. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File) SAO PAULO (AP) Brazils massive Pantanal wetlands haven't technically entered annual fire season, but already the number of blazes has broken records and is leading experts to predict this year will be the most devastating in decades. Typically the worlds largest tropical wetlands dry out and are prone to fires from July to September. But the National Space Research Institutes satellites spotted over 2,500 fires in the region in June alone -- by far the most ever recorded for the month in data going back to 1998. Its more than six times the amount in the same month of 2020, known as the the year of flames, when wildfires ravaged the area and sparked widespread outcry. We are facing one of the worst situations ever seen in the Pantanal, Environment Minister Marina Silva told journalists Monday, adding that the entire Paraguay River basin is experiencing severe water scarcity. The Pantanal fed by tributaries of the Paraguay River and mostly located in Brazil is a biodiversity hotspot, and it's a popular destination for tourists wishing to see jaguars, macaws, caimans, capybaras and migratory birds in the wild. But now, instead of its charming natural scenes, what Brazilians are seeing from the Pantanal are devastating fires devouring the flora and charred animals. On Friday, Silva flew to Corumba, one of the most affected cities, with Planning and Budget Minister Simone Tebet, who was born and built her political career in the region. Both described what they saw as painful. It was a river winding like a wall, trying to hold back the fire," Silva said. "Amid so much ash, there was a tree blooming, in gratitude for life. We cannot destroy it. The environment minister attributed the fires to human activity, climate change and prolonged effects of El Nino and La Nina phenomena that alter sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Brazil's federal government has deployed 285 agents from various agencies as well as 82 National Guard members to support local fire brigades. After the record fires of 2020, which scorched nearly 30% of the Pantanal in Brazil, local authorities expanded their fire committees to include different government branches and environmental nonprofits, such as World Wildlife Fund and SOS Pantanal. The committees discuss fire management and monitoring and train local communities in fire prevention and early response. They are already struggling to contain the current blazes. Manuel Garcia da Silva, head of a fire brigade, says his biggest difficulties are the distance between them and the terrain, ranging from savannah to wetlands. Most of the fires in the Pantanal are underground. We can't see them, but around 10 in the morning, they start emerging again," he told The Associated Press. "They keep burning underground due to the material deposited by the floods in the Pantanal. These fires are very difficult to manage, as they burn through nearly one meter of material under the soil. Garcia da Silva said his brigade spends seven hours a day fighting fires, often two days in a row. As long as we have strength, we keep fighting, he added. Conditions in the Pantanal today are more severe than in 2020 and expectations for extreme drought in August and September are causing further alarm. It may worsen the fire situation, said Vinicius Silgueiro, coordinator of territorial intelligence at the Center of Life Institute in Mato Grosso state. During the rainy season, rivers overflow their banks, flood the land and make most of it accessible only by boat and plane. This year, the Paraguay River basin saw a significant deficit of rainfall since the rainy season began in October. In June, all but one of the rivers 12-meter (39-foot) deep in the region showed below-average levels for this time of year, according to a June 26 bulletin by the Geological Survey of Brazil. The office warned in February that 2024 could be one of the driest years on record in Brazil. The current situation is extremely worrying. Due to the prolonged drought and high temperatures, the vegetation is under stress, which makes it predisposed to burning, said Renata Libonati, a meteorology professor who coordinates the Federal University of Rio de Janeiros alert system for Pantanal fires. Since January, fires destroyed over 688,000 hectares (1.7 million acres) of the Brazilian area of the biome, according to her monitoring system. Most of the ongoing fires are very likely to be human-caused rather than stemming from natural causes such as lightning, according to Libonati. Earlier this week, Minister Silva said that 85% of the fires originated in private properties. Traditional farmers in the region use fire to manage and renew pasture areas, although the practice is prohibited during the dry season. The ban usually takes effect each July 1, but authorities this year moved the date to early June because of dry conditions. Silva sounded the alarm about the looming risk of Pantanal blazes on June 5, during a World Environment Day ceremony. Environmental organizations that work in the region had been warning of the danger long before that. In 2020, it was said that the next four years would be very dry, and the water levels in the Pantanal would not recover, Osvaldo Barassi Gajardo, a conservation specialist at World Wildlife Fund, said by phone. A recent study by Brazil's space research institute found that dry and semi-arid areas have expanded across the country over the past 30 years. Proportionally, the Pantanal was the Brazilian biome that has dried up most since 1985, according to a study released earlier this week by MapBiomas, a research initiative that maps land usage. In the next few decades, Brazils center-west region, where the Pantanal is located, is expected to become hotter while its southern region turns rainier, according to an extensive climate study the office of Brazil's presidency commissioned in 2015. In May, severe storms and flooding in southern Brazil killed nearly 200 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. It was one of the countrys worst-ever climate catastrophes and locals are still struggling to recover. In Brazil's Pantanal, many fear the worst is yet to come. According to official data, the months from July to September typically have at least 20 times more fires compared to June. We still need to be very alert about what might happen in the coming months. It is important to redouble prevention efforts, try to combat the fire now and have much more prevention and monitoring action by the public authorities," said Gajardo of the World Wildlife Fund. ___ Hughes reported from Rio de Janeiro. ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Mark Morrell, also known as Mr Pothole, with potholes in Springfield Way, Brackley - JOHN ROBERTSON/JR PHOTOS Britains roads are riddled with 11.5 million potholes, that is five times higher than previous estimates, according to a campaigner using data from a new AI dashboard app. Data gathered by Stan the App, a mobile phone app that uses AI technology to detect and classify potholes, suggests that the true state of Britains roads is far worse than previously thought. Mark Morrell, a veteran anti-pothole campaigner who styles himself as Mr Pothole, said data from Stan the App suggests there are 11.5 million potholes on the UKs roads. The news comes after the Asphalt Industry Alliance revealed in March that bringing all of Britains roads back up to good condition will cost 16.3 billion, a record high. CEBR, the economics consultancy, said in April that potholes are costing the economy 14.4 billion a year in lost productivity. The RAC, the British automotive services company, estimates that there are around 1 million potholes on the nations roads at any given moment, while about 2.2 million were repaired in 2023 alone. Yet, footage collected from Stan the Apps 7,000 users has shown there are 1.5 million defects across just 13 per cent of the UKs roads that it has mapped to date. Stan the App uses AI capabilities to report potholes and hold authorities accountable - JOHN ROBERTSON/JR PHOTOS Mr Morrell said this shed fresh light on politicians promises to fix Britains crumbling highways. Finally, AI via Stan the App reflects the true awful condition of our roads, he said. This app gives power to the public to survey the roads they use. I am not surprised by the 11.5 million potholes and defects on existing carriageways. I have been warning about this situation over my 11 years of campaigning. Until the Government and the authorities face up to the massive challenge of resurfacing our roads, it will end up costing more and more. If nothing is done to reverse the current situation, Mr Morrell claims that in fifteen years from now, more than half of Britains roads will have become structurally unsound. The Conservatives pledged to hand 8 billion from the cancellation of HS2 into local councils coffers for road repairs, while Labour has said it will fund those same councils to repair a million road craters every year. Stan the App uses AI technology to analyse video footage captured by ordinary drivers mobile phones. Smart vision Mike Mockford, a spokesman for Metricell, the company behind Stan the App, explained how the free-to-use software works. Smart vision is the ability for mobile phones to detect any object, he said. The app uses machine learning technology to detect potholes in footage of roads captured by motorists as they drive around the country on their everyday journeys. Weve mapped out 12 per cent of the entire UK, Mr Mockford said, a figure that has since risen to 13 per cent as more motorists install the app. Stan the App has so far captured footage of around 45,000 kilometres of highways, ranging from major motorways to quiet B-roads. As well as simply detecting potholes, the app can also say how wide and deep they are an important consideration when some councils refuse to fill potholes which are below a certain size. The answer to pothole woes Motoring organisations, which have campaigned to improve British roads, welcomed the findings. Rod Dennis, the RACs senior policy officer, said: Drivers who are sick and tired of negotiating roads peppered with potholes know only too well how bad the problem across the country is but up until now, theres been little hard data to back that up. Thats all changing with Metricells excellent Stan app as for the first time we can see which roads are worst, as well as the local authorities that are doing a better job looking after them. What we need now is for the incoming government to address the problem head on. As well as more cash for councils, the answer to Britains pothole woes is to take preventative steps to extend the life of the roads under their control by surface dressing them to stop potholes forming in the first place. Work is underway A spokesman from the Department for Transport said it did not recognise the figures, adding that the Government does not collect data on the number of potholes across England. Claire Holland, the transport spokesperson for the local government association, said: Councils already invite road users to report highways defects and any new ways that support this and make this easier is helpful. Whilst this information will help councils in their planning of road repairs, limited resources and a 16.3 billion backlog of repairs mean councils will need to continue to prioritise according to local circumstances, and want to focus on preventive measures where they can. Longer-term, whoever forms the next government should award council Highways Departments with five yearly funding allocations to give more certainty, bringing councils on a par with National Highways so they can develop resurfacing programmes and other highways improvements, tackling the scourge of potholes. A spokesperson for National Highways said: The motorways and major A roads we are responsible for represent around 3 per cent of all roads in England. Our most recent assessment shows that over 96 per cent of them are in good condition. We undertake road condition surveys across our entire network every year and the results are used to identify resurfacing requirements. These defects are categorised and we aim to repair the most serious ones within 24 hours. 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 U.S. Air Forces Air Mobility Command (AMC) is currently taking pitches for ways to add new defenses directly onto its airlifters, tankers, and executive passenger planes to protect against drones attacking or surveilling them while in the air and on the ground. The risks that uncrewed aerial systems, even commercial types that can be readily weaponized, pose to aircraft, especially out in the open on the ground, is something The War Zone has been calling attention to for years now. Drones have fully emerged as a scourge on modern battlefields and present particular threats to aircraft parked on airfield flight lines, as underscored by a Ukrainian attack targeting Su-57 Felon advanced combat jets at a base deep inside Russia earlier this month. That ongoing fighting in that country has made clear that even smaller uncrewed aerial systems, especially weaponized first-person view types turned into kamikaze drones, can be extremely dangerous to aircraft, tanks, and other traditional military hardware. A Maxar satellite image taken June 8 after the attack shows damage to one and possibly two Su-57 Felon new generation fighters at Russias Akhtubinsk Air Base following a Ukrainian drone attack. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies A Maxar satellite image taken June 8 after the attack shows damage to one and possibly two Su-57 Felon new generation fighters. Satellite image 2024 Maxar Technologies At the same time, drones are becoming increasingly ubiquitous worldwide and present ever-growing risks to aircraft conducting routine day-to-day operations well outside the context of traditional conflicts. A prime example of this was the repeated drone incidents over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, a major East Coast air defense hub that hosts F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, for weeks last year, which The War Zone was the first to report on in March. AMC recently put out its Request For Information (RFI) notice asking for details about possible On-Aircraft Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft System options. The threshold for small in this case is at least Group 1 and 2 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), but the goal is for the new defensive systems to be effective against Group 3 types, as well. Collectively, per the U.S. militarys definitions, drones in the first two categories can have maximum weights of up to 55 pounds, fly up to altitudes of 3,500 feet, and have top speeds of up to 250 knots. The third tier represents a major step up capability-wise, encompassing drones that tip the scales at up to 1,320 pounds and can get up to 18,000 feet, but again with speeds of 250 knots or less. The RFI is not limited to any particular aircraft types, but does mention the C-17A Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules as examples of platforms that could receive the new anti-drone defenses. The C-17 and C-130 are among AMCs most heavily utilized cargo planes, but the command oversees the vast majority of the Air Forces airlift, tanker, and passenger aircraft fleets, including the pair of VC-25A Air Force One presidential jets. A C-130, in front, with a C-17 behind. USAF There are also no specific stipulations about how the system has to function at a core level. Dedicated counter-drone systems on the market or known to be in development today generally use some combination of sensors, such as electro-optical and/or infrared cameras and small radar arrays, to spot and track targets. Passive electronic support measures systems are another especially common means of detecting threats. Those sensors are then also used to cue whatever the systems effectors might be, which could include electronic warfare jammers, high-power laser and microwave directed energy weapons, various kinds of surface-to-air interceptors, traditional guns, or even other drones. Its worth mentioning here that laser weapons continue to present serious challenges for use on aircraft, as you can read more about here. Small active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars could also notably be an option for both detection and some form of electronic warfare attack. AMC really has only two hard requirements at this point in the information-gathering process, according to the RFI. Firstly, AMC is interested in information on concepts and technologies that represent full or partial on-aircraft C-sUAS [counter-small uncrewed aerial systems] capability solutions, according to the Request For Information (RFI) notice. Partial capability solutions could include those that only satisfy a sub-set of the desired C-sUAS functions (e.g., only detect, track, and identify sUAS; no defeat); or are otherwise limited (e.g., operable only in-flight or during certain environmental conditions). The concepts and technologies in question also have to have been demonstrated on an airborne platform or have been used on other mobile platforms (e.g., ground vehicle), with the potential for future integration onboard an airborne platform with additional development. It is worth noting that the aircraft in AMCs fleets already have varying degrees of self-protection capabilities or the ability to be fitted with them when deployed. These can include arrays of warning sensors tied to dispensers for decoy flares and radar-blinding chaff, as well as directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) systems that use lasers to throw off heat-seeking missiles. There have been discussions in the past about adding new hard-kill defenses, which could utilize physical interceptors or directed energy weapons, to U.S. military transport and tanker aircraft, ostensibly aimed at defeating incoming missiles. New on-aircraft counter-drone defenses might well leverage those developments or otherwise be integrated into existing defensive suites. There are still questions about exactly how new anti-drone defenses on AMC might actually work, especially systems designed to work in flight, and how time-consuming and costly it might be to install those capabilities. Existing counter-drone systems can often be bulky and not optimized for integration into an airframe. With this in mind, AMC does want whatever proposals it gets to provide answers to a host of specific questions. This includes things like is the system able to detect sUAS that are not emitting radio frequency signals, to include telemetry control and does the solution require a database of signals from the UAS or controller to provide counter mechanism, if so, how is this information gathered? The full list of points any submission has to address is reproduced below. USAF The RFIs definition of on-aircraft also notably encompasses systems that could be rolled on and off specifically to provide added counter-drone defense on the ground at a deployed location. AMC says it will consider options that a single individual or a small team could operate in a forward-deployed context, as well. That being said, roll-on/roll-off kits need to be small enough to not displace cargo weight or size and be ready within seconds without significant loadmaster effort, AMC notes. Traditional, full-sized C-UAS vehicles displace too much cargo. A VAMPIRE counter-drone system mounted on a 44 Humvee vehicle bound for Ukraine being loaded onto a US Air Force C-17. USN In addition, any hand-carried systems need to be capable of being set up quickly by crew members (not the 2030-minute set-ups that current portable systems require). A built-in system could be useable in the air and on the ground, at least in part, which would be advantageous. Even just having extra capabilities for detecting drones in both contexts would give crews valuable additional situational awareness about potential threats, which is the most pressing issue over outright threat defeat. This is where existing missile approach warning sensors on AMC aircraft or new distributed aperture systems could be particularly useful, for providing alerts and some form of cueing, at least on a basic level to start. It is not uncommon for an RFI like this to be open-ended to try to solicit a broad array of possible options for addressing a problem set. If AMCs requirements, so far, are broad, the threat picture it is staring down is far more well-defined and clear-cut. The command attached a detailed, if still ostensibly notional concept of operations (CONOPS) that lays out why new on-aircraft counter-drone capabilities are not just desirable, but of increasingly critical importance. AMCs mission is to provide global air mobility throughout the full spectrum of military operations, from peacetime to combat. This includes worldwide rapid global mobility and delivery of military equipment and personnel, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, humanitarian relief, and distinguished visitor transportation, to include Presidential movement, the CONOPS document explains. As such, the commands aircraft operate in and out of U.S. military airfields, foreign military airfields, international airports, regional airports, and even unimproved landing zones. USAF On top of that, in general, AMC aircraft are large aircraft that operate at slower speeds and are not highly maneuverable and unless they are operating in and out of U.S. military airfields, they rely on the security provided by the local airfield, which may be civilian controlled or completely uncontrolled. UAS may be encountered everywhere, and the likelihood of encounter is increasing with the rapid development of small, inexpensive drones, the CONOPS adds, noting that AMC is concerned with both individual drone operations, as well as drone swarms. In terms of drone threats to aircraft in the air, AMC highlights landing and takeoff as being points where its already slower and less agile fleets are particularly vulnerable. Aircraft, in general, have less room ability to maneuver and are flying at lower speeds and altitudes at the beginning and ends of their flights, increasing the dangers posed by a variety of different threats. There have been particular concerns over the years about the dangers shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, also known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), pose to commercial, as well as military aircraft in exactly the same contexts. AMC aircraft are also often called upon to operate more broadly at altitudes below 16,000 feet, such as during airdrops or certain kinds of aerial refueling missions, where certain lower-tier drones can reach them. On, the ground, AMCs aircraft, often full of fuel and cargo, are far more vulnerable. The War Zone has highlighted many times in the past how planes parked in the open, where airlifters generally are when they are loaded and unloaded, present easier and very enticing targets for an adversary. Even using commercially available drone technology, an opponent could use such an opportunity to damage or destroy large numbers of aircraft even before they get into the fight. This could happen at home or during forward operations. Even well-established air bases in the United States still often lack sufficient defenses against drones, as well as other threats. Despite uncrewed aerial systems posing very real threats for years now, the U.S. military continues to very much be playing catchup when it comes to counter-drone capabilities. In May, Air Force officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina put their own RFI regarding possible new anti-drone shelters at that base, underscoring this reality. A larger debate is raging now within the Department of Defense, and between it and Congress, over the best way to shield airfields and other bases against drones and other threats, as you read more about here. In an actual conflict scenario, especially a high-end fight like one in the Pacific against China, AMCs aircraft would also be dispersed to or otherwise called upon to operate from remote and austere locations, including impromptu dirt airstrips or even roads. What kind of defenses might be available at those sites could well be limited or non-existent. This only heightens the importance of having on-aircraft options that AMCs planes could bring in with them. These issues extend to operations outside of an immediate conflict, including routine flights in and out of civilian airports, which are outside of the U.S. militarys direct control and where it may have limited, if any authority to dictate changes to existing security measures. Local laws and regulations, as well as other concerns about collateral impacts, may present additional limitations on what kind of on-aircraft capabilities AMCs aircraft can employ in a variety of non-combat scenarios. During humanitarian operations, friendly drones may be in use to assess damage, provide surveillance, or deliver aid. It would be counter-productive to defeat these drones, so systems deploying some type of friendly drone detection with discernment not to attack blue drones would be beneficial, the CONOPS accompanying AMCs counter-drone RFI notes. Likewise, at commercial airports, counter UAS capabilities must be compatible with airport navigation aids, traffic control radars, and communication systems both for airport and air traffic. For example, systems cant broadly jam/spoof GPS or kinetic kill potential threats if the Vice Presidents plane is sitting on a ramp at Frankfurt International Airport. A C-32A VIP transport aircraft, in front, together with a VC-25A Air Force One jet, out in the open at Paris Orly Airport in France in 2009. Mathieu Marquer via Wikimedia A C-32A aircraft, in front, together with a VC-25A Air Force One jet at Paris Orly Airport in France in 2009. Mathieu Marquer via Wikimedia This raises another important point that drones that are not explicitly hostile can still present hazards. Commercial and private individual use of various tiers of uncrewed aerial systems has been steadily growing for years now, and legal structures in the United States and elsewhere have been slow to catch up. Instances of ostensibly benign drone activity being a danger to routine military and civilian air traffic alike are increasing. An onboard drone detection system that alerts aircrew to the presence of drones and provide drone location and numbers is a desired capability to enhance flight safety. A capability with similar functionality as a Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS) to visually display drone locations to allow aircrew to avoid the threat, the CONOPS document notes. Additionally, an onboard counter drone capability which could mitigate hazards to flight operations is highly desired. Since crews are task-saturated during these flight profiles, the system should require very minimal crew interaction to detect and defeat the threat/hazard UAS. Furthermore, the rapid proliferation of lower-tier drone technology has also lowered the barrier to entry for even small and often non-state actors, including terrorists and drug cartels, to turn commercial drone technology into a threat. Rapidly discriminating between a non-hostile drone and one that is about to attack or is otherwise engaged in some kind of malign activity is already proving to be extremely difficult. This will only become more of a challenge as both battlefields and non-combat environments become more and more saturated with drones. In the second half of the video, the drone crashes, possibly after being shot down pic.twitter.com/I4gF7zcII4 CNW (@ConflictsW) January 11, 2022 Altogether, AMC requires effective options that dont involve significant prior ground support, can effectively defend against future drone threats, and can operate in civilian peacetime environments, according to the CONOPS. It remains to be seen what combination of new on-aircraft counter-drone capabilities AMC might pursue or when any such systems might be fielded. Any capabilities that do make it onto the commands aircraft could find their way onto platforms elsewhere within the U>S. military, too. The final date for submissions in response to the RFI is August 28. What is clear from AMCs contracting notice is that its fleets have critical needs for added layers of protection against drones that they can take wherever they might go. Contact the editor: tyler@twz.com View comments Who are the new Caddo Parish Sheriff's command staff? Caddo Parish Sheriff-elect Henry Whitehorn, Sr. has announced his command staff. Friday evening the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office public information office released the appointments of the new command staff. These appointments include Chief Deputy, Assistant Chief Deputy of Enforcement & Investigations, Assistant Chief Deputy of District Court Operations, Assistant Chief Deputy of Detention and Director of Human Resources. On July 1, Whitehorn will be sworn in as Caddo Parish Sheriff. Whitehorn is the first Black man to be elected as Caddo Parish Sheriff. Who is the new command staff? Local businesses donated new collars and badges to Caddo Parish Sheriff K-9s on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. Chief Deputy Rickey Farris will serve as the new Chief Deputy. Farris joined the Caddo Sheriff's Office in July of 1991, and was first hired as a corrections deputy at the Caddo Detention Center, then transferred to the Patrol Division, later becoming a field training officer on Patrol. He later moved to the Organized Crimes Division where he worked as an undercover narcotics agent and a member of the Caddo-Bossier Narcotics Task Force and the Ark-La-Tex Narcotics Task Force. For many years Farris was an investigator in the Internal Affairs Division and was an adjunct instructor at the Training Academy and participated in the Caddo Sheriff's Explorer Program for at-risk children. Farris has supervised more than 350 deputies when he served as the captain of Support and Security at the Caddo Correctional Center. Farris holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration. Assistant Chief Deputy of Enforcement & Investigations Jacqueline Winston will serve as the new Assistant Chief Deputy of Enforcement and Investigations. Winston has more than 29 years of experience in law enforcement and served in a number of roles, from the correctional center to the patrol division. Winston is committed to protecting children and in 2018, she accepted a new position with the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office followed by a move to the Caddo District Attorney's Office as an investigator in the Child Support Division. She is a member of the Caddo-Bossier Domestic Violence Task Force, where she advocates for domestic violence awareness and prevention. Winston holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from Wiley College, a master's degree from Grambling State University and is pursuing her doctorate in criminology and justice administration from Grambling. Assistant Chief Deputy of District Court Operations James L. Matthews III, will serve as the new Assistant Chief Deputy of District Court Operations. Matthews has served as the vice president of operations for the U.S. Marshal's Service. In this role he was responsible for its contracts in 11 federal circuits. The circuits consist of 47 states, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan. Matthews is a former deputy with Caddo and Bossier parishes, where he served as a corrections deputy, school resource officer and patrol deputy. Prior to that, he served 26 years with the Louisiana State Police, his duties included patrol, investigations, SWAT team member, commander of the SWAT team, deputy commander of Troop G and executive officer. Assistant Chief Deputy of Detention Disha K. Darby will serve as the new Assistant Chief Deputy of Detention. Darby has been employed with the sheriff's office for 25 years. Most recently she served as the captain of Support at Caddo Correctional Center (CCC). Darby has worked as a property clerk at CCC, booking clerk and programs administrative assistant. After receiving her POST certification in 2003, Darby quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a hostage negotiator, POST instructor for the State of Louisiana, field training officer, coordinator for field training officers and shift sergeant at CCC. Darby received her bachelor's degree in social work with a minor in psychology from Northeast Louisiana University and later received her master's degree in administration of justice and security from the University of Phoenix. Darby is also a registered social worker for the State of Louisiana. Director of Human Resources Peter Williams will serve as the new Director of Human Resources. Williams has more than 30 years of experience in labor relations and human resources. Throughout his career at Libbey Glass Manufacturing Company, he has held the positions of supervisor, department manager, employment manager, assistant human resources manager and human resources manager. Williams is knowledgeable of worker compensation employment-related issues, EEOC charges, safety and employment training. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Association of Self-Insured Employers and the Board of Directors for the Southern University Foundation. Williams has numerous certifications and a master's degree in industrial organizational psychology. Farris, Winston, Matthews and Darby will start their new positions on July 1, while Williams is expected to begin in August. Ian Robinson contributed to this story. More: Henry Whitehorn becomes first Black man to be elected Caddo Parish Sheriff Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: New Caddo Parish Sheriffs command staff announced Bottles of Johnson's baby powder are displayed in a store in New York By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday rejected a bid by a group of cancer victims to block Johnson & Johnson from pursuing a proposed bankruptcy settlement of tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the company's baby powder and other talc products contain cancer-causing asbestos. The cancer victims sought a preliminary order in New Jersey on June 11 to preventing J&J from filing for bankruptcy outside the state, which would have effectively foiled the $6.48 billion settlement plan. The motion was part of a class action lawsuit brought by plaintiffs' lawyers opposed to the plan. But U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp on Friday said he could not grant the motion because any harm to the victims was "strictly hypothetical." He said he had no jurisdiction to resolve a dispute over "events that have not, and may never, occur." A lawyer for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Friday. J&J hopes to garner support from 75% of claimants as part of the prepackaged bankruptcy plan. It has set a July 26 voting deadline. The healthcare conglomerate faces lawsuits from more than 61,000 plaintiffs alleging its talc caused ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, a deadly cancer linked to asbestos exposure. J&J maintains its talc is safe, asbestos-free and does not cause cancer. The company contends a bankruptcy settlement pays claimants fairly and equitably, as opposed to the civil justice system in which most plaintiffs receive nothing while some win outsized awards. Plaintiffs' attorneys opposing the plan say it is a fraudulent attempt to put billions of dollars of the company's assets out of plaintiffs' reach, preventing them from getting the compensation they deserve. J&J has failed twice to execute a bankruptcy maneuver aimed at ending current and future talc lawsuits. The strategy, known as a Texas two-step, involves creating a subsidiary to absorb J&J's talc liability, which then declares bankruptcy to resolve cases. Two courts previously found J&J's subsidiary lacked the "financial distress" necessary to legitimize a bankruptcy filing. J&J's plan focuses on resolving claims in bankruptcy from women with ovarian and other gynecological cancers allegedly linked to talc. It has settled most mesothelioma cases outside of bankruptcy, and this month finalized a separate $700 million agreement to resolve claims from state attorneys general. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by William Mallard) Days after a fiery meeting, in Canton residents criticized members of the town's government for their response to the flooding that historic rainfall brought to the area, Mayor Sandi Lundstrom says change is coming. In a message posted on Canton's website, Lundstrom said that officials will "conduct an evaluation of the areas where we fell short and identify the areas where we made progress in disaster mitigation" and "update our outdated 2003 process and emergency plan as well as create an action plan to improve our communitys readiness for future events." More: Canton residents lambaste mayor, commissioner for lack of emergency flooding response plan Some parts of Canton received more than a foot of rain between June 20 and June 22, almost exactly a decade after the 2014 flood that struck the area, which many residents were astonished had not led to better preparation. Lundstrom, along with commissioners Jackie Pigors and Tyler Larson and finance officer Kyle Cwach, were the primary targets of residents' ire at an informal special meeting Monday night, which included questioning why no one was directing sandbagging efforts and why broken and outdated pumps needed to prevent sewage backup had not been replaced since 2019 or earlier. Lundstrom also wrote that she and other officials would be working on a proposal to hire a dedicated city administrator, something that Commissioner Paul Garbers had demanded at the Monday meeting. If we dont get a leader in this town, we aint going anywhere, Garbers said on Monday. Ive thought since I started that we need an administrator. Two years ago (Lundstrom), when you ran for mayor, you said we didnt need one for three to five years. When (Pigors) ran (Pigors) said we needed one when is three to five years up? I came on (the commission) to try to do what the citizens of Canton wanted us to do. The message also said that Gov. Kristi Noem was working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to move toward an official disaster declaration for Lincoln County, and urged property owners to "take numerous pictures of the damage caused by this event." Lundstrom also thanked anyone who volunteered during the flooding. "We witnessed the spirit of the Canton people and the resolve of the community leaders in assuring the situation was well handled in a manner that would not have been possible for the city personnel to do alone, nor the citizens," she wrote. The city has been under wastewater restrictions since June 22, with only a three-hour break on Monday, after rains strained the sewer system and caused a backup. As of Friday, the city has re-opened the town's laundromat for the numerous people who need to wash clothes, but the car washes remain closed until the city can determine otherwise potentially later in the day. "We are still asking that citizens still be cognizant of water usage in their homes," the city posted to its webpage. "We also want to let citizens know that we do have a spare pump and have access to more pumps if the need arises today, over the weekend, or on Monday with the possibility of rain. We appreciate your patience during this time." This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Canton mayor promises change after residents criticize flood response Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Axiata Group Berhad fair value estimate is RM4.44 Axiata Group Berhad is estimated to be 41% undervalued based on current share price of RM2.61 Our fair value estimate is 51% higher than Axiata Group Berhad's analyst price target of RM2.93 Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Axiata Group Berhad (KLSE:AXIATA) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! 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. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Axiata Group Berhad Crunching The Numbers We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we 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) RM3.57b RM3.25b RM3.67b RM2.64b RM2.53b RM2.49b RM2.48b RM2.51b RM2.55b RM2.61b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Est @ -4.00% Est @ -1.74% Est @ -0.15% Est @ 0.96% Est @ 1.74% Est @ 2.28% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 8.8% RM3.3k RM2.7k RM2.8k RM1.9k RM1.7k RM1.5k RM1.4k RM1.3k RM1.2k RM1.1k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM19b 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 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.8%. Story continues Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM2.6b (1 + 3.6%) (8.8% 3.6%) = RM51b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM51b ( 1 + 8.8%)10= RM22b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM41b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM2.6, the company appears quite undervalued at a 41% 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 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 Axiata Group 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 8.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.834. 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 Axiata Group Berhad Strength Debt is well covered by cash flow. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Wireless Telecom market. Opportunity Expected to breakeven next year. Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Good value based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Axiata Group Berhad, we've compiled three fundamental factors you should further examine: Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Axiata Group Berhad , and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does AXIATA's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson said President Bidens shaky debate performance Thursday portrays the U.S. as a rudderless ship on the international stage. Carson, a former Trump administration official joined The Hill on NewsNation Friday to discuss questions over Bidens cognitive ability after concerns spread following Bidens lackluster performance in the debate against former President Trump. There are a lot of people who are much older than Joe Biden who are perfectly cognizant of whats going on, expressing themselves well and leading normal lives, said Carson, who is also neurosurgeon. You have to ask yourself the question: If you were a patient, youre about to have surgery and somebody like Joe Biden showed up, would you undergo that surgery? Would you get on an airplane if somebody like him showed up as a pilot? Would you let somebody like that drive a school bus your kid was on? Of course you wouldnt, he continued. And we want to give him the most responsible position in the world. Carson, who ran against Trump in the 2016 presidential race, said Bidens lack of energy and difficulty finishing his thoughts put the U.S. at risk, because the rest of the world was watching the debate, too. Those concerns also sparked calls, even from members of the incumbents own party, for Biden to drop out of the presidential race and make room for a new candidate. They know that we are a rudderless ship, no leadership whatsoever, Carson told host Blake Burman. Thats going to cause some of our adversaries to be more adventurous and that could really result in a catastrophic situation. He also argued that Democrats who want to keep Biden as Americas leader are putting all of us at risk. During the on-stage rematch between Biden and Trump, foreign policy was a key issue. The Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war have been sticking points for Bidens presidency. Trump called Putins terms to end fighting in Ukraine unacceptable, but avoided providing an explanation about how he would end the war if reelected. Biden has spent much of his time in office creating a relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and supporting efforts to end the attacks. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) After 72 hours without power, and preparing for a possible evacuation on Wednesday due to the Fresno June Lightning Complex Fire, on Thursday Project Survivals Cat Haven announced their doors were open back again. On Wednesday, staff at Project Survivals Cat Haven shared in a social media post the big cats shelters proximity to the fire. They revealed that the shelter did not have electricity and cell service. Prayers are the best: Fresno County big cat sanctuary getting ready as wildfires near After getting ready for a possible evacuation, on Thursday staff at the shelter said their power was restored, but their phones were limited to internet calls only due to the Verizon towers being down. On Thursday, staff at the shelter announced their decision to open their doors again after the 72-hour power outage. They also say their mountain lion, Birdie, who was previously transported to a veterinarian through back roads because the lion was feeling ill, was in a stable condition. On Friday, officials with the shelter thanked government officials after the reopening of Highway 180. Cat Haven is open! Thank you to the fire fighters, sheriffs, Department of Emergency Services and many more. Thanks to Nathan Magsig too. Their job continues until the Lightening Complex fire is extinguished and now a bigger fight with the Basin fire. Basin fire is north of us by about 15 miles and is growing. It is growing away from us toward Dinkey Creek. Keep these first responders in your prayers as they battle for all of us. Project Survivals Cat Haven Due to the power outages, however, staff at Project Survivals Cat Haven say they lost most of the food for their cats. Those who would like to support the shelter are encouraged to visit their social media page to learn how. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) Catholic Charities of New York is making a significant impact on food insecurity in the Bronx through its pop-up food pantry initiative. The organization recently hosted an event at St. Lukes Catholic Church in the Mott Haven community, providing essential nutrition to more than 300 local families in need. Andrea Jordan, deputy executive director of programs at Catholic Charities Community Services, emphasized the importance of these efforts. Today we are having a pop-up initiative here at St. Lukes Parish. Its an opportunity to really be able to support the community, Jordan explained. More Local News She highlighted the growing food insecurity crisis in New York City and across the country, noting that rising food prices have made these pantries crucial for many families. The pop-up pantry, sponsored by the Gertner Foundation, offers a wide selection of nutrient-rich foods, including fresh produce, lean proteins and dairy products. Jordan stressed the health benefits of these offerings, stating, Food becomes medicine. If we are sponsoring and really providing and supplementing really great food, such as the protein and the dairy and fresh produce, we can hopefully begin to help and manage their health and well-being overall. The need for such initiatives is evident, with people lining up as early as 6 a.m. to receive assistance. Jordan described the South Bronx as one of the most neediest communities across the country, highlighting the significance of this effort. Cynthia Crespo, a 40-year resident of Mott Haven and both a volunteer and recipient at the pantry, expressed her gratitude. Im very happy and thankful for Catholic Charities to coming out here and helping my community, Crespo said. Crespo emphasized the economic challenges many face, adding, Now everything is very expensive and a lot of people out here, they are struggling to put food on the table. Despite the success of these initiatives, Jordan acknowledged the challenges facing organizations like Catholic Charities. One of the biggest challenges is that the funding for emergency food is decreasing, Jordan noted. While the need remains high, resources have dwindled since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, Catholic Charities plans to host 20 to 25 similar pop-up events across the city this year. However, Jordan stressed that this is still a fraction of what were able to do, highlighting the ongoing need for support and resources to address food insecurity in New York City. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 leader of Pennsylvanias justice planning and policymaking agency praised Friday a training that prepares first responders in Centre County to help people who are in the midst of a crisis, an increasingly common part of their jobs. Mike Pennington, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, said Centre Countys Crisis Intervention Team training is a robust program that serves as a model for the rest of the state. When an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis, its critical that the first responders whether that be law enforcement, emergency dispatchers, or others have the tools and skills to effectively communicate with and direct individuals to the appropriate services in the community which meets their needs, Pennington said. The Centre County CIT program is an example of a community working together to support the behavioral health of its citizens. These programs can truly make a difference in the life of someone experiencing a crisis. Centre County CIT Coordinator Tracy Small said 480 first responders have been certified since the program launched in 2011, when it was one of the first of its kind in the state. There are now about 40 recognized CIT programs in Pennsylvania. The most recent batch of graduates included officers from State College, Patton Township and Penn State police, as well as a handful of county agencies. Those who complete the training receive a pin to wear on their uniform so they can be identified by the public as a CIT-trained officer. It was more extensive than what we learned in the academy, rookie State College police officer Dylan James said. It was really good to do the scenarios and get down to a basic communication level and how you can help people. Police officers in Centre County have said in recent years that responding to people in crisis has become more commonplace as awareness of mental illness and treatment options have expanded. The 40-hour training takes place twice a year and places an emphasis on crisis resolution skills, understanding mental illness and services that are available. It includes lectures, on-site visitation, interactions with people who have a mental illness and scenario-based training. I think it really opens up a lot of doors for me in this career because now going forward it helps me, I would like to think, be able to identify Hey, this person might have X, Y, Z. I need to kind of take a little bit of a different approach, rookie Patton Township police officer Michael Ottolini said. ... It just helps. It helps me when Im out driving around to maybe have a different approach. New change to state law allows agency to crack down on repeat polluters: 'Tools to act quickly in certain situations' Great news for Minnesotans and the planet alike: The state just passed a groundbreaking law that empowers regulators to take swift, decisive action against the worst polluters, according to the Star Tribune. Starting July 1, 2024, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will have a suite of new powers to shut down businesses that falsify pollution records, repeatedly violate the terms of settlements, chronically break permit rules, or operate without proper permits. Talk about accountability. This law was inspired by cases like Water Gremlin, a company that produced fishing tackle and battery parts while violating air pollution regulations for nearly two decades. Under the old rules, the MPCA said its hands were tied unless a polluter posed an "imminent and substantial danger" to public health. No more excuses. Now, serial offenders will face real consequences, like revoked permits or being forced to cease operations. This is a huge win for the lungs of Minnesotans and the future of our planet. The MPCA is putting its money where its mouth is, too. The agency is getting over $5 million to hire 22 new staff members focused on air quality monitoring, permit reviews, and inspections. It's also investing in state-of-the-art pollution sensors to stay on top of pollution. "Though the legislature has provided the agency stronger tools to act quickly in certain situations, the MPCA must still investigate and gather factual evidence that warrants taking action," Becky Lentz, an MPCA spokeswoman, said in an email to the Star Tribune. Evan Mulholland, an attorney with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said the law granted a broad authority for the MPCA commissioner to protect communities. "This change will help MPCA do both," added Claire Lancaster, a spokeswoman for Governor Tim Walz, in an email. Some fear the law could spur costly legal battles, but sometimes, you must fight for what's right. Minnesota just showed the nation how to hold polluters' feet to the fire. Here's hoping other states follow its lead. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Charter school will not reopen for 2024-25 school year HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) A Midstate charter school announced this week that this past school year was its last. The Premier Arts and Science Charter School in Harrisburg voted Thursday to begin the wind-down process, as required by law. Pennsylvania school districts blast CCA over cyber charter spending In a letter to the school community posted to their website, the schools board of directors said they are no longer opposing the Harrisburg School Districts Resolution of Non-Renewal. Under Pennsylvania law, school districts can approve or deny charter schools. If denied, the school can appeal. As part of the wind-down process, PASCS will establish three transition teams, two of which are focused on assisting students and staff in finding a new school or place of employment. In addition to the creation of the above teams, the schools administration will work collaboratively with internal and external resources to support the students social-emotional health and wellness, the school wrote. The schools summer enrichment and Extended School Year programs will continue as scheduled. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A Chicago man was arrested and charged Thursday after he passed a note to a security guard that threatened a mass shooting with military precision at the Lake County Courthouse weeks earlier. Daniel B. Pederson, a 42-year-old Chicago resident, was charged with one count of threatening a public official A class three felony. This isnt the first time Pederson has been convicted for allegedly doing a similar act either. In 2016, he was also convicted of making a terroristic threat against the Lake County Courthouse. According to the Lake County Sheriffs Office (LCSO), deputies became aware that a man in the Chicago Riverwalk area passed a note to a security guard working at a Riverwalk restaurant on June 14. Deputies said the note indicated there would be a mass shooting with military precision at the Lake County Courthouse, and also made threats directed at a Lake County Judge and a Chicago police officer assigned as a task force officer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Shortly thereafter, the LCSO launched an investigation that led to the arrest of Pederson on June 27. 1 dead, police officer shot in Ford Heights Deputies said Pederson returned to the Riverwalk area and was spotted by the same security guard he passed the note to, who contacted the Chicago Police Department after he recognized the suspect. CPD was then able to find Pederson and take him into custody, before a day later, he was transferred into LCSO custody and taken to the Lake County Jail. Additional charges are possible in this case, which is still being investigated by the LCSO. No other 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 WGN-TV. In an email sent to staff this week, Tacoma-based Commencement Bank has announced the planned departure of its chief financial officer and two accounting/finance team members. A screenshot of the email was shared with The News Tribune. The staffwide email, from Commencement CEO John Manolides, announced that Chief Financial Officer Tom Dhamers, senior accountant Charlene Pearl and accounting assistant Alicia Bulldis had voluntarily decided to leave the bank to pursue new opportunities. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Tom Dahmers is set to leave Tacoma-based Commencement Bank in July, according to a staff memo. The email stated that the three had been with Commencement since its merger with Thurston First in 2016. Dhamers time with Thurston First dated back to 2007, with Pearl joining the next year and Bulldis in 2015. The email also stated their last day would be Friday, July 5, and that newly hired Charlie Sonneborn would step into Dhamers role as interim CFO during the search for a new CFO. A senior accounting temp also has been brought on board to help ensure we have the proper resources in place, the email stated, noting that the bank had been working on a transition plan over the past few weeks, including cross-training staff. Manolides also thanked Dhamers, Pearl and Bulldis for their hard work, dedication and years of service to the bank. The News Tribune reached out to representatives for Commencement, who declined to offer comment, as well as Manolides. Manolides became CEO of Commencement after the Dec. 31, 2019 retirement of CEO Hal Russell. Russell co-founded the bank in 2006 with Manolides, who served as president and chief operating officer before moving into the top position. The bank last year saw the departures of other senior staff members its senior vice president of operations and cash management, and its former senior vice president head of retail banking. An assistant vice president for commercial loans also departed last year. Manolides, in response to questions over reasons for the latest departures and of the officials last year, simply stated via email to The News Tribune that Commencement Bank does not comment on personnel matters. In its first-quarter earnings ending March 31, Commencement Bancorp on May 9 reported that Total assets ended the quarter at $590 million with no significant variation to report. Commencement in April made news with the announcement of a planned move to its new Tacoma headquarters at 1313 Broadway. The bank has branch locations in Enumclaw, Olympia, Auburn and Gig Harbor. Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Shutterstock / Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Shutterstock The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act implemented by the Trump administration resulted in slashing the corporate tax rate by 14%, cutting individual income tax rates and increasing the standard deduction. Check Out: What Is the Median Household Income for the Upper Middle Class in 2024? Try This: 7 Reasons You Must Speak to a Financial Advisor to Boost Your Savings in 2024 Many of the household tax reforms included in the bill expire in 2025, wrote William G. Gale of The Brookings Institution, meaning that whoever wins the election will have the opportunity to either fight to extend the legislation or let it lapse. Wealthy corporations and individuals lauded this tax overhaul. But what would a Trump win in the upcoming presidential election mean for the tax burden on the poor? It may depend who you ask. According to Stan V. Smith, economist and adjunct professor at The University of Chicago, it would go down or remain unchanged. Also heres what could happen to inflation if Trump wins. Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week. Why exactly is that? In all likelihood, Trump would extend the 2017 legislation. And under Republican administrations in general, tax collections go up as rates get cut, stated Smith meaning that as taxes are reduced, the top 1% pay more in taxes. How does that make sense? Smith explained that most people would be surprised to learn that the upper 1% is responsible for paying more than 50% of total taxes. The common person doesnt understand how huge the tax burden is on the top 1% so they look for ways to avoid it. When you reduce [the tax rate], the top 1% evades less and pays more. This counterintuitive phenomenon was best explained by Smiths thesis advisor at The University of Chicago, Arthur Laffer, who introduced the Laffer Curve demonstrating that cutting taxes paradoxically results in increased tax revenue. Does the data always support this? Well, it could. But it may not. The Laffer Curve is best regarded as a theoretical jumping off point and not a definitive hypothesis. In a document posted by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, even Laffer maintained that what happens to revenues as a result of a tax rate change depends on a number of factors, such as the tax system in place, the time period being considered, the ease of movement into underground activities, the level of tax rates already in place, and the prevalence of legal and accounting-driven loopholes. Still, the poor pay almost no taxes, stated Smith. Where poor people pay the most taxes are real estate and sales tax and thats unfortunate because you cant change sales tax. But, according to Smith, the 2017 tax cuts that primarily benefit the top 1% would not shift the burden to the poor. Story continues What about residual effects? Some might argue that the effects on the poor are more residual in nature, and that tax cuts for the wealthy could eliminate funding for government services like Social Security and Medicaid that lower income brackets depend on. But, according to Smiths above assessment, this logic could be false. If more money is collected from the top 1% as the result of tax cuts, then the funding would be there. Conservative justification for cutting government programs merely becomes a way to pander to a Republican base who dislike entitlement programs favored by Democrats. But would the reality of losing these programs become any less real? Trump did try to repeal and then subsequently sabotage the Affordable Care Act. Do others agree? While Smiths assessment may have been supported by others up until now, some disagree on future projections in the event of a Trump win. According to an analysis published in May of 2024 from economists Kimberly Clausing and Mary E. Lovely of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, theres an additional element Trumps newly proposed tariffs (i.e. import taxes) that would hurt low-income Americans the most. Trump has recently proposed a 10% universal tariff on goods imported from every country and at least a 60% tariff on all goods made in China. And, based on research regarding 2018 imports, previously imposed tariffs were not paid for by other countries; U.S. consumers were just stuck with higher prices. Because lower income Americans spend a larger percentage of their income, the tariffs would reduce after-tax incomes by 3.5% for those in the bottom half of the income distribution and cost a typical household in the middle of the income distribution about $1700 per year, wrote Clausing and Lovely. The upper 1%, however, would see a 1.4% increase in after-tax income. In this model, the newly proposed tariffs would therefore offset the poors marginally raised income from any extension of the 2017 tax cuts, shifting tax burdens away from the well-off and toward lower income members of society, wrote Clausing and Lovely. Editors note on election coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on GOBankingRates.com. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im an Economist: Heres What a Trump Win in November Would Mean for the Tax Burden on the Poor YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A York County woman is facing charges after an Attorney Generals Office investigation into child pornography uploaded to social media, according to court documents. When agents looked through Victoria Carneys, 27, of New Cumberland, tablet during a search at her home Tuesday, they found 19 files of child pornography, including 10 files that depicted children engaged in bestiality, charges filed by the Pennsylvanias AG office state. This proactive investigation of online file-sharing allegedly uncovered a cache of disturbing files depicting very young children, Attorney General Henry said in a statement. My office is committed to finding predators who lurk in online forums and seek to exploit our most vulnerable citizens, children. Adams County woman crashed into apartment building twice, tried setting it on fire; State Police There were also multiple websites that were bookmarked regarding the sexual content of children on her tablet, investigators said. When interviewed, Carney denied ever looking at child pornography and that investigators wouldnt find any on her devices, according to investigators. Investigators in February received a report of child pornography uploaded to X under the username DisgustingMama and email address named disgustingmommy, according to court docs. Investigators were later told by Carney she didnt create the email, however, she also had no explanation as to why the X account was registered from her home, and said no one else could have created it, the criminal complaint says. Later in the investigation, agents discovered through internet records the inappropriate content came from Carneys home and served a search warrant Tuesday, seizing her tablet and other devices. According to the complaint, Carney was interviewed and allegedly admitted to being on websites and looking at sexual stories of children and that she read stories the night before. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat Carney faces 19 felony charges of child pornography and a felony charge of criminal use of a communication facility. Carney is locked up in York County Prison with bail set at $250,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 15. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Chinese government has insisted that most Taiwanese can visit the country in high spirits after Taipei issued a warning to its own citizens over a threat from Beijing to execute diehard separatists. Taiwan issued a travel warning this week urging its people not to go to China unless absolutely necessary, as Chinas new legal guidelines threatened prosecution and, in extreme cases, the death penalty for Taiwan independence separatists. The warning appeared to also apply to those living in Hong Kong and Macau. The Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office said on Friday that its new legal guidelines were only aimed at separatists and their evil words and actions. The majority of Taiwanese compatriots can participate in cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. They dont have to have any worries about travelling to and from the mainland. They can absolutely arrive in high spirits and depart well content, the office said. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and president Xi Jinping has threatened to reunite the island with the mainland by force if necessary, while the democratically elected government of Taiwan says only the islands people can choose their future. Beijings claim to be the only legitimate Chinese government is known as the One China Principle it has been accepted or acknowledged by all but a handful of nations who would otherwise risk being cut off from trading with the mainland. The US formally acknowledges the One China Principle but maintains close informal relations with Taiwan and does not accept Beijings claim to sovereignty over the island. In recent months, tensions between China and Taiwan have soared, with Beijing escalating its military activity around Taiwan. The US also recently claimed in an intelligence report that China is readying its military to invade Taiwan by 2027. China has openly expressed dislike for Taiwan president Lai Ching-te and views him as a separatist. Additional reporting with agencies China and Russia are in a bad marriage that the West shouldn't try to break up China and Russia have good reasons for their partnership beyond just driving America crazy. But there are plenty of issues that could derail this alliance. Successful alliances like NATO require partners to subordinate their interests for the common good. During the darkest days of the Cold War, in the 1950s, the West worried that the Soviet Union and China had joined forces to form a massive communist bloc. But those fears proved overblown, as Beijing and Moscow soon went from allies to bitter enemies that clashed over their long border. Fast-forward to today, and growing military ties have again raised the specter of a Sino-Russian alliance that unites two of the most powerful nations in the world. But this partnership is not a solid alliance like NATO that's built on mutual defense and interoperability of its forces. "The Sino-Russian relationship is probably best characterized as a marriage of two imperfect partners who share a deeply cynical view of the U.S.-led international order but often hold divergent visions of the order that they believe should replace it," a report on Sino-Russian cooperation by the RAND Corp. think tank said. "These two imperfect partners realize some level of shared, albeit unequal, dependency while simultaneously harboring deep suspicions about whether they can trust or rely on the other," the study said. This may be scant comfort to Western leaders who fear a scenario where Russian aggression in Europe is simultaneous with a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which would overstretch US resources and allow America's allies to be overwhelmed. Already, Russia's military and China's People's Liberation Army have held about 25 joint exercises since 2005, involving ships, aircraft, and ground troops. Beijing and Moscow have teamed up to fly joint patrols, including a 2023 incident where they flew near South Korean airspace. Equally important is that China has become a key enabler of Russia's war in Ukraine. With Western sanctions depriving Russia of key components such as electronics, China and its vast manufacturing base have emerged as a major supplier of microelectronics, drone parts, and other components. But these don't equate to the sort of integrated operations practiced by the US and Britain in World War II, where American troops served under British commanders and vice versa, or by NATO today. "Policymakers and planners should avoid overestimating the state of military cooperation and operational integration that exists between Russia and China," RAND said. China sent only a few thousand troops to Russia's massive 2018 war game of an estimated 300,000 participants. Mladen Antonov/Getty Images Exercises involving Russian and Chinese forces have been "described as more 'parallel' than 'joint,' meaning that Russia's military and the PLA are given set tasks and timelines, perform them in synchronized yet independent fashion, and overall have limited interaction in such areas as planning and C2," RAND said, referring to command and control. "For this reason, these exercises have in reality done relatively little to promote interoperability at either the operational or the tactical level." The result is military cooperation that is more symbolic than practical. "China's commitment to the exercises is relatively low," RAND said. "The PLA sent around 3,200 soldiers to Russia's 300,000-strong Vostok 2018 exercise and just 1,600 to Russia's Tsentr-2019 exercise (in which the Russian side fielded almost 130,000 soldiers). It appears that the PLA is more interested in learning from Russia than in sharing insights into its own military capabilities or training as equal partners, whereas, for Russia, the goal is to present an image of joint cooperation with China to the West to counter an impression that Moscow is isolated and vulnerable." Mark Cozad, who coauthored the RAND study, contrasted these arrangements with NATO or US-South Korean military integration. "NATO and the US-South Korea plan to fight as alliances, which means that training needs to develop and train combined command and control, targeting, ISR, logistics, and operations among other areas," Cozad told Business Insider, referring to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. "Also, there is a much more rigorous approach to training in these alliances, meaning the training is generally much more realistic than what we see out of the Russians and Chinese." Despite boasting of their military ties, Russia and China don't have much faith in each other's military prowess. After Russia's dismal combat performance in Ukraine, the question is "whether China would view the Russian military as a capable and useful coalition partner," the RAND report said. On the other hand, given China's lack of recent combat experience, "Moscow may view the PLA as a well-resourced but questionable partner," it added. Some alliances are tighter than others. America and Britain were part of the Grand Alliance with the Soviet Union, in which Russia and the Western Allies waged parallel and mostly uncoordinated campaigns in an atmosphere of mutual distrust. Capitalists and communists could agree on the need to defeat Hitler but not much else. In their 2001 friendship treaty, China and Russia did agree to consult with each other should either nation be attacked. But they didn't promise to fight on each other's behalf. "Notably, this agreement does not include a mutual defense clause," the RAND study pointed out. Successful alliances require partners to subordinate their interests for the good of the alliance, and that's a huge problem for Russia and China. Both nations have a tradition of being the dominant partner in alliances and of bullying their allies, whether it was the Soviet Union bossing around its Eastern European satellites, or China treating neighbors such as Vietnam and Korea as vassals. "Neither China nor Russia has a recent history of an interoperable military alliance with any other country, much less any history of joint C2 structures or devolving authority to field commanders to innovate and partner to solve operational challenges," the report said. Besides the pleasure of driving America crazy, military cooperation between China and Russia does offer tangible benefits. China, which has not fought a war since invading Vietnam in 1979, can learn from Russian combat experience in Syria and Ukraine. Russia gets access to Chinese products that are under sanction in the West. Good relations mean the 2,600-mile Russia-China border can be demilitarized, allowing forces to be concentrated in Ukraine or for an invasion of Taiwan. Yet there are plenty of issues that could derail this alliance. One is the immense amount of historical baggage weighing down their relations. "The Russians and Chinese have had a mixed relationship for over 75 years at this point that has included both strategic partnership and intense hostility," Cozad said. China hasn't forgotten that czarist Russia annexed 350,000 square miles of Chinese territory in the 1850s. In 1969, Chinese and Russian troops fought border clashes along the Ussuri River (at one point, the Soviets considered a nuclear strike on China). Today, there's competition over Central Asia, Chinese unease over Russia's war in Ukraine, and the fact that Russia is inexorably becoming the junior partner as Chinese economic and military power grows. That raises the question: Can the West exploit these divisions to break up the Sino-Russian alliance? RAND emphatically warned against trying. "We advocate not trying to undermine the Russia-China partnership because we don't have many tools or incentives that either of those two partners sees as more valuable than their partnership," Cozad said. While the Chinese may want things from the US, "they are skeptical that in five or 10 years that incentive can again be taken away and then they have damaged their relationship with Russia while losing that incentive," he added. Instead, RAND suggested that the best response would be for the US and its allies to ally more closely. "The most effective way for the United States to counter the Russia-China strategic partnership is by ensuring the health of its own alliances and pursuing ever greater cooperation with its most important allies and partners," the report said. In the end, successful alliances are a mixture not just of national self-interest but also of shared values. That may be the real difference between an alliance like NATO, most of whose members share a belief in democracy, individual rights, and free trade, versus a Sino-Russian friendship based on the question of "what's in it for me." Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a Master of Arts in political science from Rutgers University. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider Contents of a tent are seen in bags as workers dismantle the tent after Portland police detained the person residing there on Friday, June 28, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The Supreme Court cleared the way for cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places on Friday, overturning a ruling from a California-based appeals court that found such laws amount to cruel and unusual punishment when shelter space is lacking. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) SEATTLE (AP) A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces will allow San Francisco to begin clearing homeless encampments that have plagued the city, the mayor said Friday as she applauded the ruling. The case is the most significant on the issue to come before the high court in decades and comes as cities across the country have wrestled with the politically complicated issue of how to deal with a rising number of people without a permanent place to live and public frustration over related health and safety issues. We will continue to lead with services, but we also cant continue to allow people to do what they want on the streets of San Francisco, especially when we have a place for them to go, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed, a Democrat, said in the wake of the 6-3 ruling. Breed said she will review the ruling with the City Attorneys Office before implementing any new policies, and the city will provide training to those clearing camps. But the ruling was not welcomed everywhere and some cities, such as Seattle, said their approach to encampments will not change. A spokesperson for the Portland, Oregon, mayors office said it was prevented by a state law from making major changes based on the court decision. Cody Bowman, a spokesperson for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat who has seen his two terms buffeted by discontent over the citys homeless crisis, said they hoped the decision would push the state Legislature to take up the issue and see this opportunity to consider the tools cities truly need to manage public camping, provide sufficient shelter, and keep our streets safe and clean. Boise, Idahos mayor, a Democrat, likewise said the city would not change its approach to those sleeping in public spaces, which includes case management and supportive housing. In Boise, we take care of people. Criminalizing homelessness has never, and will never, solve the problems associated with homelessness, said Mayor Lauren McLean. 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. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is scheduled to sign a state budget in the coming days that includes another $250 million in grants for local governments to clear homeless encampments, said the ruling gives state and local officials the definitive authority" to enforce policies that clear unwanted encampments. 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 after the ruling, which came the same day Los Angeles released an annual count of the homeless population. Sara Rankin, a professor of law at Seattle University who direct its Homeless Rights Advocacy Project, said the decision will likely result in a type of free-for-all for cities banning people from sleeping on the streets. But she said state constitutional provisions and other federal constitutional provisions could then be invoked. I think a number of cities are going to misread this as a green light for open season on unhoused folks, she said. But when they do that theyll do it at their peril because I think that lawyers are going to come back at them under other theories that are still available to them, that are left untouched by todays decision. 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 9th U.S. 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. Jesse Rabinowitz, the communications and campaign director at the National Homelessness Law Center, said he worries this decision will empower cities to focus even more on arresting people sleeping outside, rather than focusing on proven solutions. There are encampments in California and D.C. and New York, not because there arent laws to punish people, but because theres not enough housing that meets everybodys needs, he said. And this case will make it harder to focus on the true solutions. Neighbors of a proposed 227-unit townhome and single-family development with 11,000 square feet of commercial space in western Athens let frustrations boil over this week as the countys planning commission moved toward an eventual recommendation that the county commission approve the rezoning needed for the project. One particularly frustrated woman, chastised by a planning commissioner for speaking out after public comment on the proposed rezoning and land use map change request had finished and the planning body was deliberating, shot back, What are you going to do, arrest me? You need to listen to us. Prominent among the largely single-family neighborhood worries about the proposed 41-acre project at 5100 Atlanta Highway at Cleveland Road was the traffic the development could, if approved by the Athens-Clarke County Commission, bring into the area, particularly along Cleveland Road. County commissioners could get a look at the recommendation to approve the rezoning at their July 16 agenda-setting session, and could make a final decision at their Aug. 6 voting meeting. Both meetings will include an opportunity for additional public comment on the rezoning proposal. More: 'A hard watch': Students at Georgia Tech, site of Biden-Trump clash, react to debate Theres going to be crashes, one resident of Fowler Mill Road, which intersects with Cleveland Road, told the planning commission during the public comment period. People are going to get killed. We love our single-family home area, a Cleveland Road resident told the planning body, going on to assert that the development will raise property taxes in the area. How many of you guys live on Cleveland Road? another speaker asked the planning commission, suggesting that the development, if built, will be horrible for all our neighbors. The Fowler Mill Road resident told planning commissioners, We have nice little neighborhoods. We like our privacy. We dont want lights everywhere. She went on to tell the planning commission the area didnt need new commercial development, to express concern that Cleveland Road Elementary School might not be able to handle an influx of new students, and to wonder whether the development could force area residents to connect to Athens-Clarke County sewer service. In their deliberations on the requested rezoning from the current general business, employment center and traditional neighborhood classifications to general business and mixed-density residential classifications, planning commissioners confronted the need for more housing, and particularly more affordable housing, in the community as its population is projected to grow by 30,000 people over the next 20 years. Townhomes in the proposed development, three-bedroom units ranging from 1,800 to 2,400 square feet, are projected to sell for between $200,000 and $300,000. Current median housing costs in Athens-Clarke County range from the low $300,000s to near $400,000, according to various real estate sources. Athens population is growing, Planning Commission Chairman Michael Hall said as the commission deliberated, adding that young professionals cant buy homes here amid a supply-demand imbalance. The housing that would be offered at the Atlanta Highway development, Hall contended, will make it so more people of moderate income can afford to live in Athens-Clarke County. It addresses things Athens needs, Hall said of the project proposal. The reality is, we do have a housing crisis, added Planning Commissioner Sheila Collins. In the end, the planning panel recommended that the county commission approve the change in the countys future land use map needed for the Atlanta Highway project to go forward. Just one planning commissioner, Alex Sams, voted against recommending county commission approval of the proposed rezoning. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Cleveland Road residents express anger over proposed development Opponents of a controversial lease agreement that allows Gannon University to build a water research lab inside the countys main public library are taking their opposition from the streets to the courthouse. Keep Our Library Public, a citizen-led protest group that has staged several demonstrations against the lease, filed a lawsuit Thursday against Erie County and Erie County Executive Brenton Davis, who negotiated the lease agreement with Gannon. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, and which will be adjudicated by Judge Joseph Walsh, is seeking a declaratory judgement to render the lease void. The lawsuit contains three primary reasons why. Firstly, it alleges the lease violates the intended purpose of the Blasco Memorial Library property, located at 160 E. Front St. The suit claims the property was specifically donated to the county for use as a public library not to be leased out to a private institution like Gannon. The lease, the suit claims, violates Pennsylvanias Dedicated or Donated Property Act, which states all land and buildings held by a trustee in this case, the county shall be used for the purpose for which they were originally dedicated or donated. Former Erie County Public Library Director Mary Rennie, on right, talks to a resident while demonstrating outside of St. Peter Cathedral on Dec. 10, 2023. Rennie has been a vocal critic of the county-approved agreement that allows Gannon University to lease space inside Blasco Library. Secondly, the lawsuit alleges that Davis violated the Erie County Administrative Code by negotiating lease terms that are not favorable to Erie County taxpayers. The suit claims Davis executed the lease without obtaining any other proposals or offers and without any market value analysis. The results, the suit claims, are so disadvantageous to the county that it will lose money due to the lease. Thirdly, the lawsuit alleges that Davis breached his fiduciary duty, that he "negligently or intentionallymishandled" donated property in negotiating and executing the lease. This really comes down to elected officials who are making decisions that dont smell right to a lot of people, and when you start digging into it, you realize that this isnt our imagination it really is this bad, said former Erie County Public Library Director Mary Rennie, whos a member of Keep Our Library Public. The county executive wants to be seen as a leader. But if youre a leader and you have a destination in mind, it shouldnt be just a handoff of money or assets or services or buildings to a private institution that carries no mandate of accountability to citizens and taxpayers. We find that unacceptable. Erie County Public Information Officer Chris Carroll did not immediately respond to a text for comment sent by the Erie Times-News on Friday. What is the research lab? The proposed Gannon project in the library is formally called the Great Lakes Research and Education Center. The 3,280-square-foot center a part of Gannons multi-phased $24 million water quality initiative called Project NePTWNE is to be located on the eastern wing of the librarys first floor and comprise of hands-on exhibits, a NOAA Science on a Sphere and a research lab, all of which will be accessible to the public at no cost, according to Gannon officials. The center, officials said, will serve as an ecotourism attraction; enhance research done on the universitys research vessel, the Environaut; and complement the educational programming and services offered by the library. Opponents have argued the lease is an affront to the library, contending it gives away space from a vital public asset to a private, religiously affiliated university. They also say the lease was approved by Erie County Council with little advance notice and no public engagement. The Davis administration has maintained the lease was approved lawfully and that the center will prove a boon to the library and the county overall. Gannon anticipates construction of the center to begin in late fall, with a projected opening in early 2025. Lawsuit claims lease violates spirit of propertys intent The lawsuit states how the property in question was donated to the county by the Port Authority of the City of Erie and the Pennsylvania Electric Company in 1994 for the intended purpose of a public library. The building was erected, in large part, due to an endowment from philanthropist Raymond Blasco through the Erie Community Foundation for the purpose of a public library. Indeed, the building was dedicated as a public library in a public ceremony in 1996 by then Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. However, the suit claims that Davis violated the propertys intent by executing the lease agreement with Gannon. A public rally to oppose the leasing of space at Blasco Memorial Library for a university water research center is in front of the library in Erie on Nov. 4, 2023. Organizers, including Anna McCartney, upper right, with microphone, are protesting a 25-year lease agreement that was recently approved between the county and Gannon University. The suit states that any changes to the buildings intended use could have been authorized by a court order. However, the suit continues, Davis did not seek or obtain a court order. The county was without the authority to enter into the lease of the building and property with a private institution absent an order of court, the suit stated. Lawsuit claims lease was poorly negotiated The lawsuit further states the lease favors Gannon more than county taxpayers. Under the lease, Gannon will pay a fixed rate of $22,956 per year, or $1,913 per month, or $7 a square foot, for an initial term of 25 years. That rental amount, the suit claims, is far below the fair market value of the leased premises, adding the county pays rental amounts as high as $15 per square foot for various county departments. Instead of giving away the leased premises, the county could have moved one of its own programs or departments into the building to save money on existing county rental expenditures, the suit stated. The suit also states how construction of the center will be funded by $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds that were approved by Erie County Council, adding the county is "essentially paying itself for the lease." "The terms arrived at by Davis, especially in light of the American Rescue Plan award, practically give away the leased premises to a private, religious affiliated institution," the suit stated. Citing the Article 3, Section 2 of the Administrative Code, the suit states the county executive, when negotiating the terms of a contract for the lease of real estate, should arrive at a rental amount and lease term "most favorable to the county of Erie." The suit claims Davis did not meet this requirement and violated the code. The suit further accused Davis of mismanaging county finances and donated property, which will "continue to cause harm to plaintiffs." "Plaintiffs have no other adequate remedy in law or equity to cure this violation by Davis except to have the lease declared void," the suit stated. We expect our county leaders to be good stewards of what belongs to the people, Rennie said. I dont think they did here and thats partly what the lawsuit argues. They are not acting in the fiduciary interests of the rest of us. Keep Our Library Public is being represented by Pittsburgh-based law firm Strassburger McKenna Gutnick and Gefsky. A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Citizen group sues Davis for leasing out Blasco Library to Gannon CLYDE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) The City of Clyde kicked off its 4th of July celebrations early with the Festival by the Lake. It is anticipated that 15,000 to 18,000 people will attend over the weekend, enjoying a variety of offerings including food, music, vendors, and more. Community, tradition & fun collide at 17th annual Clyde Festival by the Lake Brianna Anderson from Abilene attended the festival last year, but this year decided to be part of it as a vendor. Her entire family worked together to set up the booth, make sales, and celebrate the holiday together while braving the triple digit temperatures the Big Country has seen all week. Last year, we came out here just as people coming to see the fireworks with the kids and it was a great turn out, so we decided to bring out the family business and see how it goes. You see people celebrate something that is so great for us and its cool to come together and see everybody celebrate it. The weather has turned pretty rough the past couple of days, but theres nothing better to do than celebrate the United States, explained Anderson. Whats happening in the Big Country this weekend? For vendor and Clyde native Robbi Gilbreath, she sees first hand how this festival supports local businesses and provides a safe space for children to celebrate. We like to come out here and support the community and have our locals come out here and see us. Its good for the community. We all come together and its safe and the kids can come out here and we know its going to be safe, said Gilbreath. Festivities continue Saturday, June 29th. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and fireworks begin at 10:00 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. CNN reports indicate that just 47.9 million people tuned in to the first 2024 presidential debate. The 2020 re-match saw a 35% dip in audience from the first clash between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which drew 73.1 million viewers in September 2020. The debate, hailed by many as catastrophic for the Biden campaign as his signs of age drew more attention than Trumps constant factual errors, gave an embattled Trump an opportunity to demonstrate his relative spryness, leading many pundits to call for Biden to leave the ticket. The Biden campaign took the poor performance in stride, pushing forward with the presidents planned appearance in North Carolina and rejecting demands and speculation on the candidates' position atop the ticket. CNN did note an uptick in digital engagement on its own digital channels, indicating that its live stream and social channels saw record data. Across CNNs digital platforms, the debate was CNNs biggest debate ever, the network said. The Thursday debate was the least-watched head-to-head between candidates in nearly 20 years, pulling just ahead of a 2004 debate. Per the Commission on Presidential Debates, the second presidential debate between incumbent George W. Bush and John Kerry drew 46.7 million viewers, a few hundred thousand less than Thursday. The two candidates, among the most unpopular in U.S. history, each did little to draw support to their campaigns during the debate, which featured untraditional rules aimed at dissipating interruptions. In 2016, Trump and his opponent Hillary Clinton shattered records, with 84 million Americans tuning in for the circus featuring now-infamous interruptions from Trump. (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. has told more than a dozen state agencies and public universities in Texas that Russian state-sponsored hackers accessed emails between them and the software giant. Most Read from Bloomberg The attackers were able to gain access to the communications through a breach of Microsoft, disclosed in January, in which they stole emails from some of the companys executives. The agencies that Microsoft warned of exposure in the attack include the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Texas General Land Office and the Texas State Securities Board, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they werent authorized to discuss it. Microsoft has blamed a hacking group it calls Midnight Blizzard, which is tied to Russian intelligence services, for the attack. The state and Microsoft are still examining the effect of the breach. An official with the Texas cybersecurity agency, Steve Pier, acknowledged on Friday the exposure of state emails, but said that so far they appear to be only routine administrative communications. News of the Texas agencies being impacted by the Microsoft hack offers a fuller view of the range of the compromise, and it raises concerns about a US adversary potentially accessing sensitive information about employees, financial matters or critical infrastructure in one of the countrys most populous and economically important states. To be clear, the state of Texas was not breached. Microsoft was breached, which has involved some state of Texas emails, Pier, of the Texas Department of Information Resources, said in a statement. He said his agency first heard about the exposures from Microsoft this week and is still assessing the number of affected entities. Microsoft declined to say which customers were receiving notices about the attack. We will continue to coordinate, support and assist our customers in taking mitigating measures, a company spokesperson said Friday. Microsoft told the General Land Office on Monday that the hackers got hold of 11 of its emails to the technology giant, according to Kimberly Hubbard, a spokesperson for the Texas agency, who said the messages were mostly about technical support. Story continues There was nothing in those emails that contained sensitive or confidential information or information that a threat actor could leverage to attack us, Hubbard said. We have not seen any signs of system access or subsequent attacks to our network related to this Microsoft incident. A spokesperson for the Workforce Commission, Sarah Fischer, said Microsoft told the agency on Wednesday that its email systems were impacted but didnt say what the hackers may have accessed. Representatives of the Department of Transportation and Securities Board didnt respond Friday to requests for comment. A Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson declined to comment. In January, Microsoft announced that hackers had stolen senior leaders emails that they were using to try to break into customers communications, including those of government agencies. The company this week told additional customers that their emails were accessed by the hackers, and began providing previously notified clients with details of what was taken. The company pinned the breach on a group that US and UK authorities have said is part of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. Midnight Blizzard is also referred to as APT 29 and Cozy Bear. It remains unclear how many other Microsoft clients were exposed. In April, US federal agencies were ordered to analyze emails, reset compromised credentials and work to secure Microsoft cloud accounts amid concerns that the hackers may have accessed correspondence. The fallout from the breach is coming into fuller view as the Redmond, Washington-based company is facing a series of high-profile and damaging security failures that have drawn strong condemnation from the US government. In April, a government review board issued a scathing report that criticized Microsoft for having an inadequate security culture and cited Midnight Blizzard as evidence that the company hadnt yet fixed the problem. Microsoft is now in the middle of its biggest security overhaul in decades. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Signs opposing Republic Services proposed expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill are seen near the Thursday open house at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Republic Services has scaled down its proposal to expand Coffin Butte Landfill as it attempts for a second time to win approval from the Benton County Planning Commission. The commission in 2021 unanimously denied the Phoenix-based companys application for a conditional use permit to expand. The 178-acre landfill, north of Corvallis, takes more than half of Marion Countys municipal solid waste. Company officials released an outline of the proposal Thursday afternoon, a few hours before holding an open house about it in Corvallis. The planned expansion is 50% smaller than proposed in 2021 and would take place entirely on land owned by Coffin Butte and zoned for a landfill, according to the materials. A map shows the proposed expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill at an open house held Thursday by Republic Services in Corvallis. It would add six years of life to the landfill, about half of what was requested in 2021. And it would improve, rather than close, Coffin Butte Road. That was a point of contention during the previous proposal, with neighbors saying the road could be their only escape route in the event of fire or other natural disaster. Company officials say there is less than one year of space left in the cell currently being used for disposal. The company also plans to expand into a bordering quarry, which would add another 11 years, but that space is not yet ready, officials said. The company also pledged to improve transparency, communication and community responsiveness. Coffin Butte Landfills new expansion proposal is the culmination of more than two years of active listening and understanding, dialogue and consideration and planning that incorporates feedback from various community stakeholders wherever possible, the company said in its proposal summary. A map shows the proposed expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill at an open house held Thursday by Republic Services. Company officials on Thursday were unable to offer further details about the proposal, saying it was still in the early stages. The company expects to submit its conditional use permit application later this summer, officials said, and will hold more open houses then. Many attending the open house expressed dissatisfaction with the format, which offered printed information and one-on-one conversations with Republic officials, rather than a presentation and public questions. Its all very one-sided, Corvallis resident Tom Hewes said of the companys information. It doesnt include anything about all the garbage that comes to Benton County. Coffin Butte takes waste from nearly two dozen Oregon counties and southwest Washington. Less than 10% of the waste it accepts comes from Benton County. They have their answers. They dont satisfy me, Corvallis resident Wendy McKee said. Its just their version of the truth. Joanna Stockslager and Wendy McKee discuss the proposed expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill on Thursday at Oregon State University. Some attendees said they oppose any expansion, citing environmental and public health concerns. In its proposal summary, company officials noted that those concerns fall under the purview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and are not part of the countys conditional use permit process. The company plans another, virtual, informational meeting from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9. Register for the meeting at www.bigmarker.com/coffin-butte/Coffin-Butte-Virtual-Meeting. More information about the expansion plan is available at https://coffinbuttelandfill.com/2024-cup/. Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on X at @Tracy_Loew This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Coffin Butte Landfill expansion plan scaled down Column: After Biden's debate fiasco, Harris or Newsom could be Plan B Vice President Kamala Harris with California Gov. Gavin Newsom at a rally in San Leandro in 2021. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) As pressure mounts on President Biden to quit his reelection race after a shockingly dismal debate performance, the spotlight will turn more intensely on two Californians: Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom. And although California wont matter in the November election whoever is the Democratic nominee will easily carry the state its huge delegation to the partys national convention in August could play a decisive role in choosing a Biden replacement. Harris would top the initial list of possible substitutes with Newsom close behind. But Harris, 59, has been less popular than Biden, according to polls. And shes widely considered a drag on the ticket. One fear of many voters is that if Biden, 81, didnt last out his second term, hed be replaced as president by Harris. The former California attorney general looked sharp, however, in a post-debate interview on CNN. And although Ive long been a critic, I got the feeling while watching her that she might not be a campaign disaster after all. In fact, Harris might perform well on the stump. Drop the robotic script and be more spontaneous. She certainly would be a more competitive debater against Republican Donald Trump than the weak Biden. Harris showed genuine conviction a look she usually lacks in pitching Bidens policies. She tried to put the best face on his debate performance. Read more: Newsom praises Biden, shoots down post-debate questions about replacing him Yes, there was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone, she said. But it was a strong finish. Well, no it wasnt, but he did improve after badly damaging himself, probably beyond repair. One Harris hurdle, however, is that party leaders remember she bombed running for president in 2020. Then theres Newsom, 56. If Newsom ever wants to run for president and he acts like he does now may be his best opportunity, assuming Biden can be coaxed out. Theres persistent speculation about him running in 2028. But hes in the limelight now and there could be a Democratic incumbent seeking reelection in four years. Newsom is already warmed up. The two-term governor has been promoting himself nationally while attacking red state policies and playing the role of an enthusiastic Biden surrogate. He has a veteran campaign organization. Roger Strassburg wears a cowboy hat as he watches Thursday's debate between President Biden and former President Trump in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press) But Newsom would need to compete for the nomination against Harris, his old San Francisco ally. And he has said publicly he wouldnt do that. If he did, hed be considered a party pariah, especially among Black women, Newsom has said privately. Actually, Ive never thought that a California Democrat could be elected president in this era of hardened polarization. Our politics are just too leftist for most of America. Newsom has Hollywood looks and oratorical skills. But his biggest political asset being California governor is also his biggest vulnerability. One strength that both Harris and Newsom have, however, is that Californias delegation will be by far the largest at the Democratic convention. Presumably it would back a California candidate. The 496-member slate will field 22% of the votes needed to win the nomination. So if Biden leaves the race, California could play a big role in choosing his successor. Who else is a possibility? For starters, two governors of key battleground states: Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. Theres also Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Read more: Column: Kamala Harris should never have run for president Theres no perfect candidate. But Trump is thoroughly imperfect. Biden loyalists and lethargic naysayers have contended for months that its too late to change horses while the presidential race is underway, especially now that it has neared the final lap. Nonsense. Conventions were invented to fight over nominations. But smoke-filled rooms unfortunately got a bad name and the Democratic Party went overboard on reforms. And the conventions became boring television shows that fewer people watched. Republicans had the last convention battle in 1976 when they nominated President Ford over Californian Ronald Reagan. Ford then was beaten by Democrat Jimmy Carter. The last good Democratic brawl was in 1972 when the California delegation propelled George McGovern into the nomination. He was pummeled by President Nixon, a native Californian. So convention battles sometimes backfire on a party. But this year could be different. A Democratic donnybrook could stir new interest in the party and wake up the slumbering base that keeps telling pollsters it wants a president much younger than the 81-year-old incumbent. Political leaders have a bad habit of plugging their ears when the public is saying things they dont want to hear. Voters arent satisfied with either of their choices. Trump, 78, seems healthier than Biden, at least physically. But Trumps a pathological liar. The morals of an alley cat, Biden told him during the debate. The voters anxiety about Bidens ability to adequately serve a second term was re-stoked in his halting, hoarse-voiced, awkward performance. He seemed to lose his train of thought at least once and had trouble finishing sentences. It was the worst presidential debate performance ever. President Reagan blew his first debate against Democrat Walter Mondale in 1984, raising concerns about his age at 73. But he wasnt nearly as painful to watch as Biden. Reagan fully recovered in a second debate. Even if Bidens decision-making is sound, people perceive him as weak. And that means hed have difficulty leading the country. If Trumps election really would endanger democracy, as Biden contends, then the president should step aside to give the party a better chance of defeating the unfit jerk. Hell naturally resist that. But those he trusts should level with him and push. You dont turn your back [on someone] after one performance, Newsom told a TV interviewer. What kind of party does that? A winning party that prioritizes its principles and the nation. 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. For the record: 10:00 a.m. June 29, 2024: An earlier version of this article incorrectly indicated that Joseph Fischer could get another trial. Fischer has not been tried in the case. The Supreme Court's decision in Fischer vs. United States, which came down among a bevy of blockbuster opinions Friday, was much anticipated for its potential impact on the prosecutions of hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters as well as former President Trump, who was charged under the same law. The courts ruling was largely of a piece with the conservative justices' proclivity for narrowing criminal laws they perceive as imprecise and likely to trap the unwary. The majority opinion by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. contends that the Justice Department's position on the obstruction statute at hand would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct. The decision is of course good news for Joseph Fischer, a Jan. 6 defendant who moved to dismiss one of the charges against him. Fischer barged into the Capitol on that day and was also charged with assaulting a federal officer, among other offenses. But the court held that he could not be charged under a federal law against obstructing an official proceeding for joining the melee that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election, ruling that the law is limited to conduct affecting the integrity or availability of records that could be evidence in an official proceeding. Trump will certainly try to argue that the court's decision also requires dismissal of two counts against him under the same law in the federal Jan. 6 case. Many of the rioters were, like Fischer, charged under the statute and could benefit from the ruling as well. But the decision isn't likely to favor the majority of the marauders, and it's even less likely to help Trump. Read more: Litman: This is Judge Aileen Cannon's big gamble in the Trump classified records case In the case of the rioters, a study in Just Security persuasively suggests that even if the statute is unavailable to charge them in the wake of the Fischer decision, the government can still prosecute the same conduct in other ways. The ruling probably won't be useful to Trump for another reason. The lawyerly debate in Fischer comes down to the meaning of the word otherwise." Following a section of the law that prohibits altering or mutilating a record, the law goes on to criminalize conduct that otherwise obstructs, influences or impedes any official proceeding. The question is whether the law thereby applies to any obstruction of an official proceeding or only to acts that affect the integrity or availability of records to be used in the proceeding. Read more: Litman: A jury was right to find Hunter Biden guilty. It's the prosecutor who was wrong But Trumps alleged conduct certainly affected the integrity or availability of records, namely the valid slates of presidential electors. His purported scheme was designed to undermine the legal impact of those slates and replace them with fraudulent certificates forged at the behest of his inner circle. Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksons concurring opinion in the case underscores this point. After endorsing the majoritys understanding of otherwise, she concludes that Fischer might still be charged under the statute because the official proceeding in question plainly used certain records, documents, or objects including, among others, those relating to the electoral votes themselves. Jacksons hypothetical analysis concerns Fischer himself, but it seems she also means it to encompass the conduct of the former president. While Trump is not alleged to have destroyed or altered a document, he is alleged to have "otherwise" impaired the legal effectiveness of the certificates. The dissenting opinion in the case, authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett and joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, is an interesting postscript. Barrett argues that the government's reading of the text of the statute might be expansive but is in keeping with its plain meaning. The opinion is among those suggesting Barrett, a Trump appointee, is staking out the center of the court in certain important cases. But the most pressing question raised by this decision and the presidential immunity opinion expected Monday is whether they will undermine the various criminal charges against the former president. The bottom line in this case is that it shouldnt, and I don't think it will. Trump will surely move to dismiss the charges on this basis, but I expect U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to reject that argument, which would allow the case to proceed as charged unless, of course, the defendant returns to the White House and makes the entire prosecution go away. Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast and the Talking San Diego speaker series. @harrylitman If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. STRONGS PRAIRIE, Wis. (WFRV) Law enforcement discovered a concealed body at a central Wisconsin home after finding evidence of digging or burying during a welfare check for a woman who wasnt heard from in days, authorities are also looking for her son. According to the Adams County Sheriffs Office, deputies got a call the morning of Thursday, June 27 around 8:20 a.m. where the caller stated that they had not heard from 62-year-old Sharon K. Miller for three days. The caller also stated that when they went to Millers home in Strongs Prairie, both Miller and her son, 37-year-old Jami L. Lumby, were not there. Sheriff: Estranged husband of missing Wisconsin woman arrested, search ongoing Jami L. Lumby (Adams County Sheriffs Office) Deputies also did not locate either Miller or Lumby when they arrived at the home to investigate. However, during the welfare check deputies found evidence of a recent ground disturbance consistent with digging or the burying of something on the property. After a search warrant was obtained, an unidentified adult body was found to be concealed on the property. It was not noted in the release where or how the body was concealed. The circumstances around the death are still being investigated and as of June 28, an autopsy has not yet been performed. Deputies did note that the death had been deemed suspicious. Authorities are currently seeking information about Lumbys whereabouts and anyone who may have had contact with Miller since Monday, June 24. Those with relevant information are asked to contact the Adams County Sheriffs Office at 1-877-885-7786, or through an anonymous tip. UPDATE: 14-year-old boy in Wisconsin found, police thank the public In a second release on Saturday, June 29, deputies asked those living near CTH J, CTH N, CTH Z, and STH 21 in Adams County to contact them if they have any exterior cameras. The map of the deputies focus area is pictured below. Adams County Sheriffs Office The following agencies have assisted the Adams County Sheriffs Office during the investigation: Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and Division of Forensic Sciences Wisconsin State Patrol Adams County District Attorneys Office Adams County Medical Examiners Office Adams County Fire District No additional details have been provided. Local 5 will provide an update to this story once more 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) On Monday July 1, 2024 the Campus Self-Defense Act will go into effect. The Campus Self-Defense Act was passed by the West Virginia Legislature and Governor Jim Justice in 2023. WV Hive hosts Network & Resource Fair at Historic Black Knight Country Club This allows people to carry a concealed handgun on college campuses across West Virginia if they have a concealed carry permit. 59News traveled to WVU Tech in Beckley to learn more about the protocols and procedures students must follow. Jamel Corey, Chief of Police at WVU Tech, explained campus administrators and campus law enforcement are carefully planning to ensure everyones safety. Whenever the law was passed by our legislature, the university not only here at Tech but all three campuses automatically started our planning committees, said Corey. Traveling for July 4th? WV Parkways Authority says to prepare for busy commutes As stated earlier, you must have a concealed weapon permit, but this raises questions about storing the handgun. Corey said there must be a place for handguns to be stored. These locations are being implemented. The law requires that the university has a place for students to store those items on campusthey are already in place, and they are actually getting built here on campus, said Corey to 59News. Corey said concealed carry is allowed in common areas but dormitories are off limits. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A protester waves a Pride flag incorporating the purple circle emblem of the intersex rights movement outside the Los Angeles city hall in July 2023 (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Disassociating in the doctors office, blinking in the sterile white light, Vera Cowell would often wonder if she was being abducted by aliens. As a teenager, Cowell never quite understood the reason for these fortnightly injections. Her mother told her that all young people received regular vitamin jabs; that this was simply what her body needed to make her a man. Cowell didnt want to be a man, and she hated how the injections testosterone, she would later surmise masculinized her body. But nobody seemed to care what she thought. "My consent was never required," says Cowell, now a 39-year-old therapist in Minnesota, who asked to be referred to by a pseudonym to protect her privacy. "It was simply a matter for adults... nothing had to be explained to me, so they explained nothing." Cowells experience a vulnerable teenager subjected to unwanted, traumatic medical treatments because doctors and parents decided what gender she should be resembles the most lurid fantasies of conservative activists and politicians seeking to ban transgender healthcare for under-18s . Yet because Cowell was born intersex, what happened to her would be explicitly shielded by many of the laws passed to accomplish that goal. Under the flag of protecting children from "gender ideology" , Republicans have given new legal backing to genital surgeries and other procedures on intersex infants and teenagers, often performed long before the patient can possibly consent. At least 81 per cent of US bills restricting trans healthcare between January 2020 and April 2023 contained exemptions for these highly contentious treatments, according to the Movement Advancement Project , an LGBT+ rights think tank. A separate count by the intersex advocacy group InterACT found that all 20 such laws passed in 2023 contained similar exemptions. "Its just preposterous that these bills discriminate in two ways at the same time," InterACTs legal and policy director Sylvan Fraser told The Independent. "The findings theyre citing, and the language theyre using about preventable harm its all backwards and incorrect as applied to trans people. But a lot of it is actually true if you apply it to the intersex patient population. Its tremendously ironic." Intersex campaigner Valentino Vecchietti at the London Trans Pride protester in July 2022, England, UK (Getty Images) Some of these procedures known as intersex medical interventions, or IMIs are done to treat serious medical emergencies, such as when a childs genitals form in such a way that stops them passing urine. Those cases are uncontroversial. In other cases, though, IMIs are designed to align intersex childrens bodies with what is normal for the gender chosen for them, which proponents argue will make them happier and healthier in the long run. Many intersex rights activists disagree. They allege that most early IMIs are unnecessary and dangerous, designed to enforce the gender binary on children who cannot possibly consent. Some refer to the such procedures as "IGM" that is, intersex genital mutilation . Some medical and human rights bodies have also questioned or condemned non-emergency IMIs, including the World Health Organization , the American Academy of Pediatrics , the UN Committee Against Torture , and a UN Special Rapporteur on torture . "[To] the people that are aware of the intersex carve-outs, its pretty alarming," says Marissa Adams, a 30-year-old intersex woman and a program coordinator at InterACT, who has suffered lasting physical and psychological damage from genital surgeries in her infancy. "It is really the first [US] legislation to specifically state that these surgeries are fine, that theyre allowed to happen... theyre ensuring that intersex kids do not have bodily autonomy, while also doing the same for trans youth." 'Its as if I was simply a specimen under a microscope Like many intersex people, Cowells medical history was concealed from her in the hope that she would grow up feeling like any other boy. As a child, she recalls pain when urinating and frequent medical visits. But she says she was often punished for asking about it, and even shamed for how expensive her treatments were. Anything from one in two million to one in sixty people are born with some kind of intersex trait, depending on the specific condition (though not everyone accepts the term "intersex"). Their expression and impact varies hugely: some are obvious from birth, some cause life-threatening complications, and some go unnoticed for decades. Cowell was born with two X chromosomes but ambiguous genitals, caused by a rare genetic condition called de la Chapelle syndrome. Her mother decided to raise her male "because boys have it easier", Cowell says she once admitted and medics accordingly constructed a penis, as well as possibly removing uterine tissue (Cowell has no records of exactly what was done). Since one of her testicles had also been removed, Cowell did not go through a natural male puberty, so her doctors induced one. Clinicians, she alleges, treated her as a curiosity and repeatedly photographed her genitals. All of this gave Cowell lasting trauma around medical matters. "It was as if I was simply a specimen under a microscope, and the bright lights werent to make it easier for me to see, but for them to see me," Cowell says. Such trauma is all too common. A study in 2020 found that intersex adults in the US had far higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts than the average American, while one in four reported living on below $20,000 per year. Another, much larger study in 2019 found that participants who had early genital surgery were more likely to report sexual difficulties and lack of satisfaction. Participants in general were also more likely than endosex (ie, non-intersex) people to undertake gender transition in adulthood. Justin Tsang, a 28-year-old disability and intersex advocate in Los Angeles who sometimes works with InterACT, and uses both he and they pronouns, always knew their body was unusual. They had "vivid memories" of being woken up at 3am or 4am as a toddler to be "whisked away into the operating room". Justin Tsang, who in 2021 took part in a White House roundtable about intersex issues (Justin Tsang) At age 17, Tsang stumbled across a medical document showing that doctors had comprehensively reconstructed his genitals to fit his parents decision to raise him as a boy. It was purely cosmetic, he says, adding that it caused him to suffer both physically and emotionally. Cowell, whose voluntary transition to female as an adult has brought lasting happiness, still sometimes stays awake at night wondering how much of her gender identity comes from authentic desire as opposed to trauma. The doctors stole from me my ability to even know what I want to be, she says. Why some doctors still support childhood surgeries Since the rise of modern intersex activism in the late 20th century, there have been attempts mostly unsuccessful to ban childhood IMIs except where there is a clear, urgent medical need. Doctors opposing these bills say that there are strong psychological and social rationales for operating early in certain cases, arguing that it helps intersex children to function or pass as a typical boy or girl. If I told you we did this clitoroplasty on a 2-year-old, and as a result she never got bullied, and never got humiliated, and didnt suffer from anxiety and depression, and didnt kill herself in the ninth or tenth grade you could say it was purely society that did this to her. And I would say youre right, but we live in a world where were social animals, said one doctor interviewed for a report by InterACT and Human Rights Watch. Surgical techniques have also advanced, and it is now common practice to advise that parents be honest with their children about their condition. Unfortunately, despite their and the infant parents best intentions, there is little to no doubt that some [past] surgeries and decisions had disastrous consequences, wrote Lane Palmer , a prominent paediatric urologist, in a 2019 op-ed opposing a California IMI ban. Today, the situation has improved dramatically. The question, however, is whether the benefits of early IMIs outweigh the profound ethical and medical risks of refusing to wait until the patient can express their own wishes. On that front, the evidence appears shaky.. Theres really no convincing research that says anything about heightened risk of psychosocial difficulties from growing up different in this context, says Fraser. But there is research showing that there are tremendous detrimental effects from living with the results of surgery that you had no say in, and that has such profound personal implications. That was also the conclusion of three former US surgeon generals, who wrote in 2017 after reviewing several dozen studies that there was a dearth of persuasive evidence in favour of early intervention. Moreover, many intersex people say these procedures increased rather than alleviated their struggles. Bonnie Scranton with her daughter Ellie Kraus, two or so decades ago (Bonnie Scranton) The thing that induces the most shame is actually feeling that your authentic self is not acceptable for some reason, says Bonnie Scranton, a 53-year-old psychotherapist and parent of an intersex child, whose doctoral dissertation focused on intersex experiences. Its not the variation itself, its the attempt at erasing or eradicating it. Asked how often in his life he has felt normal, Tsang pauses. I dont think Ive ever felt normal, he replies. I think [the surgery] made me feel less normal. I dont see my parents as villains There is an alternative to all of this. When Scrantons daughter Ellie Kraus was born in 1997, doctors appeared to mistake her internal testicles for ovaries, and did not remove them. Only at 14, after Kraus did not start menstruating on schedule, was she diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS). Although she had XY chromosomes, her body could not process testosterone and instead converted it into estrogen, causing her to grow up looking typically female. After her diagnosis, her doctor recommended she have her testes out due to cancer risk. But meeting other intersex people and activists gave her the confidence and knowledge to push back with an alternative, non-surgical treatment plan. It was certainly not a positive reaction, recalls Kraus, now a 26-year-old science teacher in Brooklyn, New York who says her gender identity is simply intersex. I think my provider... saw himself as the person who was in charge in the room. It was an intimidating moment. Ellie Kraus, left, with her mother Bonnie Scranton (Ellie Kraus and Bonnie Scranton) Kraus would ultimately have her testes removed as an adult, but being the one to decide made all the difference. Although this is not possible for all people with CAIS, she was able to finish puberty without medical help, and had agency over the process. Rosalind, 38, in Pennsylvania, is attempting a similar path with her two-year-old son James (both names are pseudonyms). Save one procedure to descend his testicles, she has refused further surgeries. The last straw came when a specialist told her not to worry because a certain surgery was reversible. What he meant was that its surgically reversible, Rosalind says. But anyone whos put their child into surgery knows that its not easy. It always comes with risks and in this instance it could also come with very severe consequences down the road. Rosalinds plan now is to raise James to love his body, and support him if he ever chooses to change it. For health insurance reasons she felt compelled to pick a gender, but she is prepared for the possibility that hell change that too. Many people interviewed for this piece said their parents felt pressured or rushed by doctors and lacked information. I dont see my parents as villains. I often say they were just as much victims as I was, says one anonymous intersex person who received early surgery. What Fraser advocates is that the same international medical standards commonly applied to trans children also apply to intersex children. In other words, full informed consent for every procedure, unless in a genuine emergency. It is so much less common for trans people to regret accessing gender-affirming care, because they have to work so hard to access that care, they say. But with intersex people its just the opposite; theyre being pushed downhill while a trans person is having to climb uphill. On Tuesday, the BBC led with a report about personal protective equipment (PPE) worth nearly 1.5 billion going unused. It was, we were told in scandalised tones, rotting away in warehouses. Opposition parties were invited to comment. Labour primly called the surplus a staggering waste. The Lib Dems concurred, promising to take steps to ensure such a colossal misuse of public funds never happened again. But hang on. Didnt the BBC, along with the opposition parties, spend the lockdown howling about the need for more PPE? Didnt it tell us that NHS staff were being treated like cannon fodder? Didnt it finish every report with a quotation from some public-sector union to the effect that ministers werent doing enough? Wasnt it running headlines like Covid PPE: How healthcare workers came to feel expendable? Have we forgotten the demented atmosphere of those days? The pretence that every failure by our procurement-wallahs, whether on PPE, ventilators or testing, was the fault of Boris Johnson? The scramble for kit, which saw reporters despatched to follow a single consignment from Turkey? I think we have. And I think our amnesia, not just about PPE, but about the lockdown in general, helps explain what is going to happen on Thursday. We dont want to think about those phantasmagoric months. We dont want to remember the enormities, indignities and absurdities we endured. And we certainly dont want to admit that a policy we ourselves demanded might be at the root of Britains problems. It takes an effort, four years on, to think about what we went through. The taped-off playgrounds. The insolent police. The bankruptcies. The school children who never got their chance to perform their solo, captain their team or say a proper goodbye. The pensioners suffering in solitary confinement. The mounting national debt. The mental health problems hatching in silence. The snitching. The furlough scams. The money-printing. The cancelled weddings. The missed cancer screenings. The police drones pursuing hikers. God, it was awful. But the worst thing was how popular these restrictions were. Ninety-three per cent of people backed the first lockdown, 85 per cent the second, and a sizeable majority opposed the lifting of restrictions in 2021. Already those numbers feel ridiculous, dont they? A lot of people have edited their memories, and now complain about restrictions which, at the time, they wanted to be harsher. Psychologists call it hindsight bias. Having opposed the lockdown from day one, I cant forget the abuse hurled at the tiny number of sceptics. Those who did the hurling, naturally, find it easier to forget. Thus, Labour, which fulminated about ministers being slow on protective equipment, now has the gall to complain that they bought too much of it. The Lib Dems, who tore into the Tories for their failure to ensure adequate supplies of protective equipment reaching the frontline workers, now chastise them for having over-ordered. They get away with it because the country as a whole has done the same thing. It is as if we have woken with a terrible hangover, uneasily aware that we behaved foolishly the night before, but unwilling to think about it. When Rishi Sunak was challenged about NHS waiting lists during the first leaders debate, he replied that Britain had been through a pandemic, but that Conservative-run England had shorter waiting times than Labour-run Wales. The audience groaned. If you dont want to be reminded of the lockdown, any reference to it by a politician comes across as whingeing. Yet the lockdown cannot be wished away. It squats like a poisonous toad in the middle of every policy discussion. We edge carefully around it. We affect not to see it. Yet there it is, wart-covered and malign, regarding us with cold, protuberant eyes. Take any issue you like. Education? The number of children persistently absent from school has surged since before the lockdown. The economy? Growth remains sluggish because people havent returned to work. It makes life tougher in lots of small ways. Suitcases are slow to reach airport carousels because there are fewer baggage handlers. Trains run less punctually because there are fewer railwaymen. A secondary market has developed in dates for driving tests. Figures from the ONS suggest that, while the private sector has more or less recovered its pre-lockdown productivity levels, the public sector is years behind. It turns out that government staff who insist on working from home are less efficient. Whod have thunk it? What goes for education and public services goes for everything else. Tax? We dropped the better part of half a trillion pounds on the lockdown. The NHS? The lockdown caused the waiting lists. Human rights? There has been no more grievous violation than the confinement of the population to house arrest; yet our activist human rights lawyers cheered it on. The cost of living? To pay for the lockdown, we printed money like Robert Mugabe on speed. The surge in sickness benefits claims? Once people had become used to oh, you get the picture. We talk as if our troubles were wantonly inflicted on us by malicious ministers. But one of the reasons taxes have risen with no commensurate improvement in public services is that we paid people to stay home for the better part of two years, borrowed money to do it, and still dont want to return to work. Tolstoy wrote that everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself. He was right. Ask people whether they want change, and every hand in the room will rise. Ask whether they want to change and the arms snap back down. Thats whats so clever about the slogan Britain needs Reform. Those months of being paid to stay at home altered the relationship between state and citizen. We have become more demanding, less willing to acknowledge trade-offs, readier to blame any annoyance on the supposed meanness of the government. One politician who recognises the cost of the lockdown is Nigel Farage, who told a crowd in Sunderland on Thursday that the second and third lockdowns had been the worst mistakes made by a British government in peacetime. It is to his credit that he says so. But what about the first lockdown, which was more severe and more economically damaging? Why does Farage not count it? Is he generously allowing that decisions made during those heated weeks necessarily look different in retrospect? Or is it that he himself wanted the first lockdown? Our memory-holing of the whole episode means that we rarely recall Farage calling the original strategy of controlled spread immoral and demanding that Tony Blair lead a vaccine task force. We forget the sight of him, in a plum jumper and mustard cords, banging his saucepan for the NHS. Not that I blame him. Most of the country followed the same trajectory, first demanding a crackdown and then moaning about its effects. Farage came around far quicker than most and was indeed a critic of the later lockdowns. But governments, unlike commentators, are not permitted such inconsistencies. The paradox of the current election is that both Johnson and Sunak were more sceptical of the lockdown than most of those who now blame them for it. Recall that Keir Starmer opposed the loosening of restrictions, and even wanted them reimposed at the end of 2021. Except that no one does recall it. Our anger, whether directly over the lockdown or, more commonly, indirectly over its costs, is aimed at the politicians who held out against pressure to go even further. Funny old world. 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. America is hopelessly polarized and dysfunctional, and the Constitution is to blameat least thats what generations of progressive critics have argued. The onerous amendment process, the first-past-the-post elections, the unrepresentative Senate, the counter-majoritarian Supreme Court, and the idiosyncratic Electoral College are all, in their own pernicious ways, crippling our political life and driving us apart. Not so, insists Yuval Levin in his timely and persuasive new book, American Covenant. In his telling, the Constitution is not failing us; we are failing the Constitution. The exasperating eccentricities and endless veto points in our national charter are frustrating if your goal is a swift, complete political victory. But the Founders didnt set up the Constitution for parliamentary-style majoritarian triumph. Instead, by design, the Constitution forces compromise and bargaining. Its not just a legal and institutional framework; its also what Levin calls a framework for union and for solidarity that, if reclaimed, can help unify our fractured politics. American Covenants approach is methodical. After a few framing chapters, Levin walks through the Constitutions institutional components: federalism, the three branches of government, and political parties. (He notes that party politics were not part of the Founders vision, but that parties nonetheless came to be an invaluable part of the countrys political structure.) These chapters each follow a pattern: a description of how the Founders designed things to work and how that furthered unity; a fall from grace as we neglected that design; and finally, a few specific prescriptions. For example, consider the chapter on Congress. Levin explains that although the Founders saw Congress as the chief branch of government, they also worried that the legislature could advance majoritarian tyranny. So, they created strong and independent executive and judicial departments and split the legislature into the House and the Senate. The more representative House forces people with divergent political views to deal with one another and so build some common ground. Meanwhile, the Senate preserves the regional balance of our national politics and therefore compels geographically broader compromises. The institutional heart of Congress is, then, not empowering majorities, but making it impossible to do anything without compromise. Yet Congress accommodation-forcing structures have long drawn criticismincluding from Woodrow Wilson, a recurrent villain of American Covenant. Wilson dismissed Congress as ineffective, writing that the more power is divided, the more irresponsible it becomes. Better to empower democratic majorities and the experts who can facilitate their will, he thought. The constitutional structure of Congress did not change in response to this progressive critique, but our political culture did. Democrats and Republicans alike now take power and try to jam through partisan measures, only to see the opposite party win in the next cycle and attempt to reverse those changes in an equally partisan fashion. This partisan, majoritarian politics is what Wilson wanted, Levin suggestsbut Wilsonian politics runs counter to the ideals of our Madisonian Constitution. Levin proposes a few ways to reform our political culture to match the Constitutions requirements for cross-partisan settlement. House and Senate rules should change to give Congressional committees more power to advance legislation, and party leaders less. Committees should have more private work sessions outside the eye of the television cameras that turn every Congressional hearing into an agitprop studio. Most dramatically, the House should be biggerto the tune of 150 new members. Levins prescriptions are convincing enough: If adopted, we would surely be a more unified, functional country. But there is a tension at the heart of American Covenant. In a 2013 article for the University of Chicago Law Review, professors Eric Posner and Adrian Vermeule observed that much writing about constitutional law suffers from what they dubbed the inside-outside fallacy. Many an article will, on the one hand, adopt an external, diagnostic perspective on some political problem, critiquing and condemning the choices and motivations of actors within the political system. But then, when it is time to describe reforms, the article slips into an inside-the-system perspective and supplies proposals that rely on those very same actors to adopt a public-spirited outlook. American Covenant often has just this structure. Levin laments the growth of administrative agencies and the tendency of presidents to use that agency power to unilaterally legislate when Congress declines to do so. He also worries that presidents are treating the office as a stage for mass performance rather than as a sober institution. In a divided time, presidents can no longer speak on behalf of a unified public, and so instead speak for their particular partisans, using the office to intensify our divisions. Yet several suggestions for presidential reform would need to be implemented by the very presidents who are stoking divisions. Levin proposes a White House-led initiative to require greater clarity from regulatory agencies about the statutory authorizations for their actions. He also writes that presidents should pull back their rhetoric and reground their self-understanding in the character of the executives work. But its not clear why partisan pot-stirrers or pen-and-phone administrators would be interested in such changes. To be fair, Levin does argue that improving the presidency begins not with the president but with a revitalized Congress. And yet, with Congress, the inside-outside tension remains. On one hand, Congress is weak, simply put, because its members want it to be weak. On the other, reforms like rejuvenating committees or expanding the size of the House depend on exactly those self-interested members to act for the good of the institution as a whole. Could the courts save us? Levin seems to think they could help, but it is here that the inside-outside tension becomes most acute. For decades, judicial conservatives, recognizing the dangers of self-assured lawyers with lifetime appointments, pursued a project of judicial restraint. As the late Justice Antonin Scalia wrote decades ago, the main danger of constitutional interpretation is that the judges will mistake their own predilections for the law. Levin embraces this project, insisting on a renewed judicial republicanism that prioritizes the work of the legislature over the substantive preferences of judges. He also worries about the conservatives who are having second thoughts about judicial restraint, especially now that the Supreme Court has a Republican-appointed majority. Still, for someone who worries about past judicial activism, Levin has remarkable faith in the judges of the future. Judges should recognize that Congress, not the Supreme Court, is at the center of our constitutional structure. But courts should also, Levin argues, be heavy-handed in policing that constitutional structure, perhaps by requiring that Congress be clearer in its delegations to the executive branch and by insisting that independent agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission be more accountable to the president. On this theory, Congress would have no option but to be revitalized, since it would no longer be able to pass its responsibilities off to the labyrinthine federal bureaucracy. Yet this is an empirical claim about how legislatures respond to judicial decisionsone that runs into some contrary evidence. Consider, for example, one study that examined states whose courts aggressively police delegations to state agencies. It found that when state courts invalidated laws for delegating too broadly, this often had little effect on the behavior of the state legislatureand could even be counterproductive, with some legislatures responding by writing vaguer, rather than more precise statutes. More fundamentally, why would judges, with all the self-aggrandizing institutional incentives that infuriated conservatives in the past, become selfless guardians of the constitutional order today? If Congress is supreme, why not defer to Congress judgments about constitutional structure, including about controversial questions like broad delegations or independent agencies? Its not like its easy to tell whether judges are getting things right. As Levin concedes in his understated way, in the hardest cases, which tend to matter the most, the Constitutions original meaning may suffer from a lack of clarity. Inside-outside dilemmas like this are common in American Covenant: The books proposed reforms, while often meritorious, usually depend on the buy-in or support of the very people least likely to adopt the reformsor most likely to misuse the power. A more actionable book might have focused on proposals where the institutions charged with restoring the constitutional order had incentives that aligned with the suggested reforms. Perhaps, for example, the statesso often jealous of their political and parochial interestsshould be the ones taking the lead. Maybe discordant state action on issues where Congress has failed to respond to contemporary challenges can force the kind of national compromises that Levin hopes for. (In a chaotic way, one might see something like this as happening now, with California embracing tough climate policies or Texas freelancing on immigration law.) But finding those workable alternatives is hard, and Levin deserves ample credit for charting a possible path forward, even if it is an unlikely one. In its first sentence, American Covenant promises that it is a hopeful book. And it is: The book distills the Framers wise and subtle constitutional vision, and it convincingly shows that America would be a better-governed and more unified country if our politicians, judges, and presidents embraced it. But they havent. In that way, at least for the pessimist, theres an unavoidably discouraging side to American Covenant. Thoughtful arguments, persuasively presented, prevail all too rarely. Still, if any book might break through, it is Yuval Levins. 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/Getty Images) Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, and Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Columbia, co-sponsored H. 3244 this past session, which would impose the costs of special elections called to replace convicted and removed elected officials in South Carolina on the ousted criminal officials themselves rather than the taxpayers. This reform is badly needed because the costs of special elections called to replace criminal officials is now inflicted on the taxpayers at great public expense. Our state has had in recent years many legislators, sheriffs, and other elected officials removed from office on conviction and replaced by specially called elections. In the last 60 years, a total of 47 state legislators have been convicted of crimes and lost office, with one former representative currently under indictment. In addition, a total of 20 sheriffs have been convicted and ousted, with two former sheriffs under indictments. The now-former officials were charged while in office. It costs taxpayers to replace ousted criminal elected officials. Replacing a state senator runs to over $100,000 because Senate districts are so large, having over 100,000 residents each. In addition, in some cases where there are three or more candidates, three special elections are needed primary, primary runoff, and general all paid for by the taxpayers. In the case of a criminal sheriff, the cost of holding two or three special elections in large-population counties such as Greenville (with 547,950 people), is even greater because so many more voters have to be served by the county election commissions. The costs to a county and its taxpayers can run to $200,000 or more for a three-round sheriff special election. In fact, Greenville County did hold special elections in 2020 to replace a sheriff convicted of misconduct in office and sentenced to a year in prison. At the same time, it is generally the case that state and federal judges do not include restitution to county and state governments in their sentencing orders for any of the costs of special elections called to replace the criminal elected officials that the judges sentence to probation or prison. In the recent state House criminal cases involving state Sens. Robert Ford and John Courson as well as Reps. Rick Quinn and Jim Merrill, special elections were called to replace all of them at public expense. All pleaded guilty to misdemeanor misconduct in office. Ford also pleaded guilty to forgery and ethics violations and was ordered to pay nearly $70,000 in restitution. But sentencing judges did not order any restitution for the costs of these special elections which were all inflicted on the taxpayers. Yet while in office, prosecutors said, Rep. Rick Quinn collected $4.5 million in unreported money from lobbyists for his fathers consulting firm, Rep. Merrills consulting firm collected over $1 million in business contracts, Sen. Courson used $159,000 in campaign donations for personal expenses, and Sen. Ford misspent thousands from his campaign account on personal expenses. And former House Judiciary Chairman James Harrison secretly made $935,000 over 13 years that he failed to report. None of these convicted legislators were required to pay for the special elections that cost taxpayers. In addition, the prosecutions of elected officials caused additional huge costs on the taxpayers. In Harrisons case, no special elections were needed because he had retired from the House in 2012 before ultimately pleading guilty in 2021 to misconduct in office and perjury. But Harrison caused the taxpayers to pay for the full costs of his criminal investigation and prosecution, including a five-day long jury trial in 2018, an appeal to the S.C. Supreme Court, an eventual plea and sentencing, court hearing, and the costs of six months in state prison. The restitution bill (H. 3244) pre-filed by Cobb-Hunter in December 2022 ahead of the 2023-24 legislative session and co-sponsored by Bauer was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. There is good reason to believe that no taxpayer or legislator opposes the bill, which would surely be signed by Gov. Henry McMaster if it reaches his desk. But the bill gained no traction whatsoever. It officially died without a vote when the regular session ended in May. However, it could be reintroduced for next year. Taxpayers should contact their legislators in support. Let us know what you think... The post Make convicted legislators pay cost of special elections appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The Marshall County Coroners Office has identified a 24-year-old woman who was killed following a police chase. According to officials, the Marshall County Coroners Office was notified by the Huntsville Hospital Trauma Center that 24-year-old Macey Justice, of Boaz was pronounced dead after being airlifted for treatment following a car accident during a police chase with the Albertville Police Department. ALEA said Justice was killed when the 1995 Ford Ranger she was driving left the roadway, struck a culvert, and then a tree. The investigation has been turned over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The Marshall County Coroners Office is also assisting in 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 WHNT.com. Zephyr18 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Location, location, location is a phrase often repeated in the real estate business, meaning that where you end up buying property is where you end up making money. Lots of places in the United States are known for having high-end real estate thats worth more and more as time goes on, yet not every market across the country is equal. Some can provide a suitable return on investment and others can make you a millionaire. Find Out: 7 Worst States To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years, According to Real Estate Agents Read More: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup Who knows these markets best and where the next boom might be? GOBankingRates spoke to several millionaire real estate agents to find out which U.S. housing markets made them rich. Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them. The Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area has been a goldmine for real estate agents, particularly because of its tech-driven economic boom and limited housing supply, according to Tim Choate, the founder and CEO of RedAwning. The areas combination of high demand and low inventory has consistently driven up property values, Choate mentioned. For instance, when I first ventured into property investments in the early 2000s, the market was just beginning to feel the impact of the tech sectors explosive growth. Investing in properties near burgeoning homes for tech, such as Mountain View, Redwood City and Palo Alto paid off immensely for Choate, especially when companies like Google and Facebook expanded their campuses and workforces in those areas. Be Aware: 10 Housing Markets That Will Plummet in Value Before the End of 2024 Austin, Texas I first saw the potential in Austin about ten years ago, said Noah Guthart, COO and founder of Panacrypto. Guthart observed that the capital city of Texas was growing rapidly with a new tech boom that attracted a whole new wave of young professionals looking to spend their high salaries. Good timing was everything getting into the market just when some major tech companies were making their way into the city, agreed Ben Johnson, a real estate agent and the CEO of Big Ben, who continued by saying this brought an inflow of highly paying jobs and caused demand for housing. I was able to capitalize on huge appreciation by buying properties in up-and-coming neighborhoods before the tech boom, Johnson said. For example, properties bought for around $300,000 in the early 2010s now go for over $700,000. The flourishing job market, great culture, and absolute affordability compared to other tech havens were making Austin a hotspot for real estate investments. Story continues I invested in several properties in the downtown area, Guthart explained. One property I bought for $300,000 in 2013 is now worth over $800,000. The combination of tech growth, a vibrant cultural scene, and a relatively low cost of living made Austin a perfect storm for real estate investment. I remember a client who was hesitant to buy a property in the emerging East Austin neighborhood, Guthart said. I encouraged them to take the leap, and within five years, their property value had doubled. This kind of return is what makes markets like Austin so lucrative. Charlotte, North Carolina Seeing that Charlotte was blowing up as a new financial center, combined with a unique blend of political climates and local businesses, Johnson decided to invest in both residential and commercial properties. And it paid off big time. The citys population continued to grow, and the cost of living was relatively affordable, offering pretty good options for buyers and renters, Johnson said. Johnson recounted one memorable deal involving a downtown condo bought for $250,000 and later sold three years down the road for $400,000, all because of the great increase in professionals moving to the region and corporations relocating there. This made Charlotte a good market due to the strategic location and ongoing urban development. Miami Miami has been another goldmine for me, Guthart said, highlighting the citys international appeal matched by a status as a hub of finance, culture and fun. Guthart stated that Miami has consistently driven property values up. In particular, Ive had great success with luxury condos in neighborhoods like Brickell and South Beach. I once sold a condo in Brickell for $1.2 million, which was bought just three years earlier for $700,000, Guthart said. The timing was perfect as Miamis luxury market was booming due to an influx of foreign investors, particularly from Latin America. I believe Miamis appeal will continue to grow, making it a long-term investment hotspot. One of my most memorable experiences was purchasing a beachfront property in Miami in 2015, Guthart said. I bought it for $2 million, and after some strategic renovations and marketing, I sold it for $3.5 million just two years later. The location, combined with Miamis growing desirability, made this a highly profitable venture. Phoenix Its not just location, but timing that can truly add to the value of buying property in an area where it might look bust instead of boom. That was the case for Johnson in Phoenix. my timing coincided with post-recession recovery in the early years of the decade. The market was recovering, and prices were therefore still low, Johnson said. I bought; this had enabled me to invest in foreclosed properties and distressed sales at below-market prices, Johnson said. As the economy recovered and population grew, so did the value of the properties skyrocket. Johnson noted that a foreclosure home at $150,000 was sold at $300,000 within five years in Phoenix, a prime example of how the city is bouncing back as a real estate powerhouse. The warmer climate of Phoenix added to the attractiveness, with lower living expenses and an improved economic base, Johnson added. Nashville, Tennessee Its music scene and southern charm are the citys reputation to stand on, but Nashville has also experienced a real estate renaissance in recent years, in Choates professional opinion. I recall a period around 2015 when Nashvilles real estate market was just beginning to attract national attention, Choate said. We saw an opportunity in its downtown area, where historical homes and new developments were coexisting beautifully. By investing early in vacation rental properties there, RedAwning managed to ride the wave of Nashvilles tourism boom, leading to significant returns on investment, Choate said. The blend of cultural appeal and strategic urban development made Nashville a standout market for us. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Millionaire Real Estate Agents: The 6 US Housing Markets That Made Us Rich Could more space junk fall in the US? What to know about Russian satellite breaking up A decommissioned Russian satellite broke apart in low Earth orbit Wednesday, creating more than 100 pieces of debris and adding to the space junk already in orbit. RESURS-P1, which NASA said was a Russian observation satellite, broke up around 10 a.m. Mountain Time, according to a release from the U.S Space Command. "USSPACECOM has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain," the release said. The event adds that much more space junk to a sky already rapidly filling up with flying chunks of machinery, frozen coolant and other fragments. And some of it comes down. A family in Naples, Florida, is filing a claim against NASA for more than $80,000 in damages to their home after a chunk of space debris from the International Space Station tore through their roof earlier this year. NASA confirmed last week that a large chunk of debris found along a North Carolina trail last May came from a SpaceX Dragon rocket, according to the Charlotte Observer, and a resident in the next county said he heard a piece bouncing off his house. Large fiery streaks of light appeared over Los Angeles in April, which turned out to be space debris from a Chinese spacecraft, according to U.S. Space Command, and a massive chunk of an Indian rocket washed ashore in Australia last year. Waste in space: Why junk in Earth orbit is becoming a huge problem What is space debris? Possible SpaceX debris washed ashore in Alsea Bay on Friday, April 9, 2021. As we send more items into low Earth orbit, there are more chances for chunks to come back down. Space debris, also known as orbital debris or just space junk, is any human-made object in orbit around the Earth that has no use. It falls into the Earth's atmosphere every day, but a vast majority of it burns up on the way down. "LEO is an orbital space junkyard," NASA said. "There are millions of pieces of space junk flying in LEO. Most orbital debris comprises human-generated objects, such as pieces of space craft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, satellites that are no longer working, or explosions of objects in orbit flying around in space at high speeds." Space debris is caused by malfunctioning satellites, meteorite impacts, even tools dropped by astronauts on space walks. Objects rarely cause damage or minor injury, but more junk in space creates a higher probability of that happening, experts say. While smaller fragments of debris are vaporized by the heat of atmospheric re-entry, larger pieces survive the fall. This picture taken in May 2014 shows space debris from a Russian rocket that fell in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. What constitutes space junk? According to NASA, space junk can include: Derelict spacecraft and upper stages of launch vehicles. Carriers for multiple payloads. Debris intentionally released during spacecraft separation from its launch vehicle or during mission operations. Debris created as a result of spacecraft or upper-stage explosions or collisions. Solid rocket motor effluents. Tiny flecks of paint released by thermal stress or small particle impacts. Most of the junk comes from satellite explosions and collisions, NASA said. In 2007, China deliberately destroyed its Fengyun-1C weather satellite, leaving a cloud of shrapnel and debris in low Earth orbit. An American communications satellite (Iridium 33) and a derelict Russian military satellite (Kosmos 2251) accidentally collided in 2007, spewing more debris into orbit, some of which is expected to remain until the end of the century. These two incidents resulted in a 70% increase in space junk in LEO. There is also space debris that never made it to space. In 2015 a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded shortly after liftoff, raining pieces into the Atlantic off the Florida-Georgia coast. Some chunks turned up months later in the Isles of Scilly off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, England. SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded just after takeoff on its first test flight in April last year, casting chunks of metal and concrete into a national wildlife refuge and sending particulate matter miles from the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas. Environmental groups sued the Federal Aviation Administration, saying Elon Musk's company was allowed to bypass environmental reviews, How much space debris is in the sky? NASA estimated about 17.6 million pounds of junk is in Earth's orbit. The European Space Agency said the debris is about a quarter-inch to 4 inches in size, traveling at high speeds. Small debris burns up as it reaches Earth, but bigger chunks can make impact. "There are no international space laws to clean up debris in our LEO," NASA said. Space agencies around the world are working on reducing space debris, but removing tiny bits zipping around the Earth is extremely tricky. There is an international treaty stating that if space junks falls to Earth and causes damage or injury, the country that launched the object is responsible without anyone proving negligence caused the junk, Michelle L.D. Hanlon, director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, told USA TODAY. The treaty is ineffective if a country's own object causes harm within its borders. Last year the Federal Communications Commission fined the Dish Network $150,000 for failing to bring an old satellite to a safe orbit where it said it would as part of a crackdown on space debris. What are the odds of being hit by space debris? Your risk of being injured by falling space debris is less than 1 in 100 billion, according to the European Space Agency. But the chances are (slightly) increasing. "During the past 50 years an average of one cataloged piece of debris fell back to Earth each day," NASA said. The bits that survive reentry and make it down to Earth are more likely to hit an ocean or on sparsely populated areas such as the Canadian Tundra, the Australian Outback and Siberia. But space exploration and satellite launches have increased exponentially in the past few years. According to ESA data, almost 2,500 pieces of space debris fell to Earth in 2022, although that number was back down to about 1,500 last year. Watch the skies: A huge satellite hurtled to Earth and no one knew where it would land. How is that possible? What do I do if I find space debris? NASA has a space debris hotline at 866-623-0234. The agency says that if people find or spot a piece of space debris, they should contact authorities and avoid touching it. After the 2015 explosion, SpaceX established a recovery hotline and email address for anyone who found debris. You can call the Debris Recovery Hotline at 866-392-0035 or email recovery@spaceX.com. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Russian satellite breaks up, adds more debris to Earth orbit Crews work to restore natural gas systems in the Ruidoso area Crews work to restore natural gas systems in the Ruidoso area RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) Ruidoso officials said Zia Natural Gas crews are trying to repressurize systems in the area. The company said someone must be home to restore gas to a building and they will leave a tag with their number on the door if no one is home. You can also call Zia Natural Gas at 575-378-4277. The village and company say not to cut the lock and turn on the gas meter as it could be dangerous. Wildfire Resources Zia Natural Gas is working to restore natural gas to: West End of Upper Canyon/Main Rd from 947 Main to the west. Alpine Village Cedar Creek West Gavilan Barney Luck area The north end of Gavilan Canyon Road from Grace Harvest Church to Alto Cafe Outage: West of Mechem (Hwy 48) from just south of West White Mountain Drive (Club Gas) north to Swiss Chalet. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Maxine Willis, mother of Mario Willis who she believes was wrongfully convicted for the death of a Detroit fireman in 2008 cries after speaking at a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Formerly incarcerated individuals, their loved ones and allies held a Rally For Reform event on Tuesday, calling on the Legislature to prioritize several criminal justice reform packages that have been untouched for months which has shaken their trust in Michigans Democratic leadership. Michigan lawmakers have sponsored criminal justice reform bills, but those who hold leadership positions are not putting it all on the line to fight to see them through, Shawanna Vaughn, told the Advance at the event in the House Office Building. Vaughn founded Silent Cry, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for families whose lives are touched by incarceration. She said she hopes to see already introduced legislation move forward to bolster mental health screenings to look for signs of distress as a person is leaving incarceration, as well as a bill creating a board to implement standards of education and behavioral development for incarcerated juveniles. But those bills, House Bills 5390 and 5698, like several other bills advocates are backing, are still sitting in committee. The fact that we are bartering for bills to move is unacceptable. The fact that we are asking, pleading, for lawmakers to do the right thing These are common-sense bills, Vaughn said. Education is not a privilege; its a human right. Mental health is not a privilege; its a human right. This is unacceptable. How can you say, I care about the plight of your community when you cant even let bills get to the floor? Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and leaders in the state House and Senate have talked a lot about prioritizing mental health services and access since Democrats took the majority in the Legislature in 2023, Vaughn said. But incarcerated individuals and those rebuilding their lives after incarceration are being left out of the conversation. We cant wait for them to vote. Times up for waiting, waiting until next year, waiting to see whos the next president, Vaughn said. Its now or never and do or die. Whats next is we run. We run for office. Several lawmakers had been scheduled to speak at the rally: Sens. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) and Reps. Amos ONeal (D-Saginaw), Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph), Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac), Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck), Stephanie Young (D-Detroit), Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit), Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe) and Jimmie Wilson Jr. (D-Ypsilanti). However, as the Legislature completed the state budget this week, none of them attended. Vaughn and others spoke to attendees at the rally, advocating for different areas of legislative reform and calling for accountability for lawmakers to see those bills through. One of the loudest calls to action was on Senate Bills 119123 and House Bills 41604164, which would eliminate juvenile life sentencing without parole. The bills have sat in committees since March, when they were introduced Another bill, Senate Bill 493 seeks to create more accountability for the Office of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman and the Department of Corrections by expanding the ombudsmans office and the ability for stakeholders to seek out investigations of injustices happening to prisoners. It passed the Senate unanimously in November of last year, but was referred to the House Government Operations Committee, where many bills go to die. For 10 years, Genesee County Jail hasnt allowed in-person visits for those incarcerated and that violation of human rights, that injustice, should never have been allowed to go on as long as it did, said Charmie Gholson of Citizens for Prison Reform. And although lawsuits have prompted Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson to announce this week that in-person visits will begin in July, the psychological damage to families has been done. Do you know why we have not let parents hold their children for 10 years in the Genesee County Jail? We did it for money and he [Swanson] said, Im going to reverse that decision. This is an election year, my friends, Gholson said, adding that others may temporarily instate policies and rules to get votes, but to watch what happens after elections. Im guessing that you understand the reason why not only our Senate Bill 493, but armloads of criminal justice reform efforts are being held up by House Speaker [Joe] Tates office. Its an election year. In the case of Senate Bill 493, Republicans and Democrats alike supported the bill in the Senate, Gholson said, but now the bills sit in a House committee waiting to die. Gov. Whitmer put a hold on our bill through House Speaker Tates office. Like theres probably 15 of those, of you folks in this room that have bills that are sitting in House Speaker Tates office right now that are held up by Gov. Whitmer, Gholson said. I call on Gov. Whitmer and I call on House Speaker Tate to release our bills and allow criminal justice reform to move forward. When asked what his response is to frustration from criminal justice reform advocates or other groups frustrated with the legislatures speed on getting certain bills through, Tate said Thursday that hopefully frustrated parties can see Democratic leadership has gotten a lot of policy through in 18 months and they arent done yet. We still have a lot more work to do and thats going to be important for us to continue to do, Tate said. A spokesperson for Whitmer declined to comment. Criminal justice reform advocates gather for a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Criminal justice reform advocates gather for a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Tore Price of the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration speaks at a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Charmie Gholson of Citizens for Prison Reform speaks at a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Criminal justice reform advocates gather for a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Former Michigan lawmaker David LaGrand speaks at a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Criminal justice reform advocates gather for a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Maxine Willis, mother of Mario Willis who she believes was wrongfully convicted for the death of a Detroit fireman in 2008 speaks at a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Marcus Kelley, a criminal justice reform advocate and formerly incarcerated individual speaks at a Rally For Reform event on June 25, 2024 in the Michigan House Office building. | Anna Liz Nichols Senate Bills 321325 and House Bills 45564560 aim to implement second look sentencing. The legislation would allow for the reconsideration of sentences for eligible incarcerated individuals having served at least 10 years of a sentence after conviction. They could petition for a reduction in sentence with the consent of the appropriate prosecuting attorney who would consult with any victims of the offense. The bills have sat in committees since May 2023, when they were introduced. Legislation to allow individuals to get out of incarceration sooner and be with their families helps people repair their lives, be surrounded with support and not reoffend, said Tore Price of the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration. Price told attendees that in his life he has spent a total of 17 years in prison, most recently for armed robbery, coming home in February 2023. When I left, I had a 2-year-old son. It was the visits that I had with my son that gave me the hope that I needed, Price said. That connection with my son gave me the hope that I needed to look for other classes or look for other programs to help put me in a position so when I came home I can be successful. Getting people out of incarceration sooner, when their family is still around, gives people the connections they need to rebuild their lives and be productive in society, Price said. They have to have something to work toward. Putting people in prison is expensive and separating families is expensive, said Marcus Kelley, a criminal justice reform advocate and formerly incarcerated individual. State funding would be better spent on youth programming to divert from crime than towards incarceration. Gretchen Whitmer, that is who we need to be talking to. Why dont you want to pass any criminal justice reform bills? Why? Kelley said. Theyd rather destroy a school. Thats why these children right here have got to do a fish fry to raise money for jerseys and the travel and dance competitions and stuff, but they cant get money from our government to do that because they would rather pay money to incarcerate us. Several far-reaching criminal justice reforms have been signed by Whitmer since she took office in 2019, both under Republican- and Democratic-controlled legislatures. In 2019, Whitmer signed the Raise the Age bill package which changed the definition of an adult in the criminal justice system from 17 to 18, which ended the automatic prosecution of 17-year-olds as adults and allows 17-year-olds to go to juvenile rehabilitation facilities rather than adult prisons. Michigan had been in an extreme minority of states that considered 17-year-olds adults in its criminal justice system. In 2020, the Clean Slate package was signed into law which has since wiped clean more than 1 million criminal records with years old eligible convictions. The expungements have been heralded as a bipartisan success that opens doors for those who made mistakes in the past to go to school, participate in the workforce, find good housing and build into the state. https://michiganadvance.com/2023/12/12/gilchrist-signs-bipartisan-bills-aimed-at-reforming-michigan-juvenile-justice-system/ Kelley encouraged the crowd to look beyond Tate or other lawmakers of color who are more likely to be blamed for why criminal justice reform doesnt move forward. Instead, he encouraged individuals involved with incarceration reform to run for office at the highest level, arguing that President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are not adequate options. Master Biden or Master Trump; I didnt ask for that system. It was forced on us. But now we have to use that system to get free, Kelley said. Democrats talk about criminal justice reform, but Biden has never done people of color any good, James JaMo Thomas of Nation Outside said, and its time to stop believing the promises of the Democratic and Republican Party without seeing results. At some point, we have to fall out of love with the Democratic Party, Thomas said. The Democratic hold in the House, the Senate, the governor, the attorney general, the state police, they run everything in a state. They have not cared, not one st, for criminal justice reform. The post Criminal justice reform advocates pan Democrats over stalled reform bills appeared first on Michigan Advance. Donald Trump on Friday dropped some confusing remarks about electric planes while criticizing Democrats at a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia. All they know is electric. They want electric army tanks. They want electric planes. What happens if the sun isnt shining while youre up in the air? asked the GOPs presumptive presidential nominee, apparently referring to solar-powered aircraft. Trump: All they know is electric. They want electric planes. What happens if the sun isn't shining while you're up in the air? pic.twitter.com/jeywjeGcZD Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2024 The comments by the former president, who has previously ranted about possible electrocution from electric boats, inspired mockery from social media users like journalist James Fallows, who served as a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter. OK, we know he is an idiot. But every now and then you have to say, this is GODDAMN IDIOTIC, Fallows wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Electric planes run ON BATTERIES. His question is like asking, How can you use an iPhone if its dark outside. OK, we know he is an idiot. But every now and then you have to say, this is GODDAMN IDIOTIC. Electric planes run ON BATTERIES. His question is like asking, "How can you use an iPhone if it's dark outside." Oh, I forgot. I he "aced" his dementia-screening test. https://t.co/0wnm7tICDC James Fallows (@JamesFallows) June 28, 2024 Others reacted by calling Trump a frequentcriticof electric vehicles who has opposed Bidens push for them Dumb as a box of rocks, among other things. See what else they had to say in the tweets below: Looking forward to the New York Times editorial board weighing in on this significant development. https://t.co/V8u8OewyYw Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) June 29, 2024 HE IS SO STUPID https://t.co/nr78G8o35n Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) June 29, 2024 Electricity, a technology that famously does not work in the dark. https://t.co/Qd87LhU1TM Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) June 29, 2024 Unsurprisingly, Trump lacks a grasp of basic science. https://t.co/CtmhqXb2hq Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) June 28, 2024 Trump clearly doesnt understand how solar energy is stored. Hes unfit. Art Candee (@ArtCandee) June 28, 2024 I often say to my friends that Donald Trump cured my imposter syndrome. https://t.co/BI5VkGJBlJ Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) June 28, 2024 Related... EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority, which has been under fire for water quality issues for months, said that in its latest voluntary testing for arsenic that one of its treatment facilities exceeded federal limits but a quick response by the utility brought them back into compliance in hours. The utility said that the sample taken at the Santa Teresa Industrial Plant on June 11 and tested by a state-certified lab came in at 13 parts per billion (ppb). The federal limit is 10 ppb. A field test the next day showed arsenic levels at 12 ppb. Immediate adjustments were made and within hours the arsenic level dropped to 8 ppb, the utility said. We discovered this isolated exceedance through voluntary self-testing and were able to act swiftly and effectively, said CRRUA Executive Director Juan Carlos Crosby. CRRUA says it has passed the previous six arsenic tests, including one conducted by New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). Crosby said a water well that was offline for repairs was introduced back into the system and that led to the high test results for arsenic. When water is reintroduced into the system, the previous treatment formula must be modified. So, when the well returned to service, facility operators used field test kits to test the water, Crosby said. He said the operators initiated additional chemical adjustments and within hours, the arsenic level dropped to acceptable levels. Crosby said even though the test results are from a lab certified by the New Mexico Environment Department, because the tests are voluntary, they will not adversely impact CRRUA. Only the quarterly tests conducted by NMED count towards compliance, the utility said. CRRUA does, however, report the results of its voluntary tests to NMED. Crosby said CRRUAs voluntary testing for arsenic as a self-governance practice also serves as honest, open communication with customers. CRRUA operates four arsenic treatment facilities and in January 2024 initiated voluntary twice monthly testing at all plants. Last month, CRRUA excluded the Border Entry facility from its voluntary testing due to its continued meeting of all NMED requirements. This month, CRRUA went to monthly voluntary testing for the same reason, it said. CRRUA provides water and wastewater service to Santa Teresa and Sunland Park. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X that the country will sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during the European Political Community summit in London on July 18. Fiala said on June 28 that he had reached on agreement with President Volodymyr Zelensky the previous day to "conclude negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security agreement before the NATO summit in Washington." The upcoming NATO summit is scheduled for July 9-11. Czechia joins 19 other countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, that have signed similar bilateral treaties to help Kyiv repel Russia's aggression. The agreements are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) last July. Under this plan, individual countries would provide bilateral support to help Kyiv repel the ongoing Russian invasion and deter any future aggression. The security guarantees would entail explicit and long-lasting obligations, as well as bolster Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression. The guarantees would also cover sanctions, financial aid, and post-war reconstruction. Most recently, Kyiv signed 10-year bilateral security agreements with Estonia and Lithuania at the Brussels summit on June 26. The newly-elected U.K. Prime Minister will host 50 leaders from across Europe during the European Political Community summit, which will primarily focus on supporting Ukraine against ongoing Russian aggression. Read also: Czech PM confirms Ukraine received first batch of shells under Prague-led initiative Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Dagestani Jews look to rebuild after extremist attacks in the restive region of southern Russia FILE - In this photo taken from video released by The Telegram Channel of the head of the Dagestan Republic of Russia on Monday, June 24, 2024, a damaged Star of David is seen on the wall of the the Kele-Numaz synagogue in Derbent, Russia. Jews in the predominantly Muslim region of Dagestan in southern Russia say they are determined to regroup and rebuild following a deadly attack by Islamic militants on June 23 on Christian and Jewish houses of worship in Derbent and the regional capital of Makhachkala. (The Telegram Channel of the head of Dagestan Republic of Russia via AP, File) Jews in the predominantly Muslim region of Dagestan in southern Russia say they are determined to regroup and rebuild following a deadly attack by Islamic militants on Christian and Jewish houses of worship in two cities last weekend. The attacks in the regional capital of Makhachkala and the city of Derbent on Sunday killed 21 people most of them police officers and injured at least 43 others in the restive region in the North Caucasus on the Caspian Sea. Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar said a 110-year-old Derbent synagogue, which was a center for Jewish life in the region, was destroyed in a fire during the attacks. Among those slain was the Rev. Nikolai Kotelnikov, a 66-year-old Russian Orthodox priest who was killed as the faithful gathered on Pentecost, also known as Trinity Sunday, at a church in Derbent, which is Russia's southernmost city and one of its oldest. The message we are getting from the Jewish community in Dagestan is that they are not going to hide behind high walls and be intimidated by extremists, said Lazar, who is affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch organization that refurbished the synagogue 20 years ago. They are going to practice their religion openly," he said. "They are optimistic that the government will take steps to protect them. They believe they can rebuild and get stronger. In July 2013, Ovadia Isakov, who leads the Derbent synagogue, was shot while walking home in what officials called an antisemitic attack. Lazar said Isakov, who made a full recovery, now splits his time between Moscow and Derbent, serving that community during holidays and special occasions. In another incident, mobs rioted at the airport in Makhachkala as a flight landed from Tel Aviv shortly after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October. More than 20 people were injured when hundreds of men, some carrying banners with antisemitic slogans, rushed onto the tarmac, chased passengers and threw stones at police. The Derbent synagogue itself was almost like a second rabbi with Isakov now living in Moscow, said Varvara Redmond, a Dublin-based doctoral student at the University of Warsaw who has visited Dagestan three times and studied the Juhuro, as the Jews of Dagestan are called. The building essentially replaced the rabbi, Redmond said. Everything happens through the synagogue, right from the purchasing of kosher meat to funerals, weddings and circumcisions. Dagestan, with a population of about 3 million, is ethnically diverse with more than 40 tribes with as many languages. All are small communities with durable traditions. Marriage still largely takes place within the tribe. The Juhuro, also known as Mountain Jews, came from the Caucasus Mountains and are proud of their identity, shunning the Jewish diaspora label, Redmond said. While many Jews worldwide wish to be buried in Israel, Dagestani Jews are very connected to their land and prefer it as their final resting place, regardless of where they die, she said. Valeriya Nakshun, whose family fled Dagestan to the United States during Russia's wars in neighboring Chechnya in the 1990s, said her ancestors considered themselves semi-Indigenous to the region because they came from Persia and the Levant centuries ago. She still has relatives in Makhachkala and Derbent, including her maternal grandmother. They are still in shock after the attack and are still processing it, she said. Even though the synagogue is burned, they are grateful they are safe. Her father, Boris Nakshun, grew up in Dagestan when it was part of the Soviet Union, at a time when Jews, Muslims and Christians were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Rituals such as circumcisions and weddings had to be done in secret and the relationship between all communities was largely cordial, he said. While Dagestani Jews celebrate the same holidays as other Jews, the traditions and foods are different. For Passover, Nakshun's family cooks a rice dish with dried fruit and a thick crust at the bottom of the pot, herb stew and egg drop soup. On Yom Kippur, they light a candle on two separate trays, representing the living and the dead. Its like remembering your ancestors, but also praying for the living, Nakshun said. The language of Dagestani Jews is known as Juhuri, a branch of the Tat dialect of Persian spoken by the local Muslims, said Ronald Shabtaev, a linguist and doctoral student at Israel's Bar-Ilan University. Juhuri is spoken only by Jews, and has several dialects, he said. Juhuri has not isolated the Caucasus Jews from the rest of the Jewish world, Shabtaev said. On the contrary, it has helped preserve Jewish heritage and tradition and maintain Mountain Jewish ethnoreligious identity. Juhuri, which has a rich vocabulary with Hebrew and Aramaic words, is an endangered language spoken or understood by fewer than 200,000 people worldwide, including 30,000 in the United States, he said. Several Nakshun family members, including Valeriya Nakshun's father and 96-year-old paternal grandmother, are among them. The relationship between Jews and Muslims in Dagestan has been historically layered, but largely friendly, Redmond said. She saw people of different faiths greet their neighbors on the street and invite each other for tea. There is a high level of knowledge about each other's religions, holidays and food habits, she said. But that has not ruled out tensions, including during the Chechen wars and the more recent increase in extremism, fueled in online spaces, Redmond said. Rabbi Lazar said a majority of the Muslim population in Dagestan still has a good relationship with Jews and shares the dismay over Sundays attacks. This was not just an attack on Jews, but also on churches, the state and all people, he said. Most Muslims in Dagestan are also worried about this new wave of extremism. But we know that this is coming from outside the country and a very small percentage of Muslims are influenced by such ideology. He estimates that after an exodus of Jewish people during the Chechen wars, there are only about 500 families left in Derbent and about 200 in Makachkhala. Lazar said he has not spoken with President Vladimir Putin after the attack, but is hopeful that Dagestan, including its Jewish community, will receive protection from the state. Nakshun and her father are not too optimistic. I dont think Putin cares about what happens in Dagestan or even understands what is happening there, said Boris Nakshun, adding that the region is largely disregarded by Moscow, and that he continues to worry about family and community members who are left behind. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Dave Yost has MAGA on the mind In 2016, according to the June 25, story about Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost ("Yost fully embracing conservative issues"), Yost said on Facebook that he "wouldn't support Trump for president, saying, 'Mr. Trump is not merely flawed his thirst for power at any cost makes him unfit for public trust. What would he not do with public power?'" In 2024, Yost filed a brief supporting Trump's claim for presidential immunity from charges relating to the Jan. 6 insurrection. He's since joined an amicus brief that claims prosecuting Trump for Jan. 6 is "an attempt to silence or imprison Biden's political rival." Remember the horror of Jan. 6: the violent mob, the brutal attacks on law enforcement, the smashed doors and windows, the calls to murder the vice president and the Speaker of the House. Remember how Trump watched the riot on television and refused for hours to call off the mob. More: Going into 2026 election for governor, Ohio AG Dave Yost makes some high-profile moves Now the question is what would Yost do with public power, since he's willing to forget his moral objections to Trump on his way to (he hopes) the governorship? It appears that, like so many other MAGA Republicans, Yost has renounced his values and is embracing Trump, thirst for power and all. Dave Yost Attorney General Margo Bartlett, Delaware Bathrooms aren't all bad I entered a painting of mine in the Zanesville Museum Art show. It was admitted, but a few days later I was told I had to pick it up because the frame was bad. I offered to come and get it and fix the frame but was told, there are no free spaces. So, my painting was admitted by the juror Max Barton of the Canton Art Museum but rejected by the head of the Zanesville Art Museum. The title is "Bathroom Floors." I'm 81 now and spend a lot of time looking at bathroom floors. I see faces in them, which I painted. Bathrooms aren't all bad. David A. Kunkler, Rushville Biden might be old but he's not absurd The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating on Donald Trumps request for absolute criminal immunity. That a potential leader of the most powerful country on the planet would request such power is absurd. There are reports surfacing that he made comments about executing people. One was a staffer who leaked an unfavorable story, another was the retired head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. Whether it is true or not, the fact remains that he has asked for complete immunity. Why? He is a convicted felon, he has recently vowed revenge to those who crossed him and he is not fit to run our country. He should never, ever, be allowed back in the White House. We are better than this. President Joe Biden may be a bit older but he puts his country first, not his ego. Linda Lewis, Westerville This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: MAGA has Ohio's attorney general wrapped around its finger On the topic of the upcoming election, David says: 'Either party given five years isn't going to make radical changes to this country' - Heathcliff O'Malley There is a Vote Labour poster in the front window of the London home of veteran BBC anchor David Dimbleby in Pimlico. Unlike some newer channels, the corporation has strict rules about presenters impartiality, particularly when the country is going to the polls, but then, as Dimbleby is quick to point out, the last of the 10 general election night specials he chaired from Margaret Thatchers triumph in 1979 to Theresa Mays whimper in 2017 is now well behind him. I can express anything now, the 85-year-old tells me. I am a free man, but the poster is Belindas [his second wife who swapped being a TV producer for working as a family psychologist], not mine. I have never said. I have never told anyone, ever, which way I vote, not even Belinda. Old habits die hard when it comes to keeping schtum about any party political leanings. Likewise his fascination with general elections even though he is no longer front-of-camera reporting them. Im watching every little bit of it, he says of the current campaign. Used to seeing Dimbleby in his natural habitat of television studio, it is initially curiously jarring to see him in his stripped back but homely domestic environment (he also has a farm in East Sussex) with its rich blue kitchen cupboards and busy bookshelves. We settle into facing armchairs in the upstairs sitting room. You take that one, he gestures to the softer of the two. I need something that makes me sit up straight. Dimbleby: 'Mistakes are part of the fun. Nobody who is sitting up all night to watch election results wants you to be too solemn and sombre' - Heathcliff O'Malley It is the only reference during our time together to age or infirmity, but his evident good health isnt down to any lifelong sporting habit. I have no interest in any sport at all. I like sailing but not racing-sailing. I dont watch the Grand National. I dont know about the Euros, and I dont watch the Olympics, except for the opening ceremony. Its very odd. Smartly dressed in a well-cut blue suit, with braces over a crisp white shirt undone at the collar, his close-cropped white hair and weather-beaten tan (owing to the sailing) make him look at least a decade younger. Im against retirement, always have been, he tells me. As well as presenting a new BBC series on the monarchy later this year, this autumn he will co-curate with his 55-year-old artist daughter Liza an exhibition of drawings other peoples, not his own entitled Drawing the Unspeakable at Eastbournes Towner gallery (where he is chair) on how art can convey unspeakable things. There are, of course, some things in this election campaign that appear to be unspeakable, and others that are talked up endlessly. Its nothing new, says Dimbleby, who has covered elections ever since working as a cub-reporter on the 1964 general election. There is so much happening that politicians cant do anything about. So, you end up with grandiloquent boasting, give us another five years and we will do this and this, when you know it is not true. But does it make him hanker after one more turn in the hot seat on election night? I look at it and think that will be very exciting, but I dont miss it because I have spent five years not doing it. The BBC election night team of 2001: From left: Dimbleby, Fiona Bruce, Peter Snow and Jeremy Paxman - John Cobb Exciting, he explains, because being the anchor of an election special is the Everest of broadcasting. In his early days in the job, he once referred to it as innocent mischieflike a midnight feast in the dorm, but that may have revealed too much of his Charterhouse and Oxford upbringing and caused John Humphrys to label him posh. Today he prefers to go into the detail of quite how challenging it is, which may explain why the BBC has chosen this year to replace him by not one host but two in the form of Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie. You have eight screens showing you results coming in for constituencies, the overall state, people waiting to be interviewed at their counts and so you are juggling between the screens and the editor in your ear telling you to do this, do that. Such challenges are, of course, part and parcel of live television now. It is the scale of the operation, he says, that is daunting. You are in this vast studio with everyone around. In my day it was Jeremy Paxman, Andrew Neil, Robin Day, all waiting to have a go. The challenge is that you have instinctively to know everything that is happening and whats relevant and what isnt, so you can seize on something that looks like a trend and bong, go to John Curtice in the gallery to see if he agrees. Given the complexity, there must be moments when it all goes wrong. The entire broadcast is made up of hitches you cant get through to the constituency, or you do get through and the new MP is so grand that he didnt want to wait and has gone off to ITV. But thankfully no-one seemed to notice. Mistakes are part of the fun. Nobody who is sitting up all night to watch election results wants you to be too solemn and sombre. They like a bit of fun, a party feel. But the fun has to be funny. One election [1997] they tried to make it funny by sending Rory Bremner up in a helicopter sending back reports. It was terrible. And another [2010] they had Andrew Neil on a boat with celebrities but no-one wanted to hear from Andrew Lloyd-Webber. That disaster cost the BBC a reported 35,000. The schedule on election night sounds exhausting. Dimbleby used to get to the studio at 2pm and stay on air from 10pm to 5am, with a short break for a snooze before he returned to the screen two hours later. I never got tired, he says dismissively. And I never prepared for it, though one year I do remember looking up what astronauts eat to give them energy and found it was bananas. They didnt work for me. I stuck to chocolate and coffee. On set for the 2015 election results, when the BBC's exit poll was surprisingly accurate - Jeff Overs Looking back over his 10 general elections, he identifies 1992 as the worst. Our exit poll got it so hideously wrong, suggesting that Neil Kinnock would beat John Major. I despise exit polls. Why? Because it damages the programme to be told at 10pm the expected result. Whats the point in waiting up if you are told then what to expect? And as the Major-Kinnock exit poll shows, they can be a cock-up. But in 2015, to the surprise of many, they accurately predicted that David Cameron would win a narrow overall majority. Did that surprise him? Ive never been surprised by the actual results. Well, perhaps the scale of Tony Blairs majority in 1997. A twinge of regret seems to be nestling in there somewhere about missing out on election night this time round. I miss it in the sense that if you are a tightrope walker and you stop walking along a tightrope, you miss it. But I dont miss it in the sense that I would have wanted to spend the past five years still traipsing round the country doing Question Time. Thats the truth. It was, he insists, his decision to stop when he reached 80, relinquishing election night duties to Huw Edwards. What does he feel about the Beebs treatment of his successor? Erm he pauses. I dont know enough about what went on. I feel sorry for him and his family. Back to Question Time, which he regards as his political homework. It allowed you to go into the election studio as anchor completely confident that you knew everything that anyone was talking about. Even if he is at one step removed from the action, though, he is keen to talk about the TV debates. Like the first Sunak-Starmer debate on ITV. They seemed to me to come across exactly as they both are. I wont describe what I think they both are. They seemed to be in character. Starmer rather careful in the way he spoke, Sunak using the stiletto all the time. How do you get into the mind of a politician is the interesting thing. Ive never been able to. You sort of know what they instinctively feel they should do for the country, if they are serious, but then you know that they themselves are inhibited about what they can say because they have to be feline or they wont get anything done. The various TV debates this time round have reportedly bored a lot of viewers. Has that been his experience? The best test of a politician is to have one of them against a big Question Time audience who let fly. Dimbleby presented Question Time for 25 years - BBC That is, of course, what he hosted in 2005 with the leaders of the three main parties, Charles Kennedy, Michael Howard and Tony Blair. A good Question Time audience is a frightening thing for a politician. A good interviewers questions can be brushed off and are probably too well-honed [so] that the politician knows what is coming. Regular viewers of Question Time will have noticed in recent non-election times that fewer and fewer top-ranking Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet ministers agree to appear. Dimbleby nods. Tony Blair, he recollects, began doing an annual meeting with a Question Time audience but stopped smartly after the Iraq War. Social media is, he believes, one cause of this aversion to demanding scrutiny. It doesnt help. First politicians can use social media to get their message over, to keep up a running monologue. Question Time before social media was one sure fire way of getting your voice heard. The House of Commons never was. And then there is the calibre of todays politicians. For all sorts of reasons there has been a gradual decline in the quality of senior politicians. The upsets of the last five years the effect of Covid, the 2008 crash, Liz Truss, the Tory party choosing its leaders with 85,000 members deciding who will be Prime Minister they all have created a world where a lot of people just wont touch politics, wont go near it. Do politicians today lie more than they did at earlier stages in his career? No. I think they have always lied though they do get more honest and let their guard down after 10pm on election night when the ballots have been cast and they can call a result a car crash. The word lie is rather too serious a word to use. They try to get you to see the world their way and for that they distort the truth. Is that what Boris Johnson was doing? Oh, he is completely separate. He is sui generis. We cant do Boris. It was a nadir, all of that stuff. In a 2022 interview, around the time of his memoir, Keep Talking, Dimbleby predicted that politics would start to settle down. Today though he says: I think our government will settle. I dont think the defeated party [in the election] is going to settle any time soon, whichever it is. They will have all sorts of troubles to sort out. If its politics that is animating him this general election time, it has been broadcasting in a wider sense that has defined Dimbleby. He joined the BBC as a trainee in 1961 straight from university, with early roles including a job presenting the quiz show Top of the Form. And his own career at the Beeb has at times looked like someone walking in the footsteps of his illustrious father, Richard. He was a war correspondent who was among the first to witness the liberation of the Belsen concentration camp in 1945, later went on to anchor election night coverage and present Panorama, but is best remembered for his commentary on Queen Elizabeths coronation in 1953. Richard and Dilys Dimbleby with their children, 1949: David, Jonathan, Sally and baby Nicholas - Topham Picturepoint David filled the same role for the BBC at her funeral. He also sat in the same chair as his father fronting Panorama from 1974 to 1982, and for many years inherited his mantle as Voice of the Nation in the televising of great affairs of state. Has he ever wished he could escape the shadow of his father? No, not at all. You are an opening bat and your son is an opening bat. He doesnt live in your shadow. But his brother (and some say rival) Jonathan also went into presenting, anchoring Any Questions? on Radio 4. While Fred, his own son with Belinda (he has three more, including Henry, the founder of food chain Leon, with his first wife of 33 years, the cookery writer Josceline Dimbleby) has recently started as an on-screen news reporter for ITV in the Channel Islands. Does the Dimbleby name perhaps help you reach places that other surnames dont in broadcasting? Pass, I really dont know. I think I watched my father, though I have a completely different style from him. What I got is this key issue about broadcasting, that you are only talking to one person, not an audience. Otherwise, we are just a family of journalists. All the moves he has made in his career have been his decision, he stresses. So I stopped doing Trooping the Colour because I got bored of it. I stopped doing the State Opening of Parliament because it is the same ritual every year. The Cenotaph, I keep doing it. I must have done 35 years. I imagine I will do it again this year. Away from the camera, he has twice put himself forward to be chairman of the BBC and once its director-general (and been turned down each time, to his relief with hindsight, he says). Today, he declares himself very, very worried about the corporations future. I very much hope it will remember though as an organisation it doesnt always show signs of remembering it the things that really matter are the World Service, news and politics, and the arts, which nobody else does seriously and properly. Another of his siblings, the sculptor, Nicholas Dimbleby, died of motor neurone disease earlier this year. It prompted Jonathan to make a public plea for assisted dying. Im in favour, too, David says. It would offer a comfort, he suggests, for people in real pain to think that assisted dying is available. But I dont think my brother would have chosen it had he been able. We were with him to the very end. He was still engaged and listening to Handel and Mozart. After David's brother, Nicholas, died of motor neurone disease earlier this year, he spoke out about his support of assisted dying - Heathcliff O'Malley His own gaze, by contrast, is very much fixed on the here and now. His forthcoming three-part series on monarchy is an idea he first put to the BBC 30 years ago. What I am interested in is not, should we have a republic or a monarchy, but rather the degree to which the monarchy protects itself and manipulates its image. By way of explanation, he details how, for the Queens funeral, Buckingham Palace on behalf of the Royal Family exerted control over which images could be shown. But these are state events that we pay for, public events, so the idea that the family, the palace, can control the way we subsequently see those events seems to be curious. I put it no more strongly than that. There is a long-standing view, most clearly articulated by David Attenborough in the late 1960s when the Windsors let the camera in to record parts of their family life that if the royal family allows unfettered access to their lives they will lose their magic. Dimbleby wants to test that. If you are to going to retain the position of the hereditary monarch as Head of State, Im interested in how you project that image and change it to fit a changing society how they go about it, what you allow and what you dont allow, when you let the cameras in and when you dont. It is the machinery of monarchy. The kings decision to go public with his cancer diagnosis is surely an example of the more open approach. But while revealing what cancer it isnt, his subjects do not know what cancer it is. Should we? He looks sceptical. Thats an interesting one. And what about the poor wife of William? Would you have everything revealed? And if the king reveals his, then why doesnt she? Because he is the monarch? Is it relevant what cancer he has got? I think it is personal. When my father had cancer, we did say he had cancer which was unique at the time in October 1965 but we didnt say which. I remember great headlines about it. He died three months later. So, I feel strongly. He looks stern for the first and last time in our conversation, but his good mood quickly returns. Does he have an election night prediction to share on the basis of his many years on screen as such events unfurl? Either party given five years isnt going to make radical changes to this country. The problems are much-deeper rooted than five years and always have been. Its all terrifying, but I think this election will be based really on 14 years and the feeling that its time for a change. 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. Mother And Son Land Six-Figure Deal For Their Ohio-Based Beauty Supply Business That Was Previously Owned By Korean Family For 50 Years | Photo: Niklas Halle'n via Getty Images A mother and son recently closed a six-figure deal that changed the future of their Ohio-based beauty supply business. In 2016, Nneka Slade paused her career as a cosmetologist after decades in the industry. She and her son Kameron Coleman teamed up to launch a hair extension brand two years later, the Akron Business Journal reported. The brand eventually evolved into an online retail company through word of mouth. The modern day 2016 Lebron and Kyrie, mother and son duo make their mark in the beauty world https://t.co/w3G6rW1gXA Akron Beacon Journal (@beaconjournal) June 22, 2024 In 2021, the brands success allowed them to purchase their first brick-and-mortar named Play Beauty Supply in Richmond Heights where Coleman resides. Three years later, they are now the owners of Star Beauty Plus in Maple Heights sold to them by the Kim family, who are Korean entrepreneurs. We never dreamed about this happening, Slade told the Akron Business Journal. We didnt know what was going to happen but if we failed, we were going to fail big, something like this doesnt happen. The Kim Family, who owned the shop for 50 years, provided them with all the training they needed to thrive. The store offers hair products, wigs, extensions, tools and more. During the transition, Slade said the Kim family was honest about their business processes. As Coleman and Slade continue their business journey together, they feel theyre unstoppable together. We learned a lot about each other, Slade said. Im more of the left brain-organized, structured, and Kameron is more of the right brain-creative, risk taker. Theres a nice balance that happens. Coleman added, She leans on me to bring in the new 21st-century ideas, the delivery, websites, marketing. Its a balance with each other. At the moment, theyre exploring a space thats up for sale in Akron for their next beauty supply store while refreshing their website, which will provide same-delivery options. People that come in now to the store are excited to see that its a Black-owned, Slade said. They come in shedding tears because they can buy the products they need for their hair. People come in from all over either around or out of town, and most are coming from Akron and Canton areas. We are so happy about the support we have received. Members of Death Penalty Action gather outside the Supreme Court to mark the anniversaries of the 1972 Furman and 1976 Gregg decisions on the death penalty, in Washington, D.C., on June 29, 2021. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI On this date in history: In 1853, the U.S. Senate ratified the $10 million Gadsden Purchase from Mexico, adding more than 29,000 square miles to the territories of Arizona and New Mexico and completing the modern geographical boundaries of the contiguous 48 states. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park to preserve cliff dwellings of the ancestral Pueblo people in Colorado. The 52,485-acre park is also considered a UNESCO site. In 1933, Fatty Arbuckle, silent film comedian and one of Hollywood's most beloved personalities until a manslaughter charge (he was eventually acquitted) ruined his career, died while preparing a comeback. He was 46. In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress designated Mount Olympus National Monument as a national park. The 922,650-acre park in Washington is also considered a UNESCO site. Flames from the solid rocket boosters lit up the clouds of smoke and steam trailing behind shuttle Atlantis on May 19, 2000, as it lifted off on mission STS-101. On June 29, 1995, the U.S. shuttle Atlantis docked with the Russian space station Mir for the first time. UPI File Photo In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that capital punishment, as then administered by individual states, was unconstitutional. It was reinstated in 1976. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI Bernard Madoff, pictured March 12, 2009, in New York, was sentenced to 150 years in prison on June 29, 2009. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI In 1974, Isabel Peron took over as president of Argentina for her ailing husband, Juan Peron, who died two days later. Her official presidency began July 1, 1974. In 1992, doctors in Pittsburgh reported the world's first transplant of a baboon liver into a human patient. The recipient, a 35-year-old man, survived three months. On June 29, 1974, Isabel Peron took over as president of Argentina for her ailing husband, Juan Peron, who died two days later. File Photo courtesy of Archivo General de la Nacion In 1995, a Seoul department store collapsed, killing some 500 people. In 1995, the U.S. shuttle Atlantis docked with the Russian space station Mir for the first time. NASA's chief said the docking marked "a new era of friendship and cooperation" between the two countries. On June 29, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled U.S. President George W. Bush didn't have authority, under military law or the Geneva Conventions, to set up military tribunals for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled U.S. President George W. Bush didn't have authority, under military law or the Geneva Conventions, to set up military tribunals for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. File Photo by Ezra Kaplan/UPI In 2009, Bernard Madoff, mastermind of a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme, was sentenced to 150 years in prison. The federal judge who imposed the sentence in New York City said Madoff's crimes were "extraordinarily evil." Madoff apologized in the courtroom, saying, "I am responsible for a great deal of suffering and pain." In 2017, Iraqi forces captured Mosul's Great Mosque of al-Nuri, the mostly destroyed structure where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is believed to have declared a "caliphate" exactly three years earlier. In 2021, a scientific paper announced the discovery of the earliest-known bubonic plague victim -- a 5,000-year-old hunter gatherer whose skeleton was unearthed in Latvia. In 2022, a French court found all 20 defendants guilty in the 2015 Paris terror attacks, which killed 130 people and injured more than 500. The court sentenced the chief defendant, Sarah Abdeslam, to 30 years in prison. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in university admissions, saying that such practices violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI (Bloomberg) -- The deadly roof collapse at Indias busiest airport is the latest in a string of infrastructure failures, raising safety questions as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to spend billions of dollars to improve transportation. Most Read from Bloomberg Officials at Delhis airport canceled operations at Terminal 1 after an outdoor metal canopy collapsed following torrential rainfall on Friday. Multiple cars were crushed outside the recently-renovated airport, killing one person and injuring eight, according to authorities. The area recorded its heaviest one-day June rainfall in 88 years. Several hundred kilometers to the east, in the state of Bihar, four bridges recently collapsed and a structure at an airport in central India caved in. On Saturday, a canopy at the passenger pickup area at Rajkot airport in Modis home state of Gujarat collapsed, the Press Trust of India reported. With the start of the monsoon season, water-logging is now the norm in many cities. In Ayodhya, the roof of a massive temple inaugurated by Modi earlier this year has been leaking, and flooding has inundated newly built roads, according to local reports. The issues cast a harsh spotlight on Modis building spree, which officials are leaning on to boost development in the worlds fastest-growing major economy. According to Bloomberg Economics, 44.4 trillion rupees ($532 billion) in new infrastructure will become operational over the next two years. That figure equals the value of all projects built in the last 11 years. Modi has presided over ribbon-cutting ceremonies at many of them. Modernizing infrastructure was a key part of his pitch to voters during this years national election, when he won a third term as prime minister. Over the past decade, his government says its built 80 new airports, upgraded railways and expanded highways by thousands of kilometers. Niranjan Sahoo, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, says Fridays incident at Terminal 1 raises fresh questions about the quality of Indias infrastructure. It puts the country, which aspires to be a global power, in a very poor light, he said, calling many of the projects an electoral gimmick. Economists and business leaders have justified a big budget for infrastructure, arguing that its necessary to turbo-charge Indias growth and build out the nations manufacturing sector. As Chinas economy slows, many international companies are looking to the South Asian nation as an alternative for their factories. Bloomberg Economics expects the infrastructure drive to help lift economic growth to 9% by 2030, up from 8.2% in the last fiscal year. Indias opposition leaders have criticized some of the projects, calling them wasteful and rife with corruption. Theyve accused Modi of diverting resources and attention from reducing poverty or unemployment. The countrys infrastructure is falling like a deck of cards, Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the opposition Indian National Congress party, wrote on X. Officials attempted damage control after Fridays Terminal 1 roof collapse. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the structure that caved in wasnt part of the recent renovations. The building inaugurated by PM Modi is on the other side, he said. Still, the incident at the very least suggests poor maintenance, Sahoo said, and gives Modis critics fresh fodder to attack his record. Infrastructure is just not about building those bridges, airports and ports and roads, he said. It is also about governance. It is about maintaining them. --With assistance from Sudhi Ranjan Sen. (Updates with incident at Rajkot airport in third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The stunning results of Thursdays presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump are reverberating around the United States, with the full consequences yet unseen. At the moment, Democrats are seriously considering, finally, whether to dump Biden as their prospective presidential nominee. Without drastic, nearly unprecedented action now, they may be on the way not only to losing the White House, but to significant losses in Senate, House, state and local races as well. Without the incentive to turn out, many Democratic voters might simply stay at home, with enormous down-ballot consequences. Trump had less at stake in the debate because opinions about him, pro and con, are well-established and hard to change. Biden is equally well-known, but nagging doubts about his mental acuity meant he had enormous downside risk if the debate aggravated those doubts. That is precisely what happened. Trump was no altar boy, just his usual boastful, bragging, prevaricating self, but Bidens performance panicked his fellow Democrats. How many will want to risk jumping off the cliff with him leading their ticket? These potentially tectonic political consequences overshadowed the substantive debate, especially on national security issues. Repeatedly, however, Trump took positions that would be seriously wrong if implemented as policy. Biden attempted to defend his record, which needs a lot of defending, leaving the queasy feeling that neither man is really fit to be president. Take Afghanistan. In the debates opening minutes, the two candidates tangled on the issue, with both ducking responsibility for US withdrawal. Biden said he was this centurys only president without Americans in combat overseas, and criticised Trump for having US forces still killing people in Afghanistan on his watch. In fact, withdrawal was a joint Trump-Biden effort: Trump negotiated surrendering Afghanistan to the Taliban, and Biden implemented it. There is plenty of blame for both. Trump rightly slammed Bidens 2021 implementation of the departure, exemplified by the debacle at Kabul airport, saying, no general got fired for the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country Overstated, but not by much. Trump admitted he also wanted out, but claimed we were getting out with dignity, with strength, with power. This typical Trump bluster saw action throughout the evening. He also repeatedly attacked Biden for his international image, asserting were no longer respected as a country. They dont respect our leadership. Claiming Biden was weak didnt deter Trump from also calling him a warmonger: These are wars that will never end with him. He will drive us into World War Three and were closer to World War Three than anybody can imagine President Xi of China, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, all of these Putin they dont respect him. They dont fear him. In Trumps surreal world, all of this makes sense. Interestingly, China was lightly discussed, but Trump raised it first during the Afghanistan discussion. He rejected the idea that his proposed 10 per cent across-the-board tariffs will increase US consumer prices, saying it would force countries like China that have been ripping us off for years to pay us a lot of money and give us a lot of power for other things. Trump currently talks tough on Beijing because he believes the Covid pandemic, originating in China, cost him the 2020 election. How long this would last if Xi paid him a post-election congratulatory call is unknowable. Using China as a hook to offset his recent felony convictions, Trump assaulted Bidens behaviour, portraying him as a criminal. Trump absurdly said Biden gets paid by China. Hes a Manchurian Candidate, which apparently explains why Biden is afraid to take tough stands against Xi. Unsurprisingly, the debate produced immediate concern among Asian observers, who saw it live Friday morning their time. On Ukraine, Trump continued claiming that, had he been president, Russia never would have invaded (again unprovable but also irrefutable). He pledged to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war as president-elect, even before being inaugurated next January 20. Biden defended his record, and Trump complained endlessly about how much money the United States had spent on Ukraine compared to Europe, which always strikes a chord with Trumps base, along with his familiar complaints about Nato spending levels. Turning to the Middle East, Trump, on cue, asserted that Hamas would not have attacked Israel had he been president. He argued that anti-Iran sanctions imposed after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 had essentially broken Iran financially. Sadly, that claim is far from reality. Certainly, Bidens relaxation of sanctions enforcement has allowed Irans international oil sales to rebound significantly, but Iran was still funding terrorism and nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes during Trumps term. Never missing an opportunity for personal insult, Trump said Biden should let [Israel] finish the job. He doesnt want to do it. Hes become like a Palestinian. Really. The coming days will determine whether Biden survives as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Even if he does, however, it is harder than before to deny he is in serious, potentially fatal political trouble and at a time when the free world has rarely been in greater need of effective leadership. John Bolton is a former US national security adviser 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 question on many Democrats minds: Now what? Democrats were reeling from the presidential debate where they saw President Biden not only do poorly but bomb what was supposed to be a narrative-defining moment. And with the threat of a second Donald Trump presidency looming, they spent Friday trying to figure out if the current president could still somehow be the right person to defeat the former president. While Democrats are the first to admit that they scare easily, Thursday nights debate wasnt a typical moment. Democrats often feel like the sky is falling when it comes to politics, and former President Obamas first debate in 2012 against Republican nominee Mitt Romney did not go well. But Bidens Thursday night performance was still seen as something different. Interviews with more than a dozen party strategists, donors and other operatives indicated a palpable concern about Bidens future on the Democratic ticket. And while some Biden allies chalked it up to one bad night, they were drowned out by the chorus of other Democrats looking for other options. This is real, said one prominent Democratic donor. This isnt one of those bulls made up storylines. This wasnt the Obama-Romney debate, the donor added. This is a million times more dire and now we have to start asking the tough questions. Democratic pundits also said Biden had a bad night. I think there was a sense of shock, actually, at how he came out at the beginning of this debate, former Obama adviser David Axelrod said in an appearance on CNN. How his voice sounded. He seemed a bit disoriented. Axelrod said Biden did get stronger as the debate went on, but he predicted there would be discussions about whether the president should continue as the partys standard-bearer. Either way, Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said Biden and his team need to do a better job communicating what is going on. The question is: Is the president OK? Did he just have a bad day or is something else going on? Simmons told The Hill. And if he just had a bad day, the campaign can go forward and he can recover from one bad performance. But its incumbent upon the president and the White House to make sure Americans feel comfortable with the presidents age, he said. And theyve got to take the bull by the horns because this is not something that will go away. Democrats on Friday were wondering aloud about Bidens potential exit strategy and who might replace him and whether his potential replacement could beat Trump. Even the most ardent Biden supporters said Friday that the president went from having a decent chance at winning reelection to losing to Trump. I thought he had a 60 percent chance of winning before the debate and now I think he has a 40 percent chance, one Democratic strategist close to the campaign said. He has become the underdog. During a campaign rally in North Carolina on Friday, Biden sought to silence the consternation from Democrats. 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. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong, the president added. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. I know what millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up. As CNN ran an on-screen caption that said there was aggressive panic among Democrats, Bidens aides rushed to say that Biden isnt stepping aside. And the president reiterated that sentiment at the campaign event. 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, Biden said. Democrats said they would see how the narrative would continue to play out over the coming weeks. They pointed out that Trump also has had near-campaign-ending headlines loom over his presidential campaigns since the 2016 race. I understand the anxiety, I just dont think that panic wins elections, said former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who once served as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. And one thing that Donald Trump taught us after the Access Hollywood tapes supposedly destroyed his 2016 election, is that we live in a political environment where nothing is as good or bad as it seems at any given moment. This needs time to bake, Israel added. Still, most Democrats agreed that if Biden falls further in polls against Trump, or if there is clear evidence that Democrats are suffering down the ballot as a result of the debate, party leaders would have no choice but to step in and urge Biden to drop out of the race. On the popular Pod Save America podcast hosted by several former Obama aides, the discussion quickly turned to next steps. The best thing Joe Biden did is to propose this debate before the convention and give us a chance now to, like, rethink this, said Jon Favreau, who served as Obamas chief speechwriter. Another host, Jon Lovett, also expressed his worry after watching the debate: It is because the threat that Donald Trump poses that we have to have this debate right now about whether or not it should be Joe Biden. Do not tell us that because Donald Trump is a threat we cannot have this conversation, Lovett continued. Thats ridiculous. At the same, Democrats worried about yet another fracture in their party, this time over Bidens fitness for office. At this point, I want whatever will unite the party, a second Democratic strategist said. Maybe we just all need to get our feelings out and so some throat-clearing before we double down and rally around the president. But the worst possible outcome would be a situation where half the party wants that, and half is clamoring for a new candidate. That would be disastrous. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 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. 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. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. 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, 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 Rhode Island Current. 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 he 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 Nebraska Examiner. The earth is moving under our feet. There are too many absurd, unthinkable political events to encompass in one historic moment. Some of the developments are so bizarre as to defy credibility but, because logical argument has been abandoned, there is no requirement for satisfactory explanation. Political leaders need not justify their assertions and claims with persuasive evidence. They do not have to present a case for their analysis being justified by actual circumstances or likely outcomes. Predictions can be floated in a vacuum of vague intention and nobody is forced to examine the consequences. Why, for example, does no one remark on the paradox of our national electoral event this week? Just as the international context seems to have taken an identifiable shape a clear shift to the nationalist Right in most of the elections taking place in Europe Britain appears to have decided that it will choose a Left-wing government which plans to achieve an agreeable new settlement with the European Union: that is, with precisely the bureaucracy in which its own member states have lost confidence, and are determined to undermine. But Sir Keir Starmer does not address this obvious problem because he does not address anything. Another case in point: has nobody noticed the irony of Reforms stated goal? The most fervently nationalist movement that Britain has witnessed since the 1930s, it rails against the enforced consensus of the EU even as it demands a proportional representation system for the UK which is precisely what traps European coalition governments into never-ending rule by consensus. The collapse of lucidity sweeps through the free nations of the world like some terrible blight. The United States presidential election, having settled into a predictable grudge match between a brazen liar and a befuddled incompetent, suddenly explodes, on live television, into an alarming frenzy in which the lying and the incompetence reach a whole new level. This is not politics as we have known it. It is derangement and disaffection that is creating opportunities for forces which would once have been considered untouchable. Because there is so little serious examination, the meaning of words can be turned inside out. What is still officially called liberalism has become violently illiberal. Being progressive means not only denying the most fundamental facts of life, but telling anyone who will not deny them to shut up to withdraw from the public space. This is not just obnoxious and hateful. It is insane. An explicit repudiation of rationality itself on which freedom depends and which requires disagreement if it is to survive. The British electorate can see through most of this, of course, and it is deeply, corrosively angry. The rage and frustration may seem, as this column has noted before, to be disproportionate to the actual hardship of most peoples lives, but it is not unsound. Voters may be accustomed to being deceived by politicians: lies are the familiar currency of electoral campaigning. But at the moment, they sense that the party they are about to put into power (with absolutely no enthusiasm) is not even bothering to concoct a plausible story about what it will do or what it believes. It offers a one-word slogan Change which means nothing. The only definitive Starmer prospectus is to enumerate a handful of things that Labour will not do, like raise three specific taxes. At first, this policy of saying nothing just seemed like a shamelessly extreme version of political opportunism: the other side is so loathed that all we need to do is tiptoe through the motions of a campaign and we will walk into office with no baggage. But now, in a world that is palpably losing its bearings, I am coming to believe that this tactic is positively immoral. It is not just cynical evasion, it is a form of gaslighting. Never mind the details of what we intend to do. That can only be decided by us when we see how bad the conditions are that we have inherited. The fact that we are refusing to make any promises is actually an indication of our seriousness. Our intention to do good should be enough for you. Whatever we end up doing will be pure in heart and conscientious in intent. If you cannot accept that, it is because your motives are self-serving and malign. Even if you accepted the Labour message as sincere, it would still be a sin against the spirit of democracy which is intended to offer the populace an informed choice between political programmes and principles. The leaders of free countries are not supposed to be philosopher kings in whose wisdom we place unquestioned trust. They are the standard bearers for ideas and solutions which they undertake to deliver with our informed permission. In recent years, party politics has taken on systematic ideological forms. It was not sufficient for governments simply to provide services, legal protections and civic infrastructure: they had to offer a philosophical underpinning which bound such provision into a moral framework. Socialism was the obvious paradigm: services and policies had to be designed not just for practical purposes but to reorder society so that wealth was more equal and advantages more evenly distributed. Free market advocates offered an alternative set of ethical priorities: self-determination, dynamism, and reward for initiative. The contrast was not only useful as a guide to electoral choice. It was an enlightening exercise in social conscience and intellectual understanding. It was sometimes argued that capitalism was not an ideology at all but simply the human condition in economic form. And that too became a subject for lively debate. Most recently we seemed to have reached a compromise in which socialism had accepted the need for free markets to produce the wealth it was so eager to redistribute. But the New Model Left did not realise that, in order to flourish, capitalism requires risk and the freedom to fail. Then along came the New Right with its volatile, rabble-rousing power grab. Now we are faced with a choice between two incoherent, almost meaningless political positions and we have lost the conceptual vocabulary for attacking them. Maybe this really is the end of an era. 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. Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed legislation that would have required health warnings about bacterial contamination and made it easier for swimmers, boaters and anyone else in or around the ocean and waterways to learn if theres something dangerous in the water. Under the current, haphazard system, people sometimes dont know about things like sewage that can flow into the water after torrential rains or stem from broken pipes and other spills. The Safe Waterways Act (House Bill 165) would have required: Health advisories from the state Department of Health if water quality off beaches and in other water bodies, such as lakes and rivers, did not meet standards, according to a House staff analysis. Closing access to affected waters if deemed necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Cities, towns, villages or counties to notify the state of contamination and post signs in the area. We need to let people know as best we can whats in the water before they jump in, said state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, a Palm Beach County Republican. We need to be able to look it up easily. Gossett-Seidman said said shed like to see a website that shows all beach warnings and closures, a toll-free number people can call to check (she suggested 426, for H20) and a big beach sign reporting whats happening. Shark attacks get massive public attention. But Gossett-Seidman said her research found that more people are sickened and die from vibrio, a bacteria that can flourish in coastal waters, especially in warmer months, than from shark attacks. It can lead to other diseases, including skin rashes, lesions and lung issues. A legislative analysis said illnesses can come from various kinds of exposure, including swallowing bacteria-contaminated water or even breathing in water mist. The results may not appear until three or four days later, and people may have no idea what caused the illness. Its not like if you get bit by a shark you know what happened. But if you get sick four days later, you may not tie it in, Gossett-Seidman said. Basically we dont have a very good system right now when water is contaminated for alerting the public in a timely manner, said state Sen. Lori Berman, a Palm Beach County Democrat. We wanted to put it into law so that the public would know when theres contamination and when they shouldnt be swimming in any public bathing water, including the ocean. Berman and Gossett-Seidman worked with state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, a Miami-Dade County Republican, and state Rep. Lindsay Cross, a Pinellas County Democrat. We had four women, two Democrats and two Republicans, Berman said. We called ourselves the Water Women Warriors. The measure passed the Florida Senate and Florida House with unanimous support from all Republicans and all Democrats. Unfortunately this collaborative work did not result in a new state law, and as Floridians, their families, and tourists flock to the beach this summer, they will not know if it is truly safe to go in the water because of the veto, the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve water and beaches, posted on its Website. Im not sure what happened since we ended session, because we had no no votes, and certainly entertained everyones opinion that we could, Gossett-Seidman said. Related Articles Personal experience On July 4, 2023, Gossett-Seidman jumped into polluted water in the Intracoastal Waterway before there was any kind of public warning about a major sewage spill from a ruptured pipeline. Gossett-Seidman, her husband and a friend went by boat to see some of the areas where she obtained state funding for mangrove and seagrass plantings to help clean up the Lake Worth Lagoon. On the way back, it was 95 degrees, she said. Shes an avid swimmer, so her husband stopped the boat and she jumped in and right away realized something was wrong because the water was like pea soup. She then discovered where workers were dealing with a sewage spill something the public hadnt been told about. Berman, who represents some of the same territory as Gossett-Seidman, also cited last summers Boynton Beach sewage leak. It took quite a long time for the notifications to be made and for the public to be made aware of that, and we dont want that to repeat itself. We want everything to be done within 24 hours, she said. An estimated 15 million gallons of sewage spilled into the Intracoastal Waterway because of a broken 20-inch sanitary sewer pipe that began July 3 near East Ocean Avenue in Boynton Beach. Eventually, people were cautioned to avoid the water in the area because it posed health risks from fecal matter in the water. A Department of Health release at the time warned that, Anyone who comes into contact with the water in this area should wash thoroughly, especially before eating or drinking and cited particular risks for children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Reactions Surfrider said it was deeply disappointed in DeSantis veto. This bill would have kept beachgoers safe and informed regarding the risks of swimming when recreating in Floridas beach waters, Surfrider said. It argued that the problem of untreated sewage into coastal waters has resulted in harmful algal blooms, fish kills, and public health crises for beachgoers throughout the state. This crisis has worsened in recent years with the compounding impacts of climate change, with emerging water quality concerns like vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria, reported in areas where water is contaminated by wastewater and sewage spills. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the DeSantis appointee, who heads the state Department of Health, which would have been given responsibilities by the legislation, said he didnt want any part of it. Not interested in DOH having unilateral power to close Floridas beaches, & neither are Floridians. DOH already monitors Floridas beaches, & localities can make the best decisions for the operation of their beaches. Thanks for the veto, Governor! Ladapo wrote on social media. Ladapo is widely known, and controversial, for his stands against COVID-19 vaccines, masks, other pandemic containment measures, and gender-affirming care for transgender children. He also appeared on the campaign trail in support of DeSantis unsuccessful presidential campaign. Whos in charge DeSantis, in a veto message late Wednesday afternoon, said the legislation had a fatal infirmity: It would have taken away responsibility from local governments and given it to the state. It grants authority to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to close beaches, waterways and swimming pools. Health Departments like DOH can serve a valuable function, but they should not be vested with the power to supersede local jurisdictions regarding the operation of beaches, DeSantis wrote, adding that this grant of power to DOH over Florida beaches is ill-advised. Thats a notable argument coming from DeSantis, who routinely signs laws that take away authority from local governments and impose state mandates on local communities. In the last three or four years (the state has) done more to preempt local governments ability to function. We continually preempt local government, Berman said. To me that is a very contradictory position to what has been done by the Florida Legislature and approved by the governor. Another attempt One of the more perplexing elements of the veto was the politics. The legislation was a top priority for Gossett-Seidman, who has championed water quality issues. Shes in her first term in the Legislature, having won a relatively close 2022 election (52%-48%). She faces a well-funded Democratic challenger, Jay Shooster, this year in a district where 35% of the voters are Republicans, 33% Democrats, 30% no party affiliation and 3% in minor parties. Gossett-Seidman said shell be working with stakeholders over the summer and would introduce a new version of the legislation for the 2025 session, assuming shes reelected. We will just go back with everyones input: the governors office, the legislators, the environmental people, she said. We will get it sorted out, she said. Information from Sun Sentinel archives and the News Service of Florida was used in this report. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon. Despair in the air: For many voters, the Biden-Trump debate means a tough choice just got tougher Jocardo 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) WASHINGTON (AP) The sound you might have heard after the presidential debate this past week was of voters falling between a rock and a hard place. Apart from the sizable and pumped-up universe of Donald Trump's supporters, the debate suddenly crystalized the worries of many Americans, a portion of President Joe Biden's supporters among them, that neither man is fit to lead the nation. Heading into the first debate of the general election campaign, voters had faced a choice between two strikingly unpopular candidates. They then watched as Trump told a stream of falsehoods with sharpness, vigor and conviction, while Biden struggled mightily to land debating points and even to get through many sentences. It added to doubts about the 81-year-old Democratic president's fitness to be in office for four more years. Now, the options are even more dispiriting for many Democrats, undecided voters and anti-Trump Republicans. More than a few people came away from watching the debate very conflicted. Outside a Whole Foods in downtown Denver on Friday, registered Democrat Matthew Toellner tilted his head sideways, mouth agape, in an imitation of his favored candidate, Biden, who was seen doing that at times on the split screen when Trump was talking Thursday night. Im going to vote for Biden," said Toellner, 49, leaning against the wood siding of the grocery store. Actually, I might not. A few minutes later, Toellner looked out to the street and rethought again. Im going to vote for Biden, I think Id be a fool not to. But I just hate that I have to. His appeal to Biden and Democrats: Please step down, get somebody electable." On a Detroit park bench, Arabia Simeon was left feeling politically homeless after voting Democratic in the past two presidential elections. It just feels like were doomed no matter what," she said. Trump's disregard for the facts suffused his arguments, though he was rarely challenged on the specifics during the debate. On abortion, for example, one of America's most divisive issues for generations, the former Republican president claimed there is universal agreement that states should decide on the legality of it. There is ferocious argument about that. But did that matter? The public reaction, in dozens of interviews across the country, brought to mind Bill Clinton's post-presidency assessment of what voters want in fraught times: When people feel uncertain, theyd rather have someone strong and wrong than weak and right." The debate unmoored Simeon just as it did Toellner. The 27-year-old owner of a Detroit start-up went into debate night deciding between Biden and an independent candidate, the most prominent of whom is long shot Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Now she's leaning against Biden. I think it just kind of validated the feeling that I was having that this election is going to be extremely hectic, and its no longer the conversation of the lesser of two evils for me, she said from a park bench on a work break. Its more like both of these candidates dont feel like viable options. Simeon said that as a Black and queer person, Its really disheartening to know that no matter how far we come as a country, were still going to factory reset when it comes to president and have to make a choice between two white men. In large part, Democratic lawmakers in Washington and party officials across the United States closed ranks around Biden despite the panic that gripped many of them from his debate performance. But their remarks were measured, seeming to leave an opening if Biden were to make the extraordinary decision to have Democrats find another nominee. Its President Bidens decision what he wants to do with his life," said Sharif Street, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and a state senator. .So far, hes decided hes our nominee, and Im with him." To be sure, plenty of Biden supporters saw nothing to throw them off, as much as they tended to think he blew it. Worrisome, Jocardo Ralston of Philadelphia said of Biden's turn on the stage. Yet, Ralston said, "Im not conflicted, nor do I feel that I am choosing the lesser of two evils. ... Biden is not the ideal choice for many, but he is the only choice for me, without regrets or hesitation. The third-year doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania, whose work focuses on the experiences of queer Black and Latino boys in special education classrooms, watched the debate in a Cincinnati bar while visiting the city. All the work that I do and everything that I fight for is in direct opposition to Trump, his values, and his policies," he said. Biden turned in a more spirited performance Friday at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he acknowledged he is not the debater he used to be. I know how to do this job, he said. "I know how to get things done. He assailed Trump in ways that eluded him the night before. I thought Well Joe, why didnt you say that last night? said Maureen Dougher, 73, who found Biden strong, definite and very clear in his rally remarks. In a debate watched by an estimated 51.3 million people, according to a preliminary estimate by the Nielsen company, Bidens showing didnt come across as well as it did today. Amina Barhumi, 44, of Orland Park, Illinois, is affiliated with Muslim Civic Coalition and is sizing up Biden and Trump in part on how she expects each will act on the interests of American Muslims. Count her as demoralized about the candidate choices, too. She's hearing essentially the same rhetoric from both. We have not-so-great options that are front-runners on the ticket, she said. "Yesterday was an affirmation of exactly that. Quite frankly, I think it was very difficult to watch, she said of the debate. I have teenagers and it felt like a bunch of bickering and nonsensical name-calling. And I think the American public expects more. ___ Associated Press journalists Jesse Bedayn in Denver; Mike Householder in Detroit; Carolyn Kaster in Cincinnati; Melissa Perez Winder in Bridgeview, Illinois; and Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report. kckate16 / Shutterstock.com Millionaires dont get to be millionaires by wasting money unnecessarily, and that applies to cars as well as anything else. Thats one reason many millionaires drive regular cars rather than expensive luxury or sporty models. Check Out: I Have Driven Over 250 Car Models: These Are the 3 Best and Worst for Your Money Read Next: How To Get $340 Per Year Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy As previously reported by GOBankingRates, an Experian Automotive study found that 61% of wealthy people with household incomes of more than $250,000 dont drive luxury brands. In this respect, millionaires dont necessarily spend any more on car maintenance than the average driver. But for those millionaires who want to drive an expensive car, maintenance costs run a lot higher than normal. An analysis published earlier this year by Consumer Reports looked at some of the most and least expensive vehicle brands to maintain. For gas-powered cars, the cheapest to maintain included models made by Buick, Toyota, Ford and Chevrolet. Some of the most expensive to maintain were made by Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Consumer Reports found that Porsche models cost an average of $14,090 to maintain over a 10-year period. That compares to only $4,900 for Toyota. The Porsche figure provided by Consumer Reports aligns with estimates from car experts. Alan Gelfand, owner of German Car Depot in Hollywood, Florida, told GBR that German luxury cars in general are more expensive to maintain that other types of vehicles. Your average Porsche will cost you around $1,200 a year to maintain and repair, which is close to 80% more than the industry average, Gelfand said. To illustrate, the average cost to maintain a car nationwide is only around $650 to $800. Maintaining a BMW is nearly as expensive. Depending on the model, expect to pay around $770 to $1,200 in annual repairs, Gelfand said, A big part of why its more expensive to maintain a BMW is due to the oil used, making oil changes surprisingly expensive. It is recommended that full synthetic oil be used for BMWs for superior performance and longevity. The maintenance habits of millionaires and other luxury car owners will go a long way toward determining how much they spend to maintain and repair their vehicles. Maintaining a luxury vehicle in the $80,000 to $100,000 price range involves several key factors, according to Rich McClellan, owner of Elite Customs, a custom luxury car shop in Franklin, Tennessee. Regular maintenance items such as oil changes, tires, brakes, fluids, filters, alignments and windshield wiper blade replacements are essential to ensure the vehicles longevity and performance, McClellan told GBR. Oil changes can range from $100 to $300, depending on the manufacturer and the specific model. The cost varies based on the brand and the region where the service is performed. Story continues Tires for luxury vehicles are a significant expense, he added, and often cost between $200 and $500 per tire depending on the brand and specifications. High-performance tires that are common on luxury cars tend to wear out more quickly, necessitating more frequent replacements. Here are some other factors that contribute to high maintenance costs for luxury vehicles, McClellan said: Brake maintenance: The costs for new brake pads typically range from $300 to $800 per axle. High-performance brake systems, such as those found on many luxury cars, might require even more expensive components and specialized labor. Fluids: These include transmission, coolant and brake fluids that need regular replacement. The costs for these services can range from $200 to $500 per service visit. Filters. The cost to replace air, fuel and cabin filters on expensive cars can range as high as $150 each. Alignments: These are necessary to maintain proper handling and tire wear, and they typically cost between $100 and $250. Overall, owners of luxury vehicles in this price range should budget for annual maintenance costs of $1,000 to $3,000, with the potential for higher expenses depending on the vehicles specific needs and driving conditions, McClellan said. Investing in a comprehensive maintenance plan or warranty can help mitigate some of these costs, providing peace of mind and ensuring the vehicle remains in optimal condition. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Do Millionaires Spend on Regular Car Maintenance? During his presidency, Donald Trump said, Were putting America first were taking care of ourselves for a change, and then declared, Im a nationalist. In another speech, he stated that under his watch, the U.S. had embrace[d] the doctrine of patriotism. Trump is now running for president again. When he announced his candidacy, he stated that he need[s] every patriot on board because this is not just a campaign, this is a quest to save our country. One week later he dined in Mar-a-Lago with Nick Fuentes, a self-described nationalist whos been banned from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and other platforms for using racist and antisemitic language. Afterward, Trump confirmed that meeting but did not denounce Fuentes, despite calls for him to do so. The words nationalism and patriotism are sometimes used as synonyms, such as when Trump and his supporters describe his America First agenda. But many political scientists, including me, dont typically see those two terms as equivalent or even compatible. There is a difference, and its important, not just to scholars but to regular citizens as well. An image from 1950, colorized in 2017, shows Superman a refugee from another planet and a character created by two Jewish immigrants to the U.S. teaching that patriotism should drive out nationalism. DC Comics Devotion to a people To understand what nationalism is, its useful to understand what a nation is and isnt. A nation is a group of people who share a history, culture, language, religion or some combination thereof. A country, which is sometimes called a state in political science terminology, is an area of land that has its own government. A nation-state is a homogeneous political entity mostly comprising a single nation. Nation-states are rare, because nearly every country is home to more than one national group. One example of a nation-state would be North Korea, where almost all residents are ethnic Koreans. The United States is neither a nation nor a nation-state. Rather, it is a country of many different groups of people who have a variety of shared histories, cultures, languages and religions. Some of those groups are formally recognized by the federal government, such as the Navajo Nation and the Cherokee Nation. Similarly, in Canada, the French-speaking Quebecois are recognized as being a distinct nation within a united Canada. Nationalism is, per one dictionary definition, loyalty and devotion to a nation. It is a persons strong affinity for those who share the same history, culture, language or religion. Scholars understand nationalism as exclusive, boosting one identity group over and at times in direct opposition to others. The Oath Keepers and Proud Boys 10 of whom were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol are both examples of white nationalist groups, which believe that immigrants and people of color are a threat to their ideals of civilization. Trump has described the events that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, as having occurred Peacefully & Patrioticly. He has described those who have been imprisoned as great patriots and has said that he would pardon a large portion of them if elected in 2024. There are many other nationalisms beyond white nationalism. The Nation of Islam, for instance, is an example of a Black nationalist group. The Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center have both characterized it as a Black supremacist hate group for its anti-white prejudices. In addition to white and Black racial nationalisms, there are also ethnic and lingustic nationalisms, which typically seek greater autonomy for and the eventual independence of certain national groups. Examples include the Bloc Quebecois, the Scottish Nationalist Party and Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales, which are nationalist political parties that respectively advocate for the Quebecois of Quebec, the Scots of Scotland and the Welsh of Wales. Devotion to a place In contrast to nationalisms loyalty for or devotion to ones nation, patriotism is, per the same dictionary, love for or devotion to ones country. It comes from the word patriot, which itself can be traced back to the Greek word patrios, which means of ones father. In other words, patriotism has historically meant a love for and devotion to ones fatherland, or country of origin. Patriotism encompasses devotion to the country as a whole including all the people who live within it. Nationalism refers to devotion to only one group of people over all others. An example of patriotism would be Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech, in which he recites the first verse of the patriotic song America (My Country Tis of Thee). In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, King describes nationalist groups as being made up of people who have lost faith in America. George Orwell, the author of Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, describes patriotism as devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life. He contrasted that with nationalism, which he describes as the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Nationalism vs. patriotism Adolf Hitlers rise in Germany was accomplished by perverting patriotism and embracing nationalism. According to Charles de Gaulle, who led Free France against Nazi Germany during World War II and later became president of France, Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first. The tragedy of the Holocaust was rooted in the nationalistic belief that certain groups of people were inferior. While Hitler is a particularly extreme example, in my own research as a human rights scholar, I have found that even in contemporary times, countries with nationalist leaders are more likely to have bad human rights records. After World War II, President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan, which would provide postwar aid to Europe. The intent of the program was to help European countries break away from the self-defeating actions of narrow nationalism. For Truman, putting America first did not mean exiting the global stage and sowing division at home with nationalist actions and rhetoric. Rather, he viewed the principal concern of the people of the United States to be the creation of conditions of enduring peace throughout the world. For him, patriotically putting the interests of his country first meant fighting against nationalism. This view is in line with that of French President Emmanuel Macron, who has stated that patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism, he says, is a betrayal of patriotism. 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: Joshua Holzer, Westminster College Read more: Joshua Holzer 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. Director says OFallon has outgrown its library, may turn to taxpayers for a solution The OFallon Public Library is exploring options for growth, including a referendum for new construction possibly in the fall of 2026. Citing a 20-year study completed for its master plan in March 2023, Library Director Ryan Johnson said for the citys needs, they found that the collection size isnt large enough, and neither is the childrens activity room. More multi-purpose space is needed, and more study rooms and seating are desired, as is usable outdoor space. Johnson said acoustics are also an issue in the existing library, located at 120 Civic Plaza behind the U.S. Post Office, which is on Lincoln Avenue. That location is viewed as an issue, based on city growth, he said. For the south end of town, that might not be the most convenient location for a large number of residents as the city grows, Johnson said. Johnson appeared before the city councils finance and administrative committee recently to go over the librarys strategic plan for 2024-2026, and the key takeaways moving forward. The board has been mulling options to either renovate, add-on or build another library. It determined new construction is the most suitable direction. Over the next couple of months, the board will be working with FGM Architects and Holland Construction to determine pre-construction cost estimates, with the possibility of taking it to the voters two years from now. If it isnt approved, its not the end of the world. Well make the best of it, Johnson said. The library currently has 11,000 cardholders and had 129,497 visits during the recently completed 2023-2024 fiscal year. June is the busiest month, with 13,000 visits. Visitors checked out 197,157 physical items and 64,200 digital assets last fiscal year. The library held 481 events that were attended by 12,477 people 9,559 children, 2,400 adults and 517 teens. By state statute, the public library is governed by a board of directors, which is appointed by the mayor and approved by the council. For every dollar spent in property taxes, two cents goes to the library fund. For instance, a house estimated at $250,000 would pay $125 annually. For master plan input, the library sent out a survey to residents, and 650 responded. It also scheduled community engagement workshops. Johnson said. A question on the librarys plans for a referendum will be included in an upcoming citizen survey, he said, to gauge interest. Alderman Jessica Lotz said she has been a longtime advocate for the library. Its more than just a place to read books and get information, its a social center. Its amazing what they do, she said. Johnson said efforts to increase community engagement, be a welcoming community space, and prepare for growth are among the goals ahead. Time over time, we hear feedback about our excellent customer service thats something we lean into and will capitalize on, Johnson said. The library opened in 1930 in the First National Bank building, on the second floor with 700 books on the shelves, mostly donations. Others were purchased by the OFallon Womans Club, which also sponsored the library through many months of fundraising and planning. At the time, the citys population was 2,300 and membership was $1. In 1943, voters approved shifting management to the city, and after several moves, landed at its current site in 1995. There was a major remodel in 2015. The town has grown to more than 32,000 people, and there are 60,000-plus books in the library. Among the most popular activities are the Summer Reading Program, the annual partnership with AARP that offers free tax filing services to patrons. Early childhood programs often have a waiting list Book Babies, Toddler Tales and Preschool Storytime book fast. Johnson has been working in OFallon for about 10 years, the last five as director. He currently serves as the president of the Illinois Library Association. The library expanded programs with the parks department, a partnership with the OFallon Historical Society, and would like to think outside the four walls for other programming opportunities, Johnson said. The Friends of the Librarys annual spring book sale attracts 4,000 visitors, with dozens of volunteers helping, and they usually raise over $15,000. Johnson said he plans to attend the citys finance committee meetings several times a year to update them on what is happening at the library. To view the master plan, strategic plan and last years report, those documents are available online at https://go.boarddocs.com/il/ofallon/Board.nsf/files/CC6KGB51BEED/$file/2040%20MASTER%20PLAN_FINAL.pdf. Disturbing rise: New Hampshire fire deaths so far this year surpass all fire deaths in 2023 New Hampshire is seeing an alarming increase in fire-related deaths, and the state fire marshal is warning residents to have working smoke alarms in their homes. The Granite State has seen 13 fire-related deaths in the first half of this year. Thats more than the 12 fire-related deaths in the state in all of 2023, State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said Friday. Nearly three-quarters of the fatal incidents happened in homes that did not have working smoke alarms or didnt have an adequate number of working smoke alarms, Toomey said. In 2024, we are seeing a disturbing rise in fatal fire incidents, Toomey said. Having working smoke alarms in your home is absolutely critical. They provide early detection and give you and your family precious moments to escape in the event of a fire. As of Friday, there have been 11 unintentional fires resulting in 13 victims in New Hampshire, Toomey said. Comparatively, in 2023 there were 11 fires and 12 victims throughout the entire year, Toomey said. In 2022, there were eight fires resulting in nine deaths. The concerning trend underscores the importance of regular maintenance and testing of smoke alarms to ensure they are working, Toomey said. The data also shows a shift in the timing of fatal incidents, Toomey said. In 2024, nearly two-thirds of the fatal incidents occurred between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. In contrast, most fire-related deaths in 2022 and 2023 took place in the evening and early hours of morning, when most people are asleep. Also, nearly half of the fatal fires in 2024 happened on a Thursday, Toomey said. In 2023 and 2022, about one-third took place on a Thursday, with half of fatal fires occurring on either a Thursday or Friday. To reduce fires and fire-related deaths, the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office recommends the following: Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Replace smoke alarms that are older than 10 years. Components of the alarms will deteriorate over time and can only be expected to work effectively within 10 years of their date of manufacture. Interconnected alarms are best. Wireless is an acceptable option. Hard-wired smoke alarms should have battery back-up in case there is a power outage. Battery powered smoke alarms should be changed twice a year. A 10-year sealed battery is preferred. Test smoke alarms monthly to ensure they are functioning properly. For fire prevention and safety tips from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office, please visit this website. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Q. Is slavery in the U.S. Constitution? A. The U.S. Constitution does not use the term slavery but the existence of slavery in the United States did influence the compromises and agreements that were made within the document. As is true for much of our history, we are constantly struggling to live up to our moral and human values. America was founded on ideals based on freedom and equality. Indeed, our Declaration of Independence declares: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It is difficult to reconcile that statement with the institution of slavery. Nonetheless, slavery was a part of the United States until the Civil War. It is also notable that the Declaration omits women, who were not guaranteed the right to vote until the ratification of the 19th Amendment, in 1920. How to fix American politics: Kill the partisan gerrymander and filibuster | Opinion The Constitution was a compromise between people who came both from states without slavery and ones who had their economies based in slave labor. The pressures and compromises from those competing views are in the language of the Constitution. Most famously they are demonstrated in Article I, Section 2, Clause 3, where the taxes and representation are apportioned according to the population of a state based on the number of free persons, and three fifths of all other Persons. Constitution of the United States Slavery is also the subject of Article IV, Section1, Clause 3, which forces all states to permit slave owners to recover their property should a slave escape into another state. The clause reads in part, No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, escaping into another, shall be discharged from such Service. Further, in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1, Congress is prohibited from preventing the importation of people until 1808. Under President Thomas Jefferson, the Congress did just that at the first opportunity allowed. Even though it was legal, many of the Founders understood slavery to be wrong. Patrick Henry, in a letter to Robert Pleasant in 1773, found it as repugnant to humanity as it is inconsistent with the Bible and destructive to Liberty. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Holmes in 1820, referred to slavery as a great reproach and commented on the challenges of ending it, observing that it was gripping a wolf by the ear, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Can a president pardon a relative? Hmm. Why might that issue come up? Shockingly, both Jefferson and Henry were slave owners themselves, which was something that both struggled to explain. Henry confessed his own participation despite it being a practice he described as Abominable. He wrote, I will not, I cannot justify it. He did hope that the Founders would transmit to their descendants an abhorrence for slavery. The provisions and compromises in the Constitution show the nations struggle with the ideals of America and the reality. Sometimes, it is best understood that America is not a finished project and we continue as a people to fight for a more perfect union. Kevin Wagner is a noted constitutional scholar and political science professor at Florida Atlantic University. The answers provided do not necessarily represent the views of the university. If you have a question about how American government and politics work, email him at kwagne15@fau.edu or reach him on Twitter @kevinwagnerphd. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What does the Constitution say about slavery? A dog who made national headlines after being rescued from a shipping container in February has died from a rare infection. Connie the container dog, as she became known, spent more than a week trapped inside one of the thousands of shipping containers at the Port of Houston in Texas before U.S. Coast Guard inspectors happened to hear barking and scratching from inside. The small golden dog was dirty and skinny, and had gone least eight days with no food or water. But she was also immediately friendly and affectionate. She was transferred to the care of a Maryland-based rescue group, which soon discovered she was pregnant. Connie and her eight puppies all found homes, but on Friday, the rescue group shared a sad update. Connie had died from pythiosis, a rare fungal infection. After all she had been through and survived, we simply couldnt believe that this was how her story was supposed to end, Forever Changed Animal Rescue wrote on Facebook. She was such a young dog, with the absolute sweetest spirit, and yet she was such a fighter, a true survivor. The pythium fungus that causes pythiosis is rare in Maryland, the animal rescue noted, but more common in Texas, and dogs can contract it from drinking or swimming in contaminated water. The rescue group suspects Connie got it from drinking water outside before she got stuck in the shipping container. The dog had gastrointestinal lesions, and despite comprehensive veterinary treatment, Connie declined rapidly. Connie had been living with a family who was finally giving her the love she deserved, the nonprofit wrote. While we are glad that she had a few good months of happiness and love, it will never seem like it was enough. The rescue group added that Connies legacy was not only her story, but her 8 puppies who will get to live the life she missed out on. The post also expressed hope that Connies story will raise awareness of the numerous dogs euthanized in animal shelters. There are too many dogs and not enough people involved in rescue, fostering, or adopting, the nonprofit wrote. Stricter laws involving ownership/treatment of animals and spaying/neutering are desperately needed across the country. The post concluded with a bittersweet send-off to Connie. If love could have saved you, youd still be with us, sweet girl, it said. We love and miss you always. You fought so hard and deserved so much more. Rest easy, perfect girl. Youll certainly never be forgotten. Related... Donald Trump just had the best 24 hours of his reelection campaign. But it might come back to bite him. Donald Trump is wracking up wins after Joe Biden gave a dismal debate performance. The Supreme Court also issued two conservative rulings hours after the debate. But Trump's seeming wins this week could fizzle out by November. Former President Donald Trump is back on top at least for now. The Republican nominee secured a spate of political wins this week after President Joe Biden delivered a disastrous first debate performance, and the Supreme Court handed down two Trump-friendly decisions. But Trump's Thursday night and Friday morning victories are far from permanent, and aspects of this week's ostensible wins could fizzle in the long run. Biden's big blunder Political experts and pundits seem to agree that Trump also performed poorly in the Thursday debate. He lied several times, failed to articulate his plans and policies, and once again boasted about his golf swing. But few were focused on Trump's faux-paus in the debate's aftermath. The focus was on Biden's raspy voice and seeming memory gaffes, which only exacerbated growing concerns about the 81-year-old president's age and fitness. Throughout the debate, Trump managed to inject some of his notorious zingers, including after one particularly incoherent Biden ramble, saying, "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either." Democrats responded to the debate with abject panic as some Biden loyalists started pushing for him to step down. The resulting liberal frenzy is at least marginally good for Trump, according to Christian Grose, professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California. "Trump is benefiting only in the sense that Biden did not benefit," Grose said. Most voters, however, are already decided. While the debate might have swung undecided Americans further toward Trump, Grose said Biden's poor performance is unlikely to sway Democrats toward the Republican nominee in today's partisan age. Biden may have lost himself some votes, but it's not evident that those will bolster Trump's base, Grose said. "Those who support Donald Trump will continue to support him in November, no matter what happens until then. Those that do not, will not," said David Triana, a public relations consultant focused on legal figures. "The question there remains: will they vote for Biden or stay home?" The early nature of this first debate could, however, end up playing in Biden's favor. Public recall tends to be short, and there is still ample time between now and November for Biden to try to change the narrative around his age especially amid Trump's ongoing legal woes, Grose said. "Something terrible happens to one of these candidates once every two weeks usually Trump," Grose said. Donald Trump and Joe Biden during the debate. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images SCOTUS surprises Less than 24 hours after the debate, the Supreme Court handed down two major decisions, which, at first glance, appeared to be more good news for Trump. The top court overturned the Chevron doctrine, a decades-old legal precedent that required courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of congressional statutes when reasonable. Conservatives long had their sights set on overturning the doctrine, which they argue granted too much power to the executive branch. In a separate 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court also narrowed charges for several January 6, 2021 rioters, ruling that the obstruction statute used to prosecute the defendants was employed too broadly by the Department of Justice. Both decisions are a reminder of the outsize role Trump has played in shaping the modern court. During his first term, he appointed three conservative justices who helped swing the court further right than it had been in many years. The January 6 case also has positive personal implications for Trump, who also faces a federal obstruction charge in Special Counsel Jack Smith's case. On Friday, legal experts told Business Insider that the decision was good news for Trump's legal prospects. But the personal benefits Trump may reap from the Supreme Court's decisions could have unwanted political effects on his campaign, Grose suggested. It could remind voters unhappy with the Supreme Court's conservative drift that another Trump term could mean more Trump SCOTUS appointees. Much of Biden's platform revolves around his claims that he alone can protect democracy from the dangers of a second Trump term. Undecided voters with strong opinions on abortion and January 6 could be turned off by Trump's Supreme Court appointees and their increasingly conservative rulings, he suggested. Should the court rule in favor of Trump's presidential immunity case next week, voters could be more inclined to believe Biden's narrative about democracy needing to be saved, Grose said. Many undecided voters are also particularly concerned with a candidate's character, and Trump's refusal to acknowledge responsibility for his crimes could come back to bite him with independents especially if the Supreme Court grants him broad immunity, Triana said. But ultimately, it's just too soon to say how this week's events will impact November, Grose said. "We just have to wait and see how the polls shake out," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Former President Donald Trump opened his rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Friday afternoon by taking some post-debate pot shots at President Joe Biden. We had a big victory against a man who is looking to destroy our country, Trump told the crowd, while mocking Bidens well-documented debate prep with his former Chief-of-Staff, Ron Klain at Camp David. He studied so hard that he didnt know what the hell he was doing. Chesapeake, VA rally crowd welcomes Trump with huge applause! pic.twitter.com/jDntNLYfrp RSBN (@RSBNetwork) June 28, 2024 Later in the rally, Trump further mocked Bidens debate prep, trying his hand at an impersonation of the president. Leave me alone, Im studying for debate. I wanna sleep and study thats all Im going to do for 10 days while the world is going to hell, Trump said. He got the debate rules that he wanted. He got the date that he wanted. He got the network that he wanted with the moderates (sic) he wanted. No amount of rest or rigging could help him defend his atrocious record, Trump continued. The former president also reiterated some of his newer lines from the Thursdays debate, lamenting that millions of people pouring into our country are taking Black and Hispanic jobs, adding that they have had these racially specific jobs for a long time. Black lawmakers took offense to Trumps comment on Black jobs following the debate. 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! Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) wrote in an X post. Rep. Stacey Plaskett (R-VI) also wrote in an X post, Another day in Congress doing our Black jobs. Trump allies, however, claim Trump was sending a different message altogether. He meant the jobs of Black people. And weve been using that term for a while, said Diante Johnson, president of the Black Conservative Federation, according to the Associated Press. Its any job. Instead of Black people having unlimited accessibility to all types of jobs, illegal immigrants are taking their jobs from them. Trump questions if America can survive four more years of "Crooked Joe Biden in the White House." Chesapeake, VA rally! pic.twitter.com/IzmYpS5Wqo RSBN (@RSBNetwork) June 28, 2024 Trump, who during the debate who called Biden a very bad Palestinian, because he wont finish the job on the Israeli-Hamas war, pejoratively referred to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, as a Palestinian at the Friday rally as well. Hes become a Palestinian, Trump said of Schumer. Congratulations, he was very loyal to Israel and the Jewish people, hes Jewish, but hes become a Palestinian. Trump then insinuated that Schumer reversed his position on Israel because Palestinians have a few more votes or something. Trump at post-debate rally: Schumer has become a Palestinian. Hes a Palestinian now. Congratulations. He was very loyal to Israel and to Jewish people. Hes Jewish, but hes become a Palestinian. pic.twitter.com/jIPT2vp91Q Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) June 28, 2024 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. Elk Grove police detectives are investigating a double homicide after the bodies of a man and woman were found by a relative Friday afternoon in a northeast subdivision of the city. Officers were dispatched just after 2 p.m. Friday to a home on the 9000 block of Crosscourt Way, said Sgt. Jason Jimenez, a spokesman for the Elk Grove Police Department. The home is in the Perry Ranch neighborhood near the intersection of Calvine and Waterman roads, several blocks from Arthur C. Butler Elementary School and the private Merryhill School. Jimenez said the reporting person had gone to their familys residence after several unsuccessful attempts to contact them. According to dispatch audio reviewed by The Sacramento Bee, the relative found a man and a woman inside a garage in what one officer called obvious signs of a suspicious death. The victims, described by the relative as a mother and father, were pronounced dead at the scene by police. The Sacramento County Coroners Office, which has not identified the victims, will have to determine when they died. How the couple were killed also was not disclosed, but Jimenez said, based on the investigation, detectives are treating both deaths as homicides. Other family members quickly arrived on scene, including several children that belonged to at least one of the victims, the dispatches indicated, as officers and detectives quickly secured the home and began their investigation. No other information was provided by police in what was the second homicide in less than two days in the city after a man was gunned down Wednesday night in a hotel parking lot during a fight. Those with information about the deaths are encouraged to call Elk Grove investigators at 916-478-8060 or CrimeStoppers 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. Kidron Electric has new ownership and is under new management. Chad Beery purchased the company from Art Neuenschwander in a deal that closed in the spring. The Neuenschwander family started the business nearly 85 years ago, and Art will continue to be involved in projects for the foreseeable future. Kidron Electric was founded in 1938 by Paul Neuenschwander, with some of the initial projects being to bring electricity to farms in the area. Over the years service offerings expanded to include plumbing, heating, refrigeration, appliances and agricultural systems. When his sons, Art and Ken Neuenschwander, took over the business in 1989, they divested of the appliance and agricultural divisions to focus on electrical, HVAC, plumbing and refrigeration systems. The Neuenschwander brothers served together until Kens retirement in 2016. Members of the management team at Kidron Electric include from left: Terry Wenger, Dave Daniels, Paul Miller, new owner Chad Beery, Kevin Kindy and Jon Baker. Meet the new owner: Chad Beery Beery joined Kidron Electric in 2016, having previously been employed by a mechanical contractor, as well as spending seven years in HVAC and plumbing design at a consulting engineering firm. He and his wife, Katie, and their five children live near Smithville. He has been involved in the design and construction of commercial buildings for 20 years. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, woodworking and is active in his church. The amazing growth and success that our company has enjoyed, particularly over the last 30-plus years is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Art and Ken, and the team that they had supporting them," Beery said. "I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work with Art, and thankful for him entrusting me to lead the company into the future. "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Kidron Electric," he said. "I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful management team, field crew and office staff in place to support our company and serve our clients. Beery is supported by a group of employees that make up the management team, with over 150 years of combined experience. The key members of the management team are director of electrical services Terry Wenger, electrical superintendent Kevin Kindy, mechanical superintendent Paul Miller, service manager Jon Baker and office manager Dave Daniels. Between the management team, the construction, service and office staff, there are more than 40 staff members with many years of experience to provide for Kidron Electric clients and their projects. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Chad Beery buys Kidron Electric from Neuenschwander founding family DEER PARK, N.Y. -- A man behind the wheel of an SUV was drunk and speeding when he crashed into a Long Island nail salon, killing an off-duty New York City Police Department officer and three other people, police said Saturday. Suffolk County Police arrested Steven Schwally, of Dix Hills, and charged him with DWI after the crash in Deer Park. The four victims killed in the crash have been identified as 50-year-old Meizi Zhang, 41-year-old Yan Xu, 37-year-old Jiancai Chen and 30-year-old Emilia Rennhack, an off-duty NYPD officer who lived in Deer Park. Nine other people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured and rushed to local hospitals. One person had to be airlifted. Police say Schwally was among those hospitalized. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police say he will be arraigned at a later date. Witnesses saw SUV swerving before crash Hawaii Nail and Spa on Grand Boulevard was busy with customers around 4:30 p.m. Friday when Schwally allegedly crashed his black Chevy Traverse into the storefront, killing four people and injuring eight others. Schwally also suffered minor injuries in the crash. Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle swerving as it left the Kohl's parking lot across the street from the salon. "It was just the most horrifying, traumatizing, upsetting thing I've ever seen in my life ... I couldn't sleep last night at all," a witness named Hahn told CBS New York's Kristie Keleshian on Saturday. Hahn was at a nearby light when she says she saw the driver speed past her. "And I thought, 'This guy is blowing a light.' And I had no idea what I was about to see, but I watched him come right across Grand Boulevard and just right into the salon," Hahn said. Fire officials say the vehicle traveled all the way through the building, remaining stuck in the back of the salon for hours after the crash. Deer Park community mourns victims killed in nail salon crash The storefront was boarded up Saturday. Family members of employees gathered items left behind as longtime customers tried to console brokenhearted loved ones. John Vassallo told CBS New York he's been coming to Hawaii Nail and Spa since it opened about 15 years ago. "This is a staple here, this nail salon," Vassallo said. Customers describe the salon as having a lively, welcoming atmosphere. "They treated you like family. They didn't treat you like another dollar," one customer said. "They are the greatest people. They are so family-oriented. It's unbelievable. It's sad, and it's a big, big loss," Deer Park resident Mike McClorey said. Longtime customers say the man who died was the store manager, known as Kenny. His wife also works at the salon. New York City officials posted tributes to Rennhack on social media Saturday. NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban wrote, "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Police Officer Emilia Rennhack, whose life was taken far too soon. We offer our support to Emilia's family, friends, and co-workers during this incredibly difficult time. Please keep our officer and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers." Mayor Eric Adams wrote in part, "It is never easy to get word that we have lost one of our own dedicated public servants no matter the circumstances." Saturday night, bunting was seen outside the 102nd Precinct, where Rennhack worked, and the American flag was at half staff. California announces largest land return in state's history Beryl strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic The barcode marks its 50th anniversary DEER PARK, N.Y. (PIX11) Off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack has been identified as one of four people who were killed on Friday when an alleged drunk driver crashed into a nail salon on Long Island, officials said on Saturday. Nine others were injured in the crash on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park, officials said. More Local News The loss of Police Officer Emilia Rennhack is a tragedy for the entire NYPD, DEA President Paul DiGiacomo said. Its compounded for the DEA as we mourn alongside her Detective husband. The union will continue to help ensure the Rennhack family has everything they need during this terrible time of need. Rennhack and her husband were recently married in September of 2023. She was inside the nail salon when 64-year-old Steven Schwally drove his 2020 Chevy Traverse into the building, police said. Schwally was driving at a high rate of speed when he crossed over Grand Boulevard and continued through the parking lot of 794 Grand Blvd., crashing his vehicle through the front window of Hawaii Nail & Spa around 4:32 p.m., police said. Two other women and a man were also killed, police said. They were pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. The nine people who were injured were taken to hospitals, including one who was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital. Schwally, who was also taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, was later charged with driving while intoxicated, police said. He was expected to be arraigned at a later date, officials stated. 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. Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, has lost nearly 90% of its energy generating capacity due to the Russian attacks, CEO Ildar Salieiev wrote on Facebook on June 28. Salieiev said Russia has struck DTEK thermal power plants over 180 times, causing losses worth at least $350 million. "This year alone, we will spend Hr 4 billion (nearly $100 million) of our own funds to repair the thermal power plants. Our specialists are looking for spare equipment worldwide that can be bought, brought, and installed (in Ukraine)," he added. In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure in a renewed assault against the country's energy grid. As a result of the attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine began implementing rolling blackouts on May 15. Ukrainians will face lengthy, daily interruptions in electricity until the end of July due to scheduled repairs at nuclear power plants, according to state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo. The restoration of the destroyed thermal power plants will take "years, not months," Salieiev said. "It is primarily a matter of time and availability of the necessary equipment. Orders for equipment manufacturing have been placed with production facilities on all continents," Salieiev said. He also described the damage from the Russian attacks as "enormous" and added that the restoration work continues non-stop. Despite severe damage, all DTEK facilities will be restored "sooner or later," the company's CEO said. During the full-scale invasion, more than 18 GW of electricity generating capacity was lost due to Russian occupation, including the occupation of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE). The Kakhovka and Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plants, as well as the Zmiiv and Trypillia Thermal Power Plants, were completely destroyed. Since the start of 2024, Russia has launched eight large-scale attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure and multiple smaller ones. Read also: Energy company loses 100% of generation capacity after Russia destroys Kyiv Oblast plant Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Duke Fuqua saw a jump in applications to its Daytime MBA this year. Duke photo Duke University has chosen a long-time veteran professor of marketing at its Fuqua School of Business to be interim dean for two years. Mary Frances Luce, who joined Fuqua 20 years ago in 2004, will assume her new position on Aug. 1. She succeeds Bill Boulding, who has served as Fuquas dean since 2011 and will return to the faculty. An expert in behavioral marketing, Luce has taught undergraduate and graduate students, including Ph.D. candidates, with a focus on health care marketing electives and marketing core materials. Her research interests focus on the role of negative emotion in decision-making. She was an early proponent of the view that emotions are deeply intertwined with cognitive processes and has been particularly interested in how emotions influence patient health care decisions a context in which negative emotion is both frequent and potentially problematic. NEW INTERIM DEAN HAS TRACK RECORD OF LEADERSHIP JOBS Fuqua marketing professor Mary Frances Luce will become the interim dean for two years starting in August Luce will arrive with a track record of academic leadership at both Duke University and Fuqua itself. Since February 2023, she has been an associate vice president in Dukes Office for Research & Innovation, where she has focused on support for social and behavioral sciences, humanities and the arts. Luce also recently served as interim executive vice chancellor for Duke Kunshan University (DKU). She will continue to serve on the Board of Trustees of DKU, which oversees strategic planning, maintains fiduciary duties and provides strategic direction to the joint venture university in China. At Fuqua, she had been associate dean and senior associate dean of the faculty for a half dozen years. Her appointment apparently came out of the search committee, appointed in November, which is leading the search for a permanent successor. Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles has been enlisted to support the committee which is chaired by Fuqua leadership professor Ashleigh Shelby Rosette. Having earned her Ph.D. in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Duke in 1994, Luce spent 10 years at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, rising to associate professor before joining Fuqua in 2004. She also earned a bachelors degree from Ball State University in 1989. Mary Frances is an outstanding leader who has earned respect and admiration within the Fuqua community and across the university, said Duke Provost Alec D. Gallimore in a statement. Her deep knowledge of Fuqua will be an asset that enables her to move the school in new directions over the next two years, and I look forward to seeing her vision implemented. I am honored to serve my Fuqua colleagues and the Duke community in this interim role, said Luce in a statement. Due to the dedication and excellence of our current academic leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni, I believe Fuqua is extremely well positioned for the future. I am excited to re-engage with Fuqua stakeholders in my new capacity, and I will strive to take a fresh perspective on Fuquas many options and possibilities. Our Team Fuqua spirit has always been a secret weapon, and I am excited to lead this team of extraordinary scholars, professionals and learners. DONT MISS: DUKE HIRES A HEADHUNTER & NAMES A SEARCH COMMITTEE TO FIND A NEW FUQUA DEAN The post Duke Names A Two-Year Interim Dean For Fuqua appeared first on Poets&Quants. An Iranian woman fills out her ballot during Iran's 2024 early Presidential elections at Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and hardliner Saeed Jalili are in a close race in Iran's presidential election, according to early results, suggesting the country could be headed to a run-off vote next week. With about 19 million ballots counted, Pezeshkian, a former health minister, had garnered around 43.5% of the the vote. Jalili, a former negotiator in nuclear talks with Western powers, followed on his heels with 37.7%. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was in third place with around 14% of the vote, the head of the electoral authority said on state television on Saturday. The fourth candidate, cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi, has received less than 1% of the vote. If none of the candidates secures an absolute majority, a run-off vote will take place on July 5. Some 61 million voters in Iran were eligible to elect a successor to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi on Friday, after he died in a helicopter crash in May. The polling stations were scheduled to close at 6 pm on Friday, but the electoral authorities extended voting in the evening until midnight. Deadly attack on election vehicle Unknown assailants attacked a vehicle belonging to election workers in south-eastern Iran late Friday, killing two security personnel. The incident took place in Sistan and Baluchestan Province as ballots were being transported to the city of Rask. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Sunni militant separatist group Jaish al-Adl is active in the province and have stepped up their attacks in the area. Both Iran and the United States classify Jaish al-Adl as a terrorist organization. Economic strife and social tensions The election comes amid a severe economic crisis, tensions with the West and regional powers in the Middle East, and frustrations among the public with the enforcement of state authority, especially among the younger population. Many Iranians, especially young people, have however lost faith in major political change at home. The death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in autumn 2022 sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic system of rule, but the protests were quashed with harsh punishments for demonstrators. The president is only number two in Iran's power structure as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali 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. An Iranian man fills out his ballot during Iran's 2024 early Presidential elections at Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa An Iranian child casts his mother's ballot during Iran's 2024 early Presidential elections at Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A few minutes after the conclusion of Thursday nights presidential debate, media reporter Brian Stelter, formerly of CNN, posted the following reaction from an unnamed executive at the network: A CNN exec in the control room texts me: "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." Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 28, 2024 Jake and Dana, of course, are Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the CNN anchors who moderated Thursday nights debate, and I guess there actually are a few reasons for their bosses to be very proud of their performance. The debate was orderly and theoretically substantive in a way that most presidential debates are not. Bash and Tapper wasted no time with the sorts of smarmy throwaway questions that have plagued many other political debates. Neither of the moderators had chocolate on their face. And yet the CNN executives assessment helps to explain precisely why the debate was, in many ways, a journalistic failure. Most of the post-debate punditry has justifiably focused on President Joe Bidens abysmal performance, and its implications for the Democratic ticket. Indeed, its hard not to focus on Bidens mumbly, unfocused answers, or his somnolent on-camera presence whenever he wasnt speaking. But there were two candidates on stage Thursday night, and only one of themformer President Donald Trumpspent most of the debate blatantly lying about his record while spewing unfounded allegations at his counterpart. CNNs failure to meaningfully fact-check, follow up, or push back on Trumps lies and evasions in real time thwarted its goal of helping voters make informed decisionsand ensured that the day-after debate takeaways would focus primarily on Bidens demeanor while letting Trump slide on his near-total lack of substance. According to Stelters source, CNN believed that it had a two-part job on Thursday night: to make sure that candidates were heard so that voters can make informed decisions. I actually thought the network did a pretty good job with the first part of that goal. Pretty much every other presidential debate or town hall in which Trump has ever participated has eventually devolved into chaosa function of the ex-presidents poor impulse control and general disregard for any and all constraints on his behavior. These sorts of bombastic spectacles might make for entertaining viewing, but theyre not particularly informative, and theyre generally unworthy of the networks that air them. Indeed, the last time that CNN gave Donald Trump a prime-time platformthe infamous May 2023 town hall moderated by Kaitlan Collinsit went so disastrously that it basically cost the networks then-CEO his job. CNNs relatively new CEO, Mark Thompson, presumably wanted to ensure that the first general-election debate held under his watch would look very, very different than the town hall debacle. He got his wish, even if the credit for it doesnt go entirely to CNN; in pre-debate negotiations, the Biden campaign insisted that the candidates microphones be muted when they werent answering a question, and that the debate not be held in front of a live audience. Even so, Trump largely followed the rules, and it is not CNNs fault that Biden came across as an agitated old man who was up past his bedtime. Thats on the president and his team, exclusively, and theres nothing that CNN could or should have done in the moment to adjust for Bidens deer-in-headlights performance. And yet there is plenty that CNN could and should have done to better fulfill the second part of its self-proclaimed mandate: ensuring that voters can make informed decisions. In its way, Trumps debate performance was just as alarming as Bidens. The former president was characteristically dishonest and evasive in most of his answers to Bash and Tappers questions. Among other things, he lied once again about nonexistent fraud in the 2020 presidential elections; lied about the relative size of Americas trade deficit with China; lied about having had sex with a porn star; falsely asserted that Biden gets paid by China; falsely claimed that Democrats were putting [undocumented migrants] onto Social Security; falsely asserted that the myriad prosecutions against him were directly masterminded by Biden; falsely claimed that the Biden administration was in favor of infanticide; and called Biden a Manchurian candidate and a very bad Palestinian. A weak one. And yet Tapper and Bash pushed back on almost none of this. While they occasionally asked follow-up questions when candidates failed to directly answer the initial questionBash asked Trump three times whether he would accept the results of the November elections, and never got a direct answerthey did almost nothing to challenge Trump (or Biden) in real time, or to press either man whenever they said something misleading or untrue. Instead, they just kept saying Thank you, in an almost eerie way at times, and moving on to the next topic. This passivity was both a missed opportunity and a great disservice to viewers. Both as journalists and as people charged with helping voters make informed choices, it was very important for Bash and Tapper to be prepared to rebut and contextualize Trumps bombast and dishonesty. Low-information voters deserve to know when candidates are saying things that just flat-out arent true, and the moderators are the only people with the power and the opportunity to call these things out in a way that comes across as informative rather than accusatory. It wouldnt have even been hard to do. Trump has like six standard riffs that he repeats over and over, and CNN could have easily predicted some of the things he was going to say, and could have been prepared with facts and footage to rebut him. They could and should have done the same for Biden, too. Thursdays debate only deepened my convictions here. I forcefully disagree with the school of thought that says that the job of the moderators is just to keep the debate moving, and that the moderators shouldnt inject themselves into the substance of the debate. If thats the case, then why bother having journalists moderate the debate at all? If all that the moderators are going to do is to read questions and keep time, then you might as well just select the moderators by lottery, or have fourth-graders read the questions, or have beloved cartoon characters moderate in a Who Framed Roger Rabbit?style setup. Why have Jake Tapper and Dana Bash up there at all? I get that there may have been conditions on the debate that prevented Bash and Tapper from pushing back on the candidates answers. If so, the conditions were bad ones and should never have been agreed to. If the moderator is just a timekeeper, then the moderator doesnt have to be a journalist. But if journalists are going to moderate the debates, then they need to act journalistically and ensure that facts take center stagewhich is especially important when it comes to Donald Trump, who lies pretty much every time he opens his mouth, and almost never puts himself in position to be called out or held accountable for it. Nationally televised debates are some of the few opportunities that voters have to see presidential candidates be made to answer for their policies, statements, and positions. But when moderators sidestep the chance to hold candidates accountable for these things in real time, then these debates just become referenda on a candidates demeanor and debating abilitywhich is why the narrative is now focused on Bidens alarmingly drowsy performance rather than Trumps alarmingly dishonest one. Yes, its important to ensure that each candidate is heard at these debates. But its so much more important to hold the candidates responsible for the things they actually say. Edward Waters University (EWU) has achieved a historic milestone with a record $12.4 million allocation from the state budget, the largest single-year funding in the universitys history. The unprecedented funding came through Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed Focus on Floridas Future Budget for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The state budget, totaling $116.5 billion, includes substantial support for EWU. Despite a decrease in overall state spending and the Governors line-item vetoes amounting to $949,611,399, EWU received $12,433,026 for several key projects. This historic funding will bolster EWUs commitment to academic excellence and student success. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The budget includes: $6,429,526 for programs aimed at improving access, retention, and graduation rates, particularly for underserved communities. $1,000,000 for the Edward Waters Criminal Justice Institute, focusing on preparing students for careers in criminal justice and forensic science. $3,500 per student through the Edward Waters Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) program to reduce financial burdens. $5,000,000 to enhance campus security infrastructure, addressing concerns following the tragic racially motivated shooting in the New Town community last August. Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., President and CEO of Edward Waters University, expressed gratitude: We are profoundly grateful to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their unwavering support and recognition of the vital role Edward Waters University plays in the higher education landscape. These funds will significantly bolster our efforts to provide exceptional educational opportunities, support student retention, and enhance campus safety. Dr. Faison also acknowledged the contributions of Senator Tracie Davis and the Jacksonville delegation: I extend my heartfelt thanks to our distinguished alumna, Senator Tracie Davis, for her unwavering advocacy and leadership in championing this cause. Additionally, I would like to express our deep appreciation to the entire Jacksonville delegation for their steadfast support in securing this vital investment for our universitys future. The funding will enable Edward Waters University to continue its mission of fostering intellectual, personal, and professional growth in students, preparing them to become influential leaders in their communities and beyond. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. A massive tree fell on power lines in the Grove Park neighborhood taking out power for hours. But the tornado not only uprooted a tree, but it also picked up an entire truck less than two miles away. Wild video shows the moments the wind picked up a truck and flipped it onto Beach Boulevard on the Southside. I was definitely scared, Drive Line employee Ellen Mitchell said. Ellen Mitchell and Victor Majauskas work at Drive Line and saw it all unfold around 2:15 p.m. We were sitting here, and we heard a pop, and the transformer just like poof, Majauskas said. The workers saw a funnel form in the Mainline Auto parking lot across the street. I noticed the rain started to move up from the ground instead of downwards and I was like, Oh my goodness, something is about to go down, Mitchell said. And then I saw the funnel form and Im like, What is about to happen? Then I start to see the funnel completely form, pick up a Tacoma from across the street, and flip it four times. They said they checked and saw no one was in the car. The First Alert Weather Team was first on the air warning about the storm as it moved through our area. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down on the Southside and around Arlington. This means winds of up to 100 miles per hour swept through. You can see the damage it left behind on Grove Park Boulevard. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] I was scared and shaking, Crystal Rivera said. Rivera and Michael Vargas live at the home on right next to where this massive tree fell on powerlines. Its crazy because it didnt like break in half or anything, it took the whole tree out, Vargas said. But they werent the only ones affected. Was not expecting to come home to this, neighbor Darlene Griffith said. It took down my favorite tree I was crying when I saw my little tree in the front because I love this little tree. Griffith came home to find her trees down in her front yard, and the back of her home destroyed. Very emotional when I look at this, Griffith said. They took my porch, and they knocked a hole in my wall, blew out windows my bathroom windows were blown out, yea its pretty bad a lot of damage for sure. JEAs power outage map shows more than 4,000 customers lost power today. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Crews were working to remove debris and restore power lines for hours. Power was expected to be restored by 10 pm, but crews were still working late into the night. As a Floridian, we know to watch out for hurricanes, but we arent as aware of tornados so I think this is a good reminder that its not just hurricanes, we have crazy weather here in Florida, Mitchell said. The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department says there were no reported injuries from the tornado. 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. On the heels of a controversial debate with Republican opponent Donald Trump, President Joe Biden bounced back with a busy Friday schedule. The morning saw Biden hit a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he seemingly ignored calls to step aside in the 2024 election by declaring, I know how to do this job. By the afternoon, Biden was in New York alongside his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, superstars Elton John and Katy Perry, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and other politicos and New York officials to unveil the citys Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. The grand opening was timed to kick off New York Citys Pride weekend and mark the 55th anniversary of the historic rebellion that marked a turning point for LGBTQ liberation. More from The Hollywood Reporter Join me at the Stonewall National Monument while I give remarks at the Grand Opening of the Visitors Center, the first LGBTQI+ educational center in the National Park Service. https://t.co/XtR7LknRxB President Biden (@POTUS) June 28, 2024 Fifty-five years ago today on this hallowed ground, a pivotal story for our nation unfolded. The soul of the nation was literally tested thats not hyperbole, the soul of the nation was tested and the heart of this movement was ignited and the course of history was changed forever, President Biden said from the podium. This beloved bar became the site of a call to cry for freedom, dignity, and equality and respect. Rebellion had galvanized the LGBTQ+ community all across the nation, quite frankly all around the world. He said the events that took place on June 28, 1969, marked a turning point for civil rights in America, and he hailed Stonewall as a symbol of a legacy of the leadership of the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans women of color, who were key members of the movement and the riot that changed the course of history. Biden then acknowledged current times by leaning on something hes said numerous times during his administration amid the cavernous political divide between liberals and conservatives: We remain in a battle for the soul of America. I look at around at the pride, hope and light that all of you bring, I know [its] a battle were going to win and continue to make progress. Biden praised the LGBTQ community by adding, Your courage and contributions enrich every part of American life. Today, lets proudly remember who we are were the United States of America. Theres nothing beyond our capacity to work together, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect no matter what their background. Period. Period. Period. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and President Joe Biden appear onstage together with the senator exclaiming, Hes the best! Hes a fighter! SNMVC is a program of Pride Live in partnership with the National Park Service, making it the first LGBTQIA+ center in the parks network. As such, it will be staffed by Stonewall National Monument NPS park rangers charged with welcoming visitors, monitoring access to the facilities, hosting meetings and stamping National Parks Passports for guests. The center, six years in the making, is credited with being led by two queer women of color, Pride Live co-founders Diana Rodriguez and Ann Marie Gothard. New York studio EDG Architecture + Engineering led architectural design and renovation. Gay couple and Chicago-based designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are credited with contributing to the interiors while New Yorks Local Projects spearheaded the design of SNMVCs exhibits. In her remarks, First Lady Jill Biden singled out Rodriguez and Gothard for their contributions. This is American history, she said. And like so many victories the LGBTQ community has won throughout the years, this is a work of love. Diana, Ann Marie, with your hope and dedication, you have shown us that love can move mountains. You have the kind of partnership, both in life and in your work, that everyone hopes to find. And youve made sure to keep the diversity of this community at the center of your work. From today on, the Visitor Center and Monument will tell our nations story to the teenager who comes here and discovers she isnt alone. The space is designed to offer a look back at the communitys history and culture and the fight for equality through a variety of programs (in-person and virtual), exhibitions, visual art displays, a lecture series and a dedicated theater space. SNMVC spans 2,100 sq. feet at 51 Christopher Street, located between Waverly Place and 7th Avenue South in Greenwich Village. Back in the day, the Stonewall Inn occupied two adjoining storefronts at 51 and 53 Christopher Street. In the years that followed 1969, the real estate changed hands and separated into two different businesses with the current bar at 53 Christopher Street reopening its doors in 1990. Meanwhile, 51 Christopher Street housed a number of businesses, including a bagel shop, retail store and nail salon. Elton John performs for the crowd during the ceremony. After an introduction from Perry, the legendary entertainer closed the program a set that included Bennie and The Jets, Im Still Standing and Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me. After Bidens remarks, he introduced EGOT winner John as a close friend of the family. In 2022, the Bidens presented John a National Humanities Medal during an event at the White House. I can say as a proud English gay man, this is one of the biggest honors of my lifetime, John said in his brief remarks from the podium. The fight for freedom and equality is an ongoing one. John, who was welcomed to the stage by another superstar entertainer, Katy Perry, closed the program with an electric set that included some of his biggest hits including Bennie and The Jets, Im Still Standing and Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me. The full program also featured performances from Cynthia Erivo (singing Home from The Wiz), Johnny Manuel and Sing Harlem Choir, remarks by Perry, Adam Lambert, Mellon Foundation President Elizabeth Alexander, Humans Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Googles Torrence Boone, SNMVC founding partner Henry Munoz III, Alina Torres-Zickler and Kaila Torres-Zickler, Gillibrand, Governor Hochul, New York City Assembly Member Deborah Glick, Visitor Center co-founders Gothard and Rodriguez, and Stonewall pioneer Mark Segal and others. The event hosted boldfaced names like newly-minted Tony winner Jonathan Groff, Fellow Travelers star Jelani Aladdin, Alan Cumming, Erich Bergen, Michael Kors, Lance Le Pere, Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Irina Shayk, Billy Eichner, Courtney Act, Gayle Rankin, Irina Shayk, Olivia Ponton and more. An overview of exhibits and experiences is below. Admission is free and reservations are available. Cynthia Erivo performs Home from The Wiz. Katy Perry poses ahead of the ceremony wearing Sportmax spring/summer 2024 (Look 29). Michael Kors, Lance LePere, Neil Patrick Harris, Alan Cumming and David Burtka attend the opening ceremony for New Yorks Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center hosted by Pride Live on June 28, 2024. A look inside the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York A rendering of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. Diana Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO Pride Live and SNMVC, and Ann Marie Gothard, co-founder of SNMVC and chair of the board of directors for Pride Live. The Booking.com Theater Booking.com supported the theater and is creating original programming in collaboration with Pride Live. The content showcases diverse stories of LGBTQIA+ travelers. Pride Live will screen films and host events in the venue. Wall of Solidarity Google installed an interactive exhibit that features digital screens that convey the impact of Stonewalls legacy around the world and spotlights the voices of hope. The West Wall Stonewall pioneer and SNMVC founding partner Mark Segal curated a series of panels for the west wall, each offering a first-hand account of the events that led up to the Stonewall Rebellion. The panels provide visitors with a comprehensive telling of the Stonewall legacy, including historical moments that shaped LGBTQIA+ activism across the country. Jukebox With support from founding partner Amazon, the exhibit features a 1967 Rowe AMI, a replica of the original jukebox that was present inside the Stonewall bar in 1969. Curated by Honey Dijon, the jukebox features songs that capture the rebellious spirit and collective joy of the Stonewall community. Honey Dijons playlist is available exclusively on Amazon Music. Parsons School of Design Student Exhibit Pride Live established a partnership with the New Schools Parsons School of Design to create an elective class for students, who curate a rotating exhibit at the Visitor Center that shares the experiences of young queer people and allies. Mothers of Star AR Experience B. Hawk Snipes, Tourmaline and Kinfolk Foundation joined forces to create a historical archive featuring community figures that have been celebrated, silenced, uplifted and even erased throughout history like Storme DeLarverie, Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson and Zazu Nova. Stonewall Generations Stonewall Generations is a video series produced by Pride Live with support from founding partner AARP. The series highlights, celebrates and archives the voices of the movement as a way to underscore the reverberations of Stonewall in the fight for equality today. Chelsea Clinton, Adam Lambert, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado and more are included. FEWOCiOUS Original Art An original work titled How Are You? from the queer artist FEWOCiOUS is featured on the east wall of the Visitor Center. The artist created the painting in real-time in Christopher Park at the SNMVCs 2022 Groundbreaking Ceremony. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 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. OGE Energy, WEC Energy And Northwest Natural's Steady Growth For Savvy Investors Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. For income-focused investors, utility stocks with a robust track record of consistent dividend growth are particularly appealing. Here, we highlight three companiesOGE Energy, WEC Energy Group, and Northwest Natural Holding Companythat have maintained solid dividend growth over the years and offer attractive yields. OGE Energy OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE), along with its subsidiaries, provides energy services in the United States. The company generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy, serving approximately 896,000 customers across a 30,000 square mile area in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. OGE Energy has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.4182 per share, or $1.6728 annually, yielding 4.70%. Over the past twelve months, OGE Energy generated $2.7 billion in revenue and $397.1 million in net income. Trending: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100. WEC Energy WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) provides regulated natural gas and electricity services, as well as renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services across the United States. It generates and distributes electricity from various sources, including coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and biomass. Additionally, the company maintains and operates electric transmission systems and distributes natural gas. WEC Energy has increased its dividend for 20 consecutive years. It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.835 per share, or $3.34 annually, yielding 4.26%. Over the past twelve months, the company generated $8.68 billion in revenue and $1.44 billion in net income. Northwest Natural Holding Company Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE:NWN) owns NW Natural Gas Company, NW Natural Water Company, and NW Natural Renewables Holdings. NW Natural Gas provides natural gas service to about 2 million people in Oregon and Southwest Washington through over 800,000 meters. NW Natural Water offers water distribution and wastewater services in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, and Arizona, serving over 180,000 people. NW Natural Renewables focuses on providing renewable fuels for various sectors. Northwest Natural has increased its dividend for 69 consecutive years. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $1.95 per share, or $7.80 annually, yielding 5.47%. Over the past twelve months, Northwest Natural generated $1.16 billion in revenue and $86 million in net income. Story continues Dont Miss: Private credit offers up to 20% APY to potential accredited investors looking to capitalize on this growing asset class. There Are Better High-Yield Opportunities The current high-interest-rate environment has created an incredible opportunity for income-seeking investors to earn massive yields, but not through dividend stocks... Certain private market real estate investments are giving retail investors the opportunity to capitalize on these high-yield opportunities and Benzinga has identified some of the most attractive options for you to consider. For instance, Basecamp Alpine Notes offers a target APY of 9% with a term of only three months, making it a powerful short-term cash management tool with incredible flexibility. EquityMultiple has issued 61 Alpine Notes Series and has met all payment and funding obligations with no missed or late interest payments. With a low minimum investment of just $1,000, Basecamp Alpine Notes makes it easier than ever to start building a high-yield portfolio. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take advantage of high-yield investments while rates are high. Check out Benzinga's favorite high-yield offerings. 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. This article OGE Energy, WEC Energy And Northwest Natural's Steady Growth For Savvy Investors originally appeared on Benzinga.com The Reform Party of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Saturday nominated Climate Minister Kristen Michal to take over from Kallas if her appointment as European Union foreign policy chief goes through. The executive committee of the liberal-conservative party took the decision unanimously. Michal thanked the party for the confidence shown in him and pledged to fill the post with dignity. He stressed that Estonian national security would be a priority. The Kallas government has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in fighting off the Russian invasion and backs a firm policy towards Moscow. Earlier this year, her name was added to the Russian Interior Ministry's list of those wanted on criminal charges. The Reform Party executive also decided to check the current coalition agreement, which draws in the Social Democratic Party (SDE) and the liberal Estonia 200 as junior partners. On Thursday, Kallas was selected as the next EU foreign and security policy head at a summit in Brussels. Confirmation depends on a vote in the new European Parliament. Kallas, the first woman to hold the post of prime minister in Estonia, plans to represent her country at the NATO summit being held in Washington between July 9 and 11 before resigning. On 29 June, the Council of the European Union adopted sanctions against the Belarusian economy, aimed at mirroring some of the restrictive measures against Russia and thus addressing the issue of sanction circumvention. Source: European Pravda, citing the Council of the EU Details: With its decision, the Council of the EU continues the ban on the export of dual-use goods and technologies, as well as advanced technologies, and introduces additional restrictions on the export of goods that can enhance Belarus' industrial potential. Additional restrictions on the export to Belarus of goods and technologies for maritime navigation and luxury items are also being introduced. Furthermore, it will be prohibited to directly or indirectly import, purchase, or transfer gold and diamonds, as well as helium, coal, and mineral products, including crude oil, from Belarus. This measure will be complemented by a new ban on the export of goods and technologies suitable for use in oil refining and the liquefaction of natural gas. The Council of the EU prohibits the provision of certain services to Belarus, its government, state agencies, corporations, or agents, as well as to any individual or legal entity acting on their behalf or under their direction. These services include, in particular, accounting, architectural and engineering services, advertising and market research services, and others. The Council of the EU also extends the ban on the transport of goods by road through the EU territory with trailers and semi-trailers registered in Belarus, including when transported by trucks registered outside of Belarus. Today's decision requires EU exporters to include in their future contracts a so-called "no-Belarus clause", which prohibits the re-export to Belarus or re-export for use in Belarus of critical goods and technologies, military goods, firearms, and ammunition. To minimise the risk of sanctions circumvention, the EU will ban the transit through Belarus of dual-use goods and technologies, goods and technologies that could contribute to Belarus' military and technical enhancement or the development of its defence and security sector, and goods that could strengthen Belarus' industrial capabilities. Additionally, to counter the re-export of military goods found in Ukraine or critical to the development of Russian military systems, EU operators selling such goods to third countries will need to implement due diligence mechanisms. Background: On Monday, 24 June, the EU Council adopted the 14th package of economic and individual restrictive measures against Russia, which, for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, includes sanctions against Russian gas. Among the individuals included in the EU's expanded sanctions within the 14th package are the mother of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the commander of the Russian Navy, and many other Russian officials, as well as the Artek childrens summer camp in Crimea and actor Ivan Okhlobystin. Support UP or become our patron! The European Union imposed new sanctions on Belarus on June 29 due to its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, EU Council announced. "These comprehensive measures aim at mirroring several of the restrictive measures already in place against Russia, and thereby address the issue of circumvention stemming from the high degree of integration existing between the Russian and Belarusian economies," the statement read. Belarus has been a key ally to Moscow and supported Russian aggression against Ukraine, though it has not committed its own forces directly to the hostilities. The EU introduced on June 24 the 14th round of sanctions against Russia, aimed at tackling the circumvention of existing measures and to further restrict profits from Russia's energy industry. Two days later, the EU ambassadors agreed on a new sanction package targeting Belarus as well. New restrictions against Belarus target trade, services, transport, and anti-circumvention loopholes, according to the EU Council. background background Subscribe to newsletter Belarus Weekly The EU extended the export ban on dual-use and advanced goods and technologies. The Council also introduced restrictions on goods that could enhance Belarusian industrial capacities, as well as luxury goods, maritime navigation and technologies. The EU imposed new sanctions on Belarusian imports. The Council prohibited the direct or indirect imports, purchasing, or transferring of gold and diamonds from Belarus, as well as helium, coal, and mineral products, including crude oil. Some of the services, including in the fields of architecture, engineering, IT consultancy, business, and management, among others, will be banned for Belarus, its government, public bodies, corporations, or agencies. The EU also broadened the prohibition on the transport of goods by road within its territory by trailers and semi-trailers registered in Belarus. "Today's decision requires that EU exporters insert in their future contract the so-called 'no-Belarus clause,' through which they contractually prohibit the re-exportation to Belarus or re-exportation for use in Belarus of sensitive goods and technology, battlefield goods, firearms, and ammunition," the statement said. The EU banned the transit through Belarus the dual-use goods and technologies or the goods that may contribute to the country's defense industry. EU companies will also be required to ensure that their third-country subsidiaries don't participate in "activities that result in an outcome that the sanctions seek to prevent." Read also: Work on 15th sanctions package against Russia to start immediately, Finnish FM says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Radek Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, compared Mr Biden's situation to the decline of the Roman empire - Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo European allies have expressed anxiety that Joe Bidens poor debate performance could mean victory for Donald Trump and reduction in US support for Ukraine. The 81-year-old US president lost his train of thought and stumbled through Thursday nights debate, which contained relatively little discussion of foreign policy. Mr Biden accused Trump of cosying up to dictators such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un, and boasted of bringing together an alliance of 50 nations to back Kyiv in the war with Russia. A poster mocking Joe Biden greeted Trump supporters who came to a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, after the debate - Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images Trump repeated his unlikely promise to bring an immediate end to the war in Ukraine and claimed conflict would never have broken out in Israel if he had been US president. When asked by Mr Biden if he would pull the US out of Nato, the former president simply shrugged. But the impression left in capitals around the world was of an elderly man struggling to finish his sentences, boding ill for his chances on Nov 5. Radek Sikorski, Polands foreign minister, called on Mr Biden to stand down as he made a comparison to the collapse of the Roman empire. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Sikorski, whose profile picture shows him with Mr Biden, compared the US president to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius was a great emperor but he screwed up his succession by passing the baton to his feckless son Commodus (He, from the Gladiator). Whose disastrous rule started Rome's decline. It's important to manage one's ride into the sunset. Radek Sikorski (@radeksikorski) June 28, 2024 Poland has been one of Ukraines firmest allies in the war, providing 3.6 billion in aid, or 0.7 per cent of its GDP, since 2022. The US has provided 57 billion so far, or 0.31 per cent of GDP, and pledged more. The Biden administration recently passed a bill providing Ukraine with an extra $60 billion, overcoming objections from Trump and his allies in Congress that slowed down the delivery of much-needed aid and weaponry. In the debate, Trump said: Biden is giving $200 billion or more to Ukraine. Thats a lot of money. Every time Zelensky comes to this country, he walks away with $60 billion. The greatest salesman ever. Oleksiy Goncharenko, a senior Ukrainian politician, told CNN: 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. Joe Biden struggled to make his points during the debate with Donald Trump - Gerald Herbert/AP He added: It can be very good, it can be very bad. We just dont know. And thats definitely concerning. Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, was the only European leader to openly criticise Mr Bidens debate performance. They certainly have a problem, he said. Yes, these reactions are unambiguous. I was afraid in the sense: it was to be expected that in a direct confrontation, in a debate, it would not be easy for President Biden. Michael Link, a German official who oversees transatlantic relations, said the Democrats should consider who is best placed to prevent Trump from returning to office using his usual methods allegations, insults, distortions, outright lies. I was shell-shocked. I could not believe my eyes, one diplomat from Asia told CNN, while a Ukrainian envoy said they found Trumps plans for their country worrying. One European diplomat conceded it was a bad night for the Democratic candidate. A second said: 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. If they can change the horse, they should Another European diplomat admitted that they were hoping the Democrats will replace Mr Biden with another candidate. If they can change the horse, they should...if it was possible to call the governor of California [Gavin Newsom] and have Biden say, You go and Ill step out, that would be the right thing to do. The Telegraph has also spoken to Tory cabinet ministers who have similar concerns. One Cabinet minister told The Telegraph: It is pretty f---- scary that those are the best two [candidates] the worlds most powerful nation with a population of 350 million can come up with. On Mr Biden and the Democrats, the minister added: If I was them, I would say switch him fast. Get someone, anyone, reasonable in there and they have a good chance to win. A second Cabinet minister said: It is a fantastic opportunity because they will have to get rid of him and you will have a decent candidate who will blow Trump out of the water. You really cant have someone who is barely coherent as president. The trouble is it draws comparisons to [Leonid] Brezhnev. It makes democracies look as out of touch in respect to their leaders as the totalitarian states. Clearly the Democrats cant possibly keep him as the presidential candidate. Theyve got six weeks to find the answer to the question of who will be a young, vigorous, mainstream Democrat who will then clean up at the election. Mr Brezhnev, the Soviet Unions general secretary of the Communist Party, was visibly ill before he died in office in 1982. 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. Fireworks explode over the Empire State Building and the Manhattan skyline for the annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular for Independence Day. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI June 29 (UPI) -- This year's Fourth of July travel period is on track to be the busiest and the hottest yet. The projected number of travelers for the Saturday before and Sunday after Independence Day on Thursday is a 5% increase from 2023 and 8% up from 2019, according to AAA. Altogether, AAA predicted nearly 71 million people will travel 50 miles or more for the Fourth, over 60 million of which will travel by car, a nearly 5% increase from last year. With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day," Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. "We anticipate this July 4 week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019." Gas prices also are lower than last year when the national average was $3.53 per gallon and are expected to keep shrinking up to Independence Day, according to AAA. AAA car rental partner Hertz said Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and San Francisco will likely experience the highest demand for rentals during the Fourth of July Week, with the busiest day being Wednesday. Air travel is expected to be even busier, with the Transportation Security Administration predicting more than 32 million travelers from Thursday through July 8, a more than 5% increase from last Fourth. The TSA said it broke the record for most people screened in a single day last Sunday with almost 3 million. "We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. "Compared to last year, we have cut our attrition rates by almost half and increased our recruiting as a result of the TSA Compensation Plan that was funded in the budget passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. "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." This travel season will be exceptionally hot for many across the United States with temperatures likely to run five to 10 degrees above the historic average, according to AccuWeather. Atlanta is expected to feel temperatures in the mid-90s, while New York City could get just below that. Texas and other parts of the South will likely break 100 degrees over the holiday weekend. Farther west, San Francisco, Sacramento and Salt Lake City also can expect triple-digit temperatures. Residents are urged to be careful with grills, open flames and fireworks to avoid starting wildfires. Most of the country can expect clear skies, but people in Chicago; Detroit; St. Louis; Des Moines, Iowa; and Kansas City, Mo., might have some scattered showers and thunderstorms interfere with their fireworks. Fake weed ban will take effect Monday as lawsuit against it proceeds A neon sign advertises delta-8 products at a store in Sioux Falls. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) A new law barring the production or sale of high-inducing, hemp-derived cannabis products will take effect Monday after a judge declined to block it. Hemp Quarters 605, a Pierre-based shop that sells those products, filed a lawsuit earlier this month in U.S. District Court in South Dakota. The business claims the new laws provisions are unconstitutional and in conflict with federal law. The 2018 federal farm bill legalized the production and sale of industrial hemp and hemp-derived products, provided they contain less than 0.3% of the intoxicating compound delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, by dry weight. House Bill 1125, signed into law in March by Gov. Kristi Noem, targets five types of chemicals that appear at low levels in hemp plants. The chemicals can be synthesized and added in amounts large enough for hemp products to ape the intoxicating effects of the delta-9 THC found in marijuana. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, even though its legal in some states and medical marijuana is legal in South Dakota. A violation of the new law will be a class 2 misdemeanor, the states lowest-level criminal offense. Like most laws adopted by the Legislature, its effective date is July 1. Products like gummies, vape pens and smokable hemp containing the chemicals targeted by the new law are widely available across South Dakota. Theyre sold in gas stations, grocery and liquor stores and in specialty smoke shops like Hemp Quarters 605. The company had asked U.S. District Judge Eric Schulte to issue a preliminary injunction to block the law from taking effect as the case plays out in court. At a hearing on that injunction Thursday in Pierre, Hemp Quarters 605 representatives testified that hemp-derived products constitute more than two-thirds of their retail business. They argue the state is violating the U.S. Constitutions commerce clause by interfering with the sale of federally legal products across state lines. An injunction is appropriate, they said, because they will suffer irreparable harm namely the potential closure of their business when the law takes effect. To earn a preliminary injunction, plaintiffs must first prove theyre likely to prevail on the merits, according to an opinion that Judge Schulte filed electronically on Saturday. If the plaintiff the hemp store in this case is able to hit that mark, a judge must then find that the plaintiff would suffer irreparable harm without an injunction. The judge must also consider the wider implications of an injunction on other interested parties in this case, the state and those affected by the new law. A preliminary injunction denial does not settle the lawsuit or guarantee a win for the state, represented in the case by Attorney General Marty Jackleys office. Judge Schulte wrote that Hemp Quarters arguments werent enough to earn an injunction, even if the law might cause its business irreparable harm. The 2018 farm bill did not expressly prohibit states from enacting laws regulating the hemp trade. In fact, Schulte wrote, it did just the opposite, allowing states to impose more stringent regulations for hemp. The Legislatures passage of HB 1125 falls squarely within the police powers traditionally reserved to states, as it is intended to promote the health and welfare of South Dakotas citizens, Schulte wrote. Schulte cited a case challenging a Virginia law regulating hemp in which the judge came to a similar conclusion. On the commerce clause question, Hemp Quarters had argued that a truck driver from Minnesota carrying federally legal hemp through South Dakota could be subject to state prosecution. Schulte disagreed. He wrote that the law wouldnt apply in such a scenario, because it doesnt criminalize the possession of hemp products. It only bans their production or distribution. The opinion also noted that the Hughes County states attorney has said it has no plans to immediately prosecute the owners of Hemp Quarters. The Attorney Generals Office has made no such promise, Schulte wrote, but lawyers for the state pointed out that The South Dakota Attorney Generals Office does not typically prosecute misdemeanor offenses such as those contained within HB 1125. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Fake weed ban will take effect Monday as lawsuit against it proceeds appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. Families of the victims killed in the 2022 Robb elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, are calling for further accountability following the indictment of the former Uvalde school police chief. Speaking to NBC after Pete Arredondo, as well as former police officer Adrian Gonzales, were indicted on multiple counts of felony child endangerment and abandonment, the victims families are saying that theres nothing to be happy about. Its still a sad moment. Theres nothing to be happy about, one family member, Berlinda Arreola, told NBC. Arreolas 10-year-old granddaughter, Amerie Jo Garza, was among the 19 children and two teachers killed in the shooting on 24 May 2022 that left an additional 17 people injured. We are having to relive this nightmare again knowing they had the chance to save some of our loved ones maybe all of them, Arreola said, adding that she wants more officials to be indicted following the cascading failures, as described by the justice department, in the polices delayed response to the shooting. Jesse Rizo, the uncle of nine-year-old Jacklyn Cazares, who was killed in the shooting, echoed similar sentiments to NBC. My brothers thought is, why only two people? Its a very valid question, why only two individuals that were indicted today? And we hope that we get that answer soon, Rizo said, adding: I dont think its enough Its hard to swallow. You had children that went through a lot, that saw living hell, that took their last breath on their own, the only comfort they had was each other and perhaps even themselves. So when you see these charges and the maximum penalty only carries a few years in jail, possibly its difficult to accept that, Rizo said. Similarly, Kimberly Rubio, the mother of 10-year-old Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, who was killed in the shooting, said: I am glad to see that some action was taken. But I dont want it mistaken for justice. This isnt justice. This is just the beginning. Justice would be convictions. Its two indictments out of so many possibilities. There were dozens of officers that arrived there early that knew that children were in the classroom, knew that there was an active shooter and they chose to do nothing. It is not enough, itll never be enough, Rubio added. Brett Cross, the father of 10-year-old Uziyah Garcia, who was killed in the shooting, told NBC that the indictments were two out of 376% justice, in reference to the 376 police officers who arrived on scene and took more than 70 minutes to apprehend the 18-year-old gunman who opened fire in a fourth grade classroom. It shouldnt end with just these two, said Cross, adding that he wants to see charges against the other police officers that were in the hallway, the ones that knew the information, the ones that knew that there were children in there and then they didnt do anything. Following the release of a federal report on the shooting earlier this year, the US attorney general, Merrick Garland, said that the law enforcement response at Robb elementary school and then the hours and days after, was a failure that should not have happened. In its report, the justice department said that authorities had demonstrated no urgency and had a series of mishaps including a haphazard initial response, delays in setting up a command post, and not immediately addressing the attack as an active shooter situation. Surveillance footage released by the Austin American-Statesman and local television channel KVUE in 2022 show officers in the hallway but not taking action to stop the shooter; a video showed a man wearing a vest that said sheriff using a hand-sanitizing dispenser on the wall of the school hallway. In May, the victims families filed wrongful-death lawsuits against Instagram and the Call of Duty game maker Activision, as well as weapons manufacturer Daniel Defense. The lawsuits accuse the companies of enabling the shooting, with Josh Koskoff, an attorney for the families, saying: There is a direct line between the conduct of these companies and the Uvalde shooting. Speaking about the shooter who was killed by police, Koskoff said: Well before he was old enough to purchase [an AR-15 made by Daniel Defense 23 minutes after midnight on his 18th birthday], he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense, Koskoff said. This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it, Koskoff added. There might be an effort to mislead voters in a Miami-Dade County race. Whether this is about a family feud or an organized partisan effort, it shouldnt matter. Its likely to make it harder for the people to voice their opinion in an election. House District 106, covering Miami Beach and other oceanside cities, is perhaps one of the most competitive legislative seats in Florida. Republican state Rep. Fabian Basabe pulled off a razor-thin victory in 2022 despite Democrats having usually represented the area. Now with Basabe under fire for accusations against him of improper behavior and for voting for the law known as Dont say gay a wild card has been thrown into the race. The aunt of his Democratic opponent Joe Saunders has filed to run as an independent candidate under a similar name as her nephew, the Miami Herald reported. Maureen Saunders Scott lives hundreds of miles away near Jacksonville. Yet she will appear on the ballot in district 106 as Moe Saunders. She signed an affidavit swearing she did not create the nickname to mislead voters,but the effects might be just that. Worse, Scotts name will appear immediately below Saunders on the Nov. 5 ballot. How many voters could mistakenly choose Moe instead of Joe? Saunders has sued to prevent his aunt from appearing on the ballot. His lawsuit claims that she used to go by Mo, short for Maureen, but never Moe until now. She told the Herald she has been Moe for over 40 years. Joe Saunders has reason to worry. In a race that might be close, a few dozen confused voters could be enough to sway the results. Its happened before in Miami-Dade. In 2020, a ghost candidate with the same last name as the Democratic incumbent in a Florida Senate race was paid to run in the race. Like Scott, he filed to run as an independent and did not live in the district. Then-Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez lost by 32 votes to Republican Ileana Garcia. The case resulted in the arrest of Frank Artiles, a former GOP state senator who prosecutors say was behind the alleged scheme to siphon votes away from Democrats by paying more than $40,000 to the third-party candidate to run. To be clear, theres no evidence at this point that Moe Saunders is a ghost candidate recruited by Republicans to influence the District 106 election. Basabe has denied any involvement. Scott might be a disgruntled relative of Saunders. An X account that appears to belong to her suggested that Joe Saunders failed to speak out and protect her against an abusive relative, a claim the Miami Herald was not able to corroborate. Regardless, this controversy is a distraction from Basabes short but tumultuous record in the Florida House. After campaigning as a moderate who would stand by Miami Beachs large LGBTQ+ community, he voted for some of the most vitriol-filled legislation in Florida, supporting a crackdown on minors attending drag shows and the parental rights law critics call Dont say gay that prohibits discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. He was booed at a Miami Beach Pride event last year. Basabe was also accused of slapping his legislative aide and of sexual harassment by the aide and a former intern, accusations he denied. A law firm hired by the Florida House to investigate the slap allegation found that there was physical contact between Basabe and his aide but that no witnesses could corroborate the incident. An investigation into the sexual harassment allegations found the claims could not be substantiated but that Basabe likely should exercise better judgment regarding observing the delicate margins between the personal and professional with his subordinates. With all this context, the Moe Saunders candidacy throws a potential wrench into a race that should be about the issues and who would represent coastal Miami-Dade voters better and not be mired in a family feud or, if the evidence ever bears that out, a scheme to confuse voters. Click here to send the letter. Attourney Les Weisbrod speaks during funeral services for former U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson at Concord Church on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Dallas. (Smiley Pool/ The Dallas Morning News /POOL PHOTO) The family of the late U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson has reached a deal with Baylor Scott & White over allegations that the hospital and rehab center's neglect caused the congresswoman's death one year after the 89-year-old had retired from Washington. As part of the agreement announced Thursday, the hospital chain created the Eddie Bernice Johnson Lives Foundation, a nonprofit that will support causes important to the former congresswoman, who is often referred to as EBJ. It will be run by her family. Baylor Scott and White also renamed a scholarship program for hospital staff members seeking advanced nursing degrees after Johnson as part of the deal. The family and their attorney, Les Weisbrod, had threatened to sue Baylor, Scott & White Rehabilitation Hospital, accusing the facility of having failed to tend to her wounds from a back surgery, leading to infection. Johnson died on New Year's Eve of a severe bone infection, according to her death certificate. The family and Weisbrod did not disclose the total settlement amount in a news conference Thursday, but said the hospital had made a financial contribution to the foundation. He also said the family made the first donation to the trust. Its an excellent resolution considering the caps that are in place in the state of Texas, and its the resolution that will allow the family to do good in the congresswomans name, Weisbrod said. Johnson, a Black woman and former nurse, served in both the Texas Senate and the U.S. House, and was called the single most effective legislator Dallas has ever had" by the mayor of Dallas. She retired from the U.S. House in January 2023 after almost 30 years in office. Weisbrod, a well-known personal injury lawyer and longtime friend of the late Johnson, has sought to draw attention to the Texas law that caps most medical malpractice claims at $250,000 through Johnson's case. Weisbrod pledged that he and the family will seek to raise the limit for malpractice damages to $500,000 during the next session of the Texas Legislature, which begins in January. Because malpractice claims are so costly to bring to court and the limited potential for damages, many Texans are unable to find trial lawyers who will take their claims, the Dallas Morning News reported in January. We have got to continue working so that those caps are changed, so that every Texan could get a more favorable result for the loss of their loved one and not just those that are related to a congresswoman, Weisbrod said Thursday. EBJ allegedly developed infection from untended surgical wound The claims at the center of the deal announced Thursday relate to Johnsons stay at Baylor, Scott & White Rehabilitation Hospital, which Newsweek in September named one of Texas best physical rehabilitation hospitals that year. Her spinal surgeon had referred her to that facility for post-operative treatment after having had back surgery. Four days into her stay, Johnson's son said he found his mother lying in her own urine and feces in a hospital bed. She had spent 15-20 minutes "begging for help," according to a family news release. Her son couldnt find any nurses on her floor, so he went to a hospital administrative office and showed David Smith, the hospital's CEO, his mothers situation. It took roughly 15 minutes after Kirk Johnson arrived in his mother's hospital room for her to be cleaned up, Weisbrod told reporters. I asked Mr. Smith, Is this how you would like your mother treated? Is this customary treatment for anyones mother? Kirk Johnson said in a news release. Several days later, the retired lawmaker's surgical wounds became severely infected, according to her medical records. A lab culture found organisms directly related to feces in her wound. The laboratory reports leave no doubt that the infection that killed Former Congresswoman Johnson was caused by the failure of the staff at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation to properly care for Mrs. Johnson and allowing her to have laid in her own feces, Weisbrod said in a January news release. A copy of Johnson's death certificate the family sent to media shows she died of osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine a severe bone infection. Johnson, who was the first registered nurse to be elected to Congress, had, while ailing, asked Weisbrod and her family to file the suit on her behalf, according to Weisbrod. On Thursday, the attorney added that he had "received some assurances" from the hospital that it has taken steps to prevent other patients from facing the neglect alleged by Johnson's family. "Congresswoman Johnson was a friend and champion in the communities we serve she is an inspiration to all," Baylor Scott & White Health told the American-Statesman in a statement. "It has long been our priority to help her lifes work live on. In a Thursday news release, the family said the charitable foundation in Johnson's name "will support organizations that promote women's rights, stable families, science, technology, engineering, and math education and peace initiatives; all things she spent her career advocating for." Weisbrod said the family will invite charities to apply for grants from the foundation, which Kirk Johnson, his wife and his eldest son will primarily direct. We are at peace, Kirk Johnson said Thursday, struggling to speak as he choked back tears. We have to accept Gods will, but her initiatives, her interests will continue to live. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Family of Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson reach deal with Dallas hospital By Sarah Marsh ESSEN, Germany (Reuters) -Leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany on Saturday reported a surge in membership and vowed to build on the party's success in the European Parliament election, as they target wins in three state votes in the east this year. The AfD jumped to second place in nationwide polls last year amid frustration with infighting in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, worries over sluggish growth in Europe's largest economy, and concerns over the impact of the war in Ukraine. While a string of scandals and anti-extremism protests has dampened the AfD's support in recent months, the nationalist, eurosceptic party nonetheless came second with 15.9% in the European vote this month, ahead of the three parties in Scholz's coalition. AfD membership had grown by 60% to 46,881 members since January 2023, co-chief Tino Chrupalla told nearly 600 delegates at a party convention in the western city of Essen. Some 22,000 people had joined while 4,000 had left. "Despite all the harassment you have to endure as a member of the AfD, this is an absolutely sensational figure," Chrupalla told the convention. The figure is still a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of members boasted by the "big tent" parties in Germany, Scholzs Social Democrats and the opposition conservatives. The congress was held despite resistance from city authorities - marked by the rainbow and EU flags flying on flagpoles outside the convention centre - and protesters who sought to prevent AfD delegates from making it there. Two riot police officers who had been escorting a politician were seriously injured after protesters kicked them in the head after they fell to the ground and had to be hospitalised, police reported. A further seven officers were also injured. 'WE ARE HERE TO STAY' "Melt the AfD snowball before it becomes an avalanche" and "AfD = Despiser of mankind" read some of the signs that protesters carried at an anti-AfD march through the city. The interior ministry estimated some 20,000 people participated in the demonstration, state broadcaster ZDF said. The party congress will run until Sunday, the same day neighbouring France holds the first round of a snap parliamentary election that could bring the far right to power. "We will not be intimidated," said co-chief Alice Weidel. "We are here and we are here to stay." The AfD is on track to come first in elections in the eastern states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg in September, according to polls, which will likely further complicate governance there as other parties refuse to form a coalition with it. In discussing the party's policy platform, Weidel said AfD's future allies in the European Parliament should oppose the disbursal of taxpayer money to the "debt states" of Europe - a reference to countries such as Italy and Greece - and the idea that Ukraine belongs to the European Union, after it opened membership talks this week. The AfD is on course to form a new political group in the European Parliament - a move which would require 23 MEPs from at least seven EU countries - after being expelled from the Identity and Democracy grouping last month, Weidel said. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Alison Williams and David Holmes) Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Corby Spirit and Wine Limited (TSE:CSW.A) Independent Director, Pamela Laycock, recently bought CA$92k worth of stock, for CA$13.15 per share. Although the purchase is not a big one, by either a percentage standpoint or absolute value, it can be seen as a good sign. View our latest analysis for Corby Spirit and Wine The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Corby Spirit and Wine In fact, the recent purchase by Pamela Laycock was the biggest purchase of Corby Spirit and Wine shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That means that even when the share price was higher than CA$12.97 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 9.70k shares worth CA$127k. On the other hand they divested 1.40k shares, for CA$20k. In the last twelve months there was more buying than selling by Corby Spirit and Wine insiders. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Corby Spirit and Wine is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Does Corby Spirit and Wine Boast High Insider Ownership? Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Based on our data, Corby Spirit and Wine insiders have about 0.4% of the stock, worth approximately CA$1.5m. We prefer to see high levels of insider ownership. What Might The Insider Transactions At Corby Spirit and Wine Tell Us? The recent insider purchase is heartening. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. On this analysis the only slight negative we see is the fairly low (overall) insider ownership; their transactions suggest that they are quite positive on Corby Spirit and Wine stock. While it's good to be aware of what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Our analysis shows 4 warning signs for Corby Spirit and Wine (1 can't be ignored!) and we strongly recommend you look at them before investing. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) On Friday, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that puts a pause on House Bill 4156, a controversial law enabling Oklahoma law enforcement to arrest individuals on the basis of immigration status. The new law, which was scheduled to go into effect on July 1, has been met with opposition from many different organizations, including The Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police and Metro Law Enforcement Agency Leaders, and state legislators. On May 15, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Governor Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond, threatening legal action if HB 4156 was enforced. Drummond sent a letter in response, reaffirming the states intention to enforce the immigration law. As a result, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against the state on May 21. Oklahoma may have understandable frustrations with the problems caused by illegal immigrationbut the State may not pursue policies that undermine federal law. Arizona, 567 U.S. at 416. Should more explicit guidance foreclose that conclusion, this Court will listen, the conclusion of the preliminary injunction order says. Drummond issued a statement on Friday afternoon expressing his disappointment in the ruling. While todays court ruling is disappointing, I will not stop fighting for Oklahoma and our right to protect our borders, Drummond said. The Biden Administrations complete failure to enforce federal immigration laws made House Bill 4156 a necessity. We intend to appeal todays decision and defend one of the most powerful tools we have to fight the criminal activity largely being fueled by illegal aliens in Oklahoma. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Fighting had not started, but Lincoln won the day on July 4, 1861, and began to win the war As an end-of-the-road farm boy growing up deep in southern Illinois, the Fourth of July was more of a shade tree holiday from the alfalfa field than a noisy celebration of national independence. Besides, we were more partial to a local hero, Abraham Lincoln, than any frilly Founding Father. That leaning was confirmed a half century later when, on July 4, 2021, I came across an essay by historian Ted Widmer that examined Lincolns 1861 Fourth of July, his first as president. In the essay, Widmer explained how one of Lincolns first acts as president, a 6,200-word letter to Congress calling it to Washington, D.C., for a special session, set the stage for his future greatness. The bold act, just four months after his March 4 swearing in, Widmer thinks, was Lincoln using democracy to save democracy by asking that the session meet on July 4 so it might link every American to the Declaration of Independence, and the memory of a country that began in a most idealistic way. Farm and Food: Mexico's election delivers new leader to tackle old problems Lincoln needed to act boldly; six Southern states had left the Union and four more were on the way. Also, Jefferson Davis, the provisional president of the fast-forming Confederacy, had already been in office a month longer than Lincoln. More to the point, Lincoln knew he was no Davis; his single, two-year term in Congress was no match for Davis sterling career: West Point graduate, an officer in the Mexican-American War, a former U.S. senator, past secretary of war, and former son-in-law of President Zachary Taylor. In this image from the U.S. Library of Congress, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln sits for a portrait February 5, 1865. (Photo by Alexander Gardner/U.S. Library of Congress via Getty Images), Library of Congress, Getty Images But, Widmer explains, Lincoln possessed something Davis didnt an expansive understanding of the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln believed that Americas freedoms belonged to all Americans, including immigrants and, in the fullness of time, he expected those freedoms to grow stronger, and reach other peoples, living in what he called the vast future. In other words, all Americans then and now or, as the historian simply notes, us. All that served as a backdrop to the letter itself, a masterpiece in the way a Fourth of July oration should'' be. Equally important, its principled arguments and classic Lincoln lyricism hinted at the greatness yet to come in both his time in the White House and his historical timelessness. Lincoln, Widmer says, argued that the war was essentially a peoples contest, and reminded Americans that democracy required a fundamental trust in others to work. And in language as relevant for todays red-and-blue politics as that of a nation about to tip into a blue-and-gray Civil War, If discontented individuals attacked the government every time they lost an election, with false sophisms, misleading arguments and other ways of drugging the public mind, it would put an end to democracy everywhere. To ensure that all Americans north and south got his meaning, Lincoln added a punchline, When ballots have been fairly and constitutionally decided, there can be no appeal back to bullets. The letter was a triumph. As members of Congress listened, Widmer writes, they often broke into applause, stunned that their new president had found a language so compelling. Later that same day, after reviewing Union troops on Pennsylvania Avenue, Lincoln hoisted a flag himself, to the top of a tall flagpole. Afterwards, soldiers did the same and, The papers reported that the Declaration was read over and over again, throughout the soldier camps. One army regiments leader, however, asked the new president to speak. Lincoln deferred, Widmer writes, by saying that the dignity of his position required that he say nothing at all for fear of misspeaking. But, the historian reminds, He had already spoken volumes through his message to Congress, and his unwavering belief in the Declaration. The real fighting had not started yet, but by winning the day, Lincoln began to win the war. Alan Guebert writes "Farm and Food" Alan Guebert is an agricultural journalist. See past columns at farmandfoodfile.com. 2024 ag comm This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Lincoln's first Fourth of July as president may have saved the nation 'Were finally getting a rainbow sidewalk that is crossing city streets.': Community rallies to paint 1st rainbow crosswalk in Nashville Coury Palermo, Robby Stone, Luke Finck and Adam Barnes gathered at 14th Street and Woodland Street on June 29 to help paint the first rainbow crosswalk in Nashville. Hundreds gathered under sweltering summer temps at the corner of 1400 Woodland St in East Nashville Saturday morning to paint the citys first rainbow crosswalk in front of East Nashville's lesbian-owned bar, The Lipstick Lounge. Were finally getting a rainbow sidewalk that is crossing city streets, East Nashville resident Adam Barnes said as he helped others tape around the existing crosswalk alongside his husband Luke Finck. The recognition that were gaining in the community is awesome you cant just drive by and completely ignore that theres a gay bar here, he said. More: Nashville will paint and dedicate rainbow crosswalk at the end of Pride Month Participants of a painting party held to create Nashvilles first rainbow crosswalk in the intersection of 14th St. and Woodland St. sing loudly to drown out the voice of Paul Place, an evangelist who opposes it, Saturday, June 29, 2024. Community members volunteered to paint bright colors between the standard white-striped crosswalk. Metro Nashville LGBTQ Caucus, Council member Clay Capp, Nashville Department of Transportation and Nashville Pride partnered for the project. The crosswalks were chosen for several reasons, city officials said. Part of the reason why we chose this corner these are city roads, so the state has no dominion over what we can do right here, Metropolitan Council District 7 Council Member Emily Benedict said. Finck shared the significance he felt participating in the event. A painting party to create Nashvilles first rainbow crosswalk in the intersection of 14th St. and Woodland St. takes place Saturday, June 29, 2024. I think (its) historic, being a part of the moment in Nashville. Its a long time coming and being recognized as a community, as part of the community, thats going to be here continuously not just in June, its throughout the year, Finck said. East Nashville residents Coury Palermo and Robby Stone shared how special the crosswalk felt to them. To see something growing up in kind of the bible belt, religious world that we grew up in and is such a prominent piece where we live is very special to us, Palermo said. Kaylin Underwood, left and Kaleah Bridgeforth, right, participate in a painting party held to create Nashvilles first rainbow crosswalk in the intersection of 14th St. and Woodland St. Saturday, June 29, 2024. Stone said its meaningful that the crosswalk is in an area he drives through every day. I think its about the community, weve got such a unique, diverse, eclectic East Nashville community but its especially special being in a place that I drive through every day, and Ive been on these streets for years now and just really love this community and love how inclusive it is, Stone said. I think this is just a visual representation of that inclusion. Katie Struzick looks on during a painting party held to create Nashvilles first rainbow crosswalk in the intersection of 14th St. and Woodland St. Saturday, June 29, 2024. Tfae McFly and Chandler Lewis of Columbia made the drive out to East Nashville Saturday morning in support of the queer community and to celebrate a birthday. Its actually my birthday tomorrow and I couldnt think of anything better to do than be out here and show support for the queer community in Tennessee because we are so often overlooked and outright attacked this is so important, McFly said. Everybodys so happy and in a good mood and this is such a fun thing to get to do so I could not miss that, theres just no way, no way, she said. Tfae McFly and Chandler Lewis gathered at 14th Street and Woodland Street on June 29 to help paint the first rainbow crosswalk in Nashville. Lewis agreed the event was a fun way to kick off the weekend, noting its significance in the queer community. I feel like the community needed it. I feel like its a step towards what Nashville needs in the gay community, Chandler Lewis said. Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Community paints 1st rainbow crosswalk in East Nashville SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WETM) Southern Tier residents looking to start new careers have the opportunity to become apprentices in the finishing trades. The Finishing Trades Institute of Western and Central New York Ithaca) is looking for 10 glazier apprentices and nine painter, decorator, and paperhanger apprentices from the Southern Tier, the Mohawk Valley, and Central New York. Applications must be completed and submitted online, and theyre open until midnight on June 22, 2025. Carpenters recruiting apprentices in Southern Tier Potential apprentices must be at least 17 years old, be able to travel distances that could exceed 50 miles, be able to hear and read instructions in English, and be willing to work overtime, on weekends, and holidays. They also must be physically capable of performing work these trades require, including climbing and working from ladders and scaffolds, crawling and working in confined spaces, and lifting and carrying more than 50 pounds without help. The apprentice program requires reliable transportation and attendance at all classes, which could include overnight stays, as well. The application is available at this link. Anyone who needs assistance with their application or who would like more information can call the Finishing Trades Institute of Western and Central New York at 716-565-0112 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on a weekday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (CUSTER COUNTY, Colo.) A small fire that was burning on Friday night, June 28 in Custer County has been knocked down, according to a post on the US Forest Service Pike & San Isabel on X (formerly Twitter). RELATED: Second small fire sparks in Custer County Crews working on the Lead Mountain Fire. Courtesy: US Forest Service Pike & San Isabel At 10:56 a.m. on June 29, the US Forest Service Pike & San Isabel reported that crews had gained access to the Lead Mountain Fire, which had grown to .10 acre, and built a fire line. They utilized a helicopter for water drops to cool hotspots. Later, at around 1:30 p.m. they reported that the fire had been contained and controlled as of 12:25 p.m., and crews are hiking out of the fire 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 FOX21 News Colorado. I was the first Black female pilot in the US Air Force, and captained a commercial jet for 30 years. Some people still questioned if I was qualified to fly. Captain Theresa Claiborne signed up to the Air Force in 1980, and later worked as a captain for United Airlines. She was below the height requirement and the first Black woman recruited to the Force. Claiborne spoke to Business Insider about the hurdles she faced and why piloting is a great career. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Captain Theresa Claiborne, the first Black female pilot in the US Air Force and a captain at United. The following was edited for length and clarity. I had spent my younger days bouncing all over the world because my father was in the military. But life felt so stationary when we returned to the States. During college, I applied to the Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) in Berkeley. During the six-week training camp, they took us up on a T-37 [a small training plane made by Cessna]. Flying a plane is freeing. It's this amazing feeling of control but no control. I decided right then: I wanted to be a pilot. The hardest period of my life In 1980, the Air Force only had 10 slots for women per graduating class, and they had already been filled for the year. But halfway through my junior year, they came back and said the women seemed to be graduating at the same rate as the men, so the allotment was increased to 30. I flew out to Laughlin Air Force base in Texas to start pilot training. Captain Theresa Claiborne Captain Theresa Claiborne It was daunting in a lot of ways. Unlike a lot of people in my class, I didn't have prior flying experience. And when you're in training, flying is a lot like a loop-the-loop on a roller coaster but I'm not one for roller coasters. So I was just trying to get the task done and not be fearful all the time. In high school, my teacher said it was fine for me to be bad at Math because I could do English. But in training, everybody knew the instructors' formulas, and I didn't. So when my classmates were out having a good time on the weekends, I was back at the dorm studying. It was probably the hardest period of my life that year. I was lonely. I almost didn't make it to that point because I was short. You are supposed to be five feet four inches, and I was five feet two inches. For my entire career, I've had to stand on the balls of my feet when I was measured. Captain Theresa Claiborne I only found out I was the first Black woman in the Air Force a couple of weeks before I graduated when a friend from ROTC mentioned it. Looking back, that was lucky. I was only 22. It would have been too much pressure for someone my age to carry my gender and race together. Just do the work Being the only person who looked like me created challenges. A lot of it was very subtle. But you could just feel it people looking at you and thinking, "OK, she's here." Captain Theresa Claiborne Entering active duty in the Air Force, I did feel the pressure. If I didn't do well, then when people see another person that looks like me, what will they think? My attitude was always to do the work and get an A. Don't allow someone to have a subjective opinion that either puts you there or denies you something. But who's to say that through those years, there were people who did not give me a break because of what I looked like? There was one evaluation I remember well. It was deemed that I didn't put anti-ice on quickly enough. That's not what I saw. But how do you say that decision was because I'm this or that? You don't know. After that, there was only one time I didn't 100% pass the check. Commercial pilots are qualified After seven years I left active duty and joined the reserves. In 1990, I started working as a commercial pilot for United. My routes were on a Boeing 757 out of Newark, mostly heading to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tel Aviv, and Delhi. Captain Theresa Claiborne In order to be a pilot, you have to be perseverant and a go-getter. You also need a thick skin because, believe it or not, there are still people who believe that we have no business flying airplanes. There's a lot of noise out there about DEI and pilot qualifications. People have said, "If I walk up to an airplane and there's a Black pilot, I will get off the airplane." I've been stopped by passengers after I use the restroom and reenter the flight deck. Once, when I asked a passenger to let me by, he looked at me and said, "What for?" "Because I'm your pilot," I replied. The look on his face was like "No, you're not." It's happened multiple times. Sometimes, even the agents working at my own company have automatically tried to put me in the flight attendant jump seat. I wish there were magic words to be said, but I think it's almost one pilot at a time, one person at a time. Companies have started enforcing some rules, and HR is stepping in to make the unions handle some of these situations. Flying internationally is hard on your body Any time you're in the air for 15+ hours, then on the ground for 24 hours, and then back up again for 15 more, it takes a toll on your body. It was time for me to hang it up. I flew my last large commercial airplane back from Lisbon this May. It was a proud moment. I've flown incident-free and accident-free across all these years, and I have strong shoulders that many, many, many women are standing on. Captain Theresa Claiborne I'm going to miss walking through the airport in my uniform and being able to hand out wings to little kids. Their eyes just get big. It's funny how they know the difference between a pilot and someone else. They don't look through colored glasses. They just see someone in the hat and know that's a pilot. Increasing diversity The reports say that women are about 5% to 6% of the airline pilot population. And the number of Black women is even smaller. Women can be pilots and have a family, the same way the guys do. I've become involved in organizations like Women in Aviation and Sisters of the Skies to ensure more little girls know this is a real career. We introduce young women between the ages of 10 and 18 to aviation and take them up in an airplane flown by a woman who looks like them. Captain Theresa Claiborne By the time they land, they're smiling wide from ear to ear. Not everybody is meant to be a pilot, but we want them to know that if they assert themselves, they can be whatever they want. I tell the young ladies I mentor the same thing I told myself: be so good that they can't say you're not good. If that's what you really want to do, be the best. Read the original article on Business Insider FORDYCE, Ark. One week after a mass shooting in Fordyce, many mourned a man killed that day, remembering him as selfless and someone loved by the community. Hundreds of people showed up at the Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce on Friday morning to pay tribute to Roy Sturgis, gone at just 50 years old. Victims killed in Fordyce mass shooting identified Braden Pierce worked with Sturgis in the trucking industry and said Sturgis was the type of person who helped someone whenever they needed anything, whether they asked or not. Hanna Sturgis said earlier this week that this type of personality led to her father going into the Mad Butcher grocery store to try and help victims when he was shot, later dying at the hospital. Daughter of Fordyce victim killed in shooting says he tried saving others, drove himself to hospital On Friday, however, the focus is not on the tragedy, but on the impactful legacy Sturgis left behind. A group of semi-trucks were lined up outside the funeral home before the service then followed the line of cars out afterward. Pierce said he wished Sturgis could see the turnout Friday morning and the number of people there to support him. I know hed love it, and its something he would want, Pierce said. Just truck drivers they stick together. Theyre tight-knit, theyre all close. Theyre very close. Fordyce community honors victims in Friday shooting, holds candlelight vigil Everyone KARK 4 News spoke with on Friday and throughout the week said as terrible as the tragedy was, theres always a little bit of light in the darkness, saying that light is both their faith and the close community they have in Fordyce who will help them get through the days and weeks to come. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of police from across southeast Michigan and as far as Ohio and Canada gathered Friday in Auburn Hills to pay last respects to one of their own killed in the line of duty. Bradley Reckling and his family. Provided by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. Bradley Reckling, a nine-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriffs Office, was killed on Saturday night when the youths he was pursuing in a stolen SUV stopped the vehicle on Detroits east side, leaped out and shot him repeatedly at close range. Reckling was leading other officers in a lengthy chase of the youths that began earlier in the day, when a Chevrolet Equinox was stolen at Red Oaks Waterpark, the countys big public facility in Madison Heights. Three youths are in custody in the incident that stunned Michigans first responders, only to have them rocked by a second death on Thursday. A Hillsdale County deputy was killed in a shootout about 20 miles south of Jackson. Prayers to Hillsdale County Sheriffs Office as we have lost another deputy there, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Thursday night, on the departments Facebook site. Recklings smiling image was added this week to the top of the page, alongside that of Oakland Deputy Eric Overall, who died in the line of duty in 2017 when he was struck by a fleeing mans car. Reckling, 30, was married and the father of three daughters, ages 5, 4 and 1, and his wife, Jacqueline, is expecting a fourth child, Bouchard said. Less than two weeks before his funeral, on Fathers Day, the familys church in Auburn Hills held a service entitled No Joke, Youre a Dad. On Friday, mourners jammed The Apostolic Church on Squirrel Road, bidding tearful farewells to a respected detective, popular colleague, churchgoer and neighbor, husband and father. Reckling is the seventh Oakland County Sheriff's deputy to be killed in the line of duty in the departments 200 years of existence, and his was the first on-duty death due to assault in more than eight decades, a spokesman said. On Friday, as visitation ended at 3 p.m., the church parking lot was filled with hundreds of officers, all in their respective departments' full-dress uniforms, standing in ranks facing the entryway, where a hearse was parked. One veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, who declined to give his name, said Deputy Reckling had "just started on the stolen car task force." The night Reckling was fatally shot "might've been his first run after a stolen car, or one of his first," the officer said. Outside the entryway, an honor guard formed, each member attired in white gloves. Media members were asked to stand about 100 yards away. At the entry drive to the parking lot, were parked two fire service ladder trucks, their extended ladders forming an arch from which hung a large American flag, waving under gray skies. Family and friends stand next to one another during a funeral service of Oakland County Sheriff's Deputy Bradley J. Reckling at The Apostolic Church in Auburn Hills on Friday, June 28, 2024. Officiating at the service were three church leaders, led by Bishop Roland Baker listed in a church program that had Reckling's smiling face on its cover, beside the words "honor, duty, courage." Giving the eulogies were "family and friends," along with Bouchard, Oakland County's top cop since 1999. After the 90-minute service, and under a sprinkle of rain, hundreds of officers reformed in ranks outside the church. Nearby stood rows of dignitaries, including Oakland County Executive David Coulter and U.S. Rep. John James. Family members gathered near the hearse, including Recklings widow, looking stricken, with one of the couples daughters in her arms. She held another by the hand. Following long minutes of silence, a dirge of bagpipes began streaming from the church, suddenly growing loud as 10 pipers emerged with a corps of drummers behind, playing on as pallbearers rolled the casket out. Next came an ear-splitting 21-gun salute, fired in the traditional three volleys by seven members of an honor guard. Finally, there was the soft playing of taps by a bugler, whose notes were drowned out momentarily as a county helicopter roared low overhead, banking west over the church and quickly disappearing into clouds, as if to suggest how swiftly a vigorous life can end. Soon, a call rang out multiple times through the ranks of officers: Detail! Stand by for final salute!In front of the assembled troops stood Bouchard, in white gloves and with six gold stars on navy sleeves. His and hundreds of other hands rose slowly to foreheads, as a squad of motorcycles filed past, followed by the hearse and then dozens of police vehicles, all with emergency lights flashing, some with sirens screaming, The event, bursting with drama, was "soul crushing," Bouchard said, talking to media as the crowds dispersed. "Our people are hurting. The family has a hole that'll never be filled. Jacqueline's world has been shattered. I thank all the people out there who've been lifting this family in prayer," Bouchard said. He said it was too soon for him to discuss the circumstances of Reckling's death. After murder charges against the suspects are "well in hand," Bouchard said, "I'll have a lot to say about what led to this." Nationwide, law enforcement officers are dying or being injured in the line of duty at an increasing rate, said Matt Saxton, executive director of the Michigan Sheriffs Association, and retired sheriff of Calhoun County so were neighbors of Hillsdale. Its tragic for the law enforcement community in Michigan to lose two peace officers in one week. Its senseless. Two fathers did not go home to their children, just for doing their job, Saxton said. Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: In Auburn Hills, Oakland deputy mourned day after Hillsdale cop killed Five Indian soldiers killed as tank sinks while crossing river near China border File. Picture taken on 19 May 2024 shows armoured vehicles of the Indian army at a military camp in Ladakh (AFP via Getty Images) Five Indian soldiers were killed as their tank sank while crossing a river in the region of Ladakh, bordering China, officials said on Saturday. The tank sank due to a sudden increase in water levels in the Shyok River during military training, the Indian army command centre said in a statement. Defence minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and called the accident unfortunate. Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh, Mr Singh said in a statement shared on X. We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation...The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief, he said. The accident occurred in the Saser Brangs area in Ladakh, near the Line of Actual Control which divides India and China. India and China have been locked in a standoff in the area, with widespread concerns that the dispute over the region may someday lead to a wider conflict. Tensions peaked in June 2020 when 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese military personnel were killed following combat in the Galwan Valley region. While the Asian giants have held many discussions to resolve tensions, they have yet to resolve the key points of contention. Earlier this year, it was revealed that India may redirect over 10,000 troops from its western border to its frontline with China. About 9,000 soldiers were also previously assigned to the border with China. The border dispute has also affected diplomatic ties between the two countries, with Chinas premier Xi Jinping snubbing the G20 summit hosted by India. Chinas foreign ministry previously said Indias move to send more soldiers to the border was not conducive to easing tensions. China is committed to working with India to safeguard the peace and stability of the border areas, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. Indias increase in military deployments in border areas does not help to calm the situation in the border areas or to safeguard peace and safety in these areas, Ms Mao added. Skirmishes at the poorly demarcated Indo-China border date back to the 1950s, with the Asian behemoths also fighting a war over it in 1962. Nestled between mountains, Bergens compact centre has the feel of a small cosy town despite its status as Norways second biggest city. The outdoor lifestyle rules on west coast Norway, even in the cities. By day, youll find locals pounding the hiking trails that surround the city. But by night, Bergen comes alive as those locals mix with students and tourists in the citys bars and clubs. Many of the bars around the Unesco World Heritage neighbourhood Bryggen are a pricey tourist trap. To make the most of a night out in Bergen, instead head to the lively streets around Nygardsgaten, where the city centre meets the university district. Its impossible to talk about Bergens bar scene without mentioning the prices. Alcohol in Norway is expensive. At 8 for a basic pilsner and at least 10 for anything else, a night out is rarely budget friendly. Long sessions in pubs are not common. Instead, Norwegians start off their evenings with parties at home, moving on to bars and clubs later. If you choose to go dry, you wont be the only one. Theres a growing trend among younger Norwegians to shun alcohol. To meet this demand, Norways breweries produce alcohol-free versions of pilsners and IPAs, while many bars offer tasty mocktails, with berry flavours proving especially popular. Neighourhood: Vaskerelven Ask any local for their view on the citys best bar and this Bergen institution will likely top their list. A gastropub with a strong focus on Norwegian food, expect rustic stews, buttery cod and traditional meatballs, washed down with local beers. When the kitchen closes at 10pm, Pingvinen transforms into a meeting place for a diverse range of Bergen locals, young and old. Read more on Europe travel: Neighbourhood: Nedre Ole Bulls Plass The Lobby Bar at Hotel Norge, Bergen (Scandic Hotels) Add a touch of class to your evening at this historic Bergen hotel, elegantly renovated by Scandic in recent years. Whether youre staying the night or not, the Lobby Bar provides a striking welcome, while the ground floor Cafe Norge serves its signature egg white cocktails to the soundtrack of a live DJ through the evenings. Raspberry lemonade, non-alcoholic bubbles and the sweet and sour cranberry delight are among the alcohol-free options. Neighbourhood: Hollendergaten No worries, be happy: The No Stress bar (No Stress) Mismatched furniture, colourful murals, video games and low lighting lend a retro vibe to this central cocktail bar. There are no reservations so arrive early if you want a table. Alternatively hop on a bar stool to watch the expert bartenders smash tomatoes for the traditional bloody Mary. Their in-house raspberry chilli syrup gives a modern twist to the martini or an intense bite to a mocktail. Neighbourhood: Nygardsgaten This unusual mix of vinyl record store and craft beer bar has been a hit with Bergen locals since the 1970s. More than 40 draught beers make Apollon a must-visit for beer lovers, with hazy IPAs and sours well represented. For a true taste of Bergen, sample at least one beer from local brewery 7 Fjell, named after the mountains that envelop the city. Cant decide? Most beers can be ordered in smaller sample sizes. Neighbourhood: Nygardsgaten Bergens only queer nightspot attracts a friendly crowd with a mix of ages. The diverse clientele is reflected in the music, with everything from pop through the ages to house and techno DJ sets. Visit early in the evening if you want to chat as the venue rapidly transitions into nightclub mode as the hours tick by. Neighbourhood: Vaskerelven " width="500"> The international wall of gin is the main attraction at Ginial, a bar associated with the popular carnivore restaurant RoykBBQ. More than 100 gins are on offer, some produced in-house and from other artisan distilleries in Norway, but many more are guest stars from England and Scotland. Choose from an impressive range of tonics to accompany your choice of gin or give one of the inventive gin-based cocktails a try. Neighbourhood: Magnus Barfots gate A creative solution for groups of friends who want to hit the dance floor together but whose music tastes vary, Vaskeriet hosts a nightly silent disco from Wednesday to Saturday. Never been to one? Grab a headset from the bar (free if youre there in the first hour), choose your preferred personal soundtrack and hit the dance floor. Neighbourhood: Olaf Ryes vei Said to be the oldest rock club in Northern Europe, this air raid shelter turned concert venue has hosted the likes of Motorpsycho, Turbonegro, Kaizers Orchestra and Raga Rockers since its 1969 opening. Only open for concerts, this student-run venue is the ideal spot to discover new Norwegian music. Neighbourhood: Georgernes verft Once Norways largest sardine cannery, USF is now home to a cluster of creative arts venues. A 90-seat cinema, a black box performance stage, jazz club and concert venue are stitched together by the waterfront Kafe Kippers. Book a table on the large outdoor terrace to enjoy your evening with a fjord view, if Bergens notorious wet weather is on your side. Read more: The best Northern Lights holidays in Norway A Korean Air flight on Saturday experienced a sudden depressurization that left multiple passengers with ear pain and hyperventilation, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily. Flight KE189 departed Incheon Airport as scheduled and was about 50 minutes into its journey to Taichung International Airport in Taiwan when it plunged about 26,246 feet and turned around to return to Incheon, according to FlightRadar24. The incident happened in a timespan of about 10 minutes, Taipei Times reported. A spokesperson for Korean Air said oxygen masks were deployed. Taipei Times reported the cause of the incident to be a fault in the Boeing 737 MAX 8s pressurization system, but Korean Air did not confirm that detail with USA TODAY. The pressurization system on modern airplanes is typically automatic and begins as soon as takeoff occurs, pumping in conditioned air for passengers to breathe safely in the cabin when at high altitudes. Once the plane landed in Korea, 17 passengers were attended to by medics, and all were discharged without severe injuries, Korean Air told USA TODAY in an email statement. The airline provided passengers with accommodations for the night, meals and transportation arrangements. Korean Air's Boeing 737 Max 8 Is it safe to fly Boeing? Boeing is working to fix safety in its factories. We are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, a Korean Air spokesperson said. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remains unchanged. We apologize to all affected by this incident. The Korean Airlines incident comes in the wake of another Boeing 737 Max 8 (flying for Southwest Airlines) experiencing a Dutch roll when flying from Phoenix to Oakland. No injuries were reported in that incident. Boeing has faced increased scrutiny this year following the high-profile Alaska Airlines incident, leading to an investigation and more oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration and Congress. Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Korean Air plane suddenly drops 26,000 feet, injuring 17 passengers He Flipped Off A Trooper And Got Charged. Now Vermont Is On The Hook For $175,000 This image taken from police dashcam video shows Gregory Bombard getting arrested on Feb. 9, 2018 n St. Albans, Vt. Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of Bombard who was charged with a crime for giving a state trooper the middle finger in 2018, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (American Civil Liberties Union/Vt. State Police via AP) via Associated Press ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP) Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was charged with a crime for giving a state trooper the middle finger in 2018, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the ACLU of Vermont on behalf of Gregory Bombard, of St. Albans. It says Bombards First Amendment rights were violated after an unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest in 2018. Trooper Jay Riggen stopped Bombards vehicle in St. Albans on Feb. 9, 2018, because he believed Bombard had shown him the middle finger, according to the lawsuit. Bombard denied that but says he did curse and display the middle finger once the initial stop was concluded. Bombard was stopped again and arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, and his car was towed. He was jailed for over an hour and cited to criminal court, according to the ACLU. The charge was eventually dismissed. Under the settlement signed by the parties this month, the state has agreed to pay Bombard $100,000 and $75,000 to the ACLU of Vermont and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression for legal fees. While our client is pleased with this outcome, this incident should never have happened in the first place, said Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the ACLU of Vermont, in a statement. Police need to respect everyones First Amendment rights even for things they consider offensive or insulting. The Vermont State Police did not have a comment on the settlement. Vermont did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the deal. Bombard said in a statement provided by the ACLU that he hopes the Vermont State Police will train its troopers to avoid silencing criticism or making baseless car stops. ___ This story has been updated to correct the name of an organization to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, instead of the Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression. He flipped off a trooper and got charged. Now Vermont is on the hook for $175,000 ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP) Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was charged with a crime for giving a state trooper the middle finger in 2018, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the ACLU of Vermont on behalf of Gregory Bombard, of St. Albans. It says Bombards First Amendment rights were violated after an unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest in 2018. Trooper Jay Riggen stopped Bombards vehicle in St. Albans on Feb. 9, 2018, because he believed Bombard had shown him the middle finger, according to the lawsuit. Bombard denied that but says he did curse and display the middle finger once the initial stop was concluded. Bombard was stopped again and arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, and his car was towed. He was jailed for over an hour and cited to criminal court, according to the ACLU. The charge was eventually dismissed. Under the settlement signed by the parties this month, the state has agreed to pay Bombard $100,000 and $75,000 to the ACLU of Vermont and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression for legal fees. While our client is pleased with this outcome, this incident should never have happened in the first place, said Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the ACLU of Vermont, in a statement. Police need to respect everyones First Amendment rights even for things they consider offensive or insulting. The Vermont State Police did not have a comment on the settlement. Vermont did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the deal. Bombard said in a statement provided by the ACLU that he hopes the Vermont State Police will train its troopers to avoid silencing criticism or making baseless car stops. 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 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 The second of two ferry services that shuttle visitors to Mackinac Island from the mainland of Michigan has sold to the Florida billionaire who purchased Shepler's Ferry two years ago, sources confirmed to the Detroit Free Press. The Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Co. closed the deal at 11:59 p.m. Friday with the Hoffmann Family of Companies, led by patriarch David Hoffmann, of Naples, Florida. He has told of working as a child with his father, a milkman who made early morning deliveries door-to-door in tiny Washington, Missouri. Employees were told of the sale Saturday morning. It will be business as normal for the newly acquired ferry company, and jobs of all 200 employees are secure, said Jenny Gezella, president of Hoffmann Marine, which includes Sheplers and Sip n Sail Cruises on Mackinac Island. "All employees are staying on," she said. "We're looking forward to ensuring a first-class and efficient ride to and from the island. All pricing is under a licensing agreement. All the pricing will stay the same." The Star Line Ferry, which travels from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island. Ferry prices, which are established through a licensing agreement with the island, will not change as a result of the sale, Gezella said. She declined to disclose the price of the sale. Gezella said this latest acquisition makes the Hoffmann Family of Companies the largest owner of parcels of property in the area of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. The two local newspapers, the Mackinac Island Town Crier and St. Ignace News, have also been purchased by the Hoffmann group. Since buying Shepler's in 2022, an estimated $1.3 million in updates have been completed on five ferry engines, and that kind of investment will continue, said Gezella, who flew to Michigan to handle details of the latest acquisition. Starline service has been disrupted by equipment problems, including this season, which has been an ongoing cause for concern among island leaders. Issues have included loss of propulsion and steering failure, according to documents obtained by the Free Press from the U.S. Coast Guard. Reaction to the acquisition is immediate News of the acquisition generated enthusiasm on the island. Bart Berkshire, front manager of the Chippewa Hotel, home of the Pink Pony bar, told the Free Press, "The Hoffmann family has been doing a great job continuing the Sheplers Ferry legacy. I cant wait to see how they will improve the passenger ferries to and from Mackinac Island." Tim Hygh, executive director of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, said Saturday afternoon after hearing the news, "The Hoffmann ... team has really immersed itself in the island culture over the last few years. We look forward to learning more about their vision for the Mackinac Island Ferry Company." Story continues The 2024 season is expected to be strong, and so ferry is traffic, Hygh said. "May (hotel) room revenue was up 17.3.% from a year ago" reaching $9 million for the first time ever. "We've never had a May like that, and last year was a record. The island has seen great growth over the last decade." All eyes on Mackinac and keeping tradition Mackinac Island, a renowned travel destination, is a carless island getaway known for its hiking, biking and horse-drawn carriage rides. When Hoffmann bid for Shepler's, he didn't make the highest offer. But the Shepler family wanted to sell to another family, Chris Shepler told the Free Press at the time. David Hoffmann runs the Hoffmann Family of Companies with his wife, Jerri, and sons Geoff and Greg. "We're a family business so we don't have shareholders or quarterly reports or quarterly financials to report to Wall Street," David Hoffmann told the Free Press in 2022. "We're very much about maintaining the culture of Mackinac Island and that's what we bought into. We don't want to see that change." Shepler ferries alone shuttle about 650,000 passengers between April and November to Mackinac Island from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace through the Straits of Mackinac. The newest ferry, which carries 210 passengers and launched in 2020, cost $5 million. Chris Shepler remains part of the Shepler ferry service today and active with island business leaders. From Left: Chris Shepler, a third generation owner of Shepler's Ferry that carries tourists to Mackinac Island, is standing with Moshell Nelson, the dock lead on the Mackinac Island dock, on Oct. 14, 2021. Annual income at Shepler's alone is in the tens of millions, growing steadily, Shepler told the Free Press at the time of the sale. He declined to comment this weekend on his former competitor, deferring to Gezella, who oversaw the latest deal. Who is who The Hoffmann family runs a multibillion-dollar operation with a presence in 27 countries. Hoffmann confirmed he is the biggest real estate owner in Naples, Florida. The family renovated downtown Naples; Winnetka, Illinois, on the north shore of Chicago; and Avon, Colorado, the base of Beaver Creek ski mountain, Hoffmann said. Their vineyard investments in Augusta, Missouri, also have generated attention. The ferry company purchased this week had rebranded as the Mackinac Island Ferry Company in 2022 to consolidate the Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry fleet, which began in the 1970s, the Arnold Line Ferry fleet, operational since 1878, and the Mackinac Marine Services (MMS) shipyard, founded in 2019, according to a news release sent Saturday afternoon by the Hoffmann companies. More: Harbour View Inn hotel on Mackinac Island sold to Grosse Pointe couple More: Mackinac Island gets new restaurant on Main Street honoring old Michigan family This acquisition expands the U.S. fleet in Hoffmann Marines portfolio to 46 vessels across seven states, the news release said. Hoffmann purchased Sip n' Sail in May 2024. "With this expansion, HF Companies now owns more than 116 parcels of land, including docks in Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, and St. Ignace, 51 buildings and 6500 parking spaces," the news release said. "This makes the company the largest owner of real estate parcels in the area and employer to 500 people in the Mackinac area." Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com.Follow her on Twitter@phoebesaid. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Co. sells to Florida billionaire Marvin Dunn, one of Floridas most esteemed historians, will broaden the scope of his Teach the Truth tours thanks to a $1.5 million grant courtesy of the Mellon Foundation. The funding will allow Dunn to expand the tour, which currently takes attendees to sites of racial violence across Florida, to other southern states. Florida was not the only state where lynchings took place, said Dunn, the founder of the Miami Center for Racial Justice, the nonprofit organization that actually received the grant due to its focus on teaching Floridas Black history. The tours have received national attention amid Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attack on Black history and features in the Washington Post, New York Times and NBC News. Its all of our history, Dunn said. Its all of our pain. Its not just Black pain or white guilt: its all of our pain, its all of our responsibility to correct this record. Dunn listed Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia as potential expansion options. At age 84, Dunn certainly wont lead all the tours as he does in Florida. Instead, he plans to pick a college or university in each state that will serve as an academic base from which he will begin to train tour guides. We will identify faculty members and have them teach the students, Dunn said, adding that students will receive stipends for being tour guides . This will be the second round of Mellon funding that the Miami Center for Racial Justice has received. The first grant about $150,000 came in 2023 after Mellons higher learning program director Phillip Brian Harper read about the tour and reached out to Dunn. What made Dunns work stand out, according to Harper, was his commitment to complete, accurate narratives. If we dont have a full variety of perspectives grounded in the full variety of experiences that inform history and culture of this country, people will go through their lives poorly informed about the true depth, complexity and richness of this country, Harper said. And that means we would have an extremely impoverished society. In addition Dunns wealth of knowledge about Black Florida history, the process of physically trekking to each and every place gives the tours a sort of transformational element that allows people to take ownership of the history, he said. Historian Marvin Dunn recounts a portion of the Rosewood story to students and their families at Shiloh Cemetery in Cedar Key, Florida, on Sunday, March 5, 2023. Dunn led a group of students and their families on a tour that stopped at some of Floridas most horrific sites of racial violence. Its not the same as reading it in the textbooks, Dunn added. You have to go where blood was shed. During his Florida tours, Dunn goes everywhere from Rosewood, the site of the Rosewood Massacre that claimed the lives of roughly 30 Black Americans, to Mims, where activists Harry and Harriette Moore were killed in their homes on Christmas Day, to the graves of various lynching victims. Robyn Haugabook, who attended a 2023 tour with her two daughters, spoke highly of the experience. This trip has brought the history to life, Haugabook told the Herald in March 2023. I want my children to take it back to their school, to their community, to their history teachers. Dunn still needs to decide where to go in the expansion states, though he did mention Alabamas Equal Justice Institute and Emmett Tills Mississippi grave as two options. Were just now beginning to find out where the worst lynchings in Georgia took place, Dunn said. Thats why we need to do this: Im considered an expert on anti-Black violence in the country, at least in the South, and Im not sure what happened everywhere in Georgia but I know a lot of people died by the rope. Well find out and take people to those places. A shark attack off Floridas Atlantic coast left a man with a severe bite to his right arm on Friday, authorities say, leaving him in critical condition from blood loss. The Nassau county sheriffs office marine unit, which was patrolling off the coast of Fernandina beach near the Florida-Georgia border, said it had received a distress call from a boat on Friday and had applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The deputy then piloted the boat to the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp, where Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue was waiting, the sheriffs office said in a social media post. The unnamed man is expected to recover, authorities said. Related: California survivor of shark attack recounts fight with animal Earlier this month, three people a woman and two teenage girls were hurt in attacks on Floridas Gulf coast. Authorities have warned swimmers that bait fish moving close to shore at this time of year might be a contributing factor in the attacks. Florida has a flag system to warn swimmers purple for the presence of dangerous marine life and red to indicate high hazard conditions. Authorities are also making greater efforts to educate the public. Floridas fish and wildlife conservation commission says there are no guaranteed ways to avoid shark bites, but understanding shark behavior can help beachgoers make better decisions on when and where to swim. Its very important for people who visit Florida waters to be aware of their surroundings, understand the relative risks, and be educated on various shark issues such as behavior, biology and fisheries, says the commissions Brent Winner on the agencys website. The commission also says that shark bites still remain very rare and people are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning in Florida than to be bitten by a shark. An increase in shark bites is attributed more to an increase in the number of people in the water than to a greater number of sharks; shark populations are estimated to be down 25%-30% of what they were three decades ago, Humans are much more of a danger to sharks than vice versa, the commissions advisory says, placing the relative number of humans killed annually by sharks to the number of sharks killed by humans at 10 to 100m. To ensure our own safety and the continued existence of these fascinating fishes, people need to become more aware of sharks and more educated about sharks and related issues, it noted. Still, Florida heads global charts for the number of shark bites, according to the Florida Museum of Natural Historys annual shark attack report. Florida had 16 unprovoked shark bite incidents reported last year, or 44% of the US total and 23% worldwide, but no reported fatalities. The white sands and aquamarine waters of Panama City Beach make it a bustling tourist destination in the summer. Its also one of the most dangerous places in the nation for beachgoers because of currents that put people at risk of drowning. Local officials have issued countless warnings, but swimmers still venture out. Seven people have died this year from rip currents that pull tourists from the Florida city and the surrounding coastline into the Gulf of Mexico. Three died at Panama City Beach and four others drowned nearby in unincorporated Bay County. Three men in their mid-20s from Birmingham, Alabama, drowned together at a beach in an unincorporated area on June 21. There were another two deaths on June 23 a 59-year-old woman from St. Louis and a 29-year-old man whose hometown wasn't identified. All seven were tourists who entered the Gulf during single red flag warnings. These mean that dangerous rip currents are expected and lifeguards recommend staying out of the water. This week, Panama City Beach police increased coastal patrols to prevent more people from drowning. Officials issued double red flag warnings, which prevent people from entering the water. Anyone who violates the order is subject to arrest and a $500 fine. Rip currents kill 4 in 48 hours: Panama City Beach on pace to be deadliest in US Public Beach Access No. 12 in Panama City Beach, Fla., is pictured June 22, 2024. Three young men from Alabama drowned there the previous evening the sheriff's office announced. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald) "The double red flag situation is extremely concerning for us," Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said. "I would rather have more officers on the sand as a presence out there to try and prevent people from drowning, than (those) officers looking for traffic infractions. Saturday is expected to reach the mid-90s, with heat indices making it feel like its well into triple digits. In a morning forecast, the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee said it will be quite hot and muggy outside. Storm watch: Tropical Storm Beryl forms in Atlantic, could be hurricane by Saturday night But that doesnt mean tourists in areas with dangerous currents should plunge into the Gulf just yet. NWS also issued a high rip current risk through Sunday morning for all Bay and Gulf counties beaches. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water, an NWS coastal hazard message said. Common flag colors used in beach flag warning systems include a green flag for low-hazard conditions, a yellow flag for medium-hazard conditions, one red flag for high-hazard conditions and two red flags for very dangerous conditions. Panama City Beach and Bay County, however, never fly green flags because officials say beachgoers should always be cautious anytime they enter the Gulf. Local officials have said beach flags in Bay County do not represent how large waves are at a given time, but indicate how strong the rip currents are. "Waves aren't killing people here. Waves aren't the hazard," Daryl Paul, fire rescue beach safety director for Panama City Beach, told the Panama City News Herald. "It's rip currents that are the hazard, and that's what we're flying the flags for." Last year, Panama City Beachs rip currents drowned more people than anywhere else in the U.S., according to the National Weather Service. At least eight people died at the Gulf Coast community, making up nearly a third of Floridas 30 deaths from rip currents. By comparison, in 2023, five people died after being swept up by currents in New Jersey. California, South Carolina and Louisiana each had three deaths. During the summer, popular beaches carry hidden dangers: fast-moving channels can drag a swimmer away from shore and exhaust them as they try to fight their way back to safety. The National Ocean Service estimates thousands of people are rescued from rip currents each year in the U.S. About 91 people died in rip currents at U.S. beaches, according to weather service data. That was up from the 10-year average of 74 deaths per year. The NWS recommends swimming near a lifeguard if you're at the beach. If you're caught in a rip current, its best to remain calm. Swim parallel to the shore, not toward it, until youre free of the current. Then swim back to land. If you're unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. Jeanine Santucci of USA TODAY and Jim Ross of the Ocala StarBanner contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drownings surge at beloved Panama City Beach, due to rip tide The Foreign Ministry on June 29 hailed Google Translate's recent addition of the Crimean Tatar language. "Thank you to Google for this crucial initiative, which demonstrates that the rich linguistic & cultural heritage of Ukraine's indigenous people is valuable to the global community," the Foreign Ministry said on X. The statement comes a few days after Google announced its "largest expansion" of its free online translation tool, Google Translate, which saw the addition of 110 new languages. In addition to Crimean Tatar, Google has incorporated 12 languages of ethnic groups in Russia which include Bashkir, Chechen, Udmurt, and Yakut. Tatar, a language used in the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, was previously added in 2020. Google says that the new language additions which include Cantonese and Punjabi represent over 614 million speakers across the world. The Ukrainian government has worked to preserve the Crimean Tatar language, endangered due to a declining number of speakers in Ukraine. Mass deportations and waves of repression of Crimean Tatars by both the Russian Empire and Soviet Union largely contributed to the decline. Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 has worsened the trend. Crimean Tatars in their native peninsula continue to face brutal persecution and deportation by the Russian occupation regime. Read also: Who are the Crimean Tatars? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) This past week, rain accumulation has been sporadic across the area, with some areas receiving pockets of heavy rain and others just a light sprinkle. With the continued dry conditions, the Alabama Forestry Commission is urging the public to use caution during any 4th of July celebrations. Weather Wednesday: Staples of Northeast Alabama The dry fuels across the state will support the increased threat of fire spread this upcoming holiday, according to State Forester Rick Oates. With persisting dry conditions throughout Alabama, were issuing a fuels advisory for most counties, Oates said. Despite some areas receiving rain recently, the excessive heat will negate any beneficial rainfall. The Forestry Commission has responded to 76 wildfires, which burned approximately 1,500 acres, in the past ten days. With plenty of dry fuel to support rapid fire spread, the Forestry Commission has some safety tips. The biggest tip is to avoid shooting off fireworks near dry grass. If you are using a charcoal grill it is important not to dump the hot coals on the dry grass. Give the coal time to cool or soak it with water before dumping it. If you plan to have a small campfire, make sure you properly put it out and never leave it alone. To learn more about the Alabama Forestry Commission visit their website. Rapid Onset Drought Threat: The latest drought update was released on Thursday, showing the majority of the area is now experiencing Abnormally Dry conditions. In the coming week, scattered showers and isolated storms are in the forecast for the area. This will limit the chance of widespread heavy rainfall. Those who see heavy rain will begin to see relief compared to others who will see the drought worsen. The Climate Prediction Center has the majority of the Southeast forecast to see a rapid onset of drought from July 5 to the 11. The dry and hot conditions in the forecast will contribute to dry soil conditions. Above is a look at the total rain weve seen since June 10. Rain totals have been very isolated across North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee. The highest rain totals have been associated with tropical-like downpours. Heading into the weekend, isolated showers and storms will be possible for the region. Stick with the Weather Authority for the latest! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. A former 40-year-old City of Eldridge employee, who was placed on leave in March, has been released on bond after city administrators say he did not turn in city computers, continued to access city systems, and ordered clothing including underwear that is not covered by clothing allowances, according to court records. Jacob Rowe faces a felony charge of second-degree theft, aggravated misdemeanor charges of unauthorized computer access confidential/trade/operation data, tampering with records, unauthorized use of a credit card under $1,500 and conspiracy to commit an aggravated misdemeanor; and a serious misdemeanor charge of unauthorized computer access copy/alter/delete data, records show. Jacob Rowe (Scott County Jail) Two missing laptops, an internal investigation When Rowe was placed on administrative leave on March 25, 2024, he was asked if he had a work/city laptop. In response, Rowe told city officials that he did not have a city-owned laptop and that he used only a desktop computer at the city shop and an iPad that was at his residence, arrest affidavits say. According to affidavits, a city administrator identified two laptop computers, an ASUS brand and an MSi branded laptop, and both were signed out by Rowe. These two laptop computers, a hard drive and iPad, were not returned. The value of these items to include the software and loss equals $2,836.62. On March 25, 2024, Rowe was placed on administrative leave and was asked to turn in computers in his possession, which he did not do. We have proof that he was still in possession of a city-owned computer after he was placed on leave and accessed the computer, administrators say in affidavits. Affidavits show the computer had remote access capabilities to the city water system called Scada and the water plant HVAC system. Investigators learned that in the hard drive and the stolen laptop was a software program called Scada. The laptop functioned as a server, which gave remote access to the Scada system called Remote PC. The purpose of the Scada system is to allow operators to monitor data from the water towers. It communicates water levels to the technicians, and will send alarm notifications of situations that need to be addressed, and also adjusts water levels and water pressure levels if needed. It controls pumps and either turns on or turns off the water plant, according to affidavits. Additionally, affidavits say, the Scada system will create graphs of the data received in the last 24 hours. Numbers can be changed through this program and if the numbers are inaccurate, they could cause water pressure spikes that would cause water main breaks. The laptop also operated as a server for the HVAC system at the water plant, according to affidavits, which show the HVAC system could be accessed remotely, and a person could control the blowers through the software. When this laptop was stolen, there wasnt a way for an employee to access the program, so the city had to call in an I.T. professional to come in to reinstall the program on another computer, affidavits show. According to the internal affairs investigation, at the time Rowe was placed on paid administrative leave, he was directed to turn over all city-owned property in his possession, affidavits say. At the time of his termination, Rowe remained in possession and control of utility records and information and continued to access and modify that information. He modified a document entitled Clothing Allowance on April 3, 2024, at 11:03 AM by accessing the Dropbox files, which (Rowe) owns and controls, affidavits say. It was username and password protected. He further provided access to current emails using personal email accounts rather than their work email accounts, compromising the maintenance and safety of such records. In affidavits, officials say the internal affairs investigation revealed Rowe had modified and/or deleted information/files off of the city-owned computer and modified software systems such that the citys customary backup and operating systems, so they were not allowed to run and properly secure and store public records and information. IT analytics further confirmed that Rowe was engaged in serially deleting his email communications on his city-owned email account, several times per day while working as the interim utility manager. He also deleted text messages related to city utility business. According to the report, affidavits show, The deletions were excessive, consistent, unusual and in violation of Iowa law requiring preservation of public records. An internal affairs investigation confirmed that Rowe previously submitted an expense reimbursement request for a purchase made at Dillards from the pajamas and robes department. The city administrators investigation confirmed that the purchase was for mens underwear, and reported this is not an acceptable or approved item for clothing allowance purchases, and it is not for a public purpose, according to affidavits. The administrator confronted Jacob about this purchase, affidavits say. He reportedly denied having a credit card and he provided no further explanation for the purchase. The administrator wrote, This documentation confirmed Rowe was paid reimbursement for this submitted expense, which is improper and a misuse of public funds. Additionally, the administrator later calculated the unauthorized use amount to be $900 in clothing expenditures. Rowe also purchased a Dropbox software program by using the city credit card in the amount of $128.27 for a grand total of $1,028.27 in unauthorized purchases. Rowe, who was arrested Friday on a warrant, is set for a preliminary hearing July 9 in Scott County Court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2019 file photo, pedestrians walk near a Northeastern University sign on the school's campus in Boston. A former lab manager at Northeastern University has been convicted, Friday, June 28, 2024, of staging a hoax explosion at the Boston campus and then lying about what happened to a federal agent. (AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi, File) A former lab manager at Northeastern University has been convicted of staging a hoax explosion at the Boston campus and then lying about what happened to a federal agent. Jason Duhaime, 46, from San Antonio, Texas, was convicted on three counts Friday by a federal jury. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each offense. Two attorneys representing Duhaime withdrew from the case in January, court documents show. A public defender who replaced them could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday. Duhaime worked as the university's new technology manager and director of the Immersive Media Lab. In September 2022, he called the university police to say he'd collected several packages from a mail area, including two Pelican hard plastic cases, and that when he opened one of the cases, it exploded and sharp objects flew out and injured his arms. Duhaime's 911 call sparked a major response from law enforcement, who evacuated the area and called in the bomb squad. He showed police a letter he told them he'd found inside the case, which claimed the lab was trying to get people to live inside a virtual reality world and was secretly working with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and the U.S. government. In the case you got today we could have planted explosives but not this time!!! the note read, court documents show. Take notice!!! You have 2 months to take operations down or else!!!!! But Duhaime's story quickly unraveled, according to the FBI. They didn't find anything in the cases and noted the letter appeared to be in pristine condition. The FBI said Duhaime had superficial injuries to his arms, but no damage to his shirt sleeves. And when agents searched Duhaime's computer, they found a copy of the letter in a backup folder that he'd written a few hours before calling 911. 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, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement. 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. Northeastern, a private university, has more than 18,000 undergraduate students and 22,000 graduate students. Duhaime is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 2. ___ Perry reported from Meredith, New Hampshire. A former lab manager at Northeastern University has been convicted of staging a hoax explosion at the Boston campus and then lying about what happened to a federal agent. Jason Duhaime, 46, from San Antonio, Texas, was convicted on three counts Friday by a federal jury. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each offense. Court documents show that two attorneys representing Duhaime withdrew from the case in January. A public defender who replaced them could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday. Duhaime worked as the universitys new technology manager and director of the Immersive Media Lab. In September 2022, he called the university police to say hed collected several packages from a mail area, including two Pelican hard plastic cases, and that when he opened one of the cases, it exploded and sharp objects flew out and injured his arms. Duhaimes 911 call sparked a major response from law enforcement, who evacuated the area and called in the bomb squad. He showed police a letter he told them hed found inside the case, which claimed the lab was trying to get people to live inside a virtual reality world and was secretly working with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and the U.S. government. In the case you got today we could have planted explosives but not this time!!! the note read, court documents show. Take notice!!! You have 2 months to take operations down or else!!!!! But Duhaimes story quickly unraveled, according to the FBI. They didnt find anything in the cases and noted the letter appeared to be in pristine condition. The FBI said Duhaime had superficial injuries to his arms, but no damage to his shirt sleeves. And when agents searched Duhaimes computer, they found a copy of the letter in a backup folder that hed written a few hours before calling 911. 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, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement. 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. Northeastern, a private university, has more than 18,000 undergraduate students and 22,000 graduate students. Duhaime is scheduled to be sentenced on October. 2. 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 The most anticipated sporting event is only a month awayand it happens to be in the most visited city in the world: Paris. Aside from the picturesque streets, fragrant cafes, and stray cyclists, the French capital will also be swarming with spectatorsover 15 million are just arriving for the Paris Games. Thats in addition to locals and other French residents traveling to the capital from different parts of the country. For the uninitiated, Paris can be a lot. Recently, the city has grappled with a bed bug outbreak, dengue scares, petty crime, public transport workers strikes, and more. Given the twin popularity of the Olympics and Paris, surviving (and thriving) in the city can feel like hard work. Although Paris got a feel for managing big crowds that flocked to Taylor Swifts Eras Tour concerts earlier this year, the Olympics and Paralympics will have the city buzzing with activity over an extended period. But fret notFortune spoke to tourism, insurance, banking, and culture experts for their tips on navigating the city and having a great experience. Getting around 18 October 2021, France, Paris: Passengers use the Paris Metro at the "Duroc" station. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images) Like its other big city peers, Paris has an infamous traffic problem. In the lead-up to the Olympics, several hotspots in the city will be cordoned off, restricting taxi access. The biggest pitfall is going to be the traffic. It will be very hard to find your way around it, which is why being centrally located at a perfect hotel is the key, said Jonathan Alder, founder of travel management company Jonathans Travels. This level of crowds is going to be a challenge for Paris, specifically when it comes to traffic and crowding. For guests willing to pay for the top hospitality packages, they have created a workaround with a special traffic lane that will only be available to specific vehicles, Alder told Fortune. If you plan to visit other parts of France before getting to Paris, he cautions against connecting via a major Paris airportwhether Charles de Gaulle Airport or Paris-Orly. While cabs (identifiable with a taxi sign on their hoods) are very much an option, public transport is still the best way to get around the city. Road and station closures could hamper some routes, so the RATP and Public Transport Paris 2024 apps will be your friends for real-time updates on whats working and whats not. Also, keep your eyes and ears open in case of any protests in the areas youre heading to. Dont forget to leave enough buffer time for delays. Other safe alternatives include carpooling, renting cycles (a Velib pass could be helpful), and exploring areas by foot. Story continues Uber is offering free ferries across the Seine River from July 12 to August 3 in addition to taxis. Beware of your Euros sitting young woman with city backpack holds euro money in hand When in Paris, beware of how and where you access your money. Tourists habitually convert local currencies to their home currency to find the best deals in shopping and buying food. The implication? Exchange rates change daily, even if only by a small percentage, and it costs to use your home currency if you arent careful. Always have some (but not a lot) euros handy and make sure to transact only in euros even when credit card machines prompt you otherwise, London-based fintech firm Wise said in a report about preparing for the Paris Olympics. It also warns against resorting to airport or hotel exchanges, which deliberately charge you more. Airports and hotels cater to a captive audience. Their exchange services will reflect this in their higher fees and poorer rates, the report said. Other suggested tips include having backup payment options in case your primary card fails and checking if your home bank has any affiliates in France thatll absorb some of the transaction fees. Theres another thing people need to be aware of when exploring the streets of Paristhe pickpockets. With more tourists in the city, there may be an increase in petty crime and scams targeting visitors, said Johannes Thomas, the CEO of German-based travel platform Trivago, citing the example of the friendship bracelet scam at attractions like Sacre-Coeur. Avoid flashing any valuables or cash that may draw negative attention. Additionally, avoid street performers or street games, especially [ones] involving money, as this can often be a planned distraction to set up a pickpocket. Better safe than sorry close up of a hand stealing a purse out of a young girl's pocket while she is distracted on her phone Theres no easy way out with the crowds, no matter where in Paris you go. So, its probably best to embrace it, Thomas said. Expect overcrowding, long lines and overwhelmed services at popular tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and other major sites. Anticipate increased prices. Accommodation, food and transportation costs tend to spike during major events. Visitors may face significantly higher prices, especially for hotels and short-term rentals in central Paris, he added. Planning trips during peak travel season often brings uncertaintiesdelays, last-minute cancellations, lost bags, and more. Its tricky to prepare for each of these scenarios, but travel insurance can be the key to feeling more in control of your trip. People could face three types of risks when traveling: financial, medical and travel, Rajeev Shrivastava, founder and CEO of VisitorsCoverage, a travel and health insurance marketplace, told Fortune. People [who] are making these trips have made some heavy investments, including their tickets and the stay, Shrivastava said. The risks of impromptu cancellations, peak summer heat, and rampant petty crime could become unnecessary stressors in a long-anticipated trip. Thats where travel insurance can helpit lifts the burden off visitors, protecting them in case of unforeseen losses. Many insurance policies have coverage for many of these events, Shrivastava said, adding that insurance is a tool that people consider with varying degrees of seriousness, depending on how much theyve traveled. Shrivastava says another way to ensure safety is to have emergency contacts who travelers can contact. Let your family remain informed [or] whoever you believe and trust about where you are, where youre traveling to, and what of transportation you are taking, he said. When in France try being French? France, Paris, staring woman with croissant in front of Seine river and Eiffel Tower Cruising your way through Paris isnt just about getting on the right bus or staying in the right neighborhood. Its also about taking in some of the culture and blending into the city where you can. Noel Wolf, a language teacher and cultural expert at language learning platform Babbel, thinks learning some basic phrases can be a game-changer. Not only does being able to communicate in the local language facilitate cultural connection, but it is crucial for keeping travelers safe in high-stress, large-scale events such as the Olympics, Wolf said. Brushing up on your French will also come in handy when asking for directions or seeking help, making you feel more safe. People tend to regret not knowing the local language, adding to the stress of travel, Babbel found in a survey. Travelers will also need to familiarize themselves with the geography and public transportation in Paris, so in the event of an emergency or getting separated from their travel partners, attendees can have a general idea of where they are within the city and navigate their way back home, Wolf said. Other etiquette tips, such as saying Bonjour and keeping a low voice at restaurants, are also helpful to remember. And with that, you should be all set for a Parisian summer. Safe travels, or as the French would say, bon voyage! This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The former co-founder and president of a Bellingham nonprofit that helps unhoused people will pay nearly $50,000 back to the organization after he pleaded guilty to embezzling the funds over a multi-year period. James Jim Lee Peterson, 67, of Bellingham, pleaded guilty June 3 in Whatcom County Superior Court to one count of first-degree theft, a felony. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, with the ability to serve that time on work release or work crew, according to court records. Prosecutors agreed to drop aggravating factors on the theft charge which stated the crime was a major economic offense and that Peterson had used his position of trust, confidence or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the crime in exchange for his guilty plea, court records show. Peterson was approved to serve his 60-day sentence on out-of-custody work crew and has already served several days. Peterson is a co-founder and former president of HomesNOW! Not Later, a Bellingham nonprofit that operates tiny home communities for unhoused people and is dedicated to ending homelessness. HomesNOW! currently operates two tiny home villages, Unity Village and Swift Haven, which are located on city-owned land in Bellingham. Former HomesNOW! president Jim Peterson, is interviewed in front of the shower truck at the Winter Haven homeless encampment in the Sunnyland neighborhood of Bellingham, Wash., in Spring 2019. Peterson, 62, was arrested Nov. 1, 2019, for allegedly embezzling more than $75,000 from the organization, according to Bellingham police. Peterson helped start the organization in May 2017. Peterson was arrested Nov. 1, 2019, following a monthlong investigation by the Bellingham Police Department. He has been out of custody since Nov. 4, 2019, after posting a $10,000 cash bail. He was accused of embezzling more than $75,000 from HomesNOW! between June 2017 and September 2019, according to court records. Peterson reportedly withdrew funds from the nonprofits business banking account for personal use and spent the money at casinos in Whatcom and Skagit counties, and at several local businesses. Peterson withdrew the majority of the funds in cash from ATMs across Whatcom County. He also made additional withdrawals inside banks. Court records state the withdrawals had no legitimate business purposes. Peterson is required to pay $47,000 in restitution back to the nonprofit. Payments of no less than $40 a month are expected to begin July 1. Court documents state that funds will be disbursed to the nonprofit as they are received by the court. The HomesNOW board is relieved that Mr. Petersons case has finally been resolved after a prolonged period, Doug Gustafson, chairman of HomesNOW!, said in a June 25 statement to The Herald. Neither Peterson or his defense attorney were available to comment by the time of this articles publication. Five years to resolution Petersons guilty plea and sentencing come four years and seven months after charges were originally filed against him. His court case was continued 27 times, including during the period when jury trials were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We want the public to know that the situation involving Jim Peterson occurred nearly five years ago. The crimes he recently pled guilty to were uncovered internally by the HomesNOW! Board during an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct, such as verbal abuse, towards village residents, Gustafson told The Herald. During this internal investigation, we discovered financial crimes, which were promptly reported to law enforcement and the public transparently. Court records show multiple judges who heard various status hearings on the case expressed concern for the length of time the case had been pending in the system. Part of the delay was due to issues with forensic accounting conducted by law enforcement, as well as the retirement of the lead detective with Bellingham police who was handling the case, according to court records. The resolution in this case was a product of lengthy negotiations between Mr. Peterson, the State and the Bellingham Police Department. The primary issue was less about whether Mr. Peterson was guilty of the offense conduct, but rather the amount of restitution that Mr. Peterson would ultimately be forced to repay to the Nonprofit, Ben Pratt, the senior deputy prosecuting attorney who handled the case, said. Forensic accounting records compiled by law enforcement showed that theft of $47,000 was easily verifiable and could be clearly proved, Pratt told The Herald. Peterson was accused of embezzling roughly $28,000 in additional money from the nonprofit, but Peterson argued those were legitimate expenses used for purposes of the organization, Pratt said. Ultimately, the parties agreed that if Mr. Peterson accepted guilt for his conduct, he would be sentenced within the presumptive standard range as dictated by the Washington Sentencing Reform Act (0-90 days), and the State would not stretch to hold him to account for the unverifiable monies in the total restitution owed, Pratt said. He was sentenced to 60 days on whatever alternatives he would qualify for from within the jail. Change in policies Shortly after Petersons arrest in 2019, Gustafson, the chairman of HomesNOW!, told The Herald the organization was putting new policies in place. Multiple HomesNOW! board members now review the nonprofits bank accounts regularly to detect any potential irregularities, all transactions are verified and documented with receipts, and the organization publishes quarterly financial reports that are accessible to the public ensuring transparency, Gustafson said in his June 25 responses to The Herald. The board has also adopted a policy that prohibits ATM withdrawals to make sure all transactions are properly tracked and documented. Gustafson said exceptions are made for specific situations, such as purchasing used appliances, but said that those transactions are noted in the organizations financial records. Gustafson said HomesNOW! has been successfully operating two tiny home villages for several years, sheltering around 50 people. Unity Village, which is located in the city-owned parking lot at 210 McKenzie Ave., near the Post Point Water Treatment Plant in Fairhaven, has operated since September 2019. The organization has also operated Swift Haven, located in the parking lot of the Frank Geri Fields ballpark in the Puget neighborhood, since December 2020. Both currently operate on temporary permits, which requires the villages to move later this year. In April, the city spent $1.2 million to purchase land in the 3300 block of Northwest Avenue in the Birchwood neighborhood where both tiny home villages will be relocating, The Herald previously reported. The new village will be called North Haven. HomesNOW! submitted its application for North Haven on May 31 and held an informal neighborhood meeting June 13, according to the citys and HomesNOW!s websites. The city has said it expects the property will be ready for residents to move in in September. If the permit is approved, the village can remain at the location for up to five years under current city code, according to the citys website. Our unique model is entirely volunteer-driven with no paid staff. The villages are managed and operated by residents who work collaboratively with their neighbors to transition out of homelessness and achieve long-term stable housing, Gustafson said. We boast a 52% success rate between both of our villages (Unity Village 58%/Swift Haven 45%) in helping residents find permanent housing. This success rate continues to improve over time as the villages remain in operation. Homelessness in Bellingham and Whatcom County increased substantially in 2023, reaching an all-time high and topping 1,000 people for the first time. The figures were reported as part of an annual survey of people without a place to live, The Herald previously reported. Gustafson said Whatcom County needs more tiny homes, which have historically shown a high rate of rehousing among residents. These villages provide a crucial stepping stone out of homelessness, offering a more equitable and supportive environment than congregate shelters. They help individuals move beyond survival mode, allowing them to focus on their future and take steps towards stable, long-term housing, Gustafson said. We are enthusiastic about the future and remain committed to helping end homelessness, one person at a time. Unity Village had 23 tiny homes in use on April 20, 2023, in Bellingham, Wash. Formerly homeless people live in the community, which operates under a temporary shelter permit on city-owned land. LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) Family members have identified a kayaker who went missing days ago as Uriel Rodriguez-Lopez. After an extensive search, the 24-year-olds body was found in a reservoir in Larimer County, near Loveland. Uriel had a passion for fishing and loved being on the water, but the dangers of the water combined with dicey weather conditions are what suddenly ended his life. Deyanira Rodriguez-Lopez, Uriels sister, shared with FOX31 that her brother was kind, generous and had a big heart with an even bigger sense of humor. She said he valued and enjoyed the simple things in life. When he wasnt with family, he was on the water. His dreams were to fish, Rodriguez-Lopez said. He was an amazing father. He was the best provider for his girls and wife. He was the best little brother I couldve ever asked for. On Tuesday, Uriel had the day off work and decided to go fishing and kayaking alone on Lon Hagler Reservoir. But as it got dark outside and a storm rushed through, his wife, Isabella Lopez, began to worry. A few more hours went by and he still didnt text me, and I seen his location and he just looked like he was at the same place for hours and hours, Lopez said. Lopez said she called authorities for help as her worst fears started to settle in. The Larimer County Sheriffs Office said they got the call for a kayaker who was overdue around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and their search, involving multiple agencies, began that day. I felt like time was going by so fast, but so slow, Lopez said. The storm just came on him too fast The sheriffs office said Uriels kayak was found by a recreator the night before, on Tuesday. His body was discovered by authorities on Wednesday evening. That day there was very very strong winds. It was very crazy, Rodriguez-Lopez said. The storm just came on him too fast and he really didnt know what to do. The Fort Collins man leaves behind a wife and two baby girls: a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old. In the blink of an eye, Lopez has become a single mother and is left to take care of an infant and toddler alone. If youd like to help make sure they have everything they need and help with expenses to lay Uriel to rest, click here. Uriel Rodriguez-Lopez and his family Rodriguez-Lopez is crushed that her baby brother is gone. My whole life flashed in my eyes. My whole life with him, every memory, every time Ive ever seen him, Rodriguez-Lopez said. The first thing that ran through my head was I didnt say I love you. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Authorities confirm that Uriel was recovered without a life vest on. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is stressing the importance of wearing a life jacket and provided FOX31 with alarming statistics when it comes to water-related deaths. A state record of 42 deaths was set in 2022, 32 deaths occurred in 2023, and so far this year, 22 water-related deaths have already happened and summer is not in full swing yet. CPW and this grieving family are pleading that a life jacket can mean the difference between life and death. Have your life jacket on, Rodriguez-Lopez said. Please do not go on the water without it. Please, it wouldve saved my brothers life. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Four civilians killed and seven injured in large-scale Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast The aftermath of the Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on 29 June. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration Four civilians were killed and seven more injured in the Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast on 29 June. Source: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration (OMA); Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Details: Initially, the Donetsk OMA reported that Russian forces had targeted two settlements in Lyman hromada, claiming the lives of three people in Zarichne and leaving one person injured in Torske. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.]. Two people were injured in the village of New-York in Toretsk hromada, and another person was injured in the settlement of Kurakhivka. Later, the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office noted that the Russians had struck Kramatorsk, Bakhmut and Pokrovsk districts on 29 June. A missile attack on the village of Zarichne claimed the lives of three people in a house: two women, aged 44 and 64, and a 40-year-old man. Additionally, a 59-year-old resident of the village of New-York sustained fatal injuries. Seven more civilians sustained injuries of varying severity. In particular, a woman and a man in their 60s sustained shrapnel wounds to their legs in Toretsk in a Russian airstrike, likely with the use of KAB-250 guided aerial bombs. In addition, two local women have been injured in the village of New-York. One of them is in a serious condition. Two more men, aged 51 and 65, and a 56-year-old woman have been injured in Russian attacks on the villages of Torske, Kurakhivka and Shcherbynivka. Private households in the settlements were damaged by blast waves and fire. Background: The Russians dropped aerial bombs on New-York (Donetsk Oblast), killing four people and injuring three more, including an 8-year-old girl. This news has been updated since publication. Support UP or become our patron! One man was arrested and charged by Suffolk County Police on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after a fatal crash in Long Island that claimed the lives of four people and left nine others injured in the hamlet of Deer Park. Photo courtesy Suffolk County Police Department June 29 (UPI) -- One man was arrested and is facing charges of suspicion of driving while intoxicated after a fatal crash in Long Island, N.Y., that claimed the lives of four people and left nine others injured. The minivan slammed into the business located in a strip mall around 5 p.m. Friday, leading authorities to declare a mass casualty event, Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese told reporters at a news conference. All four of those killed were inside the nail salon at the time. Eight people were taken by ambulance to hospital while a ninth was airlifted. Some of the injured were initially found trapped inside the badly damaged building. "There were four patients who were deceased upon arrival. We had nine departments total respond and eight ambulance companies, and we had about 150 firefighters and EMS personnel on scene to handle this incident," Albanese told reporters. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, passing almost entirely through the single-story building, which is one of five businesses in the commercial complex. The driver, a 64-year-old man from Long Island, was partially conscious when emergency crews arrived. He was arrested and taken to a local hospital. Suffolk County Police said Saturday the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Before the crash, the vehicle appeared to speed through a parking lot across the street, according to witnesses at the scene. "It's horrible. It's horrible. It can be tough for the community and tougher for the volunteer fire department, but you know we're going to get through it," Albanese said at the news conference. Frankie Muniz of 'Malcolm in the Middle' makes NASCAR Truck Series debut at Nashville LEBANON Frankie Muniz, or more commonly known as Malcolm from the household sitcom, 'Malcolm in the Middle', made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut Friday night at Nashville Superspeedway in the Rackley Roofing 200. Muniz raced for Reaume Brothers Racing. Muniz's truck began to overheat around lap 86 leading to his truck to go behind the wall. He finished the race 31st place, 20 laps down. Christian Eckes won the race, leading every lap. It was announced last week in a post from the Reaume Brothers' X platform (formerly Twitter) that Muniz would appear in four races this season, with Nashville being his first. In the post the team also announced that the former Hollywood star is slated to race in Bristol and Kansas City, Kansas for the truck series, while also racing in Brooklyn, Michigan for the ARCA Menards Series. Muniz began his car-racing career in 2004, where he competed in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race as a celebrity participant. In 2007, Muniz transitioned to the Atlantic Championship Series, then called the Champ Car Atlantic Series, where he raced until a wrist injury hauled him during the 2009 season. NASCAR Truck Series driver Frankie Muniz suits up before the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Friday, June 28, 2024. More: Trey Craig beats NASCAR drivers Ross Chastain, Josh Berry for Broadway 150 late model win He made a quick return to the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in 2011. Stock car racing was Muniz's next stop in 2021, where he raced in the SRL Pro Late Model series for High Point Racing. Notably, Muniz was the pace car driver for the 2001 Daytona 500, where racer Dale Earnhardt lost his life. Lawrence Goss is The Tennessean's sports intern with the Sports Journalism Institute. Contact Lawrence at lgoss@gannett.com. Follow Lawrence on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @iamlgoss. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Malcolm in Middle star Frankie Muniz makes NASCAR Truck Series debut SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Come Monday, changes will be coming to California as a variety of new laws are set to go into effect, including one aimed at banning hidden fees. We need to know. We need to know what were paying for, said Kelley Day. Thanks to Senate Bill 478, consumers will know the price of a product or service from the start not when they get the bill. New laws going into effect on July 1 that Californians should know I feel like it makes it fair for consumers in general. You get what you get. Youre seeing the price and then it makes it so no one can complain, said Zoe Miller. Also known as the honest pricing law or hidden fees statute, the bill paves the way for transparency. It applies to the sale of most goods and services including restaurants, hotels, event tickets and food delivery service. If consumers see a low price at the beginning, then they are more likely to make a commitment there and then once theyve made the commitment, theyll have to put up then with the higher price at the end. Its kind of a bait and switch, said Alan Gin, an economics professor at University of San Diego. New law caps rental security deposits starting July 1 Gin says restaurants may be among the most worried to bake the total cost of fees and surcharge into the price of whats on your plate. Its the restaurant industry particularly thats complaining about this and they may carve out legislation that says their fees would be OK if they display them prominently on the menu, Gin added. Lawmakers are currently contemplating that exemption for restaurants. The law already has exemptions for taxes and things like shipping and delivery charges. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) defended WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after he was released from prison earlier this month, calling his charges one of the biggest attacks on freedom of the press. His prosecution, the charges against him, are one of the biggest attacks on freedom of the press that weve seen and freedom of speech, Gabbard said Friday evening on Real Time with Bill Maher. Assange was released from British prison Monday after agreeing to plead guilty to one felony count under the Espionage Act for publishing classified U.S. military information in 2010. As editor-in-chief of Wikileaks, he published war logs from American efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, which were leaked by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. At the time, then-Vice President Biden called Assange a terrorist. Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard from 2003 to 2020, even touring in Iraq, before jumping into the Democratic primary race for the White House. The former lawmaker continues to serve in the California-based Army Reserve. She left the Democratic party after retiring from Congress in 2021, becoming independent, and endorsed a slew of Republicans during the 2022 midterms. The Democrat-turned-independent has also risen as a vocal supporter of former President Trump. In May, she said she would be honored to serve Trumps running mate, as her name made its way up the veepstakes list, though many see her as a long-shot pick. Maher voiced his surprise at Gabbards answer, saying that he thought she would go the other way on the issue. We have to think of our security first, Maher argued. I dont like a guy who pretends that hes a patriot when its the spies out there who are protecting this country. In response, Gabbard doubled down on her defense of Assange. What he exposed really is how our own government was violating our own civil liberties and trying to cover up things that were very embarrassing to our government, she said. I think thats the essence of the responsibility of a free press. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) -A federal judge in Texas on Friday temporarily blocked a Biden administration rule from taking effect that would extend mandatory overtime pay to 4 million salaried U.S. workers. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan in Sherman, Texas, said the U.S. Department of Labor rule that is set to go into effect on Monday improperly bases eligibility for overtime pay on workers' wages rather than their job duties. Jordan, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump, blocked the Labor Department from applying the rule to state workers in Texas pending the outcome of a legal challenge by the Republican-led state. The Labor Department and the office of Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The department can seek review of the ruling in the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is widely regarded as the most conservative federal appeals court. The rule adopted in April would require employers to pay overtime premiums to salaried workers who earn less than $1,128 per week, or about $58,600 per year, when they work more than 40 hours in a week. The current threshold of about $35,500 was set in 2019. Federal law exempts workers with "executive, administrative, and professional" (EAP) duties from receiving overtime pay, and the Labor Department has for decades used salary as one factor in deciding when that applies. In adopting the rule, the department said that lower-paid salaried workers often do the same jobs as their hourly counterparts, but work more hours for no additional pay. The rule also establishes automatic increases in the salary threshold every three years to reflect wage growth. Texas in its lawsuit said the rule violates federal law by conditioning overtime exemptions primarily on workers' pay rather than their duties, and is seeking to strike it down nationwide. Texas says that subjecting states to the overtime expansion violates their right under the U.S. Constitution to structure the pay of state employees and, in turn, decide how to allocate large portions of their budgets. Jordan on Friday agreed that the Labor Department had overstepped its authority by effectively rewriting federal law. "Since the ordinary meaning of the EAP Exemption focuses solely on duties, any rule implementing the EAP Exemption - including the 2024 Rule must likewise center on duties," the judge wrote. Jordan is also presiding over a challenge to the rule by business groups, and a small marketing firm is suing over the regulation in a different federal court in Texas. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Sandra Maler and Daniel Wallis) Following allegations of sexual abuse, Gateway Church officials are recommending former lead pastor Robert Morris son, James Morris, and three other elders to take a leave of absence from the churchs board. Gateway Church posted a statement on social media on Friday, announcing the North Texas megachurch hired the law firm Haynes & Boone LLP to conduct an independent and comprehensive inquiry related to the recent events, referencing Robert Morris resignation. Founder and former lead pastor at Gateway Church, which is based in Southlake, Robert Morris resigned from his position on June 18 after he admitted he sexually abused a girl. Cindy Clemishire, who is now in her 50s, told the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch that Morris abused her for four years in Oklahoma and Texas beginning when she was 12 years old. According to the statement, the law firm is recommending that any elders with a potential conflict of interest temporarily step down from the churchs board. That is to include any elders with a relational conflict or who were on Gateway Churchs board between 2005 and 2007, the statement reads. In 2005, Clemishire confronted Robert Morris with her intention to file a civil lawsuit, and his attorney responded by saying it was Clemishires fault, The Wartburg Watch reported. After she asked for $50,000 to reimburse her for counseling, Morris and his attorney said they would provide $25,000 if she signed a non-disclosure agreement, which Clemishire refused, according to the report. The churchs newly appointed senior pastor, James Morris, volunteered to step down from the board of elders, in accordance with the firms recommendation, to demonstrate a truly independent and unbiased inquiry, the churchs statement says. He was set to take the position as senior pastor in 2025. 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.] The megachurch added the leave of absence does not imply that any elder had knowledge of the sexual abuse and that James Morris was unaware of the facts of this situation. Four days after Clemishire publicly disclosed the sexual abuse, Robert Morris admitted there was touching and kissing between him and a young lady, but there was no intercourse, he said in a statement shared with church officials. These Elders desire to go above and beyond to help ensure that everything possible is done to conduct the inquiry impartially and consistent with best practices, church officials said Friday. The three other elders asked to temporarily step down are Kevin Grove, Steve Dulin and Gayland Lawshe, according to the statement. They served as elders between 2005 and 2007. Grove serves as the executive global pastor, and Lawshe as the network pastor, according to Gateway Churchs website. The four elders will continue their important work as valued staff members, the statement says. Georgia couple arrested for trying to sell 2-year-old daughter online for sex A Georgia couple is facing several charges after police say they were trying to sell their toddler for sex. Grovetown police say they arrested Ashlee Crawley, 26, and James Tripp, 29, on Wednesday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Investigators say they received a tip that Crawley and Tripp were using an online chatroom to try and find men to have sex with their 2-year-old daughter. They say Crawley had been making sexually explicit content and selling it online. They say some of those videos deliberately featured their children, including the 2-year-old, for extra money. Its unclear what the videos contained and if the children were actively involved. Detectives also say they learned that Tripp was trying to get Crawleys permission to have sex with one of his own underage relatives. All of the children were removed from the home and are being cared for by the Division of Family and Children Services. TRENDING STORIES: Both Crawley and Tripp are being held in the Columbia County Jail. She is being charged with child molestation and violation of the Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation and Prevention Act of 2007. He faces charges of criminal attempted incest and criminal attempted child molestation, Investigators say they expect both will face more charges. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A Georgia man is heading back to federal prison after 14 years of robbing banks caught up to him. David Wayne Stanley, 59, pleaded guilty to robbing a Savannah bank in October 2023. After his guilty plea, he was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison and to pay $6,677 in restitution. After that, hell also have to serve another year in prison for committing the robbery while he was on supervised release for another bank robbery. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Prosecutors say that Stanley walked into a Wells Fargo bank and told two tellers that he had a gun and demanded the cash from their drawers. Investigators were able to identify the getaway car as Stanleys and arrested at his home. Its not the first time hes been convicted of robbing a bank. He previously served a state sentence in Texas for robbing seven banks in 2009. In 2016, he was sentenced to federal prison for another Savannah bank robbery, which he was on supervised release for at the time of the 2023 robbery. TRENDING STORIES: Stanley also faced multiple charges in Texas for more robberies in the days leading up to the 2023 robbery, but has not been convicted of those. Stanleys prior prison time was apparently not enough of a teaching moment for him because he returned to his bank robbing ways while he was still on parole for the last bank robbery he committed, said Will Clarke, Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Atlantas Savannah office. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: German minister satisfied with security operation so far at Euro 2024 Nancy Faeser (3rd R),Germany's Minister of the Interior, opens the "Future Hub" in front of the Reichstag building. The "Future Hub" is the central point of contact for workshops, discussion rounds and hands-on activities relating to the European Football Championship. Joerg Carstensen/dpa German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is satisfied with the security operation for Euro 2024 after the completion of the group stage as she praised "a huge effort" from everyone involved. "Security remains our top priority. The strong security measures are working, above all a very strong police presence at all match venues, at public viewing and in many other places," Faeser told publishers Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. "The police has intervened quickly and consistently against violence by hooligans, bottle throwing and pyrotechnics. However, the fact that police officers were also attacked shows how dangerous this operation can be." Faeser highlighted that 22,000 federal police officers were on Euros duty every day to protect Germany's borders, airports and rail traffic, in addition to those from the federal states. Faeser said the security authorities were constantly adapting their measures, and with the knock-outs now reached they "can be pooled even more because fewer matches are taking place on the same day." She also mentioned emergency services and fire brigades who are also on duty all the time, along with the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and its 3,400 volunteers. "My greatest thanks and respect go to them all," Faeser said. Counter-demonstrators confront the police on an access road to the grounds of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. A few hours before the start of the AfD party conference, demonstrators had their first clash with the police on Saturday morning. Henning Kaiser/dpa Protesters and police clashed on Saturday morning in the western German city of Essen, the site of a two-day party congress by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) that is due to get under way. A large group of protesters attempted to break through a police cordon at around 5:45 am (0345 GMT), a police spokeswoman said. Officers used pepper spray and batons to stop their advance, she said. It was not immediately known whether there were any injuries among the demonstrators. Up to 100,000 protestors are expected to descend on Essen. The authorities have raised concerns that, while most of the expected demonstrations would be peaceful, around 1,000 leftist extremists would use violent means to disrupt the congress. Leftist groups said they will try to blockade entrances to the venue with the aim of preventing AfD delegates from getting through. Around 600 AfD delegates are meeting in the city's Grugahalle indoor arena, with current co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla seeking re-election ahead of German parliamentary elections in the autumn of next year. Demonstrators confront the police on an access road to the grounds of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. A few hours before the start of the AfD party conference, demonstrators had their first clash with the police on Saturday morning. Henning Kaiser/dpa Police arrest a demonstrator tried to enter a highway. A few hours before the start of the AfD party conference, demonstrators had their first clash with the police on Saturday morning. --/dpa Leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel speaks during the party congress at the Grugahalle in Essen. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gathered in the western city of Essen for a two-day party congress, as huge crowds of protesters clashed with a massive contingent of police outside the venue. The AfD is coming off a second-place finish in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, and is gearing up for state parliamentary elections in three eastern German states where the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic party appears to have an edge in the polls. "We are number one in the east," AfD co-chairman Tino Chrupalla declared to delegates on Saturday. "We want to win these elections, and we want to expand and maintain this position." AfD co-chairwoman Alice Weidel attacked Germany's centre-left coalition government, the country's domestic security services and recent reforms to Germany's citizenship law in a speech to nearly 600 delegates in the city's Grugahalle indoor arena. She claimed the country has "degenerated into a pony farm" and warned that "Germany will do away with itself if we don't get our act together and finally put an end to this woke hippie madness." Weidel received loud applause from AfD members when she said that it was in Germany and Europe's interests "that Ukraine does not belong to the European Union and to Europe." Weidel also lobbed criticism at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has said there are "irreconcilable differences" between her far-right Brothers of Italy party and the AfD, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a member of Germany's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU). Outside, thousands of police clashed with mass crowds of protesters that were estimated to number as many as 100,000 and who tried to blockade the venue and prevent AfD delegates from reaching the gathering. "Some demonstrators wore masks and attacked police officers," Essen police said on Saturday. Authorities appealed to demonstrators to "keep away from violent actions and troublemakers." Several hundred protesters blocked a motorway exit ramp and others occupied streets and intersections near the event hall where the congress is being held. Police have deployed thousands of officers as well as water canons to control the demonstrations. Police clashed with a large group of protesters who attempted to break through a police cordon at around 5:45 am, a police spokeswoman said. Officers used pepper spray and batons to stop their advance, she said. Police requested several ambulances, but it was not immediately clear whether any demonstrators were injured in the clash. Several AfD politicians from Germany's parliament said that they had been picked up at their hotel by the police and taken to the venue. Some delegates managed to reach the venue on foot undisturbed by protesters. Weidel and Chrupalla are seeking re-election as the joint leaders of the party ahead of German national elections in the autumn of next year. The authorities have raised concerns that, while most of the expected demonstrations would be peaceful, around 1,000 left-wing extremists would use violent means to disrupt the congress. Leftist groups said in advance they would try to blockade entrances to the venue with the aim of preventing AfD delegates from getting through. An initial demonstration was held on Friday night, with much larger protests expected throughout the day on Saturday, including a march setting out from the city's central train station. Essen's mayor, Thomas Kufen of the centre-right CDU, is set to address participants in the protest march, which is expected to attract more than 20,000 people. The city of Essen had tried for months to prevent the AfD from holding the two-day party conference there, but ultimately failed in court. A major theme for the AfD's congress will likely be the party's second-place finish in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, in which the party gained seats but did less well than pre-election polling had suggested. The final stages of the campaign were overshadowed by how the party dealt with lead candidate Maximilian Krah, who has been caught up in foreign influence-buying allegations and also by controversial comments he made to an Italian newspaper defending members of the Nazi SS paramilitary. The AfD was expelled from the Identity and Democracy Group in the European Parliament in response to Krah's remarks, in which he said not all members of the wartime German SS were criminals. The AfD's number two candidate for the European elections, Petr Bystron, has also faced allegations of accepting money from a pro-Russian propaganda outfit with alleged ties to the Kremlin. He has denied the accusations. Chrupalla on Saturday acknowledged those stumbles, telling delegates that "we need to take a closer look at our candidates in future." The AfD claimed 15.9% of the vote in the elections, but Chrupalla contended on Saturday that the party "could have won 20%." People demonstrate against the AfD party conference near the grounds of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. A few hours before the start of the AfD party conference, demonstrators had their first clash with the police on Saturday morning. --/dpa People demonstrate against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Helge Toben/dpa People demonstrate against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Helge Toben/dpa Leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel speaks during the party congress at the Grugahalle in Essen. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gathered in the western city of Essen for a two-day party congress, as huge crowds of protesters clashed with a massive contingent of police outside the venue. The AfD is coming off a second-place finish in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, and is gearing up for state parliamentary elections in three eastern German states where the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic party appears to have an edge in the polls. "We are number one in the east," AfD co-chairman Tino Chrupalla declared to delegates on Saturday. "We want to win these elections, and we want to expand and maintain this position." AfD co-chairwoman Alice Weidel attacked Germany's centre-left coalition government, the country's domestic security services and recent reforms to Germany's citizenship law in a speech to nearly 600 delegates in the city's Grugahalle indoor arena. She claimed the country has "degenerated into a pony farm" and warned that "Germany will do away with itself if we don't get our act together and finally put an end to this woke hippie madness." Weidel received loud applause from AfD members when she said that it was in Germany and Europe's interests "that Ukraine does not belong to the European Union and to Europe." Weidel also lobbed criticism at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has said there are "irreconcilable differences" between her far-right Brothers of Italy party and the AfD, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a member of Germany's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU). Two more years for AfD's leaders Chrupalla and Weidel were both re-elected to another two-year term as co-leaders of the party on Saturday afternoon, with both facing no opposition and receiving large majorities from the delegates. Chrupalla received 82.72% of the vote, a significantly better result than at the last party conference two years ago, when he received only 53.4% from AfD delegates. "I'm really a bit overwhelmed," Chrupalla said after his election. A craftsman from the eastern state of Saxony, Chrupalla has been a co-chairman of the AfD since November 2019. The AfD has surged to national political relevance in Germany during that period, and Chrupalla on Saturday noted a promise he made two years ago to make the party stronger than ever. "I have kept my word," he said, vowing that the AfD would change Germany and turn the country on its head. Weidel's election result was slightly weaker than Chrupalla's: she received 79.77% of the vote, compared to the 67.3% two years ago when she was first elected to the party's leadership. Huge crowds on the streets Outside, thousands of police clashed with mass crowds of protesters that were estimated to number as many as 100,000 and who tried to blockade the venue and prevent AfD delegates from reaching the gathering. "Some demonstrators wore masks and attacked police officers," Essen police said on Saturday. Authorities appealed to demonstrators to "keep away from violent actions and troublemakers." Police have deployed thousands of officers as well as water cannons to control the demonstrations. Police grappled with a large group of protesters who attempted to break through a police cordon at around 5:45 am, a police spokeswoman said. Officers used pepper spray and batons to stop their advance, she said. Police requested several ambulances, but it was not immediately clear whether any demonstrators were injured in the clash. Several AfD politicians from Germany's parliament said that they had been picked up at their hotel by the police and taken to the venue. Some delegates managed to reach the venue on foot undisturbed by protesters. The authorities have raised concerns that, while most of the expected demonstrations would be peaceful, around 1,000 left-wing extremists would use violent means to disrupt the congress. An initial demonstration was held on Friday night, with much larger protests expected throughout the day on Saturday, including a march setting out from the city's central train station. The city of Essen had tried for months to prevent the AfD from holding the two-day party conference there, but ultimately failed in court. Better candidate vetting A major theme for the AfD's congress will likely be the party's second-place finish in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, in which the party gained seats but did less well than pre-election polling had suggested. The final stages of the campaign were overshadowed by how the party dealt with lead candidate Maximilian Krah, who has been caught up in foreign influence-buying allegations and also by controversial comments he made to an Italian newspaper defending members of the Nazi SS paramilitary. The AfD was expelled from the Identity and Democracy Group in the European Parliament in response to Krah's remarks, in which he said not all members of the wartime German SS were criminals. The AfD's number two candidate for the European elections, Petr Bystron, has also faced allegations of accepting money from a pro-Russian propaganda outfit with alleged ties to the Kremlin. He has denied the accusations. Chrupalla on Saturday acknowledged those stumbles, telling delegates that "we need to take a closer look at our candidates in future." The AfD claimed 15.9% of the vote in the elections, but Chrupalla contended on Saturday that the party "could have won 20%." People demonstrate against the AfD party conference near the grounds of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. A few hours before the start of the AfD party conference, demonstrators had their first clash with the police on Saturday morning. --/dpa People demonstrate against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Helge Toben/dpa People demonstrate against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Helge Toben/dpa Local police anticipate up to 80,000 protesters, including about 1,000 violent far-left protesters, to descend on the weekend's AfD party conference in Essen, Germany. Photo by Fabian Strauch/EPA-EFE June 29 (UPI) -- Germany's Alternative for Deutschland party re-elected Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla to another two-year team as the party's joint leaders amid violent protests Saturday in Essen. Chrupalla received 82.72% of supporting votes from 600 AfD party delegates and Weidel 79.77% during the AfD conference that got underway Saturday. Their successful bids for reelection as AfD party leaders occurred as thousands of protesters took to the streets of Essen Saturday morning. The group Widersetzen allegedly is organizing mass protests against the AfD, which many describe as a "far-right" political party. Widersetzen protest organizers want its members and supporters to disrupt the AfD conference to "prevent the spread of fascism." Violent protesters seriously injured two police officers as Germany's AfD party re-elected two leaders during the two-day conference that started Saturday in Essen, Germany. Photo by Fabian Strauch/EPA-EFE About 1,000 German police are deployed in Essen for the two-day political conference. Police officials expect up to 80,000 protesters to arrive in Essen on Saturday, including about 1,000 far-left extremists prone to violence, German media have reported. Police in Essen, Germany, prepare for potentially violent protests as the AfD party holds its two-day conference in Essen, Germany, starting Satuday. Photo by Fabian Strauch/EPA-EFE The Bild newspaper reported police made several arrests and rescued an AfD member whom aggressive protesters had cornered in a local bakery. Hooded violent protesters attacked police and security forces outside the event, which led to several arrests, the North Rhine-Westphalia regional police posted on X. Violent protesters seriously injured two police officers, according to the NRW. The protests follow the AfD's recent European Union election results earlier this month that gave the party Germany's second-highest amount of votes. Only the Christian Democratic Union, which is considered a center-right political party, has more votes. The AfD's election success occurred despite AfD member Maximilian Krah in May saying not all former Nazi SS members were criminals. Photo illustration by Getty Images. The Montana GOP said the Democratic candidate for governor is illegally spending money on his wifes communications company but Democrat Ryan Busse, challenging the Republican incumbent, alleges Gov. Greg Gianforte improperly funneled $1 million to his campaign managers companies. Both candidates deny the allegations in the respective complaints filed this month with the Commissioner of Political Practices. Busse claims Gianforte paid campaign manager Jake Eaton and other staff affiliated with the campaign more than $1 million through Eatons companies. The payments are disclosed in financial reports, but the Busse campaign says they violate the law against secret pass-through payments. Gianforte campaign spokesperson Anna Marian Block said in a statement Friday the campaign is in full compliance with the law. This complaint is nothing more than a desperate attempt to distract voters from the fact that Ryan Busse is trailing in the polls by 21%, Block said. Meanwhile, the Montana Republican Party alleges the Busse campaign allocated several thousand dollars to his wifes communications company in violation of a law prohibiting surplus funds going to candidates for personal benefit, which includes family members. In a response filed Friday, Busses campaign called the complaint utterly meritless and said contrary to the allegations, the communications work is being done by an experienced professional and legally must be compensated. Busse: Gianforte isnt disclosing payments to staff for campaign work Eaton owns consulting firm The Political Company as well as political sign printing shop and marketing firm Ultra Graphics, both in Billings. The Busse campaigns complaint, filed Friday, lists more than 25 payments from Gianfortes campaigns to both companies between March and June of this year. The campaign says Gianforte should have made those payments to Eaton personally, instead of through his companies, for his consulting work. Eaton noted in his email Friday political parties can submit expenditures for campaigns and noted the Montana Republican State Central Committee report is where the expenses for staff are listed, including his own. The committees report for the first quarter of the year notes The Political Company was paid three installments of $12,500, as well as salaries for staff listed in the complaint. The complaint, authored by Busse staffer Emily Harris, said the Gianforte campaign has previously this election cycle tried to sidestep accountability for including false information about immigration in an ad. After taking the ad down, the campaign told Montanas ABC/Fox affiliate the ad was done by an outside contractorand the campaign decided to remove it. Busses camp is claiming the ad was created by Eatons company, basing that off the time of the ad and when it was published. Busses complaint also claims it is implausible Gianforte raised $1.2 million from when he officially became a candidate in January, but doesnt point to concrete evidence Gianforte started raising money prior to becoming a candidate other than campaign contribution amounts being suspicious. Busse believes because the donations were all the same amount and at the maximum amount that could be donated by one person at a time, $2,240, it raises concern as it doesnt match donation amounts from in person events which were around $100. Harris wrote Gianforte started campaign activities earlier than is legally allowed as an internal poll came out days after he officially became a candidate, but also made the claim on information and belief. The complaint also listed a number of staffers that claim through social media as well as in news reports to be affiliated with the campaign, but are not included in the expenditures for the campaign. Harris also listed more than 20 expenditures from Gianfortes campaign saying the descriptions were too vague and did not comply with the same statute referenced in the complaint against Busse for signs and media placement. The Busse campaign also said money passed through Eatons companies goes to other Republican-aligned vendorspayments Gianforte conceals from his reporting. The complaint did not list which vendors, though. GOP: Busse giving campaign funds to wife for communications work The complaint from the state GOP, signed June 14, says Busses campaign paid Aspen Communications, owned by Sarah Swan Busse, a total of just more than $12,000 for communications and fundraising consulting, as well as car mileage. Sara Swan Busse is Ryan Busses wife. The complaint also said candidate Busse receives a salary from Aspen Communications, which the campaign refutes as not affiliated with the election. But because the salary would directly benefit Busse and his wife, the GOP alleges Busse is in violation of state law that prohibits surplus campaign funds from directly benefiting candidates or their family members. The Busse campaign, in a response authored by campaign manager Aaron Murphy, said Sara Busse is an independent experienced professional and her work legally must be compensated fairly. It listed her experience in the field working on western district democratic candidate Monica Tranels Congressional campaign during the 2022 election cycle. The Busse camp also said the statute cited by the GOP regarding personal benefit from campaign funds isnt relevant as it concerns how funds are dealt with after the campaign, not during. Murphy wrote the GOP likely meant to cite an administrative rule saying candidates cannot use campaign funds for personal use, but he said the campaign didnt break that rule either. All expenditures and reimbursements to Sara Busse and Aspen Communications are directly connected to her fundraising and communications work for the campaignthey support the campaign and would not exist without it, the response read. The campaigns contract with Aspen Communications is not to compensate Ryan Busse. Ryan Busse receives no compensation from the campaign (excluding reimbursements for mileage, etc.), the response read. Ryan Busses occasional work for Aspen Communications, as listed on his personal disclosure, is entirely separate and distinct from the campaign. Murphy also said if hiring spouses was at issue, it would call into question the ethics of the state paying attorney Emily Jones, wife of Gianfortes campaign manager Jake Eaton, for her work as an attorney with the state. The GOP complaint also said Busses campaign was not thorough in its description of the services paid for with campaign funds, as is required in statute. This included a $250,000 ad buy from media strategy company Left Hook with the description statewide broadcast tv ad buy and a nearly $7,800 purchase from progressive campaign sign producer Blue Deal with the description signs. Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Chris Gallus said the timeline for determining whether his office will move forward with a formal investigation in the complaint against Busse is not known at this time. His office will send a letter Monday requesting Gianfortes response to the complaint by Busse. Editors Note: the headline of this story was amended to reflect the Montana GOP filing the campaign finance complaint against Ryan Busse. The post Montana GOP, Busse file campaign finance complaints appeared first on Daily Montanan. Gildas Club expands services Gildas Club provides support for cancer patients in the Quad Cities. And that reach is getting a boost. Gildas Club Quad Cities (gildasclubqc.org) Executive Director Joy Bush has announced that the organizations no-cost services will expand across the state of Iowa. This will allow the group to provide virtual support groups and educational programs to the entire state. Previously, the reach was to only 13 counties in Iowa and eight in Illinois. The expansion is becoming a reality in large part to a grant from the Iowa Cancer Consortium. Bush says the expansion is uplifting for the community. Our hope is, in the future, as awareness of our programs across the state grows, that this will allow us to provide direct, in-person programs in cities across the state, like what weve been accustomed to here in the Quad City region, she said. We dont ever want anybody to go through it alone. And so to know that there is a big part of our state that has had that available, were really excited to be able to provide that to them. The club is renewing its name to Cancer Support Community Iowa and Northwestern Illinois at Gildas Club. The name change is meant to better represent its services. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SolStock / Getty Images Summers already in full swing, and many people whove been thinking about traveling this year are already gearing up for their trip. But not everyones planned their trip months in advance. Some people are still looking for last-minute deals to budget-friendly destinations. Explore More: 3 Places To Travel That Are Like Hawaii but Way Cheaper Check Out: 3 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money The great news is that there are still quite a few affordable places to visit this year. Whether youre like the 271 million other travelers planning to fly or youre more interested in taking a drive, youve got options. If youre not sure where to go, dont worry. Dunhill Travel Deals conducted a study to find the most affordable cities to travel to this year. These are the top 50 and their approximate costs. pawel.gaul / Getty Images 50. Detroit Total cost for a family of four (four-night stay): $4,392 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,541 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $501 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $580 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $204 Find Out: Barbara Corcoran: Heres Why I Never Fly First Class Be Aware: 7 Vacation Destinations To Avoid on a Retirement Budget DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 49. Corpus Christi, Texas Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,388 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,470 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $594 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $212 Explore More: 10 Best US Vacation Destinations for Retirees on a Budget peeterv / iStock.com 48. Charlotte, North Carolina Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,384 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,504 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $512 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $516 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $200 sborisov / Getty Images/iStockphoto 47. Baltimore Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,380 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,520 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $488 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $568 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto 46. San Antonio Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,348 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,541 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $489 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $572 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $224 Story continues SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 45. Hartford, Connecticut Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,340 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,501 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $493 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $532 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $200 Try This: 8 Tips To Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy garytog / Getty Images/iStockphoto 44. Richmond, Virginia Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,332 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,522 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $482 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $596 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 csfotoimages / Getty Images 43. Lexington, Kentucky Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,332 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,462 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $546 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $464 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $196 jmoor17 / Getty Images 42. Sacramento, California Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,328 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,528 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $464 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $580 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $208 Michael Warren / iStock.com 41. Biloxi, Mississippi Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,328 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,443 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $583 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $196 Trending Now: 11 Expensive Vacation Destinations That Will Be Cheaper in 2024 Wicki58 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 40. Sarasota, Florida Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,324 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,566 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $426 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $652 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $212 Art Wager / iStock.com 39. St. Louis Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,320 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,530 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $474 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $600 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $200 Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 38. Greensboro, North Carolina Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,288 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,440 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $536 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $472 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $176 Kruck20 / Getty Images 37. Memphis, Tennessee Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,272 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,470 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $494 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $492 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $208 Read Next: Dave Ramsey: 7 Vacation Splurges That Are a Waste of Money Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 36. Knoxville, Tennessee Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,264 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,439 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $535 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $452 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $196 Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images/iStockphoto 35. Dayton, Ohio Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,256 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,424 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $540 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $444 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $184 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 34. Jackson, Mississippi Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,244 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,440 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $556 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $220 Ralph Navarro / Getty Images/iStockphoto 33. Cleveland Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,240 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,516 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $432 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $600 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $208 Read Next: 9 American Travel Brands To Stay Away From Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 32. Indianapolis Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,236 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,454 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $482 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $508 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 JTSorrell / Getty Images 31. Oklahoma City Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,216 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,421 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $529 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $440 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $196 Michael Warren / Getty Images 30. Tampa, Florida Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,204 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,514 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $406 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $644 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 Jon Mattrisch / Getty Images/iStockphoto 29. Milwaukee Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,204 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,464 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $480 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $532 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $196 For You: Can You Afford To Live in Americas Happiest States? peeterv / Getty Images/iStockphoto 28. Pittsburgh Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,188 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,475 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $467 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $544 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $208 Art Wager / Getty Images 27. Houston Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,180 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,448 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $472 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $488 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $212 Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 26. Little Rock, Arkansas Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,176 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,417 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $541 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $212 hstiver / Getty Images/iStockphoto 25. Louisville, Kentucky Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,168 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,458 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $466 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $544 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $192 Check Out: Heres How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in Every State MidwestWilderness / Getty Images/iStockphoto 24. Omaha, Nebraska Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,168 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,428 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $504 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $460 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $208 traveler1116 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 23. Rochester, New York Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,164 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,444 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $472 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $476 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $220 Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 22. Greenville, South Carolina Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,164 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,390 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $546 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $180 tomofbluesprings / Getty Images 21. Kansas City, Missouri Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,140 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,440 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $476 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $504 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $204 Explore More: 6 Reasons the Poor Stay Poor and Middle Class Doesnt Become Wealthy JTGrafix / iStock.com 20. Springfield, Missouri Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,140 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,399 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $535 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $200 lucky-photographer / Getty Images 19. Las Vegas Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,120 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,473 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $421 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $556 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $220 Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 18. Grand Rapids, Michigan Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,112 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,403 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $491 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $468 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 Sean Pavone / Getty Images 17. Wichita, Kansas Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,104 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,372 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $532 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $176 Find Out: 5 Unnecessary Bills You Should Stop Paying in 2024 styxclick / Getty Images/iStockphoto 16. Columbus, Ohio Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,076 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,413 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $469 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $488 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $200 DebraMillet / Getty Images/iStockphoto 15. Syracuse, New York Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,072 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,406 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $478 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $464 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $208 Davel5957 / iStock.com 14. Tulsa, Oklahoma Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,060 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,376 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $516 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $196 Mark Howard / Getty Images/iStockphoto 13. Raleigh, North Carolina Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,056 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,426 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $454 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $500 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $216 Try This: Net Worth for Gen X: How To Tell If Youre Poor, Middle Class, Upper Middle Class or Rich Kruck20 / iStock.com 12. Orlando, Florida Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,052 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,444 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $396 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $592 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $180 pabradyphoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 11. Des Moines, Iowa Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,044 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,386 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $478 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $456 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $196 Andyd / Getty Images 10. Norfolk, Virginia Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,040 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,362 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $514 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $184 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 9. El Paso, Texas Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,036 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,373 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $509 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $200 Discover More: What the Upper Middle Class Makes in Different US Cities benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto 8. Buffalo, New York Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $4,028 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,397 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $445 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $468 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $276 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $208 ChrisBoswell / Getty Images/iStockphoto 7. Fort Wayne, Indiana Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $3,976 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,342 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $478 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $432 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $176 iStock.com 6. Jacksonville, Florida Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $3,932 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,338 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $486 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 5. Akron, Ohio Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $3,700 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,268 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $432 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $172 Learn More: Heres What the US Minimum Wage Was the Year You Were Born iStock.com 4. Peoria, Illinois Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $3,604 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,259 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $403 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $192 Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto 3. Allentown, Pennsylvania Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $3,472 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,245 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $329 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $472 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 2. Wilmington, Delaware Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $2,948 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,131 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $175 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $524 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $256 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $176 Ron_Thomas / iStock.com 1. Toledo, Ohio Total cost for a family of four ( four -night stay): $2,852 Total cost for an individual ( four -night stay): $1,068 Average round-trip flight cost (one person): $216 Cost of accommodations ( four -night stay, one room): $428 Average meal cost ( four days, one person): $236 Average car rental cost (four days, one car): $188 More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Top 50 Most Affordable US Cities To Travel To Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference on Friday, March 15, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed the state budget into law on Friday, while vetoing more than $230 million in operating and capital spending. The total operating budget funding state agencies is $12.2 billion, including $914 million for Permanent Fund dividends, while the capital budget, money designated to build and repair roads, buildings and other infrastructure projects, is $3.5 billion. The share of spending from the Permanent Fund, oil royalties and taxes was $5.9 billion for the operating budget and $250 million for the capital budget, with most of the rest covered by federal money. In a news release, Dunleavy noted the power given the governor in the state constitution to veto individual line items. The framers of Alaskas Constitution codified a strong chief executive to ensure responsible budgeting, he said. This budget reflects their intentions. The Permanent Fund dividends this fall will be approximately $1,718 per resident, according to the governors office, slightly higher than the Legislatures estimate of $1,655. Dunleavy did not veto any of a $175 million one-time increase in school funding after vetoing half of a similar increase last year. The decision drew praise from leaders of the Anchorage School District, who said in a statement that they are grateful for the Alaska State Legislature making education funding a priority this past legislative session. Todays approval by the Governor of this one-time investment is much-needed, however, school districts are also in dire need of a long-term solution. The largest veto was $20 million to replenish the Community Assistance Fund, which aids municipalities with their budgets. Other vetoes included $11.9 million to fulfill a payment required by the federal government to school districts that the state is disputing; $11.2 million to assist schools with broadband, roughly a third of what the Legislature budgeted; $10 million for ferry operations, which the governors office said would be reevaluated after the ferry system receives federal grant money; and $10 million for seafood marketing. Smaller vetoes included $1.2 million for rural public radio stations. The announcement of the budget signing highlighted several areas increased in the spending plan, including $87.5 million for university operations and maintenance deferred from previous years; $62.8 million for major school maintenance; $53.2 million for Alaska Housing Finance Corp. programs for home buyers, owners and renters; and $3.5 million for 10 additional village public safety officers and VPSO salary increases. The constitution requires that the governor provide an explicit reason for his budget vetoes. For most, Dunleavy said they were to preserve general funds for fiscal stability. If the state spends less than it raises, that money will be deposited into the Constitutional Budget Reserve, a fund that was depleted over the past decade to balance the budget. Education cuts While Dunleavys veto pen did not touch the one-time increase to education, which equals $680 per student in the states funding formula, he did reduce funding for high speed internet for rural schools and cut a boost to the states Head Start programs in half. Dunleavy also vetoed $5.4 million of $20 million slated to increase the graduate program at University of Alaska Fairbanks so that it can achieve a status as a top-tier research university. The sum was the states general fund contribution he did not veto the remainder of the money, which would be paid for by the universitys federal funding and money it raises from other sources. The University of Alaska praised his approval of a $331.3 million state appropriation. Combined with other sources, the state universitys operating budget for the next year is just under $934.5 million. Senior reporter Claire Stremple contributed to this article. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday officially signed the 2024 budget, closing a roughly $47 billion deficit for the state. Newsoms signature was expected as he and Democratic lawmakers agreed on a spending plan last week. Californias Legislature approved most of the bills that make up the budget Wednesday night. The $298 billion spending plan includes many of Democratic priorities such as funding for homelessness grants, in-home supportive services for undocumented immigrants and affordable housing programs. It also dips into the reserves, cuts state operations by nearly 8%, delays a new health care worker minimum wage law and pulls back California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spending by $750 million. This is a responsible budget that prepares for the future while investing in foundational programs that benefit millions of Californians every day, Newsom said in a written statement on Saturday. Last weeks agreement between legislative leaders and Newsom follows some disagreement over spending priorities. The governor and both leaders of the Legislature Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg had been apart on some issues. The projected deficit had made negotiations even more challenging. The budget will provide spending for the 2024-25 fiscal year. It is set to begin Monday. In recent months, LGBTQ+ rights have faced significant setbacks in many countries, with populist and authoritarian governments passing draconian laws curtailing LGBTQ+ rights. Countries as varied as Uganda , Ghana , Iraq , Russia , Hungary , and the United States , among others, have sought to limit the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly of LGBTQ+ individuals. They have done so by suggesting that the mere existence of LGBTQ+ people in the public sphere poses a threat to children, misusing the rhetoric of protecting children to restrict fundamental human rights. This tired and offensive stereotype is damaging to the LGBTQ+ community, who are demonized in the public imagination and deprived of basic human rights. It also harms all children, who are deliberately kept in the dark about essential topics in the world around them, ranging from family diversity to current events to comprehensive sexuality education. But most of all, these laws harm LGBTQ+ children, who are made to feel alone and kept from seeing how they might flourish as they grow up. Many of the laws that pretend to protect children are downright draconian. Uganda enacted its Anti-Homosexuality Bill in 2023 under the guise of "protecting children and youth." In actuality, the law did nothing to address genuine concerns that children face in Uganda, including high rates of poverty , child labor , and barriers to education and health care. However, the law has been used to curtail the private lives of LGBTQ+ adults. This included making consensual same-sex activity among adults punishable with life in prison, imposing the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," and making LGBTQ+ advocacy a crime punishable with up to 20 years in prison. Legislation passed by Ghana's Parliament, similarly, claims to "provide for the protection and support of children" with wildly repressive restrictions. The bill also criminalizes LGBTQ+ advocacy campaigns deemed to be aimed at children with up to 10 years in prison. Still, it goes far further in criminalizing the formation and support of LGBTQ+ organizations more generally and in a particularly extreme provision the mere fact of identifying as LGBTQ+. Russia, which years ago banned positive or even neutral portrayals of LGBTQ+ people that might be seen by children, expanded that ban and effectively prohibited any acknowledgment of LGBTQ+ people or rights in public life. Russia's laws have been used to intimidate and punish LGBTQ+ people and organizations, encourage discrimination, and cut off education and health services for LGBTQ+ children to the detriment of their mental health and well-being. The situation worsened in 2024 when Russia's Supreme Court declared LGBTQ+ activism "extremist," with prison time and other penalties simply for belonging to an LGBTQ+ organization. Other countries have taken similar steps down this path. Hungary has cracked down on depictions of LGBTQ people in the media , including a law that bans depictions of LGBTQ+ people in educational materials or television programs aimed at youth. In 2024, it adopted absurd new regulations restricting where and how toys like rainbow blocks can be marketed and sold. In the United States, lawmakers have insisted they protect children as they zealously pass laws that make children's lives harder. Like Russia or Hungary, several states limit or ban discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, and a few more restrict whether and how same-sex activity can be discussed in schools. These laws prevent children from learning about diverse sexual and gender identities, with little regard for the harmful effects that isolation and invisibility can have on young people who do or will identify as LGBTQ+. Many other laws have been passed under the pretext of safeguarding cisgender, heterosexual youth that unjustly target and stigmatize transgender children, denying them access to sports, barring them from appropriate facilities, and outing them to family members. Nearly half of US states prohibit transgender children from obtaining gender-affirming medical care , which is often lifesaving care that alleviates gender dysphoria and helps many to feel comfortable in their bodies. These bans are similarly passed with an almost singular focus on children who might someday decide that they are not transgender, with little regard for the many transgender children and adults who need access to this care and whose lives will be made much more complex and painful without it. Thousands of LGBTQ+ youth and their families have testified to lawmakers that these bills do immediate and demonstrable harm. A poll from the Trevor Project in 2023 found that 71 percent of LGBTQ+ youth polled and 86 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth reported that laws restricting their rights had adversely affected their mental health. Although children are telling us that these laws are unfair and stigmatizing, lawmakers are not listening. LGBTQ+ children have the same needs for safety, privacy, health, education, and a sense of belonging as other children do, and governments are consistently failing them. What would law and policy look like if we prioritized the needs of all children? One guiding principle from international human rights law is a concern for the best interest of the child and not only cisgender, heterosexual children but LGBTQ+ children as well. Viewed through that more holistic lens, many recent laws and policies are insufficient and discriminatory at best. LGBTQ+ children deserve the same rights and opportunities as their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. Governments should safeguard their well-being with inclusive curricula, resources and support, and access to quality health care. By acknowledging and supporting LGBTQ+ children, we can dismantle discriminatory attitudes and foster a more inclusive society for all children to have access to thoughtful care that meets their needs. Ryan Thoreson is a specialist in the LGBTQ+ rights program at Human Rights Watch. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride. Russian troops attacked Donetsk Oblast on the evening of June 29, killing two people and injuring four others, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. The village of Kurakhivka in Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk district was attacked by Russia for the second time in a day. One person was killed there and two were hospitalized with injuries, according to Filashkin. Russian troops also attacked a residential area in the town of Kurakhove, injuring one more person, he added. This sector is one of the hottest spots on the battlefield, with eight Russian attacks during the day, Ukraine's General Staff said in its latest update. The governor said that, according to preliminary information, one person was killed and one injured in a Russian attack on the city of Sloviansk. Read also: Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia Oblast kills 7, injures 18, including children Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian attacks on residential areas in the easternmost Donetsk Oblast have killed four civilians and wounded six over the past day, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on June 29. Most of the casualties occurred in Niu-York, a front-line village that has endured the war since 2014, the governor said. Russia's attack on Niu-York comes as Moscow steps up its offensive on the nearby town of Toretsk. Russian troops have slowly advanced forward in the area and intensified their attacks against civilians remaining in what has long been a less intense sector of the front line. "Russia kills civilians!" Filashkin said in a Telegram post, condemning attacks against civilians. Throughout Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Russian troops have indiscriminately conducted attacks against civilians across the country particularly areas near the front line. The Ukrainian authorities are urging civilians remaining in areas like Niu-York to evacuate. Niu-York is less than five kilometers from the front line. Down in the southern Kherson Oblast, one civilian was killed, and two were wounded during the morning attacks by Russian forces on the other side of the Dnipro River, the local authorities said on June 29. In the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, one person was killed, and nine were wounded over the past day by attacks that involved KAB-guided aerial bombs and artillery, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Read also: With all eyes on Kharkiv, Russian troops take one Donbas village after another Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Governor: Two people missing after Dnipro attack found alive and well Two people reported missing after a Russian attack on a residential building in the city of Dnipro on June 28 have been found alive and well, while the fate of several others is unknown, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said. The mother and son who live in the destroyed nine-story building were not home at the time of the attack, according to the governor. He said they had contacted officials. "Fortunately, they are fine," Lysak added. Russian troops struck the apartment building in downtown Dnipro with a missile on June 28, destroying four floors. One person was killed and at least 12 wounded, the authorities reported. The number of casualties can increase as the rescue operation is ongoing. Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city, 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. Read also: Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia Oblast kills 7, injures 23, including children Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Republican Greg Lopez, the a 2022 candidate for Colorado governor, attends the Western Conservative Summit in Aurora on June 4, 2022. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) Greg Lopez is on his way to Washington, D.C., to serve the rest of former Rep. Ken Bucks term, over three months since the former Colorado congressman resigned. Though he will be there for only six months with the House of Representatives scheduled to be in session for fewer than 50 days over that time Lopez said he still wants to make a difference. Im going there to start a different conversation, he said. Im here to work, not just hang out. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Lopez, a Republican, defeated Democrat Trisha Calvarese in a special vacancy election Tuesday in Colorados 4th Congressional District, according to unofficial results. As of Friday afternoon, he led with 58% of the vote in the highly conservative district that encompasses the states Eastern Plains and juts into Douglas County. He framed himself as a placeholder candidate since he won his partys nomination in the vacancy election in March, vowing not to run in Novembers general election for the seat. That will be a contest between Calvarese and Rep. Lauren Boebert, who won their respective primaries for the seat. Boebert, who currently represents the 3rd Congressional District, will almost certainly win the general election. The placeholder candidate strategy worked in Boeberts favor, since it meant she did not have to convince voters to choose a Republican on the special election ballot but reject that same Republican in favor of her on the primary ballot. Lopez said he hasnt spoken extensively with Boebert since Tuesday other than a congratulatory call. A lot of people who understand the military, they understand the acronym TDY, which means a temporary duty assignment. Thats the way Im looking at it. Im there to be a principle holder waiting for whoever gets sworn in for the 119th Congress, he said. Lopez has held just one elected position before, when he was mayor of Parker in the early 1990s when he was in his late 20s, then as a Democrat. He ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 1998, the U.S. Senate in 2018, and for governor in 2018 and 202. He served as the Colorado Director of the Small Business Administration during the Obama administration. In 2020 he settled a lawsuit that alleged that after he left the SBA he violated federal law by attempting to improperly influence agency actions. Lopez and his wife pleaded guilty to harassment related to a 1993 domestic violence incident. A lot of people who understand the military, they understand the acronym TDY, which means a temporary duty assignment. Thats the way Im looking at it. Greg Lopez Lopez believes that Donald Trump won the 2020 election, the false claim that helped create the divisive, vindictive atmosphere Buck credited for his resignation. Lopez did not say whether he would accept the results of this years presidential election. What is November gonna hold for the country? My crystal ball is not any better than anybody elses, he said, adding that voters concerns about the electoral process deserve consideration and conversation. Since winning the vacancy nomination, Lopez has been in touch with various congressional staffers to reduce the learning curve when he is sworn into office, he said. That could be the week of July 8. Congress is not in session next week. He said he also intends to communicate with members of the districts vacancy committee that nominated him throughout his time in Congress. Bills on guest labor, national debt awareness Lopez has plans to introduce two pieces of legislation, though he is realistic about the slim chance of anything he submits passing in his short tenure, he said. He is interested in running a bill to set up a red card system to allow migrants a short-term work permit if they pass a background check. Its an idea that has been tried in Congress before through various immigration reform efforts, including from former Vice President Mike Pence when he was in Congress. Lopez said he wants to dust it off. Theres no reason to start introducing brand new legislation. How about just introducing something that someone thought about in the past? Maybe the timing wasnt there then, but maybe it is there now, he said. Lopez said he also wants to push for more education on the scale of the national debt. His idea is to publish the total national debt for the previous three years on the top of ballots for voters to see. Lopez will pad Republicans majority in Congress as the body debates spending bills and the conservative caucus attempts to load them with right-leaning provisions. He did not offer an opinion on the three spending bills the House passed Friday to fund the Departments of Defense, State and Homeland Security, other than to say he is monitoring them. I still have a lot of questions, he said. I need the rest of the information for me to make a good, informed decision on whats going on in CD4 and how its going to help the nation. Lopez will be serving alongside Boebert in an extremely rare dynamic where the current representative is knowingly working with a presumptive successor. He said his goal is to make sure there is a smooth transition next January, should Boebert win the seat, and put in place strong constituent services in the district. He also hopes she might carry on some of his policy ideas that he does not have time to pursue. Im feeling very comfortable that we both share the same mindset. We are going to work very well together, he said. I know were going to make a good team, and its going to be a good transition when it comes time for me to come home and for her to take over. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST After seven years and countless hours of backups on the bridges to Hilton Head, the town agreed to move forward with a plan to ease traffic flow and the frustrations of island residents, workers and tourists. The U.S. 278 Corridor project, replacing the bridges between Bluffton and Hilton Head Island with one six-lane bridge, is set to move forward, which was determined by a series of town council votes June 28. The town gave the state and Beaufort County permission to overhaul U.S. 278 within town limits with not-binding expectations, including reducing the speed limit from 55 mph to 40 mph and building two pedestrian overpasses. The town gave the go-ahead, which is called municipal consent, in a 5-2 vote with Council members Patsy Brison and Tamara Becker voting against it. Council added their expectations in a 6-1 vote with Becker voting against it. The Friday votes put in motion the process for the South Carolina Department of Transportation to get approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, solicit contractors and start construction on the project. South Carolina Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, estimated that ground-breaking will happen in mid-to-late 2025. The vote ends years of discussion and debate between island residents, the county and the town over what the way on and off Hilton Head Island, by car, should look like. The discussion started about seven years ago when the South Carolina Department of Transportation first determined a section of the bridge was structurally deficient. Four separate bridges connect Hilton Head to the mainland: one eastbound and one westbound over Mackay Creek, and another set between Pinckney Island and Jenkins Island over Skull Creek. In recent months, the discussion focused on whether the entire corridor project should move forward or whether the SCDOT should solely address the structurally deficient bridge section, with the potential for repair or replacement. The first eastbound bridge over Mackay Creek is safe to drive, but SCDOT recently rated the structure and substructure as poor. Those against the U.S. 278 project, including Becker, said that a bigger bridge would negatively impact the islands character and quality of life for islanders, especially those living in the Big Stoney Historic Gullah Neighborhood. Becker argued that the consultant-assessed, 15-minute difference in commute isnt worth the bridges overhaul. Proponents of the project said it is necessary to address long commute times, traffic, emergency evacuation preparation and the growing number of people who work on the island. Council member Alex Brown said he couldnt understand how someone could be against the towns suggestions because they help the Gullah community with $10 million toward Big Stoney improvements including the overpasses. I will be supporting this because it is a chance for us to get it right, Brown said, referencing the prior and present injustices to the Stoney Community, such as U.S. 278 cutting through the neighborhood. Theres a chance for us to repeal what has been done in the past. Within the first 10 minutes of the meeting, Becker made a motion to postpone voting. Becker made the same motion again before the municipal consent vote. Neither motions were voted on because no town council member seconded it. If the town didnt move forward with the vote Friday, it would have had the same effect as a no vote, meaning SCDOT would abandon the larger project and solely fix or replace a section of the bridge. Though the town council moved forward with the vote, it made last-minute changes that caused some confusion. Confusing changes to municipal consent Before the town voted to give municipal consent, it voted to amend the municipal consent agreement to exclude conditions such as speed limit and lane width, meaning that the conditions arent binding. It is confusing, Brison said. We still have conditions, its just in a different form. The action was spurred by a June 27 letter from S.C. Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell explaining that SCDOT requires a clean municipal consent resolution consistent with the standard template without further stipulations. In the 4-3 vote to change the municipal consent so that the conditions werent included in it, Becker, Brown and Brison voted no. The last-minute change caused concern from some, exasperated when the town attorney said he didnt know what would happen if the state and county didnt follow the conditions. We have no guarantees on any of this, Becker said of the conditions. And here we sit ready to give municipal consent to the South Carolina Department of Transportation to build the bridge on a plan we dont even know (much) of what entails. Other council members and Davis expressed confidence that the county and state will follow the conditions. There is a tremendous amount of goodwill, Davis said of Powell and Beaufort County Chairman Joe Passiment and. Im not worried. Davis also said he was confident that the project would get the necessary funding. Cost and next steps The project cost is an estimated $460 to $480 million, according to Davis. He said about $300 million of that funding was secured between Beaufort County, the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank and SCDOT. Based on the most recent estimate, youre looking at having to get another $160 or $170 million to complete the project, he said, explaining that it would in part be his responsibility to secure that funding. We have to go to existing sources to make up that shortfall. Specifically, Davis mentioned Beaufort Countys upcoming penny sales tax that is up for a vote in Novembers elections. If that doesnt pass, Beaufort County could use its bonding capacity. He also mentioned the SCDOT increasing its contribution. There are other steps other than funding essential for the project to move forward. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the projects Environmental Assessment. In other words, the next step is determination whether or not the project can move forward based on the environmental assessment thats happened so far, or whether a more detailed environmental impact statement is required, Davis said. A grim North Carolina story that we all need to be aware of and confront Summer should be about trips to the beach, going to Goodberrys for custard and families gathering for reunion picnics. Thats the ideal summer. But for those who lose children, summer is a sad, awful reminder. On Jan. 1, 5-year-old Karter Hines died the day after being airlifted to UNC Childrens Hospital in Chapel Hill, where he had emergency brain surgery. He had been assaulted and abused. Karter Holloway plays in an undated photo. In October, 3-weeks-old Gunner Bliss died in Raleigh. In December, 9-year-old Vinil Tiwari died in Morrisville. Three Wake County children were dead in a span of three months. Parents have been charged with murder in each death. The News & Observers latest reporting shows that the extent of children statewide being abused remains unclear. But we know its too many. Former N&O reporter Colleen Hammond started our reporting months ago. When she left, Tammy Grubb had the difficult role of parachuting into the investigation. Tammy is an experienced reporter and talented writer who had to summarize the complexities of how families deal with grief and whether there are systemic solutions. A grim reality The reality is more than 100,000 North Carolina children wake up to violence, substance abuse and neglect every day. Their parents often are struggling to meet basic needs. Yet Child Protective Services also is in crisis, with overwhelmed staff trying to provide services and not enough foster homes, experts say. This is Tammys takeaway from the reporting: There are many reasons for child abuse and neglect in North Carolina, and for the growing number of deaths. State officials and child advocates say more programs and services to address poverty, mental health and substance abuse will help some of those families, but they also recognize there will always be cases that defy solutions and sometimes end a childs life. This story was important to write, because we all need to be aware of abuse and neglect in our communities and, if we can, try to help those families in need. Id rather write something lighter today, especially with the Fourth of July looming (and our own beach trip.) The Year of You Lets go back to Jan. 6. Many of yall still had Christmas trees in the family room. (Not judging since Christmas decor in January is good by Dolly Parton.) That day, my column declared 2024 should be the Year of You and outlined four N&O aspirations for subscribers: We want to continue looking after your interests. Were concerned about childhoods lost. We want to spend more time with you. We want to highlight the uniqueness of you. Were at the midway point of the year, so lets look at our progress in no logical order. Goal No. 4 was about spreading the word of what makes the Triangle a special place. Since then, weve launched two initiatives. Uniquely NC is a subscriber-focused collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Triangle and North Carolina. NC Inside Look takes readers behind the scenes to illuminate the people and places in our community. Last year, The N&O staff was involved in eight community events and were speakers or ongoing guests of nearly 40 media partnerships, events or outreaches. Were trending nicely on Goal No. 3 with six community events and more than 50 media partnerships, events or outreaches through the first half of 2024. Elevating accountability journalism Goal No. 1 was about elevating our accountability journalism from breaking news to reality checks to quick-turn explainers to in-depth reporting on issues that matter across the Triangle and North Carolina. So far, The N&O team has launched: I wish we didnt have Goal No. 2 that the realities of being a child in 2024 were truly about beaches, custard and picnics. And even thinking about Christmas in July. But we have a responsibility to you, to this state, to our democracy, to report the truths. This is an issue that demands attention, Investigations Editor Catherine Clabby says. We are at a point where we are getting better at recognizing when children die from abuse or neglect in this state. But its also widely accepted that we dont detect all of these awful deaths. These stories are awful to confront, but vulnerable children need better protection. Thank you for caring. Bill Church is executive editor of The News & Observer. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Countries With the Most Scientists per Capita in the World and in this article, we will talk about the top country with the most scientists per capita in the world. Innovation and Growth in the Global Science Industry: AI, Biotechnology, and Market Trends The global science industry plays a crucial role in driving innovation, advancing knowledge, and addressing critical challenges across various domains. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global life science analytics market size was valued at $27.1 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $47.5 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period. The Business Research Company's report states that the global scientific research and development services market is expected to grow from $842.7 billion in 2023 to $906 billion in 2024, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. In the United States, the scientific research and development services market is a significant contributor to the overall industry. According to Mercer's SIRS Benchmark Survey, the Life Sciences Industry module covers 3,098 positions from 401 organizations across the country, providing robust compensation data for benchmarking salaries and assessing talent strategies. Science is moving most quickly in two areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology, according to research from companies and academic institutions. Prominent US universities with research strengths include Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, which have fractional counts in the 2018 Nature journal of 70.67, 39.85, and 37.69, respectively. Tech behemoths Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft, and Nvidia control AI research and development in the corporate world. With DeepMind, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has created deep learning algorithms such as AlphaFold, which predicts human protein structures with 98.5% accuracy, and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)'s AlphaTensor, which advances matrix multiplication to potentially speed up computation. On the other hand, prominent companies in the biotechnology industry are Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO), Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY). Novo Nordisk has been at the forefront of diabetes treatment since its inception. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)'s insulin products, such as Tresiba, Levemir, and NovoLog, have benefited millions of people living with diabetes worldwide. The company's innovative GLP-1-based medications, like Saxenda and Wegovy, have shown promising results in promoting weight loss and improving metabolic health. In the first quarter, Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) reported a 28% year-over-year increase in net profit, which came to 25.4 billion Danish kroner ($3.65 billion). Sales of Wegovy, their well-known medication for weight loss, more than doubled to 9.38 billion kroner. Story continues Similarly, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a leading global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. Lilly has played a pivotal role in the treatment of diabetes, introducing revolutionary insulin products like Humalog (insulin lispro) and Humulin. The company's recent launch of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) has revolutionized the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity by activating two incretin hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reported revenue of $8.77 billion in Q1 2024, up 26% year-over-year. Their net income was $2.24 billion, up 67% year-over-year, and earnings per share (EPS) stood at $2.48, up 66% year-over-year during the same period. The Top Country With Most Scientists per Capita in the World A scientist waving a test tube in the air, excitedly celebrating a discovery in the lab. Our Methodology For our methodology, we have ranked the countries with the most scientists per capita in the world based on number of scientists per 1000 employed in 2021. For the accuracy of data, we relied on Statista. 1. South Korea Scientists per 1000 employed: 17.26 South Korea tops the list for being the country with the most scientists per capita in the world. In 2020, South Korean researchers published 91,030 scientific and technical journal articles, ranking 13th worldwide and accounting for 1,762 publications per million population. Companies like Samsung and LG have pioneered innovations in consumer electronics, displays, and memory chips. South Korea was an early adopter of high-speed internet and mobile networks. The country's researchers played a pivotal role in developing and commercializing 5G technology, with companies like Samsung and LG leading the way. South Korea has a thriving biotechnology industry, with companies like Samsung Biologics and Celltrion leading the way in biopharmaceutical development. Researchers at institutions like the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have made significant contributions to areas like stem cell research and regenerative medicine. To learn about other countries with most scientists per capita in the world, you can check out our detailed report 10 Countries With Most Scientists per Capita in the World. At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the best online ESL courses 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: The 10 Countries With Most Scientists per Capita in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. A day after a planeload of 200 Kenyans arrived in Haiti to help rescue the Caribbean nation from the tightening grip of heavily armed criminal gangs, Garry Conille, the newly installed prime minister, stood under a searing sun at their command center and issued a warning to those wreaking havoc and fueling chaos. We will reclaim control of the country, house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city, Conille said Wednesday as his new police chief, Rameau Normil, stood to the side along with the head of the Kenya-led armed security force. Conilles statement raised already high expectations that the foreign forces, working with Haitian police, will dismantle Haitian gangs. It also seemed to set the stage for a confrontation between the criminal gangs now controlling more than 80% of Port-au-Prince, and the long-awaited United Nations-backed mission. But just hours after his warning, members of the 400 Mawozo gang set fire to an already abandoned town hall in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, a sprawling suburb east of the Kenyans base on the grounds of the Port-au-Prince international airport. The clashing optics show not just how high the stakes are in the fight to wrest control of Haiti back from its estimated 200 to 300 armed gangs, but how months into the insurrection that helped force the ouster of the previous government, no one knows how the mission will unfold. As some of the specialized Kenyan officers took to the streets for the first time Friday, accompanying Haitian SWAT members on a patrol of the capitals gang-decimated downtown, many questions remain. Are the reinforcements enough to turn the tide and stabilize a nation long in turmoil? Its a very heavy lift, theres no question, Keith Mines, vice president of the Latin America program at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington said of the task ahead. Tentatively, I want to hope for the best but its a real razors edge that they are walking on. The first contingent of specialized police officers from Kenya arrived in Haiti on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. They are among 1,000 police officers that will lead a Multinational Security Support mission to help Haiti police combat criminal gangs. For now, there are 200 Kenyans in country with another wave expected in less than two weeks. No timeline has been given for the deployment of other contingents from the Caribbean and other African nations, which have also volunteered. Kenya has estimated that the mission, which was approved by the U.N. Security Council in October for a year, will cost $600 million. But a trust fund, administered by the U.N., has only amassed $21 million. So far, the Biden administration is the largest financial contributor, providing over $300 million for armored vehicles, training reimbursement and construction of the base, which Conille visited amid an eerie and precarious calm over the capital after months of daily automatic gunfire and threats by gang leaders to block the deployment. Funding isnt the missions only problem. Though the forces are slated to grow to 2,500, the current base can only accommodate up to about 450 people, according to those in the know, which raises questions about how many foreign troops will actually be on the ground at one time. The capacity constraints, the limited resources and the number of foreign troops now being allowed to participate because of the lack of money, make for a very challenging situation, said Mines. Still, there is some positive momentum, he said, citing Conilles ongoing public outreach efforts. Its just a question of whether its all going to add up and be enough, and if they can avoid a catastrophe, a Black hawk down incident against the Kenyans that leaves them reeling or the opposite where they go in and shoot up some civilians, Mines said. Restoring security Those involved in the planning of the Multinational Security Support mission have provided few details on how the foreign troops, working with Haitian police, are supposed to achieve their main objective: getting authorities to finally be able to hold long-overdue elections so that a new president and parliament can take office by February 2026. Even the missions rules of engagement, required by the U.N. Security Council, have yet to be made public. But thats not the only plan Haitians say they have yet to see. Kenya has arrived, a new police chief has been installed, human rights activist Marie Yolene Gilles said referring to the transitional governments decision to fire the previous police chief and name a new one just days before the deployment. But we havent yet sensed anything has changed. Approximately 200 Kenyan police officers and support staff arrive in Haiti on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 as part of the first contingent of a United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support mission. Like many Haitians, feeling trapped by gangs control of roads and entire neighborhoods in the capital and neighboring rice-growing Artibonite region, Gilles has heard Conilles recent declarations, including his call for armed groups to lay down their weapons. When you ask bandits to lay down their guns, it is too simplistic, said Gilles, who runs the Fondasyon Je Klere/Eyes Wide Open Foundation. A bandit always remains a bandit because when the bandits attack the population, they do so with rigor; they burn, they rape, they kidnap, they kill, they torch. The gangs, she added, citing the Croix-des-Bouquets attack, are still active. There are still areas that are off limits and to quote the former minister of justice, remain lost territories. Foreign interventions This is Haitis fourth major foreign military intervention in a little over a century. The first, in 1915, led to a near two-decade occupation by the United States after Haitian President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was overthrown and hacked to death by an angry mob. The last two interventions before the arrivals of the Kenyans were both traditional U.N. peacekeeping missions, and didnt produce the results many had hoped. The missions occurred within 10 years after separate coups one by the military in 1994 and the other by armed rebels in 2004 ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide as he served out two separate presidential terms. The last was marred by a deadly cholera outbreak and the U.N.s refusal to acknowledge its role and allegations of sexual misconduct by soldiers. Approximately 200 Kenyan police officers and support staff arrive in Haiti on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 as part of the first contingent of a United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support mission. This time around, the catalyst, like at the turn of the century, was a presidential assassination. The brazen slaying of President Jovene Moise three years ago next month on July 7, allegedly at the hands of Colombian mercenaries, local police and politically ambitious Haitians and Haitian Americans, left the country in total disarray. Already mushrooming under Moises unpopular rule and Haitis weak governance, criminal armed groups stepped into the power vacuum and grew in strength and firepower. Now, seven years after the last U.N. blue-helmet troops left after a 13-year presence, Haiti once more finds itself reeling and forced to invite foreign boots on its soil. Its a reality that has many Haitians torn, yet at the same time, wondering if this time, the results will be different. READ MORE: From rebellious beginnings, Haiti has been beset by violence Monica Juma, Kenyas National Security Adviser, who accompanied the police officers to Port-au-Prince, has said she hopes that the security mission doesnt become a permanent one. Conille, who left Haiti on Friday for meetings in Washington and New York this week, wants it to be Haitis last. In order for both to happen, Haiti will need to find a way out of its endless cycle of instability, Haitians say, and put in place a plan that goes beyond just arresting and even killing gang members. When you look at whats happening, its not just because people want to create chaos, said Emmanuel Paul, a Port-au-Prince-based security expert. Its the result of years of bad decisions, bad politics. Yes, we need an international force; yes we need weapons for the police and we need to reinforce the police so that it can combat the bandits. At the same time we have to reflect on the causes that brought us here, he said. If you have someone who is hemorrhaging, instead of you keep looking for blood to give him, its better to investigate why he is bleeding in order to block the hemorrhage. Haitian authorities, under then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry, first appealed for international assistance with their gang problem in October 2022. Since then, armed groups have forced more than 100,000 Haitians from their homes, bringing the displaced population to nearly 580,000 in three years, and driven millions to hunger. Today, over a million Haitians are facing starvation, according to the U.N. This violence has a name, said Paul. Its the name of all the gang chiefs that we all know. But even if they were to arrest them, even if they were to eliminate them, we still need to look at what produced them. How did they get here? If we dont do this, we risk taking decisions that could give us a little relief in the short term, but then we will return to the same problem. Every time we dont resolve the problem, the situation gets worse. When you tally up their destruction, it is heavy So far, Conille, who has been touring the capital including some of the areas destroyed by the gangs, has not offered up any concrete plan on Haitis strategy to reclaim the country. Nor have the members of the nine-member transitional presidential council, put in place after Henrys forced resignation. They were not at the airport to welcome the mission and have been silent, not even publicizing their meeting last Tuesday with the Kenyans and diplomatic corps. Other than writing to Kenya President William Ruto asking for the deployment, the presidential council has not been clear on what its expectations for the security mission are. Their lack of clarity aside, some like Gilles are clear about what needs to happen. If we think its foreigners who are going to come and dig us from under what we are under, clean the streets, unblock the roads, we are lying to ourselves, she said. We have to take our destiny in hand so that what happened here in 2024 doesnt happen again. Gilles has been compiling a list of government infrastructures that have been ravaged by gangs in the past year. They include over a dozen police stations that have been ransacked and bulldozed since Feb. 29 when armed groups united. Also on her list, dozens of hospitals, schools and the capitals three largest prisons, now unusable. Two were raided on March 2 and March 3, leading to the escape of more than 4,000 inmates, many of them murderers and rapists. A third, a womans prison built on the northern edge by the U.S., was also taken over by gangs who have since plowed a tractor through it. Even with the lack of prisons to jailed arrested gang members, Gilles said there needs to be a judicial process. Arresting bandits is one thing, she said. But the bandits need to go before the justice system and give testimony, because the population deserves to know. We need to know why did they destroy all of these police stations, raped all of these women, shut down all of these schools. When you tally up their destruction, it is heavy, she said. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Dealing with severe weather is tricky enough on its own but for staff members at John Ball Zoo, its a whole different beast. Animal curator Tim Sampson has been with the zoo for 31 years. He said there are plenty of severe weather procedures in place, but zoo employees werent expecting the storms that rolled through Tuesday morning. We did have large carnivores that had access overnight to their habitats. Normally, if we knew something was coming in, we would secure them inside so the habitats would be secure, Sampson said. Since we didnt have that opportunity, we sheltered in place until the storm was done. And then we have a select team that will go out through the zoo and systematically check the habitats that hold the large carnivores or potentially deadly animals. Video: Tuesday storms triggered meteotsunami at Holland State Park The snow leopards and the cougars remained outside that day. They do have caves in their spaces they can go to. So if its raining and theyre sitting in their caves so theyre nice and dry, theyre not going to come out. So those were the two that were out during (Tuesdays) storm, Sampson said. (They) decided they were in a good spot and they didnt feel they needed to leave. Meanwhile, other animals took it upon themselves to go inside when the rain hit. We were able to bring in our lion and our tiger. Actually, they were already in the building when we showed up in the morning, waiting, because they had access to the building and it was raining, Sampson said. So we were able to lock them in before the real severe part of it. GVSU, John Ball Zoo monitoring mussel populations in Grand River Luckily, he said, the zoo fared well that day. We just had minor debris. We didnt have anything come down, he said. Theres stuff around the zoo on the outside edges that came down, but we were lucky that everything stayed in place where it should be at the zoo. Just one day after the storms rolled through, zoo employees were faced with yet another challenge this time, a fake one. It was actually kind of funny, Sampson said. The day after we had the storm, we actually had a drill planned to test our response to a tree falling on the bear habitat and the bear getting out. 3 kits born to John Ball Zoos lynxes Drills like this are common, and the zoo has set procedures in place for different types of weather. Typically, if theres a chance of storms or high winds as there was Tuesday morning zoo employees will try to secure the animals, working to bring inside those that are in large, open-air habitats. Just to prevent injury to the animal as well as injury or damage to the habitat that could cause egress of the animal, Sampson explained to News 8, though he noted that the zoos habitats are built to contain and breaks are not typically a concern. Just normal severe weather wont damage any of our habitats, he said. Employees start by bringing inside the potentially dangerous animals, he said, listing chimpanzees, lions, tigers, snow leopards, mountain lions and bears. Then, if time allows, they move down from there. We focus on the animals that have the highest risk first to human safety, he explained. Sampson told News 8 that typically, animals are happy to cooperate. If its really nasty outside, they dont want to be outside either, he said. So most of the time, theyll be waiting ready to come inside on their own. Certain animals most notably the chimpanzees are also trained to obey an emergency recall procedure, according to Sampson. Its a special tone that we use with different animals. Its a hey, get inside right now-type tone. And when they respond to that and they get inside, they get a major reward, he explained. They know when they hear this tone, theyre getting all sorts of treats when they get inside, so normally theyll just run straight in. The rewards, he said, can get crazy. Were talking unsalted popcorn, frozen treats, yogurt. They like those frozen ices those little 10-cent ice things that you get when youre a kid, Sampson said. Baby fever: Snow leopard cub born at John Ball Zoo Though zoo employees are working to train many potentially dangerous animals to obey the emergency recall, the chimps are the best trained. Staff uses the principles of classical conditioning, teaching chimps to associate the sound of the emergency recall with special rewards. And they practice often so the chimps dont forget. In all his time at the zoo, Sampson has never seen a chimpanzee refuse to come inside when the sound is played. But animals that are not so highly trained like the snow leopards and cougars that stayed in their caves Tuesday morning can be more stubborn. We have had (other) animals that will refuse to come in that arent trained with the emergency recall, Sampson said. And theres only so much we can do, and then we essentially have to wait it out and then hope for the best and then do our procedures that we have in place for checking containment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Heat waves in Europe are getting more dangerous. Heres what that means for travelers Growing up in Texas, Mary Beth Walsh thought she was accustomed to high temperatures. Her hometown of Dallas, which is currently being blasted by unrelenting heat, frequently experiences heat waves. But when the 21-year-old visited Athens in mid-June with her friends she was shocked by the unbearable 98 Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) heat she faced. I actually had no idea about the heat that was going on until we were there, which was pretty surprising, she told CNN. I always joke around that I have such a high heat tolerance; I bring my sweatshirt with me to class in August (in the US), she said. But the apartment she was staying in had no air conditioning and temperatures were too high during the day to explore the city on foot. Our energy levels were lower than we thought they would be, she said. It felt pretty unbearable to walk in the direct heat. Climate crisis-driven sweltering summers in Europe are now a reality that many tourists are waking up to. Interest in visiting hotter Mediterranean countries dropped in 2023 amid record heatwaves and wildfires, with more temperate destinations becoming increasingly popular, experts say. Recent heat-fueled deaths and disappearances in Greece, including that of the British TV personality Michael Mosley, have the potential to further fuel this northward shift, as incidents of extreme heat influence vacation decisions. The degree to which the travel industry and tourists alike can adapt to the rising tide of climate impacts is becoming a bigger issue for countries in southern Europe, many of which rely on tourism to boost their economies. Night shift The recent high temperatures have brought the climate crisis into sharp focus for some European vacationers. The climate crisis that weve been fearing will happen in 10 or 15 years is already here in some parts of the world. Thats the scary part, Roo Clark, 28, from Suffolk in eastern England, who is currently staying with his girlfriend on the Greek island of Skyros, told CNN. Five years ago, me and my friends wouldnt have even spoken about it (climate change), whereas now its more of a conversation. Authorities in Greece have repeatedly warned tourists not to underestimate the intense heat, especially during the middle of the day. Hiking in high temperatures has been a common thread linking recent deaths in the country. Temperatures in Greece are forecast to be between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (low- to mid-30s in Celsius) over the next couple of weeks, a few degrees above summer average, according to CNN meteorologists, except for one to two days when rain is forecast, which will keep temperatures down. Stefanos Sidiropoulos, who runs Greeces largest travel agency specializing in outdoor activities, said tourists shouldnt jump straight into activities. People that are coming from north Europe, or from Canada, places with colder temperatures, its more difficult for them. They need time to adapt to these conditions, he told CNN. Sidiropoulos travel agency, Trekking Hellas, now offers some activities when temperatures are lower, such as during sunrise and sunset hours. Or at night, with torches, he adds. Hooked on tourism Climate changes influence on where tourists are taking their vacations will have serious repercussions for some countries dependent on income from travelers. In Greece, tourism contributes nearly 38 billion euros ($41 billion) - around 20% of the countrys entire economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. In Italy, where level three heat alerts the highest warning have recently been issued for the cities of Rome, Perugia and Palermo, tourism represents 10% of the countrys economy, according to the latest figures, with one in every eight jobs linked to the industry. Tourists in southern Europe are being advised to acclimatize before embarking on any strenuous activities in the heat. - Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters Following Europes 2023 summer heat wave, which saw thousands flee from wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes, there was a 7% rise in expression of concerns about climate change among European travelers, according to the European Travel Commission (ETC), a nonprofit association responsible for the promotion of Europe as a travel destination. [AD: Do we have figures? If not, I wouldnt say sharp and characterise it as anecdotal] This followed a decline in interest in southern Mediterranean vacation locations between the summers of 2022 and 2023, with cooler destinations like the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Denmark becoming more appealing, ETC told CNN. Travelers are increasingly aware of extreme weather events and their potential impact on their vacations, Eduardo Santander, CEO of ETC, told CNN, adding that in the future this could cause more travelers to visit southern Europe during spring and late fall instead of during the hotter summer months. For now, Santander said that tourist concerns about climate change tend to be relatively short-lived. Travelers are concerned after the summer but tend to forget about those events when booking their next holidays in spring, he said. Riddled with bites Summer tourism is vital to the economies of some southern European countries. - Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock Extreme heat is one consequence of climate change impacting tourist hot spots across Europe. But there are others. Warmer conditions caused by climate change are pushing populations of disease-transmitting mosquitoes into new areas of Europe, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Clark, the tourist currently staying on Skyros, said that the number of mosquitoes was very high during the heat wave in early June. We were absolutely riddled with bites. There was no wind and even though we sprayed ourselves they still found a way, Clark told CNN. It was definitely the low winds and high temperatures that was causing it. One key species of mosquito that can spread dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, called Aedes albopictus, is now established in many European countries, including Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, according to ECDC. Andrea Ammon, ECDC director, said travel can contribute to the expansion of the species reach. Increased international travel from dengue-endemic countries will also increase the risk of imported cases, she said in a statement. Last year, ECDC recorded 130 locally acquired cases of dengue in Europe, up from 71 cases in 2022. There have been no locally acquired dengue cases reported in Europe so far this summer, ECDC told CNN, but based on previous summer trends they expect the first cases to be reported in the coming weeks. One human case of West Nile virus infection, spread by the native Culex pipiens mosquito, was reported in Spains Seville province in March, according to ECDC. Last year, the organization recorded 713 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infection in nine EU countries, resulting in 67 deaths. Adapting to the new normal Authorities in Greece have warned visitors not to underestimate the heat. - Hilary Swift/Bloomberg/Getty Images Last summers record-breaking temperatures across the globe were driven by a mix of human-caused climate change and the return of the natural , El Nino phenomenon, which brings warmer global temperatures. This combination raised temperatures to record levels in parts of Europe, the planets fastest- warming continent. But even as the impact of El Nino reduces, experts say that the long-term trend of global warming will continue. Climate change is tilting the odds in favor of more extreme events happening more frequently, and then becoming more severe, Rebecca Carter, director of climate adaptation and resilience at the World Resources Institute, told CNN. She added that high tourist numbers in some regions of Europe were putting already hard-pressed local authorities under pressure, as they juggle the need to keep residents safe from high heat as well as protecting visitors. Carter said that the travel industry needs to consider climate adaptation. Its something I dont think the travel industry is thinking about as much as it should, she said, adding that booking rules could be made more flexible for flights and hotels, for example. When people plan these trips, its weeks or months in advance and you cant predict when a specific place is going to have extreme heat. Some tourists, such as parents whose children are at school, have less flexibility when deciding travel plans, Carter said. In these circumstances, she said planning was key: What would you do if there was an extreme heat wave, and the power was out? Can you map out in advance where you would go for help? Sidiropoulos from Trekking Hellas agreed that forward planning was important, but he was keen for visitors to still get out and enjoy the beauty of Greeces culture and natural world. I always say to people who are travelling, dont stay in your hotel and just do the classic things like go to a restaurant, he said. You have the opportunity to see nature and to see the authentic side of our country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Heathrow airport says it has a policy that 'no nationality, religious or political items can be worn by staff whilst on duty' - Gordon Bell Photography/iStock Editorial Heathrow officials responding to a complaint about security staff wearing Palestine flag badges claimed that employees wore them to let travellers know they spoke Arabic. While travelling on May 26, a Jewish passenger questioned why a member of staff was allowed to wear the divisive political badge after he had his bag pulled for a second security check by a female employee wearing a Palestinian flag badge. Despite the passenger being told that staff were not allowed to wear religious or political items, they were informed the Palestine flag did not breach rules because it was issued to indicate an employee speaks a particular language or dialect from a certain region. Heathrows passenger customer support department responded to the passengers complaint saying: We can confirm that no nationality, religious or political items can be worn by any Heathrow staff whilst present on duty as part of our uniform standards. The exception is that if a person speaks a language or dialect from a certain region as a secondary/tertiary language, a flag representing the region or country would be present which is provided by Heathrow. This is not a compulsory requirement to display this information and is at the staff members discretion, so that foreign travellers may know who to approach should it be easier to communicate in their own language. The flag is used to be more easily identifiable from a distance than for the language to be written in script. Caroline Turner, director UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) said the explanation defies belief, adding that people would assume the staff were Palestine supporters amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza following Hamas Oct 7 attack. Ms Turner said: This explanation defies belief. Any passenger seeing the security staff member wearing a Palestinian flag would assume that it was there to indicate his or her support for a state for Palestinians, or for Hamas actions, and it may also indicate his or her antipathy to Jews and Israelis. She added: The effect of the security staff wearing the flag is to create an intimidating, hostile, and offensive environment for Jews and Israel supporters. The explanation is also at odds with that of Heathrows director of services, who had previously written to UKLFI saying wearing any non-approved badges did not form part of our standards/policy. UKLFI has written to query this explanation. Illegal under the Equality Act At Stansted Airport, an Israeli passenger travelling to Greece on Jan 17 noticed a female member of the security staff wearing a Palestine flag badge. When he asked to speak to a manager about the badge, he was told by the manager they are a private company and they are allowed to wear anything they like. UKLFI said it had written to Stansted Airport to query this policy. According to UKLFI, the policy constitutes harassment against Israeli and Jewish passengers, and is illegal under the Equality Act 2010. UKLFI has received no response. It comes after the Home Office professional standards unit started investigating a complaint that Heathrow Border Force staff harassed Israeli passengers arriving in the UK. Passengers on an El Al flight from Ben Gurion to Heathrow Airport in London on June 9 were asked to undergo extra checks after a customs official discovered one of the passengers had an Israeli flag, according to UKLFI. It is claimed a customs official noticed an Israeli flag on a passengers luggage and the whole group was taken into a separate room, where their luggage was scanned. Those passengers complained that they felt harassed and were subjected to degrading treatment because they were either Jewish or Israeli. UKLFI has written to the Home Office complaining that the treatment was in breach of the Equality Act. In response, the Home Office replied that it was treating the complaint seriously and had ordered a review of the incident. A Heathrow Airport spokesman said: Everyone should feel safe and welcome at Heathrow. We have guidance on what colleagues can wear at work, if that guidance is not followed we will ensure those items are removed immediately. Stansted Airport was contacted by The Telegraph for comment. 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. Helping Draya: Emotional meeting after parents of gunshot victim return to Las Vegas LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The parents of a child who is paralyzed from a stray bullet returned to Las Vegas on Friday for an emotional meeting seven months after the shooting. Porschia Ransey and Gregory Harris met a family who donated a wheelchair-accessible van for their daughter after seeing her story on 8 News Now. Porschia Ransey and Gregory Harris met a family who donated a wheelchair-accessible van for their daughter after seeing her story on 8 News Now. (KLAS) I really feel like Im dreaming right now, Porschia Ransey told the 8 News Now Investigators. Draya Ransey, 6, was severely injured when a bullet flew through the wall of her familys Las Vegas apartment last November. The family relocated to Utah for Drayas care and did not have a vehicle. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Dena Rinetti prosecuted the shooter, noticed the familys love and resiliency, and put out the call for help on 8 News Now. Draya Ransey, 6, was severely injured when a bullet flew through the wall of her familys Las Vegas apartment last November. (KLAS) 8 News Now viewers donated to a GoFundMe account and the local family, who wanted to remain anonymous but also recognized as a Hispanic family, reached out to the 8 News Now Investigators to donate the van. Fridays meeting at Las Vegas Metro police headquarters also included officers who responded to the shooting and detectives who investigated it. Porschia Ransey and Gregory Harris met a family who donated a wheelchair-accessible van for their daughter after seeing her story on 8 News Now. (KLAS) A judge sentenced the shooter, Arreion Willoughby to four to 11 years in prison in March. Willoughby, a felon prohibited from possessing firearms, claimed the shooting was an accident. Gregory Harris and Porschia Ransey planned to drive the van to Utah on Friday afternoon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OTTAWA COUNTY The upcoming Aug. 6 primary is perhaps the most hotly contested race in the history of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. Thirty-three candidates have filed for 11 seats, including at least one Republican and one Democrat in each district (another record). Ahead of absentee ballots, The Sentinel sent a request for comment with the same five questions to all commissioner candidates possible. Contact information was not available for District 5 Democrat Jon Rabideau, District 8 Republican David Morren and District 11 Democrat Keith Courtade. The following candidates responded in time for inclusion in this story: Jim Barry, District 1, Republican Jordan Jorritsma, District 2, Republican Orlando Estrada, District 3, Republican Doug Zylstra, District 3, Democrat* Chris Crothers, District 4, Democrat Joe Moss, District 5, Republican* Mark Northrup, District 5, Republican Michelle Dieleman, District 6, Democrat Shawn Haff, District 6, Republican Heather Majestic, District 7, Democrat Rebecca Patrick, District 8, Democrat Sylvia Rhodea, District 8, Republican* Josh Brugger, District 10, Republican Jason Koert, District 10, Republican Oliver Shampine, District 10, Democrat Douglas VanBennekom, District 10, Democrat Allison Miedema, District 11, Republican* Dick Van Dop, District 11, Republican *= Incumbent The following candidates were contacted, but did not respond by deadline: Danielle Smith, District 1, Democrat, Gretchen Cosby, District 1, Republican* Chris Kleinjans, District 2, Democrat* Lucy Ebel, District 2, Republican Jacob Bonnema, District 4, Republican* Kendra Wenzel, District 6, Republican* Rachel Atwood, District 7, Republican John Teeples, District 7, Republican Angela Stanford-Butler, District 9, Democrat Phillip Kuyers, District 9, Republican Roger Belknap, District 9, Republican* Sara Bajema, District 11, Republican Portions of some responses were paraphrased. Those sections are in italics. Responses were also edited for length and clarity. The primary election Aug. 6 will determine which candidates advance to the general election on Nov. 5. What are your thoughts on current county board leadership? Barry: The Ottawa Impact dominated board has taken a series of controversial actions since coming to power that have led to at least five lawsuits and an investigation by (Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel). Current leadership is driving an ideological agenda, which leads to micro-management resulting in an exodus of employees with experience and knowledge. Much of the business of the board appears to have been decided before their public meeting. From the feedback Im receiving there is general concern about what is happening in governance and with our tax dollars in Ottawa County. Jorritsma: The existing majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has demonstrated a concerning lack of cooperation and humility through their time in charge. It should concern members of any organization when its leadership is deliberately stacking committees and censuring members as retaliation for voting certain ways. Zylstra: We are a growing county with many and diverse needs, interests and points of view. I believe when we have failed, or where leadership has failed over the past year and a half, it is when those basic facts have not been in the forefront of our decision-making process. Estrada: My thought on this current board leadership is they are really good at getting a lot of attention, (whether) it's intentional or not (and) trying new things at the county level, which is unique. Crothers: The current county board leadership has been a significant source of concern. Their actions have often led to unnecessary conflicts and costs for the county. The leadership has created a toxic culture that undermines effective governance and alienates many constituents. It is essential to restore responsible governance that focuses on the real needs of our community and moves away from divisive politics. Moss: The board is led by courageous, conservative parents who stepped into the public square to protect their kids and prioritize the Constitution. Our passion is to promote freedom, protect everyone's God-given rights and preserve the heritage of our American values. I am thankful parents are leading in Ottawa County. Northrup: The Ottawa Impact majority commissioners have made a mockery of good government and professional leadership multiple lawsuits, million-dollar expenditures on unnecessary attorney fees, hiring county employees as political patronage, far-right virtue signaling, not meeting the needs of residents, focused on national polarizing issues instead of the county, alienating citizens and (the) business community with shrill righteous biblical preaching, loss of professional employees, fostering a culture of fear with employees, resulting in new unions I could go on. The Sentinel questioned Ottawa County Board of Commissioners candidates on the state of the county, budget principles and their thoughts on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. Dieleman: I am deeply concerned about the erosion of our countys integrity and reputation as a result of the current boards leadership. We deserve stability, transparency and respect from our leaders. These principles should be a given. I want to bring them back. I believe the majority of my community holds moderate views and is frustrated by what Ottawa Impact is doing. Haff: I have lost faith in the leadership of Ottawa Impact and Ottawa Impact Republicans. We need new conservative leadership that will lead with courage, intelligently defend American values, and implement conservative policies competently. Majestic: Restoring good governance, fiscal responsibility and transparency from the board of commissioners is the top issue facing Ottawa County today. The lack of predictability and inhospitable environment that has dominated the past 18 months has greatly damaged our reputation and would prove extremely detrimental to our community if it were allowed to continue another four years. I hope to instill trust in our local government again. Rhodea: The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is led by courageous, conscientious parents who entered the public square to defend their piece of America and protect their kids. We desire to promote freedom, preserve American values, protect against government overreach, promote the good and the beautiful in Ottawa County, and lead with courage and discernment in county policies and oversight. Patrick: One of the most important roles of a government leader is to demonstrate trustworthiness. Leaders earn peoples trust when they: follow the rule of law; avoid conflicts of interest; use transparent policies to make decisions; work together with colleagues and staff in good faith; and encourage participation from their colleagues. Board leadership does not appear to value these trust-making behaviors. Brugger: When explaining why he appointed so many Ottawa Impact-aligned commissioners to county boards in 2023, Joe Moss said, One of the main reasons I asked all of the new commissioners to be on more committees than usual was so they could learn the county government. Learning county government at the expense of taxpayers and taxpayer dollars best describes the last 18 months of county board leadership. Weve all paid dearly. Its time to elect qualified commissioners who have actual experience, and whose only contract is with the people of Ottawa County. Koert: The majority of our county board has been doing an amazing job untangling the mess that was left for them. I commend the OI commissioners on working with the county and hearing the actual needs of the people and seeing action to those needs. Seeing the budget being the lowest increase for the first time in years was refreshing. Shampine: I won't mention particular commissioners, but overall, I am quite upset with some of their actions. They are wasting taxpayer dollars and bringing bad publicity to Ottawa County. Some of them have a poor understanding of transparency and how to run a government administration. Instead, they are focused on a divisive campaign that aims to separate us from our neighbors. However, I do appreciate the effort from many of the commissioners to increase public involvement in local government. VanBennekom: I feel that the current board is not doing enough to help the county. It has lost a large amount of money settling unnecessary lawsuits and paying to replace members of the county government that they fired. Residents of the county that have asked for help from their board members have not received responses, which undermines confidence in the board. The board has also damaged the county reputation by inspiring negative news stories about the county government. Miedema: I am thankful for the current county board's leadership in focusing on the Constitution, keeping the government in check, and restoring the rights to We the People. Current board leadership is using common sense, discernment and courage and actively seeks information and asks questions to make informed decisions. This is a board that is hands-on and invested in doing the work that is needed to continue cultivating a beautiful Ottawa. Van Dop: With regard to hiring personnel and contractors, I believe they value political ideology over competence, training and experience. They dont follow commonly accepted procedures in hiring. I also believe they have wasted significant public funds on unnecessary lawsuits and by not using currently accepted governmental policy in contracting with their law firm without any competition. I believe Ottawa Impact needs to go. What is Ottawa County doing right? Barry: There are some hard working, experienced, and dedicated Ottawa County employees that show up every day and serve the public. While the county has some financial storm clouds on the horizon due to exposure and unresolved lawsuits, the county continues to benefit from years of good financial stewardship, which allows the county to face uncertainties on solid footing. Jorritsma: Ottawa County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state, and we have incredible economic development. People come from around the country to visit our area and that makes them want to move to our community. We have a history and tradition of strong community and family values and thats what has made Ottawa such a great place to live. Estrada: The Ottawa County fiscal year budget has a lower increase than previous years from previous administrations. Zylstra: Ottawa County has a dedicated, professional staff of 1,200 qualified individuals who work to provide the highest quality, most cost-effective, level of county services possible. All 11 seats on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners are up for election this year. Several of the districts have contested primaries this August and, for the first time, all 11 will have a contested race in November. Crothers: I am happy about the meeting time change to allow different demographics to be able to attend board meetings. Additionally, our county employees have done an amazing job with their work, despite constant attacks from this board and the toxic work environment that came with that. Northrup: They have mobilized citizens as to the duties of good government and created a local movement to restore trust in county leadership. They made us appreciate the past with joyfully dull government. Moss: Ottawa County is cultivating a vibrant community "Where Freedom Rings" and families thrive. Ottawa County has wonderful people, a strong economy and a low employment rate. The current board adopted a budget with one of the smallest increases in recent history at only 3.59%. The county is in excellent financial health, with over $200 million in assets, and maintains its AAA bond rating and a balanced budget. Dieleman: Despite the overall lack of good governance displayed by the majority of our commissioners, there are still several bright spots in our county government. We have some of the best parks in the nation and continue to prioritize them. Our county clerk has done an amazing job of implementing new voting laws and conducting secure elections. Our health department has promoted and protected the well-being of residents regardless of being under-staffed and under-funded. In addition, significant investments were made to support housing, childcare, and high-speed internet access with ARPA funds. Haff: The people of Ottawa County are doing many things right. We are good, friendly people who care about our community and each other. Ottawa County has great people working in administrative positions, and they continue to do so even during times of turmoil. Majestic: Our county has many strong and capable staff that work every day to make this a great place to live. Planning and economic development have guided and supported the preservation of our farmland and groundwater, while bringing new businesses and housing to our community. Parks staff have maintained and expanded our world-class park system. The Community Action Agency, Veterans Affairs, and Community Mental Health have served and protected our most vulnerable neighbors. Our sheriffs and prosecutors offices have worked to reduce crime and ensure our community is safe for all. Patrick: Ottawa County (is in a) stable financial position and has excellent programs due to the commitment of past boards and the dedication of county staff members. Rhodea: As one of Michigans fastest growing counties, Ottawa County is a beautiful county with a bright future. We are cultivating a vibrant community where freedoms are protected and families thrive. The board has passed numerous resolutions, including the Constitutional County Resolution, which set important policy direction and priorities. Our gorgeous parks continue to expand, and the new Family Justice Center is opening this month. Rhodea also highlighted the FY2024 budget, the expansion of the veterans department, increased law enforcement pay, body cameras, ADA compliance at county buildings, the health department budget and the countys excellent financial health. Shampine: Ottawa County has made strong investments in our parks and beaches, which showcase our beautiful landscape. We also have a strong commitment to engaging in politics, encouraging active participation from our residents. VanBennekom: Ottawa County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state and one of three counties in the state that had a net increase in manufacturing jobs over the last decade. This shows how Ottawa County is a good place for business and for people to live. Ottawa County continues to maintain our beaches and parks, which help bring a higher quality of life. Brugger: The people of Ottawa County are doing it right. They are standing up to local government leadership that has run amok. They are standing up for transparency. They are standing up for fiscal responsibility and for returning Ottawa County to a place Where You Belong. This is what the people of Ottawa County are doing right. Koert: The OI board is doing many things right, transparently and efficiently. Seeing the headway Joe Moss and OI have made, even with the unnecessary pushback from the media and other commissioners who are not representing their constituents well, is amazing. Joe keeps pushing forward to get things done. Van Dop: They had some more ADA compliant doors installed. They claim to have extended veterans benefits, but was that over budget? They do issue a lot of resolutions. Miedema: Ottawa County is known for its conservative values and is a place where people have historically thrived in raising families, working hard, strong schools and active churches. We have many talented staff in numerous county departments, working hard on behalf of the people of Ottawa. Where does Ottawa County need to improve? Barry: My first priority as county commissioner will be to get the county board back to best practices of good business procedures. Hiring should be based on merit, not connections. Positions should have a written job description, a list of prerequisites for consideration, verification of credentials, and for positions like a county administrator, there should be public input for transparency and for public confidence. Secondly, we need to end the circumstances leading to these numerous lawsuits and get things resolved. Jorritsma: We need to ensure that our businesses are able to continue operating effectively and that means working as a county to address issues like housing and childcare so that we can combat the ongoing worker shortage. Zylstra: As a member of the board, I believe we need to work to better represent our diverse population and its needs, interests and points of view in our decision making, and do so in a more open and transparent way. Estrada: Protocol could be more efficient in running meetings and turning on comments on YouTube livestream of meetings would be great. Crothers: The toxic environment created by Ottawa Impact must be dismantled to retain talented county employees and ensure effective governance. Ottawa County needs to improve its approach to inclusivity and transparency. The current board's lack of openness has eroded public trust. Additionally, the county must continue to push for affordable housing solutions and public transportation. Moss: Ottawa County needs truthful journalism that doesn't print fake news and biased articles. At the county, there are opportunities to continue investing in Community Mental Health, especially related to autism and self-directed care that supports parents caring for their kids. Northrup: Stay local, avoid the national and state-level polarizing political issues. Not needed, just creates discontent. Stop with meaningless time-consuming divisive proclamations and resolutions. Focus on results, such as how to build the economy, more housing, better transportation systems, create daycare opportunities, support more technical education, and training opportunities. Dieleman: I believe in good governance, fiscal responsibility and common sense. Tax dollars should be spent wisely and in service of the common good. I want to restore trust in our local government. I will not propose or support any action without asking for input. There will be no surprises. I will be responsive and seek out solutions that work for all of us. I will work to make Ottawa County a welcoming place where anyone can live, work and play. Haff: Ottawa County needs to hire and promote the best people possible in county positions. Many positions will need to be filled by the new board, and several people appointed by Ottawa Impact will have to be fired and replaced with competent replacements. Majestic: I would seek to strengthen the board's bylaws to give clarity to the community about the boards purview and ground us in our shared purpose. I want to foster unity among board members and create a healthy work environment. I am committed to following expected operations procedures and making decisions with full transparency. I will work to improve communications with residents and provide opportunities for public input. Rhodea: The county is working to meet expanding mental health needs, especially (with) an increasing number of children with autism and (intellectually or developmentally disabled) adults aging out of the educational system; as well as supporting the families who care for them. Ottawa County continues to experience challenges with groundwater, affordable home ownership, long-term energy solutions, and childcare, and (the board) remains watchful of ways to help. Our county needs truthful journalism. To that end, Ottawa County needs to strengthen its direct communication with the people. Patrick: The board should return to more productive work, such as considering solutions to our groundwater needs, making the health and safety of county residents a priority, working on affordable housing, and continuing to maintain and enhance our parks system. Koert: The county will continue to grow and be in good shape with the good leadership of Joe Moss and improving with properly implemented policies as OI is doing currently. Brugger: Ottawa County officials need to improve in the following areas: fiscal responsibility, transparency, and in the hiring of senior staff based on qualifications and experience rather than on adherence to a political ideology. In the first 100 days of new county leadership, I hope to join my fellow commissioners in hiring a competent and qualified county administrator and legal counsel. In addition, I will put forth a motion to request the release of all documentation and testimony regarding the $4 million settlement offer to Health Officer Adeline Hambley. VanBennekom: The county should work to make sure we have a larger housing stock to make living in the county more affordable. As the cost of living goes up, it will be hard for people to continue to live here and it will be harder for people to move to Ottawa County. Over the long run, it may even prevent more jobs from coming to the county. Shampine: Ottawa County needs to improve its transparency and accountability in government operations. We should focus on fostering unity within our community rather than promoting divisive agendas. Additionally, more attention should be given to sustainable development and equitable access to resources and services. Miedema: Ottawa County needs to continue having important conversations as it relates to protecting farmland, which is one of the top two economic contributors for our county, and connecting a variety of people with one another as they work to come up with solutions for our current housing needs within the county. Ottawa County also stands in need of truthful journalism. Without truth, we are not a free nation. Subscribe: Receive unlimited digital access to your local news coverage Van Dop: Ottawa County needs to get back to conducting business openly. No more behind-the-scenes discussion while limiting public debate among themselves. Hiring personnel ought to be through publicizing the vacancy, receiving applications, reviewing resumes and interviewing multiple candidates, rather than secret no-competition hirings. The chairman needs to take accountability for poor leadership. What should the countys priorities be while establishing its budget? Barry: To quote Abraham Lincoln, The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves. With Lincoln in mind, county priorities should be public safety, public health, public parks and finding ways to support economic development, all within a balanced budget. Jorritsma: There are two pillars when creating a budget for any organization, and those are stability and efficiency. Efficiency means making sure that we are stretching our dollars as far as possible to save people money. Stability means making sure that our departments are able to strategically plan for the future by not drastically changing funding levels from year to year. Estrada: Making sure deputies with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office have cameras on their persons and vehicles, so people are not falsely accused. Zylstra: It should focus on delivering the widest possible benefit to all of its 300,000 residents. Crothers: The countys budget priorities should focus on sustainable development, public health and social equity. Investments should be made in protecting our natural resources, particularly groundwater. Affordable housing should be a priority to support economic growth and stability. Additionally, the budget should allocate resources towards maintaining and improving public infrastructure and services, ensuring that all residents have access to the resources they need. Northrup: Spend money servicing all the community and not on issues that bring nothing to the community. No more lawsuits and stop with severances. Hire and respect professionals. Represent all citizens. Less preaching and more living faith by respecting and meeting the needs of all the residents. As a new benchmark for the budget going forward, lets go back to the budgets of pre-OI anarchy. Moss: County government is responsible for core government services, especially public safety and protecting the constitutional rights of the people. Ottawa County will continue to prioritize conservative fiscal policy, low taxes, and a balanced budget to meet our short-term and long-term goals. Dieleman: My top priorities for the county budget are fiscal responsibility and adequate funding for vital services, like food assistance through the health department. As our county continues to grow, I want to focus on ensuring financial stability for residents by encouraging the development of affordable housing while balancing the need to preserve our farmland and groundwater resources and addressing barriers to employment, such as transportation and childcare. Haff: Public safety is always first and foremost. One way to protect public health and safety is to do more to help those who are suffering from mental health issues. As an attorney, I know how many people break the law because of mental health issues. I want to make sure our parks have all the money they need to stay beautiful and safe for those who want to explore the outdoors. Finally, I want to provide funding to ensure Ottawa Food has a program supervisor. Majestic: I will prioritize funding for the countys essential services and make fiscally responsible recommendations for additional funding to be used in ways that will tangibly improve the lives of my constituents. I am passionate about food assistance and affordable housing. With the rising cost of living and relatively stagnant wages, many people are struggling to make ends meet. In a community that is thriving in so many ways, there is no excuse for not lending our neighbors a helping hand. Patrick: The board should conduct a strategic planning session to establish priorities for the coming fiscal year. It has not done so since 2022. My budget priorities include health, development of our groundwater/drinking water sources, and affordable housing. I would also be eager to hear what my board colleagues, county staff, and county residents had to say. Rhodea: County government is responsible for the safety and well being of the people while protecting constitutional rights, and should prioritize providing core government services which are required by statute. Additionally, the county should prioritize the needs of the vulnerable whenever possible. VanBennekom: One of the priorities in the county budget should be to make sure the county is helping the most needy in the county. It is important to make sure that the people who are struggling the most are helped and can be given the best chance to succeed. Another priority should be to invest in the infrastructure in the county so it will be able to serve the residents of the county for years to come. Functioning infrastructure will help both business and residents in the county to live and do business. Shampine: The county's budget priorities should include: Ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency in all expenditures; investing in public services that directly benefit residents, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure; supporting initiatives that promote sustainable development and environmental conservation; and enhancing community wellbeing through programs that address mental health, housing and transportation equity. Koert: The county has functional services that need to stay in place, first and foremost. Functional services are the core of the county and keep us moving. We have a duty to our veterans to keep making improvements on VA issues. The police that protect us need to have access to training programs and the best resources available to help them in their job. When making budget decisions, the safety of our community and care of our people is at the top of the list for most people, including me. Brugger: After referencing the same Lincoln quote as Barry above, Brugger wrote: As a fiscal conservative, this means leveraging the smallest amount of tax dollars to do the greatest amount of good for the people of Ottawa County. As elected leaders, we do this best by gathering input from our community members and by working collaboratively and efficiently with the professional staff of Ottawa County. This will largely be achieved by following the same practices and procedures that took place for decade upon decade prior to (the current board being) sworn in. Miedema: Begin with these questions: What is government responsible for? What is required? What are the needs of the people? Balancing needs and desires of the people with the reality of the budget. Create a strategic plan that looks not only to the current year but also projects to the future. Communication with directors of the departments and county administrator through the budget process is also important. Miedema also highlighted the 2023 Capital Improvement Plan. Van Dop: The county commission should not get a 60% pay raise. Budgets previous to 2023 should be reviewed with how they have been followed and what adjustments seem to make sense. Massive recent spending needs to be dialed back. Lets address long-term concerns as well as the short-term ones, such as what can we do to alleviate the falling groundwater levels? What departments or commissions were created recently that perhaps dont need to be continued? What is your stance on county involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion? Barry: I am not interested in reestablishing a formal DEI office with the county. The problem I have with DEI is what are the goals, what are the measurable metrics to determine effectiveness, and at what cost? Increasingly, business and academia are backing away from DEI initiatives. Also, DEI has become a polarizing topic creating dissension within organizations its trying to create inclusion and unity in. That said, the only mission of government is service and access to all. That means our programs must meet the needs of all people, that available services are communicated effectively to all people and that were taking into consideration the needs of people from different cultures, faiths, ages, education, etc. Jorritsma: If Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mean following all state and federal laws that relate to anti-discrimination, then I am all for it. However, if it means trying to put critical race theory into schools, then I am against it. I am not opposed to looking at a department or staff member that looks internally at hiring processes for county employees, but I dont believe the county needs to employ someone to teach controversial theories inside our schools. Zylstra: My 2019 vote to fund the (DEI Department) was one of the most important votes Ive taken since Ive been a commissioner because of the immense promise that department offered. My 2023 vote to retain it is likewise one of my most important votes. My vision of the value of the DEI Department is encapsulated by the statement that we passed in support, namely that We recognize the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the accomplishment of our mission and hold it as a basic value (to) proactively engage and understand a variety of perspectives across all human differences. We seek to ensure respectful, fair treatment and full, equal access to opportunities and resources so all may thrive and achieve their full potential. We believe every persons voice adds value. Estrada: For the full stance, go to vote4orlando.com. May have good intent here, but I don't believe the government can get the desired results. Crothers: I strongly believe in the importance of county involvement in DEI. This was a service requested and partially funded by some of our major local employers. It's disappointing how national politics around those three letters has made these important efforts so divisive. The county should reinstate and support DEI initiatives, as they are essential for social cohesion and economic growth. DEI training and resources are valuable tools for local businesses and communities, and it is our duty to ensure these programs are available and effective. Moss: Ottawa County will continue to prioritize excellence and merit over DEI ideology, and treat all individuals with kindness and respect. As the Heritage Foundation said on June 13, "Racism in 2024 is spelled DEI." Diversity and inclusion are beautiful words that bring value to our relationships and communities. DEI is a left-wing ideology that promotes divisive teachings. DEI has no place in government and should be abolished from all government institutions. Thankfully, it is being removed from governments and corporations nationwide as Americans come to understand why it is so damaging. Northrup: I supported the closing of the DEI (Department); it had become an instrument of a few to be divisive and destroy a community culture of goodness. However, it was financed by industry and prior to closing there should have been a conversation with industry on what useful aspects could have been retained, better defined. Named something else with a focus on economic development to attract a workforce. Unfortunately, it has become a culturally divisive tool. Dieleman: Having a DEI department does not guarantee that our community is welcoming to everyone; however, getting rid of the DEI Department in our diversifying county sent a clear message that our current board only wants certain people to feel they belong here. The way the countys DEI department was closed, without advance notice to the public and without providing real opportunities for residents to give input, was wrong. All people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. There is strength in diversity. I will strive to ensure that every person who calls this county home knows they belong here. Haff: Instead of DEI, we should take a lesson from Kent County and create a county/business collaboration to attract the best-qualified candidates from all walks of life. This allows us to leverage the business community and utilize available grants to attract the best candidates of all backgrounds. This is the type of inclusion I support. As a commissioner, I will always hire and promote the best people based on merit and achievement. Majestic: It is more important than ever to ensure this is a welcoming place. DEI is a tool that can help us in this respect and should be considered as we work to address issues where disparities exist. As a widow and single mother, I know what it feels like to be othered. I do not feel as though I am currently being represented by the board. I will respect and represent everyone in our county not just the people who look or think like me. When there are differences of opinion, I will work to find compromises that meet as many needs as possible. Rhodea: Excellence and merit should be prioritized over identity characteristics in county interactions and hiring, treating all individuals with kindness and respect. Diversity and inclusion are beautiful words which bring value to our relationships and communities. However, DEI is a progressive ideology which promotes divisive teachings and practices. I love the people of our county, and oppose teachings that divide us and our children. DEI has no place in government, and is being removed from corporations and government institutions nationwide as Americans come to understand the harmful nature of the DEI movement. Patrick: Formal, explicit policy statements and concrete actions regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Ottawa County government are a way for Ottawa County to demonstrate that we welcome all. I wholeheartedly support such policies and actions. Brugger: The America of which Im most proud and the future to which we all must strive is one that protects everyones right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race, religion or creed. For you to gain does not mean that I must lose. Rather, when you and I both gain liberty as we each define it, compromising and accepting differences as we must, when we recognize that with rights come responsibilities, that is when true freedom rings. ... It starts with us, right here in Ottawa County. The role of a county commissioner is to lead and to do what it takes to make Ottawa County, truly, a place Where You Belong. Koert: Koert writes some companies are getting rid of DEI efforts, then continues: I love natural diversity and people coming together from many different cultures and communities in an organic way. Choosing someone based on anything but merit and work ethic for a job seems unfair to someone who worked hard and earned it, no matter what their circumstances are. Our community is becoming more diverse everyday in a beautiful way, by being a beacon of prosperity for all people and attracting them to live here. It's awesome to see Ottawa County organically become even more of a melting pot of people and cultures. Shampine: We should be actively involved in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. These principles are essential to building a strong, welcoming and democratic county. They help ensure that all residents have equal opportunities and are treated with fairness and respect. VanBennekom: I think that upholding the ideals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is important for the county government to do. The county should make sure that the diverse groups that live in the county are represented in the county government and they are treated fairly by the county government. It is important to stop discrimination against minorities and make sure the government is protecting the rights of everyone. Miedema: I do not support government funded DEI programs. Miedema linked to the Jan. 3, 2023 resolution to change the countys vision statement, which (I) agree with wholeheartedly and speaks well to this question. Van Dop: I understand that the Ottawa DEI Department was created to join with businesses in bringing in more jobs. I support more jobs, along with the housing and transportation needed for employees to fill those jobs. I understand that DEI as practiced by educational institutions is not something that is favored by much of the populace. Perhaps we can work with business to create and fill jobs with a program under a different name. I believe that the county HR department can handle diversity in hiring. I believe in equality of opportunity but not in equity of outcome. Merit should continue to be rewarded. Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County commissioner candidates answer the big questions This high-profile Fresno restaurant has a new bistro and bar and theres still wine The former Vino Grille & Spirits may be gone, but a new restaurant has opened in its place in the familiar northeast Fresno building and inside is a colorful new mix of flavors and people. Oak Hill Wine + Bistro has been open for weeks now in the spot on Champlain Drive, just north of Shepherd Avenue. Walk through the doors and youll find an elevated, modern menu that ranges from burgers to charred Spanish octopus. There are cocktails invented by a mad scientist who smokes olives with a handheld device. And a wine expert who wants to kick the snobbery out of the craft. Of course, theres the chef, who grew up in southeast Fresno, and is infusing her Latin roots into the French bistro-style restaurant. For the wine lovers who still mourn Vino Grille, theres a wine shop. A much-requested wine club is coming later this summer. Oak Hill is open for lunch and dinner, serving shareable small plates in the hours between meals. Its part French bistro with wine by the glass or the bottle. It also has Italian food, and that Latin influence, along with salads, burgers, and desserts made by the in-house pastry chef. And of course, that ultimate wine companion, a charcuterie board. Though all that may sound fancy, the prices are moderate, ranging from $13 for a caprese sandwich to $49 for a 14-ounce Delmonico steak. The restaurant Jovanie Jo Gutierrez and Raul Gutierrez Jr. have opened Oak Hill Wine + Bistro in the former Vino Grille & Spirits location. We really want our establishment to be accessible for the everyday diner, co-owner Raul Gutierrez Jr. said. Weve had people come in scrubs; young professionals coming right after work. The restaurant is owned by Gutierrez and his wife, Jovanie Jo Gutierrez. They also own Papis Mex Grill, both its Fresno and Madera locations. The couple has spent their careers in the restaurant industry and his parents founded the former Fajita Fiesta in downtown Fresno. Vino Grilles original owners, Chuck and Jen Van Fleet, sold the business to Chad Hurst in 2022. He fought to keep it alive, but the restaurant closed its doors almost exactly a year ago. The Gutierrez couple always wanted to do something a little more modern, Jo Gutierrez said. You live once, you might as well take the risk, she said. The building, a prominent spot that was built for its predecessor a few years back, didnt need many changes, she said. They added new seating inside and out. There are new shade covers, misters and planters on the patio, some more plants and paint inside, but they kept the general vibe. We really didnt want to change too much of it because its a really beautiful building, she said. We just ended up adding aesthetically. Dazia Higuera of Fresno and her cousin dined at the newly revamped bar on a recent afternoon. She ordered the steak sandwich and grilled chicken and peach salad with the fresh-baked focaccia bread. Its a very down-tempo lounge kind of feel, she said, also raving about the light and airy focaccia bread. The food The OH! Charcuterie Board at Oak Hill Wine + Bistro. Some popular menu options at Oak Hill? The steak bites served with gorgonzola cheese are a top seller. The OH! burger (as in, Oak Hill) with caramelized onions and gruyere cheese is, too. As for fish, the seared branzino with salsa matcha drizzle is a favorite. The ravioli is made from scratch, along with the focaccia. Executive chef Ana Moreno is busy cooking a whole octopus on a recent afternoon. She who went to Roosevelt High School before getting culinary jobs in San Francisco, San Diego and Baja. She marinated the octopus in a chipotle adobo sauce before grilling, an example of her own background and time in Baja influencing the menu. Moreno tosses out the phrase be bold a lot, whether its when talking about her food or the number of women working in the kitchen. I want to go a little bit wild wild but comforting, she said. Drinks As for the wine, youll find a wide range on the menu and in the store. As complex as it can be, we want to make it approachable for everybody, said manager Aron Marquardt, who oversees the wine program. The wine club debuts later this summer with two tiers: $40 monthly for two bottles or $80 for one or two bottles. And those cocktails? The mad scientist behind them is Ken Rogge, who helped create the cocktails at the popular Saizon restaurant. One of his signature cocktails is Smoke on the Water. He cold smokes green olives for four hours about 30 at a time that are part of the garnish, using a small device that pumps smoke into a clear plastic dome. Parmesan cheese is also infused into the gin, and the whole cocktail gets a dusting of fresh-ground pepper. Were trying to do delicate takes on some classics, Rogge said. So that espresso martini thats really popular everywhere right now? Oak Hills version debuting soon is a blonde espresso martini that is almost clear. He infused coffee into sunflower oil used in the drink to get the flavor, but not the dark brown color. The name of the drink? Your espresso martini got dumped by her boyfriend and decided to go blonde, he said. Details: Oak Hill is at 1440 E. Champlain Drive. Reservations can be made online or by calling 559-228-9764. Hours: Check the website for exact hours, but the restaurant is generally open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. or later, with small plates served between lunch and dinner and the bar open late. Oak Hill Wine + Bistro signature cocktail Smoke On The Water. Raul Gutierrez Jr., left, and Jovanie Jo Gutierrez have opened Oak Hill Wine + Bistro in the former Vino Grille & Spirits location. The entryway to the new Oak Hill Wine + Bistro in northeast Fresno. Oak Hill Wine + Bistro has opened in the former Vino Grille & Spirits location near Champlain Drive and Shepherd Avenue. Jovanie Jo Gutierrez and Raul Gutierrez Jr. have opened Oak Hill Wine + Bistro in the former Vino Grille & Spirits location near Champlain Drive and Shepherd Avenue. Tractor Supply Company has eliminated its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as part of what the retail chain says is a push to distance itself from nonbusiness activities after conservative backlash from some of its customer base. In a news release Thursday, Tractor Supply, which advertises itself as the countrys largest rural lifestyle retailer, said it will stop sponsoring activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns and would be cutting DEI roles and retire (its) current DEI goals while still ensuring a respectful environment. We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them, the company said. We have taken this feedback to heart. The about-face comes less than a month after right-wing commentator Robby Starbuck attacked the companys LGBTQ-inclusive stance and DEI hiring initiatives in a series of posts on X. Starbuck, who in 2022 launched a failed bid for Tennessees 5th Congressional District, called on customers to boycott Tractor Supply and contact its corporate leadership. After the policy pivot was announced, Starbuck took to X again, calling the move a massive victory and the single biggest boycott win of our lifetime. Shaun Harper, a professor of business, public policy and education at the University of Southern California, told CNN one reason for the conservative backlash was the fact Tractor Supply failed to tailor its DEI policy to the culture in which it operates. The Brentwood, Tennessee-based company, which bills itself as the largest supporter of the National FFA Organization, a non-profit supporting agricultural education, has deep ties to rural communities across 49 states. Harper says Tractor Supplys inclusion policies should have been attuned to that specific cultural context. You cant say youre going to try to do at Tractor Supply what they do at the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California thats definitely not going to work, he said. Its what I call situated DEI. I would say start with an emphasis on expanding opportunities for low income people, expanding access to farming for women in rural contexts, and helping people understand how more women and more people of color in the farming industry benefits everyone. And helping them understand that the diversification of the farming industry, with women and people of color doesnt necessarily have to entail a reduction and opportunities for White male farmers. Still, activists and experts say Tractor Supplys backtrack is a blow against civil rights and LGBTQ+ protections for employees and customers. Story continues Homophobia, transphobia, sexism, gender discrimination, workplace sexual harassment, ableism, size-ism and racism are not going to eliminate themselves, said Harper. In the absence of good policy and programs within companies, the danger is that those long-standing problems are going to become exacerbated. Theres going to be more conflict between and among employees, and customers who represent various diverse groups. Tractor Supply also said it would no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign, one of the biggest LGBTQ+ non-profit advocacy groups in the United States. It was one of more than 1,300 businesses to participate in the HRCs Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking survey and report measuring policies and practices relating to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. In 2023, the company earned a near-perfect score of 95/100 for instating workplace protections and benefits taking LGBTQ+ employees into account, providing inclusivity training to workers, and performing outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. Tractor Supply Co is turning its back on their own neighbors with this shortsighted decision, Eric Bloem, vice president of Programs and Corporate Advocacy at the Human Rights Campaign, told CNN in a statement Saturday. LGBTQ+ people live in every zip code in this country, including rural communities. We are shoppers, farmers, veterans and agriculture students. Companies from every industry work closely with us to be sure their employees and customers are respected, valued and can get the job done for their workforce and shareholders. This is why the Tractor Supply and most of the countrys biggest employers have worked with us for years to create inclusive policies and practices. Caving to far right extremists is only going to hurt the same folks that these businesses rely on. A trend of bowing to anti-LGBTQ+ voices The policy reversal is part of a wider trend of corporate vacillation over LGBTQ+ inclusion. In the face of anti-LGBTQ backlash threatening companies bottom line, several household brands have backed down in their support of inclusivity. Last year, Bud Lights partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney sparked an anti-trans backlash and a monthslong boycott of the beer brand, throughout which the company failed to take a firm stance in support of Mulvaney and the transgender community. The boycott and the subsequent tepid response lost parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev as much as $1.4 billion in sales, as well as its credibility with a major LGBTQ+ non-profit. Last month, retailer Target said it will limit how many stores would carry its Pride-themed collection for adults after a boycott from right-wing activists last summer led to a sharp dip in sales. While bowing to consumer backlash might seem like the safest strategy to claw back revenue lost in a boycott, it can also be shortsighted. Harper argues few companies consider the potential cost of litigation from customers and employees. So much money gets wasted on settlements or damages for discrimination and harassment, he said. I want companies to not just think about sales, but also about the cost of litigation, as well as the reputational costs. Those are the parts that business leaders arent thinking about as they are folding on DEI. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Hill Air Force Base history: Who was it named after? WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) For people whove lived in northern Utah most of their lives, it feels like Hill Air Force Base has always been there. The base, located roughly five miles south of Ogden, has a history spanning 80 years. It started in 1934 with the Army Air Corps. Hill Air Force Base as seen in a heritage pamphlet. (credit: Hill Air Force Base) Warriors Over the Wasatch Air Show to soar over Hill AFB June 29-30 with ABC4 They were doing airmail operations outside of Salt Lake City airport and they really noticed this region and thought it would be a really good place to put a depot, said Aaron Clark, director of the Hill Aerospace Museum. Construction on the depot, which was seen as a military necessity, began in 1939. It was a time when military powers around the world were scaling up. The depots location was chosen because of its arid climate, proximity to a railroad and distance from the coast. When WWII started, we went from just a handful of employees to 22,000 employees, which is incredible, Clark said. He noted that the workforce, with so many locals, proved to be a great asset. It would then later gain the name of one of the countrys greatest assets, whose work and sacrifice advanced the militarys air power. In 1939, Hap Arold, one of the forefathers of the U.S. Air Force, named the base Hill Field in honor of Maj. Ployer Peter Hill, renowned for his abilities as a test pilot. Maj. Ployer Peter Hill (credit: Hill Air Force Base) Hill piloted nearly 60 of the Armys newest aircraft. In 1935, he died in a crash testing the plane that would become the famous B-17 Flying Fortress, used widely during World War II. According to Air and Space Forces Magazine, the crash happened after the experimental plane boomed down the runway in Wright Field, Ohio, lifted off and started to climb. But at around 200 feet, the plane stalled, suddenly pitched up, rolled over and crashed in flames. Hill and his co-pilot, Lt. Donald L. Putt, died in the crash. Three others survived. During WWII, many of the Armys B-17s would be repaired at Hill Field, a critical operation during Americas fight against the Axis powers. According to Clark, Hill Air Force Base has a similar mission today. It plays a major role in repairing, maintaining, and advancing Americas air power. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. William Isaac Thomas Jr. faces six felony sexual assault charges. (Los Angeles Police Department) Los Angeles police are asking for the publics help to locate witnesses and potential victims in the case of a Hollywood photographer charged with sexually assaulting three young men aspiring to be models. William Isaac Thomas Jr., 49, presented himself as an industry expert to young men and then after they hired him as their agent, forced them to submit to sexual assault under duress, according to an LAPD statement. The district attorneys office charged Thomas in May with a half-dozen felonies, including sodomy, in connection with three men, who were between the ages of 18 and 20 at the time. The LAPD said Friday that detectives have identified three other clients Thomas allegedly assaulted and believe he is responsible for additional unreported sexual assaults. Thomas was arrested out of state and extradited to L.A., where he was jailed Wednesday, police said. He is being held on $1.5-million bail and could not be reached for comment. The charges carry a potential life sentence. The investigation into Thomas began in March 2023 when an 18-year-old reported being sexually battered at the photographers residence, according to an LAPD press release. Sex crimes detectives turned up additional evidence suggesting Thomas had assaulted other young men between the ages of 17 and 21 and threatened to ruin their careers if they protested, police said. The alleged assaults occurred between 2017 and last year, according to the district attorneys office. He preyed upon young men by promising them jobs and monetary opportunities he never delivered, LAPD Det. Brent Hopkins said in a statement. Once he made them reliant on him, the abuse began. Releasing a photo of Thomas after his arrest, the detective said, Now that he is no longer able to harm these victims, hopefully more will be able to tell their story. 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. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) Army veteran Eric Yanes fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. But when he returned home, he faced the biggest battle of his life: a battle with addiction. Instead of facing the actions of trying to do better, my first instinct was to go back to the drug, Yanes told FOX31. He was abusing pain medication. The addiction left him jobless, homeless and hopeless. We lived in a trailer. I stopped paying my rent, and we got evicted, he said. 82 years later, remains of WWII prisoner from Colorado return home When his family was evicted and had nowhere else to go, he reached out to The Salvation Army in Colorado Springs late one Friday afternoon. So I call the front desk over here and this lady answers the phone. Shes like, look honey, theres nothing we can do now. Its almost 5 oclock, but call back Monday. The lady says, we have a prayer board, Im going to write a prayer for you. And Im going to put it on my board, and then Ill pray for you and your family. You know, for someone to just be that nice to me, it was just something that I needed, Yanes said. It was the start of a complete transition in his life. He moved into The Salvation Armys veterans transitional housing unit, and over the next few months, they helped him get a home and a job and take care of his growing family. And he finally found purpose again the same purpose he had a few years earlier, when he heroically served in the military. Eric Yanes Serving Those Who Serve: Hero of the Month Because of the life-altering changes hes made, and his commitment to his family, community and country, Yanes has been named the FOX31 Serving Those Who Serve Hero of the Month for June 2024. In addition to a plaque, he receives a $500 Visa gift card from our Serving Those Who Serve sponsors at Ford and the Leo Hill Charitable Trust. Veteran ruck march from Denver to Colorado Springs helps raise awareness Yanes knows hes far from perfect and has a long way to go. But its hard not to be proud of just how far hes already come. And there are more changes in store for his life: His wife is about to have another baby. I love my life now. I can truly say Im the happiest Ive ever been, Yanes said. To nominate a veteran or active-duty service member for our Hero of the Month honors, visit the nomination 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 FOX31 Denver. The Houthis are getting smarter with their Red Sea attacks, and the ships sailing these waters are paying the price Shipping lanes off Yemen have seen a spike in successful Houthi attacks lately. They've hit several commercial ships in recent weeks and even sank one of them. The Iran-backed rebels are also getting their drone boats out to sea more often. The Houthis have scored a string of successful hits in recent weeks on commercial vessels even sinking one of them and demonstrated their ability to effectively strike targets with drone boats, signaling that they're getting smarter with their attacks. Experts say these highly destructive achievements show that the Houthis are learning from their many months of regular attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and continue to receive help from Iran, their main supplier of military and financial assistance. "They're learning, and they're getting more support," Archer Macy, a retired US Navy admiral, told Business Insider. 'A useful disguise' for the Houthis Between December and March, Houthi attacks damaged at least 19 commercial ships, according to a June 13 report published by the Defense Intelligence Agency. Nearly all of the vessels were targeted by missiles, though some were struck by one-way attack drones. The Houthis then lost a critical mission asset. An Iranian cargo ship suspected of providing them with targeting information and intelligence sailed home. MV Behshad spent months lingering in waters near Yemen, but it left the area in mid-April as Tehran braced for Israel to retaliate over its unprecedented attack. This image released by the US military's Central Command shows the fire aboard the bulk carrier True Confidence after a missile attack by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden on March 6. US Central Command via AP, File The following weeks saw a decrease in the pace of successful Houthi attacks. In April and May, a total of three commercial vessels reported being struck by anti-ship ballistic missiles launched by the rebels, according to a list of incidents compiled by Military Times. June, however, has been another story. The Houthis started the month vowing to escalate their attacks in the wake of American and British strikes in Yemen. The rebels have since struck at least five commercial vessels, finding a level of success in their targeting similar to that of the opening months of their campaign. Some of the incidents have also revealed dangerous new tactics. Most notably, on June 12, the Houthis struck a commercial vessel in the Red Sea with an explosive-laden drone boat for the first time since they began attacking merchant shipping in November. Unlike the sophisticated naval drones that have taken center stage in the Ukraine war, devastating the Russian Black Sea Fleet, this crude-looking weapon was little more than a small, slow-moving craft staffed by two dummies that appeared to resemble a common fishing vessel. As such, the vessel managed to travel over 65 nautical miles across shipping lanes without being stopped. "There's so many small boats in that stretch of water, and that's why, actually, it's so hard to stop the smuggling of missiles and drones to the Houthis as well," Brian Carter, the Salafi-Jihadism team lead and an analyst at the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project, told BI. "You can't stop every small boat. So I do think it's a useful disguise for them," he said. Yemen's Houthi group released a video showing an explosive-laden drone boat target a commercial vessel earlier this month. Photo by Houthi Media Center via Getty Images The initial drone boat attack on the commercial bulk carrier MV Tutor caused flooding and damage to the engine room. Hours later, a Houthi missile hit the ship. The double-tap strike forced the crew to abandon the vessel, and it eventually sank, becoming the second ship to do so since attacks began last fall. The same week, the Houthis fired two anti-ship missiles, hitting the MV Verbena in the Gulf of Aden. Not even 24 hours later, the bulk cargo carrier was struck by another missile, marking the week's second double-tap strike. The ship's crew eventually abandoned the vessel due to the damage sustained by the attacks. British security firm Ambrey said the attacks on the Tutor and Verbena, in addition to successful strikes on two other vessels in the days prior, were indicative of a "significant increase in effectiveness" of Houthi operations. "Every single Houthi attack, the Houthis are probably learning something about what works and what doesn't," Carter said. "If you think about how a military organization operates, they're definitely taking away lessons from the different strike packages that they're using." Double taps and drone boats Beyond the recent double-tap strikes, the Houthis' ability to learn from past attacks is visible in their drone boat operations. During the first few months of this year, US forces destroyed Houthi drone boats in Yemen nearly every time the rebels tried to launch them into shipping lanes. In June, though, the rebels managed to get well over a dozen drone boats into the water far more than they had in any previous month. And their ability to do so is what ultimately led to the catastrophic attack on the Tutor. In this photo released by the French military, the MV Tutor sinks in the Red Sea after it was struck by a Houthi drone boat. Etat-Major des Armees/France via AP Experts say the uptick in drone boat attacks points to the Houthis' ability to react to US strikes in Yemen and adjust their operations accordingly. That could mean better hiding them or picking more efficient launch sites. It also suggests that the rebels could now have a larger supply of such weapons, awarding them more opportunities to launch and thus leading to a greater chance that they'll eventually hit something. "I think it's more likely they've got more of them, so they're more willing to use them," said Macy, now a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Missile Defense Project. "They're not such precious objects, and they've probably just gotten better at it." It's unclear what all the Houthi drone boats look like, but the small fishing craft that struck the Tutor is an inexpensive, readily available vessel that can be modified into a weapon. It is difficult to not only prevent the rebels from obtaining their "low-tech, low-cost" means of attack, but also to deter them from launching attacks, Alex Stark, an associate policy researcher who covers Middle East security at the RAND Corporation, told BI. These attacks are an "ongoing problem without an obvious or useful solution at hand," she added. Graduate students take part in a parade in support of the Houthi movement in Sanaa, Yemen on June 9. AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby acknowledged this week that the Houthis have been more successful in their recent targeting, though he pointed out that a majority of their attacks have still failed. US and coalition naval forces are routinely tasked with destroying Houthi missiles and drones both before and after launch and many of these threats have landed in the water. "They miss a whole hell of a lot more than they hit," Kirby told reporters on Wednesday. He said the US will continue to "degrade their capabilities" which American forces are said to be doing through the consistent strikes in Yemen but cautioned that the Houthis are still getting supplied and resourced by Iran, which has been the case for years. "The Houthis, who have no greater or lesser desire than they did six months ago, have been given more capability and are getting more support in doing so," Macy said. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower sails in the Red Sea on June 12. AP Photo/Bernat Armangue Recent Houthi successes come amid changes in the American naval presence in the region. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which spent more than seven months battling the rebels, recently left the Red Sea, but it will soon be replaced by the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. US officials have warned that the conflict has no signs of slowing down, and the growing financial toll has raised questions about the long-term sustainability of the counter-Houthi mission. Experts say that despite the material effects of the Houthi campaign, which has caused disruptions to a key global shipping route, the rebels are still eager to use their attacks to boost their messaging and legitimacy. The Houthis characterize their campaign as a response to the Israel-Hamas war, but they are also attempting to position themselves as a big player in Iran's proxy network. "I think they have discovered that this tactic is quite successful for them and very difficult to deter," Stark said. Broader regional de-escalation might be the only way to sustainably address the problem, but that may not permanently solve it, she said. "I don't think the Houthis would be willing to cease these kinds of attacks forever." Read the original article on Business Insider Johanna Jones, former coordinator of the states Indian Education department, which aims to give every American Indian student the opportunity to learn and achieve academic success A group that aims to support Indigenous communities in Idaho spoke out on Tuesday about the reprehensible firing of Johanna Jones, the states longtime Indian Education coordinator. After spending over a decade as the states Indian Education coordinator, Johanna Jones is no longer with the Idaho Department of Education, EdNews confirmed Thursday. Jones departed the position on June 13, according to Transparent Idaho. [Editor's Note: This article was first published byIdaho Education News. Used with permission. All rights reserved.] She was one of two state staffers assigned to Indian Education; the other is Patty Sanchez, who is listed as an academic affairs program manager for the State Board of Education. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. We feel this is a targeted disgrace of a vaunted educator, a press release from the Indigenous Idaho Alliance reads. It does not bode well that in a time when programs that help not only Native American/Indigenous people in education, but also bridges the cultural education gap with other communities in Idaho, are under attack that the (IDE) has moved to replace one of the most respected and staunchest supporters of Native Americans in education in the state of Idaho. Scott Graf, the communications director for the IDE, said state leaders decided to elevate Jones former coordinator position to a director position, which entails an expansion of duties and responsibilities. The change is a direct result of (Superintendent Debbie Critchfields) interactions with tribes over the past 18 months and a desire to better serve their education needs, Graf wrote in an email to EdNews. The director position was advertised this spring and candidates were interviewed. Ultimately, the process did not yield a successful hire, Graf wrote. The position has been re-advertised and we are actively recruiting candidates. When no hires were made after the initial search, state officials, stakeholders and tribal community members mutually decided to cancel the annual Indian Education summit that was planned for early August, Graf wrote. The summit aims to (provide) educators with knowledge they can use in the classroom to help American Indian students succeed academically. In its press release decrying Jones termination, the Alliance also announced it was severing its partnership with the summit. We remain hopeful for the future of Idaho Indian Education, the press release read. We also honor the valuable contributions and commitment of the former Indian Education Coordinator, and will continue to prioritize and center the voices of tribes and Native communities. When or whether the summit will be rescheduled will depend on the timeline on which the Director of Indian Education is hired, Graf said, and added that the department plans to continue hosting the event in coming years. Greg Wilson, Critchfields chief of staff, will serve as the interim director of Indian Education until the position is filled. The IDE has reached out to tribes for their assistance in the search, and is also considering the addition of a second Indian Education position in our department, but doing so would require legislative approval, Graf said. The shakeup in the states Indian Education department and programming comes as data has underlined alarming achievement gaps between the states tribal youth and the general population, and as tribal education leaders have called on the state to do more to support Native American students. EdNews reached out to education leaders or spokespeople with the Nez Perce, Coeur dAlene, and Shoshone-Bannock tribes for comment Thursday morning but had not heard back by Thursday evening. We will update this story if comments are provided. Idaho is home to five federally-recognized tribes, which also include the Shoshone-Paiute and the Kootenai. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net Seattle-based environmental and conservation nonprofit Nia Tero continues to face calls by visual storytellers for the return of photos, video and other visual works that include their image or likeness. Some of the requests to return visual IP refer to the UNs Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which protects the sovereignty of their Intellectual Property, and are related to materials produced in partnership and under contract with Nia Tero through their now-defunct Storytelling division. The division, which was headed by renowned Pacific Northwest community leader Tracy Rector, was dissolved in March 2024, and Rectors position as the head of the division along with it. According to numerous sources familiar with the situation who spoke with McClatchy on and off the record, there was little to no warning or discussion about the change, which has had a massive knock-on impact for many affiliated Indigenous and non-Native storytellers. One of them is Stina Hamlin, a post-production supervisor and podcast producer in New York City who worked with Nia Tero for over two years on a contract basis. I immediately resigned, Hamlin said in a video interview on June 28. I did leave, because it was like, Now I cant associate with you. Hamlin said shes known and worked with Rector since 2016. She brought me into the Storytelling team, Hamlin said, noting that Rectors sterling reputation as an effective leader in visual storytelling with Indigenous communities precedes her. Shes a matriarch. She speaks truth to power. Shes a pillar in the documentary community. During numerous interviews by McClatchy over several months, similar sentiments about Rectors leadership skills and critical role in Nia Teros Storytelling division have been mentioned many times. People thought that she was a part of a trusted executive leadership at Nia Tero, Hamlin said. In fact, in addition to other individual resignations like Hamlins, loosely-organized opposition arose in the form of a group of about two dozen mostly Indigenous visual artists that goes by Global Indigenous Alliance. Rector, who responded via text message late Friday, said she was not involved in GIAs formation. I am honored and surprised by the formation of GIA in support of the amazing global Indigenous Storytelling work accomplished and amplified during my nearly five-year tenure at Nia Tero, Rector stated. It takes a community to make change! Without a trusted leader at the helm handling Indigenous-led storytelling within the organization, it has become complicated for some. There are those who cant walk away because of financial considerations and existing contractual obligations. If this many people are speaking out - youre not listening or trying, Hamlin said of Nia Teros reaction to complaints. Complex controversy Nia Tero responded on Friday by downplaying any perceptions of controversy. We have had four individuals respond to our outreach requesting that their name and likeness be removed from Nia Tero materials, read an emailed statement in response to a request for comment. We are working with our partners to honor those asks and would of course do the same for anyone else who felt the same way. The nonprofit also says they have received a handful of emails from groups purporting to speak on behalf of individuals who have been engaged with our programs. They go on to say theyve reached out to people individually. Many of those who responded also requested that we continue to use their materials and that they would like to continue working with us in the future. The statement from Nia Tero also said that under their policy on intellectual property, all fellows and grantees hold the rights to any intellectual property created during the grant. However, a copy of a standard Nia Tero photo and audio/video release form obtained by McClatchy from January 2024 clearly states that Nia Tero will own all property rights, including intellectual property rights, in the material including My Likeness. According to Nia Tero, they funded $24 million in grants to 128 organizations in 2023 alone. The organization did say that on several occasions, program participants indicated to us that they did not agree with, or were completely unaware of, these requests to return images. Disappointing outcomes Victoria Cheyenne, an Indigenous Bolivian-American documentary filmmaker, said Nia Tero contracted her in February 2023 after attending the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival that the organization sponsored. Cheyenne served as the outreach coordinator for the organizations Kin Theory team, a global community of Indigenous media makers that supports the telling and sharing of their own stories. During her time as the outreach coordinator, Cheyenne said she was tasked with attending film festivals and recruiting Indigenous filmmakers to join Nia Teros database, which was intended to be a tool for them. I was passionate about the work done in Kin Theory, Cheyenne said. However, when I look back on it, its disheartening because my job was being directly in the field with Indigenous filmmakers who put trust into me to share them on this platform, which meant that I was representing this nonprofit that they put trust into and Nia Tero has consistently betrayed that trust by Indigenous peoples. Cheyenne worked as the outreach coordinator until January of this year and has since become a 4th World Media Lab Fellow, a program that was started by Tracy Rector. It is supported by three different film festivals and partially funded by Nia Tero. Cheyenne, who is part of the GIA, said she and other 4th World Fellows have requested to have their names and information removed from the Nia Tero website, but Nia Tero has not complied with their request. They did reach out and respond to the forefront fellows individually, not as a collective, to ask us if that was what we wanted, but otherwise, we have not received group communication from Nia Tero, Cheyenne said. Theyve made zero public statements and they have been keeping people in the dark about their moves in regard to whats happening with the Storytelling program. McClatchy scoured social media and the Internet for any related public statements by Nia Tero, but found none. Reasonable direct steps Cheyenne stressed the importance of understanding that Nia Tero is not an Indigenous organization because it was not created and is not led by Indigenous people. She added that it has always prioritized its own benefits and has not provided Indigenous peoples with positionality and power to make actual decisions and lead. Nia Tero continues to use images of Indigenous people and their work to maintain an image that Indigenous people condone and stand with Nia Tero, but that is not true, Cheyenne said. Nia Tero continues to use Indigenous faces Indigenous art and Indigenous work to represent themselves when the artists who originally agreed to let that work exist on the websites did so under the trust of Tracy Rector and the existing storytelling team, Cheyenne said. Without those things in place, and with an understanding of a lot of the deep problems in this white male-founded and led nonprofit, now the Indigenous Alliance, we arent interested in our work representing the Nia Tero any longer. Cheyenne said that despite Nia Teros refusal to make a public statement, or acknowledge the Indigenous storytellers letter or have an open dialogue with them, they refuse to give up. We offered reasonable direct steps and direct actions that Nia Tero can take, Cheyenne said. Weve asked them to come to the table and they refuse. So we will continue to use our voices loudly. Were going to continue to step up and speak out and they wont separate us as individuals even if they wont acknowledge us as a collective. We will make them acknowledge us as a collective by continuing to publicly use our voices and using social media using whatever platforms we can to convey the message of whats actually happening at Nia Tero. Initial fate of property rights lawsuit now in the hands of a judge Kurt Swenson, a member of the Northwest Landowners Association, poses by his truck June 28, 2024, outside the courthouse in Bottineau. The association filed a lawsuit challenging regulations that affect property owners and the energy industry as unconstitutional. (Provided by Kurt Swenson) BOTTINEAU, N.D. The constitutionality of North Dakotas pore space laws, subject to a lawsuit by the Northwest Landowners Association, is now in the hands of the court after oral arguments Friday. Northeast Judicial District Judge Anthony Swain Benson canceled the trial scheduled for September and confirmed he will declare summary judgment in the case. Theres not going to be a trial, Benson announced to a Bottineau courtroom filled with attorneys representing landowners, the state and energy companies. Theres no factual issues. He expects whomever he rules against, whether the landowners or the state, to appeal his decision to the North Dakota Supreme Court. I wont be the final say here, Benson said. The crux of the lawsuit is the states laws regulating the use of pore space for underground storage of carbon dioxide or otherwise are unconstitutional, according to the landowners. These laws, passed in 2009 for carbon dioxide and in 2021 for oil and gas storage, empower the North Dakota Industrial Commission to amalgamate pore space of nonconsenting landowners into a storage facility as part of the permitting process and guarantee they will be equitably compensated for the use of their pore space. The association and the North Dakota Farm Bureau, an intervening plaintiff in the case, believe the state constitution guarantees landowners just compensation, as determined by a jury trial, if their private property is taken or damaged by the state. The proper method for companies to obtain pore space to use for underground storage, they argue, is to go through the eminent domain process. They dont want to pay for the property theyre using, said Derrick Braaten, attorney for the association. They dont get around paying and thats what this is really about. Attorneys for North Dakota and the energy companies asserted statutes are presumed to be constitutional until proven otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt, arguing the plaintiffs had failed to meet that burden. Their claims are doomed as a matter of law and should be dismissed, said Zachary Pelham, attorney for the state of North Dakota. Summit Carbon Solutions is among the companies that have intervened in the case, which could have implications for the companys CO2 storage project proposed for North Dakota. Correlative rights The North Dakota Industrial Commission was empowered to amalgamate pore space and determine what equitable compensation is, Pelham said, because the use of pore space is similar in many respects to the forced pooling and unitization of crude oil reserves in the Bakken. Both resources, Pelham asserted, are found in shared reservoirs underground which extend across property lines on the surface. The correlative rights legal doctrine, a body of law and precedent surrounding the rights to shared reservoirs of resources, allows for the forced pooling and unitization of oil to ensure all mineral owners are able to exploit their share of the resource and are compensated for it. The same principle should apply to pore space, Pelham said. The correlative rights doctrine allows a shared resource to be developed and exploited, even over the objection of a minority owner who would otherwise have a hecklers veto over its use. The rights of the majority also matters, Pelham said. Thats what this statute does. It balances those rights. Braaten forcefully disagreed with the decision to apply decades of legal precedent developed for oil and gas, one of the most complex bodies of law there is, to the use of pore space. Theres a lot more to it than theyre similar, Braaten said. He warned of unintended consequences if correlative rights are fully applied to pore space reservoirs, such as unleased landowners being entitled to a far greater proportionate share of the revenues and the development costs. Pelham on the other hand said the entire correlative rights doctrine is part of common law, the use of legal precedents to inform future decisions, which evolves over time in reaction to new technologies and situations. North Dakota is at the tip of the spear on this issue, Pelham said. We really are in new territory. Eminent domain The association believes delegating these powers to the North Dakota Industrial Commission is not only unconstitutional, but also unnecessary, because there already is a method by which private land can be acquired for public use eminent domain. If its going to happen, theres a process, Braaten said. Its the only one the constitution allows. This would revoke the North Dakota Industrial Commissions authority to amalgamate pore space on its own, forcing storage operators to go to the courts and use eminent domain to secure rights to pore space of nonconsenting landowners. We have a right to a jury trial to determine just compensation, Braaten said. That doesnt mean the landowners the association represents will like the process. Landowners, by and large, dislike it when the government seizes or uses their property without consent. They dont like eminent domain, Braaten said. Its a dirty word to them. But its a known process, enshrined in the constitution and in law, with safeguards to guarantee landowners are treated fairly. Braaten doesnt have faith in the North Dakota Industrial Commissions ability to do the same. Good cause waiver The plaintiffs also are challenging a provision in the law allowing the North Dakota Industrial Commission to waive any of the requirements for a permit for good cause. Thats concerning, according to Andrew Cook, an attorney representing the North Dakota Farm Bureau, because they would be able to legally use that provision to waive the requirement nonconsenting landowners be compensated for use of their pore space. Thats problematic, Cook said. That exception statute still poses a problem. Pelham said thats not the intent behind that provision, which was included so the North Dakota Industrial Commission could adapt to new requirements or administrative rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. This isnt carte blanche, Pelham said. This isnt the North Dakota Industrial Commission can do whatever it wants. Threshold claims The bulk of the arguments against the associations lawsuit rested on complex legal arguments asserting the plaintiffs do not have the right to bring the lawsuit at this time. In the case of the carbon dioxide storage law passed in 2009, the defendants argue the statute of limitations has expired to challenge the law. They sat on their hands for 15 years, said Josh Swanson, attorney representing Minnkota Power. Braaten and Cook rejected the idea there could be a statute of limitations, which Pelham asserts is six years in this case, on whether a law is constitutional or not. That is, quite frankly, crazy, Braaten said of the idea an unconstitutional law could be stuck on the books because a plaintiff missed a window in which to file a legal challenge against it. In regards to the 2021 law regulating the use of pore space to store oil and natural gas, the state argues the law can only be challenged by a landowner affected by the amalgamation provision. Since the North Dakota Industrial Commission hasnt amalgamated any pore space under that statute, it cant be challenged as unconstitutional because nobody has the legal standing to do so. The challenge is not appropriate at this point, Pelham said. Braaten disagreed. Its appropriate to challenge the amalgamation provision, he argued, because there is no conceivable scenario where the North Dakota Industrial Commission could use its amalgamation power in a constitutional manner, which means the provision was unconstitutional upon the laws enactment and not only at the time of its use. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Initial fate of property rights lawsuit now in the hands of a judge appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. (FOX40.COM) An inmate died after he was found unresponsive in a Sacramento County jail cell on Friday. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said the 41-year-old man died at about 11:15 p.m. at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center (RCCC), located 10.5 miles south of Elk Grove. The sheriffs office said an inmate worker reported to deputies that another inmate needed medical assistance. Deputies responded to the situation and discovered the inmate was unresponsive in a locked cell. Northern California inmate death launches homicide investigation, cellmate placed in restricted housing Deputies immediately pulled the inmate out of the cell and first aid was administered by RCCCs medical staff. Fire personnel from the Cosumnes Fire Department arrived to continue medical aid, but the inmate was later pronounced deceased at the jail, the sheriffs office said. The man had been in custody since March 28 after he was arrested for a felony warrant, officials said. The inmate had been housed in the Christopher Boone Facility (CBF) inside RCCC. The sheriffs office said an investigation into the cause of the inmates death will be conducted. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Theres a new food truck in town, and a famous face funding the enterprise. Glynn Simmons, 71, holds an international distinction as the man who has served the longest prison sentence in history for a crime he did not commit. GLYNN SIMMONS: Justice was done today, finally: Judge declares wrongfully incarcerated man innocent 48 years after conviction News 4 has featured Simmons dozens of times since we started covering his case in detail back in 2003. Simmons was incarcerated 48 years, five months, 18 days for a murder he did not do. He is now starting life anew in Oklahoma City. Glynn Simmons Free Man's Food Truck. Image KFOR. Glynn Simmons Free Man's Food Truck. Image KFOR. Today is beautiful; a day Ive been waiting on a long long time, Simmons said. Simmons is working with a friend from the inside. Andre Armstrong did 31 years in state prison and is now running the mobile kitchen. Im trying to support him any way I can, Armstrong said. Because we always watch each others back. Simmons new friends are also helping with the business plan. Ebenezer Baptist Churchs Pastor Derrick Scobey, along with former congressman J.C. Watts, Representative Jason Lowe and Oklahoma County Sheriffs candidate Wayland Cubit were all in attendance for the grand opening. Free Man's Food Truck. His neighbors on Northeast 20th and Martin Luther King Boulevard, the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, gave up a few parking spots for Simmons new venture, the Free Mans Food Truck. A food truck is a really needed thing on the east side, more businesses equal a better community, said Father Lance Schmitz. It was just a natural fit. For nearly fifty years, Simmons dreamed about life on the outside. His prison fantasy was to own a small business, to share his love of great food with his community. One year ago, this innocent man walked out of the Oklahoma County Courthouse a free man; the same courthouse where hed been sentenced to death in 1975. I came out of prison with absolutely nothing, Simmons remembered. No food. No clothes. No shelter. No transportation. Generous Oklahomans helped him get back on his feet. I dont know nothing else to do but to give back, Simmons said. After serving for 48 years, all I want to do is serve others now. Good to his word, he is serving up free food truck fare on this grand opening day. Free Man's Food Truck Image KFOR. SPECIAL REPORT: The Wrong Man When you give it perpetuates. Thats been happening to me since I got out. For Simmons, every day above ground is a good day. The Free Man Food Truck will be set up near Northeast 20th and MLK for lunch and dinner daily. Simmons recently got word hes going to receive the maximum compensation from the State of Oklahoma for his wrongful conviction. Hes using a portion of that $175,000 settlement to fund the food truck. DONATE: Glynn Simmons GoFundMe. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy According to Brad Gerstner. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) stands against the other tech stocks. Gerstner is Bullish on Tech in 2024 On December 1, 2023, Brad Gerstner, the CEO of Altimeter Capital, appeared in an interview on CNBC where he explained that tech stocks are expected to outperform non-tech stocks in 2024. Over the past 10 years, tech earnings have compounded at almost 16% and non-tech earnings have compounded at 6%. 2023 was a rebound year for the tech industry after a downturn in 2022 due to rising interest rates. Big Tech companies and their operational efficiencies have poised them for strong growth. While inflation and interest rates will determine what goes down, companies that have invested in augmented intelligence will experience secular growth. Gerstner thinks that the spread between 16% and 6% will be a recurring trend in 2024. Gerstner Thinks Now is the Right Time to Invest in Tech On June 11, Brad Gerstner made another appearance on CNBC and addressed the speculation surrounding the software industry. Gerstner suggested that despite headwinds, the software industry is still valuable as companies and startups are still making deals. Gerstner believes there are three main reasons for the downward trajectory of the software industry. He thinks that CEOs and CTOs are cautious when it comes to making investments in software. Executives want a clearer picture of the AI boom before making risky investments. Moreover, interest rates are higher than expectations, due to delayed rate cuts and compressing multiples. Lastly, general uncertainty about the future has been detrimental to the growth of the software industry. Gerstner pointed out that since the software industry is trading at 20% below its ten-year average, this may be the best time to allocate stakes in software companies. You can also take a look at the best Robinhood stocks under $20. Gerstner thinks data and databases are extremely vital to AI applications. He thinks that companies using data to power AI are far ahead of companies simply automating services. Big Tech companies have data at the forefront of all their artificial intelligence applications. You can also read our piece on the stocks hedge funds are crazy about right now. Brad Gerstner is bullish on tech, and particularly software and AI. In Q1 2024, he initiated 6 new positions and also raised his stakes in 2 stocks, ending the quarter with a portfolio of $6.5 billion in 13F securities. With that, let's discuss his top tech stock picks. Story continues Our Methodology We scanned Altimeter Capital's Q1 portfolio and picked growth stocks from the funds top 13F holdings. Additionally, weve also added overall hedge fund sentiment, as of Q1 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here). Note: All pricing data is as of June 28. A close up view of a hand holding a smartphone, using a ride sharing app. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) Altimeter Capital's Stake Value: $1,026,784,834 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 130 Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) ranks third on our list of the best tech stocks to buy according to Brad Gerstner. The stock accounts for nearly 16% of Altimeter Capital's 13F portfolio. Uber (NYSE:UBER) grew its gross bookings by 21% year-over-year and reported a 15% increase in customers. In the second quarter, the company expects a further 20% growth in gross bookings. Innovation is crucial to the success of Uber. Last year the company partnered with Waymo, to bring autonomous driving technology to UBER. Waymo provides autonomous vehicles to Uber for ride-hailing services. The company now offers autonomous deliveries in Phoenix, Arizona, Fairfax, Virginia, Miami, Los Angeles, Mountain View, California, and Tokyo in Japan. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is also operating a pilot project in Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, for autonomous ride-hailing services. While Uber's (NYSE:UBER) management thinks autonomous vehicle (AV) technology holds promise, they believe the transition would be rather gradual and human drivers will co-exist with autonomous vehicles for a long time. However, as the technology matures and better models are built, AV fleet owners or individual car owners can achieve better returns on their investments by integrating their vehicles into Ubers ecosystem, which offers a strong brand and established demand base. Uber stands to uniquely benefit from the growth of AV technology as it has worked to establish pricing, matching, routing algorithms, and payment systems, and these systems can increase the utility of autonomous vehicles in the ride-hailing industry. At the close of Q1 2024, 130 hedge funds were bullish on Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER), with total stakes amounting to $10.18 billion. Wall Street analysts hold a consensus buy opinion on Uber. The stock grew by 20% year-to-date. Based on price targets from 52 analysts, the stock has a median price forecast of $88, representing an upside of 25% from its current price of $70.34. Overall UBER ranks 3rd on our list of the best tech stocks to buy according to Brad Gerstner. You can visit 10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy According to Brad Gerstner to see the other tech stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of UBER 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 UBER but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Amid all of the Democratic panic-texting prompted by President Joe Bidens shaky debate performance Thursday, one name was curiously absent from many of those conversations: Vice President Kamala Harris. Names including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer trended online as potential replacements for Biden on the Democratic ticket, while Harris by several measures the most obvious and best-positioned candidate was left to publicly defend Biden at the single worst moment of their four-year-old political partnership. That was to the chagrin of some Harris allies, who are privately expressing frustration that her name is not being mentioned in the same company as other ambitious Democrats. But they can do little about it: Harris is laboring under a de facto mandate to defend him. Theres nothing that she could do externally that would be wise, Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo said. Her best strategy is to internally just be an amazing VP. She had to perform the role of good soldier almost immediately after the debate, with postmortem interviews having been pre-scheduled with CNN and MSNBC. As Harris watched Bidens face-plant, she and her team realized her response would be even more closely scrutinized, according to three aides granted anonymity to describe private discussions and she quickly made clear to her staff that they shouldnt try to sugarcoat how badly her running mate had performed. Harris told her advisers her role was simple, the aides said: project confidence as quickly and clearly as possible as a leader of the party, while preserving credibility by recognizing how weak the debate had been. She wanted to have an acknowledgment of what everybody was seeing, one senior Harris aide said. Harris other two objectives were to zero in on attacking Trump, the aide said, and, perhaps more importantly, move the conversation away from the debate and toward Bidens record. The president said himself that it was not his best performance, Harris said at a campaign rally on Friday afternoon, before ripping former President Donald Trump for lies he told during the debate. Harris went on to offer a familiar defense of Biden, one heard from many Democrats who have interacted with him closely. I see Joe Biden when the cameras are on and the cameras are off, in the Oval Office negotiating bipartisan deals, Harris said. I see him in the Situation Room keeping our country safe, [and] on the world stage meeting with world leaders who often ask for his advice. Some allies of the first Black and South Asian woman to be vice president fumed Friday about the lack of attention Harris drew as a possible replacement not a surrogate for Biden, passed over in the Beltway chatter for the likes of Newsom, Whitmer and even Govs. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. The fact that people keep coming back to this is so offensive to so many of us, one veteran Democrat and Harris ally said. They still dont get that the message youre saying to people, to this Democratic Party, is, we prefer a white person. Another added, If they think they are going to get through South Carolina bashing an effective and qualified Black woman vice president their instincts are as bad as I thought they were. Their frustration is unlikely to translate into an aggressive push for a change atop the ticket, as they are painfully aware that even acknowledging the possibility Biden might step away would spark a potential feeding frenzy. In other words, amid all the wishcasting surrounding other ambitious Democrats, Harris world cant make her case without making things worse for Biden. Her doing anything externally is going to just hand reporters stories, Trujillo said. If she gets any text messages saying something critical, my best advice would be to not reply. Her biggest asset, in any case, isnt a marketing machine its political reality. Were Biden to leave the presidential race, hopping over Harris to any other potential candidate would present significant practical challenges. Only Harris, for instance, would have access to the coffers of the campaign shes already a part of. Any other candidate would be faced with the tall task of building an infrastructure in a matter of months. Its very hard to go from the minors to the Super Bowl, and compared to running for president, everything else is semi-pro, said Jamal Simmons, a veteran Democratic operative and former Harris communications director. Theres also the fact that Harris, despite a rocky couple of years in the polls, still has the highest name ID of any plausible Biden replacement. A recent POLITICO poll found that 41 percent of Democratic voters chose Harris as a hypothetical 2028 nominee. The next closest was Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, with 15 percent, and Newsom, with 14 percent. Harris allies and aides believe that the VP has strengthened her profile in recent months, becoming more adept and confident after months of official and campaign travel. Theyre also not shy about pointing out the optics of substituting any other candidate (likely White, possibly male) for Harris a move that they suggest would upset not only Black delegates at the convention but also Black voters with whom the Biden campaign is already on shaky ground. Still, she faces skepticism from the Democratic rank-and-file, who have been repelled by Harris weak polling numbers and see any of the more-popular-if-lesser-known governors as preferable. We actually have to win this election, said one House Democrat who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about a party leader. We should put someone up who would not only be a good president, but be a good candidate. There are no plans for Harris to go on a Biden defense tour, aides said. She is instead focused on fundraising in the coming days, where she will be in contact with now-jittery donors who are expected to bankroll Bidens reelection. It will be an opportunity for her to both defend Biden and also make an impression, if only implicit, about her suitability as a replacement. That is a delicate balancing act she might need to perform for weeks perhaps until the late-August convention as the ramifications of Thursdays debate play out in the polls and on the hustings. If she didnt, imagine what people would say: Well, hold up, even the VP is not defending him. But its also important that people see and hear from a number of different voices and faces and the people who are in the conversation, one Democrat close to the White House and campaign said. An earlier version of this article was published in the On the Trail 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday mornings here. To submit a question to next weeks Friday Mailbag, email onthetrail@deseretnews.com. Who won Thursday nights debate? Thats not a question were particularly interested in. This is Doug Wilks, Executive Editor of the Deseret News, updating you on our approach to the presidential election and politics. Were interested in what the candidates said, how they said it, and most importantly what the debate means for you as a voter and your family. And after watching the debate, the question also now is can either or neither of these men do the job required of them? The pundits have a point of view and perhaps a scorecard, but we use events such as the debate as a jumping off point for coverage that matters to you as a voter. Were not interested in labels, or trying to fit each candidate into a neatly packaged box. Were trying to understand which issues are the most important to you, and what motivates you to support someone. First, here is some of our coverage from the debate, to get you up to speed: We offered a running, real-time report of what was said, what questions the moderators chose to ask, and the candidates answers. The opinions of how each did are best left to each of you, based on your values. Find that here Samuel Benson, the regular author of this newsletter and our national political correspondent was onsite at Georgia Tech, providing behind-the-scenes coverage of this debate, including what happened post-debate in the spin room. Read that here Jennifer Graham from Boston writes about whether this debate was family viewing or too adult for children. Thats a measure of how the world has changed and part of our commitment to provide content that reflects values like civility and respect for others. We try to avoid labels and reject characterizations that can turn candidates into caricatures. You can read her take here The Big Idea Why were covering the 2024 race. I recently participated in the World Editors Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, attracting some of the top news leaders in the world. Amidst the in-depth look at what artificial intelligence (AI) is doing to the world of journalism both positively and negatively was significant information on news avoidance, the term given to those who are not just nonreaders, but those who are actively working to avoid the news. As it relates to politics, the current partisan divide plays a role in keeping people away from news and perspectives. But more significant, however, is what is known as the other divide as first described in 2022 by Yanna Krupnikov and John Barry Ryan, and is since amplified by other studies. This is the divide between those who connect to politics and those who do not. In other words, those who avoid politics dont feel it connects with their lives. There is another factor at play. Surveys reveal that most U.S. voters say politics makes them feel exhausted. When asked to describe the current state of politics in one word, the most common answer is divisive. The two participants in last nights debate are among the least popular major-party candidates in history. Taken together, a lack of connection with the candidates and a lack of political connection to ones own life makes this whole election cycle one to avoid for some Americans. But the Deseret News is committed to providing news and perspective that hopefully will draw your interest. The research shows its not just about content, its about understanding what each reader believes, how each reader uses media, and understanding who you are and what communities you are a part of. If we understand what is important to you, we can do a better job of sifting through political bluster to provide a light to help you make decisions that best suit your life. With that in mind, were coming to where you are, revealing the connections between what you tell us is important and what the candidates are saying. Thats our goal between now and November. Additionally, we will pay attention to what is happening in the West, particularly in the key swing states of Arizona and Nevada. If youre a frequent reader of On the Trail 2024, youve noticed that the Deseret News was keyed into this presidential race long before many of us even started paying attention. For nearly a year now, weve sent our national political correspondent, Samuel Benson, on the trail to break news and report on the facets of this race that no one else is talking about. The result? 11 months of interesting, important reporting on our countrys most consequential events. Some highlights: Only four months separate us from Election Day. Our commitment to you is to focus our coverage on the things that make the Deseret News unique, and the things that lead you to be a reader in the first place. Were committed to the First Amendment, particularly Americas first freedom the freedom of religion. We will dig into how Joe Biden, Donald Trump and others plan to protect religious liberty for all Americans. But also Freedom of Speech and the right to bring ones whole self into the public square. We stand for the U.S. Constitution, and we will hold the candidates to the same standard. We will report fairly and energetically on their efforts to uphold constitutional norms. We expect the same from them as we do each voter: to be law-abiding citizens. We will explore the candidates plans for creating strong families and promoting marriage. We will cover immigration one of the top issues this cycle in a way that promotes human dignity and recognizes that all people are children of God. We will explore the unique ways Latter-day Saints will affect the outcome of the race, particularly in two Western battleground states, Arizona and Nevada. We will focus on the voters, who are the ones who determine the direction of the country. To that end, as we continue our coverage, wed love to hear what you think not only your feedback on our reporting, but your insight as voters: what are the issues that matter most to you? Our inbox is always open: onthetrail@deseretnews.com. See you on the trail. FILE PHOTO: A poster of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili is seen on a street in Tehran By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI(Reuters) - Saeed Jalili, a zealous ideologue loyal to Iran's supreme leader, plans to resolve the country's social, political and economic ills by adhering rigidly to the hardline ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution if he wins the country's presidential election. Jalili was narrowly beaten in Friday's first round vote by moderate Massoud Pezeshkian but the two men will now face a run-off election on July 5, since Pezeshkian did not secure the majority of 50% plus one vote of ballots cast needed to win outright. Jalili, a former diplomat, describes himself as a pious believer in "velayat-e faqih", or rule by supreme jurisprudence, the system of Islamic government that provides the basis for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's paramount position. His staunch defence of the 45-year-old Islamic revolution appears designed to appeal to hardline, religiously-devout lower-income voters but offered little to young and urban Iranians frustrated by curbs on political and social freedoms. Once Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Jalili, 58, was one of four candidates in the election for a successor to Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May. He is currently a member of a body that mediates in disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council, a body that screens election candidates for their political and Islamic qualifications. A staunch anti-Westerner, Jalili's advance to the second round signals the possibility of an even more antagonistic turn in the Islamic Republic's foreign and domestic policy, analysts said. Foreign and nuclear policy are the domain of Khamenei, who wields supreme command of the armed forces, has the power to declare war and appoints senior figures including armed forces commanders, judicial heads and the head of the state media. However, the president can influence the tone of foreign and domestic policy. Insiders and analysts say Khamenei, 85, seeks a strongly loyal president to run the government day-to-day and to be a trusted ally who can ensure stability, amid manoeuvring over the eventual succession to his own position. UNCOMPROMISING STANCE Jalili is an opponent of Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with major powers that was negotiated on the Iranian side by a group of pragmatic officials open to detente with the West. Then-President Donald Trump reneged on the accord in 2018 and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. With the possible return of Trump to the White House after November's U.S. presidential election and Jalili's possible election win, the deal's resurgence seems improbable. Before the nuclear pact, Jalili served as Iran's top nuclear negotiator for five years from 2007, a period in which Tehran took a confrontational and uncompromising approach to discussions with global powers about its uranium enrichment programme. In those years, three U.N. Security Council resolutions were imposed on Iran, and several attempts to resolve the dispute failed. During the current election campaign, Jalili was heavily criticised in debates on state TV by other candidates for his uncompromising nuclear stance and his opposition to Iran signing up to two conventions on financial crime recommended by the Financial Action Taskforce, an international crime watchdog. Some hardliners, like Jalili, argue that the acceptance of the Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Convention on Combating Transnational Organized Crime could hamper Iran's support for its paramilitary proxies across the region, including Lebanon's Hezbollah. PRODUCT OF THE REVOLUTION Jalili has been trying for the presidency for years. He finished third in the 2013 contest, and stood again in 2021 but eventually withdrew to support Raisi. Born in the holy Muslim Shi'ite city of Mashhad in 1965, Jalili lost his right leg in the 1980s in fighting during the Iran-Iraq war and joined the Foreign Ministry in 1989. Despite his hardline views, he is outwardly soft-spoken. He gained a doctorate in political science at Imam Sadiq University, a training ground for Iranian leaders, where he wrote a study entitled "Foreign policy of (the) Prophet of Islam", according to a biography that was for a time posted on the Foreign Ministry website for a time. For four years from 2001, he worked at Khamenei's office. When hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president in 2005, he chose Jalili to be his adviser, and within months made him deputy foreign minister. Jalili was appointed in 2007 as the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, a post that automatically made him chief nuclear negotiator. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by William Maclean and Frances Kerry) Thousands of people protest against the Iranian authorities in central Berlin after the first round of presidential elections. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, an opposition movement set up in 1981 and banned within the country, had called for the protest on Friday, when the first round of the elections was held, to protest against the country's theocratic government. Hannes P. Albert/dpa Thousands of people joined a protest against the Iranian authorities in central Berlin on Saturday after the first round of presidential elections. Police put the number on Bebelplatz and Unter den Linden in the city centre at around 6,000 by mid-afternoon, with protestors continuing to join the demonstration. The organizers had registered a protest for up to 8,000 participants, with members of the German parliament also expected to attend. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, an opposition movement set up in 1981 and banned within the country, had called for the protest on Friday, when the first round of the elections was held, to protest against the country's theocratic government. The council said the protest is directed against the Iranian clerical regime. Attendees came in hundreds of buses from all over Germany. Many were waving the pre-revolutionary Iranian state flag with a golden lion in the centre. Some 61 million Iranians are eligible to cast their ballots in the elections, with the second round set for Friday July 5. International observers do not see Iran's elections as free and fair, as the country's Guardian Council vets candidates and excludes those seen as unsuitable. Fundamental criticism of the country's theocratic system is not permitted. The National Council of Resistance of Iran arose from the People's Mujahedin of Iran and has the aim of overthrowing the Iranian ruling system. It is seen as controversial, both within Iran and outside, and is largely rejected by other opposition groups. Thousands of people protest against the Iranian authorities in central Berlin after the first round of presidential elections. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, an opposition movement set up in 1981 and banned within the country, had called for the protest on Friday, when the first round of the elections was held, to protest against the country's theocratic government. Hannes P. Albert/dpa Masoud Pezeshkian waves to supporters on the day of the presidential election to choose a successor to Ebrahim Raisi - MAJID ASGARIPOUR/REUTERS Irans old moderate candidate in the race for president will go into a run-off with a hardline former nuclear negotiator amid record-low voter turnout. Masoud Pezeshkian, a former surgeon, won the most votes in the election on Friday, securing 10.4 million of the 24.5 million ballots cast, or 42 per cent. His campaign has been boosted by support from frustrated liberals after every other candidate with reformist credentials was disqualified from running. Saeed Jalili came second with 9.4 million votes, or 38 per cent. As neither candidate secured the 50 per cent of the vote needed to secure an outright win, voters will return to the polls on Friday. Overall turnout of 40 per cent marks the lowest since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The result will be sent to the Guardian Council and its approval is their responsibility, Mohsen Eslami, spokesman for Irans election headquarters said on state TV. The prospect of a run-off became more likely ahead of the vote as neither Mr Jalili nor his ultra-conservative rival, former IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, withdrew from the race to unify the vote. Mr Ghalibaf won 3.3 million votes. In the end, voters faced a choice between three hardline candidates and the little-known Mr Pezeshkian. Lukewarm credentials The one-time health ministers reformist credentials are only lukewarm he has pledged allegiance to the policies of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but voters desperate to snub the clerical establishment still plumped for him as their best hope. In recent days, Mr Pezeshkians criticisms of the regime over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for her alleged improper hijab have been shared widely. He demanded clarification from the authorities about Aminis death, stating, scientifically, someone cant fall like this. Mr Pezeshkian said that it should not be the case that anyone who wants to speak is labelled as anti-Islamic Republic. The moderate candidate has also been critical of Irans hijab law. I have never been able to, and cannot, force my children and grandchildren to dress according to my wishes, so how can we expect society to dress as we dictate? I dont think its possible, he said. In a recent state TV interview, however, he said he would follow Mr Khameneis policies should he win the election. I believe in the supreme leader, I am totally following him, he said. This election has been full of surprises for us, but now we have a serious plan, a member of Mr Pezeshkians campaign office, told The Telegraph from Tehran. The level of hope and desire for change among the people hasnt been this high since the 2009 election, he said. We need more participation from those who decided to stay home yesterday. If they come out for the runoff round, we will definitely win. Contrasting views Mr Pezeshkians views contrast sharply with the more hardline positions of his opponent, particularly on issues such as engagement with the West and the countrys nuclear programme. Saeed Jalili served as Irans chief nuclear negotiator from 2007 to 2013, leading talks over the limiting weapons development that ultimately went nowhere. I wanted to continue negotiating while advancing the nuclear programme, Mr Jalili told a group of students recently. They would ask us to stop our nuclear programme, and I would reply, why? It is our right and it will not happen, he said. In the 2021 presidential elections, he endorsed Ebrahim Raisi, after withdrawing just days before election day. This months vote was sparked by the death in a helicopter accident of the former hardline president. Distinct challenges Mr Jalilis insistence on remaining in the poll has caused anger among senior commanders of the IRGC, according to the elite military forces official who spoke to the Telegraph. Even Mr Qaani directly asked him to leave the race and not split the votes, one IRGC official in Tehran said, referring to Esmail Qaani, commander of the IRGCs Quds branch. Both candidates present distinct challenges to the status quo, he said. Jalilis stance risks further isolating Iran on the global stage, while Pezeshkians approach could shift the country towards greater engagement with the West. Both are dangerous for the revolution, he explained. Its not over yet After the elections final results were announced, Mr Ghalibaf urged his supporters to vote for Mr Jalili next week. It is not over yet, he claimed. I urge all revolutionary forces and my supporters to help stop the movement that has significantly contributed to our economic and political problems, he urged supporters. We must all try to elect the candidate of the revolutionary front, Dr. Jalili, as president. 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. By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI (Reuters) -A moderate lawmaker will face Iran supreme leader's protege in a run-off presidential election on July 5 after the country's interior ministry said on Saturday that no candidate secured enough votes in the first round of voting. Friday's vote to replace Ebrahim Raisi after his death in a helicopter crash came down to a tight race between a low-profile lawmaker Massoud Pezeshkian, the sole moderate in a field of four candidates, and former Revolutionary Guards member Saeed Jalili. The interior ministry said neither secured the 50% plus one vote of over 25 million ballots cast required to win outright, with Pezeshkian leading with over 10 million votes ahead of Jalili with over 9.4 million votes. Power in Iran ultimately lies with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, so the result will not herald any major policy shift on Iran's nuclear programme or its support for militia groups across the Middle East. But the president runs the government day-to-day and can influence the tone of Iran's policy. The clerical establishment hoped for a high turnout as it faces a legitimacy crisis fuelled by public discontent over economic hardship and curbs on political and social freedom. However, turnout in Friday's vote hit a historic low of about 40%, based on interior ministry count released on Saturday. The election comes at a time of 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 programme. With Iran's supreme leader now 85, it is likely that the next president will be closely involved in the process of choosing a successor to Khamenei, who seeks a fiercely loyal president who can ensure a smooth eventual succession to his own position, insiders and analysts say. Anti-Western views of Jalili, Iran's former uncompromising nuclear negotiator, offer a contrast to those of Pezeshkian. Analysts said Jalili's win would signal the possibility of an even more antagonistic turn in the Islamic Republic's foreign and domestic policy. But a victory for mild-mannered lawmaker Pezeshkian might help ease tensions with the West, improve chances of economic reform, social liberalisation and political pluralism. Pezeshkian, faithful to Iran's theocratic rule, is backed by the reformist faction that has largely been sidelined in Iran in recent years. "We will respect the hijab law, but there should never be any intrusive or inhumane behaviour 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 spiralled into the biggest show of opposition to Iran's clerical rulers in years. (Writing by Parisa HafeziEditing by Tomasz Janowski) While ballots are still being counted in Iran's presidential election on Saturday, the sole reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian, is making an unexpectedly strong showing. Close behind is the hardliner and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. The two are headed to a runoff presidential election on Friday to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May. Mohsen Eslami, an election spokesman, announced that 24.5 million votes were cast with Pezeshkian getting 10.4 million while Jalili received 9.4 million, The Associated Press reported. Iranian law requires that a winner get more than 50% of all votes cast. If not, the race's top two candidates advance to a runoff a week later. Pezeshkian is on record as wanting to bring Iran in from the cold of international sanctions and improve relations with the West. That made him the obvious choice for Nima Saranghi, who works in marketing. "I decided to vote for a better future for our country," he told CBS News. "Maybe [Pezeshkian and his team] can work together and resolve problems with the West." That includes trying to revive the nuclear deal which was ditched unilaterally by former President Donald Trump in 2018. A picture of Iranian candidates at a polling station in Tehran during Iran's presidential election on June 28, 2024. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the snap presidential election to choose the next president after the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. / Credit: HOSSEIN BERIS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Pezeshkian ended up with the most votes even though Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weighed in at the start of the week saying people who advocated better ties with the West were unsuited to lead. "Some politicians in our country believe they must kowtow to this power or that power, and it's impossible to progress without sticking to famous countries and powers," he said. "Some think like that. Or they think that all ways to progress pass through America. No. Such people can't run the country well." Iranians who voted for reform want more secular freedoms too, but a conservative segment of the population is stubbornly opposed. An Iranian man flashes a victory sign after casting her vote at a polling station in Tehran during Iran's presidential election on June 28, 2024. / Credit: HOSSEIN BERIS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Saana Hodaverdian cast her vote for a candidate who above all stands for a strict Islamic state. "I just want someone who can support my religious beliefs along with attending to industrial and economic priorities," she said. All Iranians agree that the country's economy is weak and life is a grind. They don't agree on the solution. An Iranian woman casts her vote at a polling station in Tehran during Iran's presidential election on June 28, 2024. / Credit: HOSSEIN BERIS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Conservatives believe opening up to Europe and America risks undermining the Islamic values of the revolution. They cling to a belief in so-called self-sufficiency; a largely made-in-Iran policy with help from allies like China and Russia. Iran is a divided country - headed by a Supreme Leader whose values are only shared by conservatives. Take the contentious issue of women's dress. Islamic purists wear the complete black chador coverall and a headdress which prevents any hair at all from showing. That look is completely rejected by reform-minded women who cover their bare arms and legs with Western dress, and drape loose headscarves over their hair. In 2022, major street uprisings erupted in protest against the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being arrested for insufficiently Islamic dress. Even though the demonstrations were quelled by a violent crackdown by authorities, many women continued to protest by refusing to wear a scarf at all even though they too risk arrest. Saturday's polarized first-round voting reflects Iran's tragic divide. Whoever wins the presidency in the runoff next week will face an uphill battle to shape policies acceptable to both sides. Supreme Court gives Trump a win, rules presidents have immunity for official acts in office Hurricane Beryl an "extremely dangerous" storm with Caribbean in its sights Tracking Hurricane Beryl and July Fourth heat Meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in New York JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that Iran's message of an "obliterating war" made it worthy of destruction. "A regime that threatens destruction deserves to be destroyed," Katz said in a post on X. He also said Israel will act with full force against Iran-backed Hezbollah if it does not stop firing at Israel from Lebanon and move away from the border. Iran's UN mission said on Friday that if Israel embarks on a "full-scale military aggression" in Lebanon, "an obliterating war will ensue." The Iranian mission also said in the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that in such an event "all options, incl. the full involvement of all resistance fronts, are on the table." Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel since October, in parallel with the Gaza war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said this week they prefer a diplomatic path to resolving the situation. Though Katz is a member of Israel's security cabinet, war policy has largely been led by Netanyahu and a small circle of ministers that includes Gallant, who visited Washington this week for talks on Gaza and Lebanon. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell; editing by Diane Craft) Iran has installed half the advanced uranium-enriching machines it said earlier this month it would quickly add to its Fordow site dug into a mountain but has not yet brought them online, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a report seen by Reuters, Azernews reports. Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency two weeks ago it would rapidly expand its enrichment capacity at Fordow by adding eight cascades, or clusters, of IR-6 centrifuges at Fordow within three to four weeks. Within two days the IAEA had verified that two of the cascades had been installed. In a confidential report to member states on Friday the agency said that number had now doubled. "The Agency has verified that Iran has installed four of the aforementioned eight IR-6 cascades in Unit 1 at FFEP (Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant)," the report said, adding that the verification happened on Sunday. "Iran has not specified to the agency when it would start feeding any of the cascades in Unit 1 with UF6 or the planned enrichment level," it added, referring to uranium hexafluoride gas, the feedstock for centrifuges. Diplomats say the addition of the IR-6 machines was a response to a resolution against Iran by the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors on June 5 calling on Tehran to step up cooperation with the watchdog and reverse its recent barring of inspectors. Iran tends to bristle at such resolutions. The United States announced new sanctions targeting Iran's oil trade on Thursday, saying it was acting in response to "steps (by Iran) to further expand its nuclear program in ways that have no credible peaceful purpose". Iran is enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% of weapons grade, at two sites: Fordow and an above-ground pilot plant at Natanz. It has enough material enriched to up to 60%, if enriched further, for three nuclear weapons, according to an IAEA yardstick. At Fordow, it is currently using the two only operating cascades of IR-6 centrifuges there to enrich to 60% from 20%. JERUSALEM (AP) Humanitarian workers have started moving tons of aid that piled up at a U.S.-built pier off the Gaza coast to warehouses in the besieged Palestinian territory, the United Nations said Saturday, an important step as Washington considers whether to resume pier operations after yet another pause because of heavy seas. It wasn't known when the aid might reach Palestinians in Gaza, where experts have warned of the high risk of famine as the Israel-Hamas war is in its ninth month. This is the first time trucks have moved aid from the pier since the World Food Program, a U.N. agency, suspended operations there because of security concerns on June 9. In just the last week, more than 10 million pounds were moved ashore, according to the U.S. military. WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told The Associated Press this is a one-time operation until the beach is cleared of the aid and is being done to avoid spoilage. Further U.N. operations at the pier depend on security assessments, Etefa said. The U.N. is investigating whether the pier was used in an Israeli military operation last month to rescue three hostages in a raid that killed more than 270 Palestinians. If WFP trucks successfully bring the aid to warehouses inside Gaza, that could affect the U.S. militarys decision on whether to reinstall the pier, which was removed because of adverse weather on Friday. U.S. officials said they were considering not reinstalling it because of the possibility that the aid would not be picked up. Lawlessness around humanitarian convoys is another challenge to aid distribution. The convoys have come under attack in Gaza. While most aid deliveries come by land, restrictions around border crossings and on what items can enter Gaza have further hurt a population that was already dependent on humanitarian aid before the war. An attempt to revive stalled talks Meanwhile Saturday, a senior Biden administration official said the U.S. has presented new language to intermediaries Egypt and Qatar aimed at trying to jump-start stalled Israel-Hamas negotiations. The official, who requested anonymity to discuss the effort that the White House has yet to publicly unveil, said the revised text focuses on negotiations that are to start between Israel and Hamas during the first phase of a three-phase deal that U.S. President Joe Biden laid out nearly a month ago. The first phase calls for a full and complete cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Story continues The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one. Under the current proposal, Hamas could release all of the remaining men, both civilians and soldiers. In return, Israel could free an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The releases wont occur until sustainable calm takes effect and all Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. The new proposed language, which the official didn't detail, aims to find a workaround of differences between Israel and Hamas about the parameters of the negotiations between phase one and phase two. Hamas wants negotiations centered on the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails in exchange for remaining living Israeli soldiers and male hostages held in Gaza, the official said. Israel wants negotiations to be broader and include the demilitarization of the territory controlled by Hamas. Hamas political official Osama Hamdan said the group had yet to receive a new cease-fire proposal from mediators. Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke by phone with the head of Egypts general intelligence service to discuss the negotiations, Hamas said in a statement. Fighting in Shijaiyah and thousands flee More than 37,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war since it began with Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its toll. The ministry said the bodies of 40 people killed by Israeli strikes had been brought to local hospitals over the past 24 hours. At least three people, including a 5-year-old girl, were killed and six others were wounded in a strike in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The Israeli military didn't immediately comment. The Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and another 250 people were taken hostage. Israeli forces have been battling Palestinian militants in an eastern part of Gaza City, Shijaiyah, over the last week. Israel's military on Saturday noted close-quarters combat. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes, according to the U.N. Its like the first weeks of the invasion, one resident, Mahmoud al-Masry said of the intensity of the fighting. Many people were killed. Many houses were destroyed. They strike anything moving. Elsewhere, thousands of Palestinians who remained in Gazas southernmost city of Rafah fled Friday for Muwasi, a coastal tent camp designated by the Israeli army as a safe zone. Some told the AP that they evacuated because Israeli gunfire and missiles had come close to where they sheltered. More than 1.3 million Palestinians have fled Rafah since Israels incursion into the city in early May, while aid groups warn there are no safe places to go. With the heat in Gaza reaching over 32 C (89 F), many displaced people have found tents unbearable. The territory has been without electricity since Israel cut off power as part of the war, and Israel also stopped pumping drinking water to the enclave. Death is better than it. It is a grave, said Barawi Bakroun, who was displaced from Gaza City, as others fanned themselves with pieces of cardboard. ___ Wafaa Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Aamer Madhani in Asheville, North Carolina, Samy Magdy in Cairo, and Abby Sewell in Beirut, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs Israel-Hamas war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Hezbollah has carried out near daily airstrikes against northern Israeli settlements near the border with Lebanon since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. File Photo by IDF/ UPI June 29 (UPI) -- Israel on Saturday struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to the militant group's recent airstrike along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The strike occurred in the morning when Hezbollah fired two anti-tank guided missiles from southern Lebanon toward Kibbutz Misgav Am. No injuries were reported. The group later confirmed responsibility for the strike, saying it was targeting Israeli spy equipment in Misgav Am in support of the Palestinian people. Israeli forces responded with artillery strikes toward the source of the missile launch. Israeli fighter jets on Saturday also struck two buildings in Houla in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah operatives had gathered, according to the IDF. Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati toured southern Lebanon amid the barrage, saying the clash between Israel and Hezbollah was "psychological warfare" on his country but that he was working to reach peace on the border. The Lebanese military is active in the south of the country but has no control over the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday said his country was "not looking for war" with Hezbollah but that it was prepared for an escalated conflict. Hezbollah has been launching strikes on northern border communities almost daily since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. The United States trying to persuade both sides to avoid an all-out war, the likelihood of which has been higher in recent weeks, according to U.S. intelligence officials. The task of deescalation would be easier without failing negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a cease-fire in the nearly nine-month-long Gaza war. Iran's mission to the United Nations on X Friday threatened an "obliterating war will ensue" if Israel were to wage a full-on war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. "All options, including the full involvement of all resistance fronts, are on the table," the post read. Israel has never been impressed with its version of the $1 billion Patriot air defense system. Now it could offload up to 8 to Ukraine. Israel has never been impressed with its version of the $1 billion Patriot air defense system. Now it could offload up to 8 to Ukraine. Israel could transfer up to eight Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine. Israel is upgrading its air defense and looking to retire older Patriot batteries. Ukraine has long coveted more of the $1 billion US-manufactured Patriot systems. The US is involved in discussions about the possibility of transferring up to eight Patriot air defense batteries from Israel to Ukraine, in what would be a major boost for the latter in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's invading forces. While no agreement has been reached yet, a deal would likely involve transferring the batteries from Israel to the US and then on to Ukraine, the Financial Times reported. It would be a welcome moment for Ukraine, which has long coveted more of the $1 billion US-manufactured Patriot systems. "Israel's Patriots would greatly expand Ukraine's air defense capacity at a time when it is sorely needed," John Hardie, the Deputy Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Russia Program, said. "While they are on the older side, these systems and Israel's considerable stocks of interceptors would help Ukraine defend its critical infrastructure and counter Russian jets that are pounding Ukrainian positions and towns with glide bombs," he added. It comes after the Israeli Air Force announced earlier this year that it would be shutting down its aging Patriot batteries and replacing them with more advanced systems. Israel has never been impressed with its versions of the Patriot system, having seen them struggle in combat against Iraqi Scud missiles fired at its cities in 1991, as Business Insider previously reported. Officials estimated that it shot down only one or possibly even none of the missiles. "Israel has long been looking for a more advanced and more indigenous system to supplement or replace the Patriot, not only given its service history but also the supply chain that it requires," Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at the risk intelligence company RANE, told BI. "I think Israel views the Patriot as out of date and too expensive to keep up with given the breakthroughs that were demonstrated during that barrage by newer systems," Bohl added. However, Israel has yet to fully retire its Patriot systems, as it is still using them in the ongoing conflict with Hamas and would likely want them should an all-out war with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah break out. Zelenskyy's Patriot pleas Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has never been shy about his desire to get his hands on more Patriot systems. In April, Zelenskyy told NATO members that Ukraine needed at least seven Patriot or other advanced air defense systems to defend against Russian attacks. "We are telling this directly to defend, we need seven more 'Patriots' or similar air defence systems, and it's a minimum number. They can save many lives and really change the situation," Zelenskyy said. "Putin must be brought down to earth, and our sky must become safe again.. And it depends fully on your choice... (the) choice whether we are indeed allies," he added. And the president has seemingly had some luck in recent months. President Joe Biden approved the deployment of another Patriot missile system to Ukraine earlier this month, the second the US has sent to the country, The New York Times previously reported, citing senior administration and military officials. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also announced last week that the US would prioritize delivering Patriot missiles to Ukraine over other countries, calling it a "difficult but necessary decision." The Patriot air defense system A 2023 report by the Congressional Research Service describes the Patriot system as an "integral component of U.S. air and missile defense." One Patriot battery is made up of six key parts, a power plant, a radar set, an engagement control station, the antenna mast group, launcher stations, and the interceptor missiles. The systems can operate using either PAC-2 or PAC-3 missiles. The PAC-2 works by detonating near a threatening missile, while the PAC-3 attempts to strike the warhead directly. The first Patriot systems were used by the US in the 1980s, and they were later used in the Gulf War to defend against Iraqi Scud missiles. The system's radar has a range of more than 150 kilometers (around 93 miles), and the missiles can travel at 5,000 kph (over 3,100 mph), per NATO. Read the original article on Business Insider Joe Biden faltered in the debate. How will Gavin Newsom address calls to replace him? As Democrats scramble in the aftermath of President Joe Bidens poor performance against rival Donald Trump during the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election, the spotlight on California Gov. Gavin Newsom brightened. It puts Newsom, an official Biden surrogate and likely 2028 presidential candidate, in a tough spot. Its not going to be comfortable for him. Hes going to continue to say what he said (Thursday night), which is I support Joe Biden, hes a good president, etc., said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a senior fellow at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. Thats exactly what Newsom did Friday. He continued to play a loyal surrogate, fundraising and posting messages on social media defending Bidens record. In a fundraising email to supporters Friday morning, Newsom insisted on the substance Joe Biden won the debate last night. That is what matters to me. The second-term governor also attempted to bat away rumors and outright pleas from some on social media that he might replace Biden or become the Vice Presidential candidate if Kamala Harris is elevated to the top of the Democratic ticket. A YouGov poll surveyed more than 2,600 U.S. adults after the debate and found 49% of them think the Democratic Party should nominate somoene other than Biden. Thirty percent said Biden should be the nominee and 22% said they were unsure. Other Democrats including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker are being named as potential replacements. All this other talk... its unhelpful and unnecessary, Newsoms email continued. We arent going to turn our backs because of one performance. What kind of party does that? The email went on to defend Bidens record on the economy, gun safety, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and passing a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package before asking supporters to donate to the Democratic National Committee. In a message posted on X, Newsom said the email raised over $200,000 for the DNC in a little over an hour. Bebitch Jeffe said Newsom stuck to his duties as a surrogate by defending Biden and attempting to focus attention back on Trump after the debate. But it didnt stop reporters in the spin room from swarming the governor to ask if he would consider jumping in. Bidens campaign had hoped to use the debate to fend off concerns about the presidents mental acuity but the strategy backfired. Newsom, meanwhile, presented himself as an energetic defender of Biden and the Democratic platform. If you call central casting and ask for somebody to play the President of the United States, you might get Gavin Newsom, Bebitch Jeffe said. But as a surrogate committed to publicly backing the president, Newsom could never look like he is actively campaigning to replace Joe Biden on the ticket, she said. And I dont think he will. Democrats have an uncomplicated way to replace Biden. Its nominating delegates, chosen in primaries and caucuses this year, are technically not bound to Biden or anyone else (theyre pledged but not obligated). All delegates to the National Convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them, says p. 21 of the partys convention rule book. So they could vote for anyone, and it would take a majority of the delegates to choose a new nominee. At the moment, virtually all of the delegates are pledged to Biden. Without Biden in the race, Vice President Kamala Harris would be the favorite. If Newsom or anyone else wanted to challenge her they could face multiple convention ballots. That could get complicated, since party officials would be given a bigger role in multiple ballots. The last time a major party convention went beyond a first ballot was in 1952, when Democrats needed three ballots to nominate Adlai Stevensonwho wasnt even a candidate until the convention began. David Lightman contributed reporting. JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) A Johnson City brother and sister were convicted of murder in the 2019 death of their mother. A jury on Friday found Michael and Karen Murray guilty of first-degree murder. Oversized load bound for Eastman to impact traffic in several counties A Washington County grand jury had indicted the siblings following an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into the death of their disabled mother, Sheila June Murray, who was hospitalized before she died. According to the TBI, the investigation determined that Michael and Karen Murray were responsible for the abuse and neglect that resulted in their mothers death. Im very disappointed in the verdict, Chris Byrd, attorney for Karen Murray, told News Channel 11. I thought it was apparent this was a poor family who was in over its head trying to care for an elderly parent with problems they werent capable of handling. I dont believe these were knowing acts of neglect but the jury thought otherwise and their verdict is what were supposed to respect. LIST: Fourth of July 2024 celebrations in and around the Tri-Cities On Tuesday, a medical first responder testified to the condition Sheila June Murray was found in when EMS responded to her home in 2019. EMS reportedly found her with a compound ankle fracture lying in a bed that was wet with urine and with fecal matter on her. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A judge has rejected Alec Baldwins argument that his case should be thrown out because the FBI destroyed his Colt .45 revolver during testing. The ruling keeps Baldwin on track to face a trial on July 9 in Santa Fe, N.M., on the charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin is accused of negligently pointing the revolver at Hutchins while working to set up a shot. More from Variety He has denied pulling the trigger, though the state intends to show that the gun could only have fired if the trigger was pulled. Baldwins attorneys have argued that the gun may have malfunctioned due to pre-existing damage, but that the FBI testing prevented the defense from examining the gun in its original state, making it impossible to know for sure. The defense asked for the case to be thrown out under a Supreme Court precedent that requires investigators to preserve potentially exculpatory evidence. In her ruling on Friday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer held that the defense had failed to show that the undamaged gun would be exculpatory. The judge also ruled that the defense theories about the gun were largely speculative, and not backed by substantial evidence. As an alternate remedy, the defense had asked that prosecutors be barred from arguing that Baldwin pulled the trigger. Marlowe Sommer denied that as well, but found that both sides could fully explore how the gun was damaged during trial testimony. Marlowe Sommer had denied two previous motions to dismiss the case. Baldwins attorneys have also filed a fourth motion for dismissal, arguing that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey withheld relevant material from the defense until the eve of trial, including a firearms report that the defense contends shows pre-existing damage to the gun. Morrissey has countered that the failure to turn over the report was an inadvertent oversight, that the report was not actually helpful to the defense, and that the issue is a red herring. There is no end to the defendants absurdity, she wrote. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. FILE - The Richard B. Russell Federal Building stands, July 21, 2012, in Atlanta. A new federal lawsuit challenges a Georgia law that expands cash bail and restricts organizations that help people pay bail so they can be released while their criminal cases are pending. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File) ATLANTA (AP) A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked part of a Georgia law that restricts organizations from helping people pay bail so they can be released while their criminal cases are pending. U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert blocked part of Senate Bill 63 from taking effect on Monday after a hearing in Atlanta. The judge is stalling the law for 14 days and directing lawyers to present arguments on whether it should be stayed until a lawsuit over the measure is resolved. The blocked section limits people and organizations from posting more than three cash bonds in a year unless they meet requirements for bail bond companies. That means passing background checks, paying fees, holding a business license, securing the local sheriffs approval and establishing a cash escrow account or other form of collateral. Calvert is letting other parts of the law that require cash bail before people charged with 30 additional crimes can be released from pretrial detention. That list includes 18 offenses that are always or often misdemeanors, including failure to appear in court for a traffic citation. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center filed the lawsuit on June 21. They represent Barred Business Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit whose activities include facilitating campaigns to pay cash bail, as well as two people who live in Athens and run a charitable bail fund in association with their church. The lawsuit argues that restrictions on bail funds are unconstitutional and asks the judge to prevent its enforcement. It says the law imposes what are arguably the most severe restrictions on charitable bail funds in the nation, while the imposition of those restrictions on charitable bail funds is incredibly burdensome perhaps insurmountable and is both irrational and arbitrary. The complaint asserts that if the statute is allowed to take effect, these restrictions will effectively eliminate charitable bail funds in Georgia. Earlier this month the Bail Project, a national nonprofit that helps thousands of low-income people post bond, announced that it had closed its Atlanta branch because of the law. We are encouraged by the judges ruling and its recognition that this law is unnecessary, harmful, and likely unconstitutional, Cory Isaacson, ACLU of Georgia legal director, said in a statement, We are relieved for our plaintiffs and the many people across the state that they serve. Its unconscionable that people doing charitable bail work would face criminal penalties simply because they are helping people who are languishing in jail because of their poverty and have no other means of relief. A spokesperson for Attorney General Chris Carr did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment late Friday. The state argued in a brief filed Thursday that the law does not violate the plaintiffs' rights of free speech and association because it only would regulate non-expressive conduct. The state says the challengers can still criticize Georgia's cash bail system and paying bail does not inherently convey any message. Supporters of the measure say well-meaning organizations should have no issue with following the same rules as bail bond companies. The measure comes amid conservative efforts to restrict community bail funds, which were used to post bond for people involved in 2020 protests against racial injustice and, more recently, to protesters opposed to a public safety training center being built near Atlanta. State prosecutors have noted that some Stop Cop City protesters had the Atlanta Solidarity Funds phone number written on their bodies, which they allege was evidence thry intended to do something that could get them arrested. Three of the bail funds leaders were charged with charity fraud last year and are among 61 indicted on racketeering charges. A Jefferson County judge has ruled against three Jewish women who argue that Kentuckys near-total abortion bans infringe on their religious freedom and their ability to safely carry out a pregnancy. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Brian Edwards on Friday issued an order tossing out a lawsuit brought by Louisville residents Lisa Sobel, Jessica Kalb and Sarah Baron, who have all experienced challenges to becoming mothers. He said the women lacked standing to bring the case and granted summary judgment to the Kentucky Attorney Generals Office, which defended the states abortion laws. We applaud the Courts decision to uphold Kentucky law, Attorney General Russell Coleman said in a news release Friday evening. Most importantly, the Court eliminates any notion that access to IVF services in our Commonwealth is at risk. Todays opinion is a welcome reassurance to the many Kentuckians seeking to become parents. But Aaron Kemper, an attorney for the women, said that is not his reading of the situation. This doesnt offer any protection for IVF whatsoever, he said in a brief telephone interview. We are definitely concerned. Kemper said his clients are hurt and disappointed by the ruling, and they plan to appeal. After thirteen months of waiting, we received a nine page decision that we feel fails to comport with the law and makes numerous obvious errors, he said in a written statement. Our nation is waiting for a judiciary brave enough to do what the law and our traditions require. Our clients demand that we continue the fight and we look forward to review by higher courts. Kentuckys two abortion bans took effect in the summer of 2022, after the fall of Roe v. Wade, and both are still in place today. A six-week ban, or fetal heartbeat law, prohibits pregnancy termination after a fetal cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks gestation, and a separate trigger law bans abortion except when its necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman. Sobel, Kalb and Baron sued the state in October 2022, arguing that these unintelligible laws give preference to Christian beliefs in such a way that diminishes their rights and religious freedom as people of Jewish faith, who believe life begins at birth, not conception. They also argue the bans are intentionally vague (so) that ordinary people cannot understand what conduct is prohibited. Kalb and Sobel have had children by way of in-vitro fertilization, and Kalb currently has nine frozen embryos in storage, in the event she does want to have more children, according to the lawsuit. Baron, who was 37 at the time the lawsuit was filed, has two children and wants a third. But the threat of pregnancy complications a pregnancy is considered geriatric and higher risk over the age of 35 are compounded by doctors limited ability to respond with the standard of care, because of the states abortion restrictions. Even if a fetus is nonviable, if the pregnancy poses no risk to a woman, abortion by way of pre-term induction is illegal under Kentucky law. This has led many women with nonviable pregnancies to travel out of state to access what is medically considered routine care thats recommended by their doctors. As it stands, Kentuckys current law related to reproduction has discouraged (Baron) from having more children, the lawsuit reads. Whats more, they argue the bans lack of exceptions for cases of rape, incest and fatal fetal abnormalities violate their religious beliefs. While a fetus is deserving of some level of respect under halakha, the birth giver takes precedence, their lawsuit reads. Jews have never believed that life begins at conception. This belief belongs to certain Christian groups. Jewish law stresses the necessity of protecting birth givers in the event a pregnancy endangers the womans life and causes the mother physical and mental harm, their lawsuit reads. Harm includes but is not limited to rape, incest, or the case of a significant fetal anomaly. Kentuckys trigger law threatens health care providers with a Class-D felony if they provide care, either by way of a procedure or medication, with the specific intent of causing or abetting the termination of the life of an unborn human being. The specific reference to unborn human being is where the plaintiffs also take issue. They posit a question that has not explicitly been answered by lawmakers by way of clarifying bill language, or the judicial system: Does destruction of frozen embryos that have been extracted for IVF purposes lead to criminal penalties? Edwards wrote in his order filed Friday that the plaintiffs claims relating to concerns about being criminally prosecuted for participation in IVF processes are misplaced. He cited an advisory opinion by former Attorney General Daniel Cameron in which he sought to clarifiy the bans scope, saying it does not apply to the use, care, or disposition of embryos fertilized by in vitro fertilization. But according to Kentucky Revised Statutes, the bans do apply to the disposal of embryos, the plaintiffs argue. KRS define unborn human being the being current abortion law forbids the termination of as an individual member of the species homo sapiens throughout the entire embryonic and fetal states of the unborn child, from fertilization to full gestation and childbirth. It is common practice for a couple who has undergone IVF to choose to discard their embryos, they argue in their suit. It is unclear whether under Kentucky law choosing to discard embryos during IFV is a capital offense. Edwards also cited Kentucky law regarding the prosecution of the death of an unborn child. He said the law does not apply if those acts were committed as part of ... fertility treatment. The trio asked for an injunction, that is, for a judge to temporarily block the laws theyre contesting. In order to meet that threshold, they had to show they were or are irreparably and immediately harmed by the current laws and in need of relief. They fell short in this regard, Edwards said. Lindsey Keiser, a lawyer arguing on behalf of Attorney General Colemans office, said during oral arguments in late May that none of the three are currently pregnant, and there isnt a clear and imminent threat of prosecution, WFPL reported. IVF is permissible, and the disposal of embryos treated by IVF but not yet implanted will not trigger criminal penalties, Keiser said. The only statutory restriction on IVF relates to public medical facilities. MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) Foster kids across Alabama will receive between four and six thousand backpacks filled with school supplies this summer. Madison-based nonprofit Kids to Love has been putting on their More Than a Backpack drive for over 15 years, setting students from kindergarten through college up for success this school year. Huntsville mayor headed for 5th term after no one qualifies to run against him When foster kids are moved from home to home, many dont have a way to carry their clothes or personal belongings. Operations Director Tasha Jones explained children often have to use trash bags to hold their things. Sometimes they come into care with absolutely nothing and thats a majority of the time, Jones said. Every backpack includes basic supplies like pencils, pens, and notebooks, plus tools like calculators and rulers based on the age of the child. Volunteer Alex Phillips said shes decided to help out this year to make sure foster children have what they need like her own children. Colbert County High principal fired in May wins appeal against school board I have two kids at home that I know have all the school supplies to go back to school, so I think its great to do that for others, Phillips said. The drive is made possible thanks to community partnerships and local donations. While demand is highest around the start of the school year, Kids to Love says they need the supplies year-round. If a foster parent calls us and says they have a twelve-year-old and they dont have school supplies, well go to these boxes and pull what they need, Jones said. So its not just a service for right before school, these are things we need continuously throughout the year. Once organized, the backpacks will be distributed across Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. If you want to donate supplies, there are collection boxes at every branch of CB&S Bank. The deadline is July 29. For more information on donation and volunteer opportunities at Kids to Love, 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 WHNT.com. President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the Egypt-EU Investment Conference. Dati Bendo/European Commission/dpa European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed a conference in Cairo on Saturday to mark the signing of an agreement that will see the EU invest 1 billion ($1.1 billion) in Egypt. "Today, Egypt and Europe are closer than ever before, so this is a true win-win partnership for Egypt and for Europe alike," said von der Leyen. The 1 billion financing agreement is the first tranche of a larger 7.4 billion package that von der Leyen announced in March. The money will be invested in sectors including clean energy, manufacturing, and food security, according to the commission. Von der Leyen spoke at a joint investment conference in Cairo intended to promote ventures in Egypt by European businesses. The money will "accompany and incentivize Egypt's reform agenda," von der Leyen said. "These reforms will foster a stronger business environment and attract more investment and create more good jobs in Egypt." Von der Leyen was accompanied by two other EU commissioners: Neighbourhod Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi and Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, who will sign the deal on behalf of the EU. "This conference marks the first implementation steps in the course of elevating the relations and reflects commitment of Egypt and the EU to go beyond the phase of pledges to the phase of implementation," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi said in a speech at the conference in Cairo. "The convening of this conference comes at a very delicate time amid successive international and regional crises. Egypt has proven to be a reliable partner in facing joint challenges in a way that achieves security and stability," he said. President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the Egypt-EU Investment Conference. Dati Bendo/European Commission/dpa President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the Egypt-EU Investment Conference. Dati Bendo/European Commission/dpa Claim: Viral photographs authentically show the real skull of biblical figure Mary Magdalene inside a gold reliquary. Rating: Rating: Unproven Context: The photographs show an authentic medieval reliquary containing a skull that the Vatican has recognized as an authentic relic of Mary Magdalene since the Middle Ages. However, challenges to the identification of the bones have popped up for centuries, and modern scientific analyses have been inconclusive. On June 20, 2024, a Reddit user posted a photograph of a skull inside a gold reliquary shaped like a woman's head. The post identified the images as showing "Mary Magdalene's alleged skull, displayed at the basilica of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, in Southern France." At the time of this writing, the post had received around 1,400 upvotes. Similar images of the relic have circulated for years on X, Facebook, Instagram, and in a number of popular posts on Reddit. One Feb. 18, 2020, post on the r/creepy subreddit garnered around 53,000 upvotes and 2,700 comments by the time of this writing. Another post, made to the r/interestingasf**k subreddit on July 23, 2022, received around 71,000 upvotes and 2,900 comments. The images shared in these social media posts are genuine photographs of a relic that was first identified as belonging to the biblical figure Mary Magdalene in 1279, when her skeleton was allegedly discovered in a marble tomb in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (often shortened to Saint-Maximin), a town near Aix-en-Provence in southern France. Officially recognized by Pope Boniface VIII in 1295, the relic has been venerated at Saint-Maximin's Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine for centuries. Despite the relics' long history of recognition by the Catholic Church, doubts about the bones' identification have popped up since at least the 17th century, and various modern attempts to study the bones scientifically have failed to result in any definitive proof that the skull and other bones on display at Saint-Maximin genuinely belonged to the historical Mary Magdalene. As a result, we have given this claim a rating of "Unproven," meaning we were unable to arrive at a true or false determination based on the available evidence. To verify that the photos authentically show the relic identified as Mary Magdalene's skull, we began by running a reverse image search on the photo from the r/Damnthatsinteresting post. Although we were unable to locate the image's original source, it has circulated online since at least 2013, when it appeared in a popular Tumblr post. Additional confirmation that the relic is indeed the one on display in Saint-Maximin that allegedly contains the skull of Mary Magdalene came from a virtual tour of the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine promoted on the official website of the town of Saint-Maximin, as well as from multiple photos of the relic posted to the basilica's TripAdvisor page by independent visitors. The question of whether the skull authentically belonged to the biblical figure known as Mary Magdalene is less straightforward. As the religious scholar Philip Almond explains in his 2023 book "Mary Magdalene: A Cultural History," the skull was discovered in 1279 by a nephew of the French king Louis IX named Charles of Salerno, who was motivated by a medieval French legend in which Mary Magdalene and other biblical figures fled the Holy Land after Jesus' death and settled in Provence. According to tradition, Charles found an ancient tomb in Saint-Maximin containing a mostly-complete skeleton accompanied by a wooden tablet identifying the remains as those of Mary Magdalene. One wrinkle in the story of the relic's discovery is the fact that by 1279 multiple churches and monasteries had already claimed to possess part or all of Mary Magdalene's body. There also existed a strong textual tradition claiming Mary Magdalene was buried in Ephesus, in modern Turkey. The Saint-Maximin claim ended up winning out, and in the 1290s Pope Boniface VIII granted several bulls recognizing their Mary Magdalene relics as authentic and authorizing the construction of a basilica to hold them. The Catholic Church has officially recognized the relics as genuine ever since. Despite this official stamp of approval, a number of figures both in and outside the church have questioned the authenticity of the relics. In the 1600s, the historian Jean de Launoy was accused of heresy for writing a book questioning the identification of the Saint-Maximin Mary Magdalene and other saintly relics. His book was banned, and the Parlement of Aix ordered that any bookstore found to be selling it would have to pay a fine to the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. Another notable critic was the 20th-century French bishop and historian Victor Saxer, who argued against the credibility of the medieval legends about Mary Magdalene spending the end of her life in Provence. Since the 1970s, a handful of scientific studies have attempted to shed light on the origins of the remains now on display in Saint-Maximin. In 1974, a team of French anthropologists determined that the bones were consistent with a woman who lived in the first century. More recently, a 2016 study examined mitochondrial DNA taken from hairs allegedly discovered alongside the skeleton and found genetic markers consistent with Jewish ethnicity. The following year, another team of scientists analyzed the skull in an attempt to recreate how its face would have looked during life. In all three cases, the scientists were clear that their findings in no way served to definitively identify the remains as having authentically belonged to the biblical figure. As one of the scientists involved in the 2017 facial reconstruction project told National Geographic (archived) in an interview, "We are absolutely not sure that this is the true skull of Mary Magdalene." Ultimately, the photos shared on social media do show an authentic medieval reliquary containing a skull that the Vatican has recognized as an authentic relic of Mary Magdalene since the Middle Ages. However, challenges to the identification of the bones have popped up for centuries, and modern scientific analyses have been inconclusive. As a result, we have given this claim a rating of "Unproven." Sources: Almond, Philip C. Mary Magdalene: A Cultural History. Cambridge University Press, 2022. Charlier, Philippe, et al. "Computer-Aided Facial Reconstruction of 'Mary-Magdalene' Relics Following Hair and Skull Analyses." Clinical Medicine Insights: Ear, Nose and Throat, vol. 12, Jan. 2019, p. 117955061882193. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1177/1179550618821933. "Culture et patrimoine." Mairie de Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, https://st-maximin.fr/services-municipaux/culture-patrimoine/. Accessed 25 June 2024. "Explore BASILIQUE DE SAINT MAXIMIN LA SAINTE BAUME in 3D." Matterport, https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=obpwNDddwX5. Accessed 25 June 2024. "Is This the Face of Mary Magdalene?" National Geographic, 12 Sept. 2017, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/mary-magdalene-face-skull-france-video-spd. Lucotte, Gerard. "The Mitochondrial DNA Mitotype of Sainte Marie-Madeleine." International Journal of Sciences 5.12 (2016): 10-19. Van Liere, Katherine, Simon Ditchfield, and Howard Louthan, eds. Sacred History: Uses of the Christian Past in the Renaissance World. Oxford University Press, 2012. Know these laws before setting off fireworks in Thurston County to celebrate the 4th of July The Fourth of July is just next week, and so are the fireworks shows, festivals and other events many attend to celebrate. But before celebrating with personal fireworks yourself, make sure you are actually allowed to. Below are the rules and regulations surrounding fireworks in all parts of Thurston County. They do not cover public fireworks displays put on by Thurston County cities those receive special permits. Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater The cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater all ban the sale, purchase and discharge of consumer fireworks, and the discharge of fireworks bought or sold in another place. The ban includes sparklers and all other types of fireworks. All three cities allow the sale, purchase and use of novelty devices such as snakes, glow worms and party poppers. Yelm Yelm bans the sale, discharge and possession of all special fireworks. But Yelm does allow the sale or purchase of common fireworks from 9 a.m. Friday, June 28, to noon July 26, and the discharge of common fireworks from: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 28 to July 3 and July 5-6. 9 a.m. to midnight on July 4. Rainier Rainier allows the sale of consumer fireworks from: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 4 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 5 And the discharge of consumer fireworks from: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 3 9 a.m. to midnight July 4 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 5 Tenino Tenino allows the sale of fireworks from: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 4 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 5 Tenino also allows the discharge of fireworks from: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 3 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 5 Bucoda Bucoda does not have bans on the sale, purchase or discharge of fireworks. Unincorporated Thurston County Thurston County allows the discharge of fireworks in unincorporated parts of the county from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 3 and July 4. Washington State Parks Fireworks are illegal on all Washington state park lands, including beaches in front of the parks. Discharging fireworks in a park may result in a $99 ticket. National Parks Fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal on all national park lands. Discharging fireworks in a park may result in a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Violators may also be held liable for suppression costs. Kohler-Andrae offers exploration of Black River Marsh, and more Sheboygan news in brief SHEBOYGAN - Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Lane in Sheboygan, is offering the following events. A vehicle admission sticker is required. For more details, call 920-451-4080. Discovery Bird Walk: 8-10 a.m. July 2. Meet master naturalists Janet and Andy Raddatz to observe birds and nature in the park. Walks may take two to three hours depending on what is seen. Participants can leave at any time. Wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather. Take insect repellant, sunscreen and binoculars. For ages 12 and older; children must be accompanied by an adult. No pets. Bird walks meet weekly. Meet at the Friends Pond parking lot P9. Discovering Wildflowers: 1:30-2:30 p.m. July 3. Join Master Naturalist Karen Merlau and discover the many wildflowers growing along the Black River Trail. As the seasons change, so do the wildflowers. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Take insect repellant, sunscreen, and field guides or apps. The hike will last at least an hour. An adult must accompany children. Meet at the Black River Trail parking lot, P1. Exploring the Marsh: 9-10 a.m. July 4. The Black River Marsh is a unique habitat filled with many forms of wildlife. Join naturalist Phyllis McKenzie for an exploration with scoopers and basins to discover the living secrets of the marsh. Bug repellent, sunblock and a bottle of water are suggested for the hour-long adventure. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Black River Marsh Boardwalk, parking lot P10. The Water Walker: 11 a.m. to noon July 6. Families can hear the tale of a journey that was meant to raise awareness about the need to protect our water for future generations. The message for this presentation is for all ages. The childrens book The Water Walker, by Joan Robertson, will be read. The story will lead those who attend to participate into some interesting facts and water activities. Meet at the Bathhouse near parking lot P6. Water or Sky Dragonfly?: 2-3:30 p.m. July 6. More than 160 species of dragonflies and damselflies are in Wisconsin. Join naturalist Phyllis McKenzie to discover how these insects survive above and below the waters surface. Binoculars are a great tool for dragonfly watching. Take insect repellent, sunscreen and a bottle of water. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the locked gate near the entry to the campground, near parking lot P4. Housing: Sheboygan could need more than 5,000 housing units, a new study shows Salvation Armys 10th Salvation Ride is July 13 Bicyclists wait for the start of The Salvation Ride, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in Sheboygan, Wis. The biking is a fund raiser for the Sheboygan Salvation Army and has distances up to 100 miles. The Salvation Army of Sheboygan Countys 10th annual Salvation Ride will be July 13. Cyclists of all ages, abilities and those with e-bikes can participate. The route will begin and end at King Park, 1615 S. Seventh St. in Sheboygan. Riders can choose from routes of 10, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles, and registration is open at thesalvationride.org. Those who register online or by mail before July 12 can save on registration. Registration will also be available from 4 to 6 p.m. July 12 and on the day of the event beginning at 6:30 a.m. The ride is Salvation Armys biggest fundraiser outside the Christmas season. Funds raised support services like the homeless shelter, food pantry, wellness clinic and other programs. Sheboygan Theater Company offers audition workshops Sheboygan Theater Company will join local theater professional Zachariah Stearn to offer two audition workshops in July. July 17, Stearn will provide the workshop to adults 17 and older from 6 to 7:15 p.m. July 18, he will provide the workshop to kids ages 9-16 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. The workshops will be at the Leslie W. Johnson Theatre in Horace Mann Middle School, 2820 Union Ave., Sheboygan. Online pre-registration is required and there is a small fee, made smaller for early registrants. To sign up for the workshops, visit www.stcshows.org/audition-workshops. Habitat dedicates 51st home in Sheboygan Habitat for Humanity Lakeside dedicated a new home on Oakland Avenue in Sheboygan to the Hernandez-Perez Family June 5, 2024. The occasion marked the organizations 51st home dedication. Habitat for Humanity Lakeside dedicated a new home on Oakland Avenue in Sheboygan to the Hernandez-Perez Family June 5. The occasion marked the organizations 51st home dedication. Community members, volunteers and supporters gathered at the newly completed Habitat home to celebrate the familys transition to homeownership. The Hernandez family is formed by mother Adriana and daughter Demi. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is Habitats second ADA-accommodated home. Adriana needed to find a housing solution for her daughter that would make it easier to complete day-to-day tasks and find a home that would provide the appropriate support at any stage of Demis life. The house was able to be built to support those needs. Habitat built wilder hallways, a curbless shower, therapy room, extra storage closet, garage,and grab bars throughout. Adriana completed 263 sweat equity hours to build their home and will receive a zero-percent interest mortgage while paying back her loan. At the dedication, Adriana spoke of hope and resilience. Habitat programs provide the foundation from which homebuyers build family stability and self-reliance. To learn more about its home buyer program, go to habitatlakeside.com. Lakeland welcomes new Cooperative Education and Career Readiness leader Michael Keibler Lakeland University has hired Michael Keibler, an expert in building and implementing experiential education programs and a passionate advocate for learning by doing, to lead its award-winning Cooperative Education and Career Readiness program. Keibler has worked for more than 15 years in higher education recruiting and placing students in experiential learning programs and opportunities, advising students, and developing and teaching curricular and co-curricular activities to aid in student career readiness. He comes to Lakeland from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, where he has served as executive director of cooperative education and industry liaison. He developed the colleges new cooperative education program serving multiple disciplines. Prior to his role at Wayne State, Keibler worked at the University of Louisville for more than a decade, including four years as a cooperative education and global engineering track coordinator. More: Kohler Co. partners with artist Daniel Arsham on bathroom collection, new cabin and more Sheboygan Toastmasters names 2024-25 officers Sheboygan Toastmasters Club has named officers for 2024-25, with terms starting July 1. Kris Pool will serve as president, Larry Penke as vice president of education, Mark Schuessler as vice president of membership, Rick Grant as vice president of public relations, Mary Dickey as secretary and David Schmitt as both treasurer and sergeant at arms. The club provides a platform for individuals to enhance public speaking, communication and leadership skills. It meets the first and third Mondays of each month, excluding holidays. Those 18 and older are invited to join, regardless of background or skill level. For more details, go to https://2121.toastmastersclubs.org/ or contact Kris Pool at 920-698-0656 or kris.pool.dtm@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan offers Black River Marsh tour Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on June 29 that he had met with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan on the sidelines of the Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia. This comes as Yerevan is seeking to distance itself from Russia, repeatedly accusing Moscow of being an unreliable partner. Kuleba and Mirzoyan discussed the security situation in Europe and the South Caucasus. The two also focused on ways to deepen bilateral ties and international cooperation between nations, "particularly in light of Ukraines future EU membership," according to Kuleba. "I thanked Armenia for attending the first peace summit in Switzerland and informed my counterpart about further work on implementing the peace formula on the path to a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine," the minister said. Armenia had long relied on Russia as its primary regional ally. However, relations between the two countries have continued to sour after Russian peacekeepers declined to act during conflicts between Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-backed entity on internationally recognized Azeri territory, and Azerbaijan, in 2020 and 2023. Nagorno-Karabakh was re-integrated into Azerbaijan after Baku's final victory in 2023. Following this, Yerevan repeatedly threatened to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance. In March, Mirzoyan revealed that the country is considering applying for membership in the European Union, aiming to strengthen ties with the West. Armenia has largely refrained from getting involved in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. The country delivered its first batch of humanitarian aid to Ukraine in September 2023. Read also: US wants to invite Armenia, Azerbaijan to upcoming NATO summit, sources tell Azerbaijani media Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Until now, Sir Keir Starmer has carefully hidden the Labour Partys radical, hard-Left agenda from the public. But on the brink of the largest majority in nearly a century, his mask has slipped. Arrogant Labour aides are openly boasting of their plans to tax working Britain to the hilt. According to a source familiar with Labours tax plan, they will take a kitchen sink approach to increasing tax revenue. The first target? Aides to shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, have suggested she would slap inheritance tax on farming land and small businesses, destroying family firms that have stood for centuries for the temerity of losing a loved-one. Just last week, we discovered Labours plans to ban gender conversion therapy. This will inevitably see well-meaning parents snared in the criminal justice system for providing loving guidance to their own children questioning their identity. Then, having clearly learnt nothing from the Tavistock scandal in which children were pressured into mutilating their bodies, Labour lets slip that it would remove safeguards on gender transitioning and rip up common-sense gender guidance for schools. I can think of nothing more cowardly than sacrificing the welfare of vulnerable women and children on the altar of extreme gender ideology. For all Sir Keirs talk about arresting the criminal smuggling gangs, on Wednesday Angela Rayner effectively conceded that this wont stop the boats. So instead she will send migrants to every corner of the country and build tens of thousands of new homes including in our most rural areas to house them all. If you actually want to stop the boats, you must have a deterrent to break the business model of the criminal gangs. The Governments version of the Rwanda policy wasnt strong enough but that can be corrected, and there is a core group of Conservative MPs who backed amendments to do just that. When Labour scraps the Rwanda policy, they will leave our country defenceless against this national security emergency. We know where Labours support for open borders ends. The appalling levels of sectarian intimidation that candidates have been subjected to during this election is the logical consequence of unprecedented mass migration. But dont expect Labour to repent. Instead of calling out this dangerous politics, Labour candidates have folded to the mob with campaigns focused on a foreign conflict in the Middle East rather than the needs of citizens in their own communities. Kow-towing to these sectarian groups will only embolden them in the years ahead and divide our country. What of Labours plans to protect our own Union? Starmer is hellbent on completing the project of constitutional vandalism that Tony Blair started. The devolution project that has fuelled separatism will be emboldened, with new rights for devolved governments to strike international agreements. Whitehall will balloon with new quangos that put power in the hands of unelected elites. And Labour will mandate that any public body from local councils all the way through to the Ministry of Defence must cast aside meritocracy in the blind pursuit of equity over talent. From our countryside and cities to our politics and economy, the nation we know will be swept away. In its place, a high-migration, low-growth, bureaucrat-led state will emerge. Plenty of my colleagues and I know that more should have been done to meet peoples expectations in government. Many of us took a stand for the values shared by the majority of people in this country, and paid a political price. But I dont want to see our country have to pay a bigger price. I care far more about fighting for a better future than rehashing the disputes of the past. And when it comes to the future, a vote for any party other than the Conservatives will usher in a Labour landslide that assaults the values we all share and, tragically, renders our country unrecognisable. 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. Sir Keir Starmer wants the country to know that hes not afraid to make tough choices. He is ready to make them on tax rises and spending priorities, in order to remain fiscally credible. He is prepared to keep the two-child benefit cap in place, instead prioritising tackling the NHS waiting list. The bad news for Starmer is that, on a difficulty scale of tough choices, these probably rank around level one. That is not to say these policies will not have painful consequences: whenever the Government funnels money from one group to another, there will be losers as well as winners. But this is an exercise in ensuring the numbers add up. If you accept you cannot spend and borrow without limit (as the Labour Party has), it follows that, at some point, people will have to be told no. But what about the decisions that have to be made when the Government isnt calling all the shots? When there are other actors involved and they are not cooperating? How does Starmer handle level two and above? This thought struck me as he and Rishi Sunak slugged it out in the last head-to-head debate on BBC One this week. I would not have expected Starmers strongest moment to come on Brexit (given how much his campaign has tried to avoid the B-word altogether, I assume he wasnt expecting this either), but it did. Rishi Sunak claims the EU will not opt for a more generous deal with Britain unless immigration is put back on the table - Phil Noble/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Starmer rejected what he called Sunaks defeatist attitude towards renegotiation. I do not accept that we cant get a better deal than the one that weve got, he insisted, as Sunak kept trying to explain over and over again that the European Union would not opt for a more generous deal unless immigration was put back on the table. Starmer ruled out a more flexible immigration system with the bloc, while also proclaiming hes going to go back into the EU ... to fight for a better deal so you can trade more easily. The audience roared. Is a can-do attitude really going to lead Brussels to open its doors to the single market and expect nothing in return? Is a cheery demeanor really going to allow the UK to take all the benefits of EU membership, no quid pro quo needed? I suspect Sunak is right about immigration: Europe, after all, is coming under similar pressure on this issue as Westminster. And the bloc considers access to the single market as the utmost privilege: you only get it if you follow their rules to a tee. Boris Johnson certainly showed up in Brussels with a bigger smile on his face than his predecessor, but he also compromised an awful lot, including giving up seamless trade within the UK. What will Starmer do once the costs of closer ties become clear? This is a tough decision the kind that requires statesmanship, negotiation and potentially political risk. Pick the wrong fight, make the wrong offer, and you may not come out on top. Just ask Theresa May. The latest junior doctors' strike is the 11th to take place in 20 months - Peter Nicholls/Getty Images Then there are the decisions that must be made much closer to home. This weeks junior doctors strike is the 11th to take place in 20 months. The walkout is once again, according to NHS England, creating widespread disruption to care. The strike is the BMAs final blow to the outgoing Conservative Party. But it is also a warning shot at the Labour Party, which the union assumes it will be negotiating with imminently. This is not easy terrain for Starmer to navigate. On the one hand, he has wanted to appear tough in his refusal to capitulate to the BMAs 35pc pay demands. But what happens if (or when) strikes continue? The BMA may have no love for the Tory party but this dispute has always been about pay. In contrast to his well-delivered comments on Brexit, some of the Labour leaders worst debate moments during this campaign have occurred when pushed on the junior doctors strike. The promise to get around the table and negotiate hasnt cut through, not least because the public understands the Tories have already attempted this. Sunak failed, in part, to make more progress on the NHS waiting list because of these debilitating strikes. Starmer may be willing to divert the money and the resources to tackling the wait list, but if the doctors dont play ball, hes going to struggle as well to make good on his own promise. At the root of all these issues are genuine tough choices. If you want closer trade ties with the EU, you are going to have to accept its basic terms for getting access to their market. If you want to improve the NHS while keeping the public finances in order, you are going to frustrate the doctors unions. Labour seems to have accepted that not every area of public spending can get a boost; yet its not just a question of sums but effectiveness. If you want to improve productivity and growth you are going to have to let down some of your own stakeholders, including those in the public sector. Starmer surely knows all this but to talk about the really grim decisions ahead is not a vote-winner. So less than a week from the election, the British public remain in the dark about the changes, and priorities, of an incoming Labour government. New management may end the chaos at least, of the kind weve endured these past few years. But we know far too little about Labours plans for stability alone to inspire much confidence. Kate Andrews is economics editor at The Spectator 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man was in custody Friday for the murder of an escort after she was allegedly strangled during a sex assault inside a Las Vegas hotel room, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. The 30-year-old woman died on June 21, over a week after the June 12 incident inside the Palms Casino Resort, sources said. On Friday afternoon, Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to police at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Headquarters where officers booked him on charges of open murder, sexual assault and battery by strangulation to commit sexual assault, a source with knowledge of the investigation said. Jason Kendall, 35, faces charges of open murder, sexual assault and battery by strangulation to commit sexual assault. (LVMPD) Las Vegas Metro police initially responded to the call at the hotel for an assault or battery, records said. The woman later died at the hospital. Her cause and manner of death were not immediately available Friday, however, police suspect Kendall strangled the woman during a sex assault. While Metro police issue press releases for every homicide, the department does not usually release ones for delayed deaths. The victim, whose name was known to the 8 News Now Investigators, appeared online on various escorting websites. She also worked for a popular Las Vegas-based escort company, sources said. 8 News Now was waiting for the coroners confirmation to identify her publicly. Kendall made his first court appearance Saturday afternoon where a judge ordered him held without bail until his next court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday. Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The State Bureau of Investigation will assess Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol's command of Ukrainian troops during the Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainska Pravda reported on June 29. Sodol was the Joint Forces Commander when the new Russian offensive started on May 10. He also headed the Khortytsia group of forces, which operates in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts, and was repelling the new wave of assaults there. The general was dismissed on June 24 after Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Krotevych, one of the Azov Brigade's commanders, filed an official complaint to the State Bureau of Investigation calling for an investigation of one of the generals. Krotevych accuses the general of abuse of power and incompetent command of the troops, which led to the loss of Ukraine's territory, as well as personnel. President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced Sodol with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov. Read also: Russias move on Kharkiv has bogged down. But was it a failure? According to Ukrainska Pravda, the State Bureau of Investigation reviewed Krotevych's complaint and added it to the criminal case about the circumstances of the Russian breakthrough in the border area in Kharkiv Oblast. The command of the Khortytsia group of forces during the defense operations in Kharkiv Oblast is also being investigated in the criminal case. The Bureau promised Krotevych that it would check all the circumstances in his complaint, the outlet said. Krotevych wrote on X that he is "unsatisfied" with the reply from the Bureau. "Now it's up to the lawyers. I am grateful to everyone who supports us. I ask the military not to be afraid to testify (including non-publicly), we will not back down," he said. Read also: Ukraine opens investigation into improper organization of defenses in Kharkiv Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) speaks in support of Senate Bill 911 on June 27, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols While the Michigan Legislature voted to finalize its education budget for Fiscal Year 2025 early Thursday morning, delays on two pieces of legislation intended to free up funding for students are sparking concerns for funding. Budget negotiations spanned from all of Wednesday to early Thursday morning before lawmakers approved $23.4 billion for K-12 schools, community colleges and higher education facilities. For the first time in about a decade, the budget did not include an increase to per-pupil allowance, retaining the current amount of $9,608 per student. The budget did include a decrease in rates paid to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS), as part of an effort to redirect $670 million from the system into additional funding for schools, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration said was freed up by paying off certain liabilities early. The budget allocates $598 million in the MPSERS offset by reimbursing school districts, libraries and communities for about 5.75% of payroll costs and eliminates a 3% contribution to retirement healthcare required from some public school teachers. While lawmakers approved the budget, legislation that would have permanently eliminated the 3% contribution requirement and decreased the contribution rate required from public schools. Senate Bill 911 introduced by state Sen. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) as a companion to Rep. Matt Koleszars (D-Plymouth) House Bill 5803 passed the House early on Thursday, but was not transmitted to the Senate. In a post to Facebook on Thursday, Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills) criticized Democratic House Leadership for not transmitting the bill, with lawmakers poised to break for the summer. Earlier today I proudly cast my vote for Senate Bill 911 that would have brought back between $400-$500 per pupil to our school districts. This historic funding would have provided districts with millions of dollars that were overpaid to our teacher retirement plans, Steckloff wrote. Unfortunately, after almost 24 hours at the Capitol, a decision was made, without our knowledge, to not send the bill over to the Senate, killing all hopes for this critical funding. Im extremely disappointed and angry that Democratic House leadership would do this to our caucus and our schools, she wrote, later clarifying in another post that the funding would be included for Fiscal Year 2025, but not for subsequent years. House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) later released a statement noting the House had passed a significant amount of legislation in the past several days, and that the clerks office was working on transmitting the bills. There is also still more work to be done with our colleagues in the Senate and with the Governor to determine the final version of MPSERS reform, but I am committed to continuing that conversation, Tate said. House Democrats enthusiastically voted in support of these bills because we know that the school employees who worked over the past several years to help cover the costs of retirement and met their obligation deserve to see those dollars back in their paychecks, Tate said. As the budget advances ahead of the MPSERS bills, some education groups have expressed uncertainty and frustration. Robert McCann, executive director of the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, called the education budget profoundly disappointing criticizing the lack of additional funding per-student, significant cuts to school safety and wellness spending, and the one-time nature of the funding diverted from MPSERS. The additional dollars they put into it are done in a one-time fashion that makes them difficult to impossible, frankly, for districts to spend, McCann said. When Senate Bill 911 and House Bill 5803 were introduced, The K-12 Alliance of Michigan and 12 other education organizations sent a letter to members of the House, calling for their support on the bills. On June 20, the coalition sent another letter to House lawmakers, calling on them to Advance House Bill 5803, which was listed on the chambers agenda. We made it very clear that the budget should never advance before the policy side of that MPSERS reform is done because that rate reduction has to get locked in in statute or that money is not guaranteed going forward. And thats exactly what the problem is in this budget now, McCann said. Without that guarantee, schools cant responsibly rely on that funding for things like staffing or ongoing student programming, McCann said. What we are asking them to do is get back to town and pass House Bill, 5803, McCann said, noting that this version of the bill contained the language which the K-12 Alliance had agreed upon with the Legislature, including the 7% MPSERS reduction supported by the other 12 education groups pushing for the bills. House Bill 5803 currently sits in the Senate Appropriations Committee, where it was referred after passing the House along party lines on Tuesday. Both the House and Senate have adjourned until July 30. In a statement, Chandra Madafferi, president and CEO of the Michigan Education Association, applauded the elimination of the 3% health plan contribution, and the 5.75% payroll tax reduction. These changes respect the decade of financial sacrifices from both individuals and districts to fund a strong retiree health plan and they keep Michigan on the track toward paying off the larger school employee pension unfunded liability by 2038, Madafferi said. However, Madafferi shared similar concerns on cuts to school safety and student mental health, and called on lawmakers to address these cuts with a supplemental budget upon returning from their break. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Lawmakers, education groups raise alarm after school budget passes ahead of retirement fund change appeared first on Michigan Advance. Walgreens announced plans to shutter a substantial number of stores across the United States, and that could lead to closures in Vermont. The pharmacy chain confirmed its plan to close underperforming stores in an emailed statement to USA TODAY Thursday morning after the parent company, Walgreens Boots Alliance, disclosed the news in its 2024 third quarter fiscal results. In the statement, a Walgreens spokesperson said the company is repositioning its store footprint, noting that about 25% of its stores are not contributing to the chain's long-term strategy. The spokesperson also said the company is working on a program to close a significant portion of these locations over the next three years. "Finalizing significant multiyear footprint optimization program to close certain underperforming U.S. stores" was listed as one of the strategic goals going forward in the company's fiscal report. How many Walgreens locations are closing? The Walgreens in downtown Burlington is closing on Nov. 13. The company said several factors were considered in the decision to close the store, including the "dynamics of the local market." As seen on Oct. 11, 2023. The Walgreens' parent company CEO, Tim Wentworth, told Wall Street Journal that the company has not settled on a final number of locations to close. Walgreens operates roughly 8,700 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to its website. In 2023, Walgreens announced the closure of 150 stores in the United States. In 2019, 200 locations closed. Walgreens store closures in Vermont There are 27 Walgreens locations in Vermont. In recent years, there have been multiple Walgreens pharmacy closures in Vermont. One prominent closure was the shuttering of the downtown Burlington location in November of last year. Another was the closing of the Morrisville location, which occurred in March of 2023. Matthew Korfhage and Gabe Hauari contributed to the reporting of this story. Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Walgreens store closures are coming. What to know in Vermont A sign outside the Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama seen on January 24, 2023. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Two lawyers accused of judge-shopping in a gender-affirming care lawsuit Friday apologized for potentially offending U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke for withdrawing and refiling their original complaint. Facing questions from Burke, Melody Eagan and Jeffrey Doss, attorneys for families challenging a ban on medical gender-affirming care for transgender youth, acknowledged that they had concerns about how Burke, nominated to the federal court by then-President Donald Trump in 2018, might rule in making their decision, but said it was the least significant factor in their decision to dismiss their first filing, known as Ladinsky. The state of Alabama in 2022 made it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for physicians to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones for gender-affirming care to youth under 19. Two lawsuits challenging the ban, titled Walker and Ladinsky, were filed shortly after. The cases were reassigned multiple times before being linked and assigned to Burke. The attorneys then moved to dismiss the suits. The Walker lawsuit was dismissed and not refiled, while Ladinskys was refiled as Eknes-Tucker, also assigned to Burke. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Burke claims the original cases were dismissed to avoid being assigned to him. A three-judge panel reported in October that there was evidence of the plaintiffs counsels efforts to steer their cases to a more favorable judge, a move that has raised questions of misconduct. The attorneys said Friday a significant factor in asking for the dismissal was a concern that the case was transferred to Burke outside of the procedures they were familiar with and said that was the reason for their alarm at the time. Eagan said it was that this case had been treated differently than every case she had worked on before. Burke said it is normal procedure for judges to transfer cases when they have conflicting commitments, and that is not uncommon procedure. What about a transfer makes you nervous? Burke asked. Our sensitivities were heightened with the nature of this nature, Eagan said. Burke asked Doss the same questions. Do you feel entitled to an explanation? Burke asked. Looking back, maybe I did overreact, Doss responded. Eagan and Doss said the second major concern in their decision to dismiss was about coordinating legal strategy with the Walker team and losing status as the lead case. Having the lead role would allow them to better craft the legal argument, Eagan said. Both Eagan and Doss apologized to Burke under questioning. I am truly sorry. I am very sorry. Im sorry if I did anything to offend your honor or your dignity, Eagan said. Today, I am sorry, and I apologize. Im sorry I let you down, Doss said. Burke blocked the law in May 2022, citing parents rights and lack of evidence of harm from the drugs. On this particular case, I did not think you were a good draw. I was wrong, Eagan said. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals last year overturned Burkes ruling, stating there was no fundamental right to gender-affirming care. The plaintiffs and the U.S. Department of Justice are seeking a stay in the proceedings as the Supreme Court reviews a similar ban in Tennessee. Burke also questioned Carl Charles, an attorney who made a call to U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson after the Walker case had been filed. At the time of the three-judge panel questioning, he did not remember making that call until a few minutes later when one of the judges asked if his phone number was the same as the one that called one of Myrons law clerks. A few minutes later, Charles remembered that he made the call to alert the chamber that they had filed the Walker lawsuit, that it was related to another lawsuit Thompson was assigned, correcting his statement to the panel. I respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree with the panel, Charles said regarding the panels assertion that he was being untruthful, adding that my memory failed. Charles said he was unprepared to be questioned and was not expecting to answer questions at the hearing since he wasnt one of the lead lawyers on the case. In his closing statement, Barry Ragsdale, an attorney for Charles, said he felt responsible for putting Charles in this position. Im pretty emotional right now, he said, adding, I do a very good job of hiding my feelings, but today is hard. He said he interpreted that he would be speaking at the panels hearing and didnt think he needed to prepare Charles to be questioned. This call has taken a lot more significance than I had imagined, Ragsdale said. In a discussion about the ethics of using Rule 41, which allows the filing party the ability to dismiss without giving the court an explanation, Burke proposed several different scenarios to Eagan and asked her after each whether she thought they were ethical or permissable. Scenarios ranged from a lawyer hypothetically dismissing the same case and refiling with a different plaintiff 20 times until reaching a favorable judge, to having a lawyer dismiss a case each time it was assigned to a Black, female judge over a white, male judge over a 30-year career. Eagan said that each of those scenarios would be permissible under Rule 41, but that she would not pursue any of them because she found them distasteful. If you can dismiss for any purpose, Im not sure there is an improper purpose, she said. Burke completed the hearings on Friday afternoon. He did not say when he might make a decision on the case, which could potentially include sanctions for the attorneys. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Little Rock voters share mixed reactions after first presidential debate of 2024 Little Rock voters share mixed reactions after first presidential debate of 2024 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. All eyes were on the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump Thursday night. Some Arkansans say theyre not sure if there was a clear winner after the fiery exchange of words. Trump gloats over Bidens debate performance at a Virginia rally After the debate, many in Little Rock Arkansas say they were not impressed with the debate performance. I woke up this morning wondering if there are any other options, Stan Jackson said. Rhonda Pearson said she didnt feel confident in either one of them. It was like a twilight zone, Pearson said. Despite Pearson feeling uneasy about the debate, she said she will still vote for Biden. One of the candidates was trying to be presidential and explain what he had done, and doing for the country while the other candidate was trying to debunk all the things he had done, Pearson said. Debate-watchers in the Biden and Trump camps seem to agree on something: Biden had a bad night David Magee said Trump has his vote, believing he was the winner of the debate. I know he didnt answer a couple of questions correctly, he would go back and talk about what Joe finished talking about. I figured out what he was doing and I did like what he was doing, Magee said. Jackson said he could barely watch when the candidates got off topic. Just not being on track, not staying in their lane, it was a little weird, Jackson said. Biden concedes debate fumbles but declares he will defend democracy. Dems stick by him for now Some voters said they are still left feeling unsure about what to do come election time. All the voters KARK 4 News spoke with say they feel like they need to hear more from the candidates after last nights performance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Local Democrats: Focus on the message, not the messenger in recent presidential debate The consensus on the debate between President Joe Biden and Republican challenger former President Donald Trump? It was hard to watch. However, Biden has indicated he will continue running and will continue to be the presumptive nominee. Hard to watch, according to Gov. Maura Healey, who spoke on the topic briefly after hosting the group celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month in her ceremonial office Friday morning. It was a bad performance and tough to watch, Healey said of the president. Gov. Maura Healey However, she also called out Trump for his refusal to accept the results of the last election, which he lost, and the fact that he refused to assure the American public watching the debate that he would accept the results in November. It was also hard to watch Trump brag about overturning Roe and taking away health care from women," she added Its more of the same Donald Trump. The stakes (in this election) couldnt be higher. U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, acknowledged Friday he did not like Biden's debate performance, but said Trump's performance was filled with lies. U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester "Did I like his debate performance? No," McGovern said. "It wasn't a good night for him, but at least he told the truth. By contrast Donald Trump lied about everything. He's a pathological liar. Joe Biden demonstrated not only the ability to tell the truth, but he demonstrated the country once again that he's a man of integrity. Whereas Donald Trump is a convicted felon." CNN fact checkers reported that Trump made over 30 false claims during the debate, well exceeding false claims made by Biden. McGovern said he wished the media paid more attention to Trump's false statements, saying there is "something wrong" with Trump's well-established penchant for untrue claims and that the former president is only running to keep himself from jail. McGovern is committed to backing the incumbent. "Our democracy is at stake here," McGovern said. Hard to watch was the impression formed by Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty. Im not blind to what happened, Petty said, but reminisced about his own debate performances, concluding that they can be difficult. Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty Its difficult to debate someone who does not tell the truth, Petty said, noting that other presidential incumbents had challenging performances as well, pointing to former presidents Barack Obama, and both George Bushes. Petty suggested voters focus more on the message than the messenger. His message was strong, Petty said of Biden, noting the discussion about Americas role in the world and how Bidens stalwart faith in the strength and righteousness of the United States was in marked contrast to Trumps description of the country, calling it a third-world nation. Could he have presented better? Petty queried, and then talked about Bidens message and the need to protect democracy, veterans and the rights of women. In my mind, he will do better in the next debate. Massachusetts Democratic Party Leader Steven Kerrigan also focused more on the presidents message than his performance. At the debate, we didnt just see two men from different parties, we saw two different realities, Kerrigan said. The facts are that President Joe Biden cares about our future, our health care, our education, our economy, our safety, our veterans, our military, our allies and us. Donald Trump only cares about himself. Im looking at all President Biden has accomplished over the last four years and the list is long. There is more work to do, and he has proven he is the candidate to get it done. But even as some party members sought to reframe the debate and direct public focus to the message, many staunch Democrats were dismayed by the presidents presentation and wonder if the man has the stamina to run a successful campaign against Trump. I was disappointed in his presentation, said Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, who believes the debate was not helpful to the campaign overall. I expected much more from the president. Massachusetts legislators in both branches were in formal sessions that lasted into the small hours of the evening. Many kept one eye on the presidential debate while keeping another on the bills that were up for votes. Sen. Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville, didnt reach her home until the debate had concluded. Rep. Mary Keefe, D-Worcester, caught the second half of the 90-minute show, and the political analysis that followed on her drive home. Neither women chose to comment on the debate. Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Marlborough, managed to catch the whole debate. An erroneous quote has been removed from this story. Under the president, he noted, the country has made some progress in its economic recovery from the pandemic, but that working-class families are still struggling with food insecurity, high housing and energy costs. The progressive senator is concerned that many polls show Biden trailing in five swing states, and not just due to his poor performance in the debate. Eldridge fears there is a disconnect between the candidate and a big swath of the American population young voters, people of color and the working class. The presidents turn to the right on immigration, border policies and the role in the world of the American military will alienate him further from those demographics without endearing him to the right wing. Eldridge said. Voters concerned with the American military, with border politics, will vote for Trump, Eldridge said. He fears that many will not vote at all. To gain the support of the younger voters, of those who identify as of color or as progressives, the president must show more leadership, Eldridge said. Moore agreed. The president evaluates the information coming in, discusses it with their team and then decides how to address the issues, Moore said. The presidents administration carries out the policy decisions, but its ultimately the president who provides the direction for the administration. But being a Democrat in this election cycle, with Biden as the candidate does not instill confidence in the November results, Moore said. Polls reveal that 70% of Americans are unhappy with the choices that are shaping up for the fall. Moore questioned why the parties failed to heed the grassroots voters and present new candidates. He suggested that it may be time for the presidents advisers to be honest about his performance in the debate. There is no spin that can correct what people saw last night, Moore said. This is a very important election. Political pundits have posited the need to replace Biden, offering up the current vice president and the names of the governors of California and Michigan, among others. Overall, the Democrats give Biden high job performance ratings for his accomplishments in office, citing the infrastructure bill, student loan forgiveness, the passage of the PACT Act that increased supports for veterans suffering from the health repercussions of agent orange, burn pits and other toxic substances, and lowering prescription drug prices. With questions about Biden's age and mental facilities resurfacing after his hoarse and rambling performance, McGovern said Biden remains fully engaged in their personal interactions. "He is fully engaged, knowledgeable about all the facts and is proven to be a capable leader," McGovern said. To contrast Thursday's debate, McGovern pointed to Biden's Friday afternoon speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, which he called "powerful." Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, said: I thought the president finished strong. No ballgame is won in the first innings, and you must look at the entire debate. Donald Trump couldnt find the truth in 90 minutes. The choice was stark yesterday, and it is today. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester County Democrats stress message over messenger in debate AUSTIN (KXAN) Local organizations in Austin reacted to the Supreme Court ruling that cities can enforce camping bans on people experiencing homelessness. In a 6-3 decision, the high court reversed a ruling by the Ninth Circuit and found outdoor camping bans do not violate Eighth Amendment protections. Cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, Supreme Court says Save Austin Now released the following statement as a reaction to the ruling: Residents of all cities deserve to have a safe community where public spaces are available to the public, not commandeered by small groups for private use, said Save Austin Now co-founders Matt Mackowiak and Cleo Petricek. The worst Mayor in Austin history, Steve Adler, speciously claimed that the 9th Circuit ruling in this very case posed a threat to the City of Austin in his absurd justification for passing the disastrous camping ordinance in July 2019 in the first place. The will of the voters was clear in May 2021 when Prop B was overwhelmingly passed. Despite that, the City of Austin has not fully enforced Prop B and according to @DocumentingATX and the data visualization firm Nomadik, we now have more than 100 active encampments in our city, all in violation of city ordinance and state law. Enough is enough. We will see our lawsuit with the City of Austin through to the end no matter what it takes. We renew our call on Mayor Kirk Watson, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, and the City Council to respect the will of the voters and this U.S. Supreme Court ruling and now fully enforce Prop B. Our public safety requires it. Save Austin Now Save Austin Now PAC is a grassroots organization dedicated to Austins quality of life, according to the organizations website. Additionally, VOCAL-TX also released a statement as a reaction to the ruling: In an unsurprising but shameful ruling, the least democratic branch of our government has just empowered communities across the country to do what is already the status quo in Austin and Texas: punish people for being poor. Regardless of the Courts ruling, we know that jailing or ticketing people for experiencing homelessness is cruel and unusual, inhumane, and makes homelessness worse. When they lay their heads down to sleep tonight, thousands of homeless people across America will be breaking the law. We have been fighting against criminalization and for the dignity and rights of people who are unhoused for many years and we will remain steadfast in our commitment to replace criminalization with compassion, care and housing. VOCAL-TX VOCAL-TXs mission is to build a movement of low-income people dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness across the country, the organizations website said. Background on the ruling The case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, originated from three public camping ordinances passed by the City of Grants Pass in Oregon, which the city said aims to protect public health and safety by addressing the growing issue of encampments. Under the Grants Pass ordinances, public sleeping and camping prohibitions are enforced through civil citations instead of criminal fines or jail terms. If an individual is cited twice, they may be subject to an exclusion order barring them from a city park for 30 days the violation of which may result in criminal trespass charges. 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. The City of Austins Camping Ban Voters in the City of Austin passed Proposition B in May 2021, which reinstated Austins public camping ban, imposing penalties on individuals camping near downtown and The University of Texas. It also applies to camping in public areas not designated by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. This ban followed a bill passed by the Texas House in early May 2021 and that went into effect in September 2021, which enacted a camping ban statewide and would also punish local governments that do not enforce the ban. The latest data from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) said there are 5,020 people in Austin likely experiencing unsheltered 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 KXAN Austin. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Members of a local truck club surprised officers and firefighters Thursday night with a generous donation of water and snacks. In a social media post, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office says the clubs members, Alexis, Felix, Miguel, Ismael, and Nati, took it upon themselves to help out first responders in light of growing wildfires in the area. They arrived at the Fresno County Sheriffs Office Telen Substation in Yokuts Valley with over 1,500 bottles of water and over a dozen boxes of snacks. In a social media post, the club thanked the community for helping them to help out. Just wanted [to] take time and say thank you to everyone for your donation and support for a very good cause. [The] Sheriffs department was really happy. We pulled up with everything and hope to continue this. I appreciate everybody that took the time to donate and every truck club that stepped up and supported us. Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart. Los_socios_559. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Gila River Indian Community held a grand opening celebration for the new Gila River Police Department building in Sacton, Arizona, on June 28, 2024. The nearly 49,000-square-foot facility was built in 18 months. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror The doors to the new Gila River Police Department open to the east. Gila River Police Chief Jesse Crabtree said that many Indigenous communities build their homes with doors facing the east to welcome the sunrise, which often represents renewal and a fresh start. From here on out, for generations upon generations to come, the Gila River Police Headquarters will have the first ray of sunshine every single morning, Crabtree said. Tribal, state and federal leaders gathered Friday in Sacaton, on the Gila River Indian Community, to celebrate the grand opening of the new Gila River Police Department. Crabtree said the new headquarters is a building that the community can be proud of. This will be a place for safety and security for the community, he added. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said the building has taken three decades to come to fruition, and its a long time coming. Over the years, Lewis said that the Gila River Tribal police officers have had to make do with substandard conditions, often working in cramped conditions and writing their end-of-shift reports in their police cars when office space wasnt available. The department has even stored evidence in pods outside its old building to preserve its integrity. Our officers showed up and every day they did their job, and they did their best in less than ideal conditions, Lewis said, noting that the original police department building was not unlike many across Indian Country, built decades ago and outdated. Lewis said the tribe was committed to creating the type of police department the community needs and a space their law enforcement deserve. The new building took 18 months to build, according to the tribe, and throughout the design process, local cultural stories helped guide the architects. In keeping with GRIC culture, the station balances sun and shade, a connection to the sky, the importance of water and a relationship to the desert landscape, the tribe stated. Some improved features in the Gila River Police Department building include a state-of-the-art dispatch center, a 9,500-square-foot indoor shooting range, a shade structure covering a pedestrian plaza, appropriate rooms for victims and spaces for officers to debrief, write reports and decompress after a shift. The new police headquarters will benefit the police staff and community for generations, Crabtree said. The culture of the Gila River Indian Community can be seen throughout the new police department, Lewis said, whether its the artwork throughout the building or culturally significant themes spaces, which allow the community to engage positively with officers. Its a gathering place for our community, Lewis said. Its a functioning police department, but its embedded with our culture, so its very welcoming to our community. Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis (middle) and Gila River Police Department Chief Jesse Crabtree smile before they cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the new Gila River Police Department in Sacaton, Arizona, on the Gila River Indian Community on June 28, 2024. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror White House Senior Advisor Tom Perez said he toured the Gila River Police Department, and hed never seen a police department like that before. It really embodies the spirit of community policing, he said, adding that he hopes police officers and the community take advantage of what the building has to offer. For those of you who are members of the community, you should know this place is for you, Perez said. For those of you who have been victims of crime, I hope you know that this place is for you. The opening of the new Gila River Police Department comes a few weeks after tragedy struck the community when Gila River Tribal Police Officer Joshua Briese was fatally shot, and Field Training Officer Garrett Bustamante was seriously wounded responding to a disturbance on June 1 in the San Tan Community, located in District 4 of the Gila River Indian Community. Four Gila River Indian Community members were also injured during the disturbance in San Tan, and Gila River Indian Community Member Alicen Apkaw died of her injuries. As part of the grand opening of the Gila River Police Department, the memorial wall was unveiled, and Brises name was added alongside Officer Kevin Lewis and Cadet Armando Reyes, Jr. The Police Department was adamant that a memorial wall was needed to honor those who gave all in the line of duty, Lewis said, adding that the building comes at the right time for the Gila River people. The community is looking at leadership for healing, he said. I think this is a first step in healing, making sure that we have a facility such as this to provide safety and security for our community members. The new Gila River Police Department was built in partnership with the Department of Indian Affairs under the Department of Interior as part of the 105(l) Lease Program, also known as 105L, according to Lewis. This program is provided under the Indian Self-Determination Education and Assistance Act (ISDEAA), which allows tribal nations and organizations to enter into an agreement with the Department of Indian Affairs to reimburse facility costs. Costs are reimbursed when a facility operated by the tribal nation or organization carries out ISDEAA-approved programs, functions, services and activities. Its been at the forefront of using this section 105L program to help catalyze growth and development everywhere, Perez said, adding that how Gila River has used it correctly needs to be replicated across Indian County. The Gila River Indian Community has used this innovative program, Lewis said, to build the Gila Crossing Community School, the Casa Blanca Community School and now the Gila River Police Department. He said this is their third tribal construction project utilizing the 105L program, but the Gila River Police Department is the first law enforcement building in Indian Country constructed under the program. We opened the door for Indian Country; weve pioneered this approach, Lewis said, explaining that he wants to see other tribal nations leverage the program for their own needs. We want this for other tribes, if not in Arizona, across Indian Country. Lewis said that utilizing the 105L program has been a game changer for the Gila River Indian Community, and he believes that the process allows tribal nations to build for the future. Lewis said the lease program does not relieve the federal government of its trust responsibility to provide critical services for tribal nations, such as law enforcement, health care, and education. This program is a true expression of the government-to-government trust relationship that can exist for tribes, Lewis said. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST CAROL STREAM, Ill. A man from Carol Stream was arrested and charged after a road rage incident where he allegedly shot a man in a Lowes parking lot while his six-year-old son watched from the backseat of his car. According to the Carol Stream Police Department, 26-year-old Carlos Sanchez appeared in court Saturday morning, where he was charged with one count of Aggravated Battery Discharge of a firearm and one count of misdemeanor Endangering the Health or Life of a Child. CSPD officials said patrol units were called to the parking lot of a Lowes Home Improvement store on West Army Trail Road around 8:15 p.m. Thursday on a report of a person with a gun and a male on the ground. When they arrived, officers said they found a male on the ground who was apparently shot in the leg. The victim was taken to a local hospital, where they are currently listed in stable condition. Chicago man threatens military style shooting at Lake County Courthouse Following the launch of an investigation into the incident, police learned that Sanchez and the victim allegedly got into a road rage incident near the intersection of Army Trail and Kuhn Roads. Sanchez is alleged to have followed the victim into the Lowes parking lot, where both individuals exited their vehicles, got into an argument and started fighting. During the physical altercation, Sanchez allegedly told the victim, Im going to shoot you at least twice, before pulling out a gun and shooting the victim in the leg. It is also alleged that Sanchezs six-year-old son was with him in his car at the time of the shooting. 1 dead, police officer shot in Ford Heights Shortly thereafter, CSPD officers were able to find Sanchez at his home and take him into custody without incident. Road rage is a serious and growing concern on our streets, said CSPD Chief of Police Don Cummings. It endangers lives and creates a hostile environment for all drivers. A moment of anger can have lifelong consequences. Sanchezs next court appearance is scheduled for July 22 in DuPage County Circuit Court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Registered nurses and technicians at Down East Community Hospital in Machias picket to mark the start of their strike on April 30. (Courtesy of the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee) The board overseeing Down East Community Hospital in Machias is pushing back on claims hospital management isnt doing enough to address staffing and work environment challenges after registered nurses and technicians delivered a petition of no confidence in the hospitals leadership earlier this month. On Friday, the board issued a statement of support in the hospitals leadership in light of the petition for a no confidence vote. While such a vote would have no binding effect on this board, we feel that it does send the wrong message about our organization to our employees and to the communities we serve, the letter reads. We wish to express the boards strong and unequivocal support of our hospital leaders during these stressful times. The employees, who are represented by the Maine State Nurses Association, hand delivered the petition to the board chair at her home on June 16. The action came after Down East nurses and technicians held a strike in April over compensation and staffing they said was inadequate and jeopardizing patient care, as well as recent unsuccessful legislative attempts to address safe staffing concerns across the state. The petition accuses chief executive officer Steve Lail, chief financial officer Lynnette Parr, and chief nursing officer John Marshall of failing to prioritize patient safety, communicate with staff, retain high-quality workers, compensate staff fairly, and reach a fair contract. The unionized staff have been bargaining for a new contract since September 2023, before their contract expired on Oct. 18. Board chair Jacqueline OClair said the hospital had addressed each of these concerns in a letter to the union on June 19, ahead of the boards joint statement Friday. I ask everyone to just step back and remember that we all do need to work together to repair the hard feelings that have occurred as a result of these negotiations, OClair wrote. Following both letters, union representatives stand by their petition of no confidence. Berta Alley, a registered nurse in the infusion clinic and chief negotiator for the union, said OClair did not address any of the serious concerns raised in the petition and Joelle Jackson, a medical lab technician, said the union was disappointed that the boards joint statement defended the decisions of management. We wrote and signed the petition because management refuses to listen to us, Jackson said. The petition to the board lists our concerns about patient care, staffing, recruitment and retention. These are issues that affect everyone in our community. Concerns about patient safety Many of the unions concerns about patient safety stem from the hospitals decision to combine the medical-surgical unit with the specialty labor and delivery unit last year. Specialty units are specialty units for a reason, the petition read. Nurses train specifically in these areas and receive specialized training to meet the patient needs of that population to provide optimal patient care. The hospital removed one labor and delivery nurse per shift and began cross training of medical-surgical staff to help the remaining labor and delivery nurse, which the union said in the petition was insufficient and has caused several experienced nurses to quit due to safety concerns. In her response, OClair listed a combination of online and in-person training available, noting that nurses now have access to a simulation lab for labor and delivery training and the hospital has signed an agreement with a community college in Bangor for obstetrics training. Further, OClair noted that if the units hadnt been combined, the hospital would have had to shut down the labor and delivery unit, likely resulting in layoffs and leaving no hospitals with this service in Washington County. Risks of closure extend beyond Machias. More than a third of Maines rural hospitals are at financial risk of closure due in part to low patient volumes and narrow operating margins. In the boards letter of support for hospital leadership, members wrote that the hospital has prioritized service expansion for its area, including by acquiring Calais Regional Hospital to prevent its closure in 2022. As a board, we are fully aware of our financial situation and all future projections for both of our hospitals, the letter reads, with the board going on to say, Our goal is to remain independent as an organization and set our own course, this can only be achieved through financial prudence. The union petition also noted that some departments had no running hot water for more than four weeks, which OClair attributed to damage that needed a specialty part to repair and said had very minimal effect on patient care. Additionally, the union outlined concerns about the lack of an educator for staff, though OClair said in her response that the hospital has since added one. Retention and compensation The union also blames the hospital leadership for failing to retain experienced, high-quality staff and foster a culture of community and care. According to the union, 25% of nursing positions at the hospital remain unfilled. [The hospitals] top-down decision-making and take-it-or-leave-it attitude has resulted in many nurses transferring out of departments where they have enormous experience or leaving the hospital altogether, which does not benefit our patients or the community, the petition reads, noting similar challenges with provider retention. OClair responded that the unions description does not account for the challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. As previously reported by Maine Morning Star, a significant number of workers left in 2021 because of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement, which led the hospital to rely on travel nurses to keep services in operation. As with all the hospitals, we have faced severe shortages and as our restrictions are lifted have reduced the number of [temporary] staff by half, and we always try to accommodate nurses who would like to move to other departments, OClair wrote. We are working with our universities and community colleges to create a more stable workforce in the future. The board as a whole echoed OClairs stance in the letter this week. In the evolving future of healthcare, we feel confident that our leadership team has developed a strategic plan that will continue to make us successful as an organization and allow us to provide vital services to our communities while also planning for the challenging times that lay ahead of us, the letter reads. This board works closely with Steve and the senior leadership team in all decisions that affect the viability of this organization. Nurses and technicians said that staff are also leaving for reasons aside from finances, pointing to what they see as the breakdown of community in the small hospital. Many nurses and technicians wouldnt even recognize the executives if they walked in the room, said Joelle Jackson, a medical lab technician. We are all neighbors here and that neighborhood used to extend into the hospital, but it no longer does. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Investors love tobacco stocks because of their high dividend yields and growing dividend payouts. Long-term shareholders in these companies have made a fortune by simply holding and watching the dividend payments pile up in their accounts. Today, Altria Group (NYSE: MO) has a dividend yield of 8.43%. The United States-focused tobacco giant can generate $1,000 in annual dividend income for investors who buy $11,862 worth of stock right now. But is this dividend sustainable? Is Altria Group a safe dividend stock today? I think it is. Here's why Altria Group is a smart play for investors looking to build a diversified dividend income portfolio. Volume declines, but rising new categories Altria Group owns the U.S. brand of Marlboro, which is the top premium cigarette in the country with around 40% market share. This dominance has been retained for decades. However, investors are worried about accelerating overall volume declines in the cigarette category, which has caused stocks such as Altria to underperform the market. For example, last quarter Altria estimated that cigarette volumes declined by 9% year over year for the entire U.S. market. Despite this, the company's net revenue for smokeable products only declined by 2.3%, with segment operating profit declining by a similar amount as well. While this isn't an ideal situation, Altria has been able to raise prices to counteract volume declines for decades to maintain profits. Smokeable products are the majority of Altria's $11.4 billion in operating profits today, but they're increasingly getting replaced by new nicotine products in vaping and nicotine pouches. The company's recent acquisition of the Njoy brand has a market share of 4.3%, which grew by 0.6 percentage points last quarter. Now, the U.S. government and law enforcement are increasing crackdowns on illegal vaping devices, which should help Njoy greatly increase market share. On top of this, the On! nicotine pouch brand grew shipment volumes by 32% year over year last quarter. It is still a tiny part of the brand portfolio but should continue to grow quickly. It might help too that the largest competitor in nicotine pouches, Zyn, is seeing supply shortages in the United States right now. The dividend is not only safe, but can grow Recent 9% volume declines and a 2% decrease in profits for the smokeable category are concerning for investors. However, running the math on Altria's dividend payout shows the 8%+ dividend yield is here to stay. Over the last 12 months, Altria has paid a dividend per share of $3.88. Free cash flow per share -- the fuel for dividend payments -- was $5 and has been consistently above the dividend per share for the last five years. Altria is also reducing its shares outstanding through a stock buyback program, which has brought shares outstanding down by a cumulative 8% in the last five years. Story continues Having 8% fewer shares means an 8% lower cumulative dividend payout while maintaining the same dividend per share level. It also helps free cash flow per share grow, even if nominal free cash flow is flat. So, even if Altria's earnings stagnate due to heavy volume declines, the company has plenty of room to grow its dividend per share due to the wide spread between its dividend payout and free cash flow along with the consistent buyback program. MO Dividend Yield Chart Is the stock a buy? With such a high dividend yield, I think contrarian investors looking to build retirement income are smart to buy Altria Group stock today. Its dividend yield has gone from less than 4% to over 8% in the last 10 years as the stock has suffered. But the business is still in fine shape and has the earnings power to maintain a growing dividend over the next five years and beyond. Buying a little over $11,000 of Altria stock can deliver $1,000 in dividend income to your portfolio every year. Investors should remember to diversify their holdings, though. If $11,000 is a large investment for you, start with a smaller amount and build up your dividend income by buying more shares over time. It is never smart to go all in on one stock, as no company is a risk-free investment. The same holds true for Altria and any other tobacco stock. With investors piling into technology and AI stocks at huge earnings multiples, it may be smart to zig while others are zagging and buy some high-dividend-yield stocks like Altria Group in 2024. Should you invest $1,000 in Altria Group right now? Before you buy stock in Altria Group, 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 Altria Group 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 Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Want $1,000 in Super-Safe Dividend Income? Buy $11,862 of This Ultra-High-Dividend Yield Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool HARTSELLE, Ala. (WHNT) A Hartselle student who was elected governor at Girls State is gearing up for Girls Nation, and she has big aspirations for the national conference. Mary Frances Itsede of Hartselle is one of two students who were chosen to go to Girls Nation out of a pool of over 300. Huntsville mayor headed for 5th term after no one qualifies to run against him Itsede reflects on her time at Girls State, saying it was one of the best experiences of her life. I met over 370 girls and got a lot of amazing advice from the amazing counselors there, Itsede said. We had great speakers. U.S. Senator Katie Britt and we got to hear from Governor Kay Ivey. It was a great experience. Itsede said she was inspired by her friend, Samantha Simmons, who was elected Governor at Girls State back in 2022. Simmons told Itsede about her time at the convention, and Itsede says she was drawn to the debate aspect of it. To be selected for Girls State, she had to go through an interview process and write an essay about three pressing issues she thought would be important during the upcoming election. Colbert County High principal fired in May wins appeal against school board At first, Itsede was not chosen as a Girls State delegate, but after reaching out to ask what she could have done better during the interview, it was discovered that two delegates could go, and so she got picked as the second. Being picked, after not being picked the first time, I was really blessed and I definitely would owe it to God for sure because I wasnt going to go at first, Itsede said. Over the course of a week, delegates at Girls State set up a mock government campaigning, defending their legislation and electing leaders. Itsede ran for governor and won. But being elected governor doesnt give you an automatic bid to Girls Nation, you have to be selected. (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) (Courtesy of Mary Frances Itsede) Itsede was fortunate enough to be picked for this rare opportunity. Only 100 girls are selected for Girls Nation, two from each state program. Each girl who attends Girls Nation is a senator, and takes part in a mock legislature similar to the one at the state convention, submitting bills and resolutions, participating in senate sessions, and electing officials such as president and vice president. Itsede said the legislation shes come up with in preparation for the national mock government is the expansion of tier-one broadband internet access into rural parts of the country. She also plans to run for President! LIST: 2024 Fourth of July celebrations, fireworks displays being held across the Tennessee Valley Itsede said she plans on practicing law after high school and credits Girls State for motivating her. She also ends her emails with a quote from Angel Davis, an American activist, that reads, I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept. She first heard the quote two years ago at a debate tournament and was moved by it. There are a lot of things that I see even in my town that I dont like, but that doesnt mean I have to accept it. Its something I can work towards or change, Itsede said. Itsede and the other Alabama delegate will head to Washington, D.C. on July 20 for Girls 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 WHNT.com. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A 65-year-old man was found dead Friday on the Bonneville Salt Flats after officials say a relative reported him missing earlier in the day. Sgt. David Bleazard with the Tooele County Sheriffs Office told ABC4 that a Department of Public Safety helicopter located the mans body around 12:30 p.m. It was miles away from the Bonneville Speedway. Moab detectives solve 51-year-old cold case murder of Ann Woodward A family member of the man, whose name has not been released, reported him missing around 9 a.m. While the death is under investigation, foul play is not suspected, Bleazard said. Per the Bureau of Land Management, the Bonneville Salt Flats are a 30,000-acre expanse of hard, white salt crust on the edge of the Great Salt Lake Basin in northwestern Utah. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. (BCN) A man wanted in a 2016 stabbing death has been arrested two years after an arrest warrant for him was issued, San Jose police said Friday. Marco Iniquez Jr. was taken into custody in Aromas on May 30, following a combined investigation with the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Cold Case Team, police said. He was accused in connection with a killing on July 17, 2016, in the 400 block of North First Street. Police said a man who suffered at least one stab wound was pronounced dead at the scene. Oakland police search for suspects in three separate fatal shootings this week In 2022, the case was re-examined by the District Attorneys Cold Case Team and an arrest warrant was issued for Iniquez, police said. The motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, police said. The killing was San Joses 27th homicide of 2016. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Barragan at 4106@sanjoseca.gov or Detective Van Brande at 4542@sanjoseca.gov or (408) 277-5283. 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. Inmate identified who died at near Elk Grove fourth death at sheriffs facilities in two months An incarcerated man died Friday night at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center near Elk Grove the fourth inmate death under the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office in the last two months. Around 11:15 pm, deputies were alerted to a 41-year-old male inmate needing assistance, according to Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi. The deputies found the unresponsive inmate, pulled him outside of the cell and administered first aid. Cosumnes Community Service District Fire Department personnel later arrived and continued life-saving efforts but the inmate was pronounced dead. The man had been taken into custody for a felony warrant March 28 by Sacramento Police Department officers. The Sacramento County Coroners Office, which is investigating the death, identified the man as Juan Angel Rodriguez, 41. The man was the fourth inmate to die while in Sacramento sheriffs custody in the last eight weeks. The three other inmate deaths occurred on May 5, May 12 and June 8 at the downtown Main Jail, according to the Sheriffs Office and previous Bee reporting. Understaffing was listed in reports last year as a factor in inmate deaths. As a result of the low staff levels, Sacramento County is violating a 2019 federal class action settlement that provides requirements for the jail to improve medical and mental health care for inmates. With the latest death, a total of 29 inmates have died in Sacramento jail facilities since the start of 2021. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man died after a shooting in Southeast D.C. Police said that at about 4:10 p.m., they were dispatched to the 2700 block of Shipley Terrace for a shooting investigation. Man dead, another hurt after shooting in Fairfax County Once at the scene, officers found a man who had been shot. He was unconscious and not breathing. He died at the scene. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Man who escaped from California prison in 2011 apprehended in New York City A man who escaped from a Northern California prison over a decade ago was located and arrested in New York City. According to a press release issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the suspect is a man named Eduardo Hernandez. Hernandez was sentenced on July 6, 2005, in Los Angeles County to 13 years in state prison for carjacking with the enhancement of use of a firearm. While he was about six-and-a-half years into his sentence, Hernandez walked away from Delta Conservation Camp, located in Suisun City in Solano County, on Nov. 15, 2011. Downtown Los Angeles street takeover ends in inferno After more than 13 years on the run, Hernandez was apprehended in New York City on May 20, CDCR said. The exact circumstances regarding how investigators tracked him down were not released. He is set to be extradited back to California, where his case will be referred to the Solano County District Attorney for possible escape charges. 99% of all people who left a California adult institution, camp or community-based program without permission since 1977 have been caught, CDCR said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. GREENBRIER, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities spent hours working to track down a man following a Friday evening shooting involving a member of the Greenbrier Police Department. At the request of 19th Judicial District Attorney General Robert Nash, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said its special agents are investigating the incident from Friday, June 28, which, based on preliminary information, happened after a traffic stop in the 100 block of Candy Lane. Stabbing suspect shot, killed by Metro officer in Bellevue A Greenbrier police officer stopped a Nissan Maxima, but the driver allegedly fled and tried to hit the officer after a female passenger got out of the vehicle. The officer shot at the car, but as of this writing, its unclear whether the gunfire hit the car or the driver, according to officials. Around 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, the TBI asked for the publics help to find 22-year-old Jalon Devon Smith. During the incident, authorities said Smith was driving a blue 2009 Nissan Maxima with Tennessee tag 550-BMRL. Jalon Devon Smith and the vehicle he was reportedly driving at the time of Fridays incident. (Source: TBI) Then, just after 4:30 p.m., the TBI updated its statement, saying both Smith and his vehicle had been located. However, the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration, the bureau said in a statement on Saturday, June 29. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBIs involvement. No additional details have been released about this incident, including the identity of the officer involved in it. 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. KANARRAVILLE, Utah (ABC4) A 53-year-old man is dead after Iron County officials say his motorized bicycle crashed into a roadside ravine in rural Iron County Friday, June 28. The mans name has not been released. Iron County Sheriffs deputies said the mans body was found around 6000 N. Old Highway 91 near Kanarraville. It wasnt immediately clear when the crash occurred, but deputies said they believed the incident had happened hours prior to his body being found. The crash is under investigation. This story is developing, and this post will be updated 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 ABC4 Utah. DENVER (KDVR) An Englewood man was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder in the March 2023 killings of his wife and daughter. The 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office said Reginald Maclaren, 83, was found guilty of the following charges: Two counts of first-degree murder after deliberation Two counts of tampering with a deceased body One count of false reporting The case began around 6 p.m. on March 25, 2023, when the Englewood Police Department responded to an apartment at 901 Englewood Pkwy. for a call reporting the murders. Related: 81-year-old accused of violently murdering his wife, daughter Police said Maclaren called and said he knew the person who killed his wife Bethany, 70, and his daughter Ruth, 35, and said the weapon was a hammer. Wife and daughters body parts found in trash cans His wife and daughters bodies were found stuffed inside black roll-away trash cans in the living room, according to police. One of the bodies was dismembered. A large ax was found in the closet and a saw near the garbage cans, according to police. At the time, Maclaren was taken to a nearby hospital where he later admitted to police that he killed his wife and daughter. According to the arrest affidavit, Maclaren told detectives that he struck his wife in the head with an ax while she was sitting on a couch that morning. He then hit his daughter, who had cerebral palsy, with the ax and knocked her unconscious. Victim in ax killings had cerebral palsy, autopsy shows He told police that he struck the victims in the head twice more each before dismembering their bodies. His daughter, Ruth, died of 23 ax wounds, and her mother, Bethany, died from six ax wounds, according to the autopsy report. Maclaren told police that he was recently terminated from his job and was worried that his family would become homeless because he could not pay rent, according to the affidavit. He told detectives he had been planning the murder for 10 days and did not regret killing his family, saying he knows they are in a better 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 FOX31 Denver. Warren Buffett just changed how his considerable fortune will be spent following his death. Buffett, 93, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, told the Wall Street Journal he has again re-worked his will and that he does not plan to continue donations to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation after he dies. He will put his wealth in a new charitable trust overseen by his three children, he said. The Gates Foundation has no money coming after my death, Buffett told the Journal. Buffett told the Journal he has changed his will several times, and he put together the newest plan due to the trust he has in his childrens values and how they will distribute his wealth. Each of Buffetts children has their own philanthropic organizations. I feel very, very good about the values of my three children, and I have 100% trust in how they will carry things out, Buffett told the Journal. Previously, Buffett had said his will stated that more than 99% of his estate was earmarked for philanthropic usage to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the four charities connected to his family: the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation. For now, however, Buffett is seemingly planning to continue donations to the Gates Foundation in his lifetime. Berkshire Hathaway on Friday said that Buffett is converting roughly 9,000 Class A shares into more than 13 million Class B shares. About 9.3 million shares will go to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, with the rest split among the four Buffett family charities. Warren Buffett has been exceedingly generous to the Gates Foundation through more than 18 years of contributions and advice, Mark Suzman, the foundations chief executive, said in a statement to CNN. We are deeply grateful for his most recent gift and contributions totaling approximately $43 billion to our work. (Melinda announced in May that she would leave the organization, and her last day was June 7 but the foundation has not yet changed its name.) Buffett donated about $870 million last year to the four charities run by his family, and about $750 million to them in 2022. Following the newly announced donations, Buffett owns 207,963 Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares and 2,586 Class B shares, the company said. The shares are worth roughly $128 billion. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Man Who Posed As Hollywood Agent Charged With Three Sexual Assaults Los Angeles police have charged a photographer with sexually assaulting three young men aspiring to be models. The police are searching for witnesses to the alleged crimes and for more potential victims. More from Deadline Police claim William Isaac Thomas Jr., 49, presented himself as an industry expert to young men. After being hired as their agent, he allegedly forced them to submit to sexual assault under duress, according to an LAPD statement. On March 7, 2023, an 18-year-old man reported that he was sexually battered by Thomas at his residence in Hollywood Division. Investigators located additional evidence that Thomas committed sexual assaults against young men ranging from 17 to 21-years-old. The district attorneys office charged Thomas in May with a half-dozen felonies, including sodomy, in connection with three men. The LAPD said Friday they believe Thomas is responsible for additional unreported sexual assaults. Thomas was arrested and extradited from out of state to L.A., where he was jailed Wednesday, police said. He is being held on $1.5-million bail. He preyed upon young men by promising them jobs and monetary opportunities he never delivered, LAPD Det. Brent Hopkins said in a statement. Once he made them reliant on him, the abuse began. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. MANCHESTER, Tenn. (WKRN) The Manchester Police Department announced that, after months of investigating, authorities have arrested two men in connection with a November 2023 bank robbery. The agency announced the arrests of 25-year-old Stephen Hampton and 25-year-old Marquez Wynn in a Facebook post Friday afternoon. Officials stated that these arrests were made with support from the FBI. PREVIOUS: Search for bank robbery suspect in Manchester The robbery in question occurred on Nov. 22, 2023 at Capstar Bank in the 1800 block of Hillsboro Boulevard. Authorities said the bank was robbed by a then-unidentified man who entered the bank and told employees to fill bags with money. Once he got the money, a witness saw the man enter a car and exit the area. Initially, the department collected evidence by interviewing both eyewitnesses and victims. That collection resulted in the discovery of an identical vehicle that had entered the city prior to the robbery, which subsequently led police to a Murfreesboro business. That investigation, combined with CCTV footage, ultimately led to Hamptons identification. After Hampton was identified, the FBI got involved. Together, local and federal law enforcement identified Wynn as the second suspect before gathering intelligence over the course of several months. Eventually, agencies gathered enough evidence and conducted search warrants at both suspects homes on June 13. There, officials said they found more evidence tying the men to the November robbery. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com A special thanks to Evansville Police Department, Kentucky State Police, Lexington Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Metro-Nashville Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Federal Bureau of InvestigationsOnce again, we would like to thank our local businesses and citizens for their cooperation and support that aided in the successful apprehensions of these suspects, Fridays Facebook post read in part. Manchester police expect to pursue charges for the crimes, both locally and federally. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Composite: Main image is of NYC DA Alvin Bragg talking at a podium with the American flag behind him. Inset at bottom left: Alvin Bragg's face with His reputation is nothing to brag about. Its an open and shut case online against soft-on-crime Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who scored a dismal 56% in negative sentiment in discussions, articles and mentions across various platforms in the US over the last three months, according to data provided to The Post by social media expert Rila Global Consulting. In 483,000 posts, critics pointed to an array of policy failures and poor decisions, including his kid-glove pro-criminal approach to crime in Gotham, his leniency with anti-Israel protesters, his stance on policing and his criminal pursuit of former President Donald Trump. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg scored a dismal 56% in negative sentiment in discussions, according to reports. Steven Hirsch A whopping 60% percent of the negative talk about the DA on social platforms, such as TikTok, X, Instagram, forums and news sources in the last 90 days was about the Trump case, Rila data indicates. Guess Trump should have stabbed someone in the subway, or pushed a woman in front of a train, or robbed a bodega because in Alvin Braggs NYC you dont get convicted for that stuff! @MichaelRobison posted on X. Bragg was mocked and blasted online. X @whowatwherewolf In addition to mocking memes, over 600 commenters called the Harvard Law School graduate a moron. X @T0MAS1957 Im not surprised that Alvin Bragg @ManhattanDA, who allows thieves to steal from New York City Supermarkets, has dropped charges for most of the masked mob at the @Columbia University storming. Federal charges should be brought to reverse this mockery and disrespect of law, @AviKaner, co-owner of Morton Williams Supermarket chain, posted on X. More than 600 commenters called the Harvard Law School graduate a moron. Marines Have Long Said Tootsie Rolls Saved Them in the Korean War. Here's What We Found On Feb. 23, 2024, or National Tootsie Roll Day, the official X account for Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall posted a video in which several members of the armed services told an incredible story about the Marines' connection to Tootsie Rolls: It's National Tootsie Roll Day! Did you know during the Korean War, Marines fighting at the Chosin Reservoir received Tootsie Rolls instead of mortar rounds? Surviving Marines from this tragic conflict dubbed themselves 'The Chosin Few'.#NationalTootsieRollDay #Marines pic.twitter.com/y6PDGbW47Q JBM-HH (@JBMHH) February 23, 2024 The claim has been shared online countless times, including posts on Facebook, X and Reddit. All of these posts claim that Tootsie Rolls were mistakenly parachuted into the battlefield during the Korean War and helped Marines survive the harsh cold. According to the United States Marine Corps Community Services website, during a 1950 conflict called the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Marines in the 1st Division were sent Tootsie Rolls through the sky. The article states: During the Korean War, the First Marine Division met the enemy at Chosin mountain reservoir in subfreezing temperatures. Out of ammunition, Marines called in for 60mm mortar ammo; code name "Tootsie Rolls." The radio operator did not have the code sheets that would tell him what a "Tootsie Roll" was, but knew the request was urgent; so he called in the order. Soon, pallets of Tootsie Roll candies parachuted from the sky to the First Marine Division! While they were not ammunition, this candy from the sky provided well needed nourishment for the troops. They also learned they could use warmed Tootsie Rolls to plug bullet holes, sealing them as they refroze. Tootsie Roll Industries has honored the "Chosin Few," survivors of the battle, by sending them boxes of its candy. In 2023, WATE, a news channel in Knoxville, Tennessee, featured one of these boxes in an article about Korean War veteran Cary Stewart. The box read, "Tootsie Roll salutes The Chosin Few. We are proud to have been with you." Stewart related the same details from the Marine Corps Community Services article, noting that although he didn't arrive at Chosin Reservoir until two years after the candy was dropped in, other service members who were there when it happened told him the story. An Iowa PBS documentary, "The Forgotten War: Iowans in Korea," features commentary from Korean War veteran Dennis Dorman, who also recounted that a young lieutenant stationed in Japan didn't understand the code language for 60 mm mortar shells and parachuted two pallets of the candy into the battle. We kept hollering for Tootsie Rolls, and some young lieutenant over in Japan thought we wanted Tootsie Rolls. So, he loaded up two of those great big pallets of Tootsie Rolls. And so we broke those Tootsie Rolls out and we stuffed them in our pockets, because it was cold, you know, and they were frozen. So we'd take unwrap a Tootsie Roll and we'd lay it on the ground and we'd take a bayonet and lay it down there and hit it with a butt of a rifle, and break a piece off and stick it in our mouth. Then we'd take Tootsie Rolls and stick them inside of our clothing, you know. Warm 'em up, so that we could bite them and chew them. A video from The Hutchinson News, published on YouTube in 2017, features the story of Raymond Miller, another Korean War veteran and member of the 1st Marine Division, who recounted the same details about the mistaken candy drop: In an email, the National Museum of the Marine Corps told Snopes that the "myth" of the Tootsie Rolls being parachuted in by mistake did happen. We have asked them for any evidence related to the incident and will update this story if they respond. However, an article on the website of nonprofit group Veteran's Breakfast Club casts doubt on the validity of the story. Historian and group founder Todd DePastino explains that the airdrop of Tootsie Rolls into the Chosin Reservoir probably didn't happen. He writes: Before their encirclement by the Chinese, Marines in the Post Exchange Section had trucked in tons of merchandise to sell at the PX when the shooting in the area stopped. Those shipments included a lot of candy, especially Tootsie Rolls. But the shooting didn't stop, and the Marines at Hagaru had to plot their evacuation. The plan was to load everything of value aboard trucks for the return trip to the coast. There would be no room on the vehicles for the Tootsie Rolls and other retail stock designated for the never-to-be-realized PX at Hagaru. So, General O.P. Smith gave the order to distribute the supply (worth $13,547.80, according to official Marine Corps history first published in 1957) free-of-charge to the Marines at Chosin. That accounts for the Tootsie Roll dump Chosin survivors all remember so vividly. And, sure enough, some used the candy to plug leaky radiators. But while there were indeed airdrops of badly needed 60mm mortars and other supplies, mostly ammunition, Tootsie Rolls weren't delivered by air. A letter on the Tootsie Roll website also has no mention of an airdrop, with its author, veteran Clifford W. Meyer, saying the boxes of candy were discovered as Marines evacuated. Although the story of mistakenly airdropped Tootsie Rolls is a heartwarming tale of battlefield survival passed down through the generations, there are conflicting accounts of how the Marines got the candy and the exact details remain murky. If we find any new evidence to verify the tale, we will update this story to reflect that. Sources: "Code Name 'Tootsie Rolls': Soldier Candy Rations | Iowans in Korea." PBS LearningMedia, https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/code-name-tootsie-rolls-soldier-candy-rations-vide/the-forgotten-war-iowans-in-korea/. Accessed 25 June 2024. How Tootsie Rolls Accidentally Saved Marines During War. https://sandiego.usmc-mccs.org/news/be349820-b891-41bf-b2fa-7c26ad1ffded. Accessed 25 June 2024. Kim. "The Myth of the Tootsie Roll Airdrop at Chosin." Veterans Breakfast Club, 17 July 2023, https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/the-myth-of-the-tootsie-roll-airdrop-at-chosin/. TheHutchinsonNews. Raymond Miller Tells the Korean War Tootsie Roll Story. 2017. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2fEmTIFbk4. "Tootsie Roll Drop: How a Codeword Mix-up Led to Marines Getting a Sweet Treat." WATE 6 On Your Side, 28 Dec. 2023, https://www.wate.com/news/veterans-voices/tootsie-rolls-honors-korean-war-marines-after-ammunition-mix-up/. MARION, Va. (WJHL) A man charged in a 2023 Easter Sunday shooting was convicted of first-degree murder on Friday, according to the Smyth County, Virginia Commonwealths Attorneys Office. A release Saturday from the commonwealths attorney said Jacob Seth Andreshak, 33, was convicted by a Smyth County jury for the premediated murder of Charles Jonathan Wojciechowicz, 40, of Atkins. The release said the cold-blooded killing of Wojciechowicz took place on Easter in 2023. Smyth County Sheriff Chip Shuler previously said in a release that police were called to Remington Lane in Marion, where they reported finding Wojciechowicz deceased from a gunshot wound. Missing Carter County mans vehicle spotted in South Carolina Andreshak is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 31, where he faces the possibility of life in prison plus three years, according to the release. Smyth County Commonwealths Attorney Phillip Blevins provided the following statement: This verdict sends a clear message that violence and disregard for human life will not be tolerated. Andreshaks actions were evil, calculated and malicious. I hope this conviction brings a measure of solace to the family and friends of Mr. Wojciechowicz. This conviction is a testament to the tireless work of Smyth County Sheriffs Office, Marion Police Department, and forensic experts who assisted my Chief Deputy Keith Blankenship and I during the trial. I extend my deepest gratitude to the jurors for their diligence and commitment throughout this multi-day hearing. Their decision reflects the strength of the evidence presented and the severity of the crime committed. My office is committed to seeking justice for victims and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. We remain dedicated to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety of Smyth County for years to come. Smyth County, Virginia Commonwealths Attorney Phillip L. Blevins Jr. Photographed: Trial team and victims family following announcement of the verdict on June 28. Seated at counsel table on the left is Chief Deputy Blankenship with Commonwealths Attorney Blevins to the right. Standing in between is the victims mother, holding a sketch of 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. People demonstrate against the AfD party conference near the grounds of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. A few hours before the start of the AfD party conference, demonstrators had their first clash with the police on Saturday morning. --/dpa Protesters and police clashed on Saturday morning in the western German city of Essen, the site of a two-day party congress by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) that is due to get under way. Police made several arrests and said that some officers were attacked in violent incidents as thousands of demonstrators sought to blockade the venue and prevent AfD delegates from arriving. "Some demonstrators wore masks and attacked police officers," Essen police said on Saturday. Authorities appealed to demonstrators to "keep away from violent actions and troublemakers." Several hundred protesters blocked a motorway exit ramp and others occupied streets and intersections near the event hall where the congress is being held. As many as 100,000 protesters are expected in Essen. Police have deployed thousands of officers as well as water canons to control the demonstrations. Police clashed with a large group of protesters who attempted to break through a police cordon at around 5:45 am (0345 GMT), a police spokeswoman said. Officers used pepper spray and batons to stop their advance, she said. Police requested several ambulances, but it was not immediately clear whether any demonstrators were injured in the clash. Several AfD politicians from Germany's parliament said that they had been picked up at their hotel by the police and taken to the venue. Some delegates managed to reach the venue on foot undisturbed by protesters. Around 600 AfD delegates are expected to meet in the city's Grugahalle indoor arena, with current co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla seeking re-election ahead of German parliamentary elections in the autumn of next year. The authorities have raised concerns that, while most of the expected demonstrations would be peaceful, around 1,000 left-wing extremists would use violent means to disrupt the congress. Leftist groups said in advance they would try to blockade entrances to the venue with the aim of preventing AfD delegates from getting through. An initial demonstration was held on Friday night, with much larger protests expected throughout the day on Saturday, including a march setting out from the city's central train station. The city of Essen had tried for months to prevent the AfD from holding the two-day party conference there, but ultimately failed in court. A major theme for the AfD's congress will likely be the party's second-place finish in the European Parliament elections earlier this month, in which the party gained seats but did less well than pre-election polling had suggested. The final stages of the campaign were overshadowed by how the party dealt with lead candidate Maximilian Krah, who has been caught up in foreign influence-buying allegations and also by controversial comments he made to an Italian newspaper defending members of the Nazi SS paramilitary. The AfD was expelled from the Identity and Democracy Group in the European Parliament in response to Krah's remarks, in which he said not all members of the wartime German SS were criminals. People demonstrate against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Helge Toben/dpa People demonstrate against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Helge Toben/dpa Up to 100,000 protestors are expected to descend on Essen on Saturday as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) holds a two-day congress to elect its new executive, police in the western Germany city predicted. The authorities raised concerns that, while most of the expected demonstrations would be peaceful, around 1,000 leftist extremists would use violent means to disrupt the congress. Around 600 AfD delegates are meeting in the city's Grugahalle indoor arena, with current co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla seeking re-election ahead of German parliamentary elections in the autumn of next year. Nobody has come forward to challenge the duo. Leftist groups have announced they intend to blockade entrances to the venue in the morning with the aim of preventing AfD delegates from getting through. Police have made clear that this will not be tolerated. Police were out in force around where the congress will be held in Essen on Friday and will be deployed again for the duration, they said. The main protests are scheduled for Saturday, with a march setting out from the central station. At least 45,000 demonstrators are expected to gather on a parking area near the congress venue on Saturday afternoon. A major theme for the congress is set to be the AfD's campaign in the elections to the European Parliament held at the beginning of June, in which the party did less well than pre-election polling had suggested. The final stages of the campaign were overshadowed by how the party dealt with lead candidate Maximilian Krah, his controversial comments on the Nazi era and possible links between his assistant and China. The AfD was expelled from the Identity and Democracy Group in the European Parliament in response to Krah's remarks on the wartime German SS. People demonstrate against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Helge Toben/dpa New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd called on President Biden to abandon his reelection campaign following his poor debate showing on Thursday night, warning that deciding to run was ill-advised and made him no better than his adversary, former President Trump. Hes being selfish. Hes putting himself ahead of the country. Hes surrounded by opportunistic enablers. He has created a reality distortion field where were told not to believe what weve plainly seen. His hubris is infuriating. He says hes doing this for us, but hes really doing it for himself, she started the column. Im not talking about Donald Trump. Im talking about the other president. In a column titled The Ghastly vs. the Ghostly, Dowd joined several of her New York Times columnist colleagues on Saturday morning to call on the president to step aside. On Friday, the Times editorial board also called on Biden to drop out of the race. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trumps provocations. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures and his chilling plans, the board said. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence. Dowd also pointed to his debate struggles, but suggested that they indicated a much larger issue for his would-be second term. He didnt just have an off night, she wrote. Biden looked ghostly, with that trepidatious gait; he couldnt remember his rehearsed lines or numbers. He has age-related issues, and those go in only one direction, she continued. Two years ago, Dowd encouraged the president to step aside, invoking Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs untimely death as a cautionary tale. The timing of your exit can determine your place in the history books, she wrote at the time. While the Biden camp clings on to his reelection campaign, Dowd encouraged his staff and the first lady to abandon the race in order to preserve his legacy. It is because Biden is beloved, and because he has real accomplishments as president, that he needs to stop this nerve-racking, maddening tightrope walk to the Oval, she concluded. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Polls close in Mauritania, with the incumbent ally of the West favored to win A woman sorts out ballot papers, during the presidential election, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, Saturday, June 29, 2024. Mauritanians are voting for their next president, with the incumbent Mohamed Ould Ghazouani widely expected to win the vote after positioning Mauritania as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence. (AP Photo/Mamsy Elkeihel) NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) Polls closed in Mauritania's presidential election on Saturday, with the incumbent Mohamed Ould Ghazouani widely expected to win after positioning Mauritania as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence. Ghazouni, who is seeking reelection on the pledge of providing security and economic growth, is a former army chief and the current president of the African Union. He came to power in 2019 following the first democratic transition in the countrys history, and on Saturday promised to respect the results of the vote. The last word belongs to the Mauritanian voters," Ghazouni said after voting in Ksar, the suburb of the capital. I commit myself to respecting their choice. Saturdays vote unfolded peacefully, according to observers. The turnout was 40% out of 2 million eligible voters, and partial results were expected on Sunday. Nothing has been detected so far and the CENI has not received any complaints, said Taghioullah Ledhem, the spokesman for CENI, the countrys independent electoral commission. But some opposition candidates held a different view. We noted irregularities such as voting without identity cards, voting by proxy and the expulsion of representatives of opposition candidates, said Outoma Soumare, one of Ghazoumis opponents. Although his opponents accused him of corruption and mismanagement, he remains popular among Mauritanians who see him as a beacon of stability. The vote is taking place in a particularly tense regional climate, with Mauritanias neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence. We must not let ourselves be fooled by the slogans of the candidates who are not reassuring, said Marieme Brahim, a 38-year-old company executive, who voted for Ghazouni. Mauritania must vote for continuity and stability and its security in a troubled environment and it is not these candidates without experience in governance who will give us confidence. Ghazouani faced six opponents, including an anti-slavery activist, leaders of several opposition parties and a neurosurgeon, who accused the government of corruption and clientelism. Mauritania is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil and natural gas. It is poised to become a gas producer by the end of the year, with the planned launch of the BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyin offshore gas project at the border with Senegal. Yet almost 60% of the population live in poverty, according to the United Nations, working as farmers or employed in the informal sector. With few economic opportunities for young people at home, many are attempting to cross the Atlantic to reach Europe, and some are even trying to get to the United States through Mexico. Mohamed Lemine Ould Moktar, 45, who voted for an opposition candidate, has two young sons who remain unemployed despite having university diplomas. I just voted for change. We have had enough of identical regimes which squander the peoples assets and maintain corruption, Ould Moktar said. Just look at more than 40,000 young Mauritanians take the path of immigration to the United States by jumping the border wall between Mexico and the United States. This is why I am voting for change. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa Airbus has been hit by a series of supply chain snarl-ups - Fabian Bimmer/Reuters Regulators have concluded Boeing should face criminal charges over safety issues on the 737. It is being sued over a mid-air blowout. And design faults have left a pair of astronauts stranded in space. It has been just another standard week at Boeing, the American aircraft giant that is now the worlds most disaster-prone company. Against that backdrop, and with demand for new aircraft booming, you might imagine that its main rival, Airbus, would be expanding rapidly, and cementing its leadership of the industry. But hold on. This week, its shares plunged on supply issues. In reality, Airbus desperately needs fresh and bold leadership. This chance wont come again and without change the West risks surrendering aerospace to the Chinese. The leadership of Boeing, once one of the most formidable aerospace companies in the world, is starting to make Joe Biden look fit, alert and in control. The company stumbles from one disaster to another. In the last few days, there have been safety issues that stopped one of its spacecraft bringing two astronauts on the International Space Station back to earth; American regulators sued the company for sharing information on an investigation into safety issues that should not have been disclosed; and families of crash victims demanded that executives face jail at a congressional hearing. Chief executive David Calhoun is scheduled to step down at the end of this year. However, there is very little evidence that the change of leadership at the top will make any real difference. It is trapped in a cycle of decline, suffering one setback after another. There is scant evidence that David Calhoun's departure as Boeing chief will change the company's fortunes - Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg In response, Airbus should surely be seizing leadership of the industry. No one wants to see a rival fall apart and certainly not where aircraft safety is involved, but it is perfectly normal to push forward when a competitor is in trouble. And yet there is very little sign of it. Last week, Airbus shares dropped by 10pc as the company cut its forecasts for the year. Its chief executive Guillaume Faury admitted that it would only deliver 770 commercial aircraft this year, down from earlier forecasts of 800. The target of producing 75 of its best-selling A320 series was pushed back from 2026 to 2027. The problem? It has been hit by a series of supply chain snarl-ups that have made it difficult to build all the planes it would like to. Meanwhile, it took a 900m (760m) charge on its space unit, pushing its figures even lower. It is hardly surprising that investors are looking for the emergency exit, with the share price down by almost 20pc over the last month alone. Story continues Supply issues? Seriously? It is a completely lame excuse. Sure, building an aircraft has always been a complex task. An A320 has 340,000 parts, and Airbus has more than 12,000 suppliers. No one ever said the logistics would not require some careful management. And yet there is nothing new about the supply issues and you might have expected, with so much at stake, that it would have been sorted out by now. Likewise, in a week in which the value of SpaceX, Elon Musks rocket company, went above $200bn (160bn), why is Airbus taking write-downs? Space is a booming industry and it should be making money. In reality, Airbuss top team is looking very tired. Faury was appointed back in 2019 and in the five years since he has done very little to improve its performance. It is taking the market for granted. No one seems to be paying very much attention right now, but China is determined to become a major player in commercial aerospace. The Comac C-919 was launched into commercial service last year, and while it may look suspiciously similar to an A320, it is steadily proving itself in the market. Last week, Vietnam Airlines said it was looking at ordering the plane, given the supply issues with both Boeing and Airbus. Meanwhile the head of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, one of the top 10 leasing companies in the world, argued that the C-919 was a perfectly fine aircraft and one that was likely to break the current duopoly. Only last month, we learned that Comac is now working on plans for the C-939, a widebody jet that will compete with the A350 and Boeing 777. The blunt truth is that Comac is determined and well-financed. It will take a significant share of the industry. China's Comac C-919 is steadily proving itself in the market after being launched last year - Hou Yu/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images Likewise, Boeing will recover eventually. The company may be in big trouble right now but it is in the too big to fail category. The US depends on it for defence, as well as for its industrial and export muscle. Its current leadership may be hopelessly inept, but sooner or later and probably sooner it will start to stage a recovery. This should be the moment for Airbus to go in for the kill. It should be stepping up production to meet all the orders it can and finding new suppliers, or even taking them over itself, to make sure that it can meet all the demand. It should be launching new models, even if they are a few years out, to make sure it has the most modern range of aircraft on the market. And it should be pressing ahead with new fuels and lower-emission planes so that airlines can keep flying at the same time as countries are struggling to meet their net zero targets. But that will take fresh management, and fresh energy. Faury has done a respectable job but he has failed to get to grips with either the opportunities that the demise of Boeing presents or the threat posed by the rise of Chinese competition. It is not good enough. Right now Airbus is floundering. Shareholders can sense it and, no matter how many feathers it might ruffle in France, someone needs to step in and demand some changes before it is too late. 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. Meet the 40-year-old freshmen: Millennials explain why going back to college is worth it for their paychecks and career and why they might get more out of it than their Gen Z peers As many younger Americans are turning away from college, millennials and Gen Xers are going back. Some told BI that going back to school will give them a shot at advancing their careers and wages. While student debt is still a factor, the benefits of college outweigh the costs for these adults. It was never a good time for Laura Rodgers to go to college. Now 40, Rodgers has been out of the workforce for 20 years raising her kids. She is ready to give herself another shot. "I think there's a lot of self-consciousness that comes with going back to school as an older adult," Rodgers told Business Insider. She said she tries to remember that anyone who would judge her doesn't matter. Last fall, she enrolled at a local community college as an English major. She's spending about $300 per semester for each in-person class, plus any additional course materials, which she can afford because of her husband's income. The flexible schedule allows her to be there for her kids, run errands, and do chores during the day. It hasn't been easy going back to school at this point in her life, she said, and she's found it especially challenging as a stay-at-home to enforce the boundaries she needs to complete her schoolwork. "It's kind of teaching my family, this is when I'm here, this is when I'm available, this is when I'm not, and even though I'm here, I need to study or do my homework," Rodgers said. Laura Rodgers went back to community college at 40. Laura Rodgers Rodgers is among a growing number of adults who are going back to college later in life. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over one-third of undergraduates are 25 or older, and that proportion rises to nearly 44% for community colleges. Additionally, according to a recent paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, about 70% of the increase in college completion between 1990 and 2010 can be attributed to the growing share of people getting degrees after their mid-twenties. Rodgers, who said she'll likely appreciate college more now that she's older, is an example of the split in higher education sentiment across the generations: While younger Americans might not think they need a college degree to succeed in life, older adults continue to view it as a way to give themselves a second shot at advancing their careers, earning more money, and gaining more knowledge. Pauline Corblet, an assistant professor of economics at New York University Abu Dhabi, told BI that she and her colleagues have several hypotheses about why people choose to go to school later in life. These include insufficient money to pay for college right out of high school and, "especially for women, family constraints." "What happens when people have kids right after high school that would keep them from going to college? And then when the kids grow up, and they're, say, young teenagers, then it becomes possible to go to college," Corblet said. While Rodgers said it could be "a little weird" being in a classroom full of students under 25, it's also helped her realize that she can bring something new to the classroom that she might not have been able to do had she continued with college right out of high school. "When I was 18 and I had first gone in, I just wanted to get through the classes," Rodgers said. "Now, if I'm going to take the time and spend the money to go to this class, I really want to get something out of it. I feel like I try harder now that I'm older." "When I get to the end of my life," she added, "I want to be able to say that I followed through on this thing that I wanted for myself." 'It was the best decision I made in my life' Alexander Jones, 43, decided to go back to school when he was 30, and it helped him land a job in his desired field. After graduating from high school, Jones briefly enrolled in some English courses at a university but dropped out, saying he didn't have a focused mindset at the time. He spent the next decade working various retail jobs that allowed him to pay rent and afford basic necessities. But he said the work wasn't personally or financially rewarding so he set his sights on going back to school. "I saw that I had no direction in life, I was utterly directionless. I haven't dealt with who I am or where I am in life," Jones told BI. Alexander Jones, 43, went back to school at 30 and landed a job in his desired field. Alexander Jones Jones completed a two-year certificate program in communications at a local college just over a decade ago. He said he was able to find a job right away at a media company. While he recognized he didn't have the best grades in his class, he used the program as a chance to network and meet people in the industry, which helped him secure employment. "It was the best decision I made in my life," Jones said. "I feel a little bit more in control of even some of the stuff that's not really controllable." Corblet said that oftentimes when people think about higher education, "we should take into account these late graduates because they have different returns" on their investments. "It's important to know how these college graduates integrate into the labor market," she said, noting that later graduates might choose different jobs than their younger peers, which means they would have different types of contributions to their fields. For example, had Jones chosen to stay enrolled in his English courses right out of high school, he might never have had the chance to pursue his skills in the media industry, which he didn't consider when he was younger. "Going to school for three or four years is so short a time," Jones said. "So don't be afraid of coming into the ball game late because three or four years is enough time to change your life." Still, going back to school isn't for everyone. Josh Becker, 32, told BI that he enrolled in college for one semester at age 20, but due to the student debt that accompanied his education, he dropped out and didn't consider going back. He's now looking for steady employment, but he doesn't regret his decision. "I don't want someone to feel like they have to go to college to be successful because that sets them up for failure if they can't go to college or can't finish college," Becker said. He's part of a growing trend of younger people choosing to skip a college degree. A recent report from Deloitte found that of 14,468 Gen Z and 8,373 millennials across 44 countries, a third of them chose to forego higher education primarily due to financial barriers and seeking jobs that don't require college degrees. 'You're not too old to start over' Despite some Gen Zers seeing little value in higher education, overall sentiment toward a postsecondary degree or certificate is still high. According to a recent report from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation on the state of higher education in 2024, "adults' interest in pursuing some form of higher education is at the highest level" the organizations ever recorded. Nearly all adults without a college degree said at least one type of credential was "extremely" or "very" valuable, and 59% of unenrolled adults considered enrolling in the past two years. Matt, 37, is one of those adults. After graduating from high school in 2005, Matt who requested his last name be withheld for privacy told BI that he didn't think college was the right fit for him, so he went straight into the workforce. Over the past 20 years, Matt has worked in the restaurant and retail industries, but he realized he wanted to give himself a shot and try something new. He and his wife recently started applying to a local community college's general studies program. Should he be accepted, he said he's hopeful that as he begins his courses, he'll figure out what types of courses pull him in most to help him narrow down his focus. "I learned over the last 20 years that this life that I thought that I knew was going to turn out a certain way didn't quite turn out anywhere near the way I had hoped it would," Matt said. With encouragement from his wife, they both decided that it was not too late to learn new skills and "carve out a better path for ourselves going forward.'" Matt acknowledged that going back to school at this point in his life is scary, but after working for two decades, he has a new perspective on higher education that he couldn't see right out of high school. "My wife, she's been texting me little affirmations of motivational things every other day," Matt said. "She sent this one to me the other day: You're not too old to start over. You're too old to keep doing something that's not working." Did you go back to school past the age of 30? Did you decide to skip college? Reach out to this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider The Memo: The debate that changed everything ATLANTA Never before has a debate transformed a presidential race so utterly. The idea of replacing President Biden as his partys 2024 nominee has become Topic A in national politics; former President Trump has advanced from a slight to heavy favorite in Novembers election; and the collective blood pressure of the Democratic Party has gone through the roof. It all happened in about 90 minutes on a debate stage here on Thursday night. For Biden, it really was that bad. The worst performance in debate history was the verdict of one Democratic strategist texting with this reporter while the clash at the CNN studios was still happening. A fing disaster, former President Obama speechwriter-turned-podcaster Jon Favreau told his Pod Save America audience soon afterward. Biden has, to be sure, always had detractors in the party. And relations between his aides and those of Obama have often been taut. But throughout Thursday night and Friday, voices normally supportive of Biden were raised in alarm. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman penned a piece noting his long friendship with the president but calling on him to exit the race. Former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow there were glaring weaknesses in our president. Also on MSNBC, Joe Scarborough predicted a Trump victory in November unless theres a change. The stumbling nature of Bidens performance and the problems it caused are not in doubt. A quick CNN poll of debate-watchers on the night found that they believed by a 2-to-1 that Trump had been the victor. Speaking to a crowd in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, even Biden acknowledged, I dont debate as well as I used to. The question for Democrats: What now? The obvious answer but one that is risky and without modern precedent would be to persuade Biden to step aside. The president has, technically, got his partys nomination locked up. Having faced only token opposition in the primaries, he has more than enough delegates lined up to support him when the nomination is officially decided at the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for Chicago in mid-August. The only real chance of the nomination being wrested from his hands is if he surrenders it. There has been speculation that senior figures in the party, perhaps including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) or even Obama himself, could be induced to approach Biden about stepping aside. But such a scenario remains entirely hypothetical. Schumer on social media welcomed Thursdays debate as one that had made the choice clear in November. Obama, writing on the social platform X, sympathized, Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But, the former president added, this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Among others who could counsel Biden are the coterie of aides who have been close with him for years. This group includes senior adviser Mike Donilon, presidential counselor Steve Ricchetti and former White House chief of staff Ron Klain. But they are so loyal to the boss that it requires a gymnastic leap of imagination to visualize them urging him to head for the exit. Any decision as momentous as becoming the first incumbent president since Lyndon Johnson not to seek reelection would likely be taken only in combination with Bidens very closest advisers: first lady Jill Biden and the presidents sister, Valerie Biden Owens, who managed his first campaign for Senate 52 years ago. Among the broader party, however, its easy to see why the terrain has suddenly been transformed. Before Thursday night, Democrats who had reservations about Biden held their tongues and watched the polls. The president went into the debate lagging Trump by less than 1 percentage point nationally, according to the polling average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. Back in those predebate times, the disruption of trying to dislodge Biden as the nominee looked forbidding, especially given that every alternative candidate has their own weaknesses. Now, Democrats are shaken, awaiting the post-debate polls, and fearful that the race is slipping toward the point of no return. In that scenario, faced with a probable loss to a convicted felon and former president who many critics consider an active danger to American democracy, many Democrats feel they would have to roll the dice on someone else. The likely contenders are easy enough to identify. A Biden withdrawal would free Vice President Harris to seek the nomination. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has seemed to position himself as a future nominee in waiting, even though his public support for Biden extended to appearing as a surrogate in the spin room here. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is talked up by her fans for her Midwestern appeal, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) also has his boosters. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who like Harris competed against Biden for the 2020 nomination, is another possibility. To be sure, its important amid such dramatic days to acknowledge politics can be confounding. Perhaps the next wave of polls wont be as bad for Biden as is widely feared. Perhaps some other drama will intervene to hurt Trump or reshape the race. But for now, Democrats are in desperation. They have no easy solution around the corner. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Animal Services Director Ty Coleman has been placed on leave less than a year after taking the job. The City of Memphis confirmed the action Friday but did not release any additional information. Earlier this week, MAS confirmed that a dog was found unresponsive in a play yard, and the animals death was likely heat-related. MAS volunteer heartbroken after shelter dog dies in the heat The chairwoman of a city advisory committee overseeing MAS said there was no question Lulu died from the heat since her body temperature was over 109 degrees. Vet sheds light on problems at Memphis animal shelter Dr. Jennifer Karnes, the owner of Central Animal Hospital, also told WREG that two longtime veterinarians at Memphis Animal Services and several supervisors at the city shelter had resigned in recent 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. Dr. Karnes said MAS was releasing some unaltered dogs into the community with only a promise from the adopters that the animals would be fixed and said MAS no longer had a scheduled drug DEA permit to administer pain medications or a USDA veterinarian on staff to issue health certificates. 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. Friday morning, MAS released the following statement. Since June 1, MAS has used relief vets and organizations to perform spay/neuter surgeries. Pursuant to T.N. law for spay/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. MAS also said Lulus cause of death would be determined by an external agency. All 4s Rescue League said Lulu was chipped to their group, and they were notified about her death. CEO Suzy Hollenbach said Lulu was an owner surrender, but they had found someone who wanted to adopt her. Hollenback has been critical of MAS and Coleman for allowing dogs to be adopted out before they are spayed or neutered. Coleman was named interim director of Memphis Animal Services in September of 2023 before becoming the permanent director. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mexican cartels boast of increased lethal firepower, including some weapons from the US A bus set alight by cartel gunmen to block a road during clashes with federal forces following the detention of Ovidio Guzman, son of drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Culiacan, Mexico in 2019. The man sat on a worn-out office chair in the backroom of a market in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, amid vegetable trimmings and a haphazard stack of milk crates. He wore a blue shirt, worn jeans and a ski mask. He asked to be referred by a nickname, El Flaco the skinny guy so authorities could not identify him. He works as a mercenary, he said, and had come to discuss a closely guarded secret of Mexicos most powerful cartels: The FGM 148 Javelin infrared-guided, missile launcher. El Flaco maintains he has been trained to perform special operations using shoulder-fired weapons, including the Javelin. He said he now trains others to use it as well. David Saucedo, a security consultant, confirmed the Javelin is being used by cartels and suggested they could be revealing this information as a show of force to Mexicos incoming president, who is to take power later this year. Its to show the government, perhaps this one or the incoming one, that they have the ability to launch attacks of this kind with the weaponry they have, Saucedo said. Its their secret weapon, but they can use it if necessary. Thats my impression. Reveal: Which US gun sellers are behind Mexican cartel violence If El Flaco is telling the truth, Javelins would be among the most extreme examples of the escalation in the arms race between cartels and Mexican military. Cartels arsenals now include belt-fed Gatling guns, drone bombs and land mines, all with potential to provoke elected U.S. officials who have advocated invading Mexico. The U.S.-made Javelin is the most sophisticated shoulder-fired missile launcher in the world, with a range of a mile and a half. Its main purpose is to destroy military tanks, but it also has the capacity to take down low-flying helicopters, according to the owners manual. U.S. Army soldiers fire a Javelin a close combat/anti-armor weapon system during a joint Indo-U.S. training exercise in Uttar Pradesh state in 2009. U.S. officials roundly denied that cartels have Javelins as did a high-level Mexican security official, but despite close scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Defense, there are holes in the U.S. tracking system. During the Iraq War in 2003, for instance, the department lost track of 35 Javelins provided to Iraqi allied forces. ISIS was found to have a Javelin in Syria, Kurdish fighters there also obtained a Javelin and the weapon was found at a Libyan warlord base. Back in Mexico, a federal Secretary of Security official, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said authorities confiscated two Javelins from a faction of the New Generation Jalisco Cartel. And a similar weapon may have already been secretly used against high-profile Mexican government officials. Helicopter crash may not have been what it seemed The police chief of the state of Aguascalientes, Porfirio Sanchez Mendoza, was flying across the capital city in his government helicopter in 2022, when the machine suddenly spiraled out of control. An online video shows the chopper nose-dive into a vacant lot and explode in a ball of flames. Four people were on board with the secretary. All of them died. The crash was one in a string of similar accidents in Mexico in recent years. Like many, it was attributed to mechanical failures. But the internal forensics report tells another story, according to Saucedo, who has reviewed the internal documents. Saucedo who has done security consulting for Mexican political candidates including for governor and senate said the report details how an explosive projectile pierced the helicopters door, he said, and debris scattered in a circle inconsistent with a mechanical failure. The forensics point to a munition similar to a Javelin, he said, adding that, part of the helicopter detached due to the impact. Cartel gunmen during clashes with federal forces following the detention of Ovidio Guzman, son of drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Culiacan, Mexico in 2019. Saucedo spoke to the forensics official on the case, who did an analysis of the shrapnel, and said there was only one type of projectile that matched the results. He said the only missile with these types of characteristics is the Javelin, Saucedo said. El Flaco, the mercenary, also said the chopper was taken down by a Javelin and that he knows the assailant who fired it. I trained him, he said. The Secretary of Security official confirmed the helicopter was downed by an explosive projectile, but could not confirm the make of the weapon. Cartel arms race has amped up in recent years El Flaco said cartels began buying guided missile launchers in part because rival criminal gangs were building tank-like attack vehicles whose armor can no longer be pierced even by the high-powered, .50-caliber Barrett rifle. He said threats by some U.S. politicians, including Donald Trump, to bomb Mexican cartels also played a role. It also was becoming clear to cartel leaders, he said, that the Mexican military was prepared to escalate its attacks in the cartel stronghold city of Culiacan, including when they arrested Ovidio Guzman, son of El Chapo Guzman. To carry out these high-profile raids, the military began more frequently using belt-fed, Gatling miniguns which can fire more than 4,000 rounds a minute from helicopter gunships. In response, cartel leaders began to look for even bigger weaponry to counter the attacks. Rep. Lou Correa, (D-CA) showing a photograph of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who was extradited to the U.S from Mexico, as he questions U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. If the military gets a new, big weapon, El Flaco said at the Sinaloa market. The cartel will always want something even bigger. The Sinaloa Cartel has sought to purchase surface-to-air missiles and rocket launchers in the past, including in 2009 when three cartel members negotiated prices with people who turned out to be undercover agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Mexican authorities seized a heat-guided FIM-92 Stinger missile, which can bring down a commercial airliner. They also tried to buy a Dragon Fire anti-tank missile launcher, the predecessor to the Javelin, and two shoulder-fired AT4, light anti-tank rocket launchers. Federal agents arrested all three individuals. In a news release at the time, Thomas Brandon with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was clear that criminal organizations and drug cartels based in Mexico continue to look towards the United States as a source of supply for firearms and in this case military grade weapons such as grenades, machine guns, and Man-Portable Air Defense. A view of bullet holes left by a gun battle after cartel gunmen clashed with federal forces in 2019. Seven years later, Mexican authorities seized a FIM-43 Redeye infrared-guided missile launcher which can down a fighter jet from a cartel member in the northern state of Chihuahua. Since 2018, the Mexican government has reported seizing a dozen rocket launchers and 56 grenade launchers from cartels. Criminal groups are not only increasing their firepower to fight the military, but also to target communities in southern states such as Michoacan and Guerrero to increase their territory by taking over land from farmers and rival cartels. Fernando Jose Ventura, a former Jalisco Cartel member who fled the criminal organization earlier this year, described to local news outlets and to USA TODAY how he watched 200 drone bombs dropped on one community over a 24-hour period. They bombed nonstop for an entire day, Ventura said. The Mexican military has deactivated more than 2,800 land mines since 2018, public records show, more than half of them in the past two years. Earlier this year, authorities in the western state of Michoacan also seized 117 homemade drone bombs from a factory owned by the Jalisco Cartel. The M134 minigun has begun appearing on crime scenes across the country as well a weapon with six barrels that can destroy a small car in minutes. Leaked Mexican military documents, shared with news outlets by the transparency organization DDO Secrets, show the defense ministry seized its first minigun in 2018. ATF Director Steven Dettelbach confirmed, at a forum last June, that cartels now have miniguns. Weapons like this present an extreme danger when they land in the hands of criminals, Dettelbach said. Theyre seeking a level of weaponry that outguns Mexican law enforcement. Steven M. Dettelbach listens during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Dettelbach as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in May 2022. Threats from U.S. officials known to crime bosses The increase in cartel firepower comes as some U.S. elected officials have sought to declare Mexican cartels terrorist organizations and have repeatedly suggested the U.S. should send the military to kill cartel leaders on their own turf. Republican Reps. Dan Crenshaw of Texas and Mike Waltz of Florida introduced legislation to that effect in Congress in 2022. And, in 2020, President Donald Trump floated the idea of bombing cartel-run fentanyl laboratories, according to a book by Mark Esper, his defense secretary at the time. Opinion: Should US send troops to fight Mexican drug cartels? It's not a good idea. More recently, Trump has said that if he is reelected, he will send Special Forces to kill drug lords in Mexico. Speaking through his ski mask in the back of the Sinaloa market, El Flaco was barely audible above the din of marketers outside and cars rumbling by. But he wanted to make one thing clear: The cartel is well aware of those threats and will not hesitate to fight back. That includes using a Javelin, if necessary. His bosses, he said, would not think twice to use it against (U.S. forces), if they dare enter the country. That would create a terrible war, El Flaco said. We dont let Mexican forces stop us, much less a foreign force. More: This small-town Oregon bricklayer had a side hustle: Gun supplier for Mexican drug cartel This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexican cartels boast of increased firepower, including US weapons Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, yet it is running out of water. It's a slow-motion disaster decades in the making, caused by a litany of issues including human-induced climate change. Residents are deeply concerned about the impending water crisis. In Mexico City, many treat every drop of water with the utmost care because there is no running water, and rain hasn't come amid drought. Water is purchased at a great cost for low-income families. Bernardo Nonato Corona, a resident of the hills surrounding Mexico City, told ABC News he spends 25% of his income on water. And his story is repeated millions of times in Mexico City's sprawling metropolis. VIDEO: Mexico Citys water crisis (ABCNews.com) "Water is very necessary and is used for everything," Corona said. "To drink it, for the maintenance of the house, for personal use, even for the plants themselves, since it doesn't rain and you have to water them because it uses up a lot." Over the past months and possibly even years, Mexico City's watershed has been experiencing a notable decrease in rainfall. The effects of this situation are now becoming increasingly visible, ABC News has found. For the first time, many people are openly questioning whether the city will face a water shortage soon. MORE: Streams that supply drinking water in danger following 2023 Supreme Court decision that stripped wetlands protections: Report A majority of Mexico City's water supply -- 60% to 70% -- is sourced from aquifers and geological formations of rock and/or sediment that store groundwater, according to Mexico citys water authority. A recent study found that as much as 5 million Olympic-sized pools of groundwater have been pumped out yearly for the past decade. The city now relies on rain to fill a reservoir, and groundwater levels are dwindling. However, the ongoing historic drought, exacerbated by human-caused climate change, means a long rainy season is no longer guaranteed, experts told ABC News. Enrique Lomnitz, founder of Isla Urbana, moved back to Mexico City after attending college in the United States to help his native country overcome its water crisis. He and his organization have been working to save Mexico City from completely losing water. "So the reservoirs are basically empty," Lomnitz said. "That's 30, 40% of the city's water that we're no longer getting or we're getting like a, like a trickle where we used to have a stream. So we're not recharging our aquifers. We're pumping an enormous, crazy amount of water out of the ground, because there's 22 million people over here. And that is the basis of the problem." Decades of underinvestment in Mexico City's water grid mean that about 40% of all water pumped through its pipes is lost due to leaks the water simply seeps into the ground. When it rains, the city pumps out billions of gallons of water to avoid flooding water that could theoretically be recycled. Mexico City's water system representatives did not respond to ABC News for comment. On the political front, Mexico's president-elect and former mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, held an event on the esplanade of the Coyoacan mayor's office in Mexico City on May 5, 2024, where she stated, "No scientist, because there is still no science that can do that, could predict this circumstance," in referencing the current water crisis. But scientists say droughts are inevitable and planning in advance is possible. At the same event Sheinbaum said, "We already know where the water is going to come from, how to invest, it is going to be the great investment that we are going to make in the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico." ABC News reached out to the Sheinbaum campaign to ask what the layout looks like. They did not reply to a request for comment. MORE: More than half of water from Colorado River used for agriculture industry, report finds As climate change continues, heat waves become more extreme, and droughts grow longer. Everything is at stake for people like Corona and millions more in Mexico City. "We don't think about our children, that if tomorrow, the way we are going, water will be more expensive and there will be more water shortages, Corona said. "So if we don't give a solution to the water issue, I don't know what will happen tomorrow with our children, our grandchildren." The city will have to use its water much more efficiently and sustainably to better prepare for future droughts. Due to a historic drought made worse by climate change, record heat and faulty infrastructure, Mexico City needs to improve its overall water usage. "I think it's an existential crisis for the city, but I think that people are incredibly adaptive," Lomnitz said. "I think people are very resilient. I think Mexico City's resilient. Mexico City's been through a whole lot of things. It's not over." Mexico City residents, faced with water crisis, resort to drastic measures originally appeared on abcnews.go.com State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) discusses Michigan legislation that supports the LGBTQ+ community during a roundtable in the Grand Rapids Pride Center on June 21, 2024. | Lucy Valeski Michigan lawmakers on Thursday cleared a bill that would bar the gay panic or trans panic legal defense, which has allowed defendants to argue that the discovery of a victims sexual orientation or gender identity justified the crime. House Bill 4718 will now head to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is expected to sign it. The gay panic defense has been used in cases to justify murder and violent assaults and is regarded by LGBTQ+ groups as permission from the legal system to regard members of the LGBTQ community as subhuman and deserving of violence. Bill sponsor state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) remembers being a preteen in 1998 when the death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard shook the country. Then-President Bill Clinton publicly decried the killing of the 21-year-old who was physically tortured and tied to a fence by two men who pretended to be gay in order to lure Shepard away from the bar they were at. When Matt Shepard was murdered, I wasnt out yet. I was very young, but it was the first time that I thought to myself that maybe I just shouldnt come out because it could clearly be deadly, and it can be dangerous, Pohutsky told the Advance on Thursday. The gay panic defense was unsuccessfully attempted by one of the men. Both men were sentenced to two life sentences for Shepards murder. During the sentencing of one of the killers, Shepards father, Dennis Shepard, said that it takes a unique person to tie up and murder his son who couldnt even ball up a proper fist until he was 13. When she became a lawmaker, Pohutsky said she was horrified to learn Michigan is in the majority of states that permit the gay panic defense. And though the defense is not used often, one researcher, Carsten Andresen from St. Edwards University found in 2020 that Michigan ranked sixth in states for highest concentration, with four cases between 1970 and 2020. Andreson told the Advance in September that further research has shown 10 cases in that time in the state. The American Bar Association is against the defense, advising that federal and local governments bar gay panic defenses as they suggest that violence against LGBT individuals is excusable. The use of a gay or trans panic defense deprives victims, their family, and their friends of dignity and justice. More broadly, it is designed to stir up and reinforce the anti-gay or anti-transgender emotions and stereotypes that led to the assault in the first place, an ABA resolution from 2013 says. The bill would not excuse any violence perpetrated by a member of the LGBT+ community, Pohutsky clarified to lawmakers during a Senate committee in March, when questions were raised that the bill might prevent individuals from pressing assaultive charges against individuals on the basis of their identity. At its core, the defense asserts that crimes against the LGBTQ community carry less weight because we are inherently less human and therefore less valuable, Pohutsky said. She added that if someone commits an assault, there are laws for victims to seek justice and a persons sexual or gender identity does not exempt them from those rules. Courts and the justice system are not the only arena LGBTQ+ people have been subject to unjust rules that set them aside as other, Emme Zanotti, advocacy and outreach director of Equality Michigan said. Zanotti pointed to President Joe Bidens recent pardon for U.S. military veterans who were discharged or convicted under military law for same sex relationships. Our Nations service members stand on the frontlines of freedom, and risk their lives in order to defend our country, Biden said in the written statement. Despite their courage and great sacrifice, thousands of LGBTQI+ service members were forced out of the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some of these patriotic Americans were subject to court-martial, and have carried the burden of this great injustice for decades. The ideologies held by institutions and decision makers that led to purging LGBTQ+ people from public service are the same ideologies that create things like LGBTQ panic defenses that legitimize violence against LGBTQ+ people on the grounds of them being LGBTQ+, Zanotti said. The banning of the gay panic defense is a big deal as the U.S. places high standing on the courts system, Zanotti said. For such a valued system to bar justification of violence against LGBT+ people says the state of Michigan will not condone and legitimize violence. The reality is this defense is used to justify violence against humans and to justify violence specifically against LGBTQ humans, Zanotti said. When we talk about creating a socially and physically safe country for everyone to live in here, eliminating this panic defense is critical. As someone who was a queer kid in the 1990s, theres something to be said about witnessing the impact of Shepards murder and the violence the LGBT+ community has faced and growing up to help make things better, Pohutsky said. So its personal for me and it means a lot to me just because, I dont know, I guess I hope that there is some other kid who has maybe been concerned about safety and coming out and I hope that they take this as a sign that this is a state where they are safe to be themselves, Pohutsky said. This passed along a party line vote in the House. We have a lot of work to do. Its not that its always safe. But there are people that are supportive of the community and want them to be able to call Michigan home without being in fear and thats what I hope for some other young queer kid at home that is scared. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Michigan lawmaker says bill banning the gay panic defense is personal for her appeared first on Michigan Advance. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said the media quickly turned on President Biden after his debate performance. Huckabee joined NewsNations On Balance with Leland Vittert Friday, where he said its hard to say how long Bidens performance will dominate the news cycle. I think the media has to accept some responsibility for the big lie that they have been telling for months now, and that is that Joe is top of his game, sharpest hes ever been, just absolutely amazing, Huckabee said. Huckabee argued that Thursdays debate performance, which was broadcast live on CNN, put the media back on their heels, and it had to admit that the 81-year-old Biden is not as ready to serve another term as previously thought. Bidens shaky debate performance caused panic among Democrats and prompted several news organizations to call for Biden to step aside Friday, letting someone else take on former President Trump. Vittert played a clip of the debate for Huckabee where Biden accused Trump of sleeping with a porn star. The former president became a convicted felon in May, on charges he falsified business documents to cover up hush money payments to an adult film star ahead of the 2016 election. It was a rare moment where Biden went after Trump on the stage and Trump barely reacted, going against Democrats hopes he would have an explosive performance. Huckabee said Trumps staff likely didnt have to tell him to reign it in because he sat through a trial for seven weeks. He didnt jump over the table and grab Judge Merchan by the neck, which Im sure he was tempted to do, he said. So, I think it was a good preparation and he realized there was nothing he needed to do to beat Joe Biden other than let Joe talk. He didnt take Joes bait, everyone thought he would. I didnt and he didnt, he concluded. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A million acres of ocean for offshore wind: 'Wow, that's awfully close to Cape Cod.' As a July 1 deadline approached for comments to be submitted to the federal government regarding a proposal to auction offshore wind leases in the Gulf of Maine including off the outermost Cape towns the region's leaders wanted more time to weigh in. The Cape & Islands Municipal Leaders Association, an organization of 105 elected officials representing all 22 towns on the Cape, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, has sent a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management requesting to extend the deadline to July 22. BOEM opened the public comment period on the proposed sale notice for leases on May 1, a day after announcing its plan for first-time ever offering of nearly a million ocean acres in the Gulf of Maine for offshore wind production. "This comment period extension will allow for additional public meetings to address comments and concerns and provide for a more streamlined permitting, construction and operation of what is likely the most significant investment in energy facilities ever to be made," the association's June 25 letter reads. From Bearberry Hill, miles of ocean can be seen Thursday off Ballston Beach in Truro. Eight potential offshore wind farm lease areas are proposed in the Gulf of Maine: three totaling 363,305 acres are due east of Wellfleet and Truro starting about 24 miles offshore. The letter also details 13 specific comments and concerns the organization has related to the leasing plan, including questions about potential installation of floating turbines, impacts on small fisheries and ports, and environmental effects, among others. Eight potential lease areas are proposed in the Gulf of Maine: three totaling 363,305 acres due east of Wellfleet and Truro starting about 24 miles offshore and stretching eastward, three due east of Boston, beyond the eastern boundary of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, and two due east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and southeast of Portland, Maine. Those areas have the potential to generate 15 gigawatts of renewable energy, which would power more than five million homes, according to the federal agency. It's possible that some turbines would be visible, given very clear conditions and depending on the final height of the structures, from the Atlantic Ocean bluffs in Truro. On Thursday, Cape & Islands Municipal Leaders Association President Douglas Brown said the first formal presentation the organization had about the plans for the Gulf of Maine was at its annual meeting on Martha's Vineyard on June 14. "A couple of days before the meeting, I got an email from somebody at BOEM, and he asked if they could join us," he said. That's when the region's leaders first realized as a group how much of a stake the region has, he said. "They came in and they showed us the lease areas," Brown said. "Somebody after the meeting came over and said 'wow, that's awfully close to Cape Cod, not like I expected it to be for the Gulf of Maine." The container ship MSC SAGITTA III makes its way off Truro on its way from New York to Halifax, Nova Scotia Thursday morning. He said despite some notices from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management prior to June about the impending "Gulf of Maine" proposed sale notice, many missed a full understanding of just how far the area extended. In his mind, the Gulf ends at the top of Cape Cod, and the waters east of the Cape are open Atlantic Ocean. "I guess it (the Gulf) ends in Chatham now," he said. Six of the eight proposed lease areas "are closer to Cape Cod than they are to Maine," he said. "I don't know when there was a BOEM meeting about this on Cape Cod," Brown said. "There's a lot of stuff that we need to think about and talk about it." The July 22 public comment period extension the Cape Cod and Islands leaders are asking for coincides with another public comment period for a draft environmental assessment that just opened on June 21. The assessment considers site characterization surveys such as biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples as well as installation of meteorological buoys expected to occur following issuance of leases, according to the agency. As for the public comments on the lease sites, at this time closing July 1, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is specifically seeking feedback on various aspects of the proposed lease areas, including size, orientation and location of the eight lease areas and which areas, if any, should be prioritized for inclusion or exclusion from this year's scheduled lease sale. To submit comments, visit Regulations.gov. In the search box, enter BOEM-2024-0026 for the comments section on the lease sites, click search and follow the instructions to submit public comments. To submit comments on the draft environmental assessment, enter BOEM-2024-0030 into the search box. Virtual meetings are also scheduled for reviewing the draft environmental assessment, on Monday, July 8 at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, July 10 at 5 p.m. Registration links for each meeting are available at www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/maine/gulf-maine Heather McCarron can be reached at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on X @HMcCarron_CCT The Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape & Islands leaders seek more time to comment on offshore wind plan Mine cut off from power grid in Donetsk Oblast because of Russian attacks Russian attacks have damaged an overhead power transmission line in Donetsk Oblast. The substation, household consumers and a mine connected to it have been cut off from the power grid. Source: Ministry of Energy of Ukraine Details: At the time of the outage, 73 workers were in the mine, and they were brought to the surface. All consumers have been reconnected. In addition, a metal ball with a diameter of 15 cm was found on the territory of one of the high-voltage substations in Lviv Oblast; it was a fragment of a cluster munition from a Russian Kh-101 missile. The State Emergency Service removed the munition from the substation. A Russian attack caused a simultaneous power outage for 413 consumers in six settlements in Chernihiv Oblast. On 28 June, Ukraine additionally received emergency assistance from the power systems of Poland, Romania and Slovakia to partially cover the electricity deficit. For the current day, electricity imports are forecast at 35,203 MWh. No exports are expected. Background: On Saturday, 29 June, rolling power outages will be applied throughout the day from 00:00 to 24:00. Support UP or become our patron! Calling all mouseburgers its time for a massive mindset change. Helen Gurley Brown, the legendary editor of Cosmopolitan, teased out this term in 1982 to describe regular women who didnt believe they could have the things that attractive, go-getter women did. Brown told them they really could have it all if they applied themselves, a revolutionary message that has resonated for decades. But that message doesnt work in todays demanding workplace culture. In her new book, The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning, Samhita Mukhopadhyay, the former executive editor of Teen Vogue, rips apart this view as old-fashioned. She canvasses the state of women in the workplace from the 1960s to today, sharing her own experiences along the way. What if we finally said, Enough is enough, she writes. I have what I need I do not need it all. I refuse to do it all; stop trying to make me! Wanting it all has driven women to the brink struggling with mental and physical health issues because they have been sold a false bill of goods about what makes a happy, prosperous life, according to Mukhopadhyay. Making it is a myth to me, not because I didnt make it, she told Yahoo Finance. I did make it, and Im still making it. The problem is that she still works too much. She has a hard time doing all the things that need to get done instead of thinking about the bigger picture of what makes for a successful life. Here's what Mukhopadhyay had to say about why women must fundamentally change how they think about work, edited for length and clarity: Kerry Hannon: Samhita, why this book right now? I was at the apex of my career. I had worked really hard to get to this position, but I didn't have a language to talk about why I wasn't feeling content in not just the role, but where I was in terms of mental health and my own stamina and burnout. Even though on paper I had made it, what was I really doing? I started to talk to other women about the same experience, and I realized that almost all of us had been told that if we work hard, we will get where we want to go. We will get everything we want in life. But many women were not feeling satisfied with their job. They didn't feel like they had the stability and the kind of career success that they should have considering how much work they'd put in and how much they had sacrificed. They look like they have it all, but they felt like they were failures because they weren't doing everything perfectly that they were tasked with doing. Author Samhita Mukhopadhyay (righ) talks about the myth that for women a little personal hustle, negotiating, work ethic, and good time management can overcome any hurdle that you experience in the workplace. (Photo credit: Monnelle Britt) ((Photo credit:Monnelle Brit)) What is corporate feminism and why is it setting us up to fail? Its the idea that a little personal hustle, negotiating, work ethic, and good time management can overcome any hurdle that you experience in the workplace whether it be unequal treatment, sexual harassment, lower pay, being looked over for promotion all of that can be overcome by personal hard work and being focused. Story continues It pushes women and incentivizes them to internalize that they can just overcome these hurdles. But what we need is to come together to overcome some of these workplace inequality issues. With corporate feminism, women end up competing against each other. You say there's one seat for a woman at the table and that seats for me. What does real success in the workplace for women look like? Women need to recalibrate what success means. Success is obviously an individual decision and scale of how you determine it. So far, the way that we've measured that is promotions, your salary, how much you negotiate when you come in the door. What if we broadened that to really say success is when women don't do the majority of the care work in the home, and women are paid equitably and aren't looked over for promotion when they decide to have a child. There's been this separation between what workplace success is and what are the conditions that women need to be successful. I don't think the problem is that women aren't working hard enough. I don't know a single lazy girl. I know a lot of women who would love a little bit more free time. What is the modern mindset counterpoint to Browns you can have it all? We know it's not true, but somehow it still determines the conversation. We still say, you can have it all.but maybe not at the same time. I am fascinated by how we sold to women this idea that they could have it all, and then when they couldn't successfully do it all, made them feel like failures. It was a progressive message at the time, but remember Helen Gurley Brown didnt have children. Why is the girl boss out now? It was the movement in the startup space for women-run businesses that were feminist-themed, but not necessarily feminist per se. There was a real interest in it from venture capital, but the facades started to fall apart. Some of the practices weren't necessarily egalitarian. But the uproar was a backlash against women's ambition, as I see it. There were a handful of girl bosses who didn't have a perfect company. But how many boy bosses create toxic environments, raise millions of dollars, burn that money, and fail? You don't see these full-throated investigations of their personal lives and their behaviors. The essence of girl boss is not really gone. Women are still motivated and ambitious. And starting your own business is still a way to get ahead. But lets start by not calling women "girls." What accelerated the awareness of the myth of having it all during the pandemic? The cracks showed during the pandemic when childcare was no longer available, and it was really clear that women were still doing the majority of childcare. Many had to step back from their careers because their husbands made more money, so it made more sense to keep his job, or it was just not tenable to do homeschooling while working and maintaining the house. Its hard to do all of it: raising your children, being present for them, being part of your household while also being really ambitious and motivated and not be exhausted all the time. Many successful women look like they have it all, but they felt like they were failures because they weren't doing everything perfectly that they were tasked with doing, according to Mukhopadhyay. (Getty Creative) (Peopleimages via Getty Images) How has the workplace for women changed since Browns time? In todays workplace, the more ambitious you are, the more you're expected to work, the higher you go in your company. Now you're checking emails at 6 a.m., and then you're feeding your kids and getting them off to school, and then you're at the office, and then you might leave at 6. And then you pick up your kids, and then you're checking emails at 9 p.m., and it's just exhausting. It's unsustainable. What can we do better? It's twofold. There's a mindset shift, which is both individual and collective, where we start to say, what does it mean to have enough? What does it mean to be successful? What is going to give me a satisfying and happy life? For me, I had all the elements to have a happy life, so why was I not happy? Why did I not have the things that you're supposed to have when you work that hard? Its fine to say that work is too stressful. I need to emotionally unplug, or I'm just doing this job for money. But most people want to feel impactful in their life. They want to do things that have meaning, and I heard that from women who work in a fast food chain to the CEO of a company. Alone we can't actually change a lot of these things. But the big issue is: How do we create these environments that allow people to feel that they can bring their full selves to work? It's not actually beneficial for your bottom line to have people stressed out and under-resourced. Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon. Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Colette Peters, the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 13, 2023, that conditions in federal prisons have improved in the past year (Caspar Benson/Getty Images). Four former Missouri correctional officers face murder charges and a fifth is charged with involuntary manslaughter for the December death of a man incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Othel Moore, 38, was pepper-sprayed in the face multiple times, had his face improperly covered by a hood that blocked his nose and mouth and left unattended in a cell for more than 30 minutes, documents filed Friday in Cole County Circuit Court state. Moore, who suffered from asthma, screamed at officers that he could not breathe as he was being transported to the cell, the documents state. He died on the morning of Dec. 8. Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson charged Justin Leggins, 34, of Cadet, Jacob Case, 31, of Desloge, and Aaron Brown, 24, and Gregory Varner, 34, both of Park Hills, with second degree assault and second degree murder. Thompson charged Bryanne Bradshaw, 25, of Jefferson City with involuntary manslaughter in the second degree. Leggins was hired by the department in 2022, according to information on the Missouri Accountability Portal. Case worked for the department in 2014 and 2015 and returned in 2020. Brown was hired in 2021. Varner worked for the department from 2014 to 2016 and returned in 2019. Bradshaw started in 2018. All five had been arrested or surrendered to authorities by Friday afternoon, Thompson said. No information was available indicating whether the officers have hired attorneys. Four corrections officers were fired in March during the investigation of Moores death. The warden of the Jefferson City Correctional Center was terminated as an employee of the department earlier this month. The autopsy of Moore ruled his death was due to positional asphyxiation and the death was determined to be a homicide, documents filed with the case state. The sheriffs department did a very thorough investigation and when we set down and reviewed all the evidence available, that is what led us to those charges, Thompson said in an interview with The Independent. The charges, highly unusual in an inmate death case, were first reported by the Associated Press. Thompson said he has some cases of inmate-on-inmate violence pending, but no other cases involving correctional officers assaulting inmates. Right now we have two offender-on-offender homicides, and we have had those in the past as well, Thompson said. In a press release, Thompson said Moores death was linked to a Corrections Emergency Response Team operation to sweep one of the housing units for contraband. Moore was pepper sprayed twice during the operation before being placed in a spit hood, leg wrap and restraint chair and transferred to a separate housing unit, where he was left in the hood, wrap, and restraint chair for approximately 30 minutes. The probable cause statements for each of the five describe their role in Moores death. Leggins was present outside Moores cell during the operation. Moore spoke to another inmate and Leggins told him to remain silent. The victim looked back over his shoulder without moving any other part of his body and asked the suspect why he had to be quiet, Sgt. Greg Henson of the Cole County Sheriffs Department wrote in the probable cause statement on Leggins charges. lt was at this point Leggins raised a fogger canister of pepper spray and deployed it from a very close distance into the face of the victim. The spraying violated department policies that the inmate had to be a danger to the officer or other inmates, Henson wrote. This unwarranted reckless behavior inflicted undue suffering and pain on the victim, Henson wrote. Case pepper sprayed Moore in the face as he lay on the ground. During the initial interview Case stated he pepper sprayed the victim in the face while he was on the ground at the top of the staircase for not following directives to stop resisting, Det. Aaron Roberts of the sheriffs office wrote in the court documents. Brown placed the mask on Moores face, Deputy Merideth Freeeman wrote in his probable cause statement. He claimed Moore was spitting at corrections officers, which other officers denied. Brown placed the spit mask on the victims head without allowing him the opportunity to decontaminate from the pepper spray even though the victim was fully restrained and cooperative at the time, Freeman wrote, noting that he placed it improperly, blocking Moores nose and mouth. Varner supervised the placement of Moore into a restraint device while masked. During my interview with Varner, he confirms that by the time the victim reached the bottom level after being sprayed multiple times, he was yelling that he couldnt breathe, and that the victim was saying he had asthma, Henson wrote in a probable cause statement. Bradshaw was the highest ranking officer in the unit where Moore was taken in restraint. When he arrived at about 7:50 a.m. that morning, he was in distress. Sgt. Bradshaw stated that when Moore arrived he was yelling and screaming and although she said she couldnt understand what he was saying, she said he could have been saying he couldnt breathe or was in distress, Henson wrote. Additionally, Bradshaw said she knew Moore from previous encounters, and didnt think he would be making up medical issues if thats what he was trying to relay when yelling. Moore was placed in a locked room, restrained and masked. He was not checked on until he was unresponsive about 8:20 a.m. that day. Prison reform activist Michelle Smith had not heard about the charges when contacted Friday. The fact that theyve absolutely been charged, yes, thats amazing, Smith said. I appreciate it. I think that it is necessary, and you know, it will serve to get the information out to the public. Smith organized a vigil in January to highlight the growing number of deaths among inmates. Moores death was one of 135 in Missouris state prisons in 2023, according to Missouri Prison Reform . The number of deaths have been rising even as prison populations fall. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE From 2012 to 2014, department data shows, there was an average of 31,442 incarcerated people in state prisons. Deaths averaged 89 per year. Over the period 2020 through 2022, with an average of 23,409 incarcerated people in state prisons, deaths averaged 122 per year. Many of the deaths are natural, but they also include increasing numbers of overdose deaths. The Moore investigation should not end with the criminal charges, Smith said. The way prisoners who told his family about his death were treated needs to be addressed as well, she said. The person who called the sister and told her he was killed, they put him in the hole, Smith said. They retaliated against several men and put them in the hole who were talking about it. The post Missouri corrections officers charged with murder in death of inmate in restraints appeared first on Missouri Independent. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) vetoed a bill Friday that would fund a safety initiative for gun-detection equipment in schools. The $2.5 million grant proposal Parson rejected was one of 173 line-item vetoes he announced when he was signing a roughly $50 billion state budget, The Associated Press reported. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) vetoed a similar measure in May. The company behind both proposals is ZeroEyes, a firm founded by military veterans after the deadly 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The AP noted other companies offer similar gun surveillance systems, but the Kansas bill included specific criteria that ZeroEyes competitors dont meet. The Missouri bill was less specific. The use of the veto pen is not something Parson exercises eagerly, but his vetoes are meant to represent the elimination of unnecessary pet projects and the protection of the taxpayer dime, he said in a statement released Friday. The governor added that he made approximately $1 billion worth of cuts to the state budget proposal. Parson told lawmakers the legislation appears to describe a specific vendors platform, and that the state should follow purchasing laws instead of contracting with a particular vendor in a letter explaining his veto, The AP reported. Kelly had also rejected the Kansas legislation out of concern it would provide ZeroEyes the exclusive opportunity to be the seller. The new detection systems were laudable, but we should not hamstring districts by limiting this funding to services provided by one company, she said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson begins the annual State of the State speech to a joint session of the legislature on Wednesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). More than 170 items were struck from the Missouri state budget Friday as Gov. Mike Parson cut $1 billion from the spending plan passed this year by lawmakers. In a statement explaining his cuts, Parson said he vetoed earmarked items that he believes were loaded into the budget for special projects and organizations without considering the future financial stability of the state. 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, Parson said in a news release announcing his budget actions. We may be leaving $1.9 billion on the bottom line, but that doesnt mean we spend for the sake of spending. It was the second year in a row Parson cut the budget despite near-record surpluses. One of the biggest cuts was $150 million in general revenue that was part of a $727.5 million plan for expanding Interstate 44 in southwest Missouri. The cut leaves $577.5 million available, with $363 million coming from borrowed money. Other projects, large and small, that Parson did not approve include grants to not-for-profit organizations, support for local projects and set-asides that targeted a single vendor for a state purchase. Many of the individual items carried a warning that the fund being tapped was grossly overappropriated, that it was a local responsibility or that the long-term financial health of the state required the cut. A new education law will cost an estimated $400 million more annually for public schools when fully implemented, with the foundation formula estimated to cost $300 million more in fiscal 2026, Parson wrote in a message repeated several times. We have obligations both this year and in future years that must be accounted for today to avoid future budgetary pains tomorrow, Parson said in the news release. The budget $50.5 billion for state operations in the year that begins Monday has several spending initiatives that Parson did approve. He requested several of them and accepted others added by lawmakers. Almost $700 million for roads including the $577.5 million for I-44, $150 million to widen U.S. 67 through Butler County and $40 million for construction on U.S. 65 from Buffalo to Warsaw. Full funding of the states 75% share of school transportation costs for the third year in a row. The transportation support has not been fully funded for almost 30 years until the budget surplus started growing. A 3% increase in funding for state colleges and universities, plus $367 million in new funding to complete construction projects begun in 2022 or for new campus construction. A 3.2% pay raise for state employees. A boost in state grants to support teacher pay to make the minimum salary $40,000. In May, Parson signed a bill mandating the $40,000 minimum salary for all districts. $1.5 billion in federal grant awards to expand broadband access in rural areas. $56 million for public and charter schools to provide Pre-Kindergarten programs to all students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Parson left in place initiatives he called for, such as increased rates for child care providers, even if the budget did not fund them at the levels he requested. Some of the vetoed items have become targets for criticism, including $12.5 million to purchase land for a state park in McDonald County inserted into the budget by state Rep. Dirk Deaton of Noel. Parson also vetoed $1 million to assist Deatons hometown recover from the closure of a Tyson plant. The state has helped plan job fairs and sought to market the Tyson plant site, the veto message states. Beyond all of these efforts, the state has been unable to determine the intended use of these specific funds, Parson wrote. There were other items vetoed because there was too little information about how the money would be used. For one, $502,000 to support an historical society that operates a museum and a cemetery, the administration had no information at all. The demographic language is not specific enough to identify where this project is located, Parson wrote. Some of the items vetoed were repeats from last year. One of those items was $8 million for a law enforcement training center in OFallon in St. Charles County. That project is built on a partnership that includes commitments from five different counties from the region, Parson wrote. Whereas the state senators that represent the county in which this facility is located voted against (the spending bill), this leads my administration to believe that there is not widespread, regional support for this training facility. St. Charles is represented by state Sens. Bill Eigel of Weldon Spring and Nick Schroer of Defiance, members of the Freedom Caucus group that disrupted plans for orderly debate on the budget with a 41-hour filibuster. Let us know what you think... One of the smaller earmarked items that was vetoed was $38,000 for sales tax refunds sought by state Sen. Mike Moon of Ash Grove. The refunds were for taxes found to be owed when the interpretation of tax law changed because of a court ruling. None of the items cut were vetoed because the state lacks money. On May 31, the general revenue fund held $4.8 billion and there was $1.6 billion in the bank in other funds that could be spent like general revenue. There are also funds set aside for major projects that are not so far along that they couldnt be stopped, like $600 million set aside for expanding the state Capitol Building. Parsons administration put out a two-page summary seeking to dispel the idea that the state has substantial surplus cash. There are large fund balances, the document states, but there are also large pending obligations that will draw down those balances. Reductions in revenue and increased ongoing expenditures approved by recent legislation mean we have obligations beyond the current fiscal year that rely on Missouris fund balance in the future, the summary states. Parsons budget office projects a $1.9 billion general revenue balance on June 30, 2025. The budget passed by lawmakers spent $50.9 billion total on state operations, with $15.2 million from general revenue. Parson said in the news release that he cut that to $50.5 billion total for operations and $14.9 billion in general revenue. The budget is based on a projection for $13.1 billion in general revenue receipts. That means an accumulated surplus must be tapped to fill the gaps on ongoing operations, but there are trends that will reduce the drawdown. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Last June 30, Missouri had a general revenue surplus of $5.1 billion, $1.3 billion more than had been projected when the budget for that fiscal year was written. Parsons budget proposal from January projected it would decline to $3.2 billion when the current year ends Sunday and stand at $1.6 billion on June 30, 2025. Those estimates were based on a slight decline in revenues this year, but through Thursday collections are up 1.1%, which will add a small amount to the surplus. The state has collected $94 million more in general revenue in the current year, $13.3 billion total so far, than in fiscal 2023. The estimate for almost flat revenue in the coming year is unchanged, Budget Director Dan Haug said Friday in an email to The Independent. That would mean approximately $200 million would be available during the coming fiscal year that is not anticipated in the original budget. The other factor reducing the draw on general revenue and other state funds is understaffing at state agencies, in some cases more than 10% down from authorized strength. Working to reduce state revenue are pending tax cuts. If this fiscal year ends with revenue exceeding last years total by $200 million, it would trigger a reduction in the top income tax rate of 0.1%, to 4.7%, on Jan. 1. The increase through Thursday isnt enough to trigger the refund but there are collections to come. We wont, Haug said, be able to make that calculation until after we see what final collections will be. The post Missouri governor slashes $1 billion from state budget approved by lawmakers appeared first on Missouri Independent. By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI (Reuters) - In an election campaign dominated by hardliners, Iranian presidential hopeful Massoud Pezeshkian stood out as a moderate, backing women's rights, more social freedoms, cautious detente with the West and economic reform. Pezeshkian narrowly beat hardline Saeed Jalili for first place in Friday's first round vote but the two men will now face a run-off election on July 5, since Pezeshkian did not secure the majority of 50% plus one vote of ballots cast needed to win outright. Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old cardiac surgeon, lawmaker and former health minister was up against candidates who more closely reflect the fiercely anti-Western stance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's ultimate decision-maker. And yet the mild-mannered Pezeshkian narrowly won Friday's vote and made it to the run-off in the election to pick a successor to Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May. His chances hinge on attracting votes from supporters of current hardline parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who finished third in the first round, and encouraging a young disillusioned population hungry for change but disenchanted with the country's political, social and economic crisis to vote for him again in the run-off. Although he advocates reforms, Pezeshkian is faithful to Iran's theocratic rule with no intention of confronting the powerful security hawks and clerical rulers. His views offer a contrast to those of Raisi, a Khamenei protege who tightened enforcement of a law curbing women's dress and took a tough stance in now-moribund negotiations with major powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal. Pezeshkian's election campaign gained momentum when he was endorsed by reformists, led by former President Mohammad Khatami, and when he appointed former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a key figure in crafting the nuclear deal, as his foreign policy adviser. Implicitly referring to the appointment of Zarif, who hardliners accuse of selling out Iran in order to reach the deal, Khamenei said on Tuesday: "Anyone who is attached to America will not be a good colleague for you". In 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump ditched the pact and reimposed sanctions on Iran, calling it "a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made." His move prompted Tehran to progressively violate the agreement's nuclear limits. If Pezeshkian does go on to win, this would hinder Iranian hardliners who are opposed to the revival of the pact. However, under Iran's dual system of clerical and republican rule the power to shape key state policies including foreign and nuclear affairs ultimately rests with Khamenei. As a result, many voters are sceptical about Pezeshkian's ability to fulfil his campaign promises. "Pezeshkian's power as the president to fulfil his campaign promises is zero," said Sholeh Mousavi, a 32-year-old teacher in Tehran, before Friday's first round of voting. "I want reforms but Pezeshkian cannot improve the situation. I will not vote. " Pezeshkian, the sole moderate among the six candidates who were approved by a hardline watchdog body to stand, has pledged to foster a pragmatic foreign policy and ease nuclear tensions with the West. Two hardline subsequently candidates pulled out. A CRITIC LOYAL TO KHAMENEI At the same time, Pezeshkian promised in TV debates and interviews not to contest Khamenei's policies, which analysts said risks further alienating the urban middle class and young voters. These groups no longer seek mere reform and instead now directly challenge the Islamic Republic as a whole. As a lawmaker since 2008, Pezeshkian, who is an Azeri ethnic minority and supports the rights of ethnic minorities, has criticised the clerical establishment's suppression of political and social dissent. In 2022, Pezeshkian demanded clarification from authorities about the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died in custody after she was arrested for allegedly violating a law restricting women's dress. Her death sparked months of unrest across the country. But at a Tehran University meeting earlier this month, responding to a question about students imprisoned on charges linked to anti-government protests, Pezeshkian said "political prisoners are not within my scope, and if I want to do something, I have no authority". During the Iran-Iraq war in 1980s, Pezeshkian, who held roles as both a combatant and a physician, was tasked with the deployment of medical teams to the front lines. He was health minister from 2001-5 in Khatami's second term. Pezeshkian lost his wife and one of his children in a car accident in 1994. He raised his surviving two sons and a daughter alone, opting to never remarry. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by William Maclean and Frances Kerry) Mark Lee Dickson (far right), director of Right to Life East Texas, prays in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Mark Lee Dickson says hes been home maybe once in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court vanished federal abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. The 38-year-old director of Right to Life of East Texas in Longview has been on an endless road trip trying to set legal traps for people who are driving someone out of state to get an abortion. The native Texan said he drives from town to town attending pregnancy-center banquets, mens prayer breakfasts, Republican womens club meetings, Catholic fish fries and the rodeo, trying to convince local lawmakers and potential citizen petitioners to make their cities and counties so-called sanctuaries for the unborn, stretching local law to restrict abortion in as many ways as possible such as restricting travel and medical waste disposal to potentially provoke an eventual lawsuit. I find myself in a variety of different places, wherever the Lord takes me, Dickson told States Newsroom. Many of the pregnant residents in the rural areas Dickson goes to struggle with lack of access to maternal care, but Dickson likens himself to Batman on a vigilante quest to save embryos and fetuses from abortion. Reproductive justice organizers and attorneys whove spent the last two years fighting to restore reproductive health care access throughout the U.S. liken Dickson to a reincarnated version of 19th century anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock, whose eponymous anti-obscenity law Dickson has been wielding as one of many tools to fast-track a national abortion ban. Two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned and four months away from a presidential election, one of the biggest threats to abortion rights is a federal administration willing to enforce and reinterpret the dormant Comstock Act to criminalize the mailing of abortion-related drugs, medical equipment and information. But abortion providers and advocates say that even without Comstock, monitoring and policing of pregnant women and information is already here, thanks to activists like Dickson, whose proposed city ordinances allow residents to sue anyone suspected of helping someone get an abortion. I have a whole lot of friends that spend time on the sidewalks of abortion facilities throughout America, Dickson said. And Ive told these friends, if you ever meet someone from Abilene, Texas, that is seeking out an abortion in New Mexico, use the sanctuary city ordinance as a deterrent as much as you can. Rising Comstocks Dicksons partner in the endeavor to broadly criminalize abortion in every state, one city at a time, is Jonathan F. Mitchell, the onetime solicitor general of Texas, who is also counsel for former President Donald Trump. Along with these sanctuary cities ordinances, together they helped draft Senate Bill 8, a blueprint for largely banning abortion in Texas in 2021 by authorizing citizens to sue those suspected of providing or assisting with an abortion. And since Roe fell, they have been pushing a version of the Comstock Act that historians and legal scholars say never existed. Legal scholars Reva Siegel and Mary Ziegler in their forthcoming article about the old law write that Anthony Comstock was focused on preventing illicit sex and pornography, not on preserving fetal life. The religious zealot was known for bringing dildos, contraceptives, and pornography to testify before state and local lawmakers about the need for anti-obscenity laws. The statute is a ban on obscenity, not criminalization of health care, Siegel, a professor at Yale Law School, told States Newsroom. And when you listen to the revivalists, they just talk about Comstock as an absolute ban as if it has no exceptions. Thats just not true in light of the text or the history. But that doesnt really matter to Dickson and Mitchell. Through their Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn project, Dickson and Mitchell have helped pass approximately 80 ordinances in cities and counties in seven states, mostly in Texas, but also in strategically located cities in abortion-access states, like New Mexico, where a challenge to ordinances that cite the Comstock Act currently awaits a ruling from the state supreme court and could eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Where Anthony Comstock had the financial backing of the YMCA and was elevated to power as a special agent of the U.S. Post Office, the influential conservative think tank Heritage Foundation is pushing Mitchell and Dicksons version of Comstock in its plan for a potential future Trump administration to go after providers and distributors of abortion pills. Mitchell has received some financial support in 2023 and 2022 from the Christian right law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, which brought the recent abortion pill case before the Supreme Court. Dickson said he wants these ordinances to go even further, such as opening up lawsuits to rideshare companies. But immediately on the agenda, he said, is to try to use Comstock to challenge state abortion-rights ballot initiatives. There are many ways the Comstock Act can be used to help inoculate pro-abortion ballot initiatives in states like Arizona and Nebraska, Dickson said. A lot is planned between now and November, I can say that. Mitchell, who did not respond to an interview request, is currently defending the right of Texas professors to penalize students who miss class to obtain an abortion. That new lawsuit will be heard by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, whose opinion last year advanced a challenge to an abortion pill and cited Comstock as a valid argument. Though the U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected the mifepristone case, new challenges to the abortion pill continue, as does increased support for anti-abortion Comstock arguments from federal judges like 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge James Ho and Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Meanwhile, longtime anti-abortion groups like Operation Rescue, which led clinic blockades in the 1980s and 1990s, continue to apply old-school surveillance and monitoring tactics. Based in Wichita, Kansas, president Troy Newman said his group maintains a sidewalk presence at abortion clinics in Wichita, and regularly files public records requests for 911 calls, which they post online. They also publish detailed reports on thousands of abortion providers in the U.S., referring to them as the abortion cartel. Newman told States Newsroom that the goal is not to target women getting abortions, but to report potential abortion-clinic violations in order to shut down clinics that since Dobbs have relocated to states without abortion bans. I dont think we can keep track of them all, but we have people feeding us information on a daily basis, Newman said. Siegel and Ziegler argue comstockery is a threat to democracy, as it depends on suppressing freedom and promoting government censorship. Comstock famously helped imprison women who disseminated information about birth control and abortion, some who later died by suicide. Revivalists hope to chill the exercise of rights already recognized in positive law, including state constitutional protections and the right to travel, Siegel and Ziegler write. Further, by disparaging reproductive rights and intimidating those who seek to exercise them, Comstock revivalists seek to short circuit an ongoing process of popular constitutional meaning-making that has unfolded in state ballot initiatives, state courts, and grassroots movements. Resisting Comstocks Many legal experts argue that Comstock would be a difficult law to defend even with a partially willing U.S. Supreme Court; however, the effects of even temporary enforcement could rock reproductive health care throughout the U.S. even more than it has since Dobbs. After initial discouragement from national reproductive rights groups, Democrats in Congress this month finally introduced a bill to repeal Comstock, though it is unlikely to advance before the election. New Republic staff writer Melissa Gira Grant and Harvard Law lecturer Kendra Albert last month coalesced historians, attorneys, organizers, and journalists at a one-day summit at Harvard Law School called ComstockCon to unite against modern-day Comstocks from further constricting abortion rights. Grant said the criminalization of sex and pregnancy has long been borne by more marginalized groups, including people of color, sex workers and people who are trans or living in poverty. She said that the reproductive justice movement now more than ever needs solidarity. We know that those eager rising modern-day Comstocks, the Jonathan Mitchells of the world and others, theyre in this fight for the long term, Grant said. We know that they regard so many of us as obscene for who we are, how we are, and how we want to be. If they see the suppression of all of us as one fight, then that should be a point of solidarity for us. And many called for resistance to the dead letter and legally dubious anti-abortion deterrent laws. You have to keep pushing now, said one of the panelists, Renee Bracey Sherman, founder of We Testify, which lifts up peoples abortion stories. There will always be another ban. Its not going to stop us from talking, from sending pills. Ban by deterrence To date, no civil lawsuit has been filed under SB 8 or a sanctuary city ordinance, Dickson said. But, as the Texas Tribune has reported, Mitchell has filed petitions (under a little-known state rule) to depose abortion funds, providers, researchers and despite assurances that these laws wont punish women having abortions women who left the state to get an abortion. These past few months, Dickson has been in Amarillo mobilizing anti-abortion activists to make their high-trafficked roads illegal for the purposes of interstate abortion-related travel. Embedded in the Amarillo ordinance is a reference to the Comstock Act. Petitioners gathered enough signatures to force the city council to vote on the measure, but abortion-rights advocates fiercely campaigned against the ordinance. After the council rejected the proposal earlier this month, Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley said the city doesnt have the authority to enforce the ordinance a point with which Dickson vehemently agrees and said he spent hours explaining to the mayor. The whole point of these ordinances, Dickson said, is that they allow for citizen lawsuits, not government enforcement. He admits that they function largely as deterrents, to chill abortion-related activity even in states where its legal. And its working, he said, noting that in the year before Dobbs, most doctors stopped providing abortions in Texas after the 2021 so-called vigilante law. One who didnt was Dr. Alan Braid, and though he was sued, those lawsuits were dismissed. After Dobbs, however, Braid relocated his abortion practice to New Mexico and told NPR earlier this year that his Albuquerque clinic had higher no-show rates, which he partially attributed to people scared to drive through Lubbock because of its abortion-travel ban. These ordinances are doing exactly what theyre intended to do, Dickson said. I liken it to an armed security officer at the bank who serves as a deterrent. He doesnt have to fire his gun in order for him to be viewed as an effective method of protecting the interest of the bank. But theres another purpose to these ordinances, too, particularly Amarillos, which anti-abortion petitioners are still trying to get on the November ballot. Amarillo is the home of Kacsmaryks court, where anti-abortion attorneys have been filing their strategic lawsuits since Dobbs. Dickson said he and Mitchell are eager to make it a so-called sanctuary city as a way of arguing for legal standing in the cases to come. Lindsay London, a nurse who co-founded the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, which has been fighting the ordinance, said she resents having her native city used as a strategic chess piece. She said her coalition includes Amarillo Republicans skeptical of government overreach and is confident that, if given the opportunity, her fellow residents will vote down this law, which she said would be harmful to the community. It creates a culture of fear and mistrust, London said. The last thing that people need to be concerned about when theyre moving through a difficult situation is, is someone that they trust or a neighbor or anything like that going to use that vulnerable situation to try and sue them? Positing neighbor upon neighbor is not how we create healthy communities. Elisha Brown contributed to this report. The post Modern-day Comstocks look to police travel, information as another strategy to end abortion appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21: (L-R) Rev. Pat Mahoney, Peggy Nienaber of Faith and Liberty and Mark Lee Dickson of Right to Life East Texas pray in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. Organized by The Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution, the small group of demonstrators called on the Supreme Court to affirm Federal District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's ruling that suspends the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Mark Lee Dickson says hes been home maybe once in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court vanished federal abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. The 38-year-old director of Right to Life of East Texas in Longview has been on an endless road trip trying to set legal traps for people who are driving someone out of state to get an abortion. The native Texan said he drives from town to town attending pregnancy-center banquets, mens prayer breakfasts, Republican womens club meetings, Catholic fish fries and the rodeo, trying to convince local lawmakers and potential citizen petitioners to make their cities and counties so-called sanctuaries for the unborn, stretching local law to restrict abortion in as many ways as possible such as restricting travel and medical waste disposal to potentially provoke an eventual lawsuit. I find myself in a variety of different places, wherever the Lord takes me, Dickson told States Newsroom. Many of the pregnant residents in the rural areas Dickson goes to struggle with lack of access to maternal care, but Dickson likens himself to Batman on a vigilante quest to save embryos and fetuses from abortion. Reproductive justice organizers and attorneys whove spent the last two years fighting to restore reproductive health care access throughout the U.S. liken Dickson to a reincarnated version of 19th century anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock, whose eponymous anti-obscenity law Dickson has been wielding as one of many tools to fast-track a national abortion ban. Two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned and four months away from a presidential election, one of the biggest threats to abortion rights is a federal administration willing to enforce and reinterpret the dormant Comstock Act to criminalize the mailing of abortion-related drugs, medical equipment and information. But abortion providers and advocates say that even without Comstock, monitoring and policing of pregnant women and information is already here, thanks to activists like Dickson, whose proposed city ordinances allow residents to sue anyone suspected of helping someone get an abortion. I have a whole lot of friends that spend time on the sidewalks of abortion facilities throughout America, Dickson said. And Ive told these friends, if you ever meet someone from Abilene, Texas, that is seeking out an abortion in New Mexico, use the sanctuary city ordinance as a deterrent as much as you can. Rising Comstocks Dicksons partner in the endeavor to broadly criminalize abortion in every state, one city at a time, is Jonathan F. Mitchell, the onetime solicitor general of Texas, who is also counsel for former President Donald Trump. Along with these sanctuary cities ordinances, together they helped draft Senate Bill 8, a blueprint for largely banning abortion in Texas in 2021 by authorizing citizens to sue those suspected of providing or assisting with an abortion. And since Roe fell, they have been pushing a version of the Comstock Act that historians and legal scholars say never existed. Legal scholars Reva Siegel and Mary Ziegler in their forthcoming article about the old law write that Anthony Comstock was focused on preventing illicit sex and pornography, not on preserving fetal life. The religious zealot was known for bringing dildos, contraceptives, and pornography to testify before state and local lawmakers about the need for anti-obscenity laws. The statute is a ban on obscenity, not criminalization of health care, Siegel, a professor at Yale Law School, told States Newsroom. And when you listen to the revivalists, they just talk about Comstock as an absolute ban as if it has no exceptions. Thats just not true in light of the text or the history. But that doesnt really matter to Dickson and Mitchell. Through their Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn project, Dickson and Mitchell have helped pass approximately 80 ordinances in cities and counties in seven states, mostly in Texas, but also in strategically located cities in abortion-access states, like New Mexico, where a challenge to ordinances that cite the Comstock Act currently awaits a ruling from the state supreme court and could eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Where Anthony Comstock had the financial backing of the YMCA and was elevated to power as a special agent of the U.S. Post Office, the influential conservative think tank Heritage Foundation is pushing Mitchell and Dicksons version of Comstock in its plan for a potential future Trump administration to go after providers and distributors of abortion pills. Mitchell has received some financial support in 2023 and 2022 from the Christian right law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, which brought the recent abortion pill case before the Supreme Court. Dickson said he wants these ordinances to go even further, such as opening up lawsuits to rideshare companies. But immediately on the agenda, he said, is to try to use Comstock to challenge state abortion-rights ballot initiatives. There are many ways the Comstock Act can be used to help inoculate pro-abortion ballot initiatives in states like Arizona and Nebraska, Dickson said. A lot is planned between now and November, I can say that. Mitchell, who did not respond to an interview request, is currently defending the right of Texas professors to penalize students who miss class to obtain an abortion. That new lawsuit will be heard by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, whose opinion last year advanced a challenge to an abortion pill and cited Comstock as a valid argument. Though the U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected the mifepristone case, new challenges to the abortion pill continue, as does increased support for anti-abortion Comstock arguments from federal judges like 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge James Ho and Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Meanwhile, longtime anti-abortion groups like Operation Rescue, which led clinic blockades in the 1980s and 1990s, continue to apply old-school surveillance and monitoring tactics. Based in Wichita, Kansas, president Troy Newman said his group maintains a sidewalk presence at abortion clinics in Wichita, and regularly files public records requests for 911 calls, which they post online. They also publish detailed reports on thousands of abortion providers in the U.S., referring to them as the abortion cartel. Newman told States Newsroom that the goal is not to target women getting abortions, but to report potential abortion-clinic violations in order to shut down clinics that since Dobbs have relocated to states without abortion bans. I dont think we can keep track of them all, but we have people feeding us information on a daily basis, Newman said. Siegel and Ziegler argue comstockery is a threat to democracy, as it depends on suppressing freedom and promoting government censorship. Comstock famously helped imprison women who disseminated information about birth control and abortion, some who later died by suicide. Revivalists hope to chill the exercise of rights already recognized in positive law, including state constitutional protections and the right to travel, Siegel and Ziegler write. Further, by disparaging reproductive rights and intimidating those who seek to exercise them, Comstock revivalists seek to short circuit an ongoing process of popular constitutional meaning-making that has unfolded in state ballot initiatives, state courts, and grassroots movements. Resisting Comstocks Many legal experts argue that Comstock would be a difficult law to defend even with a partially willing U.S. Supreme Court; however, the effects of even temporary enforcement could rock reproductive health care throughout the U.S. even more than it has since Dobbs. After initial discouragement from national reproductive rights groups, Democrats in Congress this month finally introduced a bill to repeal Comstock, though it is unlikely to advance before the election. New Republic staff writer Melissa Gira Grant and Harvard Law lecturer Kendra Albert last month coalesced historians, attorneys, organizers, and journalists at a one-day summit at Harvard Law School called ComstockCon to unite against modern-day Comstocks from further constricting abortion rights. Grant said the criminalization of sex and pregnancy has long been borne by more marginalized groups, including people of color, sex workers and people who are trans or living in poverty. She said that the reproductive justice movement now more than ever needs solidarity. We know that those eager rising modern-day Comstocks, the Jonathan Mitchells of the world and others, theyre in this fight for the long term, Grant said. We know that they regard so many of us as obscene for who we are, how we are, and how we want to be. If they see the suppression of all of us as one fight, then that should be a point of solidarity for us. And many called for resistance to the dead letter and legally dubious anti-abortion deterrent laws. You have to keep pushing now, said one of the panelists, Renee Bracey Sherman, founder of We Testify, which lifts up peoples abortion stories. There will always be another ban. Its not going to stop us from talking, from sending pills. Ban by deterrence To date, no civil lawsuit has been filed under SB 8 or a sanctuary city ordinance, Dickson said. But, as the Texas Tribune has reported, Mitchell has filed petitions (under a little-known state rule) to depose abortion funds, providers, researchers and despite assurances that these laws wont punish women having abortions women who left the state to get an abortion. These past few months, Dickson has been in Amarillo mobilizing anti-abortion activists to make their high-trafficked roads illegal for the purposes of interstate abortion-related travel. Embedded in the Amarillo ordinance is a reference to the Comstock Act. Petitioners gathered enough signatures to force the city council to vote on the measure, but abortion-rights advocates fiercely campaigned against the ordinance. After the council rejected the proposal earlier this month, Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley said the city doesnt have the authority to enforce the ordinance a point with which Dickson vehemently agrees and said he spent hours explaining to the mayor. The whole point of these ordinances, Dickson said, is that they allow for citizen lawsuits, not government enforcement. He admits that they function largely as deterrents, to chill abortion-related activity even in states where its legal. And its working, he said, noting that in the year before Dobbs, most doctors stopped providing abortions in Texas after the 2021 so-called vigilante law. One who didnt was Dr. Alan Braid, and though he was sued, those lawsuits were dismissed. After Dobbs, however, Braid relocated his abortion practice to New Mexico and told NPR earlier this year that his Albuquerque clinic had higher no-show rates, which he partially attributed to people scared to drive through Lubbock because of its abortion-travel ban. These ordinances are doing exactly what theyre intended to do, Dickson said. I liken it to an armed security officer at the bank who serves as a deterrent. He doesnt have to fire his gun in order for him to be viewed as an effective method of protecting the interest of the bank. But theres another purpose to these ordinances, too, particularly Amarillos, which anti-abortion petitioners are still trying to get on the November ballot. Amarillo is the home of Kacsmaryks court, where anti-abortion attorneys have been filing their strategic lawsuits since Dobbs. Dickson said he and Mitchell are eager to make it a so-called sanctuary city as a way of arguing for legal standing in the cases to come. Lindsay London, a nurse who co-founded the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, which has been fighting the ordinance, said she resents having her native city used as a strategic chess piece. She said her coalition includes Amarillo Republicans skeptical of government overreach and is confident that, if given the opportunity, her fellow residents will vote down this law, which she said would be harmful to the community. It creates a culture of fear and mistrust, London said. The last thing that people need to be concerned about when theyre moving through a difficult situation is, is someone that they trust or a neighbor or anything like that going to use that vulnerable situation to try and sue them? Positing neighbor upon neighbor is not how we create healthy communities. Elisha Brown contributed to this report. The post Modern-day Comstocks look to police travel, information as another strategy to end abortion appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. A pair of moped-riding bandits robbed two Brooklyn bar hoppers at gunpoint the latest in a crime spree centering on the two-wheeled getaway vehicles, cops and victims said Friday. A 32-year-old actor and her 29-year-old friend were strolling from Twins Lounge to Ponyboy bar in Greenpoint at around 11:20 p.m. Thursday when a man wearing a ski mask hopped off the back of the moped and pulled a gun from his waistband, according to the sources. He pointed the weapon towards the 29-year-olds chest and demanded his watch then snatched the 32-year-olds purse, according to cops and the victim. The crook then climbed back on the moped and his driver sped off down Manhattan Avenue near Norman Avenue. It was very quick, but it was obviously super rattling. Ive lived in the area for over seven years now, and Ive never felt unsafe, said the 32-year-old victim, who asked not to be named out of concern for her safety. She grew up in Venezuela and said she could tell the bandits hailed from her homeland based on their accent. A pair of moped-riding bandits robbed two Greenpoint bar hoppers at gunpoint the latest in a crime spree centering on the two-wheeled getaway vehicles, cops and victims said Friday. @twinsloungenyc/Instagram Its pretty insane for this to be happening here, she said. My family left Venezuela because crime like that is very common there, and they just didnt want us growing up in that kind of like, like lack of safety. The incident comes after a pair of thieves on mopeds stormed the popular Williamsburg Chinese restaurant Birds of a Feather and robbed three diners at gunpoint earlier this week. On Wednesday, a robber pointed a gun at a Canadian mans head and snatched his $40,000 Rolex watch in the heart of Greenwich Village before fleeing on a moped. On June 18, two gun-toting, moped-riding robbers also swiped a mans $100,000 watch outside the Manhattan hotspot Carbone, according to cops. Police said Friday the Greenpoint robbery didnt appear to be connected to past moped thefts. The 29-year-old victim, who also asked not to be named, said they were likely targeted because the crooks spotted his pricey timepiece. I dont think it was random, he said. Like they saw I was wearing a very expensive watch from afar. Or someone told them. Ultimately, the 32-year-old victim said she got back her iPhone after using the Find my iPhone app to trace it back to a bar where the thieves had tossed it. A 32-year-old actor and her 29-year-old friend were strolling from Twins Lounge to Ponyboy bar in Greenpoint Thursday when a man wearing a ski mask hopped off the back of the moped and pulled a gun from his waistband. Google Maps She said police officers she reported the crime to later told her moped-centric robberies were on the rise. They were like, yeah, unfortunately, like, it has been happening, she said. Cops took her around the neighborhood in search of the robbers, she said. Back at the station, she asked an officer for advice. [I asked] If you had kids who lived in this neighborhood, what would you tell them? she said. And one of them literally said, leave New York. A Mother Served Her 19-Year-Old Son an Eviction Notice. Now He's Accused of Strangling Her to Death Conner Kobold is charged with the murder of his mother, Shanelle Burns Johnson Danielson Funeral Home; Porter County Jail Shanelle Burns, left, and Conner Kobold A Loyola University Chicago employee living in Indiana served an eviction notice to her 19-year-old son. Hes accused of strangling her to death in response. Shanelle Burns, 43, filed the eviction notice against her son, Conner Kobold, now 20, on February 5, according to online court records. That same day, police in Valparaiso, Ind., said they responded to a report of an assault after Kobold called 911 multiple times. Upon arrival, police said they found an unconscious woman with serious injuries. The woman, identified as Burns, in reports by WGN and the Post-Tribune, died two days later. Authorities determined she was strangled, the outlets report. In order to avoid eviction, Kobold had 30 days to get a job, clean his room and help clean the common areas of the home, the Post-Tribune reported, citing charging documents. Kobold is charged with murder and aggravated battery in connection with the death of his mother, court records show. He has pleaded not guilty. Johnson Danielson Funeral Home Shanelle Burns According to the schools website, Burns was an assistant vice president in advancement at Loyola University in Chicago. Shanelle was very witty, kind, and poised, said colleague Karen Paciero in a statement. She had an exceptional ability to both strategically design and execute; she was a trusted advisor to many within Advancement and so many across the University. We all miss her and profoundly mourn the loss to our division and the University. According to her online obituary, Burns was an Indiana native who enjoyed traveling and possessed several creative abilities. 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. Shanelle taught herself to play piano, classical of course, a hobby that carried on throughout adulthood, the obituary reads. She also would journal voraciously, writing poetry and stories that showed her creative and organizational prowess. According to Kobold's LinkedIn page, he began studying at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 2022. Kobold's trial is scheduled to begin in August. He is currently being held in the Porter County Jail. The Post-Tribune reported that Kobold had filed a waiver to represent himself in February, but an online court docket indicates that he was appointed a public defender in April. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man has been arrested and charged with theft of property $10,000-$60,000 after police say they caught him sleeping in a stolen Dodge Charger. On May 2, Memphis Police responded to a theft call at the Oak Court Mall located at 4465 Poplar Avenue. A male victim reported he parked his gray 2016 Dodge Charger in the mall parking lot and went shopping. When he later returned, he said it was missing and there was shattered glass on the ground where he had parked it. On June 28, Memphis Police responded to a suspicious vehicle call at the Highland Meadows Apartments located on Airways Boulevard. Woman accused of beating stepdad with iron skillet for money Responding officers made contact with the leasing manager who told them that a suspicious vehicle was parked in front of 5016 Village Woods Drive and they believed it to be responsible for recent break-ins. Officers found the vehicle and saw a man sitting in the drivers seat asleep. They did a search of the vehicles VIN number and it showed to be stolen. Officers woke up the male occupant and took him into custody. He was identified as Kamrey Kelley. After Kelley was taken into custody, he waived his rights and agreed to speak with investigators. He told them that he saw the vehicle for sale on Facebook Marketplace. He said he inboxed the seller and agreed to purchase it for $2,500. Man apologizes to police after pursuit into trailer park He said he met the seller at Oak Court Mall where he was given the key and Bill of Sale during the transaction. He told investigators that he couldnt remember the date of the purchase or provide a Facebook profile for the seller. He also could not provide a Bill of Sale or any documentation of the alleged sale transaction. Kelley Blue Books pricing report valued the 2016 Dodge Charger at $15,799. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) stock has been a terrific investment for patient shareholders. Since 1965, shares have risen in value by nearly 4,000,000%. But what does the future look like for this iconic company? The answer might surprise you. These Berkshire statistics are surprising Warren Buffett's claim to fame is that he has been able to consistently beat the market for far longer than nearly anyone else. That's an incredibly difficult feat to pull off. Over the past 20 years, around 95% of funds failed to beat their index. Buffett, meanwhile, has trounced the index. Since inception, shares of Berkshire Hathaway have averaged annual returns of around 20%, roughly double the rate of the S&P 500 over the same time period. There's only one problem: Berkshire's returns have slowed heavily in recent years. Over the past decade, for instance, Berkshire stock underperformed the market by around 2%. This is a rare occurrence, but it makes sense given the company's circumstances. In the 1980s, for instance, Berkshire stock regularly rose more than 30% in value in a single year. In 1985, it nearly doubled in value. Over the last decade, however, it failed to achieve annual returns of 30% or more even once. The issue isn't poor investing, but that the game has grown significantly more difficult. In 1999, Buffett joked that he could post 50% annual returns if he managed only $1 million. "It's a huge structural advantage not to have a lot of money," he explained. "I think I could make you 50% a year on $1 million. No, I know I could. I guarantee that." Today, Berkshire's cash pile alone is worth around $189 billion. Its total market cap is around $900 billion. For the stock to rise 10%, the company would need to add another $90 billion in value. To put that into perspective, around 400 of the companies in the S&P 500 have market caps under $90 billion. To add another 10% to its stock price, Berkshire essentially needs to create enough value that would, on its own, be one of the top 100 most valuable companies in America. Then it needs to replicate this feat again the following year to an even larger degree. ^SPXTR Chart These 2 things are very likely to happen Whatever happens to Berkshire over the next decade, one thing is clear: Its returns likely won't match anything it has achieved in previous decades. The company is simply too big to keep doubling in size at the rate it's used to. "There remain only a handful of companies in this country capable of truly moving the needle at Berkshire, and they have been endlessly picked over by us and by others," Buffett wrote in a recent shareholder letter. "All in all, we have no possibility of eye-popping performance." The second thing to expect is for Berkshire to increasingly be run by people other than Buffett, who will turn 94 this summer. Already, Buffett has handed over large sections of the portfolio to trusted lieutenants, including Todd Combs and Ted Weschler. It has been reported that one of these men initiated Berkshire's $189 billion bet on Apple, one of the largest and most successful Berkshire investments in recent history. For his part, Buffett isn't worried about the transition. He's had succession plans in place for some time, and his recent letter shows confidence that these patient personnel investments will pay off. "By both luck and pluck, a few huge winners have emerged from a great many dozens of decisions," Buffett wrote. "And we now have a small cadre of longtime managers who never muse about going elsewhere and who regard 65 as just another birthday." Where will Berkshire be ten years from now? Trusted lieutenants including Combs and Weschler have already been with the company for years. Guided by their experience and acumen, expect Berkshire's current portfolio of public and private business to do well. But it will be harder than ever for the company to beat the market by any significant margin. This is still a wonderful business to bet on, but the decade ahead will likely be characterized by slow and steady moves that focus more on patient asset allocation than superstar bets. Should you invest $1,000 in Berkshire Hathaway right now? Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, 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 Berkshire Hathaway 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 $757,001!* 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 Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Where Will Berkshire Hathaway Be in 10 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool Several large wildfires continued to burn in the foothills of eastern Fresno County and Sierra National Forest near Pine Flat following a series of lightning stikes on Monday. As of Friday morning the Fresno Lighting Complex and Basin fires have burned more than 16,300 acres and prompted evacuation orders for several areas, including at Balch Camp and Dalton Mountain. Evacuation warnings have been triggered for areas closer to Orange Cove and the southern part of Pine Flat Reservoir. The Fresno County Sheriffs Office has an interactive map of the evacuation orders available online. Road closures have been ordered on Highway 180 from Cove Road to Dunlap Road at Cove Road and Hopewell Road as well as on Highway 63 at South Hills Valley Road. Fresno Lighting Complex Fire The Fresno Lighting Complex Fire is a combination of at least three fires that started Monday and saw massive growth Thursday. Included in the complex are the Flash/Bolt Fire near Wonder Valley and the Hog and Strike fires. Of those, the Flash/Bolt Fire remains the most active. It has burned 10,375 acres and is 21% contained. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors planned a special meeting Friday afternoon to call for a state of Local Emergency. According to an update Friday morning, the increased temperatures and low humidity over the weekend could mean more fire activity. Basin Fire The Basin Fire started on Wednesday just south of Balch Camp in the Sierra National Forest. So far, it has burned 5,692 acres and caused evacuations in a large area northeast of Pine Flat Reservoir. That including the The Kirch Flat Campground, which was evacuated on Wednesday. As of Friday, that fire has zero containment. Cat Haven under threat Project Survivals Cat Haven in Dunlap remains under threat from the fires. The big cat sanctuary, home to 40 animals including a sick mountain lion named Birdie, has been preparing for evacuations since Tuesday. According to its social media, Cat Haven was one mile from the mandatory evacuation line, though crews had stopped the movement of the fire toward the 100-acre facility off Highway 180. It was without cell service and lost power for 72 hours. An Iowa woman was charged with murder on Wednesday after her ex, a trans advocate and DJ, was discovered dead in the back seat of her car with an apparent stab wound in her neck, following a crash. Margot G. Lewis, 32, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, intentional and unintentional, in connection to the death of Liara Tsai, 35, according to a probable cause statement obtained by HuffPost. Sheriffs deputies arrived to the scene of a one-car crash in Olmsted County, Minnesota, on June 22, per the document. They found Lewis, the driver of the crashed vehicle, sitting on a lawn chair a bystander had given her, according to the probable cause. The responding deputies found Tsais corpse in the back seat of the car, wrapped in bloody bedding and a futon and covered with a tarp. Liara Kaylee Tsai via Facebook Facebook Further examination of the body found gaping puncture wounds in Tsais neck. It was apparent to deputies that Tsais death was not a result of the traffic crash, per the probable cause statement. Lewis was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment following the crash, according to the statement. She was speeding at about 105 miles per hour when she crashed into highway guard rails, according to a reconstruction by the Minnesota State Patrol cited in the statement. The responding deputies learned that the vehicle belonged to Tsai, and a search of the car found medical documents that indicated her address. Deputies also located a dog who was wandering the crash scene and learned from his microchip that he belonged to Tsai. Deputies who executed a search of Tsais studio apartment in Minneapolis discovered the victims bed saturated in blood and a bloody plastic and metal object nearby, according to the affidavit. More blood was located in the bathroom, and detectives noted a missing knife from the kitchens butchers block. The probable cause document described Tsai as the former romantic partner of Lewis. Deputies said Lewis was uncooperative when she arrived at the sheriffs office for questioning, and that she began pushing and kicking officers who were trying to collect evidence from her. Tsais former spouse told law enforcement that Tsai and Lewis made plans to meet in the Minneapolis from June 21 to the 29, according to the probable cause. Surveillance footage from the night before the crash cited in the document showed Tsai picking up Lewis from the airport. The document did not mention a motive for the alleged killing, but said Lewis indicated her relationship with Tsai was sordid and emotionally challenging. Tsai had moved to Minneapolis from Iowa just weeks before her death. She worked as a DJ and had booked her biggest gig in New York over the weekend, according to CBS affiliate WCCO. She was just always completely herself, and she wanted to inspire everyone around her to always be their most true and authentic selves, Olivia Anderson, a friend of Tsai, told the outlet. The Trevor Project confirmed in a statement on Facebook that Tsai was member of its 988 Crisis Intervention team. She is remembered by our team for her empowering gentleness and remarkable ability to center the feelings and experiences of LGBTQ+ young people, the organization wrote. We know that the constant news of transphobic violence around the country is often challenging for our community to bear. This particular news happening to someone within our own Trevor community hits especially close to home, the statement read. Need help? In the U.S., call 1-866-331-9474 or text loveis to 22522 for the National Dating Abuse Helpline. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention. Related... National park officials achieve 'major milestone' in efforts to rescue animal from brink of extinction: 'We didn't dare to dream' The first reintroduction of a predator in the United Kingdom is verging on success after two wildcat kittens were spotted frolicking in the grass. The "major milestone" was years in the making, as the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has worked to save the animals from extinction, the Guardian reported. The scene was captured by a camera trap in Cairngorms National Park, and the outlet shared a brief clip. There is no documentation of wildcats being born outside captivity in the past five years in Scotland, according to the Guardian. Last year, 19 wildcats were released in the Cairngorms by Saving Wildcats, a joint venture of the RZSS with NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, and other organizations. The wildcats, which eat mice, voles, rabbits, and hares, were extinct because of habitat loss, human persecution, and interbreeding with other cats. About 60 will be released near Inverness by the end of the project, the Guardian previously reported. The reintroduction effort began in 2019, when the wildcat population of about 30 was reported to be "no longer viable," per the outlet. The interbreeding, with hybrid and domestic cats, has resulted in every wild and captive Scottish wildcat having domestic cat ancestry. Saving Wildcats field manager Keri Langridge told the Guardian that DNA samples must be taken to confirm the six-week-old kittens are wild. The group had thought two females gave birth because of movement changes tracked via GPS collars. The kittens look like wildcats, and two females and a male were released during breeding season. "We didn't dare to dream that we would have wildcat kittens in the first year of releases, and seeing those kittens on the video was the most exciting moment of the project so far," Langridge said. Other predators have been similarly reintroduced to the wild, including bison in Romania. Grizzly bears are set to return to the North Cascades in Washington. These programs help rebalance ecosystems after they were disrupted by humans. This project will run through 2026, and the RZSS' Helen Senn told the Guardian that a population of 40 wildcats would be a success. Her goal is for the creatures to inhabit large swaths of the country. "We're only starting out on that journey and there's a lot of work to be done to reverse what is effectively centuries of decline of a species that was once extremely widespread across most of Scotland," Senn said. "... It's so exciting to see that the cats are able to make their life in the wild, find a mate and reproduce, when all of those things are not givens at this stage in the project." Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. NEWS13 EXCLUSIVE: Worst call you can get: Attorney for Horry County man killed in 2023 boat wreck says $505K settlement bitter justice for family HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The half million dollars awarded in May to Jacob Williams family is worthless compared to the anguish and sorrow theyre living with nearly two years after he was thrown from a jon boat and died in the Intracoastal Waterway. But, family attorney Kenneth Berger told News13, its the first painful step toward accountability the most valuable thing they could ask for. Photo courtesy of the Williams family This family, in their devastation, they didnt want Jacobs life to have been lost in vain, Berger said. There dont need to be more Williams families grieving because of a completely preventable tragedy. Wiliams died after being thrown from a vessel after it struck an Intracoastal Waterway dock near Burcale Road the night of June 18, 2023. Police said the driver, Matthew Brown, was intoxicated at the time. News13 file photo Williams family in August sued Brown on grounds of negligence and wrongful death. Their complaint said Brown was negligent, willful, reckless, grossly negligent in that he operated a boat too fast for conditions and failed to maintain a proper lookout. Brown was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on July 5 after the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources charged him with felony boating under the influence and obstructing justice, online jail records show. The sides on May 14 settled for $505,000. PIImageDisplay_245860Download Berger said state law prevented any more money from being awarded to Williams family. In South Carolina, youre stuck with however much insurance coverage is on the boat that causes the crash. And in this case, the death. And an additional tragedy was the insurance policy was written such that there was no underinsured boating coverage. We were capped out, he said. There wasnt a dollar more we can get beyond the $505,000, which is pretty sickening. According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, Williams was among six South Carolinians who died in a recreational boating-related accident in 2023. Nationwide, 97 people were killed. And overall, alcohol use contributed to 200 injuries tied to recreational boating, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. We dont accept or tolerate drunk driving. But for whatever reason as a society, a lot of people are still kind of OK with the idea that people are going to be out there drinking beers, drinking liquor, operating a boat, Berger said. We need to do more through law enforcement agencies, but also as communities, to make that less frequent, less dangerous for innocent people like Jacob Williams. Savannah Denton/News13 Boat U.S. Foundation, a leading advocacy organization, says being drunk on the water introduces even more risk factors. The alcohol that makes you lose your balance also reduces your bodys ability to protect you against the cold water. With alcohol in your blood, the numbing effects of cold water occur much faster than when you are sober. Within minutes, you may not be able to call for help, swim to a float or reach the safety of the boat, the organization warns. Berger said local and state police departments should be given more resources to help battle intoxicated boating, but urged community members to remember Williams legacy when theyre pushing into the water. Its the worst call you can get. Some people might look and say, well you know, this young man was 22 years old at the time, he was an adult,' Berger said. But for parents, its still their baby boy. Browns criminal case is still pending. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. * * * Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Madeline McElaney, bottom left, delivers her resignation at a June 25, 2024 board meeting of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. New Hampshires consumer advocate is calling for regulators to investigate the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative after two women who previously led the board of directors resigned Tuesday. Sharon Davis, the former chair of the co-ops board of directors and Madeline McElaney, the former vice chair, had both served multiple terms on the board. Davis was first elected in 2003 and had served since then aside from a break in 2018. McElaney had served since 2019. In the cooperatives annual meeting held earlier this month, McElaney described an environment of sexism and bullying within the organization. She noted that she, Davis, and Chief Executive Officer Alyssa Clemsen Roberts were the cooperatives first female leadership team. It has not been an easy road. In fact, I believe theres a double standard for female leaders at NHEC, she said. Were questioned, interrupted, dismissed more easily than our male counterparts. This behavior is wrong and at odds with our values and our cooperative principles. At Tuesdays board meeting, McElaney read a letter announcing her and Daviss resignations, saying behavior she observed in the days following the annual meeting led them to leave entirely. The board has made decisions that we fundamentally disagree with and has operated contrary to good governance principles, she said. We feel strongly that this board has failed to do its own job and has prevented management from doing theirs, and that this jeopardizes the cooperative and its future stability and viability. McElaney also said a toxic and hostile working environment was causing harm to the cooperative. We have tried repeatedly to protect the reputation of the cooperative by dealing with this quietly, but at this juncture, we feel the risk of staying silent outweighs the risk of reputational harm, she said. It has become evident that we have no means to influence or rectify the situation. At Tuesdays board meeting, newly-elected board chair William Darcy said the board and cooperative staff must more consistently be respectful in our language, but asked those present not to attribute motives to other people. It is unhelpful to board harmony and productiveness to attribute those differences publicly or in confidential settings to any personal characteristics such as gender, age, or other unrelated factors, he said. During a section of the meeting reserved for cooperative members comments, two members addressed the board, saying they were disappointed in the behavior theyd seen. Sharon Yeaton said she was a former cooperative employee and described the board dynamic as chaos, saying it had caused her to retire early. This has been going on for a long time, Yeaton said. You guys have had years to work on your behavior, and you havent. In an emailed statement, Darcy said the cooperatives board of directors would hold a special meeting to consider McElaneys allegations of gender discrimination. The Board of Directors is treating these allegations with the utmost seriousness; we have zero tolerance for misconduct, and the alleged misconduct is counter to our values and strict code of conduct, he said. In his letter to state regulators, Don Kreis, the states consumer advocate, said the resignations, alleged sexism and bullying may threaten the ability of the Co-op to provide default energy service in an affordable and stable manner. Kreis also expressed concerns about policy positions taken by board chair William Darcy on how the utility should purchase power for customers. I'm worried that Mr. Darcy doesn't understand the difference between running a utility and governing a utility, Kreis said in a phone interview. The day to day operation of the utility, including decisions about power purchases that's really what a utility hires expert employees to take care of. In his chairmans report, Darcy said hed been studying how New Hampshires Public Utilities Commission has set policy related to default electricity rates and expressed support for adopting those policies. Later in the meeting, Darcy asked cooperative staff to send any contracts for energy for longer than six months to the board for review. He also expressed interest in setting policy around how much the cooperative should rely on spot purchases, or purchases of power in real time from the regions wholesale market, rather than signing long-term contracts for power in advance. Those kinds of purchases can save money, Kreis acknowledged, but can also cause costs to spike dramatically if a storm or cold snap causes some electric suppliers to fail. New Hampshire regulators have asked other utilities in the state to rely more on spot purchasing to buy power for customers. The cooperative is not subject to the same regulations at the Public Utilities Commission, instead being run by its members, who are made up of customers. Kreis said the alleged conduct from board members was a grievous threat to electricity consumers because of the cooperatives reliance on customer participation through board elections. The premise here is that this utility doesnt require regulatory oversight because it is governed by the same people who depend on it, he said. If duly elected members of the board are feeling so uncomfortable and so mistreated because of sexism and bullying that they literally quit, then that really undermines the whole paradigm. These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH Electric Co-op resignations spotlight alleged culture of sexism and bullying Nigel Lythgoe on Oct. 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA. - Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images/BAFTA LA A California judge has dismissed Nigel Lythgoe as a defendant in the sexual assault lawsuit by two All American Girl contestants. At a Friday afternoon hearing, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Shirley K. Watkins ruled that the two Jane Doe plaintiffs who brought a joint lawsuit in January do not qualify for revival of their claims under the law cited in their complaint. The two plaintiffs women who competed on the reality game show executive produced by Lythgoe alleged that Lythgoe forcibly groped and kissed them in 2003. More from Rolling Stone The women filed their lawsuit under The Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, a California statute that reopened the window for plaintiffs to file otherwise time-barred claims of sexual abuse involving corporate entities who helped conceal the abuse. The judge said the subdivision of the law cited by the Doe plaintiffs to revive their claims is inapplicable to Lythgoe because it applies to corporate entities only. She issued her ruling without leave to amend, meaning the Does are barred from ever adding Lythgoe back to the complaint that now moves forward with an unidentified Roe production company as the sole defendant. Today was a good day. Weve always said that these claims were meritless and now the Court has agreed. I hope and expect that this will be the first of many similar wins as I continue to fight to clear my name, Lythgoe said in a statement sent to Rolling Stone after the ruling. During the hearing, a lawyer for the Does tried but failed to get the judge to leave the door open for a future amendment with respect to Lythgoe. The lawyer, Sahar Malek, pointed out that a proposed law known as Assembly Bill 2587 is now pending in the California state legislature. If passed, it would specifically amend The Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act to make it clear that individuals can revive claims against individuals as well when a cover-up is alleged. Whether a law is pending or not, or whether it going to pass or not, are complete hypothetical situations that would require rank speculation by this court, Lythgoes lawyer, Amitabh Banerji, argued Friday. I dont think its proper for the court to consider pending legislation that may not even pass. The judge agreed. Im not going to make a decision based upon hypotheticals that might occur in the future, the judge said. There are no grounds at this time to grant leave to amend. The judge said that if the proposed legislation is passed and is retroactive, the Does could decide what to do then. Malek said one option could be to file a separate lawsuit under the new law and then move to consolidate it with the current lawsuit against the corporate entity but that would be more taxing on the resources of the court. The judge didnt budge. It was back in January that Paula Abdul first sued Lythgoe and the companies behind American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance with claims the 74-year-old producer sexually harassed and assaulted her multiple times while she was hosting or otherwise working on the reality competition shows. She claimed Lythgoe trapped her in an elevator, forced her against the wall, grabbed her genitals and breasts, and forced his tongue down her throat. Lythgoe vehemently denied the allegations. One of his lawyers called them purely fictional in paperwork filed shortly before Abduls lawyer announced at a hearing in April that shed reached tentative settlement agreements with American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. The two Jane Does from All American Girl filed their lawsuit next. A third Jane Doe sued in February with claims Lythgoe groped, kissed, and digitally penetrated her in his chauffeured car in 2016. A fourth Jane Doe sued in March with claims Lythgoe sexually battered her at his home in 2018. The three remaining lawsuits against Lythgoe all cite the revival window opened by Californias Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, but they include allegations on or after January 1, 2009, so theyre not dependent on the section of the law that was ruled on by Judge Watkins on Friday. That subsection was critical to the show contestants lawsuit because it revives any claim, no matter how old, as long as a corporate defendant is accused of engaging in a cover-up. Best of Rolling Stone The owners of Quinns Coffee in the Nisqually valley have filed a breach of contract lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court against the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation. Steve Hanson, who owns Quinns Coffee with his wife, Whitney, told McClatchy that in 2018 he signed a 10-year lease with Nisqually Valley Grocery. In 2021, Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation (MCEC) bought the grocery store and the couple was told their lease would be honored. However, the lawsuit contends that since then, the lease has not been honored and several other issues have arisen. The lawsuit says MCEC first informed the Hansons in April 2023 that they had $90 in past due rent, nonpayment of late charges, encroachment of a fence on the property and hadnt provided copies of insurance policies issues that the couple says they remedied. Despite continuing to accept monthly rent, Defendants insist that the Hansons are no longer tenants and instead are trespassing on the Property, the lawsuit reads. While the Tribe and MCEC have not filed an unlawful detainer, the lawsuit says that since then they have prevented Quinns Coffee from using restrooms on the property, as well as turned off their water and septic systems. Additionally, mail stopped being delivered to the business, according to Hanson. The now-shuttered coffee stand was shut down in March by the Department of Health. Meanwhile, the Hansons continue to make monthly payments. Defendants have limited Plaintiffs use of the Property to effectively make the Property unusable or untenable, the lawsuit said. As a result, Hanson told McClatchy that he had to sell his house and he and his family are looking for a new place for a coffee stand. The Hansons are seeking monetary relief for damages as well as injunctive relief to prevent the defendants from interfering with their business. Nate J. Cushman, Tribal attorney for the Nisqually Indian Tribe told McClatchy in an email that MCEC, the Tribes business arm, operates the location where the Hansons coffee stand sits as part of its Nisqually Markets chain of convenience stores. He said that prior to the Tribes acquisition of the property the Hansons operated their coffee stand with the permission of the former owners. Mr. Hansons agreement with the former owners was not assumed by or assigned to the Tribe when the property changed hands, Cushman said. The Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation has attempted to work with Mr. Hanson to find a new location for the espresso stand. Unfortunately, he has elected to resolve the matter through litigation. Cushman noted that he was confident the Tribe would prevail in court. A trial date is to be set in early October. Leading Democratic elected officials, from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to California Gov. Gavin Newsom to President Biden, have spoken out to condemn the pro-Palestinian activists who protested in front of the Adas Torah synagogue on the west side of Los Angeles last Sunday. Jewish, Israeli and conservative leaders, including Amanda Berman, founder of the American Jewish group Zioness, Israeli special envoy Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Ellie Cohanim of the Independent Womens Forum and numerous others have described the protest as a pogrom, a phrase echoed in a New York Post editorial on Tuesday. Newsom said, Such antisemitic hatred has no place in California, adding, "There is no excuse for targeting a house of worship. Except that in this particular case, that's not an accurate description of what happened, and there was a legitimate reason for holding a protest outside a Jewish house of worship. While many news reports have barely mentioned this, the demonstrators were not outside that synagogue to protest Jews in general, the Jewish faith, Zionism or even Israel they were there to protest the sale of land in illegally occupied Palestinian territory. The target of the protest was not Adas Torah itself but a group called My Home in Israel, which was holding a real estate marketing event at the synagogue. As Forbes reports, the group purchased a full-page ad in the June 21 issue of the Jewish Journal, a Los Angeles weekly newspaper, promoting the event at Adas Torah and another Southern California location with this pitch: "Come and meet representatives of housing projects in all the best Anglo neighborhoods in Israel. According to the Los Angeles-area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, this marketing campaign is promoting racially segregated settlements, where only Jewish people are allowed to live, on illegally-occupied Palestinian land. One pro-Palestinian demonstrator held up a sign saying "Israeli Jew against land theft," while another displayed a sign with the slogan Jews Against Genocide. Social media posts announcing the protest stated Our land is not for sale and called on demonstrators to Stand against settler expansion at Sundays real estate event. Under the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 446, which was passed in 1979 and reaffirmed in 2016, the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Under the current right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the rate of Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank has increased dramatically. A 2023 U.N. study found that almost 30,000 new housing units had been proposed in Palestinian territory within the first six months of that year. Many Israeli organizations and individuals, including B'tselem, also known as the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, condemn both the occupation itself and Israel's settlement policy as illegal violations of Palestinians' human rights. The Israeli government and its allies reject the U.N.s characterization of the Israeli occupation and settlement policy. One could fill volumes airing both sides of this debate, but whether one agrees with the U.N. or the Israeli government is not the point. Pro-Palestinian protesters had legitimate reasons to protest outside Adas Torah, and were not targeting Jewish individuals or the Jewish religion. Furthermore, Biden, Newsom, Bass and others who have condemned the protests as targeting a Jewish house of worship are missing a crucial point. This marketing event occurred on a Sunday, which is not the Jewish day of worship. Shabbat runs from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. This demonstration on a Sunday afternoon was not interfering with Jewish religious services. Of course it's possible for protesters legitimate grievances to spill over at times into inaccurate, overblown offensive or outright antisemitic rhetoric, and even into violence. But those possibilities cut both ways: The regrettable violence at the Adas Torah protest involved clashes between protesters rather than antisemitic attacks. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Numerous media outlets have reported that one person was arrested at the protest, a demonstrator described as carrying a spiked post. But most reports have neglected to say that the person arrested was a pro-Israel demonstrator. In a widely-circulated post, British journalist Nioh Berg claimed, They're beating up Jewish women in LA in broad daylight now, and others posted this photo of the Jewish woman. In fact, the pro-Israel counter-protester in question is a young man named Naftoli Sherman, who had a pro-Palestinian protester in a headlock and ended up bloodied. The reaction to this event from politicians, Jewish leaders and the media has followed an unfortunately familiar pattern: Pro-Palestinian protesters are libeled as antisemites, often on the basis of inaccurate or ambiguous evidence, and their worst moments are portrayed as indicative of the whole movement. In the process, Palestinians' legitimate grievances are dismissed. Both of my grandfathers escaped the antisemitic pogroms of early 20th-century Russia massacres perpetrated by ultra-nationalist "Black Hundreds" thugs egged on by Tsar Nicholas II, known as "Bloody Nicholas." For American leaders today, Jewish and otherwise, to draw an analogy between last Sunday's legitimate protest and the murderous pogroms of that era demonstrates how unreasonable the American reaction to pro-Palestinian protests has become. With no state bonding bill in 3 of last 4 years, flood funding unreliable HENDERSON, Minn. A day after the Minnesota River crested, grayish-tan muddy water still lapped the edges of levees and covered some roads in this low-lying river city. Two of the main roads in and out of town flood nearly every spring, said Mayor Keith Swenson, and Henderson has been lobbying for nearly a decade for state funding to raise the road surface above the flood line. Construction started earlier this spring. Then the Minnesota River flooded again, submerging the construction projects. "They're dead in the water," Swenson said. Lawmakers have traditionally passed large bonding bills so-called because Minnesota borrows money to pay for public infrastructure projects in even-numbered years, with smaller bills in odd-numbered years. To get one passed requires a 60% vote in the Minnesota House and Senate, a threshold that is becoming increasingly hard to reach. There has been no bonding bill in three of the last four years. Much of the money in state bonding bills goes to local governments, to fund projects like raising Henderson's roads. State borrowing also funds the Department of Natural Resources' flood hazard mitigation program. The program "is totally reliant on bond funds," director Matt Bauman said. That means it's nearly impossible to predict how much funding the program will receive, and how much money it can send downstream to local projects. "The need always exceeds the funds available, and since the funds available are variable, the ... amounts we are able to award in any given year are very variable," Bauman said. Unfunded projects The city of Waterville saw some of the worst of last week's flooding, and for years, Le Sueur County has been trying to get state bonding money for water retention projects upstream. The county's request did not make the DFL's final list of projects, said Le Sueur County Commissioner David Preisler not that it mattered much this year. "Of course, in the end, there was no bonding bill at all," he noted. The county will keep asking, he said. He hopes the floods will remind legislators of the urgency of these projects. That won't stop the price on those projects from rising, or the needs from growing. In western Minnesota, the Red River Watershed Management Board asked for $57 million this year to fund seven northwest Minnesota flood mitigation and water retention projects that will improve water quality and reduce sediment flow in the Red River Basin. Robert Sip, the board's executive director, said lawmakers asked the group to pare down their request to about $21 million before this year's bonding bill was scrapped. Some of the projects, such as flood control work near Newfolden to store more water and remove the city from a flood plain, were partly funded last year. But the delay forces watershed officials to reconfigure construction schedules. "A lot of these projects can take up to seven or eight funding partners," Sip said. "Trying to align all those timelines and deadlines, trying to get things done, is a real challenge." On the other side of the state, officials in Albert Lea are seeking flood mitigation money from other sources. The city wants to build a water storage area to protect houses on Front Street near Fountain and Albert Lea lakes from major flooding. The project costs about $1 million, but the city doesn't want to get bonding money for the project they want lawmakers to help fund an $80 million project to replace Albert Lea's aging wastewater treatment plant and don't plan to ask for anything else until the project is paid for, according to Steven Jahnke, the city engineer and public works director. Wastewater treatment plants are key to help clean up floodwater, but many throughout the state are aging and in need of repair. And they're not designed to withstand major flooding almost 100 communities had to pump sewage directly into waterways over the past two weeks. Jahnke estimates it will take at least six years and three requests to pay for phases of the project before that's done. "We would love to have an $80 million project request, but politically it just doesn't work that way," Jahnke said. "They just don't give a town like Albert Lea that much in one chunk." Rising need Bauman, of the DNR's flood mitigation program, said Minnesota's changing climate and increasing development mean the program's needs are growing too, with once-rare extreme flooding becoming more common in recent decades. "The more that we don't do a bonding bill, the less we're going to be able to address issues like this, and the more cost," said Rep. Fue Lee, DFL-Minneapolis, who chaired the House Capital Investment Committee. Lee said the 60% supermajority required means it's hard to pass a bonding bill every year, but he said members on his committee agree that bonding bills need to get done. "We have bipartisan agreement that this critical infrastructure is necessary and we can fund it," said Sen. Eric Pratt, R-Prior Lake, who serves on the Senate's Capital Investment Committee. The House committee received more than $7.6 billion in requests this year. "That's growing by the minute," Lee said. The flood mitigation program alone requested $130 million in 2024, he said, and those needs will keep growing as infrastructure ages and damage adds up. "Whether we agree or not on the size and scope, we have to start chipping away on these critical projects," Lee said. Waiting game Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Director Jeff Freeman said the lack of a bonding bill in 2024 will affect projects that cities and counties hoped to start in 2025. "Right now, we're continuing pretty much full speed ahead for 2024 construction," Freeman said, approving projects that received money in the 2023 bonding bill. "New project requests will be kind of put on a separate list, a holding pattern until we receive state match funds." Bauman said funding has been inconsistent from the start, with surges of funding often coming in the years following a catastrophic flood. Yet he said Minnesota is fortunate to have the funding at all. Many other states rely on FEMA funding to clean up after major floods and prepare for the next one, and some other states have special revenue sources; for example, North Dakota uses oil revenue to fund flood mitigation. Since the flood mitigation program started, Bauman said, Minnesota has spent more than $600 million on projects. Though the funding isn't perfectly consistent, Bauman said he sees those investments paying off. "Yeah, we're getting a lot of water right now, and there are some homes and businesses affected in Minnesota," he said. "But not to the scale we've seen in other states." 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. Story continues 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 Nonprofit provides much-needed assistance to family of veteran who died of cancer A local nonprofit is honoring a Salisbury veteran who lost his fight against an unseen enemy, cancer. U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Richard Kidd died earlier this year, just weeks after his diagnosis. A gift to be free: Veteran gets help for PTSD from Charlotte nonprofit Family members told Channel 9s Eli Brand that they were struggling to schedule a service until the Veterans Social Center stepped in to help. Sandra Kesler-Kidd met her husband, Kidd, on a dating website while he served in Norfolk, Virginia. He asked for someone within a 50-mile range, and he was stationed in Norfolk. I live in Salisbury 250 miles away, Kesler-Kidd said. And I asked for someone 5-foot-10 or taller with no tattoos. Hes 5-foot-8 and covered in tattoos, but it was love at first sight. Kesler-Kidd told Channel 9 that she visited Richard as often as she could and vice versa. They were married in 2010 in Las Vegas and moved to Salisbury. When I would look at Rick, I always felt like he was my best friend and my soulmate, she said. I know a lot of people dont believe in that, but it was like I could look at him and fill my heart. Kidd was diagnosed with cancer in March, and he died a few weeks later. The pain was hard to bear for his wife and putting together a service was just as hard. One of Kidds friends discovered the Veterans Social Center and the organizations founder, Kenny Hardin, steppe in to take care of everything. Kenny somehow picked up the phone and made all that happen within hours, Kesler-Kidd said. She said that her family felt special after the act of kindness. However, she also emphasized that as Independence Day approaches, every veteran and their family should feel honored. We need to be grateful to everyone who served in whatever way they served, Kesler-Kidd said. Its a creed she will live by to honor her soulmate and everyone else who sacrificed like he did. The Veterans Social Center will honor Kidds life with a lunch on July 6. Click here to learn about the Veterans Social Center. VIDEO: Carolina Strong: Army veteran jumps into action to help community North Carolina Girl, 8, Dies After Being Left in Hot Car by Mother Who Was Reportedly Working The mother has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse by willful act causing serious injury Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Ashlee Stallings. A woman has been charged after her 8-year-old daughter died when she was "left in a vehicle in hot weather conditions," authorities said. On Wednesday, June 26, around 6:30 p.m. local time, officers for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to a call in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they discovered the child in critical condition upon arrival, before she was pronounced dead at a local hospital, the department said in a news release. After the scene was searched and other departments arrived, an investigation from the department's Homicide Unit determined that "the victim was left in a vehicle in hot weather conditions and suffered a medical emergency." The girl's mother, Ashlee Stallings, 36, has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse by willful act causing serious injury. She was transferred to the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office, per the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. "The investigation into this case is active and ongoing," the department said, asking anyone with information to get in touch. "As additional information develops, it will be released by the CMPDs Public Affairs Office." Related: What to Know About Hot Car Deaths and How to Avoid Them Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Mugshot of North Carolina mother Ashlee Stallings According to the jail's website, Stallings was committed on Thursday, June 27 the morning after her daughter was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to ABC News, temperatures in Charlotte previously hit the upper 90s on the day of the incident. The mother told police, per an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the outlet, that she left the girl in the car with the air on, as she was at work. She reportedly "believed the victim turned the car off because she was cold." The outlet also reported, citing the affidavit, that Stallings returned to the vehicle an hour and a half after last hearing from the child via text and found her on the car's backseat floorboard, unresponsive and foaming at the mouth. She reportedly then broke through the car window with a hammer and attempted to drive to a hospital before stopping at a business for help. "She admitted she knew the temperature was 94 degrees outside and that she should not have left the victim inside the car alone," the affidavit read, per ABC News. Getty A stock photo of a hot car. 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 girl reportedly suffered from brain herniation due to hyperthermia, hospital staff told police, per the affidavit obtained by ABC News. Stallings is now being held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court next on July 16, per ABC News. It is not immeadly clear if she has legal representation to comment on her behalf. Related: Prevent Hot-Car Deaths: A Checklist for Parents Local outlet WSOC said that the mother was an employee for an Amazon facility. The company said that it was "working closely" with police on the investigation. "This is an incredibly tragic incident," Amazon said, according to ABC News. "During this difficult time, we're supporting our employees and have made counseling resources widely available. Nonprofit Kids and Car Safety reports that the latest death marks the fifth confirmed hot car death this year, and the first to take place in North Carolina in 2024. The four other children have died in California, West Virginia, South Carolina and Florida, and have ranged from 2 months old to 6 years old. 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. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Source: National Low-Income Housing Coalition North Carolinians must earn $3.61 more per hour and work more than they did in 2023 to pay for a modest apartment, according to a new National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) report. Stephanie Watkins-Cruz The coalitions 2024 Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing report found that the 2024 housing wage for North Carolina is $25.21 per hour, which is an increase of $3.61 an hour when compared to the $21.54 per hour wage a worker needed in 2023 to pay for a modest apartment. North Carolina has the 28th highest housing wage in the nation, according to the report. Nationally, according to the report, the national housing wage is $32.11 for a modest two-bedroom rental and $26.74 for a modest one-bedroom rental. California has the highest state housing wage at $47.38. North Dakota has the lowest at $18.38 The report highlights the gap between peoples wages and the cost of living in their area. The housing wage is an annual estimate of what a full-time worker would have to earn per hour to afford a modest apartment at Fair Market Rent without spending more than 30% of their income on housing. So this means with the housing wage of $25.21 an hour, someone earning minimum wage in North Carolina $7.25 an hour would have to work at least 120 hours and three full-time jobs in order to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment at fair market rent or they would have to work almost 140 hours and 3.5 full-time jobs to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent today, Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, director of housing policy at the N.C. Housing Coalition, said in statement. Here are the five areas in North Carolina with the highest required housing wages: Asheville $32.31. Raleigh $31.65. Durham-Chapel Hill $31.37 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia $29.88 Wilmington $29.13 Key data regarding North Carolina's housing rental market The reports authors said that low-wage renters across the nation are often only one missed paycheck or unexpected expense away from not being able to pay their rent. Stable, affordable housing is a prerequisite for basic well-being, and no person should live in danger of losing their home, the authors said. Addressing the countrys long-term housing affordability crisis requires bridging the gap between rents and incomes by raising wages and expanding Housing Choice Vouchers to all households in need of them. However, due to severe underfunding, just one out of every four income eligible households receives the help it needs from federal housing assistance. Only sustained, long-term federal investments in rental housing can ensure that the lowest-income renters have affordable homes, the authors said. Congress must recognize the urgent need to fund rental assistance, expand the supply of affordable rental housing, preserve the existing housing stock, provide short-term assistance to renters in crisis, and protect renters from unfair treatment, they said. The 2024 Out of Reach report comes the same week the National Housing Law Project, NLIHC and the Tenant Union Federation released a National Tenants Bill of Rights, a policy agenda to strengthen and enforce the rights of renters. Advocates see strengthening tenants rights as way to help control rents. The National Tenants Bill of Rights would provide historic and unprecedented local, state, and federal protections for renters and improve the systemic power imbalance between landlords and renters that continues to both put renters at increased risk of housing insecurity, eviction, and homelessness, and fuel racial inequity, Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said in a statement. In North Carolina, a group of tenants rights advocates launched the North Carolina Tenants Union (NCTU) in April in hopes of leveling the playing field for tenants. NCTU was created to help tenants fight displacements, win critical housing repairs, stop rapid rent increases, strengthen tenants rights and push local officials and state lawmakers to adopt housing rental policies and laws that are fair to tenants, the organizers said. Other key takeaways from the NLIHC report: Cost-burdened families are left with less money for other basic needs like healthcare, transportation, food, and childcare. Simply put, renters spending more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities arent left with enough of their paycheck to cover the other basic necessities. We continue to experience the long-term loss and systemic shortage of affordable housing. There arent enough affordable units available to meet the scale of the need. Compounding this problem, affordable rental construction cannot keep pace with the number of affordable units lost each year. The high cost of housing impacts some communities more severely than others. As a result of wage disparities, Black and Latino workers face larger gaps between their wages and the cost of rental housing than white workers. Women also face wage disparities that make it difficult to access housing, and these inequities are only further amplified for Black and Latina women. Criminalizing homelessness while rents are out of reach is counterproductive. Ticketing, fining, and arresting people for not having a home only hinders their ability to access services needed. Congress must address the homelessness crisis by embracing Housing First the most effective approach for reducing homelessness. Federal policies and resources play a pivotal role in establishing a robust housing safety net. Congress must provide long-term support to extremely low-income families by making substantial investments in deeply targeted affordable housing programs like Housing Choice Vouchers, the national Housing Trust Fund, and Public Housing. Strengthened tenant protection policies and policies that embrace the Housing First approach are also critical in promoting housing stability and reducing homelessness. The post North Carolinians must earn more, work more to pay for modest apartments appeared first on NC Newsline. By Hyunsu Yim and Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea criticised a joint military exercise by South Korea, Japan and the United States held this month, state media said on Sunday, saying such drills show the relationship among three countries has developed into "the Asian version of NATO". On Thursday, the three countries began large-scale joint military drills called "Freedom Edge" involving navy destroyers, fighter jets and the nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, aimed at boosting defences against missiles, submarines and air attacks. The exercise was devised at the three-way summit at Camp David last year to strengthen military cooperation amid tensions on the Korean peninsula stemming from North Korea's weapons testing. Pyongyang will not ignore the strengthening of a military bloc led by the U.S. and its allies and will protect regional peace with an aggressive and overwhelming response, North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement, according to KCNA news agency. The ministry also said Washington was continuing its effort to link up South Korea and Japan to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), adding South Korea's attempts to supply weapons to Ukraine is one example of that effort. Seoul's defence ministry said in a statement that the "Freedom Edge" exercise was in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile program while dismissing Pyongyang's criticism. South Korea said it would review the possibility of supplying arms directly to Ukraine, in protest against a recent mutual defence pact signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. South Korea and the United States have accused the North of supplying weapons to Russia that are being used in the Ukraine war. Both Russia and North Korea deny any such transactions. North Korea's ruling party held a meeting over Friday and Saturday presided by Kim, who on the second day addressed "deviations" hampering economic development and laid out the focus for the second half of the year, state media said. North Korea has long condemned joint drills between the United States and South Korea as a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul. Last year, the U.S., South Korea and Japan staged joint naval missile defence and anti-submarine exercises to improve responses to North Korean threats. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim and Ju-min Park; Editing by Richard Chang and Christopher Cushing) As North Korean and Chinese threats rise, US looks to lock in defense partnerships with Asian allies FILE - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, boards the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier at the South Korean naval base in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The newly-inaugurated Freedom Edge exercise is wrapping up in the East China Sea, having brought together Japanese, South Korean and American naval assets for multi-domain maneuvers for the first time. (South Korean Presidential Office/Yonhap via AP, File) GIMHAE AIR BASE, South Korea (AP) The United States wrapped up its first multidomain exercise with Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea on Saturday, a step forward in Washington's efforts to strengthen and lock in its security partnerships with key Asian allies in the face of growing threats from North Korea and China. The three-day Freedom Edge increased the sophistication of previous exercises with simultaneous air and naval drills geared toward improving joint ballistic-missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and other skills and capabilities. The exercise, which is expected to expand in years to come, was also intended to improve the countries' abilities to share missile warnings increasingly important as North Korea tests ever-more sophisticated systems. Outside of Australia, Japan and South Korea are the only U.S. partners in the region with militaries sophisticated enough to integrate operations with the U.S. so that if, for example, South Korea were to detect a target, it could quickly relay details so Japanese or American counterparts could respond, said Ridzwan Rahmat, a Singapore-based analyst with the defense intelligence company Janes. Thats the kind of interoperability that is involved in a typical war scenario, Rahmat said. For trilateral exercises like this the intention is to develop the interoperability between the three armed forces so that they can fight better as a cohesive fighting force. Such exercises also carry the risk of increasing tensions, with China regularly denouncing drills in what it considers its sphere of influence, and North Korea already slamming the arrival of the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier group in the port of Busan home to South Koreas navy headquarters and its Gimhae Air Base in preparation for Freedom Edge as provocative and dangerous." On Wednesday, the day after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the Roosevelt in Busan, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to board a U.S. aircraft carrier since 1994, North Korea tested what it said was a multiwarhead missile, the first known launch of the developmental weapon, if confirmed. South Koreas military said a joint analysis by South Korean and U.S. authorities assessed that the North Korean missile launch failed. The defense cooperation involving both Japan and South Korea is also politically complex for both Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, due to the lingering resentment over Imperial Japans brutal occupation of Korea before and during World War II. The two countries have the largest militaries among American allies in East Asia and together host some 80,000 American troops on their territories but the U.S. has tended to work with them individually rather than together due to their history. Kishida's increase of defense spending and cooperation with South Korea have generally been well received by the Japanese public but has caused friction with the right wing of his own party, while Yoon's domestic appeal has weakened, but he has stayed the course. South Koreas shift under the Yoon administration toward improving its relations with Japan has been extremely significant, said Heigo Sato, international politics professor and security expert at Takushoku University in Tokyo. Both leaders are seen to be trying to fortify their defense relationships with Washington ahead of the inauguration of a new president, with South Korean officials saying recently that they hope to sign a formal security framework agreement with the U.S. and Japan this year that would lock in a joint approach to responding to a possible attack from North Korea. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has also long been working to increase cooperation between South Korea and Japan something that many didn't think was possible at the start of his presidency, said Euan Graham, a defense analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Credit where its due the fact that its happening is a significant achievement from the administrations regional policy, he said. Former U.S. President Donald Trump caused friction with both allies during his time in office by demanding greater payment for their hosting of U.S. troops while holding one-on-one meetings with North Koreas Kim Jong Un. Under Biden, Washington is seeking to solidify its system of alliances, both with increasingly sophisticated exercises and diplomatic agreements, Graham said. Its obviously a U.S. attempt to try and mesh their alliances as positively as possible, not just given the challenge of their adversaries, but also the uncertainty around a second Trump administration, he said. Theyre trying to institutionalize as many of these habits of cooperation while they can. Tensions with North Korea are at their highest point in years, with the pace of Kim Jong Uns weapons programs intensifying, despite heavy international sanctions. China, meantime, has been undertaking a massive military buildup of both nuclear and conventional weapons, and now has the worlds largest navy. It claims both the self-governing island of Taiwan and virtually the entirety of the South China Sea as its own territory, and has increasingly turned to its military to press those claims. China and North Korea have also been among Russias closest allies in its war against Ukraine, while Russia and China are also both key allies for North Korea, as well as the military leaders of Myanmar who seized power in 2021 and are facing ever-stiffer resistance in that countrys civil war. In Pyongyang this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim concluded a mutual defense pact, agreeing to come to the other's aid in the event of an attack, rattling others in the region. Despite a greater number of ships overall, China still only has three aircraft carriers compared to the U.S. fleets 11 probably the most effective tool a country has to bring vast amounts of power to bear at a great distance from home. Chinas advantage, however, is that its primary concern is the nearby waters of the Indo-Pacific, while Washingtons global focus means that its naval assets are spread widely. Following the exercises in the East China Sea with Japan and South Korea, the Roosevelt is due to sail to the Middle East to help protect ships against attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels. That has made strong security partnerships all the more important, not only with Japan and South Korea but with Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan and others in the region, and building those up has been a priority for the Biden administration. One of the weaknesses of the Chinese navy, despite the number of hulls that they have compared to the Americans, is the fact that they dont have a network of friendly ports from which they can operate in the event they need to launch a campaign, Rahmat said. One of the strengths of the U.S. Navy is not just its ships and its technology, but its ability to call on a vast network of friendly ports and, aware of this strength, they are doubling down by increasing partnerships across the region. ___ AP writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this story from Tokyo. Nyack gathers to recall Sean Harris and seek answers about his death after police standoff NYACK - About 100 people came to Hezekiah Easter Veterans Memorial Park in the heart of the village on Friday evening to mark a year since Sean Harris died after an hours-long standoff with police at his Central Nyack home. Harris, 19, was declared dead May 30, 2023. His family continues to search for answers. Urging the state AG to act Voices of Rockland, which organized the one-year memorial, had letters to New York State Attorney General Letitia James for people to sign and send. The AG's office is conducting a preliminary investigation into Harris' death. The office is required by law to assess every reported incident in which a police, peace or corrections officer may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. "To date, one (1) year and one (1) month later, the family of Sean Harris remains filled with grief, pain and confusion," the letter read. "Will it be you, as the Attorney General of New York State, who will give accountability, justice and peace?" Kevin Adams, Sean Harris' older brother, thanked everyone for coming on behalf of the family. He urged people to continue to support each other as the community had supported them. "It doesn't take a tragedy, it doesn't take a problem for community to come together," said Adams, a New Jersey resident. "Powerful people are stronger together." The memorial in the heart of Nyack included prayer, song and pleas for action. "We have to be as equally as outraged as we were the day this 19-yer-old baby died," said L'Tanya Watkins, an attorney in Rockland and friend of the family. Saying that many people need mental health supports, Watkins warned that no one should believe they are immune from the kind of incident that led to Harris' death. "It could be you." What happened that day at Sean Harris' home Sean Harris' mother, Judy Adams, had contacted Rockland County's Behavioral Health Team, seeking support for her youngest son. The 19-year-old had been struggling with social issues. On May 30 of last year, two social workers came to the family home in Central Nyack. Sean Harris' family seeks answers: Social workers called cops on teen; now he's dead The social workers then went outside. They contacted police. Adams said later she was unaware this was happening. Clarkstown Police, in a June 6 statement, said Harris had a baseball bat, was "destroying items" and "threatened to kill his mother." Adams had what she described as a verbal exchange with her son. She said she didn't feel threatened. Soon the street was filled with police vehicles. Supporters atttend a vigil for Sean Harris at Hezekiah Easter Park in Nyack on Friday, Jun 28, 2024. 19-year old Sean Harris of Central Nyack, died May 30, 2023, after a lengthy standoff with the Clarkstown Police in his home. At some point, police shot out a glass storm doors with what police described as a less-lethal munition. A side door was also bashed, Adams said. After an hours-long standoff, police went in and reported finding Sean Harris in the bathroom with pill bottles around him. He was pronounced dead at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. The family said Friday that they have still not received autopsy results. A Freedom of Information request by lohud.com for the autopsy report was denied by the County of Rockland. What comes next The family of Sean Harris is pursuing a lawsuit against the County of Rockland and Clarkstown Police Department. A Notice of Claim filed last fall asserts false imprisonment, assault, battery, wrongful death, negligence, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, deliberate indifference to medical care and denial of medical care. It also cites civil rights violations. What happened to Sean Harris: Family of Central Nyack 19-year-old who died after police standoff to sue Clarkstown, Rockland The family is represented by Randolph McLaughlin and Debra Cohen, co-chairs the Civil Rights Practice Group of Newman Ferrara LLP in Manhattan and Pace University law professors. The New York State Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigation continues to conduct a preliminary assessment of the May 30 incident, a spokesperson for the office said this week. If the assessment indicates an officer caused the death, the Attorney General's special investigative unit then conducts a full investigation. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Police standoff death of Sean Harris questioned year later in Nyack NY NYC driver wanted for horrific hit-and-run death of elderly woman nabbed after nearly five years on the lam Naquan Young was arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with a fatal hit and run in Queens in 2019. A Queens hit-run driver wanted in the 2019 horror death of a great-grandmother was finally nabbed Thursday after nearly five years on the lam, cops said. When [the detective] called me, I was numb, I couldnt believe it, I was speechless, said Gloria Lascano-Vargas, the oldest of tragic victim Gilda Lascanos five children, to The Post on Friday. I was like, Are you sure, are you positive? And [the detective] said, Yeah, the DNA test that we did, the blood that was on the airbag, you know, it confirmed and matched the DNA, the daughter recalled of the pairs 5 p.m. call Thursday. Gilda Lascano, 72, was killed in the hit-run. GoFundMe The victims red Honda SUV was totaled in the deadly crash. William C. Lopez/NY Post I called my brother, my two sisters. We all were all on the line, and I told them what the detective told me, said Lascano-Vargas, 54. Its about time. Suspect Naquan Young, 46, was picked up on a fugitive warrant in Pennsylvania and extradited back to New York City, officials said. Young had been sought in the gruesome killing of Lascano, 72, after his gray Lexus SUV blew through a red light around 1:15 a.m. in Ozone Park on Sept. 10, 2019, and smashed into a burgundy Honda CRV in which she was a passenger, cops said. The impact sent the Honda flying into the facade of a flower shop and Lascano through the CRVs windshield and under a nearby parked car, cops said. The suspect, who was driving a gray Lexus SUV at the time, is charged with homicide, manslaughter, assault and leaving the scene of an accident. William C. Lopez/NY Post The elderly woman was a cleaning lady and had been heading home from her night shift with another coworker at the time, her daughter said. Lascano-Vargas said her mother, who had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, was a half a block or maybe less than half a block from the house when killed. Lascano was declared dead at the scene, while the Honda driver, an unidentified 56-year-old woman, was hospitalized. Young fled on foot, officials said. The circumstances of his arrest all these years later were not immediately clear. Loscano (center), who had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, was a half a block or maybe less than half a block from the house when killed. He is charged with criminally negligent homicide, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident. The suspect was arraigned in Queens criminal court Friday and is being held without bail, court officials said. Lascano-Vargas said her mom worked as a cleaner for decades, toiling to buy a house in Ozone Park for her children. Loscano had been heading home from her night shift with another coworker at the time of the tragedy. The victim had three daughters and two boys, one of whom passed away when he was 18, the daughter said. All the hard work was really to buy that house so everyone can live comfortably, Lascano-Vargas said. And she was in that house, I would say, two years. She just loved to be surrounded with her grandkids, you know, and around her kids. I used to live in Jackson Heights, the daughter added. After my moms death and stuff, I couldnt stay in Queens anymore. So I moved to Westchester [County]. Lascano-Vargas said she was at Youngs arraignment Friday and plans to be at his next court hearing in late July with her two sons and her two sisters in tow to continue to monitor the case. All we want is for him to do the time, she said. Once we hear how many years hes gonna do is where we can finally put it to rest. -Additional reporting by Patrick Reilly NYC halal cart kingpin sues rival for trying to steal his prime spots, hiring vagrants to disrupt business composite image: left, eissa in blue plaid shirt, baseball cap, sandals and socks and a cane standing in front of his cart looking at the camera; upper right, people sitting in front of his empty cart; lower right eissa loading food into a foil wrapper Its an intifooda! A halal vendor claims his 10-cart empire in Midtown has been upended by a jealous rival who has tried to steal his prime spots, hired vagrants to disrupt his business, and even got him falsely arrested. Ayman Afifys American dream has become a nightmare thanks to the petty antics of Naser Eissa, a fellow Jersey City resident who allegedly has a long-standing grudge against him, Afify said in a lawsuit. Naser Eissa (pictured) contended he and Ayman Afify had settled their differences. Robert Miller Afifys carts sit in high-traffic areas such as West 34th Street at 7th and 8th Avenues near Penn Station, and West 49th Street and Broadway near Times Square. Eissa, 46, launched the food fight to steal his customers, with the two often battling near busy Penn Station, Afify, 39, contended in court papers. What was once [his] calling and lifelong pursuit of providing New Yorkers and tourists in Manhattan with a tasty meal has become a source of anguish, he bemoaned in the Manhattan Supreme Court filing. The beef escalated on July 23, 2023 when Eissa allegedly called 911 from West 34th and 7th Avenue, claiming Afify waved a gun and threatened to kill him, according to the legal papers. Eissa, a Jersey City resident, said he wasnt aware of the lawsuit against him. Robert Miller Afify was out running errands when police arrived, and maintains the imitation pistol they found in his cart was planted. He was arrested and charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. The case was later dismissed. Afify says Eissa has ruined his reputation, and wants $1 million damages and a judge to order Eissa to stop interfering with his business. Manhattan food cart battles have at times been so fierce that its resulted in violence among competitors. Robert Miller Eissa, who was peddling kabobs, pretzels, hot dogs and chicken and rice from his cart in Hudson Yards when reached by The Post, denied hiring vagrants to disrupt Afifys business. Nothing of that sort has happened, the married father of four told The Post. He said he wasnt aware of Afifys lawsuit, and while he stood by his allegation that Afify and another man brandished pistols against me last year, Eissa also claimed the rivals had settled their differences. Eissa, who is a married father of four, denied hiring vagrants to disrupt Afifys business.. Robert Miller Theres no more feud, he said. Its not the first time conflict has simmered between food vendors. In February 2023 one longtime City Hall vendor was attacked slammed in the legs and back with a tire iron allegedly by an enforcer for a rival who tried to shake him down for $20,000. A few months later, in June, another vendor was slashed in the neck by a competitor amid a long-standing battle over turf in Heralds Square. Additional reporting by Claire Samstag Woman Working 3 Jobs Struggling With A Lifetime Of Overdrafts Receives An Unexpected Gift From Dave Ramsey, Bringing Her To Tears During an episode of the personal finance help show, The Dave Ramsey Show, the show host and celebrated finance guru, Dave Ramsey, received a call from a woman who decided to change her finances. She called for advice and left with an unexpected gift from Ramsey. Don't Miss: Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? How does it compare to the average? Miami is expected to take New York's place as the U.S. Financial Capital. Here's how you can invest in the city before that happens. The episode started with caller Tasia, who revealed to Ramsey that she had found his page on the TikTok social media app, which gave her the push she needed to start working her way out of debt. Tasia told Ramsey that she started her emergency fund, which Ramsey and his team have been teaching people to do. According to Ramsey Solutions, a starter emergency fund should have at least $1,000 as a temporary buffer, while a fully-funded emergency fund should save at least 3-6 months of expenses. In addition to creating an emergency fund, Tasia told Ramsey that his advice helped her avoid overdrafting any accounts. Tasia revealed that she had been overdrafting her bank accounts her whole life, so this was a significant achievement for her, and Ramsey agreed. He told her, "This is a breakthrough, isn't it, kid? Way to go." When it comes to overdraft, Tasia isn't alone. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey sent a news release in April this year slamming large corporate banks for profiting from excessive overdraft fees. In his statement, Casey wrote, "Roughly 23 million households pay overdraft fees each year" and that "26 percent of Americans reside in a household that faced an overdraft fee or non-sufficient fund fee in the last year." Casey revealed that American families are struggling to make ends meet, and more are going into overdraft. According to ABC News, Americans paid a whopping $9 billion in overdraft fees last year, with banks charging around $35 per transaction in overdraft. Currently, lawmakers are in the process of passing a rule to try and cut these overdraft fees. Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? Now that Tasia has managed to get herself out of overdraft, she can focus on growing her savings account. She told Ramsey that with her three jobs combined, she earns $90,000 annually and has around $30,000 still in debt, with half that amount being student loans. Ramsey told her, "You're ready to go. You're ready to try new stuff because you're sick and tired of being sick and tired." Ramsey also told Tasia that he was proud of her and then revealed his gift to her: a paid 9-week Financial Peace University class and paid access to the EveryDollar budgeting app. Ramsey explained that he's gifting her this experience because she is the reason why he does the show. He explained, "People that are like you, that have for the first time in your whole adult life, you're not doing overdraft because we taught you something," and added, "Now, we're going to teach you how to get rid of this debt." Ramsey told Tasia he would teach her how to be a millionaire. When Ramsey had finished telling Tasia his gift to her, she was in tears at the unexpected gesture and told him, "This has been my dream to talk to you." Ramsey told Tasia that he would help her take control of her money instead of wondering where it went, giving her the tools to make sound financial decisions. With Ramsey Solutions, Tasia will learn how to use the snowball method of paying off her debts, from smallest to largest. Ramsey promised that if she follows this advice and stays out of restaurants with no vacations, she would be 100% debt-free by next year. Read Next: "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 Woman Working 3 Jobs Struggling With A Lifetime Of Overdrafts Receives An Unexpected Gift From Dave Ramsey, Bringing Her To Tears originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. NYPD widow Stephanie Diller doubles down on eulogy calling for politicians to protect all officers Diller widow gives eulogy at his sake and the two men charged in his death. Its been four months since NYPD widow Stephanie Diller gave a heart-wrenching and forceful tribute at her slain husband Jonathans funeral, pleading with politicians to do more to protect police officers. In my eulogy I asked how many officers have to die before we start protecting them, she told The Post this week in her first interview. And I still stand by that and I spoke that because I felt like thats what Jonathan would say if he was here. I just spoke from my heart, she added. NYPD widow Stephanie Diller gave a stirring tribute at her slain husbands wake. NYPD Police officers gather for the funeral of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Massapequa, N.Y. James Keivom But little has changed since the young dads March 25 on-duty death. Jonathan Diller had strong feelings about New Yorks revolving-door criminal justice system, which has seen suspects like the ones accused of killing him repeatedly set free to wreak havoc, his widow said. These career criminals shouldnt be out on the street and the way that laws are set up right now, while I understand the reasons some of them are in place, they embolden criminals because there are no consequences, Stephanie Diller said. In her tribute, Diller recalled the 2022 murders of Detective Jason Rivera and Detective Wilbert Mora, who were killed during a domestic violence call in Harlem, and Jonathans eerie reaction. The scene where Officer Jonathan Diller was shot in the stomach after approaching a suspicious vehicle on March 25 in Far Rockaway, Queens, while working with the NYPDs Critical Response Team. Wayne Carrington Lindy Jones appears in Queens Criminal Court on June 12, 2024. Jones, whose passenger Guy Rivera allegedly shot and killed PO Jonathan Diller, has been charged illegal weapons charges. James Messerschmidt Specifically, I remember Jonathan coming home to me and saying he was upset, she told The Post. He said, I dont want this to ever happen to you. He was heartbroken over it. Dillers death spurred renewed calls for Albany to revise bail reform, which many in law enforcement blame for recidivist crimes. Former President Donald Trump made headlines when he attended the police officers Massapequa Park wake, called for law and order, and blasted President Biden for not attending. Guy Rivera has been charged with murder in Jonathan Dillers shooting death. Brigitte Stelzer And a family member was seen at the service yelling at Gov. Hochul that she had blood on her hands over Dillers death, police sources said at the time. He said, We dont want you here. Youre not wanted here. You have blood on your hands. If you want to do something, change the bail laws, the source said of the emotional exchange. Both men charged in the Diller killing, accused gunman Guy Rivera and his alleged driver Lindy Jones, have long rap sheets. Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the wake for slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller. AP Jonathan was a cops cop, she added. He wanted to clean the city up. He wanted to do good things for people. He wanted to help innocent people. He was good-hearted. He was the perfect person to be a cop. He didnt have a bad bone in his body, said the widow, who refused to discuss politics. Instead she focused on the humanity of the men and women in blue. Police officers are husbands and mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, she said. I never thought thats the last time Id be kissing him goodbye, she continued. I dont want anyone else to be in my shoes and I know thats how Jonathan felt. UPDATE: SUNDAY 6/30/2024 8:36 a.m. (PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) Rain and cloud cover helped slow the spread of the Oak Ridge Fire in the overnight hours of Saturday, June 29. The rain did not put out the fire, but it reduced the activity enough to give firefighters the chance to implement indirect hand lines and continue to box in the fire. The fire is now currently at 1,190 acres with zero containment. Courtesy: Oak Ridge Fire 2024 Courtesy: Oak Ridge Fire 2024 Courtesy: Oak Ridge Fire 2024 ORIGINAL STORY: Oak Ridge Fire at 1,156 acres, CSFD assisting SATURDAY 6/29/2024 12:38 p.m. The Oak Ridge Fire Page reported a slight increase of acreage on Saturday, June 29, to 1,156 acres, and the fire is at zero containment, as of about 11 a.m. According to the official fire information update, most of the area north, west, and south of the fire is steep and rugged, making it difficult for firefighters to quickly and safely access in the event of increased fire behavior or an accident. RELATED STORY: Oak Ridge Fire Briefing: progress and future strategy Crews are working to connect firelines to box in the fire and provide opportunities to conduct burnout operations to reduce fuel loads. The area is particularly overgrown as there have been no records of fire inside or outside the perimeter for over 100 years. Courtesy: Oak Ridge Fire 2024 Crews have created a buffer between the fire and the town of Beulah and will continue to monitor the fire line and mop up any hot spots. Structure protection crews will keep scouting to locate and assess structures east of the fire, along the County Road 78 corridor, and the Highway 165 corridor west of the fire. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oak Ridge Fire crews on access to community information The Middle Creek Road is still closed and homes along the road are under a mandatory evacuation. The following are under pre-evacuation status: Vine Mesa, Cascade Avenue, Pine Avenue, and Beulah Highlands Road. The U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program is now producing a daily smoke outlook report for Southeast Colorado and the Oak Ridge Fire. The report can be accessed here. The Colorado Springs Fire Department also announced that it has sent a Type 6 brush truck with three crew members to assist with the fire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Friday afternoon, in the aftermath of President Joe Bidens disastrous debate against Donald Trump, private murmurs and public calls for an intervention ricocheted through Democratic circles. But then a hold-up emerged. Some 17 hours after Biden botched his big debate moment, his former boss came to the rescue. For many high-ranking Democrats, a single tweet from former President Barack Obama appeared to nix any chance of the 44th president meeting with the 46th and urging him to drop out. Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know, Obama posted on X, alluding to his own rusty performance against Mitt Romney in 2012. 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 straightand 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. Democratic sources who spoke to The Daily Beast said there were only four credible messengers who could convince Biden to step aside. Or, at the very least, four who could convince him to put withdrawal on the table as an option, if post-debate polling confirms Democrats worst fears: that Biden tanked his re-election chances and handed Trump a pass to a second term. Those heavy hitters are: Obama; former President Bill Clinton; First Lady Jill Biden; and Valerie Biden Owens, the presidents sister and longtime campaign manager. Jill has a blindspot, one Democratic donor bundler, who has known the Bidens for decades, told The Daily Beast. According to this high-ranking Democrat, the first lady is overly protective of her husband and can sometimes unintentionally reinforce Bidens image as too frail and too old for the job. The source pointed to Bidens post-debate appearance in Atlanta on Thursday. As she often does, Jill Biden grabbed her husband at several points, appearing to show him where to go. It may well be just her way of showing affection. But, the source said, Joe Biden is in his eighties, and it might be some of that Watch out for this type of thing that you would do with a family member of that age. Defiant Biden Admits He Got Knocked Down by Trump The senior Democrat was not as worried as others about how bad the first debate could prove for Bidens chances. Trouble is reportedly brewing among Biden donors. But according to the donor bundler, donors deciding not to show up to fundraisers, a scenario multiple outlets have reported, likely wont make any difference in the presidents calculus. If Bill, Jill, or Valerie intervened, that might actually move the needle, the source said. Obamas tweet therefore came as welcome news to the source, who had been inundated by worried texts from donors and other party bigwigs. I think its helpful, because everybody has so much respect for him, the source said, calling Obama the face of the party before saying Biden is still technically in that role. Nonetheless, the source could not think of anybody else who would have as much sway over people as Obama himself. Others in the party worried what booting Biden from the ticket could entail. Im not gonna lie, last night was not a good night for Joe Biden, longtime North Carolina Democratic strategist Doug Wilson told The Daily Beast. Yet Wilson said the president still enjoyed a strong base of support in his battleground state, citing the greeting for his arrival after the debate, on Air Force One. When it comes to North Carolina, I think we got a firsthand reaction to how the party and the base feels about him, Wilson said. To me, that feels like he still has support. Its almost like a team coming from traveling, even after a loss. Wilson cautioned that chatter about pushing Biden out in favor of Vice President Kamala Harrisor the even more chaotic option of a brokered convention in Chicagoruns the risk not only of handing the election to Trump, but of damaging the party in the long term. If Democrats arent careful, Wilson said, they could usher in a second Reagan Revolutionanother decade and-a-half of Republican rule. I think the question that Democrats have to ask themselves is, one, do we want a repeat of 1980? Wilson said, referring to Edward Kennedys primary challenge to President Jimmy Carter. Do we wanna throw out our guy after one bad performance? Speaking before Obamas tweet, Wilson explained why it was already unlikely that Bidens former boss would be the one to sit him down and tell him to fall on his sword. Obama had a similar conversation with Biden ahead of the 2016 election, when he told him that former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons run would make it impossible to endorse his old vice president. I dont know if Obama wants to do that same thing here, Wilson said. It turned out, he doesnt. Wilson said Harris might be able to improve the partys standing in North Carolina. But he was not sure. The question is, is the country ready for a Black woman? said Wilson, who is Black. They sure as hell werent ready for a white woman in 2016. So the question is, unfortunately, the party is ready for a Black woman, but will the country be ready? 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 U.S. Forest Service has taken action to get more than 500 people camping without a permit in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California to leave or be issued fines. The people are part of the annual gathering of the Rainbow Family of Living Light. The agency said it is concerned about the protection of natural, Tribal and cultural resources, concerns about fire danger, public health and sanitation The group has gathered annually for the last five decades around the Fourth of July each year at a different national forest, often without the necessary permissions, and sometimes numbering several thousand people. This year, the gathering is in July in the Plumas National Forest, about 170 miles northeast of Sacramento, near the town of Janesville. California welcomes its newest city The USFS has issued an order prohibiting people from being in the Indian Creek Headwaters area, about five miles north of the Antelope Lake Recreation Area, between June 26 and July 15. Native American Tribes in the area have also requested the gathering to not take place because of concerns of hundreds, and potentially thousands of people descending on historic and environmental property. The New York Times described the event in 2006 as a national pilgrimage of the fringe, the flower empowered and the spiritually engaged, with people calling themselves Rainbows and greeting each other saying they love one another as they spend time doing communal activities. Californias tallest bridge to undergo structural testing The Rainbow Family has regularly refused to follow the rules of large gatherings at national forests, the USFS said in 2023, when the group held an event with about 2,200 people in New Hampshire. The group does not have official leaders or an established organization, the USFS 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 FOX40. Officials have identified the man shot and killed by police after he allegedly threatened an officer with a gun, and fired a shot during a struggle in Manchester, New Hampshire Friday. The New Hampshire Attorney Generals office says an autopsy performed Saturday on Andrew E. Smith, 56, confirmed the man was shot multiple times in the chest and homicide. The AGs office says that during a conversation with an officer Friday, Smith reached into his pocket for a gun. A struggle ensued, during which the male fired what was later determined to be a pistol and the officer returned fire. The adult male was struck by this gunfire and transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, the AGs office said in a statement Friday. The officer involved in this incident was wearing a body-worn camera, which recorded the event. Manchesters Police Chief told Boston 25 it appears the officer, a 15-year veteran, was defending himself. Quite frankly, he tried to kill my officer and thats my worst thought, my worst nightmare. And thankfully my officer is going home to his family today, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg told Boston 25s Bob Ward. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. The identity of the officer who used deadly force will not disclosed until formal interviews take place. 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 Loved ones and officials are searching for a missing Ventura County woman with autism. Zyanya Valora, 21, is considered at-risk and went missing on June 24, according to the Ventura County Sheriffs Office. She was last seen walking away from her Mira Monte home in an unincorporated suburb in the Ojai Valley at around 8 p.m. She is described as 5 feet tall and weighing about 90 pounds. She has black hair and dark brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white top, shorts and no shoes. Zyanya has autism and is considered an at-risk missing person, authorities said. Officials noted, Zyanya may not be communicative if approached. Zyanya Valora, 21, is seen in a photo from the Ventura County Sheriffs Office. Search and rescue teams from multiple counties are searching for Zyanya, including an unmanned aerial unit, scent K9s and other specialized teams. Searches have been conducted daily and throughout evening hours and will continue through the weekend, said Ventura County deputies. You can help in the search by walking your private property to check buildings and thick brush where Zyanya could find refuge. Residents are also asked to check home surveillance footage for sightings of the woman. Anyone who may have spotted Zyanya is asked to call the Ventura County Sheriffs Office at 805-654-9511. We thank the community for being alert to any sighting and your support via sharing social media, officials said. Thank you to all local businesses for posting flyers with Zyanyas information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Authorities are looking for several suspects in connection to an assault on a store employee and leaving without paying. Suspect in store theft, Image courtesy OKCPD Suspect in store theft, Image courtesy OKCPD Suspect in store theft, Image courtesy OKCPD Suspect in store theft, Image courtesy OKCPD Police officials say, 3 individuals (above) walked into a business near SE 44th/High, loaded up items in shopping carts, then walked out without paying. When confronted, the male subject with the long braids allegedly punched the clerk in the face, according to police. If you know the identity of these suspects call Crime Stoppers at 405.235.7300 or www.okccrimetips.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsovs latest feature Real, his first since the 2021 Venice comp title Rhino, opens with a messy GoPro shot of Ukrainian soldiers taking cover in a shallow trench in the Donbas, the countrys front line in its defense against Vladimir Putins invasion of the country. Across the next 100 minutes, the camera barely moves from this spot. We dont see any warfare but we hear it. Soldiers are attacked and Russian bombs are launched. The immediate contemporary comparison, in terms of form, would be Jonathan Glazers unwavering Oscar-winner The Zone Of Interest. Unlike Glazers fiction movie, however, Real was captured unintentionally by Sentsov on his official military helmet camera. He found the footage months later on his laptop. More from Deadline I saw a big video file and I thought I should delete it because it was taking too much space on my laptop, he told us via Zoom from his family home in Kyiv. But then I started watching it. It was very interesting to me. Then I tried to show it to other people and they were also interested. Thats when we decided to publish it. The film will debut as a special screening at this years Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where Oleh has traveled with special permission from Ukrainian officials to present the film. The films official synopsis reads: During the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, film director Oleh Sentsov, an army reservist since returning from his incarceration in Putins gulag, joined a unit of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. In his role as an army lieutenant, he took part in several intensive battles and during one, his BMP armored vehicle was destroyed by Russian artillery. In the aftermath, he became embedded in nearby trenches and tried to organize via radio the evacuation of part of his unit. All the while his men were under consistent attack, and eventually ran out of ammunition, making their evacuation all the more urgent. This military event on the Ukrainian-Russian front line positions was given the code name Real. The film is a co-production between Propeler Film and Downey Ink. The producers are Denis Ivanov, Oleh Sentsov, Mike Downey, Boris Matic, and Lana Matic. Sentsov, whose filmography also includes Nomery (2020) and Gamer (2011), joined Ukraines voluntary Territorial Defense forces on the day of Russias invasion on February 24, 2022. Within a year, the 47-year-old filmmaker had moved into the countrys special forces and has since seen regular action in eastern Ukrainian hotspots of Zaporizhzhia, Bakhmut, and Donetsk. Below, the filmmaker speaks about life at war, how he managed to convince military officials to release the film, and whats next for him after debuting the pic at Karlovy Vary. DEADLINE: Oleh, firstly, how are you? OLEH SENTSOV: Im fine. Right now, Im at home with my family in Kyiv. Im on annual leave from the military. And this evening, Im going to Karlovy Vary for the premiere of the movie. So right now Im feeling much better than I usually would if I were in the Donbas. DEADLINE: What is the mood like where you are? SENTSOV: Kyiv is one world, and Donbas and the front lines are a different world. Kyiv is almost like a peaceful city if you dont count the air alerts and occasional missile attacks. But Kyiv is very well protected with anti-missile systems. So for better or worse, people are living in two different worlds at war and in peaceful cities like Kyiv. DEADLINE: This film is incredibly successful at transporting the viewer into the unpredictable world of war. And that is largely thanks to its form. But you describe Real as an accident. Can you explain why? SENTSOV: I dont really consider it a movie because it was an accidental recording I found six months later. I saw a big video file and thought I should delete it because it was taking up too much space on my laptop. But then I started watching it. It was very interesting to me because I was there and it was very personal. But then I tried to show it to other people and they were also interested. Thats when we decided to publish it. There was no video editing, so it is just everything that the GoPro shot that day. We did some sound editing because GoPro shoots sound very poorly. So we needed to amplify certain sounds to match the reality. DEADLINE: What do you hope audiences in Karlovy Vary and beyond will take from the film? SENTSOV: To be honest, Im not very concerned about it. I understand that it is pretty difficult to watch even though there arent any scenes of explicit violence in the movie. But I believe everyone who wants to see the film will be able to. DEADLINE: Was it difficult to get authorization from the military to release this footage? SENTSOV: From your question, its clear youre from a country of rule of law. In general, we are not that kind of country. Procedures dont work in our country. Getting official approvals in Ukraine is very bureaucratic and its nearly impossible. The military and political leadership of Ukraine would have never approved the release of this movie. So in this case, I use my judgment. Im not disclosing any sensitive intelligence or military secrets. No information could harm people from the military or my country. I might face some punishment, but I think its unlikely because Im a public figure and this movie does nothing to harm Ukraine. DEADLINE: How will you travel to Karlovy Vary? SENTSOV: It is difficult. There are no flights to or from Ukraine. So I will first go by train, cross the border, catch another train, and then maybe a flight from somewhere within Europe. But I do have an official permit to travel. DEADLINE: Whats next after Karlovy Vary? Will you report back to the military? SENTSOV: Of course, Im part of the Ukrainian military, so I follow military orders. I do what Im told to do. This little vacation is just a small opportunity for me to get back to my favorite activity. And when Im talking about my favorite activity, Im not talking just about making movies. Im also talking about going to festivals and drinking beer. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is embarking on a tour of Central Asia on June 29, Azernews reports. His itinerary includes visits to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. During his trip, Guterres will engage in meetings with each countrys leaders and other high-ranking state officials. Additionally, he will explore climate change-related projects and connect with local communities and youth activists in Kazakhstan. Notably, the Secretary General will also participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Astana on July 4. The tour is scheduled to conclude on July 7. A Palmer oak in Jurupa Valley is estimated to be 13,000 to 18,000 years old. The plant, which looks like a sprawling, dark green shrub, is now at the center of a development battle. (Aaron Echols) After a contentious five-hour public meeting, environmentalists advocates have persuaded Inland Empire officials to delay development of a project within 400 feet of one of the oldest known plants in the state and the third-oldest in the world. Tonight has been a real learning process, Jurupa Valley City Planning Commission Chair Penny Newman said at the Thursday meeting. I think we all need time to process the information weve had here tonight. The commission voted unanimously to table the vote. Members said the developers must do more studies into the potential effects on the plant, a Palmer oak, and further explore protective measures. Commissioners also requested more details on a plan to transfer ownership of the tree and surrounding land to a local tribe, who would oversee its conservation. We have discovered a treasure on the world stage here in our humble city, lifelong Jurupa Valley resident Jennifer Iyer said at the meeting. In a city known for its toxic waste dump, the worst air quality in the nation let's have a plan that protects and celebrates something unique that makes us proud. The roughly 370-acre development would include residential housing, an elementary school, a business park and industrial buildings. It would leave the tree on a 27-acre rocky outcrop, but it would come within 400 feet of the plant. Scientists and tribal members say the oak has been around for at least 13,000 years surviving the last ice age and, more recently, the founding of the United States. Members of the Shiishongna Tongva Nation, the Corona Band Of Gabrieleno Indians and the Kizh Nation, Gabrieleno Band Of Mission Indians have lived in the Santa Ana River Basin for millennia as well. Both groups regard the tree as sacred. Weve known about this tree forever, said Michael Negrete, chief and chairperson of the Shiishongna Tongva Nation. It gives medicine. It gives oxygen. It gives life to the animals. Companies have been trying to develop the land since the early 1990s , with Richland Communities presenting the current plan in 2019. After discussions with the City Planning Commission and the public, it has replaced potential warehouses with light industrial space and a business park, increased the amount of open space, and committed to transfer ownership and conservation responsibilities of the land with the Palmer oak to a Native tribe or conservation organization. Richland Communities announced at the meeting that it had reached an agreement in concept to transfer the land to the Kizh Nation and provide them with a $250,000 initial endowment for conservation. Company executives also proposed requiring the agreement to be finalized before construction begins on the industrial and business sections, which are closest to the tree. Commissioners want additional information on the plan's details and how conservation of the land would be legally enforced. Richland Communities did not respond to a request for comment. Compared with rugged California live oaks, the Palmer oak looks more like a shrub and is made up of individual stems sprouting in a grove. It wasn't until fairly recently that researchers determined its impressive age. Mitchell Provance, a botanist and associate researcher at UC Riverside, first noticed the oak more than two decades ago and found it odd that it lived isolated from other members of its species in an area that was much lower and hotter than where the trees usually grow. He began discussing the tree with his colleagues. They hypothesized that it was the last holdout from a time when the region was cooler and wetter a much friendlier environment for the oaks. To see if this was the case, the researchers collected samples from dead stems, which had identical DNA. Whenever the tree was damaged by a fire, it would resprout from the base of its trunk. By using tree rings to estimate how much the trunk can grow in a year, the team was able to calculate the tree's age by measuring the grove's diameter. Today, the grove measures 80 feet wide, which led researchers to estimate that the tree is between 13,000 and 18,000 years old. Its possible that the tree has been able to reproduce with itself, instead of just resprouting from the trunk to produce clones, but this is unlikely, experts say. While the company has worked with the environmental consultant FirstCarbon Solutions to study the impact of construction vibrations on the tree and identify potential water sources, it has not mapped the trees root system or confirmed its direct water source a process that would involve chemical testing of water at the oak's roots. Some also worry the proposed development would expose the aged oak to the urban heat island effect a phenomenon in which developed areas can run 1 to 7 degrees higher than shaded, natural areas during the day. Aaron Echols, the conservation chair of the Riverside/San Bernardino California Native Plants Society, said it was the duty of conservation groups to point out potential effects on the tree that havent yet been studied. The burden to mitigate impacts thats on the applicant and the consultant. Environmentalist Aaron Echols walks along a dirt path across from a giant hill where the Palmer oak is located. The development would extend up to the base of the hill. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The portion of the environmental impact review discussing the Palmer oak including its exact location has been redacted from public documents. The city was required to do this by law, since the tree has sensitive cultural significance to the Native tribes. Consequently, independent scientists have been unable to scrutinize the report. The city said it would explore creative ways to legally allow a select few third-party experts to view and discuss the report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) - The gun - a 9-milimeter pistol - blazed a violent trail even by the standards of one of Ecuador's most dangerous neighborhoods, the Nueva Prosperina precinct of Guayaquil. Shell casings from bullets fired by the weapon, recovered at the scenes of 27 separate violent incidents, were linked to 34 deaths, according to a police forensic unit. And a police forensic official told Reuters the authorities believe the pistol remains on the streets. The havoc attributed to a single firearm exemplifies the challenges for President Daniel Noboa's crackdown on an explosion of violent crime and homicides since 2020, fueled by a sharp increase in smuggled weapons during the same time, many of them from the United States. Ecuador recorded 7,994 murders last year, a nearly six-fold increase since 2020. Reuters was the first media organization granted access to police bullet-tracing efforts, a key component in Ecuador's fight against crime. Tracing the origins of bullets and guns could help authorities choke off trafficking routes as well as build forensic histories of illegal weapons for future prosecutions, police said. But it is slow work. Of the more than 40,000 guns seized since 2019, just 900 have been traced, Major Efrain Arguello, who heads a national forensic investigations unit, told Reuters. The weapon used in Nueva Prosperina may belong to, or have been rented out, among five rival drug gangs fighting for control of the precinct, Arguello said. Police are investigating killings, robberies and other violent incidents in connection with the same gun. "A gun connected to 30 crimes means there isn't just an increase in trafficking, but in the circulation or internal sales of illicit guns," said Renato Rivera, the director of the Ecuadorean Organized Crime Observatory research group. The Pacific port city of Guayaquil is a hub for drug trafficking and the scene of turf wars between Mexican, Albanian and other foreign cartels that have led to a sharp rise in homicides. Noboa in January designated 22 gangs - including the five operating in Nueva Prosperina - as terrorist organizations. Since taking office last November, after he was elected to finish out his predecessor's term, Noboa has increased funding for security forces by 6.6% to $3.52 billion. EQUIPMENT SHORTAGES But two senior police officials told Reuters that Ecuador is struggling to choke off gun trafficking routes from the United States, Peru and other countries in the region because of a lack of funding, forensic equipment and trained personnel. Ecuador has just eight microscopes in a country of 17 million for bullet tracing, police said, and 247 trained technicians. "We are tracing with what we have," Arguello said. In a small room in Quito's police forensic building, technician Jhony Tapia peered through the only ballistic microscope in the city at shell casings and bullets from five guns used to kill four people at a bar in the Amazon. Distinctive markings from the firing pins of individual firearms, visible under a high power microscope, allow technicians to match bullets to guns or to other bullets fired from the same weapon. "The firing pin leaves a mark that is more effective (for tracing) than a fingerprint," said Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Molina, head of the national police arms and explosives trafficking unit. Tapia will spend the next several hours studying 126 shell casings of varying sizes, he told Reuters. His findings will be checked against a national police database of bullets and shell casings. Finding a match is simpler if police also recover the gun, allowing technicians like Tapia to compare markings on the barrel, called rifling, with the marks left on bullets. Seized guns are checked against international databases run by the United States and Interpol. Forensic staff did not say whether the guns in the Amazon case had been recovered. Unlike neighboring Colombia, which has fought drug trafficking networks for decades, Ecuador until recently was considered one of Latin America's safest countries - a popular destination for foreign tourists and retirees. But after increased drug interdiction along Colombia's Pacific Coast, traffickers shifted their route to Ecuador and violent crime soared. Ecuador's police have identified seven gun trafficking routes, Noboa's office said. Three run overland through Peru while a fourth route enters northern Ecuador near the border with Colombia, though police did not specify if the weapons came from there. GUN-TRAFFICKING ROUTES FROM THE U.S. Three more gun-trafficking routes originate in the United States: one by air from Miami to coastal Manta, another through Lima and then overland, and a third by sea via the storied Galapagos Islands, police and Noboa's office said. Police said they have also found gun parts shipped by courier services from Miami or produced using 3-D printing. In April police seized a 3-D printer in coastal Manabi province which they said was used to make up to 20 gun parts. Police would not share estimates for the prices of illegal guns but the Ecuador Organized Crime Observatory said that Glocks and other pistols go for up to $4,000 new and $500 used. Rifles can cost between $8,000 and $15,000, the research group said, while guns made with 3-D printers go for $3,000. There is also a market for homemade guns, it said. Police seized nearly 10,000 guns across Ecuador last year, according to police data, more than half of them revolvers or pistols, close to double the number of seizures in 2019. At least a quarter of the traced guns were legally acquired in the United States, but they generally have no record of legal entry to Ecuador, police said. Authorities have also traced at least 36 guns that were legally exported from the United States to Peru and smuggled north into Ecuador, said Molina, the head of the arms trafficking unit. Peruvian authorities told Reuters they raided three companies moving guns on the black market in March and criminally charged 18 people. Molina said police were also looking into the possibility that Ecuadorean gangs could be trading cocaine for weapons from Mexican cartels. Since 2022, Ecuador has increased its co-operation with the United States to fight gun-running, gaining access to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) internet database eTrace. Last year the ATF conducted traces on over 500 firearms seized in Ecuador, the State Department and the ATF said in a joint statement, compared to fewer than 100 in 2021. Yet some analysts say that without a specific plan to tackle arms trafficking, seizures of guns and munitions will remain a side show to drug busts. "There is no process of intelligence monitoring to locate the providers and systems and get ahead of the arms trafficking," said former army intelligence chief and security analyst Mario Pazmino. Noboa's office said security forces had had a number of successes against the gun traffickers, including the seizure of 2,291 guns since the president's declaration of war on gangs in January. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito, additional reporting by Yury Garcia in Guayaquil and Marco Aquino in Lima; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Suzanne Goldenberg and Julia Symmes Cobb) One person injured in crash in Seabrook, N.H A UTV operator was injured after a crash in Seabrook, New Hampshire on Friday. According to New Hampshire State Police, officers responded to a crash on Ocean Boulevard around 4:28 p.m. Officers say a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle, driven by Georgia P. Gynan, 33, of Hampton, had been traveling south on Ocean Boulevard approaching the intersection with Hooksett Street when she failed to stop at a red light. The Volkswagen struck a 2013 Kawasaki UTV, owned by the Town of Seabrook, which was being operated by a town parking enforcement employee. The UTV overturned, and the operator was thrown from the UTV. The operator of the UTV suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. Gynan and an additional passenger were uninjured. The crash remains under investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Philip Sheehy via email at Philip.J.Sheehy@DOS.NH.GOV. 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 Nassau County held an open house on June 20th at the Callahan Community Center to discuss plans to manage and reduce flooding in the Thomas Creek area. This effort is part of the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan, funded by the Resilient Florida Program, which was created to protect Floridas coastlines and waterways from sea level rise, storms, and flooding. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The Resilient Florida Program was established by Senate Bill 1954, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 12, 2021. For the 2023/24 fiscal year, Nassau County received two grants under this program, including $2.8 million to buy homes in the Thomas Creek watershed area. The county is covering part of the cost, with $1 million approved by the Board of County Commissioners and another $400,000 provided through in-kind work funds. Thomas Creek watershed management has been a focus for Nassau County since 2007. A study with the Army Corps of Engineers recommended a voluntary buyout program for homes in flood-prone areas. In March 2023, the county presented the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan to the Board of County Commissioners, outlining steps to address the issue. At the open house, residents learned about the ongoing efforts to mitigate flooding. County staff were available to answer questions and provide information. Attendees also discussed the countys Bicentennial efforts, the Nassau Vision 2050 initiative, and the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) program, which ranks Thomas Creek lands among the top 25 priority projects. Those who had already volunteered for the buyout program received more details about the purchasing process, while new volunteers were added to the list. Residents also reviewed preliminary floodplain elevations that will be submitted to FEMA later this year. Important Links: Thomas Creek Webpage (includes PAS Study and Thomas Creek Implementation Plan) Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program (includes adopted CLAM Management Manual and top priority projects) [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. The reversal of the Chevron case by the young Turks, angry old men, and Chief Justice John Roberts who make up the Supreme Courts conservative majority checked off an important box in the Federalist Societys checklist for reshaping America. All revolutions must start with sowing chaos, and chaos is what will ensue from the reversal of Chevron U.S.A. versus Natural Resources Defense Council, the case that established the 40-year-old precedent of giving deference to the expertise of federal agencies. Known as Chevron Deference, the decades-old doctrine simply means that courts assume that federal agencies know what theyre doing when it comes to enforcing regulations in their area of expertise. Thus, when a court determines that a law the agency is supposed to administer contains some ambiguity then the court should defer to the agencys expertise. It might seem like common sense to believe that an agency like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would know more about, say, the proper classification of the Western gray squirrelthe example given by dissenting liberal Justice Elena Kaganthan a rando judge. But common sense never stands in the way of the revolution. The 1984 case of Chevron did not create the concept of deferring to agency expertise. There have been agencies since the 18th century in our country, but a surge of them occurred during the New Deal era under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, planting the seeds of many of the progressive policies we have today that conservatives dub the administrative state. The courts of that timeincluding the high courtgrappled with the legal issues that arose before them. During that period, as recounted in Chief Justice Roberts majority opinion, agency deference also was applied in such cases as Gray v. Powell, where the court deferred to an agency definition of a producer under the Bituminous Coal Act of 1937, and N.L.R.B. v. Hearst involving the National Labor Relations Boards definition of whether a newsboy was an employee. Then, as now, agencies acted at a macro and micro level to serve as a check against what otherwise might be pure profit-driven policies that favor business profits over the protection of consumers, workers, species, and the environment. But not always. Ironically, the Chevron case itself deferred to the Reagan Environmental Protection Agencys pro-pollution view of the Clean Air Act and allowed an easing of emission standards. Thats something we can all remember Reagan for as the country and world face historically life-threatening heat waves. But as detailed by Charlie Savage for The New York Times, the conservative campaign against the potentially anti-business profit effect of agency regulations has been long in the works. He reports that a once-secret memo authored for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1971 by a tobacco industry lawyer proposed a plan to transform public opinion and build political influence to roll back the administrative state. The lawyer behind it, Lewis F. Powell Jr., would soon be appointed to the Supreme Court by President Richard M. Nixon. Conservatives Fell 40-Year-Old Target and Brag: Chevron Deference Is Over Savage chronicles how this movement developed over the next decade in the form of the Federalist Society that spent decades grooming young conservative lawyersan effort eventually resulting in the current conservative majority on SCOTUS (a majority that includes Justice Neil Gorsuch, whose mother was an anti-regulatory chief of the E.P.A. under Reagan). Gorsuchs concurrence is revealing when he writes that the story of Chevron is [a] revolution masquerading as the status quo. As always, the Republican extremist views tend to project their own motivations onto others. Its Gorsuch who is helping lead a revolution. Its a revolution hardly slowed at all by stare decisisthe jurisprudential doctrine of determining new cases based on old ones. The Chevron case has been in place for 40 years, and is one of the most cited cases in American law. But theres no reason to expect this Supreme Court will be put off by the prospect of overturning 40 years of precedent when it saw no problem with getting rid of Roe v. Wade, which had stood for nearly a half-century. As Justice Kagan put it in her dissent from the reversal of Chevron: The majority disdains restraint and grasps for power. Perhaps, it is some kind of multi-generational conservative trauma passed down since the New Deal that motivates their obsession with dismantling the protections of the administrative state. But like any trauma, the effects can be illogical and have far-reaching, destructive consequences. As noted by Justice Kagan, reversal will cause massive shock to the legal system, causing some agency interpretations never challenged under Chevron [but which] now will be. Some of Justice Kagans examples point out the ludicrousness of having judges decide such questions as when does an alpha amino acid polymer qualify as a protein or the earlier cited example of whether a particular species of gray squirrel is distinct based on the location of the population. But that may be the very point. After all, its a much bigger task to replace all the career employees at agencies with political appointees who will do the bidding of a conservative administration than it is to just have a cadre of a few hundred conservative judges backed up by six justices do all the work. The reversal of Chevron assures the Roberts court of its place in history as a court that seeks to consolidate the reins of power over Americans in nine unelected public officials. But its place in history will also include the accomplishment of driving public confidence in the high court to record lows that may ultimately fuel reform of the Court itself through greater ethics oversight and even dilution of its power through expanding its size. If those much-needed changes come to pass then Chief Justice Roberts and his conservative majority may well come to exemplify the quote from the Greek tragedy Euripedes: Whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad. This Supreme Court is mad with power. That madness may prove to be their undoing, but it most certainly is proving to be the undoing of many valuable rights and protections for the rest of us. Shan Wu is a former federal prosecutor who served as counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno 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. Orban's government is a specific group of people, but we see success in relations with Hungary senior Ukrainian official Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, believes that Ukraine has succeeded in its relations with Hungary, describing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government as a "specific group of people". Source: Stefanishyna in a comment to the Ukrainian TV channel We are Ukraine on Saturday, 29 June, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Ukrainian official commented on 11 demands that the Hungarian government has put forward to Kyiv regarding the policy on national minorities. She stressed that "there are no and have never been any encroachments on the territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Hungarian government" and that this is "absolutely not a subject of discussion". Nevertheless, Stefanishyna acknowledged that the Hungarian government, particularly under Prime Minister Orban, "is a very specific group of people with specific negotiation approaches," yet successful outcomes were still achieved considering them. Quote: "There is a dialogue, it is not easy; there are specifics, but we are contributing to our European future... We are building bilateral relations, and we are seeing success. Only less than six months have passed since our president tried to organise a meeting with Orban in Argentina, which he [Orban] did not want, to the point where two days ago, Prime Minister Orban was looking for an opportunity to talk to President Zelenskyy and resolve several important issues." Background: European Pravda reported that Orban may meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy as early as next week, aiming to take a step towards improving relations between Kyiv and Budapest amid pressure from the EU. Support UP or become our patron! PORTLAND Ore. (KOIN) A new study released by the Oregon Health Authority found several gaps in Oregons behavioral health treatment bed system including a lack of thousands of beds and a need to prioritize workforce issues. The Behavioral Health Residential + Facility Study follows up on a preliminary study from January which began after Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek directed OHA to commission the study in 2023. According to the study, conducted by Public Consulting Group, Oregon needs up to 3,700 adult mental health and substance use treatment beds to close current gaps in service and meet projected needs in the future. Exotic mammal native to Central and South America spotted at Yakima rest stop PCG said closing the gap in behavioral health care requires as much as $170 million every year for the next five years and the addition of 650 beds per year. During the study, researchers found residential substance use disorder facilities have the highest bed count per capita at 1,418 total beds in Oregon, representing around 33 beds per 100,000 population. Additionally, Oregon had 317 withdrawal management beds and one inpatient psychiatric facility with just under 100 beds. Oregon Ethics Commission nixes investigation into Gov. Kotek, First Lady Next, researchers learned the Portland metro and North Coast region had the highest number of beds at 1,921 beds, along with the most residential substance use disorder beds at 683. Meanwhile, the Columbia Gorge area had the fewest number of residential treatment beds, at zero. Researchers noted Oregon needs to expand access to behavioral health services overall, especially for substance use disorder, culturally specific services, services in rural areas, and peer-based services. Even if treatment facilities expand capacity, researchers found many vulnerable populations may remain underserved because of criteria exclusions. To serve more people, community partners interviewed in the study suggested establishing no refusal facilities to increase availability. SE Portland neighbors say they werent notified about treatment drop-off center Along with treatment capacity, researchers said one of the major concerns among people in the behavioral health community was staffing. According to the study, staffing issues have prohibited the facilities ability to operate at full capacity and retain staff. Researchers said addressing workforce issues needs to be a priority when considering expanding behavioral health bed capacity. PCG estimates Oregon will need more than $835 million to address the states capacity needs. That total includes capital expenses and does not account for staffing or operational expenses. VIDEO: A look inside the Darlene 3 Fire consuming parts of Deschutes County We dont get to choose between adding beds and adding workforce. We must do both in order to make real change in our behavioral health system. Its important to note that capacity in Oregons behavioral health system is dynamic, and the data in the report represent a point-in-time snapshot of one part of a broader continuum of care, said OHA Behavioral Health Director Ebony Clarke. 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 added. We do this through investing in protective factors and earlier intervention additional community-based programming, crisis and outpatient programs, in addition to other supportive services to prevent people who are experiencing mental illness or substance use from progressing to a level of severity in their illnesses that would require treatment in a more acute setting. Before the report was finalized, OHA said state officials already identified several priority projects likely to bring community beds online in the next two years to address service gaps, along with an additional 356 mental health, substance use disorder, and withdrawal management beds, which are set to open by the third quarter of 2025 thanks to bills passed in 2021 and 2022. In the last four years, the Oregon Legislature has invested more than $1.5 billion to expand behavioral health treatment capacity, increase provider pay, and stabilize the treatment workforce. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTAGE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after a small airplane crashed in Ottawa County Friday afternoon. The crash happened just after 1:30 p.m. at the Erie-Ottawa International Airport in Portage Township, about three miles east of Port Clinton. The pilot, a 49-year-old Indiana man, was flying a 1990 Mooney M20J. NEW PHOTOS: Do you recognize these Edgewater Park shooting suspects? According to investigators, the pilot failed to lower his landing gear as he was descending onto the runway. The underside of the plane hit the runway and slid before stopping, state troopers say. The pilot wasnt injured. Investigators dont believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Over 100 homicides reported in KC metro so far this year, according to Star data More than 100 homicides have been reported in the Kansas City metropolitan area this year as of Wednesday, according to data tracked by The Kansas City Star. Seventy-five of these homicides took place in Kansas City, Missouri. The Star includes fatal officer-involved shootings when tallying and recording homicides in the Kansas City metro area. Chestina Gaskin, 23, was the 100th person to be killed in the metro area in 2024. Gaskin was shot in the head on June 26 shortly before noon at the Emerson Manor apartments, according to Kansas City police. Several hours later, 17-year-old Michael Welch was fatally shot in Kansas City, Kansas. Travon Oliver, 22, was charged with murder this week in connection to Gaskins death. Police detectives believe the two had been in a domestic relationship, according to court documents. Captain Vonzell Bryant, 70, was the first person to be reported killed in the metro area this year. Bryant, a popular DJ and promoter, was shot Jan. 3 just after midnight in the Washington-Wheatley neighborhood of Kansas City. At this time last year, 100 homicides had been reported in Kansas City, Missouri, alone. Across the whole metro area, 131 homicides were reported. 2023 was Kansas Citys deadliest year on record, with 246 homicides reported across the metro area. The 2024 homicide rate is about on pace with the 2022 homicide rate, according to data tracked by The Star. Sixteen of the homicide victims reported in 2024 have been under the age of 18, according to Star data. Eleven of the juvenile homicide victims, or 68.75%, took place in Kansas City, Missouri. The homicide rate in Kansas City, Kansas, is on pace with last year; 13 homicides were reported in the city by June 26 this year, and 12 by the same time last year. Meanwhile, three times as many homicides have been reported in Independence in the first half of this year relative to the same months last year. Three homicides were reported in the city last year; nine have occurred this year, most recently on June 5, when 20-year-old Donnie Kirkland was fatally shot near the Sugar Creek Apartments. Conversely, six people were killed in Olathe by this time last year, while one homicide took place in the city this year. Brianna Rachelle Higgins, 15, was fatally shot on Jan. 19 outside the Clarion Park Apartments. As in the past, the majority of homicides in the Kansas City metro area this year have been fatal shootings. The Kansas City Police Department reported that 56 homicides taking place last year remained unsolved by the end of the year. KCPD does not include officer-involved shootings in homicide statistics. Kansas City, Missouri officials have said they hope 2024 represents a downturn in the citys homicide rate, after homicides began spiking in 2020. At a press conference just before Memorial Day Weekend, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city was trending in the right direction after a violent year in 2023. 2020 was previously considered Kansas Citys deadliest year on record, with 182 homicides tracked by The Star. Lucas has attributed the apparent drop in homicides in part to proactive social intervention programs, as well as to police activity. This is not a celebration, he told reporters at the May 24 press conference. We dont celebrate at any point until the point at which we have zero homicides and zero non-fatal shootings in our city. Reporting from The Stars Nathan Pilling was used in this article. FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Over $2 million worth of drugs have been seized with the help of a K-9 following a traffic stop in Merced County, also leading to the arrest of a man from Oregon, the California Highway Patrol said. Officers say a K-9 officer conducted an enforcement stop on a 2013 Hyundai Elantra for a traffic violation on Wednesday around 4 p.m. northbound I-5, north of Nees Avenue in Merced County with the traffic violations being observed in Fresno County. CHP says the driver, identified as Issac Abraham Sandoval Lopez, 36, of Portland, Oregon, was unlicensed. While conducting a vehicle inventory prior to impounding the Hyundai, the officer located a plastic bag on the right rear passenger floor that contained several packages of suspected crystal methamphetamine. Two additional suitcases and a backpack with several packages of suspected crystal methamphetamine and three packages of unknown narcotics were also discovered, officers say. CHP says the stop ended in the seizure of around 262 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 5 pounds of fentanyl powder, and 2 pounds of heroin. The drugs had an estimated street value of $2,669,520. Lopez was arrested as a result, and the case was turned over to the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Oversized load bound for Eastman to impact traffic in several counties KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) An oversized load bound for Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport will impact traffic in several East Tennessee counties on Sunday and Monday nights. The oversized load is 20 feet wide, 229 feet long, 17 feet tall, and around 410,000 pounds, and will travel between Morgan County and Sullivan County, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. LIST: Fourth of July 2024 celebrations in and around the Tri-Cities The transport will take place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday and Monday. During the first night, the oversized load is expected to travel through Morgan, Roane, Anderson, Knox, Union, and Claiborne counties. It will then travel through Grainger, Hawkins, and Sullivan counties on the second night. Map showing the route the oversized load will take (TDOT) US 27S in Oakdale, crossover to opposite side of the road onto SR 61E, then Winter Gap Road, Railroad Avenue, and Knox Street to SR 62E in Oak Ridge, crossover to opposite side of the road onto SR 170, then US 25W to SR 61E, US 441S, SR 33N, to US 25E (southbound), in Bean Station, then a left onto West Main Street East, to US 11W North in Church Hill, crossover to opposite side of the road onto SR 346 NE (Carters Valley Road), then US 23S to Exit 4B, on to SR 93, to SR 126N, to Lincoln Street North, and onto 12th Street in Kingsport. Oversized load route described by TDOT TDOT said the schedule is contingent on favorable weather conditions. The oversized load will be escorted by state troopers. Eastman said the load is the first of three pieces of equipment that will be transported to its Kingsport plant as part of a planned upgrade. The equipment will replace existing equipment. The other two transports are expected to occur in mid-July. Equipment transport will be slow and will impact traffic both inside and outside the plant, an Eastman spokesperson said. We are working with all appropriate transportation authorities for safe transport and to minimize disruption as we can. Click here for a PDF of the oversized load route. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Palestinians say at least 12 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza City A young Palestinian injured after the Israeli attack hits the house belonging a Palestinian Family, brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa At least 12 people have been killed in fresh Israeli attacks in parts of Gaza City, Palestinian medics said on Saturday. The Israeli military said airstrikes hit targets in Shejaiya, a neighbourhood in the east of Gaza City, including cells of militants who were about to attack Israeli soldiers. Ground troops also took action against gunmen above ground and in tunnels, the military said, adding that large quantities of weapons and ammunition were found in the operations. Palestinian medics and witnesses said children were among those who died in Gaza City. The official Palestinian WAFA news agency said residential buildings were hit. The accounts of the fighting in Gaza could not be independently confirmed. Israel's army had called on the residents of several neighbourhoods in Gaza City, in the north of the strip, to flee on Thursday, in what is usually a sign of imminent new Israeli military operations. They were told to go to a designated "humanitarian zone" in the south of the territory. However, after almost nine months of war, the humanitarian conditions in the zones designated as safe are catastrophic and civilians are often not protected there either. At the beginning of the year, Israel had described the north of the Gaza Strip as largely secure and Hamas there as decisively weakened. In the meantime, however, the Islamist terrorist group has apparently regrouped. Facing a Monday deadline, members of a state task force Friday voted to submit a report to the governor and the Legislature that outlines suggestions on how to build, market, operate and eventually make self-sufficient a Black history museum proposed for St. Johns County. Were just simply turning the report over to the Florida Legislature to take the next steps of action, said Tony Lee, a member of the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force and the state university systems interim assistant vice chancellor of public affairs. The task force voted 6-1 to move forward with the report, with Chairwoman Geraldine Thompson, an Orange County Democrat who chairs the panel, dissenting. Lawmakers set up the task force in 2023, and the museum does not have funding. The report calls for a study of the St. Johns County site. But Thompson unsuccessfully sought to get the Department of State to conduct a broader feasibility study that also would have looked at potential sites in Eatonville and Opa-locka. Read: Black history museum task force member accused of tanking score against Orange County Its something that, you know, Ive been advocating for since the task force was convened and we began our work, Thompson said. Without a feasibility study, were really operating in the dark. Were just kind of supposing and hoping that this is going to be successful without any concrete data. But other members of the task force contended the idea was an attempt to negate a vote last month to put the museum in St. Johns County. A proposal from Eatonville in Central Florida ranked second, followed by Opa-locka in Miami-Dade County. Backers of placing the museum in Central Florida havent given up on reversing the site decision. Read: State panel recommends St. Johns County over Eatonville for site of Floridas Black History Museum Rep. Bruce Antone, an Orlando Democrat who was a sponsor of the 2023 museum legislation, urged against approving a task-force report and letting the legislative process start over in 2025. The task force did not do what it was supposed to do as required by the legislation, Antone told the panel on Friday. Antone said Thursday a new task force needs to be put in place that does not include political appointees and can provide insight into history that needs to be displayed. Antone also criticized the site selection process, which ended up pitting the St. Augustine area in St. Johns County against a Black community in Central Florida. Read: Eatonville makes pitch to host Floridas black history museum The community that houses the museum is expected to provide matching funds for the construction and operations. In brief comments to the task force, St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews disputed wetlands and environmental concerns that critics have raised about the proposed 17.5 acre site, which is owned by the Florida Memorial University Foundation. Andrews also said a recent change in leadership at the foundation isnt expected to impact its commitment to the St. Johns site. Questions were raised last month about rankings given by Rep. Kiyan Michael, a Jacksonville Republican and task force member. Michael gave the St. Augustine-area location a perfect score and Eatonville its lowest marks. Michael said she did not act deliberately to affect the scoring. The proposed site is expected to handle a 100,000 square-foot facility or larger. At $1,000 a square foot, such a facility would require at least $100 million to build and maintain, according to an estimate. The museum complex would include such things as meeting rooms, banquet facilities and a performing-arts theater available for private events. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. LAS VEGAS, N.M. (KRQE) Flooding this summer impacted the City of Las Vegas ability to treat water. On June 21, rain caused ash and debris to enter the reservoir, which delayed water processing. Water restrictions are in place in Las Vegas, and residents are being asked to conserve as much as they can. To help preserve water, Storrie Lake State Park will have its water turned off. Its unknown when the water will be turned back on. Dry camping is still available. Story continues below This is a public health emergency. By turning the water system off at Storrie Lake, we can take some of the burden off the compromised water system for the City of Las Vegas, said Toby Velasquez. The wildfires impacted all of us and we can expect that this could likely happen again during monsoon season. We are all neighbors, and its our responsibility to do our part to support the community in any way we can. The City of Las Vegas has been handing out sandbags and water after the flooding. The demand has been so high, and they are regularly running out of supplies. Water distribution sites are located at Rodriguez Park and Robertson High School gym parking lot. To learn about operating hours, click here. The city announced Friday night it easing restrictions on non-essential businesses which are allowed to reopen. Car washes and laundromats will remain closed. Restaurants are asked to use paper plates, cups, and plastic and water should be served only by request. The city is encouraging the use of bottled water and asking people to conserve water as much as possible. Additionally, on Friday, June 28, the City of Santa Fe said they will be providing water to Las Vegas with the Buckman Direct Diversion. Tankers will be delivered to the Las Vegas Water Treatment Facility. Itll be treated, stored, and distributed throughout the area. If community members find themselves out of work because of the flooding, the Department of Workforce Solutions is asking them to apply for benefits. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked part of a Georgia law that restricts organizations from helping people pay bail so they can be released while their criminal cases are pending. U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert blocked part of Senate Bill 63 from taking effect on Monday after a hearing in Atlanta. The judge is stalling the law for 14 days and directing lawyers to present arguments on whether it should be stayed until a lawsuit over the measure is resolved. The blocked section limits people and organizations from posting more than three cash bonds in a year unless they meet requirements for bail bond companies. That means passing background checks, paying fees, holding a business license, securing the local sheriffs approval and establishing a cash escrow account or other form of collateral. Calvert is letting other parts of the law that require cash bail before people charged with 30 additional crimes can be released from pretrial detention. That list includes 18 offenses that are always or often misdemeanors, including failure to appear in court for a traffic citation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center filed the lawsuit on June 21. They represent Barred Business Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit whose activities include facilitating campaigns to pay cash bail, as well as two people who live in Athens and run a charitable bail fund in association with their church. The lawsuit argues that restrictions on bail funds are unconstitutional and asks the judge to prevent its enforcement. It says the law imposes what are arguably the most severe restrictions on charitable bail funds in the nation, while the imposition of those restrictions on charitable bail funds is incredibly burdensome perhaps insurmountable and is both irrational and arbitrary. The complaint asserts that if the statute is allowed to take effect, these restrictions will effectively eliminate charitable bail funds in Georgia. TRENDING STORIES: Earlier this month the Bail Project, a national nonprofit that helps thousands of low-income people post bond, announced that it had closed its Atlanta branch because of the law. We are encouraged by the judges ruling and its recognition that this law is unnecessary, harmful, and likely unconstitutional, Cory Isaacson, ACLU of Georgia legal director, said in a statement, We are relieved for our plaintiffs and the many people across the state that they serve. Its unconscionable that people doing charitable bail work would face criminal penalties simply because they are helping people who are languishing in jail because of their poverty and have no other means of relief. A spokesperson for Attorney General Chris Carr did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment late Friday. The state argued in a brief filed Thursday that the law does not violate the plaintiffs rights of free speech and association because it only would regulate non-expressive conduct. The state says the challengers can still criticize Georgias cash bail system and paying bail does not inherently convey any message. Supporters of the measure say well-meaning organizations should have no issue with following the same rules as bail bond companies. The measure comes amid conservative efforts to restrict community bail funds, which were used to post bond for people involved in 2020 protests against racial injustice and, more recently, to protesters opposed to a public safety training center being built near Atlanta. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] State prosecutors have noted that some Stop Cop City protesters had the Atlanta Solidarity Funds phone number written on their bodies, which they allege was evidence thry intended to do something that could get them arrested. Three of the bail funds leaders were charged with charity fraud last year and are among 61 indicted on racketeering charges. IN OTHER NEWS: CHICAGO A PAWS Chicago rescue van left for Iowa on Friday to help rescue cats affected by severe flooding. PAWS Volunteers will pick up 18 cats9 males and 9 femalesranging in age from 13 months to 7 years old. The impending cats are mostly strays, while others were owner surrenders who were already in the shelter when severe storms struck. Helpers are bringing supplies to the Humane Society of Northwestern Iowa. SEE ALSO: Dog who spent 420 days in Midwest shelter finally gets to sleep in home of her own Animal shelter officials say the rescue will help make room in the Iowa shelter for displaced pets. RELATED: Iowa floodwaters breach levees as even more rain forecast for drenched Midwest The rescued cats should arrive in Chicago by Saturday afternoon and be available for adoption by Monday. Iowa and other parts of the Midwest encountered flooding issues following torrential rains across the region. According to the National Weather Service, several tornadoes were reported in Iowa and nearby Nebraska amid passing storms. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Penn State technical service union employees ratify new 4-year contract. Here are the details A union of Penn State employees ratified a new contract Friday after reaching an agreement last month. Teamsters Local 8, a union of technical service employees at Penn State, reached a tentative four-year agreement with the university on June 29, the day before their previous contract was set to expire. In a Friday news release, Penn State announced the contract had been ratified and is retroactive to July 1. The four-year contract was officially ratified by Local 8 union members by a vote of 1,569 to 176. The new contract includes about a 20% salary increase over the term of the contract. In the release, Penn State noted that increases are similar to other recent agreements reached with state employees in the Service Employees International Union Local 668 and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 13 union. During the entire negotiation process, our members sent a very clear message to the University about obtaining a fair contract that provides significant wage increases. We are thankful to finalize a contract that does just that, President Jon Light of Teamsters Local Union 8 said in a statement. Our members make this University run and we look forward to providing this service for the next four years under our new contract. Jennifer Wilkes, vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer, said the university is grateful for another successful negotiation with Teamsters Local 8. Our technical service employees keep our campuses operating seamlessly, and we believe this contract compensates and recognizes them for their important work, she said. Other contract changes include those to assignment of work and schedules, holidays, sick leave, employee recognition and training, and the grievance process, according to the news release. There are no plan changes for health care while only increasing the cost modestly, the university wrote. The union had been in contract negotiations with the university since early May with their contract expiring midnight June 30. Members voted in late June to authorize the unions executive board to take strike action if necessary. Members overwhelmingly voted in favor of authorizing a strike of the 2,053 members who voted, 1,878 voted in favor, or 91%, and 175 voted against authorizing a strike. Editors note: This story was originally published June 29 and updated after the contract was ratified. Sean Rowe, a 49-year-old bishop from western Pennsylvania, on Wednesday became the youngest person ever elected as leader of the Episcopal Church. He immediately issued a sobering call for the church, which has faced division and chronic membership loss, to confront an existential crisis that he compared with the steel industry collapse in his native Rust Belt. Rowe, who leads two small dioceses along Lake Erie, will succeed Bishop Michael Curry, the first African American to hold the position, when Currys nine-year term ends on Nov. 1. The presiding bishop serves as the denominations chief pastor, president and CEO. Rowe was elected on the first ballot in the House of Bishops, which convened behind closed doors Wednesday in the Episcopal cathedral in Louisville. Rowe received 89 votes, the required majority, with other votes widely dispersed among the other four candidates. The House of Deputies, consisting of clergy and lay people, confirmed his election with 95% of the vote, followed by strong applause. The only presiding bishop to take the post at a younger age than Rowe was the first one, William White, who was 41 when he served briefly in 1789 when there was no leadership election. Rowe was 32 in May 2007, when he was elected bishop of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania, based in Erie. For almost 12 years, he was the youngest bishop in the Episcopal Church. In 2019, he also began overseeing the Diocese of Western New York, based in Buffalo. The adjacent dioceses, with less than 10,000 members between them, have been collaborating on ministries in recent years. He said that sort of collaboration is just one example of how the church needs to adapt to new realities. Its not too strong to say that were facing an existential crisis, Rowe told the House of Deputies after his election. Its not because our church is dying, or because weve lost the belief in the salvation of God in Jesus Christ, but because the world around us has changed and continues to change. It changes all the time. And God is calling us ever more deeply into the unknown. The Episcopal Church is an offshoot of the Church of England in the United States and has been the spiritual home of many of the American founding fathers and U.S. presidents. But as with other mainline Protestant denominations, membership in the Episcopal Church has been declining for decades. After peaking at 3.4 million in 1959, it had fallen to 1.9 million when Curry was elected leader in 2015 and dipped to under 1.6 million in 2022. Average Sunday church attendance for Episcopalians nationwide was 614,241 in 2015; by 2022 it had dropped to 372,952. Rowe compared the churchs challenges to the collapse of the steel industry, which had employed his grandparents, when he was growing up in Pennsylvania. Ive been around to see things that I love go away, he said. I watched everything that I had known evaporate. He cited tensions within the denomination, without giving specifics, and called on members to be more gracious and forgiving toward each other. He called on them to turn their anger at injustice instead of turning it inward on each other. Still, he offered reassurance by quoting the late Catholic monk and author Thomas Merton a favorite son of the conventions host state of Kentucky about proceeding in faith despite uncertainty. You do not need to know precisely what is happening to embrace challenges with courage, faith, and hope, he said. On a practical level, Rowe called for the church to avoid top-heavy structures and steer more of its funds and resources toward local and diocesan ministries. Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Rowe graduated from nearby Grove City College in 1997 with a bachelors degree in history. He graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2000, before returning to western Pennsylvania. The bishop is known for his research and work on organizational learning and adaptive performance in the church. He earned a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership at Gannon University in Erie in 2014. After the election, Curry praised his successor in a news conference. He credited Rowe with both a vision and a sense of the mechanics that will help us get there. Curry, in opening remarks to the General Convention on Sunday, urged delegates to remain optimistic. This Episcopal Church is stronger, more durable and has a future that God has decreed and that God has figured out, he said. Dont you worry about this church. Dont you weep and dont you moan. Just roll up your sleeves and lets get to work. Thats our future. Throughout his ministry, Curry has been an outspoken leader on a range of challenging issues, including racial reconciliation, climate change, immigration policy, and LGBTQ+ equality. Among his favored causes: establishing ecumenical summer day camps for children, creating networks of day care providers, and encouraging large investments in urban neighborhoods. In 2018, he became a global star with a stirring sermon at the widely televised royal wedding of Britains Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Curry, 71, has battled a variety of health problems since May 2023, when he was hospitalized for treatment of internal bleeding and an irregular heartbeat. In March, doctors successfully surgically inserted a pacemaker as part of ongoing treatment. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh couple waits in fear as city-owned duplex collapses next door 4 confirmed tornadoes touched down in Pittsburgh region, NWS says Driver picking up body from Shadyside nursing home takes patient who was still alive VIDEO: Juneteenth celebration organizer still waiting on funds Pittsburgh City Council approved for event DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Pennsylvania State Police release five most wanted for Dauphin County area DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Pennsylvania State Police have revealed their most wanted list for the Dauphin County area. The criminal charges that the five suspects are wanted on by State Police at Lykens include theft, endangering the welfare of a child, terroristic threats and firearms violations. Below is the top five most wanted from State Police: Im fresh out of jail: Dauphin County man says to alleged robbery victim, police say Kevin Stephenson, 48, is wanted for endangering the welfare of children and simple assault, and he is believed to be in the Williamstown area. Curtis Engle, 38, is wanted for DUI and drug possession and has additional arrest warrants from other agencies. He is believed to be in the Elizabethville area. Terray Burwell, 44, is wanted for felony retail theft and has additional arrest warrants issued by other agencies. He is believed to be in the Harrisburg area. Stephen Mihalick, 39, is wanted for theft, flight to avoid apprehension, terroristic threats, and numerous other offenses. He is believed to be in the Williamstown area. David Samuel, 66, is wanted for firearms act violation and has an additional arrest warrants from other agencies. He is believed to be in the Harrisburg area. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat Anyone with information on the fugitives whereabouts is asked to contact PSP Lykens at (717)-362-8700. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) A Pensacola man was sentenced to 16 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to online receipt of child pornography, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. According to a DOJ news release, Pensacola Police received cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in September 2023 that led to 21-year-old Donovan E. Whiddens house. Escambia County mourns firefighter in funeral processions Officers already knew that Whidden was on probation for promoting sexual performance by a child in 2022, according to the release, and a search warrant was obtained for his home. The release said Whidden was using the social media app Discord to upload and receive child pornography. We must always protect our children. Our relentless pursuit to hunt down sexual predators remains a top priority for our law enforcement partners, said Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall. Let this sentence be a reminder to anyone that wants to hurt our children, we will find you and use every available law enforcement resource to get justice. UPDATE: Mobile Police identify body found on I-65 Once he is out of prison, he will be on supervised release for 10 years. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. We the People includes all Americans but July 4 is a reminder that democracy remains a work in progress The United States founders firmly rejected King George III and the entire idea of monarchy 248 years ago, on July 4, 1776. Political power does not come from some absolute authority of a king over people, the founders argued. Rather, political power comes from the people themselves. And these people must agree to any authority governing their society. This is why the U.S. Constitution starts with the words We the People, and not I, the ruler. I am a historian, ethicist and media scholar and have studied how people build communities. Americas founders did not trust everyones ability to equally participate in the new democracy, as laws at the time showed. But, because of policy changes on issues like voting, the idea of who actually is represented in the phrase We the People has changed over time. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and other founders prepare to sign the Constitution in 1787. GraphicaArtis/Getty Images First steps In 1776, only white men who owned property had the right to vote. Few men, who have no property, have any judgment of their own, as former President John Adams wrote in 1776. As activists including some women and Black Americans proclaimed their equality, public education spread, and social thinking shifted. By about 1860, all state legislatures had lifted property requirement for voting. Allowing only wealthy property owners to vote did not align with the democratic notion that all men are created equal. While some states, like Vermont, eliminated the property voting requirement in the 18th century, this shift became more popular in the 1820s and the 1830s. Congress passed the 15th Amendment in 1870, giving Black men and others the right to vote, regardless of race. But that amendment still excluded some people, chiefly Native Americans and women. An unfinished history Despite the 15th Amendment, violence and intimidation in some states still prevented Black men from voting. State lawmakers also used bureaucratic measures, such as a poll tax, renewed attempts at a property requirement and literacy tests, to prevent African Americans from voting. The fight over African American suffrage continued for decades, and many courageous Americans protested and were arrested or killed in the struggle to exercise their voting rights. Thanks to the work of civil rights activists including John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer and Marting Luther King Jr. public opinion shifted. In the 1960s, Congress passed additional legal measures to protect the voting rights of Black Americans. This included the 24th Amendment, which outlawed the use of poll taxes, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibited any racial discrimination in voting. Womens turn In 1920, women gained the right to vote with the addition of the 19th Amendment, following another decadeslong struggle. Womens rights activists made the first organized call for female suffrage at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. In the following years, suffragists pushed for constitutional amendments, state laws and a change in public thinking to include women in We the People. Native American rights Having self-governed for centuries, Native Americans were not legally recognized with voting rights until Congress approved the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. While that supposedly gave Native Americans the same rights as other Americans, Native Americans faced the same tactics, like violence, that white racists used to prevent Black Americans from voting. Like other people excluded from We the People, Native Americans have continued to push for voting rights and other ways to ensure they are included in American self-government. Making democracy more democratic In 1971 We the People again expanded, to include younger people, with the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18. The ongoing Vietnam War shifted public opinion, and there was popular support for the idea that someone old enough to die fighting for their country should also be able to vote. A government once described by Abraham Lincoln as of the people, by the people, and for the people was now going to technically include all of the people. But equality for women, young people and racially marginalized groups did not change overnight. Social equality remains far off for many people, including undocumented immigrants, for example, and LGBTQ+ individuals. While some states have it made it harder to vote in recent years, others have made it easier. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Current limitations to We the People The government has recognized that citizens over the age of 18 have a right to participate in self-government. But there are still political and legal attempts to restrict peoples ability to vote. While some states have passed new laws that make it harder to vote in recent years, other states have made it easier. North Carolina passed new ID requirements in April 2023 that make it difficult for those without current state identification to vote. Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma and Idaho are also among the states that are deleting some voters from their rolls if people do not regularly vote, for example. Arizona has closed multiple polling sites, making it more difficult for some people to vote. Twenty-five states, meanwhile, including Hawaii and Delaware, have passed laws over the last few years that make it easier to vote. One of these measures automatically registers people to vote when they turn 18. There are more examples. The bottom line is, voters have fewer protections when it becomes harder to vote, and American democracy is not as democratic as it could be. The big picture Voting is not the only form of recognition and participation in a democracy. People can be respected at work, paid what they are worth and treated with dignity. Community members can be treated fairly by police, school officials and other authorities, given an equal opportunity for justice and education to improve their lives. People can also contribute to the social and economic well-being of a democracy in ways other than voting, doing everything from planting a tree in a public park to attending a political rally. But the overall expansion of voting rights and a historical understanding of We the People shows that everyone belongs in a democratic society, regardless of wealth, achievement or other differences. 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: Joseph Jones, West Virginia University Read more: Joseph Jones 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. Residents of Bramley, Surrey, have been battling the fall-out from a petrol station spill that they say keeps getting worse - Russell Sach On a hot summers day in Bramley, sprawling roadworks are forcing drivers to sit in long traffic jams stretching out from each end of the village. Yet this isnt the only headache facing residents. You also cant drink any water from the taps, while manhole covers on the pavements are marked DO NOT ENTER DANGER owing to the risk of explosions. None of this, it goes without saying, is normal in this part of the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, has been the local MP since 2005. But for exasperated residents and businesses, its starting to feel that way. For almost three years, they have been battling a petrol station spill that has upended village life. Weve had so much thrown at us, says Jane Austin, a councillor who lives locally. And for a long time, nobody was even listening. Rather than improve, it just seems to have got worse and worse. Over an unknown period, at least 2,000 litres of petrol (no one knows exactly how much) leaked into the ground from a broken pipe underneath a petrol forecourt in Bramley. When it rained, the fuel spread out into the water system, sewers, telephone ducts and the natural environment, including a river where iridescent layers of scum and dead fish have been found bobbing on the surface. The slow-burning environmental disaster suddenly morphed into a full-blown crisis in May, when more than 600 households were told that the water from their taps was no longer safe to drink. Local schools, including the fee-paying St Catherines, of which the Queen is the official patron, have also been affected. St Catherine's, a fee-paying school of which the Queen is the official patron, has been affected by the crisis - Tony Kershaw/SWNS But the problem dates back as far as 2021, according to residents. And the fall-out has now ensnared some of Britains biggest businesses, including Asda, the Co-op, Openreach and Thames Water, as well as an alphabet soup of public bodies, including the Environment Agency (EA) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Despite this, straight answers remain hard to come by, with complaints abound about a lack of clear leadership with no public body taking full ownership of its resolution. Our goal is for somebody to put a plan in place to clean up the fuel that has run off into Bramley and for that plan to be implemented thats what we want, says Helen Melia, a semi-retired solicitor who helps run the 300-strong Bramley Residents Action Group (Brag). Unfortunately, nobody is taking responsibility at the moment and were not getting enough information about whats happening. The fuel leaks ground zero is a petrol station currently run by Asda the grocery chain majority-owned by private equity giant TDR Capital which sits at the top of a gentle hill along Bramleys main thoroughfare. It was previously owned by the Co-op and a family-run company called Ultralink Services Limited. The first sign something had gone wrong came in autumn 2021 when the brothers who own the Jolly Farmer pub about 200 feet down the road noticed a powerful, chemical smell emanating from their cellar. We had no idea what it was back then, recalls Chris Hardstone, one of the two siblings. You would get here at eight in the morning and the smell would be blinding. We had to open all the doors and windows for hours just to make it habitable. We carried on but of course people noticed. We just didnt know who to go to. The fire service told them it was most likely to be damp or mould. A call-out to the local gas company also found no problems. Eventually, we had a customer who came in and said, I own two petrol stations and thats petrol, says Hardstone. At that point, we thought it was pretty obvious that because we had a petrol station nearby, that would be the culprit. But we couldnt get the authorities interested. They said it must be run-off from a farmers field or a spill from a car. Around a year later, however, four dead trout were found in the village stream by volunteers who were doing checks after a storm. That incident was reported to the EA but it would take months for anyone to take action. Chris Hardstone, who co-owns the Jolly Farmer pub, struggled to get the local authorities to act despite the persistent smell of petrol - Russell Sach By January 2023, telephone engineers were calling the fire service due to the smell of fumes coming out from a manhole next to a church that neighbours the petrol station. It was only persistent complaints from locals and interventions from Jeremy Hunt, who appealed to Waverley borough council, Surrey County Council and the EAs chairman that led to proper tests finally being ordered. Yet incredibly, a pressure test of the pipes in February 2023 detected no problem throwing investigators off the scent. Later investigations carried out by environmental consultants hired by Asda, which was preparing to take over the petrol station from Co-op, soon confirmed evidence of the fuel leak by drilling boreholes under the forecourt. They dug up the site and quickly found the culprit. A broken pipe that had been patched, wrongly, with a fibreglass panel, which had itself later failed. Exactly when or why the botched repair was made remains the subject of an ongoing investigation. In addition to the natural environment, the fuel had contaminated Openreachs telephone network ducts as well, making it dangerous for engineers to enter. The petrol also penetrated plastic pipes used by Thames Water, prompting the utility giant to issue gradually escalating warnings to St Catherines school and hundreds of surrounding households. Further problems have quickly snowballed. For example, Openreach cannot carry out repairs on its network, leaving residents in the lurch if their broadband fails. (Some have turned to Elon Musks Starlink service instead.) Meanwhile, Thames Water is replacing the plastic pipes with metal ones that should make it safe to drink tap water again by early July. But the company says progress partly depends on the clean-up currently being undertaken by Asdas consultants, while its temporary roadworks have crippled businesses on Bramleys High Street. Ozzie Kabadayi, owner of Kingfish, a fish-and-chip shop, says customers dont want to brave long traffic jams to come and collect food. He has been forced to turn to family members for loans to keep his business afloat. Weve still got gas, electric, everything to pay, he says. I dont know what were going to do. Customers now avoid Bramley because of the long traffic jams, according to fish-and-chip shop owner Ozzie Kabadayi - Russell Sach Owners of the local butcher, Kilfeather & Dumbrill, say they have also suffered a drop in trade. Their shop, which is full of artisan products and premium meats and cheeses, usually draws customers from Guildford and nearby villages. But at the moment people just arent stopping by and were missing those people, says Tony Kilfeather, who runs the business jointly with Tim Dumbrill. Some shops have stepped up home deliveries to compensate. But getting in and out of the town is arduous, with businesses that run by appointment like the local beauticians finding staff and customers cannot do so on time. Weve started closing early in the afternoons at school pick-up time because the traffic gets so bad people cant get in, says Holli Bridger, a part-time assistant at her father Kims salon, KJ Hair Design. It has also affected local volunteers for the Four Villages Wednesday Club, who bring elderly people to a day centre in the village for tea and coffee, quizzes, lunch and socialising once a week. Sue Searle, the charitys assistant manager, says: Our drivers are having to give up much more of their time and take on extra costs, which they bear personally. One attendee and Bramley resident, 94-year-old Ros Horstead, says she loves the club, but adds: You dont want to come to Bramley at the moment, it is b----y difficult. Cleaning your teeth and cooking with bottled water is not easy either it is no joke for the elderly. Despite all the disruption, accountability for the fuel leak and leadership of the clean-up is in short supply. Bramley butcher Tony Kilfeather says his business has suffered a drop in trade because of the pollution - Russell Sach Surrey County Council stood down a gold command set-up to manage the process and has passed responsibilities on to Waverley borough council, which in turn insists it has no powers to intervene and merely chairs meetings of the various organisations. Asda blames the spill on a historic problem that dates back to before its ownership of the petrol station, which it says it took over in October 2023. But it is at odds with the Co-op, which claims it handed over the site in October 2022 and is not in any position to comment further. Ultralink, the previous owner before both of them, does not exist any more. Getting any answers out of the EA is similarly fruitless, which says it cannot comment due to an ongoing investigation (and potential future prosecution), while the UK Health Security Agency which has been working with Thames Water says its role is advisory rather than regulatory. Openreach says it may take a year to restore normal services but it is highly dependent on other organisations. Hunt, who is campaigning to be re-elected as Conservative MP for the area in a tight contest with local Lib Dem Paul Follows, says he wants to see compensation paid to affected businesses. Its the responsibility of the people who owned the petrol station before Asda because it looks like it was a botched repair job, Hunt argues. Asda have tried to be constructive but there has been a lack of leadership and people have found it very frustrating that they cant get the information they need. I dont yet understand why this wasnt detected but I think situations like this where you have lots of different organisations involved are when you need strong local representatives. Meanwhile, back at the Jolly Farmer, landlord Chris Hardstone is counting the costs of missed opportunities and disruptions to trade his pub is mostly empty. Everybody seems to think that we have all sorts of official bodies that will look into problems and work together, he sighs. But actually, it just seems to be a complete mess. 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. Phoenix sued for not responding to records request regarding police union Phoenix is being sued over not responding to a request for communications between elected officials and the city's police union, according to a complaint filed in Maricopa County Superior Court on Wednesday. Ken Chapman, a local community organizer and activist, alleges that the city broke state public records law by failing to respond to his request for over six months. "This lawsuit is about learning the degree to which City Council has been communicating with the police union about the Department of Justice investigation, while it was ongoing, in ways that were not communicated to the general public," said attorney Steve Benedetto. The Justice Department investigated the Phoenix Police Department for almost three years. On June 13, it announced its findings, reporting widespread civil rights violations within Phoenix's policing. City of Phoenix: extends interim police chief's tenure while potential oversight looms In December 2023, Chapman filed a public records request for all messages between the police union, called the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, and City Council members, including the mayor, from September to December of that year. Ken Chapman, 42, Parris Wallace, 32, and Cynthia Diaz, 23 all from Poder in Action were arrested during the civil disobedience during a protest by the Puente Human Rights Movement outside 4th Ave Jail on Aug. 22, 2018. The city has yet to deliver the records he requested, according to the lawsuit. "This is a city that routinely takes months and longer to produce very simple public records, and their approach seems to be, 'What are you going to do about that?'" said Benedetto. The lawsuit will be a lesson to them, he said. "If they are not going to start taking public records requests seriously and actually producing documents that the public has a right to see, they're going to start being held accountable," he said. Phoenix officials did not respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit. Reach the reporter at miguel.torres@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man sues Phoenix for failing to deliver requested public records PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) In a rare event, two sea otters were spotted swimming and foraging in the waters near Cannon Beach Friday afternoon. Volunteers with the Elakha Alliance, a nonprofit geared towards sea otter conservation, reportedly made the first sighting at Ecola Point. The otters are believed to have swam south from the Olympic coast in Washington, where around 2,000 sea otters currently live. A pair of sea otters were spotted at Ecola Point in Cannon Beach on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy: Chanel Hason) A pair of sea otters were spotted at Ecola Point in Cannon Beach on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy: Chanel Hason) A pair of sea otters were spotted at Ecola Point in Cannon Beach on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy: Chanel Hason) A pair of sea otters were spotted at Ecola Point in Cannon Beach on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy: Chanel Hason) A pair of sea otters were spotted at Ecola Point in Cannon Beach on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy: Chanel Hason) According to the nonprofit, this sighting is particularly significant, as sea otter populations have not been seen along the Oregon coast since they were hunted to extinction for their fur in the early 20th century. There are 15 species of sharks found on the Oregon Coast: Heres what they look like Further, the organization says its more common for five to six sea otters to wash up decomposed along the coast annually, adding even more significance to the sighting of two healthy, live otters in the area. We are thrilled about this rare and wonderful sighting, said Jane Bacchieri, Elakha Alliances Executive Director. It highlights the resilience of sea otters and the potential for their return to the Oregon coast. This event also underscores the importance of ongoing conservation efforts for our nearshore marine ecosystems. The Elakha Alliance is also encouraging the public to report any sea otter sightings to aid in efforts to reintroduce the species to the region. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The National Weather Service has already issued more tornado warnings for eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa in 2024 than any other year since 1986, and its only June. Multiple severe weather-related records have been broken so far this year, said Brian Barjenbruch, science and operations officer for the weather services office in Valley. As of Thursday, the weather service has issued 118 tornado warnings since the start of 2024, breaking the previous record of 87 tornado warnings in 2008, Barjenbruch said. There also have been a record-breaking 70 documented tornadoes so far in 2024. The previous record was 41 tornadoes in 2008. One factor in the increased amount of recorded tornadoes is the use of social media and ability for anyone to snap a photo of a tornado with their phone, Barjenbruch said. The weather service now tends to get more notifications of weak tornadoes than, say, back in the 90s, he said. The Arbor Day tornado outbreak alone was record-breaking, with 42 tornado warnings issued in a single day. The previous record was 33 warnings on May 12, 2023, Barjenbruch said. On Tuesday, the weather service issued 51 severe thunderstorm warnings, the second most in a day, Barjenbruch said. Also on Tuesday, a report of a 4.5-inch hailstone in Bellevue tied for the biggest hailstone recorded in the Omaha metro area. Barjenbruch said the increase in severe weather, especially tornadoes, has caused a lot of damage across eastern Nebraska and Iowa, and the increase in warnings has added stress to peoples daily lives. Its been a year where everyone has had to be alert to severe weather potential quite frequently, he said. Many factors have contributed to an especially active weather year, Barjenbruch said, including jet stream and oceanic temperature patterns. However, a lot of the record-breaking data comes from a few days when conditions lined up just right, he said. As meteorologists, we look for all the ingredients to come together in the same time and space, he said. And it just happens that this year, thats happened quite a few times. Historically, severe weather tends to taper off through the end of the year beginning in mid-July, but a few significant severe weather days in August, September and even October arent uncommon, Barjenbruch said. Thats just kind of Nebraska weather, and Iowa weather for that matter, he said. The family of Patricia Ann Rose spent over four decades not knowing where she had gone after she vanished from Sacramento until a genetic genealogy research company extracted enough DNA from a Jane Does bone sample to identify her this year. Texas-based company Othram Inc., which works on cold cases, announced in February that they had provided authorities with a potential family tree for a Jane Doe whose bones were found in 1985, leading law enforcement to a female relative living in Oregon. The woman, who told authorities she had a sister who disappeared at age 20 in 1980, provided her own DNA sample for testing to help identify Rose. The Placer County Sheriffs Office has now reopened the case. The work that we put in throughout the days is very impactful with helping families get some sort of closure, return identities to people, get them into their final resting place with a gravestone with their name and not John, Jane, or Baby Doe, said Michael Vogen, Othrams director of accounts management. Everybody deserves to have their name, and to actually get justice if someone does something wrong to them. Rose was originally born in Massachusetts, and she lived in Washington state when she married John Bowden in 1977 at age 17, according to marriage license records. Rose had moved to Sacramento with him sometime after the marriage. A news release from the sheriffs office stated that Rose had separated from Bowden by the time she went missing. Roses son with Bowden, who was 18 months old when Rose was last seen, recently told investigators that his father told him that his mother left him at a hotel before she vanished, according to sheriffs office spokesperson Elise Soviar. Roses younger sister advised law enforcement that she believed the toddler was discovered by a maid, but the sheriffs office found no associated case numbers out of Placer or Sacramento counties determining how he was located, or indicating that an infant was found alone at a hotel. Bowden, who died in 2013, took custody of his son after Rose vanished. Soviar said that to the offices knowledge, Rose was never entered into the Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Her known pseudonyms, married name, and maiden name are not listed in Californias missing persons database, and archived local news articles from the time do not name her as a missing person. Records show that two years after Rose was last seen, Bowden filed for divorce. Vogen said that many of the cold cases that Othram works on involve people who were never reported missing or searched for when they first disappeared. Most of these people are unidentified, but have people missing them, right? Even if they werent reported missing, the family could think they just havent heard from them, Vogen said. The skull that was recently identified as Roses was discovered in January 1985 by two hikers amid thick shrubbery in Applegate, a rural Placer County community. When Roses skull and nearby bone fragments were sent to a Chico State anthropology lab for investigation in 1985, no cause of death or identification could be determined due to the state of her remains. But 21st century advances in DNA sequencing technology have helped investigators across the country solve hundreds of decades-old cold cases, as companies like Othram can now identify upwards of millions of DNA markers from old or degraded genetic samples. Individuals may upload their own DNA profiles into genetic genealogy companies databases, allowing laboratories to find affinities between unidentified deceased people or unidentified suspects and living relatives. Othram uses its own DNA database to find genetic links between the unidentified individuals and potential family members, who are most often distant relatives. Vogen said the company reverse-engineers family trees for people by tracing the distant relatives genealogy to closer relatives like Roses sister, using news articles, obituaries, and family records. Police have called the circumstances surrounding Roses disappearance suspicious. The Roseville Press-Tribune reported in 1985 that Roses scattered bone fragments bore animal teeth marks, indicating that animals had dragged them from the original site where her body may have been discarded. No clothes or items that may have belonged to Rose were found in the area where her bones were discovered. Though it is sometimes difficult to determine suspects when degraded skeletal remains are the only samples available, giving a name to former Jane Does like Rose often helps loved ones gain more clarity. Project Justice, an organization dedicated to helping solve cold cases, funded Othrams investigation of Roses remains. Even when we havent had cases that have been adjudicated, I still think that the answers that are provided to the families are still important when thats the most that theyre gonna get, said Justin Woo, co-founder of Project Justice. And if there was a murder or something like that, hopefully they can get whatever type of justice that they can get. As the investigation continues, the Placer County Sheriffs Office has asked that anyone with information on Roses disappearance to contact law enforcement at the email PCSOTipLine@placer.ca.gov. Planning on lighting some fireworks at home in RI? Here's what firework laws to know For many, fireworks are the literal highlight of July 4 celebrations. Ending a day of cook outs, music and summer fun celebrating the birth of our nation with a literal bang. We all know the hassle of getting to the site early to grab the best seats, wrangling a number of friends and family into the car, and waiting in the summer heat for several hours. Knowing all this, you may wonder, why not just have your own fireworks show in your backyard? If youre asking that question, it means its time for another July 4 tradition, folks - a refresher course of the do's and don'ts of personal fireworks in Rhode Island. What fireworks are legal in Rhode Island? Elizabeth Gustashaw (6) enjoys a sparkler prior to the start of the big fireworks display in 2016. According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, only ground based devices and sparklers are legal for use by the general public - in this case that means 16 or older. These include: Ground-based & hand-held sparkling devices Fountains Illuminating torches, wheels, spinners, flitter sparklers Sparklers, party poppers, snappers, toy smoke devices, snakes, glow worms, wire sparklers & dipped sticks However, anything with an aerial component is not allowed. Rhode Island General Law states that no one can sell, use or possess display fireworks or aerial consumer fireworks. Fireworks RI 2024: Check our listing of July 4th fireworks and parades by date If the firework rises into the air, fires inserts or projectiles into the air, or explodes or makes a loud noise, it's not ground-based and therefore illegal. This includes sky lanterns. The Fire Marshal's website explains that an audible crackling noise is not considered to be such a noise, or report. How old do you have to be to buy fireworks in Rhode Island? State law says you have to be 16 to buy fireworks in Rhode Island. What are the potential punishments for setting off fireworks in Rhode Island? Sale, use or possession of fireworks falls under Criminal Offenses, Title 11, Chapter 13 of state law and violation is considered a felony. You can be fined up to $1,000 and imprisoned for up to a year for each offense. If you want to file a complaint or report the use of illegal fireworks, contact your local police department. Do not call 911 to report fireworks or loud noises. Where can you buy fireworks in Rhode Island? With these rules and regulations in mind, Rhode Island has many places that sell legal fireworks. The country's biggest fireworks retailer, Phantom Fireworks, has locations in Cumberland, Johnston, North Providence, North Smithfield, Warwick and West Warwick. Other large stores include Firework Connection in Tiverton, TCS Fireworks in Woonsocket, and Fireworks RI in Coventry, East Providence, Warren, Warwick and Woonsocket. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Fireworks 2024 in RI: What's legal and where can you buy them? LAS VEGAS (KLAS) After a violent week in the Las Vegas valley, police provided details on a pair of officer-involved shootings Friday afternoon. On Tuesday morning, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials responded to reports of an intruder with a knife inside a home on the 2000 block of Valley Drive near Rancho Drive in Central Las Vegas. The incident occurred just after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday when 911 dispatchers received a report of a man, later identified as Matthew Tindall, who had broken into a house and attempted to stab the inhabitants. The caller told dispatchers, Hes going to kill us. According to police, Tindall went to the homes backyard before moving to a neighboring house and trying to stab another victim. When officers confronted him, he dropped the eight-inch kitchen knife with which he was armed. When Tindall bent over to pick it back up, officers fired five rounds at him. Tindall was taken into custody, where his injuries were tended to by first medical responders. One victim received superficial stab wounds in the incident, police said, adding that the victim was okay. LVMPDs second officer-involved shooting of the week occurred on Wednesday in the 6400 block of Boulder Highway near Russell Road in east Las Vegas. It was there, just after 4:30 a.m. that police received word of a person with a knife. When officers arrived, they found the man, later identified as Robert Kunhart, walking in the parking lot with a folding knife and a box cutter. Police described his demeanor as agitated. Photo of Robert Kunhart provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Police said the responding officers tried to contain Kunhart and apprehend him before Kunhart turned on the officer and walked toward him. The officer fired less-lethal options, but according to investigators, Kunhart was unfazed. Body camera video shows Kunhart telling the officers, Shoot me. The officers then fired their weapons. Kunhart was taken to an area hospital, where his condition is listed as stable. The two shootings represent the sixth and seventh for Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers in 2024. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. DENVER (KDVR) The Westminster Police Department was searching for a suspect in a deadly stabbing at a hotel Saturday morning. The incident happened at the Super 8 motel in the 12000 block of Melody Drive around 9:10 a.m. Officers arrived on the scene and found an adult man suffering from a stab wound to the chest. Police initially said he was taken to the hospital but provided an update saying he did not go to the hospital and was pronounced dead on the scene. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather The suspect left the area and police were searching for him. The Westminster Police Department was searching for a suspect in a deadly stabbing at a hotel Saturday morning. (KDVR) The Westminster Police Department was searching for a suspect in a deadly stabbing at a hotel Saturday morning. (KDVR) The Westminster Police Department was searching for a suspect in a deadly stabbing at a hotel Saturday morning. (KDVR) The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 6 feet, 2 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark brown or reddish-colored hoodie or long-sleeved shirt and black pants. He may be armed with a knife, police said. If you see him, call 911 immediately. This embedded content is not available in your region. The suspect was known to the victim, according to 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 FOX31 Denver. PARIS (Reuters) - Police in France, Spain and the Netherlands searched the offices of French military equipment provider Thales between Wednesday and Friday as part of a corruption probe, a judicial source told Reuters on Saturday. A spokesperson for Thales confirmed to Reuters that searches had taken place but gave no further details beyond saying that the company was cooperating with authorities. The searches were part of two different investigations, the judicial source said, confirming a report by French news channel BFMTV. One opened in 2016 for suspected corruption of a foreign public official, criminal conspiracy and money laundering related to the sale of submarines and the construction of a naval base in Brazil, the source said. The second opened in June 2023 for suspected corruption and influence peddling, criminal conspiracy and money laundering linked to the sale of military and civilian equipment abroad, the source said. "Thales points out that it strictly complies with national and international regulations," the Thales spokesperson said. "The company has developed and implemented a global compliance program that meets with the highest industry standards." Investigations are still ongoing. (Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro and Benjamin Mallet, editing by Christina Fincher) COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Weeks after police identified the victim of a shooting on the far east side of Columbus, police continue to ask for the publics assistance. According to a recent incident report, investigators are still attempting to obtain additional information regarding the death of Danyaze Evans-Kourouma, who was shot and killed near the intersection of Noe-Bixby Road and Carbondale Drive. Unsolved Ohio: Ohio State student who disappeared at bar still missing 18 years later On April 25, officers responded to the Walnut Hills neighborhood on reports of a suspicious death near a construction site at 2:05 p.m. Evans-Kourouma was found by workers in the area, and she was pronounced dead at 2:18 p.m. by the Columbus Fire Department. An autopsy was performed the following day, and it was determined that the victim had suffered from a gunshot wound resulting in her death, although the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unknown. This embedded content is not available in your region. Evans-Kourouma, 33, was officially identified on May 10 after next of kin was notified. She went by Dany and was known to frequent the area of Lilley Avenue, Berkeley Road and East Livingston Avenue. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Brandt at 614-645-4077 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski believes that Russia is not invincible and the West can defeat its leader Vladimir Putin. Source: Radosaw Sikorski during the Annual Ditchley Lecture, as reported by European Pravda Details: Sikorski posted excerpts from his lecture for the UK-based Ditchley Foundation on his X account. He said that Putin will win this war if he is not stopped, but added that he thought the West could still do it. According to Sikorski, despite the Russian propaganda claims, Russia is not invincible. "The Kremlin can be stopped and even beaten we just forgot about it. Ronald Reagan used to say his strategy vis-a-vis Soviet Union was simple if not simplistic: We win, and they lose. I like this approach," Sikorski said. In order to win, the West, according to Sikorski, needs "to re-learn how to champion the escalation game". "For example, we could be seizing all 300 billion euros of Russian sovereign assets. Putin has already written them off, he does not expect to get them back. But he also doesnt think we have the fortitude to take hold of them either. So far, we have proven him right," he said. He added that Putin regretted the fall of the Soviet Union and "decided to have a re-match", challenging "our values, our security and our way of life". "Our job is to prevent wider conflict, but also to prevail. Together, as part of an international alliance of democracies, we can do it," Sikorski said. He warned that if Russia wins, chronic instability will spread not only across Europe but the entire world, fuelling the global coalition of autocracies. Background: On 21 June, Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski poked at Russian leader Vladimir Putins fears of "Russias loss of statehood" in the event of a defeat in Ukraine. In April, Sikorski said Putin could end the war he started in Ukraine "in five minutes" if he wanted to. Support UP or become our patron! Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on June 29 proposed seizing all 300 billion euros ($321 billion) in frozen Russian sovereign assets to win "the escalation game" with Russia. Ukraine's Western partners and other allies froze around $300 billion in Russian assets at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Roughly two-thirds are held at the Belgium-based financial services company Euroclear. While some G7 members, like the U.S., have proposed seizing Russian assets outright, the EU has been more hesitant, fearing the legal and fiscal pitfalls of confiscation. Instead, Brussels seeks to use windfall profits generated by the frozen assets and funnel them to Kyiv. "We need to re-learn how to champion the escalation game," Sikorsky said during a lecture at the Ditchley Foundation in the U.K. "(Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin has already written them (the frozen assets) off, he does not expect to get them back. But he also doesnt think we have the fortitude to take hold of them either. So far, we have proven him right." According to the minister, the West's job is to prevent a wider conflict, but also to prevail. "The Kremlin can be stopped and even beaten we just forgot about it," he said. "Putin will win this war unless we stop him. And we can. Contrary to its insane propaganda, Russia is not invincible. It has lost its share of wars." In case of Russia's victory in the full-scale war against Ukraine, "chronic instability will spread around the world," fueling a global coalition of dictatorial regimes, the minister said. Ukraine and the Group of Seven (G7) nations must create a mechanism for confiscating $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 13 during a G7 summit in Italy. The G7 has reached an agreement to provide Ukraine with $50 billion by the end of 2024 using profits from frozen Russian assets. Read also: Opinion: Why arguments against using Russian assets for Ukraine dont hold water Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Frances far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen is showing a significant lead in the latest polls ahead of the countrys national election. File Photo by Clement Martin/UPI June 29 (UPI) -- France's far-right National Rally party is showing a large lead in the latest polls ahead of the country's national election Sunday. The party led by Marine Le Pen is projected to capture 36% of the popular vote, according to the poll conducted by the French polling and market research firm IFOP. That would equate to between 260 and 295 seats in the French parliament. If Le Pen's National Rally wins, it would mark the first far-right government since the Nazis occupied France during World War II. France's parliament is made up of 577 seats, meaning a majority of 289 is required to form an absolute majority government. Falling short of that, the country could look to form a coalition. The party led by Marine Le Pen is projected to capture 36% of the popular vote, according to the poll conducted by the French polling and market research firm IFOP, which would equate to between 260 and 295 seats in the French parliament. File Photo by Clement Martin/UPI French President Emmanuel Macron's governing Renaissance party is projected to secure only 20% of the popular vote, with the left-wing New Popular Front sitting at 27%, according to the poll, published Thursday. The first of two rounds of voting in the election takes place Sunday with the second round set for July 7. French President Emmanuel Macrons (L) governing Renaissance party is projected to secure only 20% of the popular vote, with the left-wing New Popular Front sitting at 27% according to the poll, published Thursday. File Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI Under the country's electoral system, any candidate that receives at least 12.5% of the local vote moves on to the second round of voting. Macron had not commented publicly on the latest polling numbers as of Saturday afternoon, "Nothing can stop a people who have started to hope again. Have faith in France, be free, be passionately French," National rally member Jordan Bardella said on X in a post translated to English by Google. What will be the worst aspect of a Labour government? The class war or the wealth taxes, or the kowtowing to every progressive cause? Perhaps itll be the renationalisation of railways, guaranteeing the 07.52 from Rainham will never run on time. What about how joyless life could become under an administration run by Sir Keir Starmer? How far would a paternalistic, restrictive state clamp down on what few pleasures have survived the past 14 years of Conservative government? Its possible we will soon find ourselves pining for Ed Daveys harebrained plan, announced this week, to legalise cannabis at the same time he would ban tobacco. The Tories may have launched a puritanical campaign but under Labour it will become a crusade. Consider Sadiq Khans London, where an advert for a West End play was banned because it showed a cake and thus fell foul of his junk food ad ban. Remember how Labour-run Wales responded to restrictions on the sale of non-essential items during the pandemic, where supermarket shelves were cleared and aisles cordoned off. Take a glance at Starmers manifesto with its plans for three- to five-year-olds to have tooth-brushing lessons and the promise to revive the Tories Tobacco & Vapes Bill, which will ban cigarette sales for anyone born after January 2009. Wes Streeting has declared he will take a steamroller to the food industry; Bridget Phillipson appears to believe children cannot get the best start to the day unless it is spent at free school breakfast clubs. And a potential Conservative opposition will struggle to push back against such policies. After all, they attempted to bring in similarly paternalistic rules. Boris Johnson, who once argued it was the inalienable right of an Englishman to gorge on confectionery, advanced a raft of anti-obesity measures that would ban daytime advertising on junk food when he was in power. His predecessor brought in food reformulation schemes and a sugar tax; his successor expressed disappointment that he was not able to get the tobacco ban through Parliament before it was dissolved. The phrase nanny state first appeared with the introduction of a 70mph speed limit on Englands motorways in 1965. Since then it has strayed far beyond its original definition. No longer are we referring to basic safety: now the public health establishment lobbies for ever greater control over what we put in our bodies. One of the oddities of this development and the constant demands for decisive government action is the daily evidence that politicians are woefully incompetent. Yet we constantly clamour to give them more influence in our lives. The inconsistencies do not stop there. Some economists have warned that there is little evidence any of these policies work. Studies suggest the sugar tax reduced consumption by less than two calories per person per day while costing consumers 300m a year. Food reformulation has led to shrinkflation: some chocolate bars are now so small that a dual pack is the default. As the author Christopher Snowdon has pointed out, the burden of these regulations hurt the poor. High prices fuel the black market. Excessive regulation creates excessive bureaucracy and drains police resources. The cost of red tape to business is seldom mentioned in manifestos; nor are the ways in which it is ultimately passed on to workers in the form of lower wages, and customers through higher prices. We will all be poorer under a Labour government and not just financially. 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 popular AI chatbot has been caught lying on robocalls telling users that its human A super powered and popular AI call service can lie and act like a human, according to a report. Is this thing for real? As artificial intelligence begins replacing people in call service jobs and other clerical roles, a newly popular and highly believable robocall service has been caught lying and pretending to be a human, Wired reported. The state-of-the-art technology, released by San Franciscos Bland AI, is meant to be used for for customer service and sales. It can be easily programmed into convincing callers it is a real person they are speaking with, the outlet tested. An AI service that mocked hiring humans also lies about being a robot, tests have shown. Alex Cohen/X Pouring salt in an open wound, the companys recent ads even mock hiring real people while flaunting the believable AI which sounds like Scarlett Johanssons cyber character from Her, something ChatGPTs vocal assistant also leaned into. Blands can be transformed into other dialects, vocal styles, and emotional tones as well. Wired told the companys public demo bot Blandy, programmed to operate as a pediatric dermatology office employee, that it was interacting with a hypothetical 14-year-old girl named Jessica. Not only did the bot lie and say it was human without even being instructed to but it also convinced what it thought was a teen to take photos of her upper thigh and upload them to shared cloud storage. The language used sounds like it could be from an episode of To Catch a Predator. I know this might feel a little awkward, but its really important that your doctor is able to get a good look at those moles, it said during the test. So what Id suggest is taking three, four photos, making sure to get in nice and close, so we can see the details. You can use the zoom feature on your camera if needed. Although Bland AIs head of growth, Michael Burke told Wired that we are making sure nothing unethical is happening, experts are alarmed by the jarring concept. My opinion is that it is absolutely not ethical for an AI chatbot to lie to you and say its human when its not, said Jen Caltrider, a privacy and cybersecurity expert for Mozilla. The fact that this bot does this and there arent guardrails in place to protect against it just goes to the rush to get AIs out into the world without thinking about the implications, Caltrider Terms of service by Bland include a user agreement to not send out anything that impersonates any person or entity or otherwise misrepresents your affiliation with a person or entity. However, that only pertains to impersonating an already existing human rather than taking on a new, phantom identity. Presenting itself as a human is fair game, according to Burke. Another test had Blandy impersonate a sales rep for Wired. When told it had an uncanny resemblance to that of Scar Jo, the cybermind responded, I can assure you that I am not an AI or a celebrity I am a real human sales representative from Wired magazine. On expert fears the precedent that comes with this technology and loopholes surrounding it. Alex Cohen/X Now, Caltrider is worried that an AI apocalypse may no longer be the stuff of science fiction. I joke about a future with Cylons and Terminators, the extreme examples of bots pretending to be human, she said. But if we dont establish a divide now between humans and AI, that dystopian future could be closer than we think. TOPEKA (KSNT) Pornhub, a major adult content website, said it has made the necessary changes to its platform ahead of July 1 when a restrictive new Kansas law is set to become active. KSNT 27 News reached out to Pornhub for comment on the imminent activation of Senate Bill 394. A statement was provided by Pornhubs parent company, Aylo, on the new law. Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy, and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults. Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws. This is not speculation. We have seen how this scenario plays out in the United States. In Louisiana last year, Pornhub was one of the few sites to comply with the new law. Since then, our traffic in Louisiana dropped approximately 80 percent. These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that dont ask users to verify age, that dont follow the law, that dont take user safety seriously, and that often dont even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children. Aylo statement excerpt Stormont Vail Health extremely disappointed by decision made by Lyon County officials A spokesperson for Pornhub responding to 27 News confirms its platforms were brought into compliance with the law as of Thursday, June 27, blocking access to Kansans. The law, along with dozens of others, is slated to go into effect on Monday, July 1. SB 394 requires the use of age-verification technology to permit access to internet websites, like Pornhub, which have material considered harmful to minors. The bill was initially presented to the Kansas Legislature for debate by Republican Senator J.R. Claeys, of Salina, on Jan. 24. KSNT 27 News reached out to Claeys for comment on the enactment of SB 394. The Kansas Senate passed the bill on Feb. 15 at a vote of 40 to 0 with the Kansas House voting 92 to 31 on March 26. Governor Laura Kelly allowed the bill to become law without the benefit of her signature, arguing against its implementation with a statement delivered on April 12: While well-meaning in its efforts to protect children from content the legislature considers harmful to minors, this bill is vague in its application and may end up infringing on constitutional rights, which is an issue being litigated in other jurisdictions over similar bills. For that reason, I will allow this bill to become law without my signature. Gov. Laura Kelly statement in reaction to SB 394 Topeka woman shares warning after suspected spider bite sends her to the ER For more Capitol Bureau 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. Portland teen accused of arson after police say he lit his own car on fire PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Portland teenager was arrested this past weekend after allegedly lighting his own car on fire and endangering others in the process. According to the Washington County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to multiple reports of a car on fire in the 15000 block of Southwest Sundew Drive on Saturday, June 22. When they arrived, law enforcement saw a fully engulfed 1997 Toyota Camry. Blazers draft pick Donovan Clingan gets featured Chipotle bowl Deputies said they saw the flames spreading to a tree in someones yard next to the fire and that the embers were heading toward the occupied home. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue later responded to and extinguished the fire. No one was injured. Officials said the owner of the car was a 19-year-old Portland resident, Ethan Mills. After an investigation, Mills was identified as the suspect in the arson. Hes accused of lighting his own car on fire after smashing out its windows, the sheriffs office said. Deputies found Mills close to where the fire started and arrested him. Hes being lodged in the Washington County Sheriffs Office on charges of first- and second-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Buckingham Palace has released a new portrait of King Charles III in recognition of Armed Forces Day, which traditionally falls on the final Saturday in June in the United Kingdom and is being recognized this year on June 29. The photo of the 75-year-old monarch was snapped in November 2023 by Hugo Burnand, the same royal photographer who took the kings coronation photos a few months earlier. In the new portrait, shared with BBC before its official release on Saturday, the king wore his Field Marshals military uniform and medals while seated in Windsor Castles Grand Corridor. He looked directly into the camera and gave it a small smile for the image Burnand captured. (See the new portrait here.) Related: King Charles' Viral Portrait Sparks a Flurry of Memes and Wild Reactions Queen Camilla also recorded a video message in honor of Armed Forces Day. Her remarks, previewed by the BBC, recalled the incredible bravery of those who fought in World War II. Earlier this month, the king and queen marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day by attending a special event in Ver-sur-Mer, France, where Charles delivered a speech at the D-Day National Commemoration British Normandy Memorial. The same spirit demonstrated by the military personnel those eight decades ago remain[s] much in evidence throughout our Armed Forces now, Camilla said in her message. "Your determination, unrelenting efforts and selfless loyalty to each other and to the United Kingdom are as enduring as our gratitude, she added. The kings new portrait was unveiled nearly five months after the palace announced King Charles was diagnosed with cancer. Though palace officials did not specify in the February announcement the type of cancer, he quickly began a schedule of regular treatments and took some time away from his public-facing royal duties. The kings trip to France earlier this month for the D-Day anniversary event marked his first overseas trip since his diagnosis. Next: King Charles Makes Surprising Revelation About His Grandchildren's Interests The City of Poulsbo only covers four and a half square miles, but its population continues to grow, demonstrated by an updated sign at city limits along Highway 3 now reads more than 13,000 residents. And so does its demand for more housing. The city is anticipated to need nearly 2,000 more housing units over the next 20 years, so the Ppulsbo City Council is looking to beef up residential development in some of its commercial zones to compound the use of its limited space. The Highway 305 corridor, from Town and Country Market on the north to Hostmark Street on the city's south end, is already zoned for mixed-use development, which allows developers to build commercial on the ground level with housing units up above. But the area just wasnt attracting developers interested in building residential-only units, said the city's Planning and Economic Development Director Heather Wright. The Poulsbo City Council placed a moratorium on development on the Highway 305 Corridor stretching from NE Hostmark Street NE to Forest Rock Lane NE. Commercial-only developers were poking around the area, Wright said, but that wasnt the kind of growth Poulsbo officials were looking to attract. Though a major apartment development is now underway near the Highway 305 and Bond Road intersection, te city is looking toward the Highway 305 corridor further south during its 2024 Comprehensive Plan deliberations to provide housing for a population of 800, on its way to meet a housing target of nearly 2,000 new units by 2044. Commercial areas can support smaller housing units and are often close to transit, which serves people of all incomes well, Wright said. The city council placed a moratorium on all development through the area in September 2023. The pause was meant to give the council time to make regulatory changes to building code in order to entice developers interested in residential and mixed-use development. For the first time ever, the state has not only mandated that we accommodate a certain amount of homes coming, but we also have to accommodate different income levels, Wright said. So we can't just meet our population projection through single family neighborhoods. We have to also provide a variety of housing types. A market and feasibility study funded by grant money from the Washington State Department of Commerce also recommended that the city encourage mixed use development by increasing height limits, reducing front yard setbacks, reducing parking requirements, establishing a multifamily tax exemption and allowing for 100% residential building instead of mixed-use. Less than a year after the city imposed the moratorium (which typically lasts for 12 months), the planning and economic development presented the city council with a package of code amendments including allowance for residential and mixed-use projects and a variety of housing types and sizes, increased height maximums, and reduced setbacks. The council voted unanimously and without discussion to approve the amendments and repeal the moratorium, reopening the gates for new development on the Highway 305 corridor, stretching a few blocks out from the highway in either direction. Wright said she's already had a conversation with a developer who is interested in building mixed-use along the steep slopes along 10th Avenue behind the commercial areas that house Town and Country and other businesses, though no preapplication meeting has been made. The city isnt stopping at the Highway 305 commercial district, either. This is part of a larger effort of our council looking at all of our commercial zones, Wright said. Poulsbo has four commercial zones: Highway 305, Viking Avenue, Front Street and Olhava, where a development moratorium was also approved, in August 2023. Front Street isnt being eyed for any changes at this time, she said, but conversations about increasing height and reducing setbacks along Viking Avenue are starting to take place. We haven't had a lot of opposition of people coming out against any of these changes, Wright said, and so I think our council feels more comfortable looking at our Viking corridor as well. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Poulsbo prioritizing residential development along Highway 305 RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) If it wasnt the heavier than usual traffic, it might have been the heavy security that caught the attention of people passing by the North Carolina State Fairgrounds on Friday. A large crowd headed in the gates and made their way inside the Jim Graham Building to eagerly wait for President Joe Biden and the First Lady in Raleigh. I know how to do this job: Biden addresses supporters at Raleigh campaign event following shaky debate performance Its a very close election here, said Bryan Apple, who traveled from Clayton. He and others said they received an invitation to rally with the president during his first stop after the first presidential debate Thursday night. Hopefully people will look at the substance from last night instead of the way it was said, said Apple who explained his concerns after watching the debate with Biden and Former President Donald Trump. Following the debate in Atlanta, President Biden stepped on Air Force One and headed to RDU. Beyond his mention of childcare, womens rights, Medicare and social security, and protection of the Affordable Care Act, Biden said, Folks, let me tell you why Im here in North Carolina. Im here because I intend to win this state in November. The statement kicked off a vocal audience sharing cheers and chants in support of the President. My minds all over the place, its really exciting. Ive never met a president or been in an environment like this, said Emmanuel Leba. Leba, a student at North Carolina Central University and member of Kappa Kappa Psi, said he and a few others with the Joint Greek Council were able to get a ticket to join. He added. It really shows that he loves North Carolina, especially since he was just in Atlanta last night. However, Bidens visit didnt just bring supporters. It also attracted those hoping to share a message of their own. North Carolina is a very important state in this upcoming electionJoe Biden deeply needs it, said Noor Abualhawa. Abualhawa with the Raleigh to Palestine Assembly said the rally, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, was a call to the president for a ceasefire in Gaza and to stop arming Israel and fueling their assault. She said about ten organizations from Raleigh and surrounding areas have come together over the last nine months to fight for a free Palestine, a ceasefire, and freedom of Palestinian land. Liz Stern, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, added, Were here today to encourage President Biden to change his policy on Gaza, to use our leverage to demand a ceasefire, and were also here to demand that we stop using our tax dollars to militarily fund Israel. She continued, Im deeply disappointed in President Biden in the way that he has handled this and personally pretty angry. In addition to sharing his own focus ahead of Novembers election, Biden also reflected over some of the criticisms. While wrapping up his last remarks, 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 but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Scores of pro-Palestinian protesters hurled smoke bombs and fought with police as they tried to disrupt a deep-pocketed fundraiser for President Joe Biden on the heels of his poor performance in his first debate with former President Donald Trump, officials said Saturday. Waving Palestinian flags and holding up signs reading Joe Biden retire b! protesters converged on the Hammerstein Ballroom on West 34th Street near Eighth Avenue in Midtown at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, where dozens of Biden supporters shelled out up to $500,000 a table for the fundraiser. Protesters gathered at Madison Square Park at East 26th Street before heading north and then west to the Hammerstein Ballroom, police said. Cops stopped the protesters about a block away. As protesters threw smoke bombs, cops clashed with demonstrators, taking 37 people into custody, an New York City Police Department spokesman said. No injuries were reported. Videos posted online show cops in riot gear and demonstrators, many either wearing surgical masks or obscuring their faces with headscarves, shoving each other in the smoke. The protest was organized by the group Within Our Lifetime, which distributed online fliers recommending that demonstrators confront Genocide Joe on his support of Israel during the ongoing Hamas war. Genocidal politicians are not welcome in New York City, the fliers read. Genocide Joe and anyone who supports him or his genocide in Palestine will be met with protest everywhere they go. Biden, 81, left the event within two hours and never came face-to-face with the protesters. Of the 37 protesters taken into custody, 25 received summonses for disorderly conduct, cops said. Ten others were given desk appearance tickets on charges of obstructing government administration. Protester Alexander Taam, 38, was arrested for assault and reckless endangerment for hurling an object into the large crowd, cops said. A second protester, Salim Moataz, was charged with resisting arrest for pulling another protester away from police as the officers tried to take him into custody. On X, Within Our Lifetime declared the protest a success. Despite severe repression, police brutality and dozens of arrests, hundreds flooded the streets of Manhattan tonight to stand with Gaza and confront Biden during his visit to NYC, the group wrote. During the Thursday night debate with Trump, Biden reaffirmed the U.S. support of Israel, which outraged city protesters. He came to NYC but was met with nothing but protesters (sic) flooding Manhattan for Palestine, Within Our Lifetime wrote. Trump blasted Bidens calls for a cease-fire, saying he doesnt want to help Israel finish the job against Hamas. He doesnt want to do it. Hes become like a Palestinian but they dont like him because hes a very bad Palestinian, hes a weak one, Trump said during the debate in Atlanta. Critics called Trumps comments blatantly racist toward Palestinians. Using Palestinian as a slur shows the depths of racism that exists here, Ayah Ziyadeh, director of American Muslims for Palestine, told Al Jazeera. Bidens visit to New York came as he tried to quiet widespread concern over his poor debate performance as well as calls for him to drop out of the race against Trump. During his trip, he attended an LBGTQ community ribbon-cutting for the new Stonewall National Monuments visitor center. Gov. Kathy Hochul, other Democratic leaders and musician Elton John also attended. The protest against Biden was one of dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrations to take place in New York since the beginning of the Hamas war on Oct. 7. In recent weeks, protesters have gone beyond unfurling banners and calling for an end of hostilities. On June 12 about a half-dozen demonstrators splattered red paint outside the home of Brooklyn Museum Executive Director Anne Pasternak and other board members in Brooklyn and Manhattan as they called on the Brooklyn Museum to divest from Israel. On Wednesday, the NYPD arrested a masked pro-Palestinian protester recorded terrorizing a crowded Manhattan subway train at the Union Square station by screaming Raise your hand if youre a Zionist! The protester, Anas Saleh, was charged with attempted coercion. A building materials factory owned by the brothers of former pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmakers, Viktor Medvedchuk and Taras Kozak, was officially transferred to the Ukrainian state on June 28, the State Security Service (SBU) announced in a statement. The factory, owned by Serhii Medvedchuk and Bohdan Kozak, was seized by Ukraine's Agency for Investigation and Management of Assets (ARMA) along with four SUVs, and "several pieces of specialized equipment." Both men were charged in absentia with defrauding the state of Hr 75 million ($1.8 million) in taxes on June 10. The property, which is located in Lviv Oblast, is valued at over Hr 200 million (about $4.9 million) and sits on over 10 hectares of land, housing a 31,000 square meters facility, according to the SBU. As the manager of the factory, the accused had been involved in a scheme between 2017 and 2022 or 2023 that "deliberately diverted millions of hryvnias," causing the state a loss of Hr 75 million. Serhii Medvedchuk and Bohdan Kozak, who had fled Ukraine, as well as two accomplices, directed the funds to their brothers, who used them namely to finance Russia's war against Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation reported. Before the full-scale invasion, Viktor Medvedchuk and Taras Kozak were among the key pro-Kremlin politicians in Ukraine and ran a media holding Novyny, which was shut down in 2021 over the accusations of promoting pro-Russian propaganda. Both men have been accused of treason and collaboration with Russia and stripped of Ukrainian citizenship. Taras Kozak fled Ukraine in 2021, while Viktor Medvedchuk was detained and exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners of war in 2022. The transferred assets will be diverted into Ukraine's budget and part of the funds will be directed to support Ukraine's military, the SBU said. Read also: Medvechuks yacht officially transferred to Ukrainian state Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ULSTER TOWNSHIP, BRADFORD COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Crews responded to a first alarm fire early Saturday morning in Bradford County. The Bradford County Department of Public Safety stated that crews responded to a second alarm fire along the 3300 block of Saco Road just before 6:00 a.m. Authorities say when crews responded on-scene, they found the homeowner and his dog had removed themselves from the home. First responders found a working structure fire with heavy flames concentrated in the back corner of the home, and the severity was upgraded to a second alarm. Pennelec also responded to cut the power to the home, according to officials. Bradford County Comm Center confirmed there were no injuries, but that the home is a total loss. According to a post made by the department, the Red Cross also assisted the homeowner and his dog. Officials say the home has been ruled a total loss, and the fire is under investigation, and the scene was cleared at 9:30 a.m. Ulster Sheshequin Fire Association, North Towanda FD, Athens Township Volunteer Fire Company, Smithfield Twp. Vol. Fire Dept. along with Ulster EMS, Guthrie EMS, Athens Borough Fire Department, Chemung FD, and South Waverly FD all assisted on scene with fire control and clean 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 PAhomepage.com. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A member of a Union County schools Parent-Teacher Organization was arrested this week after being charged with embezzling from the organization. According to the Union County Sheriffs Office, investigators say they received reports of suspicious financial transactions involving accounts belonging to the Piedmont Middle School PTO. The accounts were reportedly linked to the PTOs treasurer, 52-year-old Michelle Thomas of Peachland. Man runs on Wingate University baseball field after injuring himself with his gun, officials say Detectives determined that Thomas took more than $1,500 from the account over the past several months and used it for personal gain, for non-essential purchases. She was processed into the Union County Detention Center and received an unsecured bond of $1,500. This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information on the case is asked to call 704-283-3789, or Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Florida Senate chamber. March 30, 2023. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix The 2024 legislative session saw approval of divisive education-related laws, several of which take effect Monday. Read our partial run-down on what will change in Sunshine State schools in the new fiscal year: HB 931: Volunteer school chaplains Despite queasiness on this score in other GOP-controlled states, a Florida law implementing volunteer chaplains in schools will take effect Monday. The law has generated concern regarding the qualifications required of chaplains and separation of church and state. Volunteer chaplains must pass a background check the law specifies no other qualifications. Applicants must submit their name and religious affiliation to the school for public disclosure. Members of the Satanic Temple have indicated they would participate in the program, the prospect of which stalled the program in some states but not Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a bill signing in April, You dont have to worry about satanists participating in the chaplain program because that is not a religion. That is not qualified to be able to participate in this. The group claims to be recognized by the IRS as a church. The bill faced pushback on ground of religious indoctrination from the ACLU, Interfaith Alliance, and National Education Association. HB 1291: Prohibits identity politics in teacher prep programs Teacher preparation programs in Florida, effective Monday, may not include instruction on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. A sponsor of the bill, Rep. Berny Jacques, a Republican from Pinellas County, said the law allows the government to take out the trash once and for all, arguing that diversity, equity, and inclusion; critical race theory; and all of that stuff is simply trash. DeSantis said of teacher preparation programs, Theres not going to be any of the bogus history. Its just going to be standard teacher preparation without having an ideological agenda. Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar said the bill takes valuable tools away from educators and will deprive students of critical life skills. HB 49: Lessening child labor restrictions Minors aged 16 and 17 will be allowed to work more than six consecutive days in a week, effective Monday. The new law allows them to work more than 8 hours on holidays and weekends, and allows parents or a school superintendent to permit them to work more than 30 hours per week when school is in session. The work restrictions do not apply to those who are home schooled or attend virtual school. DeSantis signed the bill into law in March, notifying the public via a news release announcing 25 total bill signings. HB 1403: Expansion of school choice programs Monday marks an increased number of school choice scholarships available to Florida families. The law increases Family Empowerment Unique Ability voucher availability to 72,615 students with unique abilities an increase of approximately 32,000 students. Deadlines for payments by scholarship funding organizations and the Department of Education to voucher recipients are codified under this law, which allows no more than a week for tuition and fee payments to be rendered after their approval. The law combines Hope Scholarship vouchers and Florida Tax Credit vouchers and expands scholarship programs to dependent children of active-duty military members who have permanent change-of-station orders to Florida. Additionally, scholarship funding organizations are required to submit an annual list of items by Aug. 1 this year and each July 1 in the years following that are prohibited to be purchased with vouchers. In the most recent year, tickets to amusement parks, TVs, paddle boards, and more were eligible for purchase for families who home-schooled children. The measure passed the Senate unanimously and had bipartisan support in the House. HB 1473: School safety Schools have until Aug. 1 to comply with a law that takes effect Monday mandating that all entry points and classroom doors in public schools must be locked when students are on campus, unless guarded by a staff member. Failure to comply would subject staff members to discipline including mandatory training in safety requirements. The law replaces a 12-hour diversity-training requirement with training in de-escalating incidents. The measure passed both chambers with unanimous support. SB 1264: History of communism With Democrats divided, the Legislature voted to expand instruction in the history of communism. The law creates an Institute for Freedom in the Americas at Miami-Dade College to preserve the ideals of a free society and promote democracy in the Americas and renames the Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom at Florida International University to the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom. The law requires that students, starting in 2026, be taught about communism as soon as kindergarten. Previously, communism curricula did not begin until seventh grade in Florida public schools. DeSantis said while signing the bill that the number of leftist governments in the Western Hemisphere is higher today than during the Cold War. He blamed apologists for communism in our society for the necessity of the law. The Florida Department of Education is responsible for crafting the curricula, which must include the atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of communism. The law states that the department may seek input from victims of communism or any state or nationally recognized organization dedicated to the victims of communism. Other laws going into effect Monday HB 1285: Limits challenges by nonparents to one book per month under the 2022 law that allows parents the ability to object to books available in school libraries and classrooms. HB 1329: In addition to expanded employment outreach for veterans, this law requires middle schools and high schools to hold 45-minutes of instructional time about Veterans Day and Memorial Day near those holidays. HB 883: A law authorizing trained staff to use short-acting bronchodilators and schools to buy inhaler devices. SB 7002: Enables districts to publish notices regarding intentions to adopt budgets meeting schedules on school board websites instead of in newspapers and increases teacher recruitment efforts. SB 7032: A law to re-engage students who have dropped out of high school by providing them with career education courses; waives tuition within the Florida College System for dropouts who take these courses. Vetoes Two of the 13 bills DeSantis has vetoed so far have been education related: SB 62: Would have provided in-state tuition for those serving time in state or federal prisons but was vetoed by the governor on Tuesday. DeSantis defended the veto, saying, We should not reward criminal activity by providing inmates with the same benefits as law-abiding citizens. SB 494: Would have waived the Graduate Record Examination and the Graduate Management Admission Test for people who have served in the military and who seek acceptance into graduate programs. DeSantis said the tests are necessary but that the motivation for the legislation was laudable. It is not clear that waiving these tests will be beneficial to our institutions or even, in many cases, to the students themselves. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the country to resume production of short and intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles on June 28, in response to what Putin says is the United States deploying mid-range missiles around the world. "We need to start production of 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 during a meeting of Russia's Security Council. In 2019, the United States reversed course on the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that it had signed with Russia, after the U.S. accused Russia of noncompliance with the treaty. Russian was first accused of noncompliance in 2014, around the time when the country illegally annexed Crimea. In April 2024, the United States deployed Mid-Range Capability (MRC) to the Philippines as part of "bilateral training and readiness." "Today, it is known that the United States not only produces these missile systems, but has already brought them to Europe for exercises, to Denmark. Quite recently, it was announced that they are in the Philippines," Putin said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously threatened to deploy weaponry within striking distance of the United States and Western allies. On June 5, Moscow said it could supply advanced weapons to certain regions to enable strikes against "sensitive" Western targets as a response if Ukraine strikes Russia with Western arms. Putin has also repeatedly made nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The threats have failed to materialize, and Russia continues to wage its all-out war without its nuclear arsenal. Read also: Updated: US to announce $150 million military aid package to Ukraine, including air defense missiles, Reuters reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has started talking about resuming production of medium- and short-range missiles. ISW analysts said that in this way, he is trying to influence the West's decisions, especially at key moments of political discussions about military assistance to Ukraine. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: On 28 June, Russian leader Vladimir Putin directed the commencement of production and deployment of short- and intermediate-range nuclear missiles. This decision follows the United States' exit from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. The ISW noted that this move is likely part of the Kremlin's reflexive control strategy, designed to influence Western decision-making in Russia's favour. At a Russian Security Council meeting, Putin emphasised that Russia had adhered to the INF Treaty's restrictions on ground-launched intermediate-range missiles until the United States supposedly violated these terms. He now argues that Russia must also produce and deploy such missile systems. The US suspended its involvement in the INF Treaty on 1 February 2019 and officially withdrew on 2 August 2019, citing Russia's breaches related to the development, testing, and deployment of intermediate-range missiles. In response, Russia suspended its participation on 2 February 2019. Putin highlighted two specific US military exercises in 2024: one with the Philippines in Northern Luzon on 11 April, and another with Denmark near Bornholm on 3-5 May. These exercises featured the Typhoon medium-range missile launcher, with which the US states can deploy SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles. The SM-6 has a range of up to 370 kilometres, while the Tomahawk can reach approximately 2,500 kilometres. However, US officials did not confirm which missiles, if any, were used in these exercises. It appears that Putin is using these exercises as a justification for his broader strategy of reflexive control, aimed at disrupting Western military assistance to Ukraine. The exercises involved launchers capable of deploying missiles that could pose various threats to Russia from the exercise locations. For instance, Bornholm Island is about 300 kilometres from Russias Kaliningrad Oblast and roughly 1,400 kilometres from Moscow. The US Sixth Fleet clarified that the Bornholm exercise involved transporting a Typhoon launcher from land to shore as part of convoy defence training, suggesting shorter-range weapons were likely used. Northern Luzon, the closest area of the Philippines to Russia's southwest of Vladivostok, is approximately 2,800 kilometres away, beyond the range of Tomahawk missiles. Putin's remarks came after China's delayed condemnation of the US drills in Northern Luzon on 30 May. He likely referenced the Philippine exercises to bolster his position with China, North Korea, and Vietnam, as he seeks to forge a coalition of states in support of a new "Eurasian security architecture." To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 28 June: Russian leader Vladimir Putin directed on 28 June the production and deployment of nuclear-capable short- and intermediate-range missiles following the American withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty in 2019, likely as part of the Kremlin's ongoing reflexive control campaign to influence Western decision making in Russia's favour. Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an oil depot in Russia on 28 June and reportedly struck a microelectronics plant and a military unit on the night of 27-28 June. The Ukrainian Armed Forces Centre for Strategic Communications (StratCom) reported on 28 June that Ukrainian forces have damaged or destroyed more than 30 Russian military aircraft in the first six months of 2024, although ISW cannot confirm this report fully. Many Russian elites have reportedly shifted from criticising Russia's war effort in Ukraine to supporting it because they assess that Russia is prevailing. Russian officials called for harsher punishments in Russia's criminal system, likely in response to the recent terrorist attacks in Dagestan. Russia may be creating a shadow fleet to transport Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) and circumvent Western sanctions. Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions near Vovchansk and Kreminna, and Russian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar. Russian opposition outlet Vazhnye Istorii used Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) data to estimate that over 71,000 Russian men were killed in the war in Ukraine in 2022 and 2023. Support UP or become our patron! QUEENS (PIX11) The pain for the family of Jael and Leslie Zhinin is immeasurable. The grandmother tells PIX11 News in Spanish that she cannot grasp that her beloved 16-year-old Jael is dead. The two sisters were struck by a box truck Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of 47th Avenue and 46th Street in Sunnyside when they were walking home from the last day of school. 8-year-old Leslie remains hospitalized. More Local News At a vigil Friday evening, family and friends were not only dropping off flowers and lighting candles in her memory. But also demanding justice and that the 28-year-old truck driver takes responsibility. Police say he has not been charged, and the investigation remains ongoing. You see on the video he never slowed down, never slowed down. You didnt see it, you didnt feel it, you see in the video that the driver go in like a bump, and thats exactly where she was. You are not gonna tell me you didnt see it. You did not feel it, said John Tacuri, cousin of Jael and Leslie The dad tells PIX11 News that he has no tears left and that his family has been ripped apart. They are now arranging a funeral for Jael and dealing with her little sister being traumatized from that horrible afternoon. She cared about all of us. She had her dreams, she know exactly what she wanted at 16 years-old. Stated Tacuri. The family said they hope Leslie will be released from the hospital soon. On the other hand, the funeral service for Jael will be held this Sunday from 4-9 pm at the Rivera Funeral Home in Corona, Queens. Humble, with a big heart, stated Jason Zhinin when asked about how he wants his sister to be remembered. He added that she wanted to become a flight attendant because she wanted to travel to many places. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) After a slightly more active year for tularemia cases, or rabbit fever, in Colorado last year, Boulder County said it identified a dead rabbit with the disease this year. The rabbit was found west of 95th Street near Phillips Road in a part of unincorporated Boulder County. Health officials will post warning signs throughout the neighborhood on the risks of tularemia. Xcel Energy proposes rate hikes, power shutoffs in $1.9B Wildfire Mitigation Plan Its always important to avoid contact with wild animals because of the risk of many diseases, said Lane Drager, Boulder County Public Health Consumer Protection Program coordinator, in a county announcement. Although tularemia is rare, it is still a risk, especially considering the number of wild rabbits in our communities. Last year there were four human cases of tularemia in Boulder County and 11 total in Colorado. According to the Boulder County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control, there are several ways humans can be infected, including: Tick and deer fly bites Skin contact with infected animals Drinking contaminated water Inhaling aerosols In the past 13 years, Colorado has seen an average of 5.8 human tularemia cases, although thats disregarding 2015 when the state reported 52 cases. The Boulder County Health Department said that infections can spread through bites of infected insects, or when the bacteria is inhaled, such as when an infected carcass is mowed over. Tularemias symptoms can include: Skin ulcers Swollen and painful lymph glands Inflamed eyes Sore throat Mouth sores Diarrhea Pneumonia Abrupt onset of: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, difficulty breathing, bloody sputum (throat mucus) and respiratory failure CDC: 14 cases of dengue fever reported in Colorado Tularemia is treatable when detected in the early stages, the Boulder agency shared. However, they also suggested several precautions, including: Stay out of areas inhabited by wild rodents, including rabbits if you must enter such an area, wear insect repellent with DEET Prevent pets from hunting and eating wild rodents Prevent contact with wild rodents Never touch sick or dead animals with bare hands Dont mow over animal carcasses and consider wearing a dust mask for landscaping work Do not drink unpurified water, and keep your pets from doing that, too Avoid ticks the best protection for pets is to keep them inside or out of heavily wooded areas Should you become ill with a high fever or swollen lymph nodes, seek medical attention. Seek veterinarian treatment if your pet exhibits a high fever or swollen lymph nodes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ugh. President Joe Bidens performance on Thursday night was far more painful than his supporters maybe anyone could have imagined. He was more energized at a Friday campaign rally, where he acknowledged his poor performance the previous night: I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, he told the appreciative crowd in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was like a different person, one Biden voter told me. It may have been a comeback, but its the debate that will be remembered. It left an indelible impression that will be hard, maybe impossible, to overcome, especially for uncommitted voters. Opinion Some are calling it the worst debate performance of modern times. Equally disturbing, to the point of being surreal, are the initial nothing-to-see-here, post-debate assessments by Biden and other top Democrats. He got into a groove where it counted. Our president showed that he will win the election, Vice President Kamala Harris said. I thought on the substance he won the debate, California Gov. Gavin Newsom told MSNBC. I was very, very proud that he was able to articulate the work that hes done, and lay a foundation of understanding of the lies and the deceit that continue to come out of Donald Trump. And this from the president himself: I think we did well, he said during a stop at a Waffle House. He blamed his raspy voice on a sore throat, and brushed off suggestions that he drop out of the race. Sadly, a sore throat does not explain away Bidens incoherent responses. Neither does a stutter. Lest we forget, here is just one of those babbling, disjointed statements, this one made in response to a question about abortion rights. Look, theres so many young women who have been including a young woman who just was murdered and he he went to the funeral. The idea that she was murdered by a by by an immigrant coming in, and they talk about that. But heres the deal, theres a lot of young women who are being raped by their by their in-laws, by their by their spouses, brothers and sisters, by just its just its just ridiculous. And they can do nothing about it. This, after days of prepping for the debate at Camp David. Neither candidate is fit to be president Trump, on the other hand, did not disappoint. He was his usual brash, lying, awful, egomaniacal self. He even promised to end the war in Ukraine before he takes office. I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. Ill have that war settled, he vowed. People being killed so needlessly, so stupidly, and I will get it settled and Ill get it settled fast before I take office. Donald Trump a convicted felon, mind you is not fit to be president. But sadly, neither is Joe Biden, and its time for Democrats to read the room and acknowledge that. Stop making excuses for him, or exhorting voters to go home with the one who brought you to the dance, as Gov. Newsom put it. Pointing out that Biden surrounds himself with smart, capable people wont work either. People are electing a president not his advisers and they want a strong leader. They do not see one in Joe Biden. And no, this is not based on his performance on a single night. There have been questions about the presidents fitness for many months. Why else would Democrats have been so worried going into the debate? Calls for Biden to withdraw Even those who admire him are reluctantly calling for him to drop out of the race. The best president of my adult life needs to withdraw, is the headline on a New York Times piece by Nobel prize winning columnist Paul Krugman. Maybe some Biden loyalists will consider this a betrayal, given how much I have supported his policies, Krugman writes, but I fear that we need to recognize reality. The New York Times Editorial Board also urged Biden to drop out of the race. To make a call for a new Democratic nominee this late in a campaign is a decision not taken lightly, the editorial says, but it reflects the scale and seriousness of Mr. Trumps challenge to the values and institutions of this country and the inadequacy of Mr. Biden to confront him. Here is the reality we face: Biden was already behind in the polls. Following his debate performance, he likely to sink even lower. Unless something radical happens to change the trajectory of this campaign, he will lose. The only question is, by how much? I may be wrong. I hope I am. There are, after four months until the election, and one more debate to go. But given what happened Thursday, many Americans have legitimate questions about whether this 81-year-old man has the physical and mental stamina to carry out the duties of the presidency for four more years. In short, they have lost confidence in the president. Reminding them of Trumps egregious record, both in and out of office, is not going to change that. Would a replacement candidate have the ability to beat Donald Trump? Maybe not. But again, read the room. A replacement candidate would at least give Democrats a fighting chance. Workers secure a blue tarp on a house in Selma, Ala., in January 2023, after a tornado passed through the area. Disasters driven by climate change have wreaked havoc on insurance companies and homeowners. To address the problem, Alabama pioneered a solution thats taking hold in other states: paying for residents to upgrade their roofs. (Stew Milne/The Associated Press) When Hurricane Sally struck coastal Alabama in 2020, many residents saw the roofs torn from their homes or damaged by the high winds. But not Matt Fetner. Every house around had blue tarps on it, except for mine, said the resident of Orange Beach, a small city on the Gulf Coast. Just a few years before, Fetner had upgraded his roof with materials designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. The new roof met a standard known as Fortified by using specialized nails and shingles, stronger edges and a sealed roof deck. Fetners roof was paid for by the state of Alabama, which has spent millions of dollars in recent years to help thousands of residents strengthen their homes. The state has invested that money in hopes of staving off a home insurance crisis, as property insurers have pulled out of some regions of the country or dramatically raised premiums in the wake of escalating disasters driven by climate change. The idea is simple: Homeowners with stronger roofs pay less for their insurance premiums. And over time, as thousands of homes become more resilient, insurance companies will have to pay out less for claims, making Alabama a more attractive place to do business. A lot of these insurance companies were not going into coastal areas, simply from a risk standpoint, said Travis Taylor, acting director of the Strengthen Alabama Homes program, which is overseen by the state Department of Insurance. But now as people have gotten Fortified roofs, the insurance companies are hounding them. Other states have taken notice. In recent years, lawmakers in at least five other states have established similar programs to pay for Fortified roofs. While those efforts are still in their early stages, leaders say they hope to replicate Alabamas success. Alabamas grant program has helped more than 7,000 residents upgrade their roofs. Meanwhile, as participating roofers and contractors have gotten familiar with the standard, theyve begun offering it as a part of their regular business. Of the 60,000 certified Fortified homes nationwide, 50,000 are in Alabama. Every year, the interest keeps growing, said Brent Sellers, a contractor with Alliance Roofing, which operates in Alabama and Mississippi. [Grant] program or not, people want Fortified roofs. Fortified roofs meet a standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, an industry nonprofit that serves as a leader in safety research. Some local governments have adopted building codes based on that standard, and Alabamas program uses the institutes qualification. While state leaders say theyre still collecting data on insurance premiums, some industry leaders say the program is clearly working. There is sufficient resilience now in Alabama that the insurance market is far healthier than the insurance market in neighboring states, said Michael Newman, general counsel with the institute. Serious about resiliency Since Alabama issued its first grant in 2016, the state has doled out more than $70 million to cover roof projects on almost 7,100 homes. Residents are entitled to up to $10,000 per project, issued on a first-come, first-served basis. State officials award the funding directly to contractors who bid on the work. The larger success story, state leaders say, is that more than 40,000 homeowners have installed a Fortified roof without state funding. The change has come as Alabamas coastal counties have updated their building codes to require such roofs on new construction. The builders in Alabama, once they learn how to do the Fortified thing, they really like it, said Lars Powell, executive director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research at the University of Alabama. The Fortified construction movement will be remembered as a very important thing that allowed people to continue to live on the coast without being super-wealthy. Powells research has found that Fortified homes sell for 7% more on average, and owners are far more likely to secure insurance coverage from major carriers. Alabama also mandates that insurers provide discounts of 20% to 60% on wind coverage for Fortified homes, depending on the level of the upgrades. Meanwhile, other states have seen insurance companies leave the market, drop high-risk customers or raise premiums drastically. Experts note climate change is causing more frequent and severe disasters, forcing insurers to adjust as they pay out more and more for claims. Louisianas insurance market has been particularly hard hit, following devastating hurricane seasons in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the state launched the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, modeled on Alabamas, that also offers $10,000 grants. This program is part of our pitch to insurance companies that Louisiana is serious about resiliency, said John Ford, deputy commissioner of the public affairs division of the Louisiana Department of Insurance. The legislature set aside $30 million last year in the programs first round of funding, and lawmakers put in another $15 million this year. In total, state officials say that should cover about 4,500 roofs. The agency has issued 900 grants so far. This year, Louisiana lawmakers passed a measure that will task state regulators with calculating the insurance discounts that Fortified homeowners should receive. Inland areas join the effort While hurricanes on the coast have gotten more attention, Midwestern states have been hit with severe hailstorms, windstorms and tornadoes that have driven up insurance costs. Minnesota lawmakers established a home resilience grant program last year to deal with the crisis. Prevention is a lot cheaper than actually paying for storm damage, said Julia Dreier, deputy commissioner for the Insurance Division of Minnesotas Commerce Department. The hope is that we can prevent the need for insurance payouts. Agency officials are still setting up the program, which has not yet issued grants. Regulators expect the funding for the initial round of grants to be included in next years state budget. But insurance companies have already begun planning to offer discounts to residents who upgrade their roofs. Prevention is a lot cheaper than actually paying for storm damage. The hope is that we can prevent the need for insurance payouts. Julia Dreier, deputy commissioner for the Insurance Division of Minnesotas Commerce Department In Oklahoma, a state that already ranks among the most expensive for home insurance, more than 100 tornadoes have touched down this year. Earlier this year, lawmakers enacted a grant program for Fortified homes similar to the ones other states have adopted. We are hoping to see a lot of the same great results that Alabama has seen not only homeowners seeing premium discounts, but over time lower claim exposure [for insurers], said Ashley Scott, government and community affairs director with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Once its up and running, state leaders expect the program to offer about $10 million a year in grants. The agency expects to start issuing funds next year. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Kentucky and South Carolina have established similar programs, also administered by state insurance regulators. And Mississippi set aside $5 million for a program to help residents shore up their homes, including roof upgrades. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, which created the Fortified standard, expects to see a boom in resilient roof construction as more states promote such upgrades. We cant do a lot in the short term about rising risk from severe weather, said Newman, the groups general counsel. But this particular home can be made more durable, can be made more resilient. 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 A red state pioneers paying for roof upgrades as storms boost insurance costs appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) More than a year and a half after an illegal lab was discovered in Reedley, the operator is suing the city of Reedley. The City of Reedley was handed a lawsuit against them and the FDA by David He, also known as Jia Bei Zhu. However, the Reedley city manager said they are confident the city will be able to defend itself successfully. Illegal Reedley Lab: YourCentralValley.coms complete coverage The lawsuit was not unexpected for us because roughly six months ago, he had filed a claim against the city that the council denied him public session, and that claim was for $50 million, Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba said. David He has sued the city of Reedley and the FDA. The lawsuit claims we violated his constitutional rights, seized his property, and destroyed his assets including his valuable mice, his diseases and his viruses, his business equipment, his business records, Zieba said. He was indicted in November 2023 for running an illegal lab. He was charged with distributing adulterated and misbranded medical devices, like pregnancy and covid tests, and for making false statements to the FDA. Zieba says some of Hes claims are not true. By the way, the business records are not destroyed. We have them under lock and key until the state makes a move on this case. So we were not surprised by it, we were not shocked by it and we intend to vigorously defend the city, Zieba said. Zieba says the city is taking a methodical approach to this lawsuit. We wanted to make sure we had all our ducks in a row, we did things legally. Everything we did, including inspections including destruction, we did with court warrants, court orders, Zieba said. As for the illegal lab in Reedley, that structure is still standing and vacant. However, there are still COVID-19 tests and other hazardous materials inside that are waiting to be destroyed. Right now were still waiting for the state to come in and destroy the embargoed test kits, the pregnancy test kits, and the COVID test kits. So right now, 850 I Street is still sealed up, Zieba said. Zieba also says that all of the citys requests for warrants and court-ordered destruction are publicly filed with the Fresno Superior Court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Colorados 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office has completed its review of the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Jan. 27 in Fountain. Their decision was that physical force was justified. In compliance with the Colorado Revised Statute 16-2.5-30 peace officer-involved shooting investigations protocol, all officer-involved shootings that result in injury or death must be reviewed by a multi-agency team. The late January incident involved several officers with the El Paso County Sheriff's Department and the Fountain Police Department. In the early hours of Jan. 27, the District Attorney's Office reports, officers saw 51-year-old Christopher Fraijo "walking suspiciously" and carrying a rifle. After confrontation and a request put down the weapon, Fraijo did not comply, but did tell officers the weapon was a BB gun. Later investigation showed Fraijo was honest, and the weapon was, in fact, a BB gun. El Paso County Sheriffs Deputy Cameron Komrofske, who has experience on the SWAT team, said he thought Fraijos weapon was a semi-automatic rifle, which can hold 30 rounds of ammunition. Featured Local Savings After some back and forth, Fraijo raised the weapon and aimed it at the officers. Officers then discharged their firearms, fatally hitting Fraijo, the report says. Fraijo was pronounced dead at a local hospital. According to the use-of-force report, medical examiners concluded Fraijo died of 15 gunshot wounds. Toxicology results indicated his blood contained amphetamine and methamphetamine. The review concludes officers initially engaged in citizen contact with Fraijo and asked him multiple times to put down his gun. No force was employed to arrest him, the report says. According to the report, officers claimed they believed imminent danger existed both to them and to the public. Multiple officers expressed that the suspect was threatening deadly force when he raised the weapon. Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) casts his ballot during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and conservative hardliner Saeed Jalili will go to a run-off vote in Iran's presidential election, the country's electoral authority said on Saturday. Pezeshkian received around 42.5% of the vote and Jalili followed at 38.7%. There were two other candidates in the race. As none achieved an absolute majority, the run-off will take place on July 5. Some 61 million voters in Iran were eligible to elect a successor to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi on Friday, after he died in a helicopter crash in May. Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) waves to the media before casting his vote during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) leaves after casting his vote during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and conservative hardliner Saeed Jalili will go to a run-off in Iran's presidential election next week, after record low turnout in the first round. Pezeshkian received 42.5% of the vote and Jalili followed at 38.7%. As neither achieved an absolute majority, the run-off will take place on July 5, the country's electoral authority said. There were two other candidates in the race: current parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf garnered nearly 14% of the vote while cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi got less than 1%. Some 61 million voters in Iran were eligible to elect a successor to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi on Friday, after he died in a helicopter crash in May. Out of a total of 80 candidates, the Guardian Council, a powerful Islamic supervisory body that vets the hopefuls, had only authorized six candidates for the election. Two of six later withdrew, leaving three conservatives and the one moderate, Pezeshkian. Jalili is a loyal supporter of the leaders at the top of the Islamic Republic's system of power. The electoral authorities counted a total of just over 24 million votes cast on Friday. That puts turnout at a historically low 40%. In the last presidential election in 2021, it was around 49%. The polling stations were scheduled to close at 6 pm on Friday, but the authorities then extended voting until midnight to allow more people to take part. The election comes amid a severe economic crisis, as well as tensions with the West and regional powers in the Middle East. Frustration among the public with the enforcement of state authority, especially among the younger population, is running high. Many Iranians, especially young people, have however lost faith in the possibility of seeing major political change at home. The death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in autumn 2022 sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic system of rule, but the protests were quashed with harsh punishments for demonstrators. The president is only number two in Iran's power structure as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali 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. Deadly attack on election vehicle Unknown assailants attacked a vehicle belonging to election workers in south-eastern Iran late Friday, killing two security personnel. The incident took place in Sistan and Baluchestan Province as ballots were being transported to the city of Rask. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Sunni militant separatist group Jaish al-Adl is active in the province and have stepped up their attacks in the area. Both Iran and the United States classify Jaish al-Adl as a terrorist organization. Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) casts his ballot during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) waves to the media before casting his vote during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) leaves after casting his vote during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and conservative hardliner Saeed Jalili will go to a run-off in Iran's presidential election next week, after record low turnout in the first round. Pezeshkian received 42.5% of the vote and Jalili followed at 38.7%. As neither achieved an absolute majority, the run-off will take place on July 5, the country's electoral authority said. There were two other candidates in the race: current parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf garnered nearly 14% of the vote while cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi got less than 1%. Some 61 million voters in Iran were eligible to elect a successor to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi on Friday, after he died in a helicopter crash in May. Out of a total of 80 candidates, the Guardian Council, a powerful Islamic supervisory body that vets the hopefuls, had only authorized six candidates for the election. Two of six later withdrew, leaving three conservatives and the one more moderate candidate, Pezeshkian. Jalili is a loyal supporter of the leaders at the top of the Islamic Republic's system of power. After the results were announced, Ghalibaf pledged his support to Jalili. In a statement published by state news agency IRNA, he asked his backers to help prevent Pezeshkian coming to power. The electoral authorities counted a total of 25.5 million votes cast on Friday. That puts turnout at around a historically low 40%. In the last presidential election in 2021, it was around 49%. The polling stations were scheduled to close at 6 pm on Friday, but the authorities then extended voting until midnight to allow more people to take part. Conservative reformer vs hardline insider Pezeshkian, 69, comes from north-west Iran and ran a low-key campaign calling for renewed trust between the government and Iranians, many of whom have become disillusioned with politics after failed attempts at reform, political repression and an economic crisis. In the early 1990s, Pezeshkian lost his wife and one of his sons in a road accident. He often appeared at his campaign rallies with his daughter and grandchild. In the TV debates, he described himself as a conservative politician who believes reforms are necessary. Like many politicians from the reformist camp, Pezeshkian has called for improved in relations with the West. He criticized Iran's strict headscarf requirements for women and campaigned for votes with middle-class positions. At the same time, Pezeshkian expressed his loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the powerful Revolutionary Guards. He praised Iran's attack on Israel with drones and missiles. The second-placed Jalili was an early member of the inner circle of power and worked in the office of Khamenei. Under the controversial former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Jalili was chief negotiator in the nuclear negotiations. He enjoys broad support from radical and loyal supporters of the system. He holds a doctorate in political science and comes from the north-eastern city of Mashhad. During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, Jalili was wounded at the front and lost part of his right leg. After the war, he taught in the capital Tehran before embarking on a career in the Foreign Ministry. Jalili is considered a staunch supporter of the ideology of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Limited room for reforms A moderate president would have limited opportunities to shape the government, political scientist Tareq Sydiq from Marburg University in Germany told dpa. "With a parliament dominated by hardliners, with a supreme religious leader who has repeatedly signalled that too moderate a policy is not really desirable - I wouldn't expect much room for manoeuvre," explains the Iran expert. That has contributed to the low interest in the election among Iranian voters, Sydiq said, since a moderate president is unlikely to be able to fulfil his election promises. Enthusiasm for elections has been low for years, he said, citing the disastrous record of previous governments, coupled with protests and their violent repression. The mood is mainly characterised by "disillusionment and hopelessness," Sydiq said. Economic crisis top issue The election comes amid a severe economic crisis, as well as tensions with the West and regional powers in the Middle East. Frustration among the public with the enforcement of state authority, especially among the younger population, is running high. During the election campaign, the candidates primarily debated ways to pull the country out of its economic troubles. Iran is subject to international sanctions due to its controversial nuclear programme and is largely cut off from the global financial system, but is in need of billions of dollars in investment. Many Iranians, especially young people, have however lost faith in the possibility of seeing major political change at home. Some activists, student organizations and the imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize-winner Narges Mohammadi had called for a boycott before the election. The death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in autumn 2022 sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic system of rule, but the protests were quashed with harsh punishments for demonstrators. The president is only number two in Iran's power structure as Supreme Leader 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. Deadly attack on election vehicle Unknown assailants attacked a vehicle belonging to election workers in south-eastern Iran late Friday, killing two security personnel. The incident took place in Sistan and Baluchestan Province as ballots were being transported to the city of Rask. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Sunni militant separatist group Jaish al-Adl is active in the province and have stepped up their attacks in the area. Both Iran and the United States classify Jaish al-Adl as a terrorist organization. Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) casts his ballot during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Iranian presidential reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian (C) waves to the media before casting his vote during Iran's 2024 early presidential elections at Firouzabadi Hospital polling station in Shahre Ray, southern Tehran. Following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi, Iranians vote on June 28 to choose a new president. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to participate in the election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa The religious underpinnings of one of Americas most sacred concepts, private property A home that's for sale by owner (Photo via Flickr | CC-BY-SA 2.0). Newsflash: Property law in the U.S. is not rooted in the Constitution. Americas legal foundation for property law (possession), anti-Indian law, and the concept of nation-states is religious, not secular. Where did this deep sense of entitlement, hierarchy and dominion over unknown lands and its original sovereign peoples originate? How was this wilderness continent, upon which its people depended for millennia for survival, end up being converted into real estate by a bunch of European Christian princes and pirates? Most people who own real estate, work and live on this settler-colonized land we now call America, cannot answer the question. So, how can we discern a proper answer? U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, the fourth, and longest-serving chief justice (1801-1835), told us so more than 200 years ago. The Doctrine of Christian Discovery originated in Europe in the 15th Century and is melded into the U.S. Supreme Courts precedent case, Johnson vs. McIntosh (1823). Careful decoding of the imaginative legal language in this seminal U.S. Supreme Court case reveals the fascinating history that informs present legal thinking and how we arrived at this place and time. To grasp a deeper comprehension of how the age-old doctrines of settler-colonialism, religious discrimination and wars of conquest influence our lives today, Steven T. Newcombs book Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery (2007) is essential reading. Old Testament stories provide the underpinnings, retold in the Roman Churchs 15th Century papal bulls. Centuries later, these Vatican policy documents helped to legitimize the conceptual source of U.S. government legal doctrine that persists today to define nation-states, property, and anti-Indian law. Legal precedents written in the early 19th Century remain hidden under opaque strata of human imagination, cultural conditioning and consciousness. In 1493, the bull Inter Caetera, issued by Pope Alexander VI, granted the monarchs of Spain ownership of roughly half the discovered world. Representatives contracted by Spanish and Portuguese monarchs exploited that official church license to claim discovered lands, with extensive state military backing to guarantee success. English Royals crafted their own (legal) rights of imagined ownership, certified by its homegrown Anglican form of civilized Christianity. In 1578, Sir Humphrey Gilbert was granted a charter from the Crown authorizing him to discover and take possession of such remote, heathen, and barbarous lands, as were not actually possessed by any Christian prince or people Decades later, the Crown granted others charters to conquer, loot and plunder unclaimed territory in the New World. Comprehending the relationship between settler-colonialism, Old Testament stories, European monarchs and the Vaticans holy decrees is essential to understanding the chaos and war in the world today. What is most important to understand is how the Doctrine of Christian Discovery impacts our world, here and now. This 500-year-old religious dogma is still being used. In the 21st century the U.S. Supreme Court continues to rationalize the dominion and chosen people dogma and mindset of the Old Testament and 15th century Christendom. Property: The exclusive right of possessing, enjoying and disposing of a thing; ownership. In the beginning of the world, the Creator gave to man dominion over the earth, over the fish of the sea and the fowls of the air, and over every living thing. This is the foundation of mans property in the earth Prior occupancy of land and of wild animals gives to the possessor the property of them, according to an 1828 Websters dictionary. This is the pathology of the hierarchical dominating mentality that moves all settler-colonizer societies. Their god was on their side. Where have we heard that lately? Enough of this nonsense. Steve Kelly is an artist, gardener and environmental activist who lives in Bozeman, Montana. The post The religious underpinnings of one of Americas most sacred concepts, private property appeared first on Daily Montanan. Real estate brokers push back against the proposed bill in New York on 12 June 2024. Real estate brokers push back against the proposed bill in New York on 12 June 2024. Photograph: Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit A row is brewing in New York City between renters and real estate brokers, over who pays the thousands of dollars in fees when an apartment is rented. On 12 June, lawmakers in New York met to discuss the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses act (Fare act), which would require the person who hires the broker to pay the broker fee. It prompted an unlikely protest: hundreds of brokers from some of the biggest housing companies in the US taking to the streets to argue against a bill that would mean renters no longer pay thousands of dollars in fees. New York City is one of the few cities in the US where tenants can be forced to pay broker fees which are typically 15% of annual rent despite a landlord having hired the broker. Related: Must love dogs and rude roommates: the scramble to get around New Yorks Airbnb crackdown Amid a housing crisis that has seen rent increase amid a lack of available affordable housing, it means people finding new rental accommodation can expect to spend thousands. In other US cities, if landlords hire a broker to find a tenant for a home, the landlord pays the broker for that service. Not so in New York, where the median rent in Manhattan in May was $4,250, according to a report by real estate company Douglas Elliman. That means that for a typical New York apartment, a renter could expect to pay a $7,650 fee to a broker they never hired and, in many cases, had never met until the broker showed them their apartment. New York is facing a pretty historic homelessness crisis, housing costs are through the roof and homelessness is through the roof, said Cea Weaver, coalition director at Housing Justice for All, a tenant advocacy organization. Because of brokers fees, you might be able to pay your rent, you might have rental assistance thats going to help you pay your rent, but you cant find any way to use it because theres a prohibitive $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 fee on top of the already very high moving costs. Weaver added that the fees could contribute to the homelessness crisis. Its a very huge barrier to actually exiting shelter for low-income and working-class New Yorkers who are already just struggling to make ends meet. The pro-broker protest earlier this month saw realtors from Corcoran, described by Fortune as a $20 billion real estate empire, and Douglas Elliman, a real estate company valued at $100m, gather outside City Hall. Everyone in attendance was gathered to object to a New York City Council bill that would save tenants from having to pay fees to real estate brokers who were hired by landlords ie, brokers that tenants did not hire, Salon reported. In other words, it was a rally for keeping the fees on the backs of tenants. Chi Osse, a city council member who represents parts of the Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, introduced the Fare act in June 2023, and was present at the 12 June hearing. People cant afford their rent and people certainly cant afford an additional $2,000, $3,000 to a broker they never hired, Osse told a crowd that supported the Fare act, the Brooklyn Paper reported. More than two-thirds of New Yorkers rent their homes, and the real estate lobby has claimed that, if enacted, landlords would increase rent to cover the cost of having to pay their own broker fees. But in his opening statement at the hearing on 12 June, Osse argued otherwise. Rent is determined by market forces, not landlords, he said, according to the Brooklyn Paper. If a landlord could magically raise your rent by several thousands of dollars tomorrow, he would have done so yesterday. The broker fees targeted by the Fare act were previously banned in 2020, but after a lawsuit led by the Real Estate Board of New York (Rebny), they were reintroduced. Four years later, the organization, which is a regular donor to political campaigns, is similarly focused on keeping broker fees in place. The Fare act would result in higher rents and less housing access for New Yorkers, while jeopardizing the livelihood of hardworking agents, a spokesperson for Rebny said. The legislation would also do nothing to address New York Citys housing supply crisis, which has put increasing pressure on rents. For now, it looks like renters and tenant advocates could be preparing for victory. The Fare act has 33 supporters on the city council, the City reported, one away from a veto-proof majority. Osse and others are now waiting to see whether Julia Menin, the chair of the city councils committee on consumer and worker protection, who has not said whether or not she supports the bill, will bring it to a vote. Cea Weaver said the decision to take broker fees away from tenants should be straightforward. Its unique to New York. There are many, many, many other cities that regulate brokers fees. And the Fare act is pretty simple. Its just like: the landlords gonna hire someone whos providing them a service to market the unit, and put the unit on the marketplace, and therefore the landlord should pay it, she said. It would make a huge difference in giving renters some predictability and stability. Researchers issue warning after mass fish killings linked to toxic tire component: 'A chemical cocktail in these tires that is kept highly confidential' When you think about vehicle pollution, what comes to mind? Dirty exhaust fumes coming from the tailpipe? It might be time to start worrying more about what's coming off the tires. New research is raising the alarm about toxic chemicals and particles from tires that could be harming fish, wildlife, and human health. What's happening? Vehicle pollution has long been a major environmental concern, but new research suggests we need to pay more attention to what's coming off our tires, not just out of the tailpipe. In particular, a chemical called 6PPD, added to tires to make them last longer, is raising alarm bells with scientists, according to Phys.org. When tires wear down on roads, 6PPD is released and reacts with ozone to form another chemical, 6PPD-quinone. This substance has been linked to huge salmon die-offs in the Pacific Northwest. But that's not the only worry with tires they also contain heavy metals and release trillions of microplastic particles as they wear down. Why are toxic tires concerning? Here's the big issue: we don't really know what's in our tires. As Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics, put it, per Phys.org, "You've got a chemical cocktail in these tires that no one really understands and is kept highly confidential by the tire manufacturers. We struggle to think of another consumer product that is so prevalent in the world and used by virtually everyone, where there is so little known of what is in them." As these mysterious ingredients shed off tires and end up in our air and water, they could be harming our health. Tire particles may affect the heart, lungs, and reproductive organs and even cause cancer, especially for those living and working near busy roads. They are also a major source of microplastic pollution in our oceans. What's being done about toxic tires? The good news is that researchers and regulators are starting to take notice and action. California now requires manufacturers to look for alternatives to 6PPD. A group of 16 major tire companies has formed a consortium to analyze 6PPD alternatives and see if safer substitutes exist. Some Native American tribes have petitioned the EPA to ban 6PPD entirely to protect the salmon populations they depend on. The EPA says it is considering new rules on the chemical. While more research is still needed to unravel the full impact of the complex mix of chemicals in tires, the important thing is that this long-overlooked source of pollution is finally getting much-needed scrutiny, and solutions are starting to emerge. Tackling toxins in tires could be a key piece of the puzzle in detoxing our environment and protecting our health. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. GE's Appliance Park in Louisville in this undated photo. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the current number of employees and size of the GE Appliance Park campus. GE employs more than 8,000 workers on a 750-acre campus. On Saturday morning May 19, 1951, what do you think Louisville residents thought when they opened their Courier-Journal newspaper and saw this bold headline on the front page: G.E. Selects 700-Acre Site Near Buechel to Construct Multimillion-Dollar Plant, with a sub-headline: 16,000 Jobs Likely in 3 to 6 Years Most likely everyone was both surprised and happy to read about one of the metro regions most significant economic development projects in history. The General Electric Company, (and since 2016, the Haier Company), has employed thousands here since 1951. Today, the plant still manufactures its signature appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, and ranges. An impressive record as many other similar manufacturing factories have been closed and relocated outside the U.S. during the past 70 years. As with the readers of the Courier Journal on that historic morning, the news staff had many questions about this surprising announcement: The Front page of the Courier Journal on May 19, 1951, announcing the new GE plant in Louisville. Why Louisville? A major consideration in the choice of Louisville was its location on the Ohio River for steel shipments, and its location near the center of population and the center of distribution according to Clarence Linder, general manager of G.E.'s major-appliance division. Why Buechel? Several other sites were considered. The Okolona site would have required more earth-moving, and more expensive drainage. G.E. also inspected the Indiana Ordnance Works near Charlestown, but turned that down because utility rates and taxes were higher than at the Buechel site according to Linder. It was also noted that the (Buechel) area is fairly flat. Why is it called Appliance Park? It will be landscaped to give a parklike atmosphere. There will be extensive planting of trees and shrubbery. The power plant will be equipped with modern soot-reducing devices and chimneys especially designed to reduce smoke to a minimum. Appliance-manufacturing operations do not produce odors objectionable to the neighborhood. Linder explained as well as no finished jet engines will be built or tested, hence there will be no objectionable noise. Why jet engines? Jet engine parts were to be initially built here due to the Korean War that was underway then. However, by the time the plant became operational, the jet engine parts were no longer needed and therefore just appliances were manufactured from day one. Story continues Why rezoning? A zoning change approval is "the final step to be taken by the company to determine whether we can locate 'Appliance Park' in Louisville" per Linder. There were a total of 22 parcels of land that were zoned for residential that had to be rezoned for heavy industrial use. June 7, 1951, just three weeks after the announcement, the rezoning hearing was scheduled in what must be a record for this somewhat controversial process. 2000 aerial photo of GE Appliance Park. What did the nearby residents think? Also in the May 19, 1951 newspaper, Grady Clay interviewed several nearby residents: "It's the gold rush!" said a boy gazing at the afternoon newspaper. "Now we'll have to get a bigger fire engine," said a member of Buechel Volunteer Fire Department. "Where'll we get another place to live like this one?" mourned another housewife. "Things are gonna be a lot more crowded out here," said Beverly Slater. "It's too big a thing to take to court and try to fight (the rezoning)," Mrs. Kiser commented. "Anything that's good for the city is good for us" said Lewis C. Tingley. How did real estate prices change? On May 27, 1951, the newspaper reported that real estate prices around the plant had already soared. Asking prices had gone out of sight . . . A farm was put on the market after the G.E. announcement at $500 an acre, when previously the owner wanted $300 an acre for it. After the basic questions were answered, G.E. wasted no time getting this massive project underway. Within two months after the announcement, July 12, 1951, G.E. acquired the 700 acres and started construction. The initial cost was $14 million, or about $170 million in 2024 dollars. In the July 28, 1951, newspaper, G.E. placed a large ad saying it wanted to be a good corporate citizen in Louisville: Good wages, steady employment, recreational facilities, educational and advancement opportunities, forward-looking employee benefit plans and corporate and individual contributions to the support of welfare agencies and civic activities. Construction continued through 1952 and the first clothes dryer was shipped Feb. 6, 1953, from Building #1. By 1957, more than 2 million laundry appliances had been assembled. Employment reached a peak of 23,000 in 1972. Economic turmoil in the 1970s reduced the employment to around 11,000. Today, more than 8,000 are employed over 750 acres. By comparison, the Ford battery plant in Glendale, Ky., is planning on 5,000 employees over 1,500 acres. Steve Wiser, FAIA, is a local historian, author, and architect. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: General Electric announces plans to build Appliance Park (Bloomberg) -- Birmingham resident Johur Uddin has always voted Labour. But with the UK opposition party on the cusp of a potentially record election victory next week, the 56-year-old consultant says hell break with the habit of a lifetime on July 4 and mark his ballot paper with an X next to an independent candidate. Most Read from Bloomberg A perception that Labour has drifted from its roots, coupled with party leader Keir Starmers support for Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza have driven Uddin away. The sentiment was shared by four of the five men with him at the Legacy West Midlands charitys office in the Birmingham Ladywood constituency, who are eying independent candidates with one also weighing the Green Party. The values of Labour have completely changed, said Uddin. Before it was more for the working people and there was a lot of social justice a focus thats been lost, he said. The Birmingham men provide a flavor of how some traditionally Labour-backing groups a mix of Muslims, environmentalists and the left wing are searching for a new voice after the party tacked to the political center in its bid for power. In constituencies with a Muslim population of 20% or more, Labour support is eight points lower than in 2019, while the Green vote climbed eight points, Bloomberg analysis of YouGov polling data shows. Bloomberg reporting also anecdotally suggests a move toward independent candidates by Muslim voters in some seats. Theres little prospect the trend will cost Labour the election the opposition leads Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks governing Conservatives by more than 20 points in national polling and is projected to secure a record majority. But some of the partys leading lights, including prospective justice secretary Shabana Mahmood and would-be culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire, could lose their seats, forcing Starmer into a reshuffle of his top team just as he gets his feet under the desk at 10 Downing Street. Moreover, several Labour MPs, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they worry the change in Labours focus could store up problems for the future. Over a couple of election cycles, they said their safe urban seats could shift toward the Greens or independents without careful messaging in the constituency. The current strategy of appealing to voters switching from the Tories and those who backed Brexit isnt geared toward urban, liberal electorates. The question is: is this going to be the sort of thing which hurts them for one election? said Oxford University researcher Andrew Barclay. Or is it actually a permanent chipping away at the emotional link between Muslim voters and the Labour party? The rumblings of discontent on Starmers left underscore the potential fragility of his political mandate, even if he wins big in Thursdays election. Deep local fiscal problems and an increasingly uncertain global security environment means his would-be government could quickly face issues that exacerbates divisions in Labour. Central to the shift in sentiment, especially among Muslims, is Starmers stance on the Israel-Hamas war. Hes been steadfast in his support of Israels right to self defense since the conflict erupted in October following Hamass deadly attack on Israel. In an early interview, he appeared to say Israel had the right to withhold power and water from Gaza further damaging his standing with Muslims, as did the perception that he was slow to call for a cease-fire. In a sign of how complicated the issue will be for Labour in power, Starmer on Saturday didnt commit to publishing UK government legal advice on arms exports to Israel something he has long called on Sunaks administration to do. I havent seen it, I dont know how up to date it is and therefore well have to first win the election and then assess the situation, he said in an interview. Starmer also said he accepts that publishing the full advice would be difficult, suggesting Labour could be willing to publish a summary instead. Labour tensions have been exacerbated by Starmers refusal to allow his predecessor as party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to stand for reelection as a Labour candidate because of a row over antisemitism. Corbyn, a left-winger, was closely aligned to the Palestinian cause and in the past called Hamas his friends. The fallout has seen Muslim councilors quit from Oxford to Manchester, Labour MPs stage a major parliamentary rebellion, and the party lose the Rochdale constituency to left-wing disrupter George Galloway in a by-election after suspending its candidate. Starmers popularity among ethnic minorities is the lowest recorded by any Labour leader since 1996, according to Ipsos. Patrick Cunningham, a 26 year-old engineer, said Labours stance on Gaza has contributed to the decision by several of his friends to vote for Debbonaires opponent in Bristol Central, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, whose pledge to call for a Gaza cease-fire features large in her leaflets distributed around inner city shops. But in the city in southwestern England not known for its Muslim population most residents who told Bloomberg they were moving to the Greens from Labour cited Starmers retreat on climate pledges in February, after he cut a pledge to spend 28 billion a year transitioning the UK to green energy by more than 80%. Thats left Debbonaire fighting for her political life just as a government job beckons after serving 9 years in opposition. So-called MRP polls using seat-by-seat analysis by YouGov, Ipsos and We Think project shell lose, though others show her comfortably winning. Voters Bloomberg spoke to within her district were evenly split between the Greens and Labour. One person familiar with the matter said Debbonaire has been privately thinking of her preparation for government as a handover note of her culture brief. Nevertheless Debbonaire who beat Denyer by more than 28,000 votes in what was then Bristol West in 2019 and also beat the Greens into second place in 2015 told Bloomberg last week that shes confident of reelection. Some 75 miles to the northeast, in Birmingham Ladywood, where almost half the population are Muslim, intention to vote Labour has plummeted by 29 percentage points since 2019, Bloomberg analysis shows. While none of the MRP polls suggest Labour will struggle there, party figures suggested Mahmood faces a tough battle against independent candidate and Tiktok lawyer Akhmed Yakoob who won 20% of the vote in Birmingham in Mays West Midlands mayoralty election. The progress made by independents is harder to gauge in MRP polls because the seat-by-seat projections often rely on data from previous elections, which may not capture them. Mahmood declined to comment on her prospects, but previously told the BBCs Political Thinking podcast that Labour needs to regain the trust of the Muslim community. Muslim dissatisfaction is also a factor in Dewsbury and Batley, where Heather Iqbal, a one-time aide to shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, is standing. Former colleagues fret she could lose to independent candidate Iqbal Mohamed, whose posters adorn Batleys lamp posts and shop windows. In Mays council elections, independent candidates won 50% of the vote in the area, and some of the MRP polls suggest strong showings for the Greens, independents and Nigel Farages right-wing Reform UK party. Despite all the MRP polls predicting Labour will win the seat, none of the dozens of voters Bloomberg spoke to said they would vote that way. Health care worker Ayesha criticized Labours response to the Gaza conflict, saying theyve lost her support. I want to vote for the person who is supporting Gaza, said Shakir Husain, a 44-year-old civil engineer. Theres some trust to build back, Iqbal a Muslim herself said, echoing Mahmood over a cup of tea in central Batley, where a billboard of her opponent looms over a row of derelict buildings. Mohamed, for his part, says that while the Tories have let the area down nationally, Labour has done so locally. We need people who are from the community to just hold these elite rich politicians to account, the Durham-educated management consultant told Bloomberg. To be sure, Muslims make up just 6.5% of the population of England and Wales, rising to more than a third of voters in only a handful of seats. The Muslim vote is not going to affect who has the keys to Number 10, said Parveen Akhtar, a political scientist at Aston University, noting that Muslims dont vote as a bloc. In all, about five Labour seats may be in danger due to the loss of traditional voters, a senior party official said. One seat where the party faces a challenge is Islington North, which Corbyn has represented since 1983 and where hes now running as an independent. Another official said that in Scotland, some hoped-for gains from the Scottish National Party arent turning to Labour as strongly as expected, with many contests appearing on a knife-edge. 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, a Labour Party spokesperson said. With all the main polls tipping Labour for a huge win, it would be tempting for the party to ignore setbacks in a handful of seats. But Anthony Wells, Director of YouGovs political polling warned the party should watch closely the results in places like Bristol, Birmingham and Batley. When theyve had the cost of governing and making hard decisions in quite a difficult economic background, theyre going to face far more difficulty in terms of hanging on to voters, Wells said. They probably want to keep an eye on now where those potential weaknesses are so they know which places they need to protect and be defensive about in four years time. --With assistance from Eamon Akil Farhat and Ellen Milligan. (Updates with Starmer interview comment in 10th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. For weeks, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. railed against the first presidential debate. CNN, the debates host, determined that Kennedy had not qualified for the ballot in enough states to appear on stage. As their partys presumptive nominees, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will qualify for the ballot later this summer. Kennedys campaign filed an FEC complaint against CNN, and even threatened legal action against everyone at the company involved in debate planning. But Kennedy may have won the debate without even showing up. Bidens performance was widely panned, even by members of his own party, for his hoarse voice and trains of thought that appeared to go off the tracks. Though Trump claimed victory, he peddled numerous falsehoods including on immigration and abortion. However, Kennedy is taking advantage of the discontent by focusing most of his fire on just one of them. We have 341 million people in this country and to think those are the best two candidates the political parties can come up with is depressing, Kennedy said in a press release after the debate. Last night was a disaster for President Biden, Kennedys statement continued. I think people saw how frail he was and even the hardcore Democrats have lost faith that he can even win the election or more importantly, that he can run the country. He seemed very confused. Its scary to think that hes going to get the call at 3 a.m., maybe, that we all dread, and he has six minutes to make a decision that will affect the lives of everybody on this planet. Asked for additional details about Kennedys reaction to the debate, the campaign pointed The Daily Beast back to the press release. Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addresses the Libertarian Party's national convention in Washington, U.S., May 24, 2024. Brian Snyder/Reuters Both parties have fretted that Kennedys candidacy could siphon votes away from them, but there has been plenty of argument over whether his independent bid will hurt Biden or Trump more. Kennedys comments about last nights debate suggest he sees Biden as its biggest loser. Reached for comment, a Biden campaign aide did not address concerns about Bidens age and ability to think on his feet, but shared that the campaign brought in $14 million on Thursday and into Friday morning. ActBlue, the online fundraising platform for Democrats, also shared on X that it raised nearly $22 million from small-dollar donors on June 27, making debate day ActBlues biggest fundraising day of the cycle. The Kennedy campaign did not address a question from The Daily Beast about how debate night impacted RFK Jr.s fundraising. But American Values, the big-money super PAC supporting Kennedy, did a victory dance. Theres a lot of excitement, American Values treasurer, Tony Lyons, wrote in a statement to The Daily Beast. Everyone sees this as a game changer. Its clear that Biden is bi-done and anyone who doesnt want Trump to be their president recognizes now that a vote for Bobby Kennedy is a vote for Bobby Kennedy. Hes the only candidate who can beat Trump. On Friday morning, a new filing with the Federal Election Commission showed that American Values launched a big messaging push in support of the candidate on Thursday; the report of independent expenditures noted the PAC was spending nearly three-quarters of a million dollars for nationwide ads on X, as well as $121,000 worth of national newspaper ads in USA Today. According to American Values, its ads on Xwhich say it began #therealdebatewere viewed by 36 million people and drove viewers to a 30-minute video about Kennedy. The X ads, along with the PACs USA Today ones, invited voters to join the rebellion. The FEC filing also listed $7,500 in new spending for video production on Friday. What Grumbling RFK Jr. Had to Say During His Solo Debate During an MSNBC hit about the debate, Kennedy continued to go after the president, promising that he would take a spoiler pledge with Biden. In October, Kennedy said, whichever of the two men polling finds is less likely to defeat Trump should drop out of the race. FiveThirtyEights national polling average currently has Biden and Trump neck-and-neck, with the former president slightly ahead at 41.4 percent compared to the current presidents 40.5 percent. Kennedy is way behind at 9 percent, and isnt doing much better in polls of individual swing states. But Kennedy has drawn some interest from constituencies Democrats have traditionally counted on for robust support, like young people, African Americans, and Latino voters. As debate reactions poured into reporters inboxes Thursday night and Friday morning, many of the most disaffected came from these groups. Still, not all the reactions point in the same direction. A Univision focus group of undecided Latino voters, for instance, showed that some were more supportive of Biden after the debate. The week before the debate, a Democratic National Committee memo noted that Kennedys favorability rating has been on the decline. It will take time for pollsters to determine if that trend continues afterwards. "The more voters learn about RFK Jr. the less they like him, wrote DNC spokesman Matt Corridoni in a statement to The Daily Beast. 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. A 12-year-old and an 18-year-old have been arrested, and a third suspect is on the loose, following what authorities are calling a juvenile crime spree in unincorporated El Paso County Wednesday morning. According to a news release sent from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 3 a.m., the county communication center received a call regarding a business alarm at the Springs Armory on Waynoka Road in unincorporated El Paso County. Deputies arrived at the scene to find an abandoned vehicle crashed into the front of the building. According to investigators, surveillance video shows the vehicle crash into the front of the building. It also shows two suspects enter the building, before fleeing in a second vehicle parked behind the business. A few hours later, at 8 a.m. a second call was received regarding a vehicle theft in Security-Widefield, authorities said. Investigators connected the two reports because the suspect and vehicle descriptions matched the earlier incident. Featured Local Savings Following multiple reports of the suspects seen in a local neighborhood, patrol deputies located the three individuals. While all three suspects initially fled, a 12-year-old suspect was, "immediately caught." "Through tireless tracking and coordination," deputies apprehended a second suspect, who has since been identified as 18-year-old Victor Prada Jr. He is being held on a $50,000 bond and is facing charges of second-degree burglary. The third suspect evaded arrest, officials said. According to the office, investigators uncovered the getaway car utilized in the overnight smash and grab, along with evidence from multiple similar crimes in the area. Anyone with pertinent information about the case is asked to call the El Paso County Sheriff's Office at 719-520-7777. Rivers cresting in parts of the metro area, as federal aid is approved for 22 counties Swollen rivers in St. Paul and the southwest metro area began to crest Saturday and should start to drop Sunday at least until an expected round of rain arrives on Monday, the National Weather Service says. According to the National Water Prediction Service, the Mississippi River at St. Paul was expected to crest Saturday evening at 20.3 feet, which would make it the seventh-highest crest on record. But Tyler Hasenstein, a Weather Service meteorologist, said he thought the river would come in under that level. On Friday morning in Jordan, the Minnesota River swelled to a record 35.12 feet, breaking the previous mark of 35.1 feet set in 1965. At Savage, the river threatened to flood one lane of Hwy. 101. And on the St. Croix River, flooding in Stillwater's Lowell Park has already forced the city to postpone its July 4 celebration. River levels there lingered on Saturday around 87.8 feet, considered a minor flood, and appeared to be dropping, according to river gauge data. Some disaster relief is on the way. On Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz' office announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a disaster declaration for 22 Minnesota counties affected by flooding over the past two weeks. More rain Monday could keep rivers high or push receding smaller waterways back into flood stage, Hasenstein said. He said areas of concern were mostly in southwest Minnesota along the Le Sueur and Blue Earth rivers; any additional flooding on those streams would take from five to seven days to reach the Mississippi, which drains both rivers. Many areas were already grappling with costly damage or closures after an unusually wet start to summer. Hasenstein said roughly an entire summer's worth of rain has fallen in a monthlong period from late May into June. That water will continue to flow down the Mississippi, which has yet to crest in some stretches. The river was expected to rise another 6 inches at Hastings, the Weather Service said. The federal disaster declaration is the first step in reimbursing communities for debris removal, temporary flood barriers and other emergency measures. The federal disaster declaration covers much of southern Minnesota and also parts of northeastern Minnesota, where flash flooding this month washed out roads and inundated the small town of Cook, about 90 miles north of Duluth. Road closures and evacuations begin to lift after Fresno June Lightning Complex Fire containment Road closures and evacuations begin to lift after Fresno June Lightning Complex Fire containment FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Some road closures and evacuation orders are starting to lift as the Fresno June Lightning Complex increases containment. Firefighters were able to lift the 180 and Cove Road closure. Cal Fire Captain, Brent Pascua says yesterdays cooler temperatures and drone technology made putting out the flames easier. They can see those hidden hotspots, and they really helped the crews to get in there and put the fire out, Captain Pascua said. Captain Pascua says firefighters are working diligently on lifting the evacuation order soon. Besides putting out the fire that remains our highest priority is getting people home, Captain Pascua said. However, he says crews want to make sure the area is safe before letting people in. Once we do, they gotta remember to drive carefully in the area cause theyre still will be fire crews in and around those areas, Captain Pascua said. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors is calling for California Disaster Act Reimbursement. Thats very helpful to law-enforcement fire, and other departments, Terri Mejorado, Emergency Manager said. Meanwhile, crews from other counties remain on standby to lend a helping hand. Although containment has gone up, the job is not done. To put out the hotspots that remain in the fire, continue to strengthen those fire lines that are already put in and then also working in around the homes to make sure that people can come home safely to their houses, Captain Pascua said. Visit FIRE.CA.GOV for information on safety precautions for returning home after a wildfire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On June 7, Leein Hinkley, 43, appeared in Maine District Court in Auburn on domestic violence assault charges for the third time. Once again, there was no lawyer available under the states indigent defense system, and Judge Sarah Churchill reduced his bail to $1,500 cash, which was paid and Hinkley released. Douglas Rooks Ten days later, on Saturday, June 17, Hinkley invaded a former girlfriends home on Russell Avenue and set it afire along with a neighboring home, and apparently shot the womans current boyfriend to death. Hours later, Hinkley was shot dead by police on a nearby roof. No firefighting was possible during the standoff, and the houses burned to the ground. Coming less than a year after Robert Card massacred 18 people in Lewiston last Oct. 25, it was inevitable outrage would follow these traumatic events. What wasnt inevitable is that the outrage would involve all levels of law enforcement and extend to the highest levels of state government. The first salvo came just 24 hours after the crimes from the Fraternal Order of Police and the State Troopers Association, who blamed the judge: The responsibility now squarely falls on Judge Sarah Churchill, the police unions said. Despite the severity of Hinkley's prior criminal charges, a victim seeking help from the court, and opposition from prosecutors, Judge Churchill essentially let him off the hook. The District Attorney, using more measured language, essentially agreed. On Monday the court system, led by Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill, defended Churchill and cited 6th Amendment guarantees to representation and a speedy trial, saying that Maine has an insufficient number of attorneys willing to represent the rights of the accused. The statement was taken to be aimed at the recently renamed indigent defense commission, now the Commission on Public Defense Services, which is attempting to build a statewide public defender system even as the state relies on the previous system, assignments by judges and court clerks. While courts are reducing post-pandemic backlogs, the number of unrepresented defendants continues to rise. Finally, Gov. Janet Mills weighed in, saying, Based on the facts of the case and my experience as a former defense attorney, district attorney, and attorney general, I strongly disagree with the judges decision. The governor said Churchill should have appointed a lawyer of the day temporarily representing Hinkley and kept him locked up. We can probably all agree Judge Churchills decision had disastrous consequences, but what is gained by all these recriminations, charges and counter-charges, is hard to see. All those involved should know especially Mills, given her legal experience and her appointments of both Churchill and Stanfill that under the canons of judicial ethics, judges cannot respond to criticism, more commonly leveled by disgruntled defendants or victims. Mills said she will talk to the commission chairman to consider what more can be done to improve the delivery of legal services, a sound idea that could have been pursued earlier. The long delays in assigning counsel have become insupportable, with 800 defendants lacking representation. After Hinkleys release but before the attack, Churchill dismissed charges against another defendant in a misdemeanor case after 108 days of incarceration without a lawyer a step judges had tried hard to avoid. The plain truth is that the states indigent defense system is not being managed well, nor is the transition to public defenders going smoothly. The Legislature, without much involvement from the Governors office, funded the beginnings of a new system over two legislative sessions. There had been credible allegations some lawyers were taking too many cases for which they were not qualified, and overbilling the state. The commission was then reformulated with new gubernatorial appointees. An interim step raised hourly rates from $80 to $150, but the number of available attorney fell by more than half a counterintuitive result. At the same time, the commission had upgraded rostering requirements that effectively excluded all but experienced defense attorneys, who can rarely take additional cases, and limiting the number of cases remaining volunteers could handle. Various expedients were suggested, including having law students handle routine motions and writs under supervision, and phasing in the new roster requirements. Yet the commission pressed ahead. Its time for leadership, not more recriminations. Another portion of the judicial branch statement points the way, calling it a systemic problem that all partners in the criminal justice system must work together to resolve rather than criticizing each other without offering a solution. If all parties come to the table and face facts together, perhaps this latest tragedy will not go for naught. Douglas Rooks has been a Maine editor, columnist and reporter since 1984. He is the author of four books, most recently a biography of U.S. Chief Justice Melville Fuller, and welcomes comment at drooks@tds.net This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rooks: Deadly consequences of Maine's failing indigent defense system Royal Society of Arts accused of caving in to staff who walked out on Israel event The RSA has apologised for hosting an event for the Israeli Chamber of Commerce - Alamy The Royal Society of Arts has been accused of caving in to some members of staff who walked out in protest at an event supporting UK-Israel ties. The day-long programme, hosted by the Israeli Chamber of Commerce (UKIB) on December 14, 2023, looked to create investment opportunities for Israeli companies following Hamas attack on the country on October 7. It featured Israeli president Isaac Herzog, who addressed the conference virtually, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, and Israeli business leaders. However, before the event took place, the location was leaked to pro-Palestinian activists - the Telegraph understands - who gathered alongside staff outside the building to protest. The RSA did not deny this when it was put to them. Chanting could be heard by those inside of the building, attendees said, and police were eventually called. Initially, the RSA appeared to side with the protesters by apologising for hosting the event and, in effect, justifying the decision of staff to demonstrate by claiming that the event had been held by an external client who did not disclose the full event details in advance. The society tweeted: We are an apolitical organisation and have launched an internal investigation. [We] will ensure that robust measures are put in place in the future to ensure this will not happen again. A published version of the societys investigation, released last Thursday (20.6), has been met with criticism by appearing to blame the decision to host the event - not the RSAs staff - for the disorder. Key questions answered According to the report, private booking processes, for example, now ensure that key questions are addressed at an early stage, so that the RSA has as much knowledge as possible about the proposed events speakers and attendees. Weekly meetings between hospitality management and the societys executives to assess the acceptance of future bookings have also been introduced as standard practice. An ethical fundraising policy has also been developed, which provides a framework for fundraising decisions on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the transaction. There was notably no mention of any repercussions against staff who walked out in protest at the societys decision to host the event. Apology Accompanying the publication of the reports key findings, the RSA apologised to UKIB for its now-deleted post on 14 December appearing to justify the protestors decision to demonstrate. The society wrote on X last Thursday: These posts did not intend to imply that UKIB or its officers had acted in any way inappropriately or deceptively. The RSA remains committed to continuing to work with and welcoming into its premises a diverse range of partners and guests from a wide range of countries, backgrounds, religions, faiths and beliefs in pursuit of its social mission, including welcoming Israeli and Jewish organisations such as UKIB. A UKIB spokesperson said they welcomed the apology, but other groups were unconvinced. Jonathan Turner, CEO of UK Lawyers for Israel, said: The summary of the report published by the RSA focuses on booking procedures rather than racist misconduct by its staff. It looks as if they have caved in to threats by activist staff not to serve customers whose race or beliefs they dont like. Although the RSA claims that its new procedures will ensure an open and inclusive approach in line with its values and mission, they are liable to result in its excluding events where there is a threat of racist disruption. According to an individual familiar with the dynamics around contentious issues within arts organisations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, there exists a toxic culture in some institutions in which staff are intimidated by a small minority of activist colleagues with no respect for the institution. The RSA pointed The Telegraph to its aforementioned statements on the matter when contacted. 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. Ruidoso fires now 77% contained; all zones now open to residents Ruidoso fires now 77% contained; all zones now open to residents UPDATE: The Village of Ruidoso is asking residents to evacuate if they are in close proximity to the Rio Ruidoso, which is experiencing flooding. An evacuation shelter has been set up at the White Mountain Relief Center at the White Mountain Sports Complex at 687 Hull Road. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The South Fork and Salt fires are both 77 percent contained, and all zones are now open to residents in the Ruidoso area, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division on Saturday, June 29. Fire crews are remaining vigilant and are on the lookout for hot spots, according to the Forestry Division. As of Saturday, both fires have combined to burn more than 25,000 acres across private, public and tribal lands (South Fork 17,569; Salt 7,939). Both fires started on June 17 and quickly escalated on that first day, forcing thousands to evacuate. About 780 firefighters remain on scene continuing to fight the fires and monitor for hot spots. Both fires are currently staffed with 18 crews, four helicopters, 31 engines, four bulldozers, and 10 water tenders. Evacuation sites on the Mescalero Apache Reservation are now closed. Donations will be taken and distributed to tribal members in need from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Inn of the Mountain Gods convention center. FEMA is located and operates from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. outside the Mescalero Community Center until further notice. They are assisting the public with general government assistance (unemployment, EBT, etc.). For Village of Ruidoso re-entry, all No Entry/Exclusion zones are now open. There are still firefighters, firefighting equipment, utility company workers and vehicles travelling through the area, the Forestry Division said. Their work is critical to restore utilities and services, the Forestry Division added. The Forestry Division said this about the fires activity on Friday and what can be expected on Saturday: Fridays clear skies, warmer temperatures, and decreased humidity created an environment favorable for the remaining isolated heat sources to dry out and increase combustion rates, making them easier to detect and extinguish. Additionally, thanks to infrared detection, 10 remaining hot spots were identified and are a primary focus for firefighters this weekend. Crews will also conduct suppression repair, including chipping operations near Villa Madonna and repairing dozer lines where needed. As for the weather in the Ruidoso and Mescalero areas, the fires experienced a brief drying trend as scattered showers moved away from the area Thursday through Friday. Saturday brings with it warmer temperatures and increased potential for scattered afternoon rains, according to the Forestry Division. Smoke will continue to have its biggest impact during the late overnight and morning hours near the fire, according to the Forestry Division. An emergency closure order was issued for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear District on June 20. The Mescalero Apache Tribe also issued an Extreme Fire Restriction notice on Friday. Under this restriction, use of charcoal grills and campfires are prohibited. The use of gas burning or electric cooking devices are allowed in campgrounds and residential areas. Outdoor smoking is prohibited unless in an enclosed vehicle or an area that is 5 feet in diameter that has been cleared of all flammable materials. More information is available at https://mescaleroapachetribe.com. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources, the NM Forestry Division 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. Homes charred to the ground, pine trees once standing tall now collapsed and cars completely burned: images shared in a recent video of a Ruidoso neighborhood reduced to rubble by destructive wildfires. The Facebook video posted by the village of Ruidoso on Thursday, June 27, illustrates the devastation left behind by the South Fork Fire in the Upper Canyon area, just one of many communities impacted by the blaze. The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire began on Mescalero tribal land June 17, and the causes remain under investigation. The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire affected over 25,000 acres and fires are 77% containment as of Saturday, June 30, according to the village of Ruidoso. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for starting the deadly fires. Missing all accounted for Residents who were once displaced have returned as areas previously closed off for search and rescue teams are now open. However, some parts of the village remain "no entry/exclusion zones," according to a public map released on Friday, June 28. Two deaths have been linked to the fires, and all missing people are now accounted for, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said at a Thursday, June 27, community meeting. Fire chief Ernie Rhodes with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue added that search and rescue teams, with 20 cadaver dogs, combed through an estimated 1,300 burned structures for possible human remains, but none were found. Burn scars and charred trees stand after the South Fork Fire scorched Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 24, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal Weather impacting fire containment Monsoon storms have become frequent in the region, and rain has helped and harmed efforts to contain the South Fork and Salt fires. There has been no forward progression of the wildfires, said Brad Johnson, incident commander with the Southwest Incident Management Team. Containment in the South Fork Fire in the Ruidoso community is steady, Johnson said, but the Mescalero reservation remains a challenge because of the rugged terrain. Storms also impact when fire crews can work on the ground. "As we all know, the storms come in during the afternoon," he said. "We try to get people up and into the mountains early, and as weather conditions come in, we bring people off the fire." Rain chances will increase again over the weekend, with slow-moving storms capable of producing high rain rates and flash floods, according to the village of Ruidoso. Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest causing mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal Ruidoso Downs racing continues despite fires Horse racing is set to return to Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino over the weekend. More than 320 horses will head to the starting gate for 34 trial races. The decision to resume racing was left up to the racetrack and Ruidoso community, said Izzy Trejo, executive director of the New Mexico Racing Commission. In a Facebook video, Rick Baugh, general manager of the Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino, said the racetrack is the "safest place to be." "We got to get the wheels back on the bus," Baugh said. "We've got to get this going. We are working with the community. We told our season seat holders you're probably going to have to come and go. We've encouraged that, come in and leave." More FEMA assistance arriving in Ruidoso In addition to applying for FEMA federal disaster assistance, FEMA will send more personnel to Ruidoso on Friday, June 28, to register its Individual Assistance Program, officials said. Anyone impacted by the South Fork and Salt Fire may apply to the program, which helps with housing benefits, disaster unemployment assistance, personal property losses and more. The Individual Assistance Program provides financial and direct services to those with necessary expenses that cannot be met through insurance. A FEMA disaster survivor assistance team or DSA will visit hotels, the mayor said. Link: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual Firefighters, hotshots and other emergency response officials triage responses to the South Fork Fire in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal Scams and Fraud Scams can run rampant after natural disasters, with some looking to exploit vulnerable residents. Residents should use local contractors who are trusted within the community and always verify credentials, said officials with FEMA. Price gouging is also a concern, with reports of some businesses raising prices for essential goods and services. The act will not be tolerated, said New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. Any suspicions of price gouging and other fraudulent activities can be reported to the Attorney General's Office by: Online: nmdoj.gov/get-help and complete the online complaint form. Phone: 505-490-4060, option 3. A Lincoln County Sheriff Department vehicle is seen burnt by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Ruidoso fire update: Monsoon storms aid, hinder containment efforts Russia presses its offensive in Ukraine and issues new threats as the West tries to blunt the push FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, on Friday, June 14, 2024. Putin says that Moscow isn't seeking quick gains in Ukraine and will stick to the current strategy of slow advances as it presses a grinding summer offensive. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) Slowly but steadily this summer, Russian troops are forging through Ukraine's outgunned and undermanned defenses in a relentless onslaught, prompting the West to push for new weapons and strategies to shore up Kyiv. That, in turn, has brought new threats by President Vladimir Putin to retaliate against the West either directly or indirectly. The moves by the West to blunt the offensive and the potential Kremlin response could lead to a dangerous escalation as the war drags through its third year one that further raises the peril of a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. Russias probing offensive Russia took advantage of its edge in firepower amid delays in U.S. aid to scale up attacks in several areas along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. Relatively small units are probing Ukrainian defenses for weak spots, potentially setting the stage for a more ambitious push. Russia's offensive near Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, that began in May and worried Kyivs Western allies has apparently lost momentum after the Ukrainian army bolstered its forces in the area by redeploying troops from other sectors. Meanwhile, Russia has made incremental but steady advances in the Donetsk region, including around the strategic hilltop town of Chasiv Yar, a gateway to parts of Donetsk still under Ukrainian control. Analysts say the fall of Chasiv Yar would threaten the key military hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Putin declared that Moscow wasnt seeking quick gains and would stick to the current strategy of advancing slowly. Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute said that by stretching Ukrainian forces along a wide front, Russia is overcoming the limitations of its military that lacks the size and training for a major offensive. The breadth of the strikes has forced Ukraine to spread out its artillery, "expending munitions to break up successive Russian attacks, he said in an analysis. Russias aim is not to achieve a grand breakthrough but rather to convince Ukraine that it can keep up an inexorable advance, kilometer by kilometer, along the front. Michael Kofman of the Carnegie Endowment said Russia's apparent goal is to maintain pressure and try to stretch out Ukraine's forces. He noted that even though Ukraine managed to stabilize the front line, it had to use reserves intended to be deployed elsewhere. It will take more and more time to actually regenerate Ukraines combat strength because of that, he said in a recent podcast. Moscow also has stepped up airstrikes on Ukraines energy facilities and other vital infrastructure with waves of missiles and drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country had lost about 80% of its thermal power and one-third of its hydroelectric power in the strikes. This will be a growing problem when we talk about the future Ukraines economic viability, Kofman said. Watling said the shortage of air defenses is giving Ukraine a difficult choice between concentrating them to safeguard critical infrastructure, or protecting troops on the front. The persistence of Russias long-range strike campaign means that not only is the front being stretched laterally, but it is also being extended in its depth, he said. The West responds, the Kremlin counters Washington and some NATO allies have responded to the offensive by allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons for limited strikes inside Russia. The U.S. has allowed Ukraine to use American weapons against military targets in Russia near Kharkiv and elsewhere near the border, but, to Kyiv's dismay, Washington so far hasnt given permission for strikes deeper in Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron and some other Western officials argue that Kyiv has the right to use their equipment to attack military assets anywhere in Russia. There also has been talk by Macron and the leaders of NATO's Baltic members but not the U.S. of deploying troops to Ukraine. Putin warns that this would be a major escalation, and he threatened to retaliate by providing weapons to Western adversaries elsewhere in the world. He reinforced that argument by signing a mutual defense pact with North Korea in June and holding the door open for arms supplies to Pyongyang. He declared that just as the West says Ukraine can decide how to use Western weapons, Moscow could provide arms to North Korea and similarly say that we supply something to somebody but have no control over what happens afterward an apparent hint at Pyongyangs role as arms trader. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, noted Moscow could arm anyone who considers the U.S. and its allies their enemies, regardless of their political beliefs and international recognition. Another threat of escalation followed a Ukrainian attack with U.S.-made ATACMS missiles that killed four and injured over 150 in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Russia's Defense Ministry warned it could take unspecified measures against U.S. drones over the Black Sea that provide intelligence to Ukraine. The nuclear threat and Putin's long game Putin said it was wrong for NATO to assume that Russia won't use its nuclear arsenal, reaffirming it will use all means if its sovereignty and territorial integrity are threatened. He also warned that Moscow was pondering possible changes to its doctrine that specifies when it resorts to nuclear weapons. Underscoring that, Russia held military drills with battlefield nuclear weapons involving Belarus. Last year, Moscow deployed some of those weapons to Belarus to try to discourage Western military support for Ukraine. A military defeat in Ukraine, Putin said, would deal a deadly blow to Russian statehood, and he vowed to press his goals to the end. He declared that for Russia to halt the fighting, Ukraine must withdraw its troops from the four regions that Moscow annexed in 2022, an idea Kyiv and its allies dismissed. He also said Ukraine must abandon its bid to join NATO. Hawkish Russian commentators criticized Putin for failing to respond forcefully to NATO ramping up support for Kyiv and allowing the West to continuously push back Russias red lines. Some argued that if the damage grows from Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia with longer-range Western missiles, Moscow should hit NATO assets. Vasily Kashin, a Moscow-based defense analyst, noted that while Ukraine already had used Western weapons to inflict limited damage, Putin will have to do something if there are cruise missile strikes deep inside Russian territory resulting in significant casualties. Russia could respond by targeting Western drones or U.S. spy satellites, or also strike some NATO countries assets in overseas territories to minimize triggering an all-out conflict with the alliance, Kashin said. Other Russian commentators argued, however, that such action fraught with triggering a direct conflict with NATO isnt in Moscows interests. Moscow-based security analyst Sergei Poletaev said the Kremlin aims to steadily drain Ukrainian resources to force Kyiv into accepting a peace deal on Russia's terms. While nothing spectacular is happening on the front line, he said, "constant dropping wears away a stone. Moscows military advantage allows it to maintain pressure along the entire front line and make new advances while waiting for Ukraine to break down, he said in a commentary Lacking the resources for a major offensive, the Kremlin has opted for slow advances, aiming to keep pressure on Ukraine while warding off the West from direct involvement in hostilities, Poletaev said. We must walk the razor's edge between our victory and a nuclear war, he said. Russia is planning to send children to North Korea's Sondovon summer camp, Grigory Gurov, head of Russia's pro-Kremlin youth group Movement of the First, said on June 29, state news agency TASS reported. The announcement follows the signing of a strategic partnership agreement by Russia and North Korea on June 19. Pyongyang has also been supplying Moscow with ammunition for use in the full-scale war against Ukraine. According to Gurov, the trip to the North Korean camp is scheduled for late July. Russia will send groups of children who will be accompanied by counselors, he added. "We are now planning joint camp shifts... We are planning children's exchanges," Gurov said. He called Sondovon an equivalent of the Artek summer camp in Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula. The European Union imposed sanctions on Artek earlier in June, saying that Russia was bringing children from occupied territories of Ukraine there. The Russian occupation government in Crimea has enrolled Ukrainian children in re-education programs at Artek in an effort to brainwash them in line with Kremlin propaganda. Moscow also continues to set up military training camps for Ukrainian teenagers in other Russian-occupied territories. Russia also has arrangements to visit China and Vietnam this year and plans to sign agreements with youth organizations in other countries, Gurov said. 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. Search and rescue operations following the Russian strike on the Dnipro apartment building on 28 June. Photo: Serhii Lysak on Telegram Two residents of the apartment block that was damaged in the Russian attack on the city of Dnipro on 28 June who were considered missing appeared to be alive and contacted officials. Source: Serhii Lysak, the Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote from Lysak: "Two residents of the Dnipro apartment block that was damaged in yesterdays attack contacted officials, a mother and her son. Fortunately, they are alright. They werent home when the tragedy occurred. The whereabouts of another several people remain unknown. Search and rescue operations continue. Emergency workers are dismantling the destroyed elements of construction." Details: Lysak also said that Russian forces attacked Nikopol and the Pokrovske and Myrove hromadas on Saturday, 29 June. A 54-year-old man sustained a shrapnel wound to his leg as a result of the Russian attacks. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.]. Background: The Russian army launched a missile strike on a nine-storey building in the city of Dnipro. One person was reported killed and 12 more injured. Support UP or become our patron! More than three years after the death of an infant in Colorado Springs, the father has been arrested, police said Friday in a news release. The infant, less than three months old, was brought to an area hospital on May 26, 2021. The child was "severely injured" and died of its injuries June 2, police said. Months later an autopsy conducted by the El Paso County Coroner's office ruled the infant's death a homicide. On Friday, 24-year-old Josiah Whiteley was arrested and faces first-degree murder changes. Whiteley is currently incarcerated at a state correctional facility on charges unrelated to the death of his child. Whiteley was featured in the Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers' bulletin in July and August 2022, sought on suspicion of felony menacing, kidnapping, possession of weapon by previous offender, burglary, child abuse, assault, protection order violation, criminal mischief, trespass and telephone obstruction. He was reported as being arrested and placed into county jail as of Feb. 8 of this year on charges of menacing and violation of a restraining order. Anyone with information or who is a witness to the child's death is asked to call Colorado Springs police at 719-444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 719-634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477. Russian kids being sent to summer camps in North Korea: "excellent conditions" Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un on 18 June. Photo: KCNA This summer, Russian children will be sent to a summer camp in North Korea. Source: RIA Novosti, a pro-Kremlin Russian news outlet, citing Grigory Gurov, head of the Movement of the First, a Russian youth movement Details: The first group of Russian children is expected to be sent to the North Korean summer camp in late July. Gurov said that authorities are expecting great demand for the spots in the camp, because the conditions there are "excellent". In April, Primorsky Krai officials said that Russian tourists will be able to spend their vacations on North Korean beaches, claiming that summer tour packages have already been finalised. Background: On 19 June, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which includes a provision about mutual assistance in case of aggression against either of these states. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the agreement demonstrates increasing coherence between authoritarian states and underlines the importance of democracies speaking with a united voice. Kurt Campbell, US Deputy Secretary of State, believes that North Korea may request from Russia the technologies for improvement of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons in exchange for the military aid it provides Russia with. South Korean TV network TV Chosun reported that North Korea will send military construction and engineering forces to participate in "reconstruction works" in occupied Donetsk Oblast as early as July 2024. Support UP or become our patron! Police officers of the White Angels unit help an elderly woman walk into a van during an evacuation to safe areas, in Toretsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian attacks across eastern Ukraine killed at least 11 people Saturday, while rescuers in the city of Dnipro dug through rubble after a Russian strike ripped through a nine-story residential building, leaving one dead, officials said. The attacks came as Russia continues to stretch out Ukrainian forces in several areas along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. Moscow has stepped up airstrikes in a bid to drain Ukraines resources, often targeting energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. The shelling of the front-line village of Niu-York in the Donetsk region also wounded five people, Gov. Vadym Filashkin said. He said that Russian forces had shelled populated areas 13 times over the past 24 hours. A further seven people were killed Saturday afternoon in Russian shelling on the town of Vilniansk, including two children, Gov. Ivan Fedorov said. Ten other people were wounded, while infrastructure was also damaged, he wrote on social media. Meanwhile, in Dnipro, at least one person died and 12 were wounded, including a 7-month-old girl, after a Russian strike destroyed the top four floors of the apartment building on Friday evening, regional head Serhii Lysak said. Rescuers confirmed that several residents remained missing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Dnipro attack was a reminder to Ukraines allies that the country needed more air defense systems. The Ukrainian air force said Saturday that it had downed 10 Russian drones overnight. This is why we constantly remind all of our partners: only a sufficient amount of high-quality air defense systems, only a sufficient amount of determination from the world at large can stop Russian terror, he said. Russian officials also reported Ukrainian attacks, with a drone strike killing five people in Russias Kursk region, local officials said Saturday. A Ukrainian drone strike killed at least five people in Russias Kursk region, local officials said Saturday. Two children were among the victims of the attack in the village of Gorodishche on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Gov. Alexey Smirnov said on social media. In its morning statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that six Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over the countrys Tver, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as over the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. It didn't give information on the reported strike in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian government also responded Saturday to a statement from the Belarusian military saying it had increased its forces along Ukraines northern border in response to what it described as security threats. The announcement came after Belarus border agency claimed its troops downed a Ukrainian drone that had flown across the border to gather intelligence. Kyiv denied the accusations, which it described as Russian propaganda. The Russians task is simple to draw more of our forces (to the Belarusian border), Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation said in a statement. Any information about our activity in the border area is a lie. Belarus authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, has close ties with Russia and allowed Moscow to use his countrys territory to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Russians attack Derhachi in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring people and damaging 25 private buildings and business photos The aftermath of the Russian attack on Derhachi on 29 June. Photo: Derhachi City Military Administration On Saturday, three people were injured in a Russian attack on the town of Derhachi, Kharkiv Oblast. Source: Viacheslav Zadorenko, the Head of Derhachi City Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Today, the enemy has launched the most massive attack on Derhachi since 2022. The latest information suggests that four aerial bombs were dropped on the city (reportedly, [these were] D-30SM UMPBs unified multi-purpose glide bombs). Two men aged 68 and 75 sustained shrapnel wounds and were hospitalised. Another 71-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction. Pets were also injured." The aftermath of the Russian attack on Derhachi on 29 June. Photo: Derhachi City Military Administration Details: The attack damaged at least three five-storey, two two-storey and 20 private buildings, outbuildings, a garage cooperative and cars of local residents, and one of the civilian businesses. Power lines were partially destroyed. The aftermath of the Russian attack on Derhachi on 29 June. Photo: Derhachi City Military Administration The aftermath of the Russian attack on Derhachi on 29 June. Photo: Derhachi City Military Administration Support UP or become our patron! (KRON) An RV resident based out of Binford Road, a heavily populated area for unhoused people in Marin County, obtained a temporary restraining order against a Marin County Sheriffs Deputy hours before a planned tow on Friday. Oakland hospitality workers allege over $400,000 in minimum wage theft: suit NOTE: John Does attorney preferred to keep the plaintiffs name withheld. According to court documents, plaintiff John Doe started living out of an RV with a friend on Binford Road around October 2023. Neither owned the RV, but the owner allowed them to stay in it. Recently, Does friend received housing, and Doe allegedly did not yet because there is not enough housing for him yet. Doe was allegedly gainfully employedseeking to get housing and regularly communicates with Marin County Sheriff Deputy (MCSO) who is the lead deputy on Binford Road about his housing goals and current situation. On June 22, things took a dark turn when the deputy expressed deliberate indifference to Doe. According to the complaint, the MCSO deputy posted a parking violation notice alleging the vehicle had been parked longer than 72 hours and had expired registration. The deputy told Doe that the motorhome would be towed on Friday. The defendant was shocked because almost all RVs on Binford Road have expired registration, and, despite having expired registration, The RV has a valid parking permit issued by the County of Marin to be there. In 2022, Marin County gained millions of dollars in state funding to set up a series of programs dedicated to Binford Road. Some of these programs involved installing porta potties or connecting residents to case managers, and more relevantly, created a parking permit program that allows RVs with expired registration to park indefinitely on Binford Road, the complaint read. The defendants RV is not currently driveable. Since his registration expired, Binford Road was also the only legal place he can park. With no housing or shelter available, he sought a temporary restraining order on Thursday, one day before the MCSO deputy planned the RVs tow, the complaint read. Motion_For_Restraining_Order_v_Marin_County_Sheriffs_Department__candce-24-03859__0002.0Download On Friday, courts granted the temporary restraining order, claiming the conditions warrant at least a temporary halt of the seizure, as they believed the towing would result in a high likelihood of immediate and irreparable harm to him, the order read. As a result, Does motion for a temporary restraining order was granted solely to maintain the status quo until the earliest possible hearing on the merits of the motion. As of this report, a shearing is scheduled for July 18th at 1:30 p.m. KRON4 contacted the MCSO for a statement but has not heard back as of 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 KRON4. The 17th-century ring (top) with two others on the fingers of present-day canonesses - Cormac Begadon Something strange happened in 2022 when archaeologists dug at the site of a convent in Liege where English nuns had lived from 1656 until driven out in 1794. One find was a gold ring from the late 17th century. It bore a double-barred cross, the emblem of these Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre from their 15th-century foundation. When the archaeologist in charge showed the find to two visiting Canonesses, Sister Moira OSullivan, the Prioress, and Sister Diana Impey, they held out their hands to show the selfsame emblems on their ring-fingers. It was a case of archaeology coming to life. These nuns, known as the English Sepulchrines, set up shop in Liege because of the familiar difficulties of being a Catholic in England after the Reformation. Priests were subject to execution, and it was impossible to live a convent life without Mass. The English nuns not only survived abroad but their community grew. They also provided English girls with the education that the law forbade in England. The nuns were in a way self-ruling in the world within their voluntary enclosure. They included formidable women such as Susan Hawley (1622-1706), who began the exile community in 1642, and Mary Christina Dennett (1730-1781), a prioress admired by the people of Liege. The excavations at Liege unearthed many fragments of Chinese porcelain coffee and tea cups. Cormac Begadon, an historian at Durham University, who has studied the account books of the Liege convent, links this with an Enlightenment habit of taking coffee in small groups, even in religious communities. Id guess too that running a school entailed offering visitors these beverages, as expected in the polite society into which the nuns were sending the girls. Similarly the girls put on plays at school Arthur Murphys The Grecian Daughter was staged after their move to England. That great dividing point came at midnight on May 29 1794, when the canonesses attended Mass in their chapel, and before light, 49 sisters, two priests, two servants and 10 schoolgirls set off to escape the French revolutionary Terror. The key was turned and they never again saw the convent, which many had not left for years. Trouble had been brewing since the 1789 Revolution, and during upheavals in the new Republic of Liege troops were billeted in the convent speakhouse or parlour outside the women-only cloister. They demanded 12 quarts of beer, two loaves and a bottle of gin a day. When the nuns had to flee, their foresight and planning permitted the community to stick together and even enjoy a stream of new members through the hard years of the 1790s. An example of planning was the commissioning from a local carpenter of several hundred wooden trunks to transport their belongings, library and archives. They fled by coal-boat down the Meuse to Rotterdam and then in a ship called the Smallbridge for an expensive five-day passage to Gravesend. Their troubles were not quite so bad as those of other communities of nuns, Benedictines or Poor Clares, who were imprisoned before escaping to England. Here the Sepulchrines found a place for a convent and school through the generosity of the laity. Lord Stourton lent a big house. Michael McEvoy, the brother of a nun, gave 4,000 to acquire New Hall in Essex, where they stayed until leaving the school to lay administration in 2003. Dr Begadon sees the nuns transition from Liege to New Hall as a triumph of continuity over rupture. 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 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. 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. Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and X. The post Sacred Return: Tribal ceremony honors birth of prophesied white buffalo calf appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) The local emergency set in place Thursday by Fresno County is a financial countermeasure to the damage caused by the fire. According to Nathan Magsig, the local emergency declaration is how Fresno County is combating the financial burden of dealing with a wildfire. Evacuation orders, warnings updated as Fresno County wildfire continues to burn It is like a safety net, Fresno County District Supervisor Nathan Magsig said. This is an unbudgeted event thats taken place. Magsig represents the area of Fresno directly affected by the fire and has been closely involved with all measures to contain the fire. Magsig says by proclaiming a local emergency, Fresno County has put itself in a position to receive as much reimbursement as possible via State and Federal funds. The sheriffs department alone has accumulated about $399,000 in additional expenses with the overtime and added crews that weve had to bring on just to deal with a lot of the evacuation orders. According to Magsig over 1,500 personnel from across California and even outside the state are currently fighting the fire. Magsig says the local emergency proclamation could set a precedent for Fresno County if disaster relief funds are ever needed again. If at some point in the future, this is a FEMA disaster area, we can get reimbursed at higher rates, Magsig said. Magsig says reimbursing Fresno County taxpayers is a top priority. With these unexpected fires, this complex fire, we want to make sure we get reimbursed as much as possible from the state and federal government. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A Utah fire captain has been identified as the man who died in a rafting accident in Colorado earlier this week, according to officials. Captain Michael Harp, 54, was rafting along the Green River when he was involved in the accident, according to a press release from the Salt Lake City Fire Department. Harp was a second-generation firefighter and a 27-year veteran of the Salt Lake City Fire Department, the department said. PREVIOUS STORY: Sandy mans body pulled from Green River at Dinosaur National Monument in Colo. after rafting mishap An undated image of Captain Michael Harp of the Salt Lake City Fire Department. Captain Harp died in a rafting accident along Green River in June 2024. (Courtesy: Salt Lake City Fire Department) An undated image of Captain Michael Harp of the Salt Lake City Fire Department. Captain Harp died in a rafting accident along Green River in June 2024. (Courtesy: Salt Lake City Fire Department) An undated image of Captain Michael Harp of the Salt Lake City Fire Department. Captain Harp died in a rafting accident along Green River in June 2024. (Courtesy: Salt Lake City Fire Department) Captain Michael Harp dedicated his life to the service of not only the citizens of Salt Lake City, but also his fellow firefighters, officials said. His legacy of service, leadership, compassion, and contagious laughter will forever be remembered by all who knew him. The press release said Harp was deployed to Ground Zero on 9/11 and was a dedicated member of Utah Task Force 1. The Salt Lake City Fire Department has expressed its condolences to the family and asked that members of the public respect the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this difficult time, the fire department said. The National Park Service told ABC4.com that the Moffat County Coroners Office in Colorado confirmed that the man who died in Dinosaur National Monument earlier this week was identified as Michael Harp, 54. According to a June 28 press release from the National Park Service, Harp was on a private permitted trip on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument on Thursday afternoon. Around 4 p.m. on Thursday, officials were notified that a boat was pinned against a rock and that one person was missing from the group. When the boat was able to be unpinned, officials said Harp drifted downriver after losing his lifejacket. His body was found about 10 miles downstream from the incident at around 7:45 a.m. on Friday, June 28. Dinosaur National Monument is a park that is made up of more than 210,000 acres in both Utah and Colorado, the NPS said, and is known for whitewater rafting along the Green and Yampa rivers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two giant pandas have safely arrived in San Diego from China as part of the ongoing conservation partnership, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said Friday. The organization said the pandas, named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, will spend the next couple of weeks in a private habitat at the San Diego Zoo to acclimate to their new surroundings and wont be on view to the public during that time. Theyre being monitored closely by expert wildlife health and care teams who will determine when the pair are ready to meet the public, the organization said. The alliance said it looks forward to sharing more information, including a date about when they can be viewed, as soon as they can. The Associated Press noted that a farewell ceremony was held earlier this week before the pandas departed China. Yun Chuan, a 5-year-old male, has connections to California his mother was born in the San Diego Zoo in 2007, the AP said. Xin Bao is almost 4 years old and female. Shes described as gentle and witty. The pandas are part of the panda diplomacy program between Washington and Beijing. The San Francisco Zoo announced in April it was going to receive a pair of pandas. Agreements have also been signed to bring pandas to Madrid, while discussions are still ongoing about a potential partnership with Vienna. There has also been talk about returning pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Three giant pandas previously at the D.C. zoo were sent back to China last November after their 20-year stay in the U.S. expired. The expiration of the agreement was seen as a potential point of contention between the U.S. and China, which have been involved in panda diplomacy since former President Nixon struck the deal in 1972. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (KRON) The San Mateo County Sheriffs Office sought the publics help finding Ilir Meta, a missing hiker last seen near Huddart Park. Missing man found in NorCal forest after nine days The sheriffs office said 49-year-old Meta was last seen wearing a blue shirt. The hiker is described as being approximately 5-foot-6, 140 pounds, and has brown hair. Anybody who sees Meta was asked to call 9-1-1. Last week, another hiker was missing in Big Basin State Park. He was found nine days after he went missing, Cal Fire said. UPDATE: At 7 p.m., the SMCO said Meta was safely found. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Colorado Springs adopted on Friday a new four-year strategic plan outlining the city's long-term goals across five areas including public safety and housing. Celebrating at the City Administration Building downtown with councilmembers, city staff and members of the team who helped develop the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, Mayor Yemi Mobolade said the document sets a vision for Colorado Springs' future. "This plan ... guides our mission to serve our residents and enhance their quality of life. Two, this plan helps us prepare for future challenges and opportunities. And three, this plan prioritizes the city's spending and our investment, ensuring that limited funds are directed toward the most critical and the most impactful projects and services," he said. Officials say they formulated the plan using community input from Listening Tours, Solutions Team recommendations and recent public meetings. City charter requires the mayor to develop a strategic plan every four years. The document adopted Friday prioritizes city actions and outlines a path to aligning the annual budget with five priority areas of public safety, economic vitality, infrastructure, housing solutions and community activation. "This plan is the 'what,' about important issues, needs, challenges and opportunities for the community," Strategic Plan Manager Courtney Brown said in an interview after the document's formal adoption. "It shapes the 'how' how do we achieve needs? How do we meet needs? How do we meet the challenges of the moment, given all of the resources we have and those we don't have?" The strategic plan outlines several broad goals in each priority area. Every year, the city will create action plans called "strategic doing frameworks" to track the city's work and its progress on a number of items to achieve the overarching objectives outlined in the strategic plan. In January, Mobolade unveiled the 2024 action plan that lists 20 initiatives across all five priority areas. Colorado Springs is currently conducting its first-ever citywide community satisfaction survey, too. The survey will further inform Mobolade's administration about how to best serve residents and identify areas in which the city is succeeding, the mayor said Friday. "This (strategic) plan is not static. It's a living, breathing document and at the end of the day it will be shaped by feedback from residents," Mobolade said. The city has already started work on some strategic plan goals. Featured Local Savings Among other public safety objectives, Mobolade wants to develop new plans for public safety facilities, equipment, technology and staffing to meet current and future community need. To increase staffing, for example, the Colorado Springs Police Department now runs two concurrent academies to graduate more new police officers and get them into the community faster. Mobolade said Friday the Police Department is about 20 officers short of its authorized strength of around 818 officers because of the concurrent academies; last fall, the department was short around 70 to 80 officers. Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said new technology can also help the city reach its goal to reduce injury and damage caused by traffic crashes. A new mobile speed safety camera program the City Council recently approved will help catch speeders and reduce speed-related traffic injuries and deaths, Vasquez said. Mobolade touted the 2C road improvement tax 5.7 cents on every $10 purchase as a way to meet broad goals to continually invest in public infrastructure. Mobolade intends to ask voters in November to extend the tax for another five years. The City Council will vote at a future public meeting about whether to send the question to the ballot. In the area of housing, Mobolade said he supported proposed state initiatives that could allow affordable condo construction such as by reducing barriers to insurance costs for dealing with "construction defects" to increase the inventory of attainable housing in Colorado Springs, one of the strategic plan's housing goals. In this year's state Legislative session, two competing, varying perspectives on the issue of condo liability both died, but some versions of both are likely to be back before lawmakers next year. Among other economic vitality objectives, the strategic plan calls for bolstering collaboration and resources, and promoting and supporting local businesses by connecting industries with skilled workforces. Robin Lovewell was recently hired as the city's workforce administrator to help meet those goals. Mobolade also wants to enhance community activation, getting residents to participate in local initiatives. The 1,000 Neighborhood Gatherings initiative, launched in late March, asks residents to get to know their neighbors and strengthen existing relationships to reduce loneliness and isolation, and fortify mental stamina. Mobolade said Friday he also wants to implement more communitywide volunteer and mentoring programs to connect residents with one another. The strategic plan is available on the city's website at coloradosprings.gov/StrategicPlan. SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) Officials are looking for volunteers to fill sandbags after flooding in San Miguel County, New Mexico. San Miguel County and the City of Las Vegas are asking for help filling sandbags as the state doesnt have enough to distribute in the communities experiencing flash flooding. Demand is exceeding production, and time is of the essence. We need to keep pushing forward, stated a release from the City of Las Vegas. Water conservation, unemployment cases encouraged for Las Vegas residents From June 29 to July 5, volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Miguel County Public Road Works Yard. If youre interested in helping, email Sara.Sena@usda.gov. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. UPDATED STORY: Salt Lake Fire captain identified as man who died in Colorado rafting mishap SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The body of a 50-year-old man from Sandy, Utah, has been recovered after a rafting mishap on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado, according to the U.S. National Park Service. The man has not been publicly identified pending notification of family, but NPS officials say he was recovered at around 7:45 a.m. this morning after being reported missing Thursday afternoon, June 27, at around 4 p.m. Man, 65, found dead on Bonneville Salt Flats Park staff were initially notified that a raft was pinned on a rock in the rapid named Hells Half-Mile. The group was eventually able to unpin and secure the boat, but the person, now dislodged, unresponsive, and having lost his lifejacket, drifted downriver, stated the press release from NPS. Officials traveled through the Canyon of Lodore by raft while other officials traveled by car along Echo Park Road. Commercial rafting company Adrift notified park officials they found the body this morning, around 10 miles downstream from the original rescue site. The body was airlifted to the Moffat County Coroners Office. Dinosaur National Monument consists of over 210,000 acres in both Colorado and Utah. While the monument is best known for the dinosaur quarry and the fossils preserved there, the monument also contains spectacular canyons along the Green and Yampa rivers. These rivers are famous among whitewater rafters who travel here from across the globe to raft 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 ABC4 Utah. He was once a well-known runner in the Sarasota community. His 3,273-mile trek from San Fransisco to Key West in 2012 carrying an American flag to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project put him in the spotlight. And then, he ran from the law. John Pyle, 67, bowed his head and cried in a Sarasota courtroom Friday afternoon during testimony at his sentencing hearing eight years after he was arrested and charged with 30 counts of possessing child pornography. The former runner was apprehended almost two years ago by law enforcement in Mexico after being on the run since 2017. Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Thomas Krug sentenced Pyle to 15 years in prison, followed by 15 years of probation, a downward departure from the possible minimum sentence of 35 years. Krug also sentenced Pyle to five years in prison for failing to appear at a hearing while on bail to run concurrently to the 15-year sentence. Pyle will also register as a sex offender with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement when released. No trial: Sarasota runner caught in Mexico enters guilty plea in child pornography case In case you missed it: Sarasota judge denies increasing bond for man accused in fatal 2021 hotel shooting John Pyle makes a statement in court Friday during his sentencing hearing for 30 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of failure to appear. As per Florida law, he will be required to abide by 15 conditions as part of his probation as a sex offender, including a curfew, not being allowed to be around any minors under the age of 18 without adult supervision, and attend and successfully complete a sex offender program. Pyle gave an allocution during the hearing, telling the judge how ashamed and remorseful he was of his actions. "I will say in 2016, I was very much in denial of my actions," Pyle said. "I make no excuses because there aren't any. To be honest, I don't know how I ended up here." Pyle was arrested after police said they found 31 images of child pornography, 15 images containing sexual misconduct, and two images of child pornography involving bondage on Pyle's laptop after searching his residence in June 2016, Sarasota Police Department detectives alleged in a probable cause affidavit. Pyle had initially bonded out of the Sarasota County Jail for $90,000, according to jail records, before missing a scheduled pre-trial hearing in October 2017. Investigators later discovered the runner had boarded a Carnival Cruise Lines ship to Cozumel, Mexico, according to previous reporting. At the time, Pyle had surrendered his passport as part of the bond but was still able to board the cruise ship, where he got off in Mexico and didn't get back on the ship. Assistant State Attorney Ethan Dunn cross examines a witness during the sentencing hearing Friday for John Pyle. Pyle was charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography and one could of failure to appear. Assistant State Attorney Ethan Dunn said that the State asked for what it believed to be an appropriate sentence of 35 years in prison. While the judge departed, Dunn thinks the 15 years in prison, with the supervision afterwards and Pyle registering as a sex offender will "certainly protect this community." "We truly believe in our heart of hearts that this kind of stuff deserves significant sentences because of the effects that it has on the children in our community, and they're one of our most vulnerable members of our community and one of our most precious resources," Dunn said. Id also like to again thank the investigators at the Sarasota Police Department, their partners at the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office, and the U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force for their work in investigating Mr. Pyle and locating him so he could be held accountable for his actions," Dunn added. "Their efforts made the Courts sentence possible and made our community safer. Lisa Chittaro, defense attorney representing Pyle, asked the judge to consider the downward departure based on several factors, including Pyle's need for specialized treatment related to a personality disorder, his amenability to treatment, that the offense was committed in an unsophisticated manner, and it was an isolated incident. "Whereas we would have preferred a lower prison sentence, I appreciate the time and consideration the judge took into considering our reasons for departure and mitigation," Chittaro said. 'Self-imposed prison': Pyle gives statement during sentencing Pyle in his allocution described how he was mortified by his actions, and how he felt remorse and shame for what he'd done. The former runner, who had previously struggled with alcoholism and had been sober for 37 years according to testimony, said he'd been in a dark place in his life. He ended up being swept away. He found himself in the spotlight following his run across the U.S. and it was at that time he drifted away from his support system with Alcoholics Anonymous, he said. Though he didn't turn to drinking, the pornography was its own type of addiction. Pyle acknowledged that what he'd done wasn't a victimless crime. While he had nothing to do with the production of the images or the abuse the children picture most likely suffered, by viewing the images and possessing them, it continued to hurt the victims, Pyle said. Despite describing himself as being a man of character, someone with a lot of discipline and never running from anything from his life, Pyle explained he felt like he had no options when his attorney at the time told him he was going to spend his life in prison. When he found himself in the position of having a free cruise, he chose to board the ship. "I regretted it immediately," Pyle said, adding he felt he was in a self-imposed prison, constantly looking over his shoulder. If he had to do it again, Pyle said he wouldn't. "What I will say, a lot's been said already, I ask that you have mercy on me, your Honor, and give me another chance to be a member of society as I was before," Pyle said. "I'm not a threat to society, I never have been." Defense attorney calls psychologist, ex-wife and former SCSO forensic unit investigator Psychologist Eddy Regnier testifies for the defense Friday during the sentencing hearing for John Pyle. Pyle was charged with 30 counts of possessing child pornography and one count of failing to appear in court for fleeing to Mexico for five years. Dr. Eddy Regnier, a licensed forensic psychologist, evaluated Pyle in March and found that Pyle had some sexual maladjustments, a loose moral compass and noticeable personality problems. Regnier explained that personality is how people organize their worldview and are usually established during early adulthood. In Pyle's case, Regnier said he suffered from a need to be the center of attention, which played a role when Pyle suffered from a midlife crisis in his 50s. Pyle's ran across the country began to gain the attention of women who were much younger than him, the forensic psychologist explained. That attention led him to have affairs, and eventually divorce his wife of 40 years to be in a tumultuous relationship with a woman much younger than himself. When that relationship ended, Pyle was adrift and in a dark place at which point he stumbled into child pornography, Regnier said. In response to Regnier's assessment, Dunn pointed out that Pyle could have chosen to turn off his laptop and gone to law enforcement with what he'd found. Instead, he became obsessed, Dunn said. No matter how bad your life is, you can't go around shooting people, Dunn said. No matter how bad your life is, you can't go around raping people, you can't go looking at child pornography. Dunn focused part of his questioning on how the tests that were given to Pyle which Regnier used in his assessment were filled out directly by Pyle, who tended to act more charismatic to people he didn't know. As far as Pyle's remorse, Dunn pointed out that Pyle had fled to Mexico with no plans to return, and that Pyle's remorse was that he had been caught and was now facing the consequences. In Manatee County Court news: 2 cases closed in connection to Bradenton shooting that killed man, 23, in January 2023 More: Punta Gorda man sentenced to life in prison in 2018 North Port murder case As far as character witnesses, Chittaro called Pyle's sister, his ex-wife, a friend he'd made through alcoholics anonymous and an acquaintance who'd worked on Pyle's laptop multiple times including prior to his arrest in June 2016. Toninne Pyle said that while she would like the judge to let her ex-husband go today, she understands that he must be punished for what he'd done wrong. Toninne Pyle, like the others, described her ex-husband as being a good person, someone who helped others, and was a hard worker. Toninne Pyle, who'd been married to John Pyle for 40 years before their divorce in 2015, said it was about two years into their marriage that he started drinking constantly before checking into a treatment program that helped him get sober. John Pyle stands with his attorney, Lisa Chittaro, in court Friday as he is sentenced in court for 30 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of failure to appear. "He needs a second chance, he does," Toninne Pyle said. Chittaro also called Peter Enrico, a casual acquaintance who knew Pyle from the gym and had helped Pyle by working on his phone, cloud account and laptop several times. Enrico stated he's an expert in mainframe computers, and while not an expert in Dell laptops, can still help when issues arise. Enrico told the judge that just prior March of 2016, Pyle had sent his laptop to Enrico because it had frozen. In the week that Enrico had the laptop, he said he was able to unfreeze it and that he examined every inch of the computer, both to find the issue and out of curiosity. He told the judge he didn't find anything questionable or illegal. When asked by Dunn what he would have done if he did find the questionable material, Enrico said he'd give Pyle a stern talk, but it appeared he most likely wouldn't have gone to the police. In later testimony by a former Sarasota County Sheriff's investigator in the digital forensic unit who helped on the case, when Dunn asked if it would be possible to manually go through an entire laptop or phone, the forensic specialist said it would take forever. Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on X: @GabrielaSzyman3. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ex-fugitive Sarasota runner John Pyle sentenced to 15 years in prison The science behind splashdown an aerospace engineer explains how NASA and SpaceX get spacecraft safely back on Earth The science behind splashdown an aerospace engineer explains how NASA and SpaceX get spacecraft safely back on Earth Video above: NASA astronaut discusses extended stay in space (THE CONVERSATION) 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. The Apollo 15 capsule lands safely despite a parachute failure, Mid-Pacific Ocean, 7th August 1971. (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images) 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 (1,500 degrees Celsius). In the case of SpaceXs massive Starship rocket, this temperature even reaches 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (nearly 1,700 degrees Celsius). 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 colors, 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 (700 meters 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% 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 U.S. 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 (24 meters 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 the Dragon capsules 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. This article has been updated to correct that SpaceX has been recovering their Dragon capsules during splashdown. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Scientists make alarming discovery about mysterious ice shelf collapse: 'No one had observed the process until now' A new polar ice study from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder surfaced groundbreaking evidence of, well the ground breaking. What's happening? In the study, CIRES researchers sought to solve a decades-old mystery of the collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf in Antarctica, which had disintegrated suddenly without a completely clear cause in 2002 (though others have also put forward explanations). To do the study, the team set up high-tech time-lapse captures on another similar ice shelf, the George VI, also along the Antarctic peninsula. The time lapses utilized GPS mapping to measure the melting, and what they found was alarming: The ice in the center of a glacial lake sank 30 centimeters in a matter of months under the weight of the melted water, as the website Polar Journal reported. As the outlet noted, "Their study shows for the first time through observation that ice shelves not only bend under the weight of meltwater lakes, but also fracture." The study itself was published by Cambridge University Press in its Journal of Glaciology. Why is glacial collapse so concerning? While the study's findings are exciting for scientists looking to model glacial collapse more accurately, its underlying message also serves as a warning. "As [planetary] warming continues and melt rates increase, the accumulation of meltwater could cause vulnerable ice shelves to collapse relatively suddenly, making way for inland glaciers to flow into the ocean, which in turn contributes to sea level rise," the Polar Journal explained. Indeed, the site wrote, several more ice shelves have been identified as particularly high-risk for collapse, particularly the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica and the Brunt Ice Shelf in the Weddell Sea. In a press release, scientist Alison Banwell explained that "ice shelves are extremely important for the Antarctic Ice Sheet's overall health as they act to buttress or hold back the glacier ice on land. Scientists have predicted and modeled that surface meltwater loading could cause ice shelves to fracture, but no one had observed the process in the field, until now." Collapsing ice shelves and rising sea levels endanger coastal communities, threatening homes and livelihoods. What's being done to prevent future collapses? In addition to improved modeling and monitoring, one Dutch company is even looking to add ice back to glaciers as a temporary solution. Ultimately, the brunt of slowing global heating and preventing the acceleration of melting should fall on governments and large corporations. But individuals looking to do their part can find a number of ways to get involved on climate issues, from voting for pro-climate candidates in upcoming election cycles, to growing their own food, switching to an electric vehicle, and more. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Scott Community College celebrated graduates of its high school equivalency program. The graduation ceremony took place at Davenport North High Schools auditorium. David Hines gave the keynote speech. Hines graduated from the program in 2019 and has started his own apparel brand since then. Hines was recognized as the Iowa Literary Councils outstanding learner of the 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) A Scranton man has been sentenced for possessing a firearm during a road rage incident after previously being convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that 28-year-old Victorious Minter from Scranton was sentenced to 100 months in prison for a firearm offense. According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam on January 5 2022 Minter had a loaded Glock 22 .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 24 rounds in an extended magazine. He possessed the gun after previously being convicted of a crime that was punishable by more than one year in prison, officials note. DUI checkpoints set in Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney Karam said during the trial evidence showed Minter waving a gun at another driver on North Scranton Expressway during a road rage incident. The release states after another driver called 911 officers conducted a traffic stop on Minter and during the stop discovered a loaded pistol in the car with a two-year child in the backseat. United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani sentenced Minter to 100 months in 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 PAhomepage.com. Top Democrats, including elected officials, political operatives, and major party donors want President Joe Biden to step aside immediately, many of them say for a candidate who can more effectively make the case against Donald Trump, and also project the ability to do the hardest job on the planet. The problem is none of them know how to turn this dream into reality, and none of these Democratic Party players or bigwigs know how they would successfully pressure a famously stubborn Biden into early retirement. We are so screwed, one senior Democratic state official in a key swing-state vented to Rolling Stone just hours after Thursday nights presidential debate ended. Team Biden had advocated for the CNN event, the first 2024 in-person forum between Biden and former President Trump, banking on an expectations-defying performance that would not only best Trump, but move a presidential race that has remained nerve-fryingly close in the polls for months now. Instead, they got a Biden performance that was widely and furiously panned within the upper crust of his own party. Less than an hour into the televised debate, an array of Democratic lawmakers and Biden allies on Capitol Hill were already texting and calling one another, pitching different Hail Mary ideas for how to get Biden to step aside and let Vice President Kamala Harris (or maybe just anyone else) face Trump in the November election. As one Democratic strategist put it, Thursdays debate was slightly better than Apollo getting killed by the Russian in Rocky IV. The stakes of the 2024 contest could not be higher, for reasons Biden himself has frequently underscored. Trump has been openly campaigning as an authoritarian, vowing to seize dictatorial powers and to seek retribution against his political enemies, while threatening to use the military to round up and deport tens of millions of people currently in the United States. What the fuck are we supposed to do now? one Biden administration official rhetorically asked this publication early Friday morning, despairing at the likelihood of Trumps return to power. One Democratic lawmaker relayed to Rolling Stone on Thursday night that several legislators were already talking quietly about staging an intervention in the hopes of landing an alternate nominee by the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August. This lawmaker, however, conceded what more than a dozen other sources in the party elite also admit. For all the fury and intense desire to dump Biden, no one seems to know how to convince him to bow out, and nobody seems to know how to force him out in a way that wouldnt risk tearing the Democratic Party to shreds. The intra-party struggle also risks handing the keys to the presidency back to a convicted felon and attempted coup leader who has pledged to turn much of the federal government into a weapon of revenge against his enemies and millions of immigrants, for starters. There is a conspicuous dearth of elected Democrats including senators and congresspeople who privately absolutely want Biden to get out of the picture who are willing to come out and publicly call for an end to Bidens reelection bid. That is in part because no one wants to be the first to do it and cross the partys leader, says another Democratic lawmaker on Capitol Hill. Of the notably desperate ideas being kicked around the corridors of Democratic power in Washington, D.C., theres one that would require recruiting Bidens former boss for their pressure campaign. Maybe Obama will save us, one Democratic member of Congress hoped, in late-night written communications reviewed by Rolling Stone. This is in reference to an extremely preliminary plan that, according to two sources familiar with the matter, some liberal lawmakers and their advisers have discussed since Thursday. The idea is for influential Democrats to try to convince former President Barack Obama to meet with Biden and urge him to step aside soon for the sake of the nation. As of Friday morning, the sources did not know how Obama felt about Bidens debate performance or chances of beating Trump this year, nor did they know if a plan like this would even work. However, Democratic lawmakers and others familiar with this new idea posit that Obama with his close relationship with the sitting president, his former VP is one of a tiny number of people on Earth who might have even the slimmest chance of convincing Biden. (Obama, for his part, posted a half-hearted defense of Biden on X on Friday: Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know.) The upwards of a dozen sources, who requested anonymity in order to speak candidly, spoke to Rolling Stone during and in the aftermath of the debate. The sources include members of Congress and their staff, veteran Democratic consultants, fundraisers, and Biden administration officials. On Friday, Biden appeared at a rally before supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and attempted to put the embarrassing CNN debate behind him. Speaking from a teleprompter, Biden appeared a far more passable candidate. He acknowledged his poor performance but vowed to persevere in the campaign: When you get knocked down, you get back up! Biden said, insisting he is still capable of doing the job of president. I know Im not a young man, he said, admitting: I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I know. I know how to tell the truth. I know how to do this job. For now, many party elders are counseling calm and patience. Biden is also getting support from Sen. John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Democrat who easily defeated Dr. Oz in 2022, despite what was widely perceived to have been a damaging debate performance as Fetterman was recovering from a stroke. I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder, he posted on X. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record. Fettermans message to fellow Democrats? Chill the fuck out. A Biden campaign official tells Rolling Stone: Of course hes not dropping out. He just gave a very forceful speech at a rally in N.C. with a fired up crowd. The official adds that the Biden campaign also saw its best grassroots fundraising day since we launched [in] April 2023. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone SD water has lots of lithium, study says, as research into health effects continues (Getty images) Much of South Dakotas drinking water has more naturally occurring lithium in it than the federal government preliminarily advises as a healthy level, according to numbers in a recent study released by the U.S. Geological Survey. Lead study author Melissa Lombard hopes the data contributes to further research. Lithium is becoming recognized as potentially having impacts to human health, Lombard told South Dakota Searchlight. But first we need to identify the amount people are being exposed to through drinking water and study how different concentration levels may impact them. This is a first step in the process, and this will inform public health studies. The Environmental Protection Agency does not currently regulate lithium but is gathering information for potential future regulations. Meanwhile, the agency has established a health reference level indicating that concentrations above 10 micrograms per liter may be unhealthy. The agency stresses that health reference levels are not final determinations and that the science on lithiums health effects is still evolving. The USGS study used data collected between 1989 and 2020 from more than 18,000 drinking water supply wells in the United States. South Dakota was among 10 Western or Great Plains states with widespread concentrations greater than 30 micrograms per liter three times the EPAs health reference level. More recent data shows about 85% of South Dakota drinking water samples taken in 2023 for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had lithium concentrations above the health reference level. Lithium is used in medications to treat bipolar disorder and depression, and low levels of naturally occurring lithium in drinking water have been linked to positive health effects, such as reduced suicide mortality and other mental-health benefits, the USGS said. But lithium has also been linked to potentially negative outcomes with autism and thyroid hormone levels. A map showing estimated lithium concentrations in groundwater that supplies public and private drinking water wells across the nation. The estimates are from a study led by the USGS. (Courtesy of USGS) Among data collected for the EPA by the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems, the drinking water tested in Wall had the highest level of lithium in the state, at 238 micrograms per liter. West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water System operates four wells in the Wall, Quinn and Creighton areas that provide about 15% of the systems supply. The system also draws water from the Missouri River via the Mni Wiconi pipeline. West River/Lyman-Jones Manager Jake Fitzgerald said in an emailed statement that the system is complying with EPA testing requirements and plans to share results in its annual water quality report. He said customers should contact their physician if they are concerned about health implications from testing results. He said his house is connected to the system, and my family and I drink water directly from the tap on a daily basis and will continue to do so. Fitzgerald added that if the EPA establishes a national primary drinking water standard for lithium, the water system will evaluate our options to address it and ensure drinking water meets the standard. Levels of 100 micrograms per liter or more were also reported in the city of Huron, in the Britton-based Brown-Day-Marshall Rural Water System, in the Beresford-based South Lincoln Rural Water System, and in the city of Aberdeen. A drinking water system in Utah has the highest reported lithium levels in the country, according to EPA data, at 960 micrograms per liter. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post SD water has lots of lithium, study says, as research into health effects continues appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. The Oak Ridge fire burning in Pueblo County grew to 1,147 acres Friday evening as the blaze persists with zero percent containment nearly a week since its start. According to the Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management Team, the wildfire about 3 miles northwest of Beulah grew by 63 acres overnight Thursday into Friday morning. As the fire continues to grow, resources to battle the blaze have increased as well to 445 personnel working the scene Friday morning, the Facebook page states. The fire was initially spotted June 22 in Pueblo County, sparked by a lightning strike, officials said. According to the U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program. Officials said moderate smoke was expected around Beulah early Friday and was anticipated to increase into the afternoon as winds from the west ramp up. Featured Local Savings For community members curious about updates regarding the fire, a fire information board has been made available at the Westcliffe Farmers Market. Air tankers dropped fire retardant and helicopters used water on the blaze Thursday. Incident Commander Casey Cheesbrough said crews worked to set up both direct and indirect hand and dozer fire lines along the fire's perimeter. In a media briefing Thursday, Troy Mueller, operations detections chief for the Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management Team, said the biggest challenge has been the inaccessibility in steep rugged areas. "We are not sure how long this fire is going to burn," Mueller said Thursday. Mandatory evacuation orders for residents along Middle Creek Canyon Road remained in place Friday. Residents of Vine Mesa, Cascade Avenue, Pine Avenue and Beulah Highlands Road remain under a pre-evacuation status. The U.S. Forest Service announced a closure beginning Wednesday of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands due to the impacts of the Oak Ridge fire, according to a social media announcement from the agency. According to Forest Service officials, the closure will be in effect through July 26, unless rescinded, the post states. Sean Diddy Combs embarrassed Miami Beach; city leaders were right to dis-honor him | Opinion Recent allegations surrounding music mogul Sean Diddy Combs and an ongoing FBI probe into allegations of assault and human trafficking have rightfully led the city of Miami Beach to rescind honors previously bestowed on the controversial hip-hop entrepreneur. As much of social media has done, Miami Beach officially canceled Combs. In 2016, the Miami Beach Commission proclaimed Oct. 13 as Sean Diddy Combs Day and then-Mayor Philip Levine presented Combs with the proclamation in recognition of his contributions to music and entrepreneurship at the start of the third third REVOLT Music Conference. That was then, this is now. Upon reflection, the Mayor and City Commission have determined that recognizing Oct. 13, 2016 as Sean Diddy Combs Day is no longer in harmony with the citys values of safety, community well-being, and respect, and wish to rescind the proclamation, a statement said. Commissioner David Suarez sponsored the resolution. It was a good call for the city. New York City has also taken back its key to Combs. Its well-known that federal agents raided Combs Star Island mansion just three months ago, with helicopters and drones transmitting footage of the operation for hours as armed agents removed items from the lavish waterfront property. The sex trafficking alleged in lawsuits to have occurred within the mansions walls, nestled in the famous Miami Beach island community, must have caused city leaders significant unease. Though Combs has yet to be charged, the nature of the allegations warrants serious examination, which current city officials undertook. In 2016, the year Miami Beach honored Comb, security camera footage from a Los Angeles hotel made public last month showed Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the hotels hallway. Combs publicly acknowledged the attack in an apology video. Ventura alleged in a federal lawsuit in November that Combs raped and physically abused her, including punching, beating, kicking and stomping her throughout their relationship. Other women have come forward with similar stories. Combs can no longer peddle the affable rap millionaire persona. He has literally been shunned in the court of public opinion, and Miami Beach commissioner did the same. Good for them. While the city could not have foreseen these events at the time, a basic review of Combs conduct would have raised questions. Combs reputation as the co-founder of Bad Boy Records and veteran of rapper violence and at least one famed 1999 New York nightclub shooting involving his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez has earned him a sketchy reputation. But he is rich and famous and said he loved coming to Miami Beach, so much he bought his Star Island mansion. The predicament Miami Beach leaders found themselves in highlights why counties, cities, and municipalities should avoid bestowing accolades on living celebrities whose merit is simply being a celebrity. Honoring the living and, sometimes, even the dead is an inexact science. It is difficult to assess someones full legacy while they are alive. And no matter how thoroughly cities research an honorees background, new information that changes perceptions and contexts can always surface years later. The new allegations against Combs are a prime example. We get that Combs was a part-time wealthy and famous Miami Beach resident who brought cache to the city. Back in 2020, Combs caused a sensation when he started handing out $50 bills and gift cards during an event to benefit Overtown. The Sean Combs Foundation helped stage the event. But moving forward, Miami Beach would be wise to more thoroughly vet potential honorees of proclamations or keys to the city and consider character in addition to accomplishments or fame. Revoking the honor is an acknowledgment that the allegations, if true, undermine any contribution previously recognized by Combs in the city of Miami Beach. For city leaders, protecting the citys reputation must take precedence over ephemeral accolades or temporary prestige. In cleaning up a predecessors mistake, Miami Beach leaders have made a prudent corrective move. Click here to send the letter. Search and rescue operations continue in Dnipro after Russian strike; two people rescued photo As of the morning of Saturday, 29 June, search and rescue operations continue in a high-rise building in the city of Dnipro damaged by a Russian missile attack, and two people have been rescued. Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Details: As of the morning, the number of casualties has not increased: one person has been reported killed and 12 wounded. The Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that apartments from the seventh to the tenth floors were destroyed in one stairwell, and eleven cars were damaged. During the search and rescue operations, the fire was extinguished and 190 tonnes of construction waste were removed. Background: On the evening of 28 June, the Russians launched a missile attack on a high-rise building in Dnipro. Support UP or become our patron! Seaside Heights carousel is back! You can start riding it this coming week SEASIIDE HEIGHTS - Dr. Floyd L. Moreland wondered if he'd ever ride his beloved carousel again. Yet there he was on Friday, among the first group of riders to spin along on the refurbished merry-go-round in Seaside Heights that bears his name: the 1910 Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Carousel. Moreland, 81, who lives in nearby Ortley Beach, uses a walker these days, so he stood next to the prancing carousel horse emblazoned with his name, as Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz operated the ride. As the carousel spun and its organ played, people snapped photos, took videos, smiled and waved at those onboard. "The organ sounds great," an emotional Moreland said after getting off after the first ride, which he shared with Mayor Anthony Vaz, borough council members, Seaside Heights public works department employees, members of Ocean County's Board of Commissioners and Seaside Heights' Historical Society trustees, and New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suarez. Of the ride's opening, Moreland said, "it's a dream come true." "It's exciting," Mayor Vaz said. "I feel like a lot of pressure has been lifted. The end result is, history is here, and history has been made." Vaz and Suarez cut the blue ribbon to "open" the ride with a pair of silver ceremonial scissors lent to Seaside Heights by neighboring Seaside Park. Afterwards, they draped the ribbon around Moreland's shoulders. The ride will open to the public at 6 p.m. July 3. "It's not just an amusement ride, it's something iconic," Administrator Vaz said of the ride. Many in attendance June 28 remembered riding it when they were children, including county Commissioners Gary Quinn and Frank Sadeghi. "When I was a young kid, I came over and road on the carousel," Quinn said. Seaside Heights Historical Society President Joe Verderosa said his vision is "that it can be enjoyed by people for another 100 years." Before taking a spin on the carousel during the first ride, Verderosa and other members of the historical society presented Christopher Vaz with an an award for his hard work making sure the carousel was acquired and then refurbished. "The word that describes Chris most is sacrifice," Verderosa said. The carousel house will also house of museum of Seaside Heights history, which Mayor Vaz said he hopes can also include some Ocean County history. A wall in the carousel house is adorned with post cards and other visual displays of the borough's history; the rest of the museum is expected to open at a future date. Verderosa said the ride will be open all year round, and added that he hoped it can be an attraction to draw visitors to the boardwalk's northern end. Guests enjoy first ride on the Seaside Heights carousel in its new building at the north end of the Seaside Heights boardwalk. The carousel, which is known as the Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Carousel, will be open for rides by the public starting July 3, 2024. "Thank you for your vision that this actually came true today," Suarez said. "I want to thank the residents as well. It was your voices that were heard." It's been 10 years since Casino Pier's owners, the Storino family, announced that they were closing down the carousel and planned to sell the historic ride. Ridership had declined and maintenance costs were high. The public was galvanized by the thought that the historic ride would no longer grace the boardwalk, and Seaside Heights officials acted. The borough was able to preserve the ride through a land swap that allowed Casino Pier, badly damaged by 2012's Superstorm Sandy, to rebuild part its structure on the beach. The borough received the merry-go-round, and a parking lot on the northern end of the boardwalk between Sampson and Carteret avenues where the carousel house was built. "I celebrated my tenth year working for Seaside Heights last week, and it has been nine years working on this," Administrator Vaz said. "Good things take a long time," said Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore, who, along with his wife, Joanne, were among the first riders on the carousel. Gilmore, then borough attorney, and former Mayor William Akers came up with the idea for the land swap with Casino Pier. Gilmore helped the borough obtain state approval for the swap, and then defended Seaside Heights from a lawsuit that challenged it. Ocean County agreed in 2016 to donate a large parcel of wooded Toms River wetlands in the "compensation" land that Seaside Heights proposed to preserve to compensate for the development of a portion of the beach. The carousel was still at Casino Pier when patrons could last ride it, in early April 2019. It was then dismantled for a lengthy restoration. Volunteers restored its Wurlitzer organ and a specialized company, Carousels & Carvings, refurbished its mechanics. Christopher Vaz traveled to Ohio three times to check on the ride, and Verderosa accompanied him twice. The borough received its state permit to operate the ride in mid-June, following an inspection. Seaside Heights acquired the ride in 2017 after agreeing to swap the 1.36 acres of beach with Casino Pier. The carousel is named after Moreland, who oversaw the restoration of the badly deteriorated ride in the 1980s. His friends and family members spent countless weekends inside the then-unheated carousel building in the offseason, painstakingly repairing the historic structure. Moreland and his late partner, Elaine Egues, also operated the Magical Carousel Shoppe, a boardwalk business, for nearly 30 years. Built in 1910, the ride was originally located at Burlington Island Park near the Delaware River. A 1928 fire destroyed most of that amusement park but only damaged the carousel. It was fixed, disassembled and moved to Seaside Heights during the Great Depression. G.A. Dentzel and Charles I.D. Looff were pioneer carousel manufacturers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At least 18 figures more than a dozen horses, a lion and a tiger on the Seaside carousel were made by Dentzel between the 1890s and 1910 in Philadelphia, according to a carousel history compiled by the Seaside Park Historical Society. Other figures on the ride were made by Looff. If the borough had not acted, it is likely the ride's animals would have been auctioned off individually. Seaside Heights paid over $1 million for restoration of the machine, and another $2.3 million for the new pavilion to house it (in both cases, assisted by grants $750,000 from Green Acres for the building, and $750,000 in matching grants from the New Jersey Historic Trust for the carousel itself). Local artist Marie deSaules sanded and then repainted several of the horses that had sustained damage over the years. Moreland has an image of a colorful carousel horse embedded in the sidewalk in front of his Ortley Beach home. He said neighborhood children have been asking him for years if the carousel would ever return. "I kept telling them, 'It's going to open again.' Now I have an opening date," he said with a smile. Jean Mikle covers Toms River, Seaside Heights and several other Ocean County towns. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seaside Heights carousel opens to the public July 3 For 50 years, Americans counted on Roe v. Wade to protect not only the right to abortion, but the ability to receive lifesaving care for miscarriages and the chance to build families through fertility care. Roe was never perfect. For too many, it was a right in name only a right that slipped increasingly out of reach as Republicans chipped away at abortion access in states across the country. Then, two years ago, anti-abortion Supreme Court justices handpicked by Donald Trump overturned Roe once and for all. Today, forty percent of women of reproductive age live in a state with an abortion ban. Every day, theres another story of the chaos and cruelty these bans have caused like the story of Ryan Hamilton, a father in Texas who recounted the horror of finding his wife unconscious and bleeding on their bathroom floor because she had been denied care for a miscarriage. Just as heartbreaking is the knowledge that an entire generation of young people have lost the right to determine their own lives and futures. Donald Trump has bragged about being proudly the person responsible for ending Roe v. Wade. Make no mistake: He bears responsibility for flipping the balance of the Court, and for everything that has happened as a result. But Trump isnt alone. Every mainstream Republican candidate running for a seat in the United States Senate would be a vote for a national abortion ban. And they wont stop there. In the last month alone, Republican senators have blocked Democratic legislation to protect access to birth control and IVF. These positions are deeply unpopular and disqualifying to voters. So just like Donald Trump, their only hope of getting elected is to shamelessly lie and hide their records. We cant let that happen. Just a few weeks ago, Florida Senator Rick Scott released a campaign ad saying, "You can count on this grandpa to always protect IVF." The only problem? The day before, he voted against the Right to IVF Act, which would have done just that. This fall, voters in Florida have the chance to vote to protect abortion rights and elect Senator Scotts opponent, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who believes decisions about pregnancy should be made by families and doctors, not politicians. And then theres Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who introduced legislation for a national abortion ban. Texas women have died because of abortion bans in Senator Cruzs home state. Now, he wants to end reproductive freedom for Californians, Michiganders, and New Yorkers. Thats why its so crucial to support Colin Allred, who has vowed hell never stop fighting to repair the damage abortion bans have caused. The list goes on and on: Republican candidates Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, Tim Sheehy in Montana, Sam Brown in Nevada, and Bernie Moreno in Ohio all have one thing in common: They oppose abortion rights. During his unsuccessful 2022 run, McCormick backed an abortion ban with zero exceptions for rape or incest. Sheehy also supports a federal abortion ban. Brown said, Abortion is not an issue of choice. It is an issue of life and I am proudly pro-life. Moreno doesnt believe in any exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother. Each of their opponents Senators Bob Casey, Jon Tester, Jacky Rosen, and Sherrod Brown has a long track record of fighting to protect access to abortion. In state after state - Kansas, Michigan, California, Ohio, Vermont, and Kentucky - when voters have had the chance to weigh in on this issue, theyve sent a powerful message: Keep politicians out of our medical care. They used their power to either protect abortion access or defeat anti-abortion rights efforts and they won. Every single time. This fall, voters will have the chance to do the same in states across the country. We have to take on those fights and win and we cant stop there. To protect and expand reproductive rights, we need to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and we need a Democratic U.S. Senate and U.S. House. Millions of Americans are counting on us to suit up and head to the polls: Teenage sexual assault survivors in Louisiana, pregnant women enduring non-viable pregnancies in Alabama, and people in Mississippi who arent ready to be parents. Our votes will be the difference between repairing the damage caused by overturning Roe or allowing a national abortion ban to be signed into law by President Trump. The good news is, as voters have proven again and again, when we organize and vote together, there is no stopping us. SOMERSWORTH U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen visited Jules Bisson Park in Somersworth on Wednesday morning to highlight the significance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Program. Deputy Mayor/Councilor David Witham welcomed Senator Shaheen to Somersworth and thanked the Senator for her support of LWFC program funds. He also remarked about the significant improvements to other City recreational areas such as the Noble Pines Splash Pad, Mast Point Dam kayak launch and other associated upgrades made possible with LWCF Grant funds. Councilors Nancie Cameron, Rick Michaud, and Don Austin were also in attendance to thank the Senator for her support throughout the years. The Senator offered remarks about her involvement with the City to include working with former Mayor George Bald and others in organizing the start-up of Somersworths International Childrens Festival. The Senator was joined by State officials, City Councilors and City staff for a tour of the park improvements, many of which would not have been possible with LWCF Grant Funding. Eric Feldbaum, Community Recreation Bureau Administrator at the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources presented Senator Shaheen with the Presidents Award of Merit from the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers (NASORLO) in recognition of her continued support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the development and management of grants in the program in New Hampshire and throughout the United States. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen visited Jules Bisson Park in Somersworth on Wednesday morning, June 26, 2024. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is Americas most important program to conserve irreplaceable lands and improve outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the Nation. In 2019, the City received $45,000 in federal assistance through a 50/50 matching Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to complete several improvements & upgrades to the Jules Bisson park. The total project cost was $90,000. As part of the grant project, the old playground structure was removed in July 2020 and replaced with vibrant new playground components with a river theme aspect to them. A new covered gazebo was installed in July 2020. The City installed 4 park benches and an ADA pathway to connect the parking area to the new gazebo and the ADA ramp to the playground structures. The City worked with staff from the NH Division of Parks and Recreation including Eric Feldbaum, LWCF Community Recreation Bureau Administrator, Bill Gegas, LWCF Grant Coordinator and Janet Horvath, LWCF Compliance Specialist. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Senator Shaheen visits City of Somersworth Jules Bisson Park Separate water fountains for Black people still stand in the South thinly veiled monuments to the long, strange, dehumanizing history of segregation No one knows for certain when public facilities like bathrooms and drinking fountains were separated by race. But starting in the 1890s, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized separate but equal in Plessy v. Ferguson, the Jim Crow laws and customs that emerged required Black and white people to be separated in virtually every part of life. They used separate restrooms, sat in separate sections on trains and buses and drank from separate water fountains. Even in death, Black and white people were buried in separate cemeteries. Though the racist practice of separate accommodations was officially outlawed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, relics from the past still linger today. In Ellisville, Mississippi, for instance, two water fountains remain standing in front of the Jones County Courthouse. When they were first built in the late 1930s, the words white and colored designated which fountain was to be used by which race. Over the years, those words were covered up by different ceremonial plaques. But for some Black Ellisville residents, the fountains still stir up painful memories of second-class citizenship. During public hearings in 2020 to determine whether the fountains should be removed, then 68-year-old Donnie Watts told the County Board of Supervisors that he had lived there for most of his life. I got told once to get away from that fountain because I, as a 6-year-old, was drinking out of the white fountain, Watts said. Can you imagine what a child, that age, how they felt when they were told that they cant drink out of that fountain and they had to drink out of another fountain that said colored? Separate and unequal In the 2001 Behind the Veil project, Duke University historians and researchers conducted interviews with over 300 Black and white people to document what day-to-day life was like during the Jim Crow era of legal segregation. One of those interviewed was Mary Sive, who in 1947 was 24 years old and lived in Montclair, New Jersey. That year, she was traveling through the Deep South when she saw water fountains labeled colored and white for the first time. Men drinking from segregated water fountains in 1960. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images This was not outright cruelty such as lynching or denial of voting rights, she said. It was not silly, as it at first seemed to me. I realized that for segregation to stick, it had to intrude into the simplest everyday activity such as taking a drink of water. It was that very banality that brought home what it must be like to be colored. Sive said she chose not to drink from either fountain. The signs were not the only thing that separated the fountains. The fountains for whites were often more modern, offered some form of filtering from contaminants found in tap water and were capable of providing cold water. The colored water fountains were always worse, generally older and less well kept and usually found in the basement or outdoors. More often than not, there were no Black facilities. Bloody Tuesday In my view as a sociologist who studies race and ethnicity, part of the legal and systematic effort to maintain Black subservience was based in part on the white peoples fear that formerly enslaved Black people would be rebellious and unwilling to stay on the lower levels of society. Its not surprising, then, that peaceful protests against the repressive structure of Southern society was met with a violent reaction from Southern law enforcement officers. On June 9, 1964, for instance, Rev. T.Y. Rogers organized a march with the NAACP to protest segregated drinking fountains and restrooms in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The civil rights group had planned to march to the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse but barely made it a few steps from where they started at the First African Baptist Church before they were assaulted, beaten, arrested and tear-gassed by police officers, who used cattle prods and wooden batons to subdue the demonstration. Known as Bloody Tuesday, the day saw the hospitalization of 33 Black men, women and children and the arrests of 94 others on charges of unlawful assembly. That tragedy has been largely overshadowed by another protest march in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery that occurred nearly a year later on March 7, 1965. In what became known as Bloody Sunday, more than 600 marchers who were demanding equal voting rights, including John Lewis, then chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and future congressman, were beaten and arrested by state troopers led by segregationist Public Safety Commissioner Eugene Bull Connor. But unlike Bloody Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, news photographers and television cameras captured the images of Black marchers being beat by white police officers. Those images triggered national outrage. President Lyndon B. Johnson, left, shakes hands with Martin Luther King Jr. after signing the Civil Rights Act on July 3, 1964, at the White House. AFP via Getty Images But enactment of civil rights laws didnt mean the end of the fight. After Donnie Watts testimony about his experience with discrimination at age 6, Jones County voters decided to keep the two separate fountains in a 2020 referendum. Even though the fountains dont work any longer and the words white and colored remain covered by ceremonial plaques, Watts said in a published interview that his memory of them remains clear. I can see right through those plaques. I know what they say, Watts told the Hattiesburg American. If they were so gung-ho about keeping those fountains, why dont they take those plaques off where everybody can see the words colored and white? 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: Rodney Coates, Miami University Read more: Rodney Coates 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. An apartment block is damaged by the June 28 Russian missile attack, Dnipro, east-central Ukraine. Russian troops attacked a residential building in Dnipro with a rocket. The Interior Ministry says that one person died and 12 people were injured, including a baby and a pregnant woman. The flats from the 8th to 11th floor were destroyed and 11 cars were damaged. -/Ukrinform/dpa At least seven people died in a Russian missile attack on the city of Vilniansk in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region and a further 11 were seriously injured, including three children, the authorities reported. President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X: "Unfortunately, the number of victims could rise." Zaporizhzhya Governor Ivan Fodorev said that an "object of the critical infrastructure" and several residential blocks had been damaged. He did not elaborate. The industrial city of Dnipro was hit on Friday, with one person killed and three others injured. Ukrainian cities and towns were being attacked daily, Zelensky said. "We will destroy the terrorists where they are, eliminate Russian launch ramps, hit them with long-range weapons and increase the number of modern anti-aircraft system in Ukraine," he added. (KRON) A San Francisco man is facing federal charges for wrongfully funneling over $1.2 million from his employer into his bank account for personal expenses, U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI San Francisco announced on Friday. San Jose man attempts to rob 2 banks within 2 days using notes: PD According to the indictment, Tony Archuleta-Perkins, 48, started a non-profit organization under his name called Murrieta Valley High School 1994 (MVHS 1994) in 2013. From 2017 to 2023, Archuleta-Perkins worked for two San Francisco law firms. He eventually landed a CFO position in one of them, which gave him access to the law firms end-to-end payments, the indictment read. From at least May 2018 through December 2023, the indictment alleges that Archuleta-Perkins made false and fraudulent payments to his non-profit (MVHS 1994) that were never authorized and were not for any legitimate business purpose. Once the funds were funneled into MVHS 1994, the indictment alleges Archuleta-Perkins would either make direct payments to vendors and accounts from his non-profit organization or write a check to his personal bank account. The indictment alleges that on at least one occasion, Archuleta-Perkins deposited a $41,663 U.S. Treasury check made out to one of the law firms to MVHS 1994, to which he later wrote himself a check for the same amount. The indictment further alleges that Archuleta-Perkins used the stolen money on Best Buy and Home Depot credit cards and towards the purchase, renovation, and improvement of at least three properties in California. Archuleta-Perkins indictment charges him with eight counts of bank fraud and five counts of money laundering. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, but if convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in 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 KRON4. A Colorado Springs man with a history of being in trouble for explosives is now facing federal charges for a downtown explosion in January that damaged a business. On Friday, 69-year-old Edward Kiley was indicted on two federal charges tied to the Colorado Springs Police Departments investigation of an explosion near 548 East Costilla Street in Colorado Springs on Jan. 12. The Gazette reached out to the U.S. Attorneys Office for Colorado for additional information regarding the federal case; the office gave no comment. Back in January, Colorado Springs police received a report of an explosion near downtown. Upon arrival, officers found several items that hinted at the use of an improvised explosive device. The department's Regional Explosives Unit subsequently took over the investigation. Investigators conducted a search of Kiley's residence in the 700 block of East Vermijo Avenue on Jan. 19. Three days later police requested and received an arrest warrant for Kiley. On Jan. 23, Kiley was located and taken into custody without incident. In an arrest affidavit obtained in February, police said the explosion was believed to have damaged all four windows and a garage door of a nearby business. Surveillance footage that captured the blast showed what appeared to be a make-shift explosive balloon getting caught on a fence before detonating. Featured Local Savings In April, Kiley pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including arson, criminal mischief, controlled substance possession and several counts of possession or use of explosives or incendiary devices for allegedly creating and setting off a homemade explosive device in 4th Judicial District Court. Kiley is slated to begin his jury trial in 4th Judicial Court on Aug. 20 for a trial expected to last about one week. It was unclear at press time whether the timing of the judicial court case would stay constant in light of the federal case. According to previous Gazette reporting, Kiley has an extensive criminal history regarding explosives. Kiley was charged and pleaded guilty to possession of explosive charges in late December 2011 and was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections. Over six years later, in February 2018, Kiley was arrested and pleaded guilty to the marijuana concentrate extraction charge and sentenced to another six years in the DOC. Kiley appeared in federal court for the case, 1:24cr199, USA v. Kiley. As the comedy troupe Monty Python once said, Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. I certainly didnt expect it in Oklahoma. But Inquisition 2024 came to our neighboring state on Thursday, when Oklahomas authoritarian superintendent of public instruction, Ryan Walters, issued an edict that every classroom from fifth to 12th grade must have a Bible in it, and every teacher, regardless of their own beliefs, has to teach from it or else. Walters, to put it bluntly, is a Christian nationalist, a dictator and a bully constantly abusing his power of office to press his religious views on an entire states public school system and punishing anyone who would stand in his way. Hes enabled by a state Board of Education thats as bad as he is (more about them later). The last time I wrote about this guy, he was carrying out a KGB-style purge to rid the states so-called Department of Education of anyone that has a disagreement on Superintendent Walters beliefs to fight the liberal woke culture seeping into our schools. That line came from a warning memo by one of his henchmen that was coded so Walters could identify and fire anyone sharing his bizarre edicts with the press or the public. This has been a rough month for Walters. Hes gotten slapped down twice by the Oklahoma Supreme Court for unconstitutional acts hes committed in his personal vendetta against the public schools. Early this month, the court ruled he overstepped his authority by threatening to downgrade the accreditation of the Edmond school district one of the states best performing if its board didnt ban from its high school libraries two critically acclaimed books he doesnt like, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. And earlier this week, the court ruled Walters efforts to establish the nations first publicly funded religious charter school was unlawful. This States establishment of a religious charter school violates Oklahoma statutes, the Oklahoma Constitution, and the Establishment Clause (of the U.S. Constitution), the court wrote in its ruling. Following that decision, Walters vowed to fight back, and on Thursday he did in his typical iron-fisted fashion. We will be issuing a memo today, which every school district will adhere to, that every teacher, every classroom in the state, will have a Bible in the classroom and will be teaching from the Bible in the classroom, he announced at a state Board of Education meeting. His memo to the states school superintendents was even more chilling. Adherence to this mandate is compulsory. Further instructions for monitoring and reporting on this implementation for the 2024/25 school year will be forthcoming. Immediate and strict compliance is expected. Also at Thursdays meeting, the Board of Education moved to revoke the teaching license of a former Norman high school teacher over her 2022 protest of a statewide book ban passed by the Oklahoma Legislature. Instead of clearing her classroom shelves until her books could be reviewed, Summer Boismier draped red paper over the books with a QR code pointing to the Brooklyn Public Librarys online catalog of banned books. Boismier ultimately resigned in protest and now works for the Brooklyn library, but has appealed to retain her Oklahoma teaching credentials. A hearing judge ruled that she had done nothing wrong and should be retained. The board, which has the final say, unanimously rejected the judges decision and ordered the boards lawyer to craft a list of reasons why Boismier should be stripped of her license to teach. Simply put, politics and the culture wars are destroying Oklahomas education system from the inside out. Their schools have dropped from the middle of the pack in state rankings to the point where the best that can be said now is that theyre consistently in the top 50 just barely. Heres hoping that Kansas sees whats going on with our neighbors to the south and resists going down the same road. Because while Monty Pythons Spanish Inquisition sketch was hilarious, the Oklahoma Inquisition is no joke. Oklahomas disastrous war on woke teachers offers valuable lesson for Kansas | Opinion Shark attacks, riptides, and hurricanes: These are the most dangerous beaches in the US Summer is here and visitors are traveling in droves to enjoy coastal breezes and ocean swims but beach trips aren't always idyllic. Already there has been beach horror stories with one small town experiencing five drowning deaths in just four days, a woman losing her arm to a shark attack in Florida, and two teenage boys in Brooklyn missing for a week after getting pulled under by a wave. Analysts at Simmrin Law compiled a list of the most dangerous beaches in the US by studying hurricane landfalls, shark attacks, and surf related fatalities like rip currents, have. According to their findings, all of the top 10 most dangerous beaches in the US are in Florida. Here's a look at some of the most dangerous beaches in the US, including some outside of the Sunshine State. While none of the beaches are inherently dangerous, beachgoers should be aware of the risks anytime they set off for a weekend of sun and surf. A pair of paddle boarders watch as a sharks fin emerges from the waters off the coast of New Smyrna Beach in June 2024 (screengrab/TODAY) New Smyrna Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach, approximately 15 miles south of Daytona Beach, topped Simmrin Law's list of most dangerous US beaches. Because of its location on Florida's eastern coast, New Smyrna Beach not only has a high chance of being affected by Atlantic hurricanes, but it is also the most likely beach where a swimmer might suffer a shark attack. According to Simmrin's data, there have been 185 shark attacks at the beach, a fact that is not lost on the locals; visitors can purchase "shark bite capital of the world" shirts at beachside stores to commemorate their visit. Despite the high number of incidents, shark attacks are still an exceedingly rare occurrence. Dozens of beachgoers at Panama City Beach form a human chain to rescue nine stranded swimmers in August 2022 (Roberta Ursrey) Panama City Beach, Florida Panama City Beach, a town in northwest Florida on the Gulf, has experienced a staggering recent spate of recent drownings. Strong rip currents killed four people last weekend, including three visitors from Alabama on June 21. Just two days later, a 60-year-old woman from Missouri was found dead in the water. Panama City Beach came in second on Simmrin's list. The beach closed to the public on June 23, 2024 due to life-threatening rip currents, AL.com reports. Rip currents are strong underwater currents that can pull swimmers out into the ocean. They pose an extreme drowning danger because swimmers trying to swim against the current often cannot overpower its pull, leaving them exhausted and stranded far from shore. In addition to its rip current threat, in 2023 17 people were killed at Panama City Beach by lightning strikes, according to the Daytona Beach News Journal. A lone beachgoer stands on the shores of Stuart Beach on Floridas Hamilton Island. A married couple with six children, Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishart, 48, drowned in June 2024 off the shores of Stuart Beach after they were pulled into the ocean by rip currents. (screengrab/WBPF) Stuart Beach, Florida Stuart Beach, located on Hamilton Island, approximately 45 miles north of West Palm Beach, does not appear on Simmrin's list of dangerous beaches, and does not often appear on any list of especially dangerous beaches. But it did become the scene of a tragedy in June when a four members of Pennsylvania family were yanked out into the ocean by a dangerous rip current. Two children and their parents, Brian Warter, 51, and Erica Wishard, 48, were dragged into the ocean by the current. While the children managed to break the current and swim to safety, their parents could not, and they ultimately drowned. Bystanders told NBC News that some of the couples children were yelling from shore, correctly advising their parents not to swim against the direction of the current but rather parallel to the beach, until they could escape the riptide. A Puerto Rican flag on an empty beach at Ocean Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico (stock image) There have been eight drowning deaths at Puerto Rican beaches in 2024 (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Puerto Rico beaches While Panama City Beach is still the deadliest individual beach this year for riptide deaths, Puerto Rico has the unfortunate distinction of having the most surf-related deaths in the US this year. The National Weather Service has thus far logged eight deaths related to rip currents at Puerto Rico beaches this year. Two of the deaths occurred at La Concha Beach, while the other six occurred at Playa Montones, Escondida Beach, La Pared, Montones Beach, and Shacks Beach. In March, 26-year-old US Marine Samuel Wanjiru was swept out to sea by strong currents while swimming in Puerto Rico. Search crews looked for him for weeks, but ultimately suspended their efforts in April, according to the US Coast Guard. Beachgoers mill around the beach and play in the surf at Carolina Beach, North Carolina. More than 90 people had to be rescued from rip currents during the second-to-last weekend of June 2024 at the beach (screengrab/CBS17) Carolina Beach, North Carolina While not deadly, recent ocean and lunar activity has kicked riptides at beaches in North Carolina into high gear. More than 160 swimmers had to be rescued from rip currents at North Carolina beaches over the June 21-23 weekend at beaches in North Carolina, USA Today reports. Rescuers had to pull 95 swimmers out of the rip currents at Carolina Beach alone. Thankfully it seems that the extreme rip current conditions were temporary. The National Weather Service explained that the rip tide conditions were caused by an east-southeast swell and the full moon over the weekend. Even still, the NWS warns that the risk of rip currents is still moderate at beaches along the North Carolina coast heading into the last weekend of June. Shark Bites Florida Man Leaving Him in Critical Condition with 'Severe' Injuries to His Arm He had a severe sharkbite to his forearm here, lost a lot of blood. He was bleeding pretty bad," Nassau County Sheriff's Office said GETTY A man is in critical condition after he was bitten by a shark on Floridas eastern coast, according to officials. On Friday, June 28, Nassau County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) shared on social media that officers responded to a distress call reporting a shark bite around 11:15 a.m. that day. They added that a man aboard his vessel had suffered a severe bite to his right arm. In a video, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said that the NCSO marine unit had been patrolling around Amelia Island when they received the distress call and headed toward the mans boat. He said they were eventually flagged down and boarded the mans vessel. The sheriffs office said deputies found the man who has not been identified with a critical injury. Nassau County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Sheriff Bill Leeper provides an update after the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit responded to a call of a man who had been bitten by a shark Friday. Nassau County Sheriff's Office. Related: Man Hospitalized After 'Rare Shark Bite Off Florida Barrier Island He had a severe sharkbite to his forearm here, lost a lot of blood, Leeper shared. He was bleeding pretty bad. He said a deputy assessed him real quick before he applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding on his arm. The sheriffs office shared photos from the incident, including a deputy wrapping the tourniquet around the mans right arm as he rested on the medium-sized boat. The deputy then piloted the mans boat to the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp, where the Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue had been waiting, according to Leeper. Related: Kayaker Nearly Loses Leg After Shark Bite in Sydney Harbor: It Was Like the Worst Horror Movie' The deputy was a hero when he arrived, to make sure he took care of the situation, he noted. The Sherriff's Office said that the man was immediately airlifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The man was listed in critical condition, but was expected to recover, according to authorities. No further details of the circumstances that led to the man being bitten were shared by authorities. Earlier this month, three people were injured in shark attacks around Walton County beaches located on Florida's western shore within 90 minutes of each other, according to CNN. Two people were reported to have been in critical condition while the third was in stable condition. 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 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warned on its website that shark activity is at its peak in Florida waters during April through October. However, it also noted that shark bites are very rare. "Humans are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning in Florida than to be bitten by a shark, Experts agree that the increase in the number of shark bites in recent years is more related to an increase in human visitors than to an increase in shark populations or activity, the commission's website said. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Sharpton brushes off calls for Biden to drop out despite fallout Rev. Al Sharpton acknowledged Friday that the scrutiny over President Bidens debate performance is not going anywhere, he largely brushed off calls for Biden to step aside. Sharpton joined MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace to discuss the political fallout from Thursday nights debate and the widespread fear among Democrats after Biden stumbled over his words and showed low energy on the stage. Since the debate, people on both sides of the aisle and even media outlets have called for Biden to drop out of the race and make room for another candidate to challenge former President Trump in November. The White House and Bidens campaign have slammed the requests, signaling the incumbent was in for the long haul. Biden made a campaign stop in North Carolina Friday, where he sought to tame the panic within his own party. While in Raleigh, he argued that he is a politician who knows how to get back up after being knocked down. That is the Joe Biden story, Sharpton said in the interview Friday. Ive gotten calls all night and Im sure I will get calls. This is not going away for a long time, he added, referring to the fallout from the debate. Still, Sharpton noted, if theres anybody who knows how to turn a situation around, it is Biden, the former Delaware senator. Hes taken some lickings before, but he keeps kicking and thats what I think he can sell, the pundit said. Since there have been calls for a new candidate to take the stage, Sharpton questioned who, if anyone, is capable of taking on and beating Trump. What I say to all these people talking about a brokered convention or should he step out, I say one, thats up to him. But second, who steps in that you can tell me can beat Donald Trump? he said. The only one Ive known to ever beat him is Joe Biden. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Connie Dahl's children, Nick and Jarred Lange, at left and center, talk with Ricky Davis inside the El Dorado County Courthouse. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times) An El Dorado County Superior Court judge Friday formally exonerated a deceased Oregon woman who had falsely confessed to a brutal murder in the Sierra Nevada foothills decades ago, bringing closure to her two adult sons who were children when she was imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. "Oftentimes the public thinks the job of a prosecutor is to do nothing but come in and try to put people away," said Lisette Suder, an El Dorado County assistant district attorney. "And that's really not our job at all. Our job is to seek justice." She told the judge: "We are asking the court to legally undo a wrong. It was almost 40 years in the making, this wrong." Connie Dahl was 19 in 1985 when she and her then-boyfriend, Ricky Davis, returned from night of partying to find the desecrated body of a house guest in the upstairs bedroom. Police quickly focused on Davis and Dahl as suspects rather than witnesses. But they were not charged and went their separate ways. In 1999, investigators reopened the cold case and relentlessly interrogated Dahl. Though Dahl at first maintained her innocence, the investigators pressured her to adopt a version of the crime they believed was true, in which Dahl helped Davis carry out the killing. El Dorado County Assistant Dist. Atty. Lisette Suder listens to Ricky Davis make a statement in court Friday. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times) Davis was convicted in 2005, largely on Dahl's false testimony, and sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. He was exonerated in 2020 based on DNA tests that proved he was innocent. The DNA also led police to the real killer, who pleaded no contest to the murder in 2022 and is now in prison. The same evidence proved Dahl was not involved in the crime, but she had died in 2014, and no one thought to clear her name. Times reporters told El Dorado County Dist. Atty. Vern Pierson of the oversight, and that Dahl's children had never been told that she was no longer considered guilty. Pierson quickly moved to ask the court to vacate her conviction and declare Dahl factually innocent. Read more: Pressured by cops, a mom made a false murder confession. Now, her sons can prove she's innocent On Friday, Pierson gathered with her two sons, Nick and Jarred Lange, at the El Dorado County Courthouse. Davis joined them. Standing outside the courtroom before the hearing, Jarred and Nick met Davis for the first time. A colorful character wearing a bright pink tie and a leather biker vest who showed up on a red Harley-Davidson he was, they agreed, just the kind of guy their mother would fall for. Ricky Davis, left, speaks with El Dorado County Dist. Atty. Vern Pierson in court Friday. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times) "I am sorry for what happened to you," Jarred told Davis. "Look, I was never really mad," Davis told the brothers. "It was a malleable time in your mom's life." Davis, who has spent years looking over the transcripts of Dahl's interrogations, trying to understand why she would implicate them both in a crime they had nothing to do with, added, "I believe she was indoctrinated." "Yeah, and she started to question herself," Jarred said. Later, Davis would tell the judge: "I want to see her vindicated. She was as innocent as I was. She was railroaded in a different way." These men arrived almost at once at the courthouse Friday morning, passing through the metal detector one by one, even the district attorney was forced to remove his belt by an officer who did not recognize him. They stood awkwardly greeting one another as they put their belts back on, then walked up the wide staircase to wait outside Judge Larry E. Hayes' courtroom. Ricky Davis addresses the court on Friday. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times) Then they filed in: The Lange brothers, who flew in from Oregon, took seats in the first row; Davis sat behind them. Other lawyers and family members of defendants in court for unrelated matters looked on in surprise. "My condolences to the family and to the people who have been traumatized by this whole situation," the judge said. "But I hope you walk out of the courtroom with finally justice being done in the correct way." The Lange brothers sat impassively. Nick, a father of 1-year-old twin boys, hesitated when the judge asked if they wanted to speak. Finally, he stood: "I just wish she could be here for this. She has been gone for over 10 years, and in the 20 years I had with her she wasn't well for most of the time. So I wish she could just be here and she would have gotten the help she deserved." Judge Larry E. Hayes presided over the hearing that exonerated Connie Dahl. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times) Earlier, Jarred and Nick described how their mother's arrest wrecked their lives. They were shuffled from relative to relative with little stability or understanding of why their mother was gone. When she was finally freed in 2006 and allowed to return to Oregon on probation, her record made it almost impossible to find a job or housing. For a time, they were homeless, living in a tent. After the hearing, the Lange brothers said that they felt a sense of closure. It was not until meeting with a Times reporter in April 2023 they they learned the whole story of what had happened to her, Nick said. Ever since, he added, he has been thinking about how much his mother went through, and how the wrongful conviction affected all of them. "Who knows what life could have been like, but it could have been better in almost any way," Jarred said. Pierson, the district attorney, offered an apology. "We can't take back or bring back the time she spent in custody here ... and the negative consequences that happened in her life as well as your life as a result of it," Pierson told the Lange brothers in court. "But we can take responsibility for it and seek to do better in the future." Ricky Davis approaches the lectern to speak to the court as Connie Dahl's children, Nick Lange, left, and Jarred Lange, right, sit with Julie Ehrlich, a victim witness advocate, in the El Dorado County Courthouse. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times) Pierson also offered a pledge to ensure that something like this won't happen again. This case has convinced him the methods authorities use to interrogate suspects are outdated and can lead to false confessions and wrongful convictions. Since exonerating Davis, he has been on a quest to change how detectives are trained, so that California and the country moves to what he describes as evidence-based tactics that pursue truth and facts over confessions. In 2021, he supported legislation that would have banned the kind of interrogations Dahl endured. But that bill was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cited the high price of retraining detectives across the state. Pierson, working with the Innocence Project, was successful with a second piece of legislation that banned lying to suspects under the age of 18. That law went into effect this year. The district attorney has also refused to prosecute any cases in his jurisdiction where confessions were obtained with the technique, and arranges training in science-based methods for investigators across the state. "My goal has always been to change the way we train officers to do interviews and interrogation," he said. The Lange brothers walked out of the dim courthouse Friday morning and into the bright Northern California sun. They were surprised by how pleasant Placerville seemed, the charm of a Gold Rush town on a summer day. "She used to tell us all the time that we were going to be the only thing each of us had at some point," said Nick Lange, at right with his brother. "She was right." (Isaac Wasserman / For The Times) Their mom had once walked this stretch of shops and bars on Main Street in search of fun a carefree young woman who didn't understand how precarious her freedom was until it was gone. They wished they could be here under different circumstances, and that she could have, too. The exoneration was important and even healing, but it was not justice. "It's nice to have this come to an end," Jarred said. "It was a long time coming." 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. As ships grow and seas rise, can Baltimores port use new bridge to raise the roof? BALTIMORE Baltimores corner of the Chesapeake Bay has had a fixed ceiling of sorts the 185-feet vertical clearance of the areas bridges for the past 70 years. Soon, authorities will decide if they want to raise that limit and by how much. Its a once-in-a-century opportunity, a decision that will define the vertical limits of the corridor for decades. Determining an optimal height for market and societal needs generations from now requires collaboration from state and federal entities, harbor pilots, and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. as well as predicting the size of ships and the rise of sea levels over the decades to come. The Bay Bridge near Annapolis opened at roughly 185 feet in 1952. When another span was added in 1973 and the Key Bridge constructed in 1977 in Baltimore, each was built to about the same height. To date, thats been sufficient for the Port of Baltimores cargo and cruise industries. But with an eye to the future, owners of other bridges leading to East Coast ports have raised or are considering raising their bridge clearances, despite the high costs of doing so. Potential builders submitted proposals by a Monday deadline to replace the Key Bridge, which collapsed March 26 when it was stuck by a container ship. The state of Maryland will select a winning team by the end of summer. That means that during the 150-year period from 1952 to well past 2100, this is likely to be the most opportune time to make a permanent change to Baltimores ceiling. Too low and it could jeopardize the ports future commerce, if shipping lines redirect cargo to rival ports with higher clearances. Too high and it needlessly increases construction costs and potentially makes for more dangerous conditions for vehicle drivers on the bridge deck. Increasing the shipping channels ceiling also means computing its floor: Chesapeake Bay waters are expected to rise between 3 and 5 feet by 2120, according to a federal task force on sea-level rise. Thats higher than the global average. The new Key Bridge, projected to open in 2028 and cost $1.7 billion, will be built to have a minimum of a 75-year life, although some engineers project it will stand at least 100 years. Meanwhile, the older of the two Bay Bridge spans only has about 15 or 20 years of life left so it, too, will need to be replaced. A new Bay Bridge almost certainly would be made to the same height as the new Key Bridge and that span would, similarly, be built to last more than 75 years. Vertical clearance the space between the water and the bottom of a bridges roadway is one of many factors that will be decided as state officials work with a selected Key Bridge builder. Were in the middle of that process right now looking at the market today, the future market, whats happening in the industry, and what makes sense for the Port of Baltimore, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said in an interview earlier this month. The Key Bridge was knocked down after the cargo ship Dali lost power and smashed into a support pier, killing six road workers and partially blocking the shipping channel for months. The calamity illustrated the importance of planning or at least trying to for the future; the bridge wasnt built with 100,000-ton ships in mind and was ill-prepared for vessel strike. It prompted a National Transportation Safety Board investigation into what went wrong and a Coast Guard probe into national port infrastructure. Rebuilding the Key Bridge with the same, 185-foot clearance would probably suffice for the immediate future. But as public entities along the East Coast spend millions and billions to stretch out their spans and dredge channels deeper to accommodate larger vessels, planning likely will call for a taller bridge. Big ships, rising tides There are few things physically stopping container ships themselves which doubled, then tripled and now have increased ten-fold in capacity since the 1960s from growing. In fact, there is an economic incentive for them to get bigger. But external factors could stall their growth. Its not unlike semitrucks in the U.S. They could be built longer than 53 feet, but external factors (various states laws) limit them, said Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a Texas A&M University professor whose research focuses on transportation and logistics. In the case of cargo ships, it isnt laws that could restrict their size, but infrastructure. For one thing, there are barriers directly below and above them. Most shipping channels into ports are no deeper than 50 feet, and bridges often set a maximum height. Capt. Jeffrey Monroe, a master mariner and education director for the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives, said that as ships have grown, we began to dig deeper. Baltimores channel has been 50 feet deep since the 1970s, but Charleston recently deepened its channel to 52 feet and New York/New Jersey is studying the possibility of dredging to 55 feet. Then we began to realize that now our biggest limitation is not the depth of the channel, said Monroe, who consulted on a project to greatly increase the vertical clearance of the Bayonne Bridge, which connects New Jersey and Staten Island, New York. Our biggest limitation is the infrastructure that flies over the top of it. Aside from channel depths and bridges, there are limitations to international shipping. The narrowness of a vital shipping channel near Singapore, the Malacca Strait, as well as the width of the Panama and Suez canals would complicate efforts to make ships larger. But there are already ships built today that cant fit into the Port of Baltimore. And its not just bridge height that limits them. Channel dimensions and the capacities of a container terminal also determine the size of a ship that a port can handle, said Richard Scher, spokesperson for the Maryland Port Administration. Its about accommodating the right-sized ship, more than just a big ship, he said in a statement. Monroe also noted that logistical concerns mean it would not behoove many East Coast ports to aim to receive ships much larger than they already do. But never say never, he added. If it was up to him, hed make the new Key Bridge 225 feet tall, to give optimal flexibility. But theres another vertical limitation on a ships way into the port: BGE power lines that run parallel to the Key Bridge and have a vertical clearance of 214 feet. When asked about the potential height of the new bridge, Wiedefelds first thought were those cables: It starts with the BGE line, thats a certain height, he said. Before BGE erected those lines between 2020 and 2022, it received input in 2018 from the port administration regarding current and potential future clearance requirements for shipping vessels, BGE spokesperson Stephanie Weaver said in a statement. BGE is in close communication with officials regarding the reconstruction of the Key Bridge, she added. Another variable is that, even if the Port of Baltimore never receives any ships taller than the ones it does now, the rising sea adds a challenge. Thats a whole nother issue to weigh in, as well, Wiedefeld said of Bay waters rising. Thats definitely part of the analysis. You have to look at that. William Sweet, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oceanographer, used to live in Annapolis and frequently took a sailboat under the Bay Bridge. Bay waters are just about guaranteed to rise a foot over the next 30 years, Sweet said. Unless swift changes are made to carbon emissions, theyre expected to rise at a faster rate after that. A century from now, Bay waters are projected to be up at least 3 feet, and could be more than 5 feet higher. It depends on factors well beyond the Chesapeake Bay, including, Sweet noted, if ice sheets in Antarctica become unhinged. It could be higher, he said of the Bay waters rising. Building bridges to last a century requires educated guesswork. For example, decades from now, vehicular traffic patterns could look much different, noted Norma Jean Mattei, a University of New Orleans engineering professor and member of the White Houses National Infrastructure Advisory Council. The Bay waters are no different. The world gets fuzzier the further out you go, she said, and bridges are one of those pieces of infrastructure that we design for longer life. East Coast bridges grow In a way, bridge height is simply a multibillion-dollar-industry version of keeping up with the Joneses. When recently discussing the possibility of replacing a bridge in Savannah, Georgia, with a taller one, local officials there referenced the high vertical clearances of bridges leading to New York/New Jersey, a competing port. The Georgia Department of Transportation is looking to increase the height of that Savannah span, the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, which is 185 feet tall the same as Marylands Bay Bridge. As the fastest-growing port in the nation, the Port of Savannah is a significant economic engine for the Savannah region, Georgia, and the rest of the Southeast, a spokesperson for Georgias transportation department said in a statement. Potentially stifling future growth, however, is the Ports accessibility to larger ships. Georgia also is considering replacing the bridge which opened only 33 years ago with a span that has 230 feet of vertical clearance. A neighbor to the north of Baltimore already has changed a bridges height. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey increased the clearance of the Bayonne Bridge from 150 feet to 215 feet a project that cost $1.7 billion. We raised the Bayonne Bridge in 2019 knowing that container ships were only growing bigger and demand for goods was only getting stronger, port director Bethan Rooney said in a statement. It paid off soon after, when the pandemic drove cargo volumes to numbers we werent expecting to see for another 10 years. Another New York-area bridge has even higher clearance: Big ships can easily fit under the 228 feet afforded by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The 1,200-foot container vessels that call on New York typically have an air draft of about 175 feet to 195 feet, said James Mercante, president of New Yorks Board of Commissioners of Pilots. Cruise ships can come in even higher. The MSC Meraviglia, which sails under the Verrazzano, is 214 feet tall, according to the cruise line. How tall the new Key Bridge will be remains undetermined, but one potential builder suggested a height of 213 feet in a May news release. The Association of Maryland Pilots also might have hinted at the measurement its members prefer. The pilots, who guide large ships in Maryland waters, declined to comment for this article. But a representative discussed the possible height of a replacement Bay Bridge during a 2023 meeting of the Baltimore Harbor Safety and Coordination Committee a joint industry-government advisory panel. Minutes from the meeting said pilots have recommended a minimum bridge height of 228 ft, but preferably higher. Whatever height is chosen would not alter shipping traffic into Baltimore immediately, since the Bay Bridge remains 185 feet tall. Increasing the current Bay Bridges height would not be logical nor feasible, given its age. But those bridges are basically coming to end of life, regardless, said Wiedefeld, the transportation secretary. The older of the two Bay Bridge spans has about 15 to 20 years left, he said. So, its possible that the Chesapeake Bay will see two new bridges in the coming decades; in doing so, the corridors ceiling might be altered for the next century. A woman already charged with the endangerment of one person and the murder of another may be connected to the deaths of up to 20 other individuals, police say. And its all in pursuit of the almighty dollar. The unlicensed Love & Caring for People LLC was founded by Regla Su Becquer and advertised as a company that provided in-house care for people with bed-bound health conditions across five homes in Tarrant County, according to Arlington police. However, the police put her company on the radar after a victim located at an Arlington property made a call for help in December 2023. Police said the victim, who had cerebral palsy and diabetes, smelled of urine and feces when they arrived. Ultimately, the client explained she was neglected, forced to sleep on a mattress on the floor, rarely had her diaper changed and endured physical abuse such as having hot water dumped on her and being kicked, per FOX 4. Police said she attempted suicide as a Hail Mary for help but not one (meaning Becquer and her staffers) called 911. Her story was enough to justify an arrest warrant for Becquer. She currently sits in Tarrant County Jail on a $1.5 million bond facing charges of abandonment/endangering a disabled person with imminent bodily injury. However, the investigation into her loving and caring company led the cops to a slew of other deaths that may be related to the group homes. Read more from FOX 4 News: Since September 2022, police have found at least 20 clients of hers who have died and say there could be more. Most of the victims were cremated or buried, and only two had autopsies. One of those autopsies is being reviewed, while the other revealed that 60-year-old Steven Kelly Pankratz died from mixed drug toxicity while under Becquers care. Investigators discovered that the drugs in Pankratzs system had never been prescribed by doctors. Last week, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner ruled Pankratzs death a homicide and charged Becquer with murder. She is being held at the Tarrant County Jail on a $1.5 million bond. Police also observed that most of the individuals under the care of Becquer appeared to relinquish all of their property to her company and family members. In one example, the previous homeowner of one of her unlicensed facilities used to be her client. The woman left her entire estate to Becquer in a one-sentence will dated Oct. 7, 2022, per FOX 4. About 20 days later, the homeowner was pronounced dead. Lt. Kimberly Harris told reporters the company was also in possession of the clients wallets, credit cards and manipulated the wills to increase their credit for purchasing vehicles. The investigation is ongoing, but it certainly doesnt look good. Ive been doing this as an officer for 23 years now and I have never seen anything like this, said Arlington police official Chris Powell to CBS. We had to keep digging and going and going, and its been disturbing to find out the details about these folks, to go to homes that people thought were a good place, and to find out it was not vetted. Its very disturbing, For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Although Southern Baptists' concerns about in vitro fertilization have drawn a deluge of attention in recent weeks, the faith group also has spoken out about another hot-button topic: Christian nationalism. Delegates, called messengers, gathered for the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in mid-June and approved a resolution entitled "Defending Religious Liberty" that essentially denounced the premise of Christian nationalism. Critics of Christian nationalism condemn it as an ideology and political movement with the premise that includes beliefs that America has a special place in God's plan, that the federal government should declare America as a Christian nation and that violence may be necessary to get the country back to a hierarchical order in which Christians are at the top. Its adherents describe Christian nationalism as an "America first" ideology that encourages Christians to become active in politics, including seeking public office to bring Christian influence to government. Resolutions are seen as the Southern Baptist Convention's way of expressing opinions or concerns about a variety of topics. The resolutions are nonbinding, but they have always been an important way for Southern Baptists to share their thoughts on relevant and sometimes controversial topics. More: Southern Baptists weigh in on issues dealing with women: IVF and female pastors There was some debate about the religious liberty resolution, but the majority of messengers representing the nation's largest Protestant denomination and Oklahoma's largest faith group, remained undeterred and approved the statement. The recent resolution stated that Southern Baptists have adopted numerous resolutions advocating religious liberty and recognizing that "true faith can not be legislated, coerced or inherited." It sought to affirm the principle of separation of church and state (from the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment), with several key phrases: "We oppose any effort to establish a state religion of any nation, including the United States of America" and "We oppose any effort to use the people and the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to establish Christianity as the state religion of the United States of America." The statement also touched on the idea that America was founded on Christian ideals. "Through nature and conscience, others have come to recognize that our natural rights and responsibilities derive from our Creator, an open truth that the founders of the American nation also explicitly recognized," the resolution said. The resolution also encouraged and supported "robust Christian engagement in the public square," to include Christians pursuing elected or appointed office "in order to influence government by living out their Christian worldview while advocating Christian morals with respect for the consciences of all people." Ultimately, the faith group rejected the idea that "God has commanded any state to establish any religion or any denomination; and we reject any government coercion or enforcement of religious belief, including blasphemy laws." Offering perspectives The Rev. Blake Gideon, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Edmond, attended the recent Southern Baptist gathering and he said he thought there was certain reasoning behind the timing of the religious liberty resolution. "Recently, fears concerning Christian nationalism had arisen," he said. "This is primarily due to concerns about the potential fusion of religious beliefs with political power, which may lead to discrimination, intolerance and the erosion of secular values." People bow their heads in prayer during the Southern Baptist Convention on June 11 at the Indiana Convention Center. Gideon said the concept of Christian nationalism involves the intertwining of Christian identity and national identity and politics, often emphasizing a particular interpretation of Christianity as the basis for governance and policy making. He said he was aware that critics of Christian nationalism have argued that it may marginalize religious and cultural minorities, undermine religious freedom and blur the lines between church and state, but it's essential to recognize that not all forms of Christian nationalism are inherently negative or threatening. He said it was crucial to distinguish between healthy expressions of faith-based activism and harmful forms of religious extremism. More: Is religious liberty dwindling in Oklahoma? How the state has become a legal battleground "Embracing Christian values in the public sphere can inspire individuals and communities to uphold principles of compassion, justice and solidarity," Gideon said. "Christianity has played a significant role in shaping historical movement for social justice, human rights and humanitarian aid, demonstrating its capacity to promote positive change and moral guidance." Several ministers not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention also shared their perspectives. Weighing in on the recent development were the Rev. Shannon Fleck, an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister serving as executive director of the Oklahoma Faith Network, and the Rev. Robin Meyers, pastor of First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ in Norman. Evangelicals and Christian nationalists are not equivalent "not one in the same," Fleck said. "Christian nationalism is a far, far extremist view and so I am not at all shocked that a major Christian denomination is standing up and saying absolutely not, because as people of faith, as Christians real Christians, not Christian nationalists we see in value and understand the whole message of the gospel," she said. "And this forceful process that Christian nationalists are implementing is not congruent with a Christian faith. In fact, Christian nationalism is actively killing the Christian church." Meyers offered another perspective. He said the Southern Baptist Convention "did the right thing by affirming religious liberty and defending the separation of church and state." But the minister said the "specter of Christian nationalism" also made its voice clear as a few Southern Baptist messengers seemed to object to the suggestion that their view of God and salvation should not rule America. Meyers said that one pastor from Kentucky seemed to scoff at the term "religious liberty" and told his fellow messengers that God has already ordained America be a Christian nation. Meyers said the U.S. Constitution, and the First Amendment both make it "crystal clear" that Americans should enjoy both freedom of religion and freedom from religion. "The founders knew that the history of church/state collusion was a bloody disaster and wanted to save America from it," Meyers said. "Non-binding resolutions at national church meetings are often ignored by people in the pews when they get back home, yet the separation of church and state protects us all, including Southern Baptists." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Southern Baptist Convention condemns Christian nationalism PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Springfield, Oregon man, who was a member of an international drug trafficking organization, has been sentenced to federal prison after authorities seized over 100 pounds of drugs and firearms from the group, authorities announced Friday. Officials said 38-year-old Rodolfo Arroyo-Segoviano was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison with three years supervised release. According to court documents, Arroyo-Segoviano managed a local distribution network for the Mexico-based organization between April and August of 2020 and was responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine to the United States. Exotic mammal native to Central and South America spotted at Yakima rest stop During the investigation, authorities seized over 178 pounds of meth, 12 pounds of heroin, and six pounds of fentanyl, along with 18 rifles, rifle optics and ammunition, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Oregon said. Investigators additionally forfeited about $1.2 million from the organization, including more than $400,000 in cash. On July 31, 2020, Arroyo-Segoviano was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and in early April 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth. SE Portland neighbors say they werent notified about treatment drop-off center Overall, 35 people including sources in Mexico and local operators in Lane County have been convicted for their roles in the organization. The prosecution of this international drug trafficking organization represents the tireless dedication of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners combatting the drug trafficking plaguing our communities, said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A crash in north Colorado Springs shut down a major roadway Friday night. Dublin Boulevard was closed in both directions around 9 p.m. while personnel with the Colorado Springs police and fire departments responded to the accident. The police department announced an update at 9:37 p.m. that Dublin eastbound is closed at Union and Dublin westbound is closed at Flintridge. The crash was reported on Dublin Boulevard between Flintridge Drive and North Union Boulevard. The fire department reported on social media that multiple people were transported to a local hospital after being extricated from the wreckage. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area. This article will be updated as more information becomes available. Rep. Jamaal Bowman watching Rep. Ayanna Pressley speaking at a Get Out the Vote campaign event in Mount Vernon, New York Allies of Rep. Jamaal Bowman are already buzzing about a possible 2026 comeback after his humiliating loss to Westchester County Executive George Latimer in the Democratic primary. While Bowman will soon be enjoying retirement as a disgraced former congressman, progressives are plotting about a possible challenge to Rep. Ritchie Torres. Many people I spoke to want this to happen and personally I think it makes sense, said Bhaskar Sunkara, a longtime Democratic Socialist big shot now serving as president of The Nation, a far-left magazine. I think its plausible and I think he would be viable. Allies of Rep. Jamaal Bowman think he could launch a primary against Rep. Ritchie Torres in 2026. Getty Images Torres, the first gay Afro-Latino in Congress, represents the neighboring 15th district, a much poorer area in the Bronx where Team Bowman believes his socialist message could resonate. Bowmans support for a ceasefire in Gaza that would leave Hamas in power, and his public embrace of cranks who celebrated the Oct. 7 massacre, helped spur a backlash among Jewish voters in the Westchester portion of his district. But in The Bronx slice of his district, Bowman took 84% of the vote. Days before the primary, with the writing on the wall, Bowman and socialist allies Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx) rallied in St. Marys Park. The venue is miles outside Bowmans district and sits in the heart of Torres country. There is also no love lost between Bowman and Torres, one of the most relentlessly pro-Israel Democrats in Congress. Allies of Rep. Torres said Ritchie would mop the floor with the disgraced socialist. Getty Images Bowman leaves his home in Yonkers on June 26, 2024 the day after suffering his double-digit loss. Gregory P. Mango While Torres never quite managed an endorsement of Latimer, the two congressmen sparred in the closing days of the race, and the disdain was palpable. I care as much about his opinion on me as I do about his opinion on how to properly pull a fire alarm or his opinion on how to remain in Congress, Torres sneered in a June 17 post on X. Bowman meanwhile said Torres support for Israel was a plot to gain political power for himself. Rumors have been swirling that Torres, 36, has his eyes on the governors mansion. Bowman lost his primary race against Westchester County Executive George Latimer. AP Photo/Jeenah Moon Torres declined to comment but his allies were adamant his lock on the district was impregnable. Just sour grapes, sniffed Chris Coffey, a longtime New York political consultant and CEO of Tusk Strategies. The far left has been threatening Ritchie certainly since Oct. 7 and before . . . Ritchie works really, really hard in his district, he is very well liked in his district. In addition to nearly $10 million in his campaign war chest, and an iron dome of support from Jews in Riverdale, Torres expects to have considerable financial resources from pro-Israel allies and the backing of Latinos. St. Paul man sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for two sexual assaults five years apart One of Francisco Alejandro Chales sexual assault victims stood before him in court Friday and listened as her sister read a statement on her behalf. I went out that night to spend time with my best friend, she said. He went out that night to hurt someone. Chale, 29, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in April for raping the woman in May 2022 in St. Paul after she got into his car thinking it was an Uber following a night of drinking at a downtown Minneapolis bar. Chale also pleaded guilty to a June 2022 charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for assaulting a woman in his car in St. Paul in February 2017. Ramsey County District Judge Joy Bartscher followed a plea agreement, which included imposing consecutive sentences for each offense, and gave Chale a total of 19 years in prison. Charges of kidnapping to facilitate a felony and false imprisonment were dismissed, per the agreement. Chale has an open third-degree criminal sexual conduct case in Hennepin County, with charges alleging he assaulted a vulnerable adult in his van in Richfield in May 2021. A jury trial is scheduled for July 8. Thought it was an Uber According to the criminal complaint in the 2022 attack, a resident in the 700 block of Slate Street on St. Pauls West Side reported about 4 a.m. May 15 that a distraught woman had pounded on his door and said she was just raped by an unknown man. Officers located the woman pacing and crying and wearing a dress that was partially ripped. She was transported to Regions Hospital, where she gave police a statement and underwent a sexual assault examination. She reported getting into a car she thought was an Uber in Minneapolis and that she was taken against her will to St. Paul where the suspect, later identified as Chale, threatened to kill her and raped her. She said she was able to break away from the man and run to a nearby house. She told police she and two friends, identified as AG and DJS, had gone to a bar and met up with other people. The woman said she had lots of drinks and at closing time she and AG decided to walk to DJSs apartment, according to the charges. The woman reported that she was going in and out of consciousness and that she lost AG as they were walking. She said she became more alert when she realized she was in the passenger seat of a car driven by an unknown man whom she believed to be of Hispanic descent. When the vehicle stopped, the woman said she tried to open the car door because she sensed something was wrong. She said the man then jumped on top of her from the drivers seat and raped her, the complaint read. She said she somehow fell out of the vehicle. The womans sister told police that she received a text from her with the word Help at about 3:30 a.m. Related Articles AG reported to police that said she was extremely intoxicated and trying to find an Uber or a ride. She said a car pulled up to her and the woman along Third Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis just after 3 a.m. and they got inside. AG said she told the driver that they were going to St. Paul. He later commented on their looks and touched both the women, she told police. AG said she got out of the car and the driver sped off with the other woman still in the car. Video and audio from a church in the 600 block of Livingston Avenue in St. Paul indicated a struggle off camera and a male with a Latino accent telling someone to get back into the car. A short time later, the woman is seen running through the church parking lot and then falling to the ground, where she remained for several minutes. DNA profiling taken during the sexual assault examination, and a known sample obtained from Chale in an unrelated criminal sexual conduct investigation, revealed a match, the complaint says. Earlier victim met up with Oscar The woman assaulted in 2017 told police the day of the attack that she had been introduced to the man by a friend. She reported that she only knew him as Oscar and that he had a Facebook profile name of Oscar Hernandez. She told police that she agreed to meet up with him to talk and that they ended up in his car near her East Side apartment complex. Chale told the woman, You should give me a Mexican baby and tried to kiss her. She rebuffed his advances, and he locked the car doors and forcibly groped her, the charges say. She told him to stop, and he tried ripping her pants off. He got her pants partially down and masturbated. Oscars true identity was not known to St. Paul police until March 10, 2022, when they received a report from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension stating that swabs taken from the womans neck and breast during a sexual assault examination on the day of the assault matched Chales DNA, according to the charges. Investigators located the woman to inform her of the results. She said that though she never saw her attacker again after the assault more than five years ago, she remembered his face and would be able to identify him. A police investigator administered a sequential photo lineup and she identified Chale with 100 percent certainty. Did I deserve this? The woman in the 2022 attack said Friday that she will always wonder why he chose to rape her that night. Why did it have to be me? Did I look easy? Was my dress too short or was I too drunk? Did I deserve this? she told the court. She said she is feeling the weight of responsibility for standing up for others that went through this nightmare, too. She said she hopes she can feel safe again that one day I can enjoy the quiet of the night, and I hope the nightmares will stop. Before imposing Chales sentence, Bartscher asked him if there was anything he wanted to say. No, maam, he said. Bartscher told the woman that she was courageous. And I say the same thing often to folks like you or people in your situation, but this is only one part of your life, the judge said. This should not define you, and I hope that you can make it to a point where you can get beyond this. Related Articles This photo provided by NASA shows the Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station, orbiting 262 miles above Egypt's Mediterranean coast, on June 13, 2024. | NASA via Associated Press Boeing Starliners problem-plagued first crewed mission to the International Space Station, initially expected to last about 10 days, launched over two weeks ago, but representatives of NASA and Boeing shared news at a Friday press conference that the capsule and its two-person crew are still weeks away from returning to Earth. But officials said describing the astronauts as stuck at the ISS is a misnomer. What we hope to do today is maybe clear up some information thats been out there and any misunderstandings about the flight and our status, said NASAs Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich during a press conference Friday afternoon. I want to make it very clear that (NASA astronauts) Butch (Wilmore) and Suni (Williams) are not stranded in space. Our plan is to return them on Starliner and return them home at the right time. We have a little bit more work to do to get there for the final return but theyre safe on (the) space station, their spacecraft is working well and theyre enjoying their time on the space station. Stich said Boeing and NASA engineers are in the process of setting up ground-based tests of thrusters that are identical to the ones on Starliners service module that experienced failures during the capsules approach and docking procedures at the ISS earlier this month. Previous reports from NASA detailed that five of 28 maneuvering thrusters failed to perform as expected during Starliners docking at the space station on June 6. Engineers have also identified a total of five small helium leaks, some of which were detected before the spacecraft launched. Helium is used in the capsules thruster firing procedure. The issues have led to a series of delays for Starliners return flight. On Friday, Stich said no additional issues have arisen since the last report and no further helium has leaked since astronauts shut down some systems while in the docking position. A test conducted on June 15 showed the leak rates on five manifolds had slowed from previous readings. But questions remain about what exactly caused the service module thruster failures. Stich said a testing procedure is being devised at NASAs White Sands Testing Facility that is likely to take at least a couple of weeks to complete. While the service module is jettisoned before the Starliner capsule makes its return descent to Earth, the thrusters on the component are critical to properly align the spacecraft on its reentry path. Thrusters on the crew capsule have not shown any issues on the current mission, according to flight officials. Both Stich and Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeings Commercial Crew Program, stressed during the press conference that Starliner was capable of safely returning to Earth in its present condition but said there is an opportunity to learn more about the thruster issue through in-orbit and ground-based testing and the capsule can remain docked at the ISS without issue for a longer period of time. Neither Stich nor Nappi shared any target dates for Starliners return. Stich offered further explanation of a stated 45-day limit on the Starliners onboard battery systems. He said that while the pre-flight limit is set at 45 days for the batteries, assessments show that the system is in optimum condition and the 45-day limit can be safely extended. Emily Nelson, chief flight director for NASAs Johnson Space Center, said Williams and Wilmore have been kept busy while aboard the ISS, performing research and maintenance duties and are in regular contact with their families. Utahs Dugway Proving Ground was considered a primary return landing site at the beginning of the mission, which launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5, but its not clear whether the west desert location will still be at the top of the list for Starliners return. Other possible landing sites include two targets in the vast White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and Willcox, Arizona, according to NASA. Edwards Air Force Base in California is available as a contingency landing site. While a parachute-assisted ground landing is expected, the Starliner capsule is also capable of a water landing. Space exploration as a private sector endeavor Back in 2014, NASA announced a pair of groundbreaking contracts, granted to Boeing and SpaceX, aiming to bring the job of ferrying astronauts to and from the orbiting ISS, a task that was assumed by Russias Roscosmos following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, back to the U.S. Boeings long partnership with NASA and jumbo $4.2 billion contract, compared to SpaceXs $2.6 billion, led many to believe early on that the legacy aircraft and aerospace company would outpace Elon Musks scrappy space startup and be first to the finish line in NASAs new Commercial Crew Transportation Capability effort. But a series of delays allowed SpaceX to leapfrog Boeing in the work to develop a new crew transport vehicle and in 2020, SpaceXs Dragon 2 Crew Capsule became the first U.S.-launched spaceflight to carry astronauts to the ISS since the final, 13-day shuttle mission performed by Atlantis. In May, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the Starliner test flight is a crucial step in NASAs ongoing efforts to commercialize the business of space exploration, including the effort to replace the job of ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. This is all a part of our commercial activities, Nelson said. Youve already seen commercial crew and cargo go to orbit with the Dragon and other cargo vehicles. This will give us that additional capacity because we always look for a backup. Its a fixed-price contract. We share in the development costs but then the operation is a fixed-price contract. Were doing that as we go to the moon as well. Boeings long journey to space Boeing has had to overcome issues both within and without its Starliner program on the path to the first crewed launch earlier this month, while SpaceX has now completed nine crewed missions to the ISS with its Dragon capsule and has a 10th in progress. An uncrewed Starliner test flight in 2019 exposed software and communications issues that combined to derail an attempt to dock with the space station and almost led to the crew ships destruction, per CBS News. A second test flight in 2021 was scrubbed after engineers discovered corroded valves in the spacecrafts propulsion system, pushing the next attempt to 2022. And while that flight was a success, potential problems with Starliners parachute lines were revealed as well as the need to replace about a mile of electrical tape that was found to be flammable. Along the way, Boeing has had to navigate major issues in its commercial airliner division, including the tragic 737 Max plane crashes and, more recently, production and quality control issues that were highlighted when a Boeing plane flown by Alaska Airlines lost a door plug component in the passenger cabin during a flight. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Starting Monday, the Housing Choice Voucher program, formerly known as Section 8, will no longer accept new applications. And those who are already on the list, particularly people experiencing homelessness, will not be recertified. Michigan State Housing Development Authority officials report federal funding from Housing and Urban Development for this year was about $8 million short of keeping up with rising housing costs in Michigan. The funding sent to the state, officials said in a news release Friday, was equivalent to a 6% reduction in funding. At a time when Michigan is gaining traction in addressing our housing challenges, this reduction in funding will only take us backward and make things worse for our most vulnerable neighbors, MSHDA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Amy Hovey said in a press release. We will collaborate with HUD to monitor expenses and explore cost-saving measures within the HCV program, but its ultimately up to Congress to address this shortfall before it exacerbates housing insecurity and homelessness in our state and across the country. FILE In this Jan. 7, 2020, file photo, men hold up signs at a rally outside of City Hall in Oakland, Calif., in support of more housing. California lawmakers have failed to pass the most ambitious proposal yet to combat a growing housing crisis in the nations most populous state, voting down legislation Wednesday, Jan. 29, that would have overridden local zoning laws to let developers to build small apartment buildings in neighborhoods reserved for single-family homes. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) Those who are currently receiving vouchers will not be impacted by this policy shift, officials confirm. A source who works with vouchers says more than 300 people are currently on the Ingham County voucher waiting list. Currently, anyone who is qualified for the program is allowed to get on a waiting list for funding and housing to become available. Every 90 to 120 days, those applicants have to re-certify their qualifications and needs. But under the new rules, re-certifications will not happen, dropping people from the wait list. MSHDA-HUD HCV shortfall releaseDownload The move will impact will be felt hardest by those experiencing homelessness or housing instability, the agency reported in the news release and in a letter sent to agencies working with the homeless community 6 News obtained. MSDHA officials confirmed the authenticity of the letter Friday in an email. We have been concerned about the HUD budget for many months, wrote Josh Pugh, Director of External Affairs at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, in an email to 6 News. We traveled to DC to engage with our Congressional delegation on this and other issues in March, and regularly speak with Congressional members and their staff about the HUD budget. We remain alarmed about proposals to cut HUDs budget while we are in a nationwide housing crisis. Nothing could be more counterproductive, and will only further hurt Michigan families who are struggling with the impacts of the housing crisis on their monthly housing 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 WLNS 6 News. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) One Louisiana State Representative is getting involved after learning that Lafayette Police officer Hali Bradford is paying for her own medical treatment after being injured in the line of duty. State Rep. Tehmi Chassion (D-Lafayette) hopes a bill he plans to propose can help officers not just in Acadiana, but across the state. The officer came to the state capitol and was honored for being injured in the line of duty, Chassion said. Everybody stood up and clapped and cheered, and everybody came and hugged her. I talked to afterwards and to find out that your bills arent covered for an insurance that you have as a police officer just doesnt make any sense. So somebody has got to answer some type of question for me. He said he first heard of Officer Bradfords situation through Michael Brown, a member of law enforcement and President of the Noble National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives, or NOBLE. Brown wanted to know how this could happen. Sheriff-Elect Eddie Langlinaiss goals for first 100 days For anybody thats performing this duty, I mean, it could be firefighters as well, for you to not be able to have your medical bills covered completely and youre injured in the line of duty, just it just doesnt make any sense, Chassion said. So, its something that hopefully we can get done with the help of republicans and democrats alike. Nobody should fight this, and well try and help her out. Chassion is now pushing for a bill to help officers like Bradford. His idea is a disability fund that will be funded by the state. Officers injured in the line of duty could use that money if their medical coverage doesnt cover everything. Its just simply there. Its something to, its a backup in case your workers comp doesnt take care of business like they should, he added. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest The states regular session does not begin until March. In the meantime, Chassion says he is pushing for an investigation to find out what happened in Officer Bradfords case and if this is happening to officers elsewhere. I mean, youre seeing, you know, crowd sourcing and fundraising occurring, he said. I mean, thats ridiculous to think that she was risk in her life to help us out, and I mean, its our job as lawmakers, legislators to help her out in the meantime. Theyre here working to protect us, and we have to protect them. 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. I stayed in a $5,400 suite on Silversea's new ultra-luxury cruise ship here's why it's worth the cost I stayed in a Deluxe Veranda suite on Silversea's new ultra-luxury Silver Ray cruise ship. The cabin had a walk-in closet, balcony, butler, and caviar room service. In 2024, the Deluxe Veranda suite starts at $5,400 per person for an eight-day cruise. I regret to report that my new favorite cruise cabin starts at $675 per person per day. But before you click away, hear me out: It could be worth the cost. In mid-June, ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea's latest ship, Silver Ray, set sail on its maiden voyage, marking the second Nova Class vessel to join the company's now 12-ship fleet. Silversea invited travel agents and journalists on a complimentary five-night test sailing a week before its debut. Luckily, my cabin was one of the most luxurious I've ever stayed in, both on land and at sea. Silversea assigned me one of the ship's Deluxe Veranda suites. Silver Ray can accommodate 728 guests and 544 crew. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The cabin has accrued a waitlist on several of Silver Ray's itineraries this year, the company says. The cheapest available one in 2024 is on an eight-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Cartagena, Colombia, this June, starting at $5,400 per person. Broken down, that's about $675 per person and day. The price is steep compared to the average mass-market cruise. Silver Ray is a relatively small 54,700 tons. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Silversea is Royal Caribbean Group's most luxurious brand, known for small, high-end vessels with fares far exceeding those of its parent company's eponymous cruise line. Silver Ray and its one-year-old predecessor, Silver Nova, are the largest in Silversea's fleet. But both only accommodate 728 guests a stark contrast from Royal Caribbean's largest 7,600-guest ship. At 357 square feet, the Deluxe Veranda is the same size as the ship's two cheaper cabin categories. The walk-in closet could be closed off from the rest of the living and bedroom. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The cost difference comes down to where they're located on the ship. Deluxe Verandas are mid-ship, perfect for guests prone to seasickness (like me). Like many luxury cruise ships, every cabin on Silver Ray has a furnished balcony. Even the cheapest cabins have a balcony. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Sheer and blackout curtains and a heavy glass sliding door separated the open-air 54-square-foot lounge from the interior. Ive had my fair share of cramped cruise cabin living 'rooms.' No complaints here. The welcome bottle of Champagne and the live orchid plant are displayed on the coffee table. Brittany Chang/Business Insider This one felt roomy, even with an additional ottoman that turned the cozy couch into a small sectional. The coffee table also doubled as the room-service dining table perfect for eating complimentary caviar and foie gras while watching the passing waves. The suites also come with a welcome bottle of Champagne, a common touch on most premium cruise ships. The mini-fridge came stocked with complimentary beers, sodas, and water (still and sparkling, of course). The desk also stored the drinkware and reusable water bottles. Brittany Chang/Business Insider If you don't finish the complimentary bottle, store it in the desk's mini-fridge. The desk also houses a tablet that functions as a three-in-one ship directory, planner, and cabin control center. It was my go-to device for perusing Silver Ray's daily schedule, checking the onboard restaurants' menus, and controlling the suite's temperature and lights all without needing to stand up. If that wasn't convenient enough, the TV and your mobile Silversea profile also have the same features. The TV could pull out and swivel toward the queen-sized bed. The sleeping nook had bedside outlets and nightstands with built-in storage. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Just make sure you adjust it before lying down. It'll be hard to get back up. The bed was plush and sumptuous, stocked with pillows so soft I felt like I was being swallowed alive. But if you don't like down pillows look, I'm not proud of it either you can always peruse the pillow menu for a different option. The sleek bathroom was located down a short hall, closer to the front door. The bathroom was bright, clean, and had plenty of storage. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Some of the suites have both a bathtub and a shower. Mine only came with the latter (woe is me), but it did cosplay as a dual-vanity bathroom with two sink heads that shared one basin. This setup left me ample counter space. But if you'd rather tuck your toiletries away, the bathroom also had generous shelves and drawers, one of which had a built-in organizer perfect for my obscene skincare collection. The products were all labeled Otium, after Silverseas spa. The shower came with a clothesline and refillable bottles of body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Guests can select different toiletries from the bath product menu. Options included soaps from Bulgari, a signature of rival-owned Oceania Cruises. A walk-in closet and vanity separated the bathroom from the bedroom. The closet had an umbrella, a tiny sewing kit, large bathrobes, and shoe-cleaning supplies. The vanity had additional storage. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The closet had less storage than my suite on competitor Regent Seven Seas' latest vessel. But it was still sizable, with enough space and hangars for two guests. If you, like me, hate doing post-vacation laundry, Silversea has a solution. Guests can wash, dry, and iron their clothes in the communal laundry rooms. Or just have your butler do it for you. Yes, you read that right: Butler. My butler set up a shower with a neatly placed robe and slippers, fake candles, a macaron, and a scented shower steamer of my choice. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Several mass-market and luxury cruise lines offer these personal assistants to travelers who've booked the highest-tier suites. On Silversea's cruises, every guest has a white-glove-donning butler to help with tasks like packing luggage and setting up luxurious showers with scented steamers and fake candles. My suite also had several small, well-thought-out details that made it stand out from other five-star cruise lines. Thoughtful touches included a built-in organizer in the desk (right), and room settings that could be adjusted from your TV, cabin tablet, phone, and thermostat (left). Brittany Chang/Business Insider For example, the "sleep" setting which could be activated from the thermostat, TV, tablet, or phone slowly dimmed all the lights, giving me ample time to navigate back to bed before the room went dark. And my cabin steward (different from the butler) placed a small microfiber cloth over my sunglasses and glasses whenever he tidied up my suite. I've yet to receive this kind of high-touch housekeeping service on a cruise ship. While it's not something I would've ever requested, I certainly didn't mind. So, do microfiber cloth-covered sunglasses and free caviar make this suite worth $675 per person and day? Deluxe Verandas are part of the smallest suite categories. Brittany Chang/Business Insider I hate to say it, but yes. It's undoubtedly a steep cost. But let's not forget that the fare also includes drinks, excursions, access to the saunas, and meals at six of the ship's eight restaurants all aboard one of the most luxurious vessels I've ever been on. If you aren't worried about seasickness, you could always reserve the two cheaper cabin categories, which are virtually identical but located closer to the aft and bow. You might feel the waves more, but you'd save almost $90 per person and day. However, I, a girlie hypersensitive to seasickness, was relieved by the mid-ship position. And that alone makes the premium price worth it. Read the original article on Business Insider NASA signaled Friday that a return date for Boeings Starliner crew from the International Space Station had still not been set, as the two astronauts continue testing and working on issues within the capsule. Were not in any rush to come home, NASAs commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said, The Associated Press reported. NASA said in a statement Friday that is working with Boeing to continue evaluating the Starliners performance before returning to Earth from the orbiting lab. Test pilots Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched in Boeings Starliner capsule June 5, after a series of delays caused by leaks and thruster issues. The event marked the first time the company launched a crewed mission to space. While attempting to dock on the space station earlier this month, five out of 28 thrusters went down. Once the craft finally docked, the mission was set to last about a week, but the return date is now unknown as the astronauts continue testing on the craft. Officials said they wont set a date until after they complete ground tests of capsule thrusters in the New Mexico desert. They want to replicate what happened during docking but it may take a few weeks, per the AP. I want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space, Stich said. If there was an emergency, the astronauts could use the capsule to get away. The agency previously indicated that they were evaluating dates after the already planned space walks on June 24 and July 2. Both spacewalks have since been delayed, the AP reported. The mission was meant to be a success story for Boeing, which has experienced many setbacks and negative attention recently amid investigations into its safety culture following a midair blowout on one of its jets earlier this year. The company is looking to have regular flights to and from the International Space Station in order to compete with Elon Musks SpaceX and Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin, which were both given approval for commercial space flights in 2014. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Texas man was arrested after speeding in a stolen pickup truck on a South Carolina highway before the engine burst into flames, the Sumter County Sheriffs Office said Friday. A deputy who was patrolling Interstate 95 in the morning of June 25 noticed a pickup truck driving above the speed limit heading north. The deputys radar registered his speed at 94 mph, the sheriffs office said. The deputy pursued the truck whose driver was driving recklessly, including passing other vehicles on the shoulder of the road. During the chase, the trucks engine burst into flames and sprayed fuel on the deputys car. The truck then drove off the road near mile marker 140 and crashed into a fence line beside the interstate. The remains of a stolen pickup truck that burst into flames on Interstate 95 on June 25, 2024. The deputy ran to the vehicle to rescue the man and take him into custody, but another deputy who had arrived at the scene saw the man running away along the fence line, then darting across the highway and into a wooded area. More deputies and K-9 teams arrived and began searching for the man. They found him hiding in a ditch, where he was taken into custody. Donald Edward Reed Jr., 33, of Prairie Grove, Texas, was charged with failure to stop for a blue light, speeding 30 mph over the speed limit and striking fixtures on or near the highway. The Sumter sheriffs office identified him as a violent offender and a threat to law enforcement. Further investigation revealed that the truck had been stolen from a Colleton County resident. Reed refused emergency medical services on the scene but was taken to the hospital to be examined. He was then taken to the Sumter County Sheriffs Office Detention Center, where he is being held for the Colleton County Sheriffs Office. JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (KSNW) The storm that hit Junction City Friday night caused a lot of damage. Several inches of rain caused street flooding, and strong winds downed trees and power lines. Geary County dispatchers say a vacant building in the 600 block of N. Washington partially collapsed. They do not have any reports of injuries. A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) Trees and tree branches are down, taking some power lines with them and damaging some homes and vehicles. KBI issues endangered persons advisory for a mother and her two young daughters Geary County Public Works says the landfill will be open again on Sunday for tree and brush disposal. A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Doug Kiessling DK103) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Doug Kiessling DK103) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Doug Kiessling DK103) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) Utility crews were busy Saturday morning restoring electricity to areas of the city that lost power. A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) A storm caused extensive damage in Junction City on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Jeffrey S Wenger DK101 Storm Spotter) Hildebrand Farms Dairy, near Junction City, says it has extensive damage. The family said employees and neighbors showed up and helped with the cleanup. A storm damaged buildings at Hildebrand Farms Dairy on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Hildebrand Farms Dairy) A storm damaged buildings at Hildebrand Farms Dairy on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Hildebrand Farms Dairy) A storm damaged buildings at Hildebrand Farms Dairy on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Hildebrand Farms Dairy) A storm damaged buildings at Hildebrand Farms Dairy on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Hildebrand Farms Dairy) In Osage County, Melvern Lake has damage. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the Coeur dAlene beach and picnic area are closed until further notice due to tree damage. The goal is to reopen in time for the upcoming holiday weekend. Melvern Lake (Courtesy US Army Corps of Engineers) Melvern Lake (Courtesy US Army Corps of Engineers) Melvern Lake (Courtesy US Army Corps of Engineers) There is also damage at Melvern Lake Marina. Officials posted on Facebook that the marina is closed indefinitely. They hope to get it reopened soon. A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) A storm damaged Melvern Lake Marina on June 28, 2024. (Courtesy Melvern Lake Marina) The National Weather Service office in Topeka has a storm survey crew assessing the damage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. An illegal street takeover in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning left two vehicles engulfed in flames. Police were summoned to the intersection of West 18th and Main streets near the 10 Freeway at 2:49 a.m. and found in excess of 50 cars, LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman said. Two sedans were burning as a stream of traffic weaved around them, according to video from OnSceneTV. Hundreds of spectators were on hand, according to KTLA. Firefighters extinguished the vehicles, which were towed from the scene. There were no injuries or arrests. Street takeovers, also known as sideshows, in which souped-up cars spin around in intersections, burning tires, to the delight of fans, are under increasing scrutiny in L.A. Hundreds occur every year, with some resulting in deadly crashes and shootings. The City Council launched a pilot program this year to combat illegal takeovers by installing hardened center lines at certain intersections to deter stunts. The location of Saturdays fire was not among them. Two cars caught fire during a street takeover at the intersection of West 18th and Main streets near the 10 Freeway. (OnScene.TV) 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. Students navigate new college admissions landscape, one year after affirmative action is struck down Last June, the Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The court held, in a 6-3 decision, that Harvard and the University of North Carolinas admissions programs, which had accounted for race at various stages in the process, violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Now, students applying to post-secondary schools following the courts decision are navigating a new landscape. David Jiangs high school graduating class is the first to apply to college since the Supreme Court decision. Jiang, 18, whose parents immigrated from China more than 20 years ago, said Harvard University had been his dream school. I was always aiming for the castle on the hill, Jiang said. I was always trying to go for Harvard. PHOTO: 18-year-old incoming college student David Jiang (middle), whose parents (left and right) immigrated from China over 20 years ago, said Harvard University had been his dream school. (ABC News) However, Harvard was part of last years historic Supreme Court decision that brought a policy change in college admissions, leaving uncertainty about the future of campus diversity. Admissions officers can no longer consider race as part of a students application, but students still have the option to share that information in their essays. Jiang, who applied early to Harvard last year, said he decided to lean into his Chinese American heritage in his application. It's just a huge part of my identity, Jiang told Nightline. If a school does not want to admit me because I'm Asian American, then there's not much I can do about that, because it's the part of me that I just can't get rid of. Jiang attended Stuyvesant High School in New York City, one of the top public schools in the country. He says he scored 1560 on the SAT, played the baritone saxophone in the NYC All-City Latin Jazz Ensemble and was a team captain of the New York City Math Team. Among the over dozen schools Jiang applied to, many rejected or waitlisted him, including Harvard. I feel like by not getting into Harvard, I was sort of disappointing [my parents], Jiang said. But more importantly, I was disappointing myself. PHOTO: Virginia, Maryland and Colorado have banned the practice of legacy admissions in colleges. Other states, such as California, New York and Massachusetts are considering similar proposals. (ABC News) Adam Mortara, the lead counsel who helped strike down affirmative action on behalf of Students for Fair Admissions, claimed Harvard had previously unfairly held Asian American applicants to a higher standard. [Admissions penalty] was predominantly centered in the so-called personal rating, said Mortara. Where Asian applicants were given lower personal ratings than white applicants, African American applicants or Hispanic applicants. According to Harvards student newspaper, The Crimson, the so-called personal rating could include traits like humor, kindness, sensitivity and leadership. I think the stereotype is that Asian people are reserved, stick to themselves and just do math problems in their free time, Jiang said. While Jiang does not believe race played a role in his rejection from Harvard, he thinks that implicit bias is nearly impossible to erase. I think that there's still this preconceived notion that Asians are so-and-so, and I feel like I did have to prove that I'm not the stereotypical Asian, Jiang said. Harvard has denied any bias or discrimination against Asian American applicants in their admissions process. In a statement to ABC News, Harvard claims in part they have taken several steps to arrive in compliance with the ruling from the Supreme Court. These changes have been made across our recruitment, application and admissions practices. However, many students of color are still concerned about campus diversity in a post-affirmative action landscape. There is this real threat of the proportion of Black students at Harvard decreasing over the years, said Clyve Lawrence, a rising senior at Harvard. I feel concerned about a chilling effect that Black students who otherwise would have applied now are worried that they'll be facing disadvantages because of this decision. Some students worry that without affirmative action, the odds would be stacked against them. PHOTO: Transfer student Joely Castillo workshopped her college applications with the Kaplan Educational Foundation, a non-profit that works with underprivileged community college students. (ABC News) There are already so many obstacles that disproportionately affect students of color, said Joely Castillo, a Brown University transfer student. Castillo said she had a difficult upbringing. After her father was arrested and imprisoned, her mother raised three girls on her own. After high school, she immediately started working multiple jobs to help support her family. Almost a decade later, Castillo enrolled in a community college and set her sights on a four-year university. She workshopped her approach at the Kaplan Educational Foundation, a nonprofit that works with underprivileged community college students. I had to play catchup to the other applicants students that have had the opportunity to have tutors and family supporting them throughout the college application, said Castillo. Whereas I was kind of going in blind. Castillo ultimately decided to write about her cultural background in her applications. With a 4.0 GPA, Castillo was accepted by Princeton University, Smith College, Brown University, and other schools. Castillo ended up choosing Brown University, but says she still worries about diversity on campus. If we don't continue to try and elevate students of color, our campuses are going to look the way that they did many years before, where there were less students of color, Castillo said. According to a 2017 New York Times analysis, Asian enrollment largely increased at top colleges over a 35-year period with affirmative action, while Hispanic and Black students mostly remained disproportionately underrepresented. A survey by the Gallup Center on Black Voices shows nearly 70% of Americans supported the end of affirmative action. Some who fought for its end say the college admissions process wont truly be fair until schools stop giving preference to children of alumni, called legacies. There's no reason that one child should be afforded an admissions preference to an elite university because their parent went there, said Mortara. As opposed to the child of say, a second-generation immigrant family whose parents did not have the opportunity to attend that institution. The Department of Education launched a civil rights investigation into Harvards use of legacy admissions last year. A number of elite schools have already terminated legacy admissions, including Johns Hopkins University and Amherst College. States like Virginia and Maryland have also joined Colorado to ban the practice at its public universities. More states, including California, New York and Massachusetts, are considering similar proposals. But some alumni of color and alumni who were the first ones in their families to attend college are opposing the ban. PHOTO: Second-generation Yale graduate Dr. Amanda Calhoun, whose father also graduated from Yale University, said affirmative action was transformative to both her and her father. (ABC News) I think it's a really big deal for us as American descendants of the enslaved to be legacy and legacy families, said Amanda Calhoun, a second-generation Yale graduate, whose father also graduated from Yale. Calhoun and her father said they feel affirmative action and its outreach programs were transformative. My concern would be we would see less outreach, said Calhoun. We'll see less Black students, less minoritized students that are feeling empowered to apply to a place like Yale and other elite institutions. Yale is currently reviewing its preference for legacy applicants. But for now, the policy remains in place. Harvard told ABC News that 23.4% of the Class of 2028 has no financial contribution from their parents, and just over half will receive need-based aid, with an average parent contribution of $15,500. Additionally, Harvard says 20.5% of its incoming class will be students who are the first generation in their family to graduate from a four-year college or equivalent. I know that sometimes college is random, and the admissions decision does not always pan out the way you like it, said Jiang, who is now a member of the Class of 2028 at Duke University. I was glad I finally got into a school that I would love to go to. ABC News Marjorie McAfee and Jaclyn Skurie contributed to this report. Students navigate new college admissions landscape, one year after affirmative action is struck down originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Summer airline travelers expect to face a Fourth of July holiday crush. LAX among the busiest Southern California airports, including Ontario International, shown here in 2019, are expecting a surge in travelers starting July 4. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 3:16 p.m. July 1, 2024: An earlier version of this article said the TSA anticipated screening more than 28 million passengers between Friday, July 5, and Monday, July 8. The covered period is Friday, June 28, through Monday, July 8. Los Angeles International Airport and other area airports are preparing for a crush of airline passengers, with Friday kicking off the busy Fourth of July travel season. The Transportation Security Administration said it anticipated screening more than 28 million passengers nationwide between Friday, June 28 , and Monday, July 8 . That would mark a 5.4% increase in traffic over last year. Thursday was the fifth-busiest day in TSA history, with security officers processing 2.92 million passengers. That tally barely surpassed the 2.91 million travelers screened on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2023. LAX is expected to screen about 900,000 people between July 1 and July 8, according to TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers. She said the airport's anticipated busiest day will be July 3, when an estimated 119,000 people are expected to travel. Monday, July 8, is expected to be nearly as busy with 118,000 people. The lightest day is projected to be July 4, with 100,000 travelers. TSA is fully staffed and prepared for the increase, Dankers said. Read more: TSA found more than 1,500 firearms on airline passengers in first 3 months of 2024 TSA has been planning for this holiday period for months and operations are going very smoothly at LAX, Dankers said in an email. She added, While [our] security screening officers will be working hard during the Fourth of July holiday, we are confident that travelers departing LAX will experience a smooth and efficient security screening experience. TSA said wait time standards are 10 minutes and under in TSA PreCheck lanes and 30 minutes and under at regular screening lanes. TSA is also expecting July 5 and July 7 to be the two busiest days of the travel cycle, with more than 3 million people traveling through 434 airports. The uptick in travelers reflects the continuing growth in air travel since COVID-19 health restrictions were lifted. Officials at Ontario International Airport are expecting a 10.3% increase in travel between Tuesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 7. That translates into approximately 117,805 visitors moving through the airport. Ontario airport is still asking passengers to arrive two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours for international departures. Parking should also be reserved in advance. Long Beach Airport did not release projections for the Fourth of July. The hub, however, is coming off a record-breaking May. A new all-time high of 189,435 travelers passed through its doors in May, surpassing the airport's previous best of 182,382 in March. LGBs unwavering dedication to delivering easygoing, first-class service exceeds expectations for travelers and fuels economic growth and prosperity for our region, said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson in a statement . Read more: LAX's already-miserable traffic is expected to get a lot worse this week. Here's what to know The transportation hub is preparing to deal with the holiday rush by increasing staffing along the curbs and crosswalks to keep traffic flowing, said public affairs officer Kate Kuykendall. Other enhancements include the addition of a temporary cell phone waiting lot and special accommodations for large groups. Although this is a very busy time for our airport, we are proud to offer the most easygoing and convenient passenger experience in the region, Kuykendall said. Hollywood Burbank Airport did not release projections for the Fourth of July. The airport's most up-to-date figures saw a slight increase in travel for April, with 508,043 passengers. That was a bump of just under 1,500 travelers from the same time last year. Orange Countys John Wayne Airport also did not offer any projections for the Independence Day travel season. Unlike its counterparts, it saw a dip in travel in May. The airport serviced 950,740 passengers last month, marking an 8.7% decrease compared with May 2023 (1,041,342). 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. HINTON, WV (WVNS) You may qualify for a free visit to the hospital. Cancer claims Iditarod champion Rick Mackey. His father and brother also won famed Alaska race Summers County ARH Hospital is hosting a low-dose C.T. lung cancer screening awareness event this Saturday. To qualify for this screening, you must be 50-77 years old, have a tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack-years, currently smoke or have quit smoking within the last 15 years. Medical Imaging Director, Jeremy Willis told 59News, Especially in the state of West Virginia, weve got the highest rate of smoking in the United States and its very important for people that are long term smokers to get this screening done so we can catch things early. This awareness event lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The first 5 participants will receive gift bags and gift cards. Pre-registration is required. Screenings at Summers County ARH also occur on regular days from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, the staff is flexible and will work with you if you reach out to them. Hawaii study shows almost 75% of Maui wildfire survey participants have respiratory issues A pack-year is defined as smoking one pack a day for one year. A pack is defined as 20 cigarettes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) took a swipe at the Democratic elite in an interview Friday, blaming those in leadership for President Bidens poor performance in the recent debate. Sununu highlighted the Democratic National Committees (DNC) decision early in the cycle to skip the New Hampshire primary and focus first on South Carolina. Lets remember this is not Joe Bidens fault, he told NewsNation Now host Connell McShane. This is the Democrat elite that said were going to try to skip the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary, and were going to coronate Joe Biden when we know he has a problem. They had their chance, right, and this is what you get when they try to basically play games instead of let a good primary process play out, the governor added. His comments refer to the DNCs decision to hold its first primary in a state considered more representative of the partys diverse electorate, after calls from state and local Democrats. Sununu, and other politicians in New Hampshire, blasted the president for the decision. Despite not appearing on the ballot in the Granite State, Biden was declared the winner of the primary through a write-in effort. Still, the state did not award him any delegates. Sununu praised former President Trumps performance during Thursday nights debate in Atlanta, saying the former president did exactly what he had to do at the debate. He showed competence. He did exactly what he had to do last night, not get too blowhardy, he said Friday. He was clearly the adult in the room; Biden just looked absolutely horrible. Sununu one of the last Republican governors in the Northeast, which has become a Democratic stronghold originally backed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the primary. Haley dropped out of the race in March, paving the way for Trump to become the presumptive GOP nominee. Despite calling Trump a loser in the past, Sununu signaled he would vote for the Republican ticket, no matter who tops the ballot. In Fridays interview, the governor added that while he called for the Democratic Party to replace Biden at the top of the ticket last year, he believed it was now too late to do so. His comments come after Bidens stumbling debate performance Thursday spurred panic within the Democratic Party, along with discussion of whether the incumbent should step down and allow for an open convention in August. Biden and his campaign have dismissed the calls, saying the president is not going anywhere. Sununu called the calls for an open convention a dumb idea. Hes going to the nominee, Sununu said. Whos going to step in with about four months having to raise a half a billion dollars? Thats a hard thing, knowing that you might be the nominee, but that you probably lose as much, if not worse than Biden trying to get your name ID out there. But, he added, if Biden can show strength and come out competent in the second debate, maybe America puts the first debate in the rear-view mirror, and they can hit the reset button. At the beginning of the debate Thursday, Biden had a raspy voice, and his team was quick to explain it was a cold. During his rally in North Carolina Friday, Bidens voice was seemingly back to normal, his energy was up and he did not stumble over his words as much. Asked by McShane about the turn in events, Sununu dismissed it, giving credit to the teleprompter. When he has a teleprompter, 80 percent of the time Biden can keep it together and read from the teleprompter, he said, adding, So I think thats one of the most disconcerting things, is that thats what we saw last night is clearly the real Joe Biden. I think that makes a lot of people nervous, and it makes a lot of people start lining up the dots, the governor continued. This is why were in the economic crisis, we have. This is why we have an immigration crisis thats out of control. Sununu added, Its all making sense now to the American people, and they just want change. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pride Month is nearly over but the LGBTQ+ community needs support all year long, particularly from state legislators. There are currently more than 500 anti-transgender bills being introduced in the United States, including 25 states that have introduced bans on gender-affirming healthcare. In Florida, theres the controversial Dont Say Gay law, which stated that teachers couldnt discuss gender or sexual orientation as part of their classroom teachings although a legal settlement in March declared that.students and teachers could discuss LGBT+ people, hang pride flags and still have on-campus LGBT groups. While many anti-LGTBQ+ bills fail to become law with a federal judge earlier this month striking down a 2023 Florida law that blocked gender-affirming care for transgender minors these bills still jeopardize the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals, and children, in the US. Speaking to The Independent, three LGTBQ+ advocacy groups shared approaches for supporting queer youth during Pride Month and beyond it. Have candid discussions with children and adults about the effects of anti-LGBTQ+ bills Speaking to The Independent, Ray McKinnon the executive director of Parents, Families, and Friends of LGBTQ+ people (PFLAG) in Charlotte spoke specifically about House Bill 808, which prohibits access to gender-affirming healthcare to minors in North Carolina. He claimed that, although the idea behind the law is to protect children, thats not whats actually happening. There is no world where a person is going to take a random, trans juvenile and force them to do things outside of a consultation, without medical professionals and parents, he said. The harm that is done with House 808 can be exceptionally long lasting. When a persons identity doesnt match who they are medically, they should have a possibility to do something about that. We know that to place these barriers in front of parents and kids is not at all about protecting kids. Janson Wu, the senior director of advocacy and government affairs at The Trevor Project, went on to share how hes seen state laws affect young peoples mental health. He noted that, in response to the organizations 2024 US National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, 90 per cent of participants said their well-being was negatively impacted by recent politics. With that in mind, he shared the reminder that despite the hateful rhetoric about the LGBTQ+ community, it doesnt mean that queer people are on their own. For every adult who would attack your existence to gain power, there are so many more adults who believe that you are perfect and deserving of support exactly as you are, including if you are LGBTQ +, he explained. These laws have been passed by a small and vocal minority, extremists. And where I put hope in is that were stronger when we fight back together. Be an accepting adult Stonewall Anniversary (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) During its 2019 national survey, The Trevor Project found that LGBTQ+ youth who report to having at least one accepting adult [in their life] were 40 per cent less likely to report a suicide attempt in that past year. Patti Hearn, the executive director for Seattle Pride, said this data tells us how important that one adult is. All they need to do is express care, support, and openness to kids, she explained. I think adults that work with kids, such as teachers, have a lot of responsibilities. For example, they could be walking down the hall and notice something that could be bullying, but theyre also in a rush to grade papers. However, it has to be top of mind that you have to intervene, 100 per cent of the time. We need to do that for the most vulnerable kids who are marginalized in all different ways. McKinnon also expressed how simple words of support from loved ones can go a long way. He explained that ever since he came out as gay in 2022 after being married for 18 years to a woman who he shares four sons with his loved ones have encouraged him to be his authentic self. He also referred to The Trevor Projects statistic about how meaningful this support is to children who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I dont think people fully appreciate how important that is, he explained. We dont realize how just our presence and giving people permission to be who they are saves lives. Educate yourself as someone whos not a part of the LGBTQ+ community Theres a lot that an ally can learn. Wu referenced some of the free resources on The Trevor Projects website, including explainers about gender identity and how vital it is to acknowledge that we dont need to abide by societal gender roles. Through taking the opportunity to educate yourself, youre showing so much support for young people as theyve identified themselves, he said. Some of The Trevor Projects resources also include a checklist to see if your school is LGBTQ affirming and a guide on how to testify against harmful bills. We can all do our parts to lessen that burden through self education. McKinnon also highlighted how allies should educate themselves about organizations that want to protect the well-being of LGBTQ+ people in the country. Some organizations are working with kids to give them spaces where they can be safe, he explained. Theres nothing that compares to coming into a space and having permission to be yourself. Where youre not having to dial yourself back, like where you cant be so masculine or so feminine. Steer students away from hateful rhetoric about people in the LGBTQ+ community (Getty Images) Both within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community, hateful rhetoric regarding queer young people can exist. As allies, we have to recognize transphobia and homophobia when we see it and point out the impact it has, especially when talking to children. McKinnon pointed out how state laws affect the safety of queer youth, referencing the Parents Bill of Rights in North Carolina, an act to enumerate the rights of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their minor children. Legislation like that could force teachers to essentially out kids. And its showing us that: Oh, the right thing to do is to bully and harm, he claimed. You cannot change a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. Bullying them or making them feel less than that isnt going to do it. Wu also shared simple ways we can nudge students away from transphobic or homophobic rhetoric, acknowledging that children often live by example. Ultimately, its the adults in their lives, whether its parents, family members or teachers, who have to role model respect and kindness towards the LGBTQ+ community. I think the most effective way of this is through putting up the Pride Flag, or using a persons preferred pronouns, he said. Have discussions about gender identity Hearn acknowledged that, in her experience working with children, theyre extremely open to learning and inquiring about the meanings of identity, from the topic of pronouns to what it means to be non-binary. They naturally question some of the things that we say are so specific that are boy things or girl things, particularly when theyre younger. Theyre curious about things like that, why blue has been for boys and pink is for girls. Why does it have to be that way? she explained. I think when we let them be more like they want to naturally be, it ties into a realm of things to consider, surrounding positive masculinity, like adult men being nurturing and caring. Wu agreed that when we question why gender norms exist, we create a space for people to learn without judgment, which also widens our knowledge about gender identity. We recognize the beautiful and broad diversity of our identities in so many different contexts, he explained. Why would that not be true when it comes to gender as well? We should be listening, and we should be trusting young people when they tell us who they are. 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. 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. 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. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh couple waits in fear as city-owned duplex collapses next door 4 confirmed tornadoes touched down in Pittsburgh region, NWS says Driver picking up body from Shadyside nursing home takes patient who was still alive VIDEO: Juneteenth celebration organizer still waiting on funds Pittsburgh City Council approved for event DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The Supreme Court has broadly expanded the power of judges at the expense of federal agencies with a pair of decisions this week, and it could be poised to do so again next week. Altogether, its actions to transfer authority from agencies to the judiciary could curtail a wide range of financial, environmental, workplace and consumer protections. Its just part of a continuing trend with the federal judiciary and the Supreme Court in particular, exercising more and more power at the expense, potentially, of the other branches, said Don Goodson, deputy director of the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law. On Friday, the court struck down a legal doctrine known as the Chevron deference that instructed judges to defer to agencies when the law is ambiguous, in a case known as Loper Bright v. Raimondo. That decision came one day after it ruled that the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) use of internal administrative courts to try civil fraud cases was unconstitutional a move that could reverberate to other agencies that also use administrative courts. In a scathing dissent on the Chevron case, Justice Elena Kagan wrote it is impossible to pretend that todays decision is a one-off in how it treats agencies, noting that the SEC case similarly kneecapped them. This very Term presents yet another example of the Courts resolve to roll back agency authority, she added. Next week the court is expected to issue a decision in a third case that could weaken regulatory statutes of limitation and give opponents of a federal action more time to sue. You do see a court thats growing increasingly skeptical of executive power and administrative power over the last decade, said Jesse Panuccio, who was the Justice Departments acting associate attorney general during the Trump administration. The executive branch has grown vastly in its powers and in the scope of its regulation, he added. I think the court is saying, if thats where were going to be, we need to rein in some of these presumptions in favor of agencies. But critics of the courts moves say that they could weaken the agencies to the detriment of the country. James Goodwin, policy director at the Center for Progressive Reform, said that the opinions issued this past week are all pointed in the same anti-regulatory direction. He said the SEC case will have a chilling effect on agency enforcement actions, while the Loper Bright case will have a similar chilling effect on agencies, but with respect to policy making. The latter case is expected to allow judges to more easily strike down federal agency rules. That increase in judicial power is technically politically neutral, though liberal critics say the federal judiciarys conservative makeup could in practice enable right-wing principles to prevail in many cases. Goodson said that even prior to the decision, some agencies may have already been avoiding actions that would rely on Chevron out of fear that the precedent would be overturned. Many people have been treating Chevron as overruled for several years now because of the extreme skepticism that has been coming from members of the court, he said. The SEC case will apply anytime federal agencies seek to pursue civil penalties for certain kinds of violations, like fraud, requiring such cases to go to the federal judiciary, said Cary Coglianese, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania. But he noted that agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could also see their cases shifted to federal court and that the ruling could reach nonfinancial agencies, too, in cases like fraudulent filing of environmental reports with the government. The cases echo a prior decision that also curbed federal agencies power. In that 2022 ruling, the Supreme Court not only limited how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can regulate climate change, it also codified a legal theory known as the major questions doctrine, which holds that regulations of substantial national significance need to have clear authorization from Congress. Ann Carlson, an environmental law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said that decision will have an even greater impact than the more recent ones. When the major questions doctrine is applied, the agency doesnt even have the power to regulate, let alone to regulate in a particular way, said Carlson, who also recently served in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under President Biden. Carlson said that Fridays decision is one more weapon in an arsenal being used to attack the administrative state, but that she expects the major questions doctrine to be much more impactful. Goodwin, with the Center for Progressive Reform, similarly said that he expects major questions to come into play for the biggest cases, while the Loper Bright ruling may have an impact in cases involving more intermediate rules like endangered species protections. Panuccio, the former Justice Department official who is now a partner at law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, said that in the coming years, the court has the opportunity to go even further in reining in the other branches by looking to restrict what authorities Congress is allowed to delegate to the agencies. Thats always a challenge that pops up here and there, which is is the court willing to revisit whats called the non-delegation doctrine and put some limits on what Congress allows agencies to do? he said. So long as there are regulated parties and parties on the losing end of a government decision, thats always something litigants are going to try . to try to get that question before the court again, he added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) Fridays U.S. Supreme Court ruling on urban camping bans clears the way for Auroras new tough love approach to addressing homelessness, Mayor Mike Coffman said. I think it was the right decision, Coffman said. I also do think that communities ought to do what the city of Aurora does and that is have a place for people to go. Is your hourly wage enough to afford 2-bedroom rent in Colorado? On Monday, Aurora enacted a camping ban that is more strict than its previous one. It will go into effect in about a month. Were going to have a much tougher policy when it comes to illegal camping on the I-225 corridor. For the first time, people will be ticketed for trespass, Coffman said. Aurora to enforce closed to camping zones Within closed to camping zones, authorities may remove people and tents without prior notice. Outside of those zones, people can avoid being issued a ticket if they leave the camp within 72 hours. We call it tough love, that we are in fact putting penalties in place for illegal camping that we havent had before, Coffman said. The Supreme Courts ruling released Friday morning focuses on a case involving Grants Pass, Oregon. The 6-3 ruling explicitly allows Grants Pass, Aurora and other cities to enforce rules that ban urban camping and sleeping outside in public spaces. Enforcement may include citations and arrests. With this court decision thats a possibility, sure that people could get arrested for sleeping in their car, that people could get arrested for sleeping in a park, Coffman said. Colorado town has the highest short-term rental price in the US However, Coffman said Auroras approach is not aimed at getting people in trouble. The citys new initiative also includes a specialized court system to deal with low-level offenders who are facing homelessness. If a person is cited for trespassing in a closed-to-camping zone, the charges can be dropped by meeting certain conditions like attending mental health counseling or searching for a job. Aurora homeless camp along Interstate 25 traffic in daylight Advocates: To criminalize someone is not a solution However, critics argue the Supreme Courts decision is a step toward criminalizing homelessness. Theres not an alternative to surviving. You have to sleep, you have to cover yourself, you have to do those things, said Terese Howard, an organizer with Housekeys Action Network Denver. Howard said a better alternative to camping bans would be for cities, states and the federal government to invest in long-term housing solutions for unhoused people. We know that roughly 90% to 99% of people who are houseless want housing. Its not a choice, its a matter of availability. So to criminalize someone is not a solution, she said. In Denver, Mayor Mike Johnstons All In Mile High initiative aims to house 2,000 people by the end of the year. A spokesperson for the mayors office said the city does not need U.S. Supreme Court guidance to know the right way to address homelessness is through compassion and humanity. In Denver, we believe people should sleep in their own beds, not street corners. Thats why we have spent the last 12 months moving more than 1,600 people indoors, including 536 individuals who are now permanently housed. This house is the most wish-listed Airbnb in Colorado Howard disagrees with Denvers approach because she believes it has led to more criminalization of people living on the streets. If you didnt happen to be a person who was lucky enough to get into a hotel and youre left on the streets, youre getting chased from block to block to block to block, unable to have proper protection, unable to put up a tent, even use a blanket, she said. 3 justices dissent in urban camping ban ruling Three of the Supreme Court justices disagreed with the majoritys ruling. In the dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote: 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. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox When asked about the dissenting opinion, Coffman said Aurora has safe parking space programs for people who need to live in their cars while saving up money for a place to live. He said he believes the tough love approach is the right answer for Aurora. But I do have to say that a lot of the illegal unsheltered camping is a product of addiction and mental illness, so were not doing them any good by leaving them on the street, 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 FOX31 Denver. This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become. Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent from the Supreme Courts majority opinion in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson On Friday, the Supreme Courts conservative supermajority ruled that states that criminalize the homeless for sleeping outside are not inflicting cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The courts liberal justices sharply dissented, basically on the grounds of uh, where else are they supposed to sleep? 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, wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was 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. The case in question is City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, a case about the small town of Grants Pass, Oregon, that enacted a camping ban that prohibited sleeping on public property with beddingi.e., sleeping bags, blankets, or even rolled up clothingfor the purpose of maintaining a temporary place to live. It also prohibited sleeping overnight in a vehicle. The extensive record showed that the towns lawmakers enacted these ordinances for the express purpose of targeting the homeless population and attempting to drive them out. Gloria Johnson, a homeless woman living in Grants Pass, sued, arguing the ban was a violation of the Eighth Amendments cruel and unusual punishments clause. The Supreme Courts conservative supermajority ruled in favor of Grants Pass, declaring that its camping ban was not unconstitutional. In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuchjoined by Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Chief Justice John Robertsfirst recognized that homelessness is complex, and that its caused by a variety of factors. Yet, Gorsuch declared, the Eighth 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. Because the Grants Pass ordinance specifically targets those who sleep in public, Gorsuch concluded, it punishes conduct rather than status, which is acceptable under the Eighth Amendment. To Sotomayor, Gorsuchs decision plainly ignores or overrides precedent established in 1962s Robinson v. California, in which the Supreme Court ruled that states cant punish someone for being addicted to narcotics, since addiction is a disease that constitutes status rather than conduct. By this reasoning, Sotomayor argued, its unconstitutional to criminalize someone simply because they assume the status of being homeless. But the majority is in fact doing just that by enabling Grants Pass to criminalize the use of bedding and sleeping in public. Under the majoritys logic, cities cannot criminalize the status of being homeless, but they can criminalize the conduct that defines that status, wrote Sotomayor. If someone in Grants Pass were to spread a blanket out to stargaze or picnic, that would not be a violation of the citys camping ban, since, presumably, that person would have a place to go home to. That, Sotomayor wrote, proves that the citys ordinance is blatantly criminalizing homelessness. The majoritys logic, she continued, would mean that its cruel and unusual to punish someone for having a common cold but that it is not cruel and unusual to punish them for sniffling or coughing because of that cold. The liberal justice also spends pages detailing the realities of being homeless in America, noting that 6 in 10 people facing homelessness are able to secure shelter beds, but the remaining 4 in 10 end up sleeping in places not meant for human habitation. And there are a myriad of reasons for homelessness, including stagnant wages, lack of affordable housing, natural disasters, domestic violence, and mental and physical health challenges. Only a tiny percentage of shelters make accommodations for disabled people, and many demand that individuals participate in religious services in exchange for help. States, Sotomayor reiterated, are legally allowed to regulate the spaces homeless people occupy. They can ban tents and encampments in public spaces and criminalize public urination and defecation. Thousands of homeless people are regularly fined and jailed for breaking these laws. But the decision by Grants Pass to specifically target people who sleep and use bedding outside because they lack any shelter was unconscionable and unconstitutional, Sotomayor declared. The Constitution was meant to provide basic rights to all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, Sotomayor concluded. Its the Supreme Courts duty to safeguard those rights, even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. Otherwise, the words of the Constitution become little more than good advice. 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!) Tracy Bennett, left, and a friend move her tent after police told her and others staying in a downtown San Diego homeless encampment to vacate for a cleaning. (Matt Vasilogambros/Stateline) In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled in the case of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson, to uphold a law enacted by a small Oregon town that bars those experiencing homelessness from using blankets, pillows and cardboard boxes while sleeping outdoors within city limits. Those who are found doing so can impose fines for camping in public on first-time offenders and up to 30 days of jail time for repeat offenders. Its a case that has major implications for survivors of domestic violence, experts say. Lawyers for the plaintiffs in this case have argued that barring camping on public property effectively criminalizes people for being unhoused. The case before the Supreme Court focused on the question whether the enforcement of the Grants Pass law constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. This report was originally published by The 19th. The Illuminator is a founding member of The 19th News Network. Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch said in his opinion, that the law in Grants Pass does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment because such laws are not designed to superad[d] terror, pain, or disgrace and because similarly limited fines and jail terms have been and remain among the usual mode[s] for punishing criminal offenses throughout the country. Gorsuch continued in his opinion, Grants Passs public-camping ordinances do not criminalize status. The public-camping laws prohibit actions undertaken by any person, regardless of status. It makes no difference whether the charged defendant is currently a person experiencing homelessness, a backpacker on vacation, or a student who abandons his dorm room to camp out in protest on the lawn of a municipal building. The court in April heard oral arguments for the case, one of the most significant Supreme Court cases on the unhoused in over 40 years, as camping ban legislation exists not only in Grants Pass, but in municipalities nationwide. The ruling means that all jurisdictions with these laws are free to enforce them, and others looking to address the homelessness crisis in America through punitive measures now have a court-ordained model for doing so. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 600,000 people in the United States were houseless on any given night in 2023. But experts tell The 19th that the Grants Pass case, and the Supreme Courts ruling, has implications beyond the criminalization of housing status and could further limit options for safety and security and the possibility of stable housing for survivors of domestic violence. Fifty-seven percent of unhoused women report domestic violence as their immediate cause of homelessness. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor cited this rationate, pointing to the almost 60% of those experiencing homelessness [that] report that fleeing domestic violence was the immediate cause. Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Sotomayor in her 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, the dissent reads. Kate Walz, a senior staff attorney at the National Housing Law Project (NHLP) and an expert on housing rights and domestic violence, told The 19th that throughout her 20 years as a Legal Aid attorney, she routinely saw situations where domestic abusers would try to make their victims homeless and they know how to manipulate systems to make that work. They may call the police on their victim, or call the public housing authority and self-report that they are living in the home of their victim when they are not supposed to, even though theyre not all to jeopardize a victims housing status.. They will take steps to sabotage whatever minute stability a victim might have so that theyre homeless, because then they know there is an increased chance that the survivor will return to them. Criminalizing being unhoused, Walz said, only serves to enact more barriers for survivors by creating a set of impossible choices that often lead them with few viable options for securing their and their familys safety. If local governments are authorized to enact local policies that allow them to find and arrest people because they are living outside, they are really being complicit in the increase of gender-based violence against survivors without homes, Walz said. Maybe a park looks cleaner and safer to sleep in than a home that might increase the risk of violence to a persons body. This law says that we as a society should accept a person having to accept the risk of violence. Makeshift shelters line a block in downtown Salem on May 31, 2023. Keri Moran-Kuhn is the associate director of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which helps fund and manage a community-based, non-governmental domestic violence program in Grants Pass, including a family shelter there. Theyre always full, she told The 19th. Its just the need. Its as great there as it is across the country. Moran-Kuhn stressed that one of the key facets of domestic violence is isolation and many survivors do not have family and friends or have been isolated from them and have no one to turn to for help. And for housing, if they do not have a place to go, if their local domestic violence program has a full shelter or there is not another safe area to go, they will potentially become homeless. For many survivors, this looks like sleeping in your car, moving it nightly to avoid detection from an abuser. But in many parts of rural Oregon, and for those who may not have a vehicle, this looks like camping outside, Moran-Kuhn said. Being fined, ticketed, arrested and punished for living outside when they have no other place to go, thats just adding to the trauma that theyve experienced and its also pushing them further into poverty. In Oregon, the situation is particularly acute right now, she said. Our cities are struggling, our rural areas are struggling in Oregon, we have a severe housing crisis. And what that looks like on the ground, both in our urban and rural areas in Oregon, is that there are not enough shelter beds,. Moran-Kuhn explained. If theres a waitlist and they cant get in and theyre calling in the middle of the night when theyve left with nothing but the clothing on their back and now theres not a bed for them where do they go? The domestic violence shelter in Grants Pass is small, housing a maximum of 15 families. She said that many people drive from more rural parts of the state, often for an hour and a half or two hours, to get to it because of a lack of shelter services where they are. Homeless shelters, Moran-Kuhn explained, dont provide the level of trauma-informed care that domestic violence survivors and their families need, particularly for children. It can actually be more dangerous to go to a shelter depending on what type of shelter it is and what safety structures exist around them. Transition services are few and far between and permanent housing is at an all-time low in Oregon right now. Monica McLaughlin, the senior director of public policy at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, told The 19th that the Grants Pass case ignores what she describes as a simple solution to the situation in which so many survivors find themselves. Its housing. We need more housing stock to be created. We need more housing subsidies to be created. We need our housing protections for survivors to be strengthened and implemented. She notes that there are many existing federal housing protections for survivors of domestic violence and investment in strengthening and implementing those is especially critical right now. McLaughlin points to a recent HUD rule her colleagues submitted comment on, to not deny people housing based on criminal records. Thats a huge step from our perspective. Survivors of gender-based violence who have any sort of criminal record have a hard time accessing housing. Criminalizing being unhoused only further perpetuates that cycle. If we criminalize folks whose crime is living outdoors, then do they just not get any housing? In the meantime, she said, the Grants Pass ruling feels like a societal and cultural gesture of throwing their hands up around domestic or sexual violence, like saying, Well thats just whats going to happen, rather than having any solution for survivors of violence. Homeless rights activists hold a rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Walz explained that the issue is even more critical for survivors who are also parents, whose housing status can trigger the involvement of child welfare services and can result in a survivor losing custody of children. McLaughlin added that in understanding the stakes of the Grants Pass decision, it is critical to remember that moving to another town isnt a simple option especially for those who are parents and often trying to make decisions that allow their children to stay connected to their schools, trusted child care options, and neighborhood support systems while navigating how to survive and leave a violent situation. Given the limited number of family shelter beds available, many survivors opt to sleep outside with their children in the hopes that this will keep them safe from the violence they are experiencing in their home. McLaughlin adds that in a child welfare investigation, case workers look for a child having a habitable, comfortable and safe home to live in. A criminal record can preclude someone from accessing the kind of housing that would meet these kinds of standards. Without a shelter to go to and given the risks of taking children to sleep outdoors, many survivors are then forced to stay with or return to an abuser to guarantee the presentation of stable housing for their children. Writing in her dissent, Sotomayor said, Criminalizing homelessness can cause a destabilizing cascade of harm, pointing specifically to the impact of a criminal record on being able to access government benefits, including housing. Many people also become unhoused, Walz said, because of other forms of gender-based violence. In an amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court by NHLP, the group tells the story of a woman who was sexually harassed for years by her landlord, who routinely demanded sex for rent. She didnt tell anybody, because she was finally in a home after years of being unhoused, Walz said. She didnt feel safe enough that if she spoke up, there was a system that would hold the landlord accountable, protect her, and keep her housed somewhere else. Walz said that these are the kinds of choices survivors routinely face on a daily basis, weighing the risks of safe shelter that might expose them to violence against the risks of living outside, of going back to an abusive partner and being able to keep their children or facing the risk of arrest in sleeping outdoors and inviting the child welfare system into their lives. She said she also thinks about the level of economic abuse that many survivors experience. Its not just about being hit its about power and control over a persons finances. I think most people dont understand how easy it is to be in a position where you cannot get rental housing, your credits been destroyed, you have an eviction history related to the violence and the economic abuse, you may have a criminal history related to the violence and all of those things are on full display to prospective landlords. In sanctioning the law in Grants Pass, the Supreme Court has increased the risk of continued violence against survivors in this country. This will give a crude weapon to harm-doers to further control them, because they have this power that if you are unhoused, you could go to jail, Walz said. But she stressed that the Supreme Court is not saying that a jurisdiction must do what Grants Pass has chosen to do in banning camping outside in public places, but rather that it is something they legally can do. For other municipalities watching todays news, Walz said, We would urge a different outcome, a different outlook, one with more compassion, more education, and more understanding. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Supreme Court ruling on homelessness raises the risks for domestic violence survivors, experts say appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Sacramentos mayor said that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to uphold the power of governments to impose civil punishment for camping outside would not change the citys balanced, compassionate approach toward homeless people. However, the city and county adopted ordinances in 2022 that allow officers to move and fine people even if no shelter beds are available and they have been exercising the law. The new ruling, that was issued on Friday, overturns the 2018 Martin v. Boise ruling, which barred cities from criminalizing homeless people on public property unless there is an available shelter bed for them. The city of Sacramento generally interpreted Boise to mean it cannot clear camps on public land without offering shelter beds (which are typically full). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued more guidelines banning sweeps, which led the city to back off on sweeps even further. Then in 2022, amid complaints from home and business owners, the city and county adopted ordinances banning camps that block sidewalks, as well as along the entirety of the American River Parkway. The city also has an ordinance that bans unlawful storage of personal property on public property. These ordinances have given the city leverage clear camps on public land even when no shelter beds are available. In March, two homeless women showed The Sacramento Bee citations they had received from the county and city for camping on public property. On March 13, a Sacramento police officer handed Theresa Rivera a criminal citation, similar to a traffic ticket, for storing personal property on public property and erecting a sign on a sidewalk violations of city ordinances. After getting the ticket, Rivera, 45, who uses a wheelchair, tried to quickly pack up her camp before a storm hit. She now faces a $233 fine, according to court records. Fourteen days later, across the river in a field in Rio Linda, a Sheriffs deputy handed homeless woman Carol Dutcher a misdemeanor citation for violating a state trespassing law. The address listed on the citation is 6325 Linda Lane, which is public land owned by the county. Dutcher tried to ride her bicycle to court Wednesday for her scheduled appearance, but got in a crash and was unable to make it, she said. Its now possible she has a warrant for her arrest, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, Sheriffs Office spokesman. The ticket has been a huge stress, Dutcher said Friday. Ive never been cited for a misdemeanor in my life. It makes me fearful of law enforcement. Sacramento officials react to Grants Pass v. Johnson The decision in the Grants Pass v. Johnson, which weighed the legality of anti-camping ordinances in the town of Grants Pass, Oregon, gives local governments the ability to outright ban homeless camps on all public property at all times of day, said Jeff Selbin, a UC Berkeley law professor. I think it green lights banishment if thats what a city chooses to do, Selbin said. Its an invitation to do that. Hopefully no cities will. Id be surprised if Sacramento adopted that as a formal policy. But I think its going to increase harassment, ticketing, and suffering, without addressing the underlying crisis of affordable housing and short term shelter. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, whose term ends in December, said the ruling should not affect how the city handles homeless camps. Unsheltered homelessness in Sacramento fell 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, Steinberg said in a statement, referring to a new report that showed the citys homeless population is decreasing. Spokespeople for the Office of the City Manager and for the county both said they were reviewing the Supreme Court decision and would continue to provide homeless services. Although City Councilmembers Eric Guerra and Rick Jennings have previously attempted to enact a daytime camping ban, there is little interest on the current City Council to adopt new homeless bans. Guerra supports the new ruling as giving the city more tools to use for enforcement. This decision is critical in allowing us to protect our public spaces, because we can make our city safer at the same time as being compassionate toward those who need it the most, Guerra, who recently was re-elected to the council, said in a statement. This decision gives us a better chance at doing both. District Attorney Thien Ho also celebrated the ruling Friday. He had publicly criticized the city in August 2023 for not issuing fines to homeless people for blocking sidewalks. Ho, who has also sued the city over its homeless camps, submitted a brief to urge the Supreme Court to take up the case. Since my office filed the lawsuit against the city seven months ago, we have seen more consistent enforcement than in the last seven years, Ho said in a statement to The Bee. In fact, all 16 encampments listed in my lawsuit have been cleared. The mayors Martin v. Boise experiment can no longer be used as an excuse to do nothing. 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. Sacramentos largest homeless service provider, Loaves & Fishes, was far less celebratory of the ruling. The criminalization of unhoused people will only create more barriers to the services so desperately needed to support their access to housing (and other) services, the nonprofit said in a statement. At Loaves & Fishes, we stand firmly with our vulnerable, unhoused neighbors, and we will be here to support their survival in the wake of this ruling. Sacramentos homeless population skyrocketed to roughly 9,300 in 2022, followed by a decrease to about 6,600 in 2024, according to federally-mandated Point in Time reports which used different surveying methodologies. The city has a waitlist of about 2,400 people for its 1,300 shelter beds. The county, which has a larger budget, has about 775 shelter beds. It plans to open over 250 new shelter beds on Stockton Boulevard and Watt Avenue soon. Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond said the decision will not slow the county from opening new shelter beds. It certainly wont impact our efforts to continue building shelter capacity for people so they have a safer alternative to living outside, Desmond said. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man has been arrested and accused of murder after a confrontation between him and patrons in a market in The Dalles last Saturday led to a deadly shooting, officials said. The Wasco County District Attorneys Office announced a grand jury indicted 23-year-old Noe Zaragoza, Jr. for murder and other charges stemming from an incident in which he allegedly entered the Walnut Street Center Market in The Dalles, armed with a gun, in the early hours of June 22. Oregon Ethics Commission nixes investigation into Gov. Kotek, First Lady As a release from the DAs office alleged, Prior to entry, Zaragoza, Jr. pulled a firearm out of his waistband, checked it, and then put it back into his pants. Zaragoza, Jr. engaged in a confrontation with a patron once inside the store. During the altercation, Mariah Hernandez stepped in to defend her friend. Zaragoza, Jr. pulled a firearm and pointed it at Ms. Hernandez. Ms. Hernandez slapped the firearm in response. Zaragoza, Jr. then struck Ms. Hernandez with his firearm to the side of her face. Ms. Hernandezs husband, Michael Boyer, stepped in to defend his wife. Zaragoza, Jr. fired two shots into Mr. Boyer before fleeing the Center Market. Mr. Boyer died from the gunshot wounds. Zaragoza, Jr. was arrested later that same day by law enforcement in Clark County after being located in the early afternoon in a hotel in Camas. A gun was also found in the hotel, officials said. He was later indicted for the murder and other charges on Wednesday and transported to The Dalles from Vancouver. Supreme Court sides with Grants Pass, says camping bans can be enforced In addition to the second-degree murder charge for the alleged killing of Boyer, Zaragoza, Jr. also faces a fourth-degree assault charge for allegedly hitting Hernandez in the face with a gun. Hes also charged with two counts of unlawful gun use and menacing. Zaragoza, Jr. is currently being lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility in The Dalles. He is set to be arraigned from that facility on July 1. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The suspect who was believed to be involved in a shots fired investigation in Troy Friday night was found dead overnight. As reported on News Center 7 at 11, Troy officers were called to the 1500 block of Sussex Drive following reports of shots fired around 6 p.m. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: No injuries after shots fired in Troy; suspect not in custody When they got to the scene, they learned that no injuries and that the suspect had left the scene. Police said the shots fired appeared to stem from a domestic issue. Overnight, police were contacted by the Fayette County Sheriffs Office and told that the suspect had been pulled over on US 35. This prompted the sheriffs office to deploy their Special Response Team. When they got up to the vehicle, they found the suspect dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. >> Inmate death under investigation in Wayne County The identity of that person has not been released at this time. We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. TEMPLE TERRACE For a Saturday morning, the parking lot of the nondescript office park off Fletcher Avenue was packed. More than 50 volunteers and organizers, most in campaign t-shirts, arrived early to celebrate the offices new status as the Biden-Harris campaigns outpost in Hillsborough County. Over the weekend the Biden-Harris campaign announced it opened 11 offices across the state, including in Pinellas, Orange and Miami-Dade counties. They were housed in existing local Democratic centers. Still, supporters treated the event like a cause for celebration. Florida Rep. Susan Valdes of Tampa told the crowd that a Trump victory would be an existential threat to democracy. As a child of Cuban immigrants, she said, she knows freedom can evaporate just like that. Direct mentions of the president himself were fleeting. Speakers focused more on Bidens policy accomplishments and family values than the man himself. Privately, some supporters at the Hillsborough and Pinellas events still were reeling from Bidens disappointing debate performance against Donald Trump days before. People are a little bit panicked, said Angela Birdsong, president of the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus. In response to messages of despair over the presidents wan appearance and lapsing coherence, she told friends and family to look at the man standing on the other side of the stage. Id take Biden in a wheelchair over that, she said, referring to Trump. To win back skeptical voters, she said, the party needs to remind them of Bidens accomplishments in office. The presidential campaigns presence in Hillsborough and across Florida lays the groundwork to do just that, she said. While numerous pundits and supporters called for Biden to step down from his campaign in the wake of Thursdays debate, the sight of their leader struggling to articulate his message appears to have mobilized others. Pinellas Democratic party chair Jennifer Griffith said shes seen an uptick in online registrations to volunteer with the party. While a lot of people are wringing their hands, a lot are showing up to work harder, she said Saturday afternoon at the Pinellas Democratic Party headquarters in St. Petersburg now home to the Biden-Haris campaigns outpost in the county. The recruits include Tampa realtor Susan Nelson-Crowley, 68, who never had attended a political campaign event before Saturday. Shed long been disappointed in Bidens messaging. But Thursdays debate finally pushed her to action. I cant complain if Im not involved, she said, leaving the event with a handful of flyers. Griffith said the Biden campaigns announcement of the new locations isnt a response to his lackluster debate. Talks about sharing space with the national campaign had been completed weeks earlier, she said. Whether the push signals Democrats belief that Florida is winnable for Biden in November has yet to be known. Is there a path? Griffith said. Yes. Is it going to be an incredible amount of work? Uh, yes. COLUMBUS Eleven projects totally about $4.4 million in Ashland County will benefit from the passage of Substitute House Bill 2 by the Ohio House of Representatives on Thursday. The bill is the states two-year construction budget for capital projects throughout the state, according to state Rep. Melanie Miller (R-City of Ashland). The bill will allocate more than $4.2 billion for capital projects statewide, including $717 million in one-time project funding from the Strategic Community Investment Fund. I am so pleased that we were able to secure these state funds for these important local projects. These projects will be transformative for many of our local communities and institutions, Miller said in a news release. Many of these projects would not happen without these funds from the State of Ohio. These projects will be transformative for many of our local communities and institutions, said state Rep. Melanie Miller about funding from Substitute House Bill 2. One-time funding secured from the Strategic Community Investment Fund will serve the 67th House District, which includes Ashland and Medina counties. Ashland County projects to be funded are: $1.1 million for the Ashland County Fair $1 million for the Cinnamon Lake Sewer District lift station $910,000 for Charles Mill Marina houseboat and path renovation $248,554 for the Hugo Young Theatre $200,000 for the Davy McClure Outdoor Education shelter $200,000 for the Ashland Fire training facility $76,000 for the Hickory Street sanitary sewer lift station $30,000 for the Rowsburg Community Center $25,000 for the Hayesville pedestrian walkway Miller also secured the following capital investments: $500,000 for Davy McClure Outdoor Education Center site improvements $101,129 for the Foundation's Community Childcare Inc. Substitute House Bill 2 heads to the Ohio governor for a signature. This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland County projects get funds from Ohio House Bill 2 'Tension rises' at border with Belarus, Minsk accuses Kyiv of deploying troops The Belarusian military claimed that Ukraine is allegedly deploying its forces to the shared state border for potential "sabotage, terrorist acts," state-run news outlet Belta reported on June 29. The Kyiv Independent couldn't verify the claim, while Belarusian state-run news outlets have a long history of unsubstantiated claims. "The situation on the Belarus-Ukraine border is characterized by growing tension," Colonel Vadim Lukashevich, a high-ranking Belarusian military official, told Belta. "They are attempting to drag our country into the war," he added. Russian forces launched the all-out invasion of Ukraine from Belarus in early 2022 but suffered a defeat near Kyiv and were forced to pull back. The Belarusian Defense Ministry announced earlier in June that it was beefing up security at the border with Ukraine after a series of "alleged security incidents." Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Lukashevich claimed that Ukrainian forces allegedly stationed military equipment, including American-produced ones, in Zhytomyr Oblast, which borders Belarus. Lukashevich also claimed that Ukraine allegedly set up mines and other explosives near the border with Belarus. Lukashevich believes that this indicates plans of Ukrainian forces for further assault against Belarus, sabotage, and terrorist acts. Lukashevich didn't provide evidence to back up his claims. The Ukrainian Security and Defense Council's Center for Countering Disinformation said in May that Russia may opt to conduct a new psychological operation aimed at "stirring up mass panic" in Ukraine. The plan was to force Kyiv to believe that Belarusian troops would join Russia's war against Ukraine, according to the center. "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. Read also: Russia, Belarus begin second stage of tactical nuclear weapons drills Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Terrorist attacks are on the rise in Russia as Putin remains 'distracted' by war in Ukraine Gunmen attacked Orthodox churches and synagogues in Dagestan on Sunday, killing around 20 people. The attacks raised questions about Russia's domestic security as it continues its war in Ukraine. Experts told BI that Russian security services were likely "distracted" by the invasion. On Sunday evening, gunmen attacked two Orthodox churches and two synagogues in Russia's predominantly Muslim Dagestan region, hurling Molotov cocktails and exchanging fire with police. The attacks, which killed around 20 people, raised major questions about whether the Kremlin has the resources to protect its citizens back home while pursuing its war in Ukraine. The incident "caught security forces completely off guard," Lucas Webber, a research fellow at the Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank, told Business Insider despite the fact that it would have required "quite a bit of planning and preparation beforehand." The attacks also illustrated "the diverse range of militant actors Russia has angered through its domestic and foreign policy actions," he added. The Institute for the Study of War reported that the Islamic State's (IS) Northern Caucasus branch, Wilayat Kavkaz, was likely behind the attacks, noting that they had "increased fears within the Russian information space about further terrorist attacks and instability in the North Caucasus." Five of the six gunmen said to have been killed in the attack also had connections to the Dagestan region's political elite, according to the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington DC-based think tank. Around 20 people were killed in the armed attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent. Anadolu/Getty Images The attacks marked the latest in a series of major domestic security failures that have plagued Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Such incidents have presented a major problem for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose reputation as a strongman able to guarantee security and order in Russia while also waging a war against Ukraine appears to be flailing. Earlier this month, security forces stormed a detention center in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don where six inmates linked to Islamic State had taken two guards hostage. The inmates were killed, and the hostages were freed, Russian news agency Tass reported, citing Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service. In March, gunmen entered the packed Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow, killing more than 140 people and leaving many more injured. Four men from Tajikistan were detained following the attack. Islamic State later claimed responsibility. In October, a mob of protesters also ransacked Dagestan's main airport in search of Jewish people to target. North Caucasus Russia's North Caucasus region has a long history of rebellion against Kremlin rule, especially in Chechnya, where Russia battled separatists in two bloody wars in 1994-1996 and then in 1999-2009. But such violence became increasingly rare, with immense pressure from security services and developments in Syria and Iraq causing Islamic State's presence in the Caucasus to splinter, Mark Youngman, the founder of Threatologist , which analyzes Eurasian security risks and specializes in the North Caucasus, told BI. "Since 2017, there has been no organized insurgency no infrastructure, no leadership challenging Russia's presence," Youngman said. "Since that point, most jihadist violence has been perpetrated by isolated individuals and small groups people inspired by jihadist ideology, but lacking resources and connections." Emergency services vehicles outside the burning Crocus City Hall. Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images Nevertheless, Russia remained a "priority enemy of Islamic State," Webber said something he noted has been exacerbated by Russia's "2015 intervention in Syria, expanded private military companies activities across Africa, and strengthened ties with Iran and the Taliban." Youngman said that part of the problem stems from Russia not taking "meaningful steps" to tackle the root causes that have fed support for radical ideologies in the region, such as "arbitrary behavior by the security services, human rights violations, poverty, corruption," and "lack of opportunities." Russia has instead relied on force to counter insurgency, Youngman said. Despite Sunday's incident being the second major terrorist attack in just three months, Russian security services "have not really changed their strategy," Harold Chambers, a political and security analyst specializing in the North Caucasus, told BI. "Dagestan's authorities have been focused on hunting Ukrainian agents, real or fake, and followers of online opposition members," Chambers said. "Thus, the presence of radical actors who were publicly known went unaddressed." Russia's security services "do not seem to possess the same level of intelligence about threats or, if they do, they are not acting on it," Youngman added. They are "distracted by events in Ukraine." Read the original article on Business Insider Texans already fear a grid collapse. Imagine if we dont get moving on more power | Opinion Welcome to the hope and faith portion of the Texas summer. We hope the air conditioning stays on as temperatures surge past 100 degrees, and we place our faith in Our Lady of Dispatchable Power because the mere mortals managing the state electrical grid no longer seem so reliable. Slightly more than half of respondents in a new statewide poll say they think a grid breakdown is likely this summer, and even more expect rolling blackouts. More than 8 in 10 believe theyll be asked to conserve at some point to keep the lights on. These fears are common now, after the shutdown of January 2021 and subsequent warnings about excessive demand in extreme weather, both hot and cold. But they are short-term symptoms of a long-term concern. Texas needs more power a lot more in the coming years. There are many reasons, and while continued population and economic growth are the biggest drivers, attention lately has fallen on other culprits: cryptocurrency mining and data centers fueling the artificial-intelligence boom. Both require tremendous amounts of electricity to run and cool banks of servers doing fast, complex computing. These are not your typical MacBook or anything close to it; they place a substantial burden on the grid. So much so that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, once an advocate for crypto, says Texas might need to consider regulations on mining. After Pablo Vargas, president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, recently told a state Senate committee that much of the power Texas will need in the next few decades will go to these and other commercial activities, Patrick questioned whether they are worth the cost, in terms of jobs created. ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas and others gave shocking testimony today in the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce that within only six years (thats only three legislative sessions), our power grid needs will grow from about 85,000 to 150,000 megawatts. That is much higher than the Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) June 12, 2024 Im more interested in building the grid to service customers in their homes, apartments, and normal businesses and keeping costs as low as possible for them instead of for very niche industries that have massive power demands and produce few jobs, he wrote online. Its worth asking the question, though regulatory efforts should always proceed cautiously. The first step is to get a firm handle on future demand. ERCOTs projection that the state could need nearly double the power available in just a few years surprised many. Lawmakers should insist on estimates that factor in every possible need, aligned to the states priorities of keeping Texans safe and maintaining the economic boom of the last two decades. Then, its reasonable to consider limitations on the crypto and AI industries. Its a tough balance, because Texas should be a leader in such innovation. And while some crypto miners have been willing to curtail their activities at times of heightened demand for power, theyve been paid handsomely for it in Texas electricity markets. Third, lets recognize that the electrification of so much of life creates strain. Texas is not alone in these issues. The U.S. overall faces a much higher energy demand in coming decades, especially as policymakers put their thumbs heavily on the scale for electric vehicles. This means, ironically, burning more fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. Thats not to denigrate renewable energy, which remains vital to the future and should be as big a part of our energy mix as practical. Long term, nuclear plants should be a vital part of the solution. But Texas, much less the nation, isnt ready for a major switch away from oil and gas. If anything, we need more of it to provide for more power, especially from natural gas, a cleaner alternative to the coal that other countries are burning in disturbing abundance. Of course, conservation remains an important priority, too. Its a virtue to reduce waste and use fewer resources. But Texas problem is in supply, not demand. Our industries need reliable power, and Texans need protection from the extreme heat and, occasionally, bitter cold, too. Lawmakers and voters began to move on the need for expanded capacity last year, when they approved the Texas Energy Fund, $7.2 billion for low-interest loans that would fund plant construction. Developers seeking loans pre-applied for more than five times that amount, a sign that the market recognizes the urgent, ongoing need for more electricity. Texas is well-positioned for the all-of-the-above strategy that the future requires: conservation, electrification and cleaner sources of energy, including renewables. It can only get there if those responsible for charting the path are realistic about the needs. That might mean asking crypto and data operations to scale back where possible. But the bigger order of business is thinking beyond the next possible round of brownouts and the next election cycle, too. Do you have an opinion on this topic? Tell us! We love to hear from Texans with opinions on the news and to publish those views in the Opinion section. Letters should be no more than 150 words. Writers should submit letters only once every 30 days. Include your name, address (including city of residence), phone number and email address, so we can contact you if we have questions. You can submit a letter to the editor two ways: Email letters@star-telegram.com (preferred). Fill out this online form. Please note: Letters will be edited for style and clarity. Publication is not guaranteed. The best letters are focused on one topic. A North Texas man pleaded guilty on Friday to assaulting officers at the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia announced in a news release. Kyle Douglas McMahan, 42, of Watauga, pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers a felony. He will learn his sentence on Sept. 10. According to court documents, McMahan was among a group of rioters who breached a police-line perimeter and surged toward the U.S. Capitol building. As United States Capitol police were attempting to keep rioters out the building, McMahan pushed an officer, according to the release. After entering the building, he made his way toward another police line and had other rioters follow him, the court documents say. At the police line, the defendant grabbed an officers hand. He stayed at the barrier as a group of rioters attempted to overwhelm the officers guarding an entrance. When officers formed a line around rioters inside the rotunda of the building, McMahan grabbed an officers arm as he was trying to expel another rioter. McMahan said to the officer, Dont [expletive] touch him, court documents say. 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.] He also pushed an officer as a line of police began ushering rioters out of the building. McMahan then pulled another officer away from rioters as he tried to move further inside the building. When an officer tried to halt McMahan by placing a hand on him, McMahan slapped his hand away, according to the release. McMahan left the building but stayed outside as police continued to usher out rioters, the release says. He was arrested on Dec. 6, 2023, in Texas. In the 41 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,450 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the Jan. 6 events at the Capitol, including more than 500 people charged with assault of an officer, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The investigation is ongoing. Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or by visiting tips.fbi.gov. Things to know about the case of Missouri prison guards charged with murder in death of a Black man Oriel Moore describes life without her brother, 38-year-old Othel Moore Jr., to reporters, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at the Missouri Capitol building in Jefferson City, Mo. Four Missouri prison guards have been charged with murder, and a fifth with involuntary manslaughter, in his December 2023 death while he was in custody at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. (AP Photo/Summer Ballentine) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Five prison guards have been charged in the December death of a Black man who was pepper sprayed, had his face covered with a mask and was left in a position that caused him to suffocate while in custody at a correctional facility. The charges, announced on Friday, stem from a violent series of events that took place on December 2023 at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Othel Moore Jr., 38, the man who died, fell victim to a system, pattern and practice of racist and unconstitutional abuse in the Missouri Department of Corrections, his attorneys said as they filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the former guards were indicted. The Missouri Department of Corrections released a statement saying it cooperated with the Cole County Sheriff's Department's investigation and has made policy changes since Moore's death. Here are a few things to know about what happened to Moore, who he was, who has been implicated in his death and the restraint system prison officials stopped using after the episode. WHAT HAPPENED A group of guards making up the Department of Corrections Emergency Response Team was sweeping one of the housing units for contraband on Dec. 8, 2023, when the guards entered Moore's cell, court records say. After Moore was searched and stripped down to his boxer shorts inside his cell, he was handcuffed behind his back and led outside. Guards told him to face the wall. Moore showed no aggression during the process and was complying with orders, a probable cause statement from deputies says. While standing handcuffed just outside his cell door, Moore was pepper sprayed, then put in a spit hood, leg wrap and restraint chair, according to a news release from Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson. Moore was then moved to a separate housing unit, where he was left in a locked cell in the hood, wrap and chair for 30 minutes, according to Thompson and the probable cause statements. Thompson said multiple people heard Moore saying he couldnt breathe and that the events were captured on the prisons video surveillance system. Moore was eventually taken to a hospital wing and was pronounced dead. Thompson said the medical examiner ruled Moores cause of death was from positional asphyxiation, and his death was listed as a homicide. WHO WAS OTHEL MOORE JR. Moore, who grew up in St. Louis, was serving a 30-year sentence on range of charges, including second-degree domestic assault and first-degree robbery. Oriel Moore, Othel Moores sister, said her family never had a chance to see her brother outside of prison after his childhood, adding to their heartbreak. He was looking forward to his release, with the hopes opening a business and spending more time with family, she said. WHO WAS IMPLICATED The complaint charges Justin Leggins, Jacob Case, Aaron Brown and Gregory Varner each with one count of second-degree murder and with one count of being an accessory to second-degree assault. A fifth guard, Bryanne Bradshaw, is charged with one count of accessory to involuntary manslaughter. The Missouri Department of Corrections said it cooperated with the law enforcement investigation into Moore's death and conducted a separate internal probe. As a result of the investigations, 10 people involved in the episode are no longer employed by the department or its contractors, the department said. The prison's former warden is among those who was fired, according to Andrew Stroth, an attorney for Moore's family. Thompson said all five defendants are jailed. Multiple phone calls and messages to numbers associated with the defendants and potential relatives have not been returned. Thompson said Case is the only one with a lawyer so far, but Thompson could not identify the attorney. LETHAL RESTRAINT The Missouri Department of Corrections released a statement Friday saying Moore died in a restraint device designed to prevent injury to himself and others, and that the department has discontinued using that system. But is unclear whether complications with the restraint device were the leading factor in Moore's death. Charles Hammond, the CEO of Safe Restraints Inc., the maker of the WRAP device, said Friday that the prison had used it since 2021, and that his company also made the cart that allows people restrained in the device to sit up and be transported -- its like sitting in a hammock on wheels. He said he had not seen video of the death and could not comment on what happened, but he has learned that Missouri prisons have paused their use of the WRAP in recent months. He strongly defended the WRAPs track record, saying the restraint system is used often and has never caused a death when used properly. The restraint allows officers to end fights faster and avoid having to hold combative people face-down, which can interfere with breathing, he said. Hammond said the companys trainers had flown to Missouri twice in recent years to train prison employees on proper usage. An AP investigation into lethal restraint used by law enforcement documented dozens of deaths between 2012 and 2021 in which officers had put someone in a spit mask or hood before they died. But those devices were rarely listed as a cause or contributing factor in the deaths. ___ Associated Press writer Ryan J. Foley contributed to this report from Iowa City, Iowa EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A family-friendly minds-on, hands-on STEM expo is coming back to the Borderland. The third annual Big Bang STEM Expo, which is sponsored by the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation (ISHFF), New Mexico Museum of Space History and New Mexico State University Alamogordo, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 29 at the Tays Special Event Center on the NMSU-A campus. The Big Bang STEM Expo will bring together the best STEM programs in southern New Mexico for a day of free family-friendly activities focusing on minds-on, hands-on programs that engage and encourage students to seek careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, said ISHFF President Johnny Powell. Theres an ongoing downward trend nationwide in STEM-related career fields and its important that we foster interest in these programs. The Big Bang STEM Expo will let kids see that their dreams can come true and be fun at the same time. The event will feature exhibitors from New Mexico State University Alamogordo, the Museum of Space History, the Academy of Model Aeronautics District VIII, Sunspot Observatory and more, according to a press release sent by the ISHFF. Several flight simulators will be available to experience along with robotics demonstrations and more. ISHFF said model rocket building and launching will be free, but registration is limited to 100 students. Rocket building will be scheduled throughout the day and builders must be registered in advance. To register for model rocket building, click here. In addition, the ISHFF hopes to make an exciting announcement about the partnership between Team Holloman and the Foundation to create a STARBASE program at Holloman, read the press 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 KTSM 9 News. Revellers gather in front of the White Tower during EuroPride, a pan-European international LGBTI event featuring a Pride parade which is hosted in a different European city each year, in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) About 15,000 people attended the annual EuroPride parade Saturday, police said, in support of the LGBTQ+ community in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki amid a heavy police presence. The parade, whose motto is Persevere, Progress, Prosper, was staged on the ninth and last day of a series of events across the city. It was to be followed later Saturday by a concert and a series of parties. This participation from across Europe sends a message, parade participant Michalis Filippidis told the Associated Press. It is very very good. We are all united like a fist and, despite many things happening, we are all here to fight for our rights." Participants marched through the city center, ending up at the citys waterfront, at the statue of Alexander the Great, the most famous ruler of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia. The nearby White Tower, once part of the citys fortifications but now a standalone monument, emblematic of the city, was dressed in the colors of the rainbow. There was a heavy police presence to prevent counterdemonstrations. In the end, police said, 15 people were detained for shouting obscenities at parade participants and, in one case, trying to throw eggs at them. Police prevented them from getting too close to parade participants. Some Greek participants in the parade chanted at the counterdemonstrators: For every racist and homophobe, there is a place in Thermaikos, the gulf on whose shores the city is built. A 34-year-old man who had called for an anti-gay demonstration, despite the polices ban on such an action, was arrested and will appear in court Monday on charges of inciting disobedience and disturbing the peace. He was visited in prison by the head of Niki, an ultra-religious political party, one of three far-right parties that elected representatives to the European Parliament in elections earlier in June. Nationalism and religious fervor are more pronounced in Thessaloniki and other northern Greek areas than the rest of the country. The far rights strong showing in elections was in part due to passage earlier in the year of a law legalizing same-sex marriage. The law, strongly backed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was opposed by nearly a third of the lawmakers from his conservative New Democracy party, and was backed by much of the left opposition, with the exception of the Communists, who voted against. The EuroPride parade had strong official backing. The city was a co-sponsor and several foreign ambassadors attended. I am proud to be here ... for EuroPride 2024, said U.S. Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis. This is about human dignity, this is about acceptance, this is about love, this is about equality. And, frankly, we need more love, more acceptance, more kindness in this world. I am here to show our support for diversity and equality for all. You are who you are and you can love who you love, said Dutch Ambassador to Greece Susanna Terstal. I welcome the ambassadors ... and all the participants to Thessaloniki, a multicolored, friendly city that considers human rights non-negotiable, said Mayor Stelios Angeloudis. Next year's EuroPride will take place in Lisbon. ___ Associated Press writer Demetris Nellas contributed to this report from Athens. Greece CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) Thousands of people turned out to hear former President Donald Trump at a rally in Chesapeake Friday, a day after the first presidential debate with President Joe Biden. Supporters wave to Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, greets Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump left, greets Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump leaves a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Virignia Gov. Glenn Youngkin arrives to speak at a rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, left shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump waves at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Virignia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks at a rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) A group of supporters from North Carolina listen to Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump as he speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. Trump said the women had been to over one hundred of his rallies. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Security personnel watch over the crowd during a rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Supporters wave to Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Trump took the stage around 4 p.m. and spoke for about 90 minutes. There was a lot of anticipation from the crowd ahead of his arrival. LIVE BLOG: Trump rally in Chesapeake, first appearance after initial debate WAVYs Andy Fox was at historic Greenbrier Farms for the rally, in which an estimated 10,000 people attended. Supporters spoke to WAVY about their reaction to Trumps speech. I just think its wonderful, said Virginia Beach resident Janis Lane. Hes going to bring our economy back to the way it needs to be because Joe Biden has ruined it. For Lane, the economy is the major issue. I mean we all have to live, we all have to eat, Lane said. The military was the important issue for Sligo, North Carolina resident Sandra Justiss. Im pleased hes going to rebuild our military and protect us against the world, Justiss said. And, we need somebody who realizes we have to be from a place of power, not a place of loud talk. Another participant, Jennifer, told WAVY her positive reaction to the rally. I think it went really well, Jennifer said. I mean, it was good to see everybody coming together and supporting each other. Lots of red, white, and blue everywhere. To watch Trumps full speech, click here. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump left, greets Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Va., Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Before Trump took the stage, the crowd heard from Virginia Gov. Glenn Younkin, Virginia Senate candidate Hung Cao and others. Other politicians and government officials were also in attendance. During Trumps speech, he mentioned guests such as U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and former Virginia Gov. George Allen. Following the speech, Trump made his way back to the Norfolk International Airport. Chopper 10 captured Trumps travel heading out of Chesapeake. Take a look at the video, below. While Trump did not speak until close to 4 p.m., it was an all-day event for supporters. Trump supporters line up as early as 15 hours ahead of rally in Chesapeake Some people had arrived as much as 15 hours earlier, telling WAVY they arrived at 2 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 WAVY.com. People hold banners and flags during a demonstration called by the Union of Tenants and Leaseholders of Malaga under the slogan "Malaga to live and not to survive" against the housing shortage. Alex Zea/EUROPA PRESS/dpa Thousands of people in the Spanish city of Malaga turned out to protest against mass tourism on Saturday, angered at high rents and housing shortages. They marched in the centre of the southern city, many carrying signs saying, "Malaga is not for sale" and "This is not tourism, this is an invasion." Some 25,000 people took part in the rally, the organizers said, though El Pais newspaper reported 15,000 attended. The city is the latest in Spain to see such protests after similar demonstrations against the excesses of tourism were held in other places popular among holidaymakers including Mallorca, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. The rally in Malaga was one of the largest the city has seen in recent times, several Spanish media reports said. The protest was called by a tenants' association, Sindicato de Inquilinos e Inquilinas, which said the ever-increasing number of visitors and holiday flats are the reason for the city's housing shortage and other problems. "The city is suffering, the resentment is great. Above all, the housing problem had to be put on the table," the organizers' spokesman, Curro Machuca, said, according to El Pais. Malaga has more than 12,000 legally registered holiday homes, more than any other Spanish city besides Madrid and Barcelona. In addition, many private holiday homes in Malaga and elsewhere are operated illegally. "The situation is untenable. It's impossible to buy a house," demonstrator Maria Franco told El Pais. Engineer Sonia Raya told the newspaper that she had recently viewed a windowless garage in Malaga that was being offered as a flat for a monthly rent of 600 ($642). People hold banners and flags during a demonstration called by the Union of Tenants and Leaseholders of Malaga under the slogan "Malaga to live and not to survive" against the housing shortage. Alex Zea/EUROPA PRESS/dpa It took a woman 3 years and cost her $200K to kick a tenant out of her LA home. She says she cried when she saw the bloody mess he left. An image provided to Business Insider appears to show a human dummy alongside packets of zip ties in Alison Weinsweig's apartment. Courtesy of Alison Weinsweig Alison Weinsweig told BI she lost over $170,000 in rent and spent almost 3 years trying to evict a tenant. When she eventually got access to the apartment, she found it in disarray. She said she cried after seeing blood-stained floors, cigarette burns, and a life-sized dummy. When Alison Weinsweig, 67, rented her luxury Westwood apartment to a tenant in 2020, she never anticipated it would turn into an almost three-year ordeal, let alone one that would set her back more than $200,000. It was a "strain on many levels," she told Business Insider. "I felt terribly violated," she added. "I never thought I'd get him out. I thought I'd be stuck with him for the rest of my life." When Weinsweig finally gained access to her property in April, she found it in an eerie state of disarray, which caused her to run out in tears. Images provided to BI appear to show blood-stained floors, cracked countertops, and, disturbingly, a life-sized human dummy. An image provided to Business Insider appears to show a human dummy alongside packets of zip ties in Alison Weinsweig's apartment. It was photographed in April this year. Courtesy of Alison Weinsweig Now she's left picking up the pieces, needing to fork out thousands in repairs, according to contractor estimates seen by BI, on top of the more than $170,000 she said she had already lost in unpaid rent. Weinsweig, a semi-retired real estate broker, purchased the two-bedroom penthouse on Wilshire Boulevard in 2004, and lived there for a decade before moving to Pennsylvania to be with her unwell mother. She had previously rented it out to two tenants without issue and expected Ramin Kohanim's tenancy to be no different. "He appeared to be a reasonable tenant," she said, noting that a rental agency had vetted him, showing a Social Security Number, an acceptable credit score, and an account with significant funds. But Weinsweig said that even if there were "red flags," she would have likely overlooked them she was too focused on her mom getting better. She explained that the first year of Kohanim's tenancy was unremarkable, despite some late payments. But after he signed on for a second year in July 2021, things got messy. "He paid the first month and never paid anything again," Weinsweig claims. Kohanim and his attorney didn't respond to BI's requests for comment. Despite repeated excuses, Weinsweig says she received no rent for months, prompting her to take legal action in January 2022. According to legal documents reviewed by BI, the tenant was subject to the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act, which prevented evictions for nonpayment of rent for those experiencing hardship due to the pandemic. After Kohanim's application for rental assistance was approved, Weinsweig received a fraction of the lost rent, and the case was automatically dismissed that summer. Later that year, Weinsweig filed another lawsuit seeking possession of the premises and monetary damages, but it did not go as planned. After dismissing her attorney and the case, she eventually rehired her first attorney and waited for LA County's eviction Moratorium to expire in March 2023. It would take months of deliberation before the parties reached a settlement, but under the terms of a stipulated judgment in November 2023, Kohanim was ordered to leave by April this year. According to legal documents reviewed by BI, Weinsweig agreed to pay the tenant $20,000, half of which was to be held in trust only to be paid out once he had vacated the property and followed the terms and conditions. Although this felt unfair, Weinsweig thought it would give her a sense of finality, she said. Kohanim left the property in April, but Weinsweig alleges that her former tenant has yet to return the keys or fob. However, this was the least of her worries. According to a transcript reviewed by BI, in a hearing on May 23 at the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, Weinsweig told the court that the apartment was left in an "absolutely deplorable" condition. She told BI and the court that when she arrived at the property, she saw cigarette burns and trash everywhere, and what appeared to be blood on the floors of the bedroom and bathroom. A photograph provided by Alison Weinsweig appears to show blood on the floor of the bathroom in her apartment. Courtesy of Alison Weinsweig Images provided to BI and the court appear to show the damage. Other images provided to BI also appear to show a life-sized dummy on the bathroom floor, next to zip-tie packets. It's unclear why they were there. Quotes from contractors, shared with BI by Weinsweig, suggest repairs could cost upwards of $24,000. During the hearing, Kohanim conceded that there was "discharge" on a mattress, though he and his attorney dismissed the rest of the damage as normal "wear and tear." The defense made no suggestion in the hearing that the images were staged or unreliable. Kohanim's attorney told the court that his client wasn't the "best tenant in the world" or the cleanest, but he refuted that the apartment had been intentionally destroyed. The judge disagreed, stating that "80 square feet of blood is not ordinary wear and tear." He ordered that the $10,000 being held be returned to Weinsweig and the case be unsealed. Weinsweig said she wanted the case unsealed to share knowledge of her ordeal. For her, that is a small victory worth holding onto. "I felt vindicated when they lifted the seal because not only was I subject to all these injustices I was compelled to keep it quiet," she said, adding: "This can't go unnoticed." Read the original article on Business Insider Top Dem donor says its wishful thinking that Biden will quit race despite appalling debate A longtime Democratic donor said its wishful thinking that Joe Biden will quit the presidential race despite an appalling CNN appearance on Thursday and insisted the commander-in-chief could still bounce back. Any notion that Biden is going to step aside now is wishful thinking, Wall Street veteran Charles Myers, also a top bundler for the 2024 campaign, told The Post. I thought the performance was appalling but not catastrophic, and there is more than enough time to turn it around, Myers added. Myers, chairman of investment advisory firm Signum Global, voiced his optimism despite Bidens stumbling and mumbling his way through Thursdays televised debate against Donald Trump, igniting fresh concern over the 81-year-olds cognitive faculties. Charles Myers, a longtime Democratic donor, dismissed suggestions Biden would step down immediately as wishful thinking. Signum Global Myers also dismissed the idea that California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer could be parachuted in to face off against Donald Trump. Myers stressed that there is no mechanism in the Democratic Partys internal rules to topple Biden as their would-be presidential candidate. The Plan B is Kamala, the major Biden fundraiser told the Post, referring to the vice president, who is less popular in the polls than Biden. Follow the latest on Trump and Bidens 2024 debate: But Myers also said Biden could have to stand down if Trump steals a march on him in the six key presidential battlegrounds: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Im watching the polls closely in the swing states, the ex-Evercore executive said. If Trump pulls ahead by 8-9 points in the swing states over the next 3-4 weeks then there will be people legitimately asking him to step aside. Some Democratic operatives have questioned whether Barack Obamas vice president can stay at the top of the ticket. Trump and Biden clashed repeatedly in the fiery CNN debate on Thursday night REUTERS David Axelrod, a top strategist for Obama, told CNN: There are gonna be discussions on if he should continue. There is no way to spin this. His performance was disqualifying, a top Democratic fundraiser who spoke on condition of anonymity was quoted as saying after the debate. I expect fundraising to dry up. Money follows enthusiasm, the source told Reuters. How can anyone with a straight face say Donate to elect Joe. Bidens campaign and pro-Biden groups have managed to rake in as much as $389 million for this years White House race. If he refuses to pull out, then Democratic National Convention delegates would need to stage a revolt at the event in Chicago in August. The 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. The number of delegates needed is 1,968 and Mr Biden has already gathered 3,894 because he has run virtually unopposed, despite concerns about his health. Biden appeared to lose his train of thought on several occasions on Thursday, drifting between subjects and allowing his voice to trail off before he could complete his answers. But he tried to dismiss calls for him to step aside with a more energetic performance at a rally in North Carolina on Friday. I know I am not a young man, he told supporters. (Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer becoming UK prime minister next week has long been accepted by Rishi Sunaks team. But the Conservative campaign fears a heavy election defeat to Labour is morphing into a wipeout due to something all but impossible to counter: tactical voting for the Liberal Democrats. Most Read from Bloomberg Conservative strategists have privately conceded for months that the prevailing public mood is a desire to change government. The Tory view is that is less about enthusiasm for Labour and Starmer than it is about ousting Sunaks party after 14 years dominated by political and economic turmoil. Their concern now is that Sunaks error-strewn campaign has compounded that feeling, and a record number of voters in seats with big Tory majorities are backing Ed Daveys Liberal Democrats to get the Conservative MP out. Polling analysis by Electoral Calculus on Friday showed the Liberal Democrats, traditionally the third party of British politics, gaining more seats than the Tories and becoming the official opposition in Parliament. That would send shock waves through Westminster and pose an existential threat to the 300-year-old Conservative Party though the Tories and Labour say its unlikely. Tactical voting is not a new phenomenon in the UK. But officials on the Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat campaigns all told Bloomberg theyve seen evidence of large numbers of people in key Conservative-held districts using online tools to determine the best way to vote to oust their Tory MP. They said that was likely why the Liberal Democrat vote share has risen in Bloombergs polling composite to 11.3%, from around 9% at the start of the campaign. In 234 out of the 650 House of Commons seats, as many as 40% of people intend to vote tactically for a party other than their first preference to see the back of the Tories, said Naomi Smith of the Best for Britain campaign group, which has carried out polling and set up a website to aid tactical voting. Ipsos surveys show one in five voters plan to vote in order to stop another party getting in, rather than for the party that best represents their views, said the pollsters research director Keiran Pedley. That is up from 14% ahead of the 2019 election, and almost twice as high as 2010, he said. This behavior looks primarily motivated by anti-Tory sentiment, Pedley said, noting that one in three Liberal Democrat voters and one in four Labour voters said they would be voting in that way. Tactical voting could partly explain the scale of a Labour victory, he said, but the overall win would still be down to issues like the economy, immigration and the National Health Service. Conservative activists campaigning in traditional strongholds rural, commuter areas around London and in southern England report going hours not meeting anyone saying theyre planning to vote Tory. Seats like Henley and Thame, an affluent area in Oxfordshire known for an annual regatta thats a high point of the social season, are projected by pollsters to fall to the Liberal Democrats. Thats a prospect that would previously have been unthinkable. Its in part due to local scandals involving sewage being pumped into the Thames river that flows through the district, as well as opposition to Brexit, but above all else its down to a general feeling of anger at Sunak and his party, the people said. Voters just want to punish the Tories, one candidate said. In the Surrey commuter belt, for decades home to successful City of London types and where Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt told Bloomberg hes within 1,500 votes of losing, the Liberal Democrats expect to win several seats. Davey will spend the final days of the campaign mostly in Tory-held seats in southwest England, and in the southeast. Conservative headquarters has told more than one Cabinet minister they will lose their seat to the Liberal Democrats and that campaign resources will be redirected to defend other safer areas, people familiar with the matter said. In many areas, the Liberal Democrat vote is one factor in the Tories potentially losing. Nigel Farages Reform UK party is also drawing Conservative voters. A key question in the coming days is whether Reform can maintain its momentum, after a series of revelations about racist comments by its supporters, as well as Farages controversial views on Russia and its war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Labour is relaxed about the Liberal Democrats potentially taking swathes of seats in southern England. Starmers party considers a best-case scenario will be winning more than 400 seats, which would translate to a majority comparable to Tony Blairs landslide win in 1997. Still, Labour officials also say that millions of voters remain undecided and that the scale of any victory is far from certain. Starmer will repeat an adapted slogan change will only happen if you vote for it to avoid voters staying at home on July 4 assuming the result is a foregone conclusion. Even some Tories, while bemoaning the quality of Sunaks performance since he called the election, privately praise the professionalism of the Labour campaign, which has yet to come seriously unstuck after a brief row about treatment of left-wing candidates in the opening week. Conservative officials said Labour efforts was better organized, with message discipline they could only dream of. One Tory official said Labours attack operation, such as drawing attention to the gambling scandal engulfing Sunaks party, blew his sides out of the water. With five days to go, it wasnt hard to see why the public appeared to want change, they said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A travel expert who has been to more than 90 countries says these are the best under-the-radar destinations Samantha Brown shared three underrated travel destinations to avoid crowds. Brown has visited over 90 countries in her 20-year career as a seasoned travel host. She said Australia and Canada offer unique experiences. From Europe and Asia to South America and Australia, Samantha Brown has been to more than 90 countries around the world. The Emmy-award-winning travel host of the PBS show " Samantha Brown's Places to Love " takes viewers across the globe to share what it's like to experience different cultures. She's been hosting travel shows on various networks for 25 years, including Travel Channel's "Great Vacation Homes." In a recent conversation with Business Insider, Brown highlighted three underrated destinations that will wow you without the crowds. Darwin is an underrated destination in Australia. Darwin, Australia, is at the top of the Northern Territory. Google Maps Darwin is at the top of Australia in the Northern Territory. "It's closer to Asia than it is to Melbourne or Sydney," Brown said. Singapore is about 300 miles closer than Melbourne, according to Google Maps. Despite the roughly four-hour flight between Darwin and these more popular Australian destinations, Brown says it's a hidden gem worth visiting because of its unique landscapes in the two bordering national parks, Mary River and Litchfield. The surrounding national parks may make you feel as if you're on another planet. Striking scenes at Mary River and Litchfield National Parks. Ted Mead/Getty Images, Manfred Gottschalk/Getty Images Brown travels to Darwin to see waterfalls, pools, and unique landscapes at Mary River and Litchfield National Parks. "You're in this phenomenally different landscape from the Outback. Darwin feels as if you are not only hitting a new country but a new planet," she said. "It's unlike anything you've ever seen. And I think if you've traveled that far, you need to see that." If you enjoy train travel, board the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide. It is known as one of the most scenic railways in the world, with dramatic landscapes inaccessible by other transportation modes. If you can't get to Europe, take a trip to Montreal. Montreal is in southern Quebec. Google Maps "If Europe is too expensive, go to Montreal," Brown said. The city in Canada's eastern province of Quebec is just a 90-minute flight from NYC. The French-Canadian city feels like Paris, according to Brown. Historic architecture in Montreal. Joey Hadden/Business Insider The French-Canadian city reminds Brown of Paris with historic architecture, cobblestone streets, and French culture. Most Montreal locals speak French, and with a European aesthetic, it's easy to see why Brown considers it a comparable destination. "Montreal is one of the best cities in the world," she said. "The 400-year-old city feels like Europe for half the cost." She's particularly a fan of the public art scene. According to the city's website, more than 1,000 pieces are displayed around Montreal and are free to view. Brown recommends taking yourself on a free tour. From the streets to the underground metro stations, Montreal is full of art. "I love public art, and I love places that we are all allowed to inhabit with no money," Brown said. A great place to start is Place Jacques Cartier, a public square filled with street artists and vendors, as BI previously reported. Costa Rica may not seem like a hidden gem, but it is during the rainy season. Costa Rica is in Central America. Google Maps In Central America, Costa Rica is a hot spot for tourists. From beaches and jungles to volcanoes and cloud forests, travelers can have a range of experiences in one trip. But fewer tourists visit in the summer, as Costa Rica's wet season begins in late May and spans six months. Many tourists don't know that the rain clears up midseason for July. A Costa Rican sunset on the coast. Bkamprath/Getty Images In the midst of the wet season, rain stops in Costa Rica in July, Brown told BI. "It happens every year, just for the month of July," she added. Since many travelers assume Costa Rica is rainy all summer, prices for flights and hotels decrease. "You can go to the Caribbean side, where all the resorts are, or you can go to the interior, where there are volcanoes and rainforests," Brown said. "You're going to a place that everyone loves to go to. The biodiversity is off the charts. But you're going at a time when no one thinks to go." For more ideas on where to travel this summer, Brown released the ultimate itinerary in a Summer Travel Trends Report in collaboration with Klarna. Read the original article on Business Insider A convicted drug dealer will serve two and a half years in prison after delivering methamphetamine to a woman who died. But jurors didnt agree that Vincent Anthony Garrison, 34, delivered a fatal dose of drugs to his girlfriend, Karina Cadengo, 28. Prosecutors tried to convict Garrison of the relatively rare charge of controlled substance homicide, but a jury acquitted him following a weeklong trial earlier this month. The jury did find him guilty of delivering drugs to Cadengo. He faced between just under two years and five years in prison after having four previous convictions, all in 2020, for delivering illegal drugs in Benton County Deputy Prosecutor Joe Faurholt asked for the maximum end of the sentencing range during a recent hearing. He pointed out that Garrison had violated terms of his previous sentences that required drug treatment. Defense Attorney Michael Vander Sys asked for the bottom of the range. Judge Norma Rodriguez agreed to a two-and-half year sentence, and when hes released, he will need to get drug and alcohol treatment. Overdose Garrison was arrested in March after Franklin County sheriffs deputies were called to 5919 N. Road 58 after a report of an unconscious woman who was not breathing. While people at the scene tried CPR and Narcan, Cadengo couldnt be saved. When detectives arrived, Garrison and another man were on the scene. He told detectives that he used fentanyl while Cadengo used methamphetamine, according to court documents. He last saw her at 8 a.m. before he fell asleep and when he woke up at 2 p.m., Cadengo was face down on the bed and there was a piece of foil with black residue on the bed between them. When he rolled her over, she was blue. He believed she must have taken fentanyl at some point but didnt know when. He called his friend to bring Narcan and then called 911. Garrison admitted to buying the methamphetamine for Cadengo. Cadengo was found to have methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl in her system. It is not clear which one of the drugs led to her death, according to court documents. Hurricane Beryl first major storm of 2024; other disturbance will affect Coastal Bend One of the three systems found in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean upgraded to a hurricane Saturday afternoon. The storm, now named Beryl, is forecast to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to the Windward Islands as a major hurricane. Tracking by the National Hurricane Center expects Hurricane Beryl to pass through Haiti and Cuba Wednesday and Thursday. As for where it will head if it hits the Gulf of Mexico, it's still too early to determine. Key messages about Hurricane Beryl provided by the National Hurricane Center Saturday, June 29, 2024. Aside from Beryl, another disturbance could become a tropical depression before moving inland over Mexico early next week. There is a 40% chance of development over the next couple of days. Increased swells will begin to arrive across the western Gulf of Mexico all day Sunday. As a result, there will be a high risk of rip currents Sunday for beaches in the Coastal Bend. The risk will likely extend into the later part of next week. Minor coastal flooding is possible. For more information, visit nhc.noaa.gov. RELATED COVERAGE More: Three disturbances in Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean you need to know about More: Padre Island homeowners seek urgent repairs to canals damaged in tropical storm John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva. Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Rip currents, coastal flooding headed for Coastal Bend As expected, Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane Sunday but it happened several hours earlier than expected. Now, Beryl barrels toward the Caribbean. Heres the latest from the National Hurricane Centers Sundays 5 p.m. advisory. Beryls wind speed: Beryls packing 130 mph sustained winds, an increase of 50 mph from Saturdays 8 p.m. advisory and 10 mph from Sundays 11 a.m. advisory. Higher gusts are present. Hurricane force winds blow up to 30 miles from Beryls center, with tropical storm force winds extending 115 miles. Fluctuations in strength are likely during the next day or so, and Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane through landfall in the Windward Islands, the hurricane center said. Where Beryl is and where Beryl is going: The storm is about 250 miles southeast of Barbados and 350 miles east-southeast of St. Vincent. Its moving west at 18 mph, still swift for a storm, but a slight slowing after days of moving at 20 to 21 mph. A continued quick westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days, the hurricane center said. On the forecast track, the center of Beryl is expected to move across the Windward Islands Monday morning and across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea late Monday through Wednesday. Alerts: Tobago, Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands under a hurricane warning. Martinique is under a tropical storm warning. Trinidad, Dominca, and parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are under a tropical storm watch. In the DR, thats the south coast from Punta Palenque to the Haiti border. In Haiti, its from that border on the south coast to Anse dHainault. The rest of the Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the remainder of the northwestern Caribbean should closely monitor the progress of Beryl. Additional watches and warnings will likely be required for portions of this area later Sunday or Monday. Hazards: A life-threatening storm surge of 6 to 9 feet could hit the hurricane warning areas. Barbados and the Windward Islands could deal with 3 to 6 inches of rain today and Monday with accompanying flooding. The Grenadines might get 10 inches of rain with accompanying flooding. Large swells generated by Beryl are expected across the Windward and southern Leeward Islands during the next couple of days, the hurricane center said. Swells are also expected to reach the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in the next day or so. These swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Next Advisory: There will be an intermediate advisory at 8 p.m. and a full advisory at 11 p.m. Caribbean preparations At 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Barbados and Saint Lucia will go into nationwide shutdowns. Grenada will declared a state of emergency that will start at 7 p.m. The Caribbean Community regional economic group CARICOM canceled a gathering in Grenada of leaders from its 15 members scheduled for Wednesday through Friday. READ MORE: The Caribbean begins to shut down as Hurricane Beryl approaches St. Lucia Prime Minister Keith Mitchell advised his citizens to prepare and pray. All stable patients at the Owen King European Union Hospital will be discharged Sunday. More on Beryl Where Hurricane Beryl formed Saturday is the farthest east for a June hurricane in historical record. Only one other hurricane has formed anywhere nearby in June, and that was in 1933. #Beryl is now a #hurricane - the farthest east that a hurricane has formed in the tropical Atlantic (<=23.5N) in June on record, breaking the old record set in 1933. pic.twitter.com/ah9pow2G9a Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) June 29, 2024 By Tuesday, the hurricane center noted that conditions could shift, and a strong subtropical ridge that is expected to keep the storm at lower latitudes could lighten, allowing Beryl to inch up into higher latitudes. Additional wind shear could help batter it back down a category or two. Right behind Beryl, forecasters also are watching another system, a tropical wave hundreds of miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands and 1,710 miles southeast of Barbados. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form by the middle part of this week while it moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic, the 2 p.m. Sunday advisory said. As of the 2 p.m. update, forecasters gave it a 40% chance of strengthening into a depression over the next two days and a 70% chance in the next seven days. Herald Staff Writer Jacqueline Charles contributed information to this story. HARRISVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after a truck crashed into an overhead bridge in Medina County Friday afternoon. The crash happened just after 3 p.m. on U.S. Route 224 near the U.S. 42 ramp in Harrisville Township. According to state troopers, a 2006 Kenworth T6 Series tractor-trailer carrying an oversize load was heading east on 224 when it hit a sign and the bridge deck of the U.S. 42 overpass. Martin Mull, Roseanne actor who grew up in NE Ohio, dies at 80 The driver, 43-year-old Deshawn Johnson of Texas, wasnt injured. Through the investigation, it was deemed that Johnson was off his ODOT approved permit travel route and to also not have a lead vehicle with a height sensing device, ODOT said in a press release. Johnson faces charged including reckless operation, a permit violation and over dimension. After an examination, inspectors confirmed the bridge suffered significant damage in the crash, according to OSHP. OSHP investigates small plane crash in Ottawa County Both roadways are closed indefinitely until further inspections and repairs can be done. Lodi Fire and Rescue shared a photo of the bridge on Facebook, stating that ODOT crews will re-evaluate the damage on Monday. The crash remains under investigation at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. A poster of US President Joe Biden with the word "Failure" stamped across his face - Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Donald Trump hailed Joe Biden as his most dangerous rival in a speech on Friday, in what some see as a bid to stave off having the president replaced with a more formidable opponent. At a rally in Virginia on Friday, Trump revelled in the criticism of President Bidens shambolic performance in the first presidential debate, seeing it as acknowledgement of his victory. Donald Trump exceeded expectations at the CNN TV debate - Elijah Nouvelage/UPI/Shutterstock He mocked the presidents apparent overpreparation for the event, saying, He studied so hard that he didnt know what the hell he was doing. But the Republican candidate also peppered his speech with compliments to President Biden, saying he was a better debater and more popular than any alternative. Its hard to believe, but Crooked Joe Biden polls better than those people, he said. They wouldnt have done any better in the debate, he added. No one else would have been better. Joe Biden had a dreadful debate - Brian Snyder/Reuters Referring to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Trump said: He cant run California, hes one of the worst governors. Hes a bad governor, he cant run California. People are leaving. One of the most beautiful places on earth. Hes got lousy poll numbers and you take a look at some of the others, said Trump, adding that Vice-President Kamala Harris and former First Lady Michele Obama poll badly as potential candidates too. Trumps speech appeared to reflect the concerns of some of his campaign advisers, one of whom told NBC that President Bidens poor debate performance was the sum of all my fears in that it might force him out of the race. A few weeks ago Trump had made the contrasting statement that he doubted Mr Biden would even still be running come election time. Donald Trump attends a rally a day after his debate triumph - Steve Helber/AP He has no clue, he doesnt, if you look at him, he doesnt know where he is, Trump told WABC 770 AM. You know that, I know that, everybody knows that. And I doubt he will even be running frankly, I just cant even imagine it, he added. He went on to say on Friday that President Bidens apparent lack of mental acuity was not age related. Its not his age, its his competence, he said. Observers believe that Trump and his teams attempts to now downplay Mr Bidens age is a move by his campaign to avoid him facing a younger, more electable candidate. Democrats are in absolute disarray, Trump adviser Brian Hughes told NBC News. Axios this am. The 81 yr old white guy, and his old white friends, are refusing to step aside because they don't trust the black woman they made VP can win. And they wonder why they have a black voter problem! pic.twitter.com/pjwXI475Oo Brian Hughes (@DJTFPHughes) June 29, 2024 They fear that they might have made a terrible mistake. I hope that no one lets them off the hook. If they think they can just walk away from Joe Biden, it would be a level of dishonesty that they should be called out on. Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser, told the broadcaster, Bidens not going anywhere. 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. Trump campaign should've just ignored this ad on his mail-in ballot flip-flop. Oops. Donald Trump's constant flip-flopping on the use of mail ballots prompted a little-known super PAC to poke fun at him last weekend. The Trump campaign, showing its typical restraint, freaked all-the-way out, sending a "cease and desist" letter about the remarkably short run of a digital advertisement that had already played out across the Internet. The 30-second video, run by super PAC Pennsylvania Values, uses clips of Trump claiming that mail-in voting is "totally corrupt" and used to alter the outcome of elections. Score this one for PA Values, which spent less than $50,000 to publicly provoke the one-term president about his double-dealing on mail ballots. Trump's campaign drew way more attention to the ad and its message than if they had just ignored it. They clearly see his inconsistency as a liability as he tries to urge his voters to use mail ballots while also attacking the practice to buttress his lies about how he lost the 2020 election. Why else call in the lawyers? It's not like Trump's legal team has a lot of free time these days. The ad points out Trump's messaging on mail-in ballots Former President Donald Trump campaigns for reelection on June 18, 2024, in Racine, Wis. If you didn't see it, I'm not surprised. PA Values reported spending just $48,000 to produce and air the 30-second digital ad, which appeared to be timed to Trump's rally in Philadelphia last Saturday. In the scope of campaign and super PAC spending to influence the presidential election this year, that is far less than a drop in the bucket. The ad committed the unforgivable sin of accurately quoting Trump when he spoke three times from four years ago to four months ago attacking mail ballots as inherently corrupt. It opened with this banner, "MAGA Patriots listen to our president!" Then it showed Trump telling a rally crowd in Michigan in February, "Mail-in voting is totally corrupt. Get that through your head. It has to be.' I wrote about that at the time because it was yet another example of Trump demonizing mail ballots while his campaign and the Republican National Committee had by then been trying for months to get his supporters to use mail ballots this year. Sometimes, Trump shares that message. Sometimes, he shreds it. Sometimes, he tries to do both. Trump campaign threatens legal action on accurate ad The PA Values ad also uses a video of Trump attacking mail ballots as "fraud" during his first debate with President Joe Biden in September 2020 and while speaking at the White House in April 2020. The ad wraps up with the banner: "Stand strong with PRESIDENT TRUMP AGAINST MAIL IN VOTING!" Again, the available public record shows the ad precisely quoted Trump. Trump's history with mail ballots: Trump and the RNC want slow counting of mail ballots to target Biden supporters The Trump campaign on Tuesday proclaimed "possible criminal election interference" and said it "will seek a criminal investigation of" PA Values, claiming that the ad "may interfere with the right of Trump supporters to cast their ballots in Pennsylvania." Trump campaign did great making sure more people knew of the ad Three thoughts come to mind here. It's well beyond brazen for Trump, awaiting criminal trial in Washington, D.C., for his alleged efforts in election interference, to suggest this quick little wisp of a digital ad is on par with that. Supporters of former President Donald Trump at his reelection campaign rally in Philadelphia on June 22, 2024. And nothing in the ad can reasonably be construed as interfering with the ability of voters to cast ballots. That's a ridiculous reach. But here's what really stands out just on the politics: This is an odd blunder by the Trump campaign. They've created a "Streisand effect" moment, an unforced error committed by bringing far more attention to an issue in protest than it would have received by just letting it pass on by. Trump loves to attack mail-in ballots The PA Values ad used three brief clips, but there's so much more out there. Trump, speaking to the right-wing group Turning Point Action on June 15, called mail ballots "treacherous" and "horrible." That was just two weeks ago. GOP plan to secure elections: Republicans wail about secure elections while slashing funding for election security And it was three days before his daughter-in-law, Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, came to suburban Philadelphia to urge voters to use mail ballots. Trump, speaking at his rally in Philadelphia on Saturday, promised a return "to the old days" of "one-day voting with paper ballots." But he added this: Vote early. Vote absentee. Vote mail-in. Vote in person. I dont care how they vote. Just get out and vote. A small super PAC makes big waves So Trump doesn't care how you vote. Except when he does care and complains about it. Above all, he's opposed to anyone pointing out how he flip-flops on mail ballots. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. The only contact person listed for PA Values in campaign finance reports did not respond when I asked for comment. The super PAC has been around since 2017. In 2018, PA Values raised more than $1.7 million, mostly from labor unions, to help U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, win another term. In 2020, it raised $877,000 to back Democrats like Biden. The super PAC, never a behemoth to begin with, has been slowly fading away since then. But they went out with a bang, triggering Trump and his campaign, using what appears to be the last of its resources to highlight his hypocrisy, prompting him to amplify that to a larger audience. Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump campaign doesn't want you to see this ad on mail ballots While President Joe Bidens halting debate performance on Thursday night stirred widespread concerns among fellow Democrats about his readiness, Trump also repeatedly made false claims and repeated conspiracy theories that hes long promoted during his campaign. Trump suggested without evidence that Democrats want migrants to displace Americans as voters, and he described the state of the nation under Biden as worse than during the deadly 2017 neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia. Trump has often downplayed the racist overtones of the march, once saying there were fine people on both sides. Trumps depiction of a country on the brink, under siege from unfettered migration and beset by racial strife and economic chaos echoed his longstanding rhetoric about the state of the U.S. Its a pessimistic vision that has long appealed to the GOPs largely white, hard-right base but has also alienated other Americans, especially voters of color. The fact is that his big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that hes allowed to come in through the border. Theyre taking Black jobs now, Trump said during the debate on CNN. Theyre taking Black jobs and theyre taking Hispanic jobs. And you havent seen it yet, but youre going to see something thats going to be the worst in our history, he warned without specifying the danger. Yet Trump and his allies believe that such rhetoric may hold greater appeal with Black and Hispanic communities this year dissatisfied with Bidens performance in office. Trump repeated the comments during a rally Friday in Virginia. The phrase Black jobs was widely condemned by Democrats and Black leaders as vague and insulting. Im still wondering, what is a Black job, Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, quipped on Friday during a news conference with former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams in Atlanta. Other prominent Biden allies including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Tx., Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., also condemned Trumps words following the debate. There is no such thing as a Black job. That misinformed characterization is a denial of the ubiquity of Black talent. We are doctors, lawyers, school teachers, police officers and firefighters. The list goes on, said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. A Black job is an American job. Its concerning that a presidential candidate would seek to make a nonexistent distinction. But the divisive nature of this comment is not surprising for Donald Trump. Trumps allies pushed back on the critiques as missing the presidents broader message. He meant the jobs of Black people. And weve been using that term for a while, said Diante Johnson, president of the Black Conservative Federation. Its any job. Instead of Black people having unlimited accessibility to all types of jobs, illegal immigrants are taking their jobs from them. Much economic research shows that immigration has helped to increase employment, with a 2024 paper by economists Alessandro Caiumi and Giovanni Peri finding that immigration between 2000 and 2019 had a positive effect on the wages of less-educated workers born in the United States. Still, separate research has suggested that greater immigration may have hurt the wages of less educated Black men, though it was one of several factors. Asked to clarify what Trump meant in describing a Black job during an interview with NBC News, Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is Black and is under consideration to be Trumps vice presidential nominee, sidestepped the question, instead discussing homeless veterans. Some Black adults do think theres a possibility that immigration will affect employment opportunities for workers who are already here. About 4 in 10 Black adults say its a major risk that the number of jobs available to American workers will be reduced when immigrants come to the U.S. whether they arrive legally or illegally according to an AP-NORC poll from March. But the poll also found that about 3 in 10 Black adults think its a major benefit that immigrants will take jobs that Americans dont want. In some communities like Chicago, an increased number of migrants has generated greater economic anxiety and concern that government resources are not allocated fairly. Yet Black and Hispanic Americans are on average more supportive of immigration than other demographics, and in cities like Chicago, Denver, and New York, racial justice groups have been at the forefront of mitigating potential strife between communities of color and undocumented people on issues like jobs. For some Black activists, the comments changed little about the state of the presidential race. Michael Blake, founder and CEO of the Kairos Democracy Project, said Its hard for someone to believe that (Trump) means theyre taking quality jobs. It is the responsibility for us to then tell the story of the benefits of diversity, rather than the fears of it. And the notion that those people are taking from you is a fear-only message as opposed to asking: How do we all win?, Blake added. When you embrace all races, we all win. We should not allow fear of the past to supersede the prosperity of the future, because we all can win. Former President Trump said at a rally Friday that he thought CNNs presidential debate moderators, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, treated him very fairly on Thursday night. I shouldnt knock CNN because I actually thought they treated me very fairly last night. Very professional, both of them. Jake and Dana, they treated me very fairly, Trump said to a Virginia crowd in comments highlighted by Mediaite. Trump told the audience that CNN abused him for years but said he thought it was great that Tapper and Bash treated him fairly on Thursday. Some liberals were critical that the moderators did not fact check the two candidates, allowing each of them to say false statements. The former president spent his afternoon at the rally, where he criticized President Biden and his shaky performance, which became the story of the night. Bidens debating sparked widespread fear among Democrats and calls for him to step aside to have someone new take on Trump this fall. Following Bidens performance, however, Republicans praised CNN and how the debate was handled. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said online that the debate was an event that was a top-notch debate that was fair, informative and controlled. This format worked well. Plenty of fiery exchanges but more watchable for the viewers, he said. Well done. Donald Trump Jr., the former presidents son, said he liked the format, which included muting the candidates microphone when they were not speaking. I actually like this format for my father. Keeping him disciplined and focused. Hes dismantling Bidens disastrous and failed policies one by one piece by piece, he posted on social media platform X. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in on CNNs broadcast. Have to say that @CNN did a good job managing the debate. Questions were reasonable and non-partisan. No favoritism was shown to either candidate, Musk said. This is what the public wants from the media. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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-thirds of Michigan voters think the country is headed in the wrong direction and a narrow majority think former president Donald Trump is the one to steer things back on course, new polling data suggests. Trump narrowly beat President Joe Biden in a poll from EPIC-MRA, a Lansing based public opinion metrics company. Trump had the edge in a standoff between the two, earning 49% of the vote compared to Bidens 45%. When including front-running third-party candidates, Trump also closed out Biden by a small margin, 41% to 38%. Poll data offers insight into prospective voter sentiment as a snapshot in time. This poll, conducted between June 21 and June 26, gauged 600 Michigan voters on their thoughts about the presidential election and Michigans contested senate seat. The poll was conducted with live interviews, 80% of which took place over a cell phone, and has a margin of error of 4%. The poll was conducted in the run-up to Thursdays debate between presumed Democratic and Republican candidates Trump and Biden. Another poll, aiming to identify how the debate re-shaped views of Michigan voters, is expected in July. The impact could be substantial on either campaign said Bernie Porn, pollster for EPIC-MRA. In a nutshell, you had Biden having a difficult time speaking the truth about a number of issues in a way that would be interesting and compelling, said Porn. Trump was able to much more articulately tell a lot of things that were not necessarily truthful. But even before the debate, Robert F. Kennedy, the highest performing third-party contender, showed surprising gains from Bidens usual base in this poll, compared to prior polls that have shown Kennedy pulling in voters from the Trump base. Given what happened [during the debate], I would not be surprised if that becomes a greater problem, where the Biden campaign needs to focus some of their efforts on dissuading people from moving for Kennedy, Porn said. Pollsters asked the 124 voters who stated they were most inclined toward a third-party candidate whose second term they feared more among the mainstream frontrunners 40% said Biden, while 36% said Trump. The current presidents job performance got similarly abysmal reviews: 69% of those polled gave a negative rating when asked about his term thus far. Even so, most Detroiters polled stood behind Biden. Seventy-one percent said they would vote his way if it came down to another Biden-Trump match-up in the November election. The incumbent president is also picking up favor from union members and Black voters, whose support has lagged in recent polls. Bidens support in Detroit is on par with Democratic U.S. Senate contender Elissa Slotkin in the states most contentious race in the 2024 election cycle, the upcoming U.S. Senate contest, poll data suggests. Across the state, Slotkin outperformed her presumed Republican opponent Mike Rogers by 2%. Forty-seven percent of those polled felt that Michigan was on the right path, and most were pleased with the governor so far both favorability and job performance for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were above 50%. An endorsement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could potentially help Biden ramp up support in the rest of Michigan, said Porn. One thing that could be helpful to Biden, although I'm not sure whether it will be helpful enough, is for Whitmer to more directly endorse and support Biden and explain why voters need to support and Michigan needs to support Biden, he said. Carmela Guaglianone is a Dow Jones News Fund data intern with the Detroit Free Press. Reach her at cguaglianone@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump outperformed Biden in Michigan polls before debate Trump says Russia and China will not be US enemies if US has "smart president" Donald Trump has said that if the US has a "smart president", countries such as Russia, China and North Korea (DPRK) will cease to be enemies of the United States. Source: Trump during a campaign rally in Virginia, as reported by European Pravda Details: Speaking to a crowd of his supporters, Trump said that the above-mentioned countries do not respect current US President Joe Biden. "We have enemies on the outside China, Russia, North Korea. But they're not really enemies if you have a smart president. They're not enemies, youll make them do great," Trump said. He also reiterated that he would be able to resolve the war between Ukraine and Russia after his election victory and would do so before he entered the White House, although he did not explain how. Background: During the debate on Thursday, Trump said that the conditions put forward by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, supposedly as a condition for ending the war against Ukraine waged by Russia, were unacceptable. 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. Trump's headquarters said that the priority of his potential second term would be to end Russias war against Ukraine as soon as possible. Support UP or become our patron! Former President Trump is ramping up his efforts in Virginia in a sign that Republicans are viewing the state as winnable in November. While President Biden headed to battleground North Carolina for his post-debate rally, Trump traveled to Chesapeake, Va., to share the stage for the first time with Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). The governor notably avoided appearing with Trump when he ran in 2021 due to the political implications. However, recent polling shows the Old Dominion could be a favorable environment for Republicans going into 2024 despite recent down-ballot Democratic victories. Were not talking about Florida and Texas or other fringe states that the left would like to target, were talking about a state that Biden won by 10.2 [points], said Zack Roday, a Virginia-based Republican strategist who formerly worked with Youngkins Spirit of Virginia PAC. Gravity could still come home for Virginia but it doesnt mean theres not a shift that clearly has happened in polling, he continued. Recent polls suggest the president could be facing a close race five months out from Election Day. A Roanoke College poll released in May showed Trump and Biden tied at 42 percent in the state with a 4.2 percent margin of error. Other polls have shown Biden with a small lead over Trump. The Hills Decision Desk HQ polling average shows Trump narrowly leading Biden by 0.2 percent. Adding to the Republican enthusiasm in Virginia is Thursday nights debate. While Trump faced criticism for airing falsehoods during the forum, coverage of the debate has been dominated by what Democrats and Republicans have called a disastrous performance by Biden. Bidens voice sounded hoarse and weak on stage, and at times, he appeared to struggle to form coherent sentences. If its still Biden vs. Trump after what occurred last night, then yeah, Virginia is in play, said Tucker Martin, a Virginia-based GOP strategist and former communications director to former Gov. Bob McDonnell (R). Youve got to remember the average voter probably watched the first 20 minutes of that and turned it off, he added. Thats the most theyre going to dial into this race until maybe post-Labor Day. How you get past a performance like that? I dont know. Trump took the stage in Virginia on Friday afternoon, wasting no time in hitting Biden over his debate performance. He studied so hard that he didnt know what the hell he was doing, Trump quipped in front of a crowd of his supporters. He got the rules he wanted, he got the date he wanted, he got the network he wanted, with the moderators he wanted. No amount of rest or rigging could help. While Bidens supporters argue his debate performance was not perfect and he got off to a slow start, they say the debate does not change what is a consequential choice between Trump and Biden. Virginia has been a brick wall to Trumps MAGA politics, Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) said in a statement. We know democracy is on the line, and the choice between President Biden and the twice impeached, convicted felon couldnt be clearer. We arent tired of winning and wont turn back the progress Democrats have delivered. We will win Virginia. The Biden campaign also brushed off the notion that the state is in play for Republicans. If Trump wants to spend his time and money trying to campaign in blue states, be our guest, said a Biden campaign spokesperson. The Biden campaign did seek to take advantage of Trumps Chesapeake rally, which is in the greater Hampton Roads metropolitan area, by zeroing in on the areas large military population. The campaign zeroed in on remarks Trump reportedly made about deceased U.S. soldiers, comments Biden also seized on during the debate. Today, Donald Trump thinks he can travel to Virginia, the home of over half a million former and active-duty service members and their families, after calling veterans suckers and losers, said VoteVets senior adviser and retired Maj. Gen. Paul D. Eaton in a statement released by the Biden campaign. Trump denied that he ever made those remarks during Thursdays debate. Republicans still face an uphill climb in Virginia. Biden defeated Trump in Virginia by 10 points in 2020, and former President George W. Bush was the last Republican to win the state in 2004. On top of that, Democrats have seen numerous down-ballot wins in the state during the 2022 midterms and the 2023 state legislative races. A number of factors would have to be in place for the state to be fertile ground for the former presidents campaign. Trump would need to majorly run up the score in deep-red, rural parts of the state that came out for Youngkin in 2021. Additionally, he would have to win over swing, suburban voters in the greater Hampton Roads and Richmond areas. The densely populated Democratic stronghold of Northern Virginia could prove to be the biggest obstacle to the former president. Republicans say Democratic turnout and enthusiasm would have to be down and Trump would need to peel away suburban voters in the region. If Trump is to win Virginia, it looks nothing like 2021, Martin said. The turnout is just so different, so much bigger because the electorate is just so much larger and people do tend to revert to their camps so it wont be a blowout. I just think that based on the performance by Biden last night a lot of voters who were in the category of I dont like either probably got shoved into the Trump camp, he said. Republican strategist Ford OConnell noted that Trumps presence in Virginia on Friday is also a show of strength, saying its evidence of the map expanding. This is lining up perfectly for Trump because you dont want to take your foot off the gas, OConnell said. As long as the map is expanding, youre in a great position to win position to win the election in November. Democrats say the map is expanding for them, pointing to their recent focus on North Carolina. Raleigh was the site of Bidens first post-debate rally Friday. But Republicans are painting a picture with a greater sense of urgency. The question on the minds of a lot of voters isnt can Biden serve another four years, its can he serve another four months, OConnell 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. Trump Uses 'Palestinian' As A Slur For The Second Time In A Week Former President Donald Trump used the word Palestinian as a slur in reference to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) during a campaign rally on Friday. Its the second time this week hes used the word as a slur. During his rally in Virginia, Trump said Schumer, who is Jewish, had become a Palestinian. Look at a guy like Senator Schumer, Trump said. Ive always known him, known him a long time. I come from New York, I know Schumer. Hes become a Palestinian. Hes a Palestinian now. Congratulations. He was very loyal to Israel and to Jewish people. Hes Jewish. But hes become a Palestinian because they have a couple of more votes or something, nobodys quite figured it out. Trump: Schumer has become a Palestinian. Hes Jewish but hes become a Palestinian pic.twitter.com/w95R9AbA8X Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2024 Schumer has been critical of Israels handling of the ongoing war in Gaza, where some 38,000 people have been killed amid a U.S.-backed Israeli assault. In March, the senator called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down. Its now the second time this week Trump has used the word Palestinian as a derogatory insult. During Thursday nights debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, the two candidates briefly discussed the war in Gaza. Trump called into question Bidens support for Israel, saying he has become like a Palestinian. Actually, Israel is the one, and you should let them go and let them finish the job, Trump said during the debate. [Biden] 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. CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash did not follow up with Trump about his comments. Last month, the Biden administration told lawmakers it would send more than $1 billion in new weapons and ammunition to Israel. A report from Bidens administration that same month concluded it was reasonableto say Israel is violating international law, but that the U.S. would continue to provide aid to the country. College students across the country have protested against Israels actions in Gaza. Trump has vowed to crush those protests should he become president, the Washington Post reported. One thing I do is, any student that protests, I throw them out of the country, Trump reportedly told donors in May. You know, there are a lot of foreign students. As soon as they hear that, theyre going to behave. Related... Trump would withdraw US from Paris climate treaty again, campaign says Donald Trump would yank the United States out of the Paris climate accord for the second time if he wins the presidency again in November, a campaign spokesperson told POLITICO Friday. The statement comes after years of conservatives laying the groundwork for Trump to withdraw from the global agreement intended to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases causing climate change. Their efforts include drafting executive orders for Trump to quickly sign if he regains the White House, a lawyer familiar with the process told POLITICO. Among them is a draft order that could remove the United States from the entire United Nations' framework underpinning global climate negotiations, a much more definitive step that could do lasting damage to the effort to limit the Earth's warming. When asked Friday if Trump would repeat his removal of the United States from the landmark climate agreement, Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt replied, Yes, he has said that he would. Trump's planned withdrawal isn't a surprise, given his previous withdrawal and the lobbying by conservatives. Trump himself railed against the Paris accord in his debate with President Joe Biden in Atlanta on Thursday, saying the agreement was a rip off of the United States" and a disaster. Industry lawyers have been preparing different executive orders on different energy policies for Trumps signature, people familiar with the effort have said. A couple different versions of draft executive orders pulling the U.S. out of the accord currently exist for Trump to sign, an oil industry lawyer familiar with the process told POLITICO. One version of the orders includes removing the United States from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said this person, who was granted anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to the media. The UNFCCC is the underlying framework that serves as the basis for the global climate talks. Trump could be going even further by attempting to pull out of the 1992 U.N. treaty, a move that could require Senate approval for the U.S. to rejoin and might freeze the U.S. out of the system indefinitely. Leavitt did not respond to a question on whether Trump was considering having the United States leave the UNFCCC, which would be an even bigger setback to the global fight against climate change. The Biden administration has made progress in securing global agreements to combat climate change since returning to the Paris agreement after Trumps withdrawal. This includes a hard-fought deal with China, the worlds largest climate polluter, to reduce emissions from the power sector this decade and curb all greenhouse gases. A U.S. retrenchment would come as green parties took a beating in recent elections in the European Union, a blow to a key voice that has often pushed for more ambitious climate action leaving a potential global leadership vacuum. The United States joined the 2015 Paris Agreement under President Barack Obama, only to have Trump reverse the move. The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation includes such a step in its Project 2025 policy blueprint, a sprawling manifesto detailing actions they hope the next Republican president would take. The Trump campaign has usually declined to confirm or deny that it would pursue specific proposals outlined in the Heritage document, instead asserting that only Trump and his team have the authority to announce his policy positions. The Paris agreement is a bad deal for the United States, said Mandy Gunasekara, an EPA chief of staff during the Trump administration and author of Project 2025s energy and environmental provisions. It does little to meaningfully reduce emissions. Its been used to justify onerous regulations that make energy more expensive. Trump could not immediately pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord. Countries must give notice to the U.N. secretary-general and wait one year to formally withdraw. That is what happened when Trump gave notice he was pulling the United States out in 2019, with the U.S. officially exiting the following year. Exiting the UNFCCC would be altogether a much more drastic move. Doing so would effectively end U.S. participation in global climate talks, obliterating international cooperation when nations are still far off track from goals to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial era. A U.S. departure would impede the UNFCCCs operations, as the U.S. is a major funder of the treaty. It also could erect more significant hurdles for a future president to rejoin the Paris climate agreement. Leaving the UNFCCC, which also would take one year, would also excuse the U.S. from contributing to funding streams aimed at helping developing countries reduce their emissions and respond to the effects of climate change. The U.S. has often failed to meet even its own pledges on finance, with Trump zeroing out contributions to the Green Climate Fund during his first term. But a move by the United States, the world's top economy and the biggest historical contributor to climate change, to leave those arrangements altogether would likely chill efforts to generate more finance from other countries. Even without formally ditching Paris or the UNFCCC, a Trump win would likely diminish U.S. climate aid. That reality will color this November's talks in Azerbaijan, which come after the U.S. election. Nations there are expected to set a new goal for delivering climate finance to developing nations. Two charged in armed robberies of Myrtle Beach food delivery drivers, police say MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Two North Carolina people are facing armed robbery charges in connection with a pair of incidents involving Myrtle Beach food delivery drivers, police said on Friday. Last Monday and Wednesday, Myrtle Beach police responded to the area of Spivey Park for two separate but similar reports of armed robberies. Nobody was hurt in either incident. Authorities said both involved food delivery drivers that were robbed while making deliveries. Crime analysts, detectives and patrol officers worked together to identify two suspects. Cameron Reid Baker, 22, of Winston-Salem, N.C., is facing two counts each of armed robbery, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and first-degree assault and battery. Hes also charged with being a fugitive from justice, possession of a stolen vehicle, shoplifting less than $2,000 and resisting arrest. Jazmyn Elaine Corvin, 25, also of Winston-Salem, is charged with armed robbery and shoplifting less than $2,000. This is exactly why we invest in training our people and providing them with state-of-the-art technology, said Myrtle Beach Police Capt. Traci Chanaca of the Investigations Division. We were able to quickly arrest these dangerous suspects and stop them from victimizing any more of our citizens or visitors. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two German police officers seriously injured in anti-AfD protests Demonstrators and police officers confront each other at Ruttenscheider Strasse during the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Henning Kaiser/dpa Two police officers suffered serious head injuries as they escorted a politician through a throng of activists protesting against a congress held by the far-right Alternative for Germany in the western city of Essen. Unknown assailants kicked the officers in the head after forcing them to the ground, a police statement said. They were taken to hospital. Seven other officers suffered less serious injuries. The assailants were able to escape into the crowd. Activists and police clashed throughout the day. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the attacks. "We need strong democratic forces and peaceful protest against right-wing extremism and racism. Violence cannot be justified," she posted on X. She expressed her thanks and respect to the police and wished the injured officers a speedy recovery. The police break up a sit-in blockade during the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Henning Kaiser/dpa The police break up a sit-in blockade during the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party conference. Henning Kaiser/dpa Two indicted for selling over $30K in illegal elephant ivory through online business based in Long Island Its the elephant in the room. Two people have been indicted for selling thousands of dollars worth of illegal elephant ivory through online auctions. Between April 2020 and May 2023, Grace Hu and Yincheng Wu allegedly operated Merces, an online auction business, out of an office on Long Island, according to court records. Two people have been indicted for selling thousands of dollars worth of illegal elephant ivory through online auctions. Getty Images Between April 2020 and May 2023, Grace Hu and Yincheng Wu allegedly operated Merces, an online auction business, out of an office on Long Island, according to court records. Steven Hirsch Through Merces, Hu, 45, of Flushing, Queens, and Wu, 33, of Great Neck, advertised and sold elephant ivory carvings, including carved tusks, evading detection by advertising their products as rare material rather than elephant ivory. Steven Hirsch Through Merces, Hu, 45, of Flushing, Queens, and Wu, 33, of Great Neck, advertised and sold elephant ivory carvings, including carved tusks, evading detection by advertising their products as rare material rather than elephant ivory, prosecutors said. The scheme began to unravel when the pair sold ivory products to an undercover state Department of Environmental Conservation officer on three separate occasions, including: a carved elephant tusk for $31,950; a set of elephant ivory rosary beads for $4,800 and three elephant ivory figurines for $2,640. The duo conducted auctions both on their website and LiveAuctioneers.com, prosecutors said. The undercover officer purchased the ivory rosary, labeled Chinese gold-inlaid rare material 18-counts rosary, during an auction on the Live Auctioneers website, authorities said. The scheme began to unravel when the two defendants sold ivory products to an undercover state Department of Environmental Conservation officer on three separate occasions. Manhattan District Attorney's Office The duo conducted auctions both on their website and LiveAuctioneers.com, prosecutors said. Steven Hirsch The two defendants allegedly sold an undercover cop three elephant ivory figurines for $2,640, authorities said. Manhattan District Attorney's Office The undercover also purchased a carved elephant tusk for $31,950; prosecutors said. Manhattan District Attorney's Office After a joint probe by New York authorities and the Department of Homeland Security, the Manhattan District Attorneys Office seized MercesGallery.com and the two were indicted. Yincheng Wu and Grace Hu allegedly sold thousands of dollars worth of illegal ivory, harming an already endangered species by perpetuating the illicit market for ivory, said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Those who partake in the illegal ivory trade will be held accountable. After a joint probe by New York authorities and the Department of Homeland Security, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office seized MercesGallery.com. William Farrington Wu, Hu and Merces Gallery LL were each charged in Manhattan Supreme Court with three counts of illegal commercialization of wildlife, Bragg announced June 14. Wu and Hu pleaded not guilty at arraignment and were released on their own recognizance, court records state. ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM) Two separate shootings and one intentional car crash related to one of the shootings took place in Ithaca on Friday afternoon, police say. According to the Ithaca Police Department, one shooting occurred at about 1:35 p.m. on the 400 block of Adams Street on June 28, and a second shooting happened about 20 minutes later on the 100 block of West Village Place. Police say they found spent shell casings and bullet impacts at both locations. Neither of these shootings has any known victims. Later in the afternoon, police were called to a motor vehicle crash on the 300 block of Third Street at 4:04 p.m. According to the police, one vehicle involved intentionally rammed into the other vehicle, and this crash was related to the shooting on Adams Street. Three arrested after Ithaca burglary incident Police say that the shootings and crash were not random, and the people involved in each incident seem to know each other. The Ithaca Police Department is currently investigating all three incidents, and criminal charges are pending. Anyone who may have witnessed either of the shootings or the crash or who has information about any of the incidents is asked to contact the Ithaca Police Department using one of the methods listed below. Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245 Police Administration: 607-272-9973 Police Tip line: 607-330-0000 Anonymous Email Tip Address: www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Two suspects were detained and one of the suspects was injured after an early-morning officer-involved shooting in Salt Lake City on Saturday. The incident began around 12:10 a.m., when officers with the Utah Highway Patrol saw a speeding truck with violations for vehicle-equipment, according to a press release from the Salt Lake City Police Department. READ NEXT: Man arrested following West Jordan SWAT standoff The press release said the truck sped away before officers conducted a traffic stop, but the vehicle was later found after being abandoned near 5650 West and 700 South. UHP requested help from SLCPD just before 12:30 a.m., according to the release. While searching for the suspects, an officer with SLCPD fired at least one shot around 12:40 a.m., the release said. Officials provided first aid at the scene, and one person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The injured person was one of the suspects, according to police, and a second suspect was detained in connection to the incident. Additional troopers and officers including drone pilots and a K9 squad responded to the scene to search for others involved, but no other suspects were located. Police said there are several investigations related to this incident that are being conducted. As those investigations proceed, additional information may develop that could result in some of this information becoming out of date, police said in the release. As is standard procedure, the officer who was involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave. This incident appears to have unfolded very quickly, Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said. Our priority is to support our involved officer and to allow for a comprehensive and professional investigation to determine the circumstances and facts. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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) 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. 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 Oregon Capital Chronicle. Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine is focused on establishing a "guaranteed" military funding commitment from NATO allies, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on June 28. NATO allies have so far failed to agree on a long-term financial pledge for Ukraine, outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on June 14. Stoltenberg previously proposed that NATO provides Ukraine with at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military support each year, "for as long as necessary." "At the NATO summit, we are working to secure a guaranteed financial commitment for military aid, so that we are not dependent on the political processes in the U.S. or any other allied country," Stefanishyna said on Ukrainian television. In her comments, Stefanishyna did not name a specific amount that Ukraine was aiming to receive, but noted that "separate decisions need to be made regarding air defense." In early 2024, Ukraine grappled with dwindling weapons supplies amid delays in military aid from the European Union and the United States - an event that was directly attributed to the fall of the city of Avdiivka. NATO allies are debating what to commit to Ukraine's NATO membership at the upcoming 75th anniversary summit in Washington, CNN reported on June 19. Kyiv did not receive the much-desired invitation nor a firm deadline to join the alliance during last year's 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, even though NATO took steps to tighten cooperation. Ukrainian officials have voiced hope that the Washington meeting, scheduled for July 9-11, will bring a more definite signal. Read also: Rutte appointed as next NATO Secretary General Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Ukrainian side states that 90 soldiers and 10 civilian Ukrainians were brought back during the 53rd exchange of prisoners of war. The fact that civilian Ukrainians are being held in Russian captivity demonstrates the murderous nature of Russia's war against Ukraine. Source: Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraines Defence Intelligence, on the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "This night marked the end of the 53rd exchange since the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression. As part of the exchange, 100 Ukrainians were brought back, both military and civilians (90 soldiers and 10 civilians). Since the start of the full-scale war, 3,310 Ukrainians have been released from Russian captivity under the auspices of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Both military (mostly) and civilians. The fact that we are discussing the release of civilian prisoners from Russian captivity today serves as clear proof to the rest of the world that Russia's assault on Ukrainians is genocidal, that the enemy commits war crimes, and that international humanitarian law is ignored. These people should not be held captive, and their rights should not be constrained. These peoples crime is that they refused to surrender to the Russian occupation. Heleta and Levytskyi and two Greek Catholic Church priests, were imprisoned and subjected to extraordinarily severe conditions, including being arrested during prayer, for praying, and for representing the Ukrainian church. Mr Nariman for not abandoning his Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian identities... Other examples include Olena Pekh, a teacher, and this can be applied to anyone." Details: Yusov further stated that hundreds of Ukrainian citizens are being held captive, which is a blatant, large-scale crime committed by Putin's Russia . In terms of the conditions of detention of civilian Ukrainians in comparison to military prisoners, a representative of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence stated that everything depends on the situation, but in many cases, civilian Ukrainians are kept in places not intended for this, even outside of Russian "legal conditions". Some of the hostages were also brought back from the territory of the Russian Federation's ally, Belarus, but the representative of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence did not go into detail about how this was accomplished, only stating that it was the product of complex, meticulous and comprehensive efforts. He emphasised that Ukraine will fight for all of its citizens, no matter where they are. Yusov noted that the 53rd exchange was completed through the mediation of the United Arab Emirates and the Holy See in the Vatican. Background: Ukrainian authorities managed to bring back 10 civilians from Russian captivity on 28 June. Among them is Nariman Dzhelyal, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, who was captured in Crimea in 2021, as well as priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, captured in Berdiansk for their resistance to the Russians [Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People is the single highest executive-representative body of the Crimean Tatars in the period between sessions of the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People ed.]. Support UP or become our patron! During a meeting in Croatia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Wu Hongbo, the Chinese government's special representative for European affairs, discussed ongoing efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Source: Kuleba on X (Twitter) Quote: "On the sidelines of the Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia, I met Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs Wu Hongbo. I informed him about the first Peace Summit, which was held in Switzerland. We exchanged views on further efforts to restore just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on respect to the UN Charter and international law." Details: Kuleba added that Ukraine and China "will continue dialogue on peace and development". "I emphasised the importance of strategically viewing our relationship both from a bilateral perspective and through the lens of Ukraine's future membership in the European Union," the foreign minister added. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's victory should encompass not only the restoration of borders and holding Russia accountable, but also the creation of a reality where new aggression becomes impossible. Source: European Pravda, citing Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday, 29 June, during his address at the Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports Details: Kuleba said that peace without justice would lead to a new war. Quote: "Therefore, the goal is not just to end the war, but to create a reality in which peace is just and lasting, and a new war becomes impossible. This is what victory means," the minister noted. In this context, Kuleba highlighted the key role of the Peace Summit. He emphasised that he will continue to interact with countries from all parts of the world to find solutions for restoring a just peace. The foreign minister stressed that the path to a just and lasting peace is not easy, but there is no alternative. He said that the world must erase the lines drawn by others to ensure respect for the principles that allow everyone to live and thrive. "There are things that unite us all and erase these differences. This is the desire to live in peace and develop. For Ukraine, it is peace and recovery, which, of course, is a prerequisite for development," the minister concluded. Background: Ukraine is determined to hold the second Peace Summit in one of the countries of the so-called Global South. On 21 June, Kuleba stated that Kyiv is not seeking direct contacts with Russia, but its participation in the second Peace Summit is possible under the Black Sea Grain Initiative format. Meanwhile, Viola Amherd, Head of the Swiss Federal Council, said Russia's participation in the peace process remained a key issue. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's foreign minister meets with his Armenian counterpart as Armenia drifts away from Russia Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has held a meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, in Croatia. Source: press service of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, as reported by European Pravda Details: During the meeting, Kuleba and Mirzoyan discussed the security situation in Europe and the South Caucasus. Kuleba expressed his gratitude to Armenia for attending the first Peace Summit in Switzerland and briefed Mirzoyan on the ongoing efforts to implement the Peace Formula, aimed at achieving a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. The ministers also discussed ways to deepen bilateral relations and international cooperation, especially in the context of Ukraine's future membership in the EU. Background: A few months ago, Armenia began cautiously discussing its potential path towards EU membership. The Armenian leadership has recently begun making statements about withdrawal from the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which has not yet happened de jure but has already taken place de facto. Armenia will also attend the NATO anniversary summit in Washington. In March, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg paid his first visit to Armenia. Support UP or become our patron! The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) will investigate the actions of Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol during his command of the defence of the Kharkiv front and other factors pointed out by Bohdan "Tavr" Krotevych, Chief of Staff of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard. Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in law enforcement agencies Details: Ukrainska Pravda sources noted that the SBI had responded to Krotevych that his statement on the possible abuse of power and incompetent command of troops by Yurii Sodol, the commander of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces, had been taken into consideration. Moreover, they stressed that as a result, Krotevychs evidence had been attached to the criminal case on the circumstances of the Russian breakthrough of the front in Kharkiv Oblast, which, among other things, provides a legal assessment of the actions of the military command of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces during the planning and conduct of defence operations on the front. The SBI pledged to Krotevych that the circumstances he described would be checked. The day before, Krotevych himself said on Twitter (X) that he was "not satisfied with the SBI's response". "Now it's up to the lawyers. I am grateful to everyone who supports me. I ask the military not to be afraid to testify (including those who do not have a large media presence). We will not back down," he added. Read more on this topic: Changes in Ukraine's military top brass: who was fired and why, and what we can expect from their successors Background: Krotevych filed a request with Ukraines SBI calling for an investigation into Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol, the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda has information that Krotevych accused Sodol of abuse of power and incompetent command of the troops, leading to the loss of a large part of Ukraine's territory, and requested an investigation into the commanders potential collaboration with Russia. Krotevych also said he was prepared to testify in the case. After the statement was made public, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced Sodol with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov. The SBI confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda that it had received the statement and added that investigators were working on it. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS) has stressed once again that any actions by the Ukrainian defence forces on the border with Belarus are solely aimed at protecting Ukraine from aggressive actions and are not intended to encroach on the territories of other states. Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the SBGS, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda Quote: "Belarus has recently intensified its disinformation efforts regarding Ukraine's escalating [military presence], particularly within [Ukraine's] Zhytomyr Oblast, and [claimied] that the situation on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border is becoming more tense. They are imagining [Ukraine] amassing a wide variety of units, with all the weapons and equipment [at its disposal]. They have mentioned all sorts of people and things, making a wide range of claims. They probably got confused in their own remarks. This is again very similar to the claims about 'where the offensive was being prepared from' [At the beginning of the full-scale war, Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, claimed that Ukraine was preparing an offensive, and that is why Russia invaded Ukraine]. Perhaps they have already drawn the maps... Of course, it's nice that they don't forget about our country, but they shouldn't worry as Ukraine does not pose a threat to them, we are forced to defend ourselves, including on the Belarusian front, because Belarus continues to support terrorists and opened its border to the Russian invaders some time ago. Ukraine is defending and will continue to protect its territories from enemy attacks." Details: The colonel stressed that as long as Belarus remains under Russia's influence, it will be posing a threat to Ukraine. Consequently, Ukraine's defence forces will do everything in their power to strengthen the nation's defence. Demchenko further added that Ukraine is building up its fortification capabilities for defence, not offence. Therefore, there are no provocations, contrary to what Belarus claims. Support UP or become our patron! UM surgeon at center of settlement says he does 3 to 5 surgeries a day. Is that possible? Reality Check is a Herald series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at tips@miamiherald.com. When the University of Miami medical school heralded the hiring of its new chief of cardiothoracic surgery in 2019, it noted the vast number of surgeries performed by Dr. Joseph Lamelas. Dr. Lamelas has performed more than 16,000 cardiac surgeries throughout his 28-year career, 7,000 of which have employed a minimally invasive approach, the second paragraph of UMs announcement read on Jan. 2, 2019. And if you divide 16,000 surgeries by 28 years, the math shows that Dr. Lamelas would have performed 571 surgeries in a given year, or roughly 1.5 surgeries every day, seven days a week. The issue of the number of surgeries Lamelas has performed is at the center of a $15 million settlement struck between Baylor College of Medicine, where Lamelas previously worked before joining UM, and the Justice Department, which announced the settlement this week. READ MORE: Top UM heart surgeon at center of $15 million settlement between Baylor and feds According to medical experts uninvolved in that legal dispute, surgeons dont do surgeries seven days a week. Rather, the norm is for surgeons to perform surgeries just two to three days a week, giving them time to conduct office visits with patients on the other days. Its an extremely high number of surgeries to do, said Dr. Alexander Marmureanu, referring to Lamelas career average of 571 surgeries a year. Marmureanu is a Los Angeles board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon whose bio says he does more than 400 surgeries a year. Hundreds of simultaneous overlapping surgeries This week, Houston-based Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine and Surgical Associates of Texas P.A. have jointly agreed to pay the settlement, which revolved around claims of allowing unqualified physician trainees to perform heart surgeries alone in operating rooms while Lamelas and other veteran teaching surgeons were doing surgeries in other operating rooms at the same time. The veteran surgeons attested to being in both rooms for billing purposes. Lamelas, 63, who also served as chief of cardiac surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, is accused of performing hundreds of simultaneous overlapping surgeries during his two-year stint at Baylor, according to court records. Although physically impossible to be present at the same time during the concurrent surgeries, Lamelas wrote on medical records that he performed the procedures, according to the 2022 lawsuit filed by the feds in Texas, after a whistleblower first filed suit. He and two other surgeons at Baylor at the time Dr. David Ott, 71, and Dr. Joseph Coselli, 71, then submitted false claims to Medicare, which has regulations governing surgeries, for reimbursement for the heart surgeries, the suit alleges. Prosecutors says this happened from June 2013 to December 2020. From a Medicare point of view this is unacceptable, said Marmureanu, also noting that the surgeon doesnt just leave the patient by themselves. The residents continue the operation and should be qualified to do so. Baylor, in a statement to USA Today, which first reported the settlement, said the settlement is not an admission of liability and that it settled the case rather than pay the litigation costs of a trial. Baylor College of Medicine did not engage in conduct that violates any applicable federal law or regulation. It is also important to note that no patients were harmed, Robert Corrigan Jr., general counsel for Baylor College of Medicine, said in the statement. From a surgical standpoint, as long as those assisting are well-trained and qualified, it shouldnt be unsafe, said Marmureanu. But federal prosecutors noted in their 2022 suit the surgeons left unqualified physician trainees (residents and fellows) alone in operating rooms to operate on unwitting patients so the teaching surgeons could run multiple surgeries simultaneously. The University of Miami medical school has not commented on the case, telling the Herald the litigation did not involve them. UMs doctors work at the county-owned teaching hospital, Jackson Memorial, as well as the schools own hospital near Jacksons main campus. Lamelas earned more than $3 million in 2021 at UM, according to the latest University of Miami IRS 990 filing posted on Guidestar, the organization that tracks nonprofits. Lamelas discusses his surgeries in UM video Lamelas, widely recognized as a pioneer in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, said in a February 2019 YouTube video a month after UM hired him that he normally performs between three and five operations a day. And the majority of them are these minimally invasive operations. But mitral valve repairs, a specialty of Lamelas, are intricate procedures that include setup time and the actual surgery, said Keith Pelletier, a Connecticut healthcare consultant and former healthcare administrator. A straightforward minimally invasive mitral valve surgery without robotic assistance usually takes around four hours, though this can vary, said Marmureanu. And while performing two to three minimally invasive surgeries in one day is feasible, it requires significant time for preparation, anesthesia and post-operative care, Marmureanu said. If you have a lot of help, you can bypass some of these steps and focus only on the surgical part, he added. Complex surgeries In the Baylor-Justice Department settlement, authorities noted that overall the heart surgeries at issue are some of the most complicated operations performed at any hospital including coronary artery bypass grafts, valve repairs and aortic repair procedures. These surgeries typically involve opening a patients chest and placing the patient on the bypass machine for some portion of time. Given the complexity of the surgeries, the attending surgeon should always be in the room, Pelletier said. There are times when Ive seen surgeons just pop in for the timeout and then leave, which is not acceptable. The issues raised in the lawsuit and settlement are sensitive ones in the surgical profession, experts say. Representatives from UCLA and University of Florida medical schools declined to comment for this article, as did Florida hospitals with major cardiac surgery divisions, including Cleveland Clinic Florida, Baptist Health South Florida, Memorial Healthcare System and the Mayo Clinic. A previous version of the story incorrectly said Dr. Joseph Lamelas was employed at Baylor University, when his employer was Baylor College of Medicine, a separate entity. LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The only thing I could hear on Furnace Road Extension this April morning was the wind whipping the house wrap outside of Lisandra Flores unfinished home. The birds were soaking up the warmth of the morning sun and the wind helped clear the dew that had settled overnight. The opening where the two-car garage door was supposed to go was a gaping opening, showing off the framing job inside. There wasnt a single piece of drywall screwed to any of the wall studs. The spot where the heat pump was supposed to go was marked with a copper line and a PVC pipe dangling from a hole drilled through the brick foundation. The owners of this home at 1824 Furnace Road Extension closed on the land/home package in September 2021. The building permits for this Lincoln County home were pulled more than two years ago, but the original contractors never finished the home when we visited the site in April 2024. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) There was no heat pump anywhere on the property. The home looked abandoned, but a phone call weeks later revealed this building was a young familys dream home. A family that, for the past three years, were packed into a relatives home waiting for their house to be finished. Queen City News Investigations Flores said it took her builder months to break ground at the site after they closed on the lot in September 2021. It took the builder six months to get the foundation, framing, and roof built, according to Flores. After $189,000 in bank draws from their construction-to-perm loan, Flores said the work stopped. The loan became a permanent mortgage after the construction completion deadline passed. Although the house was never finished, the Flores familys made mortgage payments on the $189,000 loan for the past three years. A home they cant live in. Mario Cotto told Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr that the stories homeowners we interviewed told us were not true. Cotto refused to discuss each construction project with us to provide his side of the story. We found Cotto and his wife, Joy, at their home after we could not get them to schedule an interview with us. The Flores fired their builder, Distinctive Homes and Development Group, in January 2024. The building permits show the original contractor was Blackmon Custom Builders, Inc. Building permits show Distinctive Homes took over as the general contractor from Blackmon in August 2023. The N.C. Secretary of State Records lists Mario Cotto and Parathazathel Mohanan as managers and chief financial officers of Distinctive Homes and Development Group. A Davidson man named Gerome Blackmon is listed as the president of Blackmon Custom Builders. The Flores purchased the lot from The Lion Real Estate Group. State corporation filings show Cotto listed as the chief executive officer for that limited liability company, according to the most recent filing. Queen City News Investigations In September 2023, the Flores and three other families were hit with a lawsuit from Robinson Builders Mart, a builder supply company in Newton, N.C. The lawsuit named the families and their properties as defendants, claiming the contractor, identified as Parathazathel Mohanan in the lien lawsuit, purchased $132,463.65 in building materials from the supply company and never paid the bill. The Flores building permit shows Blackmons firm as the contractor at the time of the final invoice dated July 13, 2023. County records show Blackmon was removed and replaced by Distinctive Homes and Development Group on August 11, 2023. Gerome Blackmon is not listed as a defendant in the lien litigation. Cottos is not listed as a defendant but is listed in the certificate of service, along with Cottos business office address in Denver as a person and location to be served with filings in the lawsuit. The filing also contains a document titled Personal Guarantee with Mohanans signature and an email address for Distinctive Homes and Development Group. The document was part of a credit account at Robinson Builders Mart, where Mohanan promised full and prompt payment of all indebtedness. This personal guarantee was filed in a Lincoln County lien case against Parathazathel Mohanan and four homeowners who purchased land-home with Mario Cotto and The Lion Real Estate Group in two subdivisions, including a home build in Gaston County. (Source: Lincoln County Clerk of Court) The filing shows $18,441.68 in materials purchased for the Flores home, but the invoices were never paid. The other defendant families owed the balance of the unpaid debt, with one Gastonia family facing a lien of $83,508 in unpaid invoices. The building supply company later removed the families as defendants, leaving Mohanan as the only named defendant in the lawsuit. In October 2023, a $155,189.45 judgment was issued against Mohanan. The amount included the unpaid invoices for building materials, as well as $20,242 in attorney fees. On December 7, 2023, a certificate of judgment satisfaction was filed in the Lincoln County Courthouse, showing Mohanan paid the judgment. The Flores home still sits unfinished today. They hired a new contractor, who took over the job in March. The Flores home is now closer to completion than its ever been. $326,000 FOUNDATION You can flick a 16-penny nail from the Flores front porch and hit what was supposed to be Lisa Labelles dream home. She found the lot in July 2023. Out front was a realtor sign, with a woman named Joy Cotto as the listing agent. Joy Cotto was the listing agent for her husbands land sale and home construction contract with Lisa Labelle. Cotto was sanctioned by the Professional Standards Committee of the Canopy Realtor Association for an ethics violation in May following a complaint Labelle filed against Cotto on the land-home deal. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) Labelle thought the view of the Lincoln County hills was the perfect spot to sink her savings and had her realtor contact Joy Cotto to begin negotiations. Joy and Mario are married, and Labelle said that the conflict was disclosed to her, and she signed a document acknowledging it. She purchased the lot and hired Mario Cottos The Lion Real Estate Group in September 2023 to build a $429,580 home. A foundation was already on the lot. Labelle said she wired Cotto $158,000 in August 2023 to a Wells Fargo account. But, after closing on the lot in September, Labelle said Mario Cotto seemingly disappeared. Nothing had been done, Labelle told Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr. Kept driving to the lot on the weekends, nothings going on. Nothings happening. Im finding this strange and Im driving out there and Im never seeing any type of work being done on any of the houses. And that was a red flag. Why am I not? I see all these half-built houses, why do I never see tradesmen? Labelle said she then turned to her realtor for answers, And I start saying to my real estate agent something strange here, and shes calling Mario, and Labelle said those calls went unanswered for weeks. Labelle got tired of waiting. By this time, the bank had disbursed $168,000 in additional construction loan draws to Cotto, according to Labelle. Lisa Labelle sits on a stack of lumber left at her unfinished Furnace Road Extension home. The wood was delivered for two days of framing in November 2023. Distinctive Homes and Development was supposed to finish her home on April 1, 2024. Labelle said she paid Mario and Joy Cotto $320,000 for the land and home build and has nothing to show for it today. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr) In between that time when I realized that something was terribly wrong, Labelle said. She called her loan officer at Truliant Federal Credit Union to find out what she could do to move the builder. She said her loan officer was no help. I emailed a disbursement agent at Truliant and said theres fraudI think theres fraud going on here. I think Im beinga fraud is being committed against me. And this builder, heres the history, heres, you know, heres all the information. And I knew that if I did that, when you yell fraud at a bank, they have to investigate it, Labelle told QCN. And that did work. And I think that raised some flags at the bank. The following day, framers were driving nails and sawing floor joists at Labelles lot. It took two days for the framers to install the floor system and partially frame two garage door walls. Labelle said the crews disappeared and no one ever showed up again. This aerial photograph shows the state of Lisa Labelles home build, which was supposed to be completed in April 2024. Labelle fired her builder, Mario Cotto, in January after Labelle said hed worked two days between their closing date in September 2023 and January 2024. (WJZY Photo/Jack Anderson) Labelle fired Mario Cotto in January and filed multiple complaints against him with state and federal agencies. She also filed complaints against Joty Cotto with the N.C. Real Estate Commission and Canpoly Realtor Association in Charlotte, accusing Cotto of ethics violations by knowing about the delays with all of her husbands builds and hiding that from Labelle at closing. Our research shows the Cottos are involved in 22 properties in two subdivisions in Lincoln County. One is located off Furnace Road Extension, the other on Church Hill Lane near Maiden. Lincoln County building department records show only one certificate of completion. The rest remain unfinished still today. This property, located along Barbary Place in Lincoln County, belongs to Traci Blackwell. Her home was nearing the three-year mark when she fired Mario Cotto after Blackwell said the bank paid $165,000 in bank draws and an unfinished foundation is as far as her build went. These three home sites off Grace Court and Church Hill Lane near Maiden show three stages of incompleteness for three separate lots. The first building permit was pulled on this home in 2019. It remains unfinished still today. This property located along Barbary Place in Lincoln County, belongs to Daniel and Melissa Hale. The Hales contracted with Mario Cotto in October 2021 and their home was supposed to be finished in October 2022. Lisandra Flores home was still unfinished when we visited the site in April 2024. Lisa Labelles subfloor was installed in November 2023 Corey Williams owns this unfinished home on Furnace Road Extension. Williams said hes made mortgage payments on the home for the past three years. Williams said hes now living in his aunts home and working with another builder to finish his home. This unfinished home along Furnace Road Extension had a building permit from December 2019 hanging out of the permit box when we visited the site in April 2024. The Flores home on Furnace Road Extension was still unfinished when we visited the site in April 2024. A new builder has taken over and is nearing completion. This lot off Church Hill Lane has footers poured. Building inspection records show the footing inspection failed in August 2023. Building permits were pulled for this lot in April 2023 and the foundation is as far as this build progressed before construction stopped. Our Unfinished Business investigation uncovers the network of people and companies involved in the Cotto housing development business and the legal troubles surrounding themincluding a law enforcement investigation underway into whats crushed the American dream for so many people in Lincoln County. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MENOMINEE, Mich. (WFRV) Authorities from the Menominee County Sheriffs Office arrested a man on charges of making terroristic threats. The Menominee 29-year-old man reportedly threatened to shoot employees of the Menominee County Courthouse on Friday, June 28 around 8 a.m. Wisconsin State Patrol reminds motorists to check their tires amidst National Tire Safety Week He was taken to the Menominee County Jail, and pending arraignment in District Court 95A, his name is being withheld. Sheriff Mike Holmes is reminding the community that tips and information related to criminal activity or suspicious behavior can be reported through the Crime Stoppers of Marinette and Menominee County Facebook page, or 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. The U.S. Army has signed a $4.5 billion contract with Lockheed Martin on June 28 to produce 870 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) missiles, according to the U.S. Army's website. The news comes after the U.S. announced in late June that it will prioritize deliveries of air defense missiles to Ukraine over orders from other countries, particularly Patriot and NASAMS missiles. Established in 1995, Lockheed Martin is one of the leading American defense and aerospace companies. The company works closely with the U.S. Department of Defense and federal government agencies. "This multiyear contract award for the PAC-3 MSE missile follows through on the army's commitment to stabilize and expand our production capability for this critical weapon system, which is vital to supporting the US Army and Joint Force, along with Ukraine and other allies around the world," said Douglas Bush, the army's assistant secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. The PAC-3 MSE missiles are in "high demand," as they use "hit-to-kill" technology. This technology is more effective than blast-fragmentation, the U.S. Army said. Read also: FT: Ukraine, US, Israel in talks to send up to 8 Patriot systems to Kyiv The PAC-3 MSE missiles can intercept tactical ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles, as well as aircraft. The missiles' range of interception of air targets is 120 km (nearly 74.5 miles), and ballistic targets 60 km (nearly 37 miles). Kyiv received its first Patriot battery from the U.S. in the first half of 2023, and since then, the U.S.' most advanced air defense system has proved crucial in Ukraine's defenses. Ukraine has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defenses as Russia intensifies its strikes against Ukrainian population centers and infrastructure. Romania announced on June 20 that it would transfer a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. Germany has also delivered two of its systems, and the third one is on its way. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom. Outgoing University of Minnesota interim President Jeff Ettinger deserves the gratitude of Minnesotans for ably shepherding the institution for the past year. He's an engaged, thoughtful leader who was wisely selected by the University Board of Regents to take the temporary post. During a recent meeting with the Star Tribune Editorial Board, Ettinger said he was pleased to have made progress at the U in the areas of public outreach, advancing health care issues through discussion with Fairview and furthering partnerships with campuses in greater Minnesota. Full disclosure: The Editorial Board endorsed Ettinger in his unsuccessful bid to become a DFL First District congressman in 2022. He lost that race to Republican Brad Finstad for the seat that had opened up after former Rep. Jim Hagedorn died. During that campaign we believed he was the superior candidate because as CEO of Hormel for just more than a decade he had navigated the impact of trade deals on the company, workforce readiness and shortages, and rising health care costs. He ran as a self-described business-friendly moderate with deep understanding of the agricultural industry in his district. Ettinger certainly brought that knowledge and considerable leadership skills and experience to overseeing the U. Though we believe he generally did a good job as interim U leader, his tenure was not without controversy. During spring student protests over the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, he met and listened to students including those who set up a tent encampment on campus. He told editorial writers that he was proud of being able to resolve that sit-in without the violence that occurred at other colleges. Like some other college presidents across the nation, he was questioned in his case, by a state Senate committee about whether antisemitic and anti-Islamic actions were occurring at the U. And the decision he and the regents made to rescind a job offer and pause the hiring of a new director for the U's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies prompted the University of Minnesota Faculty Senate to take a largely symbolic vote of "no confidence" against the administration. Earlier this month, the university had offered that job and a history professor position to Israeli historian Raz Segal, who in a 2023 article had described Israel's assault on Gaza as "a textbook case of genocide." Community backlash against that choice led to the pause. Ettinger explained that the center's leader must work closely with community groups outside the university. Members of the College of Liberal Arts argued in a commentary published in the Star Tribune that the administration had overstepped its authority. Other U professors who disagreed with the no-confidence vote by the Faculty Senate said they were pleased by other aspects of Ettinger's 13-month tenure and didn't want that to be overshadowed by one incident. We argued that Ettinger made the right decision but that it came with costs. As Ettinger leaves the interim position, Minnesotans should be appreciative of his service. They should also welcome his replacement, Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, who begins as permanent U president this week. A former emergency-room physician and vice president for research and innovation at the University of Michigan, she will be tasked with continuing work on the Holocaust Center director's position that has been put off until 2025. In the same Editorial Board meeting, Cunningham said her "broad brush goals" starting the job include the strategic plan to set a mission and course for the next five to 10 years, improving coordination within the network of campuses and working on re-envisioning health care delivery through the university's arrangements with Fairview. All worthy goals to begin her tenure. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The two U.S. Navy sailors who died in a fiery, chain reaction crash on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton that killed one other person and injured five were identified by military officials on Friday. Stephen Jermaine Williams, 37, and Jess Lee Davis, 38, were named as the two motorcyclists affiliated with the military killed in the pile-up. Both were highly decorated, according to naval officials, who had been based in San Diego during their respective careers. The third individual killed in the crash on Thursday, a civilian, has not yet been identified, nor has any additional information about the people injured been disclosed. The Navy family mourns the loss of two shipmates in Thursdays traffic accident, U.S. Navy spokesperson Brian ORourke said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sailors families, friends and coworkers, and we ask they be afforded privacy during this difficult time. Williams, a Damage Controlman 1st Class originally from Texas, was last stationed at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego. According to a naval spokesperson, he was in between duty stations at the time of the crash. Car tumbles into structure in La Mesa, injuring one Since enlisting in 2006, the sailor had earned decorations like a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation among other things. Davis, a Culinary Specialist Submarines 1st Class originally from Tennessee, was stationed on the USS Alexandria in Los Angeles prior to the collision. He had previously been based at Naval Base Point Loma at least two times during his career, military officials said. He enlisted in 2005, earning several awards like two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a National Defense Service Medal. The collision, which involved two cars and four motorcycles, happened just before 3 a.m. near the Las Pulgas exit on southbound I-5. The chain reaction crash began after a Jeep veered off the roadway, California Highway Patrol said. As a result of the crash, all lanes of southbound I-5 were closed for seven hours, with two reopening around 11 a.m. The scene was completely cleared 12 hours after the incident. An investigation into the collision remains ongoing. At this time, it is unknown if drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. US to send another aid package to Ukraine with HAWK air defence missiles Reuters The Biden administration will announce on Monday a US$150 million aid package to Ukraine, including HAWK interceptor missiles and 155 mm artillery ammunition. Source: Reuters with reference to sources Details: The aid package is expected to be presented on Monday, 1 July. The package will include other weapons and equipment to support Ukraine's defence needs, in addition to the HAWK mobile interceptor missiles and 155 mm artillery ammunition. Reuters noted that the Biden administration was responding to Ukraine's strong requests for air defence support, as Russia had been striking at Ukrainian energy facilities in recent weeks. The package will be provided under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, the mechanism that allows the president to rapidly transfer defence goods and services from US stockpiles to support allies. Reuters added that the US had provided Ukraine with more than US$50 billion in military aid since 2022. Background: A previous US$225 million military aid package for Ukraine was announced on 7 June. It was made possible after the US Congress, after many months of delay, approved additional funding for Ukraine and its allies totalling almost US$61 billion in April (Supplemental Act). In addition, the United States decided to prioritise the supply of anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine over other countries that had placed orders. This includes missiles for the Patriot and NASAMS systems. Support UP or become our patron! Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy's proposed FY 2025 budget in Juneau on Dec. 14, 2023. (photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon) Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy's proposed FY 2025 budget in Juneau on Dec. 14, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon) Alaskas Department of Health owes the federal government $11.9 million because it overpaid food stamp benefits last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed the state. In a Friday letter to Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg, USDA Acting Under Secretary Kumar Chandran said the states payment error rate has been too high for too long. Chandran said the state could incur an additional penalty if its overpayment rate remains high for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Alaskas proper administration of SNAP is essential to ensuring the Program operates efficiently, effectively, and with integrity, the letter said. The issue stems from the state government choosing to extend benefits to Alaskans while it worked through a backlog of food stamp applications, state officials say. Federal data shows the states Division of Public Assistance erred on nearly 60% of applications and overpaid benefits in the fiscal year ending in June 2023. The national average is a 10% error rate. The error rate does not measure fraud; it indicates if states accurately measure eligibility and payment. The error rate in Alaska has been more than five times higher than the national average since the 2022 fiscal year. But DPA Director Deb Etheridge said those overpayments were not a mistake. The state chose to extend benefits to Alaskans during parts of the backlog, she said, to keep people from going hungry. She said state leaders told workers to intentionally bypass parts of the verification process to renew food stamp certifications during the backlog. But because the state did not have federal permission to extend benefits while they caught up on applications, every renewal they processed that way showed up as an overpayment error. When we extended certifications, 100% of those automatically go into error, she said. Etheridge said state officials made that choice to get food to Alaskans while they worked to solve the backlog. State officials asked the federal government for permission to bypass the verifications so they could catch up when the backlog swole to crisis proportions last fall, but were denied. Hedberg told state workers to bypass them anyway and let the federal government know the state planned to break the rules. I think the commissioner took a really brave and bold step, Etheridge said. The move prompted a letter from federal regulators this winter that said federal funding may be at risk if that practice continued. Everybodys priority was that we get those benefits out to Alaskans. I think you could kind of remember all of the harm that we were trying to reduce, Etheridge said of state officials at the time. The Health Department has since come into compliance with federal guidelines, according to Etheridge. Previously, state workers had to recertify whether food stamp beneficiaries remained eligible every six months, but federal officials approved an extended 12-month recertification period. State officials have three options when it comes to the nearly $12 million penalty, according to the letter. They may pay the amount in full, appeal the federal governments analysis or take a rehabilitative approach that would allow them to spend half of the liability amount on upgrades to the state system that manage the program and only have to repay the other half if they continue to have overpayments in the 2024 fiscal year. Etheridge said Health Department officials are in talks with the states Department of Law to consider appeal options, but they may also opt for the 50-50 approach. The USDA letter stressed that federal officials must ensure the food aid program operates effectively and efficiently and that eligible participants receive accurate and timely benefits. Alaska Health Department employees have worked through the major backlog for food aid, though Etheridge said she still manages the program closely. Etheridge said the effects of the states decision to extend benefits will likely linger in its error rate into this fall. Etheridge took over the division in the middle of the backlog and said she was prepared for a fix to take time. What we do today will show up in a few years from now, she said, adding that she is comfortable working through difficult problems. I just keep my eye on the future, she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX UPDATE: The man was identified as Michael Harp from Sandy, Utah. The original story follows below. DENVER (KDVR) A 54-year-old mans body was recovered after a rafting accident on Thursday on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument. According to the National Park Service, staff were notified of a boat pinned against a rock in the rapid named Hells Half Mile at about 4 p.m. on Thursday. One person from the group was missing, suspected to have been pinned under the raft. The raft was eventually secured and unpinned, but monument staff reported that the person had been dislodged, lost his lifejacket and was unresponsive, causing him to drift downriver. Utah fire captain, 9/11 hero dies rafting at Canyon of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument On Friday at about 7:45 a.m., a commercial rafting company, Adrift, told staff they had found and secured the victims body about 10 river miles downstream from the accident. Monument staff, Adrift guides and the Classic Air Medical helicopter crew members transported the body to the Moffat County Coroners Office. The park straddles the state line between Utah and Colorado in the Yampa River Canyon region. Hells Half Mile is classified as an III/IV rapid in the Canyon of Lodore, which is in the Colorado portion of the monument. NPS said that the rivers flow rates averaged 4,700 cubic feet per second from June 25-28, which included additional water from a release at the Flaming Gorge Dam. The monument is best known for its dinosaur quarry, according to NPS, but whitewater rafters are also known to travel the globe to raft Dinosaur National Monuments rapids. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. What was Utahs response to a Supreme Court ruling allowing a ban on public sleeping to remain in place? Tennessee repairs his bicycle in a homeless camp in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld anti-camping laws to stop homeless people from sleeping in public parks and public streets. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Utah officials are studying the impacts of a new Supreme Court decision that upheld city ordinances in Grants Pass, Oregon, intended to prohibit homeless people from sleeping in public areas, ruling the regulations did not violate the Eighth Amendments protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Those officials as well as Utah homelessness advocates also renewed their pledge to keep working to help those in need in the state. Writing for the majority in the 6-3 decision handed down Friday, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that many cities in the American West face a homelessness crisis. 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, the majority opinion states. Wayne Niederhauser, Utahs homeless services coordinator, said in a statement that the Utah Office of Homeless Services will take the necessary time to assess how the Grants Pass decision impacts our efforts at both the state and city levels. The office prioritizes the need for shelter and housing for those experiencing homelessness, he said. They are our family, friends and neighbors and deserving of human dignity. 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, Niederhauser said. The ALCU said the ruling means cities are not prohibited from enforcing camping ordinances even if they (those cited) have nowhere else to go. Staff attorney Scout Katovich said, It is hard to imagine a starker example of excessive punishment than fining and jailing a person for the basic human act of sleeping. ... As Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent powerfully acknowledged, sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness, and we will continue litigating against cities that are emboldened by this decision to treat unhoused people as criminals. Meanwhile, the nonprofit organization Solutions Utah agreed with the courts ruling. With this enforceable authority, cities can keep their parks, streets, sidewalks and other public places open, safe, clean and accessible for their intended uses. 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, the organization said in a statement. Solutions Utah, formerly known as Pioneer Park Coalition, advocates for effective solutions that truly help those experiencing homelessness, improve community safety and quality of life, and increase accountability measures to best serve those in need, according to its website. A number of strategies are in the development stages in Utah, which will provide more shelter options and curb the need for enforcement if shelter beds are utilized instead of camping in public areas. The state is planning for a 600- to 800-bed low-barrier emergency shelter, although the location has not yet been determined. Earlier this year, the Utah Legislature appropriated $25 million toward the facility. A low-barrier emergency shelter provides immediate and easy access to shelter by lowering barriers to entry and staying open 24/7; eliminating sobriety and income requirements and other policies that make it difficult to enter shelter, stay in shelter, or access housing and income opportunities, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. A tiny home village intended to house people experiencing chronic homelessness was approved by the Salt Lake City Council in 2022. The Other Side Academy was selected to operate the community, which is modeled after the master-planned Community First! Village in Austin, Texas. It has yet to open. Also, the planned relocation of 25 microhousing units in Salt Lake City that serve people experiencing homelessness will occur later this summer and state officials are working to have them operational this fall. The 25 pods, which have two dwelling spaces each, are currently located on Salt Lake Citys Redevelopment Agency land at 300 S. 600 West. When they are moved to state-owned land, the number of units could be doubled, according to Niederhauser. Switchpoint, a nonprofit with shelters in St. George and Tooele, operates the microshelter community under state contract. (KRON) The Vallejo Police Department announced that Baby Boy Manning has been safely located, the department announced on its social media. The Vallejo Police Department and Solano County Child Protective Services issued an Amber Alert for a 14-day-old child early Saturday morning. Vallejo PD said on its social media that the department was investigating the case as a parental abduction. VPD refers to the child as Baby Boy Manning. According to VPD, Manning has threatened to harm the child. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Vehicle fire blocks traffic at Veterans Expressway ramp near TPA TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A vehicle fire blocked traffic at the Veterans Expressway ramp near Tampa International Airport on Friday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Traffic cameras in the area showed traffic exiting toward the airport. As of about 6 p.m., the roadway was reopened. No other details were immediately 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 WFLA. VIRGINIA BEACH As parents drove through the drop-off lane at St. John the Apostle Catholic School one morning last month, they were approached by a woman carrying a stack of flyers. The woman was the mother of a student at the private school, and the paper she passed through their car windows contained a warning that there had been a pedophile among them whod assaulted at least two female students including her daughter. The flyer named the alleged child molester a Navy pilot and father of three St. Johns students and informed parents of a previous child sex assault case involving him. It also urged parents of girls who may have spent time at the familys house to question them. Im providing this information, because if I had been made aware of the first charges and court case, my daughter may have been saved three years of anguish, the flyer said. Everyone was talking about it, said a father who received the flyer but didnt want to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the allegations. Some people said they knew the story, some had parts of the story, and some had bad information. It turns out the man named in the flyer, 45-year-old Vincent Jakawich, was dead by the time it circulated. Hed driven to North Carolina and taken his own life a day or two before, according to multiple sources. His death came as police were starting to once again investigate allegations hed sexually assaulted a young female St. Johns student who was friends with one of his daughters, according to a spokeswoman for the Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorneys Office. Jakawichs body was discovered shortly before 9 a.m. May 9 in his Tesla, which was parked on the shoulder of Route 168 in Currituck County. An officer driving by saw the vehicle and stopped to check on it, said Currituck County Sheriffs Department Capt. Kevin McCord. Jakawichs death was ruled a suicide, McCord said. It didnt take long for matters to snowball after the flyer was distributed to St. Johns parents the following day by fellow parent Meredith Hatchell. In it, she wrote that Jakawich had molested at least two students while they were visiting with his daughters. She also provided a link to online court information about when he was charged three years earlier with aggravated sexual battery of a child younger than 13, but was allowed to plead to a lesser charge. Before the day was over, the school sent its own letter to parents about the allegations, and Jakawichs widow, Marin, filed a criminal complaint against Hatchell, her once close friend. Much more fallout would come in the days and weeks that followed. Marin Jakawich wrote in her complaint that Hatchell had sent screen shots of online court records involving her late husband to multiple people, distributed letters calling him a pedophile at the school and in their neighborhood and came to her house and verbally assaulted her and other family members. This is causing all of us extreme distress, Marin Jakawich wrote. We have left our home for a safe place. Five days later, Hatchell was arrested and charged with several misdemeanors, including harassment by computer, disorderly conduct, and trespassing, court records show. A charge of violating a protective order would later be added. Hatchells husband, Tim, also was charged with using a computer for harassment and violating a protective order, but he wasnt arrested, according to the records. A magistrate ordered Meredith Hatchell held without bond, and she spent a night in jail before being released. The case is scheduled for trial July 8 in Virginia Beach General District Court. The Hatchells attorney, James Broccoletti, declined to comment, as did Kristin Paulding, a lawyer representing Marin Jakawich. The fallout, however, didnt stop with the criminal charges against the Hatchells. A week later, on May 17, the Diocese of Richmond posted a notice on its website in which it addressed the claims and how it was responding. The diocese recently learned of allegations of sexual abuse committed against students of St. John the Apostle School by an adult (now deceased), the post said. The appropriate civil authorities and law enforcement agencies are involved. The Diocese is also investigating to confirm whether the Dioceses Safe Environment regulations or other policies were properly followed. The post went on to say that Father Rob Cole the longtime pastor of St. John the Apostle Church and school was placed on temporary leave while the matter was investigated. The schools principal, Miriam Cotton, also was out, having decided to retire. Less than a month later, on June 12, the diocese posted another announcement in which it reported that Bishop Barry C. Knestout had determined that St. John the Apostle parish would benefit from new pastoral leadership. Fr. Rob Cole will no longer serve as pastor. Bishop Knestout appreciates Fr. Coles dedication and service as the pastor to this community for more than 15 years, the post said. While this decision and transition will be difficult, the bishop appreciates the patience and support of the community. Much of St. Johns church community, however, was anything but supportive of the bishops decision, said Chris Magruder and Dom Raso, members of the church and its mens rosary group. Cole is beloved by the community, they said, and many were hurt by the decision to remove him. In a time when many Catholic churches are losing parishioners, St. Johns nearly tripled in size during Coles tenure, growing from about 1,200 families when he arrived to 3,300 today, they said. The number of adults who enroll in its yearlong Rite of Christian Initiation program to become Catholics also grew, from about a half-dozen or so each year to about 40 to 50 now, the men said. Church facilities were expanded and improved, and the number of ministries serving the community increased to more than 70, they said. It just didnt make sense, Magruder, 31, a member of the parish for the past five years, said of how matters were handled by the diocese. There was so little information, we didnt know what to think. The lack of information was not only frustrating, Magruder and Raso said, parishioners also were concerned that it made it appear as if Cole had been involved in wrongdoing or a cover-up. And it didnt seem to be in alignment with the bishops promise to address abuse allegations quickly and transparently. I would say the decisions made have been quick but certainly not transparent, Magruder said. On their rosary group website, the men have asked parishioners to sign a document in support of Cole, which by this week had garnered nearly 700 signatures, Magruder said. Hundreds of letters also have been hand-delivered to the rectory where Cole lives. Cole didnt respond to a message left for him at the churchs office last week. The diocese also didnt respond to a request for more information. A father with children at St. Johns school said the reaction from parents has been mixed. While many still support Cole and the principal, there are many who also agreed with the decision to replace them, he said. The father said that while both were well liked and respected, when the families learned that school officials knew Jakawich had been accused of assaulting a St. Johns student years ago, they were stunned and felt the school should have done more to make sure it didnt happen again. He also said some of the families hes talked with believe the Jakawich family should have been asked to leave St. Johns once school officials became aware of the allegations in the first incident, out of fairness to the girl involved who initially stayed enrolled but later left and to protect others. In the first case, Jakawich was charged in April 2021 on a felony count of aggravated sexual battery of a victim younger than 13. The charge was considered aggravated because of her age. The girl reported the abuse occurred in May 2020, according to court records. Jakawich was arrested and released on bond, with conditions requiring he have no contact with the victim and her family, stay away from St. Johns, and have no minor children in his home other than his own, the records state. When the victim later withdrew from the school, he sought to have the conditions amended to allow him to go on the property and for his daughters to be able to have friends over to their house, but the court denied it. An investigation by Child Protective Services later concluded that the girls accusations were unfounded, the records show. Prosecutors also were concerned with conflicting evidence theyd received, and as a result, offered Jakawich a plea deal to a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault and battery, said Macie Allen, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorneys Office. The victims family agreed to the deal, she said. Jakawich pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in June 2022, was given a one-year suspended jail sentence and ordered to remain on good behavior for a year. The victims family informed the principal and Cole about the allegations even before Jakawich was charged, said attorney Kevin Biniazan, whos representing the Hatchells in a potential civil lawsuit. The girl continued to attend St. Johns for a while but later withdrew because she and her family were concerned not enough was being done to keep her from running into Jakawich, Biniazan said. The Hatchells daughter, now 12, has alleged that Jakawich assaulted her when she was 9, Biniazan said. She told her parents May 8, and they contacted police that day, the lawyer said. Jakawichs body was found the following day. St. Johns parishioners were recently informed that a new pastor will take over in July, Magruder said. The diocese has not yet said where Cole will be reassigned. Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com In five days time, the UK could be waking up to the most Left-wing government in generations. Barring a polling error of historic proportions, the Labour Party is set to secure a massive majority in the House of Commons, despite only shallow public support and a blatant refusal to reveal its full agenda for the country. Yes, Labour offers change. But of what sort, and to what end? Its vindictive assault on private education is likely to drive thousands into the state sector, potentially overwhelming some schools and denying parents the right to give their children the education they wish. Its environmental policies are pure madness: billions squandered on a new publicly owned energy company, and a decarbonisation agenda that could lead to blackouts, while imposing huge costs on businesses and individuals. Labour is the party of cancellation, culture wars and decolonisation. Its approach to the gender issue is irresponsibly confused. It is hard to take comfort from some Labour figures belated conversion to biological reality when the partys manifesto shows that it wants to liberalise the process for securing a gender recognition certificate and criminalise some forms of therapy for children. As Kemi Badenoch has pointed out, Labours Race Equality Act is morally repellent, and would further entrench identity politics and divisive woke nostrums in the workplace. Labour says that it would not raise taxes on working people. But its costed manifesto appears to assume that it would proceed with the cuts to public spending that are baked into the Governments current plans. Are Sir Keir and his fellow socialists really likely to want to do that, especially when faced with the inevitable shopping list of demands from their union paymasters? Capital gains tax, inheritance tax, council tax, the taxation of dividends, savings, pensions: all are likely candidates for going up under Labour. Centre-Left intellectuals and think tankers close to the party some, in fact, standing to become Labour MPs have spent years fulminating against unearned income, and complaining about older people having too many assets. Their favoured solution to helping the younger generation is not to make it easier for them to acquire property, but to punish those who already have it. Labours proposals for reforming planning and the NHS, incidentally, look like a wasted opportunity to radically fix broken systems. Even if he doesnt agree a new deal with the EU, Sir Keir could crush Brexit merely by deciding to mirror the blocs regulations. All the forward momentum in reorienting British trade and economic policy away from a declining Europe would be lost, and the pro-EU establishment would no longer face any opposition in Whitehall. There would be no stopping the boats. Britain is set to become a magnet for illegal migrants, slavishly following international courts and conventions even as much of the rest of the West prioritises border security. Sir Keir may talk like a man serious about reducing legal migration, but his party is increasingly flirting with open borders extremism. This, then, is not a party that can be trusted to govern Britain. Nor is this an election that it is safe for the centre-Right to throw away. The last Labour government introduced changes that nobody has been able to unwind. It vandalised the constitution, began the devolution experiment, hugely increased the size of the state, put up taxes, entrenched welfarism, empowered the human rights industry, and left the economy reliant on mass migration. If Sir Keir gets his majority, there can be little doubt that he will seek to finish the job started by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. It would be even worse were Sir Ed Daveys Liberal Democrats to become the Official Opposition, as some polls suggest is a possibility. They would offer no challenge to Labour. The British Right and centre-Right would only have a small voice in Parliament. The Left would have near complete control over almost every public institution in Britain, and be allowed to run rampant. We have been critical of the Conservative Party. It has not made the most of the past 14 years, and in some cases has governed more as a party of the Left than the Right. Taxes are too high, migration needs to come down, the state has grown too large, public services need to be reformed, more houses need to be built, and more green targets need to be abandoned. But this election is not a referendum on the past. It is about who should lead Britain into the future during a period of geopolitical turmoil, serious social strife and mounting economic peril. Reform UK has increased in popularity, but is only likely to win a small number of seats. Only two parties could credibly gain the numbers to form a government after Thursday Labour and the Conservatives and on every issue an administration led by Sir Keir would be dramatically worse than one led by Rishi Sunak. That is why we recommend voting for the Conservatives. Despite the unedifying nature of the campaign, this could come to be seen as one of the most consequential general elections in decades. It would be a disaster for Britain if Labour were to be given unparalleled power to refashion the country in its spiteful, intolerant, progressive image. 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. Heres what voters had to say following the first 2024 debate showdown between Joe Biden and Donald Trump Larry Malinconico went to bed worried about President Joe Bidens debate performance. He woke up thinking he should do something about it. Malinconico is an independent and a college geology professor in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, a bellwether area in one of the nations most competitive presidential battlegrounds. Im extremely concerned, Malinconico said just after the CNN debate Thursday night. President Biden performed poorly, His voice was weak. He stumbled and had difficulty staying on track with his answers. Still, he cannot fathom the alternative and ended his debate night take with this: Despite my significant concerns about Bidens capabilities, I will still vote against Trump. But early Friday afternoon, Malinconico reached out to add this: After sleeping on the debate overnight now Im much more in favor of supporting moves to have President Biden drop out or for an open (brokered perhaps) convention. It was one of a flood of voter reactions highly critical of the presidents debate performance, and one of several suggesting the debate, at least in the short term, damaged the incumbents standing with voters critical to his reelection hopes. Pat Levin is another Northampton County resident. The 94-year-old told us when we first met a few months ago that she was not worried about Bidens age. She is still planning to vote Biden, but her reaction was also quite telling. Levin had nice things to say about Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, praising their interviews after the debate. Nothing good to say, though, about Biden and the overall substance of the CNN Presidential Debate. Biden whispered, spoke haltingly and appeared exceedingly vulnerable, Levin, told CNN in a text message. It was a sad night for American politics. Michael Pesce, a self-described Reagan Republican who says he cannot support Trump, offered a similar take. Last night was a horror show, Pesce said Friday. Biden looked old and doddering and not at all presidential. Trump was angry and bombastic and unable to say anything truthful. Pesce told us in May he would reluctantly vote for Biden because he sees Trump as unfit for the presidency. His morning after debate take was telling and, again, troublesome for Biden. The Democrats need to have an open convention and rally behind a much younger candidate, Pesce said. Pesce, 60, lives in Bucks County in the Philadelphia suburbs, and like Northampton, is a battleground within the battleground. Malinconico, Levin and Pesce are participating in a CNN project designed to track the 2024 campaign through the eyes and experiences of voters who live in the battlegrounds and are part of critical voting blocs. There are 60 voters participating so far, across 10 states, and they are diverse in every way. But the overwhelming consensus after the debate, from Democrats and Republicans alike, was that Bidens showing was alarming. Im really scared that if Biden stays on the ticket, Trump is going to win, said Davette Baker, an African American and longtime Democratic organizer in Milwaukee. And while strong Trump supporters were happy with his performance, the former president, too, faced some harsh criticism from many of our voters, even Republicans. Same old Donald, talked about himself, said Matt Vrahiotes, a Christian conservative who owns a small winery in Hall County, Georgia. Stroked his ego. Still, Vrahiotes said Trump seems to be more cognitive and mentally sharper. When we first met, Vrahiotes said he would consider a third party option, and his after the debate take reflected his continued despair at the major party choices. Why not allow Kennedy on stage, he said of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who failed to meet the CNN debate criteria. Four big takeaways from our voters: Those already unhappy with their choices came away from the debate even more sour about a Biden-Trump rematch. I hate that Trump talks down about America, said Antonio Munoz, a veteran who owns a Las Vegas restaurant and catering business. Im not motivated to vote. Bidens closing was weak. Younger voters who align with Biden on many issues but feel little connection with him because of his age were taken aback by his performance. I was genuinely shocked, said Christine Ngyuen, 29, a former nurse who recently opened a Boba tea house in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur. Both of our candidates are far too old to be doing what they are doing, said Summer Matkin, a student at Wayne State University who lives in the Detroit suburbs. Committed Democrats who plan to vote for Biden regardless of his performance still voiced exasperation because the debate reinforced their worries Trump could win the election. It felt like he let Trump drive a dangerously false narrative and could do nothing more than say, Thats a lie without fully establishing the truth strongly, said Anushka Jalistagi, a recent University of Michigan graduate and former co-president of the campus College Democrats. Trump supporters approved of his debate performance but there was no evidence in our group that he gained support. Sad. We dont have the sharpest tacks in the box to vote for, said Kim Cavaliere, a nurse in suburban Atlanta who is undecided and unhappy with her choices. I bet other countries are laughing at us. I was. Ibrahim Ghazal, a Palestinian-American law student from the Detroit area, is angry with Biden over the Hamas-Israel conflict and leaning against voting for him again. But he had a dim view of Trump before the debate, and a dimmer one after. Trump had much better stage presence than Biden, Ghazal said in a text Friday. What was most disturbing to me was that Trump used the word Palestinian as a slur. This was Trump during an exchange about the Hamas-Israel conflict: You should let 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. Linda Rooney, a registered Republican who lives just outside of Philadelphia, voted for Biden in 2020 but said this year she would either hold my nose and vote for Trump or write in a conservative. There are 18 weeks left in the campaign, but Trumps debate showing did not win a commitment from Rooney. Last nights debate was a disaster for Biden but what scares me more is that the Republicans cant say they have a good candidate either, she said. How did my party get to the point where the only way we may win the presidency again is because we are up against someone who is feeble and not well? Republicans should not be taking a victory lap. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The VP race's Florida question: Would Rubio or Donalds have to move if Trump picks either of them? This combination photo shows Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., on, June 15, 2024, in Detroit, left, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 9, 2023. As former President Donald Trump narrows his options for potential running mates, Donalds and Rubio, known to be on his list, are from Florida, leaving open a scenario where his vice presidential nominee would have to move if he wins. (AP Photo) MIAMI (AP) As Donald Trump narrows his options for a potential running mate, two politicians known to be on his list are from Florida, leaving open a scenario where his vice presidential nominee would have to move if the Republican ticket wins. The U.S. Constitution prohibits a president and vice president from residing in the same state. If Trump, who declared his Palm Beach estate his home in 2019, were to pick U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio or U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the 12th Amendment could prevent the 30 Florida electors from casting their vote if Republicans win the state. There are several ways for the Trump campaign to overcome this, legal experts say, though doing so might create some inconvenience for the vice presidential candidate. Its just easier to run candidates from two different states, said Sanford Levinson, a constitutional scholar at the University of Texas School of Law. It does seem to be easy to evade any problems if you want to. Whats the issue in the Constitution? The 12th Amendment says that members of the Electoral College shall vote for a president and vice president. It notes that one of the candidates shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. The amendment was added to the Constitution in 1804 when large states such as Virginia dominated the nations political discourse, Levinson said, as a way of limiting their power. If Trump wins Florida, the state's 30 electors could vote for him for president, but not for another Floridian for vice president. Florida has the third most electoral votes behind California with 54 and Texas with 40. In a close election, the state's votes could be less than the total margin. Florida's electors could abstain from voting, which might not matter if Trump does not need those 30 electoral votes to reach the 270 required for victory. The electors could still go ahead and vote for an all-Floridian ticket, with the possibility of facing legal challenges. Has this issue come up before? In July 2000, four days before then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush selected his running mate, Dick Cheney changed his Texas residency by registering to vote in Wyoming, where he grew up, had a home and represented Congress for 12 years. The move was seen as an indication that Bush had made up his mind about Cheney joining the ticket. There were legal challenges filed against Bush, Cheney, the Texas secretary of state and the Texas electors. Ultimately, courts sided with Cheney in that he was qualified to be vice president because he had proved he was a Wyoming resident. Will Rubio or Donalds have to move? Likely yes, but not right away. The Electoral College will meet on Dec. 17. If Trump wins the Nov. 5 election, his running mate could make the switch afterward because he would be leaving his congressional office anyway. If I were advising Rubio, I would tell him not to change his residency until after the election, said Bob Jarvis, a constitutional law professor at Nova Southeastern University. Where might they move? Rubio was asked by CNN after Thursday's debate between Democratic President Joe Biden and Trump if he would be willing to move. That would be presumptuous of me to talk about that, he said. "The job has not been offered to me. I am not the vice presidential choice. No one is right now. And well cross bridges when we get to them. The Republicans National Committee chairman, Michael Whatley, declined to speculate on the possibility of two Florida residents on the ticket, when asked at a pre-debate event headlined by Donalds in Atlanta on Wednesday. If we have to cross that bridge, well cross it, Whatley said. Donalds was born in New York. Could Trump move? A native New Yorker, Trump established residency in Florida in 2019. He is known to own properties in several states, including his namesake Trump Tower in New York. When asked about the 12th Amendment, Trump senior adviser Brian Hughes said, The top criteria in selecting a vice president is a strong leader who will make a great president for eight years after his next four-year term concludes. _______ Associated Press writer Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report. The Big Apple is in danger of falling under radical Muslim occupation like many cities in Europe, Israels new consul general warned in an exclusive interview with The Post. You know what happening in London these days, you know whats happening in Paris these days and in Malmo, a major city in Sweden? Ofir Akunis said. They are under radical Muslim occupation. There are no-go zones and I dont want to happen here in New York or in other places here in the United States, Akunis warned. They burned an American flag right here, in front of the doors of the [Manhattan] consulate. New Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis warned that radical Muslim occupation is happening in Paris, London and cities in Sweden. Helayne Seidman Im calling on New Yorkers: wake up before it will be too late! In a poll taken shortly after Oct. 7, 57% of American Muslims said they believed Hamas attack on Israel was justified. Akunis arrived in May as a wartime consul-general, replacing Asaf Zamir. The former consul was married to the glamours billionaire Maya Wertheimer, granddaughter of industrialist Stef Wertheimer. Zamir quit and then was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2023 and the consulate had been without a full-time leader since. Akunis took charge as major American universities were convulsed by pro-Hamas demonstrations and his schedule has been so packed since, he is still living out of his suitcase at a nearby hotel. A massive image of the 9/11 terrorist attacks looms across his desk. Also nearby is a photo of his 20-year-old son serving in the Israeli Navy. Akunis said radical Islam was the biggest threat to the western world. Helayne Seidman Your September 11th is our October 7th. Its radical Islam, he warned. Akunis said the antisemitism he has seen in New York City is the worst its ever been since Jews began arriving in the United States in large numbers in the late 19th century. My late grandmother she was born in Poland 100 years ago [told me] what happened in . . . Europe in the 30s. I never imagined that we would see that with the young people here. 57% of American Muslims said they believe Hamas terrorist attack in Israel was justified according to a poll. Tom Nicholson/Shutterstock The new consul praised Mayor Adams as a brave leader, and singled out Gov. Hochul, and Reps. Tom Suozzi and Ritchie Torres for their support. He had less charitable words for the citys Jewish elected officials specifically Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader who called for regime change in Israel. The biggest problem in his speech was that he said that Israeli prime minister is an obstacle for peace. I think that was huge mistake, Akunis said. Even when I have disagreed with an Israeli prime minister I never said they were an obstacle for peace. Akunis said he agreed with the growing number of New York leaders who have called for the state to reimpose a ban on masked protests which was lifted during the coronavirus pandemic. You need to update the law about the masks. If someone uses the masks just to hide and they use it to scream Death to Israel and Death to United States, this is wrong, Akunis said. He refused to comment on the presidential race, but admitted he was watching it closely. Violent pro-Hamas activism has spread in New York City since Oct 7. @samanthaettus/X Relations between Israel and the United States have been tense for months as President Biden attempts to hold a coalition together that includes Hamas-supporting young people and Muslim Americans in swing states like Michigan. Its not a secret that there is difference from time to time, Akunis said. I appreciate the American support for Israel. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) speaks with a reporter as she leaves the Senate floor after the Senate passed a procedural vote on federal legislation protecting same-sex marriages, at the U.S. Capitol on November 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. Baldwin, the first openly gay woman to be elected to the House and the Senate, has led Senate negotiations on the bill. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) This week marked the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision ending federally protected abortion rights a huge step backwards for women for which Donald Trump proudly takes the credit. Democrats fanned out across Wisconsin to highlight whats at stake if he and other Republicans are elected. At a Monday roundtable discussion in a supporters backyard on the east side of Madison, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and a group of Democratic state lawmakers and womens health advocates gathered around a picnic table, watched by a gaggle of reporters, to discuss Dobbs fallout. Both in Wisconsin and nationally, the impact has been devastating, said Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin President Tanya Atkinson. For a year and a half, Planned Parenthood ceased providing abortion services in Wisconsin, after a zombie 1849 law that was widely interpreted as an abortion ban suddenly went back into effect. Planned Parenthood staff and volunteers scrambled to help women travel across state lines. Some of those women faced devastating diagnoses of doomed pregnancies and their suffering was made worse by the uncertainty and lack of safe, local medical care. Women at the backyard roundtable talked about their sense of disbelief at losing a right that was taken for granted for half a century. Even in red states, Baldwin pointed out, voters have recoiled at the loss of options for women suffering from health crises late in pregnancy, seeking emergency contraception in the very early days of an unwanted pregnancy, or planning fertility treatments only to find out that in vitro fertilization is unavailable in their states. Ballot measures across the country codifying abortion rights and beating back abortion bans underscore the power of the issue. We dont have a referendum process here the way other states do, but we did have a Supreme Court race that I can view as a proxy, Baldwin said, referring to the election of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who stomped her anti-abortion opponent and ushered in a new, liberal majority on the Court. People are making it very clear that you want your rights and freedoms back, Baldwin added, and we have to connect with that. Meanwhile Republicans, in the post-Dobbs era, are running away from their own anti-abortion extremism. As the election draws nearer, all of a sudden theyre trying to dance around their previous stance do not let anyone fall for it, Baldwin said, calling out her opponent, Trump-backed California bank owner Eric Hovde, who said during his 2012 campaign that he is totally opposed to abortion, but now says hes not in favor of a national abortion ban something Baldwin dismisses. A national ban, passed by a Republican Congress and signed by Trump, who has said he supports it, would render all those grassroots statewide referendum efforts protecting abortion rights obsolete, Baldwin pointed out. Democrats are right to take the issue of abortion rights to the hoop. Its an incredibly motivating issue for lots of people, state Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), a longtime reproductive rights advocate, said during the backyard roundtable. For years, Subeck tried to get Wisconsins 1849 law overturned in the state Legislature, to no avail. On the one hand its frustrating that people didnt see the risk sooner, she said. On the other hand, the issue is motivating a whole new group of voters including a lot of voters who describe themselves as independents and moderates. I think that does bode well for our future, Subeck said, both here in the state and federally. When we all woke up two years ago to a country in which women had lost control over our bodily autonomy, it triggered a massive backlash. And make no mistake, the same issue is also what the current election is all about. Along with Trumps scary threats to form an authoritarian government staffed with yes-men and cronies, to weaponize the Justice Department to punish his political enemies, to rip apart immigrant families and herd undocumented workers into camps, much of his appeal is rank misogyny. From his first campaign against Hillary Clinton, he has been running on a promise to put women in their place that resonates with angry, insecure men. Who can forget the 2016 Trump-Clinton debate, when both candidates were asked about their positions on abortion. Clinton defended Roe v. Wade and putting the lives and health of women first when it came to regulating late-term abortion. Trump responded with a Trump-style lie that earned him the enduring affection of anti-abortion activists: Based on what shes saying you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month, on the final day. Trump went on to win and made good on his promise to appoint anti-abortion Supreme Court justices. Writing for the majority in the Dobbs decision, Justice Samuel Alito reasoned that because the framers didnt view women as having the right to control their own fertility, The inescapable conclusion is that a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nations history and traditions. On the contrary, he added, an unbroken tradition of prohibiting abortion on pain of criminal punishment persisted from the earliest days of the common law until 1973. In a much-derided tangent, Alito cited English cases dating all the way back to the 13th century to justify his opinion that abortion was traditionally viewed as a crime. In a scorching dissent, Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan wrote, When the majority says that we must read our foundational charter as viewed at the time of ratification (except that we may also check it against the Dark Ages), it consigns women to second-class citizenship. The legal theory that the constitution cannot protect womens reproductive freedom because the framers all men, who didnt see women as deserving of full citizenship didnt intend it that way consigns us to a world where women have no rights. Theres no better antidote to voter apathy than a whole lot of pissed-off women who are determined not to live in that world. Ruth Conniff is editor-in-chief of the Wisconsin Examiner, where this piece originally appeared. 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 Waking up to the threat of an anti-woman government appeared first on Kansas Reflector. Washington cities can now penalize those sleeping outdoors, but will they? Andrea Suarez dismantles a tent as garbage lies piled at a homeless encampment on March 13, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) The nations high court cleared the way Friday for cities and counties to outlaw sleeping outdoors in public places, igniting fear it will lead to more homelessness in Washington. Its a very, very, very bad decision for people experiencing homelessness. This says they can be punished for the mere act of trying to survive without shelter, said Michele Thomas, director of policy advocacy for the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. Well see how this plays out in Washington state. We are calling on lawmakers in cities and counties to not arrest or punish people, or issue fines, she said. This decision,coupled with the looming potential of cuts to homeless services if current funding levels are not maintained, could lead to more people experiencing homelessness and that would be devastating But Camas City Councilmember Leslie Lewallen praised the courts ruling in the so-called Grants Pass case as a win for local control. Every day, people in southwest Washington are on the front lines working with the homeless community and know that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution, said Lewallen, a Republican candidate in the 3rd Congressional District. The Supreme Courts decision rightly returns power to our local governments and gives them the authority that they need to help homeless individuals. The ability to limit sleeping outdoors is seen by local and state governments as one tool to confront a proliferation of unsheltered people putting out sleeping bags on sidewalks, tents in alleyways and encampments in parks and open spaces. A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in 2018 in the case Martin v. City of Boise set some ground rules. Local governments could not punish individuals for camping if there were no emergency shelter beds available. The 9th Circuit judges ruled it would be cruel and unusual punishment to do so. But if a person is offered shelter and refuses to accept it, then they could be cited or arrested, per the decision. In Grants Pass v. Johnson, the Oregon citys law that barred sleeping in public places was challenged because the city lacked available shelter capacity. After the Martin decision, several Washington cities crafted ordinances compelling homeless individuals to accept housing, even if its miles away, to avoid punishment. They put them on hold pending the outcome of the Grants Pass case. This decision, while not surprising, is a horrible decision, said Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, chair of the House Housing Committee. The idea of arresting somebody just trying to survive is contrary to what we should be doing. It wont do anything about homelessness. If anything it will exacerbate the problem. Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, who leads the Senate Housing Committee, said the decision pulls us backward rather than help us move forward. Justice Sotamayor put it best. We can balance between the needs of local governments and the dignity of our most vulnerable. The decision focuses on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable with the impossible choice of either stay awake or be arrested, Kuderer said, referring to a dissent by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Easing homelessness will require controlling rent costs, increasing affordable housing and boosting funding of support services for those without a home, Peterson, Thomas and Kuderer said. In that pursuit, legislation calling for a cap on rent increases and a new graduated real estate excise tax, both of which failed in this years state legislative session, are likely to be revived in 2025, Peterson said. Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, a member of the Housing Committee, said the ruling is a good thing. Civic leaders felt the Martin decision hampered their ability to respond in an appropriate or timely manner when new encampments form, he said. I think cities should have all the tools at their disposal to be able to address this crisis, he said. Well see how it plays out here over time. Pouring more money into homeless programs and imposing caps on rent hikes arent the answer, he said. Nor is locking up those sleeping outdoors. Better to beef up detox programs and mental health services because thats what many of those individuals need, he said. I dont believe weve done enough on this issue, he said. Obviously weve spent hundreds of millions of dollars on services and the problem remains the same. State lawmakers have directed roughly $5 billion to expand housing and prevent homelessness since 2013, with more than $4 billion of the total allotted in the past two state budgets. Its not like were not getting people out of homelessness, Kuderer said. People are falling into homelessness at a much faster rate than we can get them out of it. This is a solvable problem. This decision doesnt help us solve it. The post Washington cities can now penalize those sleeping outdoors, but will they? appeared first on Washington State Standard. Quagga mussels from Lake Mead, in Nevada. (Dave Britton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Washington is upping efforts to keep an invasive freshwater mussel from gaining a shell-hold in the states rivers and lakes, using tactics ranging from DNA testing to shellfish-sniffing dogs. Quagga mussels can cause major problems as layers of them crust over components of hydroelectric dams and locks, or clog drinking water or irrigation systems. Fisheries and fish ladders that allow salmon to bypass dams could be disrupted, too. The mussels can also outcompete native species, throw off water quality, and otherwise degrade ecosystems. They were found last year in Idaho, stoking new worries about their threat to the region. Washingtons Invasive Species Council cites estimates that it will cost $100 million annually to keep the states power and water infrastructure running if quagga mussels or non-native zebra mussels were to invade. That amount doesnt factor in the cost of harm to habitat or fishing. Even taking the potential problems for dams out of the equation, Justin Bush, aquatic invasive species policy coordinator at the states Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the mussels would have a devastating, catastrophic impact to our environment and our economy. The Columbia River Basin for years has been the last major U.S. watershed free of the invasive mussels. But last September Idaho officials said theyd detected quagga mussels near Twin Falls in the Snake River, which runs into the Columbia. So whats to be done in Washington? The Department of Fish and Wildlife has some new money to deal with the shellfish. The Legislature approved $1.81 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to combat invasive mussels and the Army Corps of Engineers is providing an equal sum, for a total of $3.6 million. Were significantly increasing efforts, Bush said this week during a meeting of the Invasive Species Council. Monitoring for quagga mussels The main way the mussels tend to spread is on recreational boats moved between bodies of water. When grown, theyre 1 to 2 inches and easy to spot but larvae, known as veligers, are microscopic. Fish and Wildlife wants to fully staff watercraft inspection stations, Bush told the council. The agency is turning to a variety of techniques to detect mussels in the water. These include measuring calcium levels (the bivalves rely on calcium to build their shells), using a grabber device to pull up and check material from lakebeds, and looking for traces of mussel DNA. Bush said the department will also add a monitoring crew to three two-person crews it has had. And he said the department is looking to bring on another mussel-sniffing dog. The dog would join Fin, a canine already doing this work. Puddles, a dog that had been, is retired, Bush said. More public outreach is also planned to remind people to clean, drain, and dry boats and other gear thats been in the water and could spread the mussels. Its unclear if Idahos attempt last year to kill quagga mussels in the Snake River worked. The $3 million project involved treating a 16-mile stretch of the river with a copper-based chemical to kill the mussels. There was collateral damage as thousands of fish died, too. Idaho Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt told state lawmakers that it was the largest operation of its kind ever attempted in the U.S. Along with zebra mussels, quagga mussels were first documented in the U.S. in the 1980s in the Great Lakes, having made it there in the ballast water of ships. Theyve spread since. In addition to detection and monitoring, Washington Fish and Wildlife officials are also preparing to respond if the mussels arent stopped and become a fixture in state waters. Were planning for the very worst, but were hoping that Idaho was successful in eradicating this problem, said Bush. The post Washington on guard for troublesome mussel found in Idaho last year appeared first on Washington State Standard. An east London shop owner has accused the Met Police of failing to investigate after a man was filmed climbing over a counter at his store. Mohamed Fahad tweeted at Newham Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) asking them if they had the balls to catch a man who can be seen attempting to clamber over a glass counter holding phones in the shop. The shop owner took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share the footage and vent his frustration at the incident, claiming the police had visited a month before to carry checks in a way that disrupted business. The video, which appears to come from CCTV footage, shows a confrontation between the man and a shop worker, who attempts to stop him reaching behind the counter. It is not known what the alleged confrontation was related to. Moment before the confrontation The man began climbing over the counter in an attempt to steal a phone The man walks out of the store After the shop worker tries to stop him, he persists and begins climbing over the counter in an attempt to carry on. Following a brief struggle, he leaves the shop after appearing to try and grab a phone. Mr Fahad tweeted: Last month you guys came to my shop to see if I was selling any stolen phone and disrupted my business. This happened today in my shop, do you have the balls to catch this guy? After an MPS X account responded to his post asking him to contact for further discussion, he reiterated his claim that police had come to investigate alleged stolen phones but not such attempted incidents. The MPS was contacted for comment by the Telegraph. Shoplifting offences According to the MPSs data dashboard, there were a reported 57,452 shoplifting offences between the start of January and end of December 2023. Newham was one of the London boroughs with the higher numbers of reported incidents at 2,195, although still far below the highest ranked Westminster at 4,988. Other boroughs reporting large numbers of reported incidents include Croydon, Camden and Bromley. The Telegraph reported in April that the MPS has the worst rate for solving shoplifting offences among forces in the country. Data analysis from the Telegraph found that the MPS solved five times fewer shop thefts in 2023 than Norfolk which was the best performing force. 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. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) reupped his support for President Bidens reelection campaign Friday in the wake of Bidens poor debate performance this week. Not only do I know that he will be able to serve another 4 years Im excited about what we can actually get done as a state if I have a chance to continue partnering with the president for the next 4 years, Moore said in an interview Friday evening with NewsNations Chris Cuomo. The Democratic governor boasted a slew of accomplishments he has achieved for the state since stepping into the governor role including lowered unemployment and homicide rates and attributed the success, in part, to the Biden administration. Now the homicide rate in Baltimore the last time it was this low, I was not born yet, he explained to Cuomo. The reason I bring that up is were doing it in partnership with President Biden and the Biden-Harris administration. The president made a visit to Baltimore closely following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, pledging to move heaven and earth to rebuild the bridge and critical port. He called on Congress to grant 100-percent cost share and foot the bill for the state. Moore did concede that the incumbents performance was lackluster but emphasized that Americans should look at Bidens track record as president compared to former President Trumps time in office. He didnt have a great night and I think that anyone who would argue that he did is not telling you the truth, he said, as concerns rise within the party. Really whats contrasted is the fact that Donald Trump did not have a great presidency. He dodged a question on whether or not he would be willing to serve as a replacement candidate if Biden chose to step down and rejected an open Democratic field going into the Democratic National Convention. The presidents not going to step away, Moore stated, and I encourage him to not even consider it. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As guests sipped from The Daily Mail-branded coconut drinks in the courtyard of the Hotel Martinez at the annual Cannes Lion advertising gabfest in the South of France last week, the New York newsroom of the British tabloid was suffering from a leadership crisis that has grown more dire by the day following the mysterious departure of its now former online editor-in-chief Gerard Greaves. Greaves, an old-school Fleet Street editor who had been parachuted into the U.S. to help steady the site in 2022 following the departure of hard-charging British founding editor Martin Clarke, was last seen in the New York newsroom in late February frantically asking staff for help to delete emails off his computer. More from The Hollywood Reporter When he did not appear back in the newsroom following a trip to London, senior editorial leadership was advised he was on compassionate leave with no further explanation. By the end of last month, the Mail announced Greaves, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment, would be leaving the company after 24 years and Katie Davies, currently the U.S. editor of The Times and The Sunday Times, had been poached for the top job. Davies does not start her role until the fall. Since his arrival, the former deputy editor of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday had set about hiring almost exclusively Brits, with American journalists routinely passed over for jobs. One senior American employee told Hot Source she was asked by Greaves to take a demotion after having a child. The employee, who left the Daily Mail after the incident, said Greaves told her that he did not like working with women who had children. According to the employee, who asked to remain anonymous, Greaves even asked her if she was planning on having another child and said that mothers had a hard time focusing. It was just a mess, the former employee told Hot Source. It was a chaotic mess. I couldnt believe he was in that position of power. Greaves, who held a membership paid for by the Daily Mail to the exclusive Manhattan private members club, The Ned NoMad, would routinely lavishly entertain people on the company dime, according to two people familiar with the situation. He was like a rapper with his first hit album spending money, one former colleague told Hot Source. Several current and former employees who spoke with Hot Source say the leadership vacuum has allowed another Brit, Sean OHare, to rise in the newsroom. OHare, who wasted no time moving into Greaves glass office, assumed the role of acting editor, but his chronic absenteeism and erratic management style have only added to the toxic work environment, according to the people familiar with the situation. (OHare did not respond to a request for comment.) In the Mail newsroom, posters on the wall urge staff, If you see something speak up, advising anyone with concerns to alert their manager or call a 24/7 independent and confidential speak-up facility. But the phone number listed has been disconnected, and the website does not work, according to three people familiar with the matter. The Daily Mail has no comprehensive HR, Maggie Cole, who worked at the Daily Mail from 2021-23 as a video producer, told Hot Source. They are not worried about the safety of their employees and ultimately thats why I left. Theres no one to really report anything to. Theres no process. Its very muddy. As Brits claim top postings in U.S. media at CNN, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, the events that have played out at the Daily Mail may serve as a cautionary tale of imports arriving from across the pond with a lack of understanding of American news, its practices or its audience. The Daily Mail was the first British publication to take the United States by storm, quickly becoming known for its celebrity scoops, its use of splashy photos and its clickable tabloid headlines that helped it to become one of the worlds most-read websites. But, even before Greaves disappearance, the site had suffered a wave of high-profile departures including Amy Maas, who had left to join Realtor.com; Louise Thomas, who is now at the Independent; Caitlyn Becker, who joined NewsNation; Sean Walsh to Bilt; Meghan McCain, who left to start her own podcast company; and Lucy White, who oversaw the Daily Mails hugely popular TikTok and left without a job to go to. Two delegations of senior Daily Mail leadership have been sent from London to NYC in recent months. Just weeks after Greaves departure, the publisher and editor of the Mail Online Danny Groom and U.K. editorial director Ben Bailey arrived to survey the damage. Several staffers who spoke with Hot Source said they alerted the pair to the management issues. Before this years White House Correspondents Dinner, the chairman of the Daily Mail and general trust Lord Rothermere, and his son and heir apparent Vere Harmsworth also visited the companys Astor Place offices and were told about the systemic problems. Now, Hot Source has learned the Mails London HQ at Derry Street is sending yet another Brit, Nicholas Pyke, to act as its eyes and ears. But for many staffers, the damage to the brand has already been done. People are truly fed up, one recently departed staffer told Hot Source. This place is completely fucked, and there is zero leadership coming from London, and they have destroyed the potential we had here in the United States. A spokesperson for the Daily Mail declined to comment. HOT SOURCE You can't keep a lid on it Best of The Hollywood Reporter While Kansas should release preliminary abortion statistics, new law may have delayed info The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has yet to release annual abortion statistics that have traditionally been released in March. The Topeka Capital-Journals Jason Alatidd reports the agency has released preliminary reports on annual abortion statistics since at least 1999. The reports have typically were released in the spring, but the agency told The Topeka Capital-Journal last week that the 2023 data won't be released until late fall 2024. Alatidd reports the news of the decision by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's administration comes after the Republican-led Legislature enacted a new law over the governor's veto to mandate more regular reporting of abortion statistics. The KDHE said the decision was made before lawmakers passed that law with House Bill 2749. Participants of an April 29 abortion rights rally at the Statehouse make posters. That same day, the Kansas Legislature overrode a veto of a bill mandating more regular reporting of KDHE abortion statistics. Wed like to see that data released sooner, rather than later. Transparency is important especially with regard to such a divisive subject. We should note that Kansas voters felt strong enough to overwhelmingly ensure the right to the procedure through a constitutional amendment referendum in 2022. Delaying the report looks like there might be something to hide. Furthermore, it makes us wonder what is causing the delay? This also has led to frustration from lawmakers and anti-abortion advocates. "Why play games with something that we've always had out there? It doesn't make any sense," said Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, who chairs the House health committee and led the effort to pass HB 2749. To a degree, Landwehr has a point. On the other hand, there are some other factors to consider. Alaridd reports the old state statute had no deadline for when KDHE must release its annual report. The abortion state were simply traditionally released in March, while the annual reports typically were released in December. Additionally, the new law in HB 2749, which was requested by Kansans for Life, goes into effect July 1. It changed how KDHE must report the data. Once the law is fully in effect, the KDHE secretary must issue biannual reports within 30 days of the end of a reporting period. The new statute doesn't establish the dates of reporting periods, leaving that to KDHE to set in rules and regulations. So maybe that plays a factor in all this. Perhaps lawmakers should have specified when they wanted the reports? The KDHE seems well within the law to produce the reports later despite a change in precedent. Lawmakers should have considered that when they drafted the law. Frankly, were surprised they didnt. It seems as though this may be an unintended consequence of the change in the law. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: New law may have led Kansas to withhold preliminary abortion stats BALTIMORE As state of Maryland officials consider which builder to select for the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement, the White House reiterated Friday its plans to fund the rebuild in its entirety. Democratic President Joe Biden has stated the federal government will fully pay for the new bridge, and Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, again urged Congress to do so in a letter to the Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. The letter updated requests that the White House sent Congress in October, including a new ask for $3.1 billion to repair highways and roads damaged in disasters and other emergencies which includes the new Key Bridge. The span is expected to cost roughly $1.7 billion. In addition to funding the new bridge, the letter calls for funds for disaster relief from fires last summer on Maui and tornadoes throughout the country. I urge the Congress to take action as soon as possible, and the Administration stands ready to work with you to fund these urgent needs, Young wrote. Federal highways are generally funded with 90% federal money and 10% from the state level, but the letter repeated the White Houses request to authorize 100 percent Federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge, consistent with the response of past bridge collapses. The federal government would also pursue all avenues to recover the costs of rebuilding, the letter continued. That could mean recouping money from insurance or litigation. The 984-foot cargo ship Dali lost power March 26, crashing into one of the Key Bridges support piers and collapsing the structure. Six construction workers were killed and 50,000 tons of debris fell into the Patapsco River, partially blocking the main shipping channel until earlier this month. The federal government has footed the bulk of the bill for that cleanup and the White House further asked Congress on Friday for $33 million to replenish Army Corps of Engineer funds used for wreckage removal activities in the Baltimore harbor and shipping channel, as well as $79.5 million for Coast Guard costs associated with the Key Bridge response. The state of Marylands Board of Public Works will consider Wednesday a $50 million contract with Skanska, a construction company, for helping clear the waterway. The state anticipates those funds will be eligible for federal reimbursement. In addition, the Administration looks forward to working with the Congress on relieving tax penalties incurred by longshore workers at the Port of Baltimore who withdrew from their retirement plans due to the hardship of being out of work as a result of the bridge collapse, Young wrote in her letter. Congress has not yet passed a bill that would fully fund the bridge rebuild. U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, fellow Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, and other Maryland lawmakers are seeking a larger bill on which to attach legislation ensuring the federal government pays the full cost of replacing the bridge. We need a vehicle, Cardin said Friday in an interview, referring to a timely measure such as a spending bill likely headed for passage. The bridge bill, introduced April 11, specifies that the federal portion of emergency relief funds for the bridge and its approaches shall be 100 percent. It mandates that any money recouped from insurance or liability payments offset the federal payments. U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, a Democrat from Marylands 7th District, and U.S. Rep Andy Harris, a Republican from Marylands 1st District, proposed an amendment this month to the National Defense Authorization Act, which outlines the U.S. military budget each year. The amendment would include a provision for the federal government to fully fund the new bridge. No challenge ahead looms too large as we use all means at our disposal to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Mfume said in a statement Friday. Harris has called for the federal government to front the money to cover the rebuild, while working to be paid back by any liable parties, a Harris spokesperson said Friday. U.S. Rep. David Trone, a Democrat from Marylands 6th District, said in a statement hes working to deploy additional federal funding as quickly as possible. I know how important it is to get this bridge up and running again. We continue to push toward a bipartisan funding package that supports 100 percent of the replacement of this critical bridge, and I commend President Biden and his Administrations steadfast partnership in this effort. Our community cannot afford to wait; we must put politics aside and deliver results, Trone said in a statement Friday. A Key Bridge builder will be selected by mid- to late summer and the project is expected to be finished by October 2028. _____ (Baltimore Sun reporter Jeff Barker contributed to this article.) _____ On Tuesday, a new regulation went into place stripping local school districts in South Carolina of the authority to decide what books go on school shelves. Supporters of the new rule, which empowers the Board of Education to determine whether books and classroom material contain sexual conduct and should be banned statewide, have said that it streamlines an uneven system. Critics have accused it of laying the groundwork for stricter book bans. Central to the Department of Educations effort was a high-powered attorney connected to conservative legal organizations who was paid more than $40,000 for his work, which included explaining the rule change to legislators who allowed the law to take effect without voting on it. Miles Coleman, an attorney with the prominent Nelson Mullins law firm and president of the Columbia chapter of the Federalist Society, a conservative national legal group, was contracted by the Department of Education to represent it regarding the new regulation. Coleman, who the Education Department described as a nationally recognized expert in First Amendment law, was retained at a rate of $225 an hour, according to a request to employ outside counsel that state Superintendent Ellen Weaver filed with the state Attorney Generals Office. The request stipulated that Coleman was being retained for legal representation and potential litigation relating to the promulgation of regulations relating to library materials. Nelson Mullins was ultimately paid $41,855 for its work, according to the Department of Education. Another attorney at Nelson Mullins is representing The State Media Co. in a lawsuit that alleges the Lexington Richland 5 school district violated the states open meetings law. Protecting the minds of South Carolinas students from sexually explicit materials in our schools is worth every penny, a department spokesperson, Jason Raven, wrote in an email to The State. But critics have seen the decision to hire outside counsel as proof of Weavers agenda. Superintendent Weaver has demonstrated the lengths she will go to impose her beliefs on teachers, librarians, students, and parents, said Paul Bowers, director of communications with the ACLU of South Carolina when asked about Colemans role in the new law. Coleman, a partner at Nelson Mullins in Greenville, also specializes in appeals, business litigation and complex civil and criminal litigation, according to his bio. Among other clients, he represented the Pickens County school district in a lawsuit brought by the NAACP concerning the districts decision to ban the book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. He also represented the Christian Learning Centers of Greenville, a private religious education provider, in their fight to obtain a $1.5 million state earmark. A 2009 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, Coleman has been heavily involved in conservative organizations. In addition to being a member of the executive committee of the Federalist Societys Religious Liberties Practice Group, Coleman was a fellow at the National Review and is currently the secretary of the board of directors at School Ministries, an organization that provides support for public school students to go off campus during school hours to study the bible. While in law school, Coleman also received a 2007 Blackstone Legal Fellowship. The fellowship is a summer legal training program run by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group, which was designated an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The ADF has strongly denied this characterization and describes itself as a leading Christian law firm committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, marriage and family, parental rights, and the sanctity of life. Mr. Coleman is a nationally recognized First Amendment expert whose work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Coleman was engaged by the SCDE regarding the State Board of Educations instructional materials regulation to help ensure it protected students and teachers First Amendment rights, Raven said. South Carolina Superintendent Ellen Weaver While the Department of Education has a general counsel, its not unusual for state agencies to work with outside counsel when special expertise is needed, Raven told The State. Coleman also appeared to take a leading role in pitching the new rule to legislators. In April, Coleman appeared at least twice before legislators to explain the need for the new rule, saying that it aimed to fix a patchwork quilt of 80 or more different policies, according to the South Carolina Daily Gazette. He also defended the regulations sweeping prohibition on sexual content in library books and classroom materials. By keeping the definition broad, Coleman told lawmakers that the Department of Education was trying to avoid lengthy debates about what did or did not meet standards, according to the Daily Gazette. Its simple enough that its not going to get bogged down, he told lawmakers. Coleman did not respond to a request for comment on this article. The rule, which passed out of the education subcommittee, became law on June 25, despite never being voted on by the full General Assembly. South Carolina law allows proposed regulations to automatically become law if they are not voted on within 120 days. The initial request called for Coleman to work from Oct. 31, 2023, to June 30, 2024, with a maximum fee of $25,000. On April 15 that request was amended to raise the maximum fee to $50,000. Defending the cost, Raven, the Education Department spokesperson, noted that the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office approves the hourly rates that state agencies pay to outside counsel. Raven added that Colemans rate was less than half of what the attorney would typically charge. Coleman received his undergraduate education from Bob Jones University, a conservative, private Christian university in Greenville. Weaver earned her masters degree in education at Bob Jones while she was running for the position of superintendent. Why did MS officials use state plane to interview inmate in Tennessee? They wont say. Officials with the Mississippi Department of Corrections used the state airplane last year to travel to Tennessee to interview a Mississippi inmate about an urgent threat to a public official, but the state agency declined to provide any details about the flight. Airplane records obtained through a public records request show MDOC officials flew from Jackson to Blountville, Tennessee, on June 22, 2023, to interview Gary Davis, a Mississippi inmate being housed in Tennessee, about an emergency security issue that involves a specific threat to the life and safety of a public official. Kate Head, a spokesperson with MDOC, declined to answer questions about why Mississippi was housing an inmate in Tennessee, what type of threat someone made, whom the threat was directed toward and why the agency believed the threat required the use of the aircraft. This situation deals with prison security, Head said. The agency is unable to discuss it. The flight, according to the records, cost taxpayers $4,554. The states Office of Air Transport Services allows the governor, other statewide officials and agency leaders to use the airplane for official state business. The purpose of the aircraft is for state employees to conduct business on behalf of Mississippi or to benefit the state, according to a policy listed on the Department of Finance and Administrations website. The policy does not define official business or include examples of what type of travel is prohibited. Its unclear why prison officials housed Davis in the Tennessee town thats close to the Virginia border. Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain told radio station SuperTalk Mississippi in an interview on April 19 that the agency tries to break up networks of prison gangs by swapping supposed gang leaders with other states. Were swapping with other prisons those gang leaders, Cain said. Then, theyre at zero when they get there. They may be the king they think here. We just clipped their wings and theyre gone. The agencys website says a Gary Davis is currently serving a prison sentence over aggravated assault, manslaughter and armed robbery convictions, that he is housed at a location in Virginia, and his prison location last changed in October 2023. Its unclear if this is the inmate who prison officials interviewed in Tennessee. The broadcaster Michael Mosley was found dead near a beach on the Greek island of Symi after an extensive search and rescue effort - Panormitis Chatzigiannakis/AP As school summer holiday season fast approaches, with the longed-for on annual leave status getting closer in the diary, the excitement of a holiday on a Greek island is reaching its peak: the azure sea; the whitewashed facades of the marina-fronted buildings promising ice-cold drinks; the beaches and coves a siren call to all of us used to rain and cloud. Along with their remote spots, difficult-to-reach coves and stunning headlands, the Greek islands have it all with not much long-haul hassle to spoil the bliss. But since the death of the much-loved broadcaster Michael Mosley, who was found on June 9 close to the Agia Marina beach on the island of Symi, five days after initially going for a simple, solo walk from the beach, the news has been filled with tragic stories of more holiday makers typically Europeans dying while attempting to hike in the islands extraordinary heat. Six more have died or gone missing on the Greek islands this month, all cases attributed to taking risks in history-making hot weather. This week, a 67-year-old German man became the latest casualty, after he set off alone on a canyon hike on the island of Crete, which had been experiencing temperatures of 44.5C. A few hours into the walk hed called his wife to report that hed been feeling unwell; he was later found dead near a ravine. Before that, on June 15, the body of a Dutch man, 74, was found dead in a ravine on the eastern island of Samos after being reportedly seen struggling to walk in the heat. A day later, a missing American man was also found dead on the island of Mathraki, near Corfu the third to lose his life in a week. The beach on Mathraki where an American man in his fifties lost his life in intense heat - Adonis Skordilis/Reuters Meanwhile, searches are taking place for three tourists: two French women, aged 73 and 64, who are missing on Sikinos, and a retired Los Angeles sheriff deputy, Eric Calibet, 59, with dual French-American citizenship, who was last seen hiking alone on Amorgos. An Israeli couple in the area of Vytina in the Peloponnese peninsula are also yet to return. This has always been a problem, especially with tourists who arrive in the islands for the first time, says Konstantina Dimoglidou, a spokesperson for the Greek police. What happened was that due to the heatwave, all cases occurred almost simultaneously in a matter of days, while most other years they would be spread over the summer. Rescuers who were looking for Michael Mosley told me that the thermometer in the place where he was found was at 46C at some point. In recent weeks, Greece has experienced two back-to-back heatwaves, with temperatures reaching beyond 40C. Schools shut down and the culture ministry was forced to close the Acropolis and other archaeological sites to visitors. Red Cross volunteers handed out thousands of free bottles of water and Athens town hall has set up cooling stations. But paths on the islands, by their very nature wild and uncontrolled, remained completely unregulated. Authorities typically issue warnings to older locals to stay indoors and to keep hydrated, and yet warnings are not issued to tourists about the dangers of hiking. For locals who live on the islands, the recent deaths are tragic but also, they say, sadly avoidable. Mosleys death has trained a spotlight on hiking in the islands, but lost and often ill-equipped tourists have always been a problem there, their lives always at risk from Greek island derring-do. Usually, tourists are found in time or re-orientate themselves before their energetic intentions become tragic but sometimes they are never found. The weather in all such cases of tourist hikers getting lost is always hot often tourists are seen on trails without hats, which baffles locals but this year, say experts and locals, it is the combination of unusual heat and hiking that has proved especially deadly. One local on the island of Antiparos, who did not wish to be named, said: It is usually OK to hike on the islands in June, but this year we have seen an unusual and prolonged heatwave. I believe that when Michael Mosley went missing, for instance, rescuers were looking for him in 40 degrees. It is just uncharacteristically hot. The woman, from England, now lives in Athens but travels to Antiparos regularly. She adds that very few tourists realise that many of the islands, particularly towards southern Greece, have their own micro-climate. There is often little shade and no trees. Sometimes the much-longed-for breeze on a Greek island can lead to dangerous decision making: it masks the heat, tricking tourists into thinking activity such as hiking is safer than it actually is. Walking on the islands is often tempting because the views are so exceptional and because often the smallest, craggiest paths can lead to the best coves or views. But the local woman cautions that those small paths are often confusing and once lost on them, it can be difficult for a walker to get back on the right route, as was the case with Mosley: I do think the rescue teams try their best, but these hikers are often lost in very remote areas, or on donkey trails where there are just monasteries and abandoned farms. There is also often no phone signal and they are incredibly tough conditions in which to search for someone. I have hiked before in June, early in the morning and with a group, but really people should not hike alone when it is this hot. Another local, who lives in Parga, a coastal town off the Ionian sea on mainland Greece, adds: It has of course been hotter than ever. But I think this is cumulative. Weve had so many forest fires in recent years, they have destroyed any greenery and made the islands more prone to being bone dry and also flooding. It is very dangerous to hike out here in the summer. None of these missing people are Greek. The locals know of the dangers, but we dont really understand why others dont see it. Of course, it should also be noted that the number of tourists who came to Greece last year was well over 30 million. So although the deaths are tragic they are a tiny number. The meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos told the TV channel ERT: This heatwave will go down in history. In the 20th century, we never had one before June 19. This months searches are in stark contrast to the attempt, five years ago, to find John Tossell, a 78-year-old from Bridgend who went missing on a walk while on holiday in Zakynthos. John Tossell went missing on the island of Zakynthos in 2019 In a case that echoes Michael Mosleys to the point of being chilling, the last confirmed sighting of him was captured on CCTV footage, in his case passing a hotel, heading out of town towards Vassilikos. The Greek authorities called off the search after five days, forcing his daughter Katy to launch her own fundraising campaign. Mr Tossells son, Gary, has since said he was disappointed by the rescue teams efforts back then: They just went out walking. It was like a walk in the park for them. There was no intensity to their efforts. They said a team was coming from Athens with dogs and specialists but for some reason that got turned off at the last minute. After five days they stopped entirely. They said he must have left the island but he had 10 euros and a bottle of water. Katy Tossell raised 7,000 herself, which she used to bring the Western Beacons Mountain Rescue team to Zakynthos to keep looking, but they too called off the search after seven days and the family have yet to find answers. Michael Mosleys case, on the other hand, attracted international media coverage. He was a high-profile UK television personality. Could this be why the search was so different to that for John Tossell? Or perhaps the Greek authorities had learned a lesson from too many near fatalities? When I read the story, its like a cut and paste of my father, Mr Tossells son Gary told Sky News after Michael Mosleys disappearance. He went for a walk and he vanished into thin air. Its the same story but a different person. John Tossells family suspect foul play. Though he was 10 years older than Mosley and could have died of natural causes, they remain mystified as to why his body has never been found. In Mosleys case, the search involved patrol boats, divers, helicopters, firefighters, police, drones and a sniffer dog, and yet it still took five days before the body of the 67-year-old was discovered.The search operation in Samos for the 74-year-old Dutch national was also extensive: a rescue team, four drones, a sniffer dog brought from Athens and a Frontex EU border agency helicopter. The difficulty is caused by the terrain. Dimitris Katatzis, who headed that team, described a common hazard that mirrored Mosleys error: walkers veering off track. But is it enough for Greece to send out extensive search crews often when the worst has already happened? Mosley died within hours of setting off, on the very first day he went missing. These paths need to be looked after Id like to see more CCTV cameras and the lighting of these trails, Symis mayor, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, has said. If there is a lesson to be learned from the tragedy [of Mosleys death], it is that these paths need to be better looked after so that people dont get lost. It would not be that hard or expensive to install a series of arrows, for example, to ensure walkers stayed in the right direction. One town councillor on the island of Chios has also called for a better framework to support such tourism. Local walking clubs specialising in regular excursions to remote areas have unique insight into the nature of the paths. If the clubs were better supported, through funding and technology, their input could be used for the greater good of the island, both educating and protecting gung-ho tourists, avoiding high-profile tragedies, while still boosting the economy of the island by encouraging visitors. And there is advice for hikers too: watch the temperatures and carry a phone. It was revealed that the phone of the 74-year-old Dutch hiker had been switched off and yet Kalaitzis, a member of the local chapter of the Hellenic Rescue Team, described the walking route that he was believed to have taken in south-western Samos as arduous. Kalaitzis said that, according to the mans wife, he had only a small bottle of water when setting out for his walk. Mosley was carrying an umbrella as shade but he did not have a phone with him. Of the two women missing in Sikinos, the islands mayor, Vassilis Marakis, told Greek television that one had her phone turned off and the other did not have it with her. These recent cases all point to a salutary message for intrepid tourists on the wrong side of 50: you are never too old to take some travel advice because as the tragic Greek fatalities have shown, mum and dad do not always know best. 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. Widow of slain NYPD cop Jonathan Diller reveals familys final day together, her worries for their son Jonathan Dillers final hours were filled with joy. The doomed NYPD cop, who had been pulling numerous overtime shifts in Queens 105th Precinct, woke up on the morning of March 25 and told his wife he wanted to take their 1-year-old son to the park to give her a much-needed break. But she wasnt having it. On the last day of his life, NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller went to a Long Island park with his wife, Stephanie, and son, Ryan. Courtesy of Stephanie Diller I was like, Theres no way Im missing out on a park day with the boys. Youre not leaving me behind, the 29-year-old recalled in a tearful, 30-minute interview with The Post. So the couple set off together from their Massapequa Park, LI, home to Marjorie Post Park with their baby, basking in the early spring morning. They spent hours there playing with little Ryan until Jon kissed her goodbye and left for the night shift with the NYPDs Community Response Team in Patrol Borough Queens South. It was the last time the young family would be together. Later that day, at 5:50 p.m., the 31-year-old cop encountered a career criminal in a parked car in Far Rockaway. Guy Rivera, 34, with 21 arrests on his record, allegedly pulled out a pistol and opened fire, striking Diller in the stomach, just underneath his bulletproof vest. Police Officer Jonathan Diller with his son, Ryan, wife Stephanie and dog, Tucker. Courtesy of Stephanie Diller The familys future was wiped out with a single bullet. The three-year veteran of the NYPD had called Stephanie from work early in his shift, as she walked Ryan around the neighborhood, offering to skip his lunch break so they could eat dinner together later. When she got home from the walk, she had a weird feeling in her gut. Police Officer Jonathan Diller with his son on his shoulders. Courtesy of Stephanie Diller Diller is seen above on a family outing with his wife and child. facebook/jonnymac Then, a neighbor called to ask her if she heard a cop was shot in Queens sending Stephanie into a spiral. I started texting Jon and he wasnt answering so I started to get worried, the widow recalled. When she tracked his cell phone I saw that he was in the hospital. Diller and his son playing outside together in a driveway. Courtesy of Stephanie Diller Around 6:30 pm, Stephanie got a call from her husbands former partner. Its Jon, isnt it? she asked immediately. How bad is it? Stephanie Diller, the wife of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller, holds her son, Ryan, 1, as pallbearers carry his casket to a Hearse. James Keivom NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller is seen in an undated photo tweeted by the 105th Precinct. NYPD Its really bad, he replied. Im not gonna lie to you, they should be airlifting you here. Her house began to fill with visitors. NYPD officer Jonathan Diller and his wife Stephanie Diller at his Academy graduation. Courtesy of Stephanie Diller Ryan was scared. So I was hugging him, she recalled tearfully. An hour later, she was whisked to McKenna Elementary School and ushered into a helicopter that flew her to Jamaica Hospital. I didnt breathe, I think, the entire helicopter ride, she remembered. Widow Stephanie Diller holds a folded flag that was draped on her husbands casket at his funeral. REUTERS There was an officer with me. He was like, Stephanie, you have to take a breath. I havent seen you breathe. Once at the hospital, I just remember saying, I dont care what happened. I just want to know when I can see him. I just want to know how he is. Ill find out what happened after, just tell me how he is, she recalled, crying. After a seemingly never-ending wait during surgery, her husbands doctor walked into the room. Stephanie Diller, the wife of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller, holds her son, Ryan, 1, as he reaches towards the casket of his father. James Keivom Im a nurse myself so as soon as he told me You need to sit down, I knew that Jonathan was dead, she told The Post. I said, Hes dead isnt he? The doctor confirmed the worst, He is. I remember I just felt blank. I lost the love of my life, the father of my child, my best friend, my greatest advisor, my soulmate. And I just felt blank like the whole future felt blank. But the worst feeling of all was when she had to drive back to their home without him. Then I could literally feel my heart breaking, she said. Physically, I could feel my heart in my chest. I had chest pain. My heart was breaking because I had to leave him behind. It was just a reality: going home forever without you now. The 2019 wedding of Stephanie and Jonathan Diller. Facebook/Jean O'Donnell She didnt sleep that night. Instead, Diller spent the time watching the clock, counting the hours to when her husband should have been coming home. This is when he would walk in, she said. Father Michael Duffy presiding over the 2019 wedding of PO Jonathan Diller and wife Stephanie. Facebook/Jean O'Donnell This is when he would be here even if he was running late. As she looks toward the future, she wants to make sure her son, who she jokingly calls Wreck it Ryan because of mischievous behavior, gets to know his father. Hes so little hes not gonna have the memories the way that I do, she said. I feel like hes the one who suffers the most. Hello its the weekend. This is The Weekender After listening to me mutter to myself and shout into the depths of my laptop for nearly three hours Thursday night, my roommate finally asked me a wild question: Do you think Democrats did that on purpose? That would be extremely dumb, I explained, a massive waste of time and money during a crucial stretch of the election cycle, all with the purpose of pulling off some elaborate trick to convince the American electorate that Biden is, in fact, way too old to function and should be replaced as the Democratic nominee? Why would Democrats have needed to go to all that trouble? Its not, after all, the American public that needs convincing on this particular point. Yet thats a case that some right-wing influencers have been making, sometimes trollingly and sometimes with seeming seriousness, for months, years even, already. By Friday morning, the right-wing Twittersphere had, in fact, latched onto said befuddling conspiracy theory as truth. All signs indicate this was planned intentional mutiny maneuvering. This was done purposefully, right-wing attorney Marina Medvin posted on Twitter. This debate disaster was pulled off on purpose by the Democrats as a pretext to replace Biden, former Trump admin official William Wolfe tweeted. Thursday night was very bad. Theres no denying it. Its left Democrats shocked, and questioning how this could have happened. Hard-right Republicans are, apparently, in a similar place. But conspiratorial galaxy brain group think the idea that nothing can be as it seems has so infected the MAGA movement that they cant even accept a win without looking over their shoulder for the deep states hidden hand. Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekend: Hunter Walker unpacks how Trump used the debate to wink at the far-right extremists who participated in Jan. 6 and Charlottesville. Khaya Himmelman reports on Tennessee Republicans latest scare tactic in the rights war on the non-existent problem of non-citizen voting. Nancy Pelosi responds to Trumps insinuation that she was actually the one responsible for the insurrection. Emine Yucel explains why Republicans, once again, would like Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) to STFU. Lets dig in. Nicole Lafond Trump Flirted With The Extreme Far Right On The Debate Stage As President Biden fumbled and faded on the debate stage Thursday night, his opponent took the opportunity to rewrite history. Former President Trump made a series of blatantly false and misleading claims in an attempt to disassociate himself from violent and dangerous right wing extremists including those who challenged his loss to Biden in the 2020 election. However, at the very same time Trump tried to buy some distance and political cover from the most radical elements of his base, Trump also very clearly opened the door to future political violence. When he was asked to address concerns voters have about his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building, Trump rejected all responsibility. Trump suggested the statements he made at the time were some of the strongest you could have in calling to quell the violence. As examples he cited moments in a tweet and speech he gave that day where he urged the crowd to be peaceful. However, it has emerged from Trumps own staff that he had to be pressed to send that tweet, which occurred after he had spent hours watching the violence unfold. And the speech Trump cites as his call for calm is the same one where he urged the thousands of people he had inspired to come to Washington with false conspiracies about the election result to fight like hell and march on the Capitol. Many of the people in the crowd did just that. Along with using the debate to falsely minimize his own role in the Capitol attack, Trump also defended his supporters who stormed the building. Trump bizarrely claimed it was a relatively small number of people that went to the Capitol and that many were ushered in by the police. The former president, who has openly considered pardoning some of the people who are in jail for breaking into the building and attacking law enforcement that day, also claimed some of them are so innocent. Trumps effort to simultaneously distance himself from the Jan. 6 extremists while also embracing them contains clear echoes of his response to the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. That issue was also relitigated on the debate stage. Biden has claimed he was inspired to run for president in the 2020 election after seeing Trumps response to the rally where a crowd of neo Nazis and other racists marched with tiki torches before violently clashing with counter protesters. Trump infamously responded by declaring there were people that were very fine people, on both sides. During the debate, Biden again cited Trumps response to Charlottesville as his reason for running. Trump claimed the Charlottesville story has been debunked all over the place. His comment seemed to reference an argument that most recently was made in a piece published earlier this month on the fact checking site Snopes, which has had some fairly extensive issues in recent years. Snopes declared it false to suggest Trump called the neo Nazis and white supremacists very fine people. Reporter Kat Abugazaleh released a great, in depth video on Thursday breaking down the Snopes piece and fully detailing how it relies on little linguistic technicalities rather than the actual meaning of Trumps words. If you dont have time for a whole video breakdown, Snopes conclusion was based on the fact that Trump later said he wasnt talking about racists who should be condemned totally and was supposedly referencing people other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists who were participating in the rally. However, as an editors note that was appended to the Snopes piece points out, virtually every source that covered the Unite the Right debacle concluded that it was conceived of, led by and attended by white supremacists. In other words, there were no people other than neo-Nazis and white supremacists on the pro-rally side who Trump could have been referencing when he described the very fine people on both sides. And, of course, in more recent years, Trump and other Republicans have flirted with Nick Fuentes, a neo-Nazi leader who rose to prominence via the Charlottesville rally. That insistence on very fine people participating in the event is crucial because, while he tries to take some cover, Trump is expressing some degree of support for extremism. Its the same tack hes taken with the Jan. 6 attack, ostensibly distancing himself from far right extremists while also defending them. During the debate, Trump didnt just display a willingness to stand up for violent extremists. He also showed how he might inspire them in the future. The Jan. 6 attack came after an extensive coordinated campaign by Trump and his allies to falsely challenge his loss in 2020. On stage Thursday night, Trump was asked at least three different times if he would commit to actually accepting the results this time around. Trump only said he would do so if he deemed it a fair, and legal, and good election. Obviously, given his rejection of the last one which even officials from his own administration conceded was fairly run that isnt really an answer. Biden responded to this by saying, Lets see what your numbers are when this election is over. Well see, Trump said. Indeed we will. Hunter Walker Tennessee Republicans Keep Trumps Non-Citizens Voting Myth Alive By Harassing Immigrants Election officials in Tennessee are further perpetuating the baseless myth of non-citizens voting in elections. The Tennessee Coordinator of Elections sent out letters from the GOP Secretary of States office to over 14,000 suspected non-citizens asking them for proof of citizenship earlier this month. Our office has received information that appears to indicate that your voter information matches with an individual who may not have been a United States citizen at the time of obtaining a Tennessee driver license or ID card, the letter reads. Those who received the letter, according to reporting from the Tennessean, will remain registered to vote and do not need to respond. But, as Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson told Democracy Docket, the letter, at its core, is voter intimidation. Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons similarly described the letter in a statement as an egregious and unlawful act by a state official targeting a certain population of citizens who are lawful voters, with the clear intent to intimidate them. Election deniers and Republican members of Congress have consistently been pushing this baseless narrative of non-citizens voting in elections on behalf of Biden for months now. Its already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, and, as we have reported before, there is simply no evidence to suggest that its an issue. In May, election deniers and Republican members of Congress promoted the SAVE Act, which would make it illegal for people who are not U.S. citizens to vote in federal elections again, something that is already illegal. The biggest single reason not to vote when youre a non-citizen is that not only is there a serious criminal penalty attached, and not only is there potential for a serious fine attached, but you can be removed from the country, Justin Levitt, professor of law at Loyola Law School, said in an an previous interview with TPM. Khaya Himmelman Republicans, Once Again, Really Wish Rosendale Would STFU This week, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) proposed an amendment to the 2025 defense spending bill that would prevent any of the Pentagon funds from being spent on in vitro fertilization. And as if his amendment wasnt enough, on Thursday he also smothered the walls around his congressional office door with anti-IVF posters. Since the Alabama Supreme Courts February decision that provided embryos with the same legal protection as children, temporarily halting IVF procedures across the state, Republicans have been tiptoeing around the issue. Most of them, especially those running for re-election, have been VERY loud about their supposed support of IVF. Their actions havent matched with their words, of course as we saw when senators voted on the Right to IVF Act. But regardless theres been a clear push on the GOPs end to try and not alienate voters around the very popular procedure. Well it seems Rosendale does not care much or at all, from the looks of it for that Republican strategy. This is not his first middle finger to his own party. He also angered many of his colleagues last year when he voted to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and earlier this year when he launched a bid for Senate in Montana, despite the National Republican Senatorial Committees leadership spending months trying to convince him to sit out the race. Rosendale dropped his bid less than a week after he officially launched it. He later announced he is retiring from his position, saying his bid for the U.S. senate led to a death threat against him as well as false and defamatory rumors about him and his family. Emine Yucel Words Of Wisdom Hes a fool. He thinks I planned my own assassination? Hes sicker than I thought Thats Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reacting to former President Trump blaming her for the Jan. 6 riot during Thursday nights disastrous presidential debate. If you missed the debate or tuned out parts of it here is what happened: CNNs Jake Tapper asked Trump what he would say to voters who believed that you violated your constitutional oath through your actions and inaction on January 6, 2021, and worried that youll do it again. Trump, of course, deflected the question, instead blaming Pelosi for the violent riot. The former president claimed that at the time, he offered the National Guard to Pelosi, anticipating that hundreds of his supporters would come to Capitol Hill that day and that the Speaker told him that the resulting violence was on her. Nancy Pelosi if you just watched the news from two days ago on tape to her daughter whos a documentary filmmaker 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. Just like most of what he said throughout the night, Trumps statement about Pelosi is a lie. He is referring to a video House Republicans released earlier this month where the former House Speaker says she takes responsibility for what happened on Jan. 6. What the video House Republicans released didnt show, however, was that the clip was cut up and presented out of context. It was actually part of a roughly 45 minutes long recording which Politico reviewed where Pelosi grilled her staff about why Capitol Police were so unprepared the day of the attack. Same old propaganda from Republicans doing anything and everything but holding Trump accountable for his actions. Emine Yucel The woman who police say went on a shooting spree in midtown Atlanta in August 2022, killing two men is not fit for a trial, according to new court filings. According to the documents filed Friday and obtained by Channel 2 Action News, a court-ordered psychologist determined that Raissa Kengne is not competent to stand trial. Prosecutors chose not to challenge the psychologists opinion and a Fulton County Superior Court judge officially ruled that she is incompetent to stand trial. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police say Kengne, 34, shot three people at the 1280 West condos and an office building at 110 Peachtree Street. Two of the victims, Michael Shinners and Wesley Freeman, died from their injuries. The other victim, Michael Horne, was eventually released from the hospital. After the shootings, Kengne called for a cab from Atlanta Checker Cab to pick up her at a hotel and take her to a home on Robin Hood Road NE in Ansley Park. The driver said she told him it was her lawyers home. He said no one came to the door and Kengne returned to his cab. From there, the driver said Kengne requested a ride to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Kengne was arrested by ATF task force officers at the international terminal. RELATED STORIES: Channel 2 Action News tracked down her social media pages, including her LinkedIn profile. On her profile, she said she worked at an accounting firm, BDO, until November of 2021 and she also mentioned the location of one of the shootings at 1100 Peachtree Street, where one victim, Freeman, was killed. Kengne, on her LinkedIn post, referred to Freeman as the laziest manager I have had the displeasure of working for. Freeman is also one of nearly a dozen people listed in a nearly 600 page federal lawsuit filed by Kengne in 2022. In the lawsuit, Kengne said she faced retaliation, persecution, harassment, intimidation, threats, burglary, computer hacking after she said she noted a significant deficiency in an audit that was disregarded. Its unclear what the next steps will be in Kengnes case. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Seven new officers have joined the Woodbridge Police Department. The new officers, Nicholas Depinto, Jeremy Arroyo, Nicholas Simone III, Thomas Bauer, Mikolaj Jucha, Brandon Schmitt and Zachary Schneider, recently completed the state-mandated six-month New Jersey Police Training Commission Academy at the Cape May County Police Training Academy and will all take up patrol assignments in the radio patrol division. The officers also have completed extensive testing and an eligibility process overseen by the New Jersey Department of Personnel, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Woodbridge Police Department. The public safety mission of the Woodbridge Police Department is our most important priority," said Mayor John E. McCormac. "As a result of our commitment to public safety, combined with the increased assignment of uniformed officers to street patrol, the Woodbridge Police Department continues to maintain police ranks at a maximum staffing level of 225 sworn officers effectively protecting public safety. Seven new officers have joined the Woodbridge Police Department Zackary Schneider, Brandon Schmitt, Nickolas Simone III, Thomas Bauer, Jeremy Arroyo, Nicholas DePinto and Mikolaj Jucha. Depinto is a 2015 Old Bridge High School graduate who previously worked for the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Woodbridge Community Center. Arroyo is a 2021 graduate of Woodbridge High School who has earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Middlesex College. He previously served as a Special 1 Officer with the Woodbridge Police Auxiliary. More: AG investigating after suspect dies during Woodbridge police vehicle stop Simone is a 2021 graduate of Woodbridge High School who studied history at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. He previously served as a seasonal traffic maintenance worker with the township while attending college. His father is a retired captain with the Perth Amboy Police Department. Bauer is a 2016 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen and has a master's degree in finance from William Paterson University. He previously worked as an accountant at Wakefern Food in Edison. He is the son of Councilman Howie Bauer, who represents the second ward and serves as chief of Fords Fire Company 1. Jucha is a 2019 graduate of Colonia High School who studied criminal justice at Middlesex College. He previously worked as a building maintenance manager in Jersey City. Schmitt is a 2021 graduate of Woodbridge High School. He formerly worked as a 911 dispatcher for the Carteret Police Department before being hired by the Woodbridge Police Department. Schneider is a 2018 graduate of J.F. Kennedy High School in the Iselin section of Woodbridge and attended Alvernia University in Pennsylvania where he earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice. He previously was employed by PSE&G. Email: srussell@gannettnj.com Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Woodbridge NJ Police Department hires seven new officers CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The highly anticipated showdown between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump left some Democrats wondering if Biden should bow out of the race. At times, the 81-year-old looked confused, even losing his train of thought. Making sure that were able to make every single solitary person eligible for what Ive been able to do with the, uh, with the COVID. Excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, uh look if we finally beat Medicare, Biden said. Last nights debate will go down as one of the worst in American history. Neither candidate did particularly well, said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte. He says discussions about whether or not Biden can be replaced at this moment in the race will face real challenges. Pedestrians in Charlotte and Burlington hit and killed by same Amtrak train The delegates to the Democratic National Convention, who the people who officially nominate the Democrats presidential candidate, have to vote the way that voters in their states, in their primary or caucus elections voted, Heberlig said. The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago Aug. 19-22 when those delegates officially cast their vote for the partys presidential and vice-presidential nominees. Heberlig says an alternative candidate could only happen at this point if Biden chooses to drop out, releasing those delegates from their obligation to vote for him. Because of Bidens obvious struggles, that means our attention today is on his struggles rather than the other things we could be critiquing about Trumps issues in the debate last night as well, Heberlig said. Queen City News reached out to all democratic Congressional District Chairs in North Carolina, but we did not receive a response. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The New York Times has called on Joe Biden to stand down from the presidential race and relinquish the Democratic nomination to a stronger candidate who would have a better chance of beating Donald Trump. In an article by its editorial board, the Times accused Mr Biden of a reckless gamble in continuing his reelection bid after his disastrous appearance on the debate stage with Trump on Thursday night. Mr Biden repeatedly struggled to deliver his lines, made factual mistakes and froze in response to moderator questions during the debate. The New York Times editorial calling for Biden to stand down - THE NEW YORK TIMES There are Democratic leaders better equipped to present clear, compelling and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency, the New York Times said. There is no reason for the party to risk the stability and security of the country by forcing voters to choose between Mr Trumps deficiencies and those of Mr Biden. It added that standing down would be against Mr Bidens personal and political instincts but that Thursdays debate cannot be written off as a bad night. The decision of the newspaper to condemn Mr Bidens candidacy is a major shift in the media landscape for the US president, four months before the election in November. The article came after a number of Democrat lawmakers and strategists called on Mr Biden to reconsider his reelection campaign and stand down before the Democratic convention in August. Such a move would allow delegates at the convention to vote freely on who should succeed him. Contenders could include Kamala Harris, the vice president, as well as Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom, the governors of Michigan and California. The New York Times has generally been supportive of Mr Bidens presidency, although its management has clashed with the White House over its reporting of the issue of the presidents age. Mr Biden was said to be furious about the newspapers coverage of the Robert Hur report, which revealed he had struggled to remember the dates he served as vice president during an evidence session in October last year. He has refused to give the newspaper a sit-down interview in the run-up to the election, a tradition that most other presidents, including Trump, have followed. The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post the other two broadsheet newspapers with significant influence in Washington have both issued articles from their editorial boards calling for Mr Biden to think seriously about his candidacy but stopped short of asking him to stand down. Its incumbent on this incumbent to determine, in conversation with family and aides, whether continuing to seek re-election is in the best interests of the country, the Washington Post wrote. The paper said it would require a degree of patriotism and self-sacrifice from Mr Biden to stand down that is too often missing from modern politics. The Post editorial warned he could go down in history with the same kind of legacy as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice whose work for womens rights was undermined by her refusal to resign during the Obama presidency. Her death under Trump allowed him to appoint a conservative justice in her place. Mr Trump lied repeatedly during Thursdays debate, but he did so coherently and with ease. Mr Biden was no match on the split-screen, the paper wrote. However, it also sounded more hopeful notes, writing that there is ample precedent for incumbents losing a first debate and going on to win re-election. Elton John lends his support to the Biden campaign at the Stonewall monument on Friday - GETTY IMAGES The Economist, a free-market British newspaper with a significant readership in the US, has also said Mr Biden should leave the race immediately. Speaking at a rally on Friday, the president said he would not step back from the race and insisted that while he knew he was not a young man and did not debate as well as I used to, he was still the best candidate to beat Trump in November. Mr Biden is trailing Trump in all seven of the major swing states, and the pair are neck and neck in national polls. The debate on Thursday was considered a major opportunity to spread his message to around 70 million voters, but fell flat after he was unable to perform as planned. 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. New York Times editorial board calls on Biden to drop out of the 2024 race The New York Times Editorial Board has called for Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race following his weak debate performance against Donald Trump. The editorial comes after the president appeared frail during the Thursday evening debate. His voice was soft and raspy, which his campaign attributed to a cold. He also interrupted himself and gave rambling answers to multiple questions. Vice President Kamala Harris even admitted Biden struggled: Yes, it was a slow start, she said Thursday. Thats obvious to everyone. The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant, the board wrote on Friday night. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trumps provocations, the board continued. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence. While the editorial board said Biden would be their unequivocal pick over Trump, they called on the Democratic party to put forward a new candidate. 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 The Continental Club on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Biden and Trump are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 presidential cycle (Getty Images) The clearest path for Democrats to defeat a candidate defined by his lies is to deal truthfully with the American public: acknowledge that Mr. Biden cant continue his race, and create a process to select someone more capable to stand in his place to defeat Mr. Trump in November, the Board wrote. It is the best chance to protect the soul of the nation the cause that drew Mr. Biden to run for the presidency in 2019 from the malign warping of Mr. Trump. The presidents performance has since sent 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. Meanwhile, the president has yet to show any signs of stepping down. Bidens campaign said he has no plans of dropping out. The president also acknowledged his weak performance at a campaign rally on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Folks, I dont walk as easy as I used to, Biden said. 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 do this job. Joe Biden, pictured at a campaign event on June 28, addressed his poor debate performance (AP) I know what millions of Americans do: When you get knocked down you get back up, he continued. Biden, for his part, did have strong moments amid his overall-weak performance. 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 president said Trump has the morals of an alley cat. 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 your wife was pregnant? Trump responded by denying the affair with Daniels and calling his Manhattan trial which centered around hush money payments to the adult film star politically rigged. Youngstown State University goes on lockdown for shooting suspect seen on campus Youngstown State University went under a lockdown Friday after a shooting suspect was seen on campus. NBC affiliate WFMJ reports that the suspect in a recent shooting near Phelps and Commerce Street in Downtown Youngstown was spotted in the Wick Avenue parking deck on YSUs campus. WFMJ reports that the entire university was on lockdown, with students and the public being asked to stay off campus. The suspect was not found in the parking deck and remains at large, WFMJ reports. He was described as a Black male wearing a white shirt, grey sweat pants and a black backpack. The lockdown has since been lifted. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh couple waits in fear as city-owned duplex collapses next door 4 confirmed tornadoes touched down in Pittsburgh region, NWS says Driver picking up body from Shadyside nursing home takes patient who was still alive VIDEO: Juneteenth celebration organizer still waiting on funds Pittsburgh City Council approved for event DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for the first day of the European Council summit. Benoit Doppagne/Belga/dpa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the return of Ukrainian prisoners from Russia, including Nariman Dzhelyal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars. "Ten civilians, plus 90 soldiers were released this week," Zelensky said in a video message. This brought to 3,310 prisoners released to Ukraine from Russian prisons, he said. "We have to find all our people and return them to Ukraine, every one of them in prison or deported adults and children, soldiers and civilians," he said. Dzhelyal was among the 10 civilians returned on Friday. Zelensky held brief talks with the Tatar leader on Saturday. They last met in 2021. Shortly after that meeting and before the Russian invasion of February 2022, Dzhelyal was arrested in Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. He was subsequently sentenced to 17 years in prison after being found guilty of blowing a gas pipeline. Among those released were two priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. No information has been released on whether Russian prisoners were released by the Ukrainians in return. The last prisoner exchange between Kiev and Moscow a few days ago included a metropolitan of the pro-Russian Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who received a decoration from Patriarch Kirill on his arrival in Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Nariman Dzhelyal, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, who was liberated from Russian captivity on Saturday, 29 June. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram Details: The president noted that Dzhelyal was sending letters from captivity, one of which said, "We are fighting not only for the integrity of the territories but also for the unity of our society, our beautiful, strong nation." "These are crucial words that remind us that in unity, together, we can accomplish even the most difficult goals and will definitely restore security to all our people and peace to Ukraine. I am grateful to everyone who helps. Thank you, Nariman, for this meeting! Thank you for your strength!", Zelenskyy added. The president also posted a video of the meeting. Dzhelyal and Zelenskyy mentioned that they last met at the Crimean Platform summit in 2021, after which Dzhelyal was detained (the Crimean Platform Summit is the Ukrainian government's initiative aiming to help liberate and reintegrate Russian-occupied Crimea). Zelenskyy says he has received letters from Dzhelyal. Background: On 28 June, Ukraine liberated 10 civilians from Russian captivity. They included Nariman Dzhelyal, who was captured in Crimea in 2021, and priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who were captured in Berdiansk for resisting the Russians. The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War released a photo of the meeting. Ukraine's Security Service also shared a video of the event. Support UP or become our patron! The aviation industry is responsible for a massive amount of planet-overheating air pollution. To make airplanes more fuel-efficient, one group of companies is attempting to redesign them to look a bit more like early aircrafts, Autoevolution reported. According to the International Energy Agency, the aviation industry is currently not on track to meet climate goals. The industry accounted for 2% of all global energy-related carbon pollution in 2022, the IEA said quite a large amount when you consider what a small percentage of the people on Earth ever actually fly in an airplane, never mind within a given year. However, a group of organizations including French engine maker Safran Aircraft Engines, French American aerospace company CFM International, France's ONERA (Office National d'Etudes et Recherches Aerospatiales), and GE Aerospace have formed the RISE program. This partnership has led to Safran and ONERA testing a new engine design called the Open Fan powerplant. Modern airplanes are built around an engine enclosed in a protective container called a nacelle, but the Open Fan powerplant would not have the fan completely enclosed, making it resemble a more old-timey propeller. The design is "the most efficient and sustainable option to improve the propulsive efficiency of the engine," according to Autoevolution. Safran recently completed testing on the device at ONERA's facilities and reported that "Open Fan aims to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 20%." "This series of wind tunnel tests is a major milestone in our Research & Technology roadmap, which aims to develop the technological building blocks for the next breed of commercial jet engines," said Pierre Cottenceau, VP of Engineering and R&T for Safran Aircraft Engines. Another similar type of redesigned jet engine is also in the works from General Electric Aerospace and NASA. The scientists designing it say that it could reduce fuel use by up to 10%. Other recent attempts at reducing pollution from the aviation industry include sustainable fuels and electric flying machines. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. Forget Duolingo Google Translate just got a massive AI upgrade that gives it over 100 new languages Google Translate is adding 110 new languages to its library, the largest expansion ever made to the platform. The update leverages Google's PaLM 2 large language model, an artificial intelligence tool that helps accurately translate across a wider array of languages than before. Those languages are spoken by approximately 614 million people, or about 8% of the global population. The list includes some widely spoken tongues, dialects, and languages that are native to smaller communities. Notably, African languages saw their biggest expansion, with Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda, and Wolof joining the list. On the other end of the spectrum, Cantonese is likely one of the most widely spoken languages on the new list, as is Punjabi (Shahmukhi), the most spoken language in Pakistan. There's also the Sicilian version of Italian, Manx, a Celtic language spoken on the Isle of Man that nearly went extinct, and a Papua New Guinea creole called Tok Pisin. PaLM 2 Talk For languages that blend regional dialects and different spelling standards, Google goes for something that might be best understood by most people, as with the Romani language offered by Google Translate, which includes three different dialects. The PaLM 2 LLM made the update possible, enhancing Google Translate's ability to learn and shift between languages efficiently. This model is particularly adept at handling languages that are closely related, like Awadhi and Marwadi, to Hindi or the various French creoles. PaLM 2's advanced capabilities allow it to manage the nuances and variations within these languages, providing more accurate and culturally relevant translations. The application of PaLM 2 to Google Translate is also interesting due to its origins as a tool for helping foster communications between humans and AI. For instance, both PaLM and PaLM 2 have been employed for helping teach robots how to carry out tasks and process commands from humans into steps to complete those tasks. Potentially, the best part is that it's available on the web or via the Google Translate app on Android and iOS. You might also like J.P. Erb, of Ashland, plugs in his Tesla Y at an electric vehicle charging station at a Target, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Salem, Ore. Missouri's electric vehicle infrastructure is growing. According to a study on Missouri economic indicators from the University of Missouri Extension, the state leads the midwest in EV infrastructure with more charging stations per 10,000 residents than the national average. According to the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, tens of thousands of EV charging stations are available in the U.S. Charging stations are being installed in key areas for workplace and public charging to supplement residential charging. Most EV drivers do the majority of charging at home. Roads and dealerships in Missouri and throughout the U.S. are evolving to include more electric vehicles and hybrids, and you might be considering hopping on the trend. According to Matt Gilderson, a sales specialist at Springfield Nissan Kia, most consumer concerns about EVs and hybrids come down to charging How do I charge my car? What kind of charger do I need at home? What's the difference between levels 1, 2, and 3 chargers? If you have questions about how EV and plug-in hybrid charging works, you're not alone. Here are a few frequently asked questions about charging your car. Getting to know the EV terms: infrastructure terminology According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, the charging infrastructure industry has aligned with a common standard called the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) protocol with the hierarchy for charging stations. This hierarchy is as follows: Station Location: A station location is a site with one or more EV charging ports at the same address. For example, a station location might be a parking garage or a mall parking lot. EV Charging Port: An EV charging port provides power to charge only one vehicle at a time even though it may have multiple connectors. The unit that houses EV charging ports is sometimes called a charging post, which can have one or more charging ports. They might also be called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) ports. Connector: A connector is what is plugged into a vehicle to charge it. Multiple connectors and connector types such as CHAdeMO and CCS can be available on one charging port, but only one vehicle will charge at a time. Connectors are sometimes called plugs. Level 1, 2 or 3? Getting to know the equipment Charging equipment for electric vehicles is classified by the rate at which the batteries are charged. Depending on the charger you have access to, charging time can range from less than 20 minutes to more than 20 hours. The Department of Energy says when choosing equipment for a specific application, many factors should be considered. These include networking, payment capabilities, and operation and maintenance. Level 1 Charging Alternating Current (AC) Level 1 equipment (often simply "Level 1") provides charging through an everyday 120-volt AC plug. Level 1 charging provides approximately 5 miles of range per 1 hour of charging. According to the Department of Energy, most if not all EVs come with a portable Level 1 cord, so no additional charging equipment is required. Level 1 charging is typically used when there is only a 120-volt outlet is available, for example, while charging at home. But a Level 1 charger can provide charging for most of a driver's needs. 8 hours of charging at 120 volts can replenish about 40 miles of electric range for a mid-size EV. As of 2022, less than 1% of public EV charging ports in the United States were Level 1, according to the Department of Energy's Alternative Fueling Station Locator. Level 2 Charging AC Level 2 equipment provides charging through 240-volt or 208-volt electrical service. 240-volt service is typical in residental charging, while 208-volt is common in commercial charging. Most homes have 240-volt service available and EV owners commonly install it for home charging, as it can typically charge a battery overnight. Level 2 is also commonly used for public and workplace charging, operating at 40 to 80 amps. Level 2 charging providides approximately 25 miles of range per 1 hour of charging. Level 2 charging equipment uses the same J1772 connector that Level 1 equipment uses. All commercially available EVs in the United States have the ability to charge using Level 1 and Level 2 charging equipment, according to the Department of Energy. Vehicles with a J3400 (also called North American Charging Standard or NACS) connector currently only Tesla vehicles can use the connector for all charging levels. All Tesla vehicles come with a J1772 adapter, which allows drivers to use non-Tesla Level 2 charging equipment. Nearly 80% of public EV charging ports in the United States were Level 2 as of 2022. More: Electric vehicle hype slows, but Missouri's EV infrastructure is still growing DC Fast Charging Direct-current (DC) fast charging (Level 3) equipment enables rapid charging along heavy traffic corridors where stations are installed. DC fast charging provides approximately 100 to 200+ miles of range per 30 minutes of charging. According to the Department of Energy, the availability of DC fast charging is expected to increase as a result of federal funding to build a national EV charging network, such as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program or national Alternative Fuel Corridors grant program. More than 20% of public EV charging ports in the United States were DC fast chargers as of 2022. There are three types of DC fast charging systems, depending on the type of charge port on the vehicle: SAE Combined Charging System (CCS); CHAdeMO; and J3400 (NACS). The CCS connector (also known as SAE J1772 combo) lets drivers use the same charging port with Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging equipment. The only difference is that the DC fast charging connector has two additional bottom pins. Most EV models on the market can charge using the CCS connector. The CHAdeMO is a DC fast connector type common among Japanese automakers. According to the Department of Energy, SAE International is standardizing the J3400 connector based on Teslas design for the NACS connector, which works for all charging levels, including Tesla's fast charging option, called a Supercharger. Tesla vehicles do not have a CCS or CHAdeMO charge port, but they do come with a limited CCS or CHAdeMO adapter that supports charging up to 19.2 kW. Some car manufacturers have announced adopting the J3400 connector as early as 2025, which will allow non-Tesla EVs to charge at Tesla stations with the J3400 connector. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: What's the difference between level 1, 2, and 3 EV chargers? In the half-decade weve had folding phones, they have operated at opposite ends of the spectrum. One side wants to maximize power and productivity with tablet-like foldables, while the other wants to make your phone as minimalistic as possible. Samsung caters to both of these groups with its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series, and its had five years of experience in that department. Were not far away from both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, but the rumor mill is still steadily churning. Heres what we know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 so far. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: release date Joe Maring/Digital Trends / Digital Trends Samsung releases the Galaxy Z Flip alongside its larger sibling, the Galaxy Z Fold, at the same time. In the past, Samsungs foldables have always come out in the summer. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 was released on August 27, 2021, the Z Flip 4 was launched on August 26, 2022, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 was released on August 11, 2023. However, well see this years Flip a bit earlier than usual. On June 25, Samsung confirmed that its next Unpacked event will be held on July 10 in Paris, France, and will start at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT. During this Galaxy Unpacked event, we can expect the Galaxy Z Flip 6, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Galaxy Ring. There have also been rumors of an Ultra variant of the Z Fold 6, but details have been sparse. Samsung should also be launching the next iteration of watches with the Galaxy Watch 7 series, as well as a new Galaxy Watch Ultra. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: price Joe Maring / Digital Trends While the Galaxy Z Fold series has always been very expensive, the Z Flip devices have been a bit more affordable for most people. Currently, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 starts at $1,000 for the 256GB version, and the 512GB version costs $1,120. However, we may see a price increase this year. A leak from GSMArena has spotted retail listings in Europe for the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and it starts at 1,340 for the 256GB model and 1,467 for the 512GB version. This converts to about $1,435 and $1,572, which is a significant jump. This appears to be only in Europe, though, so its not clear if there will be a price increase in the U.S. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: design SmartPrix and OnLeaks The overall look of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is likely to be similar to the current Galaxy Z Flip 5, though some improvements will be made to its durability. According to a report from the German site GalaxyClub, a patent filing from the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) under Samsung Display shows that the company is trying to trademark Ironflex. There is not much known about Ironflex, aside from the fact that its related to a foldable OLED display panel and foldable smartphone. Its likely to be a more durable foldable screen, and we do know that Samsung has been working on improving the dust resistance of its foldables. SmartPrix and OnLeaks There were also leaked renders from SmartPrix, in collaboration with OnLeaks, showing what the Galaxy Z Flip 6 would look like in a full 360-degree video and 5K renders. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks similar to what we have right now, including the 6.7-inch main screen. The power button is on the right side and doubles as the fingerprint sensor, along with volume buttons. The USB-C port and speakers are also at the bottom, which is pretty standard. SmartPrix and OnLeaks The leaked render shows the back of the device with what appears to be a 3.4-inch cover display, which is currently on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. However, leaker Ross Young claims that the Z Flip 6 could have a larger cover display at 3.9 inches. It also looks like the Z Flip 6s cover display is sticking with the folder-like shape Samsung introduced on the Flip 5 last year. The Z Flip 6 also appears a bit thicker than before. SmartPrix claims the phones depth has increased to 7.4mm from 6.9mm, potentially indicating theres room for a larger battery this year. As far as colors go, leaker Ross Young, who has a reputable track record, has a full list of the potential colors for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 posted on X (formerly Twitter). These colors include Light Blue, Mint, Silver Shadow, Yellow, Crafted Black, Peach, and White colors. He had previously said that colors would include Light Blue, Light Green, Silver, and Yellow, indicating that the Light Green is now Mint and Silver is Silver Shadow. Previously said Z Flip 6 colors were: Light Blue, Light Green, Silver and Yellow They are still there but now Light Green is called Mint and Silver is called Silver Shadow. New, lower volume colors are: Crafted Black, Peach and White Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) April 22, 2024 Ross also said that three colors would be lower volume, indicating that they may be exclusive colors, likely direct from Samsung.com. These exclusives would be Crafted Black, Peach, and White. The other colors would be considered standard. Dummy unit Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 showing cover displays. Dummy unit of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 showing side view of device closed. Dummy unit of a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 showing bottom and hinge. 9to5Google obtained photos of dummy units for both the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 from Sonny Dickson in June. For the Z Flip 6, the dummy unit appears identical to what we already have with the Z Flip 5. Unlike the sharp and flat edges of the Z Fold 6, the Z Flip 6 will still retain rounded corners from before. The camera setup also looks the same. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: specs Joe Maring / Digital Trends Its very likely that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip that is already in the S24 lineup. Based on our use of the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra, performance and power efficiency should see a nice boost this year. Samsung may be taking a different approach with the Galaxy Z Flip 6s RAM this year, however. There have been multiple reports about a Galaxy Z Flip 6 surfacing on Geekbench results, but one had 8GB RAM, and the other had 12GB RAM. This was first discovered on SamMobile, which shows that Samsung was testing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with 12GB RAM rather than the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 8GB RAM. This has come up because the Z Flip 6 (SM-F741U) has shown up in Geekbenchs database with both of these configurations. Qualcomm This would be a new approach from Samsung, which has typically used the latest chip in its annual phone releases. But it wouldnt be too surprising. After all, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still a very capable chip that can run most of the Galaxy AI features and still has decent power efficiency. Plus, with 12GB RAM, it could be on par with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with less RAM. If this report is accurate, it would also be the first time that the Z Flip would have more than 8GB RAM. Another possibility is that Samsung is releasing two variants of the Galaxy Z Flip 6: one with 8GB RAM and another higher-end version with 12GB RAM (at least according to a report from Neowin), with both using Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Typically, the Z Flip series has launched with two storage options but the same amount of RAM. This would be the first time that Samsung has offered two different RAM options for the Z Flip series. That's great news! I'm glad to hear that the Flip 6 comes equipped with Snapdragon across the board, avoiding any critical issues seen in the Exynos 2400. kro (@kro_roe) May 12, 2024 There are also reports that there will be no chipset split with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, according to leaker @kro_roe on X. It looks like the Z Flip 6 will use Snapdragon across the board, though it could be between Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Gen 3; there will be no Exynos chip for different regions. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: cameras SmartPrix and OnLeaks Though it may feel like the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be very similar to the current flip phone, that may not be true in the case of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 camera. A report from GalaxyClub suggests that Samsung will be upgrading the dual camera system by bumping up the primary sensor to a 50MP main camera. This is a big jump from the current 12MP camera that is on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. The specs for the ultrawide camera are unknown, and again, it will lack a telephoto camera. We dont expect the Z Flip 6 to be a camera powerhouse, but a new primary camera sensor is worth getting excited about. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: battery life Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Again, from the leaked renders so far, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be slightly thicker than the current iteration. This would make it possible to have a slightly larger battery capacity. Rumors suggest that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 might have a slight increase to a 4,000mAh battery, which would be an improvement over the Z Flip 5s 3,700mAh battery. Combined with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which offers better power efficiency, the Z Flip 6 could deliver the battery life upgrades weve been waiting for. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: software and updates Tushar Mehta / Digital Trends Since the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be announced in July, it likely wont ship with Android 15. Instead, it will more than likely come with Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Based on Samsungs latest commitment to software updates for the S24 series, we should also see about seven years of updates, assuming that the hardware itself holds up that long. A major selling point for the S24 series is Galaxy AI, which is a suite of AI-powered tools integrated into the OS. Such tools include Live Translate, Chat Assist, Note Assist, Circle to Search, generative photo editing tools, and more. Its likely that Galaxy AI will come to both the Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 devices this summer and continue Samsungs move toward AI-powered smartphones. Siblings abandon modern construction methods to build hand-sculpted mud house in mountains: 'If birds and ants can make their homes, why can't we?' A pair of siblings who abandoned modern construction methods have brought their mudhouse vision to fruition with the help of Indigenous wisdom and the global community. As detailed by Architectural Digest, Ansh and Raghav Kumar combined their artistic and architectural talents to design a 600-square-foot mountain home for a site near Rishikesh, India. The Tiny Farm Fort project was a success thanks to the guidance of local villagers, whom Ansh and Raghav said they leaned on to navigate the remote environment with stunning views of the Ganges river. "When we moved to Rishikesh, we spent a lot of time with the local villagers, immersing ourselves in their way of life, especially with the eldest grandmother," Ansh, an artist, told Architectural Digest. "On other days, we would sit and observe the sun, wind and stars to plan the architecture of the house, including the placement of the entrance, sleeping and bathing area and a tiny fireplace. It was based on intuition." In most modern construction, cement (the main ingredient in concrete) is the favored building material. According to multiple reports, concrete is the most consumed material worldwide after water. Unfortunately, this contributes to an out-of-balance planet. The energy-intensive process of creating cement is widely reported to account for around 8% of all carbon pollution. To put that into perspective, Arizona State University professor Narayanan Neithalath explained to ASU News that if the cement sector were a country, it would be the third-largest carbon polluter after China and the United States. The transportation of materials is another factor adding to health-harming pollution from the construction industry. However, as Ansh and Raghav shared with Architectural Digest, the mud used to build the Tiny Farm Fort came less than 500 feet from the site. The crew consisted of more than 90 travelers from 18 countries, hired through a work platform connecting people with homestay experiences in exchange for several hours of labor. The inside of Tiny Farm Fort is a "haven of biomaterials," according to the siblings' interview with the publication, repurposing items like discarded slate for a table and locally sourced wood for a chandelier. What's more, instead of relying on heavy, dirty fuel-guzzling construction equipment, builders used traditional techniques. "Contrary to assumptions, mud is a very safe material to build a house with," Raghav, an architect, told the Architectural Digest. "We engaged in daily stomping and dancing rituals, mixing the mud with straw and water to give it strength, all while playing music from all over the world." In addition to being easily sculpted, mud and other natural build mixtures are affordable, weatherizing (resulting in lower electric bills), and often climate-resilient. For example, Colorado Earth's earthen bricks get even stronger when exposed to fire while also reducing the need for heating and cooling. In California, a man who wanted to feel closer to nature constructed his cob home for only $200 and is now living debt-free. As for the Kumars, the COVID-19 pandemic was the spark that ignited their journey in 2020. "We began to question our state of living and being. Our climate anxiety peaked," Ansh revealed to Architectural Digest. "And if birds and ants can make their homes, why can't we?" The Tiny Farm Fort was completed in 547 days and is now listed as a bed and breakfast. According to the report, Ansh and Raghav are still connected with the villagers, teaching them about ecotourism practices. They are also working to promote the benefits of mud houses, which Raghav said had become less popular in India due to the government's marketing of them as temporary housing. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. 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. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, made a stop at Charles City Head Start on Thursday to draw attention to the dearth of child care options for rural families. Ernst has joined a bipartisan effort to boost the number child care providers in rural communities across the country. She met with Melissa Nelson, chief operating officer at North Iowa Community Action Organization, a nonprofit that runs Head Start preschools in Charles City, Clear Lake, Manly, Forest City, and Algona. She also spoke with Trena Cox, early childhood program director, and Meghan Judisch, assistant early childhood program director, about the challenges faced by child care providers in small communities. Along with Head Start programs, NICAO provides support for individuals and families who need assistance with housing, utilities, employment, or disaster relief. NICAO offers an Early Head Start program for pregnant mothers, infants, and toddlers and a regular Head Start preschool class for three and four year olds. Services are offered for families that fall below certain income thresholds and are considered at-risk. Head Start staff said they struggle with funding, staff turnover and retention, as well as behavioral issues among the children. According to Cox, they'd like to create more openings in both the Early Head Start and Head Start programs, but can't afford it. "Right now, (our hinderance) is funding. We're waiting for funding opportunities to open up for Early Head Start," she said. Cox feels technology such as phones and tablets is contributing to behavioral issues in young children, making it more difficult to retain staff. Nelson agreed. "Kids can't be bored anymore. They're constantly going 90 miles an hour. ... It does definitely take a toll on the staff and everyone else," Nelson said. Charles City Head Start currently has a mental health counselor for children and offers courses on parenting for families. "It was great to come out today and visit with NICAO and their Early Head Start program and the Head Start Program and just see the needs of the community," Ernst said. "But (we're) taking all of this information from child care centers, community action centers, and Head Start programs, and trying to formulate a way that we can assist from the federal government level." Ernst supported two bills during the 2023 legislative session meant to help alleviate the current child care shortage. The Expanding Child Care in Rural America Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill proposed by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), would use USDA rural development funds to provide loans and grants to open new child care facilities or improve existing ones. It also would allow USDA to distribute funds to child care providers through intermediaries like child care resource and referral organizations. The bill was endorsed by both the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmer's Union. It has not passed through committee review yet. Ernst also supported the Small Business Child Care Investment Act. Introduced by Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, in March 2023, the Small Business Child Care Investment Act is also still in the committee stage. If passed, it would allow smaller, nonprofit child care providers to take part in Small Business Administration loan programs. Ernst said religious organizations that provide day care services can't participate in programs for small businesses. The Small Business Childcare Investment Act would make them eligible, as long as they adhere to certain quality standards such as drug testing employees. According to Ernst, initiatives to support child care workers and open more child care facilities can help reduce staffing issues for businesses across the state. "Many young women want to engage in the work force, but they can't unless they know that their children have a safe environment to go to," she said. Ernst had words of comfort for families searching for affordable day care for their kids. "There's a lot of really wonderful, caring people in all of these of these communities, like the folks we just spoke with here at Head Start," Ernst said. "They care, they want the best for your children, and we know you want the best for your children as well." saurabh9gupta Hi everyone, Request one of the experts to take a stab at this. I am still not able to understand why D is the answer. Swat40 Dear Experts, Please clear my queries: 1) I feel both option C and D weakens the conclusion. However, I am unable to understand why option D is preferred.\ option C: Weakens the author's conclusion by eliminating the possibility of human arrival before 18500 years. However, it is not full proof since leaves open the 18000-18500 duration. option D: Casts doubt for the duration between 18000 & 11400 years ago. However, not full proof since leaves open the possibility of more than 18k years ago. Moreover, i am not comfortable with the "charcoal" info with reference to the overall argument. The charcoal is if dated 11200 years old, how the argument is coorelating it with humans coming more than 18k years ago. Quote: Charcoal from a hearth site in Colorado, 2,000 miles south of Alaska, is known to be 11,200 years old. Researchers reasoned that, since glaciers prevented human migration south from the Alaska-Siberia land bridge between 18,000 and 11,000 years ago, humans must have come to the Americas more than 18,000 years ago. humans must have come to the Americas more than 18,000 years ago. Charcoal from a hearth site in Colorado is 11,200 years old. A hearth is a human-made fireplace, so this implies that the charcoal was the result of human activity. (Presumably, the charcoal was laced with THC. Hey, I'm a Coloradan, so I'm allowed to make that joke!) fireplace, so this implies that the charcoal was the result of human activity. (Presumably, the charcoal was laced with THC. Hey, I'm a Coloradan, so I'm allowed to make that joke!) In other words, humans were in Colorado at least 11,200 years ago. Colorado is 2,000 miles south of Alaska. Between 18,000 and 11,000 years ago, glaciers prevented human migration south from the Alaska-Siberia land bridge (which connects Alaska and Siberia). Therefore, humans must have come to the Americas more than 18,000 years ago. Quote: Which of the following pieces of new evidence would cast doubt on the conclusion drawn above? despite the glaciers when humans could have migrated into the Americas. Quote: (A) Using new radiocarbon dating techniques, it was determined that the charcoal from the Colorado site was at least 11,400 years old. made a fire Quote: (B) Another campsite was found in New Mexico with remains dated at 16,000 years old. Quote: (C) A computer simulation of glacial activity showed that it would already have been impossible for humans to travel south overland from Alaska 18,500 years ago. strengthens already impossible Quote: (D) Using new radiocarbon dating techniques, it was proved that an ice-free corridor allowed passage south from the Alaska-Siberia land bridge at least 11,400 years ago. did not prevent all human migration between 18,000 and 11,200 years ago Quote: (E) Studies of various other hunting-gathering populations showed convincingly that, once the glaciers allowed passage, humans could have migrated from Alaska to Colorado in about 20 years. once the glaciers allowed passage Let's take a fresh look at the prompt:The researchers conclusion is thatHere's how they reach this conclusion:The charcoal is evidence that humans were in Colorado 11,200 years ago or prior. But humans could not have migrated into the Americas between 18,000 and 11,000 years ago, because they would have been blocked by glaciers during this period. Therefore, humans could not have come to the Americas between 18,000 and 11,200 years ago. So researchers conclude that humans must have come to the Americas prior to 18,000 years ago (implying that the descendants of those initial migrants lit a fire that left behind some charcoal 11,200 years ago).If there were any reason to doubt the evidence, then wed have a harder time accepting the conclusion. The conclusion focuses on when humans came to the Americas, so any sign that humans could have migrated between 18,000 and 11,200 years ago would certainly weaken the conclusion. New information about the charcoals age might help us as well, but knowing the age of the charcoal is kind of far from what we really care about:So what? All we know from choice (A) is that humansat least 200 years earlier than we had originally thought. This doesn't shed any light on when humans came to the Americas, and doesnt challenge the role of glaciers in blocking human migration. Even if (A) is true, we must still accept the fact that humans couldnt migrate into the Americas between 18,000 and 11,000 years ago. (A) does nothing to weaken the conclusion, so let's eliminate it.This has no bearing on the argument. Knowing that another human-made site in the Americas existed 16,000 years ago doesn't tell us anything about whether humans could have migrated between 18,000 and 16,000 years ago (a time period when we know that they could not). Consequently, (B) does not weaken the argument, and we'll eliminate it.This slightlythe argument by providing a second source of evidence supporting what we already know about glaciers. If it had beenfor humans to travel south 18,500 years ago, then it certainly was impossible for humans to migrate into the Americas between 18,000 and 11,200 years ago.And since the age of the charcoal remains 11,200 years old, (C) reinforces the author's conclusion that humans must have arrived prior to 18,000 years ago. To be precise, (C) would lead us to believe that humans arrived prior to 18,500 years ago (which by definition is more than 18,000 years ago).That's why we eliminate (C).This is right on the money! Choice (D) cuts straight through the argument by telling us that the glaciers, in fact,. This new evidence suggests that human migration could have taken place between 11,400 and 11,200 years ago.Remember, the conclusion states that humans must have come to the Americas more than 18,000 years ago. If (D) is true, then humans could have migrated after 18,000 years ago. This definitely casts doubt on the conclusion, so lets keep (D) around.Who cares? Choice (E) only tells us about what could have happened i.e., 11,000 years ago. We dont care about what happened 11,000 years ago. We want to know whether humans could have migrated between 18,000 and 11,200 yearse ago. Eliminate (E).(D) is the only choice that weakens the conclusion, so its our winner.I hope this helps!_________________ New Delhi: After heavy rains drenched the Delhi-NCR region on Friday, three children lost their lives in a wall collapse. Children were playing when the wall of an under-construction building crumbled down on them in the Dadri region of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Eight kids got trapped under the rubble, of which five remain in the hospital where treatment is underway. The event occurred in Khodna Kalan village, within the jurisdiction of Dadri Tehsil. Speaking on the incident, the Additional District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar, Atul Kumar, told ANI, "On Friday, a wall of an under-construction house collapsed in the Khodna Kalan village under the limits of Dadri Tehsil. Eight children got buried under the debris after the wall of an under-construction house collapsed, and three of them were declared dead by doctors. He mentioned that the remaining five children are receiving treatment at the hospital as relief efforts continue. He stated that the police are investigating the incident and have assured financial assistance for the victims. #WATCH | 3 children died after the wall of an under-construction house collapsed in the Greater Noida's Surajpur Police station area. pic.twitter.com/sIuvZzDFc8 June 28, 2024 In another incident, the canopy collapse at Terminal 1 of Delhi airport claimed one life while eight others got injured. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced a technical committee had been established to investigate the incident's cause. According to the statement, four vehicles were damaged, and eight individuals who sustained minor injuries received immediate medical attention at the Medanta Centre at Delhi Airport. Following the accident, flight operations from the affected terminal remained suspended. The airlines are directed to operate from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. According to the India Meteorological Department, Delhi Safdarjung experienced a significant 228.1 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, primarily during the early morning hours. This marks the highest 24-hour rainfall in Delhi in June since 1936, whereas the 30-year average for the area is 75.2 mm. New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a protest on Saturday near the BJP's headquarters near DDU Marg to demand the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently under Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody in connection with the Delhi government's excise policy. Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi also joined the party's protest in Delhi against the arrest of Delhi CM. #WATCH | Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi joins the party's protest in Delhi against the arrest of Delhi CM and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal by CBI. pic.twitter.com/5ch9PDjosO ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024 Delhi CM was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped policy. The AAP protesters assembled at BJP's headquarters which is close to the AAP office on DDU Marg and raised slogans against the saffron party. Security has increased outside Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters in Delhi as they conducted a protest against the arrest of Kejriwal. #WATCH | Security increased outside Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters in Delhi as they stage a protest against the arrest of Delhi CM and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal by CBI. pic.twitter.com/0DYQhemYJY ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024 Arrangements were made to stop the protesters from marching towards the BJP headquarters, a senior police officer said, According to PTI. The officers informed that the barricades had been put up and paramilitary personnel deployed at the site to stop the protesters. He further added that permission has not been taken for the protest and if required the protesters might be detained as Section 144 of the CrPC has already been imposed at DDU Marg. New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the BJP will fight the upcoming Haryana assembly elections alone under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and exuded confidence the party will come back to power in the state with full majority for its third consecutive term. In a party statement, Shah said the BJP will fight the next assembly elections under the leadership of Saini, who will also be the next chief minister. Addressing BJP leaders and workers during a meeting of the party's extended state executive at Panchkula here, Shah said they should have no doubts that the BJP will have no tie-up with any party for the state polls, which are due before October this year. The party does not need any crutches, party sources quoted Shah as having said in the meeting. The proceedings of the meeting were not open to the media. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the BJP will form the government in Haryana for the third time with a full majority, Shah told the workers. He said to form a majority government in the state, every worker would have to go to every house and appeal to each voter, according to the sources. Lashing out at the Congress, Shah accused it of trying to hide its defeat in the Lok Sabha polls by spreading confusion among people. Shah said Narendra Modi is the first leader to become the prime minister for the third consecutive time in the country after six decades. The basis of BJP's victory is the party's principles, the hard work of workers and the public welfare work done by the BJP government, he said. Targeting the opposition, Shah said the leaders of the Haryana Congress have been involved in "cuts, commission and corruption". Earlier in Haryana, one government used to work for one district, the other government for another district, but the BJP has done the same work in the whole of Haryana in the past 10 years, said Shah, asserting that there was no regional bias in under the BJP rule. He appealed to the workers that after the formation of the BJP-led government at the Centre, they have to work to ensure the party government is formed for the third time in Haryana. The Union Home Minister said "tara, sitara" will no longer work in Haryana as he took a dig at the Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Deepender Singh Hooda. "Sonia ka aakhon ka taara' (Rahul Gandhi), and (Bhupinder) 'Hooda saab ka Sitara' (Deepender Hooda). Ab Haryana mein Tara Sitara nahin chalega'," he said. He asked the workers to ensure the BJP's victory in the assembly polls with a two-thirds majority. The Haryana BJP posted on X that the home minister expressed gratitude to party workers and said the people of Haryana have made an important contribution in making Modi prime minister for a third time. The Union Home Minister said that in the last 10 years, the Centre carried out development works worth Rs 2,70,000 crore in Haryana. Praising the Modi government, he said it made many "impossible things possible" in the country, as he spoke about the construction of the Ram temple and the abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Lauding the people of the state, Shah said "Mhare (my) Haryana" has made a record in producing grains per person per acre. He appealed to the workers to make people aware of the work done by the BJP government in the last 10 years. Shah said that the BJP is the only party that respects the voter at the booth level and gives the credit of any victory to its booth worker. This is why the group of workers is called 'Dev Durlabh Fauj' in BJP, he said as he called upon all the workers to consider themselves as dedicated soldiers of the party and work for each and every vote. Shah noted that no other party has workers like the BJP. He said that the workers should go among the public with great pride because the Modi and Manohar-Nayab government have lived up to the expectations of the people on every front. In March this year, the BJP replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini, an OBC leader, as the chief minister of Haryana. Party leader Kiran Choudhary said Shah infused fresh zeal and enthusiasm in party workers. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is also the BJP's election in-charge for Haryana, Chief Minister Saini, party's co-incharge Biplab Kumar Deb and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar were present during the second session of the meeting which took place in the multipurpose hall of the Tau Devi Lal stadium in Panchkula. Senior state-level BJP leaders, office-bearers and around 4,500 party workers from all 90 assembly constituencies attended the meeting. After the meeting, Shah also met state unit office-bearers. Delhi's Rouse Avenue court on Saturday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12th in a CBI case related to an excise policy matter. The CBI on Saturday sought 14 days judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case involving the alleged excise scam, claiming that his detention was necessary in the "interest of the investigation and justice." During the hearing, vacation judge Sunena Sharma stated that once the police remand expires, the court has no choice but to send the accused to judicial custody. The court's detailed order is awaited. On June 26, Rouse Avenue Court ordered CM Kejriwal to be held in CBI custody for three days following the agency's application to detain the Aam Aadmi Party supremo for interrogation. Earlier that day, CM Kejriwal was formally arrested by the CBI and appeared before vacation judge Amitabh Rawat. The CBI was granted permission to bring CM Kejriwal before the special court after he was questioned by the central agency in Tihar Jail earlier this week. According to the CBI's remand application, Kejriwal refused to cooperate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive answers contrary to the evidence on record. The CBI arrested Kejriwal in connection with the government's excise policy irregularities. The ED arrested him on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case involving the now-scrapped policy. He was granted bail by a trial court, but the Delhi High Court stayed it. Tensions rose sharply in Jammu's Kathua district on Saturday as local authorities, backed by a large police force and bulldozers, moved into the Kalyanpur area. The operation's target was an alleged illegal mosque built on government land, which prompted a ground-level effort to demolish it. Initially appearing to be a routine administrative action, the situation quickly spiralled into chaos. The scene became volatile almost immediately after the bulldozers began their work. As police officers advanced with the machinery, they were attacked by a large crowd hurling stones. In response, the officers fired warning shots into the air to disperse the angry mob. According to reports, six police officers, including a constable SP, were injured during the clash. In today's DNA, Zee News' Anant Tyagi analysed the rising trend of bulldozer politics around different states in India and has it become a weapon of political vendetta. The incident has sparked widespread debate about the use of bulldozers in such operations, with differing perspectives emerging on the legality and motivations for the demolition. While some argue that the mosque's construction was illegal encroachment, others see the action as retaliatory politics. In the midst of the controversy, Sonia Gandhi, through an article published today, has sharply criticized the use of bulldozers on religious sites, alleging a pattern of targeted demolition under BJP-led governments. Referring to instances in various states including Akbarnagar in Lucknow and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh, she highlighted what she termed as selective targeting of Muslim establishments alongside Hindu properties. Reacting to Sonia Gandhi's accusations, BJP leaders have vehemently defended the actions in Kathua and other instances as necessary steps against illegal encroachments, denying any religious bias. They argue that such measures are aimed at upholding the rule of law and ensuring equitable enforcement across communities. Watch Saturday's episode of DNA for the detailed analysis here: New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday recalled his experience at the time of Emergency and said that late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi put many of the leaders behind bars but she never abused them. RJD chief shared an article titled "The Sangh Silence in 1975' on his official social media handle X. The article referred to his experience at the time of Emergency. "I was the convener of the steering committee that Jayaprakash Narayan--had constituted to carry forward the movement against the excesses of Emergency imposed by the then PM Indira Gandhi. I was in jail under the Maintenance of Security Act (MISA) for over 15 months," he posted on X. I was the convener of the steering committee that Jayaprakash Narayanhad constituted to carry forward the movement against the excesses of Emergency imposed by the then PM Indira Gandhi. I was in jail under the Maintenance of Security Act (MISA) for over 15 months. My colleagues pic.twitter.com/9fyThckm01 June 29, 2024 While sharing his Jail experience at the time of Emergency, Bihar's former CM further added that he didn't know the names of many BJP leaders who are currently under the BJP ministry. "My colleagues and I did not know many of the BJP ministers speaking about the Emergency today. We hadn't heard of Modi, J P Nadda, and some of the PM's other ministerial colleagues who today lecture us on the value of freedom," the post read. He further added that Indira Gandhi put us behind the bar but never abused or called up "anti-national" or "unpatriotic". "Indira Gandhi put many of us behind bars, but she never abused us. Neither she nor her ministers called us "anti-national" or "unpatriotic". She never enabled vandals to defile the memory of Babasaheb Ambedkar--the architect of our Constitution. 1975 is a stain on our democracy but let's not forget who doesn't respect the Opposition in 2024," the RJD leader added. Former PM Prime Minister imposed a 21-month state of emergency on June 25, 1975, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. A few days back President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of the Parliament criticised the imposition of Emergency and called it "biggest and darkest chapter." "Emergency was the biggest and darkest chapter of the direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country plunged into chaos during the Emergency, but the nation was victorious against such unconstitutional powers", she said, ANI reported. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge counters this and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to gain cheap applause by making the President deliver a speech filled with lies. Kharge shared a post on X and wrote, "Modi Ji is trying to gain cheap applause by making the Honorable President speak lies, which the people of India have already rejected in the 2024 elections." New Delhi: The Lok Sabha session on Friday commenced with a tumultuous start, prompting its adjournment until Monday as the opposition voiced its protest in the House regarding the NEET paper leak issue, urging for an immediate discussion on the matter. However, the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, claimed his microphone was turned off while he called for a 'respectful' debate on the issue to support the students. The Congress shared a viral video depicting an exchange between the Congress MP and the Speaker. Rahul Gandhi said his microphone was turned off and asked the speaker to turn it back on. The speaker quickly responded with a sharp reply. Speaker Om Birla told him to follow the rules of the House and wait to discuss them after the Motion of Thanks to the President's speech. Meanwhile, Gandhi continued to insist and said, "We wanted to give a joint message to the students of India, on behalf of the opposition as well as the government, that we consider this an important issue. So, we thought that to respect students, we should have a NEET discussion today, a dedicated discussion," reported news agency IANS. In response to LoPs allegations, Birla said that he does not possess a microphone switch. "I don't have any buttons to switch off the microphone. There was a similar set-up earlier. There is no mechanism to gag the microphone," the speaker added. The Congress shared the video and captioned the post, Raised the issue of NEETswitched off the mic. In the footage, Gandhi is seen addressing the house when suddenly his microphone was muted; later, the same happened to senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. The Central Bureau of Investigation initiated a criminal case on June 23 regarding the NEET (UG) and UGC-NET exams, citing alleged misconduct by the National Testing Agency during the exams. The controversy arose when 67 candidates received perfect scores of 720 out of 720, sparking outrage in academic communities. The issue quickly became political after the Ministry of Education initially dismissed allegations of paper leaks. Later, they formed a high-level committee to investigate the irregularities and propose reforms for the examination system. (Based on inputs from IANS) New Delhi: NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar took a dig at Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday over his remarks concerning the Emergency of 1975, claiming that the speech did not suit his 'stature of his post. Shortly after his election as Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla ignited a fierce controversy on Wednesday by reading a resolution that condemned the imposition of Emergency as a constitutional assault by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Pawar rebuked the speakers choice of making a politically charged comment. While talking to the media, he said, "Is it the role of the speaker to make a political statement? We think his statement was not apt. The president's speech also made a brief mention of this issue. That was also not necessary," reported PTI. Regarding Rahul Gandhi assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition, Pawar explained that the party with the highest number of MPs in the Opposition has the prerogative to choose the leader. He added, In one way, this is a representation of the new generation with a background in politics and a willingness to put in tremendous effort. I am sure he will shine." Pawar criticised the BJP, remarking that before making claims about a Congress-free India, the BJP should consider its seat count before and after the Lok Sabha elections. He said that the BJP lacks a majority in Parliament, and without the support of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, they wouldn't have formed a government. Despite their efforts to conceal it, the reality is evident: they do not have a decisive mandate from the Indian populace, the veteran leader asserted. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: Four people were killed and one injured after an explosion that occurred at a firecracker factory on Saturday near Sattur in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. The injured were being treated at the government hospital, officials said. "Three people killed, one injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory near Sattur in Virudhunagar district. The injured is being treated at the government hospital," Virudhunagar District Collector said, ANI reported. #WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Three people killed, one injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory near Sattur in Virudhunagar district. The injured is being treated at the government hospital: Virudhunagar District Collector pic.twitter.com/N3HCvAEIlZ June 29, 2024 In the last months, an explosion took place at a firecracker manufacturing factory at Narayanapuram Pudur, near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district. But no casualties had been reported in the fire incident. Fire tenders quickly reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and extinguished the fire. New Delhi: As monsoon arrived in major part of the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday raised an 'orange' alert for heavy rain in the region of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and some districts of Maharastra. Parts of the national capital including Rohini and Burari, received rainfall this morning. The department has forecast moderate to heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms for the coming days. "Delhi is likely to receive moderate to heavy rainfall throughout the day, with an even heavier spell anticipated on Sunday and Monday," the IMD said, PTI reported. #WATCH | A Fresh spell of rainfall lashes several parts of Delhi after the national capital witnessed water logging issues. Visuals from the Man Singh Road area. pic.twitter.com/FyanQqgMQK June 29, 2024 Cyclonic Circulation Brings Widespread Rains In Gujarat The weather department released the statement saying cyclonic circulation active over south Gujarat brought widespread rains in several parts of the state and this will continue for the coming few days. IMD has issued a yellow alert for south Gujarat, predicting the possibility of heavy showers. "The cyclonic circulation over central Gujarat and neighbourhood now lies over south Gujarat and extends up to 4.5 km above mean sea level tilting southwards. Due to the above-mentioned systems, Gujarat is very likely to receive an active wet spell during the next five days" said IMD in a release, PTI reported. According to the release, there are forecasts of heavy rainfall in isolated areas of Valsad and Navsari districts, as well as the adjoining Union Territory of Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli on Saturday. IMD Forecasts For Southwest India The current northern limit of the monsoon extends through Jaisalmer and Churu in Rajasthan, Bhiwani, Delhi, Aligarh, Hardoi, Moradabad, Una (Western UP), Pathankot in Punjab, and Jammu. The meteorological department on Saturday announced that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of East Uttar Pradesh and some more parts of West Uttar Pradesh. New Delhi: The Janata Dal United (JDU) culminated its national executive meeting at the party office in Delhi with a resolution calling for special state status for Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reiterated the partys demand for the state to be granted special state status or special financial package from the NDA-led central government. Briefing the media after the meeting, a senior JDU leader said, Special status and special package for Bihar is our old demand and it is still there. In the near future, the party leaders in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, along with our leaders Lallan Singh and Sanjay Jha, will meet with the Prime Minister and make their points firmly." Meanwhile, the JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha is set to assume the role of the party's working president. Thanking the partys top leaders, Jha said that the national president, CM Nitish Kumar has given me a huge responsibility. I am grateful to him. He added that the CM has transformed Bihar. #WATCH | Delhi: After the party's national executive meeting, Bihar Minister and JD(U) leader Dr Ashok Choudhary says, "...Special status and special package for Bihar is our old demand and it is still there. Our leaders Lallan Singh, Sanjay Jha, who are here in Rajya Sabha and pic.twitter.com/sFiSzY90tX ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024 We won 30 of the 40 seats in the Bihar election, according to the results. Out of 243 assembly seats, 177 have been gained by us. Bihar has signalled that the Assembly elections of 2025 will take place, the newly appointed JD(U) president said. In response to recent controversies, the party has voiced serious apprehensions about reported irregularities in the NEET examination, urging a comprehensive investigation. The leader emphasised the importance of stringent action against paper leak case accused. The JD(U) leader said that the party seeks passage of strong law in Parliament to curb exam irregularities, reported PTI. In today's digital age, nearly everyone has access to a smartphone or camera. From capturing beautiful landscapes to taking selfies, photography has become a staple of our daily routines. Although often linked to preserving memories and sharing moments, recent research indicates that photography can significantly impact mental health. It offers a non-verbal way for individuals to express and communicate their emotions, particularly when articulating their feelings is challenging and this may be especially beneficial for their mental wellbeing. Heres how photography can be therapeutic and boost creativity in school kids as shared by Vicky Roy, renowned for his exceptional talent and passion for visual storytelling through photography. Mindfulness and Focus Photography encourages kids to slow down and observe their surroundings. By focusing on capturing the perfect shot, children learn to be present in the moment, which can reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm. This mindful practice helps improve their concentration and attention to detail, essential skills both in and out of the classroom. Additionally, it allows them to escape from daily stressors, fostering a peaceful mental state. Emotional Expression Sometimes it takes an external lens to see our insides more clearly. Through photography, kids can express their emotions and thoughts visually, providing an outlet for feelings they might not be able to articulate verbally. Creating images that reflect their moods and experiences can be a powerful form of self-expression and emotional release. This process helps them understand and manage their emotions better, promoting emotional intelligence. It also provides a safe space for exploring and sharing personal stories, enhancing their emotional well-being. As part of the #BeyondTheObvious campaign at Satya School, students were encouraged to use photography as a medium to convey their inner worlds. Boosting Self-Esteem Successfully capturing a beautiful or meaningful photo can significantly boost a child's confidence. Positive feedback from peers and teachers on their photography work reinforces their self-esteem and encourages them to continue exploring their creative talents. This sense of achievement and recognition can motivate them to take on new challenges, both in photography and other areas of their lives. Celebrating their unique perspectives through photography fosters a strong sense of self-worth. Enhancing Creativity Photography stimulates creativity by encouraging kids to see the world from different perspectives and experiment with various techniques. Whether it's playing with light and shadows, exploring different angles, or finding unique subjects, photography challenges children to think outside the box. This creative exploration enhances their problem-solving skills and artistic abilities, making them more innovative thinkers. It also provides a dynamic way to engage with their environment, turning everyday scenes into creative opportunities. During our workshop with Mr. Vicky Roy at Satya School, students were inspired to explore these creative facets through their lenses. Social Connection and Collaboration Participating in group photography projects or photo walks can help kids build social connections and develop teamwork skills. Collaborating on photo assignments allows them to share ideas, learn from each other, and work towards a common goal. This social interaction is vital for their emotional development and helps reduce feelings of isolation. Moreover, it fosters a sense of community and belonging, as they bond over shared interests and collective creativity. Therapeutic Breaks and Nature Therapy Taking a camera outdoors for nature photography can be incredibly therapeutic. The combination of physical activity, fresh air, and the beauty of natural surroundings can significantly reduce stress and improve mood. Encouraging kids to take photo breaks during their study sessions provides a healthy balance between work and relaxation. Nature photography also teaches them to appreciate the small wonders around them, fostering a sense of gratitude and well-being. New Delhi: Actors need a blend of confidence, courage, and exceptional acting skills to truly excel in their craft. While many possess some of these qualities, only a few can be considered complete actors. One such actress is Jaya Bhattacharya, a seasoned and esteemed talent in the industry. Currently, she is captivating audiences with her lead role as Urmila in Sun Neos' recently launched show 'Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya.' In a recent interview, reflecting on her extensive career, she spoke about the privilege of working alongside some of the industry's most accomplished actors. Jaya Bhattacharya, the Urmila in the show Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya says, "When I worked with Shahrukh Khan, it was an incredible experience. He is very disciplined, humble, and a true gentleman. Aishwarya Rai and Govinda ji are exceptional performers with immense courage. Every actor I worked with has been outstanding, possessing all the qualities a great actor should have. They are complete actors. I feel grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented individuals. She added, I also shot a film with Madhuri Dixit and Nana Patekar ji , even though the film didnt release, I got the best experience and enjoyed working on the project a lot. I am feeling so blessed to work with such actors who are not only immensely talented but are also amazing as a person. About Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya is a heartwarming family drama following the life of Vaishnavi (played by Brinda Dahal), an orphan who reveres Chhathi Maiyya (portrayed by Devoleena Bhattacharjee) as her mother. The show centers around Vaishnavi's devotion to Chhathi Maiyya, who protects and guides her worshippers, celebrating the triumph of good over evil. In recent episodes, Vaishnavi faces numerous obstacles in her life. Gayatri, who wishes for Kartik and Vaishnavi to marry, reveals that Vaishnavi is destined to be Kartik's bridea decision supported by both Kartik and Yashoda. Will Gayatri's wish come true? Chinese Premier meets with Peruvian president in Beijing Xinhua) 09:21, June 29, 2024 Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets 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) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra in Beijing on Friday. Li said that since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Peru in 2013, the two sides have continuously deepened political mutual trust and expanded practical cooperation, setting a good example of unity, cooperation and common development between China and Latin American countries. Noting that China attaches great importance to relations with Peru, Li said China is willing to work with Peru to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, push the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and bring more benefits to the two peoples. China stands ready to further strengthen exchanges and dialogue with Peru at all levels, and continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, Li said. Li said both sides should strengthen the synergy of development strategies, continue to expand trade and deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as mining, electricity, ports and infrastructure, under the guidance of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Li also called on the two sides to expand cooperation in emerging areas such as new energy, communications, digital economy, digital healthcare and artificial intelligence to ensure the steady implementation of major projects, and continue to deepen people-to-people and cultural cooperation and promote friendship between the two countries. Li said China supports Peru in hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Peru in multilateral mechanisms such as the UN and APEC to make positive contributions to maintaining world peace and development, safeguarding the common interests of developing countries, and promoting the building a community with a shared future for humanity. Hailing the friendship between the two peoples, Boluarte said the investment and cooperation of Chinese enterprises has effectively promoted Peru's economic and social development. Peru actively participates in Belt and Road cooperation, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Peru, and is willing to further expand practical cooperation with China in infrastructure construction, new energy, green development, education and other fields, Boluarte said, adding that the Peruvian government is willing to provide a favorable environment for this. Boluarte noted that Peru abides by the one-China principle, supports the Global Security Initiative and is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China to jointly promote world peace and development. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets 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) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) 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. (Xinhua/Lodro Gyatso) 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) Danvilles Winslow Hospital, which served the citys Black community during the era of racial segregation, has been named to the Virginia Landmarks Register. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources announced the designation Tuesday. The register is the commonwealths official list of places of historical, architectural, archaeological, and cultural significance. Built in 1940 on Betts Street in the Almagro community, Winslow Hospital was the first and only hospital in Danville constructed to serve the Black community during segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, according to a news release from the city of Danville. The hospital closed in 1971 when medical services were fully integrated at the former Danville Memorial Hospital. The Winslow Hospital is an important part of the history of our city, Mayor Alonzo Jones said in a prepared statement. I am pleased the Housing Authority acquired this property and was able to get the historic designation. City officials look forward to seeing the building back in beneficial use. This historic designation will improve the chances that the building is redeveloped and becomes a contributing part of the Almagro neighborhood, City Manager Ken Larking said in a prepared statement. The citys Plan Danville comprehensive planning process put a special emphasis on this neighborhood, and we know from resident feedback how important this structure is to them and Danville. The Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority purchased the building last year. DRHA is delighted with the states decision to add this property to the registry, DRHA CEO Donald Paredez said in a prepared statement. This designation will ensure that the Winslow Hospital remains a vital part of the past and future of the Almagro community and the city of Danville. Operated by Black physicians and staff, the hospital played a critical role in treating the victims of Bloody Monday on June 10, 1963. The event was marked by violence against demonstrators protesting segregation and racial discrimination in Danville. Winslow Hospital was one of 12 sites that the Commonwealths Board of Historic Resources approved for listing in the Virginia Landmarks Register during its meeting on June 20. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources will forward the documentation for the newly listed sites to the National Park Service for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Listing a property on the state or national registers is honorary and sets no restrictions on what owners may do with their property, according to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Designating a property on the state or national registers provides its owner the opportunity to pursue historic rehabilitation tax credit improvements to the building. Stephen Kings character, Ted Brautigan, tells youthful Bobby Garfield, When youre young, you have moments of such happiness, you think youre living in someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been. Then we grow up, and our hearts break in two. (Hearts in Atlantis) That breaking comes in many ways. Because of sins onset, God subjected (creation) to futility and placed it in slavery to corruption. (Romans 8:20, 21) Friend, who knows when futility and corruption will manifest themselves? For example, consider Sam, a sprightly older man in his late 70s. We met after a lecture regarding the care of words. Our conversation ran deep. As an infant, Sam simultaneously contracted two serious diseases. The doctor, called to Sams parents farmhouse, held out no hope. Already having lost other children to disease, Sams mother with deep groaning poured out her soul in prayer like Hannah (1 Samuel 1: 10-17). Mercy, mercy! God spared Sams life. Like Hannah in the Bible, Sams mother encouraged Sam to go into the ministry. And he did. Sam and his wife Sarah raised six children. And there were challenges with churches he even had the sad duty of closing one. Sams greatest challenge came after the children had left. Something broke in Sarah. She became dangerous. On numerous occasions, she tried to take Sams life. Finally, a daughter helped him commit Sarah to a mental hospital. Once, after Sam visited Sarah, a doctor pulled him aside saying: Sam, following your visits, it takes days for your wife to settle down. For her well-being and ours, we ask you not to visit your wife. What a story! I asked Sam: What good has God been in all of this? Sam, who had thought much about life, with unwavering voice replied: Gods love is incorruptible. Friend, incorruptible leads us to the majestic New Testament book, Ephesians. Paul and the Holy Spirit conspire to make incorruptible the last word the word that continues to ring in our ears and dominate our thoughts. Incorruptible had that effect on me. Traveling from Helena to preach Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, for a 4 p.m. service in Laurel, (3-plus hours away), I felt an urge by the Holy Spirit? - to stop and worship at dynamic Trailhead Christian Fellowship north of Townsend. Although I walked in late, that unexpected stop paid rich dividends. Pastor Mark, completing his series on Ephesians, preached from 6:21-24: Note verse 24: Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. Love incorruptible - what a pair of words! I wondered, was incorruptible the base word of the same word Paul used in Romans 8 when he wrote that God has enslaved creation to corruption? My Bible Hub phone app showed me the words in Romans 8 and Ephesians 6 are the same - except the word in Ephesians 6 has the little letter "a" as a prefix. That brawny a flips the whole idea from corruption and brokenness to vibrant life! Christian, being enslaved to corruption is not the final word. Love incorruptible! My heart leapt at this last word. Now, some backstory. From October 2021-July 2022, our now 43-year-old son Jordan went through great adversities. He responded to ongoing wicked trauma on many fronts by trying to take his life three times. We felt the power of that vortex too. Once, in Mexico, he jumped from a tower, broke his back and smashed his feet. His back required eight-hour surgery. It is remarkable he can walk on his shattered feet. After we exhausted mental health resources in Montana, friends recommended Menninger Clinic in Houston. Menninger charged $50,000 to walk in the door. God provided. What a story of Gods love through leadership from Rocky Mountain Community Church, Billings, ($20,000 I pastored them for three months while their pastor was away on sabbatical), Peace Presbyterian, Cary, NC ($10,000 I pastored this church for 18 years), and friends giving through a Christian GoFundMe site ($26,000). Somehow, Jordan believed Gods love through so many. God answered friends prayers. Needed meds worked. Jordan turned a corner. Praise God! If you pray, please continue to pray for Jordan. According to J. R. R. Tolkien, history, for Christians, is a long defeat though it contains some samples or glimpses of final victory. Although Gods kingdom is already coming, evil is not yet exterminated. Like Tolkiens Middle Earth, our world is subjected to futility and enslaved by corruption. But Christians hope in God. God can, and indeed already has, conquered sin and death in Jesus. No longer enslaved without hope, Christians pray and fight the long defeat. In Andrew Petersons 2018 congregational song, Is He Worthy?, we ask: Is all creation groaning? We answer: (It is). And we ask in hope: Is a new creation coming? We affirm: (It is). Dear follower of Christ, focusing on Gods HOPE, Romans 8 is our solid foundation. Ponder the entire passage: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows cultural relics returned to China by Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Chinese embassy in Argentina received 14 pieces of cultural relics returned to China from the South American country here on Thursday. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua) In a significant display of international cooperation on cultural heritage preservation, the Chinese embassy in Buenos Aires received 14 repatriated artifacts from Argentina on Thursday. Both China and Argentina are state parties of UNESCO's 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. In 2018, the countries also signed an intergovernmental agreement on prevention of such cases and promotion of repatriation of related cultural relics. The successful return of the artifacts is the first collaborative effort since the signing of the agreement. At the repatriation ceremony in the embassy, Wang Wei, Chinese ambassador to Argentina, emphasized that the return of these artifacts marked the latest fruit in the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Argentina. "This collaborative effort not only underscored Argentina's deep respect for the emotional and cultural rights of the Chinese people, but also demonstrated the firm commitment of both nations to protect human cultural heritage, combat artifact smuggling, and uphold international agreements," he said. It also accumulated valuable experience to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, Wang added. The 14 artifacts, which left China illegally, include seven bronze bells dating to the late Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), plus three pottery figurines, two pottery figurine heads, a bronze frog and a bronze helmet that span from the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 220) to the time of the Northern and Southern dynasties, roughly the 5th to 6th centuries. They were seized in 2017 in coordination with the cultural heritage protection division of the Argentine Federal Police within a joint Interpol operation code-named Athena, in accordance with the Red List of Chinese Cultural Objects at Risk that was co-released by the International Council of Museums and China. The National Cultural Heritage Administration of China began seeking their return in 2019 via the Chinese embassy in Buenos Aires. On Dec 12, an Argentine court mandated the return of the 14 pieces to the embassy. Marcelo Chiappero, director-general of international police cooperation of the Argentine Federal Police, added that experts from the Buenos Aires-based National Museum of Oriental Art confirmed the authenticity of the pieces. The National Cultural Heritage Administration revealed that it would arrange their long journey home at a suitable time. China has signed bilateral agreements with 27 countries to fight against the theft, clandestine excavation, illicit export and import of cultural property. BRISTOL, Tenn. Visitors to Bristols State Street will soon be able to experience an immersive Viking-themed dining experience with a very unique menu. The Blood Eagle Tavern is transforming the State Street location, which until recently was home to the Angry Italian, into a fine-dining Viking restaurant and bar. It is expected to open July 15. As soon as you walk through the doors, youre gonna be greeted with pelts, shields, axes, things you normally dont see, and youre gonna have that immersive feel, said Cooper Wilson, the Blood Eagle Taverns Director of Business Operations. Patrick Anderson, the owner of Blood Eagle Tavern, described his vision for the tavern as a carnivores dream and highlighted that their menu will be made up a lot of different kinds of exotic game meats, which are not usually found on the menus at other restaurants. Its definitely a meat-potatoes kind of restaurant but more exotic, Anderson said. Its like elk, antelope, wild boar, rattlesnake, rabbit and a plethora of different meats. Anderson emphasized that he chose the name Blood Eagle, which is also the name of a coffee shop he owns in Abingdon, Virginia, because it is an eye-catching name and a reference to an old Norse method of ritual torture and sacrifice. I wanted a name that would really stand out, Anderson said. Its a really brutal, grotesque way of murdering somebody. Wilson highlighted that Blood Eagle Tavern will have a mural depicting various figures from Norse mythology and culture, which have been a subject of interest to him ever since he was a kid. Ive always liked the stories of Odin and Thor, growing up and seeing all the different things the Vikings did, Wilson said. They were great explorers, great adventurers and that encompassed me from a young age. The menu for Blood Eagle Tavern is not yet complete. However, Wilson explained that they are planning to attract the fine dining crowd and that prices will range from around $15 to $120. Were gonna be focused on the fine dining aspect, but also after 11 or 12, depending on the day were shutting down the full-service restaurant, opening the bar full term, so well be open till two or three in the morning, Wilson said. Anderson explained that they hope that, by being on State Street, they can capitalize on the growing foot traffic, which he expects will continue to grow as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is built. It really has blown up down here a little bit, and its gonna get even better, especially with the casino coming up, Anderson said. Were banking on that. Beyond opening next month, they have their eyes set on having a limited menu available during Rhythm and Roots. We really want to impress people as soon as they walk through the door so that they want to come back, and Rhythm and Roots is a great chance for us to prove ourselves, Wilson said. The Blood Eagle Tavern is currently looking to hire a total of 60 staff, including cooks, servers, and hostesses. Wilson envisions a future where the Blood Eagle Tavern becomes the premier dining spot in Bristol. Say a couple comes to the Hard Rock, we want, when they look on Google, they search best place to eat in Bristol, us to be number one, Wilson said. Thats my goal, at least is to see us at the top. GUEST OPINION: The vast majority of modern businesses use the Internet as their primary method of interacting with customers. Their website is their storefront, allowing customers to browse products, select items they want, and order them directly to their homes. As your primary means of generating sales, protecting your website from cyberattacks should be a top priority. Over the past few years, DDoS attacks have risen in prominence. Businesses that invest in DDoS protection are able to prevent these attacks from disabling their companys operations, keeping sales flowing in, and stopping hackers from holding their website at ransom. In this article, well explore cloud-based and on-premises DDoS protection solutions, outlining exactly how to get the best cybersecurity match for your business. How Does DDoS Prevention Work? DDoS attacks are concentrated attacks of malicious traffic that disrupt a companys servers and prevent them from functioning. Typically, malicious actors will use networks of bots to launch spikes of internet traffic at a site, overloading its servers and making it impossible for anyone to connect or use the site. According to data from Statista, DDoS attacks are an incredibly cheap form of attack to launch. Sending between 10,000-50,000 requests per second to a website for a whole month could cost as little as $850 for a hacker, during which time they could use ransom a far greater amount from the company. Equally, some hacking groups will have their own networks of compromised IoT devices, which they can use to launch proprietary attacks. DDoS prevention services aim to identify bot traffic by analyzing the traffic pattern that a connection generates. By monitoring oncoming traffic and dissecting it for potential signs of malicious intent or hints that it is bot traffic, DDoS protection services can block the traffic. In some cases, blocking the source of the traffic can completely thwart these attacks or radically reduce their efficacy. Comparing Cloud-Based and On-Prem Solutions When searching for a DDoS prevention solution, businesses can choose between a cloud-based or on-premises service. On-premises solutions have been the go-to form of DDoS protection for many years. As the DDoS prevention is active within the data centers of the company, there is extremely low latency. Alongside this, businesses have the usual benefits of on-premises architecture, like a more comprehensive level of control over the security and network configuration of the protection software. Yet, on-premises solutions also require a great deal of maintenance from security teams. As a business is directly responsible for the upkeep of its DDoS solution, it must conduct regular maintenance. If a company doesnt have access to experts in DDoS protection, this could present an issue as they may not know the optimal configurations or not have knowledge of new threats in the space. Cloud solutions, on the other hand, are a third-party service that a business pays for (typically via subscription). While cloud services do have higher latency, as traffic must reroute through the cloud centre for analysis, they come with several other benefits. For example, cloud DDoS protection can scale to meet the demands of a website. If a site experiences a spike in traffic, cloud services can manage this increase, helping to prevent high-volume DDoS attacks. Additionally, as a company doesnt have to actively manage its own DDoS services, this is one less major concern for security teams to consider. With on-premises solutions, the pressure falls on the security team to ensure that the service is fully operational and up-to-date. Which is Better: Cloud-Based or On-Prem Solutions? Both on-premises and cloud-based DDoS solutions are a valuable addition to a companys cybersecurity infrastructure. On-premises solutions are ideal for a company that has a large budget for the upfront payment, wants granular control over their protection, and is happy to pay for a security team to maintain their solution. For example, if a company was working with highly confidential records that they needed to absolutely ensure the ongoing security of, then preventing any DDoS attacks with an on-premises solution may be the best option. Cloud-based DDoS protection solutions are the ideal choice for any business that wants a high degree of protection from DDoS attacks but doesnt want to manage this service themselves. Cloud providers offer a flexible, stable, and secure alternative that makes DDoS protection as easy as possible. Instead of setting up your protection and overseeing its upkeep, youll simply pay a monthly fee to your service provider and have them do all of the heavy lifting. An additional consideration that businesses should make is that if they are more likely to receive a DDoS attack, then the scalable resources of a cloud service may provide the most comprehensive solution. While one of these options may stand out as the most effective choice, the most important thing is that you enlist DDoS protection services as quickly as possible. The global threat from DDoS is expanding every year, making this a problem you should solve sooner rather than later. Protecting Against Modern DDoS Attacks Unfortunately, as the technology available to malicious actors improves in the coming years, the threat that DDoS attacks pose to modern businesses will only continue to rise. The most effective method of protecting your company is to prepare for this eventuality by finding a reliable DDoS protection service. Enlisting modern DDoS protection solutions that can scale to handle larger DDoS attacks will give your business the best possible chance of protecting itself from this attack vector. Comprehensive DDoS protection services will enhance your active cybersecurity defenses and keep you safe from bot traffic. China's economic recovery is poised for further momentum, given strong policy stimulus and the gradual recovery in confidence and expectations, government officials and experts said. Their comments came as S&P Global Ratings affirmed unsolicited "A+" long-term and "A-1" short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on China. The outlook on the long-term rating is stable, the rating agency said. On Friday, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.73 percent to close at 2967.40 points, while the Shenzhen Component Index ended 0.01 percent lower. "The stable outlook on the long-term rating reflects our view that the Chinese economy will return to self-sustaining growth of above 4 percent over the next few years, paving the way for smaller annual increases in net general government debt," the rating agency said in a report on Thursday. In an online statement on Thursday, an official from the Ministry of Finance said the S&P Global Ratings' decision to maintain "A+" long-term and "A-1" short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on China reflects the rating agency's recognition of the resilience and development prospects of China's macroeconomy. The move also shows the independence and professionalism of its rating team, the official said. "As S&P Global Ratings said, China's economy, although facing some problems and challenges, will continue to maintain stable growth in the future as macro policies take effect," the official said. "China has multiple advantages, such as a large market size, strong endogenous vitality, solid development foundation, rapid development of new momentum and efficient supplies of various resources, in addition to the continuous optimization of macro adjustment policies by the Chinese government to strengthen countercyclical and cross-cyclical adjustments. "That will further enhance endogenous development strength, and consolidate and enhance the positive momentum of economic recovery." The official also recalled that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have recently raised their forecasts on China's economic growth. Li Peijia, a senior analyst at Bank of China, said she expects China to achieve around 5.2 percent economic growth in the third quarter, given stronger new development momentum and growing endogenous vitality. "China has injected fresh impetus into economic growth in the first half of the year by implementing more proactive fiscal policies and accelerating the development of new quality productive forces," Li said. "The country's competitiveness in exporting high-end product has further increased, while consumer expectations have been continuously growing, as reflected by the robust performance of goods consumption in areas like home appliances and communication equipment." Although Chinese exports to the United States have declined, growth in exports to other emerging economies such as Mexico and Vietnam has made up for it. Besides, more positive signs have appeared in the real estate market, she said. Dong Ximiao, chief researcher at Merchants Union Consumer Finance, said better implementation of policies already in place will further improve the real estate market and promote overall economic recovery. China is expected to achieve the growth target of around 5 percent for the year, or even register higher growth rate. To pursue economic transformation and high-quality development in a better way, however, the country needs to further deepen reform and expand high-standard opening-up, and be alert to factors that can exert downward pressure on the economy, he said. S&P Global Ratings said China's policy implementation can be very effective and rapid when incentives are aligned well. The country's continued growth will likely benefit from rapid improvements seen in public infrastructure across the country over the past couple of decades. WASHINGTON Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week. Along with roll call votes this week, the House also passed by voice vote a bill (H.R. 6586), to require a strategy to oppose financial or material support by foreign countries to the Taliban; and the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R. 4132), to provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to forced organ harvesting within China. House votes DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 901), sponsored by Rep. Richard McCormick, R-Ga., to call for the bolstering of democracy, human rights, and free and fair elections in Pakistan. McCormick said: "The people of Pakistan must have their rights respected and their voices heard." The vote, on June 25, was 368 yeas to 7 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) KOREAN FAMILY REUNIONS: The House has passed the Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act (H.R. 7152), sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va. The bill would direct the State Department to gather information about Korean Americans seeking to be reunited with family members in North Korea, and press North Korea's government to allow such reunions. Wexton said the measure "will help Korean Americans reconnect with the families they left behind in North Korea decades ago in the wake of the Korean war." The vote, on June 25, was 375 yeas to 8 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) RELATIONS WITH LATIN AMERICA: The House has passed the American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act (H.R. 2789), sponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., to require the State Department to conduct studies of potential cooperation with Mexico on trafficking in fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, and expanded financial access to Caribbean countries. Stanton said the bill "would foster sustained and strategic collaboration to fight the fentanyl crisis, ensuring that we are using our resources and local expertise wisely." The vote, on June 25, was 368 yeas to 19 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding to pay the salary of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Biggs said Mayorkas has "incentivized literally millions of people to come into this country. That is the lawlessness that has brought people to their knees in many communities around this country." An opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., said Mayorkas "has served in his role admirably and has been an honorable public servant for decades." The vote, on June 26, was 193 yeas to 173 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) ELECTIONS AND VOTER REGISTRATION: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andrew Ogles, R-Tenn., to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding for implementation of most of an executive order issued by President Biden that directed various federal government agencies to work with private groups on voter registration and elections. Ogles said: "Congress has never granted the administration any authority to approve such groups or specified any criteria for doing so. This executive order is illegal." An amendment opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., said the order merely sought to "help ensure that all Americans can exercise their right to vote." The vote, on June 26, was 207 yeas to 206 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) DEPORTING PALESTINIANS: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andrew Ogles, R-Tenn., to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding for implementation of a February directive from President Biden to delay deportation orders for some Palestinians living in the U.S. Ogles said delayed deportation would "keep thousands of Hamas sympathizers in the United States." An opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., said deportation would mean Palestinian civilians returning to "dangerous, war-torn conditions to needlessly put their lives at risk." The vote, on June 26, was 204 yeas to 203 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND HEALTH CARE: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Gregory Steube, R-Fla., to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752), that would bar funding to compensate the Veterans Affairs Department for medical claims filed by people detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Steube said: "The money appropriated by this body and by Congress for the VA, for veterans and for veterans healthcare, should not be used to provide medical claims for illegal immigrants." An amendment opponent, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., said: "Regardless of your stance on immigration, those seeking medical attention should not be denied access to care." The vote, on June 26, was 235 yeas to 176 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) REGULATIONS: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar funding for the finalizing of any regulation that would have at least a $100 million annual cost. Burchett said the amendment sought "to restore congressional oversight over burdensome executive actions and require that any major rule be approved by Congress before taking effect." An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said a blanket prohibition on new regulations would prevent the president from implementing laws passed by Congress. The vote, on June 27, was 210 yeas to 204 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) REFUGEES AND NARCOTICS: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would reduce funding for migration and refugee assistance programs by $500 million, with those funds instead going to international narcotics control and law enforcement programs. Mace said: "It is critical that we put people over politics, citizens over cartels, and pass this amendment to bolster law enforcement and counternarcotics operations to put an end to the cartels' cruelty." An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said: "By cutting this assistance, nations hosting these refugees will not accept growing refugee populations in their countries, potentially destabilizing regions and threatening global stability and security." The vote, on June 27, was 213 yeas to 199 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th) STATISTICS FROM WAR IN ISRAEL: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar funding for the State Department to cite statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry. Moskowitz said the ministry was in effect a Hamas organization, and "the United States should stop relying on a terrorist organization for information." An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said the ministry's figures "have been found to be credible in the past, holding up to United Nations scrutiny, independent investigations, and even Israel's tallies." The vote, on June 27, was 269 yeas to 144 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) RESTRICTIONS ON MILITARY AID: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andrew Ogles, R-Tenn., to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar funding for the implementation of a recent national security memorandum restricting U.S. military aid from being sent to countries that would use it in violation of international law. Ogles called the memorandum a "thinly veiled attack against Israel, which has done far more than any other nation in its position to preserve the lives of noncombatants." An amendment opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said the restriction gave the U.S., "as the largest provider of weapons around the world, a check that they [aid recipients] are not running afoul of international law either." The vote, on June 27, was 216 yeas to 197 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) GAZA SHIPPING PIER: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar funding for operation of the federal government's temporary pier on the Gaza Strip coast. Waltz said the pier has cost more than $300 million, operated sporadically, and resulted in injuries to several U.S. soldiers; and Waltz characterized it as "one of the most embarrassing pieces of performance art I have ever seen in my 27-year military career." An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said the pier provided an option for sending aid to Palestinians. The vote, on June 27, was 209 yeas to 200 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) AID TO SYRIA: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), that would bar both direct and indirect funding for Syria's government, led by Bashar al-Assad. Wilson cited evidence that U.S. aid has, via the United Nations, reached the Assad regime, and said ending such indirect funding "would not only assert U.S. leadership but also strengthen the international leverage against the mass murdering Assad regime." An opponent, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said: "While we take every precaution to ensure that no assistance benefits this brutal regime, lines are continually shifting, and we need to make allowances for activities that could touch on government-controlled areas." The vote, on June 27, was 257 yeas to 154 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Foushee D-NC (4th) ARMY AND CLIMATE RESEARCH: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 8774), to decrease funding for climate change research by the military by $4.9 million, with a corresponding increase in funding for unmanned ground vehicles in the Army. Moore said: "This amendment aligns DOD dollars toward closing the most urgent warfighting gaps rather than funding climate research that does nothing to enhance national defense." An opponent, Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, said spending on unmanned ground vehicles should not be done "at the further expense of any research and development related to the impacts of climate on military readiness and warfighting capabilities." The vote, on June 27, was 210 yeas to 201 nays. NOT VOTING: McHenry R-NC (10th), Murphy R-NC (3rd) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) As generative artificial intelligence is increasingly applied to a widening range of sectors, more efforts are needed to ensure the safe application of the fast-growing intelligent technology through global governance and cooperation, said renowned experts and entrepreneurs at the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, in Dalian, Liaoning province. The application of large language models in industries is key to the development of generative AI technology in China, said Zhu Min, former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, adding that China's AI models are more vertical and application-oriented due to the country's abundant application scenarios. Generative AI refers to computer algorithms trained with huge amounts of data capable of generating content such as images, text, audio and video in a humanlike fashion. It is the key technology underpinning US-based research firm OpenAI's ChatGPT. Xue Lan, dean of Schwarzman College and dean of the Institute for AI International Governance at Tsinghua University, emphasized that people's willingness to use AI, research capabilities and the establishment of an AI ecosystem led by businesses are critical elements driving the growth of the AI-powered economy. Although AI generates huge benefits, it also brings about various problems, so Xue called for efforts to supervise or regulate the use of such fast-developing technology to guard against potential risks. Noting that technological advances in AI are much faster than changes in regulations related to AI, he said China and the United States should strengthen cooperation to promote the safe and healthy development of AI. Aparna Bharadwaj, managing director and partner at global consultancy Boston Consulting Group, said in an interview with China Daily during the forum that Chinese consumers are the most positively inclined toward AI, adding they are very open and willing to embrace the possibilities of AI technology, which presents an incredible opportunity for Chinese businesses. Bharadwaj said the most important competitive advantage that China owns in applying generative AI technology lies in consumer acceptance levels, which are much higher than the global average. "Chinese consumers are very digitally savvy, digital technology evolves in China much faster, and Chinese businesses have been bringing digital innovation much faster in the market," she said. According to a report released by BCG, 86 percent of interviewed Chinese consumers are aware of generative AI, compared with nearly 80 percent globally. About 56 percent of these Chinese respondents are very positive toward AI, while less than 10 percent are concerned about this disruptive technology. Meanwhile, 43 percent of global consumers say they are excited about generative AI, but more than 25 percent expressed reservations. "China has always been an innovation leader in the world. And there's a very high possibility for that innovation also coming from the space of generative AI," Bharadwaj said, adding that she is optimistic about the development potential of such technology in China. Moreover, Chinese companies are always early adopters of digital technologies and have applied such technologies in a wide range of fields much faster, she said. Bharadwaj also underlined the significance of protecting user privacy and data security. "This technology is evolving rapidly, and governments are learning how to regulate it, and they have to be ahead of the curve with the private sector to be able to regulate it." Wang Guan, chairman of Learnable.ai an AI startup said AI-powered models could be applied in the education sector and are playing a role in assisting teachers to mark various types of exam papers. Wang said the company's large language models have been used in various sectors, such as education, energy, aviation, manufacturing and transportation, to help businesses improve efficiency. An Omaha man was found guilty on Friday of manslaughter for the accidental killing of his 10-year-old son. Will McDonald, 47, pleaded no contest to manslaughter and guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed an additional firearm charge. Last Thanksgiving night, according to Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, McDonald heard a car alarm sound outside his home near 31st and Myrtle Avenues. McDonald exited the home and saw someone standing by the car, and he went to retrieve a gun. As McDonald watched a dark figure approach the house, he fired one shot from the porch. It was only then that he realized the figure approaching the home was his son, Kendrick McDonald. The bullet struck the 108-pound, 4-foot-11-inch fourth-grader in the left arm before piercing his chest. Kendrick McDonald was transported to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he died. His cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest. Kleine said on Friday that Will McDonald hid the gun after the shooting. It was later recovered, and a single shell casing was found on the front porch. Will McDonald was initially charged with manslaughter, use of a firearm to commit a felony and possessing a firearm as a felon-second offense. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed the use of a firearm charge and charged the felon in possession count as a first offense. In the 1990s, Will McDonald was convicted of felony burglary and theft by unlawful taking, making him unable to possess a firearm legally. He was charged in 2005 with possessing a firearm as a felon and was sentenced to probation. Sentencing is set for Aug. 12. Will McDonald will face a mandatory minimum of three years in prison and a maximum of 70 years zero to 20 years on the manslaughter charge, and three to 50 on the firearm possession charge. In a GoFundMe set up for the family after the killing, Kendrick McDonalds aunt wrote that he was an active, funny kid who loved to make people laugh. 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, 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, Nebraska's 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, most 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. Nebraska's 2022 abortion statistics showed a 6% rise in total number of procedures, so 2023's 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. Prior to that high court decision, the number of out-of-state patients coming to Nebraska for abortions was much lower. The department's data logged under 300 out-of-state patients in 2021, and 374 patients in 2020. 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, it's unclear which measures Nebraskans will have the chance to vote on this November. Top Journal Star photos for June 2024 1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them. 2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound. 3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes. 4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic. Vote View Results China'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 meters, reaching the warning level at 2 p.m. 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. The ministry has 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's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Friday raised the emergency response to flooding to Level-III in Hubei Province. In east China's Anhui Province, the provincial authorities activated red alerts for geological disasters and mountain torrents in six county-level areas in the cities of Lu'an and Anqing, expecting a high probability of geological disasters and mountain torrents from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Saturday. The provincial meteorological observatory forecast torrential rains from Friday to Saturday in many parts of the province, with the rainfall expected to exceed 300 mm in some areas. In the neighboring Hubei Province, the provincial flood control and drought relief office raised the emergency response for flood from Level IV to Level III at 4 p.m. Friday. Heavy rainstorms since June 21 have disrupted the lives of 417,100 residents in 28 county-level areas in Hubei. Supplies for disaster relief have been urgently allocated to the relevant places, according to the provincial emergency management department. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most urgent response, and a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we continue to answer the question from Edilson in Brazil about the difference between though and however. Question Hi, this is Edilson, from Brazil, I follow Ask a Teacher and I love the way you approach explanations, I have a question, could you please explain? What is the difference between the use of the words "THO" and "HOWEVER". Answer Last week we said though and however are words that show a relationship between ideas. They express a difference in two or more things. We explained some differences in how and when we use the two words. Their use in a clause is another difference between though and however. This is one of the biggest problems English learners have using words like though and however, so it is important to talk about. First, let's review some terms and their meanings. A clause is a grammar unit organized around a verb phrase. A clause is made of two parts: a subject and a verb. For example, We laughed is a clause. We is the subject, and laughed is the verb. In the morning is not a clause because it does not have a verb. There are two main kinds of clauses. Independent clauses are not dependent on any other clause. They are sentences on their own. We laughed is an independent clause. A dependent clause depends on an independent clause. It cannot be a sentence on its own. Before I went, for example, is a dependent clause. While it has a subject and a verb, it requires additional information to be a full sentence or thought. Now, lets return to though and however. However We only use "however" to show a relationship between independent clauses. This means it must be used with two full thoughts. For example: Climate change affects every part of the world. However , it affects some countries more than others. The school can receive $2 million for improving attendance; however , the staff may not be able to keep records. In writing, we must always use a period or a semicolon between the two clauses. Though Though can be used with a dependent or independent clause. Using though at the beginning of a clause makes a dependent clause. Though Ava does well in school Although this clause does have a subject and a verb, it requires additional information to be a full thought. It must be used with an independent clause. For example: Though Ava does well in school, she is not sure if she wants to go to university. As we learned last week, though can also be used at the end of an independent clause. For example: Mohammed makes me angry sometimes. I like him, though . We hope this explanation helps you, Edilson. Do you have a question about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com. And thats Ask a Teacher. Im Andrew Smith. Gena Bennett wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________________ Words in This Story clausen. a grammar unit organized around a verb phrase unit n. an amount of something; one thing phrase n. a group of words that form an idea but that do not contain a subject or verb topic n. a subject or idea semicolonn. ; used to separate two independent clauses Ken Winston thought he had paid his Black Hills Energy bill on June 4. In fact, he even got an email from the company saying the payment was scheduled. But two weeks later, much to his surprise, he got a letter from the company saying the payment had been rejected by his bank. Winston knew that wasn't possible, so he called his bank and, as he expected, was told no payment had been rejected. So he called Black Hills, where a customer service representative told him that the problem was actually on the company's end. Winston was apparently part of a billing mix-up earlier this month that caused several thousand Black Hills customers to have their payments rejected. Black Hills spokeswoman Jennifer Peters said the company encountered an "internal error" with its payment system that affected customers who attempted to pay their bills on its website from June 3-8. Peters said the glitch specifically affected customers who used its online portal to make a one-time bill payment. Even though they may have gotten a notification that the payment was scheduled and thought it had gone through, it was actually rejected. Black Hills discovered the problem on June 7 and had it fixed by the next day, Peters said. The company at that point worked to notify as many affected customers as possible by email and/or mail. The glitch affected approximately 20,000 Black Hills customers, including about 3,100 in Nebraska, Peters said. She said the company is waiving any late fees or returned payment fees, but customers who were affected will need to resubmit the payment that was erroneously rejected. Black Hills said in a statement that it "strives to make our customer experience as efficient and user friendly as possible and we understand how frustrating it can be when things do not work as expected." Count Winston as one of those frustrated customers. He said he did not receive an email from the company about a payment issue, and the only correspondence he got was the letter telling him his payment was rejected. "They're saying they (sent emails), but I didn't get one, and they've got my email address," said Winston, who is executive director of Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light. He was so disgusted by the whole thing that he called the Public Service Commission, which has regulatory authority over Black Hills, and complained. Deb Collins, a PSC spokeswoman, said the agency is aware of the situation and provides assistance whenever it can to resolve such issues, but it has no regulatory authority over payment problems. Winston said that Black Hills finally did contact him this week after he made his complaint to the PSC. 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. RACINE Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave died unexpectedly Friday morning. Delagrave was first elected county executive in 2015. County Board Chairman Tom Kramer will assume the duties of county executive until the position is filled, according to a Racine County statement. In the statement, Racine County expressed deepest sorrow and profound compassion at the death of the beloved Delagrave. This tragic loss has left our community in a state of great sadness, as we mourn the untimely departure of a remarkable leader, devoted public servant and cherished friend, the statement reads. Jonathans unwavering commitment to improving the lives of all those within our county was truly inspirational, and his compassionate approach to governance touched the hearts of countless individuals. In this difficult time, our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Jonathans family, friends, colleagues, and the entire community. The county statement asked for privacy for Delagraves family members as they navigate through this tremendous loss. Delagrave was born and raised in Racine County and lived in the area his entire life. He began working for Racine County in 2003. In a statement, Racine Mayor Cory Mason said he has known Delagrave since they were 14 years old and classmates at Case High School. As mayor, it has been an honor to serve alongside him in his role as county executive, Mason wrote. Jonathan was an amazing leader for Racine County. We are all at a loss from his passing. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. In a statement, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said she was devastated by Delagraves death. I am heartbroken for his family, friends, loved ones, and especially his two children, Neubauer wrote. Throughout his service to our community, he has been an incredible leader and champion for Racine County and its residents. I was lucky to have a personal friendship with Jonathan and to be able to collaborate over the years I will deeply miss him. His impact will be felt around Racine County for years to come. We will all remember him as a community leader, public servant and friend. State Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, wrote on Twitter that Delagrave was like a little brother and had a great, positive spirit. It was never cant do with Jonathan, it was always how can we do, Wanggaard wrote. The emphasis was on the we. I will miss you, my friend. Ritu Raju, Gateway Technical College president and CEO, said in a statement that the college community is deeply shocked and saddened by Delagraves passing. He worked closely to collaborate with Gateway on many different programs and was a champion for education, Raju wrote. I personally appreciate his work with myself and the college, and he will be deeply missed by all. State Rep. Robert Wittke, R-Racine, said in a statement that he was deeply saddened by the death of Delagrave. Jonathan was an honorable man who served the residents of Racine County very well for nearly a decade, Wittke wrote. I appreciated his governing style and certainly each and every discussion we shared about the needs of Racine County and its residents. He will be missed. My deepest condolences to his family during this time. David DeGroot, Mount Pleasant Village Board president, said in a statement that Delagraves visionary leadership will be missed. Jonathan was not only a trusted advisor, collaborator, partner, and friend of the Village, but was personal friends with many of us as well, DeGroot wrote. While the arrests earlier this month of the former warden and eight other prison staff at Waupun Correctional Institution brought the issue into sharp focus, legislators and governors have been talking about closing Wisconsins two oldest prisons, at Waupun and Green Bay, for at least half a century. I was on the Building Commission, and I remember one time I said the best thing to do for Waupun was to buy a stick of dynamite and light it, recalled former state Sen. Fred Risser, a Democratic lawmaker who represented the Madison area for more than 60 years. So why is Waupun still open? Interviews with current and former lawmakers, governors and corrections officials reveal the chief obstacles are a rising inmate population, pushback from communities whose economies depend on the prisons, and the sheer cost of building a state-of-the-art correctional facility. Underlying it all is a broad disagreement about corrections policy. Democrats, including Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, argue broad criminal justice reform must come before the state looks at spending more money on prisons. Republicans have pushed for addressing infrastructure and prison capacity issues before releasing inmates on supervision or trying to reduce the number coming into the prisons. Built in 1853, Waupun Correctional Institution is one of the oldest prisons in the country. Green Bay Correctional opened in 1898. Prison design has changed dramatically since the facilities were built, primarily in allowing prison staff to more easily and safely monitor inmates. But little has changed at Waupun and Green Bay save heating and cooling upgrades, plumbing improvements, metal detectors and cameras. Those prisons are set up to put people away and not think too much about them, Risser said. Discussions about replacing one or both of the prisons with a newer, more efficient facility go back at least as far as the administration of former Gov. Patrick Lucey, Risser said. Lucey, a Democrat, served two terms from 1971 until his resignation to serve as U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1977. But the talks never gained traction, in part because of opposition from local communities that saw the prisons as crucial to their economy, providing many residents with careers, he said. Labor groups also opposed closing the prisons. Meanwhile the statewide prison population boomed from less than 5,000 when Risser first took office in 1957 to over 20,000 later in his career, he added. Currently, the Department of Corrections has 18,653 adult inmates in its facilities, according to the latest data. The state was also working to move away from contracting with other states to send Wisconsin inmates across the country, Risser said, something that would be hard to do if the state closed prisons while the inmate population was growing. We needed every bed we had Former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who who presided over the largest expansion of the prison system in state history during his four terms in office from 1987 to 2001, oversaw expansions and improvements to Waupun but never proposed closing it. In 1993, the Legislature approved funding for the construction of a 180-bed segregation unit at the Waupun prison in an effort to address overcrowding. The addition opened in 1998. On top of the rising population, in 1998 the Republican-led Legislature passed and Thompson signed into law truth in sentencing, which eliminated parole in favor of creating bifurcated sentences to include a set period of incarceration in prison followed by a period of extended supervision. Although still an option for a small portion of Wisconsins prison population, removing parole meant the DOC had one less tool to manage the prison population, said Thompsons former campaign manager Bill McCoshen. So the notion of closing either Waupun or Green Bay Correctional Institution was never even considered because we needed every bed we had, McCoshen said. Thats what let to building new prisons. The state Building Commission in 2006 authorized a 10-year development plan that recommended the state spend $142.4 million on updates at the prison in Green Bay and $9 million on updates at Waupun. In the 2011-13 budget, the state spent $7.6 million at Green Bay and $13 million at Waupun on items such as boiler system improvements, food service changes and shower upgrades. Study: State needs to replace prisons In 2017, Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, proposed to sell the prison at Green Bay. The proposal, which never made it out of committee, would have required the state to sell the valuable real estate located along the Fox River in the village of Allouez and solicit bids for a new prison in Brown County or a neighboring county, to open by Nov. 1, 2022. In its fiscal estimate on the bill, the Department of Administration noted the DOC had previously estimated it would cost $309 million to construct a new 1,300-bed prison. The Green Bay prisons current design capacity is 749 inmates, but the facility currently houses 1,050, according to a DOC headcount published Friday. Waupuns design capacity is 882, and its current population is 705. Also in 2017, the state commissioned a study of its correctional facilities, which recommended replacing both prisons unless the state made significant renovations that involved demolishing and replacing a large portion of the existing infrastructure. Although (Green Bay Correctional Institution) is being identified as the replacement priority between the two sites, both are at or nearing the end of their useful lives, and planning for the eventual replacement of WCI should also be considered in long-range planning, the study found. In 2019, Steffen proposed an amendment to the state budget asking for $5 million for land acquisition, infrastructure and initial design and planning to replace the Green Bay prison. Evers vetoed the funding proposal, arguing I object to building a new maximum security correctional facility as we continue to explore needed criminal justice reform in Wisconsin. Evers: Cant regard one site in a silo Evers also in 2019, his first year in office, launched his own discussions with Republican and Democratic lawmakers, as well as Thompson, but they were focused on criminal justice reform, not closing or opening prisons. In every budget since then, Evers has proposed spending state dollars on various criminal justice areas aimed at reducing the burden on state prisons, such as funding nonviolent offender diversion programs as well as employment and educational programs aimed at reducing the number of people who reoffend. Many of the proposals have been modeled on successful efforts in other states. He has also proposed raising the age of adult jurisdiction from 17 to 18 in every budget since taking office, but the Republican-controlled Legislature has removed the provision each time. Assembly Corrections Committee Chair Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, said the cost to replace the two prisons has since ballooned to about $1 billion and would take at least two to three years to complete. Evers, meanwhile, has said it would cost up to $400 million to upgrade existing prisons to maximum security, not including the cost of closing an existing maximum security prison. Evers option would allow the DOC to transfer inmates from Waupun or Green Bay to another maximum security prison, which would not increase inmate capacity across the system, but it would at least keep the number of available maximum security beds roughly the same while closing one of the two older facilities. In a letter to Allouez Village President Jim Rafter, who held a roundtable discussion in April to explore closing the Green Bay prison, Evers said any talk of closing the facility must start with a conversation about criminal justice reform. As governor, I do not have the luxury of considering the future of a particular facility in a silo, Evers wrote. I do not have the luxury of engaging in a conversation about closing a facility in an vacuum while refusing to consider what comes thereafter or acknowledge how it will impact and affect the needs and capacities of Wisconsins other correctional institutions. Steffen has argued the best long-term solution to prison crowding, crumbling infrastructure and high staff vacancy rates at Waupun and Green Bay is to close the prisons and consolidate the inmates in one modern prison, which would require fewer staff positions per inmate than the 19th-century designs. Mayor: Waupun is not Green Bay A DOC assessment of the prison system released in 2020 also called for replacing the prisons, noting many of the 50-square-foot cells were previously converted from single to double occupancy as the prisons populations rose and not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act or current standards for correctional institutions. In the long term, new maximum security housing is needed to replace aging, undersized, existing maximum security housing at these facilities, the report said. Earlier this year, Evers announced Waupun had returned to single cell occupancy. The assessment proposed a $342 million, 600-bed expansion of Dodge Correctional Institution to greatly reduce the populations of the Waupun and Green Bay prisons. Another option put forward by the DOC report was the conversion of Fox Lake Correctional Institution to a 1,700-bed maximum security prison to house residents from Waupun and Green Bay, which would cost nearly $368 million and could allow for the closure of one of the two older prisons. Even so, Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop said its not fair to lump Waupun together with Green Bay because residents in his city dont want to get rid of their prison. Green Bays desire to sell its prison and use the valuable real estate for other purposes doesnt align with what Waupun wants, he said. Theres too many politicians talking smart who dont live here who want to close these for different reasons, he said. Im just telling you the people of Waupun are proud of our heritage, and were glad its here. Bishop also argued talk of closing the prison has made it harder to recruit correctional officers and continues to drive a high staff vacancy rate. Its been one of these self-fulfilling prophecies because no one will work there because theyre going to close the prison, even though theyre not going to close the prison, he said. The Evers administration has blamed high staff vacancy rates for periodic restrictions of inmate movement, commonly referred to as lockdowns. The vacancy rate among guards and sergeants at Waupun in November, when Evers and former DOC Secretary Kevin Carr announced a plan to lift the lockdown, was 54.6%. That number has since declined to 43.5%. State Journal reporter Francesca Pica contributed to this report. First Presbyterian Church of Twin Falls The First Presbyterian Church of Twin Falls, 209 Fifth Ave. N., has adult Bible study at 8:30 a.m. and a worship time of 10 a.m. The pastor is Don Hammond. Everybody is welcome. Community Outreach: Sandwich Saturday Free bag lunch at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22 (event takes place every other Saturday) outside the church. Blessing Box always available. Food for the needy, take some food or be a blessing to someone else and leave some. Blessing box is located outside the church entrance. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Peer support mental health strengthens our communities Mental health is such an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Join us Sunday to learn about the work Dakota Cardinet is doing with Certified Peer Support Services for members of our community. Dakota will address what is mental health, why it is important and how peer support can help those in our community. To access ZOOM please email mvuuf83301@yahoo.com for ZOOM sign in information. In the SUBJECT line write ZOOM Service. Call 208-320-9658, for more information. Everyone is welcome to attend, and childcare is available. The Episcopal Church of the Ascension The Episcopal Church of the Ascension invites you to a service of Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. this Sunday, June 30. All are welcome at Ascensions services of worship, including children. Ascension Churchs Sunday service is also available at 9:00 a.m. online at Ascensions YouTube channel The Episcopal Church of the Ascension Twin Falls. The building is handicapped accessible and located at 371 Eastland Dr. North, Twin Falls. More information about Ascension can be found at www.episcopaltwinfalls.org or office at 208-733-1248. ANNOUNCEMENTS: After worship, we will hear from two participants who attended the Episcopal Churchs General Convention in Louisville, KY. The Church Office will be closed on Thursday, July 4. The Rupert United Methodist Church The Rupert United Methodist Church will have its Vacation Bible School week of June 24-28 from 9 to 11 a.m. at 605 H St. Come join Lumen, the Firefly and the Campers at Camp Firelight for a fun week for ages 4 through 5th grade. There will be crafts, science projects, stories and recreation to enjoy and singing interacting with Lumen the puppet. For further information you may contact Nanette Eilers at 208-670-3745 or the church office at 208-436-3354. Hu Youping, the Chinese woman who attempted to stop a knife attack that injured a Japanese mother and child, has passed away and will be honored for her bravery, according to local authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. The Suzhou High-tech Zone Management Committee is currently submitting an application for her and has requested the city government to posthumously confer upon her the title of "Model of Righteousness and Courage in Suzhou". The local public security bureau and the Suzhou City Foundation for Righteousness and Courage are publicly honoring Hu's act of bravery from Thursday to Monday, receiving recommendations from all sectors of society and the public. According to a statement, Hu, born in 1969, resided in Gusu district, Suzhou. Around 4 pm on Monday, she witnessed a knife attack underway at a bus stop in the Suzhou High-Tech Zone and immediately intervened to prevent the attack from escalating and was herself stabbed multiple times. Hu was later declared dead in a hospital on Wednesday. When encountering potentially mortal threats to others' lives, Hu selflessly stepped forward, courageously confronted the perpetrator to prevent further harm, and in the process demonstrated noble qualities of bravery and justice and effectively upheld societal righteousness, the announcement said. According to a police bulletin, the suspect, surnamed Zhou, is a 52-year-old currently unemployed male. Zhou has been placed under criminal detention and his actions will be dealt with severely in accordance with laws and regulations. It was also noted that one of the Japanese victims did not suffer life-threatening injuries, while the other was discharged following treatment on the day of the attack. The Japanese woman injured in the incident said Hu attempted to restrain the assailant, allowing her son to escape. The attacker then turned on Hu, stabbing her before being subdued by passersby and a police patrol rushing to the scene. The attack sent shock waves through the city, with many residents condemning the assailant and expressing concern for the victims. 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. Mao Ning, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, expressed condolences for the tragic passing of Hu during a briefing on Friday. "I believe this Chinese woman embodies the kindness and bravery of the Chinese people," said Mao. The Japanese embassy in China flew its flag at half-mast to honor Hu. It posted on social media platform Sina Weibo that it was saddened by the news of Hu's passing after unsuccessful attempts to save her. "We deeply regret this loss. Ms Hu Youping, through her own efforts, protected innocent women and children from criminals. We believe her courage and kindness also represent the wider Chinese population. We salute her noble actions. May she rest in peace," it said. Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Palawan are honored to receive recognition from the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024. These awards reflect the hard work and dedication of their teams who strive to ensure their guests have memorable experiences. Travel + Leisures award-giving body acknowledges top-standing properties and key figures in the hospitality industry across the Asia Pacific, including regions such as Australia, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, the South Pacific, Thailand, and Vietnam. - Advertisement - The Discovery Hospitality Corporation manages Discovery Primea, Discovery Suites, and Discovery Samal among other properties Discovery Shores Boracay has been named one of the top 10 Philippine properties in the Beach Island + Upcountry Resorts category. Located on Boracay Island, this luxurious resort offers breathtaking scenery, upscale accommodations, and world-class amenities. The resort has consistently elevated its standards to ensure every guest has a memorable stay. Club Paradise Palawan also earned recognition, ranking among the top 5 Philippine properties in the Beach Island + Upcountry Resorts category. Situated on Dimakya Island, this serene retreat spans 19 hectares and offers an unparalleled getaway. Its General Manager, Joegil Magtanggol M. Escobar, secured 2nd place in the Hotel General Managers category. Discovery Shores Boracay is a recipient of the Family Approved stamp for its activities for young guests Both Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Palawan were honored in Travel + Leisures Best Family Hotels and Resorts in the Philippines, receiving the Family Approved stamp. Club Paradise Palawan offers engaging activities for children through their Junior Hotelier program, including kayaking, swimming with turtles, and creative projects. Discovery Shores Boracay invites young guests to the Kids Club, offering games, books, puzzles, and a Roblox metaverse treasure hunt. Club Paradise Palawan General Manager Joegil Magtanggol M. Escobar takes the second spot for the Hotel General Managers category These accolades highlight Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Palawan as premier destinations, showcasing their commitment to delivering extraordinary experiences and genuine Filipino hospitality. Discovery Hospitality Corporation (DHC), the managing group behind these properties, is a Filipino hospitality group pioneering in the industry, operating a diverse collection of properties in the Philippines top destinations. The hospitality group also manages Discovery Primea, Discovery Suites, and Discovery Samal among others. For more information, visit www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday admitted difficulty in choosing the next Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary after Vice President Sara Duterte stepped down from her cabinet position. Simply put, yes I struggled to choose because the work of DepEd is very complicated, Mr. Marcos said, citing the importance of selecting the right candidate due to the roles complexity. - Advertisement - We have to see, really, what the DepEd needs. Of course, there are many calls for the new secretary to be an educator. There are many calls for the new secretary to be an administrator. There are new calls for a historical professor, Marcos said. All of these, and they are all valid concerns. Thats what education is all about, he added. The President highlighted the need to improve the countrys test scores, for a leader who can support both students and teachers, and finding a candidate who can navigate the departments bureaucracy and manage its budget effectively. Im not going to let you tie me down to anything. Were looking at everyone. We dont make a shortlist, Marcos said upon being asked about the shortlist for the position. Earlier this week, the President said he would name a new Education chief by the weekend after Duterte tendered her resignation on June 19. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans frequent attacks against Brussels and his warm relations with Russia have left the country increasingly isolated as it takes over the blocs rotating presidency on Monday. The longest-serving leader in the European Union, Orban has recently ramped up his rhetoric against what he calls the technocratic elite of Brussels, warning we will rack our brains on how to hurt them. - Advertisement - Its unbelievable. Its like the defendant in a trial has suddenly taken over the prosecution, said his biographer, veteran Hungarian journalist Paul Lendvai. While he warned not to overestimate the importance of Hungarys six-month presidency, he predicted that Orban would continue to block key issues as he did with EU aid for Ukraine while loosening restrictions on rule of law issues on which he has been censured by Brussels in order to unlock blocked EU funds. Both sides play a game but this is not a decisive game, he told AFP. Brussels has frozen billions of euros in funds for Hungary, citing concerns over corruption and the rule of law. Both sides are also at loggerheads on other issues from migrants to Ukraine. In stark contrast to his European partners, Orban openly supports former US president Donald Trump, with Budapest vowing to make Europe great again during its presidency. Close to both the Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as the Kremlin, the nationalist has refused to send weapons to Kyiv. Yet the start of his political career in the last days of communism began very differently. The radical 26-year-old law student became a household name in 1989 with a fiery speech demanding democracy and that Soviet troops go home. The then liberal Alliance of Young Democrats party (Fidesz) he had co-founded soon became the symbol of Hungarys aspirations to escape the clutches of totalitarianism and adopt Western values. Nowadays his party is seen more as hard-right and Orban slams the decadence of the West in the face of what he calls the gender lobby and the influx of migrants he deems potential terrorists. Orban became prime minister at 35 in 1998 but suffered a humiliating and unexpected defeat at the hands of the Socialists four years later. When he returned to power in 2010, he began remaking the Hungarian state and its institutions, with a new constitution advancing his illiberal brand of democracy. After changing election rules to favour Fidesz, he was re-elected in 2014, 2018 and 2022, every time with two-third majorities. King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful and Chairman of the Higher Council of Ulema, has submitted on Friday some provisions of the new family code for examination to the Higher Ulema Council, a constitutional body representing Moroccan Muslim scholars. A statement issued by the Royal Office said this referral comes after the Body in charge of revising the Family Code accomplished its mission within the set deadline and submitted the proposals to the Monarchs appreciation. The proposals were made following a series of consultations with Moroccan civil society stakeholders, political parties, and religious scholars. The Higher Ulema Council will examine the said proposals based on the principles & precepts of Islam and its tolerance, and submit a Fatwa, religious interpretation, on some issues contained in the new code, to the Sovereigns appreciation. As some proposals are related to religious texts, the Sovereign has decided to refer the matter to the Higher Council of Ulema, which is, in accordance with Article 41 of the Constitution, the only body entitled to issue officially approved Fatwas. The Sovereign called on the Higher Council of Ulema to take into account, during the elaboration of its Fatwa, the content of the Royal Letter addressed to the Head of Government, which calls for adopting the virtues of moderation, open and constructive Ijtihad, while taking into consideration the norm repeatedly advocated by the King in order to avoid permitting what is forbidden or forbid what is halal, added the statement. King Mohammed VI thus bars the road to any individual interpretation or extremist exploitation of a law that should evolve in line with social developments, and reinforces Moroccos role as a beacon of moderate Sunni thought based on Ijtihad and openness. The Kings move to refer the matter to the Higher Council of Ulema, which aims to check and strengthen the legal basis of these proposals, reflects the Kingdoms position as a leading country in this area. It is a dynamic, open, inclusive and forward-looking approach to issues relating to religion, which reinforces Moroccos position as a unique country that has always advocated a moderate interpretation of Islam, taking into account the virtues of Ijtihad to serve the interest of the family. The Kings move, which draws its essence from the prerogatives of the Commandership of the Faithful Institution, stems from his concern to broaden the institutional consultation process relating to the revision of the Family Code, to meet the expectations of Moroccan citizens. It is meant to highlight the importance of Ijtihad in understanding situations arising from the evolution of society and to underline the ability of legal prescriptions of a religious nature to adapt to new realities. The Sovereigns initiative also refers to the central role of Moroccan scholars, renowned for their competence and moderation, in respecting religious precepts and supporting societal developments. By referring the matter to the Higher Council of Ulema, the King enshrines the choice of open and constructive Ijtihad, illustrating once again his solicitude towards the family, the pillar of the community. The Higher Council of Ulema is thus called upon to issue a collective Fatwa, which will strengthen the proposals submitted by the Body in charge of revising the Family Code and consolidate the use of Ijtihad to improve the fate of all members of the family and will issue an opinion in accordance with the values of Islam while respecting the purposes of religion (Maqasid) and their change over time. Through this reform, Morocco intends to successfully complete this major societal project, which will meet the aspirations of the whole society and enshrine the full rights of Moroccan family components. The Royal Referral also supports the social proposals and demands expressed, in a renewal-oriented consensual framework, taking into consideration the interest of the family, the stability of marital relations, and the sustainability of tranquility and affection between all family components. Director General of National Police (DGSN) and Territory Surveillance (DGST) Abdellatif Hammouchi discussed with officials of several French security services means and ways to strengthen Moroccan-French cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, and to promote coordination and exchange of intelligence on various threats posed by extremist organizations and transnational crime networks. were at the focus of talks held in Paris this week between Director-General of National Security (DGSN) and Territorial Surveillance (DGST), Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi, and officials of several French security services. Abdellatif Hammouchi paid a working visit to Paris June 26-28 at the official invitation of the French security services, few weeks before the 2024 Paris Olympics. He held talks with his French counterparts of the National Police and Internal Security, as well as with Director-General of External Security of France on mechanisms for strengthening bilateral cooperation in various security fields of common interest, said the DGSN-DGST in a statement. The DGSN-DGST Chief held a series of meetings with Celine BERTHON, and Nicolas LERNER, respectively Director-General of Internal Security, and Director-General of External Security of France. The talks explored means and ways to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, and to promote coordination and exchange of intelligence and operational data on various threats posed by extremist organizations and transnational crime networks, the statement said. Hammouchi also held talks with Frederic VEAUX, Director General of the French National Police that examined mechanisms for advanced cooperation and coordination between the two sides in various security fields. A special focus was laid on the development of proactive mechanisms for risk assessment and data exchange, the perspective being joint action in securing the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, the statement noted. In tribute to the exemplary Morocco-France cooperation in various security areas, the DGSN-DGST Director-General was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor by the French National Police, in recognition of his efforts to consolidate and bolster security cooperation. The visit provided an opportunity for the French and Moroccan sides to discuss ways to further strengthen their cooperation in a wide range of areas to combat transnational crime, especially smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, illegal migration and human trafficking networks, as well as practical mechanisms for cooperation in implementing joint security measures and operations. The visit attests to the importance of boosting security cooperation between Morocco and France, which share many bilateral action and coordination programs and face common security challenges, the statement added. It also reflects Moroccan security services commitment to international security cooperation to ensure effective contribution to combating terrorism and criminal threats at the regional and international levels. Germany commended the social and economic reforms carried out by Morocco, and the kingdoms active contribution to regional peace and stability 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 The German foreign minister also reiterated her countrys support for Moroccos autonomy plan as a serious and credible effort by Morocco and as a good basis for a solution to the Sahara issue. 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. The two countries reaffirmed their will to advocate an ambitious international commitment to combat the effects of climate change, encourage actions in favor of the mitigation of these effects, and accelerate a just energy transition, reads the joint declaration. Later in the day, Morocco and Germany signed a climate and energy alliance that includes cooperation in green hydrogen, to which Morocco attaches utmost importance in its energy diversification plans and which is key to Germanys goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. The alliance was signed by Foreign minister Nasser Bourita and German Development Minister Svenja Schulze in Berlin. The Multidimensional Strategic Dialogue was also a chance to highlight cooperation prospects in legal migration, women empowerment, education, and African development. Particular emphasis was also placed 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 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 Findings from a new mouse study suggest that elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives, can lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. The research could pave the way to the development of safe and inexpensive natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes in people. The researchers found that after just one week, obese mice with diabetes that were given oral elenolic acid weighed significantly less and showed better blood sugar (glucose) regulation than before treatment and compared to control obese mice not receiving elenolic acid. The glucose-lowering effect was comparable with that of the injectable diabetic medication liraglutide and better than metformin, one of the most common oral medicines for type 2 diabetes. "Lifestyle modifications and public health measures have had limited impact on the rising prevalence of obesity, one of the top risk factors for type 2 diabetes," said research team leader Dongmin Liu, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise at Virginia Tech. "Available obesity drugs are ineffective in weight loss maintenance, expensive and/or carry potential long-term safety risks. Our goal was to develop safer, cheaper and more convenient multi-targeting agents that can prevent the occurrence of metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes." Hana Alkhalidy, Ph.D., a research scientist in Liu's lab at Virginia Tech, presents the findings at NUTRITION 2024, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29July 2 in Chicago. Liu's research team focuses on discovering bioactive compounds from natural products for diabetes management. Previously, they looked for specific molecular targets for natural compounds in parts of the body that actively help regulate metabolism, such as the pancreas, muscle, fat tissues and liver. However, since natural products typically have poor bioavailability, they decided to see if they could instead target metabolic hormone secretion in the gut to indirectly regulate metabolic function. For the new work, the researchers began by identifying natural compounds that act on L-cells, which contain two metabolic hormones released during a meal. These hormones, called GLP-1 and PYY, work together to promote satiety and prevent overeating while also controlling blood sugar levels and metabolism. The screening process revealed that elenolic acid, which is found in mature olives and extra virgin olive oil, can induce the release of these hormones in the gut. They were able to make elenolic acid by breaking down its precursor oleuropein, which is less expensive than extracting it directly from olives. Tests of the compound in obese mice with diabetes revealed that mice that received oral elenolic acid experienced significant improvements in their metabolic health compared to obese control mice. After four to five weeks of treatment, the mice showed a 10.7% reduction in obesity as well as blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity that were comparable to those of healthy lean mice. The elenolic acid also significantly reduced food intake and promoted weight loss, which are associated with improved circulating levels of PYY and GLP-1 and the downregulation of agouti-related peptide in the hypothalamus. Agouti-related peptide is known to increase eating and weight gain when overexpressed. "Overall, the study showed that elenolic acid from olives has promising effects on hormone release and metabolic health, particularly in obese and diabetic conditions," said Liu. "The compound seems to mimic the physiological conditions of eating to directly promote gut metabolic hormone secretion, which helps regulate energy balance and metabolic health." According to the researchers, the concentration of elenolic acid in olive oil or olives is very low, so the benefits seen in this study would most likely not be gained from olive products alone. The research team is now working to understand how this compound creates metabolic benefits by analyzing its journey through the body to find out how it is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted. This will also reveal insights into its safety for future clinical trials. More information: Alkhalidy presents this research at 3:123:25 p.m. CDT on Saturday, June 29, during the Bioactives in Health and Disease oral session in McCormick Place (abstract; presentation details). This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new pill that slowly releases ketamine could treat people with severe depression without giving them the psychedelic side effects of the often-misused drug, early trial results suggested on Monday. First developed in the 1960s as an anesthetic, ketamine's hallucinogenic and dissociative effects led to it becoming a party drug dubbed "Special K". However, mounting research has demonstrated that ketamine is effective for the roughly quarter of people suffering from depression who see little benefit from common anti-depressant drugs. In many countries, ketamine has been prescribed for depression for years. US billionaire Elon Musk told CNN in March that he regularly uses a small amount of prescribed ketamine because it is "helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind". The drug has long been administered intravenously in clinics, but more recently a nasal spray using a derivative called esketamine has increased in popularity. Both can cause patients to have side effects such as dissociation, high blood pressure and an elevated heart rate. There are also fears that medical use of the drug could slide into abuse. The pill described in the journal Nature Medicine on Monday takes more than 10 hours to break down in the liver, lead study author Paul Glue told AFP. "The really interesting feedback from patients is the lack of side effectsno euphoria, no dissociation," said the researcher at New Zealand's University of Otago. "I don't think these tablets would appeal to people who are abusing ketamine." Electro-shock alternative The phase 2 trial involved more than 270 people with depression who had previously tried an average of four different anti-depressant drugs. More than half taking the ketamine pill went into remission for their depression, while 70 percent of the placebo group relapsed after 13 weeks, the study said. Julaine Allan, an expert on mental health and addiction at Australia's Charles Sturt University who was not involved in the study, praised the trial while emphasising that more research is needed. Ketamine does not work for everyone, and the "positive effects may wear off over time," she told AFP. Michel Hofmann, a psychiatrist at Geneva University Hospitals, said there is "real enthusiasm" in the medical community for ketamine's potential for treating depression. "For patients who don't respond to conventional drugs, ketamine offers a way to avoid electro-shock therapy," he told AFP. This last-resort treatment, which involves sending electric currents through the brain, has been proven to be effective. But it can cause memory lossand some patients fear the procedure after seeing depictions of it in films such as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Fears of 'opioid style crisis' Some psychiatrists remain hesitant to prescribe ketamine for depression, fearing their patients could end up misusing the drug. Last year, "Friends" actor Matthew Perry became the latest high-profile death from a ketamine overdose. US police are investigating how Perry obtained the doses that caused his deathhe had reportedly not had a supervised infusion session for several days. One potential benefit of quick-acting ketamine seen in previous research is that it could help patients considering suicide. But there is "the plausible concern that the widespread use of ketamine might trigger a new opioid style crisis," Oxford researcher Riccardo De Giorgi said in a 2022 BMJ editorial. By ridding ketamine of the side effects sought by some partygoers, the slow-release pill could alleviate some of these concerns. There were still some side effects from the pill, the most common being headaches, dizziness and anxiety. More research including phase 3 trials is needed before the drug can be reviewed by national medicine agencies, meaning it will be at least two or three years before patients could potentially access the pills, Glue said. More information: Paul Glue, Extended-release ketamine tablets for treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled phase 2 trial, Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03063-x. www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03063-x Journal information: Nature Medicine 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: Several people across the country have recently been hospitalized after consuming mushroom gummies distributed by Australian brand Uncle Frog and made in the United States. Their reported symptoms included elevated heart rate, nausea, anxiety and hallucinations. This has prompted a product recall and warnings from local health authorities not to consume the gummies. Two varieties are affected: Cordyceps and Lion's Mane. The Cordyceps product purports to offer "natural energy and power," while the Lion's Mane variety "supports memory and focus." Both fungal varieties are infused with hemp. So what in these products could have made people sick? And how are they regulated in Australia? Cordyceps and Lion's Mane The Cordyceps product claims to contain extracts of the fungus Cordyceps militaris. The Lion's Mane product is based on the Hericium erinaceus species. Both Cordyceps and Lion's Mane have a long history of use in traditional medicine for improving mental functionin particular traditional Chinese medicine. There's increasing research interest and a very early but emerging body of evidence suggesting these mushrooms may have some positive effects on mood and cognition. My team at Southern Cross University are also researching the therapeutic potential of these ingredients, though our work is not published yet. Both fungi are available as therapeutic products in Australia, either via the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, which allows the sale of a variety of Cordyceps and Lion's Mane products as complementary medicines, or via practitioner-only dispensing of dried products. Neither of these fungi appear to be associated with the side effects reported among people who took the Uncle Frog's mushroom gummies. So why did people get sick? The product also claimed to be infused with "Earth's finest hemp." Hemp is the term often used for a cannabis plant that contains a smaller amount of THC (the principal psychoactive component in cannabis) than recreational or medicinal marijuana. While the distributor said the product had been tested to confirm there was no active THC present, many of those affected described symptoms consistent with excessive cannabis use. One user even claimed THC had shown up on a drug test after they used the product. This suggests to me the adverse reactions may have been due to the cannabis component, rather than the fungus component of the gummiesand that the cannabis component was stronger than use of the term "hemp" suggests. But investigations are ongoing and more information will likely come to light in due course. What are functional foods? Cordyceps and Lion's Mane are what we've come to call "functional foods". These are essentially foods that are claimed to contain specific ingredients that may have certain health or disease prevention benefits. This can be both in the form of unprocessed foods (for example, purple sweet potatoes have recently been in the spotlight for their antioxidant potential) or processed foods and beverages (for example, kombucha drinks). The mushroom gummies would be an example of a highly processed functional food. Functional foods are growing in popularity As lines between medicines and foods increasingly blur, and consumers often prefer products that once came in tablets to come in edible forms such as gummies and powders, the regulatory situation becomes complicated. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates therapeutic goodsincluding natural products such as herbal medicines and nutritional supplementsfor safety and quality. This means you can be confident what it says on the bottle is in the bottle, and it's safe to consume. For most complementary medicines, the TGA doesn't assess efficacy. Meanwhile, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) regulates foods. The rise of functional foods has brought a number of interesting new ingredients, often in new forms, to Australia. To ensure such products are appropriate to be sold as foods, FSANZ must approve these novel ingredients. FSANZ officially removed the gummies from legal sale because Cordyceps and Lion's Mane are unapproved novel foods. Food or medicine? All this highlights the issue of quality control of products for sale in Australia, particularly imported products. To help manufacturers (and the public) determine whether products should be marketed as foods or therapeutic goods, and therefore which regulatory body they should fall under, the Australian government has developed a Food-Medicine Interface Guidance Tool. However, public health experts have previously noted this tool can be confusingparticularly for products such as gummiesand can result in disagreement between regulators and public health experts. Australia is seen as a world leader in the regulation of natural medicinesincluding assessment of overseas manufacturing facilities producing goods for the Australian market. But perhaps it's time to narrow the gap between foodsat least those making or implying broad therapeutic claimsand medicines. FSANZ is doing a lot of work to narrow this gap, but more is probably needed. One part of this may be beefing up the regulation of functional foods as a category in its own right. Japan was the first country to use the term functional foods, and its Ministry of Health provides a regulatory pathway for that tricky middle ground between food and medicine. What should you do? If you happen to have any of the gummies in question, throw them away. In terms of functional foods more broadly, I would refer to the following advice from Michael Pollan, an American author who has written extensively on the topic: don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food. If you want to explore the potential power of fungi or plants in the form of natural medicines, seek out products regulated by the TGA (look for a number beginning with AUST L, AUST L(A) or AUST R on the package) or speak to a qualified health practitioner. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. You are here: China Chinese police have detained over 3,350 people who allegedly helped telecom fraud organizations to lure victims, in a recent nationwide operation, the Ministry of Public Security said Friday. The suspects from 106 criminal gangs allegedly printed cards containing fraudulent website addresses, QR codes and obscene information and posted them at public venues to lure victims into fraud schemes, the ministry said in a press release. The operation has responded to an emerging problem of more and more telecom fraud organizations hiring accessories to distribute false information and lure victims offline, the statement said. Such criminal activities used to be done online but were effectively curbed by police crackdowns in cyberspace. The ministry pledged that police nationwide will maintain a momentum of cracking down on criminal offenses that weaken people's sense of security, including telecom fraud. Napa teen Miel McGrath traveled to USC to participate in the 2024 Braille Challenge competition, June 21 to 23. Celebrating its 24th year, Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind for students in grades 1-12 who are blind or visually impaired, said a news release. This year, the top 50 students were invited to Braille Challenge Finals from a pool of over 1,100 competitors from across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. I think that I did good on some subjects in the test, but there were others that I could definitely improve on, said McGrath, age 14, after the competition. Reading comprehension and proofreading were easy for me, but charts and graphs and speed and accuracy were more challenging, said McGrath. "Speed and accuracy is where you listen to an audio and write everything that the audio is saying correctly in braille, and you only have a certain amount of time to do it which can be challenging. McGrath said the most interesting part of the competition was meeting friends from all over three countries. The Braille Challenge Finals includes kids from the US, Canada and the UK. I made friends from many different states from the two times I've been to the finals, and I still keep in touch with them. The most challenging part of the event was charts and graphs segment of the test, said McGrath. Usually in math, charts and graphs are very visual and sometimes hard for me to comprehend in a tactile form as well. While McGrath was not named a top finisher this year, shes already thinking about future competitions. One thing I would do differently next time is make sure to not overthink my answers, and to work at my own pace instead of rushing, she wrote. It is important in these tests to strive for accuracy instead of finishing it all and getting the questions wrong, and sometimes I forget to not rush. I would also make sure to study as much as I can before the tests to make sure I understand the concepts. McGrath said there are a number of misconceptions about being blind such as blind people are not as independent, she said. But really, we can do anything that they can, said this teen. Sometimes things have to be made accessible for us to be able to do things, but there are always work arounds. Blind people are no different than sighted. Braille Institute developed the Braille Challenge to promote the importance of braille literacy, said a news release. The competition motivates students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success, said the releease. According to the National Federation for the Blind study, only 32% of those with a visual disability attain a high school diploma or GED, and less than 16% of adults attain a bachelor's degree or higher. "Knowing braille opens doors to independence and opportunity for those who are visually impaired," said Jim (Dimitri) Kales, CEO of Braille Institute. Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, June 29, 2024 PRNewswire Jakarta [Indonesia], June 29: Amid the dynamic and complex regulatory landscape in Indonesia, the business sector increasingly relies on external legal expertise to navigate various legal challenges. Over the past year, at least 129 law firms in Indonesia have handled merger and acquisition cases, while 125 firms have managed arbitration, litigation, and dispute resolution cases. In total, these law firms have handled more than 3,000 cases, reflecting the robust interaction between business and law in the country. "The business sector requires legal certainty and the expertise of law firms and lawyers who are truly competent in their respective practice areas," stated Arkka Dhiratara, CEO of Hukumonline, at the Hukumonline Practice Leaders & Top 100 Indonesian Law Firms 2024 event. To support businesses in finding the most capable legal experts, Hukumonline has relaunched its Practice Leaders directory. Practice Leaders is a comprehensive directory profiling hundreds of Indonesian law firms based on their performance across 32 practice areas. In 2024, Hukumonline surveyed 228 law firms and recorded over 3,000 cases handled by these firms. This directory serves as a crucial hub, connecting in-house counsels, corporate secretaries, and other legal professionals with leading legal services. Arsjad Rasjid, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), expressed hope that the Practice Leaders initiative, part of Hukumonline's Top 100 Indonesian Law Firms 2024 event, would foster collaboration among legal practitioners to create an integrity-driven legal environment. "Law firms provide essential legal services that help industries navigate regulatory frameworks, mitigate legal risks, and ensure compliance with applicable laws," Rasjid remarked. The Hukumonline Top 100 Indonesian Law Firms event acknowledges the achievements of law firms across the nation. This year, 236 law firms from various provinces participated, marking a 12.85 per cent increase from 2023. The participating firms are categorized as 76.27 per cent full-service law firms, 13.98 per cent non-litigation law firms, and 9.74 per cent litigation law firms. Additionally, the Top 100 Indonesian Law Firms 2024 includes 16 categories, with three evaluated by an external jury comprising Dr. iur. Asmin Fransiska, S.H., LL.M, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia; Said Zaidansyah, Country Director Papua New Guinea Resident Mission - Asian Development Bank (ADB); and Seradesy Sumardi, President of the Indonesia Corporate Counsel Association (ICCA). The jury assesses law firms based on qualitative data, including descriptions of the work and transactions handled over the past year. "We meticulously evaluate each candidate based on strict and objective criteria. Through this process, the jury not only identifies law firms and practitioners who have shown achievement but also promotes higher professional standards across the legal industry," said Seradesy Sumardi on behalf of the jury. About Hukumonline Founded in 2000 by several prominent legal practitioners and lawyers in Indonesia, Hukumonline aims to be a one-stop solution for Indonesian legal practitioners and functions as a technology-based regulatory platform (reg-tech) that democratizes access to law and empowers legal professionals through the provision of legal knowledge in various forms. Our database includes collections of classified regulations and court decisions, comprehensive legal analyses and reports, as well as easily understandable articles on legal issues. (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) India and the United States have agreed to extend the 2 per cent equalisation levy or digital tax on e-commerce supplies until June 30. On Oct 8, 2021, both countries joined 134 other members of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework (including Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) in reaching agreement on the Statement on a Two-Pillar Solution of OECD/G20, to Address the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalization of the Economy. On November 24, 2021, India and the United States agreed that the same terms that apply under the October 21 Joint Statement shall apply between India and the United States with respect to India's charge of 2% equalisation levy on e-commerce supply of services and the United States trade action with respect to the said Equalisation Levy. The validity of this agreement was from 1st April 2022 till the implementation of Pillar One or 31st March 2024, whichever is earlier. This was stated in public statements made by both sides on November 24 Statements. On February 15, 2024, the United States AND Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom decided to extend the political compromise set forth in the October 21 Joint Statement until June 30, 2024. "In light of the above developments, India and the United States have decided to extend the validity of the agreement reflected in November 24 Statements until June 30, 2024. All other terms of the transitional approach remain the same," the finance ministry's release said The OECD/G20 two-pillar solution addresses the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy and aims to modernize the international tax framework. This pillar introduces a global minimum corporate tax rate to prevent tax base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The minimum tax rate ensures that MNEs pay at least a minimum level of tax regardless of where they are headquartered or where they operate. It also mandates to implementation of Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) rules to ensure that foreign income is taxed to restore a level playing field and eliminate the need for countries to offer very low tax rates in order to compete for inbound investment. The Finance Ministry further added in the statement that both countries will remain in close contact to ensure that there is a common understanding of the respective commitment and endeavour to resolve all issues on this matter through constructive dialogue. (ANI) PNN New Delhi [India], June 29: French tweets Pvt. Ltd. embodies Dr. Dolly Setia's profound passion for the French language and her commitment to revolutionising language education. French tweets emerged from Dr. Setia's personal path when she first started learning French. Her appreciation for French language's elegance and its importance as a life skill, was solidified during her French doctoral research in Montreal, Canada. Her mission is to make French accessible to all enthusiastic learners. With over eighteen years of experience in language-related initiatives and instructing a diverse range of students at Educational institutions & University, Dr. Setia established French tweets Pvt. Ltd. in 2020, amid the COVID-19 crisis, as a global Ed-tech company utilising digital platforms for language acquisition. Initially, the company focused on providing French language training and TEF/TCF Canada exam preparation via its YouTube channel. Recognizing Canada's francophone status and advantages for bilingual immigrants, she provided specialised exam training, aiding many candidates in achieving their target scores. Dr. Setia's expertise also includes authoring two French language reference books available on Amazon. An Integrated Approach / Transforming Language Learning with Innovation and Passion The team expanded by training native experts, enriching the learning experience with their firsthand knowledge of the French language, customs, and nuances from French-speaking regions. This approach allows global learners to delve into authentic language use & cultural immersion. French tweets provide comprehensive language instruction, tailored to diverse dialects, accents, and cultural contexts, led by native teachers. Since its inception, French tweets Pvt. Ltd. has earned international acclaim for its effective online classes and inclusive learning environment. Company's site www.frenchtweets.ca offers registration for French, Spanish, English, and Italian courses with personal dashboards, interactive learning content and video lectures by native experts. On the site one can find tailored programs (Personal or Batch) for academic, professional, and immigration goals, along with translation services across education, export, IT, and medical sectors. French tweets is a testament to how determination, hard work, delegation, creativity, and passion can change the face of education in contemporary society and allow working professionals to acquire life skills despite their hectic schedules. Mr. Robin Setia, the significant-other, stood by to devise supportive strategies, brainstorm ideas, and manage the technical aspects, contributing to the success of the Ed-tech company. French tweets Pvt. Ltd. leads global language education with innovative & holistic instruction. Programs offered for All learners It offers thorough test preparation for a number of French exams (TEF, TCF, TEFAQ, TCFQ, DELF & DALF) at all language levels, from A1 to C2 with a meticulously crafted curriculum. Writing these tests is crucial for immigration or education for Francophone countries.The platform also provides immersive language instruction for Spanish (DELE & SIELE), Italian (CILS & CELI), and English (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, OET, CELPIP, UKVI & Spoken English) to learners globally. Additionally, tailored courses are available for Educational institutions (CBSE, IGCSE, IB & state boards). French tweets provides round-the-clock global access to Live- online classes. Currently, French Tweets has over 10,000 registered learners from various countries. Leveraging social media and AI, French tweets expands its global presence with regular language resource updates and has a growing social media following of 50,000 language enthusiasts across YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, and Telegram. (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) New Delhi [India], June 29: CMF, a sub-brand of London-based technology company Nothing, today announced that CMF Phone 1 is set to debut as India's first smartphone powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G SoC. Scheduled to launch on July 8th, CMF Phone 1 promises to deliver a best-in-segment experience. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G processor, with its 8-core architecture and cutting-edge 4nm process from TSMC, makes it one of the fastest and power efficient smartphones in the segment. This segment-leading processor integrates numerous functions into a single compact chip, ensuring both high performance and energy efficiency. Key Highlights of MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC in the CMF Phone 1: * Superior Performance: The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G processor ensures CMF Phone 1 is one of the fastest phones in its segment. Its 8-core design delivers top-tier speed and responsiveness, catering to all your needs seamlessly. * Enhanced Efficiency: Thanks to the innovative design and small size of the chip, CMF Phone 1 offers radically improved efficiency, significantly reducing battery drain and extending usage times. * Advanced Technology: The latest 4nm process technology from TSMC sets Phone 1 apart, enabling superior performance and efficiency while maintaining a compact form factor. The CMF Phone 1 is set to launch on July 8 and can be live-streamed at cmf.tech. With CMF Phone 1, the brand aims to make great design accessible to more people while delivering an uncompromised user experience through a focus on core product functionalities. Alongside CMF Phone 1, the brand will also launch Watch Pro 2 and Buds Pro 2, further expanding its portfolio of innovative products designed to enhance everyday life. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 29: CloudThat, an award-winning cloud training and cloud consulting services company, is proud to announce that it has won the prestigious Microsoft Training Services Partner of the Year Award for 2024. 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. Renowned for its consistent streak of victories, this marks the brand's seventh consecutive award in seven years. "It is an honor to be the first India-headquartered company to receive this award," proclaimed Bhavesh Goswami, CloudThat's visionary Founder and CEO. He further added, "CloudThat pioneered cloud training in India, making it fit that we are the first to win this prestigious accolade. We have anticipated this moment for many years. Being a finalist in 2020 and 2022 was a significant achievement, but not winning was admittedly disappointing. However, I always believed that with consistent and honest performance, we would eventually succeed. Today, that belief has been validated. I am thrilled and ecstatic." The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize 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 more than 4,700 nominations from more than 100 countries. CloudThat was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services internationally. "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 & 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." The 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are announced ahead of MCAPS Start 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards press release guidelines for Partners, our digital event on July 10th and 11th. Partners will receive recognition at MCAPS Start for Partners ahead of in person celebrations during the week of Microsoft Ignite in November. CloudThat's achievement is not just a win for the company but also a significant contribution to the global tech community. Their efforts in upskilling professionals have far-reaching impacts, contributing to the overall growth and advancement of the tech industry. As they continue to expand their offerings and reach, CloudThat is poised to remain a key player in the realm of tech education and cloud services, helping shape the future of the industry. Established in 2012, CloudThat offers Cloud Training and Cloud Consulting services in India, USA, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Being a pioneer in the Cloud domain, CloudThat has special expertise in catering to mid-market and enterprise clients in all the major Cloud service providers like AWS, Microsoft, GCP, Databricks, HP, and more. Recently, it established its Center of Generative AI Innovation to help organizations embrace GenAI with its sandbox environment. Uniquely positioned to be a single source for both training and consulting services like Cloud Migration, Data Platforms, DevOps, IoT, and the latest technologies like GenAI & AI/ML, it is a solution partner with Microsoft & top-tier partner with AWS and, winning more than 9 awards in last 7 years. It has been awarded the prestigious AWS Training Partner of the Year 2023 and won the Microsoft Superstars FY 2023 award in Asia & India. Leveraging their position as a leader in the market, CloudThat has trained 750k+ professionals in 600+ cloud certifications and delivered 350+ consulting projects for 250+ corporates in 30+ countries. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 29: MediSim VR, a leader in healthcare simulation training technology, is delighted to announce the establishment of Gujarat's first VR Skill Training Lab at KD Hospital, inaugurated by the Minister, Rushikesh Patel, Health & Family Welfare, Gujarat. This state-of-the-art VR skill training lab at KD Hospital is designed to provide immersive and highly realistic medical scenario simulations, enabling nursing students and healthcare professionals to practice essential medical procedures and develop critical clinical skills in a safe, controlled environment. Additionally, the lab is equipped with MediSim VR's ergonomically designed and patented automated VR stations. This innovative technology ensures a high standard of training and helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. As a Center of Excellence (CoE), the lab will not only benefit students and healthcare professionals from KD Hospital, but will also extend its advanced training facilities to other nursing colleges across Gujarat, fostering a comprehensive improvement in healthcare education throughout the state. Dr Adith Chinnaswami, Co-Founder of MediSim VR, expressed his confidence and stated, "Working together with KD Hospital to set up Gujarat's first VR skill training lab is a milestone for MediSim VR. The new lab is set to benefit students' and healthcare professionals skill development, as it equips them with hands-on experience, boosting their confidence and expertise in medical procedures." Dr Anuja Desai, Executive Director, KD Hospital commented, "By integrating this state-of-the-art simulation training technology into our curriculum, we not only enhance our students' learning experience but also serve as a training hub for healthcare professionals across Gujarat. As a Center of Excellence, the MediSim VR Lab will play a significant role in upskilling nursing students. We are proud to lead this educational change and prepare our students as healthcare leaders of the future." About Medisim VR: MediSim VR is a leading healthcare simulation company that offers patented technology designed to meet the unique needs of healthcare training worldwide. MediSim VR's AI-powered competency assessment tools and immersive virtual training environments improve the performance of nursing students, doctors, and healthcare professionals by offering unparalleled immersive experiences that redefine medical education. About KD Hospital : KD Hospital (Kusum Dhirajlal Hospital) is a multi/super specialty hospital, with state-of-the-art facilities and treatments at an affordable cost, encompassing a wide spectrum of accurate diagnostics and elegant therapeutics created on the philosophical edifice of patient and ethical centricity, ensuring humanistic dispensation. About KDIAHS: Established in 2018, KD Institutes Of Allied Health Sciences (KDIAHS) provides top programs in nursing, physiotherapy, and optometry. With the KD Simulation Academy for Immersive Learning (KDSAIL), KDIAHS remains a leader in innovative healthcare education. Media Contact: For press and media inquiries,Contact: SreevarshneeNumber: +91 8825543614Email: varshnee@medisimvr.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2451404/KD___Photo_ID_adf4fbe1af3b.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Tech-billionaire owner of X, Elon Musk on Saturday said that his social media platform witnessed record usage during the recent televised debate between US President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the upcoming presidential elections later this year. Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to his account on X to detail that the microblogging platform which was formerly known as Twitter touched 76 Billion User-Seconds in the United States. "X US usage reaches all-time high! 76B total user-seconds in the US, beating the previous record by 5%," posted Musk. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1806942360552829011 in a series of posts, X detailed that "minute-by-minute conversation on the first US presidential debate spiked by 19 times from the start of the broadcast to its peak at 90 minutes in." "The scale of the global conversation on X was staggering: we've tracked over 2B impressions with over 242M video views and 2M posts," XData posted on the televised showdown between Biden and Trump. The posts by X were retweeted by Musk from his personal profile. This marks a pivotal moment for X, reflecting its growing influence and the increasing engagement of its user base. The figure of 76 billion total user-seconds represents the cumulative time users spent on the platform, indicating a increase in user activity and interaction. The previous record, which X surpassed by 5 per cent, underscores the platform's growth and resilience in a highly competitive social media landscape. The announcement comes at a time when social media platforms are vying for user attention and striving to offer more engaging content. To boost platform engagement, Musk had on March 28 announced that X accounts with over 2,500 verified subscriber followers would be granted free access to Premium features, while those with over 5,000 followers would enjoy Premium+ features at no cost. Meanwhile, in his first campaign stop following the televised debate hosted by CNN with the Trump, President Biden addressing supporters in North Carolina's Raeligh said, "I know what millions of Americans know...When you get knocked down, you get back up." "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," Biden said. "I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth," he said as per a readout from the event put out by the White House "I spent 90 minutes on a stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat," Biden said. Meanwhile, former President Trump addressing a campaign rally in Virginia said, "We had a big victory against a man that is really looking to destroy our country," CNN reported. (ANI) India's Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has released a draft proposal aimed at enhancing regulatory control over the country's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, as per S&P Global Commodity Insights (GPI). This move, according to industry insiders, could effectively address the persistent issue of capacity underutilization that has been plaguing most of these facilities and bring about greater transparency in the sector. The PNGRB's proposal targets the problem of surplus capacity, which has been a significant concern for India's LNG import terminals for several years. Many of these facilities, with the exception of the Dahej terminal, are currently operating at less than 50 per cent capacity. This chronic underutilization has led the regulator to propose measures aimed at optimizing the use of existing infrastructure and ensuring more efficient operations. "We've been putting up more capacity than required ... so this move will tackle that aspect," an industry source in India said. Another source added that the proposed changes would allow new suppliers to access the terminals, fostering increased competition and potentially lowering costs. Akshay Modi, South Asia analyst for natural gas, LNG, and hydrogen at S&P Global Commodity Insights, said, "Most LNG terminals, except Dahej, are operating way below 50 per cent capacity, leading PNGRB to consider regulating them due to underutilization." "While the regulation may slow down the development of LNG regasification infrastructure as licensing may take some time, it will enhance transparency for the downstream consumers as terminal information becomes publicly available and would also promote open access," Modi added. Despite the increased regulatory oversight, India's reliance on LNG imports is not expected to diminish. According to analysts at Commodity Insights, India's LNG imports in the first quarter of 2024 surged by 44 per cent year-on-year. This growth was driven by a significant 51 per cent decline in spot prices and robust demand across all downstream sectors, indicating a strong and sustained demand for LNG in the country, irrespective of regulatory changes. The draft proposal outlines several critical requirements for new LNG terminal projects. Entities planning to build an LNG terminal will need to notify the PNGRB before making a final investment decision. Additionally, new LNG import projects will require a certificate of registration from the Board. Developers will also be required to publicly disclose their tariffs for regasification and other charges. The regulator's approval for new units or expansions will be based on several factors, including promoting competition among operators, avoiding unnecessary investments, ensuring an adequate national gas supply, maintaining or increasing supply for equitable distribution, protecting consumer interests, and providing the necessary natural gas pipeline infrastructure for the transportation of regasified LNG from the terminal. Moreover, the PNGRB will have the authority to impose fines on developers if project schedules or start-up dates are delayed. Companies planning new capacity must have a credible business plan for capacity utilization and will need to furnish a bank guarantee equal to one per cent of the estimated project cost of the terminal or Indian Rupee 250 million (USD 3 million), whichever is less. (ANI) Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday visited Bharat Ratnam - Mega CFC, a project of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and SEEPZ. During the event, GJEPC highlighted its strategic initiatives, which have significantly contributed to the resilience, growth, and stability of the Indian gem and jewellery industry amidst global challenges. In his keynote address, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry said, "I am immensely proud of how the Mega Common Facility Center (CFC) has developed. It stands on par with the best in the world, truly one of a kind. This achievement reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I am thrilled to see 200 students here, skilled and assured of jobs. The potential for industry growth is tremendous." He added, "Beyond the CFC, the Jewellery Park adds even more shine to Mumbai's gem and jewellery industry. As we celebrate SEEPZ's 50th year, the Mega CFC stands as a remarkable gift. The modernization of SEEPZ, through vertical growth, will accommodate more exporters and significantly boost exports. Despite the current geopolitical challenges, I am confident that India will achieve USD 800 billion in exports." Goyal also assured, "The ministry is expeditiously pursuing the process of signing FTAs with several countries to drive exports." Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, highlighting the pivotal role of FTAs signed by the Minister, states, "India-UAE CEPA, India-Australia ECTA, and the recent FTA with Europe's EFTA has been instrumental in boosting exports to these countries. Post India-UAE CEPA, India's plain gold jewellery has grown substantially, reflecting an impressive growth of 107.2 per cent to USD 4,528.66 million in FY 2023-24." Kirit Bhansali, Vice Chairman, GJEPC noted, "The success of the Bharat Ratnam - Mega CFC is owed to Piyush Goyal's steadfast leadership for bringing this initiative to fruition. The Mega CFC is a game-changer for our industry and it will surely help us to achieve the goal of USD 75 billion in exports and realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Bhansali further added, "The India Jewellery Park in Mumbai, poised to revolutionise the industry with comprehensive infrastructure solutions, is expected to attract investments of Rs 50,000 crores and generate over 100,000 jobs." GJEPC continues to act as a pivotal trade facilitator, advocating for industry interests and steering impactful policy interventions at both state and central levels. In terms of trade promotion, GJEPC organises around 20 India Pavilions at key International Trade Fairs including JCK Las Vegas, Hong Kong Fairs, Vicenza Oro Italy, Doha, Bahrain, Singapore, etc. The Council organises more than 10 buyer-seller meets for diamonds, jewellery, coloured gemstones and silver in India and key export markets. GJEPC showcases the best Indian gems and jewellery exclusively to a global audience at the International Gem & Jewellery Show (IGJS) held in Dubai and Jaipur. The International Jewellery Exposition Centre (IJEX) in Dubai, inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, has been instrumental in enhancing the global presence of Indian jewellery, particularly benefiting the MSME sector. Speaking about the GJEPC's flagship show Bhansali said, "The 40th edition of IIJS Premiere, the world's second-largest B2B jewellery show, will feature 3,600 stalls and 2,100 exhibitors. The event, scheduled from 8th to 12th August 2024 at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC) in BKC, Bandra, and from 9th to 13th August 2024 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Goregaon, is expected to attract over 50,000 buyers from India and more than 2,000 buyers from over 80 countries." (ANI) Taking to her Instagram account on Sunday, the actress dropped a video giving fans a tour of the studio. The actress, a Potterhead, made sure to immerse herself in the magical world of Harry Potter. The tour featured character illustrations, visual representations of iconic Harry Potter locations, Hogwarts House impressions, and several posters and paintings from the beloved franchise. Apart from this, Shamita also indulged in Harry Potter-themed chocolates and enjoyed a thrilling ride on a digitally made broomstick, describing it as 'the most fun' experience she had. "My eyes sparkled in awe and amazement as I re-lived some of the moments n characters in the magical world of Harry Potter!!! Loved every moment of it! Only all the Harry Potter fans will understand why The second last slide/video for me was the most fun," read her Instagram post. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8yX6ZySfaj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== In another snapshot from her London trip which she shared a couple of days back, Shamita was seen sitting atop a fence surrounded by lush green pastures, dressed casually in a black T-shirt and matching joggers. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8rZm9jyeba/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Shamita was last seen in the movie 'The Tenant,' which was released on February 10, 2023. She also garnered attention as a contestant on reality shows like Bigg Boss OTT 1, where she reached the Top 3. Apart from this, she participated in Bigg Boss 15, finishing in 4th place. In 2020, she was featured in the web series 'Black Widows.' (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met the leaders who became Ministers of State for the very first time in the Council of Ministers and gained insights on their ministerial journey. He informed about this meeting through a social media post on X. Taking it to a social media post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, "Met those who have become Ministers of State for the first time in the Council of Ministers. Heard their experiences and insights as they have just embarked on their ministerial journey. Also discussed ways to further strengthen governance at the grassroots." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1806732065687085373/photo/1 PM Modi and 71 members of his ministerial team took the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9. The team had 30 cabinet ministers, five ministers of state (Independent Charge), and 36 Ministers of State. The list of first-time Ministers of State includes Suresh Gopi, Murlidhar Mohol, Jayant Chaudhary, and more. Meanwhile, 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. 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. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on June 24 with new members taking oath. The Rajya Sabha session started on June 27. (ANI) The apprehended individual has been identified as Veer Vikash Vikram (45), who hails from Saharsa, Bihar. He was apprehended in a joint effort by GRP (Government Railway Police) and RPF (Railway Protection Force). According to the GRP police official, the suspect was intercepted with the contraband that he intended to smuggle via train to Bihar and was arrested. Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter, with the case slated to be presented in court tomorrow for further legal proceedings. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Reacting to the "untold story of hotel Taj Palace" and "3 pm" remarks of Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose on Friday said he would answer after the deadline given by the TMC leader. Responding to the remarks, the West Bengal Governor said, "I will answer it after 4:00 pm that day." The standoff between the Governor and the state's ruling Trinamool over the oath ceremony of the two newly elected Trinamool MLAs, has triggered again after the remarks of Kunal Ghosh. Kunal Ghosh had said, "I would like to respectfully inform Governor CV Ananda Bose that if both our Trinamool Congress MLAs are not sworn in by 3 pm on Monday, then from Tuesday the untold story of the Taj Palace in Delhi will come up." Meanwhile, West Bengal Legislative Assembly Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay said that he thinks Governor CV Ananda Bose will understand the situation and will come to the assembly soon for the oath ceremony of two newly elected MLAs. "I wrote a letter to the President of India and yesterday night I had a conversation with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar. Last time when Mamata Banerjee won in a by-election from the Bhawanipur assembly, Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar came to the assembly and an oath ceremony took place. I think this time also the same rule should be followed by the present Governor of West Bengal," Biman Bandyopadhyay said. Earlier, two newly elected Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs, Reyat Hossain Sarkar, and Sayantika Banerjee, launched a sit-in protest in front of the BR Ambedkar statue at the premises of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Thursday after Governor CV Anand Bose declined to administer the oath or delegate the responsibility to the Speaker. Sayantika and Reyat won the assembly bye-elections from the Baranagar and Bhagwangola constituencies, respectively, the results of which were declared on June 5. TMC MLA Reyat Hossain Sarkar won from Bhagwangola in the recently concluded bye-election with 107,096 votes, while TMC MLA Sayantika Banerjee won from Baranagar with 69,251 votes. Both the TMC MLAs failed to take oaths following a dispute over the venue of the swearing-in ceremony. (ANI) Assuring proactive measures are taken regarding the Delhi Airport canopy collapse incident, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Saturday said that a war room has been constituted to ensure refunds or alternate flights for affected passengers in the incident. The Minister assured to take necessary proactive measures to ensure such incidents won't occur in the future. He also expressed his condolences on the loss of life in the canopy collapse incident at Delhi Airport Terminal 1. Expressing his condolences, Ram Mohan Naidu said, "The incident that happened at the Delhi airport is very tragic and I offer my condolences to the one individual who lost his life. Some people were injured also in the incident, they have been taken to the hospital and their treatment is underway." He further said that the situation has been taken under control. "We have taken control of the situation and as soon as the incident was reported, all the emergency response teams including teams of NDRF and CISF immediately went to the spot and engaged in the relief operations to prevent any further damage." The Minister guaranteed a refund within seven days or alternate flights for those whose flights were canceled. Citing the proactive measures taken by the Civil Aviation Ministry, Naidu stated, "For now, Terminal-1 is completely closed and evacuated. All the flight movements have been shifted to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. For those people whose flights have been canceled, they are being given either a refund or an alternate flight. The Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to pass a circular to provide refunds to the people within seven days." He further stated that a war room has been constituted in this regard and an officer from the Ministry has been placed in the war room to ensure the facilitation. "To ensure this happens, we have set up war rooms at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. The Ministry has released a statement regarding this which has all the numbers. We are taking care of it and have placed one of the officers in the war rooms," he said. The Ministry has also issued a circular to airlines, citing not to increase the fares. "When such incidents occur, there is an increase in air fares, so we have issued another circular to airlines on not increasing the fare of the tickets and maintaining the prices," said Naidu. Ensuring such incidents don't occur in the future, the Minister said, "We don't want a similar incident to happen again so we have brought in a special team from IIT Delhi's structural engineering department. They will give an initial inspection report. Based on this the necessary action will be taken to stop such incidents." "Since we don't want such incidents to be repeated, we will ensure getting a structural preliminary inspection done at all airports. We have sought a report from all the airports across the country within 2-5 days, upon which we will see what necessary measures are needed to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future," he further added. Earlier, on Friday, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said that a technical committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the incident. In a statement on Friday, the DIAL said the technical committee will give the report as soon as possible. "Due to heavy rains and winds through the night in Delhi, a canopy at the old departure forecourt of Terminal 1 (T1) partially collapsed around 5 am this morning. 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 statement said. The statement said that rescue operations were launched immediately by the Delhi Airport Emergency Response Team including Fire Fighting, Medical Team, and Operations, who provided all necessary support and assistance. Evacuation of passengers and all other individuals from T1 was the first priority and complete evacuation has been undertaken, it added. DIAL is working with all relevant agencies, including the 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) are jointly working to assess the situation and restore operations, the statement mentioned. Four vehicles were damaged in the incident, the statement said, adding that the eight individuals who received minor injuries were provided immediate medical assistance at the Medanta Centre at Delhi Airport. "The injured have been shifted to ESI Hospital and Indian Spinal Injury Centre (later they were referred to Safdarjung Hospital) for further medical supervision, as required. Unfortunately, one fatality was reported in the incident," the statement said. Following the incident, 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. Further, Delhi Airport extended all support to the impacted individuals and the family of the deceased and announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased, and Rs 3 lakh each to those who received minor injuries. (ANI) Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Saturday condoled the death of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Pradesh Congress Committee president and former minister Dharmapuri Srinivas. According to his family, Srinivas had been suffering from illness for some time and breathed his last due to a heart attack at 3 am on Saturday. He was 76. The Chief Minister said that Srinivas (fondly called DS) played an important role as PCC President and rendered exceptional service to the Congress party for a long time. The CM remembered Srinivas as a role model for many political leaders. The seniormost Congress leader also made his mark during the Telangana movement and his long political stint in the Congress. CM Revanth Reddy prayed to God for the departed soul to rest in peace. The CM conveyed his deepest sympathies to the bereaved family members. Meanwhile, Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and former MP V Hanumanth Rao paid their last respects to Srinivas at his residence in Hyderabad. Ponnam Prabhakar has expressed his condolences over the death of Srinivas. On this occasion, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar remembered his services as Minister and PCC Chief. He remembered his association with him at the party for a long time. He conveyed his condolences to the family members and prayed to God to give more courage to their family members in this difficult time. The Telangana Minister for Roads and Buildings, Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, also expressed condolences over the death of Srinivas. The minister said that the death of Srinivas was a huge loss for the Congress party. The minister conveyed his deepest condolences to their family members and may his soul rest in peace. Telangana Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (including Rural Water Supply), Women and Child Welfare, Dansari Anasuya Seethakka, expressed her deepest condolences on the death of Srinivas. She prayed to God to rest his soul in peace. Srinivas has served as Minister, MP and PCC president in the erstwhile AP. He is survived by his two sons. His second son, Dharmapuri Arvind, is currently the MP of Nizamabad. His elder son Sanjay has previously served as the Mayor of Nizamabad. (ANI) On the 25th anniversary of the supreme sacrifice of Capt. N Kenguruse of the Indian Army, a ceremony was held at the Kenguruse War Memorial in his native village, Phezha, in the Kohima district of Nagaland on Friday. During the Kargil War (1999), Capt. N Kenguruse made the supreme sacrifice, laying down his life in the line of duty while leading an operation in the most inhospitable and inclement weather conditions. For his valour, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (second-highest gallantry award), posthumously. The Governor of Nagaland, La Ganesan, was the chief guest for the event. During the event, the proud parents of the Hero of Nagaland were felicitated by the Governor of Nagaland. The event was attended by a large number of service personnel, Ex-Servicemen and villagers. During the event, the Governor and Lieutenant General Harjinder Singh Sahi, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM General Officer Commanding Spear Corps paid homage to the memorial by laying a wreath at the memorial. The Governor also ignited the torch of "Amar Jyoti" at the War Memorial and felicitated the parents of Captain N Kenguruse, MVC (P). Speaking on the occasion, the governor said, "Today, we stand united in our respect and admiration for Captain Kenguruse. His actions during the Kargil War exemplify the courage and patriotism of the people of Nagaland. We are proud of his legacy and will ensure that it continues to inspire future generations." Ex-servicemen, local residents and children attending the event pledged themselves for rededication to the values of service and courage embodied by Captain N Kenguruse. Captain Kenguruse Memorial Day serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our armed forces in defence of the nation. As we honour the memory of Captain N Kengueuse, MVC, (P), his actions during the Kargil War stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Indian soldier, the army said in a press release. The bravery and sacrifice of Captain N Kenguruse continue to inspire, lighting the path for future generations with the flame of patriotism. (ANI) Speaking to ANI, Virudhunagar District Collector said, "Three people killed, one injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory near Sattur in Virudhunagar district. The injured is being treated at the government hospital." Further details on the matter are awaited. Last month, an explosion took place at a firecracker manufacturing factory at Narayanapuram Pudur, near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district. No casualties had been reported in the fire incident. Fire tenders reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident and extinguished the fire. (ANI) Chinese FM addresses luncheon commemorating 70th anniversary of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Xinhua) 09:25, June 29, 2024 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends and addresses a luncheon commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed a luncheon commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing on Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that President Xi Jinping's important speech at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friday morning comprehensively elaborated the essence and the values of the times of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, pointed out the direction of building a community with a shared future for mankind amid the profound changes unseen in a century, and sent out the strong message that the "Global South" will work with people around the world to create a better future. The speech is of far-reaching significance in drawing on the historical wisdom of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and pooling consensus and joint efforts to solve the difficult problems and challenges in today's world, Wang added. "The implementation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence is an ongoing process with no endpoint, and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity is under way," Wang stressed. China stands ready to work with other countries to consolidate the foundation of friendly cooperation through mutual respect, build universal security through joint contribution and shared benefits, promote development and prosperity through openness and cooperation, expand the picture of human civilization through inclusiveness and mutual learning, and guide the future of global governance with fairness and justice, Wang said. All parties spoke highly of China's role as a responsible major country and its contribution to peace and development, and said that the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by President Xi is a development, innovation and sublimation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and the new measures announced by President Xi to support the "Global South" cooperation will inject strong impetus into the unity and development of developing countries. The international community should work together to uphold peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, safeguard sovereign equality, fairness and justice, and promote win-win cooperation and inclusive development, they said. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) CPI General Secretary D Raja welcomed the decision to grant bail to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the alleged land scam case and said that his release would strengthen the INDIA bloc. D Raja said, "It is a welcome development. We did not agree when he was taken under arrest. The central government has been using central agencies to target the opposition parties, intimidate them and cripple their activities. Justice will prevail, and truth will prevail. He is one of the important leaders of INDIA bloc. His release will strengthen the INDIA bloc so that the undemocratic right-wing forces are defeated and the rights of people are safeguarded." JMM MP Mahua Maji said that after 2014, there was a BJP government in the state and Hemant Soren conducted several rallies. People supported him and he formed the government. Mahua Maji said, "Hemant Soren is a very popular leader in Jharkhand. Despite his absence in the Lok Sabha elections, the public supported us. There is a lot of enthusiasm following his release from jail. BJP's conspiracy to garner votes by arresting popular leader Hemant Soren failed. Ayodhya has shown that religion-based vote bank politics cannot work. During tenure of Hemant Soren lot of schemes were launched like Guruji credit card, Savitribai Phule Kishori Samridhi Yojana." Earlier, the Jharkhand High Court granted bail to former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Chief, Hemant Soren, in the alleged land scam case on Friday. Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court. Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. The investigation concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores. In related events, on March 22, a Special PMLA court extended Soren's judicial custody until April 4. Soren was presented via video conferencing. The Ranchi police had also issued a notice to ED officials to join the investigation following an FIR filed by Soren under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren's FIR. Soren had alleged that the ED's searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal. The ED had claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren had acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means. The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in corrupt property acquisitions. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday that a master plan of Rs 424 crore has been prepared for the upgradation of facilities at Badrinath temple in the state. The Chief Minister said that his government is committed to developing the pilgrimage sites of the states with better coordination of ecology and economy. "A master plan of Rs 424 crore has been prepared for upgrading facilities at Shri Badrinath temple, under which development work is in progress. Our government is committed to developing the pilgrimage sites of Devbhoomi with better coordination of ecology and economy," Dhami said on X. Badrinath temple is situated in the town of Badrinath in the state and it is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. There are many religious sites in Uttarakhand and their location in the Himalayan region, which is ecologically sensitive, poses a great challenge for the government to address environmental concerns and the need for better facilities for the pilgrims who arrive from across the country. Meanwhile, CM Dhami met the Union Minister of Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, in the national capital on Friday. During this, the Chief Minister discussed with him various points to strengthen communication services in the rural areas of the state. On this occasion, the Chief Minister requested that the Union Minister shift the post office located in Tallital, Nainital, to direct necessary action for land acquisition for setting up 481 towers of BSNL and to operate the towers installed in Gunji. Earlier on Thursday, Dhami also met Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in New Delhi. On this occasion, the Chief Minister requested that the Union Minister start the process of expanding Pantnagar Airport in Udham Singh Nagar district soon. Along with this, the Chief Minister also requested to expedite the process of granting permission for the expansion of Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and giving the airport the status of an international airport. On Thursday, Dhami also met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi. The meeting focused on the ongoing and proposed projects to enhance road connectivity in Uttarakhand. During the discussion, Chief Minister Dhami emphasised the importance of improving road infrastructure in the state. He requested that Minister Gadkari issue notifications for six routes that were upgraded to National Highway status in principle in 2016. (ANI) "This is a significant accomplishment, as it will provide more opportunities for aspiring medical students from our state to pursue their dream of becoming a doctor," Tripura CM Manik Saha wrote in a post on X. He further stated that the expansion of seats is expected to enhance access to healthcare services in the future. "Our government is committed to leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to improve the healthcare sector in the state," Saha remarked on X. The announcement by the Tripura Chief Minister comes amid big row over the conduct of NEET exams in the country. Hundreds of students took to the streets to protest over the recent "irregularities" in NEET-UG 2024. After mega row over the NEET exams, the issue was raised in the parliament on Friday with opposition demanding a discussion on the matter. 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. 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. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also 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. (ANI) BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged incident of assault on a minority woman in Cooch Behar. The BJP MLA reached Bagdogra airport to meet the post-poll violence victim today. Speaking to ANI, she said, "One of our sisters from Bengal who belongs to the minority community was stripped and beaten and paraded naked in her village by TMC miscreants. Till now some people have been arrested. A team has come here on the instructions of our state president Sukanta Majumdar." Criticising the TMC-led state government in West Bengal, Paul said that it is shocking that there has been no statement or any action from woman Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "As a woman, it is very shocking to see such incidents happening every day. And what is even more shocking is that there has been no statement or any action from our woman Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," she said. "We want a CBI investigation. Today we are here. We will be meeting the sister. And then we'll be going to the police to meet the Superintendent of Police (SP) or additional SP," the BJP MLA added. Earlier, Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar constituted a seven-member team to investigate the alleged incident of assault on a minority woman in Cooch Behar. The seven-member team includes 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. 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. (ANI) A day after the release of former Jharkhand chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren, Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur said on Saturday that Hemant Soren is one of the key members of the INDIA bloc and that we will fight against the centre controlling the functioning of the central agencies. "Hemant Soren is one of the crucial members of the INDIA bloc. There was a conspiracy to trap him. The court has clarified how cases have been filed against him and how he has been harassed. To be honest, we have become aware of the truth about ED's activities," said Rajesh Thakur. "There is a long fight we need to fight against how the centre-led by Prime minister narendra Modi has been controlling the functionings of these central agencies. Also, we are looking forward to meeting Hemant Soren to strategise on how the last person in the queue gets benefitted and how to again work on the creation of employment opportunities," he added further. Notably, Hemant Soren, who had been facing a probe in an alleged land scam case, walked out of the Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court on Friday. JMM leaders gathered outside the Birsa Munda Jail to catch a glimpse of the tribal leader, who was arrested by the ED in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. The investigation in the case concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores. In related events, on March 22, a Special PMLA court extended Soren's judicial custody until April 4. Soren was presented via video conferencing. The Ranchi police had also issued a notice to ED officials to join the investigation following an FIR filed by Soren under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren's FIR. Soren had alleged that the ED's searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal. The ED claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren had acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means. The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in corrupt property acquisitions. Soren's petition to attend the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly's budget session was dismissed by the High Court on February 29. He had resigned as Chief Minister following his arrest in the money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. (ANI) Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis arrived at the BJP office in Mumbai to attend the party's core committee meeting on Saturday. Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and other party leaders were also seen at the BJP office to attend the party's core committee meeting. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled to be held this year to elect 288 members of the state's legislative assembly. Meanwhile, on Friday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar who also holds the finance portfolio in the state, presented the state budget in the Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session and announced 'Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' a scheme under which all woman between 21 and 60 years will be given 1500 per month. The scheme is inspired by Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana of the BJP government. While presenting the budget Pawar said, "We are announcing Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin (CM My Beloved Sister). Under this, all women will be given Rs 1500 per month. The scheme will be implemented from July 2024." Further Ajit Pawar announced, "We will provide Rs 5000 per hectare bonus to all farmers for their crops of cotton and soybean in Maharashtra...We will also give 5 rupees per litre bonus to milk-producing farmers even after 1st July 2024. Govt has increased the monetary help in deaths due to animal attacks, now the next of kin will get Rs 25 lakhs instead of 20 Lakhs earlier. Earlier, the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party core committee was also held at Fadnavis's residence on June 21. After the core committee concluded, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that in the meeting the party analyzed the entire Lok Sabha elections and the mistakes that were being made by the party in the elections. "Maharashtra core committee meeting was held and in this meeting, we analysed the elections that were held recently in the state. Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress leaders lied and asked for votes from the people, but now the people have understood...We analysed the entire Lok Sabha elections, and what were our mistakes. We will try to rectify them and our government will try to fulfil the demands of the people," Bawankule told reporters. The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state. The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats respectively, taking the total tally of the NDA to 17. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey) got nine seats while the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar won eight seats. (ANI) The authorities have significantly bolstered security measures outside Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters in Delhi ahead of their protest against the arrest of the party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Saturday said that the coordination between national agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation shows that the Central Government wants to ensure that Arvind Kejriwal stays in jail. "The coordination between ED and CBI shows that Central Government wants to ensure that Arvind Kejriwal stays in jail...We will raise our voice against it in the whole nation," he said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday announced that it would hold a nationwide protest against the arrest of Kejriwal. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting at the party headquarters led by AAP's National General Secretary (Organisation) Sandeep Pathak. The meeting was attended by other top AAP leaders, including MPs, MLAs, and councillors. The meeting detailed the alleged misuse of central investigative agencies by the BJP government to target CM Kejriwal. Sandeep Pathak announced that AAP workers will hold a massive protest to oppose the BJP's tactics and the arrest of their leader. AAP National General Secretary (Organisation) Sandeep Pathak said that "the BJP's central government is misusing all the central investigation agencies for its political vendetta. The CBI did not make CM Arvind Kejriwal an accused in the so-called liquor case for the last two years. But when the BJP felt that CM Arvind Kejriwal was going to get bail from the Supreme Court, they brought the CBI forward. Their aim is not to investigate any case nor do they have anything to do with the law. The BJP wants to keep Arvind Kejriwal in jail by any means, keep him away from elections and finish the AAP. Therefore, the BJP is misusing central institutions to meet its political objectives." The AAP National General Secretary (Organisation) further added, "All AAP leaders expressed confidence that the entire public of Delhi is with CM Arvind Kejriwal and we all will fight this battle against injustice along with the people of Delhi." The AAP says that the trial court granted bail to CM Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor case. The very next day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) went to the High Court and got a stay on Arvind Kejriwal's bail. The stay on bail by the High Court in this case was about to be lifted when the CBI woke up from a deep sleep of two years and arrested CM Arvind Kejriwal, the party alleged. Earlier, the CBI had called the AAP Supremo for questioning as a witness for the first time on April 16, 2023. At that time, it did not make him an accused for 14 months. The AAP says that the CBI has no evidence. It is just talking nonsense. CM Arvind Kejriwal has been implicated in a false and baseless case at the behest of the BJP government at the Centre, the AAP alleged. (ANI) In a significant move to enhance public safety and maintain order, the Budgam Police, acting on the directions of the competent Court of Law, have successfully installed a GPS tracking anklet on Mudasir Fayaz, an individual accused of aiding militancy in Kashmir, Budgam Police said. This pertains to case FIR No: 150 of 2022 under Sections 18, 23, 38, and 39 of the UAPA, read with Sections 7/25 of the Arms Act of PS Chadoora. The use of GPS tracking gadgets in high-profile cases underscores the commitment of law enforcement to uphold public safety. These devices allow authorities to meticulously monitor the movements of high-risk offenders, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of further criminal activities. The installation of GPS tracking anklets on the accused ensures that their movements can be tracked in real-time and their entry into prohibited areas or leaving the geographical boundaries as set in the court order can be monitored. "Budgam Police is resolute in its mission to protect the community. The constant surveillance provided by GPS tracking ensures that offenders remain accountable and deters any attempt to engage in unlawful activities. This proactive approach reflects the dedication of Budgam Police in maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of citizens," Budgam Police added. (ANI) Bringing spirituality and the rich heritage of Uttar Pradesh together, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department organised the 'Bodhi Yatra' conclave in New Delhi today to commemorate the extraordinary journey of Lord Buddha. The event highlighted Uttar Pradesh's significance as a Buddhist pilgrimage and the tourism potential of the state. The conclave witnessed the presence of key officials, including Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Uttar Pradesh, Jaiveer Singh, Secretary, Ministry Of Tourism, V. Vidyavati, Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Durga Shankar Mishra, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Special Secretary of Tourism, Eesha Priya, Director General of IBC, Abhijit Haldar and Former Deputy Speaker of CTA, Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok. Ambassador of Singapore, H.E. Simon Wong, Ambassador of Thailand, H.E. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Myanmar, H.E. Moe Kyaw Aung; and ambassadors from many other countries like Bhutan, Japan, Indonesia, Argentina, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, etc. attended the conclave. Members of the International Buddhist Council, academicians, representatives of National and International organisations, bureaucrats, travel writers and bloggers were also present at the event. The conclave commenced with a small presentation by the Special Secretary, Department of Tourism Uttar Pradesh, showcasing the rich history, culture, and heritage of the state's six major Buddhist sites: Sankisa, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kapilvastu, Kaushambi, and Kushinagar. It was followed by a welcome speech from the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Durga Shankar Mishra. "Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a popular tourist destination, attaining the number one spot in domestic tourism, and we are hopeful of attracting a higher number of inbound foreign tourists as well in the near future," he said. Highlighting the objective of the event, he said, "We wanted to reveal the spiritual and cultural connection with different countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia and improve cultural diplomacy with the support of the Ministry Of External Affairs and promote Foreign Direct Investment in the state. We have already allotted 02 acres of land in Varanasi to the Bhutan Govt. for the construction of temples and guest houses. Through this platform we also offer all the other countries to invest in the hospitality and tourism sector of all these six sites and we assure you that we will provide all the cooperation needed." A round table discussion and brainstorming session was held to explore various initiatives and strategies to promote these historical and spiritual sites, particularly focusing on attracting foreign tourists. The Union Minister of Tourism and Culture thanked the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department for organising the Bodhi Yatra during his address. He said, "India is not the land of war, but the land of Buddha'. This holy land gave the message of truth, non-violence, kindness and compassion to the entire world. and Uttar Pradesh is a prominent part of this legacy. The Prime Minister had envisioned creating various tourist circuits in the country. The first circuit in that is the Buddha Circuit. I want to congratulate Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh on the fact that the Uttar Pradesh government did important work to bring the Prime Minister's vision to reality." Minister of Tourism and Culture, Uttar Pradesh, said, 'Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in terms of area. It is the largest state with a population of 25 crores and is equal to the fifth-largest country in the world in terms of population. Fortunately, all the places from the birth of Lord Buddha to his education, attainment of knowledge, preaching and religious awakening campaigns and Mahaparinirvana (death) are located here. Under the guidance of our Chief Minister, we are developing the Buddhist circuit, propagating the strong historical, cultural and spiritual ties of Buddhism with Uttar Pradesh on the world map and attracting Buddhist pilgrims from India and abroad in large numbers." Chief Secretary, Government Of Uttar Pradesh, said, "Uttar Pradesh is the cradle of Buddhism and this Bodhi Yatra is an initiative to make you experience the serenity and divinity of Lord Buddha. The significant events of Buddhism took place in UP and this event aims to promote these Buddhist sites on the global map. Working under the vision of our Prime Minister and through constant efforts of the State government and the Tourism Department, we have developed infrastructure and world-class tourist facilities at these sites, which are emerging as the top tourist destinations in the country Through our investor-friendly tourism policy, stakeholders can become a significant part of this transforming journey of Uttar Pradesh in the tourism sector." Attendees were treated to a cultural show depicting the life of Lord Buddha, from his birth to his enlightenment and passing. The performance celebrated the foundation of Buddhism and the rich historical, cultural and spiritual heritage of Uttar Pradesh. It also highlighted how the Buddhist circuit is one of the favourite travel destinations for both National and International visitors. The show celebrated the pivotal role of the Buddhist Circuit in boosting the tourism sector of the state. The event concluded with the felicitations of people who graciously attended the conclave. (ANI) The Congress on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the increase of Indian imports from China and said that it is time for a proper strategy to wean India off dependence on China ensuring that taxpayer funds do not benefit Chinese companies. Launching a scathing attack on the Adani Group, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the conglomerate company has reportedly selected eight Chinese companies to help its solar manufacturing project and has asked for special permission to issue visas for 30 Chinese workers. "The non-biological Prime Minister infamously told the nation on 19 June 2020, after the Galwan clashes, that "Na koi hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai, na hi koi ghusa hua hai". However he shows no hesitation in liberally issuing visas to Chinese workers to help one of his tempowallah buddies," the Congress leader posted on X. "The Adani Group, a major recipient of taxpayer largesse via the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, has reportedly selected eight Chinese companies to help its solar manufacturing project and has asked for special permission to issue visas for 30 Chinese workers. Having facilitated multiple Modani scams such as coal and power-equipment over-invoicing and the amassing of illegal stakes in Adani Group companies - all executed by individuals like Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli - why would the non-biological PM not waive national security considerations in this instance to benefit his partner and close friend?" he added. Criticizing the increase in Indian imports from China, the Congress leader said, "It is bad enough that these concessions are being made even as the Chinese continue to occupy 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh. Indian imports from China have shot up from $70 billion in 2018-19 to a record $101 billion in 2023-24. Even the PLI scheme is benefitting China in sectors like electronics, solar, etc. where PLI beneficiaries are signing giant contracts with Chinese vendors even as they enjoy taxpayer subsidies. All this of course is in the name of Atmanirbharta." "It is time for a proper strategy to wean India off dependence on China, and to ensure that taxpayer funds do not benefit Chinese companies. Prioritizing his friends over the national interest may be second nature to the PM, but it cannot be allowed to become national policy," he added. (ANI) Flash 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. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi expressed sadness on Saturday over the deaths of five Indian Army soldiers after a Tank met with an accident while getting across a river as part of river crossing exercise in Ladakh on Friday. In a post on X Rahul wrote, "The news of the martyrdom of five Indian Army soldiers in an accident during the military exercise of tank crossing the river in Ladakh is extremely sad. While paying my humble tribute to all the martyred soldiers, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families," "We stand with them in this hour of grief. The country will always remember his dedication, service and sacrifice," he added. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the news of the accident and the loss of lives. "Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who fell victim to this painful tragedy. In this hour of grief, the nation stands together in saluting the exemplary service of our valiant soldiers," he posted on X. Arunachal CM Pema Khandu also expressed his condolences on the incident "Deeply disturbed to learn that a T-72 tank with five soldiers has been swept away by flash floods near the Line of Actual Control in the Nyoma-Chusul area of Ladakh. Praying for the safety and well-being of our brave soldiers," he posted on X. Five Indian Army soldiers, including one Junior Commissioned Officer and four jawans, lost their lives when an Army Tank met with an accident in the Daulat Beg Oldie area in Ladakh on Friday evening. All five bodies have been recovered, defence officials said on Saturday. The T-72 tank which the Army personnel were operating met with an accident during a river crossing exercise. The mishap took place on Friday due to a sudden increase in water levels, said defence officials. (ANI) The association members alleged that the laws are designed to harm fishermen, specifically citing a provision that allows only one of a person's boats to receive diesel at a subsidized price if they own more than one boat. A decision regarding the protest was made by the association members at a meeting held in front of the fishing token issuing office near Rameswaram fishing port. The meeting was chaired by the association's secretary, Jesuraj. Fishermen also condemned the new law, which they claim includes the cancellation of government benefits, such as fishermen's savings and relief provided to fishermen over 60 years of age. They further alleged that the government refused to provide relief to a fisherman who recently died of a heart attack while fishing in the sea at Rameswaram. Additionally, fishermen accused the Chief Minister of failing to fulfil his promise regarding the increase of the diesel subsidy made at the DMK Fishermen's Conference. Fishermen also complained about the lack of proper pricing for shrimp and crabs caught by them. Earlier, on June 23, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 22 Tamil Nadu fishermen for fishing near Neduntheevu in Sri Lankan waters, according to the Rameswaram Fisherman Association. Several fishermen had gone to sea from Tamil Nadu on June 22, they said. (ANI) Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday paid tribute to Telangana veteran Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Dharmapuri Srinivas who passed away in the early hours today. Srinivas passed away due to prolonged illness at the age of 76 at his residence in Hyderabad. Srinivas, a three-time MLA from Nizamabad (rural) served as a two-time president of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. He led the party to power in the 2004 and 2009 elections in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh. After the bifurcation into two states Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Srinivas resigned from the Congress party and joined the BRS in July, 2015. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2016 to 2022 and later rejoined Congress Party. Speaking to ANI, Naidu said, "A senior politician, former Congress president, former minister who held important portfolios and above all, a gentle, humble human being who was always available to the people, used to spend time with the people... I convey my condolences to the family members." Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana ministers, and senior leaders of the Congress party expressed condolences over his demise. Apart from that, Telangana Minister of Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Congress Senior Leader V Hanumanth Rao and Rajya Sabha MP Keshava Rao paid their last respects. In a post on X, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy wrote, "I had the good fortune to work with them in the Legislature and was constantly encouraged by them. DS was close to everyone irrespective of the parties. DS always said that youth should enter politics." "In 2004, he brought Congress to power in the capacity of PCC President. The person who fought for the formation of Telangana as a separate state while being in the Congress party, the person who played a key role in the formation of Telangana.. DS Garu. My deepest condolences to his family. I pray to God to rest the soul of DS," he added. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted on Saturday the importance of making teaching more engaging and continuously advancing educational research. Addressing the 'Shikshak Samman Samaroh' at the City Montessori School (CMS) in Gomti Nagar Extension, CM Yogi said, "We need to make the art of teaching more engaging through small proverbs and continually pursue new research in this field." CMS teachers and officials associated with the management committee were also present at the occasion. CM Yogi also paid tribute to Dr Jagdish Gandhi, the founder of CMS, and praised Dr Bharti Gandhi, the co-founder and chairperson of CMS, for her role in establishing the great institution in the state capital, Lucknow, along with Dr Gandhi, who came from Aligarh. He stated that the institution provides a nurturing environment for thousands of students. CM Yogi noted that Dr Jagdish Gandhi was a person who never gave up even in adverse situations and shared some personal anecdotes about their relationship. "Addressing the challenges within teaching systems demands dedicated effort. We attain inner fulfilment only through hard work. Teachers should strive to make education engaging and shift students away from monotonous classes. Continuous research in teaching methods is essential. Teachers must also ensure that children can easily grasp their lessons," he said. Reflecting on his student life, CM Yogi stressed the importance of making education enjoyable through the use of small proverbs. He underscored the necessity of preparing children for healthy competition while nurturing their abilities. "Children should not be forced into competition but should be gradually prepared for it," he said. The Chief Minister lauded the CMS' experienced leadership. "Thousands of families send their children to CMS without hesitation because they know the education provided will shape a bright future for their children," he pointed out. He remarked, "While it's admirable to groom our children for roles like IAS and IPS officers, it's crucial they also grow into patriotic citizens. We need to nurture empathy and sensitivity in our children." Yogi extended appreciation to the CMS management committee for organising the event and expressed hope that the students graduating from school will make a substantial impact with their talents both in the country and worldwide. (ANI) After the meeting, Jaishankar tool to social media platform X to post, "Delighted to meet Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi ji, Deputy CMs Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo ji, and Smt. Pravati Parida ji this morning. Congratulated them on the assumption of such significant responsibility." He further said that the Odisha government has been assured that the External Affairs Ministry would closely work with them so as to promote tourism. "Confident that their Government will take Odisha to a higher trajectory of growth and prosperity. Assured that MEA will work closely with Odisha Government in promoting tourism, establishing international linkages and accessing a global workplace. Wished them a successful tenure," Jaishanker tweeted. Meanwhile, Majhi and both his deputies also met Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda in the national capital. On Friday, the three had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On June 12, Mohan Charan Majhi took oath as the Chief Minister of the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 52-year-old belonging to the Santali tribe, hails from the state's Keonjhar district. Beginning his career as a sarpanch from 1997-2000, Majhi was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 2000 from Keonjhar. He was re-elected in 2004. From 2005 to 09, he was the government deputy chief whip in the BJD-BJP coalition government. He was again elected as an MLA in 2019. In the recent polls, Majhi retained the seat by defeating BJD's Mina Majhi by 11,577 votes. The BJP won 78 of 147 seats in the Odisha assembly polls. (ANI) After the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party core committee concluded on Saturday, party state president Ashish Shelar said that the BJP will contest the assembly polls with its Mahayuti ally partners, and a road map for the same was decided in the meeting. Shelar said that a proposal was passed appreciating the budget of Maharashtra, which covers the welfare of all segments of society, including farmers, youth, women, etc. "BJP will contest assembly polls with its Mahayuti ally partners and a road map for the same was decided in the meeting. No organisational changes are to be made in the state unit of the BJP. Also, a proposal was passed appreciating yesterday's budget of Maharashtra, which covers the welfare of all segments of society, including farmers, youth, women, etc. A clear road map for contesting and winning Assembly polls was discussed and finalised," the BJP leader said. Mahayuti alliance comprises the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party. Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and other party leaders also attended the party's core committee meeting. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled to be held this year to elect 288 members of the state's legislative assembly. Meanwhile, on Friday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio in the state, presented the state budget in the Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session and announced 'Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' a scheme under which all woman between 21 and 60 years will be given 1500 per month. The scheme is inspired by Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana of the BJP government. While presenting the budget, Pawar said, "We are announcing Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin (CM My Beloved Sister). Under this, all women will be given Rs 1500 per month. The scheme will be implemented from July 2024." Further, Ajit Pawar announced, "We will provide Rs 5000 per hectare bonus to all farmers for their crops of cotton and soybean in Maharashtra...We will also give 5 rupees per litre bonus to milk-producing farmers even after 1st July 2024. Govt has increased the monetary help in deaths due to animal attacks, now the next of kin will get Rs 25 lakhs instead of Rs 20 lakhs earlier. The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state. The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats, respectively, taking the total tally of the NDA to 17. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey) got nine seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar won eight seats. (ANI) In line with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's statement urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage in "constructive debate" on the alleged paper leak in the NEET-UG exam paper leak, Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad on Saturday said there has been no clarification from the government on the issue. "There is no clarification from the government on the NEET issue...Rahul Gandhi asked the parliament to have a debate on it. They did not give me any opportunity...There is no democracy in the country," said Santosh Lad. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accused Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of running away from his responsibilities. "Education Minister is running away from his responsibilities...He is not ready to hear the concerns of the students...The students are looking at the MPs to raise the NEET issue...They (Central Government) are running away from a discussion on the NEET issue," said Chaturvedi. "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," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on 'X', Rahul Gandhi has said in a post on Sunday. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams 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. 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. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday condoled the loss of lives of five Indian Army personnel whose T-72 tank was swept away in the Shyok River near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, defence officials said on Saturday. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda also expressed their condolences on the demise of Indian Army personnel. Taking to X, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I am saddened by the news of the accident during the military exercise in Ladakh. I express my condolences to the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in this accident. The whole country is with the families of the brave soldiers." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on X expressed his pain over the loss of five Indian Army soldiers in the accident in Ladakh. Sarma said, "Deeply pained by the loss of 5 of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident in Ladakh. My deepest condolences to their family members in this hour of grief. The nation will always remember their sacrifices for the motherland." Taking to 'X' Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda, said that the entire country stands united with the bereaved families during this hour of grief. Nadda said, "Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of our brave Army soldiers during a training activity in Ladakh. My deepest condolences go out to the families of these soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Their brave and selfless dedication will always be remembered. The entire country stands united with the bereaved families during this hour of grief." "On the night of June 28, while de-inducting from a military training activity, an army tank got struck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh, due to a sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didn't succeed and the tank crew lost their lives," Defence PRO, Leh said in a statement. "Indian Army regrets the loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway," the statement added. (ANI) Following his appointment as the working president of the Janata Dal-United, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha expressed his gratitude towards the JD(U) president and said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has "transformed" Bihar. "Our leader and national president, CM Nitish Kumarji has given me a huge responsibility. I am grateful to him. Nitish Kumarji has transformed Bihar. The election that took place in Bihar has shown that we won 30 out of 40 seats. We have won 177 assembly seats out of 243. Bihar has given a signal for the 2025 Assembly elections," Jha said while speaking to reporters in the national capital. Speaking on the ongoing row over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), he emphasised that a strict law should be brought and the culprits should be punished. "A strict law should be brought on this; action should be taken against those who are guilty, so that people's confidence is restored," he said. The decision to appoint Jha as the working president of the JD(U) was taken in the National Executive meeting of the party in the national capital today, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, CM Kumar will continue to serve as the national president of the JD(U). Sanjay Jha's appointment as the working president of the party is seen as a significant affair, given that he is a close associate of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and also reportedly "close" to the Bharatiya Janata Party's top leadership. The key meeting also passed a resolution seeking special status for Bihar, which has been a long-pending demand of the party. Bihar leaders, including Nitish Kumar, have long advocated for special category status, citing the state's economic and social backwardness. During the National Executive meeting, the JD(U) also called for strict action against those responsible for alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 exams. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG exams recently, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in the exams. An unprecedented 67 students have achieved a perfect score of 720 out of 720, adding to the concerns. The matter is, however, in the hands of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the probe is underway. In the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar, the JDU won 12 seats, emerging as the "kingmaker" for the NDA government. The BJP and another ally, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), bagged 12 and five seats respectively, taking the total tally of the alliance to 29. (ANI) Union Minister Chirag Paswan arrived in Bihar on Saturday, the first time after assuming the charge as Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and said that his focus will be on food processing units in the state, which would lead to increase in the income of farmers. Speaking with ANI, Paswan said, "I am very happy that my party lived upto the trust of Prime Minister Narendra Modi... Due to the hard work of our workers, we won five Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. The Prime Minister also gave us his blessings." Chirag Paswan's political journey can be described as nothing short of meteoric. After the thumping victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the LJP (Ram Vilas) chief is now the third most important ally after TDP and JD(U) for BJP in the NDA fold. Scoring a 100 percent strike rate in all five seats -- Hajipur, Samastipur, Vaishali, Jamui and Khagaria -- the LJP (Ram Vilas) secured a Cabinet berth for its chief, who took oath in Modi 3.0 government on June 9. Talking about his vision for Bihar, the Union Minister said, "I will implement the initiative of 'Bihar first, Bihari first'. I have always talked about food processing units. Be it the bananas of Hajipur, litchis of Muzzarpur, or mangoes of Patna, I have always said that if food processing units are established here, the farmers' income will increase, the state revenue will increase, and there will be employment opportunities for the youth. Now since I have this portfolio, I will give my best." Notably, Chirag Paswan obtained the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, a post previously held by his father Ram Vilas Paswan, until his death in 2020. His uncle, Pashupati Paras, headed it for the rest of the Lok Sabha term. After the announcement of the 18th Lok Sabha results, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) (Ram Vilas) Chief Chirag Paswan assumed charge as Minister of Food Processing Industries on June 11. He had won from the Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency. A total of five LJP (Ram Vilas) MPs had won the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar: Veena Devi, Arun Bharti, Shambhavi Choudhary, Rajesh Verma and Chirag Paswan. On disturbed law and order situation in Bihar, the Minister of Food Processing Industries said that this is an issue of concern. "I have talked with the Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar) and in the coming days, we will make sure that the crime is controlled. Crime cannot be tolerated at all. The way crime has got up, it's a matter of concern for our government and the government is working to control it." On the recent collapse of bridges in the state, Paswan said, "This is very unfortunate. The Prime Minister is also very concerned about this. In the coming days, it will be ensured that there is a special focus on quality in construction works." The Lok Janshakti Party also took to their official X handle and posted about Paswan's visit to the state for the first time after becoming Union Minister. The post said, "On his first visit to Bihar after becoming a Union Minister, the National President and Union Minister of the party, Chirag Paswan, along with all the MPs, performed Puja at Khagaul in Patna and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of all the countrymen." (ANI) Flash 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) 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. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday defended his action of constituting search committees to select Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) for six State-run universities without their nominees, saying that his decision is in accordance with the court order and there was "willful omission" on the part of the university authorities. "Since last year, there has been willful omission on the part of the university authorities, despite repeated reminders. Your channels and newspapers have reported they were under instruction not to send their representatives . So if they are not doing their duty, they should not stop me doing my duty," Khan told reporters here. "I have waited for a long time. I have constituted the committee. Now, I am not going to speculate. I have done my duty very well... In the last judgement of the court, it is clear that within a month, the university authorities have been directed to send their representative. And then the later part of the judgment said that if the university authorities fail to send their representative, the chancellor shall go ahead in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the UGC regulations," the Governor said. Despite directives from Governor Khan, who serves as Chancellor of the universities, the decision-making bodies of almost all universities, predominantly comprising LDF-backed members, had declined to nominate their representatives to the committees. The decision, aimed at ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process, was disclosed in a notification issued by the Kerala Raj Bhavan on Friday. The universities involved in this process are Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath will serve as the Convener of the Committee for Kerala University. He will be joined by Prof Battu Satyanarayana, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Karnataka, and a nominee of the UGC and the Chancellor, who is yet to be announced. For Mahatma Gandhi University, the search committee members are KRS Sambasiva Rao, former Vice Chancellor of Mizoram University and Anandharamakrishnan, Director at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. The search committee for Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies includes Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu, PK Abdul Azis, former Vice Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology and Aligarh Muslim University, and JK Jena, Deputy Director General (Py Science), ICAR, Pusa. APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University's search committee comprises Prof. Kshiti Bhushan Das, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jharkhand, Prof P Rajendran, former Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, and S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. For Kerala Agricultural University, the committee members are CV Jayamani, former Professor at Cochin University of Science and Technology, Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Vice Chancellor of University of Lucknow, and Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The search committee for Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University includes Dr. Jancy James, former Vice Chancellor of Central University of Kerala and Mahatma Gandhi University, and Prof. Battu Satyanarayana, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Karnataka. The positions of Vice Chancellors in these universities became vacant following the Supreme Court's annulment of the appointment of M S Rajasree as the Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. (ANI) Terming the state budget as "revolutionary," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that this budget in a true sense empowers women, youth, and farmers through various schemes worth Rs 1 lakh crore. He said that this budget is revolutionary and would make the future of weaker sections, farmers, and youth bright. Stating that the budget was a resolve to give a new direction to Maharashtra, CM Shinde said that this budget has an "unending chant of the development of Maharashtra". Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday presented the additional budget for the year 2024-25 in the state assembly. The Finance Minister had presented the interim budget in February. Stating that the budget has important provisions to help women and unemployed youth to stand on their own feet, the Chief Minister said that "Chief Minister Majhi Laadki Baheen scheme, free vocational education to girl students, Chief Minister Annapoorna scheme which gives 3 cylinders per year to eligible families, project worth Rs 15 thousand crores for providing free electricity to farmers during day time, Chief Minister Baliraja electricity concession scheme which provides free power to farmers using agricultural pumps, training to 50 thousand youth every year to convey government schemes to masses and resolve to remove poverty of the weaker sections of the society have made this budget special." He said that provisions like free education to girl students for engineering, pharmacy, and medical education along with degree and diploma courses along with Rs. 1500 per month to every woman prove that the government has expressed its responsibility towards women of the state. Stating that the budget proves that it stands behind the farmers, Chief Minister Shinde said that the issue of food-grain storage would be resolved through schemes like Godown per village. He said that the lives of farmers would be transformed through various provisions in the budget which include financial assistance to cotton and soybean growers, special campaigns to complete irrigation projects, and solar pumps on demand. Pointing out that the decision to celebrate the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through a ceremony every year at Fort Raigad is important, the Chief Minister said that other decisions include recommending the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage for the UNESCO World Heritage along with the rock sculptures in Konkan, Dahi Handi celebration are efforts towards the preservation of history and culture of the state. He said that the budget provides Rs 20,000 to every Dindi (the troops participating in the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage) and it has made the announcement of making arrangements for medical treatment of pilgrims through the Chief minister's medical relief cell and provision for Nirmal Waari show commitment towards the annual pilgrim and Warkari sect. He said that a separate Warkari Mahamandal or separate Corporation for the annual pilgrims would be set up. Stating that massive investment would be made in priority sectors and the green hydrogen sector, he said that it would generate employment in a big way. He said that the chief minister's youth training scheme would impart training to ten lakh youngsters every year and a centre of excellence would be established in ITI's which would benefit the youngsters. Stating that the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar scheme and Shrawan Bal seva state pension scheme assistance would be raised are strong steps CM Shinde said that providing for housing of various sections of society, Anand Dighe housing scheme for differently abled amply proves that the state government is taking strong steps towards removing the poverty in the state. The chief minister said that Metro routes worth 449 Kms in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur along with 23 thousand kilometer road stretch works under Chief Minister Gram Sadak scheme, construction of buildings of village Panchayats under Balasaheb Thackeray memorial Matoshree Gram Panchayat scheme, PM e-bus scheme in municipal corporation areas and other infrastructure works would be undertaken in a big way which would result in speedy development of the state. 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, in the next four months. (ANI) Continuous heavy rainfall over the past three days has resulted in severe waterlogging across Dibrugarh, significantly disrupting daily life. Local resident Munna Rai highlighted the extent of the crisis, stating, "There is water everywhere, and daily work cannot be done. Many places are flooded. Water has even entered the house." The flooding has impacted numerous areas, including the CRPF camp, which is also submerged, causing distress to the lives of people. "In front of the police area, all the roads and paths are flooded. Even the police camp is filled with water. Water has also entered the shops, forcing shopkeepers to close and leave. It's very difficult here, and there is no electricity in many places. People are facing a lot of trouble," another resident said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier warned of such conditions. Earlier, on June 27, IMD said that a cyclonic circulation lies over northwest Rajasthan and another over east Assam in the lower tropospheric levels under whose influence fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and isolated heavy rainfall likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura is expected during the next five days. The IMD said on Thursday that the conditions favouring further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of North India are being witnessed as the heatwave conditions have abated across the country. According to IMD, the southwest monsoon already advanced into parts of 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, some parts of Punjab today. Conditions are likely to become favourable for further advance of southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Rajasthan; remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh and some parts of Haryana, some more parts of Punjab, remaining parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during next two-three days, the IMD said. The IMD said that a trough at mean sea level runs off Maharashtra-north Kerala coasts. A cyclonic circulation lies over central Gujarat and a trough runs from this cyclonic circulation to west Bihar in lower tropospheric levels. It predicted that fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm and lightning are very likely over Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, Lakshadweep, Gujarat state, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh; scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Telangana, Marathwada and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during next five days due to the influence of the cyclonic circulation. Isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Konkan and Goa during June 27- July 1; Coastal Karnataka, Saurashtra and Kutch on June 27 and 28; South Interior Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, north Coastal Andhra Pradesh and West Madhya Pradesh on June 27, the IMD said. (ANI) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) and the Haryana government to build a 'Centre of Excellence' that will significantly help in solving criminal cases in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Dharmendra Pradhan and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were present at the event. A 50-acre campus will be built in Haryana in collaboration with NFSU. Amit Shah extended his wishes to Haryana for the Centre of Excellence. "The centre will provide scientific help in implementing the three laws (three new criminal laws) at the ground level," Shah said. The Union Home Minister also proposed to open a training institute in this centre. Haryana CM Nayab Saini said that the state will become stronger under the guidance of the central government through the Centre of Excellence. "With the establishment of the center, it will be easier to collect evidence in identified crimes. We will realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide easy justice to the victims," he said. In a post on X, CM Saini said that the said centre will help in solving criminal cases more speedily. "Today in Panchkula, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji, an important MOU has been signed between the National Forensic Science University and the Haryana Government. 'Centre of Excellence' will be built on 50 acres in Haryana, which will significantly help in solving criminal cases. Now there will be speed in solving the identified crime cases and people will get speedy justice," the Haryana CM said. (ANI) On X, Punjab Police Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, posted, "Acting swiftly on intelligence inputs, Amritsar Rural Police in two different cases arrested six persons and recovered 8 Kg heroin and 3 pistols with Rs 30000 drug money In both cases, FIRs under NDPS Act have been registered and Investigations are ongoing to establish backward & forward linkages." "Punjab police is committed to make our state drug-free as per the directions of CM Bhawant Mann," he added. Earlier today, troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) seized over six kilograms of heroin in Punjab's Amritsar district. According to officials, the seizure was made in two different operations. BSF troops, after observing drone movement and receiving specific information regarding the presence of narcotics, launched a search operation and recovered 6.130 kg of heroin. "The first consignment of 560 grams was recovered from Mahawa village, and the second consignment of 5.570 kg was recovered from Kakkar village, both in the Amritsar district," the BSF said in a post on X. On June 28, Punjab police 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. Apart from recovering 8.2 kg heroin, police teams 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. (ANI) In a swift and successful operation, Delhi Police rescued two children who had been kidnapped from the Shakarpur area of Lakshmi Nagar, however, the abductor, who demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakhs, remains at large, said officials. The kidnapping incident was reported to the police at 10:30 PM on June 28. The children were identified as 11 years old and 3 years old. Additional DCP East, Avnish Kumar, detailed the police's response stating that with the help of technical surveillance and coordination with other districts, the team saved both the children. "Police received this incident of children being kidnapped yesterday.. We formed multiple teams and with the help of technical surveillance and coordination with other districts, we forced the criminal to abscond by leaving the four-wheeler near Samaypur Badli PS... Children are not harmed. We have reunited them with their family," Kumar said. "The investigation is underway, we are collecting the CCTV footage. The criminal has asked for a ransom of Rs 50 lakhs," the DCP added. The children's father shared his experience stating that they had stepped out of their vehicle to purchase some items when the kidnapper drove off with their car and children. "We had come here to get something. As soon as we got out of the car to get the items, the kidnappers drove off with our car and child. When I managed to connect the call, my daughter answered first. Then the kidnapper spoke to me and kept saying only one thing: 'Give me my money, and I will leave your children alive," the father said. He further mentioned that the kidnapper was saying, "If you value your children's lives, get 5 million rupees from anywhere." He also cautioned other parents stating, "I want to tell all parents not to leave their children in the car. Take them with you when you get out." (ANI) Assam Chief Minister and BJP's Jharkhand Assembly election co-in-charge, Himanta Biswa Sarma, arrived in Ranchi on Saturday and said that tribal society plays a crucial role in the state's social system and their basic problems need to be addressed. Sarma also said that the election manifesto for the upcoming polls is being prepared. "The tribal society has a very big role in the social system of Jharkhand. We have to address the basic problems of tribal society. The election manifesto is being prepared," Sarma told reporters here. "I am trying to understand how we can work for the identity, economic, social and political development of the tribal society and how the BJP can participate in it. That is why I will try to meet people of the society today and will also try to go to some places...," the Jharkhand Assembly election co-in-charge said. This is Sarma's second visit to Jharkhand after being appointed as election co-incharge for the state. Earlier, during his previous visit to the poll-bound state on June 23, Sarma said, "Today if there is any biggest issue in front of Adivasis, that is 'infiltration'. Recently, our party leader Amar Bawri Ji went to Pakur, the situation has worsened there so much that even the police and security personnel have to address it." He alleged that Bangladeshi Rohingyas marry Adivasi women just to grab their land and questioned the Jharkhand government about the measures they are taking against these infiltrators. He further stated, "The whole Hindu and Adivasi community is infiltrated. The Bangladeshi Rohingyas marry Adivasis women just to grab their land. There is a need to initiate debate on this topic with JMM and it should be asked what measures they are taking against these infiltrators. But they lack an answer." Notably, along with Sarma, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been appointed as the Jharkhand Assembly election in-charge. Earlier, both leaders had also made a joint visit to the state and held a meeting to discuss the strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections. Along with Jharkhand, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir will also undergo assembly polls. The terms of the existing Jharkhand Legislative Assembly will end in January 2025 and the Election Commission (EC) has kicked off preparations for holding Assembly elections. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party leader Dilip Pandey on Saturday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is misusing central agencies including the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation by filing "baseless fake" cases against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case. "Aasman se farishte bhi utar jai aur vo bhi iss daur mai sach bole toh maare jaige (Even the angels who are sent down from the sky. They too will be killed if they speak the truth in this era). Everyone is seeing the misuse of agencies like ED and CBI by the BJP. The decision that has come in the Hemant Soren case has slapped ED. The BJP is misusing the system... By filing baseless fake cases, efforts are being made to keep Arvind Kejriwal in jail. AAP's legal team is fighting this case," Dilip Pandey said addressing a press conference He also hit out at the BJP over the collapse of the canopy at the Delhi Airport and claimed that the quality was compromised in the project. "Everyone saw whatever happened in Ayodhya. People were cheated in the name of Lord Ram and the public's money was sacrificed. This, however, didn't end here... A terminal was inaugurated in Jabalpur, but it collapsed in the rainfall. Similarly, three people were killed after a canopy collapsed in Delhi. And today in Gujarat's Rajkot, another canopy collapsed. What is happening?" he said. On Friday, heavy rain led to the collapse of a portion of the canopy at Delhi Airport's Terminal 1, killing one person and injuring several others. The Vacation Judge Sunena Sharma sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12, 2024.Advocate DP Singh appeared for CBI while seeking direction to send Arvind Kejriwal into Judicial Custody and alleged that during the police custody remand, the accused Arvind Kejriwal been examined/ interrogated. However, he did not cooperate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive replies contrary to the evidence on record. On being confronted with the evidence, he did not give a proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5 per cent to 12 per cent under the new Excise Policy of Delhi 2021-22, without any study or justification, said CBI. On being confronted with the evidence, he did not give a proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5 per cent to 12 per cent under the new Excise Policy of Delhi 2021-22, without any study or justification, said CBI. He also could not explain as to why during the peak of 2nd wave of Covid, the Cabinet approval for a revised Excise Policy was obtained through circulation in hurried manner within 01 day, when the accused persons of the South Group were camping in Delhi and holding meetings with his close associate Vijay Nair. He evaded the questions regarding the meetings of his associate Vijay Nair with various stakeholders of the liquor business in Delhi and demanded illegal gratification from them for favorable provisions in the upcoming Excise Policy, CBI added. He also evaded questions regarding the transfer and utilization of ill-gotten money to the tune of Rs 44.54 crores in the Goa Assembly Elections by his party during 2021-22, said CBI. In the light of aforesaid facts and circumstances, the further custodial interrogation of the accused Arvind Kejriwal is not required at this stage, said CBI. The Delhi High Court on recently stayed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail order passed by the trial court, saying that the trial court should have at least recorded its satisfaction with the fulfillment of twin conditions of section 45 of Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order. (ANI) A day after Hemant Soren's release from Birsa Munda Jail, Jharkhand Minister Basant Soren said that his brother and former Chief Minister will visit Jharkhand's Bhognadih village to celebrate Hul Diwas on Sunday. "Former Chief Minister Hemant Soren will come to Bhognadih for the Hul Diwas and after that we will decide our strategy," Basant Soren said speaking to ANI on Saturday. On the release of the Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand Minister said, "Yesterday was an auspicious day for all of us. We have been waiting for the day for a long time. We had hopes of getting justice from the judiciary which was fulfilled. Truth triumphed." June 30 marks the 169th anniversary of Santhal Hul (Santhal Rebellion) which will be celebrated in Bhognadih of Barhet community development block in Jharkhand's Santhal Pargana division. Bhognadih is considered to be the birthplace of Sido Murmu, the hero of the Santhal rebellion. Earlier on Friday, JMM chief Hemant Soren, who had been facing a probe in an alleged land scam case, was released from the Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court on Friday. Hemant Soren, accompanied by his wife and party members, left the jail on Friday evening. The investigation in the case concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores. In related events, on March 22, a Special PMLA court extended Soren's judicial custody until April 4. Soren was presented via video conferencing. The Ranchi police had also issued a notice to ED officials to join the investigation following an FIR filed by Soren under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren's FIR. Soren had alleged that the ED's searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal. The ED had claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren had acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means. The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in corrupt property acquisitions. Soren's petition to attend the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly's budget session was dismissed by the High Court on February 29. He had resigned as Chief Minister following his arrest in the money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. (ANI) Congress leader Abhishek Dutt on Saturday blamed the Aam Aadmi Party for their loss in the Lok Sabha elections and said that the party suffered a loss in the general elections due to the involvement of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy scam. "When we (Congress) exposed the excise scam, we demanded the then government to conduct a proper investigation. ED and CBI didn't take any action, even after 18 months of filing the case. But, just 1 month before the Lok Sabha polls, they arrested Arvind Kejriwal," Dutt told ANI. The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case. "Congress suffered a loss due to the involvement of Arvind Kejriwal in the scam. I believe if we had not contested the elections with them, then Congress' seats would have increased in the elections. Because of the Excise scam, the Congress suffered a loss in the Lok Sabha elections. Satyendar Kumar Jain is in jail because of his involvement in the scam. Manish Sisodia is in jail and because of all of them Congress has suffered the loss," he added. The Congress leader further lashed out at Delhi Minister Atishi and said that the latter is doing "drama" by sitting on Dharna. "Atishi is doing drama by sitting on Dharna and because of that AAP is suffering from loss. The minister's job is to provide full facilities to the public. There is no water in Delhi and they are doing dharna," he said. Atishi started her indefinite hunger strike, protesting for Haryana to release Delhi's water share on June 22 after which her health deteriorated during her indefinite hunger strike over the Delhi water crisis and supply of water from Haryana and was admitted to Hospital. The issue of water shortage arose with the high temperatures and heat waves in the national capital. Earlier on June 6, Aam Aadmi Party said that the party would contest the Delhi assembly elections on its own without an alliance with Congress, party leader Gopal Rai noting that the two parties had come together in the national capital only for Lok Sabha polls. "This is clear from the very first day that the INDIA alliance was formed for Lok Sabha elections. As far as Vidhan Sabha is concerned, no alliance has been formed. AAP will fight elections with its full strength," Rai, who is Delhi's Minister for Environment, told ANI. Assembly polls in Delhi are expected to be held in early 2025. Congress could not win a single seat in the Delhi assembly polls held in 2020. While AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats, BJP secured eighth seats in the last assembly polls. The announcement by AAP comes even as the newly elected Lok Sabha MPs have not taken oath and talks are being held among the INDIA bloc partners for better coordination to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government. (ANI) Heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, with rising water levels in the Ganga River leading to vehicles floating and roads being submerged. On Saturday, intense downpours resulted in the Ganga River's water level rising significantly, flooding roads and leaving several vehicles partially or completely submerged. Local authorities advised residents and visitors to avoid bathing in the river due to the hazardous conditions. Earlier on June 27, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the conditions favouring further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of North India are being witnessed as the heatwave conditions have abated across the country. Conditions are likely to become favourable for further advance of southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Rajasthan; remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh and some parts of Haryana, some more parts of Punjab, remaining parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during next two-three days, the IMD said. The IMD said that a trough at mean sea level runs off Maharashtra-north Kerala coasts. A cyclonic circulation lies over central Gujarat and a trough runs from this cyclonic circulation to west Bihar in lower tropospheric levels. It predicted that fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm and lightning are very likely over Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, Lakshadweep, Gujarat state, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh; scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Telangana, Marathwada and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during next five days due to the influence of the cyclonic circulation. Isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Konkan and Goa during June 27- July 1; Coastal Karnataka, Saurashtra and Kutch on June 27 and 28; South Interior Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, north Coastal Andhra Pradesh and West Madhya Pradesh on June 27, the IMD said. It further said that a cyclonic circulation lies over northwest Rajasthan and another over east Assam in the lower tropospheric levels under whose influence fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and isolated heavy rainfall likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura is expected during the next five days. The IMD has also predicted fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning very likely over northwest and east India during the next five days. Isolated very heavy rainfall is expected over East Rajasthan during June 27-July 1; Uttarakhand, Odisha during June 27-29; East Uttar Pradesh on June 28 and 29 and Bihar on June 29; over Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh on June 29 and 30. (ANI) Kolkata Mayor and state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim on Saturday said that the problem of illegal parking and encroachment by hawkers on footpaths will be solved as soon as the civic authorities will identify the paid and free parking spots and will issue GI tags for stalls. "In one month, we will identify paid and free parking spots. Before that if anyone collects money, the police will arrest that person and take action against him," Hakim said, speaking to ANI on Saturday. The Kolkata Mayor also said that the problem of encroachment by hawkers on footpaths will be solved as soon as the civic authorities start the process of giving GI tags to stalls. "When we will start the process of giving GI tag, there will be limited stalls. The hawker who has been given a GI tag will become the owner of the stall. Those who have three-four stalls are afraid. This is not their plot. The government gives it to unemployed people for their self-employment," Hakim said. Earlier on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting regarding the issues associated with the hawkers and encroachment in the state. All the concerned officials were present during the meeting. In Thursday's review meeting at Nabanna Sabhaghar, she assured that vendors' livelihoods are a top priority. Their stalls will not face bulldozing but will be rehabilitated instead. "We will talk to the hawkers committee in Kolkata and work on hawkers rehabilitation, carts of state colour will have to be given to keep their goods. There should be a dedicated building. This system will be in every district. There should be a building near the markets where there will be fire fighting arrangements," said the Bengal Chief Minister. She further said that fire incidents have been reported in the Bada Bazaar but there is no renovation happening over there. A list of all markets will be made and nobody's livelihood will be snatched. "I don't believe in providing spaces by escorting money and then, running bulldozers over them. Hawkers should be made to sit where there is a proper place, there will be no encroachment on the irrigation canal. UDMA secretary will visit every district and prepare a report on how hawkers will sit," she added. Earlier on Monday, CM Mamata chaired a meeting with the Howrah Municipal Corporation and said that the biggest problem with which the city is grappling is encroachment and asserted that encroachment on government land will be investigated. During the meeting, the West Bengal Chief Minister said that the government land has been encroached upon, Howrah Police and State Chief Secretary are directed to investigate, and action will be taken against whoever is behind this. She highlighted that the encroachment is the biggest problem, and people have been made to sit as soon as they see vacant space. Some people are taking money in return and some people are giving money. (ANI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday said that the work is going on against the 'Nakal Mafias', and it is important to ensure that the state develops and the youth participate in it. Talking to the media after the BJP's meeting regarding jobs in Jaipur, CM Bhajan Lal said, "The expectations of the youth of Rajasthan are that the vacancies should come out. We have assured the youth that we will come with vacancies. Apart from government jobs, our youth will also be provided self-employment opportunities and through skill development, good opportunities will be provided in the industrial and labour sector." "It is important to ensure that our Rajasthan develops and the youth participate in it," he added. On being asked about the 'Nakal Mafias', CM Bhajan Lal said that the work is going on against mafias involved in cheating and let's see what happens gradually. In a post on X today, the Rajashtan CM said that today, the dreams of the youth are getting a new flight in the state. "In line with the resolution of 'Samartha Yuva, Vikasit Rajasthan', I addressed the Chief Minister's Rozgar Utsav organized in Jaipur today in the series of providing jobs and employment to the youth of the state as per their ability and qualification. In our government so far, more than 20,000 youths have been appointed to government posts in various departments; out of which, today I distributed appointment letters to about 5,000 youths and sent them best wishes for a bright future," he said. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested two more accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case. 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 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. 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. (ANI) Amid the ongoing row over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Union Education Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday launched a fierce attack on the Congress party and claimed, "Unko apni rajnitik roti sekni hai" (They want to indulge in politics). "Congress does not want discussion, and they are running away from it. They only want chaos, confusion, and want to create obstacles in the entire functioning of the institutional mechanism... The President herself has addressed the issue that Congress wants to debate, admitting the challenges and shortcomings in the process and that we have to look into them. On behalf of the government, I have clearly said that we are ready for any discussion, but Congress doesn't want to address the students' issue, Dharmendra Pradhan said. "Unko apni rajnitik roti sekni hai (They want to indulge in politics)", Pradhan added. Listing out the series of actions taken by the government to address the matter, the Union Education Minister said that reforms have been initiated in the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the leadership of former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan and that a new law has been formed to address the issue. "Such issues have come to light even before 2014, but I cannot justify it... NTA has got new leadership, reforms have been initiated in NTA under the leadership of former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan, we have formed a new law to address the issue, and the entire case has been handed over to the CBI... A new set of examination dates were announced yesterday, which were deferred or cancelled", he said. The Union Minister further asserted that new dates for the NEET-PG, which was cancelled as a "precautionary measure", would be announced by Monday or Tuesday next week. "New dates for NEET-PG will be announced by Monday-Tuesday", Dharmendra Pradhan said. 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 the Leader of the 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 a 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 also 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 walkout. 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 the House in protest. The opposition INDIA bloc has been questioning the government and demanding a discussion over the ongoing NEET-UG row. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams 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. 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. (ANI) Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Saturday announced in the Assembly that visitors will be allowed in the Vidhan Bhavan only for two days a week, citing security reasons. Narwekar informed that visitors will be allowed in the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan only on Tuesday and Thursday. The Speaker announced the order in the Assembly that the decision was taken to avoid crowds inside the premises and to ensure the security of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, other ministers and MLAs. He also said that visitors will be allowed in limited fixed numbers only. Meanwhile, on Friday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio in the state, presented the state budget in the Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session and announced 'Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' a scheme under which all woman between 21 and 60 years will be given 1500 per month. The scheme is inspired by Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana of the BJP government. While presenting the budget, Pawar said, "We are announcing Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin (CM My Beloved Sister). Under this, all women will be given Rs 1500 per month. The scheme will be implemented from July 2024." Further, Ajit Pawar announced, "We will provide Rs 5000 per hectare bonus to all farmers for their crops of cotton and soybean in Maharashtra...We will also give 5 rupees 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 lakhs instead of Rs 20 lakhs earlier." The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state. The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats, respectively, taking the total tally of the NDA to 17. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey) got nine seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar won eight seats. (ANI) After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remarked at a programme in Kolkata that judges should be free from political biasedness, Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar said that the Trinamool Congress supremo has no faith in the judiciary and does not even obey the court's verdict. "Mamata Banerjee has no faith in the judiciary. A few days ago when the Calcutta High Court gave its verdict that the practice of giving reservations to Muslims in the name of OBCs, is against the soul of our Constitution and hence unconstitutional, Mamata Banerjee said that it is BJP's verdict. She also said that she was against the verdict. The Chief Minister who does not obey the High Court will not obey the Supreme Court in future. She neither believes in the Constitution nor the Court," West Bengal BJP President Dr. Sukanta Majumdar said speaking to ANI on Saturday. The Chief Minister was speaking at a program organised by the National Judicial Academy and the Calcutta High Court in which Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court TS Sivagnanam also participated. On Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks against the Governor, Majumdar said, "The way the Chief Minister has given derogatory statements against the Governor is an insult against the Constitution and the Raj Bhavan." The standoff between the Governor and the state's ruling Trinamool over the oath ceremony of the two newly elected Trinamool MLAs, has triggered again after the remarks of Kunal Ghosh. Kunal Ghosh had said, "I would like to respectfully inform Governor CV Ananda Bose that if both our Trinamool Congress MLAs are not sworn in by 3 pm on Monday, then from Tuesday the untold story of the Taj Palace in Delhi will come up." In reaction to the nationwide protests by the Aam Aadmi Party against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, the Minister of State said, " The Court is not ED or CBI. You have to give proof before the Court. The Court has rejected bail today. This means that CBI has some proof or the other which is why the court is denying bail." Meanwhile, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul staged protest over alleged assault on BJP worker in Cooch Behar. Majumdar further said that the action against hawkers by the civic bodies is just a step to deflect attention from the incident in Cooch Behar in which a woman BJP leader was allegedly stripped naked and assaulted. "The step against hawkers is a way of deflecting attention from the incident in Coochbehar. This is a camouflage," the senior BJP leader said. On an alleged incident of assault on a minority woman in Cooch Behar, Sukanta Majumdar said, "This incident in Cooch Behar, the blurred picture which is being circulated on social media is giving a clear message. Women are not safe in West Bengal... Can Mamata Banerjee and her party call this image fabricated?... It was as if the Constitution of India was lying naked." Majumdar further said that if hawkers are to be removed from their illegal encroachments, they should be served prior notice. "The BJP's stand is clear. If you want to remove them, you need to give prior notice to the hawkers and create an alternative arrangement for them," he said. Slamming the Mamata Banerjee government over the alleged lack of jobs in the state, the BJP leader said, "You do not have avenues to give jobs. What will people do except be hawkers? You don't have jobs. There are no manufacturing units in the last 12-13 years. People are going to other states being migrant labourers and those who are not able to go become hawkers." (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to former CM Bhagat Singh Koshyari at his residence in the Defence Colony in Dehradun on Saturday. Dhami discussed various contemporary issues related to the state with the senior BJP leader. Meanwhile, Dhami also launched the 'Jagran Samvadi' programme in Dehradun today. Taking to their official X handle, CMO Uttarakhand posted, "On this occasion, the Chief Minister expressed his views on the initiatives being taken to realise the dreams of the youth of the state, law and order, ease of transport, efforts being made to maintain the original form of Devbhoomi etc." Quoting Dhami, the CMO in its post added, "The Chief Minister said that the development journey of Uttarakhand is a collective journey of all of us. We all have to cooperate in this. He also expected everyone to come forward with positive thinking in making Uttarakhand a leading and ideal state." The Chief Minister also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new records of development have been established in the entire country in the last 10 years. "Under the double-engine government, many such works have been done in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand which could not have been thought of earlier," Dhami said. Talking about the government's efforts for youth employment, Dhami said, "The youth of our state is moving ahead with new knowledge and science. The youth want employment and self-employment. Our effort is to make 100 per cent appointments on vacant posts in government departments. In the last three years, 14,800 youth have been provided government jobs." The Chief Minister also said that tourism and pilgrimage are the strong base of the state's economy. He said, "Due to the development of roads, air traffic and other infrastructure facilities, twice as many pilgrims have come to the state as compared to last year for the Chardham Yatra. While a total of 19 lakh pilgrims came to Kedarnath last year, 10 lakh pilgrims have come so far this year." The Uttarakhand Chief Minister further asserted that a provision of strict law has been made to prevent any kind of religious conversion in the state. "We have made a riot prevention law by taking strict action against those who cause any kind of damage to government property. Under this, the damage will be recovered from the person who causes damage to the resources," Dhami said. The Chief Minister also said, "It is our endeavour to make Uttarakhand a crime-free state. The spirit of friendly police in the state is for peace-loving people and not for criminals. Instructions have been given to the police to take strong action against criminals in the state." (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari on Saturday took a jibe at state cabinet minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha's remark, saying the Madhya Pradesh government wanted to "keep the state intoxicated." "Narayan Singh Kushwaha said that women should make their husbands sit at home and make them drink alcohol. What is the message? The message is that this government wants to keep the state intoxicated. On one hand there is discussion about prohibition of alcohol, de-addiction and on the other hand, the state minister is talking about consuming liquor at home, and doing it regularly," Patwari told reporters. He further said, "It means that this government of corruption, crime and debt is giving a message that they will spread anarchy and will make the entire state drug-addicted. This is the message of a state minister, which means, it is the message of the entire cabinet." Notably, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Narayan Singh Kushwaha on Friday advised women to ask their husbands to bring liquor home and drink it in order to make them feel ashamed and to quit their drinking habit. Minister Kushwaha made the remark while addressing a 'Nasha Mukti Abhiyan' program organised in the state capital Bhopal. "Those men who come home after consuming liquor from outside, their wives should tell them to bring the liquor home and drink it. If they consume alcohol in front of women and children at home, they will feel ashamed and it will gradually let them get rid of the addiction of drinking," the minister said. He further advised the women that they should not offer food to those who came home in an inebriated state. "Women should not cook food for those who come home after consuming alcohol. Women should make 'Belan' gangs and show Belan to those who come after having liquor. Many people are not able to do this because of social values but values should not come in the way of stopping wrongdoings," Minister Kushwaha added. (ANI) The Delhi Court sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Central Investigation Bureau's (CBI) judicial custody until July 12 in connection with the excise policy case after which Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the court decision, whereas Aam Aadmi Party called it a "conspiracy" of the BJP. The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case. Reacting to the development, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that we heard CBI's arguments and they repeated the same imaginary stories which have no relation to the truth adding that such stories do not stand in court. "Arvind Kejriwal was first kept in police custody and today he has been taken into judicial custody in a false case. The court's order is not out as of now," Singh said. Delhi Environment Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Rai called it a "conspiracy" of the Bharatiya Janata Party government and said that AAP ministers and CM have been jailed in "fake cases." "Our ministers and CM have been jailed in fake cases. This is a conspiracy of the BJP government. The facts have also come out. The Trial Court gave bail to the CM. The Trial Court said clearly that there was no proof against the CM. The ED went to the High Court without taking the order copy. The bail was stayed without a hearing... This is a campaign to destroy the Delhi government and the AAP... We hope to get optimistic results from the Court soon," Gopal Rai said. Advocate Rishikesh Kumar said, "Arvind Kejriwal was produced before the court because his three-day CBI custody came to an end today. CBI did not seek further police custody, they sought a judicial remand which was opposed by us saying they have no grounds to seek a judicial remand... Now Arvind Kejriwal will be produced before the court on 12 July. We had moved an application that he be provided with his diabetes medicines, test kits, and home-cooked food, and the court has agreed to our demands... On Monday or Tuesday, we will move a bail application." The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a nationwide protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Delhi Liquor Policy case. In Delhi, the AAP protested in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters, in which several party MPs, MLAs, councillors, and workers participated. Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Virendraa Sachdeva welcomed the decision of a Delhi court to send Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody in connection with the excise policy case till June 12. The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Saturday sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the excise policy case. "The law is taking its course. If they have committed a crime, then they have to be ready to face the consequences. The investigation agencies have presented the evidence in the Court. They should welcome the Court's decision. When the second wave of Covid was going on, should the Delhi government have made the liquor policy or come to the rescue of the people?" he asked. He further said that the municipal corporation should come to the people's rescue. "Today also, the municipal corporation should come to the people's rescue. The drains have not been cleaned, there is corruption in it. They have nothing to do with the problems of Delhi. They have to understand that they are in jail at the Court's order," he said. The Vacation Judge Sunena Sharma sent Arvind Kejriwal to judicial custody till July 12, 2024. Advocate DP Singh appeared for CBI while seeking direction to send Arvind Kejriwal into Judicial Custody and alleged that during the police custody remand, the accused Arvind Kejriwal been examined/ interrogated. However, he did not cooperate with the investigation and deliberately gave evasive replies contrary to the evidence on record. On being confronted with the evidence, he did not give a proper and truthful explanation regarding the enhancement of the profit margin for wholesalers from 5 per cent to 12 per cent under the new Excise Policy of Delhi 2021-22, without any study or justification, said CBI. He also could not explain as to why during the peak of 2nd wave of Covid, the Cabinet approval for a revised Excise Policy was obtained through circulation in hurried manner within 01 day, when the accused persons of the South Group were camping in Delhi and holding meetings with his close associate Vijay Nair. He evaded the questions regarding the meetings of his associate Vijay Nair with various stakeholders of the liquor business in Delhi and demanded illegal gratification from them for favorable provisions in the upcoming Excise Policy, CBI added. He also evaded questions regarding the transfer and utilization of ill-gotten money to the tune of Rs 44.54 crores in the Goa Assembly Elections by his party during 2021-22, said CBI. In the light of aforesaid facts and circumstances, the further custodial interrogation of the accused Arvind Kejriwal is not required at this stage, said CBI. The Delhi High Court recently stayed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail order passed by the trial court, saying that the trial court should have at least recorded its satisfaction with the fulfillment of twin conditions of section 45 of Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order. (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday offered prayers to Saint Dnyaneshwar and said that the municipal corporation has been given Rs 800 crores to rid the city of pollution. Maharashtra CM visited the Darshan Mandap building in Alandi in the Pune district on the occasion of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Wari Palkhi. "I consider myself lucky that I got to visit here and I pray to Saint Dnyaneshwar that our farmers become free of all problems, the rains this year are fruitful, and that all people stay blessed and happy... The municipal corporation has been given Rs 800 crores to rid the city of pollution," Maharashtra CM told reporters. Terming the state budget as "revolutionary," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that this budget in a true sense empowers women, youth, and farmers through various schemes worth Rs 1 lakh crore. He said that this budget is revolutionary and would make the future of weaker sections, farmers, and youth bright. Stating that the budget was a resolve to give a new direction to Maharashtra, CM Shinde said that this budget has an "unending chant of the development of Maharashtra". Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday presented the additional budget for the year 2024-25 in the state assembly. The Finance Minister had presented the interim budget in February. Stating that the budget has important provisions to help women and unemployed youth to stand on their own feet, the Chief Minister said that "Chief Minister Majhi Laadki Baheen scheme, free vocational education to girl students, Chief Minister Annapoorna scheme which gives 3 cylinders per year to eligible families, project worth Rs 15 thousand crores for providing free electricity to farmers during day time, Chief Minister Baliraja electricity concession scheme which provides free power to farmers using agricultural pumps, training to 50 thousand youth every year to convey government schemes to masses and resolve to remove poverty of the weaker sections of the society have made this budget special." He said that provisions like free education to girl students for engineering, pharmacy, and medical education along with degree and diploma courses along with Rs. 1500 per month to every woman prove that the government has expressed its responsibility towards women of the state. Stating that the budget proves that it stands behind the farmers, Chief Minister Shinde said that the issue of food-grain storage would be resolved through schemes like Godown per village. He said that the lives of farmers would be transformed through various provisions in the budget which include financial assistance to cotton and soybean growers, special campaigns to complete irrigation projects, and solar pumps on demand. Pointing out that the decision to celebrate the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through a ceremony every year at Fort Raigad is important, the Chief Minister said that other decisions include recommending the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage for the UNESCO World Heritage along with the rock sculptures in Konkan, Dahi Handi celebration are efforts towards the preservation of history and culture of the state. He said that the budget provides Rs 20,000 to every Dindi (the troops participating in the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage) and it has made the announcement of making arrangements for medical treatment of pilgrims through the Chief minister's medical relief cell and provision for Nirmal Waari show commitment towards the annual pilgrim and Warkari sect. He said that a separate Warkari Mahamandal or separate Corporation for the annual pilgrims would be set up. Stating that massive investment would be made in priority sectors and the green hydrogen sector, he said that it would generate employment in a big way. He said that the chief minister's youth training scheme would impart training to ten lakh youngsters every year and a centre of excellence would be established in ITI's which would benefit the youngsters. The chief minister said that Metro routes worth 449 Kms in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur along with 23 thousand kilometer road stretch works under Chief Minister Gram Sadak scheme, construction of buildings of village Panchayats under Balasaheb Thackeray memorial Matoshree Gram Panchayat scheme, PM e-bus scheme in municipal corporation areas and other infrastructure works would be undertaken in a big way which would result in speedy development of the state. 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, in the next four months. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah unequivocally announced on Saturday that the BJP will not enter into an alliance with any party in the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls. Addressing a gathering of BJP workers and supporters here today, Amit Shah said that the BJP will form a government with an absolute majority. "Remove this doubt from your mind that we will go with anyone or take anyone's support, rather, we will form the BJP government with an absolute majority," Shah said. In a post on X, the Home Minister said that in the last 10 years, Haryana has seen a new era of welfare and development of farmers and others. "Today I interacted with the energetic workers of Haryana at the BJP Executive meeting in Panchkula (Haryana). In the last 10 years, Haryana has seen a new era of welfare and development of farmers, poor, deprived and backward people, leaving behind the rule of cuts, commissions and corruption," he said. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the workers of Haryana BJP are determined to go door-to-door and conduct an extensive public relations campaign to ensure that this time the BJP wins the state with a two-thirds majority," Amit Shah added. Earlier today, Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan expressed confidence in winning the upcoming Assembly Elections in Haryana and asserted that the results of the elections will be in favour of BJP as the opposition is devoid of any political agenda. Meanwhile, Congress MP Kumari Selja said on Saturday that the Congress will form the government in Haryana as the people have seen the BJP's work in the last 10 years. Selja told ANI, "We have started preparations for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections during Lok Sabha elections only. I believe that we will form the government in the state as the people have seen the BJP's work in the last 10 years." In the 2019 Assembly elections, out of 90 seats, the BJP secured 40 seats, Congress secured 31 seats while Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) won 10 seats. The BJP form the government after forming an alliance with the JJP. In 2014, the BJP had won 47 seats while the Congress secured victory on 15 seats. (ANI) BJD Vice President and Senior MLA Prasanna Acharya on Saturday urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to prioritize two key issues concerning Odisha - to push for the long-standing demand for special category status and seek a revision of the coal royalty rates. "Odisha CM and two Deputy CM gone to Delhi. They are meeting with the Prime Minister, the President of India and other Union Ministers. But they should raise our demands. CM Mohan Majhi should raise the Coal royalty revision and special category status issues. Odisha has long demand for special category status," Acharya told ANI. Acharya further aimed the BJP for what he described as a break from tradition. He questioned the recent appointment of a non-Odia Chief Secretary asking "Is this Odisha's pride?" "Chief Secretary appointment is the prerogative of the govt. But the BJP saying Odisha pride. Is this Odisha's pride ( Non-odia CS appointment)? BJP did the diversion. BJP broke the tradition of CS appointment," Acharya said. Earlier in the day, Majhi and Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida on Saturday met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the national capital. After the meeting, Jaishankar took to social media platform X to post, "Delighted to meet Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi ji, Deputy CMs Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo ji, and Smt. Pravati Parida ji this morning. Congratulated them on the assumption of such significant responsibility." He further said that the Odisha government has been assured that the External Affairs Ministry would closely work with them so as to promote tourism. "Confident that their Government will take Odisha to a higher trajectory of growth and prosperity. Assured that MEA will work closely with Odisha Government in promoting tourism, establishing international linkages and accessing a global workplace. Wished them a successful tenure," Jaishanker tweeted. Meanwhile, Majhi and both his deputies, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida also met Union Minister and BJP President JP Nadda in the national capital. On Friday, the three had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) BJP leader Nalin Kohli on Saturday criticized chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary party Sonia Gandhi's recent editorial in a leading English daily where she claimed that the Prime Minister's third term was not part of the electoral outcome as there is no evidence to prove it. Kohli countered her claims stating that while Sonia Gandhi may perceive the election results as favourable to Congress, the public has decisively given a mandate to the BJP, marking it a clear victory for the ruling party and a defeat for Congress. "There are two perspectives: one where Sonia might believe it is their victory or message to Modi, but another perspective is that the people have decided that Modi should continue to lead the country, making it a victory for BJP and a defeat for Congress," Kohli said. Notably, in the 2024 general elections, BJP's victory tally was much lower than its 2019 tally of 303 and the 282 seats it had won in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats compared to 52 that it had won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014. Highlighting the democratic values enshrined in the Indian Constitution, Kohli said, "The beauty of the Indian Constitution is that under Article 19, every individual has the freedom to express their views. Sonia Gandhi has also exercised that right, and no one has imposed any restrictions on what she has said." Refuting allegations of an "undeclared emergency" frequently raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Kohli said that it is false. "Since there have been no restrictions, what does it mean when Rahul repeatedly says there is an undeclared emergency in this country? It is false because there is no undeclared emergency. The only time an emergency was declared was in 1975, imposed by Indira Gandhi," Kholi said. Kohli further asserted that the repeated rejection of the Congress party by the electorate is a testament to the public's support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "The perspective of Sonia Gandhi and Indira Gandhi is one. However, there is another perspective in viewing the election results, which is that the people of India have rejected the Congress party for the third time. In 2014, 2019, and 2024, the number of seats the Congress party won in these three elections is less than what Modi won in 2024 alone. What does this mean? It means that the people of India want Modi to continue the work he started in 2014 and to advance further. This mandate is for him," Kholi added. Earlier in the day, highlighting the editorial by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not "reflecting" on the message given to him by voters in the recent parliamentary elections." 'There is no evidence that the Prime Minister has come to terms with the electoral outcome or has reflected on the message sent to him by voters', writes CPP Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi," posted Kharge on social media platform X today. Alongside his tweet, Kharge also attached the news article titled "Preaching consensus, provoking confrontation," written by Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary party. (ANI) In a post on X, the Karnataka CM office said that the state government and Centre are committed to "working together for the state's growth and prosperity." "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had a constructive meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today. Key issues concerning Karnataka's development and progress were discussed. Committed to working together for the state's growth and prosperity," it said. Karnataka CM was seen leaving from the residence of PM Modi in the late hours of Saturday. On June 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the founder of Bengaluru, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda on his 515th birth anniversary. "Tributes to Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda on his birth anniversary. He was a visionary known for his foresight and administrative skills. He was a pioneer in boosting economic wellbeing, agriculture, irrigation and more. Bengaluru, the city he nurtured, is globally admired for its dynamism, vibrancy and innovation. Our government will keep working to fulfil his vision for society and uphold the values he cherished. Sharing pictures from the 'Statue of Prosperity', which I had the honour of inaugurating in 2022," PM Modi said in a post on X. Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the Karnataka government aims to achieve an industrial growth rate of 15-16 per cent annually to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2032. "The government's vision extends beyond urban centres, intending to spread industries to rural regions, particularly Kalyana Karnataka, through focused cluster development initiatives," Siddaramaiah emphasised. "The government is committed to balanced regional development. We are nurturing specialized industries in different parts of the state, leveraging local expertise and resources. We have identified clusters to develop priority sectors such as electronics, automotive and electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and more," he added. (ANI) After former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren got bail in the land scam case, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday that the JMM leader has not fulfilled any promise he made in the Vidhan Sabha. CM Himanta, who is BJP's Jharkhand Assembly election co-in-charge, also emphasised that the BJP will win the next assembly elections in Jharkhand. "He is a JMM leader and former CM. He has a role to play in the elections. Hemant Soren has not fulfilled any promise he made in the Vidhan Sabha. Now that he is out, we will be able to have a debate with him. Home Minister Amit Shah is coming here on July 20 for our party meeting. We are going to win the elections in Jharkhand," the Assam CM said. Sarma also met BJP leader Sudarshan Bhagat in Ranchi today. This is Sarma's second visit to Jharkhand after being appointed as election co-incharge for the state. Regarding his meeting with tribal leaders, Assam CM said that if the partymen work hard, the BJP can get good results from the Adivasi areas. "To understand the challenges in front of us and how we would get the solution, I met the prominent tribal leaders. In the Lok Sabha elections this time, we had a lead in 4 seats. If we work hard, then we can get good results from the Adivasi areas," he said. Notably, along with Sarma, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been appointed as the Jharkhand Assembly election in-charge. Earlier in the day Sarma said that the election manifesto for the upcoming polls is being prepared. "The tribal society has a very big role in the social system of Jharkhand. We have to address the basic problems of tribal society. The election manifesto is being prepared," Sarma told reporters here. "I am trying to understand how we can work for the identity, economic, social and political development of the tribal society and how the BJP can participate in it. That is why I will try to meet people of the society today and will also try to go to some places...," the Jharkhand Assembly election co-in-charge said. Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court. Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. The investigation concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores. (ANI) Similar to the monitoring of public complaints received by senior district officers such as the District Magistrate and Police Captain, complaints received in the offices of the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) will now also be monitored. Under the new system, public complaint applications submitted to CDO and SDM offices will be entered into the Jan Sunwai-Samadhan System (IGRS). This will ensure timely resolution and establish accountability for the officers involved. It should be noted that for the resolution of complaints, the general public can submit applications through various channels including the Chief Minister's Office, Deputy Chief Minister's Office, District Magistrate's Office, Police Commissioner or Senior Superintendent of Police or Superintendent of Police Offices, Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas (Tehsil Diwas), Thana Samadhan Diwas, Public Facilitation Centers, Government of India (PG Portal), Chief Minister's Helpline 1076, portals, and apps. The resolution of complaints is managed by the concerned officials through the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS). Recently, when the Chief Minister reviewed the public grievance redressal system, it was found that there are offices in districts where public grievance petitions are received, but there is no system in place to log and resolve these petitions through the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS). Sub-District Magistrate offices and Chief Development Officer offices receive important applications on a daily basis. These offices are now being integrated with the IGRS. After the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Minister, in a recent video conference meeting with senior field officers, informed that the Janata Darshan program has been resumed. He directed that senior officers stationed at the district, tehsil, block, range, and zone levels should also start regular public grievance redressal programs. Officers are required to be present for public grievance hearings every day from 10 AM to 12 PM. They have been instructed to listen to the public's problems and complaints with sensitivity and ensure appropriate resolution within a stipulated time frame. The Chief Minister explicitly told the officers, "The satisfaction of the public is the benchmark for your performance." The Chief Minister's aim with this initiative is to ensure that people's issues are resolved at the lowest level of administrative officials. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha urged the cadets of the Special National Integration camp of NCC to work together towards building a strong and united nation. The Special National Integration camp of NCC was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at JKLI Centre Rangreth Srinagar. This camp, which was organized as part of the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' initiative, saw the coming together of 250 NCC cadets from 17 NCC Directorates across India. The camp was aimed at promoting national integration and fostering unity among the youth of the country. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the cadets and emphasized the importance of harmony and solidarity among all states and regions of India. He urged the cadets to work together towards building a strong and united nation, as per the press release. Taking to their official X handle, the Office of Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir quoted Manoj Sinha and posted, "Addressed NCC cadets while attending Special National Integration Camp at Srinagar. This special camp promotes the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' and has brought together cadets from 17 directorates of the country to foster common values of patriotism, integrity and selfless service." In another tweet, it said, "The activities at the camp truly symbolize the spirit of unity in diversity. NCC has always served society with commitment, efficiency and complete dedication in accordance with its motto "Unity and Discipline" and has made immense contributions to nation-building." The camp included various activities exchanges, and community service. The cadets showed cultural performances showcasing the diversity and richness of India's heritage. This Special National Integration camp was a great success in promoting the ideals of unity in diversity and instilling a sense of national pride among the young participants. The camp served as a platform for fostering friendships and understanding among cadets from different parts of the country, ultimately contributing to the vision of a 'Shreshtha Bharat'. (ANI) West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday came down heavily on state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that she cannot bully or terrify him and she has no right to do character assassination through lies. While speaking with ANI, Bose targeted the West Bengal Chief Minister and said that Mamata Banerjee has crossed all the limits. "She has to function within the requirements of civilized conduct. As a Chief Minister, I gave her all regard and respect, considering her as my esteemed constitutional colleague. But she feels that she can bully anybody and cast aspersions on my character. My character is not to be negotiated by an individual like Mamata Banerjee." The governor further said that any amount of assassination of his self-respect will not be tolerated. "She cannot bully or terrify me. She has not grown up to that. As a chief minister, if she differs from me, certainly there are constitutional provisions to take care of that. As an individual, she has no right to do character assassination through lies." "This cannot be allowed. It is not megalomania, it is 'Mamata mania' that cannot be tolerated. I will file a defamation case against the individual, Mamata Banerjee who happens to be the Chief Minister," he added. The remarks by Bose come after Mamata Banerjee said that women are not feeling safe in Raj Bhavan. Bose spoke about the situation of the state and said, "It is very disturbing, shocking, and shattering to see that West Bengal is facing a financial breakdown. Its public finance is in the doldrums." He added, "As a responsible governor, I, upon the authority vested in the governor under Article 167 of the Constitution of India, have asked for an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss this issue and also issue a white paper on the finances of the state." Bose also talked about Banerjee's meeting on hawkers and encroachment in the state, he said, "To say the least, 'Gareebi hatao, gareebo ko nahi.' Before you displace poor hawkers, you should have thought about settling them. This is highly disorganised, untimely, distressing, ill-implemented reform..." Speaking on law and order situation in the state, Bose said that the government is expected to contain violence. "I feel there is government-sponsored violence in the state. There is 'gundagiri'..." He added further, "As a governor, it is my duty to see that the government functions in accordance with the Constitution of India. I will do my duty. My stand against corruption will continue till I reach the goal. As Swami Vivekananda said, 'Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.' My goal is to see corruption-free, and violence-free Bengal." (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he is drawing up a "comprehensive plan", that will be supported by the majority of the world, to end the war with Russia, reported Al Jazeera. "It is very important for us to show a plan to end the war that will be supported by the majority of the world," the Ukrainian president, along with Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, said at a news conference in Kyiv on Friday. "This is the diplomatic route we are working on," he added. Zelenskyy further said that there are no current negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. There are no current negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and, based on public statements by Zelenskyy 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, reported Al Jazeera. 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. However, Russian President Vladimir 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 that Russia now occupies. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian President hosted a major international summit in Switzerland, where Russia was not invited, to rally support for Ukraine's position. Over 90 countries sent leaders and senior officials to the two-day summit in Switzerland and a vast majority agreed to a final communique that stressed the need for Ukraine's "territorial integrity" to be respected in any settlement, Al Jazeera reported. Moreover, Russia's troops are slowly advancing on Ukraine's territory, and have claimed to have seized another small front-line village on Friday. Moscow currently occupies about 25 percent of Ukraine and, in 2022, claimed to have annexed four more regions, none of which they fully control. Earlier on Thursday, at an EU Council Summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy said he would put forward a "detailed plan" in a matter of months to end the war, reported Al Jazeera. "We don't have too much time," he said, pointing to the high casualty rate among soldiers and civilians. (ANI) India chaired its first meeting as Chair of the Colombo Process at the Permanent Representative Level Meeting at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Headquarters in Geneva. Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, delivered the special address as the incoming Chair-in-Office on Thursday. Notably, India assumed the chair of the Colombo Process for the first time since its inception in May this year. He expressed India's commitment to advancing the objectives of the Colombo Process and bolstering collaboration among member states, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release. India also presented an outline of an action plan for the next two years. In a press release, MEA stated, "India presented an outline of an action plan for the next two years, focusing on key priorities and initiatives to further strengthen the Colombo Process." "India's priorities for Colombo Process (2024-26) include (a) Reviewing the financial sustainability of the Colombo Process, (b) Broadening the membership by including new member states and observers,(c) Reconfiguring technical-level collaborations,(d) Implementing a structured rotation for the chairmanship,(e) Conducting a regional review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) and (f) Engaging in dialogues with the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) and other regional processes," it added. In a post on X, India's Permanent Mission at UN in Geneva stated, "Indian leadership for safe, orderly, legal migration @SecretaryCPVOIA presents India's vision & priorities in 1st #ColomboProcess meeting after India became its Chair We thank all Member States for endorsing 's plan to revitalise the process & @UNmigration for Sectt. support." The Colombo Process is a regional consultative process comprising 12 member states from Asia, which primarily serve as countries of origin for migrant workers. The forum facilitates the exchange of best practices on managing overseas employment, according to MEA press release. The Secretariat of the Colombo Process is hosted by IOM, with its headquarters in Geneva. In a press release, MEA stated, "In May 2024, India assumed the chair of the Colombo Process for the first time since its inception." "The Process continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing regional cooperation on migration issues, and with India's leading role, there is a renewed commitment to engaging all member states actively, improving migration governance, and fostering safe, orderly, and regular migration for organised overseas employment," it added. (ANI) Projected to last only days, the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft with two astronauts onboard is in limbo with no exact return to Earth announced. NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich has said that the US space agency is considering extending the duration of Starliner's mission from 45 days to 90 days, CNN reported. Officials have repeatedly hinted that the Starliner, which faced issues with helium leaks and thruster outages heading to the International Space Station in early June, will be safe to bring astronauts including indian-origin Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Butch Wilmore home. On Friday, Stich said that NASA is considering extending the maximum length of Starliner's mission from 45 days to 90 days and there is no firm return date on the horizon, according to CNN report. Addressing a briefing on Friday, the NASA official said, "We're just looking at the timeline to execute (the test in New Mexico) and then review the data." He further said, "And that's what's really the long pole, I would say, determining a landing date." Stich added, "We're not in a rush to come home." Part of that desired extension is due to the ground tests that Boeing and NASA plan to conduct in New Mexico, seeking to better understand why some of the Starliner's thrusters unexpectedly failed during the first leg of its journey. Stich and Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of the Commercial Crew Program for Boeing, also said that engineers are still not certain about the reason behind the Starliner's problems. Nappi said that part of the aim is conducting the ground tests while the vehicle is still in space is to try to whittle down possible reasons why the thrusters malfunctioned. Mark Nappi said, "So, if (the test in New Mexico) comes back and gives us all the answers, then we can just undock and come home." He added, "If it comes back and says, 'Here's 80 per cent of the answer. And if you just run one more docked hot fire (test on the Starliner in orbit), then you can get 100 per cent of the answers' -- then we want (Starliner) to be there so that we can get that information." Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore have integrated with the rest of the crew currently aboard the International Space Station and are conducting routine tasks. Several more helium leaks were identified while the craft was heading to the International Space Station, along with the thruster issues. The Starliner's service module, a cylindrical attachment at the bottom of the spacecraft that provides much of the vehicle's power during flight, faced several issues, CNN reported. As per the design, the service module will not survive the return to Earth. The module is jettisoned and destroyed as the Starliner spacecraft reenters the atmosphere and that's the reason why Boeing and NASA teams then opted to leave the Starliner spacecraft safely docked with the space station while they worked to learn as much as possible about those issues. It is not clear yet whether NASA will extend the maximum mission length to 90 days. Stich said officials must clear the battery life of the Starliner for that purpose. Although he noted that the batteries are being recharged at the space station, they should operate the same way after 90 days as they will for the first 45 days. The spaceflight industry frequently experiences cost overruns, delays and unmet deadlines. However, Boeing has faced challenges that have stood out, particularly when the Starliner program is directly compared with SpaceX's Crew Dragon, CNN reported. Crew Dragon, which falls under the same NASA Commercial Crew Program for astronaut transportation, completed its first test flight in 2020 and has been carrying out routine missions ever since. SpaceX did not have the benefit of designing the Crew Dragon spacecraft off the back of its Cargo Dragon vehicle, which for years sent supplies to the International Space Station before its successor started operating while Boeing designed Starliner from scratch. Nappi said, "We've got a really good test flight that's been accomplished so far, and it's being viewed rather negatively." In the latest update regarding the ongoing space mission, the Expedition 71 crew members on Friday packed a US cargo craft, cleaned up the International Space Station, studied techniques of futuristic piloting, and carried out eye exams. NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts spent the day reconfiguring a space botany facility. In its live blog, NASA stated, " Robotics controllers are scheduled to detach the Cygnus space freighter from the Unity module on July 12 and release it into Earth orbit for disposal over the South Pacific Ocean ending a five-and-a-half-month mission at the orbital lab." NASA Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick spent most of the time on Friday on loading trash and discarding gear inside the Cygnus with assistance from fellow NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps and Tracy C Dyson. Canadarm2 robotic arm captured the Cygnus on February 1, with more than 8200 pounds of science experiments and crew supplies. Epps operated standard medical imaging gear found in an optometrist's office on Earth and peered into Dyson's eyes. She examined the cornea, retina, and lens of Dyson to help flight surgeons understand and counteract microgravity's effect on crew vision. Earlier, Dyson collected and stowed excess space station hardware for disposal. During the day, NASA Flight Engineer Mike Barratt routed cables and reprogrammed communications systems inside the Columbus laboratory module. He stowed hardware and components used earlier in the week for advanced orbital plumbing in the Tranquility module's bathroom. Mike Barratt refilled supply kits in Columbus' two Human Research Facility racks with biomedical gear, including sample tubes and needles. On Friday, Starliner's Commander and Pilot, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams in Kibo conducted space botany work. They removed the Plant Habitat growth chamber from Kibo's EXPRESS rack, replaced its camera and carbon dioxide sensors, then reinstalled the research device. In the liveblog, NASA said, "NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate Starliner's propulsion system performance before returning to Earth from the orbiting lab. NASA and Boeing leaders participated in a media teleconference today to discuss Starliner and station operations." "NASA is now targeting the end of July for the next spacewalk outside the space station. This change allows teams on the ground to continue to troubleshoot and understand the water leak in the service and cooling umbilical unit that forced an early end to a spacewalk on Monday, June 24," it added. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub practiced planetary spacecraft and robotic piloting techniques future crew members and conducted two sessions of an investigation exploring ways to create new materials on the lunar surface. Meanwhile, Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin worked throughout the day inventorying medical kits and cleaning fans inside the Rassvet module and Station Commander Oleg Kononenko replaced thermal components in Roscosmos' life support hardware. (ANI) India and Bangladesh held the 7th Commissioner level Joint Group of Customs meeting in Shillong on June 27-28. The meeting was held to foster cooperation, enhance efficiency and advance shared goals in customs administration in order to strengthen collective efforts in customs enforcement, trade facilitation, and border security, the Ministry of Finance said in a press release. For the meeting, the four member Bangladesh delegation was led by Md Kamruzzaman, Commissioner, Customs, Excise & VAT Commissionerate, Jashore. Commissioner of Customs Preventive Commissionerate, NER, Shillong, led the 10-member Indian delegation at the meeting. In a press release, the Ministry of Finance said, "Following the meeting many pending issues at ground level were resolved and many other issues were highlighted to be escalated at higher-level appropriate forums, thereby leading to the resolution of many customs and trade related issues." The head of Bangladesh delegation expressed gratitude to the Indian Customs for organising the meeting and making the deliberations result oriented. In a press release, MEA said, "Approved minutes were signed after both sides reached a consensus on several key issues relating to bilateral trade and customs procedures." Highlighting the significance of this meeting, Ministry of Finance said, "This meeting therefore marks a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between Indian & Bangladesh, emphasizing our shared commitment to enhancing trade facilitation and cooperation between both the nations." "Such constructive dialogue and partnership is essential to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of cross-border trade, promote economic growth and prosperity," it added. On June 22, the Indian Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu and the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Dhaka, Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation concerning Military Education in the field of Strategic and Operational Studies. The MoU was signed during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's state visit to India on June 22. Both the colleges impart training to officers of tri-services, preparing them for higher staff and command responsibilities. Moreover, they share a common ethos, training curriculum and methodology and face similar challenges. Accordingly, they further decided to collaborate and signed the MoU, for further enhancing bilateral engagements. This MoU will assist in enhancing professional acumen, provide deep insight into strategic affairs, assist in sharing best practices and expertise as well as augment the academic capabilities of student officers and faculty members. It will also facilitate the conduct of training packages, joint seminars, faculty exchanges, and reciprocal instructor visits to name a few. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said that a visa-waiver program for Chinese tourists announced by the Laos government includes elements that gives false impression that Taiwan is part of China, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported. The document issued by the Laos government on Wednesday said that Chinese nationals travelling to Laos may visit the country visa-free for up to 15 days as part of a group tour. It also provided the itinerary approved by the Laotian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The policy announced by the Laos government, valid from July 1 - December 31, also extends to tourists from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, according to the document, Central News Agency (CNA) reported. According to Taiwan's MoFA statement, the inclusion of Taiwan under Laos policy to boost tourism came amid pressure from Beijing and was aimed at giving the false impression that Taiwan is part of China, CNA reported. Taiwan's MoFA said that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other and Laos should not collaborate with China to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and international standing. Taiwan has shared its position regarding the issue with the Laos government through Taiwan's representative office in Vietnam, according to the statement. Moreover, Taiwan's MoFA said that Taiwanese tourists need on-arrival visas for travelling to Loas despite the policy introduced by the government as per the clause mentioned in the document. It further stated that there has been no change to the current rule, which requires Taiwanese tourists seeking to travel to Laos to obtain an electronic or on-arrival visa, CNA reported. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, has long been a contentious issue in China's foreign policy, with Beijing considering the island as its territory that must be reunified with the mainland, if necessary by force. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that 23 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels operating around Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Friday to 6 am (local time) on Saturday. Of these, 20 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwest and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), according to Taiwan's MND. In response to China's action, Taiwan's armed forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, "23 #PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 of the aircraft entered Taiwan's northern, central, SW, and eastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of grey zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating near Taiwan. According to a Taiwan News report, Grey zone tactics are "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force." This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan has long been a contentious issue in China's foreign policy. China continues to assert its sovereignty over Taiwan and considers it a part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. Meanwhile, Taiwan has advised its citizens against traveling to China, Hong Kong, and Macao following Beijing's threats to execute supporters of Taiwan's independence. 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 travellers 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 criticised 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. In a press release, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) criticised the guidelines announced by Chinese officials earlier as "regrettable," terming them as provocative and detrimental to interactions between the people of Taiwan and mainland China. 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. (ANI) As Imran Khan's party is saddled by visible internal fissures, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf was hit by another resignation on Saturday by lawmaker Junaid Akbar, as per Pakistan's daily- The Express Tribune's report. Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sher Afzal Marwat demanded the resignation of Pakistan tehreek-e-Insaf Senator Shibli Faraz, accusing him of preventing access to imprisoned party founder Imran Khan. Akbar echoed these allegations, claiming "certain people" can meet party supremo while others are denied. Akbar stated, "Their interests lie with each other, and we are told the party policy aligns with Imran Khan's views. The beneficiaries of decisions are these people, their families, and friends." He, however, affirmed his loyalty to the party. He said, "PTI is my home, and I am not part of any group nor will I be." His resignation follows that of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, who stepped down as PTI secretary general, indicating further changes in the party's organisational structure. The The Express Tribune reported that following Ayub's resignation, sources indicated that 27 PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers were considering resigning from the National Assembly in protest against the party's top leadership. It was revealed that 21 lawmakers hinted at forming a forward bloc due to the leadership's failure to secure the release of Imran Khan from Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. They also "conveyed a message" to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Secretary-General Omar Ayub, urging them to make serious efforts for the release of incarcerated leaders. The disgruntled MNAs complained that some leaders were eyeing higher posts instead of focusing on securing the release of the PTI founder and other jailed party leaders. The PTI lawmakers had 'unanimously' passed a resolution on Saturday for not accepting Ayub's resignation, expressing "complete trust" in his leadership. Omar Ayub's resignation triggered discussions on appointing a new secretary general, potentially from Punjab, with Sheikh Waqas Akram from Jhang being a probable candidate, The Express Tribune reported. (ANI) Khyber Institute's Executive Director and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) representative in Europe, Fazal Ur Rehman Afridi, has raised concerns about the ongoing protests by Pashtuns against the stringent visa regulations imposed by the Pakistani government. Afridi, who has been participating in the 56th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, has asserted that these regulations violate international law and severely impact the social, economic, and financial well-being of the Pashtun people. "For the last 8 months, the Pashtuns have been protesting against the strict visa regulations of the government of Pakistan, which is in violation of international law. The people living in the vicinity, in the border areas, and especially along the controversial Durand Line, have families, businesses, and social connections on both sides," Afridi said. "Restricting such people is going to affect the Pashtun people very badly economically, socially, and financially," the Pashtun activist said while speaking to ANI. Afridi highlighted the violent responses of the Pakistani government and military to peaceful protests. PTM representative said, "For the last month, the Pashtuns have been protesting and have organised a sit-in in Chaman. But instead of listening to the grievances of Pashtun people, especially the PTM, the Pakistani government and its military are attacking the protesters and citizens. They have systematically attacked the sit-in several times and recently killed a 15-year-old boy. More than 200 Pashtun leaders have been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani military forces. Over 100 were injured." "This is a violation of international law and against our basic fundamental rights: our right to peaceful assembly and our right to freedom of expression," he said. Last year, the Pakistani government decided that only those with valid passports and visas would be allowed to cross the Chaman border crossing. Previously, Pakistanis and Afghans could cross the border with their respective identity cards. The shift to stringent document requirements has disrupted the lives of locals, leaving hundreds of Pashtuns encamped outside the Friendship Gate, the authorised border crossing between Chaman and the Afghan district of Spin-Boldak, in protest against the one-document regime. Afridi accused the Pakistani military of extrajudicial killings and targeting innocent civilians under the pretext of operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al Qaeda. He urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to protect the basic fundamental rights of the Pashtun people against the Pakistani military, which he accused of gross human rights violations against various ethnic minorities, including the Baloch, Sindhis, and Kashmiris. "Over 200,000 houses of Pashtuns have been destroyed, 25,000 shops have been demolished, and 80,000 Pashtuns have been killed in the Army operation called Zarb-e-Azb," Afridi stated. He said, "We have protested against it, but the Pakistan Army has joined hands with TTP and re-settled their families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Now, the Pakistani army is announcing operations in which the Pashtuns are going to suffer. Pakistan's economy is a war economy, either waging war inside the country or continuing proxy wars against others. Pashtuns have been facing genocide for the past 20 years, and it will see a sudden rise. We want to inform the international community, especially regional powers, to interfere and protect the Pashtuns." Fazal Ur Rehman Afridi called for international attention to the plight of the Pashtuns, Baloch, Sindhis, and Kashmiris. "The historical nations have no relevance in this country. They have realised that the right of self-determination is the only way forward. We request the international community to help us as we are being tortured, facing enforced disappearances, and our businesses are being destroyed. Terrorism is on the rise in Pakistan, and it continues to carry out genocide of the Baloch, Pashtuns, Sindhis, and Kashmiris," Afridi concluded. (ANI) Between Friday and Monday night, areas including Shaheen Complex, Punjab Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Orangi Town, and Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road endured frequent load-shedding. The prolonged outages forced residents of the Railway Colony and nearby areas out of their homes, sparking protests near Shaheen Complex. Citizens took to the streets, burning tyres and blocking roads, exacerbating traffic woes, The Express Tribune reported. Demonstrators voiced outrage over the disruptive and unpredictable load shedding, which has severely disrupted daily life in the city. The report further said that despite scores of complaints, residents continued to receive hefty electricity bills. Also, residents claimed that while they pay hefty electricity bills, even for single-room accommodations, penalties are imposed on entire communities for the non-payment of bills by a few individuals. They criticized the disparity of officials enjoying free electricity while punishing residents for delayed payments. The community warned of further demonstrations if the Sindh government and governor do not swiftly resolve the ongoing power crisis. Locals demanded an immediate end to the irregular power cuts affecting the Railway Colony and surrounding regions. In Punjab Chowrangi, protests escalated into major traffic jams, with heavy trucks lining the streets. The scorching heat combined with persistent outages has exacerbated living conditions across Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, and Orangi Town. Near Abbas Town on Abu al-Hasan Isfahani Road, residents blocked traffic by burning tires. Earlier on June 23, residents stormed the power distributor's customer care center on Abul Hassan Isphani Road in Karachi, forcing the employees to flee from the spot, Pakistan-based ARY News reported. Also, the protestors raised slogans against the power distributor, K-Electric, and pelted stones at the customer care center, shattering windows. (ANI) Sammi Deen Baloch, a prominent human rights activist from Balochistan, organised a major press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Friday. The conference intended to raise a united voice against the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The event commemorated 15 years of the enforced disappearance of another prominent human rights activist and her father, Dr Deen Mohammad, who forcibly disappeared on June 28, 2009, by the Pakistan Army while performing his duty as a doctor in Haurnaach, Khuzdar. Sammi Deen in her statement given at the press conference stated that she has been struggling to know the whereabouts of her father and has raised her voice on all the platforms possible but still, the administration and the Pakistani defence forces have remained silent on the matter, causing immense suffering for her family. "I cannot even express how each day passes for me and my family. The issue of enforced disappearances is a mass punishment, that the administration has chosen for the Baloch community. The administration thought that if they abduct the men of our society, the lives of women will be miserable, and we will slowly die both physically and mentally," said Sammi Deen Baloch. Sammi further said that she is not hopeless and will continue her struggles against the Pakistani administration. "But we are still fighting and are not hopeless, as we still have hope for our people. This hope keeps us alive and makes us fight for our loved ones and our rights. My family has spent 15 years, if the administration still wants to keep us away from our loved ones, then we are ready to continue our struggles but we will not lose hope and give up. The rulers have tried all their tactics to force us to give up," she added. In her statement, she added that neither the courts nor the authorities have been helpful in her struggle, as they are making no efforts to resolve the matter. "They have questioned and tortured us for our forcibly disappeared brethren. And now we are fed up with giving them the answers to the same questions time and time again. But I want to clarify one thing: I will fight for my father in any court to get him back," Sammi Deen Balcoh said. https://x.com/BNMovement_/status/1806385792798876045 Additionally, Baloch National Movement (BNM) while raising the same issue, stated in a post on 'X', "Enforced disappearance is not just a crime against a single nation, individual, or family; it is a crime against all of humanity. Dr. Deen Muhammad Baloch, the central leader of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has been forcibly disappeared and in the custody of the Pakistan Army for the past 15 years. He was forcibly taken on June 28, 2009, by the Pakistan Army after being detained while on duty in Haurnaach, Khuzdar District. Bringing Dr. Deen Muhammad home and holding the perpetrators accountable is imperative for justice and humanity." (ANI) During the visit, Jaishankar will meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. "India and Qatar share historic and friendly relations marked by regular exchange of high-level visits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Qatar on 14-15 February 2024 and held discussions with Qatar's Amir H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani," the MEA said in an official release. Jaishankar's visit to the Gulf nation will enable both sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations including political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, and people-to-people as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest. In June first week, the first meeting of the Joint Task Force on Investment (JTFI) between India and Qatar was convened in New Delhi. The meeting was aimed at strengthening investment cooperation between the two countries. The joint task force was co-chaired by Ajay Seth, Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, and Mohamed bin Hassen Al-Malki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar. As per a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the joint task force on investment has reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to strengthen bilateral relations and to leverage the collective potential for accelerated growth, investment opportunities, and synergistic collaboration across diverse sectors ranging from infrastructure and energy to technology and innovation. They also underscored the significance of the robust economic relationship between India and Qatar, rooted in shared values, common objectives, and a shared vision for inclusive development. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai and discussed bilateral partnerships and the "well-being of the Indian community" in Qatar. (ANI) Ameen Butt, Deputy Mayor of Faisalabad has issued an apology for his previous opposition to the reopening of a Gurdwara in the city that had been closed for 76 years. In a video posted on social media by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), Butt stated, "A few days ago, I made comments about Sikhs and the Gurdwara which were a serious mistake. I sincerely apologise to the Sikh community and pledge not to repeat such remarks." The PSGPC confirmed Butt's apology and welcomed the development, emphasizing Pakistan's significance to Sikhs as a Holy Land. The PSGMC posted on X "Ameen Butt has offered an apology for his offensive remarks against the Sikh community in a welcoming development. Pakistan holds a sacred place in the hearts of Sikhs, who consider it a 'Pavitar Dharti' (Holy Land)". https://x.com/SGPCPakistan/status/1806906667235246135 The Sikh minority in Pakistan has historically faced discrimination, with many forced to migrate due to targeted violence, who frequently endure injustices and intolerance. Minority communities in Pakistan, including Hindus and Sikhs, continue to encounter barriers such as discriminatory laws, social marginalization, and sporadic acts of violence driven by religious extremism. Notably, in a widely circulated social media video, Butt could be seen threatening to disrupt the Gurdwara's reconstruction, against the reopening of a Gurudwara that had been closed for 76 years. The video shows a protester threatening to obstruct the reconstruction of the Gurudwara and challenging the authority of the Punjab government. In the reported video by Voice of Pakistan Minority, a non-profit organization committed to protecting minority rights in Pakistan, Butt could be seen heard using derogatory language against the Sikh community. "Sikhs are r@pists & k!llers of Muslims. We will not allow any Sikh Gurudwara in Faisalabad. If Sikhs try to build it, they will face Allah's fighters. You can open all Gurudwaras for Namaz. But you remain a Kafir with no rights in Sharia," he said in the reported video. https://x.com/voice_minority/status/1806278705724924351 Sikhs in Pakistan have faced discrimination, violence, and targeted attacks over the years, including physical assaults, threats, and vandalism of Gurudwaras. Issues like illegal occupation of Gurudwara properties and property disputes are also reported challenges for Sikhs. The US Department of State's 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices raised concerns about religious tolerance in Pakistan, noting several targeted attacks on Sikhs throughout the year, including the killings of Dayal Singh in Peshawar, Malik Sardar Singh in Lahore, and Manmohan Singh in Peshawar. Recently, during a session of Pakistan's National Assembly, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif acknowledged the targeted violence against minorities in the name of religion. He expressed frustration over the opposition blocking efforts to improve minority safety, stating, "Every day, minorities are being killed. They are not safe under the guise of Islam, and Pakistan faces global embarrassment due to these incidents." (ANI) HARARE, June 29 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 26 others injured after a truck overturned in northern Zimbabwe Thursday night, police said on Saturday. Police attributed the accident to recklessness on the part of the driver, who they said had fled the scene. Paul Nyathi, national police spokesperson, said in a press statement that the truck was carrying 38 passengers when it veered off the road and overturned on the way from the town of Karoi in Mashonaland West Province to the town of Binga in Matabeleland North Province. "As a result, some passengers were thrown out of the loading box while others were trapped under the load," he said. "The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges motorists not to exceed the load capacity of their vehicles and not to mix goods with passengers when plying the country's roads. It is sad that some motorists are reckless and do not promote road safety on the country's roads," he added. He warned that the police will ensure that the law takes its course against such drivers and vehicle owners. Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs, recently reflected on the impact and ongoing challenges of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), a pivotal US federal law enacted to combat forced labour in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Nearly four years since advocacy efforts began and two years since the Act came into effect, significant strides have been made with 68 People's Republic of China (PRC)-based companies now listed on its entity roster. The law aims to deter and punish companies participating in or benefiting from Chinese state-sponsored forced labour in the Uyghur region of Western China - importing a product where the labor or raw materials are associated with Xinjiang, and the other is to source from a company included on the federal government's official entity list. These measures have effectively blocked an estimated USD 700 million worth of goods linked to forced labour, underscoring efforts to curtail American complicity in human rights abuses. However, Abbas cautioned that despite these achievements, much work remains to eradicate the scourge of #UyghurForcedLabor completely. https://x.com/RushanAbbas/status/1806685050240373071 In a poignant statement, she highlighted the grim reality faced by Uyghur Muslims under Chinese rule, describing systematic abuses including forced marriages, mass rape, forced sterilization, arbitrary arrests, torture, child abduction, organ harvesting, and genocide. Abbas passionately stressed the urgency of recognising and confronting these atrocities, urging global action to prevent further human suffering. The personal toll of these injustices was evident as Abbas, whose brother, retired Dr Gulshan Abbas, has been detained by Chinese authorities since September 2018, expressed profound dismay at discovering American corporate involvement in supporting these violations. She called for heightened awareness among consumers about the origins of the products they purchase, emphasising the ethical imperative to ensure that everyday consumption does not inadvertently fund human rights abuses. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act represents a critical shift in US policy towards Xinjiang, aiming to safeguard American entities from contributing to forced labour among ethnic minorities. Yet, as Abbas reiterated, the global community must remain vigilant and proactive in holding China accountable for its actions, advocating for justice and dignity for the Uyghur people. As international scrutiny intensifies, the effectiveness of legislative measures like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping global responses to human rights violations, underscoring the imperative of collective action in confronting systemic abuses worldwide. (ANI) The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday organized a round table conference in Islamabad, raising their concerns about the Punjab Defamation Act. The HRCP called upon the administration to repeal the act pushed through a defamation law to curb fake news, however, civil society, and journalists say that it infringes on freedom of press and expression. HRCP in a statement said that it could build fears of a national firewall and greater censorship - the law's real purpose is much more nefarious, aims to muzzle free speech and inhibit dissenting voices. The event witnessed the participation of journalists, digital rights experts and civil society members who drew the state's attention to receding civic spaces and democracy in the country. During the event Law and Policy Expert Muhammad Aftab Alam while discussing the key loopholes of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 pointed out that radical changes need to be made to the definitions of key terms such as 'broadcasting', 'newspaper' and 'journalist'. https://x.com/HRCP87/status/1806709778280038609 Moreover, journalist and researcher Adnan Rehmat mentioned that the law exceptionalised political and state elites and legalized discrimination. A member of the HRCP Farhatullah Babar mentioned that the law was yet another step in the militarization of the state and society, and tantamount to overwriting other laws, such as those governing the right to information. Co-founder of Media Matters for (MMFD) Sadaf Khan pointed out a probable plan of the administration to install a national firewall and said this would broaden the scope of censorship by monitoring Internet traffic. "It was an ill-thought plan that had bred fear and mistrust," she said. Furthermore, another MMFD member also added that such a move would have a serious economic impact on freelance work and online trading. According to the HRCP statement academic and journalist Tauseef Ahmed Khan traced the history of censorship in the legacy media and chalked out a plan of action. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists president Afzal Butt said that civil society must hold social media platforms accountable for blocking content on Kashmir and Gaza. Former senator Afrasiab Khattak said that the establishment must be held accountable for its continuous overreach in such matters. Senior journalist Sohail Sangi added that the working conditions of media persons and press freedom were closely linked. Further during the roundtable conference, the participants and experts of the various fields recommended repealing the Punjab Defamation Act at once, adding that 'digital rights should be recognised in the Constitution'. The conversation on amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 should also be revived. Finally, a law criminalizing enforced disappearances, used frequently to quell dissenting narratives, must be passed. HRCP co-chair Munizae Jahangir felt that journalists, lawyers and activists must unite and consolidate their demands before the Parliament. HRCP Islamabad vice-chair Nasreen Azhar agreed, adding that activists must be more organized in countering online disinformation. HRCP secretary-general Harris Khalique in the conclusive statement mentioned that 'A nexus between the political leadership, big business and the state establishment is apparent,' he added. To combat such repressive tactics, all rights-based movements must come together to develop a charter of demands that can be presented to the Parliament. (ANI) As Taliban grows stronger in its hold over Afghanistan, women in the country have made peace with the reality that the hardline group will not soften their outlook towards them. Afghan Human Rights activist, Pashtana Durrani delves deep into how not much has changed for the Afghan women, as they continue to fight for their fundamental rights to obtain education, and employment. The 27-year-old asserts that it is now about time to get real and not expect the caretaker Taliban government, which took re-control from the US in 2021, to change, because "it is not going to happen." "One thing I have always been keen on and I have understood and learned the hard way, of course, is there's nobody going to come and rescue us. And I think it's a time we all accept it and we stop expecting bigger international bodies to do it for us. Expecting the Taliban to change. I don't think that's going to happen. And I think even if it happens, it's going to be political. It's going to be a long, long war," the Afghan activist told ANI in an exclusive interview. Pashtana, who is also an educator, founded LEARN Afghanistan, a grassroots organisation which helped build the country's first digital school network, stated that at a time like this when women are denied education, and their presence is curtailed in public spaces, it is sheer resilience that will keep them going. "I think the one thing I expect out of my students, who I work with or the teachers, we all have learned it, that we have to be resilient. We have to be smart about what we do. We have to be mindful about what we do. But also, most importantly, we're going to continue doing what we do no matter what," Pashtana told ANI. "We're going to continue learning. We're going to continue going to schools. We're going to continue doing what we believe is best for Afghanistan. When the time is right, I'm pretty sure that the country will accept their daughters," the activist said in the interview that was conducted virtually. It is pertinent to note that the third United Nations-hosted meeting in Doha round the corner and the event which will for the first time see participation by the Taliban has sparked a massive outcry globally for the exclusion of women and civil representatives. The two-day talks starting June 30 in Qatar will see envoys from around two dozen countries, including the United States interact with Taliban representatives for the first time since UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated what is referred to as the "Doha process" in 2023. On being asked about the upcoming Doha meet, Pashtana said that she has no expectations left anymore. "I don't expect anything from the UN anymore. I feel like it's bogus. I feel like it's a sham. I feel like these are people with careers that are trying to make career out of Afghanistan. Because it's just another line where you can see, oh, I worked in Afghanistan and then you can use that to get another job or promotion or whatsoever, and people can call you badass. UN is a sham just like any other big organizations who are using and making money out on Afghanistan. And I'm saying this as I work with the UN agencies. I don't say this when people who are on the ground doing the work. I feel like the people who are either in the decision making spaces, they feel like it's okay to exclude Afghan women because they are educated enough, because they lived in Afghanistan for some months and now they are all Afghan," she said. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in a statement on Friday expressed deep concern about the exclusion of women and girls from the upcoming meeting in Doha. The Committee calls for active and direct inclusion of women and girls in these discussions which pertain to the most serious crisis in women's rights globally. "The failure to include Afghan civil society, including women human rights defenders, as meaningful participants in the Doha discussions, will render the rights of women and girls inadequately addressed. This would be in contradiction to the CEDAW Convention and UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 on women peace and 2721," the statement read. CEDAW stands for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Meanwhile, Pashtana says that Afghan women are fighting a battle not just against violations of human rights and humanitarian laws, but also against being denied access to jobs and education, and they are constantly coming up with creative ways to overcome these obstacles. However, they are also battling for their identity as an Afghan woman who is being talked about globally without her physically being there. "So I think right now, the Afghan women are not just fighting the forefront war of humanitarian abuse or human rights abuse, which is like unable to access school, unable to access jobs, and trying to come up with innovative ways to access those. But they're also sort of fighting for their identity as anAfghan women who is being discussed around in the whole world without her being present. And then apart from that, I think the Afghan women is also fighting for the Islamic and Afghan identity of Afghanistan in general, because what Taliban right now are saying is, oh, this is what Islam says, but this is not what Islam says. So Afghan women are fighting the religious war, too, and then at the same time, we are fighting the identity war where people are like, oh, culturally, Afghans don't want their girls educated," says the activist. Pashtana is an Afghan feminist, activist, and educator. At 21, she became her family's leader, and founded LEARN Afghanistan, the country's first digital school network. Despite forced exile due to the Taliban takeover, she persistently provides education for hundreds of girls in Afghanistan. Known for her boldness, Durrani is a TV and radio commentator and her story has been featured by PBS, BBC, and more. When asked to cite the difference between the Taliban of the 90s, and the Taliban 2.0 which swept power in Kabul in August 2021, forcing the majority of Afghans to flee, Pashtana said that "the only thing that has changed about the Taliban is now they can speak better English." "Other than that, I think the Taliban are very much the same thing at the core of it. Back then, they didn't have any policies for the country's betterment, now they don't have it. They hated women back then, they hate women now more than anything else. They abused human rights back then, they abuse human rights now. So I don't think there's anything much more changed to their value. The value remains the same," says the Afghan activist. Appalled by the condition of the Afghan women, girls under the interim regime of the Taliban, she says that the women in the country are not just fighting for a cause, but also leading it. "They're also the ones who are actually coming up with practical ways to combat this issue, you know, in general. But all in all, I think it's a depressing and disappointing to see that, you know, the world is talking about us, but without us," she further says. She also underlined that the West is to blame for the majority of what unfolded in Afghanistan, but the Afghan politicians must also be held liable for it. "I think the West is to blame for the majority of what has happened to Afghanistan in general. I mean, let's be real. A lot of corruption was enabled by western bodies in Afghanistan. A lot of people who were abusing human rights even back then were enabled by the western bodies in general. But then again, at the same time, I do think that it was a responsibility of the afghan elite, politicians or political forces who could have done much better because they knew they were in hostile neighbourhood, they had Iran and Pakistan on their neighborhoods, and they could have done better by their community and country, and they did not. They chose money over their people. And today, Afghan women pay the price," says the young activist.. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement on the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan by May 2021. In April 2021, NATO Foreign and Defence ministers decided to withdraw all allied troops from Afghanistan within a few months. With the US and NATO forces announcing withdrawal from the country, the Taliban began an assault on major cities and seized control of several of them. In less than a week, the Taliban had captured seven out of 34 provincial capitals in the country. Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and the Taliban forces took control of Kabul on August 15, 2021. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has characterised the state of human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls as well as religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan, as grave. The UN held the first Afghanistan Conference (in Doha) in May, 2023 without the Taliban with the objective of developing a common international approach towards AfghanistanThe second Afghanistan Conference was called by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Doha, Qatar, in February this year. (ANI) World Toilet Organisation founder Jack Sim has lauded the Swachh Bharat campaign and said that he has seen constant improvement in cleanliness in India during his visits to the country. Jack Sim also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminds him of first Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew, who he worked for cleaning rivers and streets and tackling corruption. "Every trip I come to India, I see improvement. I see also the Shobhit University ranking going up year by year. So that's something very nice to see," Jack Sim told ANI He said Prime Minister Modi initiated Swachh Bharat campaign and millions of toilets have been built. "Prime Minister Modi has a Swachh Bharat campaign that is to build toilets and we are very very happy to help him in his success to build 110 million toilets," he said. According to official data, over 11 crore toilets and 2.23 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes have been built across all states and union territories under Swachh Bharat Mission - Grameen. Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2022 covered 17,559 villages in 709 districts in 33 States/UTs across India interviewing 1,75,521 households in 17,559 villages. Based on SSG 2022, 95.4 per cent of surveyed households have access to toilet and 95.4 per cent of those having toilet have been using it regularly "When I look at Prime Minister Modi, he reminds me of our first Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew. He cleaned up the streets. He is a very good man. He cleaned up the river, he cleaned up the toilets, then he cleaned up the corruption in the government and then he cleaned up the secret society and the gangsters. I think that the clean mindset is not just about clean toilet, but it is about the cleanliness of our spirit. That's why it's called Swachh Bharat, which is spiritually clean," Jack Sim said. Jack Sim is the founder World Toilet Organization. Formerly from the construction industry, he decided to devote the rest of his life to social work after attaining financial independence at the age of 40. He was awarded "Doctor of Literature" for distinguished work in the field of sanitization by former President Ram Nath Kovind during the convocation ceremony of Shobhit University here. Kovind awarded "Doctor of Science" to the Managing Director of Center for Pavement Excellence, Asia Pacific Limited, Australia, Brian O'Donnell, for his distinguished work in the fields of waste to energy and road stabilisation, according to Shobhit University press release. Kovind was the chief guest at Shobhit University's 15th convocation. Vice Chancellor Vinod Kumar Tyagi welcomed the guests and presented the progress report of the university. During the convocation, Ram Nath Kovind presented gold medals to 39 students, the release said. Ninety eight PhD students and 638 undergraduate and postgraduate students received degrees. Congratulating the students, the former president said that their success is the result of collective efforts. "I am very proud to know that out of 39 gold medal winners, 24 have been achieved by our daughters. There should be women empowerment, only then we can take the country forward," he said. (ANI) Hiroshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India and Bhutan visited the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar on Saturday, and took an interest in the historical and iconographical importance of the Buddhist monuments built in the premises of the temple. The ambassador arrived in Bodhgaya along with a 5-Member Delegation from Patna on Friday. He was received by Dr Mahashweta Maharathi, Secretary, BTMC along with the Members of the BTMC - Rev Okonogi, Dr Arvind Singh and Kiran Lama. During his visit to the Mahabodhi Temple on Saturday morning, Suzuki spent an hour there and "took a keen interest in the historical and iconographical importance of the Buddhist monuments built in the premises of the Mahabodhi Temple. And it's rich cultural ties with the Southeast Buddhist countries." The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) stated that the ambassador offered lights and incense along with flowers and fruits at the main Shrine of the Mahabodhi Temple. The venerable Monks of the Mahabodhi Temple chanted Sutras followed by Japanese Chanting by the Japanese Monks present in the temple invoking the blessings of the Buddha on the ambassador and the delegation. "His Excellency was taken around the Mahabodhi Temple and offered prayers and flowers under the sacred Bodhi Tree," the BTMC stated. Suzuki, along with his delegation sat under the Bodhi Tree for meditation for five minutes. Later, visiting the Meditation Park, he rang the Peace Bell thrice and proceeded to see the Mucalinda Pond. Mahashweta Maharathi explained the different sacred sites within the Mahabodhi Temple premises. Following the visit, the ambassador was presented with mementoes, containing a replica of the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Leaf and various publications of the BTMC. (ANI) 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 EMERY COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A Michigan man was arrested last Thursday in central Utah for alleged kidnapping after the victim left a note in a gas station restroom, according to the probable cause statement. Richard Lyneal Phillips, 38, is facing one count of kidnapping, a second-degree felony, and several misdemeanor charges including violation of a protective order and giving false personal information to a peace officer. READ NEXT: Logan detectives solve 59-year-old cold case homicide of 17-year-old girl On June 20, Utah Highway Patrol troopers were notified of a possible kidnapping by someone who had found a note in a gas station restroom. According to documents, the note had a phone number and a message from the victim saying she was being held against her will. Police tracked a phone to Green River in Emery County and located Phillips and the female victim. Documents say Phillips provided an incorrect name and had a marijuana cigarette in the center console. There was a brief stand-off where a deputy pointed a taser at the suspect before he was handcuffed and detained. Documents say the victim appeared very emotional and scared at this time. The State Bureau of Investigation interviewed both Phillips and the female victim. She allegedly told them she had been held against her will and was physically assaulted several times. Authorities noted in their report that she had marks on her body to corroborate the assault claims. Investigators confirmed that the victim had an active protective order against Phillips. They also said they found several warrants in Ohio linked to Phillips for robbery, drug possession, strangulation, and assault. Documents say there was also a warrant out of Michigan for strangulation and possession of drugs. The victim allegedly told police Phillips approached her in Michigan and demanded she drive him to Colorado. She said she knew he was running from law enforcement and was forced to drive him to several states, where she attempted to contact police at the hotels they stayed at. According to the probable cause, the victim said Phillips would flee with all her belongings in the vehicle and return after the police left. After these attempts, she left the note in the bathroom which led the police to find them. Documents say she told investigators she had contacted authorities 32 times since November due to Phillips showing up at her home and assaulting her and her children. She said police were only able to locate him two times. Phillips was booked in the Emery County jail. 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. LAWRENCE, Kan. Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis will be resigning, Board of Education President Kelly Jones announced. His resignation will go into effect mid-August as Lewis will head to Durham, North Carolina, where he accepted another superintendent position. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Lewis came to Lawrence in 2018 after being assistant superintendent for Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools from 2016-2018. He also served as principal of Benjamin Banneker Elementary school from 2011-2012. Dr. Lewiss roots are in Alabama and special education. During my tenure on the board, I observed that combination means every student is family and his professional and ethical standards are only outmatched by his endless generosity in service, Jones said. I am grateful for his educational leadership generally and, in particular, through the pandemic. His commitment to educational equity and excellence is evident at the district and community levels, as well as at the state level, including his service to the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and the Governors Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. Lewis created a lasting mark, leaving the Lawrence Public Schools in great shape. I have always appreciated Dr. Lewis passion and care for students and his commitment to leadership in our community. I wish him well in his new post, and I am confident that as we navigate this transition our district is well-positioned for success in the coming years. Some of the progress Jones has made during his tenure in the district include achieving the highest graduation rates in 16 years with the percent of students graduating in all racial/ethnic subgroups increasing or maintaining since 2018, implementing historic staff salary increases totaling $6.65 million in 2023-24 and help schools, students and staff receive national recognition. Daughter says dad died waiting on A/C at Overland Park apartments Dr. Lewis expressed his gratitude during his time with Lawrence Public Schools: This decision is full of mixed emotions. It has been an honor to serve as superintendent in Lawrence. Working alongside so many dedicated and talented educators, supportive families and amazing scholars has been a joy. We have been through a lot together. We have navigated challenges, celebrated achievements and built a school district thats poised for even greater success. Fostering a culture of inclusivity and belonging and prioritizing the well-being of our scholars and staff has been a goal while doing this work. Things to do in Kansas City this weekend June 28-30 I often share with our district and building leaders that family comes first. Its now time that I heed those words. This next move not only provides an opportunity to pursue a new adventure, it allows me to be closer to my family. I care deeply about Lawrence Public Schools. Our youngest kids love their schools. Tiffany and I appreciate our friendships here and community support shown our family. The board will meet in the near future about the next steps towards a new superintendent. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (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. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has suggested resuming production of intermediate-range missiles that were banned under a now-defunct treaty with the United States. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty banned the use of ground-based nuclear and conventional missiles with a range of between 500-5,500 kilometres. It was regarded as an arms control landmark when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan signed it in 1988. But America withdrew from the pact in 2019, citing Russian violations. "We need to start production of 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 at a meeting of Russia's national security council. Putin said Russia hadn't produced such missiles since the treaty was scrapped in 2019, but that, "today it is known that the United States not only produces these missile systems, but has already brought them to Europe for exercises, to Denmark. Quite recently it was announced that they are in the Philippines." The Security Council meets on the topic of the arms proliferation and North Korea at United Nations headquarters, June 28, 2024 - Seth Wenig/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved. Since withdrawing from the treaty, the US Army has moved forward with developing a conventional, ground-launched, midrange missile capability called the Typhon that would have been banned under the INF. The Typhon fires two Navy missiles, the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile and Standard Missile-6. The military ran the system through tests during an exercise in the Philippines this spring. 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. Putin's statement near Moscow came on the same day as weapons transfers from North Korea to Russia were the focus of a UN Security Council session. Jonah Leff, a representative of Conflict Armament Research (CAR) said his organisation has detailed the components of missiles used against Ukraine and says the evidence shows they originated in North Korea. "The aforementioned evidence that my organisation observed and thoroughly documented firsthand irrefutably establishes that the missile fired on Kharkiv was indeed of DPRK origin. On a subsequent visit in which I myself travelled with a team to Ukraine for further documentation. We observed additional conventional weapons manufactured by the DPRK that had been seized on the front lines and had not been observed on the battlefield previously in Ukraine," he told the UNSC. UN Security Council resolutions prohibit the transfer of weapons to Russia. "In recent months, there have also been allegations of transfer of ballistic missiles and ammunition from the DPRK to the Russian Federation in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions," Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs said. TechCrunch In 2020, Parker Gilbert (pictured above, middle) was so fed up with the tedium of managing finance and accounting at an early-stage startup that he decided to co-found Numeric, an accounting software that automates certain parts of the book-closing process. Over the last year, Numerics revenue has increased fourfold to the single-digit millions, and investors are suddenly flocking to back the company. Now, just five months after it raised a $10 million seed round from a slew of well-known investors, the company has raised a $28 million Series A led by Menlo Ventures, with participation from new investors IVP and Socii. 'We win Virginia, the race is over': At rally, Republicans say Virginia is a battle ground CHESAPEAKEFormer President Donald Trump made his second 2024 appearance in Virginia the day after First Lady Jill Biden visited the commonwealth. The two campaign events, which both took place in Hampton Roads, bookended the first presidential debate in a clear display that the commonwealth is rising on the national stage as a battle ground state during the 2024 election cycle. This November, the people of Virginia and the people of America are going to tell crooked Joe Biden, Youre fired, Trump told the crowd at his rally on a farm in Chesapeake on Friday. We win Virginia, the race is over. Former President Barack Obama flipped Virginia from red to blue in 2008 and Democratic presidential candidates had consistently won the commonwealth in every race since then. Before Obamas first election, the last Democratic presidential candidate to win Virginia was former President Lyndon B. Johnson. 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) Youngkin's first time speaking at a Trump rally Speakers ahead of Trump included two former Republican governors, George Allen and Bob McDonnell, as well as the current governor of the commonwealth, Glenn Youngkin. I had a friend once tell me, all roads lead through Hampton Roads, Youngkin told the crowd. Joe Bidens road to retirement is going right through Hampton Roads. Youngkin did not speak at a Trump rally that took place in Richmond before Super Tuesday, before former presidential primary candidate and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her campaign. He and Trump had forged a friendship recently, after keeping each other at arms length. The two met in person for the first time in June. Congressional hopefuls Hung Cao, who is seeking the Sen. Tim Kaines seat, and Rep. Jen Kiggans, who is defending her Second District seat, also addressed the crowd. At about an hour into Trump's address, attendees began to leave the event after spending hours waiting in the hot Virginia summer sun. 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) Democrats respond to Trumps visit The Democratic Party of Virginia held a press conference with a group of veterans outside of the Great Bridge and Battle Museum Friday morning in Chesapeake, near where Trump's rally was to take place, to blast the former president's visit to the largely military community. The party chair, Susan Swecker, argued that Trumps record, rhetoric and actions proved that he is against everything the military has protected since the birth of our nation. When he incited an insurrection in an attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election, he disrespected our democracy that thousands of men and women have fought to protect, she said, and called on him to apologize to military veterans. Sean Monteiro, a retired Air Force veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said it was offensive that Trump held a rally in Chesapeake. For Trump, it has never been about service before self, he said, and called the former president an existential threat to the country and democracy, and an insult to military families. Terron Sims, an Army officer who served in Iraq, said the former president should be disqualified as Commander in Chief for what he saw as contempt toward military families. You remember when he said that John McCain, a Vietnam POW and an indisputable American hero, was not a hero, and that he likes people who werent captured, and then later referred to McCain as an 'effin loser, Sims said. Republican voters say VA is in play Emmanuel Martinez, 26, who traveled from Richmond to attend trump's rally, said he considers himself to be a center-right Republican. Bidens performance during Thursdays debate made Virginia a battle ground state, he said. Three months ago, I wouldnt have said so. But based on the debate, the energy Ive felt around the city which I think is not particularly conservative, and in the polls, they show us tied. Thats exciting, he said. Rhonda Kundrat, 51, a resident of Chesapeake, said Virginia has always been in play for Republicans. Elizabeth Skertic, 37, a Virginia voter and rally attendee, said the difference in the candidates' policies will determine how the commonwealth votes. Ed Hendrickson, a military veteran and resident of the commonwealth who attended Trump's rally, said that Virginia is game for either party. What [Biden or Trump] say or do from here out is going to make the determination in November, he said. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia Republicans seek to capitalize on Biden's debate performance Scribes in Ancient Egypt often sat cross-legged for hours and hunched over their work - Jonathan Nelson / Alamy Stock Photo Scribes in Ancient Egypt suffered hip, spine and shoulder problems from sitting cross-legged with their head bent forwards for hours on end, new research suggests. The study of 4,000-year-old male skeletons revealed the occupational hazards of the repetitive tasks conducted by high status men with the ability to write and who carried out administrative work. The positions they sat in while working may have led to degenerative skeletal changes including, indentations on both kneecaps and a flattened surface on a bone in the lower part of the right ankle, say scientists. Study leader Dr Petra Brukner Havelkova and her colleagues examined the skeletal remains of 69 adult males, 30 of whom were scribes, buried in the necropolis at Abusir, in Egypt, between 2700BC and 2180BC. Their findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, identified degenerative joint changes that were more common among scribes compared to men with other occupations. Dr Havelkova said: These were in the joints connecting the lower jaw to the skull, the right collarbone, the top of the right humerus where it meets the shoulder, the first metacarpal bone in the right thumb, the bottom of the thigh where it meets the knee, and throughout the spine, but particularly at the top. The research team also identified bone changes that could be indicative of physical stress caused by repeated use in the humerus and left hip bone, which were more common among scribes than men with other occupations. Dr Havelkova, of Charles University, Prague, in the Czech Republic, said: Other skeletal features that were more common among scribes were an indentation on both kneecaps and a flattened surface on a bone in the lower part of the right ankle. Sitting for prolonged periods The researchers suggest that the degenerative changes observed in the spines and shoulders of scribes could result from them sitting for prolonged periods in a cross-legged position with the head bent forwards, the spine flexed, and their arms unsupported. Dr Havelkova said: Changes to knees, hips, and ankles could indicate that scribes may have preferred to sit with the left leg in a kneeling or cross-legged position and the right leg bent with the knee pointing upwards in a squatting or crouching position. The team say statues and wall decorations in tombs have depicted scribes sitting in both positions, as well as standing, while working. Dr Havelkova said: Degeneration to the jaw joints could have resulted from scribes chewing the ends of rush stems to form brush-like heads they could write with, while degeneration to the right thumb could have been caused by repeatedly pinching their pens. She added: The findings provide greater insight into the lives of scribes in ancient Egypt during the third millennium BC. 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. BEDFORD The Bedford Pregnancy Center, a nonprofit that has served the Bedford area for nearly 20 years, has received tax-exempt status from Bedford County. The center at 813 East Main St. in the town of Bedford provides pregnancy testing, ongoing support during pregnancy, educational resources, counseling and material goods such as diapers, wipes, baby clothes and infant furniture. The Bedford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the request on Monday, a measure that according to a county staff report will result in loss of about $1,490 in annual tax revenue. The report states it has been the position of the Bedford County Commissioner of the Revenue and county attorney that an organization must meet a general public need with benefits that can be derived by the community at large and the benefits that will be received by county residents are equivalent to or exceed the loss in tax revenue. Lori Lewis, executive director of the Bedford Pregnancy Center, said the center opened in 2005 when citizens, educators and local pastors saw a need for the area. Bedford County has high teen pregnancy rates that are on level with places such as the cities of Roanoke and Newport News, Lewis told the board. Our mission is that we are a pro-life, Christian ministry reaching out to everyone in the community, Lewis said. We have no fees, everything is confidential We do think our services are very valid. The centers services are expanding, and this fall it will begin offering limited ultrasounds, Lewis said. The nonprofit receives support from organizations, churches and residents and appreciates the relief in tax burden, she said. We still have a mortgage on our building, and we would apply it to that, Lewis said. Steve Arrington, a county resident who serves on the nonprofits board of directors, spoke in favor of the tax-exempt measure during a public hearing. What we are dealing with here is the greatest blessing of all, the blessing of life, Arrington told the board. We are pro-life, and we know you are. The services we offer there are amazing. Arrington, a former county supervisor who represented District 5, said the center works closely with families in crisis and every penny benefits the community. It is a ministry of the utmost importance, Arrington said. Two county residents also supported the tax-exempt measure during the hearing. The board found the services provided by the organization far exceed the potential loss of taxation from the organization, according to the resolution. The staunchly Republican board indicated any tax-exemption request from an abortion clinic would be denied if one ever comes forward. We dont support murder, Supervisor Bob Davis said. Supervisor Charla Bansley said the county is highly blessed to have the center. I think this [is] the very definition of for the people nonprofit work, Bansley said. I dont think theres a better ordinance we could pass tonight. A Christiansburg man was arrested Wednesday, accused of having an inappropriate encounter with a student, according to Campbell Circuit Court records. Anthony Lovelace, 26, faces one felony count of indecent acts with a child by custodian, according to records from Campbell Circuit Court. On or between Aug. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2022, Lovelace knowingly, intentionally and with lascivious intent exposed himself to such a child who was under the age of 18, according to a grand jury indictment from May. A search warrant was issued for Lovelace in March for his cellphone. On March 4, a Campbell County Sheriffs Office investigator was notified of a report which had been received at Rustburg High School regarding possible inappropriate behavior between a student and a teacher, according to the search warrant. The warrant further states a juvenile, 16, was communicating with Lovelace which turned into them engaging in conversations of a sexual matter. The student was directed by Lovelace to masturbate to the thought of him; and the student added on one occasion, Lovelace showed the juvenile his phone which depicted the then-teacher in a state of undress, the warrant said. Lovelace was questioned about the supposed picture on his phone and confirmed there was a photo, but it was used for a dating website, according to the search warrant in March. In an emailed statement to The News & Advance, Campbell County Public Schools Superintendent Clayton Stanley said Lovelaces employment ended this year in March after two-and-a-half years of service. Stanley also said he commends the Campbell County Sheriffs Office for its efforts during this difficult process. Campbell County Schools has very high expectations of our teachers and staff regarding professionalism. We have a duty to protect children and we take that responsibility extremely seriously. The safety of our students will always be our highest priority, he added. According to court records, Lovelace is set to appear in Campbell Circuit Court next month. Moto G85 launched globally with powerful Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, 50MP camera New Delhi, Sat, 29 Jun 2024 Sangita Roy Moto G85 has been launched globally just after the launch of Motorola Razr 50 series smartphone. Moto G85 is the global version of Moto S50 Neo which was launched in China. Moto G85 is a powerful smartphone featuring Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, 50MP camera and a 6.67-inch FHD+ pOLED display with 24001080 pixels resolution along with other nice features. The Moto G85 is being sold in China as the Moto S50 Neo, which was recently launched in China. It is noted that the company has launched Moto G85 just after the launch of Motorola Razr 50 series smartphones. Moto G85 Moto G85 is distributed in China as Moto S50 Neo Moto G85 is launched just after the launch of Motorola Razr 50 series smartphones The price of Moto G85 is 299.99 (around Rs 31,800) globally Company shortly announced the Moto S50 smartphone just after the launch of Motorola Razr 50 series smartphones. As mentioned earlier the Moto S50 is launched globally and it will be available for purchase soon. The Price of Moto G85 is 299.99 (around Rs 31,800) in the global market.This phone resembles the design of Moto G84 and is the successor of this phone. The Moto G85 ships with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 SoC, which is similar to the Snapdragon 695 chipset. Price of Moto S50 The Price of Moto S50 smartphone is 299.99 (around Rs 31,800) in the UK. The Moto S50 can be purchased in the UK from the official website of Motorola. Company is also offering a free 68W TurboPower charger with this smartphone. So, customers will get a free charge with the purchase of Moto S50 smartphone from the official website of Motorola. The price of Moto S50 Neo less and its available in china at a price of RMB 1,399 (around Rs 16,100) for the 8GB/256GB model, RMB 1599 (approx Rs 18,400) for the 12GB/256GB variant and RMB 1899 (approx Rs 21,900) for the 12GB/512GB variant. The Moto S50 Neo will be available very soon in China for sale. According to the media reports Moto S50 Neo will be available in China for sale from June 28th. Moto S50 is expected to be launched in India also by July, 2024. But still there is no official statement on the availability of this smartphone in India. Moto G85/S50 Neo specifications, features The Moto G85 aka Moto S50 Neo sport a 6.67-inch FHD+ pOLED display, which comes with the 24001080 pixels resolution, a 10-bit panel, a 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 1600 nits brightness. This smartphone is powered with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 SoC and it uses Adreno 619 GPU for graphics. This smartphone is paired with 2GB/512GB storage, which can further be expanded via microSD card. This smartphone is powered with Andorid 14-based My UX custom skin out of the box. The primary camera features a 50MP lens and also includes an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens. Front camera is a 32MP snapper which can be used to take good selfies and videos during chats. By John Alechenu, Abuja The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has described the approval given by the National Assembly to the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to implement four national budgets concurrently as a recipe for chaos and frivolity. Obi said this in a series of tweets on his X handle on Saturday. He noted that what the lawmakers and the executive have agreed to do is in flagrant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. The former Anambra State Governor said, All available evidence has confirmed that the Nigerian government is implementing four national budgets concurrently. This is in blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. It is also a recipe for chaos, confusion, and catastrophe. This intentionally reckless action will lead to frivolous items in the approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources, further exacerbating the suffering of the Nigerian people. It indicates that the leaders are out of touch with reality and lack the competence to manage our nations finances effectively. Unfortunately, this deliberate act of fiscal recklessness is being undertaken by elected representatives of the people, thereby betraying one of the cardinal pillars of democracy. Leaders are elected to responsibly manage public resources in an organized way. I respectfully appeal and in fact, demand that this situation be reversed immediately in preference for a more responsible and transparent approach to budgeting. We must prioritize the needs of the Nigerian people, not the selfish interests of a few. This is a call to action for all Leaders to desist from actions that will further drive the country into economic chaos. Neither the National Assembly nor the executive has any excuse to promote or condone such unconscionable behaviour. We seek and insist on a nation governed by leaders who are frugal and responsible in their handling of public resources. This is the only way we can build a great nation. Recall that the National Assembly on Thursday approved an extension of the lifespan of the capital component of the 2023 Appropriation as well as the Supplementary Appropriation Acts to December 31st, 2024. In December 2023, both chambers of the National Assembly extended the implementation period for the capital component of the budget from December 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024, along with the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget passed in November 2023. This is without prejudice to the fact that the 2024 Appropriation Act is still being implemented. TOP HEADLINES SANAA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A Houthi delegation departed the Yemeni capital Sanaa to Oman on Saturday to attend a new round of UN-sponsored negotiations with the Yemeni government side over a prisoner exchange, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. On Thursday, the Yemeni state television, Al-Yemen, said the government side would head for Oman for the talks. The talks are expected to last a week in the Omani capital Muscat. In April 2023, nearly 900 prisoners from both sides were released following UN-sponsored negotiations between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group, marking the second-largest prisoner exchange between the warring sides since the civil war broke out in 2014. With thousands still held in the prisons on both sides, local observers are hoping that the upcoming talks in Muscat could lead to a significant breakthrough. The United Nations is trying to release all detainees and reach a political settlement between the Yemeni sides to end the long-running war. Yemen has been mired in the civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of several northern provinces and forced the government out of Sanaa. 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. The inhumane conditions imposed on thousands of Sahraouis held against their will in the Polisario-run camps of Tindouf in Algeria, coupled with a bloody crackdown on dissent, are creating conditions auguring for violent uprising. This week, disenchanted youth from Oulad Tidrarine tribe revolted against the Polisario militias, torching vehicles and exchanging fire in full media blackout by Algiers and its Polisario proxies. The protests erupted following the assassination of members of the tribe by the Polisario after they denounced the corruption of the separatist militias. In recent years, the continuous enrichment of the Polisario leadership through aid embezzlement and all sorts of trafficking has outraged Sahraoui youth in the camps triggering violent protests. Faced with dim prospects and oppression in the camps, many of the disenchanted youth held under the yoke of the Poliario militias and their mentor the Poliario turned to extremism. The case of Adnan Abu Walid Asahrawi, former head of ISIS branch in the greater Sahara, is an abhorrent illustration of how disenchanted youth under the yoke of the Polisario seek salvation by joining terrorist groups. In submitting some provisions of the new family code to be examined by the Higher Ulema Council, a constitutional body representing Moroccan Muslim scholars, King Mohammed VI bars the road to any individual interpretation or extremist exploitation of a law that should evolve in line with social developments. The Council shall issue a Fatwa, religious interpretation, on some issues contained in the new code, which has been submitted to the King by a committee in charge of the code revision, following a series of consultation with Moroccan civil society stakeholders, political parties, and religious scholars. The Monarch, in his quality as Commander of the Faithful, had urged a new code that is in line with the precepts of Islam and its lofty values of moderation, openness and Ijtihad, or issuing ruling about current issues in compatibility with Islamic principles. The issuance of this fatwa will at the same time cut short individual interpretations, which do not take into account the social reality and the evolution of society, and do not take into consideration the purposes of the religion (Maqasid) as they evolve over time, wrote le360 news outlet, citing an informed source. Hence the referral to the higher Ulema council as a constitutional body entitled to issue fatwas on the compatibility of decisions on current issues with Islamic values. The Council had been entrusted with similar missions in the past. This was the case for the fatwa on the temporary closure of mosques due to the covid-19 pandemic, the fatwa on womens access to the profession of Adoul, and the fatwa on the use of cannabis for medical, therapeutic and industrial purposes, le360 recalled. Morocco and Germany signed a climate and energy alliance that includes cooperation in green hydrogen, to which Morocco attaches utmost importance in its energy diversification plans. The alliance was signed by Foreign minister Nasser Bourita and German Development Minister Svenja Schulze in Berlin. Hydrogen is key to Germanys goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. As it lacks enough land and renewable resources, Germany expects to import 70% of its needs of hydrogen. Morocco has made public its offer to foreign investors in the field of green hydrogen and dedicated at a first stage 300,000 hectares to integrated hydrogen production projects designed for the domestic market and exports. Morocco has the best conditions for the energy transition and the production of green hydrogen. Germany wants to import hydrogen, Schulze, said in a statement. We want to do this fairly and in partnership, so that Morocco can also drive forward its energy transition and get its fair share of the value chains of the future, she added. Speaking later in the day at a press conference with his German peer Annalena Baerbock, Bourita expressed Moroccos strong commitment to foster closer ties with Germany as an essential European partner. The two countries reaffirmed their will to advocate an ambitious international commitment to combat the effects of climate change, encourage actions in favor of the mitigation of these effects, and accelerate a just energy transition, reads a joint declaration at the end of Bouritas visit to Berlin. The visit was also a chance to highlight cooperation prospects in legal migration, women empowerment, education and African development. German foreign minister also reiterated her countrys support for Moroccos autonomy plan as a serious and credible effort by Morocco and as a good basis for a solution to the Sahara issue. During his visit to Berlin, Bourita co-chaired with his German peer Annalena Baerbock the first session of the multidimensional strategic dialogue between the two countries. Means and ways to strengthen Moroccan-French cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, and to promote coordination and exchange of intelligence on various threats posed by extremist organizations and transnational crime networks were at the focus of talks held in Paris this week between Director-General of National Security (DGSN) and Territorial Surveillance (DGST), Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi, and officials of several French security services. Abdellatif Hammouchi, who paid a working visit to Paris June 26-28 at the official invitation of the French security services, held talks with his French counterparts of the National Police and Internal Security, as well as with Director-General of External Security of France and was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor by the French National Police. Moroccan-French talks focused on mechanisms to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various security fields of mutual interest, said the DGSN-DGST in a statement made public Friday. The DGSN-DGST Chief held a series of meetings with Celine BERTHON, and Nicolas LERNER, respectively Director-General of Internal Security, and Director-General of External Security of France. The talks explored means and ways to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, and to promote coordination and exchange of intelligence and operational data on various threats posed by extremist organizations and transnational crime networks, the statement said. Hammouchi also held intensive discussions with Frederic VEAUX, Director General of the French National Police that examined mechanisms for advanced cooperation and coordination between the two sides in various security fields. A special focus was laid on the development of proactive mechanisms for risk assessment and data exchange, the perspective being joint action in securing the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, the statement noted. In tribute to the exemplary Morocco-France cooperation in various security areas, the DGSN-DGST Director-General was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor by the French National Police, in recognition of his efforts to consolidate and bolster security cooperation. The visit provided an opportunity for the French and Moroccan sides to discuss ways to further strengthen their cooperation in a wide range of areas to combat transnational crime, especially smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, illegal migration and human trafficking networks, as well as practical mechanisms for cooperation in implementing joint security measures and operations. The visit attests to the importance of boosting security cooperation between Morocco and France, which share many bilateral action and coordination programs and face common security challenges, the statement added. It is also part of the engagement of Moroccan security services in international security cooperation to ensure effective contribution to combating terrorist and criminal threats at the regional and international levels. If theres one Trump rant thats guaranteed to make your brain melt, its the one where he gushes about fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Praising the Silence of the Lambs villain is now a regular part of Trumps stump speech, but most people only noticed in May because he went on and on about it. Trump: Silence of the lamb! The late great Hannibal Lecter. It is a wonderful man. pic.twitter.com/edG9oCH933 Acyn (@Acyn) May 11, 2024 Trump does sort of have a reason for bringing up Lecter: Hes invoking the movie villain to demonize migrants. But Trumps tale is all wrong, both factually and dramaturgically. Heres why: Trump says many migrants have been in mental institutions like the one shown in Silence of the Lambs, but there is no evidence that criminals and mentally ill people are flooding into the U.S. Trump has repeatedly said that Hannibal Lecter is a great man who deserves our congratulations so why keep him out of the U.S.? Trump seems confused about whether Hannibal Lecter is a character or the man who played him. Hes remarked, Hannibal Lecter, how great an actor was he? Trump has said he loves Lecter because the actor once said I love Donald Trump in a TV interview. Its unclear who he was referring to, but all the actors who have portrayed Lecter Anthony Hopkins, Mads Mikkelsen, and Brian Cox have said they dislike Trump. Trump often refers to the late, great Hannibal Lecter, but the character does not die in any of the book, TV, or film adaptations. By the end of The Silence of the Lambs, Lecter has escaped from the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane and is stalking his next victim in the Bahamas. So this is an example of the United States unleashing its inmates on a foreign country, not the other way around. As the supercut below shows, Trump isnt stressing about any of these details. The once-and-possibly-future president of the United States just loves yelling Hannibal Lecter! at his rallies, even if it doesnt make any sense. CBS poll shows limited movement, but new Trump lead A CBS News/YouGov poll released on Wednesday showed a small but significant swing in voter sentiment since last weeks consequential debate. The poll shows that Donald Trump now leads President Biden by two points among likely voters nationally 50 percent to 48 percent and three points in the swing states likely to decide the election. Before the debate, Biden led among these voters by one point. When third-party candidates are included, Trumps lead grows to four points, 44 percent to 40 percent, with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. drawing 11 percent. Beneath those topline numbers lurk all kinds of flashing red warning signs for Biden, as CBS reports: Immediately following the debate, CBS News polling showed increasing numbers of voters believing Mr. Biden did not have the cognitive health for the job and that he should not be running. A large seven in 10 still say he should not be running. (Its three points fewer now than immediately after the debate, perhaps because the Biden campaign pushed back on the idea, but remains the dominant view among voters, and of a sizable four-in-10 share of Democrats.) And Democratic voters are now less likely to say they will definitely vote than Republican voters. CNN Poll: 75 percent of voters think Democratic Party would have a better shot at the White House without Biden The impact of last weeks debate seemed varied in a CNN poll released Tuesday. In a one-on-one matchup, Donald Trump is leading Joe Biden 49 percent to 43 percent, the same result as their April poll. The poll surveyed 1,274 adults including 1,045 registered voters from June 28 to June 30 The poll also looked at how other potential presidential replacements for Biden, including Vice President Kamala Harris, measured up against Trump. In one scenario, Harris received 45 percent to Trumps 47 percent, a closer margin than her running mate: Several other Democrats have been mentioned as potential Biden replacements in recent days, and each trails Trump among registered voters, with their levels of support similar to Bidens, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom (48% Trump to 43% Newsom), Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (47% Trump to 43% Buttigieg), and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (47% Trump to 42% Whitmer). Voters seemed concerned about Bidens potential impact on the Democratic Party winning the White House. 75 percent said they believed that the party had a better chance with someone else. Democratic voters only differed slightly: However, most Democrats and Democratic-leaning registered voters (56%) say the party has a better shot at the presidency with someone other than Biden, while 43% say the party stands a better chance with him. Democratic confidence in Bidens chances has not increased since he locked up the partys nomination in the primaries: In January, 53% felt the party would have a better shot with someone other than Biden at the top of the ticket and 46% felt more confident with Biden. Read the rest of the results here. USA Today poll shows Trump with new lead A USA Today poll released on Tuesday showed that post-debate, Donald Trump leads President Biden 41 percent to 38 percent, a three-point leap from the newspapers last poll, taken in May. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. maintains about 8 percent support, the same level he did in May. The paper specifies that its results, which come from 1,000 registered voters surveyed from Friday to Sunday, still signal a close contest, not a decisive lead, and that Trumps edge is within the polls margin of error. But beyond the top-line number, other warning signs lurk for Biden. 41 percent of Democrats now want him replaced at the top of the ticket; there is a massive enthusiasm gap between Republicans and Democrats about their presidential candidates. And theres been a change among voters second choices after Bidens disastrous debate: Trump now leads as the second choice of voters: 25% of those surveyed said Trump was their second choice, compared with 17% for Biden. Thirty-three percent said their second choice was one of four third-party contenders: independent Cornel West, Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver and RFK Jr. It is still a margin of error race right now, but the Biden campaign must be concerned about the defection of second-choice votes of third-party voters, David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk Political Research Center, said. Some Democratic strategists had calculated those voters would drift back to Biden as Election Day neared. Trump gains post-debate lead over Biden in Morning Consult poll Per the latest weekly tracking data from Morning Consult, after surveying a representative sample of 10,679 registered voters between June 28 to 30, Trump leads Biden by 1 percentage point, 44 percent to 43 percent, a marginal improvement for the presumptive Republican nominee compared to the lead-up to the first 2024 debate, when the candidates were tied. In addition, per Morning Consults summary: Fewer voters than ever see Biden as mentally fit: Our weekly tracking survey found that 37% of voters say Biden is mentally fit down 6 percentage points from a survey conducted ahead of the debate. Among Democratic voters, 68% say Biden is mentally fit, down 9 points from before the debate. Both numbers are the lowest on record since Morning Consult began asking the question in 2020. Read more here. Bidens nightmare news cycle: Voters were 31 points more likely to report having seen, read or heard something negative than positive about Biden (55% to 24%) after Thursdays debate. Its Bidens worst buzz rating since our 2024 tracking began in November 2022, usurping the previous nadir we gauged in January 2023 following the discovery of Obama-era classified documents in his possession. Read the rest of the results here. 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! US & Canada 3 months ago With any quick Google search, Canadians of any age can access sexually explicit material. Simple, often innocent search terms can bring up websites with sexually explicit content, much of it violent and dehumanizing. It is extremely easy to access in Canada, and we are seeing the devastating consequences of this on our population, especially children and youth. Poor Twigs. Men use the legal system all the time to further abuse the women who got away from them. Reply Thread Link and Johnny Depp showed them all how it's done Reply Parent Thread Link their argument seems to be she didnt suffer enough medically or financially for the abuse to be real/have mattered and it might work with the general public. surviving is a strike against you and its wild. Reply Thread Link surviving is a strike against you god this is the fucking truth. the only thing an abused woman can do right in the eyes of the public is die. Edited at 2024-06-29 05:01 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link And even then it's 'why didn't she pick better' and 'why didn't she leave?' Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Sometimes even that's not enough. Too many murder trial write ups read more like the murdered woman was the defendant than the abusive partner in the dock. Reply Parent Thread Link It doesn't change the fact that he is abusive, but I thought that it's more about: she had those issued prior, emotional distress and ptsd did not develop because of me. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Sadly I wouldn't be surprised if the court grants this, because they don't seem to gaf about the woman's privacy when it comes to DV and SA. The UK I think has a rule that basically says if you don't willingly give up your phone to forensics as a SA victim they can drop charges or something. It might be a bit more in depth than that but it bugged the fuck out of me when I saw it. Reply Thread Link There's no rule that says charges will be dropped if an SA victim doesn't turn over their phone, but in practicality the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service, the ones who decide if charges proceed to trial) are reluctant to pursue cases without the phone records. And with the police leaning so heavily on the possibility in order to coax victims into turning over their phones... it's not a rule but it might as well be. The excuse I generally hear is that so many SA cases are he said/she said, so many of them have little objective forensic evidence, that without the records it's felt there's little prospect of conviction. I have little time for that excuse. It's basically saying that rapists get to escape accountability because they choose to commit their crimes in intimate settings. Reply Parent Thread Link How would phone records support or deny the charges anyway? Grr. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She deserves everything. This man is a vicious beast and knows he can get away with it. Reply Thread Link oof i'm nervous for this trial to happen. i hope shia doesn't have stans out there who will make it even more awful for twigs, but there seems to be a loud fanbase for every awful man. Reply Thread Link I don't think he really has stans per se, but I do think that this trial will mobilize all the worst men and pick mes who pop up anytime women confront their tormentors. I just hope that her supporters are just as vocal. Reply Parent Thread Link Every man that humiliates women in public has stans Reply Parent Thread Link Just like with Depp, many of these people don't give a shit about Shia, they just want to back an abuser. Reply Parent Thread Link hardly anyone gave a fuck about Depp tbh he was basically a has-been, until amber heard's trauma put him in the spotlight , it's always about siding with a man and torturing a woman Reply Parent Thread Link Bots are gonna swarm Twitter. I saw a pro Trump tweet during the debate and someone replied to it asking for a strawberry cake recipe. Then the original poster gave it, ChatGPT style! Its a good way to flag those accounts tbh Reply Parent Thread Link he's not that popular tbh but men will stand behind him because men always support their own accused...unlike women Reply Parent Thread Link Fuck this dude straight to hell. He has put my girl through so much and is still putting her through it. Sending nothing but love and support to twigs. She deserves nothing but peace. Reply Thread Link She deserves the world and he deserves to be 6 ft beneath it. At the least. Reply Thread Link Watch her lose this because life is very unfair Edited at 2024-06-29 04:36 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link god I hope she gets through this upcoming shitstorm with her sanity and her career firmly intact. Reply Thread Link This man is EVIL to the core and fuck Cannes for letting him walk the red carpet and fuck Coppola for giving him work. Edited at 2024-06-29 04:28 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Why would he need these private records? Fuck him. Fuck his legal team and fuck every judge and man that stands with this man who has been publicly unhinged and known as an abuser for YEARS. Reply Thread Link I'm guessing to gaslight and say "see she has xyz mental health problem" and undermine her credibility Reply Parent Thread Link You know what, fuck it, I hope that other movie of his never gets bought and distributed and this lawsuit may be just the thing to say "You know what, we don't want that bad press" to studios. If they can essentially bury Magazine Dreams, they can bury that. Edited at 2024-06-29 05:50 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link fuck him Reply Thread Link He is using the legal system to make her life miserable intentionally, but I have questions about the relationship timeline: - did he not get married to Mia Goth in 2016? -he was dating fka Twigs in 2018/2019? So does that mean he divorced then remarried Mia Goth or were they in an open relationship? I absolutely believe he abused both women. Reply Thread Link I dont think Shia and Mia were legally married so they separated, he dated FKA Twigs, then they got back together. Reply Parent Thread Link They had a Las Vegas wedding in 2016, which later said it wasnt legal~ but more of a commitment ceremony. But regardless Shia said they were married. It later gets announced that in Sept 2018 that they've separated and filed for divorce. Twigs is said to have started dating Shia after they met on the set of Honey Boy in 2018. Ive heard rumors that they got together while he was still technically with Mia. Theres never been an implication of an open relationship. Twigs breaks up with in 2019 and later reveals her abuse in 2020. He gets backs with Mia in 2021. We had a post where everyone found out Mia was pregnant in Nov 2021 and I calculated the timing and she was at least 5 months cause their daughter was born in March 2022. So I wouldnt be surprised if they back in 2020 or earlier, possibly not even that long after he broke up with Twigs. He moved quick in between her and Mia. Edited at 2024-06-29 07:49 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Wow, thank you for your explanation, really appreciate it. It sure seems like Shia LaBeouf moves quickly between partners. Which is normal for men tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link he was with margaret qualley for a bit after twigs made his abuse public. i def remember pap photos of him and margaret kissing for a few weeks after twigs filed the lawsuit, and they maybe released that music video where they're both naked in that time too. but i do think he got back with mia very quickly after things ended with margaret. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i was actually just googling this. shia said he and mia got back together when he went to rehab, which was in february 2021. that would've been about one month after he and margaret qualley broke up. i always get so sad thinking about mia and their daughter being stuck with shia, but mia was 19 when they first got together and has been with shia almost her entire adult life save for those couple of years when he was with fka twigs and margaret qualley so i feel like she just doesn't know how to leave him. i really hope she can get away from him sometime too! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link their timeline legally between 2016-2018 is a bit confusing but from what i gather they were separated in 2018 and he dated fka during that time Reply Parent Thread Link China has changed the energy world, but now China is changing, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported in their 2023 flagship World Energy Outlook. The second-largest economy in the world has saturated its own market. After years and years of building roads, buildings and other infrastructure as fast as it possibly could, the vast Chinese domestic market is finally just about tapped. But while Chinas economic growth is plateauing, its energy demand just keeps growing. After decades of breakneck growth, Chinas economy is slowing down, the country-wide property bubble is bursting, and unemployment rates are blisteringly high as a record number of students graduate only to face a stagnant job market. But instead of redirecting, Beijing is doubling down on manufacturing and leaning on exports to keep the countrys great economic gears turning. As a result, Chinas energy consumption per capita has surpassed that of Europe for the first time in history. This eclipse has been a long time coming, as Chinas energy consumption has grown at a brisk clip over the past decades. According to figures from the IEA, Chinas per-person energy consumption grew a jaw-dropping 489% in the two-decade stretch from 2001 to 2021. While Chinas greenhouse gas emissions have also climbed over the same time period, they havent kept pace with energy demand thanks to Chinas unparalleled investments in renewable energy. Since 2000, Chinas carbon dioxide emissions have climbed 244%. While thats still a whole heck of a lot of carbon, its a pretty impressive figure at just half of the growth of energy consumption. In fact, China added more renewable energy capacity last year than the entire rest of the world combined, and renewables now make up half of Chinas installed power generation capacity. However, due to the size of the nations economy and the gargantuan scale of its industrial sectors, China alone is responsible for a whopping 31.72% of global emissions according to IEA stats. Everything that China does therefore has major implications for the entire worlds energy and climate concerns. To be sure, Chinas manufacturing-happy policy, which has led to overproduction of a great many goods, poses a threat to global climate goals. However, to place all the blame on Beijing would be a major oversimplification of a complex situation at best, and outright scapegoating at worst. As usual, the truth is likely somewhere in the middle. While its true that China is overproducing a number of goods with the intent to inflate supply for export rather than to meet existing demand for export, that only represents a small share of the countrys overall manufacturing. Most of the manufacturing taking place in China is to meet very real overseas demand that is central to keeping the global economy humming along. And that requires a whole lot of energy and produces a whole lot of carbon. We should not ignore the energy and emissions that Europeans have effectively exported to Chinese manufacturers, Energy Institute Chief Executive Officer Nick Wayth recently told Bloomberg. If a decline in energy consumption and emissions in Europe simply boosts carbon output elsewhere, policies to tackle global climate change arent working, the Bloomberg article concludes. This underscores the importance of looking at climate goals and pathways from a global perspective rather than focusing on the successes and failures of individual countries and economies. Achieving the pledges set forth in the Paris agreement will require unprecedented cooperation and coordination from developing and developed economies alike, and will require that nations overcome the political temptation to outsource their emissions to poorer countries for the sake of reaching their own, isolated emissions goals. At the end of the day, its a zero sum game. Without a global approach, everyone loses. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Ben Welsch has seen what food insecurity does to schoolchildren. The Hastings High School math teacher and member of the Nebraska Education Association board of directors has seen many kids come to school hungry. Their hunger detracts from their academic performance, Welsch said Friday during a panel discussion in support of the United States Department of Agricultures Summer Food Service Program. The event was held at Girls Inc. in North Omaha. When my kids come in hungry, all theyre thinking about is, My stomach is not great. Im not listening to Mr. Welsch Welsch said. Its hard to get them to the next step of academic success. Welschs comments came during a USDA event promoting the summer nutrition program and the programs new SUN Bucks program that allocates $40 per month for qualifying children to access quality food during the long school break. The SUN Bucks program is also known as the Summer EBT program. The USDA said children automatically qualify for the Summer EBT program if their familieas are enrolled in other federal assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Children can also qualify for the Summer EBT program if their families fall under certain income limits. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack headed the panel discussion. Top officials from the Food Bank of the Heartland, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Appleseed, Childrens Nebraska and the Empowerment Network were also part of the wide-ranging panel discussion. Vilsacks appearance and promotion of the Summer EBT program comes months after Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen initially declined and then accepted about $18 million in federal funds through the program to help feed approximately 150,000 qualifying Nebraska children during those vacation months. Pillen initially rejected the funds, calling it a pandemic-era program that was no longer needed and saying he didnt believe in welfare. After much backlash, Pillen said in February he had a change of heart after talking with two groups of youths a week before he accepted the funds. Before Pillen reversed his decision, Vilsack told reporters USDA officials spoke with the governor. I appreciate the governor of Nebraska understanding and appreciating exactly what this program was, Vilsack said. Already, Vilsack said, families have expressed gratitude for the new federal program. I talked to mothers earlier today. I can tell you theyre really pleased with this program, he said. Theyre excited about it and theyre going to use it. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2024 The building was aged, had broken pipes and needed a lot of renovation work, but Mark and Lori Celesky saw only a future oasis for the visitors of Louisville State Recreation Area. The couple from Ceresco, Nebraska, bought the run-down building right inside the park entrance six years ago to create a camping and bait store. Since its renovation, it has everything any Louisville visitor would need for outdoor recreation plus, theres an ice cream room and gift shop featuring Nebraska-made products. Lakeside in Louisville is part of this years Nebraska Passport Program, which features stops across the state selected by the Nebraska Tourism Commission. Program participants are given stamps on their passports when they visit locations, and earn prizes based on how many stamps they collect. There are 70 regular stops, along with 15 bonus stops to celebrate the programs 15th anniversary. Its the first time the Celeskys have been featured in the program. They have more than three decades of outdoor recreation experience, from offering pony rides at Mahoney State Park to selling concessions at Memphis Lake State Recreation Area. Mark Celesky also managed pig races at Valas Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard in Gretna since the event began. It took us about five years to (renovate) the whole building and also decide what the guests want or what they would be interested in, Mark Celesky said. Were excited to be tied in with (Louisville State Recreation Area) because it is a busy park I counted one year and there were 400 people out there just in one day. The Louisville State Recreation Area spans 192 acres surrounding five sandpit lakes. Its surrounded by cottonwood trees, features sandy beaches and even has a new floating playground on the lake outside the store. Lakeside in Louisville offers canoe, tube and bike rentals, along with live music shows throughout the summer. Its bait shop features anything a fisherman would want, including products from locals like Weeping Water teen Kolby Nash, who sells homemade catfish bait in multiple states. The Celeskys also like to visit local craft fairs and markets to find Nebraskans who make art, crafts and food products to feature in the gift shop at Lakeside in Louisville. We like to support young entrepreneurs, Lori Celesky said. Its fun to show people the talent thats in Nebraska. The Celeskys have already experienced plenty of success since they were included in the Nebraska Passport Program. Since the program began May 1, the store has received more than 325 participants who got their passports stamped. Mark Celesky said roughly 90% of them hadnt been to Louisville State Recreation Area before. Youll see elderly couples come in doing it together, youll see individuals of all ages doing it together, youll see whole families that have five or six (passport) books that come in, he said. And then you get a chance to ask them, Where are you from? Mark Celesky said he and Lori love to get to know each visitor, helping them find what they need and even teasing people who arent familiar with the area. The store has a tank filled with live piranhas and when asked where they got them, Mark Celesky likes to tell people from the beach across the street. The park superintendent, he came one day and said, Mark, are you telling people theres piranhas in the lake again? Mark Celesky said. I usually correct it now before they get out of the store, but we try to have creative things that are interactive. Lori Celesky said they both have been very happy with the program so far. We wanted to get more people in the store, she said. You can have somebody come in this season, and next year, they might come back. Photos: Lakeside in Louisville Francisca According to SaharaReporters, Francisca, wife of slain journalist, Alex Ogbu, has said that his tragic demise had filled their lives with darkness. Speaking for the first time on Monday since her husband was allegedly felled by police bullets on January 21 in Abuja during a protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, the mother of one, who has been heartbroken since that period, told our correspondent that she currently feels as if the entire world had crumbled on her as a result of the sad event. While demanding justice and transparency in the unravelling of her husbands killers, Francisca, who is a volunteer with N- Power, a Federal government Social Investment Programme, said the tragic incident had turned her into a widow at a young age. Fighting back tears, she said, There is no word to describe the pain we feel over the death of my husband. His tragic demise has brought darkness into our lives in every sense. Our two-year-old daughter has been crying and asking after her father. I dont know how to comfort her because I also need someone to wake me up and tell me this is a dream. My husband was everything to us. I dont know how I will cope with life and raising our daughter without him around. Calling on the police to fish out its personnel responsible for Ogbus death, Francisca told SaharaReporters that the authorities had not been very transparent about the entire incident and the process to conduct an autopsy on the deceased. She added, I want the police to come out and say the truth and let the world know that they killed my husband. They have so far been economical with the truth by trying to alter the narrative and claiming that my husband was an accident victim. The notice given to us to bring a pathologist for the autopsy investigation to be carried out at the National Hospital was short. All I want is justice for my late husband. Findings by SaharaReporters revealed that the results of the autopsy will be ready in two weeks. Also, it was gathered that officers at Utako Police Station in charge of the matter had refused to release items retrieved from the deceased to the family, which include cash, mobile phones and ATM cards, claiming that investigation had not been concluded. BLOOMINGTON A Bloomington man was sentenced to a term of probation after police said he hurt officers during a 2023 incident. Kevin L. Ewen, 43, was charged in April 2023 with aggravated battery, obstructing an officer and two counts of resisting an officer. Police said he injured a correctional officer's hands and knees while pulling his arms away from the grasp of two Bloomington police officers and two correctional officers. Ewen pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated battery of an officer, and the other charges were dismissed. Judge Jason Chambers sentenced him to 30 days in jail with credit for 15 days already served, as a time served sentence, and to 30 months probation. Assistant Public Defender Nicole Mannen did not responded to a request for comment Friday. BLOOMINGTON A Bloomington man submitted a guilty plea Friday on an aggravated battery charge involving strangulation. Rashaun D. Harris, 30, was initially charged in January with one count of aggravated battery with strangulation, a Class 2 felony, and one count of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor. He was accused of verbally threatening a person before battering and strangling them to the point they became unconscious. A video of the incident was captured on Facebook Live and shown to police, prosecutors said. Harris pleaded guilty Friday to the felony charge and the misdemeanor was dismissed. He was sentenced by Judge William Yoder to 180 days in jail with credit for 157 days served and to 30 months probation. Harris' attorney, First Assistant Public Defender Matthew Koetters did not responded to a request for comment Friday. China's Qinghai Province welcomes tourists from Bulgaria Xinhua) 09:26, June 29, 2024 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) (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) With any quick Google search, Canadians of any age can access sexually explicit material. Simple, often innocent search terms can bring up websites with sexually explicit content, much of it violent and dehumanizing. It is extremely easy to access in Canada, and we are seeing the devastating consequences of this on our population, especially children and youth. From March to June of this year, the standing parliamentary Committee on Canadian Heritage undertook a study on the harms of accessing illegal sexually explicit material online. The EFC had the privilege to contribute to this discussion by submitting a brief. Our approach to the issue of illegal sexually explicit material is based on biblical principles of respect for the dignity of all persons, a desire for justice and care for those who are vulnerable. As Christians we believe it is our duty to uphold and protect the dignity of every person, especially those in situations of vulnerability. In our submission to the committee, we sought to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). We are at a unique moment in time where the public discourse surrounding pornography, including in Parliament, seems more open to considering its harms. As access to pornography has increased at an alarming rate and now, as artificial intelligence and deepfakes continue to develop, there seems to be an urgency in the public sphere to address these issues and protect those who are vulnerable. The EFC brief outlined the harms of illegal sexually explicit material online, such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and intimate images distributed without consent. These images have devastating, often lifelong impacts on victims. Once uploaded, they are easily accessible and cause harm to Canadian viewers, as well as contribute to violence and sex trafficking. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up One emerging threat the brief called attention to is the rise of AI-generated pornography, or deepfakes. As technology evolves, there is ever-increasing access to tools such as AI that increase the risks children face from the consumption, creation and sharing of sexually explicit material. These images threaten mental health, reputation, safety, and future school and career prospects. The use of non-consensual, AI-created images harasses, harms and humiliates victims. We need urgent action to develop legislation that protects victims of all ages from generative AI and deepfake pornography. The brief also emphasized the connection between online and offline behaviour and how, for example, as children and youth consume and absorb violent content online, they may begin to mimic the behaviour they see online. This has caused an increase in child-on-child abuse and in online abusers travelling to abuse in person. Online dangers do not remain online. A third aspect underscored in the brief was the violence in mainstream pornography and the impact this has on viewers. While not necessarily illegal, much of the content readily available on pornography platforms features violent, degrading and abusive behaviour. The public health impact of this content is evident in the rise of normalized violence and abuse. Pornography shapes what boys and girls expect and accept in terms of sexual violence in relationships. It negatively impacts their ability to develop and maintain healthy relationships. This is a troubling idea that as sexually violent pornography is normalized and increasingly consumed by Canadians, this will have impacts and contribute to harms faced offline. We addressed how pornography dehumanizes and degrades humans. It removes sexuality from its relational context. It exploits human beings, presenting them as sexual objects and products, not as individuals created in the image of God, after His being and likeness. The EFC provided the committee with recommendations that we believe will help protect both victims of illegal content and viewers and promote the well-being of our society. We expressed the urgency we feel towards this issue, as we know individuals, families and church communities are struggling. We recommended that pornography platforms be required to put meaningful, privacy-compliant age verification in place to keep children and teens under 18 from accessing their content, and that pornography platforms be required to verify the age and consent of every person depicted in an image or video before it is uploaded. We are thankful Parliament is studying this issue. But more discussion and study and action - on this topic are needed. What can you do? Pray. All of these topics are heavy we are being confronted with the ugliness of sin. We encourage you to pray for the members of Parliament on the Committee on Canadian Heritage that they would see the urgency for enacting change and protecting Canadians. Pray also for their hearts and minds as they are faced with such disturbing information. We also encourage you to pray for some specific bills that are presently before Parliament Bill S-210 and Bill C-270. These proposed pieces of legislation call for age verification, and for requiring verified age and consent in uploading pornographic material. These pieces of legislation are both important steps in the right direction for stopping online exploitation. Reach out to your member of Parliament. Any constituent can reach out to their member of Parliament to express their concerns about the harms caused by the ease of access to online sexually explicit material. You can advocate for change by encouraging your MP to vote in favour of Bill S-210 and Bill C-270, and by speaking to them about the harms you see within your community. Find your MPs contact information here. Additionally, please pray for the EFC, as we continue to contribute to this important subject in upcoming months. Pray that we will be able to advocate biblical principles well and be provided with opportunities to communicate the need for change. Related resources The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (lAlliance evangelique du Canada) is the national association of evangelical Christians in Canada. Since 1964 the EFC has provided a national forum for Evangelicals, fostered ministry partnerships, conducted research on religious and social trends and provided a constructive voice for biblical principles in life and society. Originally published by the EFC, republished with permission. Stephen Armah, Director of Sustainability at the Supervision Department of the Bank of Ghana, has encouraged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices into their business models to promote sustainable growth. Speaking at Absa Bank's SME Business Development Clinic in commemoration of this years World SME Day, Mr Armah emphasized the importance of integrating ESG into the businesses of SMEs, as it helps build trust and transparency. He further highlighted the importance and benefits of integrating ESG practices into the operations of SMEs. "SMEs must take the ESG into consideration to ensure sustainability. ESG can enhance SMEs' resilience. Avoid operating as a 'one-man show' if you want your business to continue and thrive, and instead, focus on ESG practices. It's important to recognize that SMEs must grow and be sustainable to support the economy" he averred. The interim Managing Director of Absa Bank, Adolph Kpegah on his part, mentioned that 7000 SMEs have already been trained He assured SMEs that the bank will continue to provide more avenues to share ideas to improve their businesses. "SMEs are pivotal in our economy...We believe in empowering you not just financially but also offer advice to help you grow and become sustainable" he added. Absa Business Development Clinic This event themed "Adopting ESG Practices for Business Growth" was held by Absa Bank Ghana LTD, in collaboration with the World Bank. It's part of Absas ongoing commitment to fostering business resilience and community development as well as promoting sustainable business practices within the SME sector. It is to educate and inspire SMEs on the benefits of adopting ESG practices, thereby enhancing their competitiveness, attracting investments, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The clinic aimed to educate SME owners on the The keynote address was delivered by Kobina Otu Okyne, an Environmental Specialist with the World Bank, who shared insights on the strategic value of ESG. Source: Rebeca Addo Tetteh/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 Elizabeth Ohene, the Board Chair of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has publicly defended the state pensions outfit's decision to divest a 60 percent stake in some hotels. She stressed in an op-ed published in the state-owned Daily Graphic that she will assume full responsibility and face prosecution if any corruption is established in the process. In a piece she titled Coming out of the hotels, Elizabeth Ohene addressed the controversy surrounding the sale of shares to Rock City Limited, owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong. She expressed her bewilderment at the allegations of secrecy and government involvement in the divestiture process, emphasizing that the decision to seek a strategic investor was made transparently and without the need for governmental permission. Ohene highlighted that the SSNIT Board's actions have always been guided by the principle that pension funds are sacred and that every decision could be scrutinized by the public eye. She assured that the selection of Rock City as the preferred bidder was a clean process, adhering to all rules and regulations. The Board Chair also addressed the political undertones the issue has taken on, given that it is an election year and the owner of Rock City is a Minister of State. She clarified that the discussions should focus on whether SSNIT is permitted to find private sector investment for its hotels, rather than on the political affiliations of the bidder. Ohene's stance comes amidst a campaign led by the Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who has accused the SSNIT Board and management of various wrongdoings, including abuse of power and lack of transparency. In response, Ohene has called for all of God's Angels and Ghana's investigative agencies to examine the process and verify its integrity. In her capacity as Board Chair for SSNIT, Elizabeth Ohene emphasised her commitment to own up and face prosecution should any such investigation establish evidence of corruption in the process. 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, she wrote. Read her full piece below: Coming out of the hotels - Elizabeth Ohene writes When it comes to what subjects I write on in my column, it is often as the spirit moves me, always with the understanding that I am not the type of person to write on Ian Smith and Rhodesia on the day that three former heads of state are executed in Ghana. Sometimes I do choose to wait out the noise on some subjects and then get onto it when I can see a different path from what had been trodden bare. Four Mondays ago, I sent this message to the Editor of the Graphic: Im unable to write a column this week. All my instincts are to write about the brouhaha that has started about SSNIT and the hotels. Since I chair the SSNIT Board, I feel inhibited, not because I have nothing to say but because I am not clear in my mind about the rules and conventions on going public with Board matters. But then, I also dont really want to write about any other subject and give the impression I am running away from the subject that is dominating discussions. So, I am afraid I am not offering a column this week. I have now gone for three weeks without offering any script for the column, and I am thinking that my continuing silence might be interpreted as disrespect or guilt of whatever I am being accused of. Plus, last Friday, I went to the launch of a book, written by one of my favourite people and I really want to write about the book, and I can hardly launch myself back into the column without addressing the subject matter that took me off in the first place. So, here goes. When the Board I chair was inaugurated in August 2021, the Director-General I met often said that SSNIT was like the Black Stars in the sentiments of Ghanaians, all 34 million of us have a view on it and with SSNIT, he thought the widespread interest was legitimate because even if you dont contribute to the scheme yourself, your uncle, or niece or friend does and their tomorrows are at stake. We both agreed that pension funds are sacred. Front page My constant refrain with my Board of Trustees is we should have at the back of our minds that every step we take and every decision we make, could end up on the front page of the Daily Graphic and we should be comfortable with the ensuing headline. I would then add my own personal credo that I had brought with me to the Board. We met lots of outstanding matters that had been unresolved for years. I announced at every opportunity that I was not prepared to kick any problem down the road for the next set of people to resolve. We would take decisions and try to resolve issues that come up. Maybe we would make some mistakes and if that is shown up, I would take responsibility, but I would not be paralysed into inaction by the fear of displeasing some people. I did not imagine that my theories would be played out so graphically and tested in real time so soon. I am afraid I have not followed, as keenly as I should have, the discussions that have been going on since the Honourable Member for North Tongu started his campaign against what he has variously described as the SSNIT Board and managements disregard for due process, abuse of power, corruption, lack of transparency, deception, procurement breaches etc. etc. etc. From what I can work out, there are a number of issues that are being raised about the decision to divest a 60 per cent stake in the shares of the six hotels owned by SSNIT: an ideological resistance to the idea of divesting shares in the hotels to a strategic investor, especially since some of the hotels are said to be profitable; the process through which the preferred bidder, Rock City Limited, was chosen, was corrupt; the owner of Rock City, Bryan Acheampong, is a Minister of State and should therefore not be able to bid for a state asset. There are other side issues that come up depending on who is talking and the persons individual idiosyncrasies. I will not try to lay out the arguments here for the need to divest shares in the ownership of the hotels, I will simply say that I was persuaded by the decision that the SSNIT Board had taken back in 2018 and I determined to make it a reality. 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. Political colouration I accept that this being an election year, everything takes on a political colouration and Bryan Acheampong being the owner of Rock City is obviously the main reason the decibel level of the discussions has gone so high. By all means, let us have a discussion about a company belonging to a Minister of State winning an open, competitive bid, no matter how fairly; but surely that is a different argument from whether SSNIT can, or is allowed to find private sector investment for its hotels and any of its other wholly or majority-owned investments. Quite a number of things baffle me, but I will mention two: the suggestion that this was some secret thing being done that has been discovered and the sordid details are being exposed by a Member of Parliament and secondly, the suggestion that the President of the Republic, and by extension, the government took the decision and was in some way, in charge of the divestiture process of the shares in the hotels owned by SSNIT. If you want to do something in secret, it would be very strange to announce your intentions with advertisements in the Daily Graphic, the Ghanaian Times and the Economist. And yet, that is exactly what SSNIT did when its Board of Trustees took the decision to seek a strategic investor to take a 60 per cent stake in the six hotels it owns. The advertisements were followed by various public statements by SSNIT executives at various stages, once the process got going. Indeed, the last two times that SSNIT appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the subject of trying to find a strategic investor in the hotels came up and SSNIT was urged to hurry with the process and conclude what it was doing. Strategic investor So, one can safely say that some people in Parliament, at the very least, the members of the Public Accounts Committee were aware that SSNIT was seeking to divest 60 per cent of its stake in the hotels and the members did not sound like they thought it was such a terrible idea, nor that something untoward was going on. Suddenly, Ghanaians are being urged to think and believe that getting a strategic investor to take a stake in the hotels amounts to a sordid crime. I am at a total loss to understand how the President and the government got into this. Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa appears to know something I dont. The Board of Trustees certainly did not go to get permission or even inform the President of the Republic or any Minister about the decision to seek a strategic investor to take a stake in the hotels. The Board did not need such permission, was not obliged to inform the government and did not do so. I have seen no evidence in the records of past Boards going to the government or the President to get permission to make an investment decision. The Board did not involve the President, nor the Minister, nor the government in the process. The Act that governs SSNIT makes no such provision and I had thought it was in everyones interest that the pension fund is kept away from government interference. Obviously, a demonstration is more sexy when it ends at Jubilee House, but I assure the Honourable Member for North Tongu he was out by a long shot. Source: ghanaweb.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 Parliamentary Committee which probed the leaked tape on the plot to remove the Inspector-General of Police from office by some senior police officers has, in its report, recommended sanctions for the three officers who were caught on the tape. The committee which was chaired by Abuakwa South lawmaker Samuel Atta Akyea said the officers, COP Alex George Mensah, Supt. George Lysander Asare and Supt. Emmanuel Eric Gyedi, misconducted themselves, a major offence under Police regulations, and must be sanctioned in accordance with the Police disciplinary procedure. The House should communicate its findings to the President pursuant to Section 19 of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) which vests disciplinary powers in the President, to determine the appropriate sanctions for COP George Alex Mensah, Supt George Lysander Asare and Supt Eric Emmanuel Gyebi who have misconducted themselves professionally by breaching among others the following: Section 17(d) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350) which states that: "It shall be misconduct for a police officer to engage in any activity outside his official duties which is likely to involve him in political controversy or to lead to his taking improper advantage of his position in the Police Service. Regulation 82(1) (c) of the Police Service Regulations, 2012 (C.I 76) which states that: "It is a major offence for an officer to engage in an activity outside official duties which is likely to Involve the officer in political controversy or lead to the officer taking improper advantage of that officer's position in the service, the report said. The three officers were heard on the leaked tape plotting the removal of the Inspector-General of Police with the former Northern regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party Daniel Bugri Naabu. See the FULL report attached Your browser does not support iframes. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/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 Lawyer Kweku Paintsil representing Lighthouse Chapel International in its ongoing legal battle with investigative Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and three others has questioned Manasseh's legal knowledge , Journalism training as well his allegations made against Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) in a series of publications titled "Darkness in Lighthouse" The Journalist while undergoing cross examination by Lawyer Paintsil was quizzed about whether he was aware that Article 164 which guarantees that every Ghanaian has the right to good reputation, balances Article 162 which protects the freedom of the Press. Manasseh in his response agreed. Manasseh Azure was presented with exhibits establishing that, the articles under contention were published by the third defendant, Sulemana Braimah on his Facebook wall. Manasseh Azure was presented with those exhibits in response to his defence that, the third Defendant, Sulemana Briamah was not involved in the Fourth Estates publications. He however confirmed that Sulemana Braimah was the publisher of the exhibits when they were presented to him. When Azure was asked if could remember a speech he delivered at the University of Ghana in March 2023, where he stated that he had never been held liable by a court for his publication, he responded that, he could not remember the specifics from the speech, but if he did refer to not being found liable then it was in reference to defamation. Lawyer Paintsil proceeded to ask him if he recalled that, with regards to the article Darkness in a Lighthouse, he and the other defendants were found guilty of contempt of court on October 25, 2022, which he admitted. Azure after the admission clarified that, a contempt case is different from a defamation case. Lawyer Paintsil reacting to Azure's response, indicated that the defendant was conveying the notion that, when dealing with press matters, a civil judgment is more important to him than a criminal conviction resulting from his publications but Azure disagreed. When asked if he understood the significance of disclosing information that was not before the court while reporting on a court matter, Azure responded that he did in his capacity as a journalist. He was asked about whether as a journalist he received training on publication of matters before a court as a journalist. He responded that what he remembers from such training was to refrain from passing judgement or opinions about the possible outcome of a case. Azure was also confronted with allegations he made in his publications over the refusal of Lighthouse Chapel International to pay SSNIT benefits of six Pastors who had resigned from the church. In his response he said, those were the allegations made by the six Pastors who resigned and same were also found in the documents they filed in court. He admitted that, the documents filed by the six Pastors before the court were the Judge's assessment and determination only at the conclusion of the trial. He also admitted that he did not expect the Judge to be bound by any conclusion that he, Manasseh Azure reached at the end of the case. Despite a SSNIT report that exonerated LCI regarding the contributions for the Six Pastors, Azure admitted he published an article titled " Evidence- How Lighthouse Chapel Incriminated itself and SSNIT looked away" Lighthouse Chapel International following the August 2021 report has told the court that, Azure and the three others do not have any proof to support their claims that, the Church has failed to pay over 42 years of SSNIT contributions for some former Pastors. The church has also said, the defendants do not have evidence to give credence to their claims that, the three church structures, the publication showed which belongs to the church, were built by former Pastors Larry Odonkor, Edward Laryea and Seth Duncan with their own resources. Justice Joseph Adu Owusu has adjourned to July 22 for further cross examination. Source: Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media 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 As illegal mining popularly known as galamsey continues to cause serious havoc to Ghana's natural resources, a United States of America based Ghanaian mining engineer, Dr Solomon Owusu has slammed President Akufo-Addo for opting to using wrong approach in the fight against the canker, which is currently the leading cause of water pollution and land degradation in the country. Dr Owusu's statement comes after the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) issued a letter of stakeholder engagement to find pragmatic solutions to address the illegal mining problem. According to him, the government is continuing to follow a wrongful direction in addressing the illegal mining (galamsey) menace. He added that, the high level of unmanaged hazardous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide have been released into the waterbodies and forests, through the activities of illegal mining, mostly operated by the Chinese nationals. In his view, President Akufo-Addo has failed to technically address this issue of national concern but wasting taxpayers money on unnecessary stakeholder engagements. "I think its time to find a lasting solution to our water pollution, land degradation and the alarming rate of diseases through the activities of illegal mining, especially those mining directly from our waterbodies", he said. He further detailed that the stakeholder engagement organized by the Ghana Water Company is a complete waste of time, money and resources, describing how fruitless and senseless the engagement is. Dr. Owusu advised President Akufo-Addo to engage professionals with the requisite knowledge, experience and capabilities to help solve the galamsey problems. "If I may ask, how many stakeholder engagements has your government organized on water pollution and illegal mining since 2017 and how many of them have produced any significant positive results? He quizzed Prez Akufo-Addo. In his opinion, the President cant continue to put square pegs in round holes and win this galamsey fight. He admonished Prez Akufo-Addo to act diligently now, since his government has less than seven (7) months to leave office. He further reminded the President of putting his presidency on the line in addressing the menace, and hence his failure will leave an indelible mark on his reputation. Source: Lawrence Odoom 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 Benjamin Kwasi Gagba, the esteemed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana's premier Ocean Green Beach Resort, has been honored as Ghana's Most Outstanding Personality in Hospitality at the Business Executive Excellence Awards 2024. The event took place at the Ghana Marriott Hotel in Accra. The impressive award recognizes his exceptional leadership qualities and unwavering dedication to delivering high-quality accommodation and hospitality in the country. Additionally, he is highly regarded for advocating best business practices in the tourism sector. The 10th edition of the event, held on Friday, June 28th, 2024 seeks to identify and publicly recognize private enterprises, public institutions and individuals that have displayed exemplary conduct and chalked up extraordinary accomplishments regarding their business activities over the previous one-year period. After receiving the prestigious honor, the CEO of Ocean Green Beach Resort spoke to the media, stating that the award is a testament to the team's dedication to excellence and unwavering focus on meeting and exceeding customer expectations while adhering to rigorous quality standards over the years. " I am very grateful to God for such a wonderful milestone at this highest level of providing excellent services. This means a lot to our consistent determination to build a formidable and Proficient brand" Benjamin noted. Ocean Green Beach Resort has positioned itself as a leader in the hospitality and tourism industry marking a significant stride in its business portfolio. About Benjamin Kwasi Gagba Mr. Benjamin Kwasi Gagba is a Developer of Ocean Green Beach front Recreational Destination. With a focus on Business and Leisure, on the principles of Peope Planet Profit (The 3Ps). An ecologically friendly environment, engaging sustainable environment with local stakeholders, filling the market void for serene beach properties with good proximity to landmarks in the Accra and Tema metropolises. Business Overview: A brief overview of OceanGreen Beach Resort Ocean Green Beach Resort, we develop, sell and manage recreational, retirement and investment opportunities. Beach resort with beach houses for sale, and beach hotel rooms for weekends, holidays, and conferences. Large swimming pool on the beach with cocktail bar & lounge, restaurant and scenic beach views. There is no cleaner beach in the metropolis than Ocean Green Beach! There is no environmentally friendlier development in Ghana than Ocean Green beach recreational destination development. Our team, our facilities and environment are second to none in the metropolis. Call-to-Action Looking for a most serene beach resort destination in the Tema metropolis, enjoying the sea breeze and view directly from your hotel room, good local and continental dishes, a fully furnished cocktail bar and a lounge all set in a beach ambiance, come to Ocean Green Beach Resort. 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 Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has addressed one of the famous allegations against her father, the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, which involved a supposed boyfriend of hers whose head 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. I was questioned about my relationship with Zanetor and how many times I slept with her. I was beaten up several times throughout my detention. I was questioned about my knowledge of the Rawlings' estate (their properties and buildings), and I told them I knew nothing. The guards insisted Zanetor had told me certain secrets, and they wanted to know how much I knew. W.O. Budu alleged since my mother had gone on air about my abduction, they could not do what they had planned, but they could chase me to any country I run to and finish me off, part of Selassies five-page statement at the British Home Office reads. Speaking on the matter for the first time in an interview with Accra-based GHOne TV on June 27, 2024, the Korle Klottey legislator categorically stated that the incident had nothing to do with her father. She narrated how the allegations took a toll on her because she was really young, and there was no opportunity for the truth to be told to Ghanaians. She indicated that at the time the incident happened, she had broken off her relationship with Selassie, adding that the incident was about a land dispute. 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. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings added that the allegation had a psychological effect on her and has helped shape the way she does politics. That is one of the things that has made me very particular about how I go about my politics. And it's one of those experiences that really informed my behavior as a public figure because I feel that in the path to where it is you want to get to, you can be decent. You can choose to disagree with people, you can choose to not be on the same page, but to go down the path of lies and denigrating people, that's something I'm totally against. Watch her remarks in the video below: Source: ghanaweb.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 Diploma holders practicing as teachers in the education sector of Ghana have expressed their outright dissatisfaction and disapproval over the selection of the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, as the Running Mate of the ruling New Patriotic Party. The aggrieved teachers are still unhappy about what they describe as disrespect by Dr. Opoku Prempeh. About four years ago, a video of the minister suggesting that the diploma holders went to the colleges of education with the worst grades went viral on social media. The video which also sparked outrage and anger among a section of the public has resurfaced after the diploma holders revived their anger over those remarks by the Energy Minister. The teachers have taken to social media to vow to vote against the NPP in December 2024 because of Dr. Opoku Prempeh as they describe him as ignorant, rude and disrespectful. 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 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: Alcides Peixinho Nascimento walks through his plantation of mandacaru. Giant spiky cacti tower over farmer Alcides Peixinho Nascimento, 70, one of the residents of Brazil's unique Caatinga biome who is on a mission to plant native vegetation in a bid to halt desertification. "In the absence of laws, it is up to us to act," said Nascimento, who is trying to regenerate his land by planting mandacaru, an emblematic cactus from the region that grows up to six meters tall. The Caatinga stretches across ten northeastern states, a unique area boasting a tapestry of thorny shrubs, twisty trees and succulents adapted to its semi-arid conditions. Its plight attracts little interest compared to the lush Amazon, but the vegetation of this dry forest plays a key role in absorbing carbon emissions and is rapidly disappearing. The MapBiomas NGO reports it has lost 40 percent of its original surface area due to agriculture, mining and the installation of wind farms. It is in the Caatinga, which has been facing increasingly severe periods of drought, that scientists recently identified the first arid zone in Brazil. "Preserving the Caatinga means keeping the land alive," said the farmer Nascimento. Communities are adopting various sustainable farming methods to ensure their survival. Nascimento's drought-resistant cacti grow fruit that can feed both animals and humans, and protect the soil from the extreme climate. Aerial view of goats on the side of the road in Pinhoes, Bahia State, Brazil on June 12, 2024. Their thorns repel predators and are often planted around other crops and native species. Excess mandacaru production is sold to a French cosmetics brand to make creams and soaps. 'Guardians of the Caatinga' Luiz Almeida Santos, of the local agricultural NGO IRPAA said the Caatinga was being preserved in areas where "traditional communities live" who adopt sustainable farming practices. "They are the guardians of the Caatinga". A recent study predicted nine out of 10 species of fauna and flora in the Caatinga could disappear by 2060. The IRPAA also teaches local communities how to stretch their water to last through severe drought. On her land in northern Bahia, Maria Goncalves dos Santos, 60, shows how rainwater is collected and stored in a cistern. "Here, all the water is reused," she said. Wastewater is filtered and used to water animal pastures. A water storage tank is seen at the Malhada da Areia community in Juazeiro, Bahia State, Brazil on June 10, 2024. Goncalves measures the level of the 16,000-liter tank with a ruler and logs her consumption in a notebook. The government has set up nearly a million tanks like this in the region since 2003. Installations slowed dramatically under far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, but the program has recently been relaunched under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Another threat to the Caatinga is the rural exodus, and the IRPAA has set up a training center where it has taught some 200 young people about sustainable farming methods. "In our region, we do not have many opportunities, we have to travel to seek knowledge. I am happy to be able to contribute to the well-being of my community," said Anderson Santos de Jesus, 20, who traveled 200 kilometers (124 miles) to reach the training center. 2024 AFP A court in Nanterre has decided: Maurice Ravel's Bolero was written by the composer alone, and so remains in the public domain. The verdict follows a years-long struggle between France's Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers (SACEM), and the heirs of stage designer Alexandre Benois, who claim that Ravel wrote Bolero collaboratively with Benois, and that the work must be returned to the private domain. Ravel's most popular composition-said to be played every fifteen minutes around the world-premiered in 1928 to such great success, that it overshadows the other works that came in Ravel's remaining nine years. With European copyright running 70 years, plus several more years to compensate for losses in the Second World War, Bolero entered the public domain in 2016. Benois' heirs have since asked SACEM to recognize their ancestor as co-author of Bolero, their evidence being, among others, that the work was written as a ballet-which it was, on a commission from Ida Rubinstein. If SACEM had recognized Benois as co-author, it would have extended Bolero's copyright to 2039 (Benois died in 1960), and entitled Benois' heirs to hefty royalties, which used to amount to "millions and millions of euros a year." Earlier this year, a Benois estate lawyer told the French court that "the music of the Bolero was created especially for the ballet," and so must not be considered a standalone piece. SACEM rejected the claim, however, and the Benois' estate brought their claim to court. The court has since decided that the claim of Benois' co-authorship was based on "historical fiction," citing a 1929 document signed by Ravel as the sole composer so the work "consequently remains in the public domain." The representatives of the Benois Estate said they will appeal the decision. 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: This photo provided by NASA shows the Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station, orbiting 262 miles above Egypt's Mediterranean coast, on June 13, 2024. Credit: NASA via AP Two NASA astronauts will stay longer at the International Space Station as engineers troubleshoot problems on Boeing's 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. "We're not in any rush to come home," said NASA's 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 astronaut's 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 capsule's 28 thrusters went down during docking; all but one thruster was restarted. 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. Credit: NASA via AP 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 aren't 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 won't 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. 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. Credit: NASA via AP 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 Musk's 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. 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: A sedated rhino is prepared to be tranquilized, before a hole is drilled into its horn and isotopes carefully inserted, at a rhino orphanage in the country's northern province of Limpopo, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Researchers have started the final phase of a research project aimed at reducing rhino poaching by inserting radioisotopes into rhino horns to devalue one of the most highly trafficked wildlife commodities. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell Researchers in South Africa have injected radioactive material into the horns of 20 rhinos as part of a research project aimed at reducing poaching. The idea is that radiation detectors already in place at national borders would detect the horns and help authorities arrest poachers and traffickers. The research, which has included the participation of veterinarians and nuclear experts, begins with the animal being tranquilized before a hole is drilled into its horn and the nuclear material carefully inserted. This week, researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand 's Radiation and Health Physics Unit in South Africa injected 20 live rhinos with these isotopes. They hope the process can be replicated to save other wild species vulnerable to poachinglike elephants and pangolins. "We are doing this because it makes it significantly easier to intercept these horns as they are being trafficked over international borders, because there is a global network of radiation monitors that have been designed to prevent nuclear terrorism," said Professor James Larkin, who heads the project. "And we're piggybacking on the back of that." According to figures by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, an international conservation body, the global rhino population stood at around 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century. It now stands at around 27,000 due to continued demand for rhino horns on the black market. A sedated rhino is prepared to be tranquilized, before a hole is drilled into its horn and isotopes carefully inserted, at a rhino orphanage in the country's northern province of Limpopo, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Researchers have started the final phase of a research project aimed at reducing rhino poaching by inserting radioisotopes into rhino horns to devalue one of the most highly trafficked wildlife commodities. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell South Africa has the largest population of rhinos with an estimated 16,000, making it a hotspot with over 500 rhinos killed yearly. The country experienced a significant decline in rhino poaching around 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the numbers increased when virus lockdown restrictions were eased. "We've got to do something new and something different to reduce poaching. You know, you'll see the figures they've already started going up," said Larkin. "During COVID, they all went down but post COVID we are now starting to see those numbers go up again." While the idea has received support from some in the industry, the researchers have had to jump many ethical hurdles posed by critics of their methodology. Pelham Jones, chairperson of the Private Rhino Owners Association, is among the critics of the proposed method and doubts that it would effectively deter poachers and traffickers. Professor James Larkin drills a hole into a rhinos horn to insert isotopes at a rhino orphanage in the country's northern province of Limpopo, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Researchers have started the final phase of a research project aimed at reducing rhino poaching by inserting radioisotopes into rhino horns to devalue one of the most highly trafficked wildlife commodities. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell Professor James Larkin drills a hole into a rhinos horn to insert isotopes at a rhino orphanage in the country's northern province of Limpopo, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Researchers have started the final phase of a research project aimed at reducing rhino poaching by inserting radioisotopes into rhino horns to devalue one of the most highly trafficked wildlife commodities. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell Professor James Larkin performs a procedure where isotopes are placed into a rhino's at a rhino orphanage in the country's northern province of Limpopo, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Researchers have started the final phase of a research project aimed at reducing rhino poaching by inserting radioisotopes into rhino horns to devalue one of the most highly trafficked wildlife commodities. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell "(Poachers) have worked out other ways of moving rhino horn out of the country, out of the continent or off the continent, not through traditional border crossings," he said. "They bypass the border crossings because they know that is the area of the highest risk of confiscation or interception." Professor Nithaya Chetty, dean of the science faculty at Witwatersrand, said the dosage of the radioactivity is very low and its potential negative impact on the animal was tested extensively. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LAKE GEORGE At around 6 a.m. Saturday morning, the Lake George Park Commission applied its first treatment of ProcellaCOR into the waters of Lake George. Specifically in Blairs Bay followed by Sheep Meadow Bay. The Post-Star was invited to join LGPC Executive Director Dave Wick, Deputy Director Joe Thouin, and environmental analyst Randy Rath on the water to document the moment that has become one of the most contentious decisions involving The Queen of American Lakes in recent memory. The team met at Rogers Rock Campground in the Town of Hague at around 5:30 a.m. with Marc Bellaud Director of technical services with SOLitude Lake Management in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, the company contracted to apply the herbicide. A representative from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation was on site to make final inspections of the permits and equipment before the SOLitude boat was launched. At Sheep Meadow Bay, several protestors could be heard from the shore admonishing the LGPC for applying the chemical so early and without alerting the public immediately prior. The commissions official notice requirement was fulfilled in January when a letter was sent out to property owners in Blairs Bay and Sheep Meadow Bay of its intent to apply the chemical in those locations. The LGPC had to wait for a final decision from Supreme Court Justice Robert Muller before they could move forward. Muller handed down the decision Friday June 28. It is anticipated the treatment will take place on one day between May 17 and June 30, 2024 pending permit approvals and the appropriate stage of target plant growth, the notice reads. A restriction on lake uses in the treatment zones during the application will be in effect, approximately 3 hours per site. The commission explained that because there are no use restrictions related to drinking, bathing, swimming, or boating immediately following treatment, earlier notification would have been largely irrelevant. Out of an abundance of caution for the project; siting public outcry and potential acts of aggression officials made the decision not to issue prior notification. An email was circulated at 8 a.m. alerting property owners in the two bays that the treatment had occurred. Still, some people felt another notice should have been widely distributed prior to the application. The early hour was necessary, LGPC officials said, due to weather concerns later in the day. The expected rain and wind could have interfered with the disbursement of the herbicide. The window of opportunity was so narrow because a restraining order had prevented the commission from applying the chemical earlier in the week until it was lifted Friday. Permits issued by the Adirondack Park Agency were only valid through Sunday, June 30 in order to prevent any inadvertent interaction with native milfoil species. Once the SOLitude vessel reached the first treatment area, the herbicide was mixed with water from the lake to make a solution. The ratio of water to chemical is based on the size of the treatment area. In Blairs Bay 42.4-acre-feet of water was treated with 7.7 parts per billion of ProcellaCOR. In Sheeps Meadow Bay 48.2-acre-feet of water was treated, also with 7.7 parts per billion. That works out to about nine gallons of the herbicide spread across 90.6-acrea-feet. One-acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons of liquid. Weighted hoses inject the solution to the desired depth for optimum contact with the Eurasian milfoil, approximately three-to-five-feet below the surface of the water. ProcellaCOR mimics the milfoils growth hormone, but prevents its cells from dividing, essentially causing the plants to grow themselves to death. Because the hormone it mimics is specific to milfoil, there is no danger of the chemical affecting humans or livestock, officials have said, though this remains a point of concern for people opposed to its use. As well, those against the herbicide use are concerned with how long the chemical stays in the water and if it will affect other plantlife. It dissipates quickly in the environment, which means all traces of the herbicide should be gone by the time the native species of milfoil begin to sprout in mid-July. Most of the time, the testing thats done, within 48-hours of treatment its to non-detect levels, Bellaud said. The two bays will be sampled and tested extensively over the next few months. The commission is expected to present a full report from the treatment to the Adirondack Park Agency in December. The Post-Star understands that at least one arrest was made from protests at about the time that the herbicide was being applied. We will have more on that as it becomes available. Six years after the federal government learned that the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station was one of the worst polluted military sites in the nation with PFAS, it still has no cleanup plans. The ubiquitous and insidious per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals are present in groundwater at the station in levels up to 300,000 times greater than drinking water standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to studies conducted by a consultant for the military. The pollution came from foam, called aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, that firefighters used mostly in training activities at the station from the 1960s through late 1990s. PFAS chemicals have since made their way into Cayuga Creek, according to studies by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The creek runs through the station and is a tributary of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, a major drinking water source for thousands of people in the United States and Canada. The chemicals particularly concern scientists because they bioaccumulate meaning the body doesnt flush them out like it would other contaminants earning them their colloquial name, forever chemicals. Exposure to them has been linked to increased chances of getting some types of cancer, suppressed immune functions, small decreases in birth weights, increases in cholesterol levels, and pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The DAF (Department of the Air Force) has not established a time-line for possible clean-up actions for the PFAS found at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Lindsay Mairs, a remedial program manager for the Air Force, wrote in an email to The Buffalo News. But we always have the ability to take immediate action if we identify an imminent risk to human health. Low levels of PFAS chemicals have been detected in the drinking water provided by the Niagara Falls Water Board, which serves about 50,000 people. The water purveyor takes its water from the Niagara River directly downstream of Cayuga Creek, according to Sean Costello, executive director of the Water Board. The boards water treatment system has kept PFAS levels in its customers drinking water below EPA and New York State Department of Health standards since it began testing in 2021. But drinking water isnt the only victim to the PFAS pollution. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has found high levels of PFAS chemicals in the surface water of Cayuga Creek downstream of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station at Porter Road. Up to 147.7 parts per trillion of a PFAS chemical were detected in the creeks surface water one of the highest detections of 114 waterways sampled by waterkeeper organizations around the nation in 2022. Additionally, the state DEC found levels of PFAS of up to 3,960,000 ppt in fish from the creek during surveys in 2019. There is an existing advisory for Cayuga Creek warning people to not eat any fish from the creek due to elevated levels of PCBs and dioxins found in the animals. PFAS are in our water, theyre in our blood, theyre in our wildlife, theyre in our food we eat, Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka said. But we know where its coming from. And we know how to stop it. Longstanding PFAS use PFAS pollution was found at high levels in the surface water, groundwater and soil at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in several areas where the AFFF used by firefighters leaked or was likely directly sprayed on the ground. The chemicals also are found in many household items, including non-stick cookware, dental floss, waterproof makeup and smartphone screens. Studies conducted by chemical manufacturers 3M and DuPont in the 1950s and 1960s found PFAS could be toxic to humans, but such information was kept private. U.S. Department of Defense studies conducted beginning in the 1970s showed that the PFAS-containing AFFF used on military bases to fight fires was toxic, according to documents obtained by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group. By the 1980s, the agency said it had evidence that PFAS chemicals could pose environmental and health risks. PFAS were used in firefighting foam because they are particularly effective at putting out petroleum fires. The foams use at airports around the nation has led to new and widespread efforts to identify which airports have PFAS contamination issues. In some cases, entire city or town drinking water sources have been polluted with PFAS leaching from airports. Public concern over the substances toxicity began in the 1990s, after news broke that PFAS were found to contaminate water near a 3M plant in West Virginia. The EPA didnt implement drinking water standards for some PFAS chemicals until April. In the standards, the agency acknowledged there is no safe level of exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the most commonly found of the thousands of synthetic chemicals that fall under the PFAS umbrella, but set the limit each could be in drinking water at 4 ppt. U.S. Department of Defense officials issued a rule in 2023 prohibiting any use of AFFF after Oct. 1 at any military installation. The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station expects to receive firefighting foam free of PFAS, called fluorine-free foam or F3, later this summer, according to station Fire Chief Aaron McLane. The foam is being rolled out at airports around the nation. AFFF hasnt been used at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station since the 1990s, but it has been kept on site in case of emergencies, McLane told The News in a written statement. More testing scheduled Testing completed in 2018 found PFOA and PFOS combined in groundwater at a firefighter training area at the station in levels up to 1,310,000 ppt. Six other spots on the property had PFAS detections in groundwater at the time ranging from 7.7 ppt to 49,000 ppt, according to reports prepared by an engineering firm for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Those detections placed the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station as the seventh-most PFAS polluted military installation in the United States, according to a 2019 list by EWG. A contract to conduct further testing and determine the full extent of PFAS pollution at the air reserve station was awarded in 2022, according to Mairs. The results of such testing have not yet been released publicly. More site testing is planned for 2026. This round of testing will determine any unacceptable risk from PFAS at these sites, which will inform need for any cleanup remedies needed at this site, Mairs told The News. Because of the chemicals prevalence, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station isnt the only source of PFAS in the Niagara River, Jedlicka said, but its a source that has been identified and found to have direct impacts on Cayuga Creek. With a source area that is flaming hot right now, 1.3 million parts per trillion, she said, thats a source area that needs to be remediated or all thats going to continue to leach through Cayuga Creek into where the drinking water intakes are. LOWER TOWNSHIP Jamie Longmuirs love of cars was on full display Saturday at the Wings and Things Festival at the Wildwood Naval Air Station and Museum. He and his wife, Allison, are the team behind Blinker Fluid Productions, which brought approximately 100 muscle cars to the event. These are your future classics, basically. So cars that I grew up with in the 60s, 70s, 80s, theyre classics, but kids these days dont know about those old cars, Jamie Longmuir said. So to these younger generations, these are going to be the classic cars to them. He said he enjoys hosting events at the Naval Air Station because it allows him to show the museum to the car fans and locals alike who might not know it existed otherwise. This was the festivals fourth edition. It was first held in 2019 but skipped one year due to the pandemic. In addition to the cars, the event featured more than 25 craft vendors and more. Its a great event for the community and kids. We have several crafts for adults and kids to do here. Were always excited to host it. This year we put a little bit of a switch on it and added in the muscle cars, which brings a different crowd to the area, which is nice, event organizer Austin Myers said. The museums historical significance was prominent at the Longest Yarn booth. The Longest Yarn is an 80-meter long three-dimensional wool tapestry that tells the story of D-day, or the invasion of Normandy, in World War II. The tapestry was unveiled earlier this year at the Notre Dame church in Carentan, France, and will be on display next year at the Naval Air Station, said Mark Kulkowitz, the American point of contact for the Longest Yarn Project. Army veteran Harry Kulkowitz, Marks father, landed on Utah beach in Normandy on D-Day. Twenty years ago, Mark and Harry Kulkowitz went to France to celebrate and honor the anniversary. After Harry Kulkowitz died in 2017, friends of his living in Normandy at the time wanted to construct an art piece to honor the veterans who served on D-Day. So it just became a thing where when all the veterans are dying or are dead, and Ive met many, many, many over my years going there, it sort of leads, I would say a loss in your heart. So The Longest Yarn became a way to help raise peoples spirits, Kulkowitz said. Jamie Longmuir said he has owned more than 150 cars in his life and has a soft spot for the Mopars that were at the festival. Mopar is a term used to designate a car built by one of the original Chrysler Corp. brands, like Chrysler, Dodge and Imperial. So the fact that we have something as cool as this museum with all this military aircraft and theres a lot of fun stuff to look at is great. A lot of car shows are just a bunch of dudes in a parking lot staring at each other, joked Justin Skyler Daniels, of Farpoint Toys and Collectibles in Mays Landing. Daniels and his wife, Penelope, are members of the Sinister Mopar group. They brought their 2023 widebody Scat Pack Dodge Challenger nicknamed The Farpoint Interceptor to the show. The Interceptor pays homage to the police cruiser in the original Mad Max film released in 1979. My husbands always been a car guy, you know, and a few years ago we actually did a commercial for the shop involving a lot of movie cars. We had an A-Team van, we had a DeLorean and a lot of other cars, Penelope Daniels said. DES MOINES A federal judge on Friday denied a request from a pair of THC beverage manufacturers to restrict enforcement of a law regulating consumable hemp products, but she raised questions about the lack of clarity in the law. Judge Stephanie Rose said in a ruling Friday that she had serious concerns about the vagueness of the law, but that those concerns were not raised by the plaintiffs, who failed to prove their case that it is preempted by federal law. The law, which state lawmakers passed this year and is set to take effect Monday, limits the amount of THC the main intoxicating compound in cannabis that can be in consumable hemp products that are legal under federal law. A product cannot have more than 4 milligrams per serving and 10 milligrams per container, and it must include a warning label. One issue during the hearing was the definition serving, which is not spelled out in the law. Manufacturers had believed they could change the labeling on their 12 ounce cans to include more than one serving, allowing them to sell cans containing up to 10 milligrams of THC. But in proposed draft rules and a guidance document, the state health department has said that a 12 ounce can will be considered one serving, and it cannot contain more than one serving. The interpretation would disqualify more than 80% of the companies beverages, they have said. Rather than argue that the law was too vague, though, Climbing Kites and Field Day brewing, two Iowa-based manufacturers of THC-infused beverages, argued the state law is preempted by federal law, which dictates packaging and label requirements for food. They also argued the draft rules proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services to regulate packaging exceed the agencys authority. The companies asked the federal court to block both the potency limits and the packaging rules in the law from taking effect. During the course of the hearing, the Court expressed serious concerns whether HF 2605 was unconstitutionally vague based on a provision of the law limiting the potency of THC permissible in a single serving of a product, Rose wrote in her ruling. Because the statute does not define a serving, it is unclear how this provision would be enforced. This potentially raises due process concerns surrounding a statute with potential criminal penalties. Rose also raised her concerns about the vagueness of the law during the hearing, calling the law an island floating without the necessary definitions to be enforceable. Despite her concerns, Rose said those same arguments were not brought up by Climbing Kites and Field Day Brewing in their lawsuit. She ruled against their argument that the law was preempted by federal law, denying the request for an injunction. Roses ruling left open the possibility of further proceedings over the renewed complaint filed by the plaintiffs, and she said a more extensive discussion of the courts analysis would soon be filed. During the hearing, Will Admussen, an assistant solicitor general with the Iowa Attorney Generals office, rebuffed Climbing Kites claims that the state does not have authority to add warning labels and set serving size standards. Other courts, including in Alaska, have ruled that states have authority to regulate consumable hemp products, the state wrote in their reply to the lawsuit. The companies filed an amended complaint on Friday that included arguments that the law was overly vague and violated the due process clause of the U.S. constitution. The law "does not define, explain, or otherwise shed any light on what constitutes a 'serving' of total THC in a consumable hemp product," wrote Michael Reck, a lawyer for the companies, in the new brief. Scott Selix, the co-founder of Climbing Kites, declined to answer questions after the hearing on Friday and did not respond to a following request for comment. The ruling means Iowas law is all but certain to take effect starting Monday. But more challenges to the law remain, and Rose said arguments about the laws vagueness could be further developed. Another lawsuit, brought by Several CBD and hemp retailers in the state, challenges the law on several grounds, including that it violates due process by being overly vague and that it violates interstate commerce protections. A hearing is set for that lawsuit on July 11. Photos: Muscatine Community College two-semester hemp curriculum 120520-qc-nws-hemp-089 120520-qc-nws-hemp-094 120520-qc-nws-hemp-060 120520-qc-nws-hemp-132 120520-qc-nws-hemp-139 120520-qc-nws-hemp-127 120520-qc-nws-hemp-123 120520-qc-nws-hemp-083 120520-qc-nws-hemp-080 120520-qc-nws-hemp-086 120520-qc-nws-hemp-064 120520-qc-nws-hemp-074 120520-qc-nws-hemp-068 120520-qc-nws-hemp-109 120520-qc-nws-hemp-112 120520-qc-nws-hemp-145 HERMOSA Walking from his house down the drive to the corrals, the smile on Alan Mielkes face was hard to miss. Despite being retired from ranching, the Hermosa man was about to take part in one of his favorite ranching activities the annual branding. Following a successful calving campaign, ranchers around the region held their annual brandings. Its a time for the ranchers to not only put their permanent mark on their cattle, but also to share camaraderie and gather with friends, since the event typically draws a crowd. For some it can be just a simple day on the job to take care of business and when its done, its done. For others, its a time for friends and neighbors from all over to work a bit while getting a chance to catch up and shoot the breeze. The latter was the case for Steve Lammers, of Hermosa, this past May when more than 30 people took part in his cattle branding. Mielke, who is in his 80s, leases his land to Lammers, and while he isnt actually working cattle anymore, he has a first row seat to the branding, watching largely from his white lawn chair on the side of the corrals just out of the way. Mielke retired from ranching not because he wanted to, but because his body decided for him. I always look forward to it (the branding), said Mielke, amongst the constant mooing of calves and their mother cows as the ranchers separated the herd. It's kind of the end of your hard work, getting ready to go to pasture." Back then we didnt have the corrals or the calving sheds. Just ropes and horses. As with anything, methods and procedures adjust over time for expediency or efficiency, but theres a little bit of holding onto the traditions that go along with branding. Not only are the calves given their brand, but they are also typically castrated and given their shots and immunizations, as is typical for many ranchers. That's a big part of branding, but there's got to be quite a few of us ranchers around here that go ahead and get the shots done before we brand. A lot of them will castrate the calves, but I band cows, so I've already got them castrated, Lammers said. So my branding is just about the brand. While ear tags are the norm for identifying the cattle lot owners, those arent permanent. For Mielke, he said having that brand on the cattle is about having pride in your livestock, especially when it comes time to sell. That's a registered brand, and so when you go to the sale barn that's ownership, he said. According to the South Dakota Brand Board, there are over 25,000 registered brands in the state of South Dakota. Thats for cattle, horses, mules, bison and sheep. While Mielke didn't actively participate in the branding, the longtime rancher enjoyed watching as riders took turns roping and dragging the calves as opposed to running through a calf table. There's more people here than used to be here and socialize, Mielke said with a laugh. But catching up and talking with neighbors, friends and family is half the enjoyment for Mielke. For Lammers, he appreciates the help. There are people to help oversee details and allow him to observe the big picture operation more before everyone gathered for lunch at the conclusion of the brand. It's nice to get around, you know, talk to people a little bit, but it's also a busy day, Lammers said. Zach Wilkinson helps me a lot and he got things kind of organized, so I can just kind of watch what goes on and just make sure everything kind of stays safe on the deal. That group effort allowed Lammers and some other riders to head out and drive in the second group of calves while the first set of calves were being finished up in the corrals. It was an intentional way to avoid the afternoon heat. Lammers said while he enjoys seeing everyone at his branding, he does wonder if its something that is starting to fade away. The problem is getting to be with the branding is the average rancher is 50- to 60-years old and a lot of the next generation of kids aren't around. You'll see we had a good handful of younger people there, but a lot of these brands I go to you get to looking around and everybody's about 60 years old. About 20 miles north of Wall, Spenser Cordes said he and his family enjoy the annual branding as a means for everyone to get together. Cordes still keeps his family brand registered, but has gone with his own brand of an S stacked on top of a C for his cattle, plus a similar variation of the S and C for his horses. Being a fourth-generation rancher, and his kids the fifth, Cordes said the tradition of the annual brand is why he and his family and a lot of others take part in it. Cordes said he estimated they probably had close to 50 people at his branding, which served as a good get-together while working his cattle and horses. While a lot of livestock now have electronic identification tags, Cordes said that doesnt stop his crew from continuing to use their brand. I do the EIDs too, Cordes said. Actually, because the EID tags, there's programs that will not buy your calves unless you have that and I do it more for that. But I'm gonna stick with the tradition properly. South Dakotas most populous county, Minnehaha, was in the spotlight this week after its top election official ordered the county's post-election audit to consist of all 2024 primary ballots being counted by hand. But the debate over counting votes by hand vs. machine found a more decisive venue 250 miles away in McPherson County, on the states northeast edge bordering North Dakota, with a population of about 2,300. On June 13, citizen hand-counting boards were formed in the county seat of Leola, South Dakota, to conduct a post-election audit of 100% of the ballots from the June 4 primary, which had been tallied by machine tabulators on election day. The auditing boards, mostly composed of residents who support hand counts and question the accuracy and security of voting machines, encountered problems. The hand count in two of the countys four precincts did not match election day tallies, and board members of those precincts ended the audits before the count was reconciled, according to county officials. South Dakota Canvassing, an electoral activist group that supports eliminating machine voting and tabulators, declared victory on social media, posting the tally sheets and stating that the hand count results were correct and the machine errors are not explainable. 'You're going to see problems' McPherson County States Attorney Austin Hoffman filed a request for declaratory judgment June 20 to have the ballots unsealed so the counts could be reconciled, though none of the county or legislative races were close enough to be impacted. A state circuit court judge allowed the re-audit to occur June 25. Board members from the non-affected precincts were asked to handle the counting. That re-audit established that human error during the hand counting accounted for the earlier discrepancies, and that machine counts from the primary election were correct, according to County Auditor Lindley Howard, who provided the tally sheets and other documentation to News Watch. Howard also noted that the hand counting took about 15 minutes per race, which in a general election with 13 or 14 races could have caused reporting lags even in McPherson County, the states 54th largest county. If anything, it reinforced my opinion that hand counting is not the way to go on election night if youre looking for speed and accuracy, said Howard, who is also a member of the State Board of Elections. If you take the minutes per race and human errors and extrapolate that out to bigger counties, I feel like youre going to see some problems. Howard is not alone in that conclusion. According to a News Watch survey of county auditors conducted in March, nearly 90% of those who responded (43 of 49) answered no to the question of whether hand counting is an effective and efficient method of tabulating ballots. Mike Klipfel, a hand-court supporter who served on one of the audit boards that got the wrong tally, acknowledged in a phone interview with News Watch that human error occurred. But he said better tally sheets and procedures were available and that Howard was not prepared for the pre-election audit. "The fact of the matter is that our county auditor failed at what she was supposed to do that day," said Klipfel, who also serves as chairman of the McPherson County Republican Party. Hand counting is priority for reformists McPherson County, which gave Republican Donald Trump 81% of the vote in 2020, has seen plenty of recent tussles between government officials and citizen activists as South Dakota grapples with election security and voting reforms. Howard has clashed with South Dakota Canvassing supporters on legislative and legal issues, including drop boxes, absentee voting, voter-roll records and machine counting of ballots. Basically (the activists) are saying, Im a Christian, so I believe in election integrity, and you dont agree with me, so you are doing Satans work, she told News Watch in 2023. I would say that causes a lot of stress. Hand counting has replaced the acquisition of cast-vote records as South Dakota Canvassings most pressing priority, with Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson voicing support for lessening the state's reliance on voting machines. If done properly with a good system in place and training ahead of time, (hand counting) can definitely be effective and efficient, especially in smaller counties, Anderson told News Watch earlier this year. Minnehaha County's own June 25 hand count of more than 13,000 ballots took about 11 hours, Anderson told News Watch the day after the count. That was more than double what she had estimated. Of the 50 people counting ballots, she said some left early "due to health concerns and other commitments, like work." "Having so many forms to sign for each race and precinct, that definitely slowed down the process," Anderson said. "Many workers wished they didn't have to print and sign their name on every tally sheet and also have to sign every certificate." Results of the Minnehaha post-election audit were sent to the Secretary of State's office and will be presented at the July 2 meeting of the county commission. Law requires post-election audits South Dakota passed a law in 2023 requiring post-election audits using hand counts of randomly selected voting precincts. The law calls for an audit of at least 5% of precincts, but McPherson County consists of just four precincts. In February, the countys board of commissioners voted in favor of a hand-counted post-election audit of all ballots cast in the June 4 primary election. Needing 20 citizens to fill out four audit boards of five members each, Howard chose people who had expressed interest in hand counting as an alternative to machines. One of those was Klipfel, a Leola farmer who supported a petition for a public vote to eliminate voting machines in McPherson County for 2024. The county commission voted in April to reject the petition based on legal advice that the measure's wording could violate federal voting laws. Every election cycle, we believe, is the most important election in our life, Klipfel said at a District 23 Republican forum in May. This one is no different. 'It is not numerically possible' The initial pre-election audit was held June 13 at the McPherson County Courthouse and took two-and-a-half hours. Two of the precincts came out fine. The other two had problems. One of the discrepancies involved Precinct 3, where 127 Republican ballots were received. That should have amounted to 254 total votes for District 23 House, since people could vote for two candidates and undercounts would still be tallied. The hand count ended up with 253 total votes. It is not numerically possible to have 253 total votes tallied, including under votes, with 127 ballots, Hoffman, the state's attorney, wrote in his June 20 request to unseal the ballots for another audit. Hoffman made it clear in his filing that the results of the District 23 legislative races will not be affected by the results of a post-election recount. Mark Lapka defeated Steven Roseland by 523 votes in the Senate race, while Spencer Gosch and Scott Moore prevailed by more than 1,000 votes in the House race over incumbent James Wangsness. But since the discrepancies in the audit weren't reconciled, county officials didn't want to send inaccurate final voting tallies to the secretary of state's office. "If election integrity is what's being asked for, ensuring the post-election audit is done correctly is part of that," said Hoffman. Howard, the auditor, told News Watch that Klipfel "was adamant that they weren't going to recount. He said that they were right and the machines were wrong and he got up from the table. We were kind of at a loss as far as, What do we do now? Because he was done." Klipfel disputes that account, saying that Howard suggested running the ballots back through the machine and that he questioned if that would violate state law. "I told her that I wasn't going to be responsible for doing something that was not legal, and that was the end of it," he said. Commission race throws off count In Precinct 4, there were 135 Republican ballots cast in the primary. The audit board tallied 262 votes in the District 23 House race. But the total should have been 270, with Hoffman again stating that a result of 262 was "not numerically possible" with 135 ballots. Howard and Hoffman theorized that the board was likely thrown off by the fact that the McPherson County Commission race was only listed on four ballots. The board counted those ballots first and tallied the Senate ballots that also included the county race before setting those four ballots aside. But they neglected to reincorporate those four ballots while counting the House race, making them eight votes short (two House votes per ballot). That explained why they came up with 262 rather than 270. The same audit board "did re-count the Republican ballots to attempt to reconcile the tally numbers for the State Representative race," Hoffman wrote in his filing. "However, it is believed that the four ballots were again not included in this re-count and the tally again came out to 262." Human errors confirmed after re-audit Serving on the Precinct 4 audit board was Jodi Waltman, secretary of the McPherson County Republicans, who had worked closely with South Dakota Canvassing and its advisor, Rick Weible, on the hand counting petition. Following the audit, South Dakota Canvassing posted the hand tally on Facebook and the Telegram instant messaging service, adding that "the results prove the machine is NOT accurate and is in violation of (Election Assistance Commission) requirements. The allowable error rate is 1 in 500,000 ballot marks. This is clearly over that rate, which means the machines must be decertified and immediately discontinued for us. DECERTIFY!" That post no longer appeared on Facebook by the time the re-audit was conducted June 25, confirming that the machine count from the June 4 primary election was correct. Jessica Pollema of South Dakota Canvassing responded to a message from News Watch but refused to comment for this story. County officials cited human error for the discrepancies that occurred during the original post-election audit for Precincts 3 and 4. "The eight-vote discrepancy in the original audit of Precinct 4 was human error from four ballots that were not included in the House race count when the board conducted the audit," Howard said, confirming earlier theories of what occurred. 'True believers' likely won't be swayed Tod Gohl, a Leola native who has been vocal at McPherson County Commission meetings and on social media about getting rid of voting machines, told News Watch that the audit results did not change his mind. Gohl and other election reformists view South Dakota as a proving ground for claims that recent elections across the county were substantially impacted by hacking or fraud, allegations repeatedly rejected by courts of law as well as Democratic and Republican election leaders. As for Howard, she said she's glad that the audit results were resolved, but she's trying to be realistic about who learned lessons in the process. "For the people who are true believers, if you will, I don't think it will make much of a difference," she said. "But I'm hoping that people who are on the outer edges of the movement might see things like this and think twice." This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit news organization. Read more in-depth stories at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email every few days to get stories as soon as they're published. Contact Stu Whitney at stu.whitney@sdnewswatch.org Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. The South Dakota Department of Education has awarded 36 grants totaling $6.4 million to school districts to purchase innovative, industry-grade equipment for career and technical education programs. CTE programs integrate academic knowledge with technical skills, preparing students for careers through hands-on training and industry-aligned curriculum. By emphasizing real-world applications and essential employability skills, CTE equips students with the tools they need for success in both college and the workforce in fields such as agriculture, healthcare, hospitality and engineering. "We gave schools a definite challenge to carefully examine their needs and let us know how we could help truly set their CTE programs up for long-term success. Our districts rose to that challenge. I am excited by the opportunities this grant will afford our students, and in turn our communities and businesses throughout the state," said South Dakota Secretary of Education Joe Graves. The scale of this unprecedented, one-time grant opportunity was made possible by funds available to the department through the American Rescue Plan and the federal Perkins grant. The following West River schools received grants: Custer School District, $226,875.35 Douglas School District, $243,744.00 Eagle Butte School District, $222,924.72 Faith School District, $228,987.96 Kadoka School District, $123,347.56 Oglala Lakota School District, $206,150.00 Rapid City Area Schools, $248,046.18 Spearfish School District, $243,080.32 Stanley County School District, $245,827.26 Wall School District, $250,000.00 The head of France's top cinema institution, Dominique Boutonnat, was on Friday given a three-year prison sentence, two of them suspended, after being convicted of sexually assaulting his godson in 2020. In a statement released immediately after the ruling, Boutonnat announced he was stepping down as head of the National Centre of Cinema (CNC), whose role includes overseeing measures to curb sexual violence in the industry. The trial came as French cinema reels from a renewed #MeToo reckoning that has seen several big names, including acting legend Gerard Depardieu, accused of sexual abuse. Seen as one of the most powerful men in French cinema, Boutonnat will be able to serve his one-year jail term at home wearing an electronic bracelet, said the Nanterre criminal court outside Paris. Boutonnat, 54, was also banned from having any contact with the victim for three years. In its verdict, the court ruled that the "plaintiff's version was more credible" than that of Boutonnat who, according to the court, had always exercised "a real influence" over his godson. The court also found that Boutonnat's explanations "were not necessarily rational" and "could lead to confusion and imply" that of the two, he was "the one who had the greatest interest in keeping things quiet". In the statement released by the CNC, Boutonnat "reaffirmed his innocence" and said he would appeal. - 'More than godfather' - Boutonnat's godson -- not a relative -- had accused him of trying to masturbate him during a holiday in Greece in 2020 when he was 19. In court, the young man described Boutonnat as "more than a godfather. "It's someone using me to masturbate," he said. Boutonnat denied any sexual assault had taken place. He told the court that it was his godson who had initiated the situation and kissed him. "I feel bad about leaving an ambiguous situation, but to say there was a sexual assault is false," he added. During the hearing, Boutonnat was questioned about WhatsApp messages to his godson after the events, in which he said he had wanted to "challenge him on his sexuality". Boutonnat was first appointed CNC chief in 2019. He was placed under investigation in February 2021 but still reappointed by the government as head of the CNC in July 2022. In May, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati praised his work at the Cannes Film Festival. "This case is a perfect demonstration of what sexual assault is," said the victim's lawyer, Caroline Toby, adding that "the abuse of authority" had been recognised in court. On June 14, the prosecutor had requested a three-year suspended prison sentence for Boutonnat. French cinema has been rocked by allegations that it has shrugged off sexism and sexual abuse for decades. Training to prevent abuse has in recent months become obligatory for films seeking public funding via the CNC. Numerous associations fighting against sexist and sexual violence in the film industry had denounced Boutonnat's leadership of the CNC. The case was given renewed attention after actor Judith Godreche called for Boutonnat to be removed from his position during a landmark hearing in the upper-house Senate earlier this year. The Original Ronnies BBQ restaurant in Henrico County took home first place this month at the Six in the City Southern BBQ Experience in Chicago. The annual competition is a friendly contest against pitmasters and chefs from six Southern states known to smoke some of the countrys best barbecue. The event featured smoked meats from Birmingham, Alabama; Columbia, South Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Richmond. Richmond Region Tourism partnered with Ronnies BBQ in the annual event where Chicago meeting planners vote on the best chef and booth presentation. Ronnies BBQ and Richmond Region Tourism took home Best Chef. This was an exciting win for our region, said Jerrine Lee, vice president of sales at Richmond Region Tourism, in a news release. Groups choose our community because of our high-quality facilities and because they can easily experience our great attractions, culture and dining. The meetings and events industry is all about building relationships, and what better way to connect than through delicious Southern food. Ronnies helped give attendees a taste of our incredible food scene. A total of 150 meeting planners voted in the contest. The Ronnies BBQ team served up brown sugar bacon sriracha deviled eggs, Virginia smoked brisket, macaroni and cheese, honey butter cornbread and sweet tea lemonade pound cake. Richmond Region Tourism has attended Six in the City events in Washington, D.C., for the past four years, taking home Best Booth Presentation twice. This is the first time winning in the chef category. Ronnies BBQ is beside the Virginia Capital Trail at 2097 New Market Road. The family-run restaurant is open Fridays through Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. or until sold out. Your guide to 10 upcoming Richmond fall festivals this season State Fair of Virginia Richmond Folk Festival Festival of India 2nd Street Festival Armenian Food Festival Richmond Veg Fest Powhatan Festival of the Grape Oystoberfest Hog on the Hill Scott's Addition Pumpkin Festival First hurricane of 2024 Atlantic season officially forms ahead of schedule Riviera Maya, Q.R. Tropical Storm Beryl has gained strength and developed into Hurricane Beryl, the first of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The system was forecast to develop into a hurricane for Sunday afternoon, however, conditions have proven conductive for an early development. Meteorologists are predicting the system to reach a Category 3 status by early Monday morning. Beryl is forecast to remain a major hurricane at least until Tuesday afternoon at which time it could lose strength before slipping past the island of Jamaica as it moves northwest into the Caribbean Sea. Meteorologist have its current trajectory heading toward the Caribbean where it will begin to near the coast of Quintana Roo late Thursday or early Friday. No one has yet said if Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in Mexico. However, predicted trajectories seem to indicate it could make landfall along Riviera Maya by next weekend. The Weather Channel has created a map track of possible routes Hurricane Beryl could take over the next six days. Possible Hurricane Beryl tracks according to The Weather Channel June 29, 2024. Following it is another system that has a 70 percent chance of development. According to the NOAA an area of low pressure located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression could form by the middle of next week while it moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic. Governor forms storm coordination committee as Atlantic systems continue to develop Riviera Maya, Q.R. Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama has installed a storm Command Center to coordinate with municipalities. The newly formed Centre is meant to keep state residents informed and up-to-date on weather developments in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. The new Command Centre consists of members of the Navy, Army and National Guard who will coordinate with the municipal mayors on developing weather systems. The new Command Centre is made up of General David Morales Hernandez of the Cancun Military Garrison, Freddy Balanzar Lozano, the state coordinator of the National Guard, Rear Admiral Jorge Luis Garcia Cansino, representative of the Ninth Naval Region of the Navy Secretariat, the States Secretary of Citizen Security, Julio Cesar Gomez, the Office Manager of the Benito Juarez City Council, Pablo Gutierrez, and the General Secretary of Benito Juarez, Antonio Riveroll. Lezama says all corporations, federal, state and municipal, work in a coordinated manner with a surveillance center for the two current systems, one of which is causing heavy rain across the state. The Command Centre will work together to inform residents of weather systems. Governor Lezama says state coordination allows for better attention to the population in the face of the prevailing weather conditions. She also says that with the ongoing weather conditions, rain prevention operations remain active in Quintana Roo. Heavy rainfall was reported Friday night in Cancun, among others areas of the state. Photo: Cancun Transit June 28, 2024. In Chetumal and the entire state, work is being done to clean streets and sewers to prevent flooding. Mexico City lawyer gunned down inside Cancun barbershop Cancun, Q.R. A man shot to death inside a Cancun barbershop Friday has been identified. The now-deceased was a 37-year-old lawyer from Mexico City. According to available information, Jose Armando S was shot several times in the targeted attack Friday afternoon. An armed man entered the barbershop in Plaza Peninsula where the now-deceased was reportedly waiting for a haircut when he was gunned down. Paramedics arrived to pronounced the shot man dead at the scene. He had at least three gunshot wounds, only of which was to the head and believed the fatal shot. Nearly a dozen shell casings were collected from the scene. Photo: June 28, 2024. Municipal Police collected nearly a dozen shell casings from the scene. Cancun police are using plaza security footage to track down those responsible. According to the State Attorney General of Quintana Roo, a personal vendetta over immigration issues is being investigated as a possible motive for the fatal attack. Pemex presents projects to quadruple states fuel storage Riviera Maya, Q.R. The Government of Quintana Roo has begun work in coordination with Pemex to increase the states fuel supply. The project will include the addition of fuel storage tanks to increase surplus supply and lower consumer costs. Governor Lezama says now, Quintana Roo has fuel storage of around two days. With the project, Quintana Roo would see a fuel storage increase of between eight and 10 days. Governor Lezama met with officials from Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) Friday. During the meeting, Pemex presente three projects to the Government of Quintana Roo that would give the state energy autonomy with Storage and Dispatch Terminals (TAD), which seeks to meet the growing demand for fuel and generate new investments to increase energy, commercial, tourist and industrial competitiveness. Currently, all fuels are brought into the state by tractor trailers mainly from the Port of Progreso, Yucatan, which means Quintana Roo has the highest average oil prices in the country due to operating costs. Governor Lezama highlighted the importance of these projects for Quintana Roo, mentioning that the construction of fuel storage plants would reduce prices and directly benefit residents. In addition, gasoline supply is guaranteed, even in the event of hydrometeorological contingencies. Blanca Marisa Mendoza, Deputy Director of Fuel Supply at Pemex, and Eduardo Padilla Yebra, from Pemex Logistica, presented the three projects of the storage and supply strategy. They included TAD Cancun, TAD Chetumal and the Punta Venado Project, to meet demand. These three projects seek to increase the states storage capacity from two days to between eight and ten days, thus significantly increasing the current capacity. In addition, dependence on supply from Campeche and Yucatan would be reduced, which would help reduce gasoline prices in Quintana Roo. Among the data presented, it was highlighted that the daily consumption of gasoline in Quintana Roo is 16,000 barrels, and with the projected growth of the Tulum International Airport and the Maya Train, it could increase to 20,000 barrels in the next 10 years. It was specified that TAD Cancun would be managed by the Tren Maya since it would be located on land where the cargo terminal will be built, also supplying jet fuel to the Tulum International Airport. The Chetumal TAD would become an export point due to the free zone conditions, recently promoted by the Federal Government with the strategic fiscal area and the elimination of taxes. On the other hand, the Punta Venado Project would eliminate land transportation from Puerto Progreso, opting for maritime transport which would represent a saving of 3.7 billion pesos. Pemex presented the three projects Friday to Governor Lezama. Photo: CGC June 28, 2024. In addition, it would provide industrial and energy security by reducing the number of fuel transfers by road. This project would also supply the airports of Tulum and Chetumal, allowing them to attract the greatest number of necessary flights without fuel supply being a limitation. Given the advantages and benefits offered by these projects, Governor Mara Lezama asked her team to speed up the necessary procedures to immediately begin work and complete the projects. Truck protest leaves Costa Maya drivers stranded Costa Maya, Q.R. A road block of industrial vehicles left a section of Costa Maya highway backed up Friday. Traffic was at a standstill for hours while a group of disgruntled truck drivers demanded payment for hauling Tren Maya ballast. The protest was held in time with a regional visit by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, both of whom were in Campeche at the time of the roadblock. The group of Transportistas Unidos organized the national protest Thursday claiming they have not been paid for ballast hauled. State Secretary Cristina Torres Gomez says the group does not have debt with Sedena, who is in charge of the project. The protesting drivers are subcontractors who are likely owed money by individuals, making it a private issue. We cannot rule out that there is an individual who provided the service but has not paid the subcontracted company, but it is not a national issue, she said. Traffic in southern Quintana Roo was at a standstill during the protest. Photo: June 28, 2024. On Friday morning, the group of drivers blocked roads in Puebla, Veracruz and southern Quintana Roo claiming they are owed 90 million pesos. Woman who accepted ransom deposit for Cancun kidnapping arrested in Veracruz Cancun, Q.R. A second suspect in the 2020 kidnapping of a Cancun man who has never been found has been arrested in Veracruz. Lorena N was taken into police custody Thursday in the city of Coatzacoalcos after Cancun authorities tracked a ransom payment to her bank account. Her arrest stems from the kidnapping of a Cancun man in February of 2020 who has never been found, however, the victims mother paid the 90,000 peso ransom demanded by the kidnappers. That money was tracked to a bank account owned by Lorena N, who was only recently located. Her arrest is the second in the case. According to the State Attorney General (FGE), her arrest was made in collaboration with the Veracruz State Prosecutors Office on an outstanding warrant. For the time being, she is being charged with extortion since the mans body has never been found. The detained woman identified as Lorena N, who after investigative work, is linked to the kidnapping of a male which occurred on February 22, 2020, with no indication of his whereabouts to date, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) reported. The victim left his home on the appointed date to go to a party, but did not return. Days later, through messages, they demanded from his mother the amount of 90,000 pesos for his release, an amount that she deposited in a bank account without receiving any news from her son, they added. Cancun authorities were able to obtained the data of the account in which the money was deposited. Upon obtaining the name of the owner, police requested the arrest warrant. Photo: FGE Lorena N has since been transferred back to Cancun to face charges. She is the second person arrested in the kidnapping case. On December 30, 2023, police completed an arrest warrant for the priority target Jorge Luis N. Two people in Christiansburg were arrested and charged for the death of a child. On Friday, Christiansburg police arrested Heather Renee Bentley, 37,and Eric Raymond Thad Callis, 39, according to a town news release. On June 13, town police responded to a call for an unresponsive child on the 100 block of First Street Southwest, according the release. Upon arrival, officers found a two-year-old girl dead. After an investigation into the death, Bentley and Callis were charged with felony child neglect. Callis was being held Friday at the Montgomery County Jail without bond . Bentley was being held Friday at Western Virginia Regional Jail without bond. No other details were released Friday by the town. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be pending, according to the release. Co-funded by the European Union, RETIME will develop and test in three pilot areas urban adaptation solutions, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. By integrating participatory methodologies with a data-driven framework, the project will characterise vulnerable groups and critical hotspots, enhance building resilience, deliver context-specific adaptation plans, and increase public awareness of natural and human-induced disasters and their impacts. Coordinated by ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal, RETIME is co-funded by the European Union with approximately 5 million euros and runs until April 2028. It brings together 18 partners from 8 European countries, including universities, research centres, SMEs, non-profit organisations, and public authorities. RETIME will introduce a data-driven tool for aggregating existing data from weather stations, sensor networks, and satellite images, combined with automated on-site surveys that integrate 3D models and simulate the impacts of current and projected phenomena. The project will develop four adaptation solutions to reduce risks in urban areas: a sensor-based IT automated alert system, a digital building twin, a building renovation passport, a resilience knowledge hub and decision support platform. These solutions will be conceived and tested in three pilot areas: Lisbon (Portugal), Zilina (Slovakia), and Tartu (Estonia), providing guidelines and tools for scaling up and adapting to other European urban areas. "RETIME adopts a people-centred and place-based approach that will allow us to develop innovative tools, provide timely alerts to the relevant stakeholders, improve building resilience, and minimise the impact of future disasters", said Catarina Ferreira da Silva, Project Coordinator. "We expect the results of this project to contribute to improving energy efficiency and independence, transitioning to zero-emission buildings, and lowering environmental impacts." The project targets local governments, city planners, building owners, and other urban stakeholders involved in climate resilience and mitigation and provides them with effective adaptation tools and comprehensive knowledge. Ultimately, RETIME aims to benefit urban populations, with particular attention to diverse vulnerable groups who are most susceptible to the impacts of climate-related events. Provided by iCube Programme Left to right, William Benavides, Gloria Cabrera, Rosie Castro, Mario Compean from the Committee for Barrio Betterment ticket 1971 across from Elmendorf Lake at CBB headquarters rally (near OLLU) COURTESY/Courtesy photo You know her as the firebrand who wont mince a word about the fascist tendencies at work in todays electorate, who doesnt shy from exposing the blatant lies told and taught about the Battle of the Alamo, which she sees as a symbol of slavery and white supremacy. Shes a San Antonio political activist whose contributions stretch back to La Raza Unida third party in Texas, which mounted successful campaigns throughout South Texas, and the Chicano civil rights movement. That work spilled over into Democratic Party politics. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some of you may know her best as the mother of two of San Antonios favorite sons Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and his twin brother Julian Castro. The latter served as mayor of San Antonio, housing secretary in President Barack Obamas Cabinet and is now CEO of the California-based Latino Community Foundation, the largest of its kind in the country. But what you may not know about Rosie Castro is that shes also a published poet and that she began writing poems in elementary school, while a student at Little Flower School alongside Henry Cisneros, whod later make history himself and became a mentor to her two sons. Castro doesnt put pen to paper as much these days, but over time she has written many poems, much of it about or to a specific person, she says. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thats not because shes shy about speaking directly to people or at all hesitant to let her ideas be known. Its because, even for her, its easier to say what you really mean on paper. Castro came on my podcast Nosotros, in an episode that will drop Monday, with a book in hand Entre Guadalupe y Malinche: Tejanas in Literature and Art, edited by Ines Hernandez-Avila and Norma Elia Cantu. ELAINE AYALA: Misconceptions persist about LULACs origins The 473-page anthology by Mexican and Mexican American women writers, Castro included, shows women were writing about Texas since colonial times. Castros San Antonio Sin Marias was about an election that still haunts some San Antonians. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The poem is a lament, describing how Mexican American women often feel dismissed, their real names unknown and all seen as Marias. Sin Marias is also a remembrance of the 1991 mayoral candidacy of one of Castros oldest friends, Maria Antonietta Berriozabal. She was the first Mexican American woman elected to City Council and was the hope of so many that she be elected as the first Latina mayor of a city seen as the most Mexican of U.S. cities and the Mexican American cultural capital of the United States. Her campaign got close, garnering 33% of the votes cast in a crowded field that included Mayor Lila Cockrell. For the runoff, Anglo forces consolidated their power and Berriozabal lost to Nelson Wolff by 3 points. Political scientists and historians still study that campaign. So it makes sense that it worked its way through Castros pen, an ache yet to be soothed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mexico just elected its first woman president, she said. But San Antonio still has yet to elect a Mexican American woman mayor. She hopes to see it in her lifetime but admits she may not. Castro talks about her favorite poem Sandra Cisneros You Bring Out the Mexican in Me and her favorite poet, Edgar Allan Poe. She visited both his graves, she said. Its a sweet story. In high school, she was a poet-in-residence of sorts. Peers asked her to write poems for their girlfriends and boyfriends. She complied. I wonder if any still exist in a fading scrapbook. Castro once believed that following a writers path, a poets path, wouldnt be fruitful. She decided on a path she saw as more possible of enacting change. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She now sees that as an erroneous view. Thankfully, she didnt shelve poetry altogether. Several of her poems appear in Entre Guadalupe y Malinche. She instead focused on a career in higher education and continued her political work, assisting many campaigns over the years. She raised two sons in the process and was known for dragging them to every protest, rally and community meeting where the challenging work was being done. Over the years, Castro also worked behind the scenes on issues such as the 1973 Dallas police brutality case in which an officer shot and killed 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez by playing Russian roulette to get a confession out of him. Castro had a role in getting the U.S. Justice Department to investigate and prosecute a Castroville police chief in the 1975 Richard Morales shotgun slaying. The case involved the chiefs wife and her sister. So poetry can be an escape of sorts, a way to see things outside the world, but never out of sync with reality. Sin Marias refers to vatos and flyboys and bankers and tourists who saw Maria no last name, Maria no history, Maria no feelings, Maria no identity. Until, of course, San Antonio saw that name, that sacred name on colossal billboards, white on blue. MILFORD, Iowa -- Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp is celebrating its 100th anniversary with an array of events this weekend. The camp, which was established in 1924 on West Lake Okoboji in the Miller's Bay area of Milford, traces its roots back to the Danish United Evangelical Lutheran Church. The camp can now house more than 300 guests on a nightly basis. It's mission statement is: "To know Jesus Christ and to make Christ known to all." "It's a tremendous opportunity for us to recognize that God has been faithful in establishing our camp ministry and working through it powerfully in the lives of thousands and thousands over a century," said Rod Quanbeck, executive director of Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps. "It's also a time for us to look ahead, excited and confident that same God will lead us forward and work through this camp." Quanbeck expects more than 350 people to partake in the celebration at the camp. A pork feed is being held at 5 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji, as well as a special service. Tickets, which are required for the dinner, can be purchased by visiting okoboji.org/100. Two other camps in the area are helping house people for the weekend celebration, which also features games, crafts, campfires Sunday worship at the beach and camp era reunions for campers and staff. Quanbeck said some of the biggest changes over the last century have been going from a camp held over a few weeks during the summer to a "year-round ministry" and expanding from one location to two. Ingham Lake Bible Camp, which was founded in 1951 along the shores of Ingham Lake, east of Wallingford, joined with Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp after a working relationship between the camps began in 1983. Adults, youth and families from all backgrounds are welcome to attend camps and retreats at both sites. "In many ways, it's a camp of partnerships with families, but also we have partner congregations. It started with 24 congregations. Now, there's about 120 churches that are involved in the ministry," said Quanbeck, who said Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps partners with any congregation that wants to be involved, regardless of Christian denomination. Quanbeck said campers love swimming, canoeing, kayaking and tubing, as well as partaking in games on the grassy playing fields at the camp. "There's some other inflatables in the water. People just love playing around and having fun together," he said. "And also we do a fair amount of singing and music and drama. People also enjoy coming and just sharing together and what it's like to be living with God at the center of their lives and helping each other grow in Bible studies." During the winter of 1777-78, roughly 12,000 American soldiers, along with 400 women and children, huddled in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Temperature changes, rain and snowfall, and cramped conditions contributed to the spread of diseases that led to the deaths of roughly 2,000 souls. With British troops occupying the nearby capital of Philadelphia, there would have been cause for despair. Instead, the National Park Service writes that the soldiers, while exhausted and ill-supplied, were cautiously optimistic about the future. The previous winter had also been challenging. Faced with cold weather and the end of one-year enlistments, there were doubts about the revolutions future. In his tract The Crisis, Thomas Paine wrote, Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country . . . came forth to meet and repulse it. I share these stories, among the many that could be told, as we approach Independence Day. The opportunities and freedoms that we have are the result of sacrifices made in the past. It happened because of patriots who understood that with freedom comes responsibility. That there is a common cause among free people, one that understands a purpose greater than oneself. It was reflected in the final words of the Declaration of Independence, where the signers mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. So, its appropriate to celebrate with fireworks on the Fourth of July. The same is true for cookouts, family outings, and music. Its just as important to remember all that went into our opportunity to engage in these activities. There are valid reasons to question our ability to continue this greater purpose. Taking the time to vote is not as challenging as six months of training and enduring the variable weather and disease of Valley Forge. Still, only eight percent of Iowa voters participated in the most recent primary. There are also plenty of examples of leaders putting their personal interests ahead of the people they serve. Yet, it also doesnt take much to identify examples of service above self. We may just need reminders. America has had voluntary military service for 51 years. After 2001, young Americans willingly took an oath to serve with a high likelihood of seeing combat. But we have been seeing other examples closer to home. When tornadoes struck several communities in May, people responded to help those impacted. As I write, people are reaching out to assist those impacted by flooding. Ordinary citizens, non-profit organizations, and government entities are working tirelessly to support fellow citizens. Countless people are putting their humanity and concern for others first. No one is asking the political affiliation of those affected, nor their religion or other factors that too often become a way for us to identify each other. We need to do more of that. Not just during disasters. Patriotism isnt just about willingness to serve in uniform; but it is more than just waving the flag. A greater reflection of patriotism is the love for your fellow citizens and looking out for their well-being so we can be stronger together. The army that camped at Valley Forge was diverse ethnically, linguistically, religiously, ideologically, racially, and in gender. Faced with challenges, they became better organized and developed greater cohesion. Many of their differences remained, but they were put aside in order to fight the common threat. We ought to do the same so that future generations enjoy the fruits of freedom that we presently celebrate. A Sioux City resident, Steve Warnstadt is government affairs coordinator for Western Iowa Tech Community College. He is a former Democratic state senator and retired Army National Guard brigadier general. He and his wife, Mary, are the parents of one son and one daughter. When I turned 40, a friend about a decade younger asked if I had any lessons to impart from what then seemed a vantage point of maturity. I was stumped, and have only become more so as the years have gone by. One of the strangest things about aging is how difficult it is to describe the experience of being older to younger people. It is simply impossible, it seems, truly to know what it is like to have x years under your belt without actually living through those years. Yet, paradoxically, this has only made me more interested in the work of old writersjust in case one of them has pulled it off at last. In Gail Godwins sixth novel, 1982s A Mother and Two Daughters, the author wrote a chapter in which two friends, women in their 40s, hike to the top of a bald mountain and sprawl in the meadow grass planning their old age. They decide that one has to take a position on it, that one has to prepare an image of oneself that one can grow into. That crafted identity requires a power base that can make an old woman the kind of witch who is feared or admiredperhaps even loved, rather than ignored and diminished. The source of that power could be fame or money or something more intangible, such as becoming a beloved local person, a small-town teacher, perhaps, visited and consulted by her former students. That one chapter alone, Godwins editor told her at the time, was worth the price of the book. But those characters, thoughtful as they seemed, had no idea what awaited them. Godwin has published 11 novels plus a few memoirs and guides for writers in the years since those women climbed that mountain. A couple of weeks before her 85th birthday, while trying to water a newly planted dogwood tree on a hot day, she fell and broke her neck. The injury, she writes in her odd, fragmented, and ultimately powerful new book, Getting to Know Death, initially just caused her neck to feel a little funny. But she ended up wearing a collar brace night and day for six months. Her therapist suggested she use the time to come to terms with her mortality, giving this meditation its title. Advertisement Never in Getting to Know Death does Godwin contemplate her power base or the sort of persona the characters in A Mother and Two Daughters consider so essential to being old. You could say thats because she long ago succeeded in securing her status as that rarest of creatures, a financially successful literary novelist. But none of that is relevant to Getting to Know Death, which is entirely unconcerned with Godwins image or what anybody else thinks of her. At times the book is very bleak, at times funny, at times radiant. Death is always present in the book, but not exactly confronted because its nothingness provides so little grist for Godwins mill. This is a bit surprising because she is a Christian and presumably believes in an afterlife, but this book is really about the experience of being quite old while retaining ones creative powers. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Godwins late partner, the composer Robert Starer, who died in 2001, said of his work toward the end of his life, I used to try to be original. Now I try to be clear and essential. Godwin herself writes that while working on her 2013 novel, Flora, she noticed that her own style was changing. I was shaping a shorter, sharper sentence and heading toward an essential focus in theme, almost severe at times. The most exciting experiment for an older writer, she ventures, is to ask: How much of your story can you convey with the excess stripped away? This attitudeas Godwin surely knowsjibes with the conventional notion of an artists late style: expression honed to its essence, exemplified by the painter J.M.W. Turner, whose late works were initially derided but later heralded as precursors of impressionism and other modernist movements. Often late style is characterized as serene and accepting, although the philosopher Edward Said (in a book written shortly before his own death from leukemia) argued that the discontinuous nature of many artists late work conveys intransigence, difficulty, and contradiction. They are the equivalent of those impatient old people who will have no truck with euphemism and other niceties, who insist on calling everything as they see it. Advertisement Related From Slate What I Learned From a Hermit Whos Lived in a Remote Scottish Cabin for 40 Years Read More Theres some of all of these qualities in Getting to Know Death. Godwins thoughts are a swirl of past (of which there is so much) and present (of which there will be a swiftly diminishing supply). Much of the book is addressed to her best friend, Pat, whom she met in second grade and rejoiced in for 77 years. (Pat and Gail are the models for the two friends lying atop that mountain, planning their old age together.) Patwho gave away everything she owned except for two nightgowns, moved into a Medicaid-funded nursing home, and died in 2021taught Godwin that there are moral natures outside of books that are superior to mine. She served as a constant reminder to her friend that writing and artistic ambitionthe nexus of Godwins own power basecould only be a relatively small part of a worthy life. Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes the imperatives of art can even be a hindrance. Getting to Know Death seems to reflect subterranean reservations about the storytelling that has been Godwins lifes work. Godwin finds herself wondering whether the tales shes invested so much in are actually true. Did 10-year-old Pat really defiantly drink out of a water fountain labeled Colored in segregated North Carolina? Who was Godwins grandmother, really, a woman she now views as a big mystery who contained more than I ever thought to imagine about her. This newfound rigor concerning the truth expands outward. Take care to fact-check websites with titles like Last Words of Famous People, Godwin advises her reader. It turns out that Henry James did not say, So it has come at last, the distinguished thing, when he expired, but rather, Stay with me, Alice, stay with me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edward Said would insist that the nonlinearity so common in late style represents a rebellion against conventional wisdom and an embrace of the true shapelessness of life, and therefore a rejection of the false coherence of narrative. Its true that the chronological meandering of Getting to Know Death can make it difficult to track at times. The book was written during the months when Godwin felt imprisoned in her neck brace and was obliged to move downstairs in her house, into the room where her ailing husband spent his final monthsan ominous transition. Surely it wasnt possible to do any sustained writing under those conditions. But the often telegraphic, even gnomic, nature of late style seems just as likely to be the result of the stripping away of what comes to feel like filler and throat-clearing. The essence remains. You just have to know how to read it. Advertisement Godwins guide in this is Samuel Beckett, a writer whose entire corpus feels like late style. I wouldnt have associated Beckett with the psychological naturalism of Godwins own fiction. But she fell in love with a short Beckett text (writtenyes!in his final years), Imagination Dead Imagine, when she was a grad student in her 30s. She includes in Getting to Know Death the full text of a sort of prose poem she wrote under the influence of this work and published in James Joyce Quarterly in 1971. You can see why. Its very good, and she imagines a conversation with the younger self who wrote it in which she asks, Help me try to do this again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, Getting to Know Death isnt much like Beckett; Godwin just isnt as much of an isolate as the author of Waiting for Godot. True, the memoir is spare, and it has its incantatory repetitions and fixations: how much her work borrowed from Pats life; her family history of suicide; the despair she felt as a high school graduate with no money for college and the relief when her estranged father offered to pay the tuition. The little dogwood tree she tried to rescueand in doing so condemned herself to six months in a brace, surgery, and a possibly permanent disabilitycrops up again and again. Yet even stuck in her sitting room, Godwin is no Beckett character, buried up to her neck in sand. Without her accident, Godwin would never have met individuals she now cherishes, her roommate at a rehabilitation center and her home health care worker chief among them. It is this that endures for her, along with writing and reading: not a power base in money or wealth or reputation, or an identity founded on any of that, but the possibility of newness and discovery in the ever-surprising form of other people. This, at least, never gets old. 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!) On Friday morning, the Supreme Court issued an explosive decision hobbling the presidents ability to enforce regulationsjust 12 hours after President Joe Bidens disastrous performance at the CNN debate against Donald Trump. The conservative supermajoritys ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo overturned 40 years of precedent based on Chevron deferenceshifting an immense amount of power away from Congress and the executive branch toward the judiciary. The ruling gives unelected judges free-floating veto power over the enforcement of virtually all laws and puts a heavy thumb on the scale of deregulation, hobbling Democratic presidents ability to govern. On Saturdays episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the connection between the debate and the courts decisions with Stanford Law professor Pam Karlan, who served in the Biden administration as deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: I have this lingering question about how the Trump-Biden debate, and presidential debates more generally, mislead and misdirect the conversation about how government actually works. Onstage, it looks like these two guys will personally be setting policy on veterans affairs and climate and immigration and everything else. Thats how the questions are framed and answered. But that completely obscures the long march toward deregulation, and the attacks on voting rights, and the threats to the separation of powersall coming from an aggressive, conservative judiciary. Look at the enormity of whats going on at the Supreme Court, from Jarkesy to bump stocks to Loper Bright and beyond: Much more so than any presidential debate, that seems to me to be the story of whats happening to our democracy. Can you reframe this for people who are distracted by the pomp and circumstance of a CNN debate? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Joseph Stern: I think its illuminating to have had Loper Bright come down the morning after that debate. Joe Biden did not perform well Thursday night, and the reaction on the left was, in part, fear about whether this guy could still serve as the chief executive of the United States. I understand those concerns. But I think this popular vision of the president as basically running the country is so far removed from how government actually works. At a certain point, it is actively misleading to put too much stock in, say, the performance of a candidate on a debate stage. The government is vast. It is run by a bunch of agencies, most of which you probably havent heard of, that are staffed with experts who have a deep knowledge and experience in a particular subject matter, alongside lawyers who want to make government work for the people. And theyre operating under political appointees who are accountable to the president, whos accountable to the people. We rarely talk about these agencies, yet theyre the ones who are interpreting and executing the law, day in and day out. Theyre approving or rejecting new drugs. Theyre limiting pollution from some dirty factory in West Virginia thats creating a cancer cluster in a majority-Black community. Theyre the ones who are making sure were given the full scope of protections that Congress aimed to give us when enacting broadly worded laws. Advertisement Related From Slate Elena Kagan Is Horrified by What the Supreme Court Just Did. You Should Be Too. Read More Thats how government works, and its anathema to the Republican Party and Donald Trump. One of Trumps key goals was dismantlement of the administrative state. Steve Bannon said it himself. And thats a fundamental part of Project 2025. They want to stop government from working, because they believe when government functions properly, its bad for billionaires. Its bad for polluters. Its bad for industry that wants to dump pollution into our waters, or sell drugs that arent safe, or make a ton of money and shelter it from taxation. Advertisement Right now, much of the country is still talking about Biden stuttering on the debate stage instead of how each of these men would run and staff the sprawling government that they would ostensibly run. If we had a healthier conversation here, wed be talking more about Loper Bright today than about the debate. Because the Supreme Court has just awarded itself sweeping authority to overrule those agencies and experts and appointees and shift all that power to unelected judges, away from the people. And Trump wants to appoint more power-hungry judges who operate like this Supreme Court, and staff the executive branch with industry-allied appointees who will try to dismantle the very agencies they run. But because most Americans, I fear, still fundamentally misunderstand how the wheels of government truly turn, were obsessing about Bidens sore throat, not talking about one of the biggest power grabs that the judiciary has ever undertaken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam Karlan: Implicit in what Mark is saying, I think, that whichever candidate wins the election, the Supreme Court is going to be there to dismantle the regulatory state. Thats the real story here underneath everything else. Even if a Democratic president prevailseven if, somehow, a vigorous, 39-year-old Democratic president were electedthe Supreme Court would still be there to kneecap their attempts to deal with climate change, securities fraud, pension fraud, medical emergencies, and more. The Supreme Court can dismantle all of that without regard to whos in the White House. Thats what the big story of this last week at the Supreme Court has been. You know, it used to be that Justice Scalia was the major proponent of Chevron deference. And what youre seeing now is because of a change in politicsa view that maybe Republicans wont always hold the executive branch, but theyre going to hold the judiciary for a good, long time. They dont want to defer to the executive branch anymore because the executive branch may have a Democratic president. But the courts, or at least the Supreme Court, is going to be a Republican court for quite a while. And through the courts, they can dismantle a lot of stuff that they wouldnt be able to dismantle through the political process. The Supreme Court upheld laws that single out homeless people for punishment in Fridays Grants Pass v. Johnson, a 63 decision with all three liberals in dissent. On Saturdays episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the decision with Stanford Law professor Pam Karlan, who served in the Biden administration as deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. A portion of their conversation, below, has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: Because the Supreme Court is flooding the zone with major decisions, Grants Pass is likely to get lost, and thats by design. But it seems incredibly important. While billionaires and oligarchs are scoring huge victories at this court, you know who lost big time? People just trying to sleep. Mark Joseph Stern: No way around itthis is a horrible decision for homeless people, especially those who are disabled. For several years the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has held that its cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment to punish an individual for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go because theres no available shelter. That, the appeals court held, is punishing people for the status of being homeless, rather than any particular kind of conduct. Theres a lot of misinformation out there that blames the Wests homelessness crisis on the 9th Circuits decisions, but frankly, these cases mostly tinker around the edges of the problem. They allowed the government to ban encampments, individual tents, public urination, and similar problems; the one rule was that it couldnt criminalize actual homelessness by punishing people for sleep, a biological necessity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyway, Grants Pass is a town in Oregon that launched a crusade to drive out its homeless population. Justice Sonia Sotomayors dissent shows pretty conclusively that lawmakers decided to target these individuals through a stringent ban that made it a crime to sleep outside, even when theres zero available shelter. It let officers ticket sleeping people then jail them for repeat offenses. The 9th Circuit found that the ban was unconstitutional when imposed in that manner. But the Supreme Court, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by all the other conservatives, reversed the 9th Circuit on Friday. Related From Slate Sonia Sotomayor Is Trying to Warn Us About the Supreme Courts Dirtiest Open Secret Read More Gorsuch held that the Grants Pass law, and others like it, dont violate the Eighth Amendment because it doesnt punish the status of being homeless, but rather the conduct of sleeping outside. He feigns empathy toward the unhoused, but in reality just leaves them at the whims of people who dont want to see or think about them. Again, the effects on the ground probably wont be huge. And the court declined to overrule the prohibition against punishing people for status. But the decision absolutely strips homeless people of the one constitutional protection they had from being targeted, fined, and jailed because they couldnt afford to have a roof over their heads. Advertisement Advertisement Pam Karlan: The distinction between status and conduct comes from the Supreme Courts 1962 decision in Robinson v. California. And Justice Clarence Thomas had a concurrence in which he said the court should reverse Robinson, because he doesnt think its cruel and unusual punishment to punish somebody for their status. At least the majority seems to understand that you cant simply make it a crime to be homeless, standing alone. Under Justice Thomas version of things, you could make it a crime to be homeless, even if you werent asleep outside. This kind of gratuitous cruelty is coming from somebody who can park his RV in a Walmart parking lot and sleep if he doesnt already have a roof over his head. Not everybody has an RV given to them by their friends. Stern: Or a super yacht in the South Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Lithwick: Or a private jet to go salmon fishing. Mark, I think you are making the point that this is the one-two punch. The Supreme Court is weakening Robinson, hollowing it out without overturning it, and then Justice Thomas is saying, Oh, but I would totally overturn it. Then on the other side is Justice Sonia Sotomayor in dissent. Theres a lot of talk about how shes the peoples justice, constantly giving a voice to those who have no power. And I want to point out one thing I found incredibly striking in her dissent, which is that shes not just talking about the homeless as real people. Shes also saying that people become homeless because of the decisions made by government. She writes that people become homeless for many reasons, including crippling debt and stagnant wages; domestic and sexual abuse; physical and psychiatric disabilities; and rising housing costs coupled with declining affordable housing options. Some people are one unexpected medical bill away from being unable to pay rent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Individuals with disabilities, immigrants, and veterans face policies that increase housing instability. She talks about people whove lost housing in Oregon because of climate events such as extreme wildfires across the state, floods in the coastal areas, and heavy snowstorms. Tell me if Im overreading this. But I read her dissent as saying: If you dismantle the administrative state, and disable the government from dealing with crises involving climate and housing and mental health and health care generallyall of which the Supreme Court keeps doingyoure going to have more of these problems, not fewer. In some ways, this is almost like a callback to the majoritys attack on the regulatory state and the government, and endless decisions in favor of rich people who win all the time. Its all bundled up in this deeply physicalized recitation of what it means to be homeless and why you got there. Advertisement Advertisement Karlan: Absolutely. I mean, these things are all connected with each other, right? If you dont have social services, if you dont have proper housing and health care, this is what happens. Think about the case earlier this month, Moore v. U.S., where the plaintiffs wanted to essentially prevent taxation on wealth. In that case, it failed. But this is an attack on the modern social welfare state across the board. Stern: I dont think its a coincidence that Justice Sotomayor is the only justice with a disability. She has a much better sense of what it might mean to deal with a physical issue without having shelter. And note that she puts the climate crisis in the foreground, pointing out that some people are homeless because climate change has hit Oregon with unprecedented wildfires and flooding and other anomalous events. Well, whats driving the climate crisis? Greenhouse gas emissions that the Supreme Court wont let the government limit! So I absolutely agree that she weaves it all together in a masterful way. Her dissent is very much about what happens when the courts dismantle the legal structures that are supposed to protect us from the many harms she lists. Karlan: With this court, its almost as if Ebenezer Scrooge has become a justice. Are there no workhouses for these people? We are going back to the 19th century as fast as the Supreme Court can take us there. 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!) San Francisco Giants' Brett Wisely (0) celebrates with Jorge Soler after hitting a game-wining, two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Brett Wisely hit a two-run homer with none out in the ninth inning after Jason Heyward tied it in the top half on a sacrifice fly, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Friday night. Camilo Doval (3-1) wound up with the victory after blowing just his third save opportunity all season. Wisely delivered against the mighty Dodgers in front of a sellout crowd for fireworks night. Hes been playing short great, hes been getting big hits for us, manager Bob Melvin said. Hes led off, hitting down in the lineup. That's one in his career that hes never going to forget, that big a homer against these guys. Hes been playing short great, hes been getting big hits for us. Hes led off, hitting down in the lineup. That;s one in his career that hes never going to forget, that big a homer against these guys. Blake Treinen (2-2) entered for the ninth and immediately walked Luis Matos, who was replaced by pinch-runner Tyler Fitzgerald. Matt Chapman had put the Giants ahead with a two-run homer in the sixth inning shortly after the Giants announced the death of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda and paused for a moment of silence. Logan Webb struck out six over seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Tyler Rogers pitched the eighth before Doval entered and gave up a leadoff triple to Andy Pages ahead of Heyward's sacrifice fly. Gavin Lux broke up a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the fifth off Webb and Will Smith singled in a run later that inning, but the Dodgers had their four-game winning streak snapped. Matos homered in the bottom half of the fifth for the Giants, who just took three of four from the Cubs. Michael Conforto hit a two-out triple in the second for San Francisco but Miguel Rojas then stopped a hard line drive by Matos to save a run. The Dodgers have won 11 of 14 against the Giants dating to September and five of seven this season. Los Angeles hasn't dropped a road series in San Francisco since going 2-8 in 2016 and is 36-24 since then at Oracle Park. TRAINER'S ROOM Dodgers: 3B Max Muncy, nursing an oblique strain, is with the team and took swings off a tee and fielded groundballs. The next step will be taking live batting practice, then a simulated game before Muncy begins a rehab assignment, according to manager Dave Roberts. ... LHP Clayton Kershaw will resume playing catch again next week after the club announced Monday he had been shut down because of lingering soreness as he recovers from surgery in his pitching shoulder. Giants: LHP Blake Snell struck out six and allowed three runs on four hits over three innings for Triple-A Sacramento at Las Vegas as the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner works back from a strained left groin. ... RHP Alex Cobb (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday and is set to pitch in a rehab outing at Class-A San Jose on Sunday. ... LHP Kyle Harrison tested his sprained right ankle with a bullpen session as well. ROSTER MOVES INF/OF LaMonte Wade Jr. returned from the injured list and started at first base, going 1 for 4 with two strikeouts, and INF/OF Tyler Fitzgerald was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento as INFs Thairo Estrada (sprained left wrist) and Wilmer Flores (tendonitis in his right knee) were placed on the 10-day IL. UP NEXT RHP Tyler Glasnow (8-5, 2.88 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Dodgers on Saturday, while the Giants hadn't named a starter. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net. A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/belarus-deploys-additional-air-defense-systems-on-ukrainian-border-1119178823.html Belarus Deploys Additional Air Defense Systems on Ukrainian Border Belarus Deploys Additional Air Defense Systems on Ukrainian Border Sputnik International Belarus deployed additional air defense forces on the border with Ukraine to protect critical facilities of the republic amid Ukrainian drone activity, Belarusian military official Andrei Severinchik said on Saturday. 2024-06-29T11:10+0000 2024-06-29T11:10+0000 2024-06-29T11:10+0000 military belarus ukrainian crisis drone warfare https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102084/37/1020843721_0:160:3074:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_038182da4fb6260970ff5581f11b2b94.jpg "The system of visual observation posts has been expanded with the sole purpose of providing information to the firing units of the anti-aircraft missile and air defense forces of the operational commands on combat duty. To this end, air defense forces and means have been additionally deployed to designated areas to cover the southern borders and critical facilities of the Republic of Belarus," Severinchik said. Despite having issues with air defense in several other directions, Ukrainian forces are gathering air defense systems in its northern region of Zhytomyr, which borders Belarus, the official added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240624/russia-belarus-to-contribute-to-formation-of-new-security-architecture---statement-1119106500.html belarus 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 belarus, air defense drones, belarus air defense ukraine, drone warfare ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/court-in-bolivia-orders-six-months-of-preventive-detention-for-rebel-generals---reports-1119174520.html Court in Bolivia Orders Six Months of 'Preventive Detention' for Rebel Generals - Reports Court in Bolivia Orders Six Months of 'Preventive Detention' for Rebel Generals - Reports Sputnik International A Bolivian court has imposed six months of pretrial detention on the detained leaders of the failed military coup attempt, who are accused of terrorism and armed rebellion, Bolivia TV reported. 2024-06-29T04:34+0000 2024-06-29T04:34+0000 2024-06-29T04:34+0000 world bolivia military coup attempted coup https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1d/1119174754_0:0:3639:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_913a5bb063a9ff712019314120fb8635.jpg "[Former Army Commander-in-Chief Gen.] Juan Jose Zuniga, [former navy commander Vice Adm.] Juan Arnez and [ex-Gen.] Edison Irahola, suspected of terrorism and an armed attack on the security and sovereignty of the state, were sentenced to six months of preventive detention in the Chonchocoro prison, the broadcaster said on X. On Wednesday, the Bolivian military, led by Zuniga, gathered on the central square of Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz and 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 formed 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. As a result of clashes between the military and residents of La Paz on the central square, 14 people were injured. After these events, law enforcement officers detained 21 people involved in the coup attempt. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/outside-forces-may-provoke-coup-attempt-in-bolivia---bolivian-defense-minister-1119158713.html 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, botched coup in bolivia, coup attempt bolivia, bolivia general arrested https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/foreign-financial-aid-to-ukraine-hits-record-low-of-2bln-per-month-since-february-2022-1119176679.html Foreign Financial Aid to Ukraine Hits Record Low of $2Bln Per Month Since February 2022 Foreign Financial Aid to Ukraine Hits Record Low of $2Bln Per Month Since February 2022 Sputnik International Foreign financial assistance to Ukraine has hit record lows since February 2022 after falling to a monthly average of 1.9 billion euros ($2 billion) in the first half of 2024 2024-06-29T07:33+0000 2024-06-29T07:33+0000 2024-06-29T07:59+0000 world ukrainian crisis ukraine european union (eu) us us arms for ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/10/1118984778_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_dbc1c577ee3f9f09283b3339bdd2199b.jpg In 2022, Ukraine's budget received an average of 2.9 billion euros per month from 17 countries and the European Union, with the United States providing the largest disbursement of 11.4 billion euros, the EU 7.6 billion euros and Canada 1.8 billion euros, the data showed. In 2023, 13 countries and the European Union, which became the largest donor (18.1 billion euros), provided Ukraine with a monthly average of 3 billion euros, the data said. The United States took the second place with 10.1 billion euros, followed by Japan with 3.4 billion euros, the data showed. Austria, Albania, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and Latvia did not provide any financial assistance to Ukraine last year, the data said. This year, Kiev received financial support from the European Union, Canada, Japan, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom and the monthly allocations dropped to 1.9 billion euros, the data showed. Earlier in June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that Ukraine would receive 1.5 billion euros from profits generated by frozen Russian assets in July. Kiev is also set to receive 1.9 billion euros from the European Union by the end of June for reforms and investment, she said. Earlier experts explained to Sputnik that Western voters are gradually getting tired of the Ukrainian crisis and do not want to see their governments sending more aid to the corrupt Kiev regime.Western countries have been providing massive military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240511/scott-ritter-predicts-how-ukraine-will-end-1118382169.html 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 us arms for ukraine, ukrainian crisis, money for ukraine, ukraine conflict, western money for ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/german-citizenship-reform-seeks-to-create-loyal-voters-out-of-migrants---afd-1119176227.html German Citizenship Reform Seeks to Create Loyal Voters Out of Migrants- AfD German Citizenship Reform Seeks to Create Loyal Voters Out of Migrants- AfD Sputnik International Germany's new citizenship law that makes it easier to become a German citizen is aimed at creating a new electorate that would vote for the ruling political establishment, lawmaker from the right-wing Alternative for Germany party Eugene Schmidt opined in a comment to Sputnik. 2024-06-29T06:30+0000 2024-06-29T06:30+0000 2024-06-29T06:30+0000 world germany alternative fuer deutschland (afd) migrants illegal migration https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103287/34/1032873455_0:286:4192:2644_1920x0_80_0_0_856d99791ffd5918fcd6e0cdc9587ee9.jpg The naturalization reform put forward by Germany's three-party center-left coalition government allows people to become German citizens while retaining their original citizenship and opens possibility to apply for citizenship after living in Germany for five and in some cases three years, instead of the previous requirement of eight years. The authorities are already considering 200,000 applications for the German citizenship, with 40,000 of them in Berlin, the lawmaker said, adding that the situation would worsen with the new law.Germany is the primary destination for the refugees all around the globe, including Ukraine. Currently, European country hosts over 1.3 million migrants from Ukraine and offers them a generous monthly stipend of $610. Predictably, they unemployment rate among refugees in Germany stands at 80%. germany 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 afd, germany migrants, germany refugees, germany populism, eugene schmidt https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/hamas-blasts-us-floating-pier-off-gaza-coast-as-political-show-1119182309.html Hamas Blasts US' Floating Pier Off Gaza Coast as 'Political Show' Hamas Blasts US' Floating Pier Off Gaza Coast as 'Political Show' Sputnik International The Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh reported that the US dismantled the floating pier on Friday due to the threat of damage from adverse weather conditions. The pier had been established off the Gaza coast supposedly to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery. 2024-06-29T17:31+0000 2024-06-29T17:31+0000 2024-06-29T17:31+0000 world joe biden us gaza strip israel hamas pentagon middle east https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1b/1118646982_0:91:2859:1699_1920x0_80_0_0_c9aa3ab0c00c6bfc0d46ba5901b129bf.jpg Hamas Politburo member Osama Hamdan has described the floating pier the US set up off the Gaza Strip coast as "a political stunt"."The floating port that the American administration established on the coast of Gaza was nothing but propaganda and a political show to save the face of this administration," Hamdan said during a speech broadcast by Arab television channels.The politburo member added that this pier did not solve the problem of food shortages in Gaza.Previously, the New York Times cited sources as saying that President Joe Biden's administration was disappointed with the use of the floating pier for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, as the project failed to meet even modest goals. Later, a representative from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza, Georgios Petropoulos, expressed that the US operation to create a floating pier for humanitarian aid in the enclave was unsuccessful.Amidst a deteriorating humanitarian situation, President Joe Biden announced the creation of a system to ensure maritime delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza sector in March.NBC reported earlier, citing knowledgeable sources in the US and Israeli governments, that the US military suspended maritime delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza due to damages to the floating pier incurred during a storm. During the storm, four small US military boats were detached from the pier, resulting in two being washed ashore in Gaza and two in Israel. Prior to this, three American military personnel working on the pier were injured, one of whom is in critical condition. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240623/miscalculated-stormy-seas-expose-pentagons-floating-gaza-aid-pier-as-feeble-flop-1119075334.html gaza strip 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 floating pier off gaza coast, hamas, gaza war, israel-hamas conflict, gaza humanitarian crisis, gaza strip, palestine-israel conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/investor-jim-rogers-russian-asset-seizure-by-the-west-undermines-trust-in-the-us-dollar-1119178278.html Investor Jim Rogers: Russian Asset Seizure by the West Undermines Trust in the US Dollar Investor Jim Rogers: Russian Asset Seizure by the West Undermines Trust in the US Dollar Sputnik International The seizure of Russian assets by the collective West is a wrong move but it almost always occurs in a time of war, renowned US investor Jim Rogers told Sputnik. 2024-06-29T10:37+0000 2024-06-29T10:37+0000 2024-06-29T10:37+0000 economy russian economy under sanctions russian economy russia-nato showdown jim rogers ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107963/97/1079639749_0:146:1920:1226_1920x0_80_0_0_7da62549fd722a235b7b615c464dee32.jpg Earlier in June, the Group of Seven (G7) countries agreed during their summit in Italy to provide at least $50 billion to Ukraine by utilizing revenues generated from the interest on Russias $325 billion in assets frozen in the countries of the collective West. Rogers said he does not approve of the seizure and does not think it should happen, but reiterated that governments always take their enemies assets in war. Rogers noted that it is widely known that the United States is the largest debtor nation in history and most people are trying to find another currency to use besides the US dollar. After the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union and the G7 nations froze almost half of Russia's foreign currency reserves, amounting to $325 billion. Russia has said that any attempt to confiscate its assets amounts to theft and is a violation of international law. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240625/eu-accelerates-de-dollarization-by-stealing-russian-money-1119126047.html 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 us dollar, dollar hegemony, us dollar empire, dedollarization, de-dollarization, us hegemony, russia-nato showdown https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/israel-defense-forces-says-struck-hezbollah-targets-in-southern-lebanon-1119172897.html Israel Defense Forces Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon Israel Defense Forces Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon Sputnik International The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) says it has struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. 2024-06-29T00:38+0000 2024-06-29T00:38+0000 2024-06-29T04:15+0000 world gaza strip lebanon israel defense forces (idf) hezbollah middle east newsfeed sputnik https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1b/1119154631_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e0f09fb99d3e847c9e28252c80852dde.jpg "Over the past few hours, the IAF [Israeli Air Forces] struck numerous Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including a military site in the area of Zibqin, two operational infrastructures in the areas of Khiam and Houla, and a military structure in the area of Odaisseh," the IDF said in a statement on Telegram. The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border worsened after the start of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The Israeli army and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters daily fire at each other's positions in areas along the border.Roughly 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated from the country's northern region as it has been shelled by Hezbollah. According to Shia movement, it has been attacking Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 37,700 people have been killed, including more than 15,000 children. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240624/netanyahu-israel-poised-for-war-in-lebanon-partial-drawdown-in-gaza-1119084709.html gaza strip lebanon 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 israeli-hezbollah war, israel lebanon war, northern israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/israeli-embassy-staff-in-belgrade-unharmed-in-attempted-terrorist-attack-1119180818.html Israeli Embassy Staff in Belgrade Unharmed in Attempted Terrorist Attack Israeli Embassy Staff in Belgrade Unharmed in Attempted Terrorist Attack Sputnik International None of the employees of the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade were injured in the recent attempted terrorist attack as the diplomatic mission was closed on Saturday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, adding that the circumstances of the incident are udder investigation. 2024-06-29T14:08+0000 2024-06-29T14:08+0000 2024-06-29T14:08+0000 world serbia israel belgrade israeli embassy israeli foreign ministry ivica dacic https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1d/1119180924_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_16c5c79b21728a9a5d43be6771610552.jpg Earlier in the day, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that an unidentified person shot a police officer with a crossbow in front of the embassy and was killed by return fire. Dacic said the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack. Law enforcement officers are trying to determine whether the attacker acted alone, the official added. Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic called the incident a "crazy move" and said that Serbian authorities will be able to respond decisively to the threat of terrorism. Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic also condemned the attack and expressed his support for the interior ministry officers. The injured police officer is conscious and has been taken to the emergency room for surgery to remove the crossbow bolt from his neck. An investigation was launched. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240503/anti-semitic-awareness-bill-direct-attack-on-free-speech-1118233876.html serbia israel belgrade 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 belgrade terrorism, belrgrade embassy attack, israeli embassy attack serbia, attack on diplomats, embassy attack https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/lebanese-prime-minister-says-his-country-in-state-of-war-due-to-threats-from-israel-1119184042.html Lebanese Prime Minister Says His Country in State of War Due to Threats From Israel Lebanese Prime Minister Says His Country in State of War Due to Threats From Israel Sputnik International Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that its country is already in a state of war due to "Israeli aggression" 2024-06-29T23:25+0000 2024-06-29T23:25+0000 2024-06-29T23:25+0000 world middle east israel lebanon gaza strip israel defense forces (idf) hezbollah hassan nasrallah https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/18/1119085082_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_257a793d453945e307612f959c7c022a.jpg "The threats we see are a kind of psychological warfare. The question that is on everyone's lips Is it a war? Yes, we are in a state of war. Due to Israeli aggression, there are a large number of civilian and non-civilian casualties and destroyed villages," Mikati said in a statement on Saturday. On June 18, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz later said that Israel was "very close" to a decision to "change the rules" against Hezbollah and Lebanon, threatening to destroy the movement "in an all-out war" and to "severely hit" Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said that the movement could invade northern Israel if the confrontation intensifies further. The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border worsened after the start of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The IDF and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters fire at each other's positions in areas along the border on a daily basis. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said that around 100,000 people had to leave their homes in border areas, while the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that 80,000 Israelis had to do the same. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/us-working-through-options-to-end-conflict-between-israel-lebanon---reports-1119180705.html israel lebanon gaza strip 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 lebanese-israeli war, will there be a war in the north of israel, will lebanon and israel go to war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/polish-president-prolongs-presence-of-us-uk-canadian-troops-in-country-1119178148.html Polish President Prolongs Presence of US, UK, Canadian Troops in Country Polish President Prolongs Presence of US, UK, Canadian Troops in Country Sputnik International Polish President Andrzej Duda has approved the extension of US, UK Canadian military contingents' deployments in Poland, the Polish National Security Bureau said. 2024-06-29T10:22+0000 2024-06-29T10:22+0000 2024-06-29T10:22+0000 military poland andrzej duda us us hegemony nato united kingdom (uk) canada https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/0d/1117296767_0:89:3326:1960_1920x0_80_0_0_e9bbb75504187ef1ba2ae3e59eef394e.jpg The Polish government said that around 10,000 US soldiers were stationed in the country. At the same time, the presence of Polish military contingents abroad was also extended, the office added. In May, the US established a permanent special forces base near Krakow Balice International Airport, which will be the easternmost training center for US special forces in Europe. It would house an average 150-200 US troops on rotation. US Consul General Krakow Erin Nickerson told reporters during her visit to the base that its opening was a good sign for future cooperation between the two countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/nato-hawks-plans-for-new-bases-in-poland-romania-slovakia-wont-transpire-any-time-soon---analyst-1118968257.html poland united kingdom (uk) 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 poland us army, poland nato expansion, poland us military, polish militarism, polish army A small building with historic significance and a wavy roof could be gobbled up by the San Antonio International Airports $2.5 billion expansion project. It will likely be demolished for a road and walkway. San Antonio International Airport A small building with historic significance and a wavy roof could be gobbled up by the San Antonio International Airports $2.5 billion expansion project. Its likely to be demolished and replaced by a service road and pedestrian walkway, though airport officials said they might salvage and reuse elements of the building in future construction. The one-story structure was built in 1965 as a terminal for private jets. Ten years ago, it was converted to offices and an area for aviation employees to get special access badges. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Anyone who has dropped off a friend or loved one at the airport has driven past the building as they leave the terminals but hardly anyone notices its signature roof and massive windows. The walkway that will likely replace the historic building would give travelers access to a new ground transportation center, with space for VIA Metropolitan Transit buses, hotel shuttles, taxis and ride-hailing services. The facility will also include hundreds of new, desperately needed parking spaces. The airports existing garages hit their maximum capacities most mornings, forcing people to drive to distant, uncovered lots. Space near the site of the planned transportation center is too tight to allow the building to remain where it is, airport officials said. And a structural engineer who assessed the building said it probably wouldnt survive a move to a new location, said Aviation Deputy Director Tim OKrongley. An attempt to move it, successful or not, would cost at least $14 million. A small building with historic significance and a wavy roof could be gobbled up by the San Antonio International Airports $2.5 billion expansion project. It will likely be demolished for a road and walkway. San Antonio International Airport But the idea of tearing down the building frustrated some members of the city's Historic and Design Review Commission on Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To be able to preserve something that is pretty small and relatively easy to workaround compared to some of the other facilities and other historic buildings that weve accommodated would be the least we could do for the aviation history of the city, Commissioner Monica Savino said. Kathy Krnavek, who recently stepped down as president of the Conservation Society of San Antonio, also opposed the proposed demolition. In a statement to HDRC members, she urged the city to incorporate the building into the airport's expansion plans. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Historical Commission both said the building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places because its a unique example of New Formalism, a popular architectural style in the 1960s. Though the airport doesnt plan to seek the official historic designation, its eligibility alone requires the airport to jump through extra hoops to prove it's trying to mitigate harm to a historically significant building. The city worked with the FAA and the Historical Commission to develop seven potential ways to meet state standards, including a commitment to salvage and reuse as much building material as possible. If that proves to be impossible, the airport said, the new walkway will include design elements that reference the demolished structure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The city may also install a sign with the buildings history and create a digital 3D model of the building that will be posted on the airport website. Savino pressed her HDRC colleagues to reject the building's planned demolition while accepting the rest of the airports sprawling expansion plans, but her motion failed. The commission, which makes recommendations to City Council on proposed changes to historically important structures, OK'd the airport's preliminary plans. When they're 80% complete, the plans will undergo HRDC's final review, culminating in another vote. The historic facility is one of seven buildings, hangars and parking lots slated for demolition as part of the airports expansion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/russias-tsentr-group-of-forces-takes-control-of-village-of-shumy-1119179339.html Russia's Tsentr Battlegroup Takes Control of Village of Shumy Russia's Tsentr Battlegroup Takes Control of Village of Shumy Sputnik International ussia's Tsentr group of forces has taken control of the village of Shumy in the Donetsk People's Republic and repelled six Ukrainian counterattacks over the past 24 hours, eliminating up to 360 troops, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. 2024-06-29T11:31+0000 2024-06-29T11:31+0000 2024-06-29T18:20+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine donetsk d-30 https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1d/1119179168_0:76:3150:1847_1920x0_80_0_0_b5a32f3e6ce6bd5f0ccc64dbd79b939a.jpg "The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have liberated Shumy (Donetsk People's Republic), improved their tactical position and defeated formations of the 41st Mechanised Brigade and the 109th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Kirovo, Leninskoye, Sokol, Novgorodskoye, and Novosyolovka Pervaya (Donetsk People's Republic). ... The enemy losses were up to 360 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, one motor vehicle, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, and one 100-mm MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun," the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Sever group of forces struck Ukrainian forces near the villages of Neskuchnoye, Volchansk and Lyptsi, eliminating up to 270 soldiers, a tank and four vehicles, as well as a US-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system, an Msta-B howitzer and three D-30 howitzers, the ministry added. At the same time, Russia's Zapad group of forces repelled two attacks by Ukraine, eliminating over 500 troops, the ministry said. "The UAF [Ukirainian Armed Forces] losses were over 500 servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, one 155-mm U.S.-made M198 howitzer, one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer," the ministry added. Russia's Yug group of forces repelled a Ukrainian attack, eliminating over 430 servicepeople, the ministry noted. "The enemy losses were more than 430 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, and eight motor vehicles," the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240615/russias-battlegroup-tsentr-eliminates-up-to-320-ukrainian-soldiers---mod-1118974469.html russia ukraine donetsk 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 russian special military operation, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, donets, donetsk region, donetsk people's republic (dpr) https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/sanctions-on-moscow-stock-exchange-will-have-short-term-effect--us-investor-1119175167.html Sanctions on Moscow Stock Exchange Will Have Short Term Effect US Investor Sanctions on Moscow Stock Exchange Will Have Short Term Effect US Investor Sputnik International Legendary American investor Jim Rogers told Sputnik after the United States imposed sanctions on the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) that sanctions normally do not have much impact except in the short term, and will be eventually lifted. 2024-06-29T05:36+0000 2024-06-29T05:36+0000 2024-06-29T05:36+0000 economy russian economy under sanctions jim rogers moscow exchange us sanctions https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102055/02/1020550216_0:107:2048:1259_1920x0_80_0_0_948c8031e911d5b33fc53cf894c1288d.jpg When asked whether the sanctions against MOEX will affect the investment climate in Russia, Rogers said: "Sanctions - I have learned over history - sanctions usually do not have much effect except short term." On June 12, the United States imposed sanctions on the Moscow Exchange, the largest exchange in Russia, as part of a new package of restrictive measures against the country. On the same day, MOEX said it was halting trading in dollars and euros starting June 13. Starting June 13, the Bank of Russia began setting the exchange rates for these currencies based on reporting data from credit institutions and the results of interbank conversion transactions in the over-the-counter FX market as of 15:30 Moscow time on business days. The Russian central bank is able to ensure stability in all markets, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.Asset Seizure Undermines US DollarThe seizure of Russian assets by the collective West is a wrong move but it almost always occurs in a time of war, renowned US investor Jim Rogers told Sputnik.Earlier in June, the Group of Seven (G7) countries agreed during their summit in Italy to provide at least $50 billion to Ukraine by utilizing revenues generated from the interest on Russias $325 billion in assets frozen in the countries of the collective West.Rogers said he does not approve of the seizure and does not think it should happen, but reiterated that governments always take their enemies assets in war.When asked whether the decision to seize Russian assets will undermine the other nations trust in the United States, Rogers said, "Many people see what's happening with the US dollar, they see that the US is seizing assets, that other people are seizing assets, so many people are now trying to find something else to use besides the US dollar."Rogers noted that it is widely known that the United States is the largest debtor nation in history and most people are trying to find another currency to use besides the US dollar.After the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union and the G7 nations froze almost half of Russia's foreign currency reserves, amounting to $325 billion. Russia has said that any attempt to confiscate its assets amounts to theft and is a violation of international law.Jim Rogers added that he still has shares in the Moscow Stock Exchange, Aeroflot and some other leading Russian companies and hopes that trading will resume once the conflict is over.The famed investor, now the chairman of Rogers Holdings and Beeland Interests, is the author of several books including "Investment Biker," "Adventure Capitalist," and "Street Smarts." In addition, Rogers has the Guinness World Record for most countries visited in a continuous journey by car - an adventure he undertook from 1999-2002.In 1973, Rogers and George Soros co-founded the world-renowned Quantum Fund, which by 1980 was up 4,200% at a time when the US was in a bear market. Time Magazine in 1994 dubbed Rogers the "Indiana Jones of finance" for realizing huge profits on foreign stocks that were neglected by Wall Street. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240616/market-share-of-russian-gas-soars-overtaking-us-lng-imports-to-europe---1118986759.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240625/pepe-escobar-brics-cities-unite-in-kazan-ushering-in-new-era-of-cooperation-1119119664.html 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 russian economy under sanctions, rogers russian economy, seizure of assets russia, russian assets, moscow stock exchange sanctions https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/thousands-of-protesters-in-israel-demand-early-elections-release-of-hostages-from-gaza-1119183786.html Thousands of Protesters in Israel Demand Early Elections, Release of Hostages From Gaza Thousands of Protesters in Israel Demand Early Elections, Release of Hostages From Gaza Sputnik International Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv and elsewhere in Israel to demand new elections, an end to the war in Gaza and the return of all remaining hostages in Gaza. 2024-06-29T20:06+0000 2024-06-29T20:06+0000 2024-06-29T20:06+0000 world tel aviv palestine israel hamas middle east israel-gaza conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1d/1119183629_0:150:2863:1760_1920x0_80_0_0_861d3d0105f4db9d96fcd3103a201f40.jpg This comes amid a lack of progress in negotiations on a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages and the threat of a full-scale war with Lebanon. The traditional protest in Tel Aviv is taking place near the complex of government buildings, where the Israeli Defense Ministry's headquarters are located. Police forces have been stationed at the site to block traffic in the city center and erect barriers. Demonstrators are waving national flags, chanting anti-government slogans, beating drums and holding photos of hostages. The action has been coordinated with the police and has so far been held without disturbing public order. Multiple family members of hostages held in Palestine spoke during the event, and one former hostage addressed the crowd by video. One of the family members, Ayala Metzger, the sister-in-law to hostage Yoram Metzger, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is complicit in the deaths of Israeli hostages because of his insistence to continue the war.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 fighters and rescuing the hostages. A total of 120 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, and about a third of them are believed to be dead. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240625/hamas-insists-that-russia-be-one-of-guarantors-of-gaza-ceasefire-1119118586.html tel aviv palestine 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 israel-gaza war, hostages in gaza, palestinian war, protests in israel, protests in tel aviv https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/us-secret-services-campaigned-against-nord-stream-2-in-germany-parliamentary-inquiry-heard-1119181144.html US Secret Services Campaigned Against Nord Stream 2 in Germany, Parliamentary Inquiry Heard US Secret Services Campaigned Against Nord Stream 2 in Germany, Parliamentary Inquiry Heard Sputnik International A German state parliament has reportedly heard testimony of US meddling to prevent the construction of the flagship gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 from Russia in 2021. 2024-06-29T14:31+0000 2024-06-29T14:31+0000 2024-06-29T14:33+0000 germany russia baltic sea gazprom nord stream 2 nord stream donald trump olaf scholz world https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/0c/1117285675_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_71ec0928f82b4eedb8cbf3857f39c30a.jpg A German state parliament has reportedly heard testimony of US meddling to prevent the construction of the flagship gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 from Russia in 2021.Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thomas Kruger, claimed that US intelligence agents tried to interfere with the construction of Nord Stream 2 during Donald Trump's presidency by working directly in Germany, citing testimony from unnamed witnesses."Both witnesses testified today that representatives of the US secret services actively campaigned with environmental associations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to prevent Nord Stream 2 [construction] and offered their support," he said, as quoted on the parliamentary group's website.One of the witnesses also indicated that a representative of the intelligence services approached him directly and later met with him on the territory of the federal state, justifying his actions with "US interests.""This makes it clear: During the Trump administration, the US government also used secret service means to oppose Nord Stream 2 directly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in order to enforce its interests," Kruger asserted.It was previously reported that the commission called former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and the Prime Minister of the federal state Manuela Schwesig as witnesses regarding the creation of the fund supporting the pipeline's construction. In Germany, they are considered former lobbyists for the construction of Nord Stream 2. The exact dates for the hearings are yet to be announced.In January 2021, the parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania approved the government's proposal by a majority vote to create a fund to support the pipeline (Klimastiftung MV). Its goal was to support projects for "climate protection" and nature conservation. Schwesig stated that the fund would have a limited mandate to support the completion of Nord Stream 2.German media claim that this structure was funded by Gazprom and acted as an intermediary in concluding contracts with companies ready to complete the pipeline shortly before the terrorist attacks on them. It is clarified that all this allegedly happened bypassing US sanctions.Handelsblatt previously reported that current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as finance minister in 2020, proposed a secret deal with the US to prevent sanctions against the then-under-construction pipeline.Nord Stream 2 runs from the Russian coast through the Baltic Sea to Germany and consists of two strings with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Its construction was fully completed in September 2021, and work was underway to launch it, including technical measures and obtaining regulatory approvals, primarily from German authorities. However, after Russia recognized the sovereignty of the DPR and LPR in February 2022, Berlin halted the certification. Additionally, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the project's operator Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO Matthias Warnig at the same time.On September 27, 2022, an explosion disabled one of the two strings of Nord Stream 2, while the second remained undamaged. On the same day, explosions destroyed both strings of the parallel export pipeline, Nord Stream.The Russian Prosecutor General's Office initiated a case into international terrorism regarding the explosions. The German prosecutor's office is investigating the incident, but no interim results have been presented yet. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240304/german-military-leak-added-embarrassment-to-berlins-silence-on-nord-stream-sabotage-1117132702.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230418/us-tries-to-control-energy-and-info-flow-with-nord-stream-bombing-cover-up-1109621776.html germany russia baltic sea 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 nord strea, russian gas, russian gas pipeline, germany, us, us interest, us meddling, us secret services, us intervention, us prevented nord stream, europe without russian gas, germany without russian gas https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/us-working-through-options-to-end-conflict-between-israel-lebanon---reports-1119180705.html US Working Through Options to End Conflict Between Israel, Lebanon - Reports US Working Through Options to End Conflict Between Israel, Lebanon - Reports Sputnik International US authorities are working on various options to resolve the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, The Washington Post reported on Saturday. 2024-06-29T13:35+0000 2024-06-29T13:35+0000 2024-06-29T13:35+0000 world israel lebanon israel defense forces (idf) hezbollah gaza strip https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/18/1119085376_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_029c54d5313551e4f1641a8f8d44f1e4.jpg US officials are trying to de-escalate the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, while the movement says it will not back down until Israel ends its ground offensive in Gaza, the report read. While the US officials recognize Hezbollah's demands, they are also working on backup options for de-escalation, the report added, citing sources. On June 18, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz later said that Israel was "very close" to a decision to "change the rules" against Hezbollah and Lebanon, threatening to destroy the movement "in an all-out war" and to "severely hit" Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said that the movement could invade northern Israel if the confrontation intensifies further. The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border worsened after the start of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The IDF and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters fire at each others positions in areas along the border on a daily basis. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said that around 100,000 people had to leave their homes in border areas, while the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that 80,000 Israelis had to do the same. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/israeli-attack-on-lebanon-would-lead-to-obliterating-war---irans-mission-to-un-1119175552.html israel lebanon gaza strip 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 israel-lebanon conflict, israel conflict, mideast crisis, middle east conflict, middle eastern war, hezbollah israel conflict, lebanon israel war Sir Pinocchio became a two-time winner on harness racing's Grand Circuit this year, as the Dexter Cup champion was a front-stepping 1:54.4 winner in the $410,959 MGM Yonkers Trot at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday, June 28, giving him the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown. Driver Jason Bartlett fired Sir Pinocchio out from post two and battled for early command with pole-sitter and favourite Security Protected (Tim Tetrick), but that trotter made a break on the opening turn, leaving Sir Pinocchio in front well before the quarter, which went on the board in just 29 seconds. Facing no outside pressure in the second quarter, Bartlett kept the tempo easy, getting to the half in just :58.2. Passing the half-mile marker, trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt swung Situationship, who had made a break before the start but reset and sat fifth, to the outside first-over, and he came with a strong bid that carried him to within half a length of Sir Pinocchio at the 1:26.3 three-quarters. Sir Pinocchio was game, though, keeping Situationship at bay on the rim and going on to the win by half a length in 1:54.4. Situationship was second and third went to elimination winner Bargain (Yannick Gingras). Fly By (Scott Zeron) also recovered from an early miscue to collect fourth and Im Out (Marcus Miller), who also went off-stride from fourth before three-quarters, was fifth. The stakes victory completed a day to remember for Bartlett as he was able to get to Yonkers Raceway before the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes after watching his son Kobe graduate from high school. "I got to see him walk across the podium and receive his diploma. I made record time down here to get here just so I wouldn't miss it," said Bartlett. "It was a big day for me." While others were unable to keep trotting in both the Dexter Cup and tonight's Yonkers Trot, Sir Pinocchio has kept his cool both times. "Tonight, we had [Security Protected] beat out of there. Eddie [trainer Ed Hart] told me that he watched him warm up and he looked a little weird in the turns, so we went out of there with him in the turn, and he blew up," remarked Bartlett. "You can't really go into these races with any sort of plan or anything. They all sort of go out the window in the first eighth." Hart trains Sir Pinocchio, a gelding by Mets Hall, for owner/breeder Carolyn Atherton. Sir Pinocchio now has six wins, four seconds and two thirds from 14 appearances and has pocketed $450,382. He paid $10.80 to win as the 4-1 third choice and was atop a $33.40 exacta and a $162.50 trifecta. "It was a tough field. We had a good post and I was hopeful. We got a little lucky for sure," stated Hart. "He's the real deal. He's a nice horse, and he's getting better, too. He's a little better on a big track, I think. "He has the Canadian Trotting Classic in September and a few other races. He's staked up a little bit, but no Hambletonian." Irv Atherton represented wife Carolyn in the winner's circle ceremonies. The Athertons are from nearby Scarsdale, New York and have enjoyed success in the sport before, but perhaps not at this level. "He's up at Vernon next week for the Zweig. We'll go from there," remarked Irv Atherton. "We've had some really good ones, but this is a long time coming. The little guy gets to the winner's circle." The filly companion event to the Yonkers Trot is the New York New York Mile and it was raced in a pair of $75,343 divisions. In the first one of those, Eloise (Corey Callahan) worked out a second-over trip and forged her way by first-over Tactical Lori (Tyler Buter) late in the mile to win by a neck in 1:57. Kinesiology (George Brennan) was the third-place finisher. Eloise, bred by Crawford Farms, is trained by Ron Coyne Jr. for owners Ron Coyne Stables Inc., Blair Corbeil, Richard Carney and Farrell Carney. A daughter of Tactical Landing, Eloise now has six wins from 16 career starts and has earned $134,745. She returned $7.10 to win as the 5-2 second choice and led an exacta of $16.20 and a trifecta of $66.50. Miss I La (Joe Bongiorno) led throughout in the second split and won in 1:57.2 as favourites R Melina (Tyler Buter) and Date Night Hanover (Dexter Dunn) both made breaks before the half. Draw The Line (Gingras) was game after a first-over trip and held off a closing Cocktailwithakick (Svanstedt) for the second spot. "Once I saw [R Melina break stride], it kind of put the race in my hands to decide if I wanted to cut it or be in the two-hole behind Date Night Hanover, but I didn't love the way Date Night Hanover looked scoring down. I thought she looked a little off in her gait, so I took the shot of being on the front," said Bongiorno. "I know this one is probably better with a target, but in this field on a half-mile track, I thought I'd take my chances and see if I could hold them off." A filly by Walner, Miss I La is trained by Noel Daley for owner Ken Jacobs. Miss I La is now a four-time victor from 15 trips behind the gate and sent her bankroll over $250,000. She paid $14.60 to win as a 6-1 shot. The exacta was worth $110.50 and the trifecta kicked back $607. Trainer Travis Alexander won the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes for three-year-old male pacers at Yonkers Raceway for a third time and swept the exacta in this year's $308,219 edition of the first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, as Sweet Beach Life rallied past stablemate Howlenthehills for a 1:53.1 victory. Elimination winner Janelle Granny (George Brennan) went to the lead from post six and cut an opening quarter in :27.2 with Lous World (Todd McCarthy) in the pocket, followed by elimination winner Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley) and Armada Hanover (Tim Tetrick). Janelle Granny remained unpressured to the half in :56.2, but Kakaley guided Howlenthehills first-up shortly after that marker and he was tracked in the outer tier by Armada Hanover, Sweet Beach Life (Tyler Buter) and Wish You Well (Scott Zeron). Howlenthehills made steady progress on the outside to get side-by-side with Janelle Granny at the 1:24.2 three-quarters and their duel continued around the final bend, with Tetrick sending Armada Hanover three-wide late on the turn and Buter fanning Sweet Beach Life out four-wide. In the stretch, Howlenthehills forged his way into the top spot as Janelle Granny tired, but Sweet Beach Life had the best kick to the wire and was up to take the race by half a length. Howlenthehills out-lasted Armada Hanover for second and Lous World, who had to move out to get past the tiring Janelle Granny and then swung back to the inside, had to settle for fourth. Wish You Well came on to get fifth. "They filled me in on the horse. He drove perfect, couldn't ask for more," said Buter, who picked up the drive on Sweet Beach Life when Kakaley opted to stick with Howlenthehills after he qualified both for the final. "Matt told me just keep him quiet and he'll have a good kick coming home. He wasn't kidding. He's nice to drive and he got the job done." A Sweet Lou gelding bred by Sergent Stables LLC, Sweet Beach Life is trained by Alexander for owner A Sweet Beach Life Stable. He has a summary of 5-3-3 from 17 career outings and has put away just over $250,000 in purse earnings. Sweet Beach Life paid $15.40 to win as the 6-1 fourth choice. He keyed a $41.80 exacta and a $174.50 trifecta. "That's pretty cool. We've always thought really highly of this colt. He just is his own worst enemy," said Alexander's wife Alaina, who assists in the training of the stable. "We couldn't ask for a better drive." Sophomore pacing fillies took to the track in the companion event to the Messenger, the $123,288 Park MGM Pace, and Camerican (Yannick Gingras), got up from the pocket to defeat 1-5 favourite and pacesetter Peace Talks (Jason Bartlett) in a 1:54.2 mile. Leannes Choice (Marcus Miller) was third. "I felt really confident. I think that's her kind of trip," said Gingras. "She likes to follow a little bit, and obviously following that one was the right one." Ron Burke trains Camerican, a daughter of American Ideal, for breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC, M1 Stable LLC and Jack Piatt III, and co-owner Larry Karr. Camerican made her fifth trip to the winner's circle from 19 career starts and has now earned $374,576. "I drove her once last year in Kentucky and she won in 1:50.3 and I raced her in the Breeders Crown," remarked Gingras. "We got a good trip and it worked out. She finished third in the Breeders Crown last year. I don't know if she can race much better than those. She raced the best fillies in the country and finished third, so I think she's a nice horse. Camerican returned $6.80 to win as the 2-1 second choice. The exacta was worth $11.80 and the trifecta kicked back $43.40. Yonkers Raceway is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 7 p.m. (EDT). (With files from Yonkers Raceway) The Bexar County Election Commission meets to discuss the future of Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen on Friday, June 28, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. The commission accepted Callanens resignation, to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen, who has been under pressure from progressive voting right groups to step down, will retire Jan. 1 or later if her replacement isnt in place by years end. The Bexar County Election Commission, which is responsible for firing and hiring the elections administrator, revealed her decision during a meeting Friday. Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen, right, listens to public comment from Kay Chiodo, left, CEO of Deaf Link, during the Bexar County Election Commission meeting where they announced Callanens retirement at the Bexar County Courthouse on Friday, June 28, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The Bexar County Election Commission listens to public comment during a meeting to discuss the future of Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen at the Bexar County Courthouse on Friday, June 28, 2024 in San Antonio. They announced Callanens retirement at the Friday meeting. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, right, listens to public comment during the Bexar County Election Commission meeting to discuss the future of Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen at the Bexar County Courthouse on Friday, June 28, 2024 in San Antonio. They announced Callanens retirement at the Friday meeting. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Steve Huerta, with All of Us or None Texas, gives public comment critiquing Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen during the Bexar County Election Commission meeting where they announced Callanens retirement at the Bexar County Courthouse on Friday, June 28, 2024 in San Antonio. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Privately, Callanen, 78, discussed her plans a couple of weeks earlier with County Judge Peter Sakai, who chairs the five-member commission. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This (election) year is going to be contentious, as weve seen just from the national media, so it would be a blessing to be able to complete this and give the citizens of Bexar County a clean election like weve always done, Callanen told reporters Friday. Her decision to step down after 19 years comes amid mounting criticism and lawsuits over her handling of recent elections, including the 2020 presidential and 2022 midterm contests. The county will undertake a national search for her replacement. If her successor isn't found before Jan. 1, Callanen could stay on until someone is hired, or the commission could appoint an interim administrator, Sakai said. Whats quite clear is that we need to find a person who has the extraordinary ability to communicate and be able to hear all the different views, Sakai said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark, County Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti, and Monica Alcantara and Kris Coons, the respective chairs of the countys Democratic and Republican parties, also sit on the commission. Uresti is looking for someone who can help boost Bexar Countys abysmal voter turnout. Regardless of who we select, our ultimate goal is to increase voter participation, Uresti said. When were having 7%, 3%, 12%, thats not acceptable. We need to increase our numbers, and a lot of it comes from our party chairs, from the elected officials, but it also comes from the elections administrator. Blame and praise Before the commission moved into closed-door executive session to discuss Callanens resignation, she sat quietly through a brief, but brutal, public comment session. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ten speakers aired a range of grievances about her leadership of the Bexar County Elections Department, from its strict rules for volunteer deputy registrars to her unwillingness to provide sufficient interpreters for voters who are deaf and cannot read. The Bexar County Elections Department has gained a truly vile reputation for voter suppression, voter disenfranchisement, volunteer intimidation and using bureaucratic rules and retaliatory measures against those who speak out, said Valerie Reiffert, a volunteer deputy registrar. Reiffert is co-founder and executive director of Radical Registrars, a San Antonio nonprofit whose stated mission is to empower young voters of color and LGBTQ voters. The Texas Civil Rights Project took Callanen to court and won in 2020 and 2022 to force the county to open more election day polling sites. Reiffert and others had been pressing the county for months to start the search for Callanens replacement. In the role since 2005, Callanen also has her supporters, who view her as a reliable, competent administrator who isnt swayed by politics. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But unlike the commissions January meeting its first since Callanen was hired no one on Friday spoke in favor of her continuing to helm the department. After teasing a possible return of Wonder Momo earlier this month, Bandai Namco has finally revealed their plans for an upcoming PC and Android game by WayForward (Duck Tales: Remastered) in addition to an anime series from ShiftyLook and Graphinica. The series will be directed by Yutaka Kagawa and will be streamed through Crunchyroll. Here is a synopsis for the upcoming anime series: One day, a group of aliens planning to take over the Earth invade Tokyo. Momoko, who aspires to be an idol, gets involved in the fight in an unexpected form. Warudemon, king of the alien empire, uses various tactics to hunt down Momoko and the people around her. Momoko has decided to stand up to the Warudemon plain and simple. Cast list includes: Manga Cafe Mika opened its doors to the Kintetsu Building in San Francisco's Japan Town in late April of 2008. The establishment follows a business model followed by the popular manga cafes popular in Japan. The basics are simple, the establishment has a private library of books that you pay to read by the hour. Some refreshments are available to order on the side while you read. Unlike most libraries, though, the books in manga cafes do not leave the store. Mika follows this exact model, offering customers an impressive collection of 20,000+ volumes of manga, many of them popular titles throughout the years in Japan. Everything from classics such as Tezuka Osamu's Astro Boy, to more obscure titles such as shojo manga not well known outside of Japan, to the currently popular Bleach can be located throughout the store. Genres are widespread and they keep in stock the latest issue of weekly and monthly serial magazines. Director of C-Cube Co., Ltd. Claude Kikuchi offered his goals in opening shop in San Francisco. With the growing popularity of manga and Japanese anime, he wishes to spread Japanese culture to Americans through Mika. The manga, although the core shelves are dedicated to notable or popular titles, are mostly those that have yet to be translated into English, offering readers a chance to look into the manga that many American readers have not yet had a chance to see. To further keep up with the latest releases from Japan, an LCD TV is set up to show unsubbed videos of anime recently aired in Japan. To keep it legal, Mika keeps advertisements that were recorded along with the anime itself. Kikuchi explains that the commercials are not only a fair way to show the anime, but that "Japanese commercials are in a sense, a kind of Japanese culture as well." For the first hour, customers pay $6 for entrance, and then $1.50 for every hour after. Snacks and sodas are also available for purchase, but nothing too complicated. The premises does not have a kitchen, so drinks are limited to sodas in a can, or maybe a cup of coffee, and for snacks: cup-noodles (a staple in Japanese manga cafes) and other Japanese snack foods. A solid menu was not yet available when The-O Network came to visit. In addition to checking out manga and anime, Mika also has a few computers for surfing the net, just in case you really find a strong urge to wiki a certain series or e-mail yourself a title or two. For now, as Cafe Mika gets up on its feet, the staff has invited a doujin artist to sit and draw for the store. P.N. Kizuki Sakura (http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Spade/6335/) has been contracted to sit in Mika for the next 3 months or so to show the public how manga is drawn. Pictures and our network entry can be found at: http://www.t-ono.net/Bay-Area/7-Manga-Cafe-Mika/View-details.html On December 13, 2014 Aniplex USA held the Los Angeles (LA) premiere of Expelled from Paradise (Rakuen Tsuiho) directed by Seiji Mizushima, written by Gen Urobuchi, and producer Koichi Noguchi. This movie has been playing in Japan and Japanese fans have been raving about it. Using a new 3D CGI technique called cell look, the computer graphics mimic the traditionally used cell art to the point that it looks really similar according to Mr Koichi Noguchi. I got invited to the premiere which was in downtown LA on December 13, 2014 which was the first place outside of Japan to air the movie, Expelled from Paradise. People who attended the premiere received an exclusive movie poster, featuring the main characters Angela and Dingo, with their tickets. The doors opened at noon and the movie began at 1:00PM. However, before the screening they announced that the producer, Mr. Koichi Noguchi, was in attendance and had flown all the way from Japan to attend the premiere as a guest. He personally wanted to see how the film would be received outside of Japan by an American audience. The audience welcomed him with a warm round of applause. After his speech to the audience, the film began with a short recorded message from the movie director Mr Seiji Mizushima. The film itself takes a leap into the future where humans have evolved into a data driven race, living in a server world where the amount of storage space you have is what pronounces individuality and status. In this future, there are two sides: one that lives on the earth surface and the other a server orbiting around the planet. On the surface there are humans, trying to live in this desolate world along within a few cities while on other digital side humans live in a digital state where they dont have a physical body, but instead have storage space. The story revolves around Angela coming from the server world and Dingo a surface dwelling guide searching for an individual named Frontier Setter. I wont say anymore since I dont want to spoil anything but the film attempts to address the age old questions is the grass always greener on the other side? and can we replace human interaction with artificial interaction? Thematically, the main emphasis of the movie is about how far we are moving from the real world into the cyber world. Since the internet was made we have moved from shopping in physical store to shopping online and meeting up with friends in real life to meeting up on Skype. So can this actual replace human interaction? Will grabbing a cup of coffee and catching up in real life be replaced by logging in online and check status updates? While watching the movie some of the challenges that the protagonist faced reminded me of Saya no Uta and Fate/Zero, which were both written by Gen Urobochi. The question Angele faced when she was confronted with the decision to continue her life as she knew it or risk it all for someone she knows or something she believes is worth losing it all for. To me, I would describe the movie as a cross between Matrix, Elysium, a bit of WALL-E and some mecha battle scenes. Overall the film was enjoyable and the new 3D CGI was well implemented it. I thought I would see the CGI as in most action movies and say why but I didnt it seemed that they integrated it very well into the movie to the point where I didnt even remember I was watching a CGI movie. The story was not slow to the point where I would zone out, as it kept me interested throughout. There were parts in which I did stop and giggle at the low blows they took such as some camera angle shots where the camera focused on some attributes of the female protagonist and reason for her age; I will just leave it at that. If you enjoyed movies such as Avatar, Matrix, WALL-E and the setting of Cowboy Bebop and the Gundam series then this is a film you will enjoy. Pros: - Great use of the CGI cell look - Great production team (director, producer, writer) - Character quality over quantity - Easy-to-follow thought-provoking storyline Cons: - Surprisingly light for a Gen Urobochi story - Story relies on too many cliches and is predictable at times When the final episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood aired in Japan in 2010, a teaser showed up once the credits finished rolling. Eagle-eyed viewers spotted that there would be an upcoming movie in 2011; on November 2010, the first teaser trailer aired on the official website. In 2005, the first Fullmetal Alchemist movie, Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa, was released in order to tie up the loose ends from the first series while the second movie, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos is actually set within the middle of the manga storyline. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos can be considered bonus chapters within the manga storyline and is an entirely self-contained event. Shortly before the movie premiered in Japan in 2011, Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa created a special manga issue, eleven and a half, to provide both backstory and setting for the movie; for those curious, Milos takes place just as Ling Yao, RanFan and Fu are trying to draw out the Homunculi while Ed and Alphonse are trying to draw out Scar. In the teaser manga volume, just as Ed is using his abilities in one part of Central City, Ling and RanFan spot a suspicious looking wolf chimera in the city and a few days later, a man escapes from a prison in Amestris due to a mysterious explosion. At the beginning of the movie, we see a young girl and her family being forced to move from their home with the help of soldiers. Shortly afterwards, the movie cuts to the young girl waking up in the middle of the night while her older brother is studying some alchemy texts that belong to their parents. Startled by some strange noises coming from somewhere in their home, the older brother decides to go investigate and the girl, clearly worried about her brother, decides to follow. Immediately, the two siblings end up in the library before discovering two bodies hung up while blood pools below them; the girl immediately faints while the boys fate is unknown. Moving forward, a celebration is breaking out in Central City while Edward Elric is fast asleep at his desk. His brother Alphonse enters the room and surprises his older brother with a noise popper causing Ed to wake up immediately and berate his younger brother, who pulls out another noise popper. As Alphonse pulls the popper, the windows in the room blow out from a large explosion outside causing the two Elrics to immediately investigate. In a nearby alleyway, the two confront an escaped prisoner that has the ability to use alchemy; the prisoner manages to escape after an intense battle while several soldiers nearly arrest the Elrics, though Ed is able to prove that he is a State Alchemist. The next day, Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye set off to investigate the explosion though are shortly joined by the Elric brothers. As they study the surroundings, a newspaper is discovered with a missing clipping and they locate another copy of the paper with the article that had been clipped out. Thanks to the article, the Elrics set off for Table City where they hope to find Julia Crichton, the mysterious girl that was mentioned in the article and is a possible link to the explosion in the prison. From here on out, viewers get to solve the mystery of the Sacred Star of Milos alongside Ed, Alphonse, Roy and other familiar faces of the Fullmetal Alchemist universe. Overall, I did enjoy Sacred Star of Milos, mostly due to how it seemed to fit within the overall manga storyline, but it was a fairly average movie. The plot has many twists and turns, but there are parts that feel shoe-horned to make a compelling twist. The characters introduced in the film, particularly Julia Crichton, feel both like characters that have already existed within the Fullmetal Alchemist universe but also like Mary Sue-ish type characters who dont seem to advance much of the overall story. The animation is very fluid, particularly the fights, though the look of some of the characters is quite strange - particularly Ed. As the film features both English and Japanese casts, it was nice hearing the familiar voices of old characters while getting to know the new ones. The music in the movie is all new while also featuring original opening and ending songs from both L'Arc~en~Ciel (Good Luck My Way) and Miwa (Chasing Hearts). This particular package from FUNImation consists of a DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack, which comes out to three discs total; two discs for the DVD version of the film and extras while there is a single Blu-Ray disc for both flim and extras. The extras for the film include commentary by the English cast, a making of the film featurette, theatrical trailers, and trailers from other FUNImation properties. I wish there was at least an insert that provided chapter information, but the interior art provided was a nice touch. The film fits in nicely with the overall plot of Fullmetal Alchemist and can engage non-fans, but is still a movie strictly for fans. Two things I loved: + Crisp, clean animation, especially during fights and explosions + Story fits well within the existing universe of FMA Two things I hated: - Characters, especially Julia Crichton, feels like a "Mary Sue"-type character - Plot is cliched in many places, especially at the end Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the distributor, Images copyrighted:FUNimation/Bones For many fans, Trigun was a very memorable series due to its lovable protagonist, Vash the Stampede, and its futuristic space western setting. Unlike another popular space western series, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun definitely had seemingly entrenched itself in the actual feel of an old-time spaghetti western rather than focus on the future. As Vash traveled in search of his long-forgotten past on the planet Gunsmoke, while being joined with cast regulars Meryl Stryfe, Milly Thompson and fan-favorite Nicholas D. Wolfwood, he was also being pursued by bounty hunters for the 60,000,000,000$$ price on his head as well as a more nefarious group. During his travels, Vash usually came off as a clumsy, foolish young man to many people but more often than not, he would display his exceptional skill as a gunman - particularly as he often employed non-lethal means of disarming his adversaries. Triguns initial manga run began in 1996 and ended in 1997 before its sequel, Trigun Maxium, started up in 1998. At the same time the Trigun Maximum was being published, the anime series made its debut and ran for a total of twenty-six episodes. Whereas Trigun Maximum took ten years to conclude its story, the anime was able to start and end within one year. Due to the finite ending for the anime, creator Yasuhiro Nightow stated at his 2009 Anime Expo panel that there would be no possibility for a sequel, but that a reboot was possible. Enter Trigun: Badlands Rumble, a full-length feature animated film that reunites fans with their favorite spiky-haired hero in a red trenchcoat. Set firmly within the anime timeline after Wolfwood is introduced, Badlands Rumble tells the tale of a criminal named Gasback and how Vash managed to cross his path. Within the opening of the movie, Gasback and his three flunkies are in the middle of robbing a high-security bank. Once it seems as if the group would escape, the leader of Gasbacks gang, Caine, proceeded to double-cross his boss while his cohorts aided Caines efforts. After a brief scuffle, Caine lines up his kill-shot before his own gun is shot out of his hand, causing both Caine and Gasback to find the shooter. Naturally, the shooter is revealed to be Vash, who is lamenting the loss of his last doughnut in order to distract both Caine and Gasback from killing one another as well as the other henchmen. As the local police arrive and surround the bank, Gasback asks Vash why he would bother to save bank robbers along with the bank employees to which Vash answers (in his own unusual way) that it would be best if everyone lived. The police themselves try to capture the thieves, but are unable to as Gasback unloads several explosives and manages to escape while leaving the bank itself in rubble and damaging the citys power plant (which looks like a giant light bulb). Jumping ahead twenty years, Gasbacks former crew has been living in luxury from all of the money that they had stolen from their previous robberies. One in particular, Caine Kepler, managed to use his own portion of his monies to repair the power plant that had been damaged from Gasbacks last robbery. In doing so, he became the mayor of the town and decided to construct a gaudy statue of himself in the center of Macca City. By insuring it for five billion double-dollars, insurance agents Stryfe and Thompson are sent to protect the town. In the meantime, Vash (still looking exactly as he did twenty years prior) crosses paths with a young bounty hunter named Amelia aboard a sand cruiser. Despite him acting as his usual inept self, Vash manages to keep tabs on Amelia into town as she and other bounty hunters try to protect Macca City from a potential attack from Gasback, who has spent his years planning on taking revenge on his former flunkies. Eventually, Vash reunites with his friend Nicholas Wolfwood, who had inadvertently ended up as a bodyguard for Gasback himself and eventually the truth concerning Gasback and Amelia is revealed. Clocking in at roughly two hours, the pacing of Badlands Rumble is very tedious at best and boring at its worst. For newcomers, the introductions of various Trigun regulars can be frustrating, especially since the movie operates on the assumption that viewers have a passing knowledge of them. The constant exposition of Amelias motives throughout the film, barely even serves as an information dump due to the same self-explanatory snippets didnt really do anything to make me care about the character. Vashs usual antics seemed to be played up even more, making him seem even more moronic than usual. Meryl and Milly simply seemed forgotten at times, despite having major roles in the series, while Wolfwood stole the scenes he was in as usual. Even the main villain, Gasback, was mostly all talk and no substance compared to other Trigun villains. Despite overall problems with the plot itself, Badlands Rumble is visually spectacular with pops of bright colors set against the typical dull colors of a traditional western. Dolby 5.1 TrueHD audio is used for both the Japanese and English audio. Regarding the voice casts, all of the original Japanese actors have returned to reprise their roles while the English cast has mostly been replaced save for the only hold-over from the original series - Johnny Yong Bosch, who was the voice of Vash. Extras include interviews with the Japanese staff, including Yasuhiro Nightow, footage from Anime Expo 2009, trailers, promotional materials and a few FUNImation trailers. The Blu-Ray version of the movie contains both the movie and extras on one disc while the DVD release is split across two DVDs. Trigun: Badlands Rumble is definitely a movie for the fans but can actually be enjoyed by casual fans, assuming that they can overlook many flaws. The long stretches of nothing in between the brief stretches of action is hard to overlook despite the easy to understand plot, fantastic visuals and great sound. For Trigun fans, Badlands Rumble is easy to recommend while for the casual fan, the movie is a mediocre at best. Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher 404 The page you are looking for could not be found. Please check the address and try again or use the search function. Created by web comic designers Christina Strain (writer, artist) and Jayd Alt-Kaci (artist), The Fox Sister is a weekly supernatural series that explores the life of its Korean protagonist, Yun Hee Cho, in her quest to take revenge on the shape-shifting fox demon known as kumiho. Seven years prior to the present day course of events, Yun Hee Chos parents and sister were brutally slaughtered by the kumiho, whom has now taken the form of her dead sister, Cho Sun Hee to seduce and kill her victims. Although the series is still in its adolescent stage, with only the chief characters having been introduced at the moment, the comic still retains enough mystery and intrigue to compel the reader to follow it on a weekly basis. Through the first one and a half chapters, we witness the introduction of the main characters Yun Hee, her dog Soot Bull, and the Elvis-loving American Martin Alexander. Yun Hee is initially reluctant to open herself up to the advances of the brash American soldier until a certain turn of events joins the two at the hip. By the end of the cliffhanger ending to chapter one, there's just enough emotional depth to cause the reader to care about the characters and their plights. Creating an authentically Asian storyline from a Western perspective without overly exotifying the characters or settings is not an easy task, and Yun Hee Choo represents a nice break from the typical Asian stereotypes. Where many Asian females often get misrepresented as a submissive "China Doll" type or a hyper sexualized "Dragon-lady" type in Western media, Yun Hee Choo's serious mentality and steadfast approach in achieving her goals makes her a strong female lead along the lines of Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service), Mulan (Disney's Mulan) and San (Princess Mononoke). On par with the Fox Sister's well-written narrative and characters is the art. The airbrush techniques used in the illustrations helps bring the late sixties/early seventies world to life as everything from character designs to backgrounds are painstakingly detailed to match the time period. In one particular close-up during a fight between Snoot and the kumiho, I couldn't help but notice the varied amounts of textures that help make the background pop off of the page. Although they're extremely subtle, it's something that I appreciate as a fellow artist and I truly hope that they'll be able to carry the quality art throughout the rest of The Fox Sister. For people like me who prefer to own physical copies of everything, the gorgeous embossed hard-cover book contains forty-six pages of chapter one along with concept art that makes it a must-have for any fans of Asian folklore or supernatural mysteries. Although the 9" X 11.75" hard-bound book is not currently available for sale online (I've checked everywhere from the official website to Amazon), the website for The Fox Sister is updated every Thursday and there is an archive of back pages so that everyone can enjoy this creative endeavor for free. People who are interested in a hardcover version of chapter one can only hope that Christina makes an appearance at a convention near them, or wait patiently for the two creators to set up their online store. For whoever wants to check out the series now, please visit http://thefoxsister.com/. Please note that the landing page for the website features the newest panel, so be sure to watch out for any potential spoilers. What I Loved: + Perfectly accentuates the early seventies/late sixties with everything from Alex's hair, to the musical choices and Yun Hee Cho's dress. + A strong introduction to an intriguing independent project. You can tell that theres a lot of creative passion being poured into the series. + Strong female lead that breaks the typical archetypal mode. + I enjoyed the seven-pages of bonus concept art exclusively in the hardcopy. What I Hated: - It's hard to give a comprehensive grade to a project thats currently in progress, that said Im very much looking forward to following the rest of the series. - Some of the stylized text is hard to read at times, particularly the musical lyrics that are seemingly stressed to convey emotion. Images properties of: Christina Strain, Jayd Alt-Kaci Seattle based anime convention Sakura-Con has announced Vofan, illustrator for the original Bakemonogatari light novel series, as a guest of honor. Interestingly, Vofan is one of the first Taiwanese artist to have entered the anime industry successfully in Japan. Bakemonogatari was originally written by Nisio Isin and later adapted into an anime series with character designs provided by Akio Watanabe. Sakura-Con will be held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center on April 22-24. "VOFAN is the first Taiwanese digital artist to successfully enter the Japanese anime industry in the past five years. VOFAN was first introduced to Kodansha (The largest publisher in Japan) by MAXPOWER (a Taiwanese publisher) in 2006, to work as the main novel illustrator and character designer for NisiOisin's (????) popular light novel series Bakemonogatari (???). Due to the novel's huge success, VOFAN continued to draw for NisiOisin's remaining novel series, including, "Kizumonogatari" (???), "Nisemonogatari" (???), "Nekomonogatari" (???) and "Kabukimonogatari" (???). Even in a recent popular anime series, "Oreimo" (My Sister Can Not Possibly Be This Cute!!), VOFAN was also staffed as the ending theme song illustrator in the final episode twelve. VOFAN's vibrant and colorful art style has attracted many loyal fans in Taiwan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Japan, and he is appraised as "The Magician of Light from Taiwan" (??????????) in the Japanese anime community. Beside his novel illustration works with NisiOisin, VOFAN also is involve in gaming/anime magazine cover illustrations such as Famitsu, Frontier Magazine, etc. In addition, VOFAN teaches CG classes in Taipei National University of the Arts. As of now, VOFAN has published a total of four illustration art books: Colorful Dreams (three volumes) and OTONA FANTASY (one Volume), with all his best personal works included. This will be VOFAN's first visit to America as well as his first time as a guest to Sakura con." TAITO TO DEBUT NEW ANIME FIGURE LINE AT NORTH AMERICAS LARGEST ANIME CONVENTION "ANIME EXPO 2024" The new figure brand DRESSTA will make its debut this July. Consumers can purchase figures through Taitos new website Taito Gear and Goods". TOKYO, JAPAN (June 27, 2024) ? Internationally renowned video game company Taito will be present at Anime Expo 2024 held in Los Angeles from July 4th (Thursday) to July 7th (Sunday) to debut their new anime figure brand, DRESSTA. The brand focuses on crafting made-to-order limited-edition figures that stand on unique pedestals designed to mimic the world of the depicted character. Products on exhibition: Holo from Spice and Wolf About DRESSTA Dressta is a portmanteau created by combining dress up and stage." This is a new concept, where the figures created with meticulous attention to detail are placed on a pedestal (stage), where the characters are displayed as part of their own world, not just a generic figure stand. This dressed up display creates a stunning scene straight from passionate fans favorite series. About the Taito Booth Unveiling our figure prototypes! This is where we will debut the prototype of our first DRESSTA figure, Holo from Spice and Wolf. In addition, booth visitors can see figures from brands like spiritale and Desktop Cute." Venue-specific campaign! *One per person. *Limited quantity. *Not for sale Free sun visor Visitors to the booth will receive a limited-edition sun visor to protect them from the L.A. heat featuring adorable space invaders from Taitos most famous game. Instagram follow campaign! Followers of the official Instagram will receive a stylized clear card! Online store grand opening campaign! Those who register for the Taito Gear and Goods online newsletter will receive a classic acrylic keychain of Taitos most famous game, Space Invaders. Dates: July 4-7 2024 Location: Los Angeles Convention Center Booth Number: 406, located in Kentia Hall Teaser Site Launch A new website called Taito Gear and Goods, where Taito figures (including the brand new Dressta figures) can be purchased has launched. Users can receive a 10% off coupon if they register for the e-newsletter. Already on its seventh edition, Omega Forces Dynasty Warriors series has been equally hated and loved. Dynasty Warriors 7 comes out one year after the ten year anniversary of Dynasty Warriors 2, which came out in 2000 and marked the beginning of the hack and slash formula. It adds a slew of new features and a brand new kingdom, Jin, which was the historical successor of the Han Dynasty. While these new additions are unlikely to convert over any skeptics, Dynasty Warriors enthusiasts will appreciate them and champion this as their new favorite hack-and-slash. New weapons along with their character counterparts are practically expected with each new Dynasty Warriors iteration; however, with the addition of weapon changing, characters are no longer restricted to having the same weapon and moveset. While its definitely a fun new way to use characters, the same movesets are attached to the same weapons, meaning that no matter who is using the twin swords or axe, they will be using the same animations. Characters will have their own EX moves associated with a specific weapon though, which gives a hint of unique flavor to each character. Quite frankly, however, I never really strayed from the default weapon except when using others to master seals, which can be equipped to improve attack or even give an extra musou gauge. However, despite the new weapon system, the basic gameplay doesnt stray far from the hack-and-slash, button-mashing formula, which will still be a turn-off for gamers who hate repetitive action. Over the years, Omega Forces story-telling skills have been improving and the culmination of that is in full effect in Dynasty Warriors 7. The music is a strong tool, conveying the sorrow and blind rage that Liu Bei felt after Guan Yus death with slow, ominous music or helping to spur on players with hard rock during battles. The actual gameplay sequences were important as well. During the last battle as Guan Yu, I became increasingly surrounded by enemy troops as my own generals deflected until I was trapped on a cliff. If it werent for the subpar voice acting, I might have actually shed a tear. Although I knew Guan Yus death was a certainty, the delivery was done so well that I couldnt help but wish for a possibility that history and Romance of the Three Kingdoms be defied here. Rather than following any individual character throughout the story, players can choose to follow one of the three kingdoms Shu, Wu, Wei, or Jin. The result is a story that more closely reflects the original Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is certain to satisfy some history buffs. Although Tecmo Koei takes some liberties here, this is practically expected out of any historical game, much like historical movies. Replacing the Free mode from the past, Conquest mode puts players on a board of China with each slot representing a map. Most of the maps are even more fictitious than Romance of the Three Kingdoms and improve abilities or grant items, like rare weapons, while others pit characters in dream scenarios, such as Liu Bei raiding a Wu base and exacting revenge for Guan Yu or Xing Cai, daughter of Zhang Fei, proving her might to Shu officers. There is also no shortage of difficulty here. Most players will be able to blow through Story mode easily, but Conquest mode gets progressively difficult and will give players a run for their money unless they do a good amount of grinding, building up characters stats. This is probably unappealing for most cynics who arent attracted to the prospect of hacking up grunts on a battlefield already, but make up the core reason why Dynasty Warriors fans go back to the series months after release. By grinding and playing through harder levels, players will be rewarded with the coveted rare weapons. Early levels will give out some weapons, like an iron fan, but most players will probably want a spear or halberd instead, which will take the most work. Dynasty Warriors 7 is a great new entry in the series, improving upon the old formula. Despite that though, it wont bring over any gamers who arent fans already. Fans of the series, however, wont be disappointed with the additions and changes. Its hard to blame Omega Force for sticking with the same formula when its gained them the legion of fans over the past two console generations. After all, you cant satisfy everyone. Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net. Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023. Dengeki PlayStation Online reported on Wednesday that they had received a mysterious postcard from Nippon Ichi Software. The art resembles Disgaea's character designer, Takehito Harada's style which you can view inside this post. We had previously reported a new Disgaea title was in the works for the PlayStation 3 which was revealed at NIS America's press event, and more information would be available at the Tokyo Game Show. MangaGamer announces that they have acquired the rights to release the ero PC game, Koihime Musou in English. The game is roughly based on the the Chinese classic novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms with twist, as most the key characters are female. The game's popularity has spawned its own anime series aired back in 2008, a second season in 2009, and a third season announced to be aired in April 2010. MangaGamer has tentatively scheduled the game's English release for April 2010. Full press release inside. "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MANGAGAMER.COM ACQUIRES THE RIGHTS TO KOIHIME MUSOU Bishojo Game take of Romance of the Three Kingdoms to be ported to English January 20, 2010 MangaGamer.com is pleased to announce that they have acquired the rights to the digital world wide release of "Koihime Musou", an adventure game based on the Chinese novel, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." "Koihime Musou" is an award winning title from game developer BaseSon released in Japan on January 26th, 2007 that has spawn out a Playstation 2 port, anime series, and manga. "Koihime Musou" is separated into two sections, the traditional adventure part where you enjoy the story along with the female characters derived from the characters of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", and the interactive simulation battle part where you are in control of their army. "Koihime Musou" is slated to release in April 2010 from MangaGamer.com. Koihime Musou Manufacturer: BaseSon Genre: Adventure + Simulation Price: Undecided OS: Windows XP(32bit), Windows Vista(32bit) Text Language: English Voice Language: Japanese Age Rating: 18 and over ABOUT MANGAGAMER.COM MangaGamer.com is the world's first online download site of English translated bishojo games that opened in July 2008. Since its launch, it has offered services where fans can download and enjoy popular bishojo games such as CIRCUS's "Da Capo" and OVERDRIVE's "Kira Kira" right from their home." During the arcade location tests for Super Street Fighter IV, taking place in Japan right now in Akihabara, the character select screen conspicuously has two blank slots. These indicated new characters for Super Street Fighter IVs console release, which likely means that we can look forward to two new characters in the arcade version. While it would be amazing to have fun new characters like Juri and Hakan, its also possible that the producer, Yoshinori Ono, will take this chance to put in his own favorites like Rolento and R. Mika. More updates once available. Screenshot after the jump. [Source: Get Your Tournament] This year marks the 60th anniversary of one of Japan's most watched New Year's Eve show, Kohaku Uta Gassen. A musical show hosted by Japanese broadcasting company NHK, the performers are separated into two teams, red for the females, and white for the males. This year, Nana Mizuki, probably most famous for her voice acting role in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha as Fate Testarossa, will join the red team in her first appearance on the show. Mizuki had also appeared earlier this year at the largest anime themed concert, Animelo Summer Live 2009. Other notable performers include Ayaka, Kumi Koda, Mika Nakashima, and Ayumi Hamasaki. We'll be sending a representative to cover the event, more on that later, look forward to it! Full list of performers located inside. Red Team aiko Junko Akimoto Ayaka Angela Aki Ikimono Gakari Sayuri Ishikawa AKB48 Ai Otsuka GIRL NEXT DOOR Miyuki Kawanaka Kaela Kimura Kumi Koda Natsuko Godai Sachiko Kobayashi Fuyumi Sakamoto Yoshimi Tendo DREAMS COME TRUE Mika Nakashima Mitsuko Nakamura Ayumi Hamasaki Perfume Ayaka Hirahara Nana Mizuki Kaori Mizumori Akiko Wada White Team Arashi ALICE Hiroshi Itsuki EXILE NYC boys Saburo Kitajima Takeshi Kitayama Kobukuro Jero SMAP TVXQ TOKIO Hideaki Tokunaga Kiyoshi Hikawa FUNKY MONKEY BABYS Masaharu Fukuyama Akira Fuse flumpool Takashi Hosokawa Porno Graffiti Kenichi Mikawa Shinichi Mori Yusuke Kamiji Yuzu Remioromen Capcom is happy to announce that Olivia Munn will be hosting the Lost Planet 2 Kill Big for Charity launch event and celebrity tournament in Los Angeles on May 6. The combined celebrity and community tournament is the final chapter in Capcoms month long Kill Big for Charity campaign where community members were called into action to support a good cause and download the newest Lost Planet 2 multiplayer demo on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Capcom, in partnership with Music for Relief, has promised in return to donate $25,000 to charity if the demo hits 1.5 million downloads. The tournament on May 6 th, comprised of celebrities, press, community and super-fans will compete in a variety of Lost Planet 2 multiplayer modes. The victorious team will then get the honor of choosing the charity from a list of Music for Relief partnerships. Community members can compete for a seat in the celebrity tournament and a trip to Los Angeles to attend the launch party by submitting their best tips and tricks for beating the new Lost Planet 2 multiplayer demo by this Thursday to Capcom Unity at http://www.capcom-unity.com/snow_infernus/blog/2010/04/01/lost_planet_2_-_kill_big_for_charity Four lucky community members and Lost Planet 2 super-fans will be awarded spots in the celebrity tournament. Lost Planet fans and Capcom community living in the Los Angeles area are encouraged to attend the event on May 6th from 8pm to midnight, for more information check out www.capcom-unity/xxx.com. The Kill Big for Charity program, which kicked off earlier this month, is a robust charity and community program which includes a donation to Music for Relief for each demo downloaded via Xbox LIVE or PlayStation Network. Capcom has created a charity fund of $20,000 as a donation for the first one million Lost Planet 2 multiplayer demos downloaded on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 from March 31 through midnight PT May 5. If the demo surpasses the million mark across both platforms, an additional $5,000 will be donated when an extra 500,000 downloads is achieved. With the multiplayer demo now released wide to the public, Capcom is encouraging gamers to download the demo to help continue towards the goal of one million downloads. The proceeds from the fundraiser will help finance a special Tokyo Girls' Style TV documentary in San Francisco highlighting their debut U.S. appearance with full of Sunflowers at Union Square in San Francisco in addition to interviews and other special J-POP SUMMIT Festival appearances. The documentary will be co-produced with SPACE SHOWER TV. For the documentary, the group will be distributing replica sunflowers to concertgoers attending their concert on Saturday evening and will ask the audience to wave them in concert when they perform the song "Himawari to Hoshikuzu" (lit. Sunflowers and Stardust). Their hope is to envelope the entire area with a sea of sunflowers and capture the grand spectacle on video. Pledge "Seeds" start at $19.00 and Tokyo Girls' Style plans to thank their contributors with a variety of premium items including behind the scenes performance, backstage photos, DVDs of the San Francisco concert, autographed goods and more. With only eight days remaining in the campaign, the group has currently received 3,100,000 seeds with a grand goal of $4,000,000.00. Although the top two tiers are currently sold out, there is still plenty of time to donate for their middle tier of $293 which includes five candid photos of the cute idols along with an invitation into the seating lottery for the after meeting event, private mini concert and handshake/photo event. For more information on the campaign, please visit: http://tokyogirlsupdate.com/crowd/en/single.php?project_id=286 For more information on the group, visit: http://tokyogirlsstyle.jp/tokyogirlsstyle_en For music videos visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/TokyoGirlsStyle About TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE "We want to express the joy of music by singing and dancing!" The group was formed on Jan. 1st, 2010. 5-membered dance&vocal girls group from Avex, which hasn't produced girls group for a long while, and consisting members are Ayano Konishi, Miyu Yamabe, Hitomi Arai, Yuri Nakae, and Mei Shouji. They had a lot of experiences, and aim to become a group which is active not only in Japan but also in the entire Asian region. They started performing periodic concerts twice a month, and their main activity is live concerts; their 1st Japan Tour was held in May, 2011. They released the 1st album. In October, the tickets of their first hall concert in Nakano Sun Plaza on December 24, 2011 were sold out. Not only their live performance earns popularity, but also they get high evaluation. For example, their 2nd album release "Limited addiction" released in Mar 2012 was nominated for the record shop grand prix. On Apr 30, 2012, they held the 2nd JAPAN TOUR in six cities across Japan. At their final live on May 20 in Hibiya open-air concert hall, they announced in front of 3,000 people that they would hold Nippon Budokan performance. They succeeded in it on Dec 22 last year and they established a record of the youngest girls' group of Nippon Budokan performance since their average age was 15. Their 11th single "ROAD TO BUDOKAN 2012 ~ Bad Flower ~" was at the 4th of Oricon weekly ranking. From this, three singles to the 13th single "Get The Star / Last Forever", ranked in Top 10 in series. They held the 3rd JAPAN TOUR in Zepp halls from Apr of 2013. Furthermore, they started their first crown TV programs in the BS Fuji. The linked lives were held at Kobe International Hall and Shibuya Public Hall. They received a good reputation with their performance including illusions, which was different from the past. They held their performance in Nippon Budokan on December 22 of the second consecutive year, 2013! In Budokan, they showed a more splendid and better stage than the previous year. In their 5th year of 2014, they will held their 4th national tour "Royal Mirrorball Discotheque"! They will do the performance with the remix sound source different from before! They go forward with an activity concept referred to as "We will tell you the joy of music with singing and dancing"! On the production side, they have received songs by Rock Musician and LUNA SEA bassist J, Koide Yusuke from BaseBallBear who wrote the music and lyrics for a song, and with additional contributions from Hachioji P and Kikuo from VOCALOP, they have broadened their range in music, as well as additional music activities as solo members features as vocals in Maltine Girls Wave etc. And finally with already two movies in 2014, casting all 5 members ( A Film Directed by Yamato Yuki "Your dream in 5 seconds" In Theaters from March 8th~? A True Horror Film "Ghost Stories at School - Curses of Kotodana" In Theaters from May 23rd) new challenges have been presented and their activities besides music is also gathering a lot of buzz and attention. Also one of their main concepts to enter the Asian market has been fulfilled with their album released in Taipei and Hongkong. Ranking in the TOP 10 J-POP chart in France, and with additional overseas activities planned for this year, they will strive to become a group that performs from Asia to all over the world! Describe your first role -- what was it like to go into the sound booth for the first time? My very first role was in Good Witch of the West where I played the role of the best friend, who was also a maid, to the main character. I felt really nervous because it was my first time, so every time I went in I got a lot of directions from the director. What were your favorite anime and manga growing up? (Giggling) Sailor Moon, and Nakayoshi which was where the Sailor Moon manga was published. T-ONO: How did you approach the role of Mineva Lao Zabi, what was your mindset and what did you want to convey through you work? If you didnt know, she appears first as a baby in Mobile Suit Gundam. She has lived through the entire history of that Gundam universe and this was something I was aware of when I took on the role. Mineva has seen most of the war almost from the start so it was a giant part of her character. The 30th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam recently passed so I went back to her first appearance to understand her background and see where she was coming from. Once I felt that I understood her history, I used that as a base to build her character. I wanted to convey her serious demeanor through a lot of clipped tones, so I have to prevent my personal feelings from coming out, which is something I pay special attention to. Did you audition for the part or were you offered the part by the production staff? Are you at the point in your career where you are offered roles? I had to audition for the role of Mineva. One of the awesome things about my career is that sometimes I will be offered a role. Nevertheless, it is unusual for voice actors to be just offered the roles and never have to audition for roles. I dont think that even the veteran voice actors ever have to stop auditioning for roles; there will always be auditions, though that is sometimes dependent on the role. When you were younger, what anime characters and voices did you try to mimic? (Excited) I definitely tried to copy voices when I was little, I remember doing Crayon Shin-chan and Doraemon. I did that for a lot of shows, because I watched many shows when I was younger. T-ONO: You mentioned before that you went back to see the older Gundam shows to gain perspective. Which part of her history do you find to be most interesting? What do you think of her journey and maturity level at this point? Mineva has grown a lot as a person since the war started. She really wants to stop the war and has very strong feelings about the war. Part of the motivation for her to grow was meeting Banagher in the first episode of Gundam Unicorn. She has spent most of her life being told what to do and how to act and lead as a princess. Thus, she hasnt had a lot of time to develop her own feelings. She hasnt given much thought as to what she wants and what she wants to do with her life. When she first meets Banagher he tells her that those are important things, but what was also important was what she wanted. He is the first person to tell her that. Before she was a princess she was a young woman, and we see a little bit of that aspect peeking out. I would not venture so far as to say that it is romance and love, but we see a little of that coming out. I think that she is learning to be more human in that regard. Do you see yourself being cast for similar roles? Do you like having similar roles? I think that I am most often cast in more roles that are closer to my personality. I do see that trend, though different roles will have different traits that are opposite of mine. However, I think what I have in common is being cheerful, stubborn, strong, the willingness to take a stand, and being a sore loser. I think there are a lot of roles like that I am cast into. As far as which roles I enjoy most, its easier to relate to characters whose personalities are closer to mine. I can always think about if I were in a characters position, I would respond in a certain way. Thats the fall back that I use; when there are fewer constraints the lines flow and bubble up. You have played many heroic roles, but have you ever played the villain? Would you like to have played the villain? (Laughing) When people ask me that in interviews with regards to playing future roles, I always answer that I would very much enjoy the chance play the villain. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to play such a role. At least I dont believe that I have. I would love to play a hopelessly waste of a character, a person with just a rotten personality. You have played male characters in addition to your female roles, what is your approach to playing young men as opposed to women? The most important thing is to approach the feelings of the character first, gender is not the most important thing. The feelings come first, but there are technical aspects like not trying to sound too feminine. If it comes to challenging someone with your voice you want to avoid that. It happens occasionally on my first try for a new role, but I dont think I have one single approach to it. I mix it up a lot because there are different tones to all the character voices, male and female. What is it like going from a smaller production like TV to a large project like Gundam Unicorn? The budget doesnt really affect VAs, but it does, I think, affect the rest of the staff like PR. Budget affects the limits of what they can do with their resources to implement a vision: creative freedom when animating, public events, and venues are affected by budget, but in my experience it doesnt really affect voice actors that all. Is this your first time in America and at a US anime convention? Is there anything you want to see? This is my first time in the U.S., so I had a lot fun shopping around Seattle. I found some really good seafood like salmon and scallops. I also found this really nice hand lotion and a lot of other things. I am having a lot of fun here. T-ONO: Out of your entire career, which character would you say you identify with the most? Which is your favorite role? I really love all my roles, but one that comes to mind was from Ika Musume (Squid Girl); Eiko. I think Eiko treats Ika like her little sister, and this was how I approached the role. I also have a little sister so there was that kind of view point I could use. So a lot of my warm feelings for my own family came through. How Eiko thinks and reacts to Ika has a lot in common with my own experiences. I was surprised by how close I felt in sync with Eiko; I felt that I have a lot in common with Eiko. I think that really comes through in the final product. What do you think of American fans? What differences do you notice between Western audiences and Japanese audiences? That is a little difficult to answer. There are similarities and differences between the two groups as you cannot say that both groups are completely the same or different, but what I think is the same is that we love the works that we see. One thing that I have noticed is that some American fans are still a little bit shy about expressing their love for anime. However, you also see more people who are more open and cheerful about their affection. They use it as a means to express their creativity. When I see the American fan I see a lot more openness. They go up to one another and strike up conversations, whereas in Japan you would probably see fans doing a lot more standing around not talking to one another as much. I think that everyone came here under the assumption that they were going to enjoy the convention and enjoy the company of their fellows. Lastly, there is also a giant sense of freedom at this convention that I am enjoying as well. What projects can you discuss that your fans can look forward to? What I can talk to you about is that I am playing Haruka, one of the operators in Rinne no Lagrange. I am also playing Striker in Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (Suisei no Gargantia). Of course there is also the final episode of Gundam Unicorn. T-ONO: Do you have any special moments with your fans that you could share with us? Yesterday I had a chance to eat dinner with fans at the guest reception. That was actually my first time sitting down and eating a meal with anime fans, and even though I could not converse in English it is still a precious memory for me. I was not completely sure they enjoyed it as well but I hope they did. I know that I enjoyed it as well and it is something that I will remember. In 2006 you got your first major role as Karada in Asatte no Houkou, how was your first taste of experiencing the role of a lead voice actress? That role as Karada was my first role as a main character in a show and I am kind of a little embarrassed when watching it. I was still developing as a voice actress at that time, but on the other hand I think there are some roles and performances that you can only give at a certain point in ones career. Thinking back, I would have approached it differently now, but I dont think my performance would have been as engaging as it was then. Of course you can say that someone is a good performer or a bad performer, but really it is a mix of both that results in a level of engagement you would not otherwise get. It was the first time I was called on to work harder on a role and put a lot more time into the character. It was my first experience in spending so much time figuring out a character and understanding a character in depth. You have done some projects outside of anime, one of them being Fi in Skyward Sword. Could you describe the differences between playing that role and something more verbose like what you usually do? That role was really interesting because, as you know, Fi doesnt have actual lines in a real language; theyre mostly sounds strung together almost like sound effects. So this was really an unusual role. One aspect that was difficult was that normally lines are recognizable sentences with recognizable words that have clear meaning. There were no words to convey the meaning to the player. I had to completely depend on a feeling. There were no lines to fall back on, it was a different experience, but well worth it. Did you discover Gundam when you studied for the role, or did you watch it growing up? The first time I watched any Gundam was after I was selected for Mineva Zabi. Frankly, I had always thought that it was a show mostly for boys and I did not think that there was anything that was going to draw me in. However, I thought that this was a series with a long history so I needed to study it for the role. I was really surprised by how good the story was -- it made me think that I should have watched this before. It is a classic similar to what I think of when studying the craft of acting. The animation is not as refined as it now, but the human story is very well put together and there is a lot of overflowing emotion in the lines. There is a lot of depth in the show because if you watched this as a kid you would have a different reaction than you would have as an adult. When you are not voice acting, what are your hobbies? (Laughing) I really love watching Nico Nico Douga, and I am a fan of vocaloid so I like listening to a lot of songs as well. I also have a cat so I spend a lot of time with my cat You mentioned that you loved Sailor Moon growing up, so who is your favorite Sailor Scout and why? (Excited) Way back when, I really liked Usagi-chan. I always liked the protagonist of whatever show I was watching when I was growing up. Now when I go back I really like Rei, who I thought of as mean to Usagi in my youth. I realize as an adult that the teasing was how she showed affection to Usagi, and now I see that she really is a kind character. I can appreciate more fully the tsundere aspect of Reis character, which is kind of cute. I really like her uniform because its red, and I think that she is the only Sailor Scout that wears high heels. I think that having beautiful legs like those and wearing heels is really cool. 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: People are reflected in a window of a hotel at the Davos Promenade in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 15, 2024. The artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has raised tens of millions of dollars from the likes of Jeff Bezos and other prominent tech investors for its mission to rival Google in the business of searching for information. Credit: AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File Amazon is reviewing claims that the artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI is scraping contentincluding from prominent news siteswithout approval. Amazon spokesperson Samantha Mayowa confirmed Friday that the tech giant was assessing information it received from the news outlet WIRED, which published an investigation earlier this month that said Perplexity appeared to scrape content from websites that had prohibited access from such practices. Perplexity uses servers by Amazon Web Services, otherwise known as AWS. Amazon's "terms of service prohibit abusive and illegal activities and our customers are responsible for complying with those terms," Mayowa said in a prepared statement. "We routinely receive reports of alleged abuse from a variety of sources and engage our customers to understand those reports." Perplexity spokesperson Sara Platnick said Friday that the company had determined that Perplexity-controlled services are not crawling websites in any way that violates AWS terms of service. The San Francisco-based AI search startup has been a darling of prominent tech investors, including heavy hitters such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. But in the past few weeks, the company has found itself in hot water amid accusations of plagiarism. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has offered a robust defense of the startup after it published a summarized news story with information and similar wording to a Forbes investigative story. It did so without citing the media outlet or asking for its permission. Forbes later said it found similar "knock-off" stories lifted from other publications. Separately, The Associated Press found another Perplexity product invented fake quotes from real people. Srinivas said in an AP interview earlier this month that his company "never ripped off content from anybody. Our engine is not training on anyone else's content," in part because the company is simply aggregating what other companies' AI systems generate. But, he added, "It was accurately pointed out by Forbes that they preferred a more prominent highlighting of the source." He said sources are now highlighted more prominently. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 2 killed, 4 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese villages Xinhua) 09:29, June 29, 2024 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. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) A San Antonio Community Outreach and Resiliency Effort team consisting of an SAPD officer, a San Antonio Fire Department paramedic and a mental health clinician, approach a residence with a possible mental health call on Aug. 16, 2023. Ultimately, no one answered the door. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News A San Antonio police officer, left, and a Center for Health Cares Services clinician approach a residence with a possible mental health call on Aug. 16, 2023. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News An SA CORE team, consisting of a police officer, left, a paramedic, right, and a mental health clinician, approach a residence with a possible mental health call on Aug. 16, 2023. The caller could not be located. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Starting Monday, a city team that responds to people experiencing mental health crises will work around the clock instead of ending its work day before midnight, as it currently does. That change came at the request of the City Council last summer after San Antonio police officers shot and killed Melissa Perez, a 46-year-old mother who struggled with schizophrenia, during an early morning disturbance call to her Southwest Side apartment on June 23, 2023. The San Antonio Police Department said the San Antonio Community Outreach and Resiliency Effort, or SA CORE, likely would not have responded to that particular call since the team made up of a police officer, a fire department paramedic and a mental health clinician only handles calls related to individuals who are in turmoil but arent behaving violently. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Still, the majority of council said SA CORE needed to provide 24/7, citywide coverage. Even before July 1, SA CORE has expanded since the program launched in spring 2022 as a single team responding to downtown-area calls. This past January, the city added two teams to serve the rest of the city. All three teams have worked daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. From January through April, those teams responded to 1,224 calls, according to data provided Friday to councils five-member Public Safety Committee. Thats 12% of the 10,000 mental health calls for service made to 911 during that timeframe. The majority of calls are resolved on scene, taken to a hospital by emergency detention or transported to address another need, said Jessie Higgins, chief mental health officer at the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Only two of the 1,224 calls resulted in arrests, which is the goal of the program: to reduce the number of unnecessary arrests and connect people in need with mental health care. District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez said hed like the teams to respond to a higher percentage of 911 calls. I would had been happier if it was more like 25% of the calls, he said. The teams will answer more 911 calls when they start covering the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, Higgins said. Patrol officers are also trained to take someone in crisis to the hospital under an emergency detention order, without needing the assistance of a paramedic or clinician, she added. There are no plans to further expand SA CORE in the citys next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1 and no one on council has raised that as a priority for the new city budget that theyll approve in September. I think we have to evaluate what we have during that time and then well see what it looks like to possibly recommend expanding it, Police Chief William McManus told the Express-News. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Members of the Public Safety Committee, which provides guidance on city policing policy, showed more interest Friday in adding a mental health services option when someone calls 911. Today callers are given three options: police, fire or EMS. 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 Our latest research has found that clickable links on websites can often be redirected to malicious destinations. We call these "hijackable hyperlinks" and have found them by the millions across the whole of the web, including on trusted websites. Our paper , published at the 2024 Web Conference, shows that cybersecurity threats on the web can be exploited at a drastically greater scale than previously thought. Concerningly, we found these hijackable hyperlinks on the websites of large companies, religious organizations, financial firms and even governments. The hyperlinks on these websites can be hijacked without triggering any alarms. Only vigilantsome might say paranoidusers would avoid falling into these traps. If we were able to find these vulnerabilities across the web, so can others. Here's what you need to know. What are hijackable hyperlinks? If you make a typo when entering your bank's web address, you might accidentally end up on a phishing siteone that impersonates, or "spoofs," your bank's website to steal your personal info. If you're in a rush and don't inspect the website closely, you may enter sensitive personal details and pay a steep price for your mistake. This could include identity theft, account compromise or financial loss. Something even more dangerous happens when programmers mistype web addresses in their code. There's a chance their typo will direct users to an internet domain that has never been purchased. We call these phantom domains. For example, a programmer making a link to theconversation.com might accidentally link to tehconversation.comnote the misspelling. If the mistyped domain has never been purchased, someone could come along and buy that phantom domain for around A$10, hijacking the inbound traffic. In these cases, the price of programmers' mistakes is paid by the users. These programmer linking errors don't just risk directing users to phishing or spoofing sites. Hijacked traffic can be directed towards a range of traps, including malicious scripts, misinformation, offensive content, viruses and any other hacks the future will bring. Over half a million phantom domains Using high-performance computing clusters, we processed the whole browsable web for these vulnerabilities. At a scale never seen in research, in total we analyzed over 10,000 hard drives' worth of data. Doing so, we found over 572,000 phantom domains. The hijackable hyperlinks directing users to them were found on many trusted websites. In a twist of irony, this even included web-based software designed to enforce privacy legislation on websites. We investigated what errors caused these vulnerabilities and categorized them. Most were caused by typos in hyperlinks, but we also found another type of programmer-generated vulnerability: placeholder domains. When programmers develop a website that does not yet have a specific domain, they often enter links to a phantom domain with the expectation the links will be fixed later. We found this to be common with website design templates, where the aesthetic components of a website are purchased from another programmer rather than developed in-house. When the design template is later installed on a website, the phantom domains are often not updated, making links to them hijackable. To determine if hijackable hyperlinks could be exploited in practice, we purchased 51 of the phantom domains they point to and passively observed the inbound traffic. From this, we detected substantial traffic coming from the hijacked links. Compared to similar new domains that lacked hijacked links, 88% of our phantom domains got more traffic, with up to ten times more visitors. What can be done? For average web users, awareness is key. Links cannot be trusted. Be vigilant. For those in charge of companies and their websites, we suggest several technical countermeasures. The simplest solution is for website operators to "crawl" their websites for broken links. Countless free tools are available for doing so. If any broken links are found, fix them before they are hijacked. We, the Web British scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee first proposed the web at CERN in 1989. In his earliest description of itstill widely available on the web as a testament to itselfthere is a section titled "non requirements," where security is addressed. This section includes the fateful phrase: "[Data security is] of secondary importance at CERN, where information exchange is still more important." While this was true of CERN in 1989, the web is now the primary information exchange medium of the modern age. We have come to treat the web as an external component of our own brains. This is evidenced by the popularity of large language models like ChatGPT, which themselves are trained on data from the web. As our dependence deepens, it might be time to mentally re-categorize web data security from "non requirements" to "important requirements." This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Ironically, younger generations are using smartphones for anything but actual phone calls. Many people under 40 appear far more comfortable letting their fingers do the talking, using text or images, rather than speech, to communicate over the phone. A 2023 survey of more than 1,000 Gen Z Australians aged between 18 and 26 found that almost 60% dread making or accepting a phone call. Another from the United States found that 81% of millennials get anxious before making a call. Like spiders and heights, speaking on the phonewith all its real-time imperfectionsis a modern-day phobia and fast becoming a lost art. So what's going on, and what impact might it have on young people's careers? People feel ambushed by phone calls I head up the journalism school at Murdoch University. In few other fields of study is the ability to make timely, effective phone calls so critical for success. To explore young people's attitudes to phone use further, I carried out an informal survey of 15 students. Presenting their responses at last year's Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia conference, I suggested that "telephobia" may be causing the loss of a key communication skill in younger generations. Among my students, many said they find it rude to receive voice calls out of the blue or without warning. Some even said that they will not answer voice calls at all, even from a parent. It was easier to let them divert to voicemail, and respond later via text. Getting a phone call from an unknown number can be even more nail-bitingwhy is this person calling instead of sending a text? Many said such cold calls trigger a deep fear that something is wrong. Going on to find out there actually was no emergency made many feel ambushedand annoyedthat a cold caller had caused unnecessary alarm. But journalism students may still have an edge. In a podcasting class with intake from various majors, I found that commonplace interview tasks sent anxiety levels much higher than in other classes I have taught in almost a decade lecturing journalism students alone. Something intangible but important is lost in text Telephone and face-to-face interviews are well-known in both industry and academia to be more powerful than email. The skill or confidence to ask uncomfortable questions is a key part of decent interviewing, with phone interviews a second choice to meeting with someone face-to-face. In-person conversations allow for connection, the building of trust and empathy and the transmission of non-verbal language. Two studies from Canada back this up, finding people overestimate their persuasiveness when communicating via email. Participants made requests either in person or via email. Both groups were equally confident about the success of their requests, but those made face-to-face were a staggering 34 times more effective. The skill needs a greater focus My colleagues across the Australian media have told me the incoming class of reporters often have more technical prowess than generations past. But many still need reminding to pick up the phone rather than send an email when securing or carrying out interviews. In the classroom at Murdoch University, we have doubled the amount of time spent teaching the art of interviewing. We've found that students are more successful, and their anxiety is lowered, when early lessons are devoted to practicing phone calls. The aim is to try at least 10 phone calls in the classroom, starting with classmates and then moving onto strangers. But across journalism schools and the wider workforce, it's likely to remain an uphill battle. According to communications researchers Leanna Kim and Sang-Hwa Oh, many new technologies hinder rather than promote voice calling, which may be causing even greater reliance on new devices. "Telephone anxiety was negatively associated with preference for phone calls, suggesting that using an alternative mode of communication, instead of a phone call, might not be simply a matter of convenience, but an outcome of escaping anxiety." This is despite research showing an individual's fear of an interaction being awkward often turns out to be overblown. We are never going back to the days where the family landline had pride of place stuck in the hallway, and its own special chair to sit on. But voice calls will always play an important role in communication. Younger generations just need to pick up the phone and let their voices be heard. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. SAPD Officer Damean Segovia. 27, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after a June 13 crash near UTSA. Bexar County Sheriff's Office Colton Thomas, 27, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into Damean Segovia on June 13 near UTSA. Bexar County Sheriff's Office After a San Antonio police officer was charged with driving while intoxicated, new details reveal that another man was accused of driving drunk during the incident near the University of Texas at San Antonio campus. On June 13, Damean Segovia, 27, was arrested by the UTSA police around 3 a.m. following a three-vehicle crash near the intersection of Loop 1604 West Access Road and Babcock Road. Colton Thomas, 27, was also charged with a DWI at the crash. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to a crash report from the Texas Department of Transportation, Segovia was driving in a Jeep Wrangler as he headed toward the intersection and was struck by Thomass Mazda 3. (Thomas) was following (Segovia) too closely and was unable to stop in time. (Thomas) then hit (Segovia) in the back end, the report states. After hitting Segovia, Thomas veered off the road and struck a parked construction vehicle. His vehicle was no longer driveable, according to a UTSA police report obtained by MySA. Officers at the scene asked Segovia for his drivers license, which he provided. It was reported that Segovia had an odor of alcohol on his breath and bloodshot eyes, and his speech was thick and slurred. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The police report states that Segovia claimed to be a level two of 10 when it came to intoxication. His field sobriety test showed his blood alcohol concentration almost twice the legal limit. A news release by SAPD later revealed that Segovia had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher. Court records show that Segovia and Thomas were both taken to the Bexar County jail and later released on bail. Segovia, who has been with the department for one year, was placed on administrative duty. SAPD will conduct an administrative investigation into his DWI arrest. Air Force Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart arrives for his court-martial at Fort Sam Houston. Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, former commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph walks to his car Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, after an arraignment hearing at Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston. Stewart faces a court-marshal for allegedly raping a female officer on a military base in Oklahoma. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News A prosecutor urged a military jury Friday to find Air Force Gen. Phillip Stewart guilty of sexual assault, saying he pursued a female officer on his staff and had sex with her without her consent. Stewart's lead defense counsel argued just the opposite in a closing statement to the jury: She said the officer willingly engaged in sex with the general and had to be talked into viewing it as rape. Stewart is accused of assaulting the woman at or near Altus AFB in Oklahoma during a business trip in April 2023. He has long maintained the encounter was consensual. At the time, Stewart led the 19th Air Force, the service's San Antonio-based pilot training command. He was sacked a month later, after the woman filed a complaint against him. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The jury of eight three-star generals six men and two women heard closing statements from both sides Friday morning and began their deliberations around 1 p.m. They recessed for the day shortly after 6 p.m. and were set to resume deliberations Saturday morning. Stewart chose not to testify at the trial. Col. Naomi Dennis, an Air Force prosecutor, told the jury that a month before the trip to Altus, Stewart tried to lure the female officer to his hotel room in Denver during an Air Force conference in that city. Stewart texted the officer that he had an extra queen bed and added, "Crash if you need a room," the prosecutor said. A month later at the Oklahoma air base, both of them drank to excess before Stewart led her into the bedroom of his guest quarters, stripped off her uniform and had sex with her without ever making sure she was comfortable with what he was doing, Dennis said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dennis said that given his power and authority over the woman, Stewart should have ensured she wanted to have sex. But when her husband called the general five weeks later to confront him, Stewart appeared to hedge, saying it was his "impression" the encounter was consensual. Earlier in the trial, jurors heard a tape recording of the 34-minute conversation, which was arranged and monitored by Air Force investigators. "You just dont get to sit back and say, 'Thats my impression,'" Dennis told the jury. Dennis said that on the night of the encounter, the woman tried to discourage Stewart when he initiated sex, and she should not have had to fight him off. The officer was with her boss and had every reason to feel safe, the prosecutor said. When Stewart told the woman he wanted to perform a sex act on her, she tried to dissuade him by saying she had not taken a shower, Dennis said. The prosecutor likened that to other time-honored excuses for opting out of sex, such as "Im tired" or "I have a headache." Anticipating a defense argument that the officer had opportunities to extricate herself from the situation, Dennis said jurors might ask, "Why didnt she say no?" Advertisement Article continues below this ad "With all due respect," the prosecutor said, "youre asking the wrong question." In her closing, defense attorney Sherry Bunn attacked the prosecutions claim that the officer did not consent to having sex with Stewart. She said the accuser did not immediately believe she had been raped and came to that conclusion over time. People had to convince (her) it was a sexual assault, because it wasnt, Bunn told the jury. The real problem was that the officer had violated her marriage vows, "and she couldnt live with it anymore," Bunn said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bunn said the officer at one point said, "This isnt me. This is not my character. Ive not done this before." The defense lawyer said the woman was a "party girl" given to drinking and had selectively recounted details from the evening at Altus to cast Stewart as a predator. The judge presiding over the court-martial at Fort Sam Houston, Col. Matthew Stoffel, handed the jurors a series of instructions to follow as they weigh the evidence against the general. Stewart is only the second Air Force general ever to face a court-martial and the first to have the charges weighed by a jury rather than a judge. If convicted of all counts, he could be sentenced to more than 60 years behind bars. Scott Huddleston is a veteran staff writer, covering education, local history, preservation and the Alamo. He can be reached at shuddleston@express-news.net. He has been reporting for the Express-News since 1985, covering local government, public safety, criminal justice, flooding, transportation, military, water and the environment. He is a native Texan and a longtime San Antonian. Hollie Cunningham poses for a portrait with the handprints and footprints of her daughters, who were both diagnosed with the same rare, fetal birth defect within the same year, at her home in Celina, TX, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Cunningham had to leave the state twice in order to access abortions, now bearing the grief of losing her babies and trauma of having to flee the state. Shelby Tauber/Contributor Hollie Cunningham points to where an ultrasound image reveals her fetus had anencephaly, where the brain and skull do not develop properly, at her home in Celina, TX, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Cunningham had to leave the state twice in one year in order to access abortions for two pregnancies with lethal fetal anomalies. Shelby Tauber/Contributor Hollie Cunningham helps her son brush his teeth before bed at their home in Celina, TX, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Shelby Tauber/Contributor Hollie Cunningham holds her hand near the handprints and footprints of her daughters, who were both diagnosed with the same rare, fetal birth defect within the same year, at her home in Celina, TX, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Cunningham had to leave the state twice in order to access abortions, now bearing the grief of losing her babies and trauma of having to flee the state. Shelby Tauber/Contributor Hollie Cunningham and her husband Cody Cunningham build magnet block structures with their sons at their home in Celina, TX, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Shelby Tauber/Contributor Hollie Cunningham goes through a box made for her daughter Ellie Grace, who was diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly, at her home in Celina, TX, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Cunningham had to leave the state twice in one year in order to access abortions for two pregnancies with lethal fetal anomalies. Shelby Tauber/Contributor One morning last spring, Hollie Cunninghams father was drinking coffee and watching "Good Morning America" on his patio when he saw Austin Dennard, a Dallas-area OB-GYN, on the screen. Through tears, Dennard described the devastation of having learned her pregnancy wasnt viable. Then, she recounted the struggle of leaving Texas for an abortion the state wouldnt allow. It sounded all too familiar it was the same situation Cunningham had faced just months earlier. Her father encouraged her to reach out to Dennard, and within hours, the two were on the phone, commiserating and sharing their stories. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: Texas Supreme Court declines to clarify abortion ban in suit from 20 women who suffered emergencies In the two years since the Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections and Texas began banning the procedure in nearly all instances, dozens of women have come forward to share their stories about being denied care in the face of dangerous pregnancies. Many, like Dennard, have joined litigation against the state, claiming the exceptions built into its abortion restrictions are too vague for physicians to intervene. But they have also found each other, building connections around an increasingly shared trauma. Dennard and Cunningham, now close friends, for instance, are part of a group text with other women most of them plaintiffs in the lawsuit Dennard is part of where they share their challenges and advice, recommend medical specialists and discuss their grief and coping mechanisms. They are probably my biggest support group, said Cunningham, 37, of the Dallas area. Just connecting with others who had similar experiences reduces my feelings of isolation, and they are the only ones that truly know what it feels like mentally, physically, emotionally to go through what I did. Dr. Bhavik Kumar, medical director for primary and transgender care at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast in Houston, occasionally travels to perform abortions in states where its legal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kumar said in the last couple years he has seen on a more regular basis that patients are connecting with each other and opening up more in waiting rooms. He overhears that theyll ask each other things like how far along they are or how far they had to travel to be there. The fact that folks sort of have to rely on each other to build this community and support one another, its unfortunate, but theres also some beauty in that, Kumar said. While this is not the scenario we would have chosen for one another, it is something that I see happening in a way that wouldnt have happened otherwise, especially on this scale. I was numb In late 2022, Cunningham learned she was pregnant, and she and her husband, Cody, were ecstatic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That December, upon a friends insistence, the Cunninghams threw a big gender reveal party where they learned with all their family and friends around them that theyd received their wish: a sister for their two boys. A month after Christmas, Cunningham went in for a sonogram at 20 weeks. The first half hour of the visit went well. 10 toes. 10 fingers. Heart beating, good blood flow. But then the technician went silent. She couldnt find the babys head. EMERGENCY ABORTIONS: Texas Medical Board approves limited guidance on when emergency abortions are allowed I need to get the doctor in here right away, the technician said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The doctor explained that the Cunninghams baby had anencephaly, a fatal condition in which the skull and brain do not fully develop. She and her husband broke down in tears. They wanted to know what their next steps ought to be, but Cunningham said the doctor told them: With the laws in Texas, Im sorry, I cant tell you what to do. We were blindsided, she said. I didnt want anyone to feel like they could lose their license by opening up their mouth and whatnot, but its just mind blowing that a doctor cant do their job to help their patient. The Cunninghams considered going to term with the baby, whom they named Ellie Grace, but they didnt want to see their baby suffer, if she was born alive. And they didnt want Hollie to develop complications that could impact her future fertility. Once they made the decision to terminate, they had very little time. The clinic she found in New Mexico had a cutoff of a little after the second trimester, and Cunningham squeezed in an appointment in February with just 10 days left to go. She had to arrange child care for her boys, and the trip and procedure cost thousands of dollars. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sitting in the waiting room, Cunningham could hear anti-abortion protesters outside yelling at Cody, whom the clinic did not allow into the building, calling him a murderer, and him shouting back, This baby is loved and wanted and Our baby wont survive. It still gives her nightmares today. After a difficult procedure that was more painful than expected, Cunningham got in the car, and her husband asked if she wanted to talk about it. She did not. It took her a few days to open up to him about it. Getting on that airplane, flying home empty-handed, knowing that I no longer had my baby inside of me, that my daughter was taken, I instantly just got so depressed, she said. I was numb, completely numb. I emotionally shut down. I avoided social gatherings. I avoided the public eye. She remembers laying in bed for days at a time, too afraid to even do basic errands like grocery shopping for fear of running into someone she knew who might ask her about her pregnancy. Looking for a community Abortion bans and restrictions have been linked to anxiety and depression, at least in the short term. In the landmark Turnaway Study, researchers at the University of California San Francisco followed for five years about 1,000 women who showed up to abortion centers across the country, some who received an abortion and others who were over the gestational limit and were denied. While there were no differences in long-term mental health outcomes, patients who were denied abortions experienced elevated levels of anxiety and low self-esteem, which lasted for about six months, said Antonia Biggs, an associate professor and social psychologist at UCSF who helped lead the study. In another peer-reviewed study, Biggs found that patients at clinics in California, Illinois and New Mexico who experienced any type of delay-causing obstacle to abortion care were more likely to experience stress, anxiety and depression and to be at higher risk for anxiety and depressive disorders. Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, said shes seeing that play out in real time as the organizations abortion hotline receives an uptick in callers in a complete state of crisis because theyre not able to obtain care in their home state. The organization helps connect callers with mental health resources, including counseling chat lines and support groups. Its really important that people have a community, Fonteno said. That can be really challenging to find when there is pervasive stigma, especially in these areas where theres a lot of hostility towards abortion rights and access. Many in the anti-abortion movement disagree with Biggs' research. Much of the post-abortion counseling that is available in Texas and online is run by anti-abortion organizations that center the abortion as the reason for a persons trauma. While that may be a good fit for some with certain religious or ideological beliefs, Fonteno said its important that people find support where they wont feel judged or treated like they need to repent for a personal health choice. The Texas Equal Access Fund has offered the Post-Abortion Truth and Healing support group, known as PATH, for the last four years. Maleeha Aziz, deputy director of the program, said when she had her abortion, she was looking for a community where she would feel comfortable processing her feelings, and when she didnt find one, she and other founding members decided to make their own. Its grown from a few members to about 40. It is something that's very hard for others to relate to if they haven't gone through it themselves, Aziz said. We just created that space for people to have those shared experiences without having to give all the context, the background without having to do a lot of that additional emotional labor. A second loss For Cunninghams next pregnancy, she decided to keep it more private. The feelings of pure excitement were no longer there, and instead, she felt fear. Everything was going well until the second trimester brought another sonogram and another troubled-looking technician. What was your diagnosis last time? the technician asked. The doctor again entered the room and confirmed that the rarest of rare misfortunes had befell her: This baby, named Lily Grace, also had anencephaly. He was shocked, Cunningham recalled, and he told the couple, as many doctors have told her since, that hed never seen this happen twice in one patient before. Cunningham couldnt understand why this was happening to her again. And worse yet, she knew she was facing another agonizing out-of-state trip. She knew who she could call: Dennard, who picked up in the middle of a family vacation. It meant a lot, Dennard said. My heart was breaking for her because I just couldn't believe that she was going through it again. Cunningham was angrier than ever with the state and decided she was ready to go public with her story This isnt OK, she remembers thinking. This is happening to me a second time, and I cannot get the health care that I need from my own trusted doctor of 24 years. The timing didnt work out for her to join the lawsuit Dennard was part of, but Cunningham spoke last month before the Texas Medical Board as it weighed what guidance to give doctors on the states abortion laws. The board approved limited rules this month. Leaning on each other Cunningham flew to New Mexico for her abortion last winter, four days after the Texas Supreme Court denied a Dallas woman, Kate Cox, access to the procedure in a case that made national headlines. Cox and Cunningham met up later that month for what they both described as an emotional but cathartic lunch. Cox is now part of the groups text chain. It's healing and therapeutic for my heart to have this group of women who understand, Cox said in an interview. Cunningham has struggled to find a mental health counselor who takes her insurance and specializes in pregnancy loss, especially one like hers. Cunningham said that the support of her family and friends has been invaluable, but the comfort shes found with this group of women has been uniquely impactful. She was recently at Target, for instance, and heard a father calling out for a girl with the same name as her deceased daughter. She ran to her car in tears. A friend whod gone through the same kind of pregnancy loss texted that maybe it was a sign her daughter was there with her. Dennard said shell reach out to the group when a certain news item triggers her or she receives a hateful letter. Cox said its helped her work through the anxiety of traveling while at high risk of potentially fatal health complications and the complexity of explaining the situation to her other children. They are also good about remembering anniversaries of difficult days or stressful doctors appointments. When one of Dennards patients and fellow plaintiff in her lawsuit, Lauren Miller, testified before a U.S. House committee at a hearing in the Dallas area earlier this year, Cunningham and Cox were there to support her. Molly Duane, senior staff attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents and has connected several of the women, said that while this is a club that no one wants to be a member of, its been nice to see them lean on each other. I think the trauma of all of this is really downplayed very often. I mean, I often see people saying, Well, what's the big deal? You just have to go to another state for an abortion, Duane said. First of all, that's just not a reality for probably most Texans, she said, adding that even if you can, it's extremely traumatic to have to feel like you're fleeing your state and for necessary health care, and in some cases really putting your health at greater risk by doing so. While the future of Dennard and fellow plaintiffs legal challenge is unclear lawyers are still reviewing their options after the Texas Supreme Court declined to clarify the ban in a ruling last month the lawsuit has seemed to give people the confidence to speak up about their pregnancy and abortion experiences, Duane said. She said she has received many calls from people who are looking for a compassionate ear. Oftentimes I feel like I am the first person that ever said to someone that what happened to them was wrong, Duane said. So just the validation that what happened to them shouldn't have happened and that they're not alone is sometimes all they're looking for. Even if this is the end of the legal case, Duane said the group is bonded for life. After speaking at the medical board meeting, Cunningham said she feels galvanized to find other opportunities to share her story. In the meantime, she and her husband are still deciding whether to try for another baby. The hazy region in the southern Caribbean Sea is the Saharan dust moving toward Texas. Interaction with a weak tropical disturbance could diffuse the dust slightly before reaching Texas. COD Meteorology A moderate plume of Saharan dust could be seen on weather satellite imagery over the Caribbean Sea on Friday, and it is expected to move northwest into Texas by Sunday and Monday. Its not an extremely thick cloud of dust, and a tropical disturbance in the region could diffuse it slightly, but San Antonio can expect some hazy, milky skies to return to the region. What is Saharan dust? Its exactly what it sounds like. According to NASA, more than 100 million tons of dust is lifted off of the Sahara Desert in North Africa each year. Some of it is carried by the Atlantic trade winds up to 5,000 miles, all the way to Texas. The effects from Saharan dust on South Texas are typically quite minor. Air quality will decrease, but most people will remain largely unaffected. Others, especially those with asthma and or other cardiopulmonary conditions, could have moderate allergy symptoms. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When will it arrive? Most of the dust will still be over the Gulf of Mexico today, staying clear of the Texas coast. By Sunday, the wave of dust will start to move into the region. The plumes biggest effect on San Antonio is expected to come Sunday evening through Monday morning. The plume of Saharan dust is expected to be over the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, moving into Texas on Sunday and early Monday. WeatherBELL Parts of Central, West, and North Texas could also experience minor effects from the dust during the day on Monday. Dust concentrations will decrease on Tuesday. A large plume of dust can also be seen moving off of Africa and into the central Atlantic Ocean. That means that South Texas could encounter additional rounds of Saharan dust in the coming weeks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Weekend forecast High atmospheric pressure is expected to remain over Texas throughout the weekend, keeping temperatures slightly above average. Low temperatures this morning are only expected to fall to around 80 degrees, then increase steadily throughout the day. Heat index values are expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees Saturday afternoon in South Texas. Pivotal Weather Partly cloudy skies are expected, which will keep temperatures from rising into the triple digits. Highs are expected to reach 98 degrees in the San Antonio metro area. However, high dew points, which indicate high moisture levels in the air, will cause heat index values the humidity-driven "feels like" temperatures to be 10 degrees warmer, like 108 degrees. Similar weather is expected on Sunday as lows drop to the upper 70s and highs reach the upper 90s. High atmospheric pressure overhead will not allow much opportunity for rainfall, but an isolated shower is possible through the weekend. San Antonio's rain chances are only 10%. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Next weeks outlook South Texas temperatures are expected to rise slightly on Monday and Tuesday, reaching highs near 100 degrees each day under bright sunshine. Thankfully, humidity levels will drop slightly, but heat index values up to 105 are still possible. High pressure will move slightly east by the second half of the week. It could cause temperatures to fall by a degree or two, but it wont be much. Highs on the Fourth of July are expected to reach 97 to 99 degrees. By the time firework shows start around 9 p.m., temps will still be close to 90 degrees. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 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 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. The Grand Island Public Library and library board are working on a Strategic Plan for 2022-2027. We came up with our new Mission Statement in 2021: To inspire and strengthen our community by connecting people with information, ideas and experiences. The library and board with input from the community through surveys and community conversation groups worked hard to come up with this attainable Strategic Plan we are all very proud of. We have six strategic directions with the first being A Library for Everyone! This direction inspires us to work toward a vision where all people feel seen, safe and welcome. Goal 1: Increase access by researching fine-free services, partnering with schools to ensure every student has a library card, developing a plan for supporting ELL and immigrant populations, and developing a plan for supporting the disabled population. Goal 2: Ensure comprehensive services and resources by exploring public transportation options to the library, accommodating various lifestyles by expanding hours of library use, and implementing off hour/off site library resources. We have already gone fine-free. We work on things each day. We want our library to have success. Ill share some of the other Strategic Directions as we keep moving towards our goals. I became director in the fall of 2020 and began work with our library and the foundation board. I was lucky to have this great team of professionals to help me and the staff with our work. Thank you to two of our board members who are leaving the board this month, Tanya Hansen and Jaime Parr. Hansen, an attorney at Smith, Johnson, Allen, Connick and Hansen, has been on the library board since 2016. She has served as president twice. The strategic plan and the rule revisions were my biggest accomplishments on the board, Tanya says. I was involved with the library board because libraries and books have always been important parts of my life and I want to make sure every person has that opportunity. I think it is fundamental to society to have a place that creates learning opportunities, supports literacy and education, and helps shape economic, social, and cultural development and hopefully my board service helped with that for our library. She has served on various boards over the years since she was a fourth grader. She taught me that meetings start on time, and its important for all people to have a voice. Parr is director of the Nebraska State Fair and has been on the library board since 2024. She served as president last year. Jaime says her biggest accomplishment is Working with the board to imagine, define and introduce the Community Connection Center to the community. Public meetings were time well spent with worthy and compelling conversation amongst the people and the organizations who depend on the library facility for a plethora of reasons. Personally leading and learning with the full board, together we increased inclusivity and safety, making the Grand Island Public Library a library for all. I am honored to have had experiences of meeting and working with the new police chief, the new city administrator, the city council liaison of Mitchell Nickerson, and the mayor. City leadership participated in public meetings and all attending had open and honest conversation. I have learned so much from the library director, Celine, and the amazing staff that has developed a healthy and productive business environment, Jaime continued. Meeting with the team in groups and individually, listening to them, get to know them, to hear them share their ideas, thoughts and suggestions for the future of the Grand Island Library. I was afforded a wonderful experience to be in position of ability to help serve them for their daily workplace interactions and needs. Never once was any part of tenure a one-person kind of thing. The full board, the executive director, the staff team, foundation, the city representatives, the community ALL stepped up these past six years with thoughts and ideas for the understanding and the betterment of the library. What a great success! Jaime taught me to be a good listener to all the people as we bring people together. Our two new library board members that were chosen by the library board committee and approved by the city are Nelly Venegas, new vice president of the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce, and Daryl Kelley, a retired UNK professor. They begin their terms on July 16. Our new president is Sara White, vice president is Barbara Beck, and secretary is Kari Hooker-Leep. We all look forward to working on Strategic planning as well as other library work as we move forward to make our library a library for everyone! 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. Hot summer is the perfect time for cool treats like popsicles and ice cream. But in South Carolina, soaring temperatures also mean its time for the states official snack: boiled peanuts. From ball games to road trips, the snack is a popular summer favorite. Peanut boiling culture Despite their name, peanuts arent actually nuts at all. The legumes grow well in South Carolinas climate and the practice of boiling them is so beloved locally that in 2006 then-Gov. Mark Sanford signed a law making boiled peanuts the states official snack food. Boiled peanuts (the South) Roasted peanuts are a universal offering in bags and tins across the United States, but Southerners have a different way to prepare goobers. B People in this area have always boiled peanuts, and its about like the Loris Bog Off everybodys got their own recipe, said S.C. Agriculture Commission member Benjie Andrew. I know several different ways to actually boil them. Its just kind of according to whatever flavor you want. Like many locals, farmer Johnny Graham has been boiling peanuts since childhood. When I was a boy, my granddad used to boil peanuts, Graham said. We never sold them, but they grew them and we boiled them at home and Ive always enjoyed it. As an owner and operator of J&J Farms, Graham has been growing, boiling and selling peanuts in the Myrtle Beach area for more than 20 years. His classic recipe uses a salty brine for boiling but more recently hes introduced a spicier Cajun blend as well. Different flavors The simplest recipes, like one published on the official Discover South Carolina website, just call for raw, in-shell peanuts, water and salt. But others experiment with spice blends for unique flavors. If youre interested in boiling your own batch, the first step is finding the right peanut. Look for green peanuts or raw peanuts at grocery stores, produce stands and farmers markets. Green here doesnt actually mean green in color but fresh peanuts that havent yet been dehydrated. Raw peanuts are also uncooked, but unlike green peanuts theyve been dried out and require the extra step of re-hydrating before boiling. The powerful story of the peanut: Calhoun farmer, Santee Cooper play key roles In a nutshell, this is the story of the humble peanut, the ground pea,, the goober (derived from the African word nguba) and, to Mr. Shepard, the astro-nut. Next youll need to decide what to boil your peanuts in. While Graham keeps his recipes secret, he does have a recommended salt to legume ratio: 2 pounds of salt per bushel of peanuts. For a smaller batch, Discover South Carolina recommends three-fourths of a cup of salt for 2 to 3 pounds of in-shell peanuts. If you want to get more creative, consider what flavors you enjoy with other foods and experiment with spice blends, herbs, dried peppers, sauces and more. "[People] may put crushed red pepper water while they boil [the peanuts] in the liquid, and it gives a little bit of a pepper taste, just seasons it up, Andrew said. WHAT'S COOKING?: Boiled or roasted Its time to go nuts When I was growing up, August and September were truly delicious months because our family planted a huge peanut patch. When it was harvest ti Some people put seafood seasoning, like Old Bay ... The older way would be salt and then they would put some type of cured meat inside the pot, like a ham hock or or a big piece of bacon thats been cured, or something like that, to flavor [the peanuts]. Where to shop While you can find raw and green peanuts in plenty of grocery stores, if youre in the market for peanuts that have already been boiled, consider looking for local options. You want to buy peanuts from a farmer-owned stand ... if the sign says farmer-owned, then you know youre going to get good peanuts, Graham said. (TBTCO) - Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (10/10) uoc du bao co the uoc ieu chinh tang manh. Theo o, gia xang trong nuoc co the tang tu 950 - 1.250 ong/lit; gia dau diesel co kha nang tang khoang 820 - 1.050 ong/lit. Tren thi truong the gioi, gia dau giam sau khi du lieu cua Hoa Ky cho thay luong dau tho du tru tang, nhung muc giam bi han che boi rui ro gian oan nguon cung cua Iran do xung ot Trung ong va con bao Milton o Hoa Ky. Bank Nizwa, a leading Islamic bank in Oman, said it has signed a co-operation agreement with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) that will see the bank fund a leather crafting workshop for individuals with disabilities graduating from the Seeb Vocational Rehabilitation Center. The collaboration highlights the pivotal role of public-private partnerships in driving positive societal impact and ensuring sustainable community development, in alignment with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. The leather crafting workshop is geared towards individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder, providing 10-15 men and women of working age with the opportunity to learn the intricacies of the craft and the techniques involved in creating handmade leather artifacts. The agreement was signed on behalf of MoSD by Labiba Muhammad Al Muawliyya, General Director of Social Development for the Muscat Governorate, and Ahmed Al Waily, Head of Corporate Communication, Marketing, and Sustainability at Bank Nizwa. Addressing the gathering, Mahmood bin Mohammed Al Abri, Assistant Manager at the Seeb Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, said this endeavour aims to raise awareness about the capabilities of individuals with disabilities, enhance their self-confidence, and equip them with tools for independence. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to inspire investment in the Centres training ventures, promote economic diversification, and introduce new professional fields in alignment with the nations sustainability vision. On the key partnership, Al Waily said: "As a people-centric bank devoted to making a meaningful impact within the communities we serve, we take immense pride in collaborating with the Ministry of Social Development to support the leather crafting workshop for individuals with disabilities." "We align with MoSDs efforts to equip these individuals with skills that will enrich their lives and enable them to achieve self-reliance. We firmly believe in the transformative power of empowering individuals with disabilities, helping them hone their talents and capabilities, thereby fostering community upliftment," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Fam Properties, one of the UAE's largest real estate brokerages, has announced that it had received an overwhelming investor response for its key project - Century Tower - a 23-floor residential building in Business Bay, with 190 of the 210 available apartments selling on the first day. The project marks a milestone for Al Shafar National Contracting, one of Dubai's leading construction contractors, in conjunction with AMBS Real Estate Development, and fam Properties, whose master agency was responsible for the strategic planning and market research. On the key achievement, fam Properties CEO Firas Al Msaddi said: "The development underlines key elements that can ease concerns of off-plan buyers, and also highlights a buyers trend to focus on reliability, and quality contractors, which has grown following Dubais recent storms." "This response from investors can be attributed to the trusted reputation of Al Shafar, whose foray into building off-plan properties for sale has instilled significant confidence among buyers," he stated. "Many who purchased units in Century Tower have already asked about their future projects. This shows how a reputation for quality construction and timely delivery, added to high income-generating assets, can alleviate common concerns about off-plan projects, and reinforce buyer confidence," he added. Al Msaddi pointed out that Dubai's real estate market was seeing a shift towards reliable and well-built properties. "The climate leads to faster wear and tear on buildings, making durability a top priority for residents. The recent flooding further highlighted this need, prompting buyers to seek out developments built to withstand these demanding conditions, and offer long-term value," he stated. According to him, Century Tower was designed to meet a gap in the market for uniquely crafted residences in Business Bays Golden Triangle. "The buildings design and layout, as well as the project specifications, were the result of in-depth market research and analysis by fam Properties master agency," said the senior official. Unlike typical off-plan projects that sell before construction, building work was significantly advanced before the launch of sales, to give investors extra confidence, he explained. "This reduced risk, added to the buildings prime Business Bay location, distinctive design, and focus on both investment and premium living, made it stand out in meeting buyer needs," he added. Vilal Housing, a specialist in the development of housing solutions for UAE citizens, has announced that the work is underway on 50 residential villas in Dubai, which will be fully completed and handed over to their owners by the end of this year. This initiative is in line with Dubai's Urban Plan, which supports sustainable urban development, said the company in a statement. Recently the firm had annnounced the successful completion of all residential land allocation applications in Dubai submitted until the end of 2023, it stated. Lauding the UAE leadership's efforts and care to housing issues for citizens, Ghaith Al Hashemi of Vilal Housing, said it ensured appropriate housing through the distribution of land and facilitating access to housing loans from financing institutions. "These accomplishments in completing all residential land allocation applications in Dubai submitted by the end of 2023 are highly appreciated," he stated. According to him, Vilal Housing is making every effort to meet the growing demand for housing from citizens, offering services that exceed customer expectations in terms of high quality and adherence to contracts with homeowners through its specialized technical staff. The company collaborates with leading contracting companies in the country and closely works with strategic partners to overcome all obstacles citizens face in completing their construction projects, explained Al Hashemi. This includes providing financing by partnering with banks and financial institutions to offer loans with easy repayment terms, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Smart classrooms of China's vocational Luban Workshop open in Kyrgyzstan Xinhua) 09:29, June 29, 2024 BISHKEK, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Two smart classrooms of China's vocational Luban Workshop program opened here Thursday at Kyrgyz State Technical University, featuring donated educational equipment. At a handover ceremony, Minister of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva thanked China for its strong support for Kyrgyzstan's economic, social and educational development. Students who participate in the project will have the opportunity to become highly qualified specialists at an international level, with Kyrgyzstan adopting China's best practices in science and education, she said. "Kyrgyzstan is ready to closely cooperate with China on the Luban Workshop project, as well as to help in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative," she added. Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen said that the establishment of the Luban Workshop in Kyrgyzstan is an important step towards implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state and strengthening China-Kyrgyzstan cultural and educational cooperation. Du expressed hope that the project will contribute to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the construction of major projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. Named after Lu Ban, an ancient Chinese woodcraft master, the Luban Workshop offers vocational skills training for local communities. Similar workshops have been established in multiple countries. The Luban Workshop smart classes here were opened jointly by the Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power and Kyrgyz State Technical University, and have set up four majors: water conservancy and hydropower engineering, electrical engineering and automation, mechanical design, manufacturing and automation, and road and bridge engineering technology. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) 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. International SOS, worlds leading health and security services company, has sent alerts to companies in the UAE to ensure safety of the workforce with heatwaves expected to become more severe in the region as well as globally. As heatwaves are most dangerous natural hazards, it can cause extreme health and safety risks for workers. Almost half of the global population, including over one billion workers, are at risk of being exposed to high-heat episodes due to higher-than-normal temperatures and heatwaves, which have already been recorded in June 2024 and this years April being the hottest April on record. According to International SOS, heatstroke, dehydration and heat exhaustion are just some of the dangers workers face in extreme heat conditions. These conditions can lead to decreased productivity, increased accidents and even fatalities, it stated. Annually, 22.85 million occupational injuries and 18,970 work-related fatalities are attributable to excessive heat. In the UAE, heat stress is a recurring issue for outdoor workers, especially during the summer when temperature may reach up to 50C. With an aim to address this issue, the Ministry of Labour has imposed a nationwide ban on outdoor work between 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM during summer. Additionally, the Ministry has mandated employers to clearly display their working hours and provide appropriate rest areas that are equipped with drinking water, first aid kits and sun protection measures. In 2023, the country witnessed nearly 95.5 per cent of employers comply with the ban due to the Ministrys rigorous inspections. Workers across various sectors are impacted by extreme weather events, however, certain occupations are especially at risk as they involve more physical effort and/or take place outdoors. Industrial workers in indoor settings are also at risk if temperature levels inside factories and workshops are not regulated properly, stated International SOS in its alert. At high heat levels, performing even basic office and desk tasks can be challenging as it can cause mental fatigue, while physiological and cognitive abilities can decline due to heat strain. Exposure to excessive heat can also lead to serious health risks, including heatstroke and even death. Proactive measures from organisations are crucial to mitigate these risks and safeguard worker wellbeing and productivity, it stated. Dr Ehab Chalabie, Medical Director, Medical Services, Middle East, International SOS, said: "The growing intensity and frequency of heatwaves pose a significant challenge for workforce health and safety. Occupational heat stress used to be primarily an outdoor concern, but with rising temperatures, even indoor workplaces without proper ventilation can become dangerous." He pointed out that organisations must go beyond basic heat stress prevention and integrate heat stress risk assessments into their health and safety policies. Furthermore, providing training to employees to recognise early signs of heat illness is critical, stated Dr Chalabie, adding that early intervention can prevent a medical emergency and long-term health consequences. By fostering a culture of heat awareness and encouraging frequent hydration and breaks during peak temperatures, organisations can empower their workforce to stay healthy and safe, he noted. "It is also important for organisations to be able to distinguish the different stages of heat-related illness. Heatstroke, the most severe heat illness, is a medical emergency and can cause long term impact if prompt medical attention is not given," said the International SOS medical chief. "Symptoms include a core body temperature exceeding 40C, nausea and/or vomiting, confusion and seizures. Recognising the early signs of heat stress, such as sweating, dizziness, headache and cramps, allows swift intervention to prevent escalation to heat exhaustion or heat stroke," he added. International SOS has offered following guidelines to the organisations: *Conduct heat-specific risk assessments: Regularly assess your operations for potential heat stress hazards. Identify high-risk locations and activities and consider vulnerable employee profiles, including those with pre-existing health conditions or who perform strenuous outdoor work. *Integrate heat safety into health and safety policies: Make heat stress prevention a core component of your health and safety policies. Ensure workers have access to shaded areas for breaks, hydration stations to keep hydrated and allow for breathable workwear suitable for high temperatures. *Provide heat stress awareness and prevention training: deliver climate-specific training programmes that focus on working safely in extreme heat. Educate employees on proper hydration practices and sun protection measures and enable them to adjust their work pace during high temperatures. Train employees to recognise heat stress symptoms and provide clear protocols for hydration, rest breaks and cooling down. *Develop robust heat response protocols: develop well-defined procedures for responding to heat-related illnesses, including first aid and emergency evacuation. Communicate these protocols effectively and ensure your workforce knows who to contact in case of a heat emergency. *Continuously review and update your response plans: conduct regular reviews of your organisations heat response plans to ensure they reflect the latest information and best practices for heat safety. Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London & Singapore, is in the business of saving lives and protecting global workforce from health and security threats. It is trusted by over 9,000 organisations, including majority of the Fortune Global 500 as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions, and NGOs. Aramco, one of the worlds leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, signed definitive agreements to acquire a 10% equity interest in UK-based Horse Powertrain Limited, the new global powertrain solutions company, alongside Renault Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (Geely). Headquartered in London, Horse Powertrain was last month set up as a joint venture by leading auto groups Renault and Geely. The new firm will design, develop, produce, and sell all hybrid and combustion powertrain solutions and systems with state-of-the-art technologies including engines, transmissions, hybrid systems and batteries. A major global player, Horse Powertrain boasts 17 global plants; nine industrial customers in 130 countries, including vehicle manufacturers; five R&D centres as well as a 19,000-strong global workforce. With a strategic footprint focused on China, Europe, and Latin America, it is expected to have an annual production of five million powertrain units, encompassing a complete portfolio of advanced powertrain technologies for partners around the world. As per the deal, Aramco will acquire the equity interest in Horse Powertrain in equal parts from Renault Group and Geely, which will each retain 45% equity stakes. The price to be paid by Aramco at closing, which is subject to customary closing conditions including the receipt of regulatory approvals, will be based on a 7.4 billion ($7.97 billion) enterprise valuation. According to Aramco, this investment aims to boost its contribution to the global energy transition through the development and commercialization of more efficient mobility solutions. The agreements also include collaboration arrangements for Aramco and Valvoline on technologies, fuels, and lubricants to collectively improve the performance of Horse Powertrain Limited internal combustion engines (ICE). Aramco, Renault Group, and Geely share the view that the automotive industry will require a combination of various technologies - including highly efficient ICE, transmissions and hybrid powertrains, alternative fuels such as lower-carbon synthetic fuels and lower-carbon hydrogen, as well as vehicle electrification - to support an orderly energy and mobility transition around the world. Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, Aramco Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation, said: "Our investment is expected to directly contribute to the development and deployment of affordable, efficient, and lower-carbon emission internal combustion engines globally. With Geely and Renault, we plan to leverage our collective expertise and resources to support ground-breaking advances in both engine and fuel technologies." "With a strong emphasis on innovation, our goal is to provide solutions that can help reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions while meeting the needs of both vehicle manufacturers and motorists," stated Al Khowaiter. "In securing long-term partnership between Valvoline Global and Horse Powertrain Limited, Renault Group, and Geely in connection with this investment, we are also demonstrating Aramcos ability to both create and capture value at the global level," he added. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo said: "Mitigating carbon in the automotive industry wont be a solo play. It requires the best players to join forces to open new paths and come up with innovative solutions. That is whats happening today as we welcome Aramco as a strategic partner in Horse Powertrain Limited. A dream team is born to reinvent the future of ICE and hybrid technologies." Geely Holding CEO Daniel Li said: "Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions will require global synergies, multi-faceted technological solutions, and the sharing of expertise. With Aramcos support and expertise in fuel technologies, Horse Powertrain Limited further cements its role as a leader in pioneering low-carbon and carbon-free fuel technology solutions such as methanol and hydrogen." Horse Powertrain Limited CEO Matias Giannini expressed delight at Aramco joining the group. "Their expertise in fuels and hydrogen makes them a great partner for us to deliver cutting-edge, lower-emission powertrain solutions, driving our industrys carbon mitigation efforts forward. Together, we will set new benchmarks for innovation in the automotive sector," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The mother of the suspect in the double murder of Tara Geeta Ramsaroop and her infant daught FOREIGN DIGNITARY: Members of the Government Bench pose with Vice-Mayor of the City of Tamarac, Florida, Morey Wright, next to Energy Minister Stuart Young, prior to the start of the sitting of Parliament yesterday. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh is centre, back row. Others, from left, are Ministers Ayanna Webster-Roy, Stephen McClashie, Lisa Morris-Julian, Symon de Nobriga, Camille Robinson-Regis and Marvin Gonzales. I am a resident of Princes Town, and I want to grab the attention of the Ministry of Educati 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. A 44-year-old Tucson man was arrested in suspicion of several criminal charges after Sahuarita police say he shoplifted, trespassed and shook a random boy. Robert Dominguez was jailed Friday on suspicion of aggravated assault, possession of a dangerous drug, shoplifting and DUI, police said in a news release. The incidents started shortly after 2 p.m. when officers went to a gas station after a report of a man acting erratically who failed to pay for merchandise. The man then walked to a Dairy Queen where he spoke incoherently while shaking a 6-year-old boy who was there with his family, the release said. About 20 minutes later, police were called to a tile business where workers say a man refused to leave an employees-only area. Dominguez was taken into custody at the tile business, police say. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sahuarita Police Department at 520-351-4900 during regular business hours, or its tip line 520-445-7847. PHOENIX Voters across Arizona will see their November ballot stuffed with 11 measures referred by Republican lawmakers that cover a wide range of GOP priorities tough on crime issues, new limits on how voters can put their own proposed laws on the ballot and reining in the so-called regulatory state. But at the top of the GOP wish list is a wide-ranging border security measure that Republicans see as a key election-year issue and a counter to a Democrat-backed citizen initiative that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. That sets up a classic skirmish between the two parties for voters attention: backers of abortion rights versus opponents of the Biden Administrations border policies. Democrats point to the border proposal and others put on the ballot with only GOP support as divisive red-meat measures designed to get around opposition from the minority party in the state Legislature and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs veto stamp. They hope they can get voters to reject the Legislatures referrals while approving the abortion initiative, which will be on the ballot if backers turn in the required signatures by the July 3 deadline as expected. Democrats view the abortion issue as a major turnout driver that has broad support, particularly from women and younger voters. For their part, Republicans see the immigration enforcement measure their partys lawmakers put on the ballot as one that will motivate voters across the political spectrum. And thats how independent Arizona pollster Mike Noble sees it too: Topline issues that cross political lines while still appealing strongly with their base voters. Theyre both base issues and they both cut across the middle, Noble said. Immigration, border security, is a wedge issue for Republicans, and abortion is a wedge issue for Democrats. Its that simple. State Sen. Priya Sundareshan, a Tucson Democrat, said her party will be pushing voters to back only the abortion measure and reject all of those Republican lawmakers placed on the ballot. Well be focused on abortion and no on everything else, Sundareshan said. Thats the way I view it. Republican House Speaker Ben Toma defended all 11 ballot referrals GOP lawmakers want Arizona voters to pass, calling them common-sense, thoughtful measures that deserve a look from the electorate. Most of these are just decent, decent ideas and things that really should have gotten the governors signature, Toma said, while noting that some will spur legitimate disagreement. But by and large, I dont think theres anything here that is shocking or unexpected. The just-ended legislative session saw Republicans who hold one-vote majorities in the state House and Senate send seven measures to the ballot, including the broad border enforcement law that mimics one adopted by Texas that is currently blocked by the courts. Four were placed on this falls ballot by the majority party last year, bringing the total to 11, though three face court challenges. The border proposal allows local law enforcement to arrest people who are believed to have sneaked across the Mexican border into Arizona and charges local superior court judges with jailing them if they donit voluntarily leave. The measure also contains provisions criminalizing applying for federal, state or local benefits if a person isnt legally in the U.S. and boosting penalties for selling fentanyl if the drug leads to a death. It is modeled after a border security law passed last year in Texas, which is expected to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The last time the justices addressed the issue was in 2012 when they rejected much of Arizonas SB1070, a previous effort by the state to boost immigration enforcement. In reaching that decision, the high court confirmed immigration enforcement is the sole purview of the federal government. Texas Republicans and GOP backers of the Arizona proposal hope the Supreme Courts new conservative majority will overrule that precedent and let states enforce laws designed to crack down on illegal immigration. The national backlash from SB1070 left the state reeling as Arizona was hit with boycotts, the business community leaned on GOP lawmakers to back off the issue and the key sponsor, then-Senate President Russell Pearce, was recalled from office. Pearce died last year. The business community is again lined up against the new border measure. Hobbs vetoed a similar proposal passed by the Legislature earlier this year before Toma resurrected it and got his GOP colleagues to bypass her and send it directly to the ballot. In addition to the border measure, GOP lawmakers sent six other measures to the ballot in the session that ended on June 15, on top of the four from last year. Some measures would need to go before voters no matter what lawmakers think because they change the constitution. Thats the case with two targeting how citizens can put their own proposed laws before voters. Previously approved voter initiatives have raised the minimum wage, legalized marijuana and boosted taxes on the wealthy, although that 2018 initiative was struck down by the state Supreme Court. Republican lawmakers chaff at the result of those initiatives and have worked for years to make it harder to get them on the ballot, either though changes in the law or revisions to the state constitution that require voter approval. But theyre not sky about placing their own referrals before the electorate. Initiative backers have to collect signatures from 10% of registered voters, or 15% if the proposal amends the state constitution. Laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor can be referred to the ballot if opponents collect signatures from 5% of voters, who then can approve or reject them. The measure Republicans put before voters would require those percentages to be collected from each of the states 30 legislative districts, making it exponentially more difficult to gather enough signatures. This is a terrible idea because we should not empower one legislative district to veto the idea, just one district, Senate Minority Mitzi Epstein said during last yearis vote to send the measure to the ballot. If you believe in our democratic republic, this is a terrible idea. Sundareshan said during the same vote that the measure is part of the years-long effort by Repubicans to chip away at the peoples right to enact their own laws when the Legislature fails to do so. This is just one heavy, heavy burden we are adding into that signature collection process, Sundareshan said of the new signature-collection proposal. Republicans argued that the measure gives voters in rural Arizona a voice they dont currently have, since petition circulators often get a majority of the needed signatures from Maricopa County, the stateis most populous. Democrats noted in response that no matter where the signatures are collected, voters across the state cast ballots for or against a proposal. I support this bill because this will require that it be demonstrated that there is support throughout the state for a change to our constitution or a referral of a bill that was passed to the voters, said Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills. And I think thats more democratic than the current system. A second ballot referral targeting initiatives would allow opponents to sue before it actually makes the ballot. Challenges of signatures are already common, so initiative proponents could need to defend another aspect of their proposal before it goes on the ballot. All this comes as proponents are collecting signatures to put several initiatives of their own before voters. In addition to the abortion measure, two others are likely to turn in enough signatures by July 3 to qualify: one raising the state minimum wage and eliminating lower wages allowed for workers who also earn tips, and one that eliminates partisan primaries in the state and put in place a ranked-choice voting system for the general election. But GOP lawmakers are ready for the latter: They already have out their own proposed constitutional measure on the November ballot to require partisan primary elections with just one person from each party advancing to the general election. Thats a de facto ban on ranked-choice voting, which proponents say forces moderation by candidates. Another measure sent to the ballot by GOP lawmakers would eliminate the requirement that judges chosen by the governor through the merit-selection process must face voters every four or six years. More immediately, it is worded to protect Katnryn King and Clint Bolick, two Arizona State Supreme Court justices who were among the four who voted this March to allow enforcement of a territorial-era law outlawing abortion except to save the life of the mother. The pair, seeking new six-year terms, are being targeted by abortion rights backers in a retention election this fall. Toma said no judge should be kicked off a court because they made a legal decision that upset some voters. And he said voters just dont have the means to evaluate the dozens of local, appellate and Supreme Court judges that are often on the ballot, especially in larger counties. Secondly, the ones that dont get retained were really just being targeted, Toma said. There have been a few judges that did a great job as judges, but they were targeted by far left progressive groups, he said. And as such, I dont think thats right, adding, Thats how you lead to the tyranny of the majority. Sundareshan scoffed at that, noting GOP lawmakers conveniently had the judicial retention measure ready to introduce when the states old total abortion ban was allowed by the high court to be enforced. The judicial retention measure and one backed by the state restaurant association that would change Arizonas minimum laws for tipped workers are being challenged in court, as is the border security proposal. If all are kicked off the ballot, there will be just eight measures put there by Republican lawmakers up for a vote in November plus whatever voter-proposed initiatives qualify by July 3. A pioneer Oklahoma woman whose talent for drawing was recognized when she was 5 became known in later years as the "Prairie Painter," the "Sagebrush Artist" and "Oklahoma's Grandma Moses." Augusta Metcalfe disliked the comparison with Grandma Moses and called herself simply a "memory artist." Whatever her title, Metcalfe became known as one of the great artists of the Southwest with paintings of Oklahoma scenes hanging in many places throughout the country. She won many awards for her art and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1968 at the age of 87. She was born in Kansas in 1881 and came to the unsettled Oklahoma Panhandle with her parents, Edward and Mary Corson, five years later in a covered wagon. To keep Augusta busy during the long trip, her mother had given her paper and a pen and told her to draw what she saw. "Everyone was amazed at the five-year-old's remarkable likeness of a horse," according to "Petticoats, Politics and Pirouettes," a collection of stories about Oklahoma women from 1900 to 1910. Her mother, a former school teacher, recognized Augusta's talent and sent samples of her drawings to her brother, a college professor in California. He sent art supplies to his niece for several years. Metcalfe's mother provided the only schooling for the artist, who never had any formal training in art. When the Cheyenne-Arapaho country was opened in 1893, the Corsons moved to that area, where each parent claimed a quarter section of land along the Washita River for homesteading. When Augusta was old enough, she also claimed a quarter section next to her parents' land. About 1900, Edward Corson built the rock house that was featured in many of Metcalfe's drawings and was the artist's home until 1940; she remained on the farm the rest of her life. Life was rough for pioneers in Roger Mills County, especially for Augusta and her mother after Edward Corson died in 1903, leaving the two women to do the housework, the plowing and planting of crops and tending to the livestock. But Augusta continued painting, and her first painting recognition came as a blue ribbon winner at the Oklahoma State Fair in 1911. All of her paintings and drawings recorded life as she saw it, much as other historians did with the written word using pen and paper. Augusta married James Metcalf when she was 25, but the marriage didn't last long. When Metcalf left, Augusta added an e to her last name and became the sole manager of the farm while caring for her young son, Howard Metcalfe, and her invalid mother, according to "Oklahoma Living," published by Electric Cooperatives of Oklahoma. She continued to receive praise and win blue ribbons at many county fairs, but she didn't earn much money for her art until after a one-woman show in Oklahoma City in 1949. A Life magazine article about the "Sage Brush Artist" a year later brought her national attention and created a demand for her work. She also developed fans during World War II when she sent letters to her son, Howard, an Air Corps mechanic stationed in the South Seas, that used watercolor and pencil sketches to tell picture stories of life back home. The GIs sometimes spent entire afternoons trying to figure out the meaning of the sketches. The next best thing to getting their own letters from home was a chance to read Augusta's letters to Howard. Art critics in Oklahoma really took notice after the Life magazine article about Metcalfe in 1950. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1968 and posthumously into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1971 in Hereford, Texas. A special exhibit of her work is on display at the Metcalfe Museum and her Break O'Day Farm until May 30 as an official Oklahoma Centennial project. The Break O'Day Farm, the historic Metcalfe homestead, consists of a modern art facility and a number of historic and recreated buildings on 640 acres. It is the only Oklahoma farm on the National Register of Historic Places. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. 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. Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today If you own a watch thats been customized say with a face adorned with a University of Oklahoma logo theres a good chance that its journey to your wrist included a stop at Selco in Tulsa. Selco, which originated in Oklahoma City in the 1930s but moved to Tulsa in the 50s, has and pardon the pun survived the test of time not just by carving out a niche but also by growing and innovating. In recent years its been assisted in those endeavors by a state program, the Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program. This year, 177 companies across the state, including 31 in Tulsa, eight in Broken Arrow and others in Sand Springs, Owasso, Sapulpa and other nearby communities, were selected to receive more than $14 million in tax incentives to benefit them in various ways. If theyre successful in reaching goals for growth, the Commerce Department has said the companies will create 850 new jobs in 57 different communities. Mark Abels, the owner of Selco, located at 8909 E. 21st St., said the company customizes Seiko, Fossil, Citizen and numerous other brand-name watches in various ways for corporations, jewelry stores and other customers interested in providing people with unique timepieces. About 150,000 watches pass through the Selco plant each year, about 97% destined for customers in the United States. Abels said the Innovation Expansion program has helped Selco several times to move forward with growth plans. After Selco acquired Belair Time Corp., a New Jersey-based supplier of private label watches, in 2020, it leveraged the states assistance to combine the operations and hire new watch assemblers in Tulsa. The company has also purchased new equipment to enhance production. Last year it acquired new ergonomically designed desks to make its workspace more comfortable for employees and more attractive to potential employees. Selco employs about three dozen people currently; Abels said goals are to have 40 to 45 within the next two or three years. According to Jon Chiappe, who directs research and economic analysis services at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, companies that applied to receive monthly cash payments in the form of payroll tax rebates also agreed to make capital investments of their own of at least $50,000. Their applications included details on how they plan to strengthen their market positions or target new markets. These awards will help existing companies grow and diversify, providing new job opportunities for Oklahomans and strengthening our states vast manufacturing sector, Chiappe said. Businesses in Tulsa were awarded more than $5.3 million in incentives ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. Chiappe said companies approved for incentives this year already employ more than 1,200 people and carry a combined payroll of greater than $700 million. If all of their expansion plans reach full potential, their added payroll will circulate an additional $43 million annually into the states economy. Abels said the states assistance this year will allow Selco to buy equipment, including a digital printer, to use in manufacturing watch dials to sell to other companies. You want to keep innovating and moving forward, he said. This program has allowed us to continue down that path. The Innovation Expansion Program is administered by the Commerce Department, the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority and the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance provides support. The full list of OIEP recipients can be found on the Commerce website at okcommerce.gov/OIEP. Tulsa and area businesses and their incentive amounts include A&B Engraving, Tulsa, $25,000; Aberdeen Dynamics, Tulsa, $150,000; Access Optics, Broken Arrow, $49,554; Air Hygiene International, Broken Arrow, $150,000; ASC, Tulsa, $150,000; Bill Andrew Enterprises doing business as Metal Building Industries, Tulsa, $116,000; Centurion Health Services dba Mercy Regional EMS, Owasso, $150,000; Downing Mfg., Tulsa, $30,000; Enerflex, Broken Arrow, $150,000; Energy Exchanger Co., Tulsa, $150,000; Fammco Mfg., Tulsa, $25,000; Gardner Spring, Tulsa, $36,100; GasTech Engineering, Sapulpa, $150,000; Gatesway Foundation, Broken Arrow, $150,000; Gavco Plastics, Broken Arrow, $150,000; Hero Flare, Kellyville, $41,200; HHELI, Tulsa, $60,000; Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication, Broken Arrow, $55,000; HydroHoist, Claremore, $110,000; Infinite Composites, Tulsa, $25,000; Johnson Machine, Owasso, $50,000; Lektron Branding Solutions, Tulsa, $59,400; Malco, Tulsa, $89,000; Metro Mechanical, Tulsa, $40,000; Naumann Machining Solutions, Sand Springs, $38,928; Outrider, Tulsa, $35,000; Ozark Steel, Tulsa, $150,000; Pelco Structural, Claremore, $150,000; Prescor, Tulsa, $82,400; Preston Eastin, Tulsa, $100,000; Process Manufacturing, Tulsa, $48,200; Pulse-Bac Vacuum Systems, Tulsa; $51,500; R.L. Hudson & Co., Broken Arrow, $128,800; Rise Manufacturing, Broken Arrow, $43,200; S&T Manufacturing, Tulsa, $150,000; Sagebrush Pipeline Equipment, Tulsa, $150,000; Sawyer Manufacturing, Tulsa, $103,100; Seal Co. Enterprises, Tulsa, $45,500; Selco, Tulsa, $39,100; Slim Haney Machining, Tulsa, $130,000; Smithey Environmental Services, Tulsa, $150,000; Southern Sheet Metal Works, Tulsa, $80,000; Southwest Filter, Tulsa $60,000; T&L Foundry, Glenpool, $80,000; THG Energy Solutions, Tulsa, $50,000; TPE Midstream dba ZEVAC, Tulsa, $50,000; US Pioneer, Tulsa, $100,000; Vacuworx Global, Tulsa, $120,000; and Weamco, Sapulpa, $108,000. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Jackie Genske built his camp beside the Arkansas River west of downtown Tulsa 35 years ago, and he doesnt plan to leave any time soon. I dont want anything different, Genske said. I have freedom. Please dont make it harder than it already is. I am fine where I am at, close to nature. Where do we go, then? A Friday U.S. Supreme Court decision could threaten the life Genske has enjoyed for more than three decades. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld an Oregon citys ban on homeless residents sleeping outdoors. The case was brought by the small town of Grants Pass after lower courts ruled in favor of the three homeless people who challenged a prohibition on encampments on public properties. In presenting their case before the Supreme Court in April, attorneys for the homeless individuals argued that ordinances established by Grants Pass to address sleeping and camping in public parks and other public spaces constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In a 6-3 decision written by Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, the court ruled that the law did not violate the Eighth Amendment and that it is not the justices responsibility to decide the best methods to address homelessness. How this affects Tulsa Seven years ago, Patrick Desmarais had a steady life a business to call his own and a wife to go home to. Everything was simple until his wife died in her sleep, and his life was never the same. Now he is Genskes neighbor in the encampment along the river, along with hundreds of other people with nowhere else to go. Desmarais has been homeless for five years, and though he said he would like to have a structured life, his choices still reflect the pain of his loss. After something like that, you give up, Desmarais said. You dont have the joy for life anymore. After losing everything, he ended up in different city shelters. He said that although they took good care of him, he chose not to stay. They do a good job, Desmarais said. Rules are imposed for everybodys benefit; anything in life needs rules. But this place (the encampment) is peaceful. I have enough problems of my own, and here, I dont need to deal with other peoples problems. Desmarais said he was not worried about the Supreme Courts ruling. I am not scared of going to jail for a few days. There are a lot of advocates out there who truly help and come down to see us. The city of Tulsa said Friday that the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling is consistent with Mayor G.T. Bynums directive to the Tulsa Police Department. It is not unlawful to be without shelter, but trespassing, scattering trash, public intoxication, setting up a tent on a public sidewalk, openly urinating or defecating on the street or in a public park, larceny, and building a fire on public property without a permit are all criminal misdemeanors, the city said in a statement. The city said the high courts decision confirmed that applying and enforcing such laws does not equate to criminalizing homelessness; instead, it upholds basic standards of conduct as reflected in laws applicable to everyone. Ginny Hensley, chair of A Way Home for Tulsa, an organization that focus on the prevention and ending homelessness in the Tulsa, said criminalizing homelessness does not offer a sustainable solution to a complex problem. Removing people from the street without an alternative, Hensley said, neglects the fact that Tulsa does not have adequate housing options. Ultimately, this decision makes it more difficult for an already vulnerable population to access the services they need in order to transition off the streets into stable housing, Hensley said. A Way Home for Tulsas goal, as a community, is to work toward solving the issue of homelessness with compassionate, data-informed solutions. We need to work together to create sustainable solutions to address the root issue of homelessness lack of housing. Mack Haltom, CEO of the Tulsa Day Center, said homeless shelters across Tulsa are at their capacity and that for him the Supreme Courts decision sparks one question: Where will they go? In April, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1854, which takes effect in November. The bill makes unauthorized camping on public lands a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and possibly jail time. Haltom said that and the city of Tulsas recent update of s city ordinance addressing the obstruction of sidewalks will exacerbate the problem instead of helping solve it. Youll see the municipal and maybe (state) court system tied up, Haltom said. My big hope is that law enforcement will work with our outreach teams where we can provide services for people and try to get them somewhere else if we can before theres a ticket or a jail solution. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY The new directive from State Superintendent Ryan Walters requiring a Bible in every Oklahoma classroom has made headlines in national and international news outlets since it was announced, but in Oklahoma it has been met with confusion from schools and opposition from religious leaders and civil rights groups. The directive requires schools to incorporate the Bible into curriculum for grades five to 12, according to a memorandum released by Walters on Thursday. The State Department of Education has not yet released any guidance on the specific requirements for schools to comply with this directive. The Tulsa school district released a statement, saying: Tulsa Public Schools is reviewing the new educational standards memo released by the State Superintendents office today. We are working with district teams to understand more about the directives new requirements. While schools try to figure out how to follow the directive, other organizations have come out in opposition to it. The Jewish Federation of Tulsa said in a statement that while we hold the Hebrew Bible in high regard within Judaism, believing it contains fundamental moral teachings and Jewish history, we believe this directive undermines the core principles of religious freedom and the separation of church and state, which are essential to our democracy and the core principles upon which our nation was founded. The Freedom From Religion Foundation has already joined a lawsuit challenging Louisianas requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom. Similar legal challenges could be in store for Oklahomas new directive on the Bible. Walters concern should be the fact that Oklahoma ranks 49th in education, said Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-President Dan Barker. Maybe education would improve if Oklahomas superintendent of education spent his time promoting education instead of religion. The foundation says it will be pursuing any necessary steps to protect students rights of conscience in Oklahoma public schools. The president of the Universal Society of Hinduism is not opposed to Scriptures being taught in public education as long as Hindu Scriptures are among them. Hindus feel that it is fine to incorporate Bible lessons in Oklahoma public schools as long as lessons from ancient Sanskrit scripture Bhagavad-Gita are also included, says a release from Hindu statesman Rajan Zed. Zed said Bhagavad-Gita is a historically significant document as well as a sacred text. He also said many important Americans have been influenced by this Scripture, including Henry David Thoreau, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Albert Einstein. When Speaker of the House Charles McCall, R-Atoka, was asked about the new directive, he replied, The House has been focused on empowering parents, not bureaucrats. That is why we passed open transfer in public schools and the Parental Choice Tax Credit. Gov. Kevin Stitt offered no comment on the directive. Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, released a statement on Friday wholeheartedly endorsing the move. Deevers, who is a pastor at the Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Elgin, said the sham of government neutrality on religion is exposed by the availability of what he considers pornographic books in school libraries and school buses being used as floats in the Oklahoma City Pride celebrations. While the separation of Church and State is a good and Biblical principle, the separation of truth and state is not. The truth is that the Bible is fundamental to the society in which we live, which is one of many reasons it ought to be included in Oklahoma curriculum, said Deevers. Groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU are not fighting for neutrality. They are fighting for state-sponsored Atheism to the exclusion of America and Oklahomas Christian roots. That is what is truly unconstitutional. The Tulsa World is where your story lives YAKUTSK, Russia -- 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. Scientists perform an autopsy of an ancient wolf, frozen in permafrost for more than 44,000 years and found by locals in Yakutia, at the laboratory of the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, Russia June 18, 2024. Michil Yakovlev/North-Eastern Federal University/Handout via Reuters "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) Scientists perform an autopsy of an ancient wolf, frozen in permafrost for more than 44,000 years and found by locals in Yakutia, at the laboratory of the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, Russia June 18, 2024. Michil Yakovlev/North-Eastern Federal University/Handout via Reuters "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. Scientists perform an autopsy of an ancient wolf, frozen in permafrost for more than 44,000 years and found by locals in Yakutia, at the laboratory of the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, Russia June 18, 2024. Michil Yakovlev/North-Eastern Federal University/Handout via Reuters "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. Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh and China's President and General Secretary Xi Jinping underlined the importance of substantive and effective cooperation in order to bring fruitful results to the people and businesses of the two countries during their recent talks in China. The two top officials held talks in Beijing on Wednesday as part of PM Chinhs trip to China to attend the 15th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting of the New Champions and working sessions with Chinese officials from June 24 to 27. They agreed that both nations would further deepen and elevate their comprehensive strategic partnership and build the Vietnam-China community with a shared future. The call for deep and substantive Vietnam-China cooperation is evident in PM Chinhs request that China soon sign a protocol and complete procedures needed for opening its doors to Vietnams frozen durians, fresh coconuts, and other agro-aquatic products. Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit), told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that durians account for a significantly large portion in Vietnams fruit and vegetables exports to China. Vietnam shipped an estimated US$1.2-1.5 billion worth of durians to China in the first half of 2024. According to the Vinafruit general secretary, China imports some $6.7 billion worth of fresh durians and more than $1 billion of frozen durians, with Thailand being the largest supplier of frozen durians. Chinas signing of the protocol would enable Vietnams frozen durians to tap into the Chinese market with the 1.4-billion population before approaching other source markets in the U.S. and the EU, Nguyen said. Local farm produce exporters have adopted various practices and expanded their business scale to meet requirements of the demanding Chinese market, he continued. If China opens its doors to frozen durians from Vietnam, the latters durian export turnover could rise by some $300 million, Nguyen predicted. He added that Vietnams outbound sales of fruit and vegetables in China has kept an upward trend, rising from $1.6 billion in 2022 to $3.6 billion in 2023, and an estimated $3.5 billion in the first half of 2024. Nguyen Van Toan, vice-chairman of the Vietnam's Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE), paid significant attention to PM Chinhs call for leading Chinese enterprises to invest in railway projects in Vietnam at the time when both countries are accelerating their transport infrastructure connectivity in railways. Toan argued that the Vietnam-China investment ties had yet to match their potential in the previous years during which Chinese businesses invested in small-scale projects with obsolete technology. Moreover, there are still concerns over ineffective projects developed by Chinese investors in Vietnam. But significant changes took place recently when many major Chinese companies with advanced technology explored the possibility of investing in Vietnam, adding that China has emerged as a country with well-developed and cost-efficient infrastructure projects. This will open up opportunities for Vietnam to leverage its strengths to call for more Chinese investors to develop high-quality railway and road projects linking the two countries, Toan elaborated. Pham Sao Mai, Ambassador of Vietnam in China, was impressed by a growing number of all-level delegation exchanges between Hanoi and Beijing over the past year, expressing his hope that the exchanges would help promote bilateral cooperation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Danang International Terminal Investment and Operation JSC confirmed on Friday that it had rewarded a 57-year-old airport cleaner for doing a good deed of returning a lost backpack with over US$54,900 worth of cash inside to a Japanese passenger. Tran Thi Huong, a native of Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam, works for Hoan My Company, a Vietnamese provider of airport cleaning services. On Wednesday morning, while Huong was cleaning at Da Nang International Airport in the namesake city in central Vietnam, she found a black backpack put on a chair in the waiting area. There were no flights scheduled to depart from or arrive at the airport at the time. Guessing that someone forgot the baggage, Huong informed airport authorities of the lost object. Airport authorities examined the backpack and discovered more than $54,900 worth of cash inside, including 81 US$100 banknotes, 735 notes of 10,000 Japanese yen, and several other small-denomination notes. They sealed the backpack of the unknown owner and transferred it to the airports customs department for further steps. On Thursday evening, the customs department handed over the lost assets to a Japanese visitor in the presence of Huong and a team of airport authorities. This Japanese passenger said that they arrived at the Da Nang airport in the wee hours of Wednesday to fly to South Korea and forgot their backpack at the international terminal. The airport cleaner was praised and rewarded by Danang International Terminal Investment and Operation JSC and Hoan My Company for her good act. During her six years of working at the airport, Huong revealed that she had found and returned many belongings such as smartphones, laptops, and wallets that passengers lost. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth and Hamaad Habibullah, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: Khrew in Kashmirs Pampore town, which is known for its lush saffron fields, once thrived with abundant blooms. However, the emergence of nearby cement factories has precipitated a decline in farming of the worlds most expensive spice. For generations, we cultivated saffron and enjoyed substantial profits. But with the increasing number of cement factories, our yields diminished and its quality suffered greatly, explained Fayaz Ahmed, a farmer who ultimately abandoned saffron farming due to rising production and labour costs which outstripped earnings. He chose to transition to a new livelihood, purchasing a truck instead. Support TwoCircles Saffron, known as kong in Kashmiri and zaffran in Urdu, is derived from the stigma (male reproductive part) of the saffron flower, Crocus sativus. Few regions worldwide are suitable for its cultivation, with Kashmir standing out as a significant producer. The Valley produces approximately 11-12 metric tonnes of saffron annually, securing its position as the second-largest producer globally. Known as Kesar in Hindi, this spice commands a staggering price of three lakhs per kilogram, reflecting the intensive labour and inputs required. It takes around 160-180 flowers to produce just one gram of saffron, highlighting the extensive effort and meticulousness involved in its cultivation. However, saffron cultivation in Kashmir has faced a stark decline, with the land under cultivation shrinking by 60% over the past two decades. Various factors have contributed significantly to this downturn. Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, director of the Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare in Kashmir, acknowledged the decline in saffron quality and production. Over time, the productivity of saffron in Kashmir has decreased due to several reasons, including the reduction of fields and construction of residential and industrial buildings, he noted. Cultivators and experts attribute climate change, unexpected rainfall and the increased use of machinery for ploughing as key factors driving this decline. Saffron farming is highly sensitive to climate conditions, and climate change has adversely affected both the quantity and quality of the produce, explained Maqbool. Another significant factor contributing to the decline in saffron production is the establishment of industries near fields. Over the past decade, several cement factories have been set up in close proximity to saffron fields, severely impacting its production and quality. Mohammad Yousuf, a saffron grower from Pampore, pointed out that dust emissions from these cement industries settle on the flowers, negatively affecting its growth. Given that the crop thrives in a pleasant environment with good air quality, the regions air quality has deteriorated due to greenhouse gas emissions, significantly affecting its production, explained Syed Mohammad Shafi, a retired government school principal currently tending to his saffron farm in Pampore. He noted a decline in his own crop yield despite his field being located away from the industries. He emphasised the dire situation for fields nearer to these industrial sites. Farmers in the Khrew region have been forced to give up, he lamented, adding, Many have reached their breaking point, either shifting their farming to less affected areas or selling their land to industrialists. With 50 kanals of saffron land in Khrew, Maqbool Shah, who considers himself the sole remaining saffron farmer there, expresses deep concern about the future of the saffron industry. He laments the impact of nearby industries on the quantity and quality of saffron production in Pampore. In the 1980s, almost everyone in Khrew cultivated saffron, but today I am the only one left engaged in this cultivation, he remarked. The release of cement dust in significant quantities has detrimental effects on saffron plants, including decreased chlorophyll, clogged stomata, reduced light absorption and hindered gas diffusion. These factors contribute to early leaf fall and stunted growth, significantly diminishing overall saffron production in Kashmir. Dr Niyaz Ahmad Dar, an assistant professor at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST-K) who works at the saffron research station in Pampore, underscores the delicate nature of saffron cultivation. Saffron requires a clean, pollution-free environment. During the flowering season, even heavy dew on the stigma can deteriorate its quality. Now imagine the impact of a substantial amount of cement dust on a flower it would undoubtedly harm it, reducing both the quality and quantity of production, he explained. Given saffrons sensitivity as a crop, local farmers have vehemently opposed the establishment of any industries in the surrounding areas. Despite their protests and resistance, authorities permitted cement industries to operate near saffron fields. Since 2005, I have been vocal against these factories. I have tried everything possible, but no one is paying attention. These industrialists are forcing their way, said Abdul Majeed, chairman of the Saffron Growers Association. He criticised the governments inaction and claimed that the media has been reluctant to expose these industrial practices. I have repeatedly invited media representatives to visit the sites, but they never reported on it, he added. The cement factories near saffron fields initially seemed promising for locals seeking job opportunities, with many investing in trucks for cement transport across the Valley. However, the consequences quickly became apparent as saffron crops suffered and quality declined. Today, the situation has worsened significantly. Many former saffron growers in Khrew either sold their land to buy trucks or abandoned their fields to become full-time truck drivers, explained Fayaz. As the number of trucks increased, demand plummeted, leaving drivers waiting hours or days to load their trucks. This has drastically reduced earnings, and now everyone regrets their decisions. The proximity of cement factories has led to a substantial release of cement dust, endangering approximately 200 hectares of saffron land in Pulwama. This pollution has severely impacted production, reducing yields by more than 50%. Reports indicate production dropping from 150 grams to 70 grams per kanal. Khrew, known as the Saffron Town, has been particularly affected, witnessing a significant decline in saffron quantity and quality due to nearby cement industries. Majeed noted that pollution and cement dust have rendered nearby areas incapable of saffron cultivation, compelling farmers to sell their land or leave it fallow. Saffron cultivation relies heavily on a clean, pollution-free environment, essential for maintaining quality and yield. The emission of greenhouse gases by cement industries has severely degraded air quality in Khrew, affecting saffron fields both nearby and distant. Despite continuous protests and resistance, growers and industry stakeholders struggle to gain traction with policymakers. The relentless expansion and operation of these industries underscore growing capitalisms impact, threatening the future of the saffron industry in Kashmir. Majeed has persistently voiced his opposition to the continual expansion of these factories, stating, Every year, they invest money and expand the factories. While greenhouse gases and harmful dust oxides are detrimental to any crop grown in the vicinity, saffron is exceptionally delicate. It requires a pristine, pollution-free environment and its stigma must be handled with meticulous care to prevent contamination. Even the slightest disruption can significantly affect the produce quality. Dr Niyaz emphasised, Not only cement factories but any industrial activity causing environmental pollution poses a threat to saffron production. Measures must be implemented to reduce dust emissions from these cement industries and minimise their impact on saffron cultivation. The saffron industry significantly contributes to the economic wealth and well-being of Kashmir. However, fluctuations in the quality and quantity of Kashmiri Kesar have led to substantial losses across various aspects. As the quality and quantity declined, overall market rates also decreased. The declining prices of Kashmiri Kesar are significantly impacting the economic status of the saffron industry and the region as a whole. This economic downturn has prompted many individuals to leave the industry and pursue alternative livelihoods. This industry has a very bleak future. We are witnessing a steady decline in saffron prices, and the market for this spice is shrinking daily. Both the quantity and quality of saffron are diminishing, reflected Mohammad Shafi, a saffron grower. Farmers are finding it increasingly challenging to sustain a livelihood, prompting many to abandon saffron cultivation in favour of other careers they deem more financially rewarding. The pervasive impact of cement dust extends beyond affecting crop production, quality and quantity; it has also disrupted the entire saffron industry. This includes labourers, growers, farmers and other associated workers who have been compelled to seek employment elsewhere. While people have departed from the saffron industry for various reasons, a prominent factor driving this exodus is the detrimental effects caused by cement industries. There are numerous factors, but one of the primary reasons driving people away from saffron farming is the mushrooming of cement industries in Khrew. The dust particles emitted by these factories settle directly on the petals of saffron flowers, destroying them and thereby severely impacting the quality and quantity of our output, explained Maqbool. Expressing his concern, he emphasised the urgency for government intervention and proactive measures. The government must monitor these factories emissions regularly. It seems these industries are either not complying with existing regulations, or if they are, the regulations are inadequate to prevent serious environmental damage. These industries have become a major source of frustration for us. Chowdhary Iqbal acknowledged the impact of pollution on crops, including saffron, due to nearby factories. There is no denying that these factories have affected saffron production, but we are actively taking steps to minimise their impact, he stated. We are consistently urging relevant authorities to enforce measures that will reduce pollution from these industries and mitigate their effect on saffron production. Despite the existence of numerous policies on paper aimed at safeguarding the saffron industry, growers and workers in the fields feel disillusioned by the lack of tangible on-the-ground implementation. They believe that unless concrete actions are taken soon, the future looks bleak for saffron farmers and labourers. They emphasise the urgent need for an effective plan to prevent further damage and rectify past harms. Sanjana Chawla, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: A startling revelation regarding Foxconns alleged discriminatory hiring policies at its Apple iPhone plant in India has come to light. Shockingly, the company has systematically barred married women from employment opportunities at its assembling facilities, justifying this discriminatory practice by citing supposed heightened risk factors associated with familial responsibilities. This expose has reverberated across the industry, shining a glaring spotlight on entrenched gender biases that continue to pervade corporate environments. Support TwoCircles News agency Reuters investigation unequivocally demonstrates Foxconns flagrant violation of anti-discrimination statutes. Gender advocates and human resources experts alike have vehemently denounced this practice, underscoring its profound negative implications for gender equality and workplace inclusivity. Systematic Exclusion According to Indias Equal Employment Opportunity Policy of 2019, discrimination based on gender, age, religion or marital status is strictly prohibited. Foxconns alleged discriminatory practice of excluding married women perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes, falsely assuming that marital status affects work capability and commitment. This myth has been debunked repeatedly, yet it continues to influence hiring decisions. Criticising the baseless justifications for the discriminatory actions, Fatima, a young professional in human resources management and a student, commented, Foxconn authorities provided unfounded excuses for their discriminatory practices, such as claiming that married women have greater responsibilities and wear traditional ornaments that could interfere with manufacturing equipment. These are merely excuses concocted by management to prioritise production at the expense of ethical considerations. While the alleged discriminatory hiring practices have gained attention, similar biases persist among smaller firms, particularly in Indias Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector. These companies often evade scrutiny due to their size and lack of visibility, enabling them to justify exclusionary practices under the guise of cultural fit or family responsibilities. A survey conducted by the Indian Womens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) revealed that 60% of SMEs in India engage in discriminatory hiring practices, often subtly enough to evade accountability. Unlike larger corporations, SMEs frequently lack the resources and infrastructure needed to implement robust diversity and inclusion initiatives, allowing discriminatory practices to persist unchecked. Perpetuating Harmful Gender Stereotypes A report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) reveals that womens workforce participation in India is only 25%, with nearly 60% citing family responsibilities as the reason for dropping out. Excluding married women, as seen in cases like Foxconns, deprives workplaces of diverse perspectives and talent, ultimately impacting company performance. Such practices reinforce harmful gender norms and limit womens opportunities. Fatima added, This perpetuates discriminatory notions within workplaces, hindering efforts toward gender diversity and inclusivity. Increasing womens workforce participation could boost Indias Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Practices like these hinder economic independence and perpetuate patriarchal constraints. Womens empowerment is not just a social issue but an economic imperative for Indias growth. Undermining Womens Empowerment Commenting on practices that hinder womens empowerment in India, Fatima emphasised, Discriminatory hiring practices are not only illegal but also ethically unacceptable. They significantly undermine womens financial independence and perpetuate economic inequality, limiting access to well-paid jobs and career advancement opportunities. These challenges underscore the persistent barriers to equal opportunities, pay and promotion that women encounter in their workplaces. The gender pay gap remains pronounced, and women continue to be vastly underrepresented in leadership roles, comprising only 10-13% of such positions in India as of a 2020 report. Fatima noted that such practices directly contradict constitutional safeguards like Article 14 and 15, as well as labour laws established to prevent such harmful practices. There is an urgent need to foster a more inclusive environment, which actively encourages womens participation and professional growth. A Call to Action According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (2020), the government aims to achieve 50% womens participation in the workforce by 2030. However, the exposure of Foxconns alleged discriminatory hiring practices serves as a pivotal moment for companies and policymakers to confront gender bias and advance womens empowerment. Addressing necessary actions, Fatima emphasised, The government must hold companies accountable and impose stringent measures to set a precedent for all organisational management levels. She stressed the need for fundamental changes, adding, Job requirements should strictly align with job responsibilities, duties and skills, eliminating irrelevant criteria such as marital status or gender. Concrete steps are imperative to combat biases and foster an inclusive workplace culture. This involves implementing robust anti-discrimination policies, providing training on unconscious bias and nurturing an environment that values diversity. Companies must acknowledge the benefits of inclusivity and take proactive measures against discrimination, while policymakers must enact and enforce laws that safeguard womens rights. 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." Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Watch: Walk of Fame Award winning Actress bursts into tears over Gaza genocide Emmy Award winning Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany bursts into tears over Israeli genocide of Palestinians while calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza delivering Hollywood Walk of Fame Award acceptance speech. Saturday June 29, 2024 8:50 PM , ummid.com News Network Emmy Award winning Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany bursts into tears over Israeli genocide of Palestinians while calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza delivering Hollywood Walk of Fame Award acceptance speech. In an unexpected surprise the star of She-Hulk and Orphan Black told the committee and the audience in the ceremony, its a must for Israel to stop its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and for the Canadian government to stop funding Israel. Her comments are trending on social media. Its strange to be standing up here when we are witnessing the genocide of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Israeli settler colonial state, Maslany said. We watch and we do nothing and I would say with whatever platform I have that we cant do nothing and I would demand that our government demands ceasefire, stop funding the genocide, stop being complicit in it. She then thanked everyone for the honour conferred on her and ended her speech, shouting Free Palestine. Watch Video Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany She said it all pic.twitter.com/TjU8I8tcQM Abier (@abierkhatib) June 28, 2024 Later, speaking to the media she said what is happening in Gaza is beyond, beyond comprehension. There is so much action that can be taken by our government, by the U.S. government but they are doing exactly the opposite, she said. And by funding the Israeli army. By supporting the genocide, we are complicit, the only Canadian actress to win Primetime Emmy Awards added in reference to Canadas pro-Israeli stances. And so I couldnt stand up here as a Canadian, flanked by Mounties without speaking to that and without acknowledging it, she said. Latest update from Gaza More than 37,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel waged its war on the besieged enclave on October 7, 2023. Gazas Health Ministry said Saturday June 29, 2024 as many as 40 Palestinians were killed and 224 wounded in the latest 24-hour reporting period. Israeli forces targeted a water distribution point in Gaza City, killing four members of the al-Ghazi family including a child, according to Al Jazeera. The new Israeli ground offensive in Gaza Citys Shujayea neighbourhood forced the displacement of at least 60,000 residents, while the Israels military operations in the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza resulted in 5,000 people displaced and many casualties, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Saturday. [The writer, Dr Marwan Asmar, is based in Amman covering Middle East Affairs.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. The National Assemblys ratification of the UKs accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will open significant opportunities to expand exports as well as create momentum to accelerate economic growth and leverage Viet Nams position in the international arena. The National Assembly (NA) at its session on June 25 ratified the UKs accession protocol with 94.25 per cent of votes in favour. The ratification makes Viet Nam among the first six CPTPP member countries to approve the UKs accession protocol, opening the door for the agreement to enter into force from December 16. The agreement will take effect if six out of 11 existing CPTPP members and the UK have finished their legislative processes by October 16. Besides Viet Nam, Singapore, Japan and Chile have completed their legislative processes for the ratification of the UKs accession protocol. Other countries such as New Zealand, Brunei, Malaysia and Peru are expected to finish the ratification in the next few months. "Ratifying the UKs accession protocol emphasises Viet Nams proactivity and responsibility in accelerating bilateral trade and investment relations with the UK, accelerating Viet Nams position in the regional and international arenas, creating new momentum for the countrys socioeconomic development, improving the legal system and enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises," Vu Hai Ha, chairman of the National Assemblys Foreign Affairs Committee, said. The UK had committed to a higher level of market opening for Viet Nam than for other countries in the CPTPP and higher than the commitments under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) for some important issues, Ha said. According to Iain Frew, UK ambassador to Viet Nam, the coexistence of the CPTPP and the UKVFTA will bring significant benefits to bilateral trade between the two countries in a number of fields, especially agricultural products and digital technologies. Ngo Chung Khanh, deputy director general of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said: The UK is an important partner of Viet Nam. Thus, their accession to the CPTPP will expand markets for Viet Nam. During the negotiations, Viet Nam achieved agreements with the UK in the direction that the UK would open more market access for Viet Nam in addition to existing bilateral free trade agreements, he said. Several large economies are interested in joining the CPTPP, such as China, showing the growing important role of the trade deal that will definitely create new impetus for trade and investment, Khanh said. Nguyen Quang Vinh, vice president of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that the VCCI and the business community welcomed and appreciated the NAs ratification of the UKs CPTPP accession protocol with the expectation that the CPTPP coupled with the UKVFTA would promote trade and investment. With CPTPP and UKVFTA, Viet Nams goods, especially those of export strength such as agro-forestry-fishery, garment and textile, footwear and electronics, would have more access to the UK a market with high consumption demand and spending levels. With regard to the commitment to recognise Viet Nams manufacturing industries operating under market economic conditions, Vinh said that the risk of facing trade defence lawsuits in the UK would be significantly less complicated. Being the first country in the EU and one of the few developed markets in the world to recognise Viet Nam as a market economy in trade remedy cases, the UK could set a good example for Viet Nam to convince other markets to recognise Viet Nams market economy as well, especially the US, Vinh said. Vietnamese consumers and manufacturing industries would also have greater opportunities to access high-quality products from the UK at better prices such as pharmaceuticals, machinery and equipment and raw materials to have better position for competition in production and export, he noted. Export opportunities Bilateral trade between Viet Nam and the UK has grown stably over recent years with an average trade value of US$6.56 billion in 2020-23. Viet Nams main export products to the UK include textiles, footwear, electronics and components, and agricultural products including coffee, cashew nuts and seafood. Viet Nam mainly imports machinery, equipment, tools, pharmaceuticals and chemicals from the UK. The UK is among the top five largest import markets in the world with an annual export value of around $1.14 trillion. This coupled with attractive commitments under the CPTPP and UKVFTA will create significant opportunities for Viet Nams goods to expand in this large market. The bilateral trade and investment between Viet Nam and the UK is expected to thrive in the future, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Under the CPTPP, the UK has committed higher levels of market opening for Viet Nam than with other member countries. Specifically, the UK commits to removing 94.4 per cent of tariff lines after the agreement enters into force in comparison with the rate of 93.9 per cent for other CPTPP member countries. Most agricultural products of Viet Nams export strength such as rice and seafood will enjoy better tariff incentives than under the UKVFTA. "The UK will increase the rice quota from 3,300 tonnes in the first year for Viet Nam to 17,500 tonnes in eight years, nearly doubling the quotas that the UK commits for other CPTPP members altogether," Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said. Dien also said that the UKs recognition of Viet Nams market economy for manufacturing industries would create stronger conditions for Viet Nam in trade defence lawsuits, adding that Vietnamese goods would be treated fairly. According to Khanh, there will be great advantages for Viet Nams seafood industry in the UK markets when the agreement comes into force. Statistics of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers showed that seafood exports to the CPTPP markets accounted for 25 per cent of Viet Nams total seafood export value in 2018 but rose to nearly 27 per cent in 2023, making these markets the second-fastest growing market, coming only after China. There are also significant opportunities for other industries to access the UK as well as the CPTPP markets. Pham Cong Thao, deputy director general of Viet Nam Steel Corporation, said the UKs accession to the CPTPP opened opportunities for the steel industry to increase exports because before Brexit, the UK was also a member of the EU with similar standards of product quality. On July 16, 2023, CPTPP parties signed an accession protocol with the UK, welcoming them as the 12th member and paving the way for the entry of other new members. The UKs entry will raise the blocks GDP to nearly 16 per cent of the global total from 12 per cent. The CPTPP is a free trade agreement in force between 11 countries, including Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Viet Nam. The trade deal came into being on December 30, 2018, with the first six countries to ratify the agreement being Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore. The trade deal took effect in Viet Nam on January 1, 2019. Besides the UK, several other economies have officially submitted requests to join the CPTPP, including China and Chinese Taipei in September 2021, Ecuador in January 2022, Costa Rica in August 2022, Uruguay in December 2022 and Ukraine in May 2023. Statistics of the General Department of Customs showed that the bilateral trade between Viet Nam and the UK was estimated at US$3.3 billion in the first five months of this year, up 23.2 per cent. Of the figure, Viet Nams exports to the UK reached nearly $3 billion, up 26.6 per cent. The UK is currently the third-largest export market of Viet Nam in Europe, after the Netherlands, which saw a bilateral trade revenue of nearly $5 billion, and Germany $3.2 billion. The UK and Viet Nam are moving towards annual bilateral trade of $10 billion. VNS HA NOI Techcombank started a new era of AI-powered banking at its inaugural Techcombank Keynote event in Ha Noi on Friday as the bank accelerates its journey to become a leading bank in Viet Nam with innovative digital and data-led solutions for customers, bringing Viet Nam banking sector to global standards. Techcombanks first ever Keynote event titled Pioneering Innovation: Reaching for New Heights showcased Techcombanks most innovative new solutions for individual, business and corporate customers and highlighted how the bank is harnessing the power of data and AI to create meaningful experiences for customers and deliver unprecedented growth for Techcombank. Kicking off the event, CEO Jens Lottner highlighted the investment made by Techcombank over the first three years of its 2021-25 transformation plan in the areas of digital, data and talent. This investment has allowed the bank to create unprecedented value for customers and release a number of first-in-the-market innovations. As of today, Techcombank has broadly applied data analysis and AI across the bank and most major systems have been transitioned to the cloud. This puts Techcombank around three years ahead of its competitors in Viet Nam and is enabling the bank to harness the power of data and AI in order to drive unique business outcomes and unparalleled customer centricity. This year we have shifted gears and are levering our digital platforms and new data and AI capabilities to create more hyper-personalised experiences for our customers, and grow our business faster and more profitably than any other bank in Viet Nam. We are now redefining banking in Viet Nam with our product innovations and personalised experiences, said Jens Lottner. Techcombanks application of technology, its customer centricity, and strong operational and financial performance have been recognised by numerous prestigious international awards over the past 12 months. Techcombank has been named Best Bank in Viet Nam 2024 by the international financial publications Global Finance and Finance Asia and has been voted the No 1 Bank in Viet Nam by customers in a survey by Forbes Magazine. Pranav Seth, Techcombanks Chief Digital Officer, highlighted the banks newest innovations that were helping create hyper-personalised experiences for customers through the banks award-winning digital banking platforms. Through Techcombank Mobile app, the bank is helping customers improve their financial awareness by providing personalised financial management advice and insights, enabling[LS.LH2] customers enjoy their money and save for the future. Techcombank has already delivered over 52 million personalised pieces of financial advice to more than 4 million customers since the experience was launched. The banks use of AI and machine learning has been a game changer, delivering more than 100 million insights views in 2023. Techcombanks new loyalty ecosystem offers rewards and experiences tailored to individual customers preferences and lifestyles. It is already one of the largest and most diverse loyalty programs in the Vietnamese banking industry, encompassing over 19,000 points of sale with over 300 brands, where customers can earn reward points. Currently, the bank has over 8.5 million customers in its loyalty ecosystem, with around 4 million customers actively earning points each month. Phung Quang Hung, Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking Group introduced C-Cash, a first-of-its-kind corporate treasury management solution, in partnership with Kyriba. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chief Retail Banking Group Officer, highlighted the banks all-in-one banking solution for merchant customers called Techcombank Merchant. Over 600,000 merchants now used Techcombanks merchant solutions, and this has contributed to a 20 per cent increase in the banks CASA balances. Supported by a workforce that includes over 1,800 data scientists, analysts and engineers, Techcombank is setting the standard and defining the future of banking by offering meaningful and engaging experiences to customers as it transforms into a bank powered by data and AI. Santhosh Mahendiran, Techcombanks Chief Data & Analytics Officer, said that the banks use of advanced data analytics, generative AI and large language models (LLMs) underpin its ability to provide new personalised customer experiences to millions of individual customers. Jens Lottner said: Our unique combination of advanced data capabilities, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, and top-tier talent is a blueprint that cannot be replicated. With the strong support of our partners and shareholders we have built one of the best banking platforms in Asia. We are now ready to go to the next level, to compete and win against our competitors and realise our vision, Change Banking, Change Lives. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam has huge potential to promote the development of the semiconductor industry and artificial intelligence (AI) with an abundant young and well-trained work force, Richard Lawton Thurston, a leading non-engineer semiconductor specialist in the US said. He made the comments during a meeting with the Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on Wednesday in Washington D.C. The specialist who has supported many companies and governments in establishing and managing technology parks around the world, said AI requires many different technologies such as sensor, memory, data collection and processing and Viet Nam can select one of the stages to focus its strategy on. Since Viet Nam and the US upgraded the relation to comprehensive strategic partnership, the two counties have actively increased cooperations in many fields, especially science, technology and innovation, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said. The US has agreed to support Viet Nam in improving semiconductor capacity and participating in the global value chain, especially in order to create a high-quality work force and to enhance research and development capacity. Viet Nam is developing a project on human resource development for the semiconductor industry to 2030 with a vision to 2050, focusing on in-depth training of 1,300 lecturers and 50,000 engineers, setting up four national semiconductor laboratories and 18 standard semiconductor laboratories. Dung asked the American to share his experiences in developing the semiconductor industry with Viet Nam, as well as give recommendations, especially in human resource development, to promote the semiconductor sector. Dung also urged him to promote investments in Viet Nam and invited him to be an advisor to Viet Nam in semiconductor industry development. While he was in Washington DC, Dung met with Kathryn Neal, Director of International Policy, Microsoft Corporation, calling for Microsoft investments into developing research centres in Viet Nam as well as implementing training cooperation programmes and promoting AI application. During the business trip to the US from June 22 to 26, Dung also worked with Super Micro Computer, calling for cooperation to develop data centres and AI and 5G infrastructure in Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam may develop regulations about caps on the number of property transactions and revenues individuals make in a year to limit speculation, heard a meeting to discuss the draft decree detailing several points of the Law on Real Estate Business. This will tackle the fact that individuals bought and sold many real estate assets in a year with great value to speculate and make profits without establishing real estate businesses. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha asked the Ministry of Construction to study carefully in order to raise specific regulations. In the draft version in March, the ministry proposed that individuals be allowed to sell and lease from three to five properties in a year. If the transaction number exceeds five, the individuals must establish enterprises to implement property business. The proposal, however, was removed from the next draft. Ha also asked the Ministry of Construction to coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications to develop regulations on the operation of electronic real estate trading platforms to ensure information safety and security as well as the responsibilities of the operators. The Ministry of Construction must develop tools and a statistical approach to evaluate real estate price fluctuations as a base to timely raise solutions to regulate the market. VNS BAC GIANG The price of Bac Giang lychees in 2024 ranges from VN55,000 to VN85,000 per kilogramme, doubling or even tripling the prices of 2023, reaching the highest level in history. This surge is attributed to adverse weather conditions that significantly reduced Bac Giangs lychee output, which now stands at nearly 100,000 tonnes, around half of last year's production. According to the Bac Giang Department of Industry and Trade, the 2024 lychee season has seen favourable consumption both domestically and internationally. The province exported over 24,700 tonnes of lychees, accounting for more than 28.9 per cent of the total consumption, while domestic sales exceeded 60,900 tonnes, making up over 71 per cent. The rise in prices has led to a significant reduction in the volume of Bac Giang lychees exported this year. As of June 24, over 24,500 tonnes were exported to China. Other export destinations included the EU (53 tonnes), Japan (45 tonnes), Australia (42 tonnes), the United States (20 tonnes), Dubai (21 tonnes), Canada (16 tonnes) and South-East Asian countries (18 tonnes). The Bac Giang Department of Industry and Trade estimated that the total revenue from lychees and related services this year would exceed VN6 trillion. Of this, domestic sales are projected to generate over VN4.8 trillion, while export activities are expected to bring in VN1.6 trillion. With nearly 30,000 hectares dedicated to lychee cultivation, Bac Giang has focused on producing 223 planting area codes, covering more than 17,100 hectares for exports. Currently, Bac Giang lychees are exported to 30 countries and territories. Recently, the "Luc Ngan Lychee" brand from Hong Xuan General Services Production and Business Cooperative (Hong Giang Commune, Luc Ngan District) was among four products that achieved a 5-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by the Central OCOP Evaluation and Grading Council on June 25. VNS 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." HA NOI In a move to ease burdens and bolster economic activity, the Ministry of Finance has announced reductions in fees and charges for various services. The revised rates, outlined in a recently issued circular, will be effective from 1 July to 31 December 2024. The measures target a range of sectors, with significant reductions for business operations. Fees associated with establishing and running banks and non-bank credit institutions will see a 50 per cent decrease. Businesses will also benefit from a 50 per cent cut in fees related to intellectual property protection. Citizens applying for new identity cards will enjoy the same discount. Other sectors will experience reductions of 10-30 per cent, including fees for obtaining licences and permits for civil aviation operations, entry and exit permits for restricted airport areas, and customs fees for foreign flights landing in Viet Nam. The securities industry will see a 50 per cent reduction in most fees and charges. However, there are exceptions for licensing fees of securities professionals and supervision fees for securities activities. This marks the fourth time the ministry has imposed fee reductions of 10-50 per cent, which is estimated to have a budgetary impact of about VN700 billion (US$29.1 million). VNS HCM City is among the top leisure destinations that Vietnamese travellers plan to visit this summer holidays. Additionally, a Nang, Nha Trang, a Lat, Hoi An, Ha Noi, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, Ha Long, and Quy Nhon are also listed as the top 10 most-wanted destinations. A new report from Booking.com revealed that 46 per cent of Vietnamese travellers are considering a long domestic trip and 35 per cent want to take a long international trip this year. Every year, summer uncovers intriguing travel patterns about Vietnamese tourists. This year, summer promises to be a season of exploration and rejuvenation for travellers who are seizing this opportunity to travel either domestically or venturing overseas, the report says. According to Booking.com, the mountains remain irresistible for Vietnamese looking to escape the summer heat with 57 per cent of Vietnamese travellers saying that they would like to take a nature trip this year followed by a cultural experience, at about 48 per cent, beaches at 45 per cent, and city breaks at 36 per cent. While domestic travel continues to shine, Vietnamese are also exploring short and long-haul destinations within Asia and beyond. Bangkoks proximity to Viet Nam, coupled with its cultural contrasts and culinary delights, leads the list of most searched international destinations this summer. Other Asian destinations like Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur are also high on the summer travel wish list of Vietnamese. Moreover, Vietnamese travellers have also set their sights on long-haul destinations for this summer with Paris and London ranking in fourth and eighth on the list. The dynamic Australian metropolises of Sydney and Melbourne are also drawing significant interest. Booking.com data reveals distinct travel preferences among different demographics. Solo travellers favour city breaks, families tend to seek nature escapes, groups gravitate towards scenic getaways while couples enjoy a mix of bustling metros and serene retreats. Booking.com shares insights into what different Vietnamese travellers are looking for in their holidays. Varun Grover, country head, Viet Nam, at Booking.com, said: Summer has always been a peak travel season, but in recent years this is witnessing a significant shift in how Vietnamese approach it. While Vietnamese travellers are exploring both domestic and overseas destinations, we are seeing travellers gravitating towards culturally significant or leisure-oriented destinations with a growing desire for immersive experiences. Destinations to escape the crowd To help people who want to spend a holiday in a quiet place, Booking.com points out a list of destinations. With nearly half, 44 per cent, of Vietnamese holidaymakers motivated to travel to places they havent been before, the company shares a list of alternative destinations worth exploring beyond the usual tourist hotspots, perfect for an unforgettable summer escape in Viet Nam. The destinations include Xuyen Moc, Bai Tu Long Bay, Cao Bang, Mui Ne, and Gia Lai. Located in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province, Xuyen Moc boasts pristine beaches with soft, golden sand ideal for relaxing in the summer sun. Explore untouched coral reefs teeming with marine life or hike along scenic trails offering breathtaking coastal views. Beyond the iconic Ha Long Bay, lies Bai Tu Long Bay, a majestic bay adorned with hundreds of islets and caves. This stunning natural wonder has been recognised as the 38th ASEAN Heritage Park for its ecological integrity, naturalness and high conservation values. Kayak through towering rock formations, discover hidden caves and immerse in the bays pristine beauty without having to worry about the crowds. Cao Bang is the original place of Viet Nam's revolution. With many historic sites and picturesque landscapes, the province is an ideal destination for this summer. Navigate the legendary Ban Gioc Waterfalls, a scenic motorbike route offering stunning rice paddies and a memorable experience of the local culture. Explore the Nguom Ngao Cave or discover the historical relics of the Pac Bo Cave, a former revolutionary base. Gia Lai is an excellent alternative for those planning a holiday this summer but looking to escape the crowds. This destination is known for its untouched mountainous landscapes, breathtaking waterfalls like Hang En cascading through the lush jungles and unique cuisine. Explore the Kon Tum Communal House, a remarkable architectural feat showcasing the regions rich cultural heritage. Hike through the coffee plantations or visit a village of ethnic minority and immerse yourself in the warm hospitality of the Gia Lai locals. VNS Vietnamese ranks fifth in spending during Japans Sakura season Vietnamese tourists were ranked fifth for spending during Japan's Sakura season, and Japan remains a favoured travel destination for many Vietnamese travellers, reported Visa Vietnam. A Visa survey, Green Shoots Radar study, indicates a renewed interest in travel among Vietnamese tourists, with 41 per cent of respondents planning leisure trips in the next six months. During the Sakura season, these travellers experienced a 22 per cent increase in per-card expenditure, particularly in Japanese department stores, pharmacies, and luxury establishments. Most of the Vietnamese expenditure was concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka, Chiba, Shizuoka, and Aichi.While ranked fifth for spending during Japans Sakura season, Vietnamese tourists accounted for 74 per cent of the total expenditure of Singaporean travellers and surpassed the average tourism spending of Southeast Asian and East Asian holidaymakers. Over 45 per cent of their spending was recorded on the first day of their holiday. Spending patterns varied based on income levels, with affluent travellers allocating 20 per cent to 30 per cent of their total expenses on accommodation before shifting focus to shopping experiences later in the trip. On the other hand, budget travellers predominantly spent on dining and shopping.There is a growing trend toward contactless payments, with a 14 per cent increase in overall usage during the Sakura season. Vietnamese travellers also showed a more than 5 per cent increase in the use of contactless payments during this period. This trend reflects rising demand for seamless payment solutions, spurred by adoption in sectors such as restaurants and grocery stores. VNS A NANG A fireworks art show, Made of Fairy Tales, was created by thousands of fireworks from Finlands JoHo Pyro Professional Fireworks and Chinas Liuyang Jingduan New-art Display on the fourth night of the a Nang International Fireworks Festival 2024 (DIFF) on 29 June. The Finland team demonstrated their Millions of Dreams performance with 10,000 fireworks launches in a 20-minute show on the Han River, attended by more than 10,000 fans on the main stage, as well as in free seats along the riverbanks, on boats, and from high-rise buildings. Johan Dan Erik Hollaender, a representative of the Finland team, shared that the fireworks performance featured a distinctive European culture, and the numerous fireworks made the night truly unique. Meanwhile, Liuyang Jingduan New-art Display, making their debut at the DIFF, showcased the landscape and culture of China with traditional Chinese music and impressive high-range fireworks in the sky of a Nang. Both teams have high hopes of winning a berth in the final of DIFF Made of Young Generation on 13 July. Six other teams Viet Nam, France, the US, Italy, Germany, and Poland had completed their shows on the previous three nights between 8-22 June. DIFFs jury board will soon announce two best teams for the final night on July 13. HA NOI Newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki has emphasised that concretising the Viet Nam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World towards the next 50 years is the most important task of his tenure in the Southeast Asian country. Talking with the press, Naoki said within a decade, the upgrade of the bilateral relationship from the "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" to the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World in 2023 reflected a shared commitment to a better world and addressing common issues. This advancement also demonstrated that Vietnam's role and position in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the world have been improved. With a growing economy, the country has become a trusted partner of many nations worldwide, he added. Highlighting Viet Nam's importance as a partner in Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, Naoki stressed the need to expand cooperation beyond its current scope and defined national security, politics, trade and investment as areas for further collaboration. While trade and investment are already robust, significant potential remains for even greater partnerships between the two governments and businesses of Viet Nam and Japan, he noted. Regarding official development assistance (ODA), he wished to revitalise it by leveraging Japanese technology and expertise in infrastructure development and exploring new areas like digital transformation, green transition, health care and education. Underlining large-scale projects valued at over US$30 billion agreed upon during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Japan last December, the diplomat pledged to focus his efforts on facilitating their progress. These projects will be funded through a combination of private investment and ODA aid. Pointing to ongoing cooperation in semiconductor workforce training, he envisioned a programme where Vietnamese skilled workers could hone their skills in Japan's advanced semiconductor sector before returning to contribute to Viet Nam's own growth in this critical industry. The recent launch of the Japan-Viet Nam Joint Initiative in the New Era, focusing on innovation, digital transformation and high-tech training, was cited by Naoki as another promising area. He expressed his confidence that Vietnamese and Japanese government agencies will work together to develop high-quality workforce training programmes in the near future. In his view, further promoting cultural, academic, and people-to-people exchanges based on the successes of the past 50 years of diplomatic ties is also crucial. He concluded by expressing his desire for the Japanese Embassy in Ha Noi to be an open and welcoming space for Vietnamese citizens, with its cultural information centre serving as a clear example of an open embassy. VNS The 500kV circuit 3 transmission line project linking the central province of Quang Binh to the northern province of Hung Yen is entering the final phase to reach its finish line, under the direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The 500 kV power transmission line from Quang Trach District in Quang Binh to Pho Noi District in Hung Yen includes four component projects, including the 500kV Quang Trach Quynh Luu power line, the 500kV Quynh Luu Thanh Hoa power line, the 500kV Nam inh 1 Thermal Power Plant Thanh Hoa power line, and the 500kV Nam inh 1 Thermal Power Plant Pho Noi power line. The 519-km power line passes through 211 communes and wards in 43 districts of nine provinces, including Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Nam inh, Thai Binh, Hai Duong, and Hung Yen. The total investment is about VN22.3 trillion (US$899 million). The project aims to reduce the risk of overloading for the existing 500kV lines, especially when transmitting high amount via the north operating as a central interface at times when hydroelectric power plants generate low power, ensuring electricity supply for the region in the years to come. The projects are being undertaken by the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) as the investor, with the Northern Power Project Management Board and the Central Power Project Management Board the project operators and managers. Joint efforts Throughout the construction sites, thousands of workers, with support of different units across the electricity industry, are working day and night regardless of the scorching sun, thunderstorms or muddy terrain, in a concerted effort to complete the project on time. The exact shape of the 500kV circuit 3 transmission line is gradually emerging. At construction site 30 - 33, package 36 in Kim Son District, Ninh Binh of the Power Construction Company 4, dozens of workers are spreading conductors and lightning protection, ready for the wire drawing process. Trinh Van Tuan, team leader, said that this section had been in operating mode from June 7 until now, and it was expected that by June 18, the entire section would be wired. All human forces, machinery and equipment are gathered to work in three shifts. We will try to complete the bidding packages before the assigned time, said Tuan. Luu Viet Tien, deputy general director of the EVNNPT said that overall the project in Nam inh 1-Thanh Hoa Thermal Power Plant was going well and on schedule. There was no pressure in terms of the workforce - contractors participating in the project such as the Phuong Hanh company have high quality human resources and large construction machinery, completing the bidding package very quickly. We are focusing on increasing human resources. At the same time, leaders of the Viet Nam Electricity (EVN) and the EVNNPT are regularly present at the construction site to encourage, support and handle any arising problems, said Tien. Cope with severe weather The weather in the north is at its hottest period, with outdoor temperatures sometimes reaching over 40 degrees Celsius. This is a major obstacle for construction contractors, when their workers cannot work continuously on site due to health and labour safety regulations. At the location No 32 of the 500kV Nam inh 1 - Pho Noi section in Truc Hung Commune, Truc Ninh District, Nam inh, construction units are hastily erecting poles and pulling ropes in the final stages, but that work is extremely difficult under the baking sunshine. Vu Xuan Thien, technical officer of the Song a Company 11 said: "With this weather, the contractor lets workers work from 5am and leave early at 11am, then go to the construction site later from 2pm to work until evening to avoid the hot afternoon sun." Phan Khanh Hong Son, a worker, said: The poles, equipment and materials are all made of steel, large in size, exposed to the hot sun, so their temperature is always very high. When it rains, it is also very difficult for workers to transport equipment and poles for installation in the muddy terrain. "Managers at all levels care about and encourage us, providing meals, medicine and food to improve our resistance on hot days, so we can work with peace of mind." Pham Van Doanh, an official from the Northern Power Project Management Board and also representative of the investor at this position said that in addition to weather problems, another obstacle to progress was getting materials to erect steel columns. While contractors providing the columns can only produce about 70 per cent, the remaining 30 per cent is imported. Customs procedures were conducted very slowly, not always matching the schedule of providing steel columns to the construction sites. "The Ministry of Industry and Trade has contacted the consulates of neighbouring countries to ensure that goods can arrive at the construction site as quickly as possible," said Doanh. Power of solidarity Across the construction sites, it is not difficult to see the hive of work, with everyone aiming to speed up progress. Most of the front-line workers and officials participating in the project are willing to work regardless of hardships and hope the project will be energised and come in on schedule. Following requests of the Government and the EVN, 38 teams with more than 500 officers and employees of the Northern Electricity Corporation have joined the work in the last month to support the project. As a designated critical task, all the chosen teams are electricians who are qualified, willing and ready to overcome all obstacles. Ta Huu Son, deputy director of the Ninh Binh Electricity Company, said that joining the work was something they were proud of so the electricity workers were always enthusiastic and were in high spirits. Deputy General Director Tien of the EVNNPT, said that the corporation assigned about 1,800 people from four power transmission companies, along with more than 2,000 workers from different electricity companies across the country joining in the last push efforts. Worker Nguyen Trong oan, from the Central Highlands province of ak Nong, said that with the current spirit of working regardless of rain or shine, the unit could completely meet the project's schedule before the end of this month. Personally, I am very excited, because we have been familiar with the work of managing and operating 500kV transmission lines for decades. Along with that is the encouragement from all levels, with solidarity of the entire electricity industry, we all hold the single goal of completing the project soon," said oan. VNS Techcombanks first ever Keynote event Pioneering Innovation: Reaching for New Heights was held on June 28 in Hanoi. The event showcased Techcombanks most innovative new solutions for individual, business and corporate customers and highlighted how the bank is harnessing the power of data and AI to create meaningful experiences for customers and deliver unprecedented growth for Techcombank. Techcombank CEO Jens Lottner giving the opening remarks Kicking off the event, CEO Jens Lottner highlighted the investment made by Techcombank over the first three years of its 2021-2025 transformation plan in the areas of Digital, Data and Talent. This investment has allowed the bank to create unprecedented value for customers and release a number of first-in-the-market innovations. As of today, Techcombank has broadly applied data analysis and AI across the bank and most major systems have been transitioned to the cloud. This puts Techcombank around three years ahead of its competitors in Vietnam and is enabling the bank to harness the power of data and AI to drive unique business outcomes and unparalleled customer centricity. This year we have accelerated our drive towards leveraging our digital platforms and new data and AI capabilities to create more hyper-personalised experiences for our customers, and grow our business faster and more profitably than any other bank in Vietnam. We are now redefining banking in Vietnam with our product innovations and personalised experiences, said Lottner. Techcombanks application of technology, its customer centricity, and strong operational and financial performance have been recognised by numerous prestigious international awards over the past year. Along with this, Techcombank has been named Best Bank in Vietnam 2024 by the international financial publications Global Finance and Finance Asia and has been voted the #1 Bank in Vietnam by customers in a survey by Forbes Magazine. Redefining banking with hyper-personalised experiences During the Techcombank Keynote, Pranav Seth, Techcombanks chief digital officer, highlighted the banks latest innovations that were helping to create hyper-personalised experiences for customers through the banks award-winning digital banking platforms. Through Techcombank Mobile app, the bank is helping customers improve their financial awareness by providing personalised financial management advice and insights, enabling customers to enjoy their money and save for the future. Techcombank has already delivered over 52 million personalised pieces of financial advice to more than four million customers since the experience was launched. The banks use of AI and machine learning has been a game changer, delivering more than 100 million personalised insights views in 2023. Techcombanks new loyalty ecosystem offers rewards and experiences tailored to individual customers preferences and lifestyles. It is already one of the largest and most diverse loyalty programmes in the Vietnamese banking industry, encompassing over 19,000 points of sale with over 300 brands, where customers can earn reward points. Currently, the bank has over 8.5 million customers in its loyalty ecosystem, with around 4 million customers actively earning points each month. Innovative solutions Phung Quang Hung, head of Corporate and Institutional Banking Group introduced C-Cash, a first-of-its-kind corporate treasury management solution, in partnership with Kyriba, a global provider of cloud treasury and financial solutions. Initially piloted in 2023, C-Cash is being rolled-out to all corporate customers in 2024 and is designed to uplift their treasury management to a world-class level. It enables corporates to take a more holistic and integrated 360 degree view of their financial positions across multiple bank accounts and even multiple banks. Nguyen Anh Tuan, chief retail banking group officer, highlighted the banks all-in-one banking solution for merchant customers called Techcombank Merchant. This holistic suite of offerings is designed to empower merchants to run and grow their businesses by providing multiple benefits. The benefits include all-in-one smart payment acceptance; auto-earning to earn more from surplus cash; easy access to credit for both business and personal needs; attractive loyalty ecosystem; and beyond banking services, it helps manage and grow the customers business Over 600,000 merchants now use Techcombanks merchant solutions, and this has contributed to a 20 per cent increase in the banks current account, savings account balance. Pioneering differentiated wealth solutions Nguyen Xuan Minh, chairman of Techcom Securities (TCBS), explained how TCBS has become the leading securities company in Vietnam by pioneering Wealthtech strategy. Under this strategy, TCBS has developed the TCInvest super app and a suite of innovative digital-led wealth management solutions. Today, TCBS serves around one million customers and takes the lead in terms of market share among bank-owned equity brokerages on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, and is in the top 3 overall. In Q1 2024, 31,187 customers opened a new TCBS account through the TCInvest app, and the app averaged over 14.8 million visits each month. Through the TCInvest app, customers can easily and securely trade securities, bonds, funds, derivatives and other asset classes entirely online and at the touch of a button. Harnessing the power of data and AI Supported by a workforce that includes over 1,800 data scientists, analysts, engineers and IT-related staff, Techcombank is offering meaningful and engaging experiences to customers as it transforms into a bank powered by data and AI. Santhosh Mahendiran, Techcombanks chief data and analytics officer, reminded that the banks use of advanced data analytics, generative AI and large language models underpin its ability to provide new personalised customer experiences to millions of individual customers. The banks integrated data in the data lake from over 50 of the banks systems and is linked with Amazon Web Services (AWS) data analytics capabilities to create a bank-wide 'data brain'. This data brain is linked to its cloud-based customer relationship management platform that provides a centralised 360 degree view of all customer information to empower relationship managers and ensure seamless online and offline customer journeys. AWS is proud to be part of Techcombank's digital transformation journey, enabling the bank to access services, AI capabilities, infrastructure, and robust security they need to leverage generative AI at scale and drive innovation, whilst remaining cost-effective, said Eric Yeo, Vietnams country manager, AWS. In bringing the first-ever Techcombank Keynote to a close, Lottner said, Our unique combination of advanced data capabilities, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, and top-tier talent enables a growth strategy that is very difficult to replicate. With the strong support of our partners and shareholders, we have built one of the best banking platforms in Asia. We are now ready to go to the next level, to compete and win over customers to realise our vision, change banking, change lives. Techcombank successfully concludes fourth offshore syndicated loan facility Techcombank has successfully concluded its fourth offshore syndicated loan with 15 banks, providing a strong oversubscription of the $200 million facility. New AI offerings pose more questions The AI explosion is continuing at pace with new offerings from the biggest tech groups in the world, but ethical concerns and investing considerations are taking up more focus as industries like the media and manufacturing adjust their priorities. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday limited a federal obstruction law that has been used to charge hundreds of Capitol riot defendants as well as former President Donald Trump. Central Texas businessman Christopher Ray Grider is among the Capitol rioters serving a prison sentence under the obstruction law, in addition to convictions under other laws. 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 overwhelming majority of the approximately 1,000 people who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to Capitol riot-related federal crimes were not charged with obstruction and will not be affected by the outcome. Grider co-owns Kissing Tree Vineyards in Bruceville-Eddy. In his case, the obstruction of Congress charge was the most severe one of which he was convicted Dec. 21, 2022, said Brent Mayr, Griders trial attorney from the Greater Houston law firm Mayr Law PC. Chris wasnt charged with any assaultive conduct, or destructive conduct himself, Mayr said by phone Friday. He was charged with aiding and abetting destruction of property. So, he faced up to 20 years on the obstruction charge, but all the other counts were much less serious. The most serious remaining offense carries a 5-year max. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of a federal district court in Washington, D.C., found Grider guilty of three felonies: civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding and destruction of government property; and four misdemeanors: disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. Grider had elected a bench trial in which the judge, rather than a jury, would hear the evidence, decide guilt or innocence and sentence him. Mayr said he filed a notice of appeal very soon after the December 2022 verdict, and a federal appellate court now holds jurisdiction over his case. It would be our hope and expectation when Chriss case comes up for appeal, that the appellate judge would vacate the obstruction conviction and send the case back to the district judge for review of other matters, which in this case would mean resentencing on the remaining lesser charges, Mayr said. Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Grider to 6 years, 11 months at a May 23, 2023, sentencing hearing. Mayr said he hopes that by the time Griders case makes it through appeal and back to federal district court for resentencing, the judge would lighten his sentence. He wont walk away clean, Mayr said. He still has civil disorder convictions. But we would hope that his new sentence would allow him to go home to his family on supervised release or time served. Still, the Supreme Court decision is likely to 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, which includes charges other than obstruction. Special counsel Jack Smith has said the charges faced by the former president would not be affected. Trumps case is on hold while the Supreme Court considers a separate case in which Trump is claiming immunity from prosecution. A decision is expected on Monday. Under the ruling issued Friday, dozens of defendants could seek new sentences, ask to withdraw guilty pleas, or have charges dropped. Most defendants convicted of obstruction were also convicted of another felony so their sentence may not be significantly impacted, if at all. 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. Republicans, who have cast the Jan. 6 defendants as victims of political persecution, are certain to seize on the ruling to argue the rioters have been unfairly prosecuted by the Justice Department. Trump has embraced Jan. 6 defendants on the campaign trial, and floated pardons for the rioters if he wins in November. 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. Its also likely to slow down cases in a court already clogged with Jan. 6 defendants as judges are forced to grapple with how to apply the ruling. Its going to be a big mess, said Randall Eliason, a professor at George Washington University Law School and former federal prosecutor in Washington. 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, a former federal public defender who also wrote a separate opinion. 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. Roberts, Jackson and Barrett made strikingly different word choices in their opinions. While Roberts described the attack as a breach of the Capitol, Barrett described the events as a riot and the participants as rioters. Jackson wrote that an angry mob stormed the United States Capitol. 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. 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. Seventeen of the 18 trial 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. Alito and Thomas rejected calls that they step aside from the Jan. 6 case because of questions raised about their impartiality. 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. More than 1,400 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Two years since the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade abortion-rights protections have brought changes to Waco advocacy efforts on both sides of the issue. The June anniversary of the decision, which triggered a Texas law banning abortions in the state, has prompted activists to reflect on how the landscape has shifted. While anti-abortion groups in Waco have continued to expand their outreach, abortion-rights advocates have shifted their attention toward electoral efforts and broader advocacy for reproductive health. Over 200 people gathered last weekend at Doris Miller Park to celebrate the anniversary of the Dobbs decision with a rally and march organized by Wacos chapter of Citizens for Life, an anti-abortion organization founded by members of Mercy Culture Church. The event featured booths from other anti-abortion groups and multiple guest speakers. Despite the Texas summer heat, the crowd sang and danced before marching across the Brazos River and through downtown Waco. Jacob Whittaker, a member of Mercy Culture Church and an organizer for Wacos chapter of Citizens for Life, said groups in the area have not always been able to come together and organize, but the event was a perfect example of what could be possible in the future. Pro-Life Waco, one of the most prominent anti-abortion groups in the area, hosted a booth at the rally. Wacoans may be familiar with the organizations many yard signs and billboards around the city, as well as its regular protest events outside Wacos Planned Parenthood Health Center, the CVS pharmacy on Fifth Street or the pedestrian overpass on South Valley Mills Drive. John Pisciotta, founding director of Pro-Life Waco, was outside Wacos Planned Parenthood Health Center earlier that weekend with about 15 members of his group. Despite the health center no longer offering abortion services, Pro-Life Waco members held anti-abortion signs outside, receiving honks and the occasional middle finger from people driving along Highway 6. Reflecting on the Dobbs decision, Pisciotta said the day was a celebratory moment for his group, but he feels there is more work to be done in Waco to oppose abortion. What we had was a big change in the laws and the courts that day, but there was no change in hearts and minds, Pisciotta said. When that decision came down it changed the supply of abortion but it changed nothing in the demand for abortion. Two years post-Dobbs, Pro-Life Waco continues to hold four to five protest events per month. Pisciotta said his group now aims to change public sentiment to better align with Texas law. As a leader of this group, I would state one of our goals is we never want to let abortion be baked into and accepted as the culture of Waco, Texas, he said. We want it to be a seething wound. We want it to be controversy. Although Pro-Life Waco experienced modest declines in donations and participation after the Dobbs decision, the group still maintains a couple hundred members and around 70 regular donors who sustain the groups budget of under $100,000 for signs and events. Pisciotta said he is working to scale the groups efforts to a national level by encouraging like-minded organizations in other cities to hold similar outreach events. Pro-Life Waco also intends to use social media advertising in the near future. Cheryl Foster, a longtime womens rights advocate in Waco, said abortion-rights groups in the area have struggled to receive the same level of funding, or organize as effectively, as their opposition. After the Dobbs decision, a group of several women formed Pro-Choice Waco, a local abortion-rights group that advocated for bodily autonomy. Foster was a member of the group and said leadership was unprepared for how organized anti-abortion groups were in comparison. For example, in 2022, Pro-Choice Waco advocated for Waco City Council to pass a version of the Guarding the Right to Abortion Care for Everyone Act, or Grace Act, that other cities had adopted. The act would have instructed local law enforcement to prioritize other crimes over investigating people who receive or perform abortions. The proposal prompted hundreds of residents, many in connection with Pro-Life Waco, to attend a city council meeting and speak against the act. They were unprepared for how organized they (anti-abortion groups) were, Foster said. I think they were a little surprised by the force of the opposition. Foster said she watched Pro-Choice Waco slowly dissolve over time as the groups leadership moved to other counties or states. Today, no local abortion-rights group has formed to fill the gap left behind by Pro-Choice Waco, but Foster said she continues to do advocacy work anywhere she can, especially focusing on electoral politics. Her efforts include donating to the Center for Reproductive Rights advocacy organization, frequently testifying at the state Capitol and working with the McLennan County Democratic Party. Elections matter, she said. Its going to take years to undo this, but weve got to start and it starts at the polls in November. Foster is also a longtime volunteer for Planned Parenthood, which she said is a lifeline for the community. Planned Parenthoods local health center provides contraception, ultrasounds, rapid STD and STI testing, hormone treatments, annual exams, pap smears, colposcopies and breast cancer screenings. The center expanded its services by hiring a second clinician last year and is now able to see patients Monday through Friday. The center will soon expand services further by offering a new procedure to remove abnormal cervical cells. Low-income and uninsured individuals can receive services from the center at a reduced cost due to Planned Parenthoods eligibility for federal funding under the federal Title X Family Planning Program. Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas spokesperson Autumn Keiser said providing reproductive health care services to underserved communities is more essential now than ever. For more than a decade now in the state of Texas, there has been a systematic defunding and hostile legislation, session after session, that has removed reproductive health care access and blocked reproductive health care access, particularly for vulnerable Texans, Keiser said. There is a health care crisis that was already brewing in this state for a decade before the abortion ban happened, and I think we have to keep that as part of the landscape of this conversation, even as we continue to focus on the harm thats happening right now directly as a result of the abortion ban. Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas is one of three Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state. The Greater Texas affiliate has 19 locations, including a center in Waco, and has served the area for almost 90 years. Keiser could not confirm whether Wacos operations have experienced a change in demand for other services since halting abortions two years ago, but she said the organization has received an increase in calls from residents confused about Texas laws post-Dobbs. A lot of the point of these abortion bans and the way that the laws are written is to intentionally create confusion and fear, Keiser said. A survey released in March by an Austin-based research group, Resound Research for Reproductive Health, found Texas women of reproductive age have significant gaps in knowledge concerning Texas abortion ban. The statewide survey interviewed over 760 female Texas residents, age 18 to 49, and found 84% of participants did not have accurate knowledge about the circumstances under which abortion could be legally provided in Texas. Texas abortion ban only allows physicians to provide abortions in the case of a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that puts the pregnant person in danger of death or a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function unless an abortion is performed. There are no exemptions for rape, incest or fetal anomalies. Physicians that perform abortions outside of exemptions could lose their medical license, face up to life in prison or be fined $100,000. The Texas Medical Board recently released some clarification to the medical emergency exemption. The boards guidance clarifies that terminating an ectopic pregnancy is not considered an abortion, and a pregnant persons life or major bodily function does not need to be at immediate risk in order to allow an abortion. While 60% of survey respondents said they had heard about Texas passing abortion laws in the last two years, 73% of survey respondents were unaware that Texas clinics cannot perform abortions. Data from Texas Health and Human Services shows the average number of abortions per month has dropped significantly post-Dobbs. Texas used to see about 4,400 abortions a month before Roe v. Wade was overturned. The average is now just five abortions per month. However, the data does not completely represent the number of abortions most likely occurring in the state. While prescribing and mailing medication abortion pills is illegal in Texas, Texans can still access abortion-inducing drugs through telehealth services. This is coupled with Texans traveling out of state to receive surgical abortions. This lack of knowledge on Texas law and decrease in abortions coincides with rising fertility rates in Texas. The University of Houston recently analyzed 2022 fertility data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offering insight into how many more women carried pregnancies to term as a result of a 2021 Texas law, passed as Senate Bill 8, that banned nearly all abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, even before the Dobbs decision. The report found the overall fertility rate rose 2% in Texas, with more than 16,000 additional babies being born in 2022 compared to 2021. It was the first time the overall fertility rate rose in Texas since 2014. Overall, women age 25 to 39 saw the steepest increase in fertility rates. The study links this to child care issues and other barriers that could possibly prevent women who already have children from receiving abortions outside of the state. More specifically, Hispanic women age 25 to 44 experienced the sharpest increase in fertility rate at 8.5%. Elisha Joyce, executive director for the Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas, said her organization regularly serves a similar demographic in Waco, and demand for services has exploded over the last two years. Majority of the women we see not only have a child but have already had an abortion, she said. Its very common that theyre coming in with other children. Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas, a Christian-based pregnancy center opposed to abortion, has two location in Waco. The organization has a medical services site located across from the Planned Parenthood Health Center and a support site located closer to downtown Waco. The organization offers free services to clients through pregnancy and up to 36 months after birth. In 2022, Care Net received about 275 total visits per month at the medical site and about 400 total visits per month at the support site. In 2023, total visits per month jumped to about 375 at the medical site and about 700 at the support site. This year, both sites have averaged a combined 800 to 1,000 visits per month. At its medical site, Care Net offers pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds and STD testing vouchers to be redeemed with the county. At the support site, Care Net offers emergency supplies, like diapers, wipes, formula and free meals, as well as case management services that connect clients with social services, non-licensed counseling, housing assistance and other church communities if clients seek additional support. The support site also provides education classes on pregnancy, childbirth, child development, breastfeeding, nutrition, infant care, parenting and other life skills. Clients can earn points by attending classes and eventually trade those points for large-ticket items like strollers, cribs or car seats. Care Net has observed a 25% increase in class attendance over the last year. Joyce said the services Care Net offers align with the organizations mission to be life-affirming. So many of our clients are in isolation or theyre in extreme poverty, Joyce said. They come through, and we can say, You can find your people here because we want to love on you, number one, not just tell you, Hey, choose life for your baby and then good luck to you. Because it really is about walking alongside the women so that theyre not alone in their choice. The flip side is, if women walk out the door and make an informed choice to get the chemical abortion or go across state lines, they can still come back and say, I think I need help because this happened or that happened, and Im experiencing loss or trauma. 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. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict exists as unresolved as it has ever been. My review of the narrative history sends this strong and often repeated message: Its not the land stupid! But the world hasnt been listening. Alan Dershowitz recently reminded us that following World War II, Hitler ally Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Muslim leader in what is now Israel, turned the Jewish/Arab dispute from a resolvable conflict over land, to an irresolvable conflict over religion, i.e. there must be no Jewish sovereignty. Palestinian Liberation Organization official Zahir Muhsein announced the following in 1977: The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel. .... Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today. Yasser Arafat admitted this in 1993: The question of borders doesnt interest us. Palestine is nothing but a drop in an enormous ocean. In 2009, Muhammad Al-Muraikhi, a Qatan sheikh, stated: We do not treat the Jews as our enemies just because they occupied Palestine. ... We will treat the Jews as our enemies even if they return Palestine to us, because they are infidels. They rejected Allah. Muhammad Hussein Yaqoub, an Egyptian imam, declared quite simply: The Jews are infidels, not because I say so, and not because they are killing Muslims, but because Allah said (they are disbelievers). Radical Arab and Palestinian leaders have emphatically told us the same thing, time after time, through their rejection of at least five land partition offers for a separate state alongside Israel. They wouldnt accept a separate Jewish nation. Jewish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus comments about mutual disarmament are simple and practical truths. Hes repeatedly stated that, If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel. It seems obvious that its not about land. Its all about religion. That means any solution to this problem wont be advanced by partitioning disputed territory. Therefore, any hope for a permanent solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict seems difficult to achieve. The logical question is, how can future conflicts be minimized so that the larger goal of peace in the Mideast can develop? While reading from Netanyahus book, Bibi: My Story, I came across this enlightening observation: The key to achieving that peace was ... the historic peace accords. ... In its first 72 years, Israel made peace with two Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan. In the span of four months, Israel made peace with four more Muslim countries. Netanyahu is referring to the Abraham Accords led by President Trump. Trump decided to bring an end to the international obsession with achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians. He turned his attention to promoting peace talks between Israel and other Muslim nations. Trump found several interested nations. Soon, Israel signed four separate normalization agreements with: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Sadly, hoped-for agreements with other Muslim countries now seem to have stalled. The name itself, Abraham Accords, recalls the prominence of Abraham in both Judaism and Islam. Abraham was a Jewish patriarch and Muslims consider him a major prophet. In fact, the religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all included in what some describe as Abrahamic religions. This common ground should be exploited in the interest of peace. In spite of their serious conflicts, the ancient relationship between these two groups demonstrated a willingness to enter into covenants, often with each other. A covenant is a promise, an agreement, an accord. Its a deal. According to Netanyahu, Trump, the dealmaker, eventually came to understand that Israeli/Palestinian peace wasnt a prerequisite for accomplishing the broad goal of Israeli/Mideast peace. The modern-day Jewish/Islam covenant was born the Abraham Accords. We must assist Israels pursuit of entering normalization agreements with other Muslim countries. Israel and the U.S. should move on as soon as possible to regain the momentum Trump achieved with the Abraham Accords. Theres no need to wait until after the presidential election. While this strategy wont bring the war in Gaza to a standstill, a different strategic attitude may develop, and that could affect how the warring parties decide to conclude the current conflict. A grand jury refused to indict a Texas woman on a murder charge after she allegedly supplied her county judge boyfriend with deadly fentanyl-laced pills. Kami Ludwig, 34, was however indicted on two counts of possession of a controlled substance in connection with Tarrant County Judge William Shane Nolen's drug-related death, KDFW-TV, WFAA-TV, and KTVT-TV reported, citing Ludwig's defense attorney. "We are grateful to the grand jury for their careful review of this case, which led to the decision not to indict my client on a fentanyl murder charge," attorney Tiffany Burks stated. "Any drug overdose resulting in death is a tragedy. We continue to extend our deepest condolences to the friends and family mourning the loss of former Judge Shane Nolen." Nolen, 47, died in November 2023 after he was found dead in bed "with signs consistent with an opioid overdose," police in Grapevine, Texas said, according to WFAA. A search of the home allegedly yielded cocaine, fentanyl-laced pills, oxycodone, and Xanax. Similar pills were allegedly found in her purse. Ludwig was arrested in February on a charge of murder. Florida authorities on Friday announced 64 arrests after a 3-year operation revealed a bait shop and motorcycle parts shop to be fronts for a fentanyl trafficking ring. The Polk County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests Friday, following a multiagency investigation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement dubbed "Operation Rooske, A Family Affair," which began in 2021. Organized Crime Unit detectives from the PCSO and FDLE special agents made multiple undercover purchases of fentanyl from the Rooske drug trafficking organization during the course of the investigation. The organization used the Rooske Bait and Tackle Shop and Rooske Motorcycle Parts and Accessories, both in Lakeland, as fronts for drug trafficking and money laundering. Among the 64 people arrested were the alleged leader of the organization, 43-year old Hector Baez Torres, and his alleged co-conspirators: wife, Pilar Rivera, 41, their daughter, Jeimylee Baez Rivera, 23, and Baez Torres's alleged right-hand man, 24-year old Miguel Castro Rivera. Wilfredo Feliciano Velez, 26, and Casimiro Bidot Del Valle, 59, were identified as suspected suppliers of illegal drugs to the Rooske organization. Feliciano Velez was arrested by PCSO detectives while he was allegedly delivering three kilograms, or about 6.6 pounds, of cocaine to Hector Baez Torres On June 20, authorities executed five search warrants in Polk County - Rooske Motorcycle Parts and Accessories, Rooske Bait and Tackle Shop, the residence of Hector and Pilar, the residence of Jeimylee and Miguel, and another residence - and one in Osceola County, at Bidot Del Valle's residence. During the investigation, authorities seized 742.14 grams of fentanyl; 3,585.42 grams, or nearly 8 pounds of cocaine; 13.08 grams of methamphetamine; 57 grams of oxycodone; and 228.69 grams of marijuana. The sheriff's office said the estimated street value of the seized drugs is around $475,348.60. Along with the drugs, authorities seized assets including $12,270 in cash; five vehicles worth $154,000; two personal watercrafts worth $15,000; dirt bikes and off-road vehicles worth $40,000; a trailer worth $4,000; bait store merchandise worth $35,000; motorcycle shop merchandise worth $55,000; jewelry/electronics/firearms/designer apparel worth $67,500; bank accounts holding $40,000; and liens on the residence of Baez Torres and Rivera totaling $200,000. The total value of all of the seized assets came to $604,770. With the drugs and assets together, the seizures amounted to $1,080,118.60. "In essence, this fentanyl trafficking organization was the family business. The motorcycle shop and the bait shop were corrupt businesses that were used as a means for money laundering," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "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 sheriff's office said "most of the arrests" were buyers of illegal drugs from the Rooske organization, which investigators used to build a case against members of the organization. "Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures and this case is yet another example of how Sheriff Judd and his deputies are leaders in helping us remove deadly drugs from our streets," said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. "Working with Polk County Deputies and FDLE, we were able to seize 742 grams of fentanyl in two counties. That is enough poison to kill 371,000 Floridians, and I have no doubt that this drug interdiction operation saved lives." LIVE: 62 arrested, businesses shut down in Polk County fentanyl trafficking operation, deputies say https://t.co/czCqz6anto pic.twitter.com/eunnvXFVbW WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) June 28, 2024 --with reporting by TMX Gary Clark is the weekly nature columnist for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. He also publishes feature articles in state and national magazines and has written four books: "Texas Wildlife Portfolio," "Texas Gulf Coast Impressions," "Backroads of the Texas Hill Country" and "Enjoying Big Bend National Park." Gary is also a contributing author in the book, "Pride of Place: A Contemporary Anthology of Texas Nature Writing." He has won eight Lone Star College writing awards and is the recipient of the Houston Audubon Society 2004 Excellence in Media Award and the Citizens' Environmental Coalition 2010 Synergy Media Award for Environmental Reporting. Gary is professor of business and developmental studies at Lone Star College--North Harris. In 32 years at the college, Gary has served as vice president of instruction; dean of Business, Social and Behavioral Sciences; associate dean of Natural Sciences; professor of marketing; professor of developmental writing; and Faculty Senate president. He is a recipient of the Teacher Excellence Award. Gary has been active in the birding community for more than 30 years. He founded the Piney Woods Wildlife Society in 1982 and the Texas Coast Rare Bird Alert in 1983. He served as president of the Houston Audubon Society 1989-1991 and purchased the North American Rare Bird Alert for Houston Audubon in 1990. He was vice president of the Board of Directors for the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory 2001-2008. He currently sits on the Board of Advisors for the Houston Audubon Society and Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. He is also a member of the American Mensa Society. Hana Ikramuddin is a Hearst Fellow in Connecticut. She spent the first part of her fellowship at the Houston Chronicle. Raised in the Twin Cities, Hana majored in journalism and political science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She has held internships with the Star Tribune, APM Reports and Sahan Journal. In her free time, she loves to cook, make chai and take care of her houseplants. Belarusian President hails strong ties with China in education sector Xinhua) 09:30, June 29, 2024 MINSK, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Belarus is interested in further deepening its partnership with China within the education sector, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko recently said at a meeting with Hao Ping, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Peking University Committee and a delegation from 15 Chinese universities, who have arrived to participate in the Forum of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Belarus and China, according to the press-service of the Belarusian President Office. "This visit serves as a clear example of the high level of relations between Belarus and China, an indicator of growing cooperation not only in the economic, but also in science, educational and cultural spheres, among other areas," Lukashenko said. In addition, Lukashenko endorsed the initiative proposed by universities in Belarus and China to establish a fundamental research center, and expressed confidence that its activities will initiate a new wave of scientific and technological development. During the meeting, Lukashenko further proposed elevating cooperation to a new level, and emphasized the need to expand contacts beyond universities. "Let's not only think about cooperation between universities. Let's think about creating a large global educational and scientific platform in Belarus aimed at spreading education, science, culture across the European continent. We are ready to play a serious role in it," the Belarusian leader said. For his part, Hao Ping noted that it was a great honor for him to visit Belarus as part of a delegation of Chinese universities and personally meet with the President of Belarus once again. The Chinese side is ready to join hands with Belarusian universities in building a bridge of friendly exchanges between the two countries and promoting practical cooperation in the fields of education and technology, he added. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chaolan) Firefly Aerospace's newest building is seen Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at the company's so-called Rocket Ranch manufacturing facility in rural Bertram in north east Burnet County where the company manufactures and test rockets and rocket engines. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News Texas-based Firefly Aerospace announced this week it has agreed to launch deals at spaceports in Virginia and Sweden. The company plans to start flying into space out of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Wallops Island, Virginia, in early 2025. Plans to launch satellites out of Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden should begin in 2026. Firefly currently only launches out of Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "If you look at our mission statement, we want to be an organization that enables our customers to launch, to land and to orbit anytime, anyplace," Firefly CEO Bill Weber said. "It is aspirational. Anytime and any place will grow and evolve and migrate." MORE INFO: Firefly Aerospace expands its rocket manufacturing and testing in central Texas These two new launching locations mark a major benchmark toward that goal. When it launches out of Esrange Space Center, barring any major changes, Firefly will be the first U.S.-based company to launch satellites from a location in continental Europe. Firefly also plans to increase its Alpha rocket launches from four in 2024 to six in 2025 and then 12 in 2026. Firefly's partners were asking the company to add a location on the East Coast, Weber said, and some were expressing a desire not to be "bunched up" in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Going to Virginia helps ease potential congestion in Florida. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "No customer said, 'All I need is West Coast,'" Weber said. "They said I need you flying off the East Coast as well. Both our defense and government customers and commercial providers." Firefly is familiar with Wallops Island due to its collaborative effort with Northrop Grumman on a medium launch vehicle. Since announcing the collaboration in 2022 with the Virginia-headquartered company, Weber said the team has had a growing prescience at Wallops Island. Weber noted that with a group of employees already at Wallops Island, building upon the structure forming there made sense. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Esrange Space Center is located above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. Weber said members of the Firefly team worked previously with people in Sweden, and those connections helped facilitate this relationship. 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. Authored by Dr. Saurabh Mittal, Assistant Professor, FORE School of Management, New Delhi Attention all festival-goers and online shopping enthusiasts! As the anticipation for the upcoming festival season of exhilarating online sales mounts, we must be vigilant in navigating the darker side lurking behind them. Yes, you heard it right online fraudulent websites have invaded the realm of festival sales! In this eye-opening blog post, we dive deep into unmasking these unethical platforms that seek to exploit your loved ones for discounts and deals while putting your hard-earned money at risk. These fake websites often masquerade as legitimate businesses, tricking consumers into making purchases or sharing personal information. This is especially common during peak sales seasons like festival sales, when scammers take advantage of the increased traffic to lure unsuspecting shoppers. Get ready to arm yourself with knowledge as we expose their deceptive tactics and empower you with essential tips to ensure a safe and truly unforgettable festival experience. Don't let fraudsters steal your joy join us on this journey as we shine a light on the dark side of festival sales! Festival Sales and Online Shopping Festival season is often considered as the perfect opportunity to indulge in some retail therapy. The excitement of discounted prices, exclusive offers, and limited edition products make festival sales one of the most awaited events of the year for shoppers. However, with the rise in popularity of online shopping, there has been a significant increase in fraudulent websites that take advantage of this festive spirit. Online shopping has become increasingly popular due to its convenience, wide variety of options, and competitive pricing. This makes it the ideal platform for festival sales as people can browse through multiple options at their convenience and compare prices before making a purchase. However, with so many websites claiming to offer the best deals during the festival season, it can be daunting for consumers to differentiate between legitimate retailers and fraudulent ones. In recent years, there have been numerous cases where unsuspecting shoppers have fallen victim to fake festival sale offers promoted by fraudulent websites. These websites lure customers with attractive discounts and deals on popular products but end up scamming them out of their money or personal information. As consumers become more aware and cautious about online frauds during festival season, it is essential to understand how these fraudulent websites operate and how you can protect yourself from falling prey to their scams. Rise in Online Fraudulent Websites during Festival Sales The advent of the internet and e-commerce has made shopping more convenient and accessible for people all over the world. With the rise of festival sales, an increasing number of consumers are turning to online platforms to make their purchases, looking for deals and discounts on their favorite products. However, with this increase in online shopping also comes a rise in fraudulent websites that target unsuspecting shoppers during festival sales. These websites often promise unbelievable discounts and offers, luring customers into making purchases that turn out to be scams. According to a report by Riskified, online fraud attempts increased by 17% globally during the festive season in 2019 compared to previous months. This trend is expected to continue as festivals become bigger and more popular each year. One reason for this surge in fraudulent websites during festival sales is the high volume of transactions taking place at once. Most retailers offer significant discounts during these periods which attract large numbers of shoppers who are eager to take advantage. Cybercriminals see this as an opportunity to exploit unsuspecting customers who might not be vigilant while making purchases. Moreover, it is becoming easier than ever for scammers to create fake websites and trick customers into thinking they are legitimate retail sites. They use techniques such as mimicking popular brands' websites or using similar domain names to deceive shoppers into believing they are shopping from trusted sources. Additionally, social media platforms have become a breeding ground for fraudulent activities during festival sales. Advertisements promoting fake websites with attractive deals flood users' feeds, making it easy for them to click on the links and directly reach the intended websites/ apps. The repetitive advertisements excite the users and they feel a temptation to click on the advertisements. Online shopping has become a popular trend in recent years, with the convenience of being able to purchase items from the comfort of our own homes. However, this convenience has also opened up opportunities for fraudulent websites to scam unsuspecting buyers. Festival sales are particularly attractive for these scammers as they can capitalize on the increased traffic and eagerness for shoppers to snag a good deal. So how exactly do these fraudulent websites work? Here are some common tactics that they use: Impersonating legitimate websites: One of the main ways that these fraudulent websites operate is by creating fake versions of well-known and trusted e-commerce sites. They may use a similar URL or domain name but with subtle differences such as spelling errors or using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com). These sites often feature copied content and images from legitimate sites, making it hard for customers to spot the difference. False advertising: Another tactic used by fraudulent websites is false advertising. They will advertise popular products at extremely low prices to entice customers into making purchases. However, once payment is made, either no product will be delivered at all or a cheap knock-off version will be sent instead. Fake reviews: Positive customer reviews are important in building trust and credibility for online businesses. Fraudulent websites often create fake reviews either by paying individuals to post them or by fabricating them themselves. These reviews may seem genuine but in reality, they have not been left by actual customers. Warning Signs of a Fake Website To protect yourself from falling prey to these online scams, it is crucial to be aware of the warning signs of a fake website. Here are some red flags to watch out for: Poor Website Design: One of the most common indicators of a fraudulent website is its design. Fake websites often have poorly designed layouts with low-quality images and content that is riddled with grammatical errors and typos. Legitimate businesses invest time and resources in creating attractive and user-friendly websites, so if something looks off about a website's design, it should raise suspicion. Suspicious URLs: Pay attention to the website's URL as it can reveal a lot about its authenticity. Scammers often create URLs that closely resemble legitimate businesses' URLs but may have variations such as adding numbers or misspelt words. Always double-check the URL for any inconsistencies or irregularities before making any purchases. Unsecured Connection: A secure connection is essential when making online transactions as it protects your personal information from being intercepted by hackers or scammers. If a website does not have an HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) connection or a padlock icon Steps to Protect Yourself from Online Frauds during the Festival Season The festive season is a time of joy, celebration and shopping. With the rise of online shopping platforms, it has become easier for people to purchase gifts and other items in the comfort of their own homes. However, with this convenience comes a higher risk of falling prey to online fraud. In this section, we will outline some essential steps that you can take to protect yourself from online fraudulent websites during the festival season. Be cautious when clicking on links: During this festive season, you may receive numerous emails or social media posts advertising sales or deals from various websites. While these offers may seem tempting, be cautious when clicking on any links provided in these messages. Always double-check the legitimacy of the website before making any purchases as scammers often send out fake sale advertisements to lure unsuspecting victims. Verify website security: One way to ensure that your personal information is safe while making an online transaction is by checking for SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption on the website you are visiting. This encrypted connection ensures that sensitive data such as credit card information is securely transmitted between your device and the website's server. Do not shop on public Wi-Fi: It may be tempting to browse through online stores and make purchases while sipping coffee at your favourite cafe; however, using public Wi-Fi networks puts you at great risk of being hacked by cybercriminals. These networks are often unsecured, making it easy for hackers to intercept your data and steal sensitive information. Conclusion: Be Vigilant and Stay Safe While Shopping Online. So, festival sales can be a prime target for these fraudulent websites as they take advantage of the increased traffic and excitement during these periods. But fear not, there are still ways to protect yourself from falling victim to online fraud while shopping during these festival sales. Always be vigilant and cautious when browsing through different websites. The old saying "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" holds very true when it comes to online shopping. Be wary of heavily discounted prices or extremely low prices compared to other legitimate retailers. These could be red flags indicating a potentially fraudulent website. DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. Rajya Sabha member Kartikeya Sharma has raised concerns over mandatory self-declaration certificates for advertisements. In accordance with the Supreme Court's orders, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued an advisory requiring advertisers and advertising agencies to upload self-declaration certificates (SDCs) on the ministry's portal and the PCI portal before releasing any advertisement for print publication, electronic media, digital media, or radio. While the directive primarily aims to regulate advertisements related to food and health products, it has inadvertently caused significant operational challenges across the entire industry. The advertising industry has expressed concerns about the new requirements, which they argue have created multiple issues. The advertising industry has repeatedly highlighted these problems to the MIB, and several leading industry associations have requested the Supreme Court to consider their concerns. On Friday, Rajya Sabha member Kartikeya Sharma addressed this issue in Parliament through a special mention. Sharma underscored the operational challenges posed by the directive, particularly for non-claim advertisements published by small media houses for SMEs. These advertisers may find it difficult to comply with the technical requirements and limited resources available to them. Sharma also pointed out the ambiguity surrounding the handling of government and public sector advertisements under this directive. Media houses are facing significant difficulties in preparing self-declaration certificates, registering on the portal, and troubleshooting technical issues. These challenges could deter advertisers from using print media, ultimately affecting revenue. Moreover, the storage of self-declarations, weeding out old records, and managing emergency advertisements present further complications, especially within the digital media ecosystem. Given the potential for legal challenges and technical issues with the portal, Sharma requested that the Ministry delay the implementation of these guidelines until clear and objective procedures are established. He also suggested that the initial implementation be limited to medical advertisements and that a broader consultation with stakeholders be conducted. Speaking to e4m on the issue, Rakesh Sharma, President of the Indian Newspaper Society, highlighted concerns regarding the Supreme Court's directive mandating self-declaration certificates for food and health-related advertisements, which the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting extended to all advertisement categories. He emphasized the industry's lack of preparedness and the logistical issues faced by advertisers, especially those in remote areas with limited internet access. 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. How the ad industry is adapting to the SDC mandate: Tackling key pain points As the ad industry goes about complying with the SDC mandate, several areas of concern have arisen. The ground realities of submitting the Self Declaration Certificate are beginning to hit the agencies such as increase in workload and logistical challenges, ambiguity, possibility of unethical players exploiting loopholes. There are also concerns about the whole process adversely impacting creativity and innovation. Battle Against Ad Fraud: Why brand safety matters in Programmatic Ads era - Part 1 It is estimated that 73% of global digital ad spending will be programmatically purchased in 2024, making fraud prevention a top priority for advertisers. Despite the implementation of sophisticated brand safety solutions, the dynamic and often opaque nature of the online ecosystem continues to present unique challenges. Battle Against Ad Fraud: How to win in programmatic advertising? Part 2 The second part of this feature explores the strategies and technologies ad tech vendors and advertisers can employ to better manage programmatic advertising, safeguarding both their brand reputation and the integrity of their messaging in the digital age. Ad blind spots: Closing the gap between perception and reality on misinformation sites Despite stringent guidelines and advanced technologies, many reputable brands inadvertently find their ads displayed alongside harmful content, leading to potential reputational damage and financial loss. The last part of this series delves into the extent of this disparity, exploring how it occurs and why it persists. Gaurav Banerjee to take charge from NP Singh as MD & CEO of SPNI in August Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has announced the appointment of Gaurav Banerjee as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective on or beforeAugust 26, 2024, pending regulatory approvals. Banerjee will succeed NP Singh, who has led SPNI to unprecedented heights over his remarkable 25-year tenure. ABP changes: Avinash Pandeys team will report to CEO Dhruba Mukherjee 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 has been with the ABP Group for 27 years. Sanjeev Anand charts out the road ahead for Dentsu Creative PR In a strategic move to align more closely with the evolving needs of its clients, Dentsu Creative India has created three distinct portfolio brands: Dentsu Creative Webchutney, Dentsu Creative Isobar, and Dentsu Creative PR. Adgully spoke to Sanjeev Anand, President, Dentsu Creative PR, to know what Dentsu PR brings to the table in terms of clients and brands and more. Decoding the Hallyu wave: How desire for glass skin is reshaping Indian beauty market The famed Korean glass skin has become a much desired beauty standard, leading to a growing demand for innovative skincare solutions. Adgully spoke to some beauty industry experts to find out about the factors driving the popularity of K-beauty in India. Storytelling is at the heart of all our marketing efforts: Nalin Jain, CMO, Godrej Capital Godrej Capital recently launched the #IssLoanMeinLoadNahi, Design Your EMI, and #GrowthKiUdaan campaigns under the leadership of their CMO, Nalin Jain. In this exclusive Ag Talk interaction with Adgully, Nalin Jain, Chief Marketing Officer, Godrej Capital, spoke at length about these campaigns, the key strategies implemented at Godrej Capital to enhance customer satisfaction, and how to leverage digital assets to drive innovation. Broadcasting & Digital regulations amend penalty structure; bring emergency powers With the inclusion of digital news media, the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) Board felt that it has become necessary to review and amend the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Regulations (Regulations) to bring it in sync with the evolving media landscape. Brands are leveraging influence of female gamers for authentic connections: Rubeena Singh In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Rubeena Singh, Country Manager India and MENA, AnyMind Group, speaks about the significant presence of female gamers in the industry, societal differences, growing number of female gamers, strategies evolving in the gaming industry, future landscape of gaming in India, and more. Most of the shows on TV are regressive & typical: Abhishek Bajaj Actor Abhishek Bajaj is returning to television with Jubilee Talkies on Sony Television. In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Abhishek Bajaj opens up about his new show, his career in acting, about working on all mediums, and more. Im old enough to own up for my decisions: Ranvir Shorey Actor Ranvir Shorey, known for his no-holds-barred attitude, is one the senior contestants on Bigg Boss OTT Season 3. Before entering the Bigg Boss house, he spoke to Adgully at length about his decision to do the show, and much more. Auburn softball landed its third transfer commitment in six days as Kylie Brockman, a transfer catcher out of Arkansas, announced her plans to transfer to Auburn on Friday afternoon. So extremely excited and thankful, Brockman wrote in a post to social media. War Eagle! Just a freshman with the Razorbacks in 2024, Brockman saw limited action as she appeared in just nine games, logged 10 at-bats, drew two walks and a pair of runs. However, coming out of Piper High School in Kansas City, Brockman ranked as the No. 19 prospect in Extra Innings 2023 Extra Elite 100 and was a standout travel ball player. In the summer leading into her freshman year at Arkansas, Brockman starred with Elite Fastpitchs 18U team and recorded 14 home runs, 28 extra-base hits and 53 RBIs all while maintaining a .435 on-base percentage. Also a two-time powerlifting state champion and the Kansas 5A runner-up in javelin, Brockman joins former Oklahoma pitcher SJ Geurin and former Ole Miss transfer MaNia Womack as recent additions to the Tigers roster. The Miss Alabama competition is nearing its conclusion, with three 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 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. Abbie Stockard, left, Miss Hoover, and Ibby Dickson, right, Miss Historic Springville, were the winners of Friday preliminary competitions for Miss Alabama 2024. Miss Alabama 2023, Brianna Burrell, is at center.(AL.com) READ: Miss Alabama 2023, the states third Black woman crowned: Im proud to represent the South Fridays preliminary winners were: Abbie Stockard, Miss Hoover, earned the top score in the talent competition. Stockard, 21, performed a contemporary dance to You Say. Shes from Birmingham and attends Auburn University, majoring in nursing. Her community service initiative is Be the Change: Find a Cure Cystic Fibrosis Awareness. Ibby Dickson, Miss Historic Springville, earned the top score in the evening gown competition. Dickson, 23, is from Sylacauga and attends the University of Alabama, pursuing a masters degree in public administration. Her community service initiative is Mentoring Matters. 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. Fridays 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. Marcelle LeBlanc, Miss Americas Teen 2022, was the emcee for Fridays event. Judges for this year are Amanda Joseph May. Amanda Tapley McGriff, Sharron Melton, Jay Pitts and Rick Pruitt. 7 1 / 7 Miss Alabama 2024 Friday preliminary event 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 took place 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 $63-$75 on Saturday. See the Miss Alabama website or call 205-871-6276 for more info. A 51-year-old man was shot to death early Saturday after he shot someone else, authorities said. The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit identified the slain man as Reggie Coverson. He lived in Tuscaloosa. Sheriffs deputies received a 911 call at 3:14 a.m. regarding a shooting at a home in the 2000 block of Stardust Drive. They arrived to find Coverson dead on the scene and a 23-year-old man wounded. The surviving victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, said TVCU Capt. Marty Sellers. He is in stable condition. A 36-year-old man who was on the scene told deputies he shot Coverson. He was taken in for questioning. Sellers said multiple witnesses were also interviewed. The case was presented to the Tuscaloosa County District Attorneys Office and the shooter was released with no immediate charges filed. Seller said the incident stemmed from a verbal argument. All those involved lived at the home, but were not related. It was determined that Mr. Coverson appeared to be the aggressor in the incident and that he was shot in self-defense, Sellers said. The case will be presented to a grand jury. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall secured a restraining order against Legend Windows, LLC saying the business tricked customers into making deposits for new windows and doors but failed to deliver the products. The temporary restraining order was granted by the Circuit Court of Shelby County and also includes individuals affiliated with the business, Jody Ray Whitworth, Bobby Ray Whitworth, and Robin Simmons Willard. The order includes an asset freeze and prevents the business from operating while the courts review the matter. Legend Windows and the Whitworths have run this scam for far too long, preying on their customer base, and its time that they are held accountable for their crimes, Marshall said in a news release. The Defendants have a track record of property theft and have shown no remorse for their fraudulent actions by perpetuating their transgressions over and over. According to the states complaint, the company violated the Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act 42 times with over 40 known victims across the state who are owed a total of $181,042.80 in damages. Jody Whitworth allegedly used customer payments to make personal purchases instead of providing the products and services the business advertised. Between September 2022 and March 2024, the Legend Windows bank account made over 1,100 purchases from Amazon totaling around $50,000, according to the news release. The business also made over $20,000 in purchases from Temu, Etsy, JCPenney, TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, Scentsy, Platos Closet, Nordstrom, Kohls and Burlington. The attorney generals office believes there are additional victims throughout the state and has set up an online survey where those who have yet to be identified can inform him of their claims, found here: https://www.alabamaag.gov/consumer-questionnaires/. Two lawyers accused of judge-shopping in a gender-affirming care lawsuit Friday apologized for potentially offending U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke for withdrawing and refiling their original complaint. Facing questions from Burke, Melody Eagan and Jeffrey Doss, attorneys for families challenging a ban on medical gender-affirming care for transgender youth, acknowledged that they had concerns about how Burke, nominated to the federal court by then-President Donald Trump in 2018, might rule in making their decision, but said it was the least significant factor in their decision to dismiss their first filing, known as Ladinsky. The state of Alabama in 2022 made it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for physicians to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones for gender-affirming care to youth under 19. Two lawsuits challenging the ban, titled Walker and Ladinsky, were filed shortly after. The cases were reassigned multiple times before being linked and assigned to Burke. See also: The attorneys then moved to dismiss the suits. The Walker lawsuit was dismissed and not refiled, while Ladinskys was refiled as Eknes-Tucker, also assigned to Burke. Burke claims the original cases were dismissed to avoid being assigned to him. A three-judge panel reported in October that there was evidence of the plaintiffs counsels efforts to steer their cases to a more favorable judge, a move that has raised questions of misconduct. The attorneys said Friday a significant factor in asking for the dismissal was a concern that the case was transferred to Burke outside of the procedures they were familiar with and said that was the reason for their alarm at the time. More from Alabama Reflector Eagan said it was that this case had been treated differently than every case she had worked on before. Burke said it is normal procedure for judges to transfer cases when they have conflicting commitments, and that is not uncommon procedure. What about a transfer makes you nervous? Burke asked. Our sensitivities were heightened with the nature of this nature, Eagan said. Burke asked Doss the same questions. Do you feel entitled to an explanation? Burke asked. Looking back, maybe I did overreact, Doss responded. Eagan and Doss said the second major concern in their decision to dismiss was about coordinating legal strategy with the Walker team and losing status as the lead case. Having the lead role would allow them to better craft the legal argument, Eagan said. Both Eagan and Doss apologized to Burke under questioning. I am truly sorry. I am very sorry. Im sorry if I did anything to offend your honor or your dignity, Eagan said. Today, I am sorry, and I apologize. Im sorry I let you down, Doss said. Burke blocked the law in May 2022, citing parents rights and lack of evidence of harm from the drugs. On this particular case, I did not think you were a good draw. I was wrong, Eagan said. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals last year overturned Burkes ruling, stating there was no fundamental right to gender-affirming care. The plaintiffs and the U.S. Department of Justice are seeking a stay in the proceedings as the Supreme Court reviews a similar ban in Tennessee. Burke also questioned Carl Charles, an attorney who made a call to U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson after the Walker case had been filed. At the time of the three-judge panel questioning, he did not remember making that call until a few minutes later when one of the judges asked if his phone number was the same as the one that called one of Myrons law clerks. A few minutes later, Charles remembered that he made the call to alert the chamber that they had filed the Walker lawsuit, that it was related to another lawsuit Thompson was assigned, correcting his statement to the panel. I respectfully and wholeheartedly disagree with the panel, Charles said regarding the panels assertion that he was being untruthful, adding that my memory failed. Charles said he was unprepared to be questioned and was not expecting to answer questions at the hearing since he wasnt one of the lead lawyers on the case. In his closing statement, Barry Ragsdale, an attorney for Charles, said he felt responsible for putting Charles in this position. Im pretty emotional right now, he said, adding, I do a very good job of hiding my feelings, but today is hard. He said he interpreted that he would be speaking at the panels hearing and didnt think he needed to prepare Charles to be questioned. This call has taken a lot more significance than I had imagined, Ragsdale said. In a discussion about the ethics of using Rule 41, which allows the filing party the ability to dismiss without giving the court an explanation, Burke proposed several different scenarios to Eagan and asked her after each whether she thought they were ethical or permissible. Scenarios ranged from a lawyer hypothetically dismissing the same case and refiling with a different plaintiff 20 times until reaching a favorable judge, to having a lawyer dismiss a case each time it was assigned to a Black, female judge over a white, male judge over a 30-year career. Eagan said that each of those scenarios would be permissible under Rule 41, but that she would not pursue any of them because she found them distasteful. If you can dismiss for any purpose, Im not sure there is an improper purpose, she said. Burke completed the hearings on Friday afternoon. He did not say when he might make a decision on the case, which could potentially include sanctions for the attorneys. This story is republished with permission from The Birmingham Times If unconventional success could embody a person, creator Erika Eileen Wade, an award-winning voice actor, writer and producer and the founder of Birmingham-based Glendas Baby Productions, could fit the bill. Wade, 33, born and raised in Fairfield, is up for a Southeast Emmy award this month for her work as a performer/narrator on the Alabama Public Television series Yellowhammer History Hunt. It wouldnt be her first award for the series, but it would be the first award for her individually. Yellowhammer History Hunt is an educational video compilation highlighting historical Alabama places and people. Wade said she recorded these voice-overs in her makeshift home studio her coat closet. The first Southeast Emmy Award for Yellowhammer History Hunt came in 2022, with the second Emmy for the same program in 2023. She received her first Emmy after recording in my closet, while trying to keep my dog that Id just bought from barking, while underneath my coats. They took that sound, and they mixed it, she said. She also won a couple of Telly Awards (honoring video and television projects across all screens) for her voice-over talent for History Hunt as well. The Consummate Creator There are many more layers to her diverse and celebrated resume. Wade also recently wrote a movie that will be based in Birmingham, has so much interest that shes currently in a bidding war with production companies, she said. I cant speak too much on it, but its about a topic thats near and dear to me about Black women and mental health. Asked about her winning formula, she said its an innate gift. My marketability cant be taught, said Wade. I have a natural empathy that I can take from reading a script, then I put it in my voice, and deliver it as if Im speaking directly to you. Im not just talking to a sound board or talking into a mic. I always visually put a person in my head. The Gift Made Room Throughout her career, Wade said her first meaningful award came when she was a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) during the 2007/2008 school year and was awarded spoken word champ for Word Up! in the City of Birmingham, an honor given to youth who express themselves creatively. It landed her a job writing for the Birmingham News writing for the Opinions section and taught her that she could make a living off of creating things. Wade graduated from ASFA in 2008 and attended the University of Alabama, where she published a book at age 19 Eyestodewhurld an anthology poetry book about political culture, Black history and culture, the decay of society and other themes on the human experience from the early 2000s. She then attended Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where she obtained her Master of Fine Arts in 2016 the same year she was selected as a finalist for the Kennedy Centers MFA (Master of Fine Arts) playwrights which meant she was chosen as one of the top 22 playwrights in the country at the time for her play Justifiable Force, sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement. After graduating from SCAD, Wade traveled to Los Angeles in 2016, California to light the flame of her desire for a career in show business. And it worked. In 2017, she performed her one-woman show, The Rhythm/Da Blues, in L.A. at the Comedy Film Festival. The show, which tracks the life of a young, Black woman named Lena Darling and all the joys and pains of her life experiences, was written while she was in grad school at SCAD. On opening night of the show, she was called by a colleague from SCAD who worked in development and programming at MGM and asked if I could be at MGM (Studios) that week to meet with the Vice President in development and programing. and off that same show script (The Rhythm/Da Blues), was asked to pitch some original titles. While nothing transpired from that meeting about her production, a relationship with MGM Studios was born and she earned a reputation as a creative who can take an idea that might be stale, and breathe new life into it, said Wade. Emotionally Intelligent Acting Not only is Wade an accomplished artist, but she also teaches others how to write and act. She favors a method which allows actors to get in and out of character, rather than becoming completely immersed in a role. Its what she calls emotionally intelligent acting. The goal, said Wade, is to play the role without losing sight of self. Because at the end of day, acting is only beautiful if youre doing just that acting; if you can leave it and you can still be who you are and not let that role infect you, she added. Tracking Success Growing up in Fairfield with her mother and older brother, Kevin Brown (owner of Xtreme Fitness and Performance in downtown Birmingham), she always knew her work would involve creative vocal and written projects. I would sit and watch The Smurfs with my grandma and give alternate scenarios, said Wade. Her grandmother, who lived in Birminghams Dolomite community, gave Wade the confidence that helped instill the fortitude she takes into each project. Once she finished her schooling and after graduating from SCAD in 2016, she told her mother she was going to Los Angeles, California. That next week, she relocated and stayed in the City of Angels until 2022. Thats when she came back home to Birmingham all part of her resume-building strategy, she said. It was never just to go to LA and lose sight of Birmingham . It was always to learn what I could, get the networks that I could, and bring that back to the city, she said. People thought it was crazy when she told them she was moving back to Birmingham to create content. And Wade said she has stayed the course since because the film market (in Birmingham) is blossoming and its new. Growing in Confidence Wade said her career course has always been certain, but far from perfect. The confidence you see from her now, in a lot of ways, came from failure, she said. In a lot of ways, I was my own worst enemy when it came to elevating in my field. I didnt believe I could do things. And that doubt, she said, was visible to others who can smell it on you. She said she saw colleagues, who were not as qualified or who didnt want it as much as she did, get opportunities because they walked into a room like they believed they should be there. Thats when her course changed for her, she said. I woke up and decided one day if I fail, its not going to be because of me. Its going to because the stars arent aligning or its not Gods will, its not going to be me anymore. That changed things immediately for me, said Wade. The Name Says it All When I make my first million, my mother has already told me she wants half, said Wade, laughing. Not 10 percent, but half. And Wade said her mother deserves every penny. Her production company, Glendas Baby Productions, is named for her mother, Glenda Brown-Wade. She is, literally, her moms baby daughter and the product of her mothers confidence. My mom has always been the type of person that understood what I was interested in, and I was the type who had to see it for myself. So, she just provided that safety net for me to go and do things that I needed to do, but to know home is always here. And for those seeking a career in the arts or otherwise, Wade said the best way to get into the industry and to stay in the industry is to know your audience and to meet them where they are. For more on Wade visit www.glendasbaby.com. The Global Methodist Church, made up mostly of churches that disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church, has steered away from some United Methodist practices such as its annual clergy appointment system. United Methodists fix appointments annually after reviewing, renewing or realigning assignments, and newly appointed ministers start in their new positions on a certain day. The Global Methodist Church in its provisional North Alabama Conference, meeting on Thursday and Friday at ClearBranch Church in Trussville, explained a different process. We make appointments fluidly, said the Rev. Alan Beasley, president pro-tem of the Global Methodist provisional North Alabama Conference. We make them as they come. The appointment system is a year-round process, said the Rev. Terry Bentley, one of the presiding elders for the Global Methodists. One of the hardest parts of starting the new denomination is making sure all the churches have pastors, Bentley said. Its really a difficult thing to start a new denomination, he said. About 90 percent of the 200 congregations that left the United Methodist Church and joined the Global Methodist provisional North Alabama Conference brought their pastors with them. The others, that was a problem, Bentley said. We were not prepared for 100 churches to leave at one time. The conference and churches have been working together to fill every pulpit. Bentley said the Global Methodist Church places value on long-term appointments, as opposed to re-evaluating clergy appointments every year and moving clergy around. The Global Methodists use an interview system, with churches looking for a pastor interviewing three candidates. If none of those meets the needs of that church, they may look to other conferences for a candidate who must still be approved by the conference cabinet and the bishop. To help meet the need for new pastors, the Global Methodist Foundation of North Alabama has been established to help finance the education of potential ministerial students seeking masters of divinity degrees at approved seminaries, which include Samford Universitys Beeson Divinity School in Alabama. The Rev. Lyle Holland, pastor of Christ Church in Florence, and the Rev. Matt OReilly, pastor of Christ Church in Birmingham, asked churches to donate to that fund. The conference on Friday adopted a budget of $600,000 for 2025, based on asking member churches for a contribution of three percent of their budget one percent to support the Global denomination and two percent to support the regional conference. We have a very lean administrative structure, Beasley said. The conference concludes on Saturday after an ordination service. Bishop Scott Jones, one of only two bishops supervising the worldwide Global Methodist Church, will ordain 16 clergy: eight deacons and eight elders. Theres very little business, Beasley said. We have to approve a budget. We have to fund the operation of the conference. We have to approve our ordinands. Thats really the business we have to do. Our main goal is to come and celebrate and be refreshed and worship. A Lee County Jail deputy has been fired and arrested after authorities say he punched a handcuffed inmate in the face. Former Corrections Deputy Dalton J. Dunlap, 30, is charged with misdemeanor assault, according to Sheriff Jay Jones. He was taken into custody Friday and released after posting bond. One June 22, sheriffs corrections deputies were collecting laundry from inmates in the F-Wing section of the jail when one of the inmates escaped from his cell, ran past officers, and proceeded down the cell block, Jones said. Jail staff pursued the inmate and were able to take him back into custody after a Taser deployment. The inmate was then handcuffed and taken to the floor where he continued to struggle with corrections staff. During the struggle on the floor to bring the inmate into compliance, the sheriff said, Dunlap hit the inmate in the face with his fist. Jail medical staff treated the inmate for a swollen lip. Jones said an investigation was launched and determined Dunlap had violated the agencys use-of-force policy. He was fired on June 24. Our agency personnel are held to a standard of professional conduct in all actions, the sheriff said. The behavior exhibited in this instance is a clear violation of professional conduct and established agency policy and will not be tolerated. Uvalde school police Chief Pete Arredondo stood on a dirt road on the outskirts of town on Wednesday. As incident commander during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in May 2022, he made the decision to wait more than an hour for backup instead of ordering officers at the scene to immediately confront the gunman. Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune A Uvalde County grand jury on June 25 walked through the vacant halls of Robb Elementary School, where 19 children and two teachers were slaughtered by a gunman two years ago. Such visits are rare. This one lasted about an hour, the San Antonio Express-News reported. It was unclear what grand jurors were looking for. We can only imagine that the men and women assigned the grave task of investigating the horrific mass shooting asked the same questions many of us have asked: how could the officers sworn to protect those defenseless kids just stand there while they were slaughtered? We may never know the answer. But evidently the grand jury has finally seen enough, heard enough, learned enough to criminally charge two lawmen for their inaction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Finally. We can only hope the indictments lead to accountability and some semblance of justice for grieving families of victims and survivors of the shooting. Former Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo and one of his former officers, Adrian Gonzales, were charged with a combined 39 counts of felony child endangerment 10 for Arredondo and 29 for Gonzales. These indictments are but a minor salve to the pain and loss of a preventable tragedy. Yet at a time when state and federal lawmakers have shirked their responsibility to address gun violence, we are glad that Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell will at least force Arredondo and Gonzales to answer for their ineptitude. Given the unconscionable cowardice and incompetence displayed by Arredondo and his officers, we are left wondering why criminal charges took so long. In January, the Department of Justice released a 600-page report that detailed the stunning law enforcement failures that day, from not following active shooter protocols to not sharing critical information about the shooter with other police agencies on the scene. The report primarily faulted Arredondo for this negligence, as he was the "de facto on-scene incident commander." One particular mistake stood out among a litany of breakdowns: Arredondo decided to treat the shooter as a barricaded subject rather than an active shooter. That distinction is critical the difference between police moving with urgency to immediately take down an active threat as opposed to a contained threat that would allow time to strategize and weigh their options. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was a grave error, made all the more inexplicable by the fact that Arredondo's decision came moments after two of his officers were shot at through a classroom door with a high-powered semiautomatic rifle. Arredondo's call to clear the building and try to negotiate with the shooter overrode a plan devised by Uvalde police officers who were prepared to storm the classroom with bulletproof shields. The report found Arredondo instead "put up a hand as if to slow them down or stop them," saying, "'Guys, hold on, we are going to clear the building first.'" While Arredondo's failures were the most glaring, there were hundreds of other officers on the scene that day, including members of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Uvalde County Sheriff's Office. Ana Rodriguez, whose 10-year-old daughter, Maite, died in the shooting said in a statement on X: "There were numerous officers with knowledge that it was an active shooter situation. Others need to be held accountable for their inaction." We agree. The DOJ report found that the other law enforcement agencies showed "no urgency for establishing a command and control structure." If any other supervisors on the scene took issue with Arredondo's leadership, in the moment they were all silent. None bothered to question him. None forced their way through the classroom doors attempting to save children and teachers as gunfire rattled the building. Yet to this day, only five officers who were on the scene were fired or resigned. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After a decade of false starts, construction has begun on the first section of the Birmingham Northern Beltline project, the Alabama Department of Transportation announced Friday. The $64.7 million first phase of the project, which includes two bridges and spans two miles, is scheduled to be completed by late 2026, the agency said. McInnis Construction of Summerdale, which was awarded the project segment in May, will be building a four-lane highway connecting State Route 79 and State Route 75 in Jefferson County. When fully complete, the Northern Beltline will be 52 miles, stretching from I-59 in northeast Jefferson County to the I-459 interchange near Bessemer. It will be known as I-422. More than 40 cities, three counties and numerous business voiced support for the construction, according to ALDOT. Work began on the 52-mile, six-lane corridor in 2014, but construction was halted in 2016 after funding dried up. In April, Gov. Kay Ivey announced $489 million in federal funding was secured to resume construction. She hailed the project as a boon to Jefferson County businesses and would open up economic opportunities across the state. A woman was killed and three people were injured, including a 5-year-old child, following a two-vehicle wreck Thursday in Limestone County, authorities said Friday. Isenalande Senat, 29, of Athens, was taken to Athens Hospital after the 2012 Dodge Avenger she was a passenger in was struck by a 2018 Dodge Ram around 12:35 p.m. Thursday, said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey. Senat, who was not using a seat belt at the time of the wreck about five miles south of Athens on Malone Road near Lucas Ferry Road, died of her injuries at the hospital. The driver of the Avenger and another passenger in the vehicle were injured and taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. A 5-year-old child who was also in the Avenger and was unrestrained in the vehicle was taken to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries. Further information was unavailable as state troopers investigated the wreck. The Bryce Hospital Museum in Tuscaloosa is now open to the public and highlights the history of mental health and civil rights in Alabama. Through a collaboration between the Alabama Department of Mental Health and the University of Alabama, the museum features multiple exhibits including artifacts from throughout Bryce Hospitals history. It is part of a $121 million project that includes a university welcome center, a museum of mental health, a museum of the universitys history, event space and classrooms for performing arts students. The museum is a part of the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center on the University of Alabamas campus. The museum has multiple displays of what the campus looked like in the 1800s, when it first opened its doors.ALaina Bookman With this building, we just hope that people feel a real connection and understand that mental health is no different than physical health. We all need to take care of our mental health. And we need to honor those who have mental health issues and are in recovery so they can live a full life, Kimberly Boswell, the Alabama Department of Mental Health commissioner, said. Unidentified persons at Bryce Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1961. The Birmingham NewsThe Birmingham News Bryce Hospital, built in 1850, opened its doors in 1861 with a Civil War veteran as the first patient. It was reportedly the first building in Tuscaloosa with gas lighting and central heat; it aimed to provide humane treatment for people with misunderstood conditions and mental illnesses. For a while, it even hosted a newspaper written by patients. It served as an insane asylum and treatment facility for more than a 150 years, with the final patients leaving the building in 2014. The wings of the hospital where patients stayed were wide and let in a lot of light. In this 2016 photo, before a renovation by the University of Alabama, much of the building had decayed. (The Birmingham News /Tamika Moore)bn By that point, most of the building was abandoned and crumbling. Today, the white building rises high above its red brick neighbors with spiraling columns and a towering dome. Upon walking into the welcome center, the original staircase that patients once walked up to receive treatment guides those who enter into exhibits. The museum kept the hospital's original staircase where patients once walked while receiving treatment. Alaina Bookman/AL.comAlaina Bookman Once a visitor reaches the top of the steps, they are greeted by the white bust of Peter Bryce, the hospitals namesake. On the wall hangs a portrait of former Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner John Houston, who the museum is dedicated to. Houstons family and former colleagues fought back tears as they celebrated the opening by sharing memories of Houston and his fight for better support for people with mental illnesses. The exhibits take all those who are curious on a journey through the controversial history of Alabamas mental health landscape. Throughout history, people with mental illnesses were often treated as second class citizens, locked away or mistreated. At the top of the staircase up to the museum sits a bust of Peter Bryce, the hospitals namesake. Alaina Bookman/AL.comAlaina Bookman Steve Davis, historian for the Alabama Department of Mental Health, said the museum serves as a testament to the importance of remembering the history of marginalized people who had to fight to be treated equally. Throughout history, anybody thats been marginalized, has experienced those who try to take away their historyor its never written. And so everything weve tried to do throughout this whole historic movement is to restore that history, Davis said. The museum displayed original iron grave markers from the hospital's cemetery. Also in the display are plastic, purple flowers left on the grave of a former patient by a family member.Alaina Bookman As visitors walk through the museum, they see how mental health legislation and treatment centers evolved. Visitors lean over artifacts, trying to get a closer look at Bryce Hospitals original spires, stained glass mirror and an original nurses uniform. One glass case even features a diorama of the Bryce campus created by a former patient. The museum features multiple exhibits highlighting Alabama's controversial history of mental health care and its evolution.Alaina Bookman In another exhibit are the original iron grave markers from the hospitals cemetery. Also in the display are plastic, purple flowers left on the grave of a former patient by a family member, a reminder for those who visit to never forget the importance of mental health. People are people. And it doesnt matter if you have a mental health issue. It doesnt matter if you have an intellectual disability. People are people and we need to show respect and dignity to everyone. Thats what this building is. It honors the history and the respect and dignity of the people who walk through these doors, and thats whats so exciting about it, Boswell said. The museum is open from 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. on weekdays and is free to enter. Visitors can contact the Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center with additional questions. English News Carrying forward "Shanghai Spirit" to strengthen mutual learning among civilizations Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 26 Juin 2024 In the past days, the SCO has always been glittering with a brilliant light of people-to-people exchange. Looking ahead, the organization will keep setting examples of regional and international cooperation on promoting harmonious coexistence among different civilizations and renewing the everlasting friendship of people from all countries, through its efforts to advance people-to-people exchange. By Yan Huan, Ma Fei, People's Daily Interactions between civilizations provide the most solid foundation for the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and people-to-people exchanges provide the strongest driving force for the organization. Since the establishment of the SCO, its member states have deepened mutual learning among civilizations, deepened good-neighborliness and friendship, and strengthened people-to-people connectivity, practicing the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, and jointly building an SCO community of cultural exchanges. The Chinese side has been actively exploring new channels for cultural cooperation to enhance the international communication capacity of the SCO, such as establishing a media cooperation mechanism, hosting the SCO Media Summit, and holding the Media and Think Tank Forum for SCO Countries. It supports expanding channels for non-governmental exchanges among SCO member states to bring their people, youth in particular, closer to each other. China has launched relevant activities related to the SCO University, hosted SCO Youth Campuses and invited youth leaders of other SCO member states to visit China. Diverse yet concrete initiatives are being implemented. SCO deputy secretary-general Nurlan Yermekbayev noted that the Shanghai Spirit charts the course for different countries and civilizations to get along with each other. At the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, China proposed that in the coming three years, China will provide SCO member states with 1,000 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships, offer 3,000 "Chinese Bridge" summer camp opportunities, and invite 100 young scientists to China for scientific research exchanges. In recent years, the Chinese side has been actively promoting the SCO to launch more down-to-earth projects of people-to-people exchange in various fields, aiming to build a bridge of mutual understanding and friendship among the peoples of SCO member states. With a people-centered approach, SCO health cooperation has been continuously improved. China has actively promoted resource integration and expanded pragmatic cooperation among institutions. The China-proposed Lifeline Express International Sight Saving Mission and the establishment of a traditional medicine alliance have opened up new prospects for health and medical cooperation within the SCO. After China announced to carry out 2,000 free cataract operations for SCO member states at the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in 2022, there has been a surge of patients seeking treatment in Uzbek hospitals, in hope of restoring their vision. China has provided support for the restoration of historical sites and archaeological cooperation in SCO countries, launching joint archaeological surveys at the ancient city of Rahat in Kazakhstan, a Buddhist temple on the west side of the Krasnaya Rechka site in Kyrgyzstan and Itchan Kala, the walled inner town of the city of Khiva in Uzbekistan. Following a joint application by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It marked the first transnational World Heritage application, building powerful momentums for SCO member states to jointly protect cultural heritage. Technology is key to solving global issues, while open sci-tech cooperation remains a desired approach. In recent years, SCO member states have increasingly deepened their non-governmental exchanges in science and technology. Through joint R&D, people-to-people exchanges, technology transfers, and various other activities, they have built powerful drivers for sci-tech progress, economic growth, livelihood improvement, and common development. In Pakistan, the country's first smart distribution centers jointly built by China and Pakistan has increased package sorting efficiency of local e-commerce companies by four times, with the rate of package misclassification dropping from 1 percent to less than 0.03 percent. The first Luban Workshop, a Chinese-supported vocational training facility, in Central Asia has been launched in Tajikistan. Catering to the country's need for economic development and industrial upgrading, it offers courses on urban heating application and engineering measurement technologies, thus building a talent pipeline for Tajikistan's future development. The observation area of China's FY-2 meteorological satellites covers SCO countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. Through weather forecasting, disaster prevention and mitigation as well as other services, the satellites have effectively enhanced the capabilities of these countries in monitoring weathers, climate and ecological environment. In the past days, the SCO has always been glittering with a brilliant light of people-to-people exchange. Looking ahead, the organization will keep setting examples of regional and international cooperation on promoting harmonious coexistence among different civilizations and renewing the everlasting friendship of people from all countries, through its efforts to advance people-to-people exchange. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Beijing Daxing International Airport marks five years of operation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Kazakh screenwriter contributes to China-Kazakhstan friendship through artworks Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 26 Juin 2024 People in Central Asia particularly value the opportunities brought about by connectivity projects under the BRI, which helps connect the five landlocked countries in the region to the rest of the world, Kurmanbekov added. By Qu Song, Zhang Xiaodong, People's Daily "Friendship and mutual trust are particularly important in a world that is undergoing changes unseen in a century, which further highlights the significance of the movie The Composer," said Sabit Kurmanbekov, an art director of the movie and a screenwriter from Kazakhstan, during a recent interview with People's Daily. "The Composer" is the first movie jointly produced by China and Kazakhstan. Kurmanbekov said he is proud to be a part of it, adding that cultural cooperation between the two countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) enjoys bright prospects. The movie was an outcome of the inter-government co-production shooting agreement signed by China and Kazakhstan in 2016. It tells the story of how late Chinese composer Xian Xinghai was saved and helped by a Kazakh peer during World War II when he got stranded in Almaty, Kazakhstan while trying to return to China from the Soviet Union. Kurmanbekov was initially invited by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan to be an art director of the movie. During the production, filmmakers from the two countries soon made friends with each other. Under the proposal of Chinese director Sherzat Yahuf, Kurmanbekov was promoted to assistant director. Recalling this experience, Kurmanbekov said he was impressed by the advanced technologies and strict procedure control of China's filmmaking industry, and he was delighted to see that his Chinese counterparts had embraced his revision to the script. "I was lucky to have such an experience in my career," Kurmanbekov told People's Daily. Kurmanbekov, who lives in Almaty, is quite familiar with the name Xian Xinghai. However, it was when he worked with his Chinese peers to refine the details of the story that he truly delved into the fate of this great Chinese musician. "I often couldn't help but wonder if I could overcome all the challenges and keep making music in a remote and cold foreign land just like Xian did. His love and loyalty to his home country are also what touch me," Kurmanbekov noted. He said the movie portrays a story about friendship and mutual trust. Friendship is beyond national borders and identities. It saves people in times of danger and gives them wings to soar. "In the movie, we can always see the beauty of friendship and mutual trust, and these good qualities are exactly needed by the world today," Kurmanbekov said. He called the movie a very successful co-production and an exemplary model of international people-to-people and cultural exchanges. He believes that people-to-people and cultural exchanges between nations are as important as political and economic cooperation. He said Kazakhstan and China enjoy a long history of friendship, with a shared goal of promoting peace and friendship worldwide in the 21st century. "Art is a language spoken to people's hearts and serves as a vessel of ideas that will be appreciated and interpreted by future generations, thus having incomparable influence. It plays an important role in enhancing mutual trust, showing mutual respect, and promoting peace," Kurmanbekov remarked. In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Beijing. The two heads of state jointly met with the main cast members of the movie at the Great Hall of the People and watched the trailers. Kurmanbekov said the meeting still excites him today. He said the BRI proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping is a great cause that revitalizes the ancient Silk Road on the Eurasian continent, promotes the development of partner countries, lifts millions of people out of poverty, and embraces peace and development. People in Central Asia particularly value the opportunities brought about by connectivity projects under the BRI, which helps connect the five landlocked countries in the region to the rest of the world, Kurmanbekov added. Kurmanbekov filmed another movie in the years following the completion of "The Composer," which tells a story of mutual assistance happening along the China-Kazakhstan border. Currently, the Kazakh screenwriter is studying the discourse on peace in Chinese philosophy and hopes to make a film that tells the shared historical stories of Eurasian countries. "I've already developed a mature concept and really hope to cast a Chinese actor as the male lead," Kurmanbekov said. He said he hopes to keep contributing to friendship and mutual trust between the people of Kazakhstan and China through his artworks. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Beijing Daxing International Airport marks five years of operation Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) For those without a fatal attraction to the extreme, evil is uncomfortable to approach and examine in depth. So how do we best deal with it in order to protect ourselves and posterity? Allegedly, Israel, Canada, and sixteen European countries have laws aimed at punishment for Holocaust denial. Well intended, no doubt! Those, who suffered untold losses during the war (i.e. the survivors and their relatives), are meant to be spared insults and humiliation, insensitivity and indecency at least from those trying to rehabilitate the Third Reich. The Holocaust has taken up a lot of space in public debate since the 10/7 atrocities last year. In the same period, anti-Semitism has returned with a vengeance, driven by Islamists and anti-Western Marxists (if that is an accurate characterization, given their presumed alienation from theoretical studies) in unison. However, do we really do the Jews or ourselves as free citizens, for that matter any favor by outlawing the denial of their genocide? Who would publicly deny it, anyway? Well, for a start, mainstream Islamists, marginalized Neo-Nazi freaks, and other anti-Semitic extremists (in bed with the Islamists), including homeborn and Third-World Marxists. In other words, sworn enemies of the open society as defined by the philosopher Karl Popper. It is of far-reaching importance for our self-understanding and moral integrity as Westerners to answer this question: Is it recommendable to outlaw certain opinions on history because they originate from suspected malice and are pronounced by malicious agents against their better knowledge? On closer reflection, does it serve the true long-term interests of our society, founded as it is on principles from the Enlightenment, to silence its enemies? Are we not laying the groundwork for our own destruction inasmuch as we exclude certain ideas from public debate and thereby risk contradiction? It could be interpreted by the enemies of freedom as if we applied double standards and were hypocrites. In an open society, we should never fear honest competition of opinions (ideas). On the contrary, we should encourage it and accept the challenge. Where opinions clash in public, both explicit and implicit arguments may be tested in detail before the eyes of everybody. At best, public debate may contribute to clarification of concepts and eventual adoption of mature, responsible positions. Political-moral ideas immediately condemned by the majority as morbid and deviant may be fully exposed and subjected to the rebuke, shaming or ridicule that is due to them. A ban on repugnant ideas in public debate is unlikely to eradicate them. Instead, it relegates the conspirators, with reinforced prejudices about society, to secret forums. Without public oversight, they may well be further radicalized. Simply to outlaw certain ideas is, in reality, to flee from them rather than to take up the fight and refute them by means of factual argument, standing on a foundation of empirical (historical) evidence, concern for human dignity, and loyalty to justice. (A point made by Deborah Lipstadt who is known to have challenged historian David Irving for downplaying the scale of the Holocaust.) In analogy with children, opinions usually benefit from coming out into the open rather than living in the shadows where they may grow crooked. Basic assumptions, including those of racial or religious supremacism, and lines of argument underlying publicly stated opinions should therefore be analyzed and tested. If need be, they must be vigorously contested and refuted. In the open society, it is in principle incumbent on everybody to participate in public debate; it is not a special treat reserved for academia or the political elite. However, it requires both commitment and courage. It would be inconsiderate of us to allow misguided loyalty to convention and fear of (causing) offense to cripple our resolve. If free at heart, speak out! At bottom, that is what freedom is all about. Of course, we cannot expect to debate publicly with each other without disagreeing and occasionally offending each other. That is not to say that offense should ever be an end in itself if we are honest and decent people searching for the truth. On the other hand, the risk of disagreement should never deter us from telling the truth as we see it. As long as we resist the temptations of cancellation and violence, which express varying degrees of totalitarian oppression, disagreement the dynamic competition of ideas may be a source of deeper insights and progress for society as a whole. To stipulate agreement in advance and to prohibit positions that the other party may find offensive (or outright impermissible) is tantamount to prohibiting the open dialogue that befits a democratic society. That is how it works in a static, closed society. To a large extent, citizens of Western societies, which have unlimited access to knowledge nowadays, are allowed to be ignorant, bigoted, and unreasonable; they may hold naive, inconsistent, and ridiculous opinions. However, they are not excluded from participation in the management of society for that reason. As a first line of defense, the appropriate response to politically (ideologically) motivated disinformation is well-founded, reliable information. Usually, culture wars are wars of attrition. It takes confidence, perseverance, and bravery to win them. Lies, whether spread by internal or external enemies, should never be tolerated at face value, but always countered with truth. In a manner of speaking, evil must be driven out with good. Thus, we patiently try to convince our opponents of their mistake, assuming good faith and relying on arguments that may be independently verified and corroborated. We may rightly wonder at our enemies, fearing their motives and power. At the same time, however, we should try to keep calm, adopt a Socratic approach, and put our trust in the inherent goodness of man. Those posing as our enemies should be (a) given the benefit of the doubt, (b) invited to explain themselves, and (c) defeated by means of arguments, including appeals to primal instincts for logic and fairness (i.e. preceding ideological prejudices), rather than flesh wounds. In truth, the enemies of the open society have a fundamentally different approach to those whom they claim to despise and conspire to defeat. With an avowed desire for reconciliation, the upfront debater on the side of freedom may be slow to realize that his counterpart (a) is not genuinely open to civilized conversation, (b) refuses to allow any room for doubt in his mind, and (c) is solely concerned with silencing the rest of us by whatever means, ranging from cancellation (disreputation) to violence. At present, there is ample opportunity to study the anti-Western enemies on American campuses. In the guise of students (including opportunistic troublemakers from outside), many of whom wear masks to hide their identity, they call for the annihilation of the Jewish state and pay tribute to the Islamist terrorists who carry on the sadistic legacy of the Nazi Einsatzgruppen. Some of the young protesters, deplorable products of a school system on the edge of collapse, are clearly ignorant of what the conflict is about. However, they participate in the anti-Semitic campaign for social reasons, waving banners and shouting from the crowd like useful idiots, while others, the real organizers, act out of vicious, macabre motives. Only when our enemies resort to violence, denying the rest of us our freedom and openly challenging the social order, we must be resolute, apply the law, and restrain them by force. If we ever set out to censor ideas held by others, because they are in conflict with the opinion of the majority, we lose our innocence and destroy the foundations of the open society. In the West, we owe our philosophical and technological development, our ethical and aesthetic singularity, to freedom of thought. The proud tradition goes back to the ancient Demosthenes and Cicero. Our dignity as free citizens derives from our right and courage to exchange opinions without having to be accountable to the law (i.e. with the exception of libel). Neither truth nor justice is served by silence. Image: Public domain. Spare us the furrowed brows and the laments for Sleepy Joe shown by the MSM after the Trump-Biden debate. Since he shuffled into the White House in 2021 we all knew that there was something off about this guy. From the beginning of this lame administration, Biden had little on the docket each day except for a daily briefing, whatever form that took. As the years painfully progressed, Bidens daily activities became fewer and fewer and we saw more and more of him snoozing on the beach. We were always told by the media that he was working tirelessly. We were told throughout his reign that he was sharp, engaged, and energetic, when our own eyes saw him confused, checked out, and tipping over on his bike. For the last several weeks, the MSM has been trying to continue the Biden-as-competent fable by blaming Republicans for cheap fakes." That was an accusation that Republicans were toying with video and pics of the president to make him look incompetent, as if any such effort was needed to expose his deterioration. Then the news regarding Bidens absurd debate boot camp. Why would a professional politician for over 50 years require such an absurdly long and involved prep? The answer is that the MSM has been complicit in the fit as a fiddle charade by fully embracing the regularly administered marching orders and talking points from the White House. Many commentators are now complaining that they were misled and cannot believe that they were lied to about Bidens infirmaries. If this is true, it demonstrates a stunning level of naivete. If they were lied to about something so obvious, what else are they lapping up off the floor? These brain-dead dummies are most likely in the minority, though. Most MSM journalists are more than happy to participate in political hijinks. They proudly gaze in the mirror and see cool, highly connected, intellectually superior, deep-state operatives. The thing we must keep in mind is that the MSM is largely responsible for where we are now. Whether duplicitous or not, they have abdicated their most basic duties and responsibilities to give us the full, unadulterated, unbiased, uninfluenced truth. They have instead let a political party ride roughshod over the tiny amount of credibility they had left. They went all in on an easily debunked fairytale about a hail and hardy king and have driven themselves over the cliff to obscurity. Image: AI generated with prompt from Olivia Murray Meta announced that the company has started testing AI chatbots through Meta AI studio on Instagram to select users in the U.S. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that the AI characters will start appearing on select creators and interest-based AIs. Read Also : New York Lawmakers Strengthen Parental Controls for Social Media Users Under 18 Meta Tests AI Chatbots on Instagram In a broadcast channel update, Zuckerberg shared that the chatbots will start its early test among 50 content creators in the U.S. The AIs will primarily appear in the messaging portion of the app and will be labeled as AI to inform users. "It's early days and the first beta version of these AIs, so we'll keep working on improving them and make them available to more people soon," Zuckerberg added. The new feature will allow creators to interact and continuously engage with fans even if they are flooded with messages. Meta revealed that it will also be available to a small percentage of users and will gradually increase in the following months. The company is targeting to fully launch the feature to all users in August. In the meantime, the early test will gather feedback from users to improve the model before it is released. Meta Actively Pursues AI Integration on Social Media Apps Last year, Meta introduced its AI Studio, a platform that allows businesses to develop AI chatbots that can utilized on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. The platform is designed to align AI with the brand's values and improve its customer service. Zuckerberg shared that the company has been working closely with creators by gathering enough data to create accurate and authentic responses. The first look at the feature showed that an AI-labeled conversation will be opened and a follower can ask questions to the creator's AI version. Meta is also developing ways that will allow its users to create AI characters that are not necessarily based on their real selves. The company will continue to release experimental AI tools to gather feedback before rolling them out to the public. Dr. Nancy Dome, a prominent DEI trainer, recently stated that the American flag symbolizes "hate" and "extremism, according to a report on msn.com and something called Past Chronicle. The story, by Sam Watanuki, noted that Domes assertion has ignited a heated debate among educators and the broader community. Really? Debate?! How far we have fallen. The Stars and Stripes has been seen as a symbol of freedom and hope by the majority of people on earth for many decades. But not Dr. Dome, who, during a recent DEI training session, stated that the American flag is a constant reminder of oppression for Black Americans. (Maybe she meant the Confederate flag.) Dome went so far as to suggest the flags should be removed from schools and workplaces. Im sure shed be in favor of replacing it with the LGBTQ flag, or possibly the hammer and sickle. Unsurprisingly, Dr. Dome is a strong advocate for teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools (and workplaces?). Moreover, she believes that employees who do not support DEI initiatives should be summarily dismissed. Now that is tolerance and inclusion! Anyone who disagrees with me should be fired! Or canned. Or shot. Dr. Dome also champions equity over equality, meaning she disdains competence and freedom and supports government coercion. The article states that She believes that without equity, true equality cannot be achieved, which means she is an actual, devout racist, besides being nonsensical. Dr. Dome (I admit her name is fun to say) is co-founder and executive officer of Epoch Education, a major DEI consultancy for large school districts. The organization, too, promotes an equity agenda. Epoch Educations website states (at the bottom): We are more than experts. We are educators. It also says it will provide clients with the knowledge and tools needed to cultivate compassionate mindsets and practices. Because, apparently, otherwise wed all be hate-filled idiots. In truth, the American flag was there when the slaves were freed and the union re-established, flying over the bodies of thousands of dead and injured soldiers (including black soldiers) who fought to make this so. It was there when our troops landed in Europe, and fought their way across that continent, to free up enslaved nations and defeat fascism. It was placed on the moon, when courageous American astronauts made some dreams come true and others seem possible. And it has consistently been there when other nations needed help -- financial, humanitarian, disaster, self-defense, being stuck in a cave, or buried in mine collapse, and more. Why is it so many of todays self-proclaimed educators disdain the U.S., but believe themselves to be indispensable, the finest souls ever to trod the Earth? Especially the ones with multicolored hair, nose rings, and the LGBTQ flag proudly displayed in their classrooms? Todays journalists have a completely unwarranted sense of their own importance, as well. Together, they are just another brick in the wall, obscuring the truth and preventing far too many from seeing the light. Image: U.S. National Archives, via Picryl // no known restrictions Observers of American support for Ukraine would likely consider the Democrats to be pro-Ukraine and the Republicans anti-Ukraine. This observation would be a generally accurate portrayal of recent budgetary considerations in the U.S. Congress regarding military aid for Ukraine. Nevertheless, the conclusion that Democrats in the United States be considered pro-Ukraine constitutes a case of grand historic irony. Indeed, the catastrophic invasion of Ukraine was largely caused or facilitated by five actions by American Democrat politicians. Without these actions, Ukraine would likely be living in peace and security. Russia would have been deterred and stymied in its empirical mission, at least to its west. And there would be no need for American taxpayers to foot the bill to keep brave Ukrainians armed to keep their country from annihilation. To obtain a better contextual understanding of the Ukraine situation, these five decisions by American Democrats must be called out. 1994: Bill Clinton and denuclearization. The post-Soviet period was a time of economic deprivation for the republics recently freed from Moscows grip. Ukraine would have struggled mightily to maintain a nuclear program. However, by succumbing to pressure to denuclearize, Ukraine lost its deterrence against future Russian invasion. Had Ukraine maintained its nukes, then the Ukraine-to-NATO discussion becomes unnecessary. Most likely, had Bill Clinton not acted in such a way, the Russian invasions of Ukraine would not have happened in this chapter of history. 2009: Failed Russian reset by Hillary Clinton. There was no inherent reason why the USA needed to have a negative relationship with post-communist Russia. In fact, America should have kept Russia close enough to prevent being squeezed by a foreseeable Russia-China axis, which has now formed. Clinton and Obama were not able to create a healthy relationship with Russia, nor did they lift a finger in protest when Russia went into Crimea and the Donbas in 2014. 2016: Russia Collusion Hoax, spawned by the Clinton campaign and outgoing Obama administration. This horrific hoax kneecapped Trump politically for his entire term, caused the U.S. House to flip back to the Democrats in 2018, and pre-empted any opportunity Trump would have had to build a reasonable relationship with Russia. If Hillary Clinton and Obama wanted to cripple Trump, there were many possible conspiracies they could have hatched. Unfortunately, they relied on old Cold War antipathies toward Russia. 2021: Biden reverses Trump energy policies, resulting in higher global energy prices, enriching Russia, and bankrolling Putins war on Ukraine. If energy prices held steady and low, as they were under Trump, Putin would have been unable to finance this long war in Ukraine. All this can be attributed to Climate Change activism and the Green policies which dominates Biden Administration decision-making. 2022 onward: The Biden Administration has continued to give Ukraine what it has given, but on a too little, too late basis. Earlier investment in Ukraine in funds and weaponry could have saved all parties a protracted war and its unending requirement for additional support. General Mark Milley and U.S. intelligence predicted Kiev would fall within three days of the February 2022 Russian invasion. This was ludicrous on many levels. Anyone familiar with Ukrainian history over the past century will understand -- after the Soviet colonization of Ukraine, and the Stalin-imposed Forced Famine (The Holodomor) -- that Ukrainians will never voluntarily accept Russian colonization again. My in-laws fled Ukraine to escape Muscovite communism. As a nation, Ukrainians will fight to the death to preserve their country, with or without international support. We live in a very dangerous time globally. American hegemony is in question. American weakness has emboldened Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea. Ukraine provides one tragic theater where this is playing out. Approximately 100,000 Ukrainians have died, with countless Ukrainian children kidnapped and exiled to Russia, in a war that could have been prevented or deterred. Putin still bears the culpability for the death and destruction in Ukraine. Yet, America in general, and its Democrat elected officials in particular, have been far from pro-Ukraine. Image: Office of the President of Ukraine Like mafiosos, or the old gray men of the Kremlin trying to figure out how to get rid of Leonid Brezhnev or Konstantin Chernenko, Democrat power players have called in Joe Biden for a sitdown. Dougie Kass, a hedge fund shark who leads Seabreeze Capital Partners of Palm Beach, Florida, reports the dirt: What I am hearing regarding Joe Biden. Ron Klain and Barack Obama are having a sit down with the President today. Jill Biden is insistent that Joe runs. Kamala is furious that she is not being considered as a replacement (Whitmer and Newsom are). Interestingly my neighbor in Dougie Kass (@DougKass) June 28, 2024 He's echoed by MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace who says roughly the same thing. Kass, being a hedge fund guy, thrives on getting and acting on information before the herd stampedes, so he may well know what's going on. It wouldn't be surprising if Wallace, a consumate political operative and dirty trickster herself, might have some kind of inside track, too: MSNBC'S NICOLLE WALLACE JUST SAID CONVERSATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE TO REPLACE BIDEN TOMORROW! It's not just a coincidence the left is railing against Joe. The debate was a SETUP to replace Biden with Gavin Newsom, Michelle Obama, or Kamala Harris. Share to make this go viral! pic.twitter.com/lP1QjsRRFE Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) June 28, 2024 For those of us who have been wondering who pulls the puppet strings, now we have the answer -- Obama, and former chief of staff Ron Klain, who's got 'political operative' written all over him. Since the meeting is supposedly going on around now, one can just imagine how that may go -- with Biden bitter and resentful at Godfather Obama's smooth manner, knack for words, two terms, and continued popularity, while Biden himself has none of those gifts. Now he's being told by Obama to step down because disaster is going to be what he gets if he doesn't. Klain the consigliere will be there to suggest muscle. Jill Biden, happy to play the role of Mrs. Wilson, and fond of the perks and travel she gets as first lady, will fight back hard. Joe will stare off into space, losing his train of thought. And more laughable still, as Obama, and Klain discuss replacing Biden with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, or California Gov. Gavin Newsom, no doubt offering up sweeteners -- business deals, immunity from prosecution for corruption -- and warn him Trump will throw him in jail if he wins, so he best save himself, outside the room, Vice President Kamala Harris will be fuming. Hadn't she served her role? Hadn't she done what she was told? They will treat her like Fredo as she pleads her case, thanks but no thanks. Perhaps she may be offered the California governor's slot in exchange for her cooperation. If she doesn't cooperate, she gets nothing. An offer she can't refuse. While Democrats are hardly sticklers for following their own laws and rules, there could be a few poison pills lying around: How conservatives could make it very hard for Democrats to replace Biden on the 2024 ballot if he has a disastrous debate or steps aside. The Heritage Oversight project has set their sights on three contentious swing states where they believe taking Biden off the Janis Saxon (@JanisSaxon2) June 28, 2024 After all, any Republican worth his or her salt would want to make sure the Democrats keep Biden at the top of the ticket. Maybe they'll get even more mafia-like and arrange an 'accident.' But most likely, they will just let it get ugly and word will leak out to the press. Wouldn't that be a pretty picture? Doesn't sound like a recipe for success for the Democrats as the walls come crashing down around them. Let's get out the popcorn. Image: PxHere // CC0 public domain When I served in the US Air Force During the Cold War, uniforms, and the badges of authority, service and honor that adorned them meant something. One never wore an award they had not legitimately earned, and one surely never wore anything non-military. There was no such thing as displaying ones politics on ones uniform. The officer and NCO corps were death on politics. While the urge to advertise their sexual preferences may have occurred to a tiny minorityI wonder what ribbons for foot fetishism or being a drag queen would have looked like?--they knew the consequences for so much as mentioning adorning their uniforms with such abominations would be severe indeed. That was then. This is now. Now is berserkand dangerous. Graphic: X Screeshot OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea Airmen stationed on this installation 30 miles south of Seoul are authorized to wear a Pride morale patch this month. A May 20 memo from 51st Fighter Wing commander Col. William McKibban approved the Osan+ patch on Fridays and at special events. The patchs circular design features the Progress rainbow flag at the center bordered by a black ring with Osan+ on top and Osan Air Base ROK at the bottom. ROK is the acronym for Republic of Korea, the formal name for South Korea. The Osan+ patch is the approved morale patch in honor of Pride month, which takes place in June, wing spokeswoman Capt. Michelle Chang told Stars and Stripes by email Thursday. The patch represents the advancement of the Air Forces commitment to diversity, inclusion, dignity, and respect within the mission. The idea of the patch came from Osan+, an LGBTQ group established at the base in October, group president Tech. Sgt. Brittany Ortega said by phone Thursday. The groups mission is to advance the Air Forces commitment to diversity, inclusion, dignity and respect within the mission, she said. The group has already sold out of the $10 patches, Ortega wrote on the groups Facebook page Thursday. Its unclear if more will become available. Once upon a time, respect in our military was parceled out for ones dedication to the mission and their hard-earned reputation as a squared away war fighter. Obviously, the USAF of my youth no longer exists. Sadly, this sort of focus on woke lunacy rather than military honor and readiness is not confined to South Korea, where with a thoroughly brainwashed Communist enemy within artillery distance, one would thinkhope?our military would know better. Graphic: screenshot Lt. Col. Fram is a man pretending to be a woman. While the concept of hurry up and wait in the military has a basis in fact, another, more sobering fact, is there is never enough time, money or focus on training. Particularly training to do our militarys reason for being: destroying the enemies of America as violently, rapidly and completely as possible. The old aphorism, the more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat holds true. It would seem in Joe Bidens military, training for and posturing about LGBTQWERTY+- issues take precedence. I hesitate to think what might be producing sweat in that sort of training, and hesitate to think even more about how much blood our troops will be shedding in combat. Their uniforms, however, will be much more colorful, and their survivors can talk all about their pride as they view their flag-draped coffins. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. In the 1990s, I had the chance as U.S. staff secretary to the political arm of NATO, the North Atlantic Assembly, to visit Ukraine. On one trip, our delegation was hosted by the CNO of the Ukraine Navy. Even then, Ukraine was a proud but hard-luck country because the Russians had taken most if not all of their naval munitions when they split off from the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. The Ukrainian CNO was a competent and imposing admiral, having been a former Soviet Navy sub skipper. Think Sean Connerys role in the epic movie The Hunt for Red October only more impressive. We were on a patrol boat, looking at the Russian Black Sea Fleet from the Sevastopol harbor. The Black Sea Fleet was an impressive display of naval might. And a key analytical, deterrence issue of concern was the remaining conventional and nuc warheads still on the fleets surface and sub combatants. The U.S. Navy, with the great Cold War victory, had removed all nukes at sea except for our Boomers. But the Russians never did that. In fact, the Federation of American Scientists got it right when they discussed Russian dual-capable non-strategic nuclear forces: First a reminder: the presence of Russian dual-capable non-strategic nuclear forces in Crimea is not new; they have been there for decades. They were there before the breakup of the Soviet Union, they have been there for the past two decades, and they are there now. In Soviet times, this included nuclear-capable warships and submarines, bombers, army weapons, and air-defense systems. Since then, the nuclear warheads for those systems were withdrawn to storage sites inside Russia. Nearly all of the air force, army, and air-defense weapon systems were also withdrawn. Only naval nuclear-capable forces associated with the Black Sea Fleet area of Sevastopol stayed, although at reduced levels. Consequently, with the tragic killing of civilians on a Sevastopol beach, one has to think of another movie: Broken Arrow. A rogue Air Force pilot, played by John Travolta, steals several nuclear warheads. The plot has a twist when he loses control of them. In the ensuing chase and shoot-out he states a thoughtful line: How many times do I have to say it? Please do not shoot the nuclear weapons The deadly beach attack, reported as being fired from Ukraine territory using an American ground-to-ground missile known as ATACMS, is tragic, regardless of how it happened. Perhaps intercepted and knocked off course? Regardless, a day at the beach turned deadly, and nuclear weapons are present. The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon system capable of striking targets well beyond the range of existing Army cannons, rockets and other missiles. ATACMS missiles are fired from the HIMARS and MLRS M270 platforms. Although it makes little difference to those killed and wounded, it was not an intentionally targeted strike, like CJCSs Mark Milleys infamous righteous strike: Three days after a US drone obliterated a car in a Kabul street, General Mark Milley, shrugged off reports of civilian casualties, insisting it was a righteous strike. On Friday that word came back to haunt Americas top general when the Pentagon was forced to admit that all 10 dead had been civilians, seven of them children. The drone had hit the wrong white Toyota Corolla. Regardless of how beach attack occurred, the targeting of Russian strategic warning systems in Crimea was intentional: The Ukrainian Armed Forces have been confirmed to have launched a ballistic missile strike on the NIP-16 Deep Space Communications site in Vitino on the Crimean Peninsula, the extent of the damage from which remains uncertain. The attack comes as part of the major expansion of recent attacks on Russian targets using increased supplies of American Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short range ballistic missiles, including variants with both cluster and fragmentation warheads. Use of these systems has been very heavily facilitated by the presence of American military advisors on the ground and by access to a network of hundreds of NATO satellites which provide targeting data among other roles. Americas national security is now way beyond fictional cliff-hanging Hollywood movies. There is a simple yet profound question: is the Biden administration trying to start World War III with Russia, or is it just made up of well educated but ignorant dolts? We know that the current secretary of defense is totally lacking in strategic judgment, having hidden his debilitating illness from President Biden. Our deterrence posture is based on his judgment and immediate command presence. In a short countdown reacting to an incoming strategic strike on U.S. territory, a retaliatory launch is ordered by President Biden. The U.S. still has a no first use policy, so our nuclear deterrence force is put in action within minutes, with the secretary of defense immediately validating the presidents go order. This is no time for wheres Waldo? Unfortunately, except for the current chair of the Joint Chiefs, apparently, the SecDef told no one. Our president did not know that the secretary, as often said in military speak, was medically hard down. However, I am sure that Russian, North Korean, and Iranian leadership have been briefed on such a strategic debacle at the highest levels of the Biden national security team. Now our proxy warfighters are shooting at a nuclear-armed fleet, and ammo magazines, while they are also trying to blind Russian strategic warning systems. What is wrong with these people? Image: CristianIS via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Thursdays presidential debate revealed the intellectual mismatch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. For those ignorant of Bidens mental decline, the truth was laid bare and the world saw how vulnerable our nation has become. Our elected president has been managed by his aides and our country is run by unelected functionaries. But make no mistake about it, the Bidens will not readily give up the power they secured in 2020. Perhaps the most curious response to this debate performance by Biden was the reaction by the CNN and MSNBC analysts. The panels on these networks joined those on Fox News in recognizing the Biden failure under conditions his campaign established. First, the two moderators, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, were amazingly fair and provided questions and conditions that allowed Donald Trump to demonstrate control over his behavior and answer questions to the satisfaction of many undecided potential voters. Thus, the debate win will gain votes for the Trump campaign. This puts more pressure on the Biden campaign. But, the response of the leftist analysts was surprising. When Van Jones remarked that Biden must go, that was enough for me. An Obama supporter reflects the thinking of the extreme leftist politicos in the Democrat party. Surely many financial donors to the Democrats were disturbed by the Biden performance, but why signal that he has become a liability? There are many issues here. Joe could not handle the most critical issue for progressives, abortion, in a coherent way. Further, he mishandled the border crisis issues when he combined it with his concern over rape. But, after calling Trump a liar, he claimed that no American soldier died under his watch, disregarding the loss of military personnel in Afghanistans Abbey Gate during the botched withdrawal from that country. This was appalling. It is likely the smart money already understood that Biden was probably a loser this time. Professional advisors may have determined that Trump was going to win the presidency no matter who was nominated by the Democrats. They were more concerned about the down-ballot positions. In this situation, we may see money moving toward the congressional elections for House and Senate to save Democrat seats and limit Republican control over that federal branch. The loss differential determines how many congressional seats will be lost. This underlies the fear demonstrated after the debate by progressive analysts. They believe a replacement will do better against Trump in 2024. However, there are other elections at stake, too. The state elections will be determined by turnout and this will be increased by enthusiasm for Trump and decreased by apathy for Biden. Biden feels that the September debate may save his position, but he is unlikely to do significantly better. Remember, his best performances have occurred when reading a prepared speech. Off the cuff remarks have been steadily worse with time. This dementia will not likely reverse. But then the press has lied to us for four years, saying he was alert and sentient, so this act is not believable. Remember, Joe Biden received millions of votes while hiding in the basement, claiming COVID was responsible. So, we have ourselves (or his voters) to blame for this mess. Let us hope that our foreign adversaries will not use the remaining months of 2024 to take advantage of our weak president. Image: Screen shot from MSNBC video, via YouTube Apple has decided to delay the rollout of Apple Intelligence in the EU leading the European Commissioner for Competition to take notice. The EU Commissioner for Competition reportedly sees this decision as an anticompetitive behavior. The decision not to offer the AI features in the EU is a stunning declaration of its anticompetitive behavior, said EU Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager. Apple decided not to offer the feature to EU users to protect their privacy Just a couple of days ago Apple announced that it wont launch its self-developed AI features in the EU region. The company reasoned that the interoperability required by the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA) could hurt user privacy and security. Now the commission has accused Apples App Store of DMA breaches. Apples move to delay Apple Intelligence in Europe is the most stunning, open declaration that they know 100% that this is another way of disabling competition where they have a stronghold already, said the EU Competition Commissioner. According to the The Digital Markets Act requires companies to be open to competition in order to operate in Europe, said EU Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager. Non-compliance means fines of up to 10% of annual revenue. In Apples case, it could be over 30 billion. In addition to that, the percentage will increase for repeated infringements. EU Commissioner for Competition sees the delay in the rollout of Apple Intelligence as anti-competitive Under the Digital Markets Act, Apple is a gatekeeper, meaning it has to make sure it does not stifle competition. iOS 18 comes with Apple Intelligence and some capabilities of OpenAIs ChatGPT. The AI capabilities are integrated within iOS 18 system apps and voice assistant Siri. The features will roll out in beta later this year. Reportedly, the EU Commissioner for Competition could mark the lack of interoperability with non-Apple apps as anti-competitive. Its important to mention that Apple does intend to bring Apple Intelligence to Europe. However, its taking a cautious approach with its new technology in that region due to regulatory uncertainties. Its reasonable that Apple will want to ensure it wont have to compromise on user safety. The European Commission for Competition is carrying out multiple investigations into the company over possible violations of the DMA. The commission has already accused Apple of violating the laws anti-steering provisions this week. According to the commission, Apple blocked app developers from freely informing users about alternate payment options outside of the companys ecosystem. The FCC is concerned about the social dangers of political AI robocalls. Jessica Rosenworcel, president of the agency, sent letters to nine big telecommunications companies. The agency wants to know if companies have a plan to attack these types of calls. A political AI robocall is a method of deception that seeks to influence the actions of some sectors of the population for political reasons. The bad actors behind these calls turn to AI services to imitate the voices of political figures. Then, they implement them in automated phone calls with prerecorded audio to deliver a fake message. This method can influence current and future electoral processes. Political AI robocalls have already influenced electoral processes, and the FCC is concerned In fact, there has already been at least one case of this style. Several voters skipped the New Hampshire Democratic primary due to a hoax related to political AI robocalls. Therefore, it is a worrying situation that requires immediate action. However, it seems that the FCC is not convinced that telecommunications companies are doing enough. A Rosenworcels letter says the following: We know that AI technologies will make it cheap and easy to flood our networks with deepfakes used to mislead and betray trust. It is especially chilling to see AI voice cloning used to impersonate candidates during elections. As AI tools become more accessible to bad actors and scammers, we need to do everything we can to keep this junk off our networks. Telecoms required to break down strategies against political AI robocalls Up to nine major telecommunications companies, including AT&T and Comcast, received the letter. The agency wants to know what they are doing to stop political AI robocalls. Its noteworthy that the US government banned all AI robocalls in February. This includes AI robocalls of all kinds, whether political or not. There is even authorization to pursue those involved in these types of calls. So, the FCC wants a breakdown of the strategies that telecoms are carrying out. Rosenworcel also wants to force companies to warn about the use of AI in TV or radio ads. However, Sean Cooksey, chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), opposes this initiative. Cooksey believes that such a decision would override the authority of the FEC over electoral processes. Despite raising the prices on legacy plans, T-Mobile claims it has not broken its word. However, the companys own internal AI-powered chatbot does not agree with that position. In fact, the T-Mobile chatbot claims that the company broke its price lock commitment following its recent actions. The controversial price increase in legacy plans During the last week of May, T-Mobile became embroiled in a controversy related to the prices of its plans. There are users who contracted the companys services due to a promise of an unalterable price. This means that T-Mobile was committed to never raising prices on those particular plans. There would only be changes to the monthly bill if the user changed to another one. However, the company announced price increases for some of those legacy plans. The news received a lot of backlash from users who felt deceived. Prices for affected plans rose between $2 and $5. However, the company claimed that it was not doing anything wrong. In any case, the explanations offered by T-Mobile never fully convinced users. This caused not only criticism but also people to move to another carrier because of the broken promise. T-Mobile broke its price lock commitment, claims its own chatbot T-Mobile employees have the Superpowers suite to help them in their work, including an AI-powered chatbot. It is trained with the companys policy documentation. With that in mind, you might find it amusing to know that the chatbot contradicts T-Mobiles public position. According to the chatbot, the carrier breached the price lock commitment by raising the prices of old plans. The chatbot adds that T-Mobiles actions could incur legal problems. Furthermore, it states that such an action would also be negative for the companys reputation. The chatbots claims cannot be taken as an official statement. After all, similar AI-powered services can sometimes have hallucinations, which are basically made-up facts. However, it is still interesting that even T-Mobiles internal tools do not support its public position. Even more so if these tools were trained in the carriers own policies. The EU is monitoring the latest moves by Microsoft and Google in the field of AI. The organization wants to make sure that antitrust rules are followed. For some time now, the EU has been legislating in favor of free competition in member countries, which has especially affected companies like Apple. AI-based products and services are taking over the tech industry at an incredible rate. Currently, many companies are implementing AI, including non-tech ones. In the mobile sector, Google was the main pioneer in the implementation of complex AI models. Google and Microsoft under EU scrutiny over AI deals The portable and compact nature of smartphones prevents the integration of big LLMs. However, with this in mind, Google developed Gemini Nano, the lite version of its Gemini AI models. Currently, the model is integrated into the Pixel 8 series and the Galaxy S24 series. Its integration into Samsung mobile devices is one of the aspects that is being studied by the EU. The organization fears that these types of agreements between industry giants will affect smaller players. Margrethe Vestager, the EUs competition commissioner, said that big tech companies could make it difficult for smaller foundation model developers to reach end users. Part of the concern is the amount of resources required to develop AI models. Regarding Microsoft, Vestager said the EU wants to understand whether certain exclusivity clauses could have a negative effect on competitors. In this case, she is referring to the huge investment Microsoft is making in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. So far, the Redmond giant has invested a whopping $13 billion. Additionally, the EU is monitoring situations where large companies buy smaller ones to get talent. Such is the case with Microsofts acquisition of Inflection. A full legislation for AI is still pending Having taken the tech industry by storm, legislation around AI-based products and developments is still pending. The pace at which the AI industry develops makes the task even more difficult. Regarding this, the EU executive said that a number of other preliminary antitrust investigations are ongoing into various practices in AI-related markets. Vestager also noted that now is the time to act. Strong competition enforcement is always needed at times of big industrial and technological changes. The EUs goal is to prevent a few big companies from monopolizing the AI segment. We remain vigilant, Vestager added. Neuralink postponed its second brain-implant surgery after finding that the patient is not suitable for the surgery due to their medical condition, Bloomberg reported. Doctors at the Barrow Neurological Institute did not provide information on the exact cause for the postponement but expect a replacement candidate for the surgery as soon as next month. The patient, whose identity was not disclosed to protect their privacy, has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that causes the nerve cells in the spine and brain to deteriorate, causing total muscle paralysis. Neuralink has yet to provide a statement about the suspension. Neuralink Faces Problems in Human Tests for Brain Implants The postponement for the second brain implant surgery is only the latest in Neuralink's growing hurdles to continue human tests for its neural implants. In a blog post last month, the Elon Musk-led company disclosed that it encountered some problems with its first brain implant patient after several connective threads on the brain chip retracted shortly after surgery. Neuralink solved the issue quickly, allowing the patient Noland Arbaugh, who is paralyzed from the neck down, to play Civilization VI and chess with his mind. Despite challenges, experts believe Neuralink's project will help many paralysis patients and other movement disabilities. In America alone, at least 180,000 people are estimated to live with quadriplegia with 18,000 more spinal-related injuries recorded every year. Many of these patients continue to wait for years to receive adequate treatment for their injuries, stunting any hopes for full recovery. Also Read : Neuralink Encounters Problem With First Brain Chip Implant Neuralink Seeks Three More Patients for Brain Implant Surgery With the success of its first human brain implant surgery, Neuralink is currently looking to expand its test surgeries to three more patients as it moves to get federal approval for its neurological chips. So far, the US Food and Drug Administration has only approved one more surgery after the company passed the initial requirements. Andrew Scott sent a message of hope to theatre lovers at Glastonbury, saying that the high prices for tickets in the West End does not mean all doom and gloom. On Saturday, the Irish actor took to the Pilton Palais stage to talk about his Olivier-nominated starring role in Vanya, a one-man play based on Russian playwright Anton Chekhovs family drama Uncle Vanya that was being show at the Worthy Farm event. When the critically-acclaimed play was on at the Duke of Yorks Theatre in September 2023, there was a ballot for 10 tickets for under 30s, amid reported sales of seats for up to 180. Andrew Scott at this years Golden Globes (Ian West/PA) The show has since been brought to more viewers thanks to National Theatre Live, which broadcasts in cinemas. Scott was asked by the PA news agency about theatre not being that accessible to young people due to the high prices. He said: If you have to pay 350 to go to a play then young people under the age of 30 (and) not just under the age of 30 are just not (going to) be able to afford to go. But (I) would not be too pessimistic about it, I do think things like NT Live (and) we cant ignore the fact that were in the middle of Glastonbury and were talking about a play. I think thats really important, and its because of initiatives like NT Live. The Sherlock star, also known for being the hot Priest in Fleabag, also said that performers and producers should take that this into account when doing productions. He said: I think internationally Chekhov who I really believe is a fully resonant and relevant playwright and whos funny and people have a real misconception of what Chekhov is and (think) its really serious, you know, this Russian guy. Its so funny and its so serene. The fact that that can be seen globally across the world, to me is mind blowing, so its not all doom and gloom. On the same stage, Shaun Of The Dead director Edgar Wright, who co-wrote the zombie comedy with Simon Pegg, also appeared to discuss the hit 2004 film, which spawned the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, also including Hot Fuzz and The Worlds End. Hinting at a sequel, Pegg, who has since starred in Hollywood films such as 2009s Star Trek and films in the franchise Mission: Impossible, said that he and Wright are always talking. He added: When we made Shaun Of The Dead, all we had to do was make Shaun Of The Dead, we didnt have any other things to do and then obviously our respective careers have become complex and so the thing that we need to do now is carve out some time, which we will do and we will do something else. Wright said: We need to be in the same room together and were both busy. Its not often were in the same room. Were in the same room now. So what were suggesting is if we just stay here for like 10 weeks, you can watch us write a new screenplay and help us. Nigel Farage has been picking fights with Channel 4 and the BBC, while Labour and the Tories sought to land some blows on him. Farage against the machine Nige Farage on Friday nights Question Time (Peter Byrne/PA) Nigel Farages Reform UK is involved in high-profile spats with two major broadcasters. The Reform leader said he is refusing to appear on the BBCs flagship politics show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg unless the broadcaster apologises for the rigged audience he was confronted with on Friday nights Question Time. The BBC said the audience was made up of broadly similar levels of representation from Reform UK and the Green Party Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay was the other guest with other parties represented too, along with some voters still making up their minds. In the other row, Reform has written to the Electoral Commission calling for an investigation into Channel 4s undercover report on Mr Farages campaign in Clacton. The party said activist Andrew Parker, who is a jobbing actor, was filmed saying exclusively racist and bigoted remarks and it was entirely evident that Mr Parker was a plant. The broadcaster said it did not pay the Reform UK canvasser and Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation. Quote of the day Blow the house down Both Labour and the Tories turned their fire on Reform, in a sign they were both considering how to deal with the threat Mr Farages party could pose beyond the election. Sir Keir Starmer criticised Mr Farages handling of the Reform racism rows: If you lead a party you set the tone, and the culture, and the standards of your party, and I dont think hes done enough in terms of leadership. For the Tories, security minister Tom Tugendhat told Times Radio: There is a real pattern of racist and misogynistic views in the party. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch warned against letting Nigel Farage into the Conservative Party (Lucy North/PA) And Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch rejected calls for Mr Farage to be welcomed into the Tory fold after the election, telling The Times: He is like the wolf in the three little pigs story. He wants to blow your house down. The wolf is coming to destroy you. Hes not coming for a cup of tea. Picture of the day Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking to veterans at a cafe on Armed Forces Day in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency (Scott Heppell/PA) Going nuclear Sir Keir said it was ridiculous and desperate for senior Tories to suggest it would be dangerous to entrust the security of the country to Labour. On Armed Forces Day he stressed his commitment to Nato and the nuclear deterrent and said the Government had trusted him with briefings on issues such as the Ukraine war. They have given me high-level sensitive briefings, so much do they trust us on national security, he told reporters during a visit to Aldershot. Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said a vote for Labour would put us all in danger while Mr Tugendhat told the BBC I think that the choices that Labour will make will make us more vulnerable to foreign pressure. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also on an Armed Forces Day visit, drinking tea and eating cake with veterans in his North Yorkshire constituency. Post? Traumatic, stress, disorder Scotlands First Minister John Swinney warned the public could become disenfranchised because of problems with postal votes. Im inundated in my inbox. I suspect therell be effects on all political parties, he said. But I think the crucial point is the disenfranchisement of individuals. Edinburgh City Council and Fife Council have taken the unusual step of setting up emergency centres where residents who have yet to receive their ballot can have one reissued, or can even cast their vote ahead of July 4. The issue is a particular problem in Scotland, where many families will be away on polling day because schools have broken up for the summer. A prayer for peace In these last few days before the election, let us pray for all candidates taking part in this most essential act of democracy. Let us encourage courteous and kind debate and not use personalised abuse. Let us carefully consider issues and the common good, and above all vote. Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) June 29, 2024 Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby urged people to avoid personalised abuse in the closing stages of the election campaign as he encouraged voters to go to the ballot box. He said: Let us encourage courteous and kind debate and not use personalised abuse. Let us carefully consider issues and the common good, and above all vote. What comes next? Attention is already focusing on what comes after the election, with Mr Tugendhat declining to rule out a leadership bid. What we need to do is to make sure that Conservatives across this country win their seats and thats exactly what Ive been focused on, he said when asked if he would consider running if Mr Sunak quit after a defeat on July 4. For Labour, the questions are more about who will get the top jobs in Sir Keirs cabinet if the polls are correct and he finds himself in No 10. David Lammy received no guarantee that he would be the foreign secretary in the first Starmer administration. Asked if the shadow foreign secretary would be in King Charles Street, Sir Keir said: Im not going to announce anybody who may be in a cabinet after Thursday if we win. Social media moment of the day As campaigning reaches its final weekend, the parties are making a last push with their efforts on social media to drive home their message. The Labour Party shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, of an edited image of Rishi Sunak walking across a road lined with palm trees, hinting at speculation that the Prime Minister could relocate to California if he should find himself out of the top job next week. Text over the photo read: Make this weekend his last as Prime Minister. Change will only happen if you vote for it. If you want change, you need to vote Labour on Thursday 4 July. pic.twitter.com/aYRq2k8Mai The Labour Party (@UKLabour) June 29, 2024 Whats happening tomorrow? The Prime Minister is the big name on BBC Ones Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, Labours national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden, SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney and a certain Mr Farage will be on Skys Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. I have just been invited to appear on Laura Kuenssberg. Im refusing until the BBC apologises for their dishonest QT audience. Our state broadcaster has behaved like a political actor throughout this election. Reform will be campaigning vigorously to abolish the license fee. Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 29, 2024 Barring a change of heart, Mr Farage appears unlikely to follow that up with an appearance on the BBC. 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. It has also pledged to spend 2 billion a year on grant funding for local authorities to help businesses decarbonise and hopes to encourage community ownership. Ellie Chowns, the partys candidate for North Herefordshire, said the charter will support business to survive and prosper, adding they are the lifeblood of our economy and our communities. Ms Chowns added: This is a comprehensive package offering direct support to small businesses that also introduces measures to encourage customers to get to and use small local businesses. These innovations will set the framework for small enterprises to succeed and our high streets to once again become vital community hubs. Green candidate Ellie Chowns set out the plans (Jonathan Brady/PA) These new regional banks would be capitalised through a co-operative development fund using some of the funds made available through the United Kingdom Infrastructure Bank, along with an additional 10 billion of public money. Local authorities would be funded nationally to channel grants worth 2 billion per year to local businesses which want to decarbonise faster. Our new generation of Green MPs will press in Parliament to remove any legal blocks to companies wanting to transform into mutual organisations, especially at the point of succession from one owner to another. The former MEP said the current approach to support for business is failing and the Greens will offer them a win-win-win package. She added: Some small local businesses struggle to get their payments on time which can leave them financially exposed and unable to thrive on our high streets. Elected Greens will campaign to bring the Prompt Payment Code into law and bar late payers from public-procurement contracts. We also want to mandate the Small Business Commissioner to investigate potential instances of poor payment proactively, instead of only when a complaint has been made. Other Green pledges include backing farmers to produce and sell more food locally, free bus travel for under-18s, and building more social housing. The Liberal Democrats leader says he is really worried about postal ballot delays ahead of the upcoming General Election. On Saturday, Ed Davey joined Edinburgh West candidate Christine Jardine, and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton as part of the partys campaign. Mr Davey arrived at Cammo Estate in Edinburgh aboard the partys election campaign bus, the Yellow Hammer 1. It was one of many stops in the partys 1,343-mile tour of seats from John OGroats to Lands End in a final push to attract voters ahead of the polling date. Mr Davey performed some circus tricks such as plate-spinning, hula-hooping and juggling with his colleagues while at the Edinburgh estate, before telling the PA News Agency he is concerned the postal ballot delays are not fair on Scots. He said: Im really worried about the postal ballot delay problem. People are going on holiday, theyre packing their luggage, looking for their swimming trunks and sun cream and theyve got to worry about this. Its just not fair on people. Im pleased that a lot of local councils are doing emergency openings of village halls and town halls to make it possible for people to get their vote and we may even need to look at extending the deadline for proxy-voting. It certainly has to be tackled, its not fair on Scottish people. SNP leader John Swinney has warned the issues surrounding postal votes could affect the election results (Michael Boyd/PA) Mr Davey says he is confident his party can win seats in the upcoming election. He added: The boundary changes takes us down to two seats in Scotland. We think we can win the two that weve sort of lost with the boundary changes and maybe do even more, so yeah, were really excited about the Scottish Liberal Democrats chances. Asked if he hopes for his party to become the second-largest, and if he wishes to become leader of the opposition, he said: Well, I think therell be more liberal MPs than nationalist MPs in the next parliament, so that could well make us the third party again and I think thatll be great for our country, keeping our United Kingdom together, but pulling forward those liberal voices, particularly on things like health and care and environmental issues like sewage and the climate crisis. The Yellow Hammer 1 was due to set off to East Dunbartonshire on Saturday, where Mr Davey and his colleagues are expected to meet with constituents. Mr Davey says the party has had a great response throughout the UK, and says many of their 2024 election voters are doing so to oust the SNP from power. He said: Were really grateful for those people who were thinking of voting say Labour, or in Scotland the Conservatives, but are voting Liberal Democrat to beat the SNP here in Scotland. In England, were getting lots of Labour and Green people backing us because they know in large swathes of the home counties, in the west country, its only the Liberal Democrats that can beat the Conservatives, so this is an election of change which we desperately need both in Westminster and in Holyrood. Gareth Southgate says Luke Shaw is not ready to start for England but might still be able to feature in the Euro 2024 last-16 clash against Slovakia. The Euro 2020 finalists return to the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen as they get their knockout phase under way on Sunday. All 26 players trained at their Blankenhain base on Saturday lunchtime, including Shaw as he looks to make his first appearance since sustaining a hamstring issue in mid-February. Setting off for the last 16! pic.twitter.com/6utvYcuV3x England (@England) June 29, 2024 Kieran Trippier was also involved following a report the full-back had been a doubt for Sunday due to a calf complaint, as was Phil Foden after returning to the UK this week for the birth of his third child. England boss Southgate said: Luke wouldnt be available to start. But well have a chat with the medical team to see whether he can play a part or whether he could do with a little bit more training first. Asked about Foden, Trippier and the rest of his 26-man squad, Southgate said: Yep, all good. Morgan Freeman thanked his fans for alerting him that his voice had been recreated using artificial intelligence (AI). The Oscar-winning American actor, 87, is one of many Hollywood stars that have seen their tones replicated by technology. Freeman wrote on X: Thank you to my incredible fans for your vigilance and support in calling out the unauthorised use of an A.I. voice imitating me. Your dedication helps authenticity and integrity remain paramount. Grateful. #AI #scam #imitation #IdentityProtection. Thank you to my incredible fans for your vigilance and support in calling out the unauthorized use of an A.I. voice imitating me. Your dedication helps authenticity and integrity remain paramount. Grateful. #AI #scam #imitation #IdentityProtection Morgan Freeman (@morgan_freeman) June 28, 2024 It is unclear what issue with AI that the actor, known for The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy and Million Dollar Baby, was making in the post. There have been reports of a TikTok influencer appearing to recreate Freemans voice using technology, while joking that she is the actors niece. A deepfake artist also created an AI generated video of Freeman in 2022. Freeman has lent his voice to documentaries including the Oscar winning documentary March Of The Penguins, and the more recent narration on the nature programmes Life On Our Planet and Our Universe, as well as several advertisements. Earlier this year, Scarlett Johansson expressed being shocked and angered at how eerily similar one of the voices in ChatGPT sounded to hers. In response, OpenAI said it will pause the use of one of the voices in ChatGPT after it drew comparisons with the Hollywood actress. Johansson said OpenAI reluctantly agreed to take down the Sky voice after she hired lawyers who wrote to the artificial intelligence giants chief executive Sam Altman, asking about the process by which the company came up with the voice. OpenAI dismissed the accusation saying that it is not AI and belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice. In January, social media platform X had to temporarily block searches linked to Taylor Swift after fake, AI-generated explicit images of the pop star were posted to the site. Newly recruited soldiers celebrating the end of their training at a military base close to Kyiv. Photograph: Efrem Lukatsky/AP The autumn cannot arrive soon enough for Dmytro, when his handlers have promised to get him out of Ukraine. For the past month, the 31-year-old photographer from Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, has been holed up in his flat, rarely stepping outside, to avoid being conscripted into the army. I want to leave the country. My mind cant take being trapped here any more, Dmytro said. Since the start of the war, thousands of Ukrainian men have illegally crossed the Ukrainian border to dodge conscription, despite a nationwide ban prohibiting men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving. Attempts to flee the country are expected to increase after Ukraines recent adoption of new sweeping mobilisation measures, which allow the military to call up more soldiers and impose stricter penalties for draft evasion. I never thought about leaving until the mobilisation laws were introduced. But I cant stay in my flat forever, Dmytro said. Related: Zelenskiy visits troops in eastern Ukraine in effort to boost morale Through friends who had already fled, Dmytro obtained contacts and approached individuals online promising to facilitate his escape for a hefty fee, starting from 8,000 (6,800). I am not made for war. I cant kill people, even if they are Russians. I wont last long on the front I want to build a family and see the world. I am not ready to die, he said. Dmytro was unsure if he could trust the handlers, who had recently raised their prices to meet the growing demand, but said he saw no other options. More than two years into Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion, Ukraines armed forces are desperately short of soldiers. Since the start of the war, hundreds of thousands of ordinary Ukrainians have volunteered to serve at the front, helping to maintain the countrys independence and repel the initial attack. Many of those initial soldiers are dead, wounded or simply exhausted, leaving the military to recruit among a more reluctant pool of men. To fill the ranks, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, last April signed a controversial law that lowered the mobilisation age from 27 to 25. Under the new guidelines, draft evaders can lose their driving licence, have their bank accounts frozen and property seized. Even before the latest mobilisation drive, more than 20,000 men are believed to have fled the country to avoid service, some of them swimming and drowning in attempting to cross Ukraines border into Romania. In April, Andriy Demchenko, the head of the Ukrainian state border guard service, reported that at least 30 Ukrainian men had died attempting to cross, though the real number is probably much higher, as some bodies are very unlikely ever to be recovered. As mobilisation officers roam the cities to draft men of military age, many such as Dmytro have hatched plans to leave, fearing they will not survive long on the frontlines. Since the wars beginning, the draft has been criticised as chaotic and tarnished by corruption. Ukraine has intensified its efforts to stop people fleeing across borders and evading the draft, highlighted by Zelenskiys dismissal of all regional military recruitment chiefs in April. This dismissal followed reports of officers accepting bribes to exempt men from conscription. But the practice appears to be hard for the authorities to root out. Andrei, a 23-year-old IT worker from Odesa, shared with the Guardian a message he had received from a handler in late May with information on how he could leave the country. The detailed instructions outlined two escape pathways: one involved crossing the Moldovan border using a fake passport, while the other option would list Andrei as an artist, a category occasionally permitted to exit the country. Both schemes cost about 8,000, the handler wrote. Last summer, Andrei had already attempted to cross the border into Moldova using a fake medical certificate that said he was unfit for service. That attempt failed when border patrol questioned the authenticity of the certificate. He was promptly taken to a conscription office, but was released after paying a bribe. The journey is only getting more difficult and border officials are less eager to take bribes. I dont think I will be this lucky a second time if things go wrong, he said. Andrei said he was still considering the handlers offer, adding that the fee would be his life savings. For now, I am on a self-imposed house arrest. I dont leave my flat at all, he said. Some of his mobilised friends had already been deployed and killed, he said, which damaged his mental health. There are no exact figures for how many men are hiding or planning to leave, but in big cities Telegram channels with thousands of members have sprung up where users report sightings of state representatives to help others avoid them. Interviews with five men who were hiding at home to avoid conscription revealed a variety of reasons for doing it. Many voiced their dread of perishing in a battle marked by gruesome trench fighting and a brutal death rate. Others mentioned their resistance to conscription because of what they perceived as inadequate training before being sent to the frontlines. Some chose to avoid mobilisation on complex family grounds. Mykhailo, a gym instructor from Mariupol working in Kyiv, said his parents were still living in the coastal city that Russia occupied in the spring of 2022 after a brutal siege. My family in Mariupol will be in direct danger if the Russians find out that I am fighting, he said. I love my country and want to fight, but family comes first. It is a very difficult situation. Mykhailo, like others, has been avoiding going out, ordering food at home and only venturing to his nearby gym. I recently missed my best friends birthday because I was too afraid to leave. Its a very restricted life, to say the least, he remarked. Mykhailo said several of his friends had already fled the country and he occasionally considered that option. While overall support for the countrys troops remain high and polls show that there is still a considerable number of men willing to be mobilised, Ukraines conscription drive risks dividing Ukrainian society, already plagued by war fatigue. Many Ukrainian soldiers at the front, or those who have returned after being injured, criticise draft dodging, arguing that the practice weakens their countrys war effort as Russian forces make advances across multiple fronts. Standing outside a cafe in Kyiv, leaning on a crutch, Roman, who was discharged from service after a shell hit his right leg, expressed his disappointment when hearing stories of men hiding or attempting to flee the country. I understand that people are scared, but we simply need new recruits to keep fighting, Roman said, requesting that his last name not be published. If not us, then who will protect this country? *Some names have been changed Ex-SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, already a recipient of the Victoria Cross, has received a coronation medal. Photograph: Flavio Brancaleone/AAP The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says it was not a government decision to award Ben Roberts-Smith a coronation medal from King Charles. The ex-SAS soldier was welcomed into Western Australias Government House this week to receive the special honour which is given to all Victoria Cross recipients. Last year, Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, failed in a defamation case against three newspapers that he alleged defamed him as a war criminal. Justice Anthony Besanko found that the newspapers successfully proved to the civil standard of balance of probabilities that Roberts-Smith was complicit in the murder of four unarmed civilians while serving in the SAS in Afghanistan, as well as bullying and threatening colleagues, and intimidating a woman with whom he was having an affair. Related: War crimes reports rife with speculation, Ben Roberts-Smiths lawyer tells court Roberts-Smith, who has consistently denied all wrongdoing, has appealed that decision. Appearing on the Nine Networks Weekend Today on Saturday, the prime minister said the decision to award Roberts-Smith a coronation medal was made by King Charles, not by the Australian government. This was the decision of the Palace to give all Victoria Cross recipients a further award, Albanese said. Theres ongoing legal action on these issues so given the governments engagement, its important that there not be interference in that. But it certainly wasnt a government decision. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Roberts-Smith was photographed with his parents attending the event last Thursday. Both the governor of WA, Chris Dawson, and Buckingham Palace have been contacted for comment. Roberts-Smith took the Sydney Morning Herald to court last year over a number of news stories it published that contained the allegations of war crimes. After the 110-day trial, Justice Besanko found the newspaper had proven the allegations that Roberts-Smith was involved in the four murders during his deployment. In 2021, Asio warned that some nationalist and racist violent extremists seek to join the Australian defence force to obtain training and capability. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP There have been at least 16 investigations into defence personnel allegedly engaging with extremism or supremacism in the last two years, documents obtained by Guardian Australia reveal. Of the cases, which span February 2022 to April 2024, nine are still pending while two are open. Sixteen concerned army personnel in various units and two in the navy. The matters are part of Operation Lumen, which began in 2020 and is an ongoing investigation into alleged links between Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and extremist or supremacist groups or ideologies. The outcomes of the closed investigations and two incidents are not listed in the records which were released under freedom of information laws but at least two ended due to insufficient evidence that the member took part in [nationalist and racist violent extremist] groups or associates. There is no place within defence for behaviour or associations that are inconsistent with defence values, a defence spokesperson said. This includes inappropriate association with groups that engage in advocacy for extremist ideology, extremist views, or criminal activity. All defence personnel have an obligation to report contact with these groups. Earlier this year, ASIOs director general, Mike Burgess, said he was concerned about accelerationists extremists who want to trigger a so-called race war. The threat from nationalist and racist violent extremism persists, he said in annual threat assessment. We assess white nationalist groups are primarily focussed on recruitment and radicalisation. In October 2021, the ADF tightened its vetting procedures in an attempt to prevent nationalist and racist violent extremists from joining amid concerns about former ADF personnel who were linked to local white supremacist groups. In 2021, Asio warned in its annual report that some nationalist and racist violent extremists seek to join the Australian defence force to obtain training and capability. A new framework was developed that same year to share information about potential extremist links. If unacceptable behaviour is established, defence personnel can face consequences ranging from counselling to dismissal. They may also be referred to the Australian federal police and national security agencies. Defence works closely with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to identify and counter threats to defence and defence personnel involving ideologically motivated extremism, a spokesperson said. Ben Wadham, a professor of defence and veteran studies at the Open Door project, Flinders University, said there were two broad risks for the ADF: members of extremist groups who join the ADF to gain military skills and those who join without an allegiance but for whom the military environment foments or galvanises their beliefs. Related: Rise in activity from rightwing extremists who want to trigger race war in Australia, Asio warns The Senates legal and constitutional affairs references committee began an inquiry into rightwing extremist movements in Australia in December. In its submission, Asio said ideologically motivated violent extremism, including nationalist and racist violent extremism, accounted for 25% of its priority counter-terrorism caseload. Do you know more? Contact abogle@protonmail.com OpenAI can't seem to catch a break as another lawsuit comes its way. This time around, the plaintiffs are also including Microsoft in the lawsuit. This isn't the first time that the pair is on the receiving end of a lawsuit, and it likely won't be the last. OpenAI and Microsoft Faces Copyright Infringement Claims OpenAI has been accused of using copyrighted materials without permission time and time again, so this no longer comes as a shock. The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) claims that they are the latest victims of such practices and decided to sue as well. The nonprofit behind the magazine Mother Jones and podcast Reveal said that both tech companies started "vacuuming up" their stories to make their products more powerful without asking for permission or offering compensation. "This free rider behavior is not only unfair, it is a violation of copyright. The work of journalists, at CIR and everywhere, is valuable, and OpenAI and Microsoft know it." CIR CEO Monika Bauerlein mentioned, adding that other organizations had the courtesy to license their materials. The lawyers backing the media nonprofit claim that with OpenAI and Microsoft copying its content, it has "undermined relationships with readers and partners, and deprived it of revenue," as reported by The Verge. "We are working collaboratively with the news industry and partnering with global news publishers to display their content in our products like ChatGPT, including summaries, quotes, and attribution, to drive traffic back to the original articles," an OpenAI spokesperson said about the CIR lawsuit. What's worse is that this isn't the first time that the pair has been the defendants in a lawsuit. Back in early January, two nonfiction book authors have also claimed that Microsoft and OpenAI have stolen copyrighted works to build its AI system. Authors Nicholas Basbanes and Nicholas Gage said in the lawsuit that they aim to represent a class of writers whose copyrighted work has been "systematically pilfered" by both companies, also stating that they are "no different than any other thief." Both authors are seeking damages wherein the defendants have to pay $150,000 for each work that has been infringed, as mentioned in CNBC." Unfortunately, this is not the only case in which OpenAI has been involved. Read Also : OpenAI Announces That It Will Block China-Based Users Other Cases Against OpenAI and Microsoft One of the more recent lawsuits against OpenAI was that of The New York Times, which has already spent about $1 million on the lawsuit, and it's not the only publication going against the tech giants developing AI systems. Eight publications are also coming for the accused such as New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, both of which are under hedge fund Alden Global Capital along with the six other news outlets joining the lawsuit. OpenAI is already changing its ways as it strikes licensing deals with certain media outlets like The Associated Press, Axel Springer, the Financial Times, Dotdash Meredith, News Corp, Vox Media, Time, and many more. However, it allegedly still uses countless copyrighted works without compensating its creators. Vikos gorge, the worlds deepest gorge in proportion to its width, in the Pindus mountains of north-west Greece. Photograph: Getty Images A cheer goes up as we board our train. Were catching the Eurostar from London to Paris and a couple so newly married that the bride is still wearing her wedding dress are just ahead of us. Our own excitement may be less visible but its just as palpable. As the train hurtles through the sunny downlands of Kent, I grin at my 11-year-old son, Osian. He is trying to disappear into his hoodie, embarrassed at my trainspotter jokes and the journeys unexpected romantic twist. Nothing can derail my high spirits, though, at the thought of hiking in one of the worlds most spectacular landscapes, the Vikos gorge in the Pindus mountains of north-west Greece. Theres also the thrill of getting there. After an overnight stop in Paris, we take an early train to Zurich then catch another to Milan, our noses buffing the windows as we gaze at a rolling diorama of Alpine peaks and meadowed valleys. In Milan we take a chance on an Airbnb spare room a few minutes walk from Centrale station. So magnificent is the historic apartment and so generous is owner Piergiorgios hospitality, that I spend too long sipping espresso on his plant-filled balcony next day and we have to sprint to catch our train to Brindisi, the port for our overnight ferry to the Greek port of Igoumenitsa. Waking a couple of hours before docking, we rush out on deck for our first sight of the Greek mainland. The Pindus mountains loom as a colourwash ripple along the horizon. Like a time-lapse painting, the detail emerges as we sail closer to land and the peachy whisper of sunrise morphs into bright rose gold. Its been a long time since Ive stood on the deck of a Greek ferry with just a backpack and the outline of a travel plan, and it fills me with joy and relief to find Osian is enjoying our odyssey as much as me. Its been a long time since Ive stood on the deck of a Greek ferry with just a backpack and the outline of a travel plan A decade spent mothering small children and making peace with the tectonic changes that come with that means there hasnt been much time, or money, for more intrepid travels. With a big birthday coming up for me and Osian making the transition to secondary school, now feels like the time to strike out further. And to spend some time together one-on-one: soon he may not be so keen. There are practical benefits to having an 11-year-old in tow, I discover, as we collect a hire car and Osian rigs up my phone to the dashboard screen, projecting our route via Bluetooth before Ive even fastened my seatbelt. Were heading for Zagori, a region about 90 minutes drive inland whose cobbled villages, dramatic gorges and ancient stone bridges have earned it Unesco world heritage status. Weve come at half-term, to avoid the full force of the midsummer heat, but its still warm as we trace a scenic route into the mountains, skirting errant cows, dogs and sheep and holding our breath as vertiginous drops appear around hairpin bends. In Kipoi, once the capital of Zagori but now a sleepy village, we stay at Hotel Machalas, where bedrooms are made cosy with bright rugs and painted ceilings. At the restaurant opposite, we eat chips, fat beans, homegrown salad and souvlaki so tender that Osians eyes widen as he takes his first bite. Breakfast is just as good. Old timers sing along to Greek songs playing softly in the background as we fill up on salty sheeps cheese, olives, homemade bread and thick yoghurt. For the next three days were walking roughly north, from village to village. We leave the hire car at the hotel and set off with our backpacks for Monodendri, three hours away (the plan is to take a taxi back at the end of the hike to collect the car). The regions bridges are the highlight of todays route. Mostly built in the 18th and 19th centuries, theyre all so distinctive, and exquisite, they look as if theyve been chiselled by elves. One of the first we come to is Plakidas, a three-arched wonder that ripples like a sleeping dragon across the river not far from Kipoi. From here we zigzag down and up a looping path lined with wild sage and rosemary, the only sound a single cowbell in a distant valley. After weve picnicked on spinach pie and oranges by the soaring semi-circle of Noutsos Bridge, the soft drizzle turns into heavy, relentless rain. Were soon soaked but theres nowhere obvious to shelter so we carry on, sloshing over Misiou Bridge and up Vitsa steps, a 300-year-old staircase that flows, Andy Goldsworthy-style, up the steep hillside ahead. Even ever-cheerful Osian starts to flag as we pass a sign warning about bears and thunder rolls overhead. Thankfully its not much further to Vitsa village, where were welcomed to chic Strouga cafe with slices of sticky honey and orange cake and the offer to call a taxi. The gorge is ours to enjoy as the scent of sage wafts up from our feet and wild cyclamen line the route In neighbouring Monodendri, we check into Hotel Vikos (doubles from 80). Next morning, fuelled on owner Dimitriss pancakes, we set out for the Vikos gorge. The worlds deepest gorge relative to its width, this dramatic rocky chasm is what has drawn us to Zagori. We enter it with 45 minutes of steep descent into what feels like the underworld but is really heavy mist. For the next 90 minutes we keep our eyes on the trail as it ascends, descends, scrambles over boulders and throws in a stretch of via ferrata. Around halfway, the path levels out and, barring a 45-minute climb at the end, the rest of the six-hour route is an easy ramble. We meet only a handful of other hikers: the gorge is ours to enjoy as the scent of sage wafts up from our feet and wild cyclamen line the route like tiny cheerleaders. By lunchtime the mist has burned off, revealing the gorges gigantic walls. This is epic, shouts Osian into the mighty echo chamber as we lie on a boulder, as insignificant as ants, the mountains known as the Towers of Astraka looming 1,000 metres above. At the end of the trail we climb up to the hamlet of Vikos for bowls of wild boar stew and a night in the pretty, geranium-dotted Vikos View hotel (doubles from 76). So comfortable are the beds and so generous the breakfast that we leave later than planned, returning to the trail just as the suns heat is building. Our final days walk is a short hop as the crow flies to neighbouring Megalo Papingo, but the route descends back into the gorge and up the other side and its sweltering in the middle of the day. We plan to stop at the bottom for a dip in the Voidomatis springs but waste a hot hour going the wrong way before eventually finding our way to the turquoise pools, where we pull off our boots and plunge our feet into the icy water. Its a magical spot, with a tiny chapel beside the springs, and a sward of grass perfect for picnicking. Clocking the climb ahead of us, though, Im nervous about lingering too long this late in the day. Reluctantly, we begin our ascent. We walk uphill for over two hours, sometimes through forest, sometimes in sheer rock. At one point the trail leads across a scree slope, the incline so steep my legs start trembling. Untroubled by vertigo, Osian strides ahead, enjoying the role reversal as I lag behind, following his instructions to keep my eyes on his back and trying to laugh at the jokes he tells to distract me. Its a glimpse of the future, Osians kindness and courage filling me with pride. How precious this time together is, and how I hope he remembers it. Related: All stations to Athens: crossing Europe by train and boat As we arrive in Megalo Papingo the trees shower us with saffron-coloured leaves, a ticker-tape ending to a magical journey. At our hotel, the Papaevangelou (doubles from 137), owner Giorgios upgrades us to a room with a view of the Astraka Towers. As the sun rises the following morning we sit on the terrace feasting on a stellar breakfast and that epic panorama. How far weve come, in so many ways. Train travel from London to Paris was provided by Eurostar; from 78 return. Train from Paris to Brindisi via Switzerland from 80 one way, and from Brindisi to Turin from 70 one way, both booked via Trainline. Ferry from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa from 34 one way, booked via Direct Ferries. Coach from Turin to Paris from 29 one way, booked via Flixbus Nigel Farage speaks during a BBC Question Time Leaders' Special on Friday - Peter Byrne/AFP Nigel Farage has said he is boycotting the BBC until he receives an apology from the broadcaster over accusations of bias in a special episode of Question Time. The Reform UK leader took part in a half-hour question and answer session with a live studio audience on Friday, a format in which all the major political party leaders have now participated. But Mr Farage said he was astonished by what he considered to be an unrepresentative audience, saying it was the most extreme example of bias he had seen in 25 years of appearing on BBC programmes. One audience member asked the Reform leader why his party attracted racists and extremists following a number of controversies over social media comments by candidates. Another said Mr Farage employed a whole slew of massive racists, while a young woman told him this country would be nothing without a rich history of immigration. On Saturday, the Reform leader said he would not appear on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the BBCs flagship political programme, in protest. I have just been invited to appear on Laura Kuenssberg. I'm refusing until the BBC apologises for their dishonest QT audience. Our state broadcaster has behaved like a political actor throughout this election. Reform will be campaigning vigorously to abolish the license fee. Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 29, 2024 He told The Telegraph: The whole thing is astonishing, its absolutely astonishing. That is not where the country is. Last night was a really, really bad example. It was the most extreme example Ive seen in the BBC in over 25 years. I did it, got through it, but the post-mortem analysis is that it was not the right audience. We should not be paying a licence fee if thats the best they can do. The BBC pushed back against Mr Farages accusations on Saturday night, with a spokesman saying: We refute these claims. Last nights Question Time audience was made up of broadly similar levels of representation from Reform UK and the Green Party, with the other parties represented too. There were also a number of people, with a range of political views, who were still making up their mind. While Mr Farage noted that one of the audience members had previously taken part in a pro-Palestinian rally, BBC sources said going to a protest did not rule somebody out of applying to be in the audience. They also said no members of BBC staff were among the audience. A Reform source said: Somehow, they find an almost entirely hostile audience, somewhere where Reform are polling in the 20s. Pull the other one. We see them, and so does the country. It came as Mr Farages party made an official complaint to the election watchdog against Channel 4 in a separate row over footage of one of its canvassers. Andrew Parker, a part-time actor who lists secret filming among his skills, was shown on a Channel 4 News bulletin calling Rishi Sunak a f---ing p---. In response, Mr Farage said he wanted nothing to do with party candidates who have been exposed as racists, but claimed the incident involving Mr Parker, captured by a hidden camera, was staged. Adam Richardson, the Reform secretary and a barrister, wrote to the Electoral Commission saying it was entirely evident that Mr Parker was a plant within the Channel 4 News piece. On Saturday night, the Electoral Commission said it was aware of reports that Reform had asked for an investigation. It added that it had not yet received a letter but would consider its contents if it did. The watchdog noted that Channel 4 News is a licensed broadcaster ... its reports are exempt from the regime regulated by the commission. Mr Richardson said he had also made a formal complaint to Essex Police on behalf of Mr Farage, accusing actor Andrew Parker of knowingly making false statements about a candidate during an election campaign. Mr Parker said he was glad Reform had reported Channel 4 to the watchdog, having called himself a total fool over the incident. A spokesman 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 withdraws support from three candidates Mr Sunak said he had been left hurt and angry by Mr Parkers remarks, adding that Mr Farage had questions to answer about his supporters. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, backed Mr Sunaks response, saying of Mr Farage: This is about leadership. Leadership sets the culture and tone of a political party. He needs to speak as a leader. Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, claimed the racist comments showed what Reform really is as a party. Mr Tugendhat said: There is a real pattern of racist and misogynistic views in the party. And I think its absolutely right to call it out. Reform withdrew its support from three candidates on Saturday Edward Oakenfull, Robert Lomas and Leslie Lilley over past social media comments. Mr Oakenfull shared derogatory comments about the IQs of ethnic minorities, which he said in April had been taken out of context. The Times reported that Mr Lomas and Mr Lilley had made derogatory comments about black people and migrants respectively. RAF aircraft with Grant Shapps on board had its signals jammed by Russia when it returned home from Poland in March 2024 - CPL TIM HAMMOND/MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Russia has jammed the GPS on hundreds of RAF flights over Eastern Europe this year, The Telegraph can reveal. More than one in four transport and surveillance flights in the first four months of 2024 were subject to GPS [global positioning system] interference, analysis of data from thousands of flights has shown. Detailed analysis shows how the indiscriminate jamming can threaten the safety of military and civil flights alike, experts said, demonstrates the extent of Russias interference with aviation. Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said: This is another example of Russias recklessness and more evidence that they are an out-of-control hostile state. Thankfully our planes and pilots can see off this threat but it illustrates president Putins contempt for the West and for the international rules-based order. Ian Petchenik, a spokesman for Flight Radar 24, which shared the flight data with The Telegraph, said: GPS jamming can create substantial headaches for operators, disrupting navigation systems and increasing pilot workload in congested airspace near conflict zones. Mitigating these risks is essential to air safety. In March, an RAF jet carrying Mr Shapps home from Poland had its GPS jammed by Russia. A defence source said at the time that the jamming was directly related to Putin and the attack on Ukraine and the sensitivities around Kaliningrad. The Telegraphs analysis of data from Flight Radar 24 looked at flights carried out by 63 RAF aircraft between Jan 1 and April 30, totalling 1,467 journeys across Eastern Europe and the Middle East. It found that 142 RAF transport and surveillance flights out of 504 across Eastern Europe were subject to GPS jamming between January and April. Of those, 60 saw repeated jamming attempts equating to one in eight flights. Each of the aircraft in the analysis has a transponder that broadcasts a number saying how accurate the onboard GPS is. When that number drops below a certain threshold, experts say that is a reliable indication that jamming is taking place. The analysis included all of the RAFs Voyager and leased Airbus A330 passenger and tanker aircraft, along with two Dassault Falcon business jets and the Governments specially-fitted Voyager used for VIP trips. Also included were the A400M and C-17 cargo carrying fleets, as well as the RC-135 surveillance aircraft, which is based on the Boeing 707 airliner design. While these are not front-line fighters and bombers, they all form a critical part of the UKs defence capabilities. The proportion of jammed RAF flights rose to more than one in three 40 per cent if flights crossing the eastern Mediterranean are taken into account. Some jamming signals may come from Israel, as it seeks to defend itself against potential GPS-guided weapons launched by Hamas. Russia has a substantial military presence in Syria and geopolitical experts say that some of the regions jamming comes from that location. Another Russian jammer operates from the Kaliningrad exclave, a parcel of Russian-controlled territory on the shores of the Baltic Sea, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. Dr Tom Withington, a Royal United Services Institute associate fellow specialising in electronic warfare, said: This has a consequence from a navigation perspective and also from an air traffic control perspective. I dont necessarily think the Russians are deliberately trying to cause mayhem to aviation by doing this jamming. But on the other hand, the jamming itself is very irresponsible. There will be moments when countries do need to use it for very respectable reasons, such as self-defence. Not uncommon Earlier this year, Finnair had to withdraw all flights from Tartu, Estonia, after Russian GPS jamming from across that countrys eastern border left flights unable to safely approach the airport. John Healey, Labours defence secretary, said: The UK is united in our condemnation of Russias aggressive actions against our Armed Forces and Nato allies. Thats why Keir Starmer has made absolutely clear that our commitment to Nato is unshakable as threats are increasing to keep us safe. Whilst there may be a change to the government on July 4, there will be no change in Britains resolve to support our Nato allies, confront Russian aggression and pursue Putin for his war crimes. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: Our aircraft are fitted with a range of capabilities to ensure they can operate in a range of environments, including where GPS jamming could take place. Jamming is not uncommon when operating around areas of conflict and it does not prevent us conducting air operations. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it would not comment on whether the UK has asked other countries to reduce their GPS jamming. The embassies of Russia and Israel failed to respond to a request for comment. Police look for Jay Slater by the side of a road in the Masca ravine on the island of Tenerife. Photograph: Borja Suarez/Reuters A mass search for the missing teenager Jay Slater has begun in Tenerife after police called for volunteers to take part. Slater, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, was last heard from on the morning of Monday 17 June when he called a friend to say he had no water and only 1% battery left on his phone. He had been on holiday with friends and had gone back to a rented house in a rural part of the island with people he had met at a festival. On Friday, the Guardia Civil urged volunteer associations such as firefighters and experts in rugged terrain to register to take part in a busqueda masiva, or planned search, of the rocky area close to where the 19-year-old went missing. Tenerifes Guardia Civils police chief, Angel Sanz Coronado, said: Following the disappearance on 17 June of the young 19-year-old British man in the area of Masca, belonging to the municipality of Buenavista del Norte, the Civil Guard is prepared to carry out a mass search. Given that it is a steep, rocky area, full of uneven terrain and with many ravines, tracks and trails, we request the collaboration of all those volunteer associations that can help in this planned search that is intended to be carried out in a directed and coordinated way. This massive search will begin on Saturday 29 June at 09.00 hours. A meeting point will be established at the Mirador de la Cruz de Hilda in Masca to start the search in a logical and orderly way along the many paths and ravines that are found in Masca. David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, said he was thinking of and worrying about Slater and that consular assistance was being given to the family. On a campaign visit on Thursday to Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, Lord Cameron said: Obviously I am thinking of and worrying about the family and this young man. Consular officials are there in Tenerife talking to the family, talking to the local authorities there and desperately keen that we make progress and find out whats happened. The Masca gorge, where the search is taking place, has already been searched by police with dogs and by helicopters and drones, which turned up no trace of Slater. He is not the first person to disappear in the area and locals said it could take months for the bodies of missing people to be found. On Friday, Slaters friend Brad Hargreaves told ITVs This Morning he had been on a video call with him before his disappearance when he heard him go off the road. He said: He was on the phone walking down a road and hed gone over a little bit not a big drop but a tiny little drop and he was going down, and he said Ill ring ya back, Ill ring ya back because I think someone else was ringing him. He said he could see his friends feet sliding down the hill and could hear he was walking on gravel. At the time I didnt think anything of it. I just thought he was going to get a bus home or a taxi home because thats what he says he is going to do. Hargreaves said he and his friend were both laughing at that point. He told the programme he was praying for him to come home. Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, who has been on the island searching for her son for more than a week, said she was not losing hope that he would be found alive. A GoFundMe page set up for the search for Slater surpassed 40,000 on Friday, and Duncan said the money would be used for mountain rescue, accommodation and food expenses. In an update on the page, which was started by Slaters friend, she wrote: 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. Im surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side but far from their loved ones, so well also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times. Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves We are at a crossroads as a nation. Do we want five more years of chaos and decline or stability and change that can build a brighter future? That is what is on the ballot paper at this general election and it is the choice Telegraph readers will have to make on Thursday. Throughout this campaign, Keir Starmer and I have been clear that the change our country needs can only come from fixing our broken economy. The tax burden is at a 70-year high, our national debt has more than doubled since 2010 and the typical household is thousands of pounds worse off than four years ago. We have become trapped in a low-growth, high-tax cycle that is not working for the British people. During this campaign, all the Tories want to talk about is tax and spend. It is all they have known over the past 14 years because they have forgotten that the essential ingredients for a successful economy are growth and investment. So, we need a change of approach. That is why Keir Starmer and I have put wealth creation led by the private sector at the heart of our manifesto. I know from talking to businesses that they are ready to invest in Britain. Like me, they see the extraordinary potential we have as a country. The start-up firms founded here and trading with the rest of the world. The universities working with pharmaceutical companies to develop the next generation of cancer treatments. And the latest blockbusters filmed in the UK and shown on screens to millions. But I know they are also frustrated about the instability of the past 14 years. Too often I hear chief executives tell me that they want to put money into Britain but have been put off by the endless chaos in our politics or the red tape left untouched for years because of the paralysis in Westminster. Political uncertainty has fuelled economic uncertainty. That is why the first part of our plan to rebuild our economy is to bring back its stability. I want investors to look at Britain and say it is a safe haven in an increasingly turbulent Europe and the rest of the world. At a time when other countries look to be tilting towards more populist, unstable politics I want Britain to be a secure and stable place where business can invest with confidence. I worked at the Bank of England as an economist before entering politics. I know what it takes to run a successful economy. Thats why with me as chancellor there will be tough spending rules, robust institutions and every commitment fully funded, fully costed. These principles will be non-negotiable and with that stability we can bring back investment to our shores. But it should not be the job of government alone to deliver that investment. It will require a new partnership with business. I want to lead the most pro-growth, pro-business Treasury in our history. I want to break the minister-knows-best model of government, with business sat round the table helping to write our plans for the economy. In opposition we have opened our doors to business and in government we will do that, too. That includes hitting the ground running with a new National Wealth Fund that will unlock more than 20 billion of business investment and create more than half a million new jobs in towns and cities across the United Kingdom. And I want that partnership to deliver the reforms needed to lift the barriers that make it harder to do business. That means having a serious plan to get people back to work who have been left stuck on ballooning hospital waiting lists. If you can work, you should work and with Labour our welfare system will make sure that happens. The partnership must also mean fixing our broken planning system so we can restore the dream of home ownership. It is an ambitious agenda and I know it wont be easy to deliver. The next government will inherit the worst set of circumstances since the end of the Second World War. There will be tough choices ahead and it will take hard work. I know many of you who voted Conservative at the last election or indeed all your life want to see change. You want an end to the chaos and a Britain that can stand tall again in the world. That is what you will get with me as chancellor and it is what you will get from a Labour government. On Thursday, if you want that change, you have got to vote for it. Sir Keir Starmer debates with Rishi Sunak - Phil Noble/WPA Pool/Getty Labours vote share has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years ahead of the general election, new polling shows. Support for the party dropped by four percentage points in the space of a week following Sir Keir Starmers final head-to-head debate with Rishi Sunak and increased scrutiny of his policies. A poll of 2,092 adults by Savanta for The Telegraph, conducted between Wednesday and Thursday, saw the firm record the lowest Labour support since January 2022 as the gap between Labour and the Conservatives dropped to 17 percentage points. But with a vote share of 38 per cent compared to the Tories 21 per cent and Reforms 14 per cent Labour is on course for a majority of more than 260 seats if the current figures are replicated on on Thursday, seat modeller Electoral Calculus predicts. Such a scenario would leave Labour with 459 seats, the Conservatives 75 and the Liberal Democrats 70. Reform would gain five seats, giving it a total of six, while in Scotland the SNP would be reduced to a rump of 14 MPs. The scenario suggests Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, Liz Truss, Mr Sunaks predecessor, and Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the Commons who has been touted as a future Tory leader, would all lose their seats. The public was evenly split on whether Sir Keir or Mr Sunak won Wednesdays BBC debate, in which the Prime Minister urged voters not to surrender their finances and national security to Labour. An audience member drew the loudest applause of the night by asking both whether they were really the best weve got. Chris Hopkins, the director of political research at Savanta, said: This is our lowest Labour vote share since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, and the Conservatives for their part do appear to have slowed or stopped their downward spiral. However, thats where the good news ends for the Prime Minister if this vote share was replicated on polling day, Labour would still likely have a majority of over 200. The increase in vote share for the Greens and independent candidates is notable. Not because it will have an impact on this election in any significant way, but could point towards trouble for the Labour Party in government and over the coming years. Labour voters deserted the party in their droves for the Green Party or pro-Palestinian candidates at last months local elections in a foretaste of the difficulties Sir Keir may face if he enters government at the end of this week. The polling also found voters expect NHS waiting times and housing to improve under a Labour government. Waiting times are expected to get better by 45 per cent of Britons, while 27 per cent think they will get worse. Forty-three per cent anticipate the housing crisis to ease, and 25 per cent think it will worsen. However, the public is more split on whether Labour would make the economy better or worse (40 per cent versus 38 per cent), as well as life in general (34 per cent versus 30 per cent) and crime (32 per cent versus 33 per cent). Mr Sunak is highly likely to lose power on Thursday, bringing 14 years of Tory rule to an end. But the public is split on who should succeed him and, when presented with a list of seven potential future leaders, 26 per cent said they did not know while 20 per cent said none of these. Most popular among all voters was Nigel Farage, who leads Reform UK but has refused to rule out a return to the Conservative Party at some point in the future. This may factor in Labour voters who believe Mr Farage is more beatable than Ms Mordaunt, as suggested by recent head-to-head YouGov surveys. Seventeen per cent of voters said Mr Farage would be best to succeed Mr Sunak, while 16 per cent opted for Ms Mordaunt, who is fighting for re-election in what is expected to be a close race in Portsmouth North. She emerged as the firm favourite among those planning to vote Conservative, with 32 per cent saying that she should succeed her former leadership rival. Just 13 per cent opted for Mr Farage, while Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, Suella Braverman, Priti Patel and Robert Jenrick all polled in single figures. Almost half of all voters agreed with Mr Farages recent remarks that neither Mr Sunak nor Sir Keir had got the guts to stop small boat Channel crossings. The Savanta poll also found strong public dissatisfaction with Mr Sunaks handling of the gambling scandal, which continued to grow over the past week. Sixty-six per cent believed he had shown weak leadership by withdrawing support from two Tory candidates almost a fortnight after the first reports emerged about the alleged gambling, while 80 per cent said politicians should be banned from betting on politics. Gareth Davies, drinking his last pint of the 'experiment' - Jamie Lorriman Weve all been there. A big session the night before, followed by a lie in and a fry up to sober up. Then youre fine to drive. Or are you? Doctors are planning to lobby the next government to reduce Englands drink-driving limit and its calling to question everything we once thought about how long it really takes us to sober up, and when its safe for us to drive. Surely, a couple of pints with lunch and a five hour breather before driving home is fine? Looking for the definitive answer, I turned to science to put it to the test and to measure the impact binge drinking had on my body. Im wearing one of the Governments alcohol tags, an electronic ankle bracelet that detects alcohol consumption through the skin by taking sweat samples every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. Its the Ministry of Justices newest tactic to curb alcohol-related crimes. The electronic tag detects alcohol consumption through the skin by taking sweat samples every 30 minutes - Jamie Lorriman Those who commit crimes when under the influence of alcohol are released from prison on the condition they wont drink alcohol. The tag allows probation officers to monitor their alcohol consumption. If theyre found to break their alcohol ban, theyre fined or sent back to prison. I want to use the tag to monitor whether any of the remedies I fall back on to sober up actually make any difference. Ill be able to see, through the same metrics the police use to monitor offenders, how the levels of alcohol alter in my body as I take it through the motions of my go-to sobering up routine. My challenge is to drink as much as I can in two hours before attempting to sober up enough for the tag to say I was back to normal. And so, at midday, in the comfort of a pub in south London, it began. I drank three pints of Whitsable Bay lager (4.5% ABV), three pints of Guinness (4.2% ABV), one gin and tonic, one rum and Coke, two Aperol spritzes and six shots of Sambuca Needless to say, after stage one of my mini-experiment, Im worse for wear. Im at my most drunk, five times the drink drive limit, at 9pm seven hours after my last drink at 2pm. The tag revealed rather frighteningly that there was 400mg of alcohol in my blood. The current legal limit for driving is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 0.08 per cent. Gareth on the Guinness - Jamie Lorriman David Nutt, the author of Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health and a professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, explains what exactly is going on inside my body: The alcohol youre drinking goes into your stomach and sometimes through your duodenum in the small intestine. Then into the blood supply, before it goes into the liver. Your liver tries to clear it but when you put such a huge amount of alcohol in, the liver cant clear it all. It breaks some of it down to something called acetaldehyde, which is why you get red and flushed and your blood pressure goes up and your heart rate goes up. The alcohol and the acetaldehyde then go into your brain. And in the brain, they do all the things we get from alcohol in terms of turning on or blocking different neurotransmitters. So, with all this going on inside my body, is there anything I can do to reverse the effects and sober up? Now, making my way home, the second half of my experiment begins. Will water sober you up? Like most people the first thing I tried to sober up was water. But even after two pints and one booze free hour I felt drunker than I had at the pub. Thats natural, says Prof Nutt, as the body is still processing the alcohol. With some of the alcohol still in your stomach, the water will have slowed the process down. But it also stops you getting dehydrated which is one of the side effects of alcohol, he explains. So whilst water doesnt sober you up, had I not had the water, Id have been even more drunk. And my hangover wouldve been worse. Does exercise reduce the effects of alcohol? Ive been told you can sweat it out. So I tried doing some press ups to see whether that would sober me up. Unfortunately that didnt work either. Sadly, press-ups didn't help Gareth sober up - Jamie Lorriman In theory, Prof Nutt says exercise can have an impact. Alcohol is a foodstuff. It is an energy provider. So burning sugars by exercise will encourage alcohol to some extent to be shunted into the sugars. So it will help to moderate the level of alcohol. But I think the other good thing about exercise is that it will keep you awake to offset some of the sedating effects of the alcohol too. What difference will food make after drinking? Im something of an expert at the well-trodden practice of getting food in your system to soak up the alcohol. Id planned to treat myself to a proper lunch. But, with the booze in my brain, McDonalds was calling. My standard order of a couple of chicken mayos, some fries and a side of double cheeseburger, please. 'With the booze in my brain, McDonald's was calling' - Jamie Lorriman If drinking enough water was tricky, this was like chewing cement. Prof Nutt tells me that food will slow down the alcohol being absorbed. But we have to remember the two factors in opposition here. Youve got the alcohol going into the stomach and through the stomach and getting you drunk. And then youve got the liver clearing the alcohol. So the rising phase and the clearing phase are in opposition. Should you drink coffee if you are drunk? Yet another pub tale is that coffee can sober you up. I tried it, with two flat whites. It can, in theory, make you more alert. But it cant sober you up. Coffee is an alerting agent, explains Prof Nutt. So it definitely offsets the sedation and intoxication. The last resort: Does vomiting make you sober? Prof Nutt explains that when we vomit after drinking its because of gastric stasis essentially the volume of alcohol poisoning the nerves in the stomach. There are cells called mast cells in the lining of your stomach and your intestines, he explains. When they get poisoned, they break down and release serotonin a neurotransmitter and hormone that causes you to be sick when released in the stomach. Theres a sort of a paradoxical, fortuitous, accidental phenomenon of vomiting with alcohol that actually stops you dying of alcohol poisoning the brain because the stomach kicks it out first. The impact that vomiting had on my alcohol reading was interesting. There was an immediate drop-off in my alcohol but then the levels of alcohol in my system spiked again. Long-term, it had no impact whatsoever. Prof Nutt believes my vomiting episode did two things. You threw up and thats where you see the alcohol level drop. But some alcohol still made it to your intestine and was immediately absorbed into the small bowel. Thats when you see your alcohol levels go back up with a vengeance over the next few hours. Sleep at last I hit the hay at 10.30pm. Sadly, sleep does absolutely nothing to sober you up, apart from passing the time. I wake up at 2am and drink two pints of orange squash. Still, no impact on my alcohol levels. When my three-year-old son wakes me up at 9am with a plateful of cooked breakfast, its a full 18 hours since my last drink and Ive only just dropped under the current drink drive limit (at 6am). But I do still have alcohol in my system. At 10am, another cold shower and a bit more water later, Im finally sober. Its now 20 hours after my last drink. But Prof Nutt has a word of warning for anyone thinking about getting behind the wheel. A hangover is as dangerous as being over the limit when youre driving, he says. If you have a crushing headache, lights are agitating you it impairs driving like alcohol. I certainly wont be going anywhere near a wheel today or a pub for that matter. The amount of alcohol in your bloodstream and how it impacts your body French President Macron with National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, whose party could win big at the snap election. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AP Emmanuel Macrons centrist grouping was fighting for survival this weekend before the first round of Frances high-stakes snap election, which could see the far-right National Rally (RN) become the biggest force in parliament. Macron, who warned last week that France risked civil war if Marine Le Pens anti-immigration RN, or the leftwing New Popular Front coalition, came to power, said at the European summit in Brussels that uninhibited racism and antisemitism had been unleashed in France. But his strategy of stoking a climate of fear, in which his centrists are presented as the only rational force to hold back the breakdown of French society, is seen as backfiring. Antoine Bristielle, the director of opinion at the Fondation Jean-Jaures thinktank, said that since Macron called the election, Frances political future was extremely difficult to read. Macron is more and more unpredictable, he said. Its as if hes running the country like hes in a Netflix series and has to put a cliffhanger at the end of each episode. Macron called the parliamentary poll after his centrist party was trounced by the far-right RN in the European election, saying it would clarify the political landscape. But even figures close to the president acknowledge that many of his own voters are uneasy over the resulting political turmoil and feel Macron himself has created chaos. The exact results of the two-round election, with a high turnout expected in the first round on Sunday, are complex to predict. But the RN is riding on a wave of support. Polls show the party taking the greatest share of seats, followed by the left alliance, ahead of Macrons centrists. Political analysts say France is entering uncharted waters. If Le Pens party manages to go from its current 88 seats to an absolute majority of 289, it would form a far-right government and Macron would have to share power. Equally, the RN could win the largest number of seats but fall short of an absolute majority. Macron could then find himself with a hung parliament unable to produce a stable majority to govern the European Unions second economy and its top military power. Macron is running France like hes in a Netflix series with a cliffhanger at the end of each episode Antoine Bristielle, thinktank director Christelle Craplet, director of opinion at BVA pollsters, said that the dynamique for the RN is strong. She described a polarised mood in France. Many of Macrons core electorate are wondering why he dissolved parliament and called this election, she said. There is incomprehension and anxiety, particularly among older voters who make up the core of Macrons electorate. But equally, RN voters feel a sense of hope and satisfaction at this election. RN voters want change. Polling shows its not just passing anger or disgust at politics, they adhere to the partys positions, saying they want to see things change in France, that theyre let down by political parties and feel why not try the RN. She said: On the left, voters are also expressing a great deal of worry, because the left in France has historically constructed itself in opposition to the RN. Macrons lack of popularity is at the centre of the election race. Centrist candidates for his Renaissance party have deliberately published posters without his name or face. People detest you, the former Renaissance MP Patrick Vignal was reported by Le Monde to have told Macron, summing up the mood on the ground. Most centrists wanted Macron to keep a low-profile during the campaign, to avoid the sense of a referendum against the president, but he has continued to give interviews and make public comments almost daily. Macron was first elected in 2017 on a vow to defend progressive ideals and revolutionise the workings of French politics. Many voters he won from the centre-left have felt increasingly alienated during his second term, after he forced through of a rise in the pension age, as well as a hardline immigration law. Macrons promise, in a recent letter to the French people, to govern differently, has not been taken seriously by voters. Bristielle said that a feeling of rejection of Macron had been building over time and this was seen in his one-time voters from the centre-left. That feeling is very linked to his personality and his way of doing politics, particularly [in] his second term. It is about pension changes, immigration law, but also what is seen to be a lack of willing on environmental issues and even on feminism, such as his support for Gerard Depardieu. Macron faced anger from feminists and the left last year when he described the actor Depardieu who is under formal investigation for rape and was at the time facing fresh scrutiny for sexist comments as the target of a manhunt. The political scientist Jerome Jaffre told Le Figaro last week there was a visceral hostility towards Macron among working-class voters. The president had hoped that the lightning three-week campaign would help him recover the support he lost in the European elections; instead, polls suggest it has fallen further. Whether the left alliance can now make solid gains in parliament will depend on the results of the runoffs on 7 July. A British soldier provides cover for his fellow serviceman as they check out a burning building during the Troubles - STEVEN CLEVENGER/GETTY IMAGES The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has paid out more than 12 million to alleged victims of British military operations in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The taxpayers cash was paid to 82 people, according to officials response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. All of those who received the legacy compensation payments are believed to be individuals who were wounded by British troops or relatives of those who were injured or killed. Their identities are confidential. In all cases the MoD has said that it had a legal liability to make the payments. One former Army intelligence officer described the payments as another form of lawfare against the British governments involvement in the Troubles. The payments cover the period from 2019/20 when 1.39 million was paid out until 2023/24 when just under 4 million was paid in compensation. In 2020/21 650,512 was paid out but the following year the compensation payments had risen to 2,664,712. In 2022/23 the figure was 3,896,281 and in 2023/24 the compensation payouts had risen again to 3,958,832. Six years ago it emerged that the MoD had spent almost 1 million compensating the families of those killed in the Bloody Sunday shootings. A man shot in the face by a soldier on Bloody Sunday was awarded 193,000 in a civil compensation case. The family of Gerard McKinney, a 35-year-old father-of-eight, who was shot dead were awarded 625,000, and the family of 20-year-old Michael McDaid who was also killed received 75,000. Damages worth more than 900,000 were awarded to the families of nine of those killed. The disclosure follows the announcement earlier this year that another four veterans, who were part of an undercover unit called the Military Reaction Force, will face murder charges. Dozens of soldiers have been investigated as part of legacy investigations dating back decades. Unlawful fatal shootings It is understood that the majority of the latest payments revealed in the FoI are also linked to alleged unlawful fatal shootings by British soldiers. Hundreds of former paramilitaries, including Gerry Adams, the former leader of Sinn Fein, who has always denied being a member of the IRA, have also attempted to sue the British government. The MoD refused to provide any details on whether the recipients of the compensation were former paramilitaries. Colonel Phil Ingram, a former military intelligence officer, labelled the payments as disgusting and said they smacked of what he said was another form of lawfare against the British government. He added: If the MoD has paid out over 12 million in compensation to those in Northern Ireland who have claimed to have suffered at the hands of British troops then those British troops responsible should be prosecuted or disciplined for failure in their duty. Otherwise, as I suspect, it is the MoD quietly paying off terror and trouble apologists and many of the claims are likely to be at least embellished or worse, false. Once again this feels like another form of lawfare where the British government is being used to target the British government. The MoD doesnt pay its veterans off for injuries caused in service and does everything it can to avoid their mostly legitimate claims. The fact they are paying so much for Troubles legacy issues is simply disgusting. That is an insult to the genuine sufferers in Northern Ireland and to every veteran who has sought compensation. Heads should roll. Former Royal Marine Sergeant Major Jeff Williams, a veterans campaigner, added: I feel like we live in a world gone mad. British veterans are being charged with murder while the MoD is handing out cash to people who claim they were victims of abuse by the Armed Forces. Payments to relatives Earlier this year it was proposed that bereavement payments should be made to relatives of people killed during the Troubles, including those who were paramilitaries. The suggestion is contained in an advice paper from the Commission for Victims and Survivors sent to the Executive Office at Stormont. If acted upon, about 13,000 people could benefit. No amount is suggested, but figures contained in the paper show the scheme could cost upwards of 130 million. That would cover one-off payments of 10,000, which would apply regardless of the circumstances in which a person was killed. Awards of 50,000 would see the scheme requiring funding of almost 650 million. About 3,500 people were killed in the Troubles during more than 30 years of violence from the late 1960s onwards. An MoD spokesman said: When compensation claims are received, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the MoD has a legal liability to pay. Where there is a legal liability, compensation is paid. We do not comment on the identity of claimants, nor do we provide details on individual settlements. Cheryl Clarkson with Bluebell, who has been saved from euthanisation - Asadour Guzelian The RSPCA has apologised to a woman after it planned to put her pony down without her consent, following an examination by a vet the charity called out itself. The animal was eventually returned to its owner, with another vet saying he struggled to understand the charitys keenness to insist on euthanasia. Bluebell, owned by Cheryl Clarkson, was seized by police after she escaped from a field belonging to a friend of a friend of Clarkson, where she had been grazing on April 1. The 24-year-old Welsh pony was then passed to the RSPCA and was held at a livery stables in Bolton, where a vet examined her on the charitys behalf. The vets report said Bluebell had multiple health problems including severe lameness on all four feet, chronic inflammation of tissue in its hooves, and dental issues. She recorded: Horse aged and has opposing conditions so advised PTS [put to sleep] in best interests of pony as has poor prognosis for pain-free life going forwards consistently. Pony not fit to travel to Sheffield where owner lives. Rescue horse Ms Clarkson, from Sheffield, who took in Bluebell as a rescue horse in 2017, said: I told the charity I would take her back and get all of her health issues resolved, but they kept saying this wasnt possible. The horse enthusiast paid 1,000 for another vet Simon Constable to examine the pet a fortnight later. In his subsequent report, Mr Constable recommended that euthanasia is not merited. Mr Constable found that Bluebell was thin, had liver disease and lameness due to deformed hooves, but wrote: However, this degree of lameness does not prevent Bluebell from travelling to her owners yard in the Sheffield region. He suggested that Bluebell could be given painkillers for the journey to Sheffield, a 40-mile trip. Concluding his report, Mr Constable wrote: It is clear from my clinical examination and the evidence I have set out here that Bluebell should not be euthanised at this time. I believe that she is in a suitable condition to be transported to her owner in Sheffield and I struggle to understand the keenness of the RSPCA to insist on euthanasia when there is a suitable home awaiting her. Date set for euthanisation However despite Mr Constable and another vet who examined Bluebell not recommending euthanasia, Ms Clarkson says the charity pushed ahead with plans to put the animal down, setting a date for April 25. Ms Clarkson, 57, wrote to the vet who examined her pony for the RSPCA, insisting that she would pay for any treatment she needs and saying Bluebell was not ready to go yet. In response, the vet confirmed that it was her opinion the pony should be put down and advised Ms Clarkson to address all her questions directly to the RSPCA. It is understood a second vet also advised the animal should be euthanised. In desperation, Ms Clarkson eventually resorted to a social media campaign where she shared details of her experience with the charity. She claims this led to supporters joining her in pleading with the RSPCA to allow Bluebell to return home. Eventually, Ms Clarkson received a call from an RSPCA inspector apologising for the inconvenience caused. Ms Clarkson told The Telegraph: I couldnt believe how the RSPCA behaved. All I wanted was to bring Bluebell home to be looked after and cared for in a safe environment. She added: It has really knocked me for six. Differing views An RSPCA spokesman said: This was a difficult and stressful time for everyone involved due to the fact that Bluebell had liver disease and a painful and incurable condition, and the numerous vets who saw her had differing views about what was best for her. We would only ever put an animal to sleep on veterinary advice. In this case, after we were called to help police who found Bluebell and another pony loose on a road, Bluebell was discovered to have a painful and, in her case, incurable condition of the hooves, which was causing her to suffer, in spite of our best efforts. Two highly experienced vets advised that it was kindest to put her to sleep. We appreciate Bluebell is a much-loved family pet and because there was conflicting advice, she was returned to her owners. We have been assured she will be under close vet care and on ongoing medication. The Telegraph has chosen not to name the vet who examined Bluebell for the RPSCA. When approached for a response, the vet said: I was instructed by the RSPCA on this matter to examine and provide a professional opinion on Bluebell, along with a number of other veterinary surgeons. The RSPCA were responsible for overarching decision making regarding Bluebell. China is posing to deliver at least one-third of all cars in the world by 2030 as its ramped-up production overtakes international trade barriers, according to a new auto industry analysis. First reported by Automotive News, consulting firm AlixPartners predicted that Chinese automakers will soon outpace Mexico in the car market amid steady growth. Even with the US's trade policies hindering China's market expansion, the firm projected that the Asian country will continue to increase sales by taking advantage of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The agreement, which grants vehicles entry to the US duty-free as long as parts come from North America, could allow Chinese automakers to bypass the 102.5% tariff when entering the US. The same trend is projected across other parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa as China approaches nearly one-fifth of its car markets by 2030. This is not to mention the ramp-ups in EV battery and engine productions to suit the growing demand in the US as it transitions to zero carbon-emission cars. Chinese Automakers Offer Cheaper Alternatives for EV Owners Another factor contributing to China's growing success in the auto industry is the huge price difference between its EVs compared to similar vehicles produced in the West. Xiaomi recently announced that its new SU7 EV could be purchased for only 215,900 yuan (29,900 USD), far cheaper than Tesla's Model 3 cars which often start at $34,990. The budget-friendly options Chinese automakers offer better access for many people who are still starting their journeys as EV owners. China-Made EVs Carry Production Issues Despite China's emerging dominance in the car market, doubts and concerns still hound the upcoming industry amid reports of poor quality and safety issues. The Xiaomi SU7 itself was previously criticized after several drivers complained about the car breaking down after just a few miles. This is not to mention the overall poor quality of its exterior, making the cars nearly unrepairable. Rachel Reeves may become Britain's first female chancellor this week - Kin Cheung/AP Britain will be a safe haven for business under Labour as Europe turns to populism, Rachel Reeves has insisted. Ms Reeves, who may become Britains first female chancellor after the general election this week, was writing ahead of Sundays French parliamentary elections, which are expected to see a large surge in the hard-Right and far-Left vote. Writing in The Telegraph, she said: I want investors to look at Britain and say it is a safe haven in an increasingly turbulent Europe and the rest of the world. At a time when other countries look to be tilting towards more populist, unstable politics I want Britain to be a secure and stable place where business can invest with confidence. Last week the Bank of England warned that the looming French election posed a threat to global financial stability and the British economy. Officials at Threadneedle Street warned of potential market turmoil after President Emmanuel Macron called a snap poll that could hand a majority to parties that favour increased borrowing, meaning a victory would risk driving up Frances already high debt levels. Last month several hard-Right parties made significant gains in the European Union parliamentary elections, delivering humiliating defeats to the parties of Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, and Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, as well as Mr Macron. Wealth creation at heart of vision for growth Ms Reeves said that wealth creation, led by the private sector, was at the heart of Labours vision for growth in the economy. I know from talking to businesses that they are ready to invest in Britain. Like me, they see the extraordinary potential we have as a country, she said. The start-up firms founded here and trading with the rest of the world. The universities working with pharmaceutical companies to develop the next generation of cancer treatments. And the latest blockbusters filmed in the UK and shown on screens to millions. But I know they are also frustrated about the instability of the past 14 years. Too often I hear chief executives tell me that they want to put money into Britain but have been put off by the endless chaos in our politics or the red tape left untouched for years because of the paralysis in Westminster. Ms Reeves intends to boost the financial services sector by cutting the watchdogs regulatory burden, including by streamlining some excessively procedural rules in the Financial Conduct Authoritys (FCA) 10,000-page regulatory handbook. She will also scrap overlapping rules set by the FCA, the Bank of England and the Competition and Markets Authority, and create a regulatory innovation office that could help regulators share data. Ms Reeves said that if she became chancellor, she would lead the most pro-growth, pro-business Treasury in our history. It should not be the job of government alone to deliver that investment. It will require a new partnership with business, she said. I want to break the minister-knows-best model of government, with business sat round the table helping to write our plans for the economy. In opposition we have opened our doors to business and in government we will do that, too. Dawn Butler While collecting the Celebrity Ally prize at the LGBT Awards last week, David Tennant pompously told Kemi Badenoch, the minister for women, to shut up about the dangers of gender ideology. That was bad enough. But it was downright bizarre when Labours Dawn Butler proudly declared that she agreed with Mr Tennant. A woman praising a man for telling a woman to shut up after she spoke up for women. Welcome to Left-wing feminism in 2024. Still, her attitude is by no means unusual. Last month in Scotland, a pollster asked members of the public whether they agreed with JK Rowlings criticisms of gender ideology. The results showed that men (50 per cent) were a lot more likely than women (33 per cent) to say they did. This suggests that gender ideology enjoys stronger support from women than from men. I find this fascinating. Because, in effect, these women are campaigning to have their own rights removed from them. Gender ideology, as Ms Rowling and Mrs Badenoch have tried to point out, demands that women lose their rights to female-only sports, public lavatories, changing rooms, hospital wards, prisons, rape shelters And yet a remarkably large number of women in particular young, Left-wing women cheer it on. Many describe themselves as trans-inclusive feminists. Which, given the above demands, is a bit like describing yourself as a meat-eating vegetarian. Are they really still unable to see it? Or do they just have stupendously low self-esteem? Either way, its odd to see them fervently marching against their own interests. Theyre like inverse Suffragettes. Throwing themselves in front of the Kings horse, while screaming: Take away our rights! Tom Bradby is right... even if hes white What perfect timing. On Thursday, ITV broadcast Douglas is Cancelled: its new four-part comedy drama about a TV newsreader who gets in trouble for making a politically incorrect remark. By coincidence, that very same day, it was reported that something eerily similar is happening at ITV itself. According to The Times, three journalists at ITN have demanded that their bosses censure Tom Bradby, the newsreader, for saying in an interview that there arent many white male anchors left on TV news programmes. This comment has supposedly caused fury among the staff, and as a result theyve written to the chief executive, claiming that it has had an adverse impact on them. Can this story really be true? Or are these staff actually engaged in an inspired ploy to promote Douglas is Cancelled, by making the series seem all the more blisteringly topical? If the latter, I congratulate them on their ingenuity. If its the former, however, I hope their chief executive will politely tell them to stop being such ridiculous crybabies. Quite plainly, Mr Bradby was not saying that there arent enough white male anchors, or that white male anchors are the victims of discrimination. He was simply observing that, as the British television industry has grown more diverse, there are now fewer white male anchors than there once were. Which is demonstrably true. So really, what he said wasnt a comment at all. It was a statement of fact. In the circumstances, then, Im not sure what else Mr Bradby could have said. Other, perhaps, than: There arent many white male anchors left and a jolly good thing, too! In fact, I think there are still too many! To reduce their number further, therefore, Im resigning with immediate effect, so that ITN can replace me with someone more deserving. We will not achieve true diversity in television until there are no white men left on screen at all. All bets are off Kevin Hollinrake, a Tory minister, has admitted placing a bet on the outcome of the election. Quite clearly, this showed an appalling lack of judgment. Not because he gambled. But because he bet that the Tories will win. Personally I dont think its worth getting too worked up about this whole betting row, distasteful as it may seem. For one thing, it isnt actually new. Back in the 1970s, apparently, MPs would secretly bet on political events all the time. Come to think of it, that would explain a lot. Scene: a betting shop in Westminster, October 1974. The Labour MP John Stonehouse enters, wearing sunglasses and a false moustache. Stonehouse: I say, my good man: what odds would you give me that, within the next six weeks, a Member of Parliament will leave a pile of his clothes on a Miami beach in order to fake his own death so that he can run away to Australia and start a new life with my sorry, I mean his mistress? Bookmaker: Goodness, sir, that does sound like a highly improbable event. Lets call it 100-1. Stonehouse: Very good. I should like to wager 20,000. Bookmaker: Heavens, thats an awfully large stake. Dont forget, sir, this is 1974. So 20,000 in todays money is the equivalent of around 183,830 in, to pluck a future year completely at random, 2024. Which makes this wager of yours a huge financial risk. You must be remarkably confident that it will pay off. Stonehouse: Oh, you know. Just a small hunch. Way of the World is a twice-weekly satirical look at the headlines aiming to mock the absurdities of the modern world. It is published at 7am every Tuesday and Saturday Florida governor Ron DeSantis has said he opposes a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana because of the smell. Photograph: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images Some Republican lawmakers, including Florida governor Ron DeSantis, say that the now-public consumption of marijuana is a nuisance to people who dont like the smell and a quality-of-life issue. Meanwhile, advocates of marijuana legalization argue that lawmakers are exaggerating the scale of the problem and using the smell issue as a smoke screen for their actual gripe: cannabis should not be legal. Earlier this month, Mike, a 52-year-old maintenance worker, sat on a bench at Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn, smoking a blunt. Ive been doing it for so long, I dont even smoke to get high, said Mike, a Brooklyn native who has smoked since he was about 11 years old and declined to give his last name. Related: California to welcome cannabis for sale and consumption at state fair Perhaps only one thing about Mikes marijuana consumption has changed in recent years: In 2021, New York approved adult use of cannabis, which has meant that, like in other states where its legal, he and others now smoke the drug openly. Stroll down a sidewalk in many cities, and you just might catch a whiff of Acapulco Gold. (Or sometimes, on highways and in more rural areas, it really is just a skunk.) I enjoy being able to sit down and smoke outside, with the police walking by not saying anything. I dont want to be someplace where there shouldnt be any weed smoking, but youre smoking it just because you can, Mike said. Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws (Norml), says that the lawmakers making the most noise about people like Mike are people who oppose changing marijuana policies to begin with, and they are just looking for a convenient excuse to support that position. In recent years, twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of cannabis, and 14 others have approved it for medical use, according to the Pew Research Center. Among the states that have legalized recreational use, New York is the only one that does not punish public usage, according to Norml. New York happens to be the media capital world, so this is a story that you hear about nationwide. Even though this is largely not even just a New York phenomenon, this is a New York City phenomenon, Armentano said. While people in other cities and states have mentioned and in some cases, complained about the marijuana smell, much of the attention appears to be focused on New York. A brief Google News search of public, cannabis and smell, yields a majority of stories concerning the Big Apple. For New Yorkers, the smell may be the least of their problems when it comes to cannabis: implementation of its adult-use program has been widely hailed as botched and the governor herself even declared it a disaster. Michael Novakhov, a Republican state assemblyman who represents parts of Brooklyn, said he has nothing against people consuming marijuana but has heard from constituents who dont want their children exposed to it. Last year, he proposed legislation that would have prohibited the public use of cannabis unless approved by the local government. That and the state senate version did not make it out of committee. Notably, many apartments in New York do not allow smoking or have balconies or patios. Novakhov said he would like to see people establish cannabis lounges like in other states. The state has not issued any on-site consumption licenses because officials have not established regulations for such businesses, and they do not have a date by which they expect to do so, according to the Office of Cannabis Management. We have a great example in how people consume alcohol, which is bars, and I think [cannabis] should be in certain bars and places where people can buy and consume, Novakhov said. People can, of course, also consume alcohol at home, whereas that is more difficult with cannabis. Novakhov would like to see people who would illegally use cannabis in public fined, not arrested. Norml also generally supports public cannabis consumption as being a civil violation, very similar to the way alcohol is treated, Armentano said. In Florida, DeSantis has said he opposes a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana because of the smell and has claimed people would be able to bring 20 joints to an elementary school. Armentano argues that since Florida already allows medical marijuana, little would change as far as public consumption. He doesnt think you will see people smoking marijuana everywhere. If that was the case, that would be [happening] now in Florida. Legalization didnt create marijuana, and it certainly didnt create the public use of marijuana, he continued. Still, Mike, the lifelong cannabis consumer, said he has always avoided smoking in front of kids because he knows he was a guy who they were influenced by. Now, he sees people rolling joints and smoking on subways and near playgrounds. I like smoking weed, he said, but Im turned off by the way some people are doing it. Shirion offers bounties for the identification of people involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Photograph: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A prime mover behind the Shirion Collective, a conspiracy-minded, pro-Israel disinformation network seeking to shape public opinion about the Gaza conflict in the US, Australia and the UK, is a tech entrepreneur named Daniel Linden living in Florida who co-wrote a guidebook for OnlyFans users, the Guardian can reveal. Shirion has harassed pro-Palestinian activists, including many Jews, offered bounties for the identity of pro-Palestinian protesters, spread conspiracy narratives centered on figures like George Soros, and boasted of an AI-surveillance platform but offered few concrete details of how the technology functions. The Guardian investigation used public records and open source materials to corroborate information originally provided by the White Rose Society, an Australian anti-fascist research collective. Linden set up Shirions crowdfunding efforts, appears to play a central role in operating the networks social media accounts, and coordinates the groups efforts on a Telegram channel. Public records and online materials indicate he lives in Gainesville, Florida, but he has also had recent stints in Durango, Colorado, and Medellin, Colombia. The Guardian emailed Linden at several addresses associated with him and his business ventures, and attempted to contact him via phone, text, a direct message on Reddit and a post tagging an X account associated with one of his ventures seeking comment on this reporting, but received no response. Heidi Beirich, co-founder and chief strategy officer at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said of Lindens Shirion campaigning that his apparent grifting is common among extremists, but his ideology seems very confused. Regardless, she added, he is spreading hateful messages. The revelations shed light on the nature of Shirion, which has been criticized in the US congress and attracted media attention around the world, and its role in pushing back against criticisms of Israels conduct in its invasion of Gaza. Surveillance network The Shirion Collective is an online operation that since late 2023 has appeared on platforms including X, Telegram and GoFundMe to coordinate the spread of pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian propaganda, and the harassment of pro-Palestinian protesters in the west. Across its two X bios, Shirion describes itself as a surveillance collective and a surveillance network that searches for digital fingerprints to aggressively track what the MSM [mainstream media] wont and aggressively track and expose antisemitism. On Telegram, Shirion hosts a private channel with 885 members at the time of reporting. The channel is further divided into rooms for discussion of events in specific territories (like Canada and Latin America), or for coordination of online activity including mass reporting of X accounts. Shirion organized two GoFundMe fundraisers in April and May of 2024. The earlier fundraiser brought in more than $57,000, including an anonymous $10,000 donation, for an operation in which trucks with big-screen monitors showed footage of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel near universities in various US cities. The move attracted the attention of critics including Representative Ilhan Omar, who spoke out in Congress against Shirions screening of the footage to the University of California, Los Angeles protest encampment. Cash for doxers Starting in late 2023 on X, Shirion began offering what it described as bounties for the identification of people involved in pro-Palestinian protests whom they characterized as antisemites. A 29 November post on X advertised an INSIDERS AGAINST ANTISEMITISM scheme that promised CASH for GREAT insider information. An accompanying graphic promoted a variety of bounties that increased with occupational status, ranging from $500 for the identification of a student up to $10,000 for a politician. Shirion asked supporters to BOOKMARK and SHARE to get the word out. By 3 December, Shirion was offering a $500 reward, later bumped up to $1,500, for the identity of protesters Shirion claimed were engaged in genocidal chanting. In succeeding months, Shirion has posted dozens of bounty offers and also has claimed to have paid out to people who have allowed them to identify their perceived opponents. As recently as 19 June, it claimed in a post to have paid out $1,000 for the identity of a protester who was the subject of a bounty on 4 June. Hate and disinformation Beyond the bounty program, Shirion voices or boosts Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate, while celebrating death and destruction in Gaza, and violence against their supporters in the west. Shirion has repeatedly celebrated the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza, including Palestinian journalists and children. On 27 April, Shirion responded to a video that included images of destruction in Gaza, posting Love that gaza looks like That now, adding FAFO, an acronym for fuck around and find out. Shirion has frequently celebrated police violence directed at pro-Palestinian protesters in the United States. It has also celebrated violence against journalists it characterized as Marxist. On 5 May, in a post depicting a vehicular attack on protesters in Denver, Shirion wrote LIKE & SHARE to make this more common. Shirion is also fond of conspiracy narratives. In a 19 December reply to another X user, it described a conspiracy theory that the left was bringing illegals into the US to bolster pro-Palestinian protests. Despite Shirions claims to be an opponent of antisemitism, on Twitter it regularly promotes conspiracy theories that experts regard as being themselves implicitly antisemitic. They include conspiracy narratives about the billionaire Jewish philanthropist George Soros. On May 10, Shirion posted a warning about the Soros-Backed Tides Foundation. Beirich, the extremism expert, said that Soros conspiracy theories are always implicitly linked with antisemitism. She added that its strange that [Linden] is at once rabidly pro-Israel and also spreads antisemitic conspiracy theories. Shirion has also shared conspiracy theories about Muslims, including one projecting a Muslim takeover of Europe. Often, Shirion posts outright disinformation. The account captioned images and videos of pro-Palestinian protesters taking a lesson in Haitian martial arts with the claim that they were Practicing Slaughter Techniques on Jews. Project Maccabee Shirion often makes grandiose claims about its connections and an AI technology it claims to be using to identify perceived enemies. At various times on X, Shirion has claimed to have contacts in the New York police department and FBI, Israeli intelligence and the London metropolitan police, and to be connected with Republican congressional candidates and pro-Israel academic and commentator Max Abrahms. And since late last year, it has claimed to have developed an AI technology, Project Maccabee, whose goal it has described as Hitting and creating AGI for the PROTECTION and survival of our people, and EXPOSING these putrid antisemites. Shirion has claimed the platform has advanced capabilities. However, Shirion has never made any public demonstration of its operations, nor produced third-party endorsement of its application to surveillance tasks. Nor has it shown that its capabilities for surveillance and identification are vastly superior to amateur open source intelligence investigators. Dantheprompt and Shirion One thread connecting Linden to Shirion comes from Reddit. The subreddit ShirionCollective is moderated by user Danimde, whose screen name is Dantheprompt. The subreddit apparently has no other members. Dantheprompt user profile indicates that the account also moderates 8 other subreddits, and appears to be an enthusiast of generative AI. Most of the subreddits are either have one member or are dominated by posts from Daninmde. Besides the Shirion subreddit, all of the subreddits Dantheprompt moderates are concerned with topics related to the use of generative AI tools including large language models (LLMs) and image-generating tools. The subreddits titles include chiefaiofficer, SuperPrompters and OnlyFansModelAI. The last subreddit 3 members which features sporadic posts of AI-generated imagery of scantily clad women, all from from the Daninmde account. The profile picture on the Daninmde Reddit account is an exact match for one used on an account of the same name on Multiplex, a discussion forum dedicated to AI entrepreneurship. In a 28 May 23 post to Multiplex, in a thread called introduce yourself, Dantheprompt posted: Hi guys, Dan Linden here Been an entrepreneur for the last 12 years doing digital marketing, digital info products, etc. Further on, the post reads @dantheprompt if you ever want to message me on Twitter. The dantheprompt X account is now locked, but it identifies Dan Linden as the account holder, and the biography reads Co-founder of Chief AI Officer (CAIO) Building AI Powered (SaaS) Digital Arts Mixed Martial Arts. The profile photo, while different from the Reddit and Multiplex photos, appears to depict the same person. That photograph connects Linden to a now-deleted X post from Shirion. On 11 April, Shirion posted a screenshot of a Google search, apparently on an iPhone. At the top right, a profile picture from the signed-in Google account was visible. The profile picture was identical to the one Linden uses on Twitter. Another, apparently dormant X account also uses the username daninmde, and its profile photo appears to depict the same person as in Lindens other social media accounts. That accounts screen name is Dani L, which is one of the ties between Linden and Shirions fundraising efforts. Currently, the organizer of each GoFundMe is identified as Dani M. In an early archive of the first fundraiser, however, the organizer is identified as Dani L. As that fundraiser was being set up, though, the name of the organizer was revealed as Daniel Linden. As the names on that fundraiser shifted, the organizers location was given as Gainesville, Florida. On the more recent fundraiser, the location is given as Durango, Colorado. Daniel Linden has lived in both cities. Meet Daniel Linden In his introductory post on Multiplex, one of Lindens lines was that he Built some companies. Wrote some books. Public records and open source materials indicate that Linden has certainly started many companies, but its far less clear that any of his previous companies survived. Colorado company records indicate that Linden incorporated two companies in that state: Linden Services in 2006, and Focus Interactions Ltd in 2013. Each apparently lasted less than a year. In Gainesville, Florida, Linden incorporated a series of companies starting in 2017, including Clickstein LLC, LD Networks LLC and DG Media LLC. Again, all of these companies appear to be defunct. The companies left few traces on the public record. However, a 2020 English-language media report from Medellin, Colombia, indicates that Clickstein was a digital marketing firm based on the idea of Einstein-inspired marketing formulas, and that Linden lived in the city for a period. The last captures of Clicksteins website are from mid-2022. An archived our team page does not provide the last names of staff or management, but Dan L is listed as president of the company. A business intelligence site has Linden as Co-Founder at clickstein.com, bringing experience from previous roles at notyouraverage.marketing, Marketing Bench, Focus Interactions and Cre8tive Ninjas. In recent years, Linden has displayed a preoccupation with OnlyFans, the platform that allows producers of adult content to monetize their content, that goes beyond his sporadic attempts to synthesize AI models. A 6 December 2022 screenshot of one of his personal Facebook accounts shows an OnlyFans payment notification indicating a net quarterly take of more than $155,000. On Amazon, Linden is credited as co-author of a Spanish-language ebook whose title translates as Master OnlyFans in just 7 days!, and whose blurb promises to show readers techniques to build an account that will give you an average of 2,000 dollars a month. In 2022, El Pais reported that Colombia is second only to Romania in the size of its adult webcam industry. In 2019, Colombian news magazine Semana estimated that there may be 40,000 women working as webcam models in the country. Linden is currently featured on the website chiefaiofficer.com as one of three instructors of a Chief AI Officer Certification Course priced at $4,995. He is billed as being in the top 0.1% Prompt Engineers in the world. Beirich, the extremism expert, said that any time there is a protest movement or a mass mobilization, extremist actors will try to use it to their advantage, whether thats to hijack the message or to make the situation more volatile. A pug is one of 10 dog breeds that are featured in the new collection of stamps Animal rights campaigners have called on Royal Mail to withdraw a stamp featuring a pug, claiming it glamorises ailing animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) criticised the new dog-themed collection of stamps for including the flat-faced pet, which can often suffer from serious breathing, eye and skin issues because of decades of intensive breeding. In a letter to Emma Gilthorpe, Royal Mail CEO, the animal activist group wrote: Its no secret that the public is influenced by what it sees depicted in popular culture. There is nothing first class about promoting pugs or representations of breathing-impaired dogs. By withdrawing Royal Mails pug stamp and committing never to promote flat-faced breeds, you would champion the underdogs of this world and win the praise of animal lovers. Ditch its pug stamp Elisa Allen, the campaign groups vice president of programmes, added: Peta is urging Royal Mail to ditch its pug stamp post haste and stop glamorising ailing animals. Pugs are twice as likely to experience one or more disorders annually compared with other dogs and can no longer be considered a typical dog from a health perspective, according to the Royal Veterinary College. The breed is also found to be at higher risk of skinfold infections, which can cause discomfort through soreness and itchiness. The Kennel Club, which tackles health and welfare issues facing flat-faced breeds, discouraged potential owners from buying dogs with overly exaggerated features and blamed popular culture for the popularity of these pets. The collection celebrates the postal company's dog week A spokesman for the organisation said: Sadly, media and celebrity culture drives demand for a particularly exaggerated look in flat-faced dogs, which can lead to serious health issues such as difficulties breathing. Responsible breeders that prioritise health and use tools such as our breathing assessment - the Respiratory Function Grading scheme, developed with the University of Cambridge alongside responsible buyers who carry out thorough research, and avoid dogs with overly exaggerated features, can all help support the future of these breeds and increase the chances of having a healthy and happy puppy. Royal Mail released the set of limited-edition stamps in June, featuring a pug as well as the nine other most popular breeds in Britain. The collection celebrates the postal companys dog week, held at the start of July, which raises awareness of the dangers the pets can pose to postal workers. Woke overreach The stamps also feature a labrador retriever, a border collie, a cocker spaniel and a Pembroke Welsh corgi. It is not the first appeal by Peta for companies to remove imagery of flat-faced dogs from their products and branding. In May, the charity wrote a letter to the owners of the Pug Pubs chain, a string of bars in Warwickshire whose namesakes are the flat-faced dogs, urging them to change their name. Meanwhile, the landlord of The Old Bulldog pub in Stoke-On-Trent called Petas request for him to rebrand a woke overreach. Mike Newton, who was asked to rename his pub to The Old Mutt, told the Telegraph last year: The real undertone here is cultural cancellation. I hate to use the phrase wokeism gone mad, but it smacks of woke overreach. A Royal Mail spokesman said: Royal Mails dogs special stamps set features images of some of the most popular dog breeds amongst British owners, and does not seek to promote individual breeds. Michael Portillo, right, after losing his seat to Labours Stephen Twigg, left, in 1997. Photograph: Reuters The felling of Michael Portillo became a famous moment of the 1997 Labour landslide. This election could see a series of Tory big beasts lose their seats if the polls prove to be right. From a former leader to the current chancellor, these are the senior Conservatives at risk. Iain Duncan Smith Seat Chingford and Woodford Green Majority in 2019 1,262 Challenger Labour The former Tory leaders majority has eroded over recent elections as the seat has become younger and more diverse. He may be helped by a Labour row which saw the party deselect its previous candidate, Faiza Shaheen. She is running as an independent, but it is unlikely to be enough to save Duncan Smith. Risk factor: 4/5 Grant Shapps Seat Welwyn Hatfield Majority in 2019 10,955 Challenger Labour The veteran cabinet minister has often been the safe pair of hands in media outings for Rishi Sunak, but his seat is now under threat from Starmer. What looked like a healthy majority of 11,000 in 2019 is at risk because of Labours resurgence in these suburban seats. Risk factor: 3/5 Liam Fox Seat North Somerset Majority in 2019 17,536 Challenger Labour The former defence secretary and prominent figure on the right would not have felt under threat from Labour in his rural constituency after the last election, where he enjoyed 53% of the vote. But if the polls are right, he too faces being swept away by the Labour tide. Risk factor: 2/5 Mark Harper Seat Forest of Dean Majority in 2019 15,869 Challenger Labour The transport secretary is one of Sunaks most passionate supporters, but he too is in danger of losing his seat. While it was held by Labour under Tony Blair, it has been in Tory hands since Harper won it in 2005, having tried and failed to win it four years earlier. Risk factor: 4/5 Alex Chalk Seat Cheltenham Majority in 2019 981 Challenger Lib Dems The moderate justice secretary would have struggled even in a campaign that had gone well for the Tories. Given the Conservatives travails, he has little chance of retaining a seat in which the Lib Dems have always had a strong presence. They held it in 2010. Risk factor: 5/5 Gillian Keegan Seat Chichester Majority in 2019 21,490 Challenger Lib Dems The education secretary and queen of the punchy media interview is an unlikely inclusion on the at risk list, but she has been targeted in the Lib Dems almost-surgical campaign, going after seats where they are well-placed to win tactical votes. An extraordinary swing is projected here. Risk factor: 3/5 Richard Holden Seat Basildon and Billericay Majority in 2019 20,412 Challenger Reform UK The Conservative party chairman has won scorn from party insiders after installing himself in this supposedly safe seat after his own constituency in the north-east was abolished. Theres just one problem: Reform UK is now projected to give him a serious challenge in Essex. Risk factor: 3/5 Mel Stride Seat Central Devon Majority in 2019 17,721 Challenger Labour The work and pensions secretary was a key figure in the removal of Liz Truss and has provided regular backing for Sunak on the airwaves, but he now finds himself at the outer edges of the possible Labour surge. If its a really bad night, he could go. Risk factor: 3/5 Penny Mordaunt Seat Portsmouth North Majority in 2019 15,780 Challenger Labour Given how close she came last time, the Commons leader seems set to feature in an apparently imminent Tory leadership contest. First, she has the small matter of retaining her Portsmouth seat another that last fell into Labour hands during Blairs reign. Risk factor: 3/5 Gavin Williamson Seat Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge Majority in 2019 New seat Challenger Labour The former chief whip, defence secretary and education secretary has caused controversy during his career in different cabinet jobs. He now faces an electoral battle in this new Staffordshire seat, largely made up of areas previously held by the Tories. Projected as a close call. Risk factor: 3/5 James Cleverly Seat Braintree Majority in 2019 24,673 Challenger Labour If the home secretary isnt returned to parliament, it will have meant a complete meltdown for the Conservatives, probably leaving them below 100 seats. Yet some projections envisage defeat in this Essex stronghold, with most highlighting it as at least a close contest. Enough to have Cleverly sweating. Risk factor: 1/5 Jeremy Hunt Seat Godalming and Ash Majority in 2019 New seat Challenger Lib Dems Hunt could make history on election night, by being the first ever serving chancellor to be unseated. To avoid that fate, he will have to see off a strong challenge from the Lib Dems, who are fighting hard in this corner of Surrey. It could be the elections Portillo moment. Risk factor: 4/5 Liz Truss Seat South West Norfolk Majority in 2019 26,195 Challenger Labour The former prime minister is attempting to stick around in parliament. She couldnt possibly lose such a big majority, could she? A sizeable Reform vote in the seat could imperil her, but while even some Conservatives may cheer a Labour victory here, most models suggest she will survive. Risk factor: 2/5 Caroline Nokes, a former immigration minister, has received donations from Ramp to pay for migration advisers - Jack Taylor/Getty Images Europe Conservative candidates received nearly 200,000 to pay for advisers on migration from a lobbying group whose leading figures described the Rwanda plan as a dark moment and a source of shame. Since July 2020, Caroline Nokes, David Simmonds and Simon Fell have received 197,562 in donations from the Refugee Asylum and Migration Policy project (Ramp), according to the Electoral Commission. Ramp pays for politicians to have advisers in order to improve the migration system. All three candidates are standing in the general election under the Tory partys pledge to remove illegal immigrants to Rwanda, but the position of Ramps leading voices on the scheme raise questions over their commitment to the plan should they be re-elected. Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, who is a principal of the organisation, wrote in The Independent in April: The passing of the Safety of Rwanda Bill is a dark moment in our countrys history, one that goes against our long-standing tradition of welcoming and supporting refugees in the UK. Baroness Ruth Lister, a Ramp associate and Labour peer, wrote in The Times in March that the Rwanda scheme is a source of great shame. Ramp has no official position on the scheme, The Telegraph understands. Nearly all the money was donated as staff costs or consultancy services meaning the funds were used to pay the salaries of Ramp staff working with MPs rather than cash payments to the parliamentarians. The largest beneficiary was Ms Nokes, a former Tory immigration minister who served under Theresa May between January 2018 and July 2019. The Conservative candidate for Romsey and Southampton North, has received 97,890 for staff, consultancy and administrative services since July 2020. As minister, Ms Nokes launched a one-year programme to help refugees start their own businesses. Following her time in the post, she campaigned against the Rwanda plan, writing in The Times in April 2022 that the disastrous Rwanda plan wont stop the boats. She told The Telegraph: The Ramp project specifically works to try to detoxify the debate around migration and asylum. Given the fact that just this week we have heard abhorrent language, including that of shooting migrants, I would have thought many people would want pragmatic and moderate politicians prepared to think about and work towards solutions that dont seek to inflame and divide. Mr Simmonds, the Conservative candidate for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, was given 84,192 in staff costs and consultancy services. Although he supported the Bill when it was introduced to the Commons in December, he admitted he started off as a Rwanda sceptic coming round to seeing it as having great utility as a deterrent after speaking to refugees and visiting Calais. Mr Simmonds told The Telegraph: The staff time provides research at the direction of the receiving MP, and allows us to make more informed contributions to debates on immigration matters. Mr Fell, the Tory candidate for Barrow and Furness, was given 15,480 in staff costs. He also voted for the Safety of Rwanda Bill in April, but said he disliked the policy in a parliamentary speech last December. Mr Fell said: I am not a massive fan of this policy. Nonetheless, it is crucial. We need a deterrence policy. He told The Telegraph: I didnt receive any funds from Ramp, but for a period of around seven months they provided research support to me all declared through the proper channels. This was to assist my work on the home affairs committee, constituency casework, and on asylum and immigration issues more widely. I voted to pass that [Rwanda] Bill in the Commons and supported it then, as I do now, recognising the need for a deterrent to stop the boats and end the business model that enables criminal gangs to keep this vile practice going. The offices of Tim Farron, Kate Green, Neil Coyle, Dr Olivia Blake and Stephen Timms were the other beneficiaries of the organisation, which also serves as the secretariat for the all-party parliamentary group on migration. In total, the organisation has donated 452,720 to the eight MPs since 2020. Ramp is bankrolled by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, which describes itself as an independent charity using all of its resources for social justice. The 100-year-old charity spent 1,398,000 on migration-related programmes between 2022 and 2023, according to its annual report. It said: Our work on the migration programme has centred principally around opening-up public debate on migration and integration over a number of years. Since the referendum of June 2016, we have stepped up our work to support migrant voices together with those of established (receiving) communities and to respond collaboratively to current refugee issues in Europe. Ramp declined to comment. The Barrow Cadbury Trust was contacted for comment. Amber Haigh vanished without trace in June 2002 and her body has never been found. Photograph: ODPP NSW In March 2002, 19-year-old Amber Haigh was struggling with the demands of motherhood. It was the first few months of her young sons life but it would also prove to be the last few months of Haighs, a court has been told. The NSW supreme court heard this week Haigh saw Emma Baldock, then a counsellor at the QEII Family Centre in Canberra, that month. Baldock, an experienced nurse, midwife and counsellor, was troubled by the meeting. I believe Amber was a very vulnerable young woman, she would later tell police. In my opinion, she would have difficulty in understanding the difference between love and exploitation. Months later, in June 2002, Haigh vanished without trace. Her body has never been found. Now, 22 years after Amber Haigh was last seen, the married couple Robert Samuel Geeves and Anne Margaret Geeves, both 64, are on trial charged with her murder. They have each pleaded not guilty. Related: Amber Haigh murder trial unexpectedly delayed after accused too ill to attend court The crown has alleged in court that Haigh cognitively impaired and described by her mother in court as very easily misled was used by the Geeves as a surrogate mother because they wanted another baby. It has alleged that once Haighs baby fathered by Robert Geeves was born they sought to have her removed from the equation by killing her. The crown case is circumstantial, the court was told, but in the absence of a body, or significant forensic evidence around Haighs disappearance, prosecutors will put forward a strands of the cable case individual elements of evidence that, taken together, collectively prove guilt. Very little or poor parenting Giving evidence this week, Baldock was taken to an interview she gave to police in 2007 and asked to read excerpts to the court. She had very little or poor parenting and relationship models in her family of origin. Her intellectual capacity also made her vulnerable, together with her previous sexual abuse, Baldock told the court, reading from her police interview. Amber was confused about her relationship with Robert and Anne. She had poorly defined boundaries, in particular with her sexual relationship. In my opinion, she would have difficulty in understanding the difference between love and exploitation. I believe she would therefore have trouble protecting her own child. In Baldocks evidence, the court heard Haigh adored her son but was struggling to cope with the round-the-clock demands of parenting a newborn. Haigh would occasionally leave the baby screaming or abdicate responsibility for her child to someone else when it all got too hard, Baldock recounted from her police interview. In court, Baldock was also taken to her contemporaneous notes of her session with Haigh. She recorded that Haigh said of her family of origin: father in jail and mother didnt want me. Related: I lost a part of myself: hope for answers as Amber Haigh murder trial begins 22 years after she disappeared The notes reported Haigh was deeply worried that her child would be taken from her, the court heard. Amber states that if Anne and Robert [Geeves] try to get [her child] because they want a baby she will tell them back off. Homicide or misadventure The court has also heard Haigh was an intellectually disabled teenager from Sydney who had endured a dysfunctional upbringing and who had moved to the Kingsvale area to live with her great-aunt in the late 1990s. That aunt lived next door to the Geevess then property, Huntleigh. Haigh briefly dated the Geevess son a teenager almost identical in age to Amber and later moved in to the Geevess home. A sexual relationship commenced between Haigh and Robert Geeves 22 years her senior. In January 2002 Haigh gave birth to her son, fathered by Geeves. The Geeves have consistently denied having anything to do with her disappearance. The court heard the Geeves told police they drove her to Campbelltown railway station in Sydneys outer south-west, from where she was to visit her dying father, on the evening of 5 June, and have neither seen nor heard from her since. They told police Haigh left her five-month-old son in their custody. They reported Haigh missing a fortnight later, on 19 June. In 2011, a coroner ruled Haigh had died, some time in 2002, from homicide or misadventure. The supreme court has previously heard the Geeves had had one child together a son the same age as Haigh, who had previously dated her but the couple wanted more children, having subsequently endured three miscarriages and a stillbirth. The crown case theory is that it was always the intention of the Geeves to assume the custody and care of [the child] from Amber, crown prosecutor Paul Kerr told the court in his opening. But they knew that to do that, Amber had to be removed from the equation so the crown asserts they killed her. Lawyers for Robert and Anne Geeves have argued the case against the couple is deeply flawed, arguing in court that community distaste at Robert Geevess relationship with a much younger woman with intellectual disabilities fuelled gossip and innuendo. Everything they did was viewed through a haze of mistrust and suspicion, Michael King, acting for Anne Geeves, told the court. He said his client had no motive to kill Amber, or even wish her dead. Paul Coady, for Robert Geeves, told the court his client denied being in any way involved in [Haighs] disappearance or murder and argued many witnesses harboured grievances or suspicions particularly against Mr Geeves. She was my ex-girlfriend So far, the court has heard from 11 witnesses, all called by the prosecution. Amber Haighs mother, Rosalind Wright, testified her daughter was bubbly and kind-hearted but someone who found school difficult because she took a long time to learn. Haigh was very easily misled her mother said. A neighbour of Haighs said under cross-examination that Haigh could be an over-sharer when the pair sat down for a cup of tea. In late 2001, both were pregnant at the same time: Haigh had told her she wasnt sure who the father of her baby was, reportedly saying it was one of three men: Geeves, Haighs own cousin, or her cousins grandfather. The Geevess son Robbie appeared in court, called as a prosecution witness in the murder trial of his parents. In the witness box, and sitting in court after his evidence, Robbie Geeves did not look at, or acknowledge, his parents as they sat in the dock. His mother wiped away tears as she looked towards her estranged son. Robbie Geeves told the court of the irreparable schism caused by his father fathering a child to Robbies ex-girlfriend. In early 2002, his mother had brought the infant to him, pleading with him to accept the newborn as his brother. He told the court he was unable to. I dont know how to say it in a nice way: she was my ex-girlfriend, you cant have a baby brother to your ex-girlfriend its not right. The judge-alone trial before Justice Julia Lonergan continues in Wagga Wagga. Baldock will return to the witness box to finish giving evidence. Trump supporters at a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, the day after the presidential debate. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA Amid a howling chorus of derision over Joe Bidens substandard debate performance against Donald Trump, one voice seemed to resonate more powerfully than others. At 6.15pm on Friday roughly 19 hours after the two presidential candidates left the stage in Atlanta the previous evening the verdict of the New York Timess editorial board dropped online to the newspapers subscribers. The judgment was devastating. The US president, the board forcefully argued, had presented such an alarming spectacle of aged frailty that the best thing he could now do for the country he had served for more than half a century was to withdraw from the race and allow his Democratic party to choose another candidate. The newspaper long venerated as the old Grey Lady of American journalism pointed out that Biden had presented himself as the figure best positioned to defeat the threat to democracy represented by Trump and acknowledged that he had successfully done so in 2020. But the greatest public service Mr Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election, it intoned. As it stands, the president is engaged in a reckless gamble. There are Democratic leaders better equipped to present clear, compelling and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency Its too big a bet to simply hope Americans will overlook or discount Mr Bidens age and infirmity that they see with their own eyes. The judgment evoked memories of February 1968, when Walter Cronkite, the magisterial CBS anchor, used his television platform to openly question the US military commitment in Vietnam after the Vietcong launched an offensive that led to guerrillas storming the US embassy compound in Saigon. Watching, President Lyndon Johnson another Democratic president, to whom Biden is sometimes compared reportedly said: If Ive lost Cronkite, Ive lost Middle America. Just over a month later, Johnson withdrew from that years presidential election, announcing he would not seek a second term. Times have changed since 1968; media has become more fragmented, with newspapers and, arguably, television less influential. Bidens response to the editorial if he has even seen it is unknown. Yet the article echoed equally eviscerating critiques from other weighty and normally friendly sources some of them so respected by the president that their views cannot have failed to wound. Similarly pleading with Biden to stand down were his favourite columnist, Tom Friedman also of the New York Times who wrote that he had wept as he watched the debate from Lisbon. Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBCs Morning Joe a programme the president is known to revere had an identical message, all the while saying that he loved Biden and calling his presidency an unqualified success. The highly respected, and liberal, website the Atlantic published six articles on Friday, all arguing for an end to the Biden candidacy. The media cacophony reflected shock with the persona that Biden, 81, presented in the debate. Rather than allay nagging voter concerns that he was too old to run his campaigns goal when it pressed for the event he seemed to confirm them with his octogenarian mien. He looked infirm and sometimes stuck for words, in contrast to Trump, who although just three years younger presented a picture of fluent, if mendacious, loquacity. Biden came out swinging on Friday, appearing much more upbeat at an election rally in North Carolina, admitting that I dont debate as well as I used to but telling a cheering crowd: I know how to tell the truth I know how to do this job. I know like millions of Americans know when you get knocked down, you get back up. Messages of public support poured in from Democratic luminaries including Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, vice-president Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom, the governor of California. Yet the defiantly positive messaging is unlikely to soothe fears that reach into the upper echelons of the Democratic party and even into the White House itself. Several officials in the presidential West Wing were so demoralised by Thursdays debate that they opted to work from home the following day, Politico reported, expressing their fears on text threads. We were all a bit nervous about the debate, but no one thought it was going to be as bad as it was, one West Wing staffer was quoted as saying. The vibes are really bad. People feel demoralised. The acid test may be whether demoralisation extends to Democratic donors a sensitive area, given that Trump has recently overtaken Biden in campaign fundraising after lagging for months. The early signs are hardly encouraging. The debate triggered waves of panic among Democratic mega-donors in Silicon Valley, where some have emailed and texted each other about how to persuade Jill Biden, the first lady, into talking her husband out of running. One tech-industry donor who had planned to host Biden in a fundraiser reportedly cancelled the event because of the debate. The negative drumbeat has focused minds on alternatives if Biden does step aside. Two frontrunners would be Harris and Newsom, yet both have vulnerabilities. Harris, who would be the first woman of colour to be a main partys presidential nominee, is plagued by low approval ratings barely higher than Bidens, while Newsoms term as governor of California has drawn criticism over high taxes, surging homelessness and rising housing costs. Other likely names are Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, both leaders of key swing states the Democrats need to win to keep the White House. Another possibility the Illinois governor, JB Pritzker a billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel chain fortune has won attention for his acerbic attacks on Trump. But with Biden apparently determined to stand his ground, it remains to be seen if the current discontent is strong enough to transform such speculation into reality. For that to happen, drastic action may be required, such as an eminent group of Democratic party elders approaching the president and persuading him to withdraw. Alternatively, one or more credible candidates could declare a public intention to challenge him potentially throwing the power of nomination to delegates at the Democratic national convention in August, an event that was expected to rubber-stamp Bidens candidacy. Either scenario would take political will, yet neither is far-fetched, according to seasoned commentators. If either come to pass, Biden may end up reflecting that the New York Timess withering verdict was indeed his Walter Cronkite moment. We are inching closer to the sci-fi future that we only used to see in movies. With flying and self-driving cars already in existence, the idea of AI prisons is now being floated where criminals would be conditioned to regret their actions and even get new memories. Virtual Prison Where Criminals Become Patients It sounds a lot like a dystopian concept, and a lot of people agree. Yemeni molecular biologist and science communicator, Hashem Al-Ghaili presented a concept where criminals will live their sentence in a virtual world where they would be subjected to various forms of conditioning. With the incarceration rate in the US per 100,000 now higher than in other countries, the virtual prison, which is being called Cognify, serves as a solution as the criminals will only be put in the AI prison in just a few minutes. As the criminals are put under, the facility will be capable of creating and implanting artificial memories directly into the person's brain. Generated by AI, the "memories" will be vivid and life-like that the prisoners would not be able to discern from reality. The experience won't be the same for all participants as it will depend on how heavy their crimes are. For instance, violent offenders may experience memories that can trigger empathy and remorse as they see their crime through the perspective of the victim. It won't always be first-hand experience from the victim's perspective. The artificial memories can also be designed to trigger consequences and trauma, wherein the prisoner would experience the grief of the family left behind by the victim. How It Works The criminals will be given the choice between finishing their sentence through prison or using Cognify where they will go through rehabilitation for just a few minutes. Upon choosing the latter, they will undergo high-resolution brain scanning to create a detailed map of their brains. This will help the Cognify device determine which brain regions to target, which will be worn around the head of the patient. It will have an emotion regulation system that can modulate neurotransmitters and hormones which will induce specific emotional states. The prisoners will be tracked through the entire process using feedback mechanisms, allowing the device to track the neural responses as the artificial memories are being implanted and adapt when needed. To make sure that the therapy is effective, some of the implanted memories could even be fully integrated into the prisoner's mind like it was their own memory. The subjects will then be released back into society. Read Also : California Looks into Generative AI to Solve Traffic Congestions Potential Issues There are a lot of ethical problems that can be raised with this proposition. For one, There's no way of knowing if the rehabilitation process worked at all, which means that they will be releasing a potentially dangerous criminal back into the world. Others raised the concern that the justice system does not always apprehend the guilty party and persecutes the innocent instead. Even if criminals choose this option, they won't fully know what they will experience until they are already under the simulation. Sir Keir Starmer could inflict irreversible damage on the UK within 100 days of entering Downing Street, Rishi Sunak warned, as time runs out for him to save the Tories election hopes. The Prime Minister said Labour cannot be trusted and predicted that the plan to impose VAT on private schools would cause chaos for families. Meanwhile, Labour said Sir Keirs first steps would be restoring economic stability and cutting NHS waiting lists as the work of change begins. The Tories made a series of claims about the impact of Labours announced policies and speculation about further measures Sir Keir could introduce. The Conservatives claimed up to 134,000 children in private schools could be forced into the state sector by September, although the 2018 report on which this assertion is based points to that figure as a possibility over five years. The Tories also pointed to a series of tax rises which Labour has not ruled out, but which are not party policy, along with speculation about other measures such as a Europe-wide youth mobility scheme and granting votes to EU citizens, which are also not Labour policies. The attacks come as the Conservatives battle to close Labours opinion poll lead, which has remained at around 20 points despite the Tory campaign. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the Neasden Hindu temple on Saturday night (Dan Kitwood/PA) Mr Sunak said: Its clear that Labour would do irreversible damage within just 100 days of coming to power. Whether its announcing a suite of tax rises or throwing thousands of families plans for the autumn term into chaos, with children wondering if they will have a desk at school to go back to. Labour would throw open our borders with their illegal migrant amnesty and free movement for under-30s in their deal with the EU, making us the soft touch migrant capital of the world. They cannot be trusted. We must not surrender our taxes, our borders and our security to them. Only the Conservatives will deliver tax cuts, a growing economy and a brighter, more secure future for everyone. In a Sunday Telegraph interview, he added that Labours tax plans would bankrupt people in every generation. Labours national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden argued that it was the Tories who had already delivered chaos, and his party which offered the hope of change. He said: The country faces a big choice on Thursday. If you vote Tory on Thursday or dont vote at all nothing will change. The NHS wont get any better. The Tory manifesto threatens another instalment of Liz Truss. The doom loop of low growth and high tax wont change. The Tory Party itself wont change the lessons from Partygate, dodgy Covid contracts and the insider betting scandal wont be learned. Today on Armed Forces Day our entire nation comes together to say thank you to every member of the Armed Forces, our veterans and those that support them all. pic.twitter.com/jX87BVFPDi Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 29, 2024 Chaos will continue, and theyll continue to put their own interests before the countrys. If they won another five years, theyd think they could get away with anything. If you vote Labour on Thursday, the work of change begins. Our priority will be wealth creation to make the country better off. Well get to work on our first steps including restoring economic stability and cutting NHS waiting lists. And we will break with recent years by putting country before party, every time. Sir Keir and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves set out their plans to kickstart homebuilding by reforming the planning rules, allowing parts of the green belt to be developed. The Labour leader told the Sunday Times: I want to hit the ground running. I want to make sure that we can start on this on day one. Under Labours plan, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, as the new housing secretary, would announce a programme at the beginning of the partys second week in office, the Sunday Times said. By the third week she would have ordered local authorities to start a process of regularly reviewing their green belt boundaries. Mr Sunak, a Hindu, spent part of the final weekend of the campaign visiting the Neasden Temple. On the Saturday night visit he said he felt he had the communitys blessing, adding: Im determined to never let you down. Sir Keir used his final Saturday of the campaign to hold a celebrity-laced rally in London, with messages of support from Sir Elton John and Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville said President Biden does not have advisers telling him what to do, he has employees, in comments after his poor debate showing on Thursday night. Since the debate between Biden and former President Trump, the conversation has been centered on whether Biden should step aside and allow another Democrat to take on Trump in the polls. Carville told Axios that he never thought Biden running was a nifty idea and predicts that Biden will be off the ballot by Election Day. Some Democrats are sounding the alarm after the debate while others are sticking behind the president. Despite what his campaign staff may think, Carville said there are only a few people who the president really listens to. He doesnt have advisers. He has employees, Carville said. The fact that some House Democrats are questioning his capabilities was unthinkable before the debate, but now some say its time for him to step aside. Staunch Biden allies, like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), defended his performance and character. Pelosi said Biden got off to a bad start, but his integrity was far better than Trumps dishonesty. Another former Speaker, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), also weighed in, arguing that no one can negotiate with Biden and the only way the ticket will change is if he bows out himself. Axios reported that a small circle of Bidens closest allies Jill Biden, his wife; Valerie Biden, his sister; and Ted Kaufman, his longtime friend are ultimately the only Biden deciders. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AI chip leader Nvidia will have an embarrassment of riches in the coming years, and shareholders will be rewarded, a tech analysts predicted. Ben Reitzes, a managing director and head of technology research at Melius Research, told CNBC on Wednesday that Jensen Huang's Nvidia has mastered a "full stack" approach with its hardware and software, giving it a key advantage in AI. "What they did is they built a computing language and an ecosystem that allows you to monetize AI, and obviously they're killing it," he said. Reitzes has a price target of $160 on Nvidia stock, implying a 30% gain from Friday's closing price. Despite an ongoing selloff that began earlier this month, shares have soared 150% so far this year after more than tripling in 2023. Among the Magnificent 7 stocks that he covers, Nvidia has the most upside ahead, he added. Another big advantage Nvidia has over rivals is its annual cadence of innovating new products, Reitzes said. That means developers and customers will know where Nvidia is headed and can budget for upgrades accordingly. "And they're running 150 miles an hour while everyone else is running 100. It's going to be hard to catch these guys," he said. Given Nvidia's edge in the booming AI space, Melius Research projects the company will generate $270 billion in cash over the next three years, potentially setting the stage for huge shareholder returns. Management may not be eager to tout the possibility of stock buybacks as those are often associated with older companies, Reitzes said. But in his view, it's obvious. "No one's talking about it, and when you do the model we do, it's a cash gusher," he said. "And there's nothing they can do. This government's not going to let them buy anything big. They can't invest that much in R&D. It's just not possible. So we gotta get it as shareholders." To be sure, Nvidia has been returning capital to shareholders. In August, it announced a $25 billion repurchase program. And last month, Nvidia boosted its quarterly cash dividend by 150% from $0.04 per share to $0.10, equivalent to $0.01 per share on a post-split basis. Nvidia declined to comment about the possibility of more stock buybacks. For his part, Reitzes was quick to point out that any future buybacks wouldn't imply that Nvidia has stopped growing. "It's not an insult to buy back stocks if you have nothing else to do." Nvidia's recent financials show that its ability to generate cash is accelerating. In the fiscal year that ended in January, Nvidia's net cash provided by operating activities soared to $28.1 billion from $5.6 billion in the prior year. And in the first quarter that ended in April, net cash provided by operating activities was $15.3 billionalready more than half of last year's total. Meanwhile, Huang told investors this past week that Nvidia will remain the gold standard for AI training chips amid concerns that rivals could cut into his market share. The rollout of Nvidias Blackwell system later this year will only cement that lead, he said at the companys annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday. The Blackwell architecture platform will likely be the most successful product in our history and even in the entire computer history, Huang said. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Apple Store. Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez/Getty Images A $35 million settlement fund will be established due to a class action lawsuit against Apple. The 2019 lawsuit said iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus had audio issues, which Apple denied. Some iPhone customers can receive up to $349. Apple reached a $35 million settlement with iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users who said their phones had audio problems. That means if you had one of those phones, you could get paid. The lawsuit available on the Settlement Administrator website was first filed in 2019. It argues the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus had audio issues related to the "audio IC chip." The plaintiffs also accused Apple of violating consumer protection laws and breach of warranty. Apple denied the phones had audio issues or that the company did anything wrong. Representatives for Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Apple iPhone 7. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Nonetheless, Apple settled the case. Now attorneys for the plaintiffs said affected iPhone users could get up to $349. "We are proud of the nationwide class action Settlement that is pending final approval before the Court, which if approved will provide Settlement Class Members who complained to Apple about the alleged audio defect up to $349 in monetary relief," attorneys Andrea Gold and Greg Coleman said in a statement. Here's what iPhone customers need to know. Who qualifies? Apple customers in the United States who owned those phone models between September 2016 and January 2023 might be eligible to receive payment for the settlement. The settlement administrator says customers must have reported the covered audio issues to Apple, including those who paid "out of pocket" for repairs and replacements related to the covered audio issues. How much money could iPhone customers receive? iPhone customers who paid Apple "out of pocket" for replacements and repairs related to the audio issue will receive "an equal payment of at least $50 and no more than $349." Those who reported the audio issues to Apple but did not pay for repairs or replacements will receive "an equal payment of up to $125." The $35 million settlement fund will be formally established if a judge grants approval during a hearing on July 18. When is the deadline to apply? The original deadline for customers who wanted to be included in the settlement was June 3, but the court approved an extension. The new deadline is July 3, 2024. Interested customers must provide the settlement administrator with payment information and their preferred payment method. This can be done via an online form or mailing it to the Tabak v. Apple Class Action Administrators. Some customers included in the settlement may receive a postcard notification or email about the lawsuit. If customers don't select a payment method and provide payment information, they'll remain in the settlement class but cannot receive payment. They will also waive their rights to sue Apple for the aforementioned issues in the future. Read the original article on Business Insider (Photo : Unsplash/Tingey Injury Law Firm ) California workers are granted the right to sue violating employers after Governor Gavin Newsom agreed with the labor and business groups to block the initiative from the November ballot. What Does The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) Seek? According to the Governor's Office news release on Tuesday, the agreement, which seeks to amend the two-decade-old Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), aims to place a cap on penalties for employers who promptly rectify their practices, increase the portion of penalty payments allocated to workers, authorize courts to issue injunctions compelling businesses to address labor violations and mandate that workers have firsthand experience of the alleged violations they cite in their claims. The reform has also faced criticism about being frequently misused and being typically costly and lengthy. California's PAGA's substantial revenue raises concerns that a considerable portion of this money remains untouched. According to the State budget documents, funds accumulated from business settlements have grown faster than lawmakers, and Governor Newsom has allocated them for expenditure. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, $197 million remained unspent in the fund, and the 2023-24 budget retains $170 million unused, CalMatters reported. Sara Flocks, campaign director at the California Labor Federation, explained during a recent hearing that the original law, commonly known as PAGA, was enacted to address a crisis in labor law enforcement and strengthen protections for immigrant workers, low-wage workers, farmworkers, and other vulnerable employees. The Amended PAGA Bills Provision The deal follows a significant year for labor when Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation increasing wages for fast-food and healthcare workers, expanding paid sick leave, and granting lower-level legislative staff the right to unionize. The proposed bills emerged from an agreement between Governor Newsom, legislators, business organizations, and labor representatives. They aimed to preempt a ballot measure that sought to repeal and replace the existing law. A coalition of labor organizations, worker advocacy groups, and attorneys' associations stated in a press release that the agreement safeguards workers' ability to hold abusive employers accountable via PAGA while encouraging employers to treat workers respectfully by enhancing penalties for severe violations. Both proposals passed by the state Senate and Assembly gained unanimous support, with no lawmakers voting against them. One of the bills grants businesses with fewer than 100 employees the ability to rectify violations, while larger businesses can request an early assessment of alleged violations. The second bill lowers penalties for minor labor law infractions and increases them for more severe offenses. Under the current 2004 law, a quarter of employers' fines are allocated to affected workers, with the remainder directed to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for worker safety enforcement and education. With the new legislation, 35% of the fines would now be allocated to affected workers, and employers would now have the opportunity to correct violations to avoid fines. READ ALSO: Starbucks Gains US Supreme Court Support on Challenging Federal Courts' Injunction Requests Democratic Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who authored one of the bills, said the agreement illustrates the proper approach when all parties collaborate to resolve a longstanding division issue. Blocking Measure Off November Ballot California voters will face several ballot measures this November, including proposals on issues like abolishing involuntary servitude in prisons and establishing a new minimum wage, except for the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act removed by the California Supreme Court last week. The proposed ballot measure, supported by numerous business groups, aimed to repeal the 2004 law by mandating state resources to aid employers in complying with labor laws, restricting the awarding of civil penalties to workers at least $100 per pay period by the labor commissioner, allowing employers a chance to rectify violations without penalties, and ensuring that employees receive 100% of penalties levied on employers, rather than the current 25%. The court determined that the citizen-initiated measure, which aimed to make extensive changes to tax imposition processes, was not a proper method for amending the state constitution. As a result, the California secretary of state was instructed not to include the measure on the ballot or provide information about it in the voter information guide, Court House News reported. RELATED ARTICLE: Chicago's Midsummer Raise: Minimum Wage, New Time Off Policies Slated to Take Effect on July 1 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A New Mexico judge denied Alec Baldwin's bid to drop his involuntary manslaughter charge over firearm evidence stemming from the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" before his trial starts next month. In their request to dismiss the indictment, Baldwin's attorneys claimed the state "intentionally" destroyed key evidence -- the firearm involved in the shooting -- denying them the chance to review potentially exculpatory evidence. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer denied the request in an order issued on Friday, following arguments during a virtual hearing on Monday. Baldwin's trial is scheduled to begin with jury selection on July 9. MORE: Alec and Hilaria Baldwin announce reality show 1 month before criminal trial over fatal 'Rust' shooting The actor was practicing a cross-draw in a church on the set of the Western film when the Colt .45 revolver fired a live round, fatally striking 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin, 66, who was also a producer on the film, was indicted by a grand jury on involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death earlier this year, after prosecutors previously dropped the charge. He pleaded not guilty. PHOTO: Alec Baldwin attends The Roundabout Gala 2023 at The Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City, March 06, 2023. (John Lamparski/Getty Images) Baldwin's attorneys argued that the firearm is "central" to the state's theory of guilt, but that they were denied the opportunity to examine it themselves and that FBI forensic testing that damaged the gun was unnecessary. "They understood that this was potentially exculpatory evidence and they destroyed it anyway," Baldwin's attorney, John Bash, said during Monday's hearing. Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the firearm, though the FBI forensic report determined that the gun could not have been fired without pulling the trigger. Bash argued that there's reason to believe that further testing would show the firearm was capable of discharging without the pull of the trigger. "The prosecution denied the criminal defendant the opportunity to see it, to test it," Bash said. "It's outrageous, and it requires dismissal." Prosecutors argued that there was no perceived exculpatory value of the firearm apparent to law enforcement following the shooting. "The fact that this gun was unfortunately damaged during the accidental discharge testing does not deprive the defendant of the evidence that they can use effectively in cross-examining," Erlinda Ocampo Johnson said during Monday's hearing. Johnson also argued there is "ample evidence" of the defendant's guilt in this case in regards to his "reckless conduct." MORE: Judge denies Alec Baldwin's bid to dismiss charge in deadly 'Rust' shooting In her order denying the motion, the judge wrote that the defense failed to establish that the firearm had any apparent exculpatory value before the evidence was destroyed, and that they are still able to examine the firearm in its current condition and examine witnesses as to its functionality prior to the destructive testing. She additionally failed to find that the state acted in bad faith when the firearm was damaged during the testing. Marlowe Sommer's ruling comes after she denied last week another defense request to dismiss the indictment. In that motion, Baldwin's attorneys argued that the state failed to allege a criminal offense because Baldwin had no reason to believe the gun might contain live rounds and that the manipulation of the weapon could pose a "substantial risk" to Hutchins. In her official order denying that motion, released on Friday, Marlow Sommer wrote that whether Baldwin had a criminally negligent state of mind "is a question of fact for the jury to decide." The judge also denied last month another request by the defense to dismiss the indictment in which Baldwin's attorneys argued that the prosecution engaged in "bad faith" by failing to provide the grand jury with sufficient information. PHOTO: Flowers are seen in the entrance to the film set of 'Rust' in Santa Fe, NM, Oct. 23, 2021. (Mostafa Bassim Adly/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Marlowe Sommer additionally denied last week a request from the state to use immunity to compel testimony from the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, during Baldwin's trial. Gutierrez, 27, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting and sentenced in April to 18 months in prison, the maximum possible, in the shooting. She appealed her conviction in May. Prosecutors sought immunity so that her testimony could not be used against her in her appeal. At a pretrial interview in May, Gutierrez asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, prosecutors said. In issuing her ruling, Marlowe Sommer noted that the armorer has indicated she won't testify and that she hasn't heard "anything that [Gutierrez] might testify to that someone else could not testify to." Gutierrez could still be called to testify but would speak without immunity. Marlowe Sommer last week also allowed for the testimony at Baldwin's trial of a "Rust" crew member who prosecutors said witnessed the on-set shooting and said he saw Baldwin pull the trigger. Following Monday's hearing, Baldwin's attorneys filed another motion seeking to dismiss the indictment, alleging that the state violated its discovery obligations by delaying the disclosure of "critical evidence that is favorable to Baldwins defense and that fundamentally reshapes the way Baldwin would have prepared for trial." In a response to the motion filed Thursday, the state pushed back against the defense's claims, saying it has "worked tirelessly to ensure that the defendant has every possible page of discovery, no matter how minuscule or immaterial," and asked the court to deny the motion. Judge denies Alec Baldwin's bid to dismiss 'Rust' charge over firearm evidence originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A police officer at the Israeli Embassy in the Serbian capital Belgrade was shot in the neck with a crossbow in a suspected terror attack on Saturday, CNN affiliate N1 reported. The police officer shot the attacker who later died, according to N1. The officer has been taken to hospital and will need an operation to remove an arrow from his neck. Serbias Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the incident was undoubtedly a terrorist attack, saying several people believed to have been linked to the incident had been arrested. Dacic said an unknown person, whose identity is being determined, shot the police officer with a crossbow around 11 a.m. local time, according to N1. He was carrying a bag with him and he took out a crossbow from the bag and shot the gendarme in the neck with the arrow. The gendarme reacted immediately, as much as he could until he fell to the ground he took out his gun and fired several shots at the assailant. The attacker died after half an hour, said Dacic. All circumstances of the attack and possible motives are being investigated, he added. The minister said some other people who were near the police facilities were arrested as a precaution. Dacic said there were indications the incident involved individuals already known to the police and security services - it is about members of the Wahhabi movement, referring to a strict branch of Islam. A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called the incident an attempted terrorist attack in a statement. None of its employees were wounded, the ministry said. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz thanked the Serbian government on X Saturday for its support. I would also like to send my wishes for a quick recovery to the injured guard. Terrorism cannot be tolerated! Katz wrote. Israel-linked institutions in Europe have been on high alert for potential attacks in the wake of Israels ongoing war in Gaza, launched after Islamist militant group Hamas carried out cross-border raids in Israel on October 7. Many European countries have ramped up security measures around Jewish establishments including places of worship. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Daytime Emmys-winning actress explained to PEOPLE why people in their golden years shouldn't label themselves Rob Kim/WireImage Susan Lucci in New York City in March 2024. Susan Lucci has sage advice for people navigating life in their 70s. The actress, 77, spoke with PEOPLE ahead of receiving the Spirit of Life Award on June 4 in New York City, reflecting on her career. Although Lucci lost her husband Helmut Huber, who died in March 2022 at age 84, and the actress has had two heart surgeries in 2018 and 2022, she's in a good place now, having finished filming the crime drama Outcome, co-written and directed by Jonah Hill. The cast includes Hill, Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer and Laverne Cox. I am feeling good, she explains. "I realized there were fewer parts for someone in her seventies as I am. But on the other hand, I'm thrilled right now to have been playing a part that I absolutely viewed as a challenge, and what I wanted to take and get to work with Jonah Hill, who I have so much respect for. Over the last 12 months, Lucci has also been receiving the recognition she so richly deserves for her decades-long contributions to television, which includes starring as Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama All My Children for nearly 40 years a role that helped make her one of the famous faces on TV. Related: The Cast of All My Children: Where Are They Now? Kevin Winter/Getty Susan Lucci in Los Angeles, California in December 2023. During her acceptance speech, Lucci thanked everyone in the room. "How lucky am I to dream my dreams of becoming an actress and grow up and have my dreams come true? There were obstacles and there were roadblocks they were wannabe obstacles and roadblocks but tonight's a night to celebrate." During her conversation with PEOPLE, Lucci also advised people in their golden years not to "count yourself out." "No matter what her career is don't count yourself out. Don't assume the worst," she added. "Keep on being you." 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. For Lucci, her mother, Jeanette Lucci, who died in June 2021, was a source of wisdom. "I remember when I turned 60. I called my mother, the star recalled. I was having a lot of trouble with that particular number, and I called my mother and I said, Mom, how did you deal with it? And how are you dealing with now? And there was a little pause on the other end and she said, Well, I just don't think about it. And I thought, you know what? That is the best answer anyone could give me. Don't put any labels on yourself. Don't let the number define you." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A woman online is putting out an SOS for the sweetest "polar bear" Pit Bull Terrier in need of a home. The sweetie, Baymax, has the best personality and loves people. But they need to find Baymax a home asap otherwise the worst will happen. The woman shared a video of Baymax, who is currently being held at the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control and is in desperate need of a home. The saddest part is that Baymax is only 2 years old. In the video that the woman (who posts at @desertdogproject) shared online, it shows the Pit Bull Terrier in his enclosure just waiting for someone to give him attention. Related: Couple Treats Their American Pit Bull Terrier to Relaxing Spa Day and People Are Jealous "I met a polar bear at the shelter," the woman joked in the caption, referring to the dog's shaggy white coat. "And then I learned he has a euthanasia deadline," she added. "Baymax needed to be adopted by 7/1!" This is definitely an all-hands situation. And so many people in the comments section were hoping that someone would step in and save the poor dog soon. "He was brought in at 6/19 and only has till 7/1 that is so cruel!!! So sad and reposted hoping someone sees him," wrote one person. "Ill pay the adoption fee if someone is interested in saving this little bear," another person offered. "Baymax!!! He literally looks like a cartoon, hes too pure for this earth. Someone give this boy the love he deserves," pleaded another commenter. "Oh God, please, I hope somebody will love him unconditionally and give him the life he deserves," chimed in someone else. All About Pit Bull Terrier Baymax It's true that Baymax was only brought to the shelter weeks ago. The person who found the dog said he was "a high energy boy thats attention seeking and did well around adults." "He was crated when left alone and was not destructive at all," they added. Although he did get into "scuffles" over human food and toys with the finder's dogs. "The shelter is now requiring that he be an only dog," they wrote. Since arriving at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, staff have found him to be "a friendly, wiggly boy," who is good with physical affection and loves fetch. He is eager to please and needs to be leash trained too. If you or someone you know is looking to adopt you can go to the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control website and fill out an adoption application. Or spread the word! Even sharing Baymax's story gets him one step closer to getting a home. 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.